This Was Hatboro-Horsham, 1956

From the Public Spirit, Week of March 8-14, 1956

Horsham development in limbo -

Further development of Horsham Township as a residential community received a serious setback during the past week when it was learned that the Federal Housing Administration office in Philadelphia has established a "flight pattern area" around the Willow Grove Naval Air Development Station, in which it is refusing approval for FHA financing.

This zone extends two miles beyond the ends of the main north-south runway of the airfield, and is about a mile-and-a-half wide. Roughly, it covers close to 5,000 acres in Horsham, or nearly half the Township land area.

The "restricted" area also extends into Warrington and Warminster Townships in Bucks County and into the Borough of Hatboro and Upper Moreland Township in Montgomery. The total area it encompasses is about nine square miles.

The sale of several large farms in Horsham Township for residential development purposes fell through last week when the FHA policy was made known. Not only has FHA approval been withheld from these proposed new developments, but local developers report some commitments on construction already underway have been withdrawn. Virtually all mass home building today is under FHA approval.

A spokesman for the FHA in Philadelphia, when questioned about the policy, emphasized that it is a temporary step taken while conferences are being held between governmental groups and the aircraft industry to establish a national policy. There was no indication when that might be announced, or whether it would be more or less restrictive.

Hatboro budget procedure criticized -

At Monday night's Hatboro Council meeting, Councilman Raymond Coran, head of the Finance Committee, hit the procedure of past members of Council in the making up of the borough's budget.

A report read by him stated that "past budgets were not done in a routine businesslike manner by those who have been entrusted with the responsibility of spending the taxpayers' money."

The report recommended that a special meeting be held as soon as possible to draw up the present proposed budget, that no increases be considered at this time unless absolutely necessary, and that each committee chairman who prepares his department budget submit in detail how the figure is arrived at. A summation sheet should be presented at each monthly meeting for review, giving in detail a complete breakdown as to departments, what was spent and the balance remaining on hand.

Coran said the committee, which also includes Norman Wister and Edmund Haigler, met recently to review data for use in preparing the revised budget for 1956. He added that the group found very little on file to guide the committee, and it was very sparse and incomplete.

Swimming pool drive opens -

Diane Hynes of Hatboro this week was the first borough resident to purchase a membership for the community swimming pool for 1956.

The membership fees will be: $20.00 Family, $10.00 Adults, $5.00 Children. The opening date is set for June 16, weather permitting.

Membership cards are now on sale at the following places: Hatboro National Bank, G.W. Aiman and Associates, Worstall Stationery Company and Borough Hall. Memberships will not be on sale at Borough Hall on Saturdays or in the evening; however, they will be on sale at the other stores whenever they are open.

Identification discs will be distributed later at Borough Hall upon presentation of the Membership card.

Advertisement -

LOOK LADIES...We are now giving Top Value Stamps...MILDRED'S BEAUTY SHOP, 21 East Montgomery Avenue, Hatboro...Permanents $7.50 and up...Phone OS5-9979.

Company introduces new toys -

American Metal Specialities Corporation of Hatboro, one of the nation's top ten toy manufacturers, will introduce its 1956 line of new toys this week at the 53rd annual American Toy Fair in New York City.

The company will show ten new AMSCO toys, which are a continuation of the philosophy that "kids like to play grown-up." Each of the items being presented is realistic in every detail, but scaled down to a size suitable for the use of youngsters.

Among the new toys this year are the first all-metal folding blackboards to be manufactured for children, a realistic canopy bed, a miniature laundry cart, an authentic replica basinette, two new Campbell Kids cooking sets, the Jell-E-Maker set, a new Hollywood-style bed, and a new doll crib.

[Editor's note - The AMSCO plant was on Jacksonville Road in a building known as the Hatboro Foundry, which at one time had been part of the former Roberts and Mander stove works.]

Automaker to locate in Horsham -

A regional headquarters building will be erected in Horsham under a long-term lease for Willys Motors, Inc. [maker of Jeeps], a wholly owned subsidiary of Kaiser Motors, Inc. The structure will be the headquarters for Eastern Pennsylvania, South Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and parts of Virginia and West Virginia.

The building will be on a four-acre portion of a 70-acre tract on Easton Road being developed for industry by Hankin Brothers. They will erect a 20,000-square-foot plant with 3,000 square feet of air-conditioned offices. The Willys plant will include a parts and distribution warehouse and outside storage area.

It will be near a 20,000-square-foot plant leased to Sylvania Electric Products Co. for warehousing, a building of similar size leased to Standard Pressed Steel Co. for warehousing, and a smaller building leased to Virnelson's Bakery for distribution. A 65,000-square-foot plant for Kellett Aircraft Co. will also be erected on the tract.

Fire damages Hatboro home -

An estimated $200 damage was done to a home on West Montgomery Avenue, Hatboro, last Thursday morning by a fire which began in the attic stairway. The home is owned by William Young, of the same address.

Hatboro and Horsham firemen responded to the blaze, which broke about about 8:40 a.m. The cause of the fire was underdetemined.

Fast work by the firemen kept the flames from spreading to other parts of the one-and-a-half-story frame dwelling.

Advertisement -

MAN WANTED...OUTDOOR WORK--Must be over 30 years old, year round job. Visit main office, Whitemarsh Memorial Park, Prospectville (just north of Limekiln Pike and Horsham Road), 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Daily.

Hatboro and Horsham Happenings -

Robert L. Ford of Hatboro leaves for the Army March 13. Bob is the fourth son of Mrs. Anne Ford to have been in the Army. Two brothers were killed in World War II.

Young Gordy Mattocks of Norristown Road, Horsham, suffered a double fracture of his leg on Sunday while skating with his older brother, Sonny.

"Robbie" Van Pelt, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Van Pelt of Rorer Road, Hatboro, was one year old on Monday. A celebration was held at his home on Sunday afternoon, with his grandparents, aunts and uncles present.

Mrs. Vincent Mandes, Sr. of New Road, Horsham, is spending a few days at the Abington Memorial Hospital. Her many friends hope she will soon be home.

Mr. and Mrs. Horace Meininger of North Linden Avenue, Hatboro, are having a vacation in Florida.

New officers were elected to serve Post 458 of the Horsham Explorers on Thursday night at their regular weekly meeting. Wenzel Pisch was elected to the position of Senior Crew Leader, Charles Myers is Deputy Crew Leader, Skippy Hannes is Secretary and Clark Burkhardt is Treasurer.

Mrs. Ilse Scheibner of Columbia Avenue, Horsham, celebrated her birthday on Monday with a dinner party.

The Women's Auxiliary of the Enterprise Fire Company of Hatboro is going to donate to the fire company sufficient funds to purchase 100 folding chairs.

Mr. Herman Heidorn and Miss Marie Heidorn of Glenside, Mrs. Frances Helming of Hatboro, and Mr. Clair Van Fossen visited with the Heidorns of Columbia Avenue, Horsham, on Tuesday night. The occasion was the 12th birthday of young Bobby Heidorn.

Mr. Charles Lachman of Drexel Road, Hatboro, is a patient in the Navy Hospital in Philadelphia.

Hatboro Brownie Troop 889 celebrated its second troop birthday at a party in the Hatboro Baptist Church on February 28. The party was a big success and the Brownies are looking forward to their third year in Scouting.