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By Margaret Leidy Harner from her book One Day at a Time: A Social History of Boyertown, PA.
January 30, 1955: Another big fire in Boyertown; this one caused extensive damage, estimated at $25,000, to the office of the Boyertown Times at 48 South Reading Avenue. It started in the plant’s washroom and destroyed valuable machinery, equipment and paper stock in the composing and press rooms.
The intense heat, black smoke and extreme cold weather hampered the firefighting efforts, but they were able to confine the fire to a relatively small portion of the building.
Three fire companies responded to the alarm, and one fireman, Harry Hummer, was overcome by smoke and taken to the Pottstown Hospital.
The cause of the flames has not been determined, but officials believe there is something “strange” about the fire; arson is suspected. Chief of Police, Henry “Mush” Groff, promises a tough investigation and borough council wants “no stone unturned to complete it.”
Sunny, with a high of 83 and low of 61 degrees. Sunny in the morning, clear overnight.
Kudos to Zack! In these troubled times, the world could use many more people like him. And kudos to Boyertown for providing the kind of atmosphere where Zack (and others like him) can grove and thrive. Finally, is the book mentioned still available? I'd like to buy one as I remember all of the people mentioned.
Yes, Mark. The books are available at Studio B Art Gallery and the Building a Better Boyertown office.