25 Years AgoJan. 31, 1990 >> After 38 years in the Christian ministry, the Rev. Morris Houck Jr., senior pastor of St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Hamburg, retired January 31, from the active ministry.
Mark Morgan Jr., Hamburg RD3, is a free-lance forest fire helicopter pilot. He pilots a Bell 206B3set ranger, one of many helicopters assigned to fight a blaze last summer in the Payette National Forest in Idaho.
Michael Rick, Hamburg, a senior at Hamburg Area High School, was the Student of the Month for the Exchange Club.
50 Years AgoJan. 28, 1965 >> Irvin S. Miller, of 160 North Third Street, Hamburg, caretaker of the Hamburg Recreation Park and playground, was the recipient of the third annual “Outstanding Citizen” award presented by Hamburg’s Junior Chamber of Commerce at an awards banquet in the Washington Hotel, Hamburg on Friday night.
A lone pine tree, which stands as a sentinel on a private cemetery West of Hamburg, marks the burial place of Jacob Hertzler, the first Amish Bishop in America. This was one of the interesting bits of information about the Amish and the Mennonites, the Rev. Roy M. Neideigh, pastor of First United Church of Christ, revealed in a slide lecture on these people, which was given at the annual congregational meeting recently.
Mrs. George Keiser reports that on Feb 1, it will be 43 years that they opened their popular store at the corner of Port Clinton Ave., with North Fourth and Franklin Streets.
Cadet Sealon R. Wentzel Jr., 20, whose parents live at 311 Pennsylvania Avenue, Shoemakersville, marched in the Presidential Inaurgural Parade in Washington D.C., on January 20, as a member of the Corps of Cadets of the Class of 1967, he was one of the 600 cadets selected to represent the Academy in the parade.
75 Years AgoJan. 25, 1940 >> Morris Orenstein, last of a gang of five that fatally wounded Chief of Police Lewars, 11 years ago, in a gun battle when they were surprised during a silk mill burglary in Hamburg, and who was arrested in Atlantic City recently, is to be tried at the March term of court.
Harold H. Miller, son of Mr. and Mrs. Calvin T. Miller, Strausstown, left Monday for Los Angeles, CA, to enroll in the Aereo Industries Technical Institution.
Professor Schultz and His Fifth Ave, Hoboes will appear in Armory Hall at 8 p.m. next Friday evening.
Shartlesville Fire Company Indoor Carnival will be held on January 27, music by Blue Emblem Orchestra in the community Fire Hall. Admission 5 cents and 15 cents.
Mid-Winter Clearance: Ladies’ Dresses $2.66-$4.66; All Ladies Winter Hats-Now 98 cents; Kiddies Snowsuits, Coats-79 cents; Men’s and Boy’s Overcoats–$10.98 -$17.98 at Diner’s Store.
Gene Autry in “Roving Tumbleweeds” will be featured at the Strand on January 26.
100 Years AgoJan. 28, 1915 >> M. M. Dreibelbis, civil engineer, with offices on State Street, Hamburg, announces his candidacy for county surveyor. Mr. Dreibelbis is the borough engineer at present, and has been very successful in his line of business.
A new jewelry store will shortly be opened in the store room formerly occupied by the Adams Express Company, at No. 5 North Fourth Street, Hamburg, by the Reliance Novelty Company, of Reading.
J.G. Reber, proprietor of Reber Wagon Works, Centerport, shipped six new wagons to M.L. Bachman at Lebanon.
A surprise party was held at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Balthaser on State Street, Hamburg, in honor of their daughter Anna’s sixth birthday. The evening was pleasantly spent playing games and luncheon was served.
The Early Files are compiled every week by Peggy Sterner for The Hamburg Area Item.