The Ligonier Echo from Ligonier, Pennsylvania • 1

Own Community Prosper. Ligoner tain Playground. at Home and Help Your The Erho. Ligonier--Pennsylvania's Moun- Vol. XLIX, No.

27 Ligonier, Westmoreland County, Friday, March 5, 1937 Ligonier Ligonier American Echo Established Established 1388 1908 Combined 1936 Copy, Five Cents Ligonier's Last Civil War Veteran Dies in Hospital Military Funeral to Be Held Sunday For John Arbaugh, Aged 95. John Hill Arbaugh, aged 95 years, 2 months and 29 days, Ligonier's last surviving veteran of the Civil War, died Wednesday evening at 10:30 o'- clock in the Latrobe Hospital. Mr. Arbaugh had been a patient in the Hospital since last November 25th when he was taken there after receiving injuries in a fall down the stairs in the home of his daughter, Mrs. Bertha Griffith, on McColly street.

Full military funeral services will be held Sunday at three o'clock from his daughter's home and interment will be made in the Ligonier Valley Cemetery. Rev. D. Alan Martens, pastor of the Presbyterian church of which Mr. Arbaugh was a member will conduct the services.

Mr. Arbaugh was born in Ligonier Township on December 4, 1842. He enlisted at the start of the war in Company 64th Regiment PennsyIvania Calvary for a three year period. He re-enlisted for the same period as a Veteran Volunteer, after the first enlistment had expired. He was wounded in a skirmish.

He was promoted to the rank of c. sergeant on May 1, 1865 and discharged from the service on July 1865. He went to Johnstown as a teamster in 1870 but returned to Ligonier before the flocd. Following the flood he returned to Johnstown, engaging in brick manyfacture and later in the real estate business. He retired from active work in 1924 and came to his late residence in Ligonier.

Mr. Arbaugh is survived by a half brother, Lemon Arbaugh; three daughters, Mrs. Bertha Griffith, of Ligonier, Mrs. Charles McGahan, of Johnstown and Mrs. N.

J. McKel-1 of Beverly Hills, California; and vey one son F. N. Arbaugh of Lansing, Michigan. Mr.

Arbaugh was the town's oldest resident and was the last of Ligonier Valley's Civil War Veterans, four of them having died since 1935. Ligonier Students To Enter Co. Music Contest March 11 Ligonier High School will enter a brass sextet and possibly an ment soloist in the Westmoreland County music contest of the PennsyIvania Forensic League which is to be held in the Southwest Greensburg High School, on Thursday, March 11, at 7:30 P. M. The sextet is composed of Gelvin Nicely and Harry Clark, trumpets; Betty Burkholder, horn; Mary Louise Geeting, trombone; Marian Ross, baritone; and George Kochko, tuba.

Each of the contestants play a required number and one number of their own selection. The Ligonier entry will play "The Prayer" by Wagner which is the required number. Their selected number is "Song of the Fatherland" by Edward Grieg. The public is cordially invited to attend the Woman's Club Presented Play The Woman's Club of Ligonier presented their biblical drama "Lydia- Seller of Purple" in the Method.st Episcopal church last Sunday evening. In the musical portion of the program William McColly and William Dice played a cornet duet and a quartet composed of Marjorie Dice, Mary Louise Geeting, Elizabeth Weller and Betty Burkholder sang several selections.

The collection taken during the evening was applied to the Woman's Club Library Fund. Recent Birth Mr. and Mrs. William Q. Rummell, on Route 711 have welcomed a fine baby boy into their home.

The new arrival has been named Alfred Dean. MARCH 10 IS DATE SET FOR L. H. S. PLAY Students of Ligonier H.

S. to Present "Ghost Parade" Wednesday Night. CAST IS SELECTED What would you do if you inherited a haunted hotel? Run from ic? No, you would probably investigate the ghost tales and find their source, not resting until you did so, and that is exactly what Anne Watkins, the heiress of the Hotel Imperial in the town of Littleboro does in the play, "The Ghcst The dynamic three-act mystery farce, under the baton of Miss Dickinson will get underway on March 10, at 8:00 P. M. on the Ligonier high school stage.

Rastus, the superstitious bell-hop, will be there with his well- worn rabbit foot near him when the parade of all parades begins. Miss Abigail will forget her fright momentarily as she charmingly minces and whirls before the highpowered stage comedian, Aleck Smart, who only has eyes for the fresh New Yorker, Mamie Rose Callahan. Ted Lewis, Aleck Smart's partner, who has been sick for some time, and Anne Watkins prove that love will carry on and triumph during the most tense moments of an adventure, the adventure being the solving of a horror-striking hotel mystery. Hiram Hawks, Main Streets perfect lover, will be there with his loud suit and socks and a "Hey, Nonny, Nonny" as he boasts, (Continued on Page 8) Marine and Mother Buried Friday In Valley Cemetery The body of Richard Frye, U. S.

Marine, killed in an explosion aboard the U. S. S. Wyoming off the coast of California two weeks ago Thursday, and his mother Mrs. Mayme Rhoades Frye, were burried side by side in a large single grave in the Ligonier Valley Cemetery last Friday afternoon.

A large number of relatives and friends attended the services both at Gaskin's Funeral Home and at the Cemetery. Full military services for Richard were conducted by Ligonier veterans. Just before the caskets were lowered into the grave, Corporal Francis Kr.app, who accompanied Richard's body from the coast, removed the large American flag that was draped over the Marine's casket and handed it to Emanuel Frye, the father. The services at the funeral home were conducted by two Johnstown ministers, Rev. Miller and Rev.

Phillippi. Detour On Lincoln Highway Due Soon The Lincoln highway between Greensburg and Irwin is expected to be closed to traffic within several days, county commissioners announced Tuesday. Work on fills and cut-offs has been completed to the point where the highway itself must be closed to permit work of widening the highway for four lanes of traffic to progress. A request for permission to close the road has been made to the State Highway Department by Donatelli and Donatelli, contractors. The detour between Greensburg and Irwin has not been announced but is expected to be through West Jeannette and Manor.

Cement Floor Laid At New Building Work was started this week in laying the concrete floor in the new municipal building now under course of construction. It was just a year ago this week since Fred McWilliams, the architect, was authorized by the Ligonier Council to submit plans for the new building. Commission Filed SCHOOL BOARD NAMES CENSUS ENUMERATOR Miss Nan McClure to Take School Census in Ligonier Borough. CONTRACTORS TO BE PAID Miss Nan McClure was elected school census enumerator at the regular monthly meeting of the borough school board held Monday evening in the High School. Miss McClure has served in this capacity for several years.

The Board also voted Monday evening 4 to 1 to make the final payments to all contractors connected with the building of the new addition to the local High School. The PWA, which contributed of the total cost of the project, made their final payment to the board last week. Treasurer Wayne M. Cook reported a balance of $5,330.29 in the general fund as of March 1, 1937. Receipts of the treasurer during the month of February included: Ligonier township, High School tuition, township, High School tuition, Grade School tuition, Taxes, $605.64.

Expenditures during the month totalled $3,024.97. The Construction Fund shows a balance of $6.727.45. Sinking Fund No. 1 has a balance of $971.20, and Sinking Fund No. 2, a balance of $160.00.

Members of the Board of Education present were Maud C. Ewing, J. Harry Fry, J. W. Hunter, Wayne M.

Cook and Alan K. Renwick. Series of Meetings For Farmers in Co. Announced Today A series of community meetings for farmers in Westmoreland county was announced today by the County Agricultural Conservation Committee. Each meeting will serve a two fold purpose.

Information concerning the 1937 agricultural conservation program will be presented and explained, and a community committee to help administer the program will be elected. A member of the county committee will preside at each meeting. All farmers are invited to attend one of the following meetings. The schedule of the meetings for this vicinity follows: Cook and Donegal Twps. -Donegal Grange Hall, March 9, at 1:30 P.

M. Ligonier Twp. -Ligonier High Schocl, March 11, at 1:30 P. M. Fairfield and St.

Clair Twps. -West Fairfield School, March 11, at 7:30 P. M. High School Team Receives Supplies The National Rifle Association, of which the Ligonier High School team is a member, sent the club a $150 shipment of supplies this week. Included in the shipment was enough 22 amunition for 200 rounds for each member; 50 rounds of 30.06 ammunition; and another high power rifle.

The team, which is rated high in the N. R. A. division will attempt to get into the division, which requires a 980 score out of a possible 1000, in their remaining three matches. Driver and Helper Unhurt in Wreck Neither the driver nor his helper were injured when a Chevrolet truck toaded with 283 hampers of green tomatoes ran off while coming down the mountain, crashed into a pole near Washington Furnace Inn and upset.

The truck narrowly missed the gascline pumps at the Inn before striking the pole. It was enroute to Pitts-, burgh when the accident occurred. New Arrival Boro. Council Set Tax Millage For 1937 Same As Last Year To Philippine Islands PAS WASHINGTON Paul V. McNutt, (above), former Governor of Indiana, is the new U.

S. High Commissioner to the Philippine islands. He was appointed to that post by President Roosevelt and U9 ErE 3. for the Ligonier Ministers Lay Plans For Good Friday Observance The Ligenier Ministerial Association held its monthly meeting in the study of the Presbyterian Church on Tuesday afternoon, March 2. All of the town ministers were present and several from out of town also were there.

Plans were made at this meeting for the Good Friday Three -hour service. The service is to be held in the Methodist Church. Because of the interest shown to Mr. Bayley when he was here to speak on Temperance Education, he has agreed to come for another engagement for the grade pupils, this service to be gratis. Those present were treated to a splendid paper by the Rev.

Mr. Hildebrand of the Lutheran Church on the subject "The Need of A vote of appreciation was extended to Mr. Hildebrand at the close of the discussion of his paper The program committee offered the series of interesting topics for the papers of the next few months, as follows: April 6, "'The Christian Sabbath Day' -Rev. Rankin. May 4, "The -week Prayer Miller.

June 8, "'The Church and the Headlee. Sept. 7, "World Tides Opposing the Church" -Rev. Martens. Proprietary Members of Club to Meet The regular annual meeting of the proprietary members of the Ligonier Country Club will be held at the Club House at 7:30 P.

Thursday. March 11, 1937. Important business that will be discussed during the meeting will be the financial reorganization of the Club, election of members of the Board of Governors for the ensuing year and other business which may properly come before this meeting. Associate members are cordially invited to attend this meeting but will not be entitled to do any voting. Pershing Pushing Bills in Assembly Our local Assemblyman Clarence Pershing continued to push his bills through the House and Senate this week.

Three of his bills have gone to the Senate and another will be on second reading in the House next Monday evening. One of the three in the Senate (A National Guard Bill) passed third reading there and has gone to the Governor for his signature. On Vacation Mrs. May Breniser Buchanan, owner of the Hotel Breniser, accompanied by her niece, Marjorie Breniser, left yesterday at noon by motor for Florida. Before returning home Mrs.

Buchanan plans to visit Havana, Cuba. They will be gone two weeks. Gets Social Security Pay. P.AS. NEW YORK Harry Gregory, laborer (above), became 65 years old.

January 24. He and his ployer had paid in $1.64 (82 cents each) to the Federal Social Security Pension fund. He au old-age pay check for $2.88. the first in this district. He's going to frame it.

not cash it. Colonial Tea Held Saturday in Local Hotel Is Success More than 100 persons attended the Colonial Tea held Saturday afternoon in the Fort Ligonier Hotel by the Woman's Club of Ligonier. A delightful program was presented under the direction of the Club president, Mrs. John M. and Mrs.

George Naugle. The program opened with a Virginia Reel in which the following girls, dressed in Colonial costume, took part: Dorothy Betz, Elizabeth Cairns, Marian Hamill, Emma Bracken, Alice Hall, Nancy Ewing, Alma Byers, Anna Jane Muil, Jean Smith, Mary Darr, Dorothy Smith, and Mary Lue Clark. This was followed by a tap dance by Marion Ross and Olive Jean Knapp. Miss Myrtle Ryland then sang a solo, "I Love You The program also included special dance numbers by Rosan Deeds, Nancy Jean Breniser, Susan Kuntz, Mary Lue Clark and Polly Graham. Mabel Jean Leslie, Helen Vance, Mary Louise Geeting, and Nancy Ewing took their turn in playing the piano accompaniments for the various musical numbers.

Hostesses for the afternoon were members of the Executive board. Presiding at the tea tables were Mrs. W. A. Peterson, Mrs.

H. W. Rhody, Mrs. Earnest C. Ramsey and Mrs.

George Naugle. Proceeds from the tea will be used to buy new books for the Ligonier Public School Library. Preceding the tea the Club held their regular meeting. Potato Growers to Hear Specialist "Profitable Potato Growing" will be the subject of a talk to be given by L. T.

Denniston, Extension Specialist in Plant Pathology at the Pennsylvania State College, in Miller's Hall, Stahlstown, on this Friday evening, March 5, at 8:00 o'clock to which the potato growers of the Ligonier Valley are invited to be present. The meeting is arranged cy County Agent W. L. Treager and is a part of the Agricultural Extension program for the Stahlstown community for 1937. Appointed County Commissioner James A.

Kell of New Alexandria, has been appointed chairman of the executive committee of the Pennsylvania state association of county commissioners. The appointment was made by John N. O'Neil, president of the association and commissioner of Washington county. The executive committee determines the policies of the state association. New Shop Budget Is Adopted For Year At Meeting Held Wednesday Evening.

The borough budget for 1937 was adopted by Council at the regular monthly meeting on Wednesday evening, and the tax millage for this year was ordered set at mills. the same rate that was in effect last year. The news that the millage would not be increased, came as a surprise, as it was thought it would be necessary for Council to raise the millage to meet town hall and other improvement project expenses. Fixing the millage and adopting the budget followed considerable detailed discussion on the question. Only the fact that an increased expenditure is mandatory at the present time to cover the borough's share of several WPA improvement projects, kept the Council from lowering the millage.

The millage, according to the recommendation of the finance committee will be divided in the proportion of mills for the general fund and mills will be applied to sinking fund No. 1 for payment of interest and retirement of sewer bonds. Onehalf mill was set for sinking fund No. 2 for the retirement of Town Hall Bonds. Payroll for the month totalled $348.60, while the bills were $690.56.

Total receipts were $721.14. Chief of Police C. W. Wilt reported four arrests made in February. Mrs.

Catherine Shrum Oldest Lady in Town Died Wed. Night Mrs. Catherine Shrum, one of Ligonier's oldest residents passed away Wednesday evening at 8:10 o'clock at her home on South Market street. following a brief illness. Mrs.

Shrum who was in her 91st year had suffered a parolytic stroke Saturday from which she never recovered. Mrs. Shrum, a life long resident of Ligonier Valley, was the oldest female resident in the community. She was born June 19, 1846. Surviving are six grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

Her husband, Robert Shrum died February 14, 1926. Two daughters, Mrs. Georgia Jones, and Mrs. Della Hoover also preceded her in death. Funeral services in charge of Rev.

D. Alan Martens. pastor of the First Presbyterian church of which Mrs. Shrum was a member will be held Saturday afternoon at 2 o'clock from the residence. Interment will be made in the Ligonier Valley Cemetcry.

Latrobe Banks to Merge June 1st According to latest reports, two of Latrobe's banking institutions, namely the First National Bank and the Latrobe Bank and Trust will be consolidated on June 1st of this year. If the merger is completed Latrobe will lose the distinction of being the only town in Westmoreland County having three banks. Both banks are affiliated with the Mellbank Corporation so the consolidation is merely a formality as far as ownership is concerned. C. S.

Marvel, president of the Bank and Trust Company, and also head of the First National Bank in Ligonier, in a statement issued Tuesday, said that the consolidation would better serve the depositors and industries of the district. Farewell Sermon Farewell Sermon Reverend Paul Clemmensen, minister of the Church of Christ at Laughlintown for the past several years, will deliver his farewell sermon Sunday. Rev. Clemmensen returned recently from a trip to Chicago, Ill. and Green Bay, Wis.

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Nicely of Commission Filed Ligonier township are the parents of Alvin Felgar, who has worked in Improving a son born Friday, February 26th. meat markets in Ligonier for the The Notary Public commission of The newcomer has been named Ron- past twelve years, will open his own Burgess J. C.

Myers who has been George S. Deeds, of Ligonier, was ald Earl. Mrs. Nicely before her shop tomorrow on North Market seriously ill for the past week is rerecorded at the county court house marriage was Miss Florence Mc- street in the building formerly occu- ported slightly improved at this writFriday. Dowell.

pied by the Ligenter American. ing. Improving.