This Was Hatboro-Horsham, 1925

From the Public Spirit, Week of July 3-9, 1925

Hosiery mill to open in Hatboro -

Hatboro's newest business enterprise was started early this week when ground was staked out for the erection of a plant for the Oscar Nevel Hosiery Company. The new plant will be located on the Tanner tract along the Jacksonville road directly opposite the Roberts & Mander Stove Company.

The Hosiery Company recently purchased eleven lots of the tract through C. Edwin MacNair, real estate agent of Hatboro. The new building, which will be started within a few days, is reported to be of one-story brick and steel construction and is to be erected by the firm of William Steele and Sons Company, Philadelphia, builders of large factories.

The original building will measure about 98 by 285 feet and will house thousands of dollars worth of modern knitting machinery. It is expected that the plant will be ready for operation about the 15th of August. The Oscar Nevel Hosiery Company formerly operated one of Philadelphia's largest knitting mills, which they recently sold. Hatboro was selected as an ideal location for the resumption of their business due to its freeness from labor and union troubles, its proximity to Philadelphia, its excellent shipping facilities, and the abundance of local labor.

The new factory will be a big improvement to the town and will establish Hatboro more firmly than ever as a manufacturing, commercial and residential center of the northeast suburban section. It is expected that when completed, and in operation, the Hosiery Mill will employ more than two hundred men and women and its weekly payroll will exceed $3,500.

Horsham boy saves woman from drowning -

Thirteen-year-old Howard Tyson, of Horsham, on Monday pluckily swam into many feet of water to save Mrs. Harry Refsnyder, wife of a prominent Glenside plumbing contractor, from probably certain death. The rescue was made in Great Egg Harbor Bay, Ocean City, New Jersey. The boy is the son of William F. Tyson, prominent Horsham builder, and a pupil in the Horsham public schools.

He learned to swim unusually well in the famous little "swimmin' hole" in the Pennypack Creek just below his home. Howard, with his mother and father, Mrs. Refsnyder and a number of other friends, was a guest of his grandmother, Mrs. William J. Tyson, of Horsham, in her cottage at Ocean City. On the day of the near tragedy, Howard, his mother and grandmother and Mrs. Refsnyder went swimming in Great Egg Harbor Bay.

While swimming about near the shore, Howard heard his grandmother scream, and looking out into the bay, saw Mrs. Refsnyder struggling weakly and calling for help. Striking out into the deeper water, the boy reached the helpless woman as she was about to sink for perhaps the last time. Grasping her by the arm, he struggled with her to the shallow water, where he was met by the other women and helped to shore, He was nearly exhausted and was unable to go farther when his feet touched bottom.

A few feet farther out and it is believed both would have lost their lives. "I didn't do nothin' much," is all Howard has to say about his thrilling rescue.

Old York road to be concreted -

The concreting of the Old York road from Hatboro to Willow Grove is looked for this summer or early fall. This week, officials of the state highway department, together with Hatboro borough officers, went over the Old York road comparing surveys from the lower end of the borough to the County Line, the proposed terminus of the new roadbed.

It is expected that once the state highway engineer submits his report to state highway officials at Harrisburg, bids will be secured for the construction of the road. According to the plan of the state's 1925 budget, this roadway must

be started this year, and it is believed it will be completed this fall. The proposed concreting of the Old York road at present includes that portion between the County Line road above Hatboro, south to the Fitzwatertown road crossing below the Cut-off railroad. It is expected that upon the completion of this stretch which has been authorized, the state will continue the rebuilding of the road from that point to the junction of the York road and the Easton road in Willow Grove, making a continuous concrete highway from Philadelphia to Hatboro.

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Horsham farm sold to builder -

Harvey D. Thompson has just sold his fine sixty-acre farm in Horsham, close to the Easton highway, through E.V. Schiesser and Orville Shugard, real estate brokers of Willow Grove and Horsham. The buyer was the same man who purchased the E.D. Watson farm a short time ago. These two farms comprise a tract of over 100 acres.

The purchaser intends to open up this tract as a high-class building operation as soon as title is passed. The farm was held for sale at $50,000.

Stove company to expand Hatboro factory -

The Roberts & Mander Stove Company, makers of Quality Gas Ranges, are proposing to move their entire Philadelphia plant to Hatboro. It is expected that construction of a new building adjoining the end of the present structure will be started in the near future.

When completed, Hatboro will have one of the largest stove plants in the world. The Roberts & Mander Company alone will pay out to employees secured from the surrounding country close to $10,000 each week. The northeast section of Hatboro is rapidly establishing itself as the manufacturing portion of the town. The flourishing condition of the Roberts & Mander Stove Company, the Hatboro Foundry, the Alpha Cone Company and the Hatboro Concrete Products Company bear witness to the fact that Hatboro has risen out of the "country village" class and has at last "arrived."

To care for the automobile storage trade created by these businesses in that section of the town, Christian Tanner has given out the contract for the erection of a new large garage in addition to the one he is already operating. The two garages are located on Jacksonville road opposite the Hatboro Foundry Company's plant. Contractor Buckley of Willow Grove will do the work on the new garage, which will be of concrete block and steel construction. When completed, the building will be 65 by 165 feet and will have accommodations for housing about 120 automobiles.

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Hatboro and Horsham Happenings -

On July Fourth, the American Legion will have a sale on the Library lawn in Hatboro of home baking, useful and hand-painted articles, and dolls, all at moderate prices. Candy, ice cream and soft drinks will be sold.

Mrs. John Seiple, Mr. and Mrs. Percy Craig, and Mr. and Mrs. Robert Ramsey, all of Horsham, motored to Riegelsville on Sunday to see Mrs. Frank Fox, a sister of the late Mr. Seiple. Mrs. Fox is 83 years of age and in good health.

Mrs. C.K. Radcliff, of Horsham, underwent an operation for the removal of gall stones at the Abington Memorial Hospital on Friday.

G. Anderson and family, Mr. and Mrs. G. Earl, Mr. S. Townsend and Mary White, all residents of Hatboro, spent the week-end at Point Pleasant in Newton Walton's bungalow.

Frank Jones and his wife moved last week from the city to their farm in Horsham, the former Ellwood Paul place. Howard H. Comly and C.K. Stackhouse are superintending his farming.

John Hammon of York road, Hatboro, left on Monday for Camp Meade, Maryland, where the Citizens Training Camp has quarters.

Plans are completed for a bazaar and cafeteria lunch to be given on Saturday at 10 a.m. by the Ladies' Aid Society of Grace Union Church on the lawn of Horsham Friends Meeting House.

Mrs. Stephen W. Mason, of Hatboro, has been confined to her home for several days with a severe attack of tonsilitis.

The old Horsham mill property of 12 acres, with grist mill and dwellings on the Dresher road, has been sold by Frank Palmer, who owned it for many years, to Frank Kirschke of Jarrettown. It was held at $6,500.

J.J. Kenney and sons are laying cement walks around Squire Winner's property in Hatboro Heights.

Horsham Friendly Circle is planning a picnic supper for the July meeting. The place selected is Penrose's meadow along the Neshaminy creek, near Easton road. All will be welcome.

Miss Mollie Coffman of Chester avenue, Hatboro, entertained a number of friends Friday evening on her birthday. The house and lawn were tastefully decorated with Japanese lanterns, while in the dining room pink roses and sweet peas predominated. Dancing and games were enjoyed.