Tredyffrin Easttown Historical Society
History Quarterly Digital Archives

Source: April 1983 Volume 21 Number 2, Pages 75–76

Notes and Comments

• Blizzard of 1983
• Another letter from "Doc" Roberts
• Valley Forge Elementary School Marks 25th Anniversary

Page 75

Blizzard of 1983

For a while it looked as though the record snowfall of 1958, about which there was an account in the previous issue of the Quarterly, might be eclipsed by the Blizzard of 1983. But while the storm of February 11th set new records for the city of Philadelphia, the 20-inch snowfall was several inches shy of the total that fell on Chester County in the March storm twenty-five years ago.

Unlike the earlier storm, this year's storm came as no surprise as residents and highway crews had ample warning from the weatherman of its approach. Since it was a dry snow, it also was not accompanied by the power failures or damage to trees that marked the record snowfall.

Another letter from "Doc" Roberts

Since the January issue we've received another letter from George "Doc" Roberts, formerly of Berwyn and now living in California. In it are some personal recollections of some of the people mentioned in the article on the murder of Harry and Abbie James.

"I was especially interested in the article," he wrote, "as I seem to remember a number of the people mentioned. I knew Constable Ed Mullin as he was 'the Law' in the Berwyn area. (He did not know me and my brother as we were 'good boys' in those days.)

"I had seen and heard of Geroge V. Johnson, and my father knew him. I think he had a son Harry who went to T-E High School with my two brothers. Dr. Scattergood was also a well-known name and my father, being a local doctor, of course knew him.

Page 76

"Rev. Alden W. Quimby was well known to us boys, and he was quite humorous. He was clever at making rhyming couplets, such as 'Georgie Carter / Is getting smarter'. One time he spoke to a local young woman by the name of Gertie Arnel and said, Gertie Arnel / Had a very bad spell'. She retorted, 'Reverend Quimby /is very flimsy' - which he received with good grace.

"John Barsby was an old-time resident and did odd jobs around the town. He had a faithful horse which he used to haul a farm wagon for moving furniture or carrying other items. The horse was steady but not fast. Rev. Quimby was a great walker and one day overtook John with his horse and wagon. John said, 'Parson, would you like a ride?' Rev. Quimby answered, 'No thanks, John, I'm in a hurry.' ...

"The J. C. Bartholomew who was a witness must have been the man who became the veterinarian in Berwyn, and lived near the corner of Bridge Ave. and the Lincoln Highway. I knew him and his son, Herb, who was somewhat older than me. ...

"It puzzles me that I can't recall the murder. It may be that we had just moved to Berwyn - or had not actually gotten there by January 1909."

Valley Forge Elementary School Marks 25th Anniversary

On February 10th the pupils and staff of the Valley Forge Elementary School, together with members of Parent-Teacher Organization, celebrated "25 Years of Quality Education" by the school.

The school, on Walker Road in Tredyffrin Township, first opened for classes on February 10, 1958. It was the first new school built "in the valley" in more than eighty years.

The anniversary was marked by the release by the pupils of multicolored helium-filled balloons that floated southward through a cloudless blue sky, and an assembly program that included a review of the last twenty-five years by Mrs. Evelyn Hersh's class, movies of the ground-breaking ceremonies and school's construction, end remarks by County Commissioner Earl Baker, who also presented a citation from the Commissioners. A letter of congratulations was also received from the U. S. Department of Education, while in the evening a citation from the Pennsylvania House of Representatives was presented by State Representative Peter Vroon. Stoughton Watts, the school's principal, acted as master of ceremonies for all the events of the day.