2010 History Corner Articles
The Kearns Motor Car Factory in 1949/50
In this snapshot we see Wayne "Shug" McCardle walking north on S. Center Street about 1950. On his right is the building that once housed, oldest to newer, (1) The Kearns Buggy Factory, (2) The Eureka Auto Buggy Co., and (3) The Kearns Motorcar Companies. This building was torn down in 1974. In the background stands the Beavertown Hotel (formerly the famed Central Hotel) and just north of the hotel stands what was once the livery stable for the hotel where travelers could rent a horse, or a horse and buggy, most usually, but not always, to peddle their wares. Four trains passed daily.
Mattern's Store in Beavertown
This is the front of the store located at 117-119 East Market Street. Built in 1874 by Ammon H. Bowersox, it was then the largest store in Snyder County. Over the years it changed hands many times, but remained a general store carrying about anything its customers ever needed. It then became, among other things, a slot car racing facility, a drugstore, a video tape rental facility, a flower shop and as of today a day care center. Charles "Ziggy" Mattern is the man third from the right holding a pole. Town character, Mark "Joe" Musser is on the extreme right.
Last Passenger Train Through Beavertown - 1955
On Sunday, August 14, 1955, the Snyder County Centennial Train Ride from Selinsgrove to McClure and back took place from 1:00 P.M. to 5:30 P.M. This special passenger train of the famed Pennsylvania Railroad, the nation's largest at that time, passed through Beavertown going westward and returning eastward, and as such was the last train ever to transport passengers on the PRR Sunbury and Lewistown line.