Chapter X- Commercial

  Millville - The First 200 Years 

 Chapter X

Commercial

    An area is a reflection of its many parts. The churches, schools, and other institutions set the atmosphere, and the trend of the residents' thinking. This constitutes a large number of the community’s variables. Shops and stores along with the community’s accessibility on the network of roads determine if it will become an important trading site. However, the most important single component of all the variables is the industry of the area.      

    When John Eves returned in 1785, he rebuilt his abode and then constructed the first industries in the valley. The sawmill and the grain mill, which he erected, were soon followed by other businesses. Some have passed over the years to be replaced by others. Today, several larger firms and a number of important smaller businesses provide the industry that generates the employment so critical if the area is to prosper and grow.

 

MILCO INDUSTRIES

    Milco Industries, in this community, dates to the business originated by George Stein. He traveled through central Pennsylvania as a salesman, and then he, in partnership with Israel Becker, started buying distressed stores. Their first intimate relationship with Millville was when they purchased the former Edward Eves store, then located in a part of the building, which is now occupied by Woolcock's Hardware. Evidently, their liquidating sale in Millville was quite successful and they then purchased some other store stocks and moved them to the Millville location.

     Subsequently, in 1929, they purchased the Preston Eves and Son store, formerly the C. R. Henrie Store. Becker, not wanting to relocate with his family to Millville, went on to other fields. George Stein, with his wife Rose, was located in Millville and had their apartment over the store (where Lester Gordner is located now). For twenty-four years they operated a good general store and George and Rose were wonderful citizens of our community. In May 1943, a fire destroyed all of the stock and a good part of the store. At this time he moved his family to Bloomsburg.

    George decided he wanted to be a manufacturer and negotiated with Girton Manufacturing Company for a building they built some distance from their then-existing plant. George operated there for several years, during which time Girton Manufacturing Company's operation expanded rather substantially and their buildings surrounded all but one side of the Stein Sewing Factory.

George Stein needed more space and Girton Manufacturing needed the space he was using. It was decided that Stein would build a new factory on Chestnut Street, which he did, and operated successfully as Maxwell Manufacturing Company, making all kinds of sewed items, from bathing caps for WACS during World War II to all sorts of women's clothing, men's clothing, aprons, slacks, underclothing, nightgowns, and some specialty items.

George remained active in the business until 1964, at the time of his death. From 1964 to 1969, his son, Morry, took over the run­ning of Maxwell, and he sold in 1969 to Milco Industries.

 The Mitrani brothers, Marco Mitrani and Solomon Mitrani, started the Milco Business in 1921. It was a slow start in a small storefront on the East Side of New York City. The total floor space was approximately 500 to 600 square feet. It was with slow; tedious hand-operated embroidery machines and a few sewing machines that gave them their start which soon blossomed into additional sewing machines and larger quarters.

 From 1921 to 1931 several moves were made to larger and larger quarters. In 1931, the entire operation was moved to Berwick, Pennsylvania, in a loft on West Front Street. In 1932, due to ex­pansion, the quarters above Housenick Motors in Bloomsburg were also rented. In 1939, Milco built its first sizeable building in Blooms­burg, with expansions in buildings almost every other year.

During the war years, Milco was almost entirely devoted to government work in the war effort, manufacturing parachutes for bombs and Cargon chutes for the Air Force.

 At the close of the war, Milco started manufacturing its own needs and purchased several tricot knitting machines. This has since developed into a sizeable operation. In 1954 the Dyehouse was erected for dyeing and finishing tricot fabrics.

 In 1967, Milco acquired the Benton Shirt Company in Benton, and in 1969 acquired the Maxwell Manufacturing plant in Millville. Both have since been converted to manufacturing ladies' lingerie. The Millville plant has been expanded to four times its purchase size during this last year. 

Milco is celebrating its Golden Anniversary, this being its 50th year of business.

 

FIRST NATIONAL BANK

 The First National Bank of Millville was authorized by charter on July 1, 1900, to conduct a banking operation in town. This char­ter formalized the banking operations which had been in operation as a part‑time loan company for many years. It was conducted by William Masters in his store, and mainly as a part of his mercantile business.

When John Eves came to Millville, his needs for a bank were few. As the town grew, its needs changed. Farmers and storekeep­ers, buying goods and equipment in seaport cities, needed a way to pay for these items. With no bank nearer than Sunbury, in the 1890s, many men were forced to travel long distances carrying large sums of money. This is to be used either to cover debts owed to other businesses or to be deposited at a bank, to permit further transfers to pay New York, Philadelphia, or other still more dis­tant businesses.

When William Masters contacted a group of local residents, they were very interested in the idea of a bank in Millville. During the summer of 1899, William sold shares in the proposed bank and by fall had forty‑three local individuals subscribing varying amounts. Federal banking laws required that a bank be chartered to operate. Millville needed the service so badly that in May of 1900, several transactions were made in the name of the bank and the official books for the bank opened.

The original board of directors included William Masters, President; J. W. Eves, Vice President; Wilson M. Eves, John Eves, W. W. Eves, Josiah Heacock, Dr. H. S. Christian, Dr. J. E. Shuman as directors with C. M. Eves as Cashier, and C. R. Henrie, Secretary.

The Banks official place of business continued at the Master's store at the corner of Railroad and Main. The left side was re­decorated and the large safe at the rear was used for the vault. By 1914, the store and bank were competing for space and the vacant lot at the Square was purchased. The present three-story home of the bank, built of Indiana limestone and gray brick was built in that same year. Since the original construction, several changes to the interior have been made. Originally, the first floor included three offices.  In addition to the bank, the post office moved in on State Street and a rear office was made and used by various individuals. The second floor contained four offices. The third floor was built specifically as a lodge room and used for many years by the IOOF, Rebeccas, Junior Mechanics, and others.

     In 1947, the post office moved to permit the banks expansion into the entire first floor. The entrance was moved from its original position opening diagonally between Main and State to the center of the building on State Street. The small office on the southwest corner was converted to a board of directors meeting room. The second floor has been converted to fewer offices and the apartment that took the place of one office was later converted to a rest area for the women employees of the bank. Today the Millville Mutual Insurance Company and Dr. Jay Fleck occupy the entire remainder of this floor.

     The third floor has not been used since the IOOF laid down their lodge in 1958.

    One of the many advantages of becoming a chartered bank in the early 1900s was the privilege of "printing" money. Bills are available in several local collections that carry the Millville name.

     Today the bank has increased its assets to a sum of $959,924,645. The directors and officers for 1972 are:

Donald E. Bangs, President and Chairman of the Board; Paul F. Weatherill, Cashier; Wayne T. Wright, Assistant Cashier; Luther Baker, Dale A. Derr, E. Eugene Eves, Warren Farr, Walter Gardner, J. M. Reece, Paul F. Weatherill, Directors

 

 MILLVILLE MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY

     The Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Millville was formed on September 7, 1875, with Joseph W. Eves as President; Ellis Eves, Secretary; and Wilson M. Eves as the Justice of the Peace who notarized the papers. The whereabouts of the first minutes' book are unknown so only sketchy information such as can be gleaned from the annual statements is available about the first twenty years in the life of the company.

    Joseph W. Eves, for some unknown reason, was familiarly known as "Joe K." He lived on Main Street, opposite the Greenwood Seminary, was a surveyor and owner of extensive timber tracts in various parts of Greenwood township. Ellis Eves was a storekeeper.

    The first known statement published dated December 31, 1876, indicated the following: All assets $128.14; borrowed money $540; Total income for the year including the $540 loan $1297.56. Total expenses for the year of $33.68 plus Total losses paid of $1276.66 which exceeded by some $13 the money taken in. By the year 1900, the gross assets of the company amounted to $140.45 but losses paid during the year had grown to $7202.53. Assessments were levied as needed and no attempt was made to build up the assets.

    The earliest minutes book available picks up the story of the Company in September 1896 at which time the original Joseph W. Eves, President, and Ellis Eves, Secretary, were still in office. The results of the election of January 1897 were:

    Joseph W. Eves, President; Ellis Eves, Secretary; Henry Wintersteen, William F. Dyer, W. W. Eves, Executive Committee Chairman; S. J. Eckman, Executive Committee; William Masters, Treasurer; Chandlee Eves, W. R. Demott, Vice President, and Executive Committee; C. F. Robbins, John Moser, A. B. Henry, R. F. Whitmoyer.

    Offices of the company were in the Ellis Eves & Bro. store for many years. When Fred Eves was elected secretary in 1911, the office was moved to a large room in the brick building on the east side of State Street, next door to the printing office. It remained there until 1915. In the minutes of the January 1915 annual meeting, it was voted to "rent the corner room over the bank at $10.00 per month if possible".

    The original Treasurer, William Masters, served continuously until January 1920 when he was succeeded by E. L. Eves.

     The complete roster of Secretaries follows:

Ellis Eves 1875 to 1910

Fred Eves 1911 to 1914

F. W. Heller 1915 to 1954

E. Guy Bangs 1955 to 1969

C. Emerson Woolever 1970 to …

     Some milestones: 8/3/1900 minutes show that policyholder 5152 was granted permission to use a gasoline stove. At the annual meeting in January 1911, they voted to have a Bell Telephone installed in the office.

    By 1950 gross losses paid amounted to $36,025 and gross assets had grown to $160,710 with an annual premium income of $63,122.

    From 1954 to 1969 the underwriting income tripled and the surplus quadrupled to just under one million dollars. This probably was the greatest period of growth in the history of the company. In this period they expanded into non‑assessable policies including Inland Marine and Homeowners and joined the Quaker State Group to obtain greater capacity and special multiperil coverages. Simultaneously access was gained to a reinsurance pool operated by professional reinsurers. Despite this growth, it is interesting to note that in 1969 more than 90 % of the company's premium income was written by two of its three `captive agents": Kenneth King and Don Bangs

    The recent succession of Presidents has been J. D. Welliver, Martin J. Bowman, and currently, Paul K. Girton.

     During the early 1950s, the name of the company was changed to Millville Mutual Insurance Company.

    With 95 years of continuous insurance service, the 1969 annual statement showed assets of $1,110,700.31 and a surplus of $938,869.46. It also carried a Dunnes Policyholders Rating of A plus (Excellent).

     The office was still located over the bank in 1972 occupying all of the second floor, except a dentist's office.

     In January 1970 the ailing Lycoming Mutual Insurance Company of Montoursville was merged into the Millville firm. Lycoming was formed by the joining of the Bloomingrove Mutual and the Susquehanna Mutual in the 1960s.

     The roster of officers and directors as of October 1970 was:

Paul K. Girton, President, Girton Mfg. Co.

Frank Beishline, Vice President, Farmer

C. Emerson Woolever, Secretary, exFeed Miller

W. 0. Diehl, Treasurer, Implement Dealer

Warren Farr, Chairman Executive Committee, Hardware

          Dealer

Eri    Fester, Executive Committee, Farmer

Fred W. Kistler, Executive Committee, Farmer

Charles Long, Director, Merchant

Otto Ford, Director, Poultryman

James R. Hess, Sr., Director, Bank Teller

Lloyd Paulhamus, Director, Farmer

Kenneth King, Director, Salesman

John E. Waltz, Director, Farmer

Roscoe J. Heim, Director, Farmer

E. Guy Bangs, Director

Carl  D. Molyneux, Director

I. L. C. OF PENNA.

     Early in 1963, a decision was made by the owners of Industrial Lamp Corporation, Inc. of Elkhart, Indiana, to expand the production and sale of its products to the mobile home industry in other parts of the United States. Market research determined that Pennsylvania was becoming a growing hub of mobile home activity, servicing the whole east coast. At the same time it was discovered that the Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania area was the exact center of most of this activity.

    A preliminary search was made for manufacturing facilities in the Bloomsburg, Espy, Catawissa areas. A difficulty occurred with the procurement of a site in these places. With the situation looking hopeless, it was determined that Girton Manufacturing Company in Millville had a facility that could be used.

    On April 1, 1963, I.L.C. Products Company of Pennsylvania, Inc., a Pennsylvania Corporation, was born. The workforce consisted of one person in the office and five manufacturing employees supervised by the manager, Kenneth Fodness, who came to Millville from Elkhart to open the facility. The business progressed slowly but steadily and additional facilities were needed. These again were provided by Girton Manufacturing Company in the form of a Quonset, but adjacent to the building first occupied by I.L.C.

    In 1966, the need arose for still more space. The land was purchased along Route 42 on the south edge of the borough. The good citizens of Millville were asked to provide monetary assistance on a loan basis and construction started on a new building. The new facility of 23,500 square feet was occupied in November 1967.

    In 1970, the Conroth Corporation was purchased and became a wholly owned subsidiary of I.L.C. Products Company. This required additional warehouse space and temporary quarters were used until an addition to the new building could be built.

    Additional space of 18,000 square feet was completed in 1971 and occupied early in 1972. The present employment rate is eighty-one employees with an expected increase by year's end. Also, this year Ken was promoted to Manager of the three plants in the East, and Gene Gillaspy was promoted to local Assistant Plant Manager.

    Industrial Lamp Corporation, the parent company, was started in Chicago, Illinois by Mr. 0. H. Williams in 1937. The product built at that time was stove lamps: hence the name Industrial Lamp Corporation. In the years that followed, other types of lamps were built including desk lamps for sale to Sears, Roebuck, and Company as well as Montgomery Ward Company.

    World War II caused Mr. Williams to divert his facility to war work and the manufacture of headlamps, marker lamps, and blackout lamps for military vehicles were started.

    When World War II ended, the company moved to facilities in Elkhart, Indiana. The year was 1946 and the thought of getting involved in the supply of products to the mobile home industry looked promising. The production of mobile home lighting fixtures was started. Military lamp and fluorescent desk lamp production continued.

    Eventually, the company went into the manufacture of windows and doors for mobile homes; its main line of business today. After Mr. Williams' retirement, the company name was changed to I.L.C. Products Company, Inc.

    In the past few years, subsidiary plants have been opened in the states of Indiana, Ohio, Wisconsin, Idaho, Kansas, Texas, Georgia, and Florida. The Pennsylvania subsidiary at Millville was the first. 

GIRTON SALES AND GIRTON MANUFACTURING COMPANY

     The history of the Girton Manufacturing Company should start with a farm boy, Paul K. Girton, born and raised in sight of Millville. His early love for both inventing and selling eventually led to the birth of a company that has always been active in both fields.

    Sarah and George (Hud), his mother and father, were both pleased and frustrated with his constant tinkering with the family automobiles and farm tractors. He was much more interested in taking them apart, doing a little adjusting, and then putting everything back together, than in driving them. Another example of his inventive and mechanical interest was his early interest in radio. He assembled the second radio to receive messages in the Millville area from parts that were mostly homemade. As a result of this accomplishment, he was considered somewhat of an expert in this locality in the early days of radio and successfully sold a goodly number of these homemade assembled sets later Crosley received sets to many of the people in the town and surrounding community during and shortly after his years in high school.

    In the fall of 1923, his family purchased a Hinman Milking Machine. The salesman casually offered Paul, who was only 18, a commission on any other machines he could sell in the area. By the time the salesman returned, Paul had a sale lined up and was on his way to being a full-fledged salesman.

    He soon took the distributorship in 38 counties of Pennsylvania, about two­ thirds of the State, for this firm.

    Economic conditions were poor in the late Twenties and the young salesman discovered the farmer who was most likely to be financially able to purchase a milking machine was a farmer with a retail milk business, because such farmers had the combined profits, though small, of the producer and distributor.

     He had about decided, for this reason, he should spend more time and effort with these farmers, when he discovered the State of Pennsylvania had adopted its first sanitary milk control regulations, which were to become effective on January 1, 1930. Among other things, it required that every milk producer have a mechanical capping machine for his bottles and a sterilizer for washing and sterilizing the bottles.

    He was exhibiting milking machines at the Pennsylvania Farm Products Show in Harrisburg, when at the January 1930 Show, he discovered a new mechanical filling and capping machine that had been invented and developed by a man in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, Mr. E. S. Engle of Modern Equipment Company. He convinced Mr. Engle to let him sell his machine in the same 38 counties in Pennsylvania where he was the distributor for the Hinman Milking Machine.

     Enforcement of the new regulations was slow in getting started as was the production of the new filling and capping machines. It wasn't until June 1930 that he received his first machine. He had married Neola Bennett, and on the return from their wedding trip, they were invited to stop in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, at Mr. Engle's home for a social visit and to pick up the first of the new filling and capping machines. Upon returning home with his bride, Paul immediately began calling on the several hundred milk processors in the 38 counties in Pennsylvania to which he had been allocated, and was quite successful. In the last six months of the year alone, he sold 90 machines.

     When calling on bottling plants to sell filling and capping machines, he discovered that the same people needed washers, sterilizers, steam boilers, and miscellaneous other equipment and supplies. Recognizing an important new market, he sought out sources for such equipment. He arranged with Chester Dairy Supply Company of Chester, Pennsylvania, to sell their bottle washers and sterilizers. After having sold a few of these machines, he asked the manufacturer to make certain changes in their equipment, which he felt would improve the machines. The President of Chester replied, "We'll make them young man, you just sell them."

     He promptly went to the Sweeney and Farr Hardware in Millville, and together they designed and made a Washer and Sterilizer incorporating his ideas, which was the first item manufactured by what is now Girton Manufacturing Company. Paul now had his own company. In October of 1927, he registered the name Girton Sales Company, with the county recorder in Bloomsburg and the state's recorder in Harrisburg.

    The first factory was a barn behind the house where Paul and Neola lived. Built by his maternal grandfather, Joseph Kitchen, originally for housing the mail carrier's horses. Before long, the embryo manufacturing company outgrew its humble first home and moved to a vacant store building on State Street, owned by Helen Eves. (The building is part of what is now the D. W. Wool cock Store.)

    As the company continued to prosper, Girton Manufacturing built the first buildings on Third Street. This 40 x 60 building is part of the recently remodeled corporate offices of the company. The buildings along the mill pond which presently house all the manufacturing processes, the engineering department, and other factory offices, were all built one by one as business demanded, except for the first small brick one.

    The original portion of this present manufacturing area was a silk mill, built by Messrs. Jovourd and Levine in the late teens or early twenties. At first, it was quite successful but later ran into difficulties. Finally, after changing hands several times, it went bankrupt. The largest creditor was a Japanese silk firm in New York City. Paul made an offer for the building which was accepted by the Court conducting the proceedings and took the title just prior to World War II.

    In October 1942, the business became a family partnership of Paul and Neola Girton. At the same time, the name was changed to the Girton Manufacturing Company to more accurately describe what had become the more important activity, the manufacture of equipment for the dairy processing industry.

    After Pearl Harbor, Girton's entered the war effort. In addition to the continued production of dairy and food equipment, the company soon was producing as many as fifteen different pieces of equipment for military use at home and abroad. The most important part as far as numbers manufactured was the M‑ 3 Shaped Charge, the "granddaddy of the bazooka". While the American Car and Foundry in Berwick was building tanks, Girton was supplying them parts for almost every one they built. It was a great feat of production for a company such as Girtons which before the war period had employed approximately 35 people. At one time during the war period, this number rose to a high of 300 men and women working two full shifts and a shorter third shift. After the war, employment leveled to around 150 and now has increased to 180.

    In 1947 the family partnership took on another partner, Robert Lonsdale, the company comptroller. The partnership was changed to a corporation in that same year with the same three people as stockholders and officers.

    By this time the company had grown and expanded its operations so that it was not only manufacturing dairy processing equip­ment but was distributing equipment and supplies made by many other manufacturers and used by milk, ice cream, butter, and cheese manufacturing plants.

    It was the decision of the management at the time, that if the resale operations could be completely separated from the manufacturing part of the business, more definite areas of responsibilities could be created and better controls exercised. Wherefore, on Aug­ust 6, 1947 the name Girton Sales Company again came into use as the name of a newly formed corporation, with Paul K. and Neola B. Girton as stockholders and officers.

    Another significant change in the Girton Manufacturing Com­pany since its inception has been diversification. In 1955 a Chicago architect called the plant, requesting two stainless steel washers to clean animal cages for a new lab in the famous Mayo Clinic. He could find no one making them nearby but said he had seen a Girton Washer in the Argonne National Laboratory in Argonne, Illinois. Although the company answered the architect's request, it did not immediately become an important line. For several years few units were made. Washers for Iowa State, University of Iowa Medical School, and University of Colorado Medical School were supplied during this period. But as the demand for dairy equipment declined as a result of consolidation, this line continued to grow until now animal care and laboratory equipment are a substantial part of the business.

    The company presently has about 120,000 square feet under roof, a far cry from the original quarters of the small horse barn.

    Further consolidation in the dairy industry led Girton into other fields of equipment; primarily in cleaning equipment for meat processing, candy processing, and wineries. Girton washers have washed everything from milk bottles to monkey cages.

    For many years Girton enjoyed a limited export business, ship­ping to several countries in Latin America and Europe, Australia, and Japan. The International Dairy Congress Show, which Girtons attended for the first time in 1964 in Munich, Germany, marked the beginning of a greatly expanded volume of export business, which just recently resulted in a Presidential "E" Award for Excel­lence in Exporting.

MILLVILLE LUMBER PRODUCTS

     Planing mills have been a part of the town industries for many years. The oldest still continues on the old site with many changes in facilities and ownership during its near century of operation.

    In 1881 Henry Getty and William Greenly built a small wooden building on the south side of Moorhead Avenue adjacent to the grist mill tailrace. Three years later Shoemaker and Lore built a similar operation at the present Grange building. It was later sold to Ed­ ward Buck who also operated a small wagon works there in addition to the planing mill. The complete operation was discontinued some­ time after 1915.

    The Getty and Greenly business was sold to Charles Cutler. Orville Robbins had worked for Charles Cutler for a time and eventually purchased the business from Cutler. Robbins built the mill business and his sons, Basil and Maynard, joined their father in the operation.

    After the tannery fire in 1933, Robbins purchased the land and remaining buildings from that business. The planing mill operation was expanded several times during these years. After the Dewart Creamery purchased the Millville Creamery business in 1925, Bob­ bins purchased the property and building from them. This facility, located directly across from the planing mill, was converted to an office on the second floor and a retail store at street level during 1945 and 1946.

    In keeping pace with the fast-growing population and construc­tion industry in East Central Pennsylvania, finished lumber in the form of the window sash, molding, sheeting, etc. was prepared from rough stock and, thus, the operation became known as Millville Planing Mill. Also, custom millwork, in which some of the finest cabinets in the area were handcrafted, became an integral part of the "Planing Mill", allowing all supplies to be sold for complete house construction. It was in this area that Millville Planing Mill continued and expanded thru the World War II years under the ownership of Basil and Maynard Robbins.

    In the years immediately following World War II, the next major transition took place in Millville Planing Mill. The American Chain & Cable Company had purchased The Hazard Company in Wilkes‑ Barre, Pennsylvania, and, being a manufacturer of wire rope, they required cable reels in their operation. Also, because of the war, U. S. industry realized that many improvements were needed in the area of materials handling. As the forklift industry grew, the idea of palletization for quickness and ease of handling and storage became a reality. Both of these markets provided an out­ standing means for the sawmill to dispose of its "low grade" soft­ wood and hardwood by putting this lumber into cable reels and pallets. Thus, Millville Planing Mill became a manufacturing operation as well.

     As the years passed, the Robbins Brothers decided to sell the "Planing Mill" and, in 1956, the present name, Millville Lumber Products, Inc. had its beginning. Martin Bowman, who had been employed with the previous company as general manager, was elected President by the new owners N. R. Jones, Martin Bowman, Eugene Eves, and Larue Greenly, and Millville Lumber Products, Inc. continued in the same business area until 1959 when the main manufacturing and retail building completely burned.

    Because a good employment and business climate existed in Millville, it was decided to immediately make plans to rebuild. The sawmill was phased out and the following year a new 150' x 180' building was erected at the sawmill site at the southern end of the property, and more modern manufacturing equipment was installed. With these new facilities, it was decided to curtail the sale of cus­tom millwork and retail building supplies and to channel future growth into the production of pallets and cable reels to meet sales demands in these expanding markets.

    During the 1960s, sales and production of such items as pallets, cable reels, skids,, and boxes continued to grow under the enthusias­tic and aggressive guidance of Martin Bowman. Modern manufac­turing equipment for these lumber products was continuously added so as to improve working conditions and keep up-to-date in a highly competitive industry.

    As Millville Lumber Products, Inc. has grown, so has its econ­ omic contribution to the growth of the Millville area, as evidenced in 1971 by the employment of approximately 100 people and the con­sumption of 10 million board feet of lumber. Today, Sheldon Thomas is the President of the facility.

NILES LUMBER COMPANY

     Another industry that traces its origin to the planing mill and sawmill operation is the Niles Lumber Company. Arthur Hum­mel purchased a large tract of swamp land above Charleytown dur­ing 1916 to permit him access to the railroad.

    He had been shipping mine props from the station loading area for some time but had no place for the accumulation of small lots which had to be combined for full carload shipments. The props were cut at mills, set up in the woods, and hauled by horse and wagon to the railroad.

    In 1918, Art filled a portion of the remaining swamp and erec­ ted a small sawmill. This mill was powered by an upright boiler for steam to drive the engine. This permitted some custom sawing right at the siding.

    Also, that year he purchased two trucks which improved delivery to mine sites not served by the railroad. The next year the road was paved and his fleet of trucks increased over the next few years However, logs were still transported to the mill by horse and wagon. About 1923 the business was so successful that as many as twenty-two teams were fed at lunchtime, having moved their wagon load of props and logs to the mill.

     Numerous expansions to the mill increased the capacity and additional equipment permitted the production of finished lumber for construction. Moldings and custom pieces from the planing mill were sold in a wide area.

    In 1938, the present retail store was constructed on State Street. This three-story building with a second-floor opening at ground level on State Street is a large structure. The top floor was a dance hall and roller skating rink which proved very popular when it opened to the community. The middle floor served as the store and storage area. From this store building materials from the planing mill and purchased items to complete the offering were combined with a line of fertilizer and a supply of Purina feed. The first floor was a large storage area.

    By 1940, Mr. Hummel had four sawmills in operation supplying his retail and wholesale trade. The sawmill, on the store lot, had been enlarged and now required a very large boiler to generate the steam necessary to power this plant. Several storage buildings were constructed around the store and mill.

    Three smaller sawmills operated on the timber tracts that were being harvested. These mills were moved from time to time when the cutting in an area was completed to keep them close to the supply of logs. Stands of timber too small to permit the efficient operation of a mill were hauled directly to the Millville saw. Also, farmers clearing wood lots for cultivation sold their logs to a mill such as this and would normally haul the cut logs on the farm equipment to a mill.

    A number of trucks were required to haul the logs which had been cut into props to the mine shafts. Rather than return an empty truck to town, it would be loaded with coal and delivered to a user in the local area. The firm thus expanded into the coal supply business. A place was made to store and reload coal for later distribution.

    At times logs were hauled 100 miles to the local sawmill for processing. Many times these trucks would be loaded with coal for the return trip from Millville. Thus, coal became more important and large quantities were delivered to the Williamsport area.

    In 1948, Harvey Sones purchased the business and continued the planing mill and sawmill operations. A larger retail building supply business was established and millwork in custom cabinets, window sash, and moldings were expanded.

    Mr. Sones had large land holdings which were logged by the firm. Much of this land, and some additionally purchased farmland, was converted to nursery production of trees. Soon these fields were planted with Christmas trees and a new sideline had been added to the business. Much of this Christmas tree acreage was later sold to Abraczinskas for their local nursery.

    The dance hall on the top floor was used with decreased frequency and this area has slowly been converted into apartments. Today five units are occupied and a sixth apartment is planned for later completion.

    In 1963 Leon G. Niles, who was operating a similar facility in Wellsboro, purchased the business. A line for the production of pallets was installed in some of the planing mill area. The Company had several years of steady production.

    Increased efficiency made possible by automatic equipment for pallet production increased competition for this product. Also, the large volume planing equipment caused a change in that business. These combined with the continuing problem of fire prevention in a completely wooden structure made it necessary to remove the pallet plant and sawmill in the spring of 1970. A large open area remains where originally stood a substantial business.

    The store building remains and some custom work is still done in an adjoining building. The retail building supply business is still very successful and contract construction of new homes has added an additional mainstay to the business.

    Effective June 1, 1972, George Myers, a former employee of the business, purchased the inventory and took an option on the real estate with plans to continue the expansion of the supply business.

 

Other Businesses

     For this very short presentation, it has been necessary to condense some of the backgrounds of the community. It has been especially hard to determine which of the physical structures should be reviewed as to their origin. The few that appear are listed primarily because of their early erection and continuous use.

 

Stores:

    The first store is reported to have been started in Millville by Hale and Campbell at a time unknown and on a site lost to memory. A more complete account is available on the store of David Eves and Andrew Eves. In 1827 they opened a store on the present site of the Delbert Pennypacker home. Prior to this time, David was reported to have been in partnership with John Mather in a store ‑ Eves and Mathers.

 

    Millville was granted a post office in 1833 and David Eves was named the first postmaster. The post office was kept in the store. The town had definitely been named by the time the post office was established and possibly as early as 1827 according to Charles Eves. George and Samuel Masters bought the store in 1835.

    George Masters built the brick building now the Gordner store in 1857 and thus, this building should be the oldest building originally used for this type of venture that continues to be put to that purpose. In 1864 the business was changed to David W. Masters and in 1870 William Master took the store.

    A store at that time was somewhat different than the grocery stores of the present. Most sold all types of merchandise including staple food items, sewing supplies, medicines, and a variety of products for the farm. Normally these purchases were not paid for with cash but the items were accounted. These charges were off-set from the farm or business. Cash transactions were occasionally for cash settlements was March 1.

    The store would acquire all types of materials as a result of this barter system and would store the lumber, shingles, railroad ties, and mine props in the yard at the side of the store. With the stores and the sawmills in town accumulating this material for shipment to other towns south and east, this community looked more like a large lumber yard than a settlement.

    William Masters took C. R. Henrie and W. W. Heacock as partners in 1884 and the business name was changed to Masters and Company. After the railroad was opened in 1887, they constructed a warehouse on Railroad Street next to the tracks. This and their coal dock were located north of Walnut Street on the north siding.

     On February 27, 1897, the Masters and Company business was dissolved and C. R. Henrie, one of the partners, took over the operation of the business. He was assisted by his son C. H. Henrie.

     During these years Preston Eves was a clerk at the store. On September 22, 1919, he purchased the stock and opened it as Preston Eves and Son. He and his son, Earl, ran the store for ten years and then sold it to George Stein and I. Becker on June 1, 1929.

    Mr. Becker withdrew on September 30, 1933, and George built up a large stock. He conducted a successful business till May 1848 when a fire completely destroyed the stock. The building was still owned by the C. R. Henrie estate and it was heavily damaged inside. The executors of the estate soon repaired the damage. They opened up the first floor into a large room and remodeled the second floor, making three apartments there. A new heating plant was installed in the basement. All was completed in 1944.

     In 1946 the first tenants moved into the remodeled first floor which stood empty for nearly two years. Herman Parker and Francis Ortwine put in the first stock after the fire but sold within a year of opening.

     The store was opened on November 1, 1947, by Ralph Gordner who had been in business with Luther Baker prior to moving here. Ralph continued successfully with the operation and built a large trade from the surrounding area. He sold the business on September 1, 1971, to Lester Gordner who operates there today, although Ralph still maintains ownership of the building.

     The grocery and locker plant on the corner of Main and State Street, owned by Dean Evans, is another long-standing business.

    After the death of Charles Eves, in 1855, his sons Ellis, W. Webster, John, and J. B. Eves continued the wagon business. In 1872 they rented a store room built by T. Elwood Eves, on the lot where the bank now stands. The hotel moved from the west side of the creek, and stood on the west corner of the square. They soon moved this hotel building back to the present Texaco gas station lot. In 1873 they erected the store building on the corner, at its present location.

    In 1883, the company was divided and Ellis and W. Webster continued the store. They catered to the needs and habits of the neighborhood with a general store and drug store. They traded extensively in lumber, shingles, and railroad ties. The custom was to issue due bills if the farmer or lumberman did not desire immediate settlement. These were good for future purchases at the store. The lot between the present Quakerette and Hugh Palmer home was used for shingle sheds and lumber piles. The area on the other side of the Palmer home to Second Street had no buildings on it. A lumber yard was operated here. The lot where the Methodist Church now stands was the tie yard. After Walnut Street was opened they used an area along that also. On September 21, 1896 they had an inventory of over one hundred thousand ties. On that day they sold one hundred thousand railroad ties. This was a very large order for a community this size. After the railroad opened they too had a warehouse on the north siding but south of Walnut Street.

The store, trading as Ellis Eves and Brothers, used the first two floors of the building for many years. The third floor was used as a meeting hall by many organizations. The Grange organ­ized in this room and the Society of Good Intent along with others had their meetings here for many years.

    After W. Webster Eves' death in 1911, P. L. Eves purchased the stock and the real estate. He ran it till 1921 when he sold the stock to A. W. Eves and Harry Herr. At a later date, Leon Cole rented the building. He purchased some of the Eves and Herr stock and had a good business till his death in 1927. He was fol­ lowed as a renter by the Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company in April 1934. They moved to the V. P. Eves building in October 1941. The A & P Tea Company rented the north side of this building (now the A & C Pharmacy) until February 16, 1952 when they closed the Millville operation completely.

    In 1940, Luther Baker purchased the building from the P. L. Eves estate. Luther had moved from a store in Eyers Grove in 1932 to the building of the present Village Coffee House.

    In 1941, Ralph Gordner, who had clerked with Baker since 1933, was taken as a partner and he remained with the business until 1944. During this time, in 1941, they purchased the slaughterhouse of W. H. Pennington and the butchering tools. This house was located on Second Street at the site of the now-closed plant. This shop has been expanded several times since Baker took over. In 1963 a fire destroyed a portion of the interior which had to be replaced. Changes in the laws regulating meat plants made pro­duction uneconomical for many small plants and the slaughtering was discontinued in August 1970. The meat shop on State Street, which Pennington also owned, was included in the purchase. Meat was sold from this shop while groceries were sold from the first location. In January 1943 the stores were consolidated at the corner location and the meat market was sold to D. W. Woolcock while Paul Girton purchased the grocery store which he converted to a restaurant that continues today under new ownership.

    The corner store was again modernized in about 1946 to convert to a self-service arrangement and in 1947 the store was nearly doubled in size when a locker plant and meat processing installation was opened. Luther made several changes to the store arrangement over the years to make it competitive.

    In August 1969 he retired and sold the business to Dean and Barbara Evans, his son-in-law and daughter. They leased the grocery store to Lee Ridall at that time, and continue to operate the meat processing business and the locker plant.

    Another of the early store buildings is located on the southwest corner of Walnut and State Street. Many changes have been made to the structure over the years. The original building was a three-story, 40 by 60 wooden frame store. The top floor, at the time J. C. Christian had it built in 1888, was a large open room with a stage, curtains, and seats. It was known as the Opera House.

    The State Street floor had two rooms, both opening on this street. In one of these, the firm of Gotleib and Leib opened a clothing store. Other businesses occupied the stores for short per­iods. Little record exists of their stay.

    The basement was only completed under a portion of the building. There Charles Brink opened a bakery soon after the store was completed. Brink sold the business later to John Diely. In 1896, G. A. Potter moved the printing equipment of the "Tablet" to this room from its original home in a small building now gone, between the Quakerette and the Ely Drug Store building, also gone.

    The Opera House was used for local plays and meetings till approximately 1905 when it was converted for stock storage and a display room. The stage was not removed till Avery remodeled this floor.

    In 1893 Grant Johnson and Ralph Eves started a store in one side of the building. The partnership lasted only a short time, then the stock was sold at auction. Johnson then clerked for the Berwick Store Company for two years. 

    In 1894 J. C. Christian converted the south room into a dwelling and opened a store on the north side. Then in 1898, Christian sold the property to J. Lundy Reece.

    Reece formed a partnership with John Mather, Frank Mather, and Grant Johnson in 1902 or 1903. Johnson had returned to Millville after his Berwick experience and worked at the creamery and for Master and Company prior to this partnership. It lasted only eighteen months after which Grant went with R. B. Grimes in his store at the present Coffee Shop. In 1905 he rejoined Reece in a partnership that lasted until 1911 at which time J. L. Reece retired from the store business to manage the grist mill on a full-time basis. Grant took complete control of the store.

    In 1906, during the Reece and Johnson period, a fire at the rear of the store caused some damage to the building. This damage was repaired and an addition was added at the back of the building. This substantially increased the floor space on the store side of the building.

    In 1917 Grant sold the stock in the store to a company known as Gordon and Silvermint. The company sold part of the stock from the store and finally took the remainder away. The store stood empty for a short period.

    Then Grant Johnson returned, having formed a partnership with his son‑ in­ law, Byron Kyle. In 1921 they purchased the real estate. Later they expanded the operation to include a shoe store and many dry goods items.

    After J. L. Reece purchased the property he moved into the house connected to the store. He lived there during the stay of the many operators and after selling the building to Grant he traded rent for the house by allowing Johnson and Kyle the use of the metal clad warehouse that he owned on Railroad Avenue. He continued to live there until 1926 when the entire building was converted for store use.

    The business prospered during the thirties and early forties. Few changes were made during this time. The store owned a truck that was used for deliveries. This practice of local delivery became a necessity to compete with other establishments.

    In 1945 several changes were made to the store interior. Florescent lights were installed and the raised office platform located at the center of the store was removed. This office was the terminal for five wire hung cash trolleys used to transfer money from the counters to the cashier on the platform.

    After the war the business slowed. Finally, in April 1954 the store was closed and the stock was liquidated. The store was again vacant for a period.

    Emmit Avery purchased the property and opened a furniture store. He put in a stairway to the basement and used this for a display area. Also, later the stage was removed from the opera house floor to make this available for storage and display. The business had an up-and-down existence and the real estate was sold at sheriff's sale to Robin Reality, Harrisburg, in 1960.

    While Avery owned the property, Dr. Leonard Winski came to the community. Avery built a brick addition to the south side of the building for Winski's office. This 23' by 33' section contains four office rooms and a small storage and bath. Winski occupied the premises in June 1958.

    Paul Girton purchased the property from Robins on February 8, 1962, and moved the Girton Sales Company into the store building. Floyd Freas and Loren Eves rented the doctor's office for their insurance business. The Sales Company moved to the remodeled facilities on Third Street during the spring of 1969 and a Hughesville firm opened a plant in the store operating as Mill Apparel.

    This sewing factory employed forty‑ five women at its peak in 1970. A recession in the industry forced the plant to close late in 1970. The equipment from this plant was purchased by Milco and removed. The storeroom and third floor remain unoccupied.

 

Shops continued:

      The old shoe room from the Johnson and Kyle days was used by the Girton Sales Company for its offices while they occupied the building. After they moved the room was converted back to a beauty shop now operated by Shirley Kishbaugh. While Avery owned the building he had this shoe room remodeled to become the original beauty shop in this building. Mrs. Vince Myers opened it in 1958.

    D. W. Woolcock's store is located in the old Union Hall. Although the exact origin of this name is lost, the use of `Union Hall' as a description was very popular from the time it was constructed until at least 1915. Perhaps it derived this moniker from the Civil War veterans that met regularly at their lodge of the Grand Army of the Republic.

    In 1882, Harmon A. Stevison, who had been a smith at the Eves shop at the wagon works, purchased the land from A. P. Heller. Late in 1883 this property was purchased by W. B. and Luther German, they opened a smith shop in 1884 but poor health caused Luther to retire in 1885. Sometime after this date, the hall was built.

    The building was constructed by W. B. German and C.C. Heacock for a store. Little history of the early business remains. John Eves purchased the business from the original owners in 1893 and Francis Eves became heir to the property on his death. Then Helen Eves owned the store for a period. During this time the first floor was used as two separate stores.

    During these years the two rooms on the main floor were the home of many businesses. Ed Eves had a grocery store for some time and Lowe's electrical shop was housed here as was Paul Girton's production shop. The post office moved from here to the hotel.

    Drex purchased the property in 1940 from Helen Eves and moved the plumbing business that his father had started from the garage behind the Quakerette restaurant. In 1944 the family moved into the second-floor apartment.

    Woolcock's had purchased the W. H. Pennington meat shop located on State Street at south of Union Hall in 1943 after Luther Baker had moved to his new store. In 1945 the shop was moved by Cleon Greenly and the building expanded southward to its present shape. The plumbing business was expanded to include a line of hardware and household accessories. Paint and sporting goods were added to the offerings.

    In 1958 the business was incorporated and includes D. W. and his wife Irene, their son James, and Glen Bardo.

    For many years, propane gas in individual cylinders had been sold for home cooking use. This item became the base for a new venture known as Woolcock's Oil Company which provides home heating fuel. Several delivery trucks were purchased and in 1968 an underground bulk storage facility was installed on east Main Street.

    Another older building houses the oldest hardware and plumbing business in the community. The Farr's hardware was built by R. B. Grimes in the late 1800s for a saddler shop he operated. The second floor was fitted as an apartment. This original structure was approximately 30' by 80'.

    In May of 1895, J. Lundy Reece purchased the property from Grimes, while Grimes moved to the present Coffee House. Benjamin F. Cadman purchased the blacksmith tools from William Weiman in July of 1896 and moved them to this store. In December of that year, he purchased the property and moved his family into the apartment.

    He rapidly expanded the business to include stoves, central heating plants, roofing, and eventually hardware supplies. The venture was profitable and by 1903 a residence was built abutting the store building on the west side.

    John Sweeney and Warren Farr formed a partnership on June 10, 1925, and purchased the general line. Sweeney withdrew in January 1935. Warren's two sons, Donald and Glen, joined the firm and have taken an active part in its present operation. Several additions have been joined to the first unit during its history. Two sections were added to the length prior to the Sweeney and Farr purchase. In 1950, Farrs added the front extension to widen the store along Main Street.

    When R. B. Grimes moved from the Farr building, he started a business on State Street. In November 1896 his store was opened in the present Coffee House. No record of this building can be found prior to Grimes' occupancy and perhaps the lack of activity from the time he left the old location until he opened here permitted its erection for his use. In 1903 he was still at this location.

 

Food Establishments:

     Following Grimes at his new location came a line of other shops‑ A. Franks, Harry Herr and Burr Albertson were a few. Then Luther Baker moved his store from Eyers Grove in 1932 to this location. He took Ralph Gordner as a partner and they remained here until the new store on the corner was completed. When Baker sold the property to Paul Girton in 1941, he remodeled it as a restaurant for Mr. and Mrs. Percy Farmer. Within the year he became ill and Paul Girton took up the business. The restaurant was later operated by Mrs. Krill, Mr. and Mrs. Letterman and William Bachman who left in December of 1950. The restaurant stood vacant for eight months before Cleatus Farr rented the building from Bachman in August 1951. She reopened the business and within the year purchased the property.

    Several years ago she redecorated the interior and today the antique furnishings and the murals of early local establishments, painted by Raymond C. Weaver, can be admired while dining. Also housed in the structure are the Frank Kline barber shop and four apartments.

    The other year‑ around eating establishment in town, the Quakerette, is operated in a building built by the firm of Ellis Eves and Brothers when they constructed the present store on the `square'. They erected the residence portion of this in 1873 for Lydia VanHorn when they moved the old hotel that she had occupied from its position on the `square' to approximately the place of the present Texaco.

    David Saxe had a store at this place later, and then John Christian added the present lunch room which he used for the store. After his death, Bell, his wife, sold an assortment of gifts and nick-knacks.

    Howard B. Woolcock had worked for Ben Cadman in the plumbing trade and later determined to start a place of his own, he purchased the Christian property and opened his own plumbing business in the store. In 1936 the plumbing shop was moved to the garage at the rear of the lot and Mrs. Woolcock converted the store room to a restaurant. This business was named the Quakerette, a name still used today.

    Larue and Aggie Fetzer followed the Woolcock’s, and Aggie continued after Larue's untimely death in June 1957. She sold the business in March 1964 to Art and Naomi Sweeney and they continue the business today.

    Several other businesses in the community provide a service to the area. To trace the history of these organizations to their foundings would extend this short record to an impossible length.

 

General Store:

     The only general store in the community where many had a prosperous existence in years past, is Shafer's Village Store.

    Located in the old W. M. Eves building at the corner of Railroad and Main Streets, this building was erected in 1895 as a store and bank. The first floor and basement house a full line of clothing and sewing supplies. The second and third floors are apartments. Betty Shafer is the owner and operator.

    The theater today has been remodeled as a store and repair shop by Woodrow Kindt. The lawn equipment and recreational vehicles that are presented have received wide acceptance in the county.

    The movie theater was built in 1947 by a group of Berwick men and operated as the Millville Theater. The theater was later taken over by a Bloomsburg man and was operated as the Roy Theater until closing in the early fifties. The theater was acquired by Woodrow Kindt in 1956.

 

Farms and Jug Shop:

    Millville's beginnings were locked to the farm. Its settlers came here to farm and its businesses were originally services for the farmer. When John Eves subdivided his land among his sons in his will, he was careful to see that each area was well suited as a farm site. Only the mill lot and the church were set aside from the large area for purposes other than farming.

    In 1972, only two farms inside the borough are being operated by their owners as the primary source of income. Three others are farmed partially by others from the area as they are being slowly cut up by the building of private homes and industrial expansion.

    A return to the marketing style of the early nineteen hundreds has taken place on the dairy farm. Throughout the State, milk is processed on the farm and the customer is traveling there to purchase these dairy products. One such jug store has opened to the east of town in Greenwood Valley. Chris Wolff and his son are operating this outlet.

 

Service Stations:

     The horseless carriage changed the little borough more than any other single invention. Several wagon and buggy works continued for years after the first gas buggy. But, they slowly lost sales to the automobile, and the last wagon was built in 1929.

     Several general stores put in a `petrol' pump and stocked a supply of oil by 1905. As the number of cars increased, specialized service became more important, and the hardware or blacksmith shop did more of its business with the `machine'.

     Today, although several stations have come and gone, the `service stations' in town are an important part of the economy. With Interstate Route 80 complete, large numbers of `city people' travel north through Millville to summer cottages and weekend farms. They refuel here and affect the economy of the area.

    Four stations operate within the Millville Borough limits and Iola. All are on Route 42. The Gulf Station at the south end of town is operated by Michael Manning and Sheldon Williams; the Arco on the square is operated by William Saab and Layne Kindt; the Texaco on the west side of State, near the square, is operated by Robert, Arthur, William and Glen Albertson who have succeeded their father, Willard Albertson, at this same location. Humble has a place on the west side, north of the Grange, operated by Jon Rider. Jon will soon move into new facilities on the east side of State Street, north of Battin Run; the Iola station sells Phillips, and Jack Sweeney is the proprietor.

    The service station today has taken the place of the general storefront porch in summer, and the pot‑belly stove-warmed interior in winter, as the loafing place for the men on weekends. Sports opinion and local gossip is traded in never-ending conversations.

 

Barbers/ Hair Stylists:

    Barbers appeared early in the area and many men have followed this profession. The first barber of record was Adam Bob, a black man who worked on the second floor of the Samuel B. Kisner Smith Shop around 1857. State Street now is decorated with two `candy canes'. Frank Kline and Glen Black each continue on a reduced schedule to service the area. Ervin Nickles has a chair establishment in Iola, and Grant Greenly in Jerseytown also follows one of the oldest professions.

    Hair styling for women is a newer venture in this community. No written record survives marking the opening of that first female haven of magic. Many more of these shops are available now for women than ever existed for the men of the community. In the immediate vicinity of Millville, there are five beauticians: Marjorie Fought, Gaye Fisk, Ruth Vial, Shirley Kishbaugh and Betty Robbins. In more recent years, several beauty shops have opened in each of the three townships surrounding Millville: Vanice Glidewell, Virginia Deihl, Dorothy Smith, Virginia Utt, Mary Stackhouse, Nancy DeWald, and Jackie Hack.

 

Printers:

     Precision Printers, an offspring of the Girton Manufacturing Company, is the printing establishment for the area. C. Harold Bankes had built the Orangeville Printing Company in Orangeville to a very successful operation and decided to combine with another organization to enlarge his business. Girton had been printing their own literature and some area material for many years. Karl Girton, C. Harold Bankes, and Robert Greenly combined the two operations during November 1968 in Millville with an enlargement to the old `Red' Crawford garage and dance hall for their present facilities. Curtis Whittington joined the firm in October 1969.

 

Druggists:

     Andrew and Charlotte Sapochak came to Millville In 1950, as registered pharmacists and opened a drug store and soda fountain in the present District Magistrate’s office.  Later, they moved the pharmacy to the other side of the building, having dropped the fountain as incompatible with the drug business. This building was constructed in 1887 and for many years was known as the Vernon P. Eves building as a result of this gentleman’s operation of a furniture store in this building for many years, in addition to his funeral home on Main Street.

    The only other exclusive drug vendor was Charles Ely and his son Robert.  They had a store in the old brick structure which was removed to make room for the new post office.  Some general stores through the years had drug departments, and Joe Brink had a separate area in the Ellis Eves and Brothers store around the turn of the century.

 

 Funeral Homes:

     The Poust Funeral home provided a dignified service as the successor to a profession of long-standing in the community.  In January 1960, Marvin Poust joined Maus Eyer as a partner in this establishment. Maus had built the present funeral home in 1946 as the remaining member of the Artman and Eyer firm which had performed their final rites previously at the Artman residence on Main and Center Street. Maynard Artman, following his formal schooling, had joined Larue Eves in this service. Larue, the son of Vernon P Eves, had his establishment in his father’s funeral home, the present Frank Bartlow, Jr. residence with the embalming facility a the rear of the property.

    Jess Pennington was the only other man of record to practice this profession in Millville. He used the Charlie Cutler house on the southwest corner of Center and Second Street as his mortuary for a short period before abandoning the occupation.

         

Doctors:

     The medical profession has provided an invaluable service to the community.  Many of the neighboring communities the size of this or larger have experienced long periods without the comforting residence of these practitioners. Millville has never had this disquieting occurrence.

    The first resident physician was Dr. P John. He later removed to Bloomsburg to vent a long-held desire as the publisher of the Columbia County Republican, the town’s newspaper.  He was succeeded by Dr. A.P. Heller and Dr. J.B. Patton. All three made their residence in east Millville.  Then followed Doctors Howard S. Christian, Ed Everett, G. Poust, B.F. Gordner, and Dr. Senn.

    Dr. James Gemmill and Dr. John Gemmill each served this area as did Dr. James Sands for a period in its development.  Dr. Sands retired and expired in this community.

          Dr. Oliver Southall moved to the community and spent many years in the noble profession. Dr. David Rauhauser, Dr. Phillip Irey, Jr., and Dr. Joseph Delozier performed their much-needed healing for short periods and moved to be followed by Dr. George Rowland in 1951 and Dr. Leonard Winski. Both Dr. Rowland and Dr. Winski continue to practice in the community with a large following from outlying townships.

 

Dentists:

     Dentists, although much feared outwardly by the young and with introspect by those of more advanced age, have been present to provide the inevitable relief sought by all of the community. The first was Dr. George Rishel and Dr. R.L. Rich followed.  Then Dr. Wintersteen and Dr. J.W. Biddle.

    Dr. Biddle, from his office on the ‘square’, performed his service from the early 1900s until he was forced by his health to seek a well-deserved retirement.  Many will remember his school hygiene examinations when each stub was surveyed and many were declared with enthusiasm to be “Per-fect!”

    Dr. George Wolf came to the community in the late thirties and maintained his office on the northwest corner of the second floor at the bank.  Present methods of anesthesia were not nearly as perfected when he first arrived. Dr. Wolf had a technique used to help relax his patient. When arriving at the dentist's chair he might offer the liquor bottle and suggest you “have a belt to help the Novocain work.”

    George had been in the army and returned to active service during the war.  He returned here for a short period and then moved to Gettysburg.

    In September 1954, Dr. Jay Fleck arrived and set up his practice in the bank building.  This second-floor office is the only facility in the area and the two chairs over which Dr. Fleck presides are normally occupied with reservations standing into the third and fourth months.

 

Insurance Agents:

     Millville must have more insurance agents per capita and per square mile than any other community in the state.  Although this is a personal opinion, the listing which follows can be calculated using the 896 persons in the 1970 census and the 1.2 square miles approximate area with any other by those inclined to research.  At this point, suffice it to say, that the insurance industry is well represented in the community by these gentlemen:

Blaine C. Eves

Loren L Eves

Glenn T. Gordner

Jack Lewis

Adam L. Rarig

Kenneth A. King

Don E. Bangs

Carl Harding

Floyd Freas

 

Electricians:

     With electricity an important mainstay to each household in the community, it is fortunate that one individual has provided electrical service for the area. Stanley Titman continues to keep the homes here well-wired to take advantage of the new conveniences that this utility provides.

Harness Shop:

     The harness shop and shoe repair facilities of Bert Ortwine provide an opportunity for the renewal of worn leather items. Bert purchased the shop from his father in 1939. The elder Ortwine had purchased the structure in 1932 and added the scales at the north side of the building for use in his coal business. The store today specializes in the sale of leather products and their maintenance.

    The building housed a bakery, the `Tablet', and a tire vulcanizing business prior to the 1932 conversion.

 

Farm Implement Sales and Repair:

     At the east end of Walnut Street on Chestnut, Frank Bartlow built a farm implement salesroom and repair shop in 1947 which consolidated his operations. Today the business is a corporation comprised of Frank, Sr., Frank, Jr., and Grace Bartlow Hunter. Two burial vaults are produced a day along with the sale of farm equipment, hauling of coal, and Frank, Jr.'s trucking operation. Frank, Sr. started the manufacturing of vaults in 1925 and it is the oldest business existing under the original management in Millville today.

 

    In 1931, through the efforts of Charles and Ellen Russel Eves, a stone marker was placed at Larry Spring to mark the site of the first cabin built by John Eves and his son, Thomas. Frank, Sr. spent many evening hours in the field hand-chiseling the rock to make a smooth surface for the brass plate to be fastened in the holes he prepared. Mr. Bartlow's time and labor were a contribution to the community.

 

Automobile Dealers:

 

Two automobile dealers are offering used cars. W. 0. Diehl and Sons, who also operate the only new car dealership in the area, have a lot on the west side of State Street north of Fourth Street. William Diehl and his two sons, Jack and LeRoy established this lot and Clarence Litterer mans the display for them.

 

On the other end of State Street, at the old Saab garage, Stanley Mausteller opened a lot and does some body work in the garage. He has been at this location since September 1, 1969.

 

Bread Delivery:

 

Robert Fought started his own route for bread deliveries in 1954. He acts as a distributor for Capital Bakeries and provides home deliveries for the three surrounding townships as well as the town itself.

 

Quick Food:

 

    Gregory and Lorraine Singerle operate the only quick food service in the community. On July 3, 1968, they took over the soft ice cream stand from Francis (Bucky) and Fran Ortwine and expanded the facilities in the spring of 1971. The business originated when Bucky was operating the service station on the south end of town and opened a small ice cream stand on the same lot in 1961, After selling the service station in 1964, he purchased the present site and moved the business there. The first enlargement of the building was made at that time and additional items were added to the menu.

 

Stereo/TV Shop:

 

    Millville Stereo Tape Mart was opened in June 1970 by Darwin Strauser and Art and Naomi Sweeney in the front two rooms of the residence portion of the Quakerette. They are merchandising a line of television and radio equipment along with the tapes and accessories.

 

Recreational Vehicle Sales:

 

    Jon Rider and William Bartholomew formed a partnership in January of 1970 for the sale of recreational vehicles including boats and snowmobiles. They use the name J & B Marine and are soon moving to the showroom which is a part of the new service station that Jon is opening on the north end of State Street.

 

Nursing Home:

 

    The community is also served by a nursing home owned by Martha Rider Watts; a plumber, R. Lee Milroy; an auctioneer, Howard Welliver; and a building contractor, David Artman.

 

    The commercial establishments which function in Millville today provide a varied line of products and services for a community so small as this. It is interesting to note that many of these smaller firms have recently started their endeavors and appear to continue quite successfully.

 

A survey included in the "Tablet" for the year 1888 included the following businesses:

 

General stores‑ 3;

grocery and confectionary‑ 2;

furniture‑ 1;

shoe‑ 1;

millinery‑ 2;

dressmaking‑ 4;

blacksmith shop‑ 3;

harness shops‑ 2;

creamery­ 1;

wheelwright shop‑ 2;

shoemakers‑ 3;

barber‑ 1;

jeweler‑ 1;

tin smith‑ 1;

butcher‑ 1;

livery stable‑ 2;

auctioneer‑ 1;

printing office‑ 1;

law office‑ 1;

grist mill‑ 1;

woolen mill‑ 1;

undertakers‑ 2;

surveyors‑ 1;

planing mill‑ 1;

Friends school‑ 1;

common school‑ 2;

churches‑ 2;

secret orders- 2;

society for public good‑ 2;

hotel‑ 1;

saw mill‑ 1;

physicians‑ 3;

depot‑ 1;

freight house­ 1;

coal yards‑ 2;

bending and turning mill‑ 1;

dwellings‑ 102.

 

    Today this list has changed substantially. Many of these smaller occupations are no longer necessary. A large array of new professions and talents are required to keep the community progressing.

Additions and corrections made for this Second Edition. DBG

Second Edition- Copyright Dean B. Girton Dec. 30, 2022