Hicksville of To-Day: A 1924 Booklet
City Officials
Mayor, J. H. Lower
Clerk, Miss Ethel Fry
Council Pres., J. O. Longsworth
Council, Geo. B. Wilderson, C. M. Hart, P. J. Murphy, D. G. Miller, Frank Fee
Treasurer, Mrs. C. M. Hart
Marshal, D. M. Driver
Board of Public Service
George Hennings, Fred Ferris, W. P. Aumend, M. G. Wort, Clerk
Night Police, Wm. Sayler
Hicksville Chamber of Commerce
During the early years of Hicksville’s life, the general store held sway. The great growth of the eighties and nineties: the rising prosperity of the town and nation brought changes. The old one store type of business gave way and was supplanted by the competitive system—all doing business merely to benefit themselves and often times their pocket book solely. The general public was secondary; their real good was not always given first consideration. These were the days of bargain sales, two-price articles, and driving hard bargains. Due to this system the town lost valuable business. Several fine business enterprises which would have grown into large industries passed Hicksville up for other places where they might receive more help in their beginning. The more enterprising, far-seeing merchants and business men decided that it would be better to all hang together, that they could individually and collectively render better and more efficient service by so organizing and getting together.
Finally in 1919, they met and organized the Chamber of Commerce to put Hicksville forward again in a new, modern way, and make it in reality a town worth while. The one-price-to-all plan, general fair play and many other features were adopted. Not content with those ideals, they branched out into an aggressive campaign for better roads within the township, county, and even more distant parts of the state. Immediately this fine organization took up the case of certain streets in the town itself with the proper authorities and as a result we have a chain of well paved streets. Due to the World War, the train service was poor and becoming poorer. The Chamber of Commerce stated the case to the railroad and by hanging together obtained better B. & O. train service.
They have likewise fostered new industries here and have in some cases given financial aid for a time. A branch of the Bowser Co. of Ft. Wayne opened a plant which gave a steady job to returned war veterans at a time when prices were reaching a peak and employment was scarce. The organization comes together in a social way at the Annual Banquet. The presidents have been Grover Maxwell, Dr. Gauld, and J. O. Longsworth at present. Warren Blakeslee has served as secretary since its founding.
Many questions and problems are yet to be solved: the young man and the lure of the city jobs; the automobile and the city shopper; mail order houses; the growth of nearby cities; shorter Saturday hours for business houses; a new school house and better lights. The Chamber of Commerce has its face to the future; its past is secure. The foundation has been laid; the structure is yet to be completed. It calls for the help of each loyal Hicksville man and woman.
Hicksville Churches — (Pastor, Sunday School Supt.)
Methodist Episcopal — (Rev. Sheridan Walker, A. E. Hart)
United Brethren — (Rev. Virgil Allman, Arthur Sherman)
Church of Christ — (Rev. F. S. Dowdy, E. M. Bilderback)
Presbyterian Church — (Rev. H. H. Mullan, R. T. Cruikshank)
Radical U. B. Church — (Rev. C. I. Smith, Mrs. Charles Lepper)
Lutheran Church — (Rev. Paul Hanshew, M. N. Ridenour)
Christian and Missionary Alliance — (Charles Veek, W. J. Piper)
Church of the Brethren — (Rev. J. Hornish)
St. Michael’s Catholic Church — (Father Joseph Ludwig)
Advertisers
Seely’s Bakery — The home of Banner Bread
Mastin & Sons — Authorized Ford sales and service
Aumend’s Battery and Electrical Shop — Philco Batteries
Huber Theatre — The home of good pictures
Swisher and Battershell — Hats, bathing caps, fresh candy
Edmiston — Feed, seed, and service
James Clothing House — Quality Service
Palace of Sweets — Gust Karageorge, prop., ice cream, sodas
Hart-Hood-Widney Co.— Dry goods, cloaks, groceries
Hoffman Drug Store — Toilet goods, drugs
W. B. Bricker — Studebaker Light-six
The Farmer’s State Bank — 5 % on savings accounts
F. G. Getrost — Jeweler, optometrist
Hicksville Printing Co. — Good printing, stationery, pens
Wort’s Music Store — Everything in music, musical instruments
Carl M. Hart — Everything in footwear
Hicksville Tobacco Store and Billiards Parlor — 7AM-10:30 PM
Mentzer’s 5 & 10c Store — in Opera House Block
Parker J. Murphy — Jeweler of Merit
The Electric Shop — Electrical fixtures, washing machines
Dr. O. S. Applegate — Dentist
Wright Cigar — Making 5 cent cigars
General Hardware — Sewing machines, milk pails, cutlery
The Four Store — Feed, coal, seed
Central Grocery — First class staple and fancy groceries
Geo. Ferris — Good clean hardware, sporting goods
Guy D. Wilson — Insurance, real estate, loans
J. H. Shrider — Staple and fancy groceries
E. F. Armstrong — Insurance, money, real estate
California Tops — Tops for automobiles in 4-6 days
The Hicksville National Bank — Counselor and friend
Recreation Parlor — Cigars, tobacco, pool, billiards
A. G. Coon — Cleaning, pressing, repairing clothes
The Hicksville Shippers — Livestock shipping cooperative
American Purity Shoppe — Ice cream, candy, cold drinks
Gueth Meat Market — Fresh and smoked meat, oysters
Hicksville Produce Co. — Buying fresh poultry and eggs
Boon-Bevington Co. — Dry goods, dress goods, footwear
First National Bank of Hicksville — Helps customers prosper
Albert Smith & Sons — New hot water systems for homes
G. F. Burgoyne — General hardware, tires, implements
Mapes & Co. —The Rexall store, soda, candy
Jeffries & Culler — Maytag electric washers, hardware
Maxwell Bros. — Everything to wear for men and boys
Defiance Co. Fair — 5 days, $10,000 in premiums
Lilly White Garage — Tires, tubes, auto accessories
The Auto Electric Shop — Long life batteries
