MONDAY, JANUARY 6, 1953 —Daily Collegian photo by Bob Thompson OLDEST ACTIVE TOWN BUSINESSMAN—John Chotta, fresh man in business administration from Allison Park buys a package of envelopes from George T. Graham, a State College merchant for 62 years, who celebrated his 85th birthday today. Graham,at 85, Recalls 'Most Foolish Thing' Gorge T. Graham, State College's oldest active business man, celebrating his 85th birthday today, is happy he did "a, most. foolish thing" in his early 20's. That "most foolish thing" was coming to State College,' "a town that seemed to appeal to nobody but me." Needless to say, the "boss" at Graham and Sons, which itself has become a Penn State tradi tion, feels things have paid off all right during his 62 years as a State College businessman. • But he admits he was lucky. "U I would have had any brains at all," he reminisced yesterday, "I wouldn't have come here." State College was just a coun try village in 1896 when Graham told his not-too-happy wife he would like to move here, leaving a profitable barbering business in Philipsburg. State College had between 600 and 700 population. About 300 students attended a small college here. He first operated a barber shop in State College, a - 4-chair one. Having a difficult time keeping' barbers out here in the wilder ness, he opene - d State College's first e a tin g place shortly be fore. World War I. It's name: "Graham's on • the Corner," situ ated across froin today's Corner. His second business venture, although successful, was soon dropped because of a wartime shortage of help. In 1925, he opened his present candy and tobacco shop and newsstand at its present loca tion. lie runs it with his two sons, Randall, class of '23, and Robert, class of '2B. Although he didn't open his present shop until 1925, he has sold- candy, tobacco and news papers_ from time to time since he came to State College. The first scoreboard bulletin board went up in. his barber shop. • Graham h6s seen , a lot of Penn State• and State College history. He has-seen - the town and the University grow, and sees an even greater future for both since "the town and the University work.to gether so successfully.' One thing he has seen no ticeably disturbs him. That is what he calls the end of spirit , among Penn Staters. He re called the • class scraps, and noted that "students don't have any spirit like that today." But he feels this is, not the fault of the present students. He said he believes this was caused hy- the changing "environment,' or the growth of the student body and the town. • When- the student body was smaller and he knew most of - the' , students, Graham heard many •of their problems. It is said that few students went to jail, since Graham -Would al ways lake the responsibility for By ED DUBBS Collegian Editor them until they had a court 1 hearing. And if a student need ed some cash badly, the place to get it. interest free without collateral, was from the barber. later the restaurant owner, and later the man who ran the to bacco and candy shop and newsstand. He has also helped—and still does—many students to get through school by giving them) part-time jobs. His restaurant was not his only; "first." He was chairman of the first organized American Red' Cross drive during World War 1; He was also instrumental in: forming the State College Area Chamber of Commerce, and was a founder and served as the first president of the Alpha Fire Com pany. Graham will celebrate his 85th birthday today with a family dinner at his home. Lowenfeld's Ait Book Published in Germany I "Die Kunst des Kindes, (The Art! of the Child)," by Victor Lowen-: feld, head of the Department of Art Education, has just been pub lished in Frankfurt, Germany. The book emphasizes the art ofl the child from scribbling to ma -1 ture expressions of adolesence andi discusses the methodology used to ; motivate creative expression in: the visual arts on these levels. THE DAILY COLLEGIAN. STATE COLLEGE. PENNSYLVANIA WSGA Names School of Arts Tribunal Warns Publicity Heads Receives Grant BusAd Junior Barbara Martino, junior in arts A grant of $lOOO has been re- Tribuna' it airing has been gtv and letter: from Wheeling, W. Va., ceived by the School of the Arts , r to Gant• Hershelman, Junior in Col and Phoebe Humphrey. junior in art-, and letters from State Col- from the Grit Publishing Co.. basine,s administration from Jege, have been appointed chair- Williamsport, to expand their pro- Meadville, who was fined by State men of the publicity committee gram in graphics, better known as College police for speeding and for May Day. printmaking reckless driving. Lois Henderson, chairman of the From the initial grant of $lOOO, Hershelman was fined $lO for ,Women's Student Government As- the Grit Graphics Room was es kociation House of Represents- tablished, and annual grants of speeding and 95 costs and $25 for tires, said other May Day chair- $lOO from the same company help reckless driving plus $5 costs af men cannot be appointed until t o buy materials used in the pro- ter being arrested by police Nov. elections of unit officers are held gram2l next semester. George S Zoretich. who is con- Police said they chased the stu- Erections will be held again because many ducting the work, explains that dent at speeds from 50 to 53 coeds twill move the wide variety of processes used mites per hour over streets in the from their present residence halls allows for considerable expert- southern part of the borough. to new ones. mentation and expansion of the Hershelman told Tribunal he creative effort didn't know the police were tel • The Japanese believe one sneeze With present facilities, art stu- lowing him, but that he thought means someone is praising you, dents are receiving training in it ‘t as • buddies who wanted to two sneezes, mean you are being lithography, woodcutting, lino- chase." He said he stopped his criticized, and three sneezes mean cutting, dry-point and etching car when he realized a police car someone loves you. - processes, was following RECORD SALE!! Monday thru Saturday All 12 inch LP Records Reduced $l.OO From List Price Many, Many Other. Values! "The Students' Record Centre" University Record Shop "Across from Atherton Han" Open Evenings Ili 9:00 P.M. $75,000 STATEWIDE CLEARANCE Coats Suits Dresses Sportswear Marked Off As Low As 1 / 2 Price OPEN DAILY 9 - 5:30 124 S. ALLEN STREET Mr. Charles is now having his SALE Evening Gowns Skirts Shirts Blouses Crew Neck Sweaters MONDAYS 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. ... end Allentown PAGE FIVE
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers