(Courtesy of The Beavertown Historical Society)

After the Kearns Buggy Factory converted to motor buggies, Bill Bickel went into building buggies right down the street from Kearns. It is where Mr. Stacey lives today on Chestnut Street. Bill Bickel is standing at the bottom of the steps. William Coleman was the wheelright and wagon repair man. (Bickel put on the ironing.) Painter Mr. Steece is on the top of the building (which was the paint shop). The man on the right is unknown.

(What famous auto race car driver lived in this home in the 1970s? Answer next month.)

Answer to Last Month

The last engine to pull a passenger train through Beavertown was a diesel-electric, the only such engine ever used on the line for passengers. It pulled the train coming west, but it ran backwards on its trip back east.

Additional Police Data:

Prior to Bob Hartman’s appointment as a police officer on 8/1/1955, at $75.00 a month, Josh Hackenberg was appointed as a special police on 3/6/1950, but was asked to resign on 2/1/1951. On 4/9/1951, Raymond Rine was appointed as a special police. Then on 9/3/1952, Charles Swab was appointed a police officer at $35.00 a month, if he could get credentials. It is not clear, but apparently he did not.

After Bob resigned, Jim Lash and Sam Herman were given some police authority to deal with pranksters at a special meeting of council held on 10/27/1955.

There may have been others, but we have no record.

(Courtesy of The Beavertown Historical Society)

On Sunday, August 14, 1955, from 1:00 to 5:30 P.M., the Snyder County Centennial Train that ran from Selinsgrove to McClure came through Beavertown, coming and going. This was the last passenger train ever to use these tracks. The first was on September 14, 1871. Above is a composite picture of this last train in Beavertown.

(When this last passenger train came into Beavertown in 1955, what were at least two things that were unusual about the engine? Answer next month.)

Answer to Last Month

Bobby Hartman had served in the military police and on honorable separation from the U.S. Army, was the first police officer ever hired by the Borough of Beavertown. This was 1955.

After only a short time, Bobby served a parking ticket to a Borough Councilman, and the fuss that this raised was more trouble than it was worth so Bobby handed in his resignation.

The next officer was Myron Steffan. After some time, it became evident that he was to officious, so Mayor Rudy Coleman suspended him, and this lead to his being dismissed.

George Aumiller was the next, and provided outstanding service for almost 27 years.

(Courtesy of The Beavertown Historical Society)

Shown above is George standing by his car on duty in front of the fire hall in 1975. He began his duties in September 1970, and resigned due to ill health on March 31, 1997. In 1975 he was a full time security officer at the Selinsgrove Center, and a part time Borough Police Officer. He was a veteran of WWII. His worthy service on earth to town, state and country ended on December 16, 1997.

(An article in the Item on December 20, wrongly stated that Beavertown had no police before George. Can you name at least two others who served as Beavertown police officers? Answer next month.)

Answer to Last Month

The main other manufactured item was the Victory Cultivator during WWII. He shipped these walk-behind hand-pushed garden cultivators out by mail, un-boxed, some assembly required, with a mailing tag attached. His main source of advertising was the New York Times. These were so popular that Sears wanted to sell them, but due to material and manufacturing facility constraints, Max could not accept their very fine offer.

It is reported by Donald Herbster that during Thomas Dewey’s run for the presidency, in either 1944 or 1948, Max sent a complimentary VC to him.

Max also invented the sleeveless valve auto engine, the ABC (automatic bump control) for autos, a tine removal tool for rototillers, a tool to remove auto battery cables, and many types of can openers (but none made to sell commercially). There are more items either improved or developed, but no room to report them.