July 15, 1916: Band of Gypsies Arrives to Annoy Area Residents

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

July 15, 1916: A wealthier and more picturesque band of gypsies will not be found than the one that just showed up in the area with six automobiles (three Fords, two Cadillacs and an Overland), all licensed in the state of Georgia, 29 horses and ponies, 11 wagons fitted out as houses and numerous tents; they looked like a circus on the move.

In Pleasantville, they went into business places and private homes, annoying people and generally making themselves obnoxious. The climax was reached when they entered George Griesemer’s store and relieved a customer of some of his cash.

Under threat of arrest, the money was returned, and Griesemer ordered them out of his place. He threatened to make things pretty unpleasant for them, and they were “real gypsies” because he had to guard his pocket watch carefully when around them.

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