USA > Pennsylvania > Lancaster County > Akron > The borough of Akron, Lancaster Co., Pa. 75th anniversary, 1895 to 1970 > Part 1
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1895
TO26
1970
BOROUGH OF
THE
AKRON
K PA. NCASTER CO .. .
R.E.S.
75th Anniversary
My Native Home
Akron, the home that's so dear to me, With Nature's beauty as far as the eye can see, With its wondrous hills and valleys old, Lies silent 'neath the winter's cold.
As the Akron school bell calls, We hasten to our studies within the town's fine school house walls; We pass by the shoe factory on our way, Where the shoes are made, to give the laborers their pay.
At the corner stands the old hotel, Akron, As good a place for a stranger as any can be found; While the bright gas light throws its light around, And gives light to the late traveller homeward bound.
Soon we hear the many church bells ring, A reminder that we must go, the Saviour's praises to sing; And when the fire alarm taps for help to work, *We, like brave sons of Akron, must not our duties shirk.
I. A. K.
The above poem was written by Irene A. Kreiter, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. J. S. Kreiter, who lived at 30 S. 9th Street. The poem was printed in "The Eahta", a booklet published by the Senior Class of the Akron High School in 1904.
2110KG
5- FAT
This Booklet is Respectfully Dedicated to Loyd H. Roland
JANUARY 11, 1896 - MARCH 30, 1970
Educator - Borough Councilman and Secretary
Church Layman - Lions Club Organizer
Distinguished Citizen Extraordinary
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A Message From The Mayor
This Seventy-Fifth Anniversary book takes us back to the good old days of our community. Looking back is enjoyable for the young and old alike.
We should also look ahead, as Akron has a future even more intriguing than its past. We face community problems that are larger, more complex and more expensive than ever before.
Many of our problems have been inherited from the past. Many are dictated by the realities of progress and the necessity of sur- vival.
Akron is still young and the past seventy-five years are but a prelude to the years ahead in which our borough will continue to develop as a sound location for industry and business and a nice community in which to live and play.
Together, let us make Akron a more attractive, more prosperous community for our children and their children.
In reading this book, I hope you will join me in extending thanks and appreciation to the members of the Seventy-Fifth Anniversary Committee, and to the organizations and individuals who have helped make our seventy-fifth year a great year.
GUY B. ZELL,
Mayor.
2
Present Government
MAYOR
GUY B. ZELL
COUNCIL-
Wilmer E. Hall, President
Milo H. Zimmerman, Vice Pres.
Elroy C. Stauffer
Melvin S. Mitchell
Richard R. Singer
David A. May
Paul L. Wechter
Carl R. Sammet
W. Richard Goshert, Secretary
Robert G. Ober, Treasurer
K. L. Shirk, Jr., Solicitor
Nevin K. Brugger
Rev. David J. Kovach
Harry W. Isenberg
Harold A. Yost, Assistant Chief and Permit Officer
Rev. David J. Kovach,
Borough Chaplain
AKRON BOROUGH AUTHORITY
E. Austin Hess, Chairman
George A. Taylor, Secretary
Raymond C. Terry, Vice Chairman
Richard L. Ebersole, Treasurer
Population Growth
1884
325
1930 747
1890
606
1940
877
1900
653
1950
1028
1910
719
1960
2167
1920
723
1970
3133
From 1950 - 1960 Akron experienced a population increase of 110.8%. This growth is partly attributed to annexation and the building developments. Akron has grown and will continue to grow because it is a pleasant attractive community, conveniently located to industrial and commercial centers.
AREA GROWTH
An 1895 Akron map showed an area of approximately 200 acres. This remained the same until 1950, when it was increased to 434.08 acres. In 1970 Akron Borough covers approximately 850 acres.
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J. Howard Wolf, Public Works Superintendent
Mark J. Garman, Civil Defense Director
Planning Commission- William J. Hyman, Chm.
Wayne A. Reber, Jr., Vice Chm.
Richard E. Sourweine
Lloyd R. Hackman
Zoning Hearing Board-
Raymond E. Stauffer, Chief of Police and Permit Officer
U
Our Burgesses and Mayors
PETER MILLER (Our First Burgess) 1895
C. W. ZWALLY
L. M. WIEST
A. F. KILLIAN
CALVIN STEINER
S. R. RUTH
A. W. GEHMAN
W. W. WINEHOLD
CYRUS MOHLER
SAM WEITKAMP
ROBERT J. BIEBER
A. J. HINSEY
SIMON B. HESS
WAYNE ZELL
ARTHUR WOLF
GEORGE KEMPER
FRED GRANT
GEORGE WECHTER
GUY B. ZELL
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75th Anniversary Committee
President
Wilmer E. Hall
Vice President
Guy B. Zell
Secretary
Mrs. W. Richard Goshert
Treasurer
Richard Singer
Assistant Treasurer
Directors
Raymond C. Terry Larry L. Loose T. Glenn Horst David A. May
BOOK
General Chairman- Wilmer E. Hall
Advertising-
Melvin S. Mitchell
Melvin Lapp Tyler W. Trupe
Coordinator- Harvey L. Ensinger, Jr.
T. Glenn Horst
HISTORY
Co-Chairmen-
Alma C. Daniels
Mrs. W. Richard Goshert
W. Richard Goshert
Robert Bieber
LEGAL
Arthur Romig
Mrs. Robert Herr
K. L. Shirk, Jr.
Mrs. Loyd Roland
ART
OPEN HOUSE
Raymond E. Stauffer
Mrs. W. Richard Goshert
Timothy Rickenbach
Mr. and Mrs. Paul Pfautz
Milton B. Diehm
Mr. and Mrs. S. Chas. Eshelman
James Stark
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Herr
Larry L. Loose
Mrs. Ralph Moyer
Nelson Reinard
DECORATIONS AND AWARDS Larry L. Loose
COMMUNITY DAY
General Chairman- Guy B. Zell
PUBLICITY
PHOTOGRAPHY R. Clinton Buch
ENTERTAINMENT David A. May
A WORD OF THANKS to all those who have submitted pictures, histories and facts on Civic Organizations, Churches, etc., etc.
5
Akron
How did the town get its name? To begin with, the word akron comes from the Greek word akros, meaning high place, which fits the lo- cation.
Naturally it is assumed that the borough was named after a city in Ohio and this is probably true. From historical records it appears that both areas were named within a short period of time and by the same people or their relatives. It is probable that some of these people may have lived in both areas.
From the World Book Encyclopedia, we find that in the early 1800's a number of Irishmen and Pennsylvania Germans went to the region of what is now Akron, Ohio to help build the Ohio and Erie Canal. It is very likely that these Pennsylvania Germans came from this area because historical records indicate that this area definitely was settled before the Ohio regions and that this area was predominately German immigrants.
A history of Lancaster County shows that the settlements in this area had grown to a "scattered village" of several houses and that the resi- dents got together around 1830 and named the village New Berlin. How- ever, this same history book lists a place called "Akron Mills", which was originally built in 1762. This mill was located on what is now Meadow Valley Road and is now known as Rettew's Mill. It is not known when the name Akron Mills was applied to the Mill. This history lists the con- struction of the Columbia and Reading Railroad in 1863, and the area around Front Street in Akron was already known as Akron and so the stop on the railroad was known as Akron Station. With the railroad came improved mail service and a post office was established here and was known as Akron Post Office. By 1880 apparently the area around the station was known as Akron and the area on the hill was known as New Berlin, but from the populations and sizes of the areas listed in the history book these two communities must have been the one and the same village but with two names.
Akron, Ohio was laid out as a village in 1825, and was incorporated in 1836. Akron, Pa. was incorporated in 1895, although the name was here much earlier. The name of New Berlin faded during the years of 1865 to 1895. Akron, Ohio is built on a hill 900 feet above sea level and probably was named first because there were apparently no Greek settlers in Akron, Pa. Most probably the name was brought back from Ohio by some one who went to work on the canal there and then returned and found the village of New Berlin comparable.
By drawing conclusions from these few facts, Akron, Ohio gave its name to Akron, Pa., but people from the Akron, Pa. area helped to give Akron, Ohio its start.
6
History
The history of Akron is as nearly accurate as possible. It was com- piled from a Lancaster County History, Bridgens Atlas, and from the resi- dents in our town.
One of the earliest buildings in our area was a log cabin built in 1724 - eight years before George Washington was born, and was located at the foot of North Eleventh Street on the land which is now the Borough farm. The cabin was built by Philadelphia fur traders who met Indians each spring as they came to drink the medicinal waters and traded with them for their furs. The building had wooden shutters on the north and east sides. They had holes five inches in diameter which are thought to have been lookouts for unfriendly Indians which were living in the locality at that time. Many Indian arrowheads were found in the fields surrounding the cabin but only one tomahawk was found.
First Building 1724 - Log House and Barn
The farmhouse and barn were built at a later date and were owned by Clayton Wenger, Sr. The farm was then known as the Bond Spring Farm. He owned and operated a bottle water business which was famous for its spring water. This is the source of the Borough water today.
His son, Clayton Wenger, Jr., who lives at 925 Main Street in Akron, sold the farm to the Borough in 1951. The log cabin was burned by fire in the early 1940's. The barn was torn down after it was purchased by the Borough and only the farmhouse remains.
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Early records do not state from whom the original land grants were made in the Borough or what year, although records are recorded in Har- risburg, dated December 7, 1739, to Henry Miller; November 30, 1748, to Mathias Beckley; and June 13, 1749, to William Sharer. These grants were from Thomas, John and Richard Penn, sons of William Penn, and the land was sold to the above owners for 19 cents an acre. Vincens and Anna Mayer owned 68 acres, 71 perches on Gravel Hill, and it is believed that this was part of the above grant. They built a farmhouse on part of the land. The stone on the house is dated 1768.
Mayer Home Built in 1768 - Now Jameson Residence - Sketch from 1899 Photo
During the early 1900's the farm was owned by Mr. and Mrs. Ludwig Ruppin. Orchards covered part of the land and at one time there were 3,000 peach trees and other fruit orchards on the land. A water tower on the hill above the house served the house with water. An addition was built to the farmhouse by Levi Miller. The Ruppins sold the farmland to the Zimmer- man family keeping only nine acres and the farmhouse. Robert Ruppin, a son, lives in Akron at 1011 Hillcrest Road. Dr. and Mrs. E. Carleton Jameson and their sons, Don and Carl, are the present owners of the farmhouse. This farm is situated on Diamond Street and Tobacco Road.
Levi Miller, father of Stella Miller who lives at 31 South Ninth Street, built many of the early churches and buildings. Included are the Zion Luth-
8
eran Church, the old Akron School on North Seventh Street, the original Mt. Zion Evangelical Church on North Eleventh Street, other buildings around the town square and many homes. He moved the home located at 31 South Ninth Street, from Main Street, where the Willis Detweiler building now stands, about ninety years ago. He remodeled the home, changing it from a 11/2-story bungalow to a 21/2-story dwelling. At that time the west side of South Ninth Street was a wooded area with the only home being 32 South Ninth Street and 112 - 114 South Ninth Street. An- other early farmhouse is at 112 South Tenth Street, which was built before 1855. Another landmark is the building now known as the Albert Mel- linger & Son Lumber and Feed Mill. The building was built in 1888 with Elias Wolf operating the feed mill. A cigar factory, owned by S. Wolf, operated on the second floor. Several years later the Miller Hess & Company Shoe Factory manufactured its first shoes on the second floor and the base- ment until they built the present factory at Seventh and Main. Albert Mel- linger purchased the feed mill in 1916 and it has been owned and operated by the same family since that time.
7
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63
april 30, 19
ofk & 3. 9th 31. akiof, Pa.
One of First Farm Buildings - Oak and 9th Streets
The following is quoted from a book called the Pennsylvania Citizen, owned by Rev. A. W. Lindenmuth of Akron. It relates to the Pennsylvania government as outlined by William Penn.
The Borough: Whenever a village has a population so large that it needs separate schools, lighted streets, improved sidewalks, etc., it may set up a government of its own, for the township has no power to grant these things to a village, nor would it be inclined to grant them if it could. A town that has a government of its own is a borough. To organize itself into a borough, a village must petition the court through a majority of
9
its voters, and give notice thereof in one newspaper of the county for at least thirty days. If the judge approves the petition, the borough is in- corporated.
"Bridgens Atlas" of 1864 shows Akron as a village called New Berlin, a part of Ephrata Township. The Historical Atlas of 1875 shows that Akron had grown to approximately 30 homes. In 1884 Akron was described as a small hamlet with a population of 325 persons, served by a post office and store.
B. S.Ch S'R Keller
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COLUMBIA
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TIMiller
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11
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m nissinger
This enlargement of New Berlin or Akron Area was taken from a map of Ephrata Township printed in 1864. You can count the number of houses that year and the names of people who owned them. The map was paid for and distributed by businessmen of the township for advertisement. The Akron Area merchants and doctor are listed below.
Kemper, Jacob . . . Justice of the Peace, Printer, Surveyor and Con- veyancer, New Berlin.
Killian, A. G. , Merchant and Proprietor of the Washington Hotel, New Berlin. Also Agent for Dr. Stever's Bitters. Wolf & Son . . . Forwarding Merchants, and Dealers in Grain, Salt, Coal and Lumber, and Postmaster at Akron.
Wenger, Gershom Physician and Surgeon, New Berlin.
J.
NEW BERLIN
J. Mohler
Lidia Brenisa
S'! R. Keller
C
J. Stoll
1
.D. Dissinger
A
Levi Schloud
NEW BERLIN STAL
Martin
LES'R.heller
HY Martin
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Using these thoughts the town men in November, 1894 petitioned the court, and the Grand Jury certified the incorporation of Akron as a borough in 1895. The charter of Akron Borough bears the following in part: "That the said town of Akron be and the same is hereby incorporated into a bor- ough in conformity with the prayer of the petitioners, that the corporate style and title thereof shall be "The Borough of Akron"." At the time of incorpora- tion the area of Akron was approximately 200 acres and the population was 606 persons.
The first Borough Council met in the office of P. B. Miller, 32 South Ninth Street. The officers were as follows:
Burgess P. B. Miller
Pres. Protem John Schatz
Sec. Protem Jacob Zwally
Clerk Wayne Zell
Treasurer
P. W. Weidman
Councilmen Mr. Zahm, W. P. Albright, Tobias Daniel
High Constable Mr. Stauffer
Council elected W. P. Albright as their first president.
They voted to meet at the George Weidler home where they rented two rooms, light and heat for $20.00 a year. They bought a table for $6.00, one dozen chairs for $9.00. These items were purchased from the P. B. Weid- man store located at the rear of 115 South Ninth Street.
The first item of business was to name the Borough streets and adopt By-Laws.
In reading early minutes we find that some of the following problems arose:
A .- They were plagued with mud holes in the streets and walks. They purchased wooden planks from Elias Wolf's Lumber Yard for walks and put stones in the gutters.
B .- Board of Health was appointed:
Dr. Jacob Albright C. B. Zwally
Dr. J. S. Kreiter O. R. Brown
P. W. Weidman
C .- They reported having found neglected horses in the livery stables at the rear of Romig's Hotel.
During this period the chief industry was the manufacturing of hand made cigars, and at one time over fifty cigar "factories" were located in Ak- ron. Many of these factories were located in back rooms or upstairs rooms of houses. However, several were quite large and employed many people.
11
The Miller Hess Shoe Factory was and is the largest industry in the Borough. It manufactures shoes and today employs many borough residents.
The Wagner Hotel, formerly the Usner House, is one of the land- marks still standing on the square. In front of the hotel on South Ninth Street was a sign marked "LAW" with a billboard where all the borough ordinances were posted.
. Ho
1897
SE
KR
ON
Stauffer
Usner House - Now Fasnacht Apartments - 9th and Main Streets
Several other landmarks were Romig's Hotel which stood on the area at the square which is now the parking lot for the Akron Shop Rite Market.
Romig's Hotel
12
The Village Band Hall, a two-story building, was the center of the community social life. Here the community band practiced, boys and girls played basketball and the community held fairs and carnivals. Early churches in Akron held Sunday worship services there until their churches were built. This was located on the Akron Restaurant parking lot. In the early 1900's North and South Ninth Street was rebuilt with large stones laid by hand.
South 9th Street Being Built
THE VOLUNTEER FIRES.
First Fire Hall - Standpipe, Jail, and Present Auditorium
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Miro: EPHRATA
OF CHRIST
O.E.CHRIST CORREIOE EPHRATA
Laying Borough Water Mains - 1911
14
A Water Department was created in 1911, and an Electric Light Company in 1912. The power plant was located north of Fulton Street near the Henry Showalter property. Akron remained a quiet town with not much noticeable change in growth.
In 1939 the building of the new Route 222, North and South Seventh Street, was built. This alleviated the traffic from the old Route 222, which was North and South Ninth Street.
During World Wars I and II the sons, fathers and husbands left their homes and families and fought for the country they loved and honored. A "Welcome Home" celebration was held on the square for the returning vet- erans of World War I.
ELCOMAN
UR HEROE
World War I Celebration
15
World War I Celebration
World War II veterans had their names on an Honor Roll at the Akron National Bank building. Two gold stars were placed on this Honor Roll.
In the era following World War II a large annexation was added to Akron. This was the land on Main Street at the eastern end of the Bor- ough, and land owned and developed by the late Henry W. Oberholtzer. His development was known as Akron Heights and was the area from South Ninth to South Eleventh Streets and south of Broad Street.
In the years between 1950 - 1960 the population of Akron doubled and was the fastest growing community in Lancaster County. In 1970 Akron observes its 75th year since incorporation, still basically a residential town with a variety of small industries. Expansion continues with new homes, apartments, and development of the new Borough Park. Although it is only 75 years since incorporation as a Borough, it is nearly 250 years since the first settlement in Akron, making it one of the oldest communities in Lan- caster County.
About 1946 a fulltime Police Department was established. With the growing needs of the townspeople the Borough constructed a new water plant and reservoir in 1962.
In 1963 a sewerage feasibility report was made. In March, 1969 the sewerage system was started in the Borough and is now completed and usage of the system has begun. In 1968 a street lighting program was started to replace all the old type street lights with the new mercury vapor lamps.
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In Memoriam
PVT. HAROLD "Butter" MYERS, U.S.M.C. 1924 - 1944
Died in Action in the Marshall Islands, February, 1944.
PFC. HAROLD R. DEYER, U.S. ARMY 1924 - 1944
Died from Wounds received on D-Day.
Akron's Two Citizens Who Gave Their Lives For Freedom
AKRON CAN BE JUSTLY PROUD OF ALL ITS CITIZENS WHO SERVED IN THE ARMED FORCES IN OUR NATION'S WARS.
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Akron's Churches
Mount Zion United Methodist Church
1875 Mount Zion congregation was organized as a church under the Evan- gelical Association. There are no historical records as to the nature of organization, although the founder of the Association was Jacob Albright of Lancaster County.
1876 A church was erected. This building was used for worship until our new church was available for service. The church became part of the Brownstown Circuit, a status which remained until 1924.
1898 Mount Zion Church was remodeled. The tower and vestibule were built, pulpit space constructed, and a new furnace was installed.
1914 New pews, pulpit furniture, and electric lights were installed.
1922 The name of the denomination was changed to the Evangelical Church.
1924 Annual Conference removed Mount Zion Church from the Browns- town Circuit and made her a single charge under mission status.
1926 The 50th Anniversary of the church was observed. At this time the inside of the church was refinished.
18
1934 A new Sunday School unit was built. This unit was adjacent to the south of the church, making possible its use for worship facilities. A new heating system was installed, and the floors recarpeted and re- varnished. The outside of the church was also painted at this time.
1940 Akron and Terre Hill were made a circuit by Annual Conference.
1946 On November 16th a union of the Evangelical Church and the United Brethren Church was held in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, forming the Evangelical United Brethren Church.
1947 Major repairs and refinishing were completed.
1956 Ground Breaking for the first unit of our present church plant was held April 15th. This building is the south end of the church wing, and was constructed for educational purposes.
1957 Dedication of the Educational Building was held on March 24th. Because of community growth and the dedicated enthusiasm within the church, Annual Conference listed Mount Zion "a new missionary opportunity." In this same year, for the first time in her history, Mount Zion was able to purchase her own parsonage. The prop- erty is located directly north of the church, on the east side of the street.
1958 A new Baldwin Electronic Organ was dedicated April 27th.
1960 The property west of the church, on the opposite side of Eleventh Street, was purchased. The house was sold, but the vacant lot re- tained for parking facilities.
1961 Ground Breaking for the new Mount Zion Church was held April 23rd. Construction was under way May 8th. The last worship in our old sanctuary was held November 19th. On November 26th the first worship in the basement of the new building was held.
1962 The congregation of Mount Zion Church held the first worship in their new sanctuary on February 11th. The cornerstone was laid in place May 6th at 10:00 A. M., with dedication being held in the afternoon on the same date.
1968 The congregation assumed partial support of a missionary family serving in the Philippines. In April of this year, at Dallas, Texas, the Evangelical United Brethren and the Methodist Churches con- sumated a union resulting in the formation of the United Methodist Church.
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Mount Zion Church gave three of its sons to the Christian ministry. The late Raymond W. Albright, who, after serving several pastorates, taught in the Evangelical School of Theology, Reading, and the Episcopal Theological School, Cambridge, Massachusetts; Alton Albright, presently pastoring in the United Church of Christ, Leesport, Pennsylvania; and Carl Gockley, rector of Holy Apostle Episcopal Church, St. Claire, Pennsylvania.
PASTORS
1876-78
Harry Kempfer
1898-99
J. H. Willauer
1879
Frank Sechrist
1900
J. H. Willauer
1880
Frank Sechrist
1901-02
W. H. Kindt
D. W. Bixler
1903-06
D. S. Manning
1881
Frank Sechrist
1907-11
N. L. Bechtel
D. S. Reinhold
1912-16
W. C. Eby
1882
J. L. Werner
1917-18
J. L. Boyer
I. F. Heisler
1919-21
E. M. Slichter
1883
A. Ziegenfus
1922-23
C. H. Horner
A. B. Saylor
1924-26
L. C. Updegrove
1884
A. Ziegenfus
1926-30
W. E. Sinclair
C. Rothermel
1931-33
G. T. Gegan
1885
A. Ziegenfus
1934-35
G. D. Hoag
A. J. Brunner
1935-37
M. J. Steierwald
1886-88
J. Woodring
1937-38
E. Barth
1889-90
David Lentz
1938-39
G. Barth
1891
David Lentz
1940-42
M. J. Steierwald
W. I. Frederick
1942-43
H. Mengel
1892
P. A. Gruver
1944-45
N. E. Dettra
W. I. Frederick
1946-47
J. W. Schober
1893
J. K. Fehr
1948-57
O. D. E. Pottieger
H. C. Lilly
1957-63
R. E. Stauffer
1894
H. C. Lilly
1963-66
R. C. Voigt
1895-97
C. N. Roth
1966-
D. L. Spencer
1898
W. H. Weidner
W. H. Hartzler
1939-40
A. Hamilton
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GRACE EVANGELICAL CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
EDWARD I VONDE IN PASTOR
Grace Evangelical Congregational Church
Grace Evangelical Congregational Church traces her history from about 1889 when meetings were held in the old East Akron School House (at the intersection of Main and Diamond Streets), under the ministerial leadership of the United Evangelical Church.
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