A Step Inside the Bath Museum,
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The Home News Your Local News
JANUARY 26-FEBRUARY 1, 2017
Looking by Back Ed Pany First in a seriesChapman’s Quarries
(Originally published in 2002) You don’t have to travel up to ies class. I suppose Dana learned New England in search of small his lesson as he is giving back to town America, just get into your the cozy community by serving truck as I did and drive up to on the borough council. Chapman’s Quarries. I decided Entering the old “slate village” to visit there on the invitation you pass the home of council of Mayor Harold Kocher and member Dorothy Niklos and the councilman Dana Ackerman. former Chapman’s Schoolhouse, Dana was one of my students at now owned by the Dymond famNorthampton High School. I am ily. An old brick stack abutting surprised he is still my friend, es- the quarries is a stark reminder pecially after all the assignments I when slate gave birth to the small heaped upon him in social stud- borough, which makes it unique
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in the state of Pennsylvania. I was met at the quaint borough hall by Mr. Ackerman, Reverend Kenneth A. Klingborg and Mr. Clyde Roberts. In my lengthy discussion with these gentlemen, it was evident they loved Chapman’s and the fine people who reside there. Reverend Klingborg presented me with a booklet entitled “Chapman Borough and Chapman Slate Company” July 1999 by the Chapman Quarries Historical Society. The good Reverend gave me permission to use the material in this column. Adjacent to the borough is an old cemetery, which provides a flashback to some of the original inhabitants. Mr. Ackerman recalled, “As a youth it was overgrown and we were afraid to go there. Since then, older residents have mowed the grass and it looks much better than in the past.” The tombstones tell us of Chapman’s English origins. The
few I could read tell us William Card, John Cook, Nathaniel Shamin and John Masters were born in Cornwall, England; Mary Murray in Plymouth and Elizabeth James in Sydney, Australia. The stone of Morgan Hughes is solid slate as are many others. At one time the cemetery was surrounded by a four-foot solid slate wall. A few still mark the perimeter of this final resting place. I asked Mr. Clyde Roberts if he remembered the last burial there. Mr. Roberts has a keen memory and was eager to share memories with me. He said, “I don’t recall burials here, but do remember when family members came to the old cemetery to remove some of their loved ones. Some were reinterred in other cemeteries including the Green Mount Cemetery in Bath.” The community derives its name from Mr. William ChapContinued on page 8
Reaching Millennials Page 8
Bath Borough Council explains New sanitation contract
By JUSTIN SWEITZER The borough of Bath hosted an informational meeting Wednesday, Jan. 18 to reveal details pertaining to the borough’s new contract with J.P. Mascaro & Sons for sanitation services. Representatives from both Bath’s Borough Council and J.P. Mascaro & Sons were in attendance to explain recent changes in the borough’s contract and answer questions from Bath residents regarding new procedures. The three-year contract, which will persist through 2019, will cost borough residents $297.16 per year, down from the $401 fee residents had to pay last year under the previous 10-year contract.
Borough Manager Bradford Flynn presents a poster to those in attendance.
–Contributed photo
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Jacobsurg Environmental Education Programs Page 10
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