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Democratic Watchman February 17 1928, page 8
THE NEW STATE THEATRE OPENS TO CAPACITY HOUSE.
Bellefonte's Beautiful New Play House Impresses Large Audience - Present for Its Premier.
"With bowers of blooming flowers everywhere, canaries singing in the galleries, an orchestra in the pit and Miss Crouse at the wonderful Morton organ the new State theatre, impressive in its subdued colorings of colonial yellow and king's blue and luxurious with heavy padded velvet carpets and draperies, was opened to the public, Thursday night."
While all of the equipment was not in place none of it was missed, so charmed were the people with the first glimpse of their splendid new playhouse.
Long before 7 o'clock the doors were stormed by a crowd eager for admission. Owing to some unavoidable delays they could not be opened until that hour and it was only a few moments until every seat was taken and people were being turned away after being assured that there would be a second show. The picture was a good one, but It wasn't that that most persons went to see. It was to satisfy themselves that the advance promises of the beauty and comfort of the new State had been fulfilled. They found more than they had expected and those familiar with the old Garman opera house marveled at the way the Moose have transformed it into an amusement place worthy of any large city.
John P. Fretz, lessee, and Leo J. Toner, managing director, were present to greet their guests. The ushers, Roxey Boyer, Margaret Cowher, Hilda Watson and Eloise Sheckler were uniformed in blue smocks, f v o r were given both the indies and gentlemen and the evening had the atmosphere of a community function.
As we have said, in the midst of such unexpected grandeur, a few of the refinements yet to be added were not missed, but when they are installed the general effect will be still more alluring.
The opening was so crowded that there was little opportunity for anyone to inspect the vest rooms and other equipment designed for the comfort and convenience of patrons of the State. They are all designed and furnished with the same lavish disregard of cost as the theatre itself and, sometime, it would be worth your while to go up and visit the play house, just to see the carefulness with which every detail has been worked out. We are sure the management will welcome you.
We congratulate the Moose, who own the State, for having the town such a splendid amusement center. We congratulate them also because its management has fallen into hands so capable of conducting it as it should be conducted."
Democratic Watchman February 24 1928, page 8
TWO MOTOR BUS LINES MERGED INTO ONE
Glenn M. Johnston, of Woolrich, Buys Emerick Motor Bus Line
"A deal was closed last Thursday evening whereby Glenn M. Johnston, of Woolrich, president of the Johnston Motor Bus Line, became the purchaser of all the equipment of the Emerick Motor .Bus Line, operating between Bellefonte and State College, Milesburg and Lock Haven. The Johnston Motor Bus Line at present operates motor busses between Lock Haven, Jersey Shore and Williamsport, and application has been made to the Public Service Commission for its approval of the Johnston line taking over and operating the lines now covered by the Emerick company. Mr. Johnston did not purchase the real estate but has leased the same and it is his intention to move here soon after the approval of the sale has been given as possible, which will probably be early in March. He will occupy the Emerick residence, on Spring street, adjoining the garage, now occupied by J. T. Storch and family. The purchase price, was not made public.
It is understood that Mr. Johnston will retain the employees of the Emerick Motor Bus Line with the exception of J. T. Storch, who will continue in business with Mr. Emerick. Mr. Johnston has been operating bus lines since 1918, and has been quite successful, and under his supervision the traveling public will be given as good accommodation as it has received in the past.
Bill Emerick, president of the Emerick Motor Bus Line, started operations in Wilkes-Barre in 1912. In June, 1913, he came to Bellefonte and started the line here. In 1914 he was instrumental in starting lines between Altoona and Hollidaysburg and Philipsburg and Osceola Mills. In January, 1915. a line was started at Clearfield which was later sold to the Fullington Auto Bus Co. In June, 1915, a line was started between Hagerstown and Sharpsburg, Md., and he also assisted in starting a line between Honesdale and Hawley, in Wayne county. He also operated a line between Barnesboro and Cherry Tree, but all these lines were disposed of prior to 1920, since which time most of his efforts have been devoted to the Bellefonte line.
In 1924 he filed an application with the Public Service Commission for permission to operate a line between Harrisburg and Reading, but protests were filed by the Reading Railroad company and the application was refused.
Mr. Emerick represents the White company In the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Clinton, Union and Snyder and will continue the sale and service of White trucks in that territory... In this business he will be assisted by J. T. Storch."
Democratic Watchman March 9 1928, page 8
"There will be no picture program at the State next week because Eldridge and Spriggs' big indoor circus will occupy the boards there all week.
This is not a vaudeville. It is a real circus with sixteen acts that last two hours. There are thirty-two actors as well as performing horses, ponies, dogs and goats. Everything that goes with a big summer circus except the canvas and hard seats, There will be matinees every day at 2:3O and evening performances at 7 and 9. Admission, children 25 cents and adults, 50 cents."
Democratic Watchman June 1 1928, page 4
Is Ours the Next Largest Spring in the Country ?
"All of us have lived beside the "Big 8prlng" so long that we don't look on it with the same eye of wonderment and covetousness as the stranger visiting Bellefonte does. Some weeks ago Col. Jim Maret, touring manager of the Lexington, Kentucky, automobile club, was here to see the spring. Col. Maret has been making an investigation of the springs in the country and according to his figures the one from which our town derives its name is the second largest.
Included in his list of big springs are the Silver Spring near Ocala, Florida, with a daily flow of about 600,000,000 gallons. It is the head of Silver river and is so large t h at steamboats ply on it.
Big Spring, Bellefonte, with a daily flow of 11,500,000 gallons.
Sulphur Springs, near Tampa, Florida, daily flow 2,040,000 gallons.
Green Cove spring, Florida, daily flow 4,320,000 gallons.
Crystal spring, Roanoke, Va., daily flow 1,488,000 gallons.
Payne spring, Harrodsburg, Ky., daily flow 1,200,000 gallons.
Big spring, Belle Vista, Arkansas,. daily flow 1,152,000 gallons.
Haverly spring, Morristown, Tennessee, 1,008,000 gallons.
Royal spring, Georgetown, Ky., daily flow 480,000 gallons.
While we are not in possession of positive facts that would challenge the correctness of Col. Maret's statement some years ago, one of the Watchman readers who lives somewhere in the northwest, was "called" for boasting about the size of the spring in Bellefonte. The person who heckled him said there is a spring in Minnesota or Wisconsin quite a bit larger than ours and proved the assertion with figures as to its outflow."
Democratic Watchman June 15 1928, page 4
"The Logan fire company has received their new squad wagon, a Studebaker truck chassis and built on body. It is much on the order of the old squad wagon only more commodious. It also has more power and being a new machine has the advantage of all the latest improvements."
Democratic Watchman July 27 1928, page 4
NOTORIOUS PEGGY CUTS NEW CAPERS
Peggy Udell, the Beautiful But Naughty Chorus Girl who Once Ran Away with a Bellefonte Boy is Acting Up Again
"Peggy Udell, who a few years ago created quite a commotion in Bellefonte by taking a midnight ride from Philadelphia to Wilmington, Del., where she married, or at least claimed she did, Jack Montgomery, of Bellefonte, is again in the limelight in New York City over a fisticuff with Peggy Green, another chorus girl, in Ziegfeld's production, "The Show Boat."
When Peggy married Jack Montgomery she believed him one of the richest young men in Pennsylvania and had visions of a life of luxury and ease far from the frivolities of Ziegfeld's follies. But her visions proved delusions and following months of legal bickering the wedding was annulled by a Delaware court and Peggy was left high and dry without even a consolation decree.
She then returned to her parental home in Milwaukee and in less than a year married Jimmy Conselman, a noted football player. Their married life was brief and after Jimmy left her Peggy got a divorce on the ground of desertion and non-support
Then she hastened to Hollywood where stars were pulling down four figure salaries weekly. But she hadn't been there long when the moving picture colony was startled with the fact that Peggy had instituted a half-million dollar damage suit against a prominent motion picture official on the grounds of alleged attempted assault. Then it was that she began taking lessons in the manly art as a means of self-protection.
From Hollywood she returned to New York to star in a picture being promoted by a Swiss count, but the count proved to be a bogus gent and an ex-Sing Sing convict and all Peggy got out of that experience was a worthless check for $750, her first week's salary.
Then she returned to Ziegfeld as a member of the chorus in "The Show Boat," and her thrilling fistic encounter with Peggy Green took place in the elevator of the New York theatre during an evening performance recently. According to the story the two Peggys had not been honeyed friends for some time and their meeting in the elevator was entirely accidental. Peggy's description of the affair which took place in the elevator is as follows:
"Going down for the second act who should I run into but Peggy Green. She made a remark to me which, in the language of Owen Wister's famous novel, "The Virginian," nobody can make to me without smiling. I asked her to repeat it - and smile. She repeated it and failed to smile.
"I led with my left and through a sort of haze saw her head snap back. It was poor technique. I had missed the button on her chin and socked her on the mouth. She came back gamely and made a pass at me with a set of finger nails that would have done credit to a bear. She got a strip of skin and a lock of hair. I crossed with my right to her eye. Then we went into a clinch, but I had her tied up when the rest of the girls pulled us apart."
Peggy visited Bellefonte several times during her legal fight with Jack Montgomery, stopping for several days at a time at the Brockerhoff house, and at that time she did not look especially pugnacious, but her latest episode resulted in her losing her job in the chorus of "The Show Boat" and she is now probably looking for another engagement."
Democratic Watchman July 27 1928, page 8
The Passing of Nighthart's Barber Shop
"When the last customer has been shaved tomorrow night the Night-hart barber shop, on the northwest corner of the Diamond, will cease to do business and on Monday the room will be vacated and turned over to the Central Pennsylvania Gas company. The latter has taken a lease on the room, and also the one occupied by the Maytag agency, through an amicable arrangement with Mr. Nighthart who, for a consideration, surrendered his lease in favor of the Gas company. The latter will entirely remodel the room and fix it up as a display room for all kinds of gas equipment and utensils. The entire front of the room will be one large plate glass window while the present entrance will be changed to the Allegheny street side."
William Nighthart, who has been in business with his father for some years past, has purchased the shop of George Young, in the Heverly building, and will take charge of it next week. As to John L. Nighthart, he has not yet definitely decided as to what he will do. It has been forty-three years since he came to Bellefonte from Lewistown and opened a barber shop in the basement room of Lyon store building. From there he moved into the Crider stone building where he has occupied successively three different rooms, and where most of his forty-three years in business has been spent. When be cleans out his shop, next Monday, he will probably take a little vacation and later if he finds a good location might open a small two chair shop."
Democratic Watchman August 3 1928, page 8
Bellefonte Skewer Factory Wiped Out by Fire
"The Bellefonte skewer factory, located in buildings on south Potter street opposite the Atlantic Refining company station, was completely destroyed by fire between one and two o'clock yesterday morning. The factory was located in two buildings owned by W. R. Shope and the fire started in a small passageway between the buildings, according to the best evidence obtainable.
Both buildings were of frame construction and the flames made rapid progress in fact had made such a start by the time the firemen arrived upon the scene that it was impossible to save the plant, and the efforts of the firemen were directed to keeping the fire from spreading to adjoining buildings.
While Mr. Shope owned the buildings the machinery was owned by Lowe & Coryell, of Williamsport and operation of the plant was in charge of Clarence Rine, of Bellefonte. A draft of railroad cars were standing on the siding close to the plant, but fortunately all of them were steel cars and the only damage done was to the running board of a tank car, which was considerably charred.
At the time of going to press it was impossible to get any figures on the loss sustained by the several owners, but it was all insured. The burning of the plant will probably put an end to the skewer factory in Bellefonte."
Democratic Watchman August 10 1928, page 8
"We have lived in Bellefonte now going on forty-four years and have always wondered why the little street from Pine street down to south Water street was called "Stoney Lonesome." But we wonder no longer. After watching the efforts of the Central Pennsylvania Gas company in digging a ditch for
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