(Courtesy of Shem Aigler)

Shown above are two split photos of the cherry picking at Shem Aigler’s orchard. The one photo shows Mrs. Shem Aigler at the truck loaded with picked cherries, and the other shows Marion Bailey picking cherries off of the tree. While this was a common event for a long period of time, there are presently no commercial cherry orchards in Beavertown.

(What citizen of Beavertown who worked for C. Aigler has some important patents? Answer next month.)

Answer to Last Month

Jimmy Kern was the Forest Fire Warden for the Shade Mountain area, and no warden before or after had more fires to contend with than did Jimmy. This was due to the “Huckleberry Boys”, a name given to the unknown person or persons who set many fires to promote the growth of these wild berries. These rascals then not only made money from picking and selling the berries, but from fighting the fires they set as well.

(Courtesy of Shem Aigler)

Shown above is a photo of the Beavertown Boys Band encamped in three tents at the Centre Hall Grange Fair where they performed in 1926. Paul Freed was the band leader and can be seen in the middle of the photo facing forward. The cooks for this encampment were Jimmy Kern and Charles Freed. (For additional information on the Boys Band, see BN Vol. 3 No. 6 of June, 1995)

(What else did Jimmy Kern do later in life? Answer next month.)

Answer to Last Month

The original denomination housed in the United Methodist church building here in Beavertown was the United Brethren in Christ. They built this 1 1/2 story house of worship about 1865 and called it the Bethesda Church.

It was purchased on November 24, 1871, and became a charge in the Evangelical Church. Later it was also Evangelical and United Brethren.

(Courtesy of Stanley Ritter)

This photo of the early 1900s shows the three churches in Beavertown at that time. The first built was the Reformed Church (U. C. C.) in 1851 by Moses Specht. The next was the Evangelical (U. M.) built about 1865. The third was the Lutheran built in 1880, also by Moses Specht. This church, while the newest, was the first to no longer serve as a house of worship.

(What denomination was the United Methodist Church when built in 1865? Answer next month.)

Answer to Last Month

Johnny P. Kearns had a very large and successful carriage and buggy works in Beavertown in the late 19th and early 20th century. In 1907 the Eureka Motor Buggy, an automobile, replaced the regular buggy business. His son, Maxwell, took over this business and it became Kearns Motors, manufacturer of cars and trucks. It is believed Johnny P. then was in the used car business.