|
|
|
The Jermyn Events Committee held its annual Jermyn Community Dinner Dance on Saturday, Jan. 21, at St. John’s Hall, Hill St., Mayfield. The following Jermyn citizens were honored at the event: Don Miller, Jermyn Volunteer of the Year; the Battenberg Family (Charles H., Charles A., and Rita), Lifetime Achievement Award; Lillian Shust, Community Service Award of the Year; and Mike Collins and Walter Shermanski, Borough Council Service Award.
The Battenberg Family
Lifetime Achievement Award
The Lifetime Achievement Award signifies service to the community through the years.
The Battenberg family has never wavered in their dedication to preserving Jermyn’s historic past as well as enlarging the future of the town. The Battenberg family has been a family-owned business since 1881, 131 years of continuous service to the people of Jermyn and the Lackawanna Valley.
In the history of the family, Floyd A. Battenberg became his father’s business partner (A.F.A Battenberg) in 1931. Floyd was very active in the community, becoming a Charter Member of the Jermyn Lions Club and mayor of Jermyn from 1941 to1949. In 1930-31, the Hudson Coal Company decided to mine farther up into the area right above Jermyn. The cemetery, Shady Side, was a beautiful area which had interred many of the deceased residents of Jermyn. On the order of the Hudson Coal Company, the corpses had to be reinterred in various places, and Floyd Battenberg, the town’s funeral director, supervised the removal and placements of the caskets. Excellent records were kept by the Battenberg family regarding all details, and Bud Gibbs has the original record book of all transactions.
Charles H. Battenberg joined the furniture and funeral businesses in 1944. At that time, funerals were held in private homes, and all equipment and seating chairs had to be moved to the corpse house. Charles H. was the only young man available for undertaking, because most of the young men were away fighting in World War II.
Charles H. became a partner in the family business in 1961. A major renovation of the original building was completed in the 1990’s.
Charles H. is a Korean War Veteran and has been a member of the American Legion, Crystal Hose Company, and First United Methodist Church. He has been married to the former Rita Callejas, formerly of Archbald, for 56 years. Rita has been his partner in both businesses since the death of his father (Floyd) in 1973. Rita in the office of the furniture store every day, like clockwork. Her dedication to her husband, Charles H., and the business is unwavering. She has always been active in church affairs and is a devoted mother and grandmother. They have three children — Margaret Germano, Charles A., both of Jermyn, and Rita Scheirer of East Stroudsburg, and five grandchildren.
Charles A. Battenberg began helping in the businesses at an early age, and has carried on the Battenberg tradition of community service. He is a member of the Jermyn Sports, Historical Society, and the Planning Commission, and he is involved in various community organizations. In 1996, he became the owner of the furniture store and funeral home services.
One of the unique features of the Battenberg Store is the ‘Club Card’ system, begun in 1939. During the 1930s and early 1940s Jermyn was in a depressed state. Coal mines were closing or closed, and there was no other industry. Battenberg Furniture Store presented to the struggling citizens of Jermyn the ability to purchase a new piece of furniture with a Club Card, allowing the customer to pay part of their bill on a weekly basis, as well as win money that would be deducted from the cost of the furniture. Most importantly, no interest is charged on the purchase. The Club Card is still offered at the store today.
The Battenberg family long ago began to care about their town and ways to improve it, and is still following this practice started by A.F.A. Battenberg (Charles A. Battenberg’s great-grandfather).
The Jermyn Events Committee held its annual Jermyn Community Dinner Dance on Saturday, Jan. 21, at St. John’s Hall, Hill St., Mayfield. The following Jermyn citizens were honored at the event: Don Miller, Jermyn Volunteer of the Year; the Battenberg Family (Charles H., Charles A., and Rita), Lifetime Achievement Award; Lillian Shust, Community Service Award of the Year; and Mike Collins and Walter Shermanski, Borough Council Service Award.
The Battenberg Family
Lifetime Achievement Award
The Lifetime Achievement Award signifies service to the community through the years.
The Battenberg family has never wavered in their dedication to preserving Jermyn’s historic past as well as enlarging the future of the town. The Battenberg family has been a family-owned business since 1881, 131 years of continuous service to the people of Jermyn and the Lackawanna Valley.
In the history of the family, Floyd A. Battenberg became his father’s business partner (A.F.A Battenberg) in 1931. Floyd was very active in the community, becoming a Charter Member of the Jermyn Lions Club and mayor of Jermyn from 1941 to1949. In 1930-31, the Hudson Coal Company decided to mine farther up into the area right above Jermyn. The cemetery, Shady Side, was a beautiful area which had interred many of the deceased residents of Jermyn. On the order of the Hudson Coal Company, the corpses had to be reinterred in various places, and Floyd Battenberg, the town’s funeral director, supervised the removal and placements of the caskets. Excellent records were kept by the Battenberg family regarding all details, and Bud Gibbs has the original record book of all transactions.
Charles H. Battenberg joined the furniture and funeral businesses in 1944. At that time, funerals were held in private homes, and all equipment and seating chairs had to be moved to the corpse house. Charles H. was the only young man available for undertaking, because most of the young men were away fighting in World War II.
Charles H. became a partner in the family business in 1961. A major renovation of the original building was completed in the 1990’s.
Charles H. is a Korean War Veteran and has been a member of the American Legion, Crystal Hose Company, and First United Methodist Church. He has been married to the former Rita Callejas, formerly of Archbald, for 56 years. Rita has been his partner in both businesses since the death of his father (Floyd) in 1973. Rita in the office of the furniture store every day, like clockwork. Her dedication to her husband, Charles H., and the business is unwavering. She has always been active in church affairs and is a devoted mother and grandmother. They have three children — Margaret Germano, Charles A., both of Jermyn, and Rita Scheirer of East Stroudsburg, and five grandchildren.
Charles A. Battenberg began helping in the businesses at an early age, and has carried on the Battenberg tradition of community service. He is a member of the Jermyn Sports, Historical Society, and the Planning Commission, and he is involved in various community organizations. In 1996, he became the owner of the furniture store and funeral home services.
One of the unique features of the Battenberg Store is the ‘Club Card’ system, begun in 1939. During the 1930s and early 1940s Jermyn was in a depressed state. Coal mines were closing or closed, and there was no other industry. Battenberg Furniture Store presented to the struggling citizens of Jermyn the ability to purchase a new piece of furniture with a Club Card, allowing the customer to pay part of their bill on a weekly basis, as well as win money that would be deducted from the cost of the furniture. Most importantly, no interest is charged on the purchase. The Club Card is still offered at the store today.
The Battenberg family long ago began to care about their town and ways to improve it, and is still following this practice started by A.F.A. Battenberg (Charles A. Battenberg’s great-grandfather).
