TODAY IN BOYERTOWN BEARS FOOTBALL HISTORY 9/30/1939

 

What were you doing on 9/30/1939 well most of you reading this were not even born yet.  I can guarantee you were not watching the Big Bang Theory or even surfing the internet. 

 

When you think about it it was tumultuous time much like today as hitler was gobbling up Europe while the United States tried to stay out of the fray.  Just two years short of Pearl Harbor. 

 

If you lived in the Boyertown area you had some choices the night before.  You could have gone to the High School Auditorium to see a show sponsored by American Legion Post 471. 400 people attended a performance of Lopez World's Fair Review.  It was a musical performance of numbers performed at that years Worlds Fair in New York City.  18 Young men and women performed with a group from Lehigh County.  Speaking of the Worlds Fair you could have been going with two buses of employees of the B. Maimon Clothing Company to New York. 

 

You could have stayed home for a great day of radio at 2:00 pm you could have heard News on WCAU, About Democracy on WABC, Modern Music on WRCV, or Varieties on WJZ.

 

If you were looking for a social night on the town there were some options You could have went to a Hoe Down at the Keystone Auditorium featuring the V.V.V. Melody Boys.  Fifty Cents (not the rapper) would have got you into the Washington House to see the Musical Swing Commanders featuring Helen Keene.  You could have went to the Movies at the State Theater 4 shows on Saturday a 1:15 matinee with evening shows at 6-8-10 pm Bob Burns in our Leading Citizen with selected short subjects. 

 

In Sports the Cincinnati Reds clinched the National League Pennant to face the New York Yankees in the World Series.  The Phillies were 49 games in eighth place behind the Reds,  The Philadelphia Athletics were 48 1/2 behind the Yankees.  The Greater Reading Football League would have a game in Gablesville on Sunday the Owls would host Geanzle Green Jackets from Reading. 

 

There was high school football on the agenda that day as well Norco would host Phoenixville, Spring City at North Wales and East Greenville at Royersford. 

 

Take a Moment and reflect back to that September day in 1939.  I know its not a long article but imagine something so small that has become so big.  We thank all that have been a part of it.  75 years and 789 games ago.  

 

Pennsburg Falls 19-6 Before BHS Attack

 

September 30 1939  Boyertown 19  Pennsburg 6 (Reading Times No writer credited)

 

Boyertown High’s return to football was a successful one yesterday as the Bears traveled to Pennsburg and came back with a 16-6 decision.   Wally Biel gave Boyertown’s gridders a lead they never relinquished slicing off tackle for a 40-yard run and a touchdown in the first frame.  Biggest thrill of the afternoon occurred in the second period, when Sonny Ritter got sharp blocking on an end run and galloped 80 yards to scoring territory.  Hartenstine kicked the point.  A series of line blocks in the fourth was climaxed by Hartenstines plunge into the end zone. 

 

Pennsburg 0 0 6 0 -  6

Boyertown 6 7 0  6 -19

 

Boyertown Starters: Hartenstein LE, Haring LT, Schealer LG, Reese C, Iezzi RG, Gill RT, Klemmer RE, Ritter QB, Miller LHB, Hartman RHB, Briel FB.  Pennsburg: Pargine LE, Freed LT, Romelki LG, Bauman C, Schwenk RG, Phillips RT, Moser RE, Metz QB, Zetz LHB, Blinkman RHB, Leisenzeigler FB.

 

Touchdowns Boyertown: Briel, Ritter, Hartman Pennsburg: Binkman.