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Subject: News from Pennsburg - Apirl 16, 1904
Date: Thu, 22 Apr 2004 23:30:20 EDT
Ref: Town and Country Newspaper
Pennsburg, Montgomery County, PA
Saturday - April 16, 1904
TWO FAITHFUL AND INDUSTRIOUS YOUNG PEOPLE OF BERKS COUNTY
A recent visit to the Bally pantaloon factory in the north eastern part of
the thriving village of Bally, proved a surprise in many respects. The industry
is located in a commodious two story building, heated by steam and lit by
electricity. Three years ago George W. MELCHER, determined to open a factory at
this place, and started the industry with ten hands under the superintendence of
G. GREENBERG, of Philadelphia. The business has grown to such an extend that
there are 64 persons employed in the factory and in addition to this, work is
furnished to about 50 families. The factory proper is divided into two
departments. The first floor is devoted to the fitting up of the work and placing
into readiness for the machines, sewing on buttons, cleaning and examining work,
and sending work to the families of the neighborhood. This floor is in charge
of Mr. MELCHER's son, Charles (picture), who is not yet fifteen years of age.
Charles, although young, shows a remarkable degree of executive ability in
taking care of his department. He has entire charge of all the work from the time
it comes from the machines till it is ready for pressing and examining. On a
recent busy day this young captain of industry fitted up and sent out 532 pair
of trousers, in addition to the other duties of his department. The second
floor is devoted to machine work and basting. On this floor are to be found 36
machines of the latest improved patterns, including such noted manufactures as
the Wheeler & Wilson and Singer stitching machines and Union Special, Zig Zag,
Philadelphia, and Reece button hole machines. This department is in charge of
Bertha (picture), the seventeen year old daughter of Mr. MELCHER. This
factory claims the proud distinction of having the youngest and most industrious
foreman and forelady in the eastern part of the State, if not in entire
Pennsylvania. The factory building was entirely remodeled and very much improved during
last summer and everything is conveniently arranged to make the amount of
work with which it is constantly supplied by the well known firm of N.B.
KIRSHBAUM, Philadelphia tailors. The employes present a cheerful, industrious and
happy appearance and are all experts in their particular lines of work. Nearly all
are paid by the piece and all of the employees make very fair wages.
BOYS STEAL CHICKENS
The sending of young James SLOUGH, of Norristown, to the House of Refuge
revealed a gang of youthful bandits, his followers, whose specialty was chicken
thievery. On Monday Burgess BEAN, of Norristown, gave Raymond ELLIOTT, 15 years
old; Harry SCHRECK, 14 years; Edward DAVIS, 15 years; Raymond ECKHART, 14, and
Isaac ECKERT, 13, a hearing, at the conclusion of which he held them all in
heavy bail for court. It was testified that they worked in unison and heavily
armed. They had planned as a warning cry: "Sheepy Run," which is the name of a
game. They hoped to avoid detection by pretending to be playing this game.
HOUSE NARROWLY ESCAPED DESTRUCTION
The home of John BARNDT, of Argus, was found to be on fire on Tuesday, and
was saved by the neighbors after considerable difficulty. Shortly after dinner
Mrs. BARNDT detected the smell of smoke and after a search she found that the
stove pipe and woodwork around it were burning. As she and the baby were alone
in the house, she hurriedly ran to her neighbors for assistance. They quickly
responded and with buckets of water extinguished the flames ere much damage
was done.
AGED PIANO TUNER A GOOD PEDESTRIAN
Herr SCHMELTZER, of Scranton, an old piano tuner who has been tuning pianos
at Schwenksville and around the vicinity of Delphi for the last 29 years, made
his yearly calls again this week. He is now 77 years of age and walked from
Coopersburg to East Greenville on Tuesday and from there to Schwenksville on
Wednesday, a distance of about fourteen miles each day. He is hale and hearty and
expects to come around again about the middle of next month.
PURCHASED PENNSBURG BARBERSHOP
Herbert KNEULE, of Pennsburg, this week purchased his father's, Charles A.
KNEULE's barber shop. He has assisted his father in the business for the past
year. Mr. KNEULE, Jr. has engaged the services of Wilford TARTRE, of
Philadelphia, an experienced tonsorial artist who will assist him as soon as he takes
full possession, which will be about May 2.
SOLD A PENNSBURG PROPERTY
J.S. RENNINGER, of Hillegass, this week sold the double dwelling house on
Seminary street Pennsburg, to Harvey RAUDENBUSH of this borough. The price paid
has not been made know.
JANITOR HUNG HIMSELF
William B. THOMAS, school janitor, aged 56 years, of Jenkintown, who has been
missing from his home for one week, was found last Friday evening, dead, in
the belfry of the public school building. He had committed suicide by hanging
from the rafters in the bell tower. Since Saturday William THOMAS, a son has
been doing the work about the school. After one week had elapsed he became
suspicious as to the truth, and, climbing up into the dark tower, found the body of
his father dangling from the rafters. THOMAS is survived by a widow and three
sons. While children played, sang, studied and recited in the building the
aged man's body had dangled from the rope in the attic above the school.
F.K. WALT SEES UNUSUAL SIGHTS
In a letter to Town and Country F.K. WALT, of Reading, a former resident of
Pennsburg says that on Wednesday he was at Danfield, Pa. and there they had a
snow storm of six inches. The next day he came through Lancaster and there saw
farmers ploughing while the ground was covered with an inch of snow. He thinks
this was the poor man's fertilizer.
EDUCATIONAL EXHIBIT IN PENNSBURG
Martin SCHWEITZER, of Norristown, Local Manager of the International
Corresponce Schools of Scranton, will hold an educational exhibition for ten days in
Gilbert & Hevener's store, this borough. They extend a special invitation to
all ambitious people to view this grand display and inquire into methods. John
C. STANLEY is Mr. SCHWEITZER's clerk, and will have charge of the exhibit.
A BUSY SIGN PAINTER
J.S. RENNINGER, the artist and sign painter, of Hillegass, is very busy at
this season of the year. During the past week he lettered two wagons for the
Sweinhart & Heimbach Ice Co., of East Greenville, one for butcher E. WEISS, of
East Greenville, and two for butcher J.K. SAYLOR, of Pennsburg. He also lettered
a sign board for J.M. MILLER, proprietor of the Union House, Bally.
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