Page:Brunswick 100 Years of Memories.pdf/108

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delivery; what was left went directly into the bin.

Much of the soft coal came from George's Creek in Maryland, some from West Virginia. Anthracite (hard) coal -was obtained from Stone Hill, Indian Town Gap, and other Pennsylvania origins. Runof-mine (soft) coal came from Western Maryland and West Virginia, and some from Pennsylvania above Greencastle. In addition to railroad cars, coal was also hauled by trucks. Many individuals handled coal, especially during the depression. Once laid off from the railroad, men had to find another source of income, a way to survive. And survive these admirable men (and sometimes women) did. Pete Chaney hauled from 1933 to 1939. He picked up "soft coal" from George's Creek mines, west of Keyser, in the Allegany Mountain. "It was hard going sometimes," recalls Chaney, "because of the long hours and bad weather." Earl "Buck" Harper used to travel with Chaney "in case either of us needed help," Buck explained. Buck lived with his father at 114 West "B" Street when he began hauling coal. Maryland Avenue had not yet been cut through, and there was a hill between his house and Maryland Avenue. He stored his leftover coal there until sold. There was nothing built in that area except a couple garages and Mrs. Shafer's stable, behind the houses on Virginia Avenue. Since hauling was a stopgap measure for Buck, he quit the coal business around 1941 and went to railroading. It was hard to get ahead in coal; you had to carry an overload to make money, but sooner or later this caused a tire to blow. And that was expensive, Buck explained; leaving coal, he then railroaded 32 years. Pete Chaney explained the process of loading trucks through chutes at the point of origin. Canvas carrier baskets were filled, heaved to the man's back with a practiced movement and held by a padded handle. In good weather the trip would take five hours; in bad, it would take seven to eight hours. If necessary, the drivers would stay overnight. Charles M. Dinterman, with his wife, Rachael Lowery Dinterman, and their son Dutch hauled coal from the "W. W. Coal Mine" in Lonaconing, Md., to Brunswick to sell during World War IL Bill Nalley and Haze, Charley, and Dutch Halley also hauled coal, as did Henry Beard, Jr. Beard handled both coal and wood around 1934. Charles King helped him haul in addition to working on the railroad. He brought in Pocahontas coal from Pennsylvania, where all his coal came from. Henry sawed wood on the premises where trees were felled; he worked along with the young 109

people, providing work for young black men. Ernest "Bub" Lloyd hauled coal before he began his cement business. Others in this business included Millard Leopold, Dick Anderson, and Roy "Cook" Cannon. Mr. Clarence Hardy hauled for Harry George, dealer. Kermit Runkles drove a while for Ernest Greene. The Taylors bought out the business along the tracks across from the Moose building on East Potomac Street from Millard Lapole. The flood of 1936 destroyed the building. While some of the coal dealers also handled wood, the Taylors dealt also in ice and other products; this is discussed in another article. Another source of coal was the local railroad coal cars. These cars had to be cleaned, and at one time Charlie Bowers' job carried this responsibility. His contract gave him the privilege of salvaging whatever remained after cars were unloaded. The coal cars yielded considerable fuel to be sold locally along with other salable materials. W-MMM

DAIRIES Some of our readers may remember daily deli very of milk in glass bottles, especially when the delivered milk froze in the winter months, raising the pasteboard caps. The Springdale Dairy, owned and operated by John N. Souder, and established in 1907, was the first company to deliver milk in glass bottles in Brunswick. The yellow horse-drawn milk wagon was a familiar sight in town. Other dairy farmers in the area also supplied milk to various areas of town, among these suppliers being George Chick, Patrick J. Allen, Edgar C. Virts, and a Mr. Baer. The requirement that milk be pasteurized came into effect in 1928 and suppliers had to have the proper equipment for processing raw milk. Pasteurizing equipment was installed at the Souder's Springdale Dairy and the Titus Dairy, and George Chick went into partnership with Mr. Titus. When Mr. Titus retired from the business in the mid-1940's, Mr. Chick went into partnership with Souder, this firm continuing until 1959. The residents' dairy needs were next served by the Brunswick Dairy, Inc., until 1966. The dairy building on West Brunswick Street, later Brunswick Police Headquarters, was built under the direcltion ofJohn Funk, then City Engineer. After 1966, Brunswick residents have had to fill their dairy needs at iocal grocery stores and supermarkets. S - Kay Souder Cooper W-WHH