Bucks County Herald – July 27, 2006

Sines Upper Bucks Chamber Reception

Dear Friends,

Good morning. Hoping to shine more light upon an old Quakertown store that was pleading for help, the Upper Bucks Chamber of Commerce invited its members to a reception at Sine’s 5 and 10 in Quakertown last week. SOS…“Save Our Store”…the big sign shouted in the window.

Several weeks ago, proprietor Bill Harr Sr. told the world that he’d have to close the store at the end of this year if business didn’t improve. Sine’s was founded in 1912 and five generations have operated the business ever since.

1912 was a very special year. At least two major things happened in 1912…the founding of Sines and the sinking of the Titanic.

I have a marvelous reference book, “The Timetables of History” which identifies these seven categories by year starting in 5000 B.C. to the present: (a) history, politics; (b) literature, theater; (c) religion, philosophy, learning; (d) visual arts; (e) music; (f) science, technology, growth; and (g) daily life.

For example, priestly celibacy fascinates me. To learn when [not why] the Roman Catholic Church adopted celibacy, turn to the index and you’ll find it listed in the year 1022. “The Synod of Pavia insists on celibacy of the higher clergy,” the text reveals. (The lower clergy adopted celibacy considerably later.)

Good Grief! I almost forgot. Also in 1912, Woodrow Wilson became President thanks to Teddy Roosevelt’s Bull Moose Party splitting the Republican vote…plus Arizona and New Mexico were admitted to the union. Decades earlier, Arizona and New Mexico had the required population for statehood but couldn’t pass the smell test. They had to prove that they were law abiding…not likely when villains like Billy the Kid were roaming the territories.

But I stray.

Sine’s was packed with patrons at the Chamber of Commerce party. Free milkshakes and root beer floats were big hits. So was Bill Harr’s 20-minute chat about Sine’s history. I’ll bet more than 100 attended.

State Representative Paul Clymer gave an interesting talk too. He noted that Sine’s is the last 5 and 10-cent store in Bucks County. “It would be a shame to lose it,” he began. “It’s up to the community to make sure that it’s around for another 94 years.”

Paul’s right of course, but any store’s success depends upon an unwritten pact between the proprietor and the customers. The store needs to stock desirable items at reasonable prices. And customers will come if they know what is for sale. I have always admired the Harr family but they’re slow to remind Quakertown area residents about offerings.

I think a few dollars would go a long way to advertise their lunch counter as well as bargains in the store. For example, it wouldn’t take much to tell patrons what the breakfast and lunch menus are for Monday through Saturday.

Unfortunately, the Chamber of Commerce was not around to help Deaterly’s Dry Goods, Sernoff, Cassel’s and the B and O [grocers], Weiss and Fein [shoes], the Weiss Stores, Hillegass Drug, and Shelly’s Bakery. Those mom and pop stores are gone forever.

But we still have Benner’s Hardware, Dimmig [appliances], Moyer’s Shoes, and Kulp Jeweler just to name a few. We need to patronize these old stores…as long as they actively seek our business.

When I was a Bucks County Commissioner 40 years ago, I attended the annual meeting of the Bucks County Bankers Association. There were 60 independent banks and savings and loans in the county’s 54 municipalities. Today, only three of them are left. [Newtown National, Quakertown National, and First Savings Bank [Perkasie].

And 100 years ago, every Bucks town had a community band. Quakertown actually had two. Today, all of them are gone except the Quakertown Band. Like institutions, local stores remain healthy only as long as they remain fresh and please their customers.

It’s amazing what positive P.R. can accomplish. Today, Sine’s is enjoying a renaissance.

Sincerely,

Charles Meredith