Free Press – July 13, 2006

“Blondie”, Arthur Treffinger, Florence Neidig, Dr. Robert Leight, Sines 5 & 10, Quakertown Employee Union, YMCA

Dear Friends,

Good morning. Before I get to my thoughts about the possible new site for the YMCA; Dr. Robert Leight’s return to the Quakertown school board; and the Quakertown Borough employees choosing union protection, I have three items.

First, I received a nice note from Eleanor Thomas of Quakertown. Affectionately known as “Blondie,” she was one of the nurses at the former Tice Clinic at Third and Juniper, just a block from our house. Blondie was reminiscing about John Smoll and his sister, Hazel Slotter. Hazel and Blondie worked together at the clinic.

“Oh yes, I’m Blondie, who probably put the band-aids on you, since I was there from 1945 to 1987,” she wrote.

Blondie’s band-aid comment got me thinking about what she said to Mighty Betsy when our daughter Anne was about three years old. MB was disciplining our cherub for some infraction. To protect her bottom from the spanking, Anne put her little hand behind her back. Betsy didn’t realize that Anne held a Leh’s Department Store [promotion] treasurer chest key in her hand, and it became imbedded in Betsy’s palm.

With blood spurting from MB’s hand, she rushed to the Tice Clinic where she encountered Blondie. Blondie was not sympathetic. “You deserved it,” Blondie barked, “hitting that lovely child…tisk, tisk!”

Second, I had a nice chat with Arthur Treffinger III upon the death of his father, Arthur, Jr. We know Treffinger number III as “Artie.” The Treffingers (Senior and Junior) were the proprietors of the Treffinger Funeral Home on Ambler Street for decades. Jeffery Naugle succeeded the Treffingers.

Artie told me a charming story about his father who left this world for the next at age 89. “My father and mother were married for 61 years,” Artie began. “Dad often went to a diner for breakfast with his pals. One day, his friend observed that 50 percent of American marriages ended in divorce.”

“Did you ever think about divorce,” his pal asked Arthur, Jr.

“My father paused for a bit,” Artie continued, “and replied, divorce, no…murder, maybe…but not divorce.”

I’ve used that line already. After 46 years of marriage, I’m positive that MB has thought about murdering me. I was in trouble with her several days last week. I’m lucky to be alive.

Third, I received a kind note from Florence Neidig Friend who lives in Lancaster. Her father was one of the Quakertown area’s most influential figures in the 1930’s, ‘40’s and ‘50’s. Joseph Neidig was the superintendent of the Quakertown schools and led the consolidation of six municipal school boards during the mid ‘50’s. It was nice to hear from her.

And now to the main subjects for today.

A familiar face returned to the Quakertown School Board a few weeks ago. Dr. Robert Leight has rejoined the board to take the place of Julie Fagan who resigned last month.

Bob Leight served from 1979 until 2005 and was President of the school board when it chose Jim Scanlon to be Quakertown’s superintendent. I asked him why he was willing to come back?

“My health is better now,” Bob replied, referring to his bout with leukemia. “I’m most fortunate,” he added. “It’s been in remission for two years. I thought I could bring stability to the board.”

He’s certainly right about that.

While we were chatting, Bob told me that he’d written and published his third book. “Richard Moore and the Underground Railroad at Quakertown” is the title of the 50-page book. Moore was a private tutor who taught children in Quakertown from 1813 to 1829. He was also a successful potter and owned a pottery near 10^th and Main Street.

That site became the Quakertown station for the Underground Railroad, which helped run-away slaves, avoid capture on their way to freedom in Canada. Next week, I’ll devote my column to Bob Leight’s book. By the way it only costs $15 and you can buy a copy at Friendly Book or Lion Around Books in Quakertown.

During our visit, Bob mentioned that he attended the funeral of his teacher at the Scholl School during his elementary school years. For the first five grades, Charlotte Mae Trumbauer was Bob’s teacher in the one room school near Trumbauersville. “She was known as Miss Mae,” he said. “She was prettier than a picture. Miss Mae humanized the next generation,” Bob laughed. “I think we should remember the unheralded people,” he added. So true.

Item.

It sure looks like Sine’s 5 and 10 is going strong. Last Thursday, TV Channel 3 swarmed all over the store and reported its plight. Sine's began in 1912. Bill Harr, Sr. threatens to close the store January 1 if business doesn’t improve.

My suggestion is that Sine’s should advertise its luncheon specials, which change daily. And it wouldn’t hurt to promote several items as well. An inexpensive ad might do wonders…and remind patrons that this old store is still around and deserves our support.

Item.

Quakertown Borough will face new challenges thanks to employee unrest. On June 23 employees voted to join the Operating Engineers Union by a 27 to 6 vote. It was a resounding defeat for the borough council, which opposed unionization. Last year, efforts to form a union failed by one vote. Unfortunately the borough was unable to convince its employees that it didn’t need a union to resolve complaints.

Now, the genie is out of the bottle. In my opinion, Quakertown will never be the same. So why did it happen? Did the council fail to acknowledge that it had a festering problem with its employees? Was Borough Manager David Woglom at fault? We may never know. But next year’s municipal election will focus on this unhappiness…for certain.

Item.

It looks like the YMCA will finally get a new home. I’m not fond of the decision…nor how the Y got to this point. The Y is negotiating with Campania Imports, the owners of a 77,000 square foot warehouse on Fairview Road.

The Y was unable to convince Quakertown Borough to donate the land next to the Michener Library. Borough Council had offered its site to the Y in 2001 for $350,000. In hindsight, the Y should have accepted the proposal. Understandably, it opted to accept Richland Township’s generosity instead. Richland was willing to lease 15 acres on Station Road for $1 per year.

Neighbors objected, sued Richland, and won in Bucks County Court. Now, Quakertown has upped the ante. It wants $750,000. To purchase and renovate that industrial building on Fairview Road will cost a ton. Worse, it’s located on a narrow road…with poor visibility.

I’m unhappy with Richland Township, the neighbors who sued to prevent the Y from occupying the land, and Quakertown Borough for not helping the Y to locate in its municipal park. The Y’s been held hostage for too many years by municipal leaders who don’t recognize the value of an institution which is dedicated to serving everyone.

There’s plenty of blame to go around for this mess.

Sincerely,

Charles Meredith