Lebanon County PA Miscellaneous News
John Bickel Resigns as Postmaster (1859)
Gypsy Camp Quarantined for Small Pox (1888)
Extension of Lebanon Electric Railway 1890)
Businesses Resume in Lebanon (1894)
$50,000 Promised for Erecting Greater Lebanon College (1905)
Trolley Cars to Operate in Lebanon (1911)
Mrs. George Hamilton Discharged from Hospital (1911)
Alice Schuler Purchases Houses (1911)
Annville Goosebone Prophet Predicts Coldest Winter (1911)
Josephine K. Urich Organizes Suffrage League (1915)
New High School to be Built (1916)
New Highway Opposed by Citizens (1926)
Arthur Kapp Lost - Restored to Parents at Palmyra (1931)
Norman Shirk and Lester Schlaseman Attend National Grange Sessions (1931)
1931 South Lebanon Township Farm Show and Awards (1931)
David D. Smith Leaves For Paris Island (1941)
Assign Cornwall Man to Military Police (1942)
Son in Marines Writes He Is Now Overseas (1942)
Hero Burial Benefits Are Paid by Co. Board (1942)
Gary Sipe Lands Plane On Road In Emergency (1957)
John Bickel Resigns as Postmaster
The Adams Sentinel (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
January 24, 1859
Old Officer Resigns
John Bickel, postmaster at Jonestown, Lebanon Co. PA., resigned a few days ago. He was the oldest postmaster
in the U States, having been appointed by Gideon Granger, Post master General under the administration of Thomas
Jefferson, and had personally attended to duties ever since, a term of 57 years. He is now 84 years old.
Taken From the Indiana Weekly Messenger (Indiana, Pennsylvania)
May 9, 1888
A gypsy camp between Lebanon and Annville, Pa has now been quarantined by a detachment of the police, owing to being infested with small-pox. Several gypsies are afflicted with the loathsome disease and the neighborhood is greatly excited. Dr. E. Marshall of Annville attends them. The Directors of the Poor of Lebanon County are furnishing them with provisions and medicine. None of the gypsies are allowed to leave the camp. They have a number of tents and wagons and only recently started out from their winter quarters.
The Lebanon Electric Railway company will extend its line eastward a far as Myerstown and westward to Annville, making a total length of fifteen miles. The company will pay to the Berks and Dauphin Turnpike company two cents a car for every trip made for the use of the latter's turnpike.
Taken From the Gettysburg Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
October 16, 1894
Lebanon, Pa., Oct. 9 - The revival of business in this vicinity is further shown by the resumption of the Sunbeam Publishing Company, of Annville, which will start up on Friday with 150 employees. The North Lebanon Shoe Company has applied for a charter, and will soon begin operations with 200 hands.
The large stone quarries along the Philadelphia & Reading railroad, east of Myerstown, which were not worked for the past two years will resume operators shortly with a full force of employees. Nearly 100 men will be given employment. The Acne Shirt Factory at Myerstown, A. S. Hummel, proprietor, resumed operations. The factory is being enlarged to accomodate the increasing business. Upwards of eighty persons are employed.
Taken From the Daily Gazette and Bulletin (Williamsport, Pennsylvania)
January 6, 1905
Lebanon, Jan 5 - President Hevin C. Ropp, of Lebanon Valley College, Annville, today announced that the receipt of a letter from Andrew Carnege in which the latter promises to give $50,000 toward erecting a Greater Lebanon College on condition that an equal sum is raised by the college, exclusive of the insurance recovered on the fire which destroyed the administration building.
The announcement was made at a meeting of ministers and lay delegates of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of United Brethren of Eastern Pennsylvania church held in the church at Annville. The purpose of the meeting was to meet the crisis caused by the burning of the main dormitory on Christmas evening. The meeting resulted in pledging the $50,000.
The amount of the insurance is approximately $45, 000. With Mr. Carnegie's gift of $50,000 and the $50,000 to be raised by the college will bring the trustees a total of $145,000. Mr. Carnegie last spring gave the Lebanon Valley College $20,000 for a library.
Trolley Cars to Operate in Lebanon
Taken From the Gazette and Bulletin (Williamsport, Pennsylvania)
January 25, 1911
A New Departure - Before long a company will be organized in Lebanon which will operate giant passenger motor vehicles the size of trolley cars. They claim that a five cent fare is in sight for all of the residents of Lebanon and Annville. All the cars will be equipped with the pay-as-you-enter system.
Mrs. George Hamilton Discharged from Hospital
Mrs. Hamilton, wife of the Rev. George Hamilton, pastor of the East Lebanon Methodist church has been discharged from the Methodist hospital, Philadelphia, where she was under treatment for some time.
[Lebanon Daily News, Lebanon Pa., Monday Evening, November 2, 1931, Page 6, 1911 - Twenty Years Ago, November 2, 1911 - Transcribed by Nancy Piper]
Alice Schuler purchased a row of frame dwelling houses at Tenth street and Linen ally for $3,850.
[Lebanon Daily News, Lebanon Pa., Monday Evening, November 2, 1931, Page 6, 1911 - Twenty Years Ago, November 2, 1911 - Transcribed by Nancy Piper]
Taken From the Gazette and Bulletin (Williamsport, Pennsylvania)
September 27, 1913
Annville Goosebone Prophet Predicts Coldest Winter
Annville, Sept 26 - An old sage of Lebanon County, Phillip Miller, on the outskirts of Annville, reports that the
coming winter will be the coldest for a good many years past. He examined the goosebone and says that the
indications point to a severe winter and backs this with many other weather pointers.
Josephine K. Urich Organizes Suffrage League
Taken From Daily Independent (Monessen, Pennsylvania)
February 24, 1915
Annville, Feb. 22 - That Miss Josephine K. Urich of Lebanon County, does not share her father's fears on what may happen to women of Pennsylvania if the ballet is given to them, is being demonstrated by the active part which she is now playing in the local suffrage movement. When the suffrage resolution came up for vote in the House recently, Representative Urich made an impassioned protest against its passage. The House passed the resolution nevertheless and right on the heels of that action, his daughter Josephine called the members of the local C. I. G. club to her home and organized them into a suffrage league. She was made secretary of it and Miss Florence Boshm was elected president. Most of the members are students of Lebanon Valley College. Arrangements are now being made by Miss Urich for a number of suffrage meetings to which all the students of the college will be invited.
New High School to be Built
Taken From the Warren Evening Mirror (Warren, Pennsylvania)
October 13, 1916
Annville citizens are planning a new high school to cost $50,000. There are in the present building 129 pupils, and accommodations for only 70.
New Highway Opposed by Citizens
The Monessen Daily Independent (Monessen, Pennsylvania)
June 1, 1926
Oppose Route
Jonestown, Pa., June 1
Opposition to a proposed route of the new State highway between this borough and Fredericksburg has precipitated
residents into a turmoil. At an impromtu mass meeting, the taxpayers voted unamimously against the route that would
leave the town off the highway and declared that if the highway is not projected through the main street
of the borough, it will not be built at all.
The proposed highway eventually is to be the New York - Harrisburg short cut, reducing the distance between those two cities about 50 miles over that of the William Penn Highway. The road would probably become the most traveled highway in the state for freight transportation and trans-state tourists. Construction engineers told the borough residents that the traffic through the center of the town would be extremely heavy and congestion would result. Before work can proceed on the new line, borough authorities must provide legal adoption.
Arthur Kapp Lost - Restored to Parents at Palmyra
Arthur Kapp, 8 years old, of 120 Locust street, Palmyra, was lost Saturday night. Officers found him wandering at Sixth and Cumberland streets and turned him over to Chief Sealer who kept him at city hall until his parents claimed him.
[Lebanon Daily News, Lebanon Pa., Monday Evening, November 2, 1931, Page 1 - Transcribed by Nancy Piper]
Norman Shirk and Lester Schlaseman
Attend National Grange Sessions
Lebanon Daily News (Lebanon, Pennsylvania),
November 13, 1931
Two Lebanon county boys Norman Shirk
and Lester Schlaseman, members of Kimmerlings Grange, No. 1529, left Monday morning for Madison, Wisconsin, by
auto to attend the National Grange sessions, today and Saturday. They are eligible to receive the decree
of Flora and are scheduled to be honored. The boys expect to visit other places of interest before returning
home.
1931 South Lebanon Township Farm Show
and Awards
Lebanon Daily News (Lebanon, Pennsylvania),
November 13, 1931
Judge Exhibits At Farm Show In Iona School
The complete judging of exhibits of the
South Lebanon Township Farm Show, held Wednesday afternoon and evening in the Iona school building, was ended Wednesday
evening. Announcement of the winners was made in the evening during the special program period which featured
the show. C. A. Anderson, State College Extension worker, was the main speaker and County Superintendent,
H. C. Moyer, also gave a brief address. Iona High School orchestra rendered the musical program. The
prize winners:
CORN
Single Ear: Mary Moors
Sure Crop, 10 ear exhibit: 1, Harry Strauss;
2, Howard Weiss; 3, Harry Strauss.
Yellow Dent: 1, Frank Pottenger; 2, Alton
Snyder; 3, Robert Royer.
Other Varieties: 1, Howard Weiss; 2, Mary
Moore; 3, Paul Sanger.
Popcorn: 1, Raymond Risser; 2, Elizabeth
Hauck; 3, Earl Shaak.
SMALL GRAINS
Wheat: 1, Raymon Risser; 2, David Waidner;
3, Nelson Reedy.
FRUIT
Apples: 1, Earl Shaak; 2, Esther Scott;
3, Amos Moore.
Pears: Alice Light.
NUTS
Walnuts: 1, Homer Light; 2, Raymond Risser
Hickorynuts: Homer Light.
POTATOES
Russets: 1, Robert Royer; 2, Ralph Bicksler;
3, Caleb Light.
White Skinned: Mary E. Moore
VEGETABLES
Carrots: 1, Orpha Boyer; 2, Mildred Harnish;
3, Homer Light.
Turnips: 1, John Gundrum; 2, Ammon Brubaker;
3, Mary Moore.
Onions: 1, Mrs. C. O. Witman; 2, Orpha
Boyer; 3, Retiala Buffenmyer.
Sweet Potatoes: 1, Edwin Weidner; 2, Joseph
Smith; 3, Evelyn Krall.
Winter Radishes: 1, Harry Reedy; 2, Frank
Stager; 3, Allen Uhler
Endive: 1, Mrs. A. B. Krall; 2, Raymond
Risser.
Chinese Cabbage: Orpha Boyer
Parsnips: Raymond Risser
Artichokes: Walter Herr.
Salsify: 1, R. Risser; 2, Ammon Brubaker.
Squash: 1, Ida Snyder; 2, Mark Heisey;
3, Harvey Barto.
Celery: Mark Heisey.
Swiss Chard: Raymond Risser
Cabbage: Raymond Risser.
HONEY
Comb: Orpha Boyer
Rabbits: I. C. Arnold; 2, L. Light; 3,
A. Laudermilch.
Pigeons: 1, Henry Royer; 2, M. Dohner;
3, E. Risser.
POULTRY
Bantam: 1, E. Newmaster; 2, Harry Strauss.
Duck: 1, W. Light; 2, Howard Weiss; 3,
Monroe Houck.
GOOSE: w, H. Strauss; 2, G. Sanger; 3,
W. Light.
White Leghorn: 1, Mary Heisey; w, Charles
Arnold; 3, Harry Strauss
Barred P. Rock: 1, Ira Light; 2, Elmer
Risser; 3, Elmer Risser
Rhode Island Red: 1, Kermit Patches; 2,
B. Young; 3, A. Brubaker; 1, Mark Brubaker; 2, Kermit Patches; 3, Ammon Brubaker.
Wyandotte: 1, Herman Houch; 2, Harry Strauss;
1, Harry Strauss; 2, Glen Sanger; 3, Norman Lineweaver.
Jersey Giants: Charles Arnold
B. Rock: 1,2,and 3, Charles Arnold.
W. Rock: Ralph Bicksler.
HOME ECONOMICS
CANNED FRUIT
Peaches: 1, $20, Charlotte Hartman; 2,
$15, Orpha Boyer; 3, $10, Catherine Brown.
Plums: 1, $20, Verna Heisey; 2, $15, Mrs.
R. Krail.
Sour Cherries: 1, $20, Naomi Smith; 2,
$15, Frank Stager; 3, $10, Roger Meyers.
Sweet Cherries: 1, $20, Mrs. R. Krall;
2, $15, Orpha Boyer; 3, $10, Earl Shaak.
Spiced Peaches: 1, $20, Catherine Brown.
CANNED VEGETABLES
Tomatoes: 1, $20, Verna Heisey; 2, $15,
Catherine Hartman; 3, $10, Naomi Smith.
Corn: 1, $20, Frank Stager; 2, $15, Sarah
Risser; 3, $10, Catherine Hartman.
Pickles: 1, $20, Frank Stager; 2, $15,
Sarah Risser.
Mixed Pickles: 1, $20, Frank Stager.
DRIED FRUITS
Apples: 1, $20, Mark Bomberger; 2, $15,
Gladys Snyder; 3, $10, Earl Shaak.
DRIED VEGETABLES
Corn: 1, #20, Catherine Hartman; 2, $15, Raymond Risser; 3, $10, Henry Wenger.
String Beans: 1, $20, Raymond Risser.
JELLY
Currant: 1, $20, Roger Meyers
Grape: 1, $20, No name; 2, $15, Naomi
Smith; 3, $10, C. Hartley.
Quince: 1, $20, Mary Weiss; 2, $15, Mildren
Smith; 3, $10, Mrs. C. R. Whitman.
Plum: 1, $20, Mrs. R. Krail.
CAKES-BUTTER
White: 1, $20, Mrs. S. Stager; 2, $15,
Rebecca Hartman; 3, $10, Rosanna Brown.
Chocolate: 1, $20, Anna Krail; 2, $15,
Gladys Snyder
Sponge: 1, $20, Roger Meyers.
COOKIES
Rolled: 1, $20, Verna Heisey; 2, $15,
Naomi Smith.
SPECIAL PRIZE
Best Cake: $100, Mrs. Stager.
Bread: 1, Amy Weaver; 2, Roger Myers;
3, Mary Weiss.
NEEDLEWORK
Embroidery: 1, $20, Naomi Smith; 2, $15,
Emma Risser.
Pillow Cases: 1, $20, Emma Risser
Embroidered Covers: 2, Geraldine Kettering
Cushion Tops: 3, Emma Risser
QUILTS
Applique: 1, Sarah Risser.
Patchwork: 1, Emma Risser; 2, Roger Meyers;
3, Martha Wenger.
RUGS
Hooked: 1, Mrs. Jac. Horst; 2, Mrs. Henry
Long.
Braided: 1, Norman Lineweaver.
David D. Smith Leaves For Paris Island
David D. Smith, son of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Smith, of 1314 West Chestnut street, who recently enlisted in the United States Marine Corps left Monday for duty at Paris Island, South Carolina. Better known as Bud , Mr. Smith graduated from Lebanon High School in the class of 1938.
[Lebanon Daily News (Lebanon, Pennsylvania), March 4, 1941, Page 10 - Transcribed by Nancy Piper]
Assign Cornwall Man to Military Police
Mrs. Penrose Paton of Cornwall has received word that her husband Private Penrose Patton has been attached to a military police unit assigned to Camp Batner, North Carolina. Private Patton enlisted in the U. S. Army on September 14th 1942, and had been stationed at Fort Jackson, N.C. and Camp Tacceu, Georgia, before being sent to his present camp. Private Patton has two brothers servings overseas. They are Roderick Patton, R.C.A.F., somewhere in England and Sergeant Leroy Patton with the 2nd Armored Division somewhere on foreign soil.
Private Penrose Patton will celebrate his birthday in camp on Sunday. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Edward M. Patton of Cornwall. Before enlisting in the Army he was employed at the Cornwall Ore Mines.
[Lebanon Daily News, Lebanon PA, Friday Evening, November 20 1942 Page 12 - Transcribed by Nancy Piper]
Son in Marines Writes He Is Now Overseas
Former Postmaster and Mrs. Fred D. Hellman, of 551 Weldman Street have received word that their son, Robert K. Hellman has safely landed on foreign soil with American troops. It is one of the kind of cards filled out by a soldier and left at this point of embarkation and is then forwarded to the addressee after word is received as to the safe convoy of the ship on which he sails. This card therefore contains no indication of his present location.
"Bob" as the popular famer football ace at the Lebanon High School and Lebanon Valley College is known, enlisted in the U.S. Marines last spring and since then was in training on the Pacific Coast off Oregon and at times near Los Angeles. He was last heard from October 11th when he telephoned his parents that there were prospects then of his early departure for "somewhere". Because of the large forces of Marines sent to the Solomon Islands, it is presumed that he is with that contingent.
[Lebanon Daily News, Lebanon PA, Friday Evening, November 20 1942 Page 12 - Transcribed by Nancy Piper]
Hero Burial Benefits Are Paid by Co. Board
Soldier burial benefits for veterans of World War II and the Spanish American war were approved by the county commissioners yesterday as follows:
For Lt. John C. Weimer who lost his life in an automobile crash near Camp McCoy, Wisconsin, last October 23; First Sergeant Willaim S. Keenan who died from pneumonia at Camp Davis, N.C. inst., November 13; and A. Ross Morgan who died at his home 1115 Cumberland Street, last November 7th.
[Lebanon Daily News, Lebanon PA, Friday Evening, November 20 1942 Page 12 - Transcribed by Nancy Piper]
Gary Sipe Lands Plane On Road In Emergency
Lebanon Daily News (Lebanon, Pennsylvania) September 3, 1957
A Lebanon youth in a four-passenger plane made a successful forced landing on an expressway to the turnpike near West Chester, Pa., yesterday morning after poor visibility caused him to miss the West Chester Airport.
Gary Sipe, 21, 122d Willow St., said that due to bad weather enroute from Ocean City, N.J. to Fredericksburg, he decided to land at West Chester. " The ceiling was very low," the young pilot explained, "so when I missed the airport and saw the highway was clear, I landed.
Sipe and his two passengers, Murray Grosky, 1401 Willow St. and Jack Allwein, Ridge Ave., all college students were returning home after two days at the shore. The plane belongs to a nine member flying club in Fredericksburg, the Flying Shamrocks. The club owns the plane Sipe was flying, a Stinson Voyager and another, an Aronca Champion.
Sipe said, "Its not against the law to land on a highway under emergency conditions, but once landed the emergency is considered over and take-off is forbidden. He explained that the three secured permission from local authorities to push the plane to a nearby high school athletic field where take-off was made about 6 p.m. The emergency landing occurred at 10:30 a.m.
Another plane which attempted a landing in the same fog in Berlin, N.J., Monday, crashed killing the pilot and three passengers.
Sipe is a senior this year at Lebanon Valley College while Grosky is a freshman at Jefferson Medical School and Allwein is a junior at Temple University's school of dentistry at Philadelphia.