My name is
Dorothy Hamilton Klotz. I was born in Germantown
in 1919. My family (Dad, Mom and three brothers) lived at 1385
Rittenhouse St and belonged to Immaculate Conception Parish. In
his early years, my Dad played professional baseball for the
Philadelphia Athletics. Later, he owned the Stenton Garage at
Stenton Ave & Wister St. He also owned the miniature golf
course and a house that were adjacent to the garage. When the
depression hit, my family lost everything. Jimmy Leech bought
the property and turned the miniature golf course into a junk
yard. With WWII, the junk yard made a lot of money for him. In
later years, the junk yard was turned over to his sons and was
known then as the Leech Brothers junk yard. Anyway, along with
the businesses, we also lost our house at 1385 Rittenhouse St.
We then rented a house on Haines St, on the other side of
Stenton Ave, from Jimmy Leech. Those years were hard times for
my family. I recall, sadly, going with my mother to the bank at
21st & Chelten Ave only to find the doors locked. There was a
man inside the door who informed the many people waiting outside
that the bank would not be opened until further notice. This
was around 1932 or 1933. Not only did my parents lose
everything, but so did many other folks. It was a very hard
time for many.
At the time, I just started 8th grade at Immaculate Conception
School. But, because we moved to the other side of Stenton Ave,
I had to go to St. Benedict’s School. After that, I went on to
Wagner Junior High, then to Germantown HS and then to the Helen
Fleisher School of Dress Design. During WWII, with my sewing
skills, I made uniforms for the Marines. After WWII, I met my
husband, Art Klotz, who lived nearby and we married. We bought
a house at 1356 Rittenhouse Street, across the street and down
from the house my family lost during the depression. We had two
sons, Art and Fred, who both went to IC School. While my sons
were in IC, I was a den mother and worked with the cub scouts
for 6 years. In 1963, we moved from Germantown to Warminster,
because my husband’s employer moved from Philadelphia to
Hatboro.
Misfortune aside, my years in Germantown were very happy ones
for me. Germantown was a special place to live and grow up in.
Awbury Park was near where we lived and the East Germantown
Recreation Center was not far. I recall all of Germantown’s
theatres, but the two I remember most were the two that were
closest to me – the Allen and the Chelten, both located at
Chelten Ave & Anderson St. The Allen was a small theatre and
the cost of admission back then was a nickel. The Chelten was
so fancy compared to the Allen, and cost alittle more. I also
did a lot of skating back then, at the Skytop Rink, located on
the 2nd floor of a building on Germantown Ave next to the
Colonial Theatre. I remember all the trolleys that ran along
the streets of Germantown. I remember too when many of the
streets were still cobblestoned. Back then in Germantown, you
felt so safe. Even when raising my own children, you could let
them play on the sidewalks and not have to worry about them.
Such a wonderful neighborhood!!
My years at
Immaculate Conception School were very happy ones for me. I was
heartbroken when I had to transfer to St. Benedict’s in 8th
grade. But, our move to the other side of Stenton Ave put us in
that parish, so I had to go there. My good friend from IC, Anna
Maguire, was so helpful to me at the time with her
encouragement. Plus, the 8th grade nun at St. Benedict’s was a
wonderful person, so that helped with the transition. The IHM
nuns at Immaculate Conception were very nice. Some were
no-nonsense. I remember one in particular, Sr. Savarah, who
taught me in 5th grade. She ran a very tight ship.
Remember the sliding blackboard partitions between some of the
classrooms in the school? I remember, if somebody didn’t obey,
Sr. Savarah would yell ”If I were down there, I’d throw you
through that board!”. She was known to carry through on her
threat. The boards rattled and vibrated and we learned to obey
real fast. In the 6th grade, I was taught by Sr. Tarsisius.
She was an angel. She received a very disciplined class from
Sr. Savarah! Her classroom was next to Sr. Savarah’s. When we
heard that famous exclamation coming from Sr. Savarah in the
next room, the sweet, lovable Sr. Tarsisius would stop teaching
until the storm was over. When the boards stopped rattling and
vibrating, Sr. Tarsisius would resume teaching and you could
tell she was trying VERY HARD not to laugh. The sound of Sr.
Savarah carrying out her threat was one I knew from both sides
of that partition! Another thing I remember, chewing bubble gum
was a very big NO NO. I once got caught and had to wear it on
my nose all day! Still, I mostly remember the good sisters as
so nice and caring and my days at Immaculate Conception School
as happy ones for me.
Fr. Higgins was
pastor during my years at Immaculate Conception School. The
only thing I really remember about him is that he looked very
old to me. When I look at a picture of him now, he doesn’t look
that old at all. But to a young girl back then, he looked very
old.
Many may remember
the school nurse, Miss Harkins. She was actually there when I
started first grade in 1925. I was surprised that she was still
there when my own children went to Immaculate in the 1950s. I
understand she retired from Immaculate in 1971.
I also remember
Paddy Neilan, the hall custodian, mostly from bowling in the
hall basement bowling alley. The bowling alley was manual.
Boys would be hired to set the pins up. I loved bowling there.
One thing I remember, if you got a gutter ball, you were pretty
much assured of knocking down the end pin!
Germantown and
Immaculate Conception, such wonderful and special memories for
me!!!
Dorothy Hamilton
Klotz
October, 2008
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