August 22, 1921: The John Demetre Family Faces Tragedy, Finds a Home

By Margaret Leidy Harner from her book One Day at a Time: A Social History of Boyertown, PA

August 22, 1921: A pleasant Sunday outing to the Philadelphia Zoological Gardens turned into tragedy for the John Demetre family when their car was struck by another vehicle, flipping it and crushing the skull of little four-year-old Virginia. The rest of the family, including children Olympia, John, and Anna, suffered only minor injuries.

The distracted driver who hit the Demetre car, Albert Astenheimer, “after looking over the accident disclaimed responsibility and proceeded on his way.” A passer-by from Phoenixville had more compassion for the family and immediately offered help. He wrapped the child in a blanket, and after the Good Will ambulance took her to the Pottstown Hospital, he took the rest of the family to the hospital for treatment. The Demetres were grateful for the outpouring of sympathy from the entire Boyertown community, who banded together to help them out in this tragic situation.

John Demetre had come to America from Greece in 1902 at the age of 22. After taking jobs in Reading, Philadlphia, and New York, where he worked as a waiter and chef, he settled in Boyertown in 1909. In 1914, he opened a confectionary and ice cream shop at 112 East Philadelphia Avenue, which he had built to house his operation, with apartments on the second and third floors. It was the first building in town built specifically for apartments.

The shop had a large, well-equipped soda fountain and was beautifully decorated with potted plants, mirrors, and nice furniture. It became a very popular place, known as “the Greeks.” It closed in 1935 when John Demetre died. The shop later became the home of Kuser Brothers Appliance Shop. John’s wife Penelope continued to live above the shop until her death in 1949.

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