This Was Doylestown, 1951

From the Doylestown Daily Intelligencer, Week of June 24-30, 1951

Residents, businesses urge Route 202 by-pass -

Doylestown Residents And Others Denounce Failure To By-Pass Route 202 Around Town... Trucks And Cars Create Death Trap, Drive Business Away From County Seat [original headline]

"Operations: By-pass Route 202" is well under way so far as Doylestown is concerned.

Interviewed by "Daily Intelligencer" reporters, residents of the State street section and Oakland avenue section used by Route 202 traffic, are practically unanimously in favor of a by-pass route. Businessmen along the two streets think likewise.

That State street is now Doylestown's No. 1 danger zone is a certainty, in the opinion of the many folks interviewed.

That the Chamber of Commerce and Borough Council should take the lead at once in helping to hasten the building of the by-pass, is also the opinion expressed by many interviewed.

State Highway officials, the local and the State police all realize that the situation in Doylestown is undesirable as a result of greatly increased traffic. Highway officials feel that something will be done to at least relieve the heavy truck traffic through Doylestown, but no definite plan has as yet been announced.

One of those interviewed, Rev. John F. Fogarty, pastor of the , said: "Something should be done at once to get a by-pass established. State street is dangerous from end to end because of the increased traffic. The truck traffic from midnight until early morning, along this street, practically shakes the town."

Dr. George T. Hayman, owner of Dr. Hayman's Private Hospital, East State street, said: "It is a horrible condition that exists along State street and Oakland avenue where 202 traffic passes. The condition near Borough Dam is nothing but a death trap."

[Editor's note - It took another 20 years until construction began on the combined Route 202 (east-west) and Route 611 (north-south) bypass around Doylestown. The entire bypass was not completed until 1976. Plans to extend the Route 202 bypass to Montgomeryville went nowhere for more than 30 years. At long last, the 8.5-mile extension, now a two-lane "parkway," is under construction and due to open in fall 2012.]

Industry locates in Doylestown -

Paperboard Enterprises Corporation, a newly formed Pennsylvania corporation, has located in the former Doylestown Hosiery Finishing Company's mill on North Hamilton street, off of Union.

The corporation was founded for prime research in the paper industry and allied industries. It will engage in the manufacture of converted paper.

The new corporation will be directed by Dr. G.J. Lammers, who discovered the Lammers process in reclaimed paper. Dr. Lammers, a World War II and Purple Heart veteran, is here now aiding in the setting up of the new business.

Research in basic industries will be carried out in the laboratories and developments performed. The business will convert paper for military and commercial uses. Walter D. May is the superintendent. Production is expected to get under way within the next 14 days.

Dr. Lammers said about 24 men and women will be employed at first, and when three shifts get under way, there will be from 75 to 100 employees needed.

The large plant was vacant since Doylestown Hosiery Finishing Company, a sub-division of the Bailey Dye Works, Philadelphia, closed down and moved away.

New high school under construction -

Construction of the new $2,300,000 Central Bucks Joint High School, at West Court and Lafayette streets in Doylestown, is progressing nicely.

Dr. J. Edward Smith, superintendent of schools, reported to the Central Bucks Joint School Board, at its meeting Thursday evening, that 31 bricklayers are now working on the new school. Partitions are being set and window frames installed.

The clock tower and auditorium at the main entrance to the school are taking shape. Also under construction are the library, administrative offices, classrooms and the sole two-story wing, which will house the science department.

George D. Richardson, president of the joint school board, expressed appreciation and gratification that the first American flag to be used at the school has been presented by the , of Doylestown.

Dr. Smith said the State School Authority has placed orders for $100,000 worth of movable equipment for the school. He said the opening of the 56 bids took eight days and comprised 165 pages of typewritten details, requiring him to make three trips to Harrisburg.

The State Authority is demanding re-bids on the folding chairs, lockers, office furniture and equipment, and teachers' desks. The use of glass, china or plastic dishes in the cafeteria was discussed, and Dr. Smith will make a survey to determine which is the most economical and utilitarian.

[Editor's note - Central Bucks Joint High School, serving the nine municipalities in what is now the Central Bucks School District, opened in September 1952. It was renamed in September 1969, when Central Bucks East opened in Buckingham.]

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More Civil Defense volunteers needed -

Civil Defense volunteers are urgently needed to properly man the air observation post in the Court House tower. Over the weekend, the station operated 33 consecutive hours with fewer than one-half enough individuals to assist.

The local air observation post, together with eight others in various sections of Bucks county, took part from 9 o'clock Saturday morning until 6 o'clock Sunday night in a regional test of the air defense network. [Editor's note - Civil Defense drills were frequent during the Cold War, when the United States was concerned about an attack by the Soviet Union.]

According to information received from the Stewart Air Force Base, the headquarters for the Eastern Air Defense Force, at Newburgh, N.Y., important gaps in the nation's air defense were revealed over the weekend. Heavy bombers were able to penetrate hundreds of miles before they were located by radar screens.

During the nine consecutive hours that the Court House tower station was manned alone by Colonel A.M. Heritage, chief of the Civil Defense in Bucks county, thirteen reports were telephoned from the tower direct to Harrisburg.

The shortage of volunteers very definitely cripples the efforts of the Civil Defense. At no time during the 33-hour test was there more than one person in the observation tower officially. The personnel of the local station consists of one supervisor, Robert Taylor; one assistant supervisor, one chief observer and 30 associate observers.

Mr. Taylor said that it may be possible to interest some housewives who may have some time available to devote to air observation.

Traffic lights being installed -

Construction of the new traffic lights at the dangerous intersection of Court, State and Clinton streets (the Baptist church corner) is now under way. Protection of this 6-way intersection has been demanded for years.

Six standards [poles] have already been erected by the borough workmen, and fifteen heads [lights] will be placed on the standards. One standard is located in the concrete island that was built some months ago to divide the intersection; two standards are located on North Clinton street; two on South Clinton street; and one on West Court street.

The wiring is being done at the present time and heads will be placed in a few days. The entire expense of the system is being paid for by the borough. The system was approved by the State Highway Department after a lengthy survey of cars and pedestrians, and was then recommended to the borough.

Pedestrian signals will also be erected, but these will be operated only at certain hours of the day when foot traffic is heaviest. The system will be entirely automatic, but manual controls are being installed. The standard head--red light on top, amber in the middle, and green on the bottom--is being used.

It was estimated that the equipment alone will cost approximately $3,000.

Advertisement -

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Doylestown Town Notes -

Members of the class of 1941 of Doylestown High School celebrated its tenth anniversary with a reunion at the Pipersville Inn on Saturday evening.

Miss Mae Ella Carr, of North Main street, has returned from vacation to her position with the F.W. Woolworth Co.

Mr. and Mrs. Charles H. Shive, of East State street, celebrated their 33rd wedding anniversary on Friday.

Charles L. Goodman, of West State street, who recently underwent an operation in Emergency Hospital for a kidney ailment, is reported to be resting as comfortably as can be expected.

President Judge Hiram H. Keller, C. William Freed and J. Lloyd Keller, who are on a fishing trip in Maine, are expected to return on Wednesday

Miss Virginia James, of Doylestown, was named to the Wilmington College honor roll this week for her outstanding academic achievement during the Spring semester.

Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Steelman and children, Scott and Kathleen, of West Court street, are vacationing for a week at Brant Beach, N.J..

Rev. and Mrs. Norman B. Jerome, of South Clinton street, announce the birth of a daughter Wednesday at Emergency Hospital.

Jimmy Larue, 14, and Albert Larue, 12, sons of Mr. and Mrs. Earl S. Larue, of Maple avenue, left Thursday for Camp Nichecronk, near Dingman's Ferry, Pike county, where they will remain for eight weeks as members of the camp staff.

Clayton Gehman and children, Johnny and Adrienne, of Washington, D.C., are visiting his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Gehman, of Harvey avenue, for the weekend.

Jo Ann Happ, 8, and James Happ, 7, daughter and son of Mr. and Mrs. John Happ, of Linden avenue, were admitted to Emergency Hospital on Monday for tonsillectomies.

William Wolfe, of West State street, left Friday for an annual fishing trip, with members of his family, in the wilds of Canada.