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The Mercury from Pottstown, Pennsylvania • Page 13

Publication:
The Mercuryi
Location:
Pottstown, Pennsylvania
Issue Date:
Page:
13
Extracted Article Text (OCR)

Feature Page Pottstown Mercury Feature Page Half Century of Experience Four persons were in serious condition in Reading hospitals Sunday night after a two car collision which killed a borough woman in Kenhorst Saturday. Injured in the accident were Leon Budrow, 40, 345 Cherry street; his daughter, Donna Stanley Hiester, 56, Mohnton; and his son, Kenneth Hiester, 33, also of Mohnton. Budrow was in serious condition in St. hospital ith chest injuries; his daughter was in poor condition in Reading hospital with a concussion, two broken legs and facial injuries. The elder Hiester was in critical condition with head injuries in Community hospital, and his son was in fair condition at Reading hospital, also with head injuries.

Another Budrow child, George 9, was treated for facial cuts at Reading hospital and released. Killed in the accident was Martha Budrow, 41, a passenger in the car driven by her husband. Berks county coroner Dr. John Fccht said the woman died of lacerated spleen and lung and a fractured skull. Kenhorst police said the Budrow car was traveling north on Route 624 ot 5:30 p.

m. when a witness said it went through a stop sign at Route 724, colliding with the Hiester car. Page Thirteen 4 Seriously Hurt Local Woman ies in Crash The impact of the collision threw Mr. and Mrs. Budrow and their son from the station wagon, but their daughter, Donna, was trapped in the wreckage.

Police and firemen had to cut away the station door- ports to free the girl, who pinned by the back seat. Reportedly the family was driving to Shillington to Christmas shop at the time of the accident. Born in Pottstown, Mrs. Budrow was a daughter of the late Andrew and Mary (Gresko) For six years she assisted her husband in the operation of a grocery store at Cherry and Evans streets. She was a member of St.

John the Baptist Byzantine Catholic church and St. lodge. Surviving with her husband, son and daughter are a brother, Andrew A. Cihiy, Sanatoga; two sisters, Mary, widow of Kenneth Gilbert, 809 North Washington street, Margaret, widow of John Baczor, 321 Cherry street. Funeral services will be Wednesday at 8 a.m.

from Warker Funeral home, 726 High street. Divine liturgy will be said at 9 a.m. in St. church. Interment will be in the church cemetery.

Viewing will be at the funeral home from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. tomorrow. Parastas services will be at 8 p.m. tomorrow.

4 Accidents Blamed on Icy Roads Icy and snowy roads proved a hazard to area motorists Sunday as several accidents were caused by the slippery conditions. McKerns said James J. Harp, 41 West Fourth street was traveling North on Johnson street, between Beech and Second streets Sunday at 2:10 p.m., when his car began to slide on the icy road surface. Police said he attempted to correct the slide, but hit a parked car owned by Joseph Lasheski, 4 West Second street. Damage was estimated at $100.

Paul A. Davis, Geryville pike. Green Lane was traveling south on Route 29, Schwenksville at 12:30 a. m. Sunday, when he was sideswiped by a hit and run motorist, according to state police from the Schwenksville barracks.

Police estimated the damage at $1000. Police said Judith B. Steinberg, Lansdale RI) 2. was traveling west on 73, in Worcester township, wheti an eastbound vehicle slid into the side of her car. Damage was estimated at $200, Karl Mueller.

Philadelphia, told state police from Schwenksville he was driving east on Route 73 in Lower Frederick township at 1:30 Sunday morning when he failed to stop for a stop sign because of the icy road surface, and crashed into a utility pole. Damage was estimated at $300, Carolers Brave Cold to Bring Holiday Spirit Carolers contiune to sing in the downtown section despite below freezing temperatures. The Christmas music is provided every evening by area vocal groups. The program sponsored by the Downtown Pottstown Business association was marred for the first time last week when two groups were forced to cancel their appearance because of illness. Groups from the Salvation Army Citadel and Pine Forge Institute, scheduled for Dec.

9 and 10 respectively were forced to postpone performances because of sickness among the members. The Pottstown Mennonite church provided Christmas mu- sie and St. Gabriel's Episcopal church caroled on Thursday. Friday evening the Vincent Mennonite church entertained the downtown shoppers. The Trinity C.

church caroled for the first time Saturday in the I)PBA program. Tonight the First Methodist church Deschant choir will sing along High street from 8 to 9 p.m. Following Lhe caroling each evening the groups are guests of the Coffee Cup 252 Hiik street. ON THE ----------Main Drag Conducting Low Thompson said his motivation at the outset was not as highly principled as it is now QUALITY HOMES "I decided to do it because of the large number of calls 1 received from citizens who wanted to rent quality homes at fairly reasonable prices, he said, adding: sure every other real estate man in town has had many similar Now that entered into the field of privately financed rehabilitation he has recognized the tremendous need for it. Now Thompson owns 5 homes an Lincoln avenue.

In all but one he has to install furnaces. When he took ownership the homes could best be described as in an unfit condition, uninhabitable, with no central heat, and extremely deplorable conditions. One of the homes contained a family of 12 children, plus the husband and wife. All are vacant now. to permit renovations to go on unhindered.

But they are being hindered anyway, and the rehabilitation project moving as fast as it should. Reason for the delay is the shortahe of contractors who have free time to work on the homes. But Thompson found enough help to completely restore one of the homes. already been rented, and the family is expected to move in before Christmas. A second dwelling, at 537 Lincoln, will be completed and occupied before the first of the year.

Included in the renovations, in addition to new heating systems, are new tile baths, basements finished with concrete, remodeled exteriors, repainting inside and out, new Pharmacist's Work is 50 Year Hobby Fifty years is a long time to be devoted to any one hobby, but for Chester Ellis, Charlotte and Walnut streets, the interest never dimmed. His hobby is his pharmacy, which he opened at Charlotte and Walnut streets in 1918. A native Pottstonian, Ellis will celebrate his 73d birthday next month. But he still works in his drug store 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., seven days a In his spare time he runs the business end of a telephone answering service.

are eight girls who run the switchboards, but I handle the books and the new Ellis explained. NO PLANS Despite his rigorous work schedule and his 50 years on the job, the pharmacist said he has no plans to retire. know what to do with myself if I he laughed. During his long career Ellis has seen many changes in his chosen profession. are many new antibiotics that around when I started.

In the flu epidemic of 1918 we have antibiotics. We used he noted. most of the drugs are already prepared when they reach the druggist so we have to compound them. Back then we made our own aromatic spirits of ammonia and our own paregoric, but today customers can buy them prepared and cheaper than we can make he said. COMPANY PATENT cost of the new antibiotics Is up.

but some drugs actually have decreased In price. Aspirin is one. Fifty years ago one company had a patent on it. and when the patent expired, the price went he added. The price of some older antibiotics also has gone down because there are always newer ones to take their place.

may sound unbelievable, but germs actually get used to some antibiotics, which lose their effectiveness against them. This is why pew antibiotics are being marketed each year to combat Ellis said. The druggist was born at 24 Beech street where his brother still lives. His mother lived there for 60 years until her death. Ellis worked a year in the Shuler House pharmacy before entering Philadelphia College of Pharmacy from which he was graduated in 1917.

He worked in Stroudsburg a year then opened his pharmacy at the present site on Nov. 30, 1918. sold mostly the same merchandise 50 years ago as we do today. We have cigars and cigarets and perfumes and toilet water and a lunch counter to. sell nndwichcs and ice cream.

SCHOOL LUNCH Pottstown High school used to be on Beech street, we had 40 or 50 kids in here every day for lunch. But now the school has moved and has its own cafeteria, so we get them coming here he pointed out. Ellis does much of the work in the drug store himself, but he has a woman to help with the lunch counter and two teenagers who help parttime. When not in his pharmacy or at the answering service the septuagenarian can most likely be found in his apartment above the store reading. used to like to horseback ride, but I got too old for he explained.

GEORGE CARVER a winning basketball team. VIRGINIA COLE mixed comments on her new pink and blue dress. JUNE 8TOLPE her hair in a new short style. SHERLEY MERCER forward to the holidays. CINDA LOU BURKHART her daughters watch as she had her picture taken on lap.

SYLVIA BAUB late for a Christmas party. BETTY CHIEFFO to fill the holiday orders for cookies. GILBERT MARSHALL out his new little car on snowy roads. NEIL IIIPSZER a birthday. BLAINE GREBE orders for deer meat.

Traditional Flower Jane Steiner, 29 Grosstown road, Stowe, adds beauty to the hundreds of poinsettia plants, in full bloom for the Christmas season at Batchelor's flowers, Snowdenville, East Coventry township. The traditional flower of the Christmas season is used abundantly as a yuletide gift plant. During the holiday season, the plant, with tapering scarlet petal- like leaves surrounding small yellow flowers, also is used to decorate the altars in most local churches. Followina ih 10 and Cost Project Realtor A Pottstown real estate man is putting the finishing touches on one segment of a five home rehabilitation program, financed with his own money, which ultimately can mean a better life for many local residents. The realtor is Richard H.

Thompson, and the focus of this private enterprise rehabilitation is a row of five homes in the 500 block of Lincoln avenue, just west of Hale street. Purpose of the private project, which will cost the real estate man more than $60,000 before it is completed, is to provide quality homes at a reasonable monthly rent, a most elusive item in housing market. When completed, the do-it- yourself redevelopment project will offer homes with three bedroom, new heaters, bathrooms and kitchens, and wall to wall carpeting, at $100 a month. flush paneled doors, maple kitchen cabinets, new kitchen ranges, and new electrical wiring throughout. Thompson said costing more for the remodeling than he originally estimated, and figures the unit cost, including purchase price, will be $12,000.

Handling the financing for the homes and repairs is First Federal Savings and Loan association, High and Hanover streets, an organization which is a firm supporter of rehabilitation through private enterprise. One of the financial officials, Vice President Howard M. Long, is a major proponent of this type program, and last year organized a tour by local builders, bankers and realtors through Philadelphia neighborhoods where private capital has been used to upgrade homes in whole sections of the city. Borough Manager Joseph D. Banta, another strong advocate of private rehabilitation programs, said he was most pleased when he learned of efforts.

Citing the Cherry Area Neighborhood Improvement and Code Enforcement program, being financed by federal funds, Banta said if it were being done with private funds it would be completed much sooner because of the lack of red tape. think this is a wonderful he continued, I hope more people become interested in upgrading deteriorating housing with private Lewis J. Kirby, the director of inspections, examined the finished home Thursday afternoon and stated there is a marked improvement. dwelling now is a real home, offering a mich better place in which to live. I was happy to see In each of the comments, from Thompson, Banta, Long and Kirby, all touched on what everyone considers the biggest deterrent to privately financed redevelopment instant reassessment.

As soon as a deteriorating home undergoes major renovations it is reassessed, and higher taxes are imposed because of the increased value. The situation has caused more than one builder to give up rehabilitation programs because the increased taxes cause higher rentals or larger selling prices and mortgage payments, making it difficult to find tenants or purchasers. Last year local officials privately attempted to work out an arrangement where reassessments cause higher tax payments until five years they were completed, thereby the renters or purchasers a chance to get on their feet The County Board for the Assessment and Revision of Taxes rejected this proposal, however, saying State law prevents giving concessions to one type home without it applying to all. Borough Man Arrested For Drunk Driving A Pottstown man was arrested for distuibins the peace and drunk driving Saturday night by Pottstown police. Thomas Bradley, 755 Walnut street, was arrested by Patrolman Richard and charged with a disturbance at Frank Evans bar, King and Washington streets, at 9:30 p.m.

The police offered to call a cab for Bradley, but he refused. Police then said they told him he was unfit to drive, and the man said he was going to walk home. Later, police claimed they saw Bradley driving unsteadily on Chestnut street, near Warren street. Bradley was taken to borough hall where he was arraigned before Justice of the Peace Charles Dasch. He was held on $500 bail.

Chester Ellis prepares a prescription as he has been doing daily for the past 50 years in his pharmacy at Charlotte and Walnut streets. Unlike half a century ago, most drugs today come ready to be sold and the druggist does not have to mix the ingredients. (Mercury Staff Photo). Pottstown, Monday, December 1968.

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About The Mercury Archive

Pages Available:
293,060
Years Available:
1933-1978