June 24, 1919: Boyertown Celebrates Great War's End with Festivities

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

June 24, 1919: All of Boyertown has turned out to welcome our boys home from the Great War in Europe. Two blocks on North Reading Avenue have been roped off to traffic for the celebration. The parade started at 3 p.m. with all of our brave soldiers, school children and many citizens marching up Philadelphia Avenue to the party, accompanied by the Keystone Band. There was a community sing, a banquet at the Keystone Fire Company and dancing in the streets.

Major Charles B. Dotterer and the 10 men from Boyertown who enlisted with him and traveled together to France two years ago have all returned safe and sound and are all at the festivities. Major Dotterer was the Field Director of the 305thSanitary Train in France, credited with establishing the best hospital in the First Army, treating victims of the gas warfare and saving thousands of lives.

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