Mountain Springs Hotel tops the news in 1994 and 2004.
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10 Years Ago
Wednesday’s Ephrata Review
Issue of March 10, 2004
• Smooth process – For something so long in waiting, it was remarkable how little fanfare there was regarding the Mountain Springs Hotel project. On Monday evening, at the voting session of the Ephrata Borough Council, the careful planning and coordination allowed not only the approval of waiving of any preliminary plan process for the project but also paved the way for the granting of conditional final approval of the project as well. Seemingly no issue, no controversies and very little concerns just a coordinated effort to bring something together that’s been a long time coming.
• So close – He was so close. Only three Ephrata High School athletes have ever reached the coveted circle in search of Pennsylvania wrestling’s Holy Grail. And just one had ever touched the prize. It’s a place reserved for true greatness and certain immortality. That’s how big the Pennsylvania State Wrestling Championships have become and Ephrata’s Nate Rock was oh-so-close to fulfilling that dream at the Giant Center Saturday. That’s what makes the end result so excruciatingly painful. Sure, year’s from now, Rock will realize how spectacular his second place finish at states truly was.
• DIED – Kathryn H. Zinn, Ephrata; Florence Mae Harley, Ephrata; Linda Fromm, Ephrata; Hilda M. Miller, Ephrata; Melvin Beck, Ephrata; Mary E. Cliff, Ephrata; Lee. W. Reese, Ephrata; Edna Laukhuff, Ephrata; Chester Landis, Lititz; Jenny B. Fessler, East Earl; George C. Long, Kelton; Wayne H. Stauffer, Mount Joy; Leon Zimmerman, Spring City; Michael G. Delmotte, Manheim; Mary Ellen Zimmerman, Millmont.
20 Years Ago
Wednesday’s Ephrata Review
Issue of March 9, 1994
• Tax abatement – From the beginning it appeared that many of Ephrata’s people were firmly behind the reconstruction of the beloved Mountain Springs Hotel. Now Ephrata Borough Council and Ephrata Area School Board will have an opportunity to approve another huge show of support later this month when they vote on a proposed seven year tax abatement for improvements to the E. Main Street property in the borough.
• Regional police – Nearly 200 residents packed into the Brecknock Township meeting room Tuesday to make a last ditch plea to halt the formation of a regional police department with Caernarvon Township. But as expected in the end, supervisors voted, 2-1, in favor of adopting an ordinance creating the Northern Lancaster Regional Police Commission.
• DIED – Charles Weachter, Hopeland; Cora K. Heft, Lititz; Alvin M. Hollinger, New Holland; Lizzie H. Weaver Nolt, Ephrata; Lester Pannebecker, Stevens; Nadine J. Nolt, Denver; Mary M. Wenger, East Earl; Aaron W. Sensenig, Lititz; Helen V. Smith, Rothsville: Miriam L. Bowman, New Holland; Frances Martin Matson, Peach Bottom.
30 Years Ago
Wednesday’s Ephrata Review
Issue of March 8, 1984
• New computers – There was a time that if an elementary school in the Ephrata Area School District wanted a computer, the school’s PTA or PTO had to raise money to buy one. But not anymore. Now, children throughout the district’s seven elementary schools can calculate, program and interface all they want and Uncle Sam is footing the tab. Using federally allocated funds, the Ephrata Area School District purchased eight computers to be used on the elementary level: two for Highland Elementary and one each for the other six schools.
• Annexations – Denver Borough Council on Monday night voted to instruct its solicitor to draw up a petition for a proposal to be on the November ballot concerning the annexation of parts of West and East Cocalico townships to the borough. One area includes part of Long Lane where a possible Eighth Street bridge may someday be erected in West Cocalico. Another is in East Cocalico, near Wolf’s Gas Station, another possible bridge site, connecting Weaver Road to the east end of Main Street.
• DIED – Rev. David H. Bucks, Ephrata; Etta M. Forry, Stevens; Myra B. Shober, Schoeneck; Grace E. Rutter, Lititz; Hiram Bollinger Jr., Quarryville; Bertha Good, Ephrata; G. Truman Parmer, Narvon; Samuel R. Diem, Ephrata; Alice M. Dunlap, Churchtown; Eva R. Kreiter, Leola; Lester S. Hurst, Farmersville; Lewis H. Heinzelman, Ephrata; Charles I. Hart, Denver; Vernon M Shreiner, Lititz; Ruth L. Wanner, Allentown; Cora E. Myer, Palymra; William A. McMichael, Lancaster; Howard A. Goerner, Mohnton; Paul L. Hackman, Lancaster; Olive A. Charlton, Willow Street.
40 Years Ago
Wednesday’s Ephrata Review
Issue of March 7, 1974
• Fire – Quick response by the Pioneer Fire Co. and two area units kept the loss from being more widespread early Thursday morning as fire gutted a mobile home behind the Murrell Inn, 851 E. Main St. Pioneer Fire Chief Vernon Schmuck told The Review that flames consuming the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Rick Griffin threatened a neighboring unit as well. They were only about 35 feet apart and the walls of the next unit were already heating up when we got there. If we’d been a little later there would’ve have been two units burning, Schmuck said. Awakened by the smell of smoke, Griffin roused his family and got them out of the trailer.
• Speed limit – A nationwide speed limit of 55 mph went into effect on Monday required by federal legislation. Quite a few states throughout the country have already reduced the speed limit to the national limit. The law was designed to save gasoline and applies equally to all motor vehicles.
• DIED – J. Witmer Hollinger, Akron; John. S. Troop, Pottstown; Dora B. Pierce, Oxford; Helen E. Showalter, Reamstown; Annetta Kurtz, Denver; Anna Mary Kring, Mohnton; Earl L. Goshert, Denver; Florence Rollman, New Holland; Jonas B. Beiler, Talmage; Emma D. Fry, Denver; Forrest W. Hartranft, Ephrata; James Q. Barnhill, Stevens; Dr. Henry Walter Jr., Rothsville; John M. Mumma, Ephrata; Infant Bonnie Martin, Ephrata.
50 Years Ago
Wednesday’s Ephrata Review
Issue of March 5, 1964
• Endorsement – The Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday night approved and endorsed the proposed new Route 222 limited access highway from the Route 230 bypass northeast of Lancaster to near the Lancaster Reading Interchange of the Pennsylvania Turnpike and advised the State Highways Department of its action in a letter to J.C. Whalen, district engineer.
• Banquet held – Mr. and Mrs. William D. Bryson, 40 Sunset Avenue, are scheduled to return home tomorrow from a seven-week tour to Europe and Africa, the Rev. Edward D. Wert, pastor of First Evangelical United Brethren Church announced this week. The trip was organized by the Division of the World Mission of the Evangelical United Brethren Church with specific plans to view the mission work of the denomination of Sierra Leone and Nigeria, Rev. Wert said.
• Scoring honor – For the second year in a row, Woody Ranck took individual scoring honors on the Ephrata High School basketball team. The six-foot, one-inch tall senior totaled 322 points in the Mountaineers 18 games.
• DIED – Elvin B. Stetler, Denver; Martha Morrison, Reading; Adeline Bennetch, Reamstown; Fred Rathman, Reamstown; Barton M. Walter, Reinholds; Ella S. Hehnly, Stevens; Emma H. Hummer, Ephrata; Charles Murr, Lincoln; Alverta Fisher, Reinholds; Marvin Hertzog, Stevens; Esther Hemling, Denver; Lewis I. Yingst, Stevens; Evelyn S. Wonder, Lititz; Mamie Enck, Akron.
60 Years Ago
Wednesday’s Eprhata Review
Issue of March 11, 1954
• Party – Mr. and Mrs. Theodore T. Batdorf celebrated their silver wedding anniversary at a surprise drop-in party on Tuesday evening at their home, 42 Terrace Avenue.
• Ambassador – Mrs. Elizabeth Garman was reelected president of the Women’s Society of World Service of the First Evangelical United Brethren Church.
•DIED – Mrs. Jacob Beck, Ephrata, Charles C. Fox, Ephrata.
70 Years Ago
Wednesday’s Ephrata Review
Issue of March 9, 1944
• Hunting trip – Robert Fasnacht dropped a beautiful red fox as sportsmen from the Northern Lancaster County Fish and Game Association had the pleasure of hunting foxes with an expert and his dogs.
• Collection – Walter G. Detra, who had charge of last Friday’s collection of tin cans, reported to salvage chairman H.H. Hoffman that about 5,000 pounds were gathered in Ephrata.
• DIED – Donna Jean Martin, New Holland; Arthur A. Griffith, Ephrata; Mrs. Norman W. Steffy, Rothsville; John K. Wolf, Brownstown.
80 Years Ago
Wednesday’s Ephrata Review
Issue of March 9, 1934
• First assignment – Guy K. Bard, who Monday assumed duties as special assistant United States attorney general at Washington, received his first assignment.
• Census taker – Andrew Schwartz Jr., North State Street, on Monday started his duties as business Census taker for Ephrata Borough for the United States Department of Commerce.
• DIED – Levi M. Mellinger, Denver; Henry W. Martin, near Akron; Mary Mellinger, Ephrata; Mrs. Mary Ellen Mellinger, formerly of Ephrata.
90 Years Ago
Wednesday’s Ephrata Review
Issue of March 7, 1924
• Tie game – Anna Mohler, a 1921 graduate of Ephrata High School, is a member of the Juniata College girls basketball team. The quintet recently held the Indiana State Normal School girls team to a 16-16 tie.
• Hospital visit – Jacob Eichelberger of Murrell has secured the agency for the sale of Chevrolet autos in this territory.
• DIED – John Roland Kauffman, son of Mrs. Anna Kauffman and the late Harry Kauffman, Ephrata; Esais Brendle Sr., Bowmansville; Mabel Norine,daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Uibel, Ephrata; Ella May, four-month-old daughter of Joseph and Edna Cramer Zerbe, near Adamstown; Mrs. Mattie Treich, Martindale; Mrs. Mary Ziegler, Bowmansville; Mrs David Keith, Penryn; Mrs Jonas Hartman, Elm.
100 Years Ago
Wednesday’s Ephrata Review
Issue of March 7, 1914
• New autos – Butzer Bros. announced the following recent automobile purchases: F.O. Sprecher, Fivepointville; Harry B. Heistand, Landisville; Walter W. Moyer, A.S. Witmer and Frank S. Weaver, all of Ephrata.
• New homes – Harry M Gerhart, building contractor, and his force of men, have finished the contractor work on the new brick row homes on West Franklin Street which he sold to Hiram Becker and to Mrs. Mary Ann Wenger. H. M. Hoover and his crew are busy painting the houses.
• DIED – Levi Groff, near Leola; Jacob W. Martin, Akron; Mrs. Catherine Weaver, Leola.
Research for Years Ago is compiled weekly by Review Staff writer Dena Reedy. Much of the style and information reported is written as it appeared in its original form.