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First InBucks County^Fwo Doylestown residents and a Jormer Doylestown musician are •Shown in this 1905 reunion of the J-Stoneman Hellyer family at Castle^Valley. They are (circled, from left) iHeten Wismer Hellyer, Mabel 'Hellyer Bregan and A. Newlrn ^Hellyer.Hellyers bring back many memories/ including old photoI can’t think of another former Doylestown couple, -•Mr. and Mrs. William Hellyer of Pottstown, who have I kept closer ties with their home town. Hellyer and his rwife, the former Helen Wismer, were in Doylestown -High School with me. They graduated before I did in 1925 and unfortunately that doesn’t make them any ‘‘younger.Bill Hellyer, an outstanding athlete, tall and good' looking, played basketball with such former DHS stars .as Fred F- Martin, Roy M_ Gulick, Frank M- (Onyx) ' StuIta and W..Atlee lomlinson. Among the second -stringers was famed writer James A. Michener. 'Hellyer Is now a retired utility company executive,- His wife, always dressed superbly, an excellent pian-list, played for many of the assembly programs. She also learned to play the pipe organ and once played in the Strand Theater movies. She is now a recital concert organist.- They dropped in at the Intelligencer the other day and were delighted with what they saw in a deluxe,' modem, new newspaper plant.ByW. Lester TrauchThey brougnt with them a picture of the second Hellyer reunion. It was the first Hellyer reunion in Bucks County in September in 1905.The picture is in excellent condition and the reunion, attended by the very young, young, older, middle-aged and patriarchs, had about 100 persons in attendance. Unfortunately, like so many meetings these days, no one under the age of 50 goes to firemen’s, policemen’s or other civic gatherings or to family reunions.You’ll love the 2905 style of reporting in the Intel. The reunion story begins ”A more ideal day could not have been selected for the annual reunion of descendants of the Stoneman Hellyer, an Englishman, than at the popular summer boarding resort of Mr. and Mrs. Charles B- Johnson, known as the Castle Valley Farm.”This next sentence thrills me. “Trains and trolleys were met at Doyleslowti by Mr. Johnson’s large coach from early morning as friends and relatives gathered on the lawn of the mansion.“An old. farmer’s dinner bell rang and Its strong peals which were well understood announced a sumptuous collation that was well appreciated.“Rev, H.H. Pershing, Carversville Christian Church, gave the prayer. Dr. Hellyer, Penns Park, explained the origin of the English name of Hellyer with witty illustrations.”This is the name that brings back memories for me. Ferd J. Hellyer, Doylestown, lt;1 think he is Helen Wismer Hellyer’s uncle) was the head pressman at The Intelligencer in 1930 when I began as a reporter.He had a strong, bony face and although he lived in Doylestown on South Clinton Street, (it was an attractive home), he liked to attend St. John’s Lutheran Church in Quakertown. His wife was deceased. He loved to hear the Rev. Harry Fitting, one of the most eloquent and biting Lutheran ministers in the area, tell it like it was.In the photograph is a picture of another Doylestown man. A, XewJin Hellyer. who lives in a mansion on South Main Street He is a retired automobile dealer and sportsman, and in the picture he wears a tie and looks about 10 or 12 years old.But the darling in the picture is Helen Wismer Hellyer, who was about two years old and has the cutest haircut and ribbon which makes her look like a storybook princess.Also in the photograph is Mabel Hellyer Bregan. a daughter of Ferd J. Hellyer. who is one of the nicest friendly and kindest women in Doylestown. At friend’s dinner tables I have eaten delicious pies that she baked as gifts.
Newspaper Details
Doylestown Intelligencer
Doylestown, Pennsylvania, US
Mon, Sep 10, 1979
Page 5
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
USA 01 Jul 2020
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