Mr. Harry Smith was born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and first came to the Borough of Gratz in the year 1898 as a public exhibitor. In 1899 he returned to Gratz and settled in the borough permanently opening and conducting a gymnasium and engaging in amusement productions throughout the state. He is a great enthusiast for training dogs, cats, goats, etc. — and has been very successful along this line. For the past 18 years e has conducted the leading confection, soda, lunch and billiard parlor in Gratz. He has also attached to his property a large and spacious hall, in which he still exhibits first class motion picture plays, enjoying the unique distinction of being the pioneer motion picture exhibitor in the entire valley. It is Mr. Smith who is spoken of in the history brief of Gratz Fair. Aside from his much business, he is the patentee of several national amusement contrivances as well as the manufacturer and has shipped “The Smith Jazz Swing” as far as Australia and Canada. He is keenly interested in the borough and well respected throughout the community. Mr. Smith has been President of The Gratz Fair Association since 1908.
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The above biographical sketch appeared in in the Lykens-Williams Valley History-Directory and Pictorial Review, by J. Allen Barrett, published in 1922.