A 1956 newspaper photograph of the Board of Directors of the Gratz National Bank, Gratz, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.
On 12 December 1956, the Gratz National Bank held an open house for the public to inspect “our newly modernized building and banking facilities.” As part of the invitation, a photo was provided of the Directors along with a brief comment about each member:
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OUR DIRECTORS, seated left to right:
Director Stanford O. Smeltz, was born in Hubley Township, September 12, 1899. He attended Hubley Township Public School, and November 14, 1918 started working as a carpenter with Reading Coal Company. Several years later he transferred to Westwood Colliery, where he worked up to a position of foreman. In December, 1937, he moved to Gratz where he purchased a general store, which became known as the S. O. Smeltz General Store. He built this business into one of the largest general stores in this area. He retired in 1955. His retirement was very brief. He since purchased two frozen custard stands, one at Plaza Market, Selinsgrove, R.D., and one in the gap between Erdman and Klingerstown, both being operated successfully.
Seated next is Harold H. Umboltz, Cashier and Secretary to the Board of Directors.
Next is Benjamin A. Weiss, Vice President and Director. Mr. Wise was born in Lykens Township, Dauphin County, May 15, 1893. He attended public school in Lykens Township. He started his own sawmill business in 1916. In 1918 he started farming and also continued his sawmill operations. In 1926 he added a modern threshing machine to his business, and traveled among the farmers in the area threshing the grain during the early fall and winter season. There were no combines at that time, but by 1949, the farmers were purchasing the modern combine and threshing their own grain, and in 1949 he discontinued this operation. Until 1938 Mr. Weiss concentrated this farming primarily on developing a high producing dairy herd. In this he was very successful, and some of his cows set production records which have not been surpassed to this date in Pennsylvania. Mr. Weiss sold his farming and sawmill business in 1949 and moved to Loyalton, Pennsylvania. At the present time he operates a casualty and fire insurance agency.
Next is John L. Mauser, Director. Mr. Mauser was born in Upper Mahantongo Township, January 2, 1896. He attended public schools in this district, and upon completion of courses available in the district., taught school in the same area for seven years. He then concentrated on farming and has been a farmer ever since. He was elected Justice of the Peace for Upper Mahantongo Township in 1922, and has served as J.P. continuously to the present date.
Seated next is George C. Adams, President and Director. He was born in Washington Township, Northumberland County, March 14, 1890. He attended Washington Township Public Schools. He helped parents farm until June, 1912, when he came to Gratz and started working for W. O. Rogers, hotel proprietor at the time. While working for Mr. Rogers he started his own livery stable business and dealt with horses. In 1914 he started selling Ford cars as a sub-dealer. In 1915 he obtained his first car agency, which was with Overland Motor Company. In 1916 he changed to Buick agency, and in 1919 added Chevrolet and Oldsmobile agency. in 1922 he dropped these agencies and took over the Ford Agency. This dealership he expanded to one of the most successful car agencies in the area, and continued until 1946 when he sold the business and retired.
Next is Director Allen L. Kimmel. Mr. Kimmel was born in Valley View, Pennsylvania, May 31, 1904. He attended the Valley View Schools and started working with the Valley View Colliery, October, 1919. In 1926 he purchased a restaurant formerly owned and operated by his father William T. Kimmel. He has operated the restaurant continuously to the present date, also expanded and added dairy products, that portion of it being well known in the area as “Kimmel’s Dairy,”
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From The Valley Citizen, Valley View, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, 6 December 1956.
Corrections and additional information should be added as comments to this post.