Lititz Record Express

              R E S S
SERVING THE WARWICK AREA FOR MORE THAN A CENTURY
109th Year ESTABLISHED APRIL 1877 AS THE SUNBEAM
CONSOLIDATED WITH THE LITITZ RECORD 193 7 Lititz, Lancaster County PA, 17543. Wednesday, July 2,1986 25 CENTS A COPY. $8.50 PER YEAR BY MAIL
WITHIN LANCASTER COUNTY 22 Pages-No. 65
L i t i t z S p r i n g s P o o l s a g a : f o u r y e a r s
by Kathleen King
When a special committee
formed to celebrate the 25th
anniversary of the Lititz
Springs Pool dedicates a
plaque to that occasion, it
will be a nostalgic and happy
time for those involved.
But unless you were
reading the papers intently
25 years or more ago, you
probably would have no idea
of the controversy a public
pool raised in the quiet town
of Lititz. The popular and
well-used facility was once
the center of a boiling
controversy: to build or not
to build.
It was a controversy that
steamed, stewed and
sometimes just plodded on
from approximately July 3,
1958 until Nov. 16, 1961, the
date the pool was finally
approved.
Culled from the pages of
the Lititz Record Express
are the following exerpts
that tell the story as it un­folded
in the way that such swimming pool” was ap- “It is hoped such im-things
unfold in a small proved by the park board in provements as a swimming
town. conjunction with a pledge of pool and added recreational
July 3,1958: A proposal for $100,000 by Elmer Bobst for facilities can be a reality
improvement of the Lititz rennovation of the park within two to five years.”
Springs Park “including en tran ce and a new At the time the pool was
construction of a public recreation center. estimated to cost $175,000.
This plaque will be dedicated at Lititz Springs Pool Friday at 12:45 p.m. in
honor of the 25th anniversary of the facility. Names on the plaque are those of
the committee which was appointed to operate the pool when it was approved in
1962.
Aug. 28,1958: The proposal
to build a public swimming
pool in Lititz Springs Park
by floating a borough bond
issue of $150,000 to $175,000
was heartily endorsed by
members of borough
council.
The question will be placed
on the ballot in November.
“The decision to place the
matter of a public pool,
discussed on numerous
occasions here, on the ballot
followed a presentation of a
petition by approximately
600 residents.”
The petition was handed to
council by Menno Rohrer,
acting as counsel for the
group and “as one interested
in obtaining a public pool
which everybody can use.”
(At th a t time the
Woodridge pool, a private
club, was approximately two
years old.)
Rohrer told council “this
should not cost the taxpayers
a penny and should be a self-liquidating
project based on
the success of the pool
project in Manheim during
the past year.”
Sept. 4,1958: The editorial
that week cited a bond issue
under consideration for
storm water and sewer lines
as well as the pool and
remarked, “Well, if we can
float over a half-million
dollars worth of bonds and
then meet all interest
charges, etc., without
raising taxes, then we’ll
have to admit (and we’ll do it
publically down in the
Square) that the Millenium
has arrived.”
The editorial did agree the
pool “sounds great” but
urged the council “to have
all facts possible.”
Oct. 2, 1958: “Despite that
the proposed $175,000 bond
issue to finance a public
swimming pool here will be
placed on the Nov. 4 ballot,
not all members of council
are in accord with the move.
o f d e b a t e
“This was disclosed for the
first time Tuesday evening
when Roy Riedenbaugh, who
was a hospital patient when
council okayed the move last
month, questioned the ad­visability
of placing the bond
issue before the public.”
“Despite that he has no
vote on council, Burgess
Benjamin Forrest im­m
e d ia te ly rem in d e d
members of council they had
promised to place the matter
on the ballot at the last
meeting of council.”
Oct. 16, 1958: In a letter to
the editor an unnamed
borough cititzen stated that
“ Lititz has plenty of
swimming pools on Front
Street during a heavy rain”
and questioned the proposed
bond issue.
Nov. 6, 1958: “Obviously
increased by interest in the
swimming pool bond issue,
the votes cast here Tuesday
proved approximately 10
percent higher than the last
gubernatorial race.
“A total of 2,040 votes were
cast in the borough...925 in
favor of the issue, 733
against it, with 400 voters
failing to vote on the issue.”
Nov. 26,1958: The pool can
be completed and ready to
operate next summer if
council starts moving,
borough manager, David
Bauer, told council this
week.
Dec. 4, 1958: In the
editorial: “At their last
meeting members of
borough council made it
quite clear they do not intend
to rush into any plans for
building an elaborate
swimming pool until they
have further reassurance
that such a step can be af­forded.
“Frankly, we cannot differ
with their stand...little is to
be gained by rushing into the
matter.”
Dec. 18, 1958: “If Lititz is
(Turn to Page 13)
* * New features to mark 144th Fairyland of Candles * *
Several new features will
add their share of splash and
sparkle to Lititz’ traditional
celebration of Independence
Day in Lititz Springs Park
Friday.
Early risers will hear the
tolling of church bells at 6
a.m., to “proclaim liberty
throughout the land.”
At 10 a.m. the park
grounds will be cleared of
early arrivers so that ad­missions
can then be taken
at the gates. Adult admission
is $3.50 with children under
12 admitted for $.50.
At 12:30 the first per­former
of the day will go on
stage at the band shell. Kelly
Longenecker, a 1985 War­wick
High School graduate,
will present a brief selection
of contemporary Christian
music.
She will be followed by the
Erik Schouten Band, a
locally organized group,
which will also perform
Contemporary Christian
music - all original. All the
pieces are written by Erik
Schouten, a Lititz resident,
and performed by him and
his group which includes:
Bob Mendza, of Lititz; Mark
Sell, Manheim; Rick
Goshert, Ephrata. The band
is managed by John Benner,
Leola, who also manages the
Historical Foundation Antique Show
celebrating 25th anniversary
Mildred McElroy, seated, talks over the history of the Lititz Historical Foun­dation’s
Antique Show and Sale with Richard Rader, a longtime foundation
member and former antique show treasurer, and Sue Sload, current show
chairman. Mrs. McElroy was the show’s first chairman, a position she held for 12
years.
by Kathleen King
The Lititz Historical
Foundation’s Antique Show
and Sale is having a birth­day.
Its 25th to be exact.
It was 25 years ago when
the Lititz Historical Foun­dation
conducted its first
antique show. And it’s
something Mildred McElroy
remembers well.
For two reasons.
First of all - she suggested
the idea. And secondly - she
was the first chairman.
Isn’t that often the way it
is? You made the suggestion
and you get to chair the
project.
But in this case, Mrs.
McElroy was probably one
of the most qualified people
around to organize and run
such a show.
As Richard Rader, a long­time
Historical Foundation
member and treasurer of the
show for many years, puts
it: “She probably had more
natural knowledge about
antiques than anyone
around.”
Mrs. McElroy grew up in a
home that was filled with
antiques and in a family that
cherished them as family
heirlooms. She learned
about collecting on her
grandfather’s knee.
“I’ve always been in­terested
in antiques and
history,” she explains. A
listing of her memberships
would quickly attest to that:
the Pennsylvania German
Society; the Lebanon
Historical Society; the York
Historical Society; the
Lancaster County Historical
Society; the Heritage
Center, the Wrightsville
Historical Society, to name a
few.
And of course, the Lititz
Historical Foundation.
The idea of the original
antique show, Mrs. McElroy
explained, was to raise funds
for the foundation’s newly
acquired Johannes Mueller
House.
To this day the antique
show remains the major
source of support for the
Mueller house, now a
museum depicting life in late
18th Century Lititz.
The original antique show
ran three days: July 3,4 and
5. In 1962, the first year, 1,283
people attended the show,
purchasing tickets for 75
cents (50 cents with discount
card.)
During that first year
there were 19 exhibitors and
the show was held in the
Lititz Recreation Center.
Exhibitors paid $20 to $25
for floor space.
In this anniversary year
the show has attracted 35
exhibitors. It will be held in
the middle school, which is
air conditioned. And ad­mission
is $2 or $1.75 with the
discount card.
The show a t t r a c t s
exhibitors from a wide area -
- four states to be exact. One
exhibitor, Mrs. Jeannette A.
Dingle of Carlisle has been
at the show since the
beginning.
Two Lititz area exhibitors
will be showing this year:
H.B. Hardican, 32 E. Main
St., and Alisanne Beyer of
Hidden Hollow Antiques.
According to this year’s
chairman, Suzanne Sload,
exhibitors and show per­sonnel
have been; en­couraged
to wear vintage
fashions for this two-day
event.
A free tour of the Johannas
Mueller House and Museum
is included in the price of the
admission.
Mrs. Sload said several
unusual features this year:
the doll committee chair­man,
Mrs. Judy Light, will
display handmade Moravian
dolls and take orders on
them.
Moravian sugar cakes will
be available for sale, along
Moravian bell
with other homebaked
items. A luncheon menu will
be available at the middle
school.
The grand finale of the
show will be the drawing for
the winner of the Lititz
Moravian Bell.
The bell is one of 1000 cast
from the bell of the original
Moravian Church, which
was destroyed by fire in 1957.
The bell was shipped to East
Hampton, Conn., where it
was melted down and cast
into small hand bells.
Each of the bells is in­scribed
“Lititz Moravian
Bell 1787-1957” and sold for
$3 at the time.
According to Mrs. Sload
such bells now go for as high
as $500 in an auction.
Donated by a husband and
wife who are members of the
foundation, it is packaged in
its original box. Foundation
member Donald Rannels has
donated a bell dome and
base for display.
Mildred McElroy served
as chairman of the antique
show for 12 years. In that
time she saw it grow steadily
in size and reputation and is
this year serving as
honorary show chairman.
Yes, the Lititz Historical
Foundation’s Antique Show
and Sale is having a birth­day.
Much credit should go
t9 the lady who saw it
through its birth pangs —
Mrs. Mildred McElroy.
band “Damascus.” Daryl
Wenger is the sound
technician.
The Erik Schouten Band
will perform from 12:45 to
1:45.
Next on the program will
be a talent show by exchange
students with the American
Field Service. The students,
on a tour of the United States
at the conclusion of their
year-long stay, make a
traditional stop in Lititz over
the Fourth of July and share
a little of their homelands by
way of music, song or dance.
They will be on stage from
2 to 3 p.m.
At 2:45 p.m. registration
for the baby parade will take
place at the roundhouse near
the refreshment stand. The
baby parade itself, a revival
of a once-popular tradition,
will take place from 3:15 to
3:45.
At 4 p.m. children and
grownups alike will be en­tertained
by Ziggy the
Magician and Pete Geist, a
musical mime.
The Lititz Community
Band will take the stage at
5:30 p.m. to perform a
selection of marches and
patriotic music appropriate
for the day. The band will be
directed by James Metzger.
sT-I'-A ~ sy -...
tertainment will be providec
by the Susquehanna Rivei
Band, a well-known Lan­caster
County group that
specializes in country rock.
At 9:15 “Miss Lancaster
County,” Miss Kathy Keith,
a Warwick graduate and a
Brunnerville resident, will
perform “Somewhere” from
West Side Story.
At 9:25 the 12 young ladies,
all 1986 graduates of War­wick
High School, chosen by
their classmates will be
introduced as the Queen of
Candles court. The twelve
girls are: Christine Balmer,
Linda Jo Geiger, Kelly
Glass, Julie Herr, Toni Herr,
Michelle Hershey, Barbara
Kimble, Michelle Reynolds,
Gretchen Rhoads, Lori
Schneider, Anne Swan and
Susan Tobias.
One of the 12 girls will be
crowned queen by last year’s
queen, Cindy Hurst. Flower
girl and crown bearer this
year are Amy Chase and
Nathan Nixdorf.
Following the crowning of
the queen the thousands of
candles that line the Lititz
Springs creek will be lit,
turning the park into a
Fairyland of Candles.
The climax of the evening
will be the fireworks display
' Vis* J'As . A
This graceful swan sets the mood for the
Fairyland of Candles. Behind it, along the rim of
the basin, a glimmer of tiny lights can be seen.
beginning at 10:30 p.m.
Clair Brothers Audio will
provide the amplification
and Tait Lighting will handle
lighting for the pageant.
Chairman of the July 4th
celebration committees are:
Terry Shamberger, general
chairman; Jerry Kiralfy,
bell ringing; Mary Ann Seitz
and Betty Burkett, booklet;
Gerry Bucher and Florence
Kling, patron list; Glenn
Sauder, candle illumination.
Also, Homer Adams and
Ralph Seaman, concessions;
Don Becker, decorations;
Barry Anderson and Dennis
Hess, fireworks.
And, Robert Herzer,
parking; Barry Anderson,
security; Alan Price and
Jim Axmacher, program;
Terry Shamberger publicity
and Jam es Wynkoop,
tickets.
Raindate will be Saturday.
In this issue
Editorial 4
Sports Section 6,7,8
Church 14
Social 12,13
Manheim 15,16
Business Directory 17,18
Classified 20,21
July 4th program
A.M. 6:00
10:00
P.M. 12:30-12 45
12:45- 1 45
2:00- 3 00
3:15- 3 45
4:00- 5 00
5:30- 6 30
7:00- 8 30
9:15- 9 25
9:25-10 00
10:30-11
O®
Bell Ringing.
Clearing of the park grounds.
Kelly Longenecker, solo artist.
Erik Schouten Band.
American Field Service.
Baby Parade.
Ziggy the Magician and Pete Geist.
Lititz Community Band.
Susquehanna River Band.
Solo by Kathy Keith, “Miss Lan­caster
County.”
Queen of the Candles Pageant and
Lighting of the Candles.
Gala fireworks display.
Baby parade
P a rtic ip a n ts in­terested
in being part of
the baby parade during
the Fourth of July
festivities in Lititz
Springs P ark are
rem in d e d th a t
registration will be held
beginning at 2:45 at the
roundhouse near the
refreshment stand. The
parade will begin at 3
p.m.
The theme of the baby
parade is “The Fourth
of July” and par­tic
ip an ts a re en­couraged
to carry out
th e th em e with
costumes, decorated
strollers, wagons or
floats, as they desire.
Cash prizes will be
aw a rd e d in six
categories: cutest, most
artistic, most comical,
most original, most
colorful and best
executed theme.
A grand prize will also
be awarded.
The Independence Day celebration in Lititz will several years ago, preparations are set for the
culminate with the traditional Fairyland of Candles evening’s festivities,
pageant in Lititz Springs Park. In this scene from