SouthBethlehemBusinessCollegeClassof1924

CharlesH.Gretzinger

by

RichardC.GretzingerSeptember2015

TableOfContents

Preface 1

Chapter1Classof1924 3

Chapter2SouthBethlehemBusinessCollege 5

Chapter3CommutingtoCollege 12

Chapter4QuestionsAskedandAnswered 22

FinalThoughts 23

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Preface

OnerecentsummereveningasmywifeandIwerewalkinginourneighborhood,westoppedtotalkwithfriends.Inthecourseofourconservation,myfriendaskedifIwenttoLehighUniversity(IwaswearingaLehighteeshirt.)Isaidyes.HeindicatedhewasfromSouthBethlehem,thehomeofLehigh'scampuslocatedinNorthamptonCounty*.

IthenaskedhimifheheardoftheSouthBethlehemBusinessCollegeasmygrandfathergraduatedfromthiscollegein1924.HedidnotknowofthecollegebutaskedifIknewtheaddress.Ididn't.

ThenextdayIbegantoresearchthelocationoftheSouthBethlehemBusinessCollegeandfounditwaslocatedat3rdandNewStreets.Tomysurprise,itwasonlyfourblocksfromLehigh'scampus.

Thatdiscoveryledmetofurtherresearch,andIfounda1908-1909CataloguefortheSouthBethlehemBusinessCollege.(Forthepurposesofthisnarrative,Iusedthe1908-1909Catalogue**asasurrogateforthe1924Catalogue.)Thecataloguelistedthecollege'scourses,costandclassschedules.Iwonderedinwhatcoursesmygrandfatherwasenrolledandhowhemaymighthavepaidforthem.And,washeadayornightschoolstudent?

SincemygrandfatherlivedinTrumbauersville,BucksCounty,Pennsylvania,howdidhecommutetoBethlehem,NorthamptonCounty,Pennsylvania,adistanceofabout18miles?Heneverownedanautomobileanddidnotlearntodrive.Didheusepublictransportation?

IfoundaSouthBethlehemmapissuedinthe1920sandnotedthattheNorthPennRailroadstationwasonlyafewblocksfromthecollege.Thatdiscoveryledmetoconsiderthatmygrandfathermayhavecommutedtocollegebytrain.Weretrainsavailablethathecouldusetocommute?

Thefollowingnarrativeattemptstoanswerthesequestions._______________________________________________________________________*NorthamptonCountywasformedin1752whenitwassplitfromBucksCounty.Sixtyyearslaterin1812,LehighCountywasformedwhenitwassplitfromNorthamptonCounty.

In1865,AsaPacker,presidentofLehighValleyRailroad,presenteda$500,000gifttobuildauniversitythatwouldcontributetotheintellectualandmoralimprovementofmenintheLehighValley.ItwasthelargestdonationofitskindtoanyeducationalinstitutioninAmericaatthattime.Today,Asa'sdonationwouldbeequivalenttoalmost$8million(basedontheCPI'spublishedbytheMinneapolisFederalReserve).

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ThesitethatPackerchoseforhisuniversitywasarailroadjunctionacrosstheLehighRiverfromBethlehem,Pennsylvania,acommunityfoundedin1741byMoravianmissionaries.ThesitewasselectedinpartbecauseitwaswithinwalkingdistanceformanagersoftheLehighValleyRailroad.TheuniversitywasnamedLehighUniversity.

InLehigh'sinauguralyear(1866),39menwereadmittedasstudents.Ofthe39students,onewasaCivilWarveteranfromLancaster,Pa.;10werefromBethlehem,Pa.;sevencamefromMauchChunk,Pa.;sevencamefromTamaqua,Pa.,andotherplacesintheanthraciteregions;threewerefromPhiladelphia;onefromBarbados;andtheremaining10hailedfromotherplacesintheeasternstates.

Lehigh'sfirstpresident,HenryCoppee,wasappointedbyAsaPacker.CoppeeworkedasarailroadengineerinGeorgia,servedasacaptainintheArmyduringtheMexicanWar,andtaughtatWestPointandtheUniversityofPennsylvaniabeforebecomingLehigh'sfirstpresidentin1866.DuringCoppee'stenure,aMoravianchurchonPackerAvenuewasremodeledintoChristmasHall;ahouseforthepresidentwaserected;andPackerHall,theuniversitycenter,wasbuilt.

Coppeelecturedinhistory,logic,rhetoric,politicaleconomyandShakespeare.HeservedasLehigh'spresidentfornineyearsto1875.Afterthedeathin1893ofLehigh'sthirdpresident,RobertA.Lamberton,CoppeereturnedtoLehighandservedaspresidentuntilhisdeathin1895.

CoppeediedinBethlehemandisburiedattheNiskyHillCemetery,254E.ChurchStreet,Bethlehem.ThecemeteryislocatedalongthenorthbankoftheLehighRiveraboutonemilefromtheLehighcampus(seemaponpage12).

Note:ThesourceforLehigh'shistoryistheUniversity'swebsite.

**Adownloadable1908-1909CataloguefortheSouthBethlehemBusinessCollegeisavailableontheBethlehemAreaPublicLibrarywebsite.Icontactedthelibraryandobtainedtheirpermissiontousethecatalogueinthisnarrative.Thecataloguehasnocopyrightnotation.Thecollegeisnolongerinoperation,andthebuildingwhereclasseswereheldhasbeendemolished.

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Chapter1

Classof1924CharlesH.Gretzinger

Afterthedeathofmygrandfather,CharlesH.Gretzinger,mygrandmothergavemeapictureofthe1924graduatingclassofSouthBethlehemBusinessCollege.Thatpictureappearsbelow.Nonameswereidentified.

Mygrandfatherappearsinthetoprowoftheseatedmen,thirdfromtheleft.Heis38yearsold.Hisgraduatingclasswascomposedof36womenand17men.

South Bethlehem Business CollegeClassof1924

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Mygrandmother,Ellen(Ella),oftensaidthatwhenherhusbandwentofftocollege,shestayedhometoworkinoneofthelocalcigarshopsinTrumbauersville(ourhometown)to"puthimthroughcollege."

Intheearly1900s,therewereabouttenlocalcigarshops,called"BuckeyeShops."Mygrandmother'sjobwasto"rollcigars."Toassembleacigar,shespreadabindercigarleafonaboardandplacedanamountoffillerinherhand.Shethenfashionedthefillerintotheproperlength,rolleditintothebinderleafandtwistedtheendsandplacedtheunfinishedcigarinawoodenmoldthatheldtencigars.Agoodcigarmakercouldearn$20aweek,workingasixdayweek.

Whilemaintainingherjobrollingcigars,shealsohadtocareforthreechildren.Whenherhusbandbeganhisstudiesin1922,thechildren'sageswere15,10and6years.Itisquitepossiblethathermotherhelpedtocarefortheyoungerchildren.

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Chapter2

SouthBethlehemBusinessCollege

TheBethlehemAreaPublicLibraryhasonlinethe1908-1909catalogueforTheSouthBethlehemBusinessCollege.Theabovephotoisacopyofthecoverpageofthecatalogue.

Thecollegewasestablishedin1897.ClasseswereheldintheO'Reillybuildingat3rdandNewStreets,SouthBethlehem,Pennsylvania.

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TheO'ReillyBuilding

SouthBethlehemBusinessCollegewaslocatedat3rdandNewStreetsinBethlehem,Pennsylvania.ThebuildingwasownedbyMichaelO'Reillywhooperatedaclothingstoreonthegroundfloor.Theschoolwaslocatedonthesecondfloor.ThefollowingpictureisthatoftheO'Reillybuildingwiththenameoftheschoolonthesecondfloor.Thepictureisfromthe1908-1909SouthBethlehemBusinessCollegecatalogue.

The O'Reilly BuildingSoutheast Corner of 3rd & New Streets

Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

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Thesourceofthefollowingpictureandquotationisthe1918publication,"MenofBethlehem,"byFredL.ShankweilerandFrankT.Boyle.

MichaelO'Reilly

"Michael O'Reilly, head of the OReilly Clothing Store, was born in Washington, N.J., a son of the late Michael and Elizabeth (Hopper) OReilly. He was educated in the public schools and came to South Bethlehem at the age of twelve years, being engaged then in a store with his father. From a small beginning the OReilly store grew in leaps and bounds until today their store has established a reputation that is unequalled, due to the efficient management of Mr. OReilly. He has been active in everything for the advancement of the community and built many houses for the accommodation of Bethlehem Steel Company workmen. He was active in the recent campaigns both as captain and major and is a member of the Knights of Columbus, Chamber of Commerce, Elks, Northampton Club and other organizations. During June 1916 he married Mary, daughter of Nora and the late Michael Lane."

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The1908-1909CollegeCatalogue

AsindicatedintheSouthBethlehemBusinessCollegecatalogue,thecollegewasestablishedin1897,andasnotedabovewaslocatedonthesecondflooroftheO'ReillyBuilding.Thecollegecatalogueintroductionstates;

"In preparing this catalogue, the aim has been to explain briefly and plainly the scope of the work, the methods, and the facilities of the College, and to give other information that is usually desired by the prospective student of a business school.The object of the institution is to give its students an education that will fit them to earn a living, especially in the business world. By omitting branches of no practical value, permitting each one to advance independently of the others, and giving a great deal of individual instruction, the school is able to save the student much time and expense."

Curriculum

The"CoursesofStudy"asoutlinedintheoriginalcollegecatalogueareshownbelow.

THE SOUTH BETHLEHEM BUSINESS COLLEGE

Business Course Combined Course

BookkeepingBusinessPracticeBusinessLawOfficeWorkBankingBusinessFormsDuplicatingFiling

ArithmeticPenmanshipCorrespondencePracticalGrammarPunctuationCompositionSpellingRapidCalculation

BookkeepingBusinessPracticeBusinessLawBankingBusinessFormsDuplicatingFilingShorthandTypewriting

ArithmeticPenmanshipCorrespondencePracticalGrammarPunctuationCompositionSpellingRapidCalculationGrammar

Shorthand Course Academic Course

ShorthandTypewritingTabulatingDuplicatingOfficeWorkBusinessFormsFiling

PenmanshipCorrespondencePracticalGrammarPunctuationCompositionSpellingRapidCalculation

ArithmeticPenmanshipSpellingRapidCalculationCorrespondence

ReadingHistoryGeographyCompositionGrammar

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Unfortunately,Idonotknowinwhichcourseofstudymygrandfatherwasenrolled.Basedonhisoutstandinggradesinelementaryschool,IamsurehedidnotneedclassesinArithmetic,Penmanship,Grammar,CompositionandSpelling.SincehelaterbecamePresidentandadirectoroftheSellersvilleSavings&Loan,heprobablystudiedBusinessPractice,BusinessLawandBanking.HealsopreparedtaxreturnsformanyofTrumbauersvilleresidents;therefore,hemayhavebeenexposedtothe"RapidCalculation"course.

Tuition

The1908-1909catalogueincludedtheCollege'stuitionrates(listedinthecatalogue's"WhatWillitCost"section)whicharereprintedbelow.

THE SOUTH BETHLEHEM BUSINESS COLLEGE

Rates of Tuition

Payable in advance.

DAY SESSIONSTenmonths..........................................................................................Elevenmonths.....................................................................................

$70.0075.00

SHORT TERM PLANDuring first six months Onemonth............................................................................................ Threemonths.......................................................................................Sixmonths............................................................................................

$9.0025.0045.00

After the sixth monthOnemonth............................................................................................ Threemonths.......................................................................................Sixmonths............................................................................................

$7.0020.0035.00

NIGHT SESSIONSEightmonths........................................................................................ Threemonths.......................................................................................Bythemonth.........................................................................................

Aftertheeighthmonth,$3.00permonth

$22.0010.00

3.75

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Thedaytuitionratefortenmothswas$70in1908($128in1924*).In2014,thetuitionwouldbe$19,607,basedonthecalculatedannualinterestrateof5.5%*.

Idonotknowifmygrandfatherwasadayornightstudent.Thesession(DayorNight)heattended,however,mayhavebeendictatedbyhismodeoftransportationtoandfromhishometown,Trumbauersville,andtheSouthBethlehemBusinessCollege,inBethlehem.

Thenextchapterdiscussesseveralpossiblemeansofcommutinghemayhaveusedorconsidered._______________________________________________________________________*TuitionInflationRates:TocalculatethetuitionamountforSouthBethlehemBusinessCollege,Iused,asasurrogateforSouthBethlehemBusinessCollege,thePennUniversityArchives(PUA)listingoftheirundergraduatetuitiondollarsforeachyearfrom1900to2014.FromthePUAdata,Icalculatedtheannualinterestrate(tuitioninflation)increasefortwotimeperiods.Thecalculationsarebasedonthefollowingcontinuouscompoundingequations.

FutureTuition(FT)=PresentTuition(PT)x(1+i)^n

where"i"istheeffectiveannualtuitionincrease(inflation)and"n"isthenumberofyearsbetweenthepresenttuitionamountandthefuturetuitionamount.

Solvingtheaboveequationfor"i"

i=((FT/PT)^(1/n))-1

ThePUAcalculated"i"wasthenusedtodetermineSouthBethlehemBusinessCollegefuturetuitionamount.

ThetablebelowsummarizestheannualtuitionincreasesfortwotimeperiodsandtheresultingcalculationoftheSouthBethlehemBusinessSchooltuitions.

Penn. South Beth.University Bus. College

1908 Tuition $ 150 $ 70 1924 Tuition $ 275 $ 128 Calc Ann. Interest 3.9% 3.9%

Penn. South Beth.University Bus. College

1908 Tuition $ 150 $ 70 2014 Tuition $ 42,176 $ 19,607 Calc Ann. Interest 5.5% 5.5%

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Chapter3

CommutingtoCollege

WhenIdiscoveredtheaddressoftheSouthBethlehemBusinessCollege,InotedthatitwasonlyfourblocksfromtheLehighUniversityCampus.Iama1960graduateofLehighUniversity,followingby36yearsmygrandfather'sgraduationin1924fromcollege.InowwonderifmygrandfatherandIwalkedonsomeofthesamestreetsinSouthBethlehem.

ThemapbelowofSouthBethleheminthe1920sshowsLehighUniversityatthebottomleft.SouthBethlehemBusinessCollegeisshownonthesoutheastcornerof3rdandNewStreets.NotethattheNorthPennRailroadlineisaboutablockfromthebusinesscollege.

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CommutingbyAutomobile

From1956to1960,IwasadailycommutertoLehighUniversityfrommyhometown,Trumbauersville.AfellowstudentfromQuakertownandIcarpooledandtookturnsdrivingourcarstoLehigh.WeparkedourcaralongPackerAvenue,oneblocksouthof5thStreet.Sincemygrandfatherdidnotdriveorownanautomobile,Iwonderedhowhecommutedtocollege.

In1924,hisoldestsonwasonly15yearsold;thelegalagetoobtainadriver'slicenseinPennsylvaniain1924was18.Itappearsthatafamilymemberdidnotdrivehimtocollege.

Ifhedidcommutebycar,oneofthecheapestautosinthe1920swastheFordModelT.MygrandfathermayhavefoundafellowstudentwhowasabletoaffordaModelT.Inthechartbelow,pricesarelistedforvarious1924ModelTs.

1924FordModelTModels,Prices,Production

ModelT(wheelbase100) Weight Price Production

touring 1,500 $295 99,523

touringwithself-starter,demountablerims

1,650 380 673,579

roadster 1,390 265 43,317

roadsterwithself-starter,demountablerims

1,540 350 220,955

2-doorsedan4 1,875 590 223,203

4-doorsedan4 1,950 685 84,733

coupe4 1,760 525 327,584

chassis 1,060 230 3,921

chassiswithself-starter,demountablerims

1,210 295 43,980

Total1924Ford 1,720,795

Source:http://auto.howstuffworks.com/1923-1927-ford-model-t5.htmThecheapestModelT(withahand-crankstarter)wastheRoadsterwhichsoldfor$265in1924.Theaveragemonthlyincomein1924was$254basedonthe1924IRSpublicationoftheiranalysisof7.4milliontaxreturns.Thus,thecostofthiscarwasaboutequaltoonemonth'swages.

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1924FordModelTRoadster

CommutingtoBethlehemfromQuakertown,adistanceof15miles,inthisroadsterwouldhavebeensomewhat"nippy"inwinter.Andiftheautowasacrankstart,thepassenger(maybemygrandfather)wasprobablyelectedtoperformthistask.

Thetopspeedofthe1924roadsterwasabout40mph.Assuminganaveragespeedof25mphforthecommute,itwouldhavetakenabout40minutestodrivefromQuakertowntoBethlehem.Areasonablecommuteifyouhadaccesstoavehicle.

Toestimatethemonthlyautoexpenses,Icalculatedthedepreciationexpensebasedona10yearlifefortheRoadster,or$2.21permonth.MonthlymaintenanceexpensesforModelTsinthe1920srangedfrom$7.20to$16.Iassumed$7.20fortheRoadster.Gasolinewas$0.21pergallonin1924andModelTseconomyrangedfrom13to21milespergallon.Iusedanaverageof17mpg.Travelling30milesperdaytoandfromBethlehem,or600milesinthemonth,gasolinecostswere$7.41monthly.

Basedontheseestimates,totalautoexpenseswouldhavebeen$16.82monthly.CommutingbyTrain

Ifmygrandfatherdidnothaveaccesstoanautomobile,hecouldhavecommutedbytrain.othermeansofcommuting.ResearchingtheareaaroundtheSouthBethlehemBusinessCollege,IfoundthattheNorthPennRailroadlinethatranaboutoneblocksouthoftheschool(seeabovemap).Becausetheraillinewassoclosetothecollege,Ibegantoexplorethepossibilitythattherailroadmayhavebeenareasonablealternativetocommutingbycar.Inaddition,mygrandfather

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beenareasonablealternativetocommutingbycar.Inaddition,mygrandfatherlivedinTrumbauersvilleonlyaboutthreemilestotheQuakertownrailroadstation.Asachildinthe1940s,IwouldridemybicyclefromTrumbauersvilletoQuakertown,abouta15minuteride.

TheNorthPennRailroadbeganoperationsin1855andservedPhiladelphia,MontgomeryCounty,BucksCountyandNorthamptonCounty,Pennsylvania.TrainsbegantooperatebetweenFrontandWillowStreets,PhiladelphiaandGwynedd,MontgomeryCounty,onJuly2,1855,adistanceof1812miles.

In1857,abranchwasbuiltfromLansdaletoDoylestownandduringthe1860sanotherextensionwasbuilttoSellersville,runningparalleltoBethlehemPike.ThisrailroadwaseventuallycompletedtoBethlehem,andlaterbecametheBethlehemBranch,atwo-trackmainline,withoneportionnearTelfordbeingthree-tracked.Asingle-tracktunnelisinPerkasie.

ThePhiladelphiaandReadingRailway,predecessortotheReadingCompany,leasedtheNorthPennRailroad(NPR)in1879.TheReadingCompanyservedthelocationsalongtheBethlehemBranchfrom1879untiltheyceasedoperationsin1976.Thislinewasnotelectrifiedsothetrainswerepulledbysteamlocomotives.

BelowisapictureofaReadingLinepassengersteamengine(Number203).IfoundthephotoontheNorthEastRailswebsite.ThesitelistedtheenginenumberanditslocationinBethlehem.Inthephoto,thetrainmayhavebeenleavingtheBethlehemrailstationboundforPhiladelphia.SincetheenginewaslocatedinBethlehem,itprobablyprovidedpassengerserviceontheBethlehemBranchinthe1920s.

WebsiteNorthEastRailsReadingRailroadSteamRoster

http://www.northeast.railfan.net/rdg_steam.html

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LeavingBethlehem'sUnionStation,therewerestationstopsatHellertown(4.0milesfromUnionStation),Binger(4.1miles),CentreValley(9.0miles),Hilltop(11.8miles),Shelly(12.9miles),Quakertown(16.4miles),Rockhill(19.4miles),Perkasie(21.6miles),Sellersville(23.0miles),Telford(25.7miles),Souderton(27.0miles),Hatfield(29.5miles)andLansdale(32.2miles).FromLansdale,trainscontinuedontotheReadingTerminalinPhiladelphia,PA,atotalof56.6milesfromBethlehem'sUnionStation.

Asnotedabove,theraildistancefromQuakertowntoBethlehemwas16.4miles.IthenattemptedtofindtimetablesfortheBethlehemBranchinthe1920to1924timeperiod.IcontactedtheBethlehemHistoricalSocietytodetermineiftheirarchivehadanyBethlehemBranchtimetablesforthisperiod.Theydidnotrespond.

TherearesomeBethlehemBranchrailroadtimetablesforsaleoneBay.Ifounda1909anda1944timetable.Ipurchasedthe1944schedule.(Thebiddingforthe1909scheduleexceeded$35whichwasbeyondmybudget.)Iusedthe1944scheduleasasurrogateforthe1924schedule.

Thescheduledidnotincludeanyticketfareinformation.OntheUSHistoryofRailroadswebsite(http://www.ushistory.org/philadelphia/railroad.htm),Ifoundthe1876singlefareof$0.07fortheNorthPennRailwayinPhiladelphia,adistanceofabout15miles.Iusedthisfare,$0.07,toestimatethefarein1876fromBethlehemtoQuakertown,adistanceof16.4miles,at$0.08.UsingtheFederalReservelistingofCPIs,Icalculateda1924singlefareof$0.14,makingthemonthlycommutingfareabout$5.90.

Followingarephotosofthe1944schedule.ThefirstphotoonthenextpageisthecoverofthetimetablesfortheBethlehemBranchoftheReadingRailwaySystem.

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TimeTables-BethlehemBranch

ReadingRailwaySystemTimeTables

EffectiveMarch5,1944

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ThenextphotoshowstimetablesforNorthboundtrains,includingstopsbetweenQuakertownandBethlehem.

ThereweretwotrainsleavingQuakertowninthemorningonweekdays.Oneleftat7:41AMandarrivedBethlehemat8:19AM,withstopsatShelly,Coopersburg,CentreValley,BingenandHellertown.Thecommutewas38minutes.ThesecondtrainleftQuakertownat9:15AMandarrivedBethlehemat9:43AM,withnostops.Thecommutewas28minutes.

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ThenextphotoshownthetimetablesforSouthboundtrains,presentingthedeparturesfromBethlehemandarrivalatQuakertown.

Intheafternoononweekdays,therewerefourtrainsleavingBethlehem(2:15PM,4:20PM,5:55PMand6:55PM)andstoppingatQuakertown.

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TodetermineifitwasplausibleforarailcommutertotravelfromQuakertowntotheBethlehem(thestationclosesttoSouthBethlehemBusinessCollege)andarriveintimetoattendclass,Ireviewedtheclassschedulesforthe1908-1909termforbothDaySchoolandNightSchool(seebelow).Iusedthe1908-1909classscheduleasasurrogateforthe1924classschedule.SinceNightSchoolclassesendedat9:15PM,IdiscountedusingtherailroadforNightSchoolasthelastweekdaytrainleavingBethlehemwas6:55PM.

ThisleftDaySchoolasapossibilityforthecommutefromQuakertowntothecollege.TheDaySchoolhoursbeganat9:00AMandendedat3:30PM.Asnotedabove,atrainleftQuakertownonweekdaysat7:41AMandarrivedBethlehemat8:19AM.Thistrainarrived41minutesbeforeclassesbegan,morethanenoughtimetowalktotheschool.

SouthBethlehemBusinessCollege-ClassSchedules,1908-1909

DaySchool

School YearbeginsMonday,August10,1908,andcontinuesuntilWednesday,June30,1909,11months.

Fall Opening Day,Tuesday,September1,1908.

Sessionseveryweek-day,exceptSaturday,from9.00until11.30A.M.,and1.00until3.30P.M.

Roomsopenforstudyfrom8A.M.until5P.M.Closeat4P.M.onSaturday.

Holidays

Nosessionsareheldontheprincipallegalholidays.

NightSchool

TermbeginsTuesday,September1,1908,andcontinuesuntilApril29,1909,8months.

SessionsonMonday,Tuesday,andThursday,from7.15until9.15P.M.

Roomsopenat6.30P.M.

Weekdayclassesendedat3:30PM.TheSouthboundtimetableindicatesthatatrainleavingBethlehemat4:20PMwouldarriveinQuakertownat4:49PM.Therefore,commutingstudentshadampletime(minutes)towalktothetrainstationandboardthe:PMtrain.

Basedonthesetimetables,itisquitepossiblethatmygrandfatherusedtheReadingRailwayBethlehemBranchtocommutetoSouthBethlehemBusinessSchoolandreturntoQuakertownasaDaySchoolstudent.

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Asnotedabove,theBethlehemBranchtrainswerepulledbysteamengines.InwhenIbegantoworkinPhiladelphia,IcommutedfromQuakertowntoPhiladelphiaontheReadingLine.Atthattime,steamengineswerestillinusefromBethlehemtoLansdale.AtLansdale,passengersdisembarkedtheBethlehemsteamtrainandboardedanelectrifiedtraintoPhiladelphia.IcommutedonthislineforabouttwomonthsbeforeImovedtoDrexelHill,Pennsylvania,asuburbofPhiladelphia.

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Chapter4

QuestionsAskedandAnswered

ThefollowingisalistofthequestionsIhadwhenIbeganmyresearch.TheanswersIdiscoveredappearbelow.

1. What courses did my grandfather enroll at South Bethlehem Business College?

Basedonhislaterbusinesscareer,Ibelievehetook:BusinessPractices,BusinessLawandBanking.

2. What was the tuition?

Daystudenttuitionin1908for10monthswas$70,about$128in1924.

3. How did my grandfather commute to college?

Bytrain:TheBethlehemBranchoftheReadingRailwayprovidedadequaterailservicebetweenQuakertownandBethlehemforonlyDaySchoolclasses.TrainservicewouldnotsupportcommutersforNightSchoolclasses.Iestimatedthemonthlyroundtripcommutingfarewas$5.90,or$59forthe10monthcollegeterm.

Byautomobile:Sincemygrandfatherdidnotownacarorknowhowtodrive,hehadtofindsomeonewhoworkedinSouthBethlehemorafellowstudentwithaccesstoanautomobiletocommute.ThedistancefromTrumbauersvilletoBethlehemwasabout18miles,acommuteof40to45minutes.Ifmygrandfatherhadaccesstoanautomobile,thiswouldhavebeenareasonablecommuteforeitherDayorNightclasses.

Estimatedmonthlyautoexpenses,however,were$16.82.Thiscostisalmostthreetimesthatofcommutingbytrain.Bycarpoolingandsharingtheautoexpenseswithoneothercommuter,themonthlycostisreducedof$8.41perperson,whichiscomparabletothe$5.90perpersonmonthlytrainfare.

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FinalThoughts

*Ibelievemygrandfathertookbusinessrelatedcoursesthatsupportedhislatercareerendeavors.*Thetuitionandcommutingexpensesweremanageableaslongashiswifeworked.Withhiswife'sincomeof$20perweek,shewouldearnabout$1000peryear.Charles'stuitionwas$128forthecollegeyearandhiscommutingexpensewouldbe$59fortheyearbytrainorasmuchas$168fortheyearbyauto.

*Withoutaccesstoanautomobile,heprobablycommutedtocollegeontheBethlehemBranchoftheReadingRailway.

MygrandfatherwasthefirstintheGretzingerfamilylinetoattendandgraduatefromcollege.Howeverhemadehiscommutetocollege,Iadmirehistenacityandsacrificetomakethisdailycommutefromaverysmallruraltown(populationoflessthan500in1924).Andheaccomplishedthisendeavoratage38withawifeandthreechildrenathome.

BELATEDCONGRATULATIONSGRANDFATHERCHARLES!

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