Oral History Interview with England, Harvey, 1976, 2006 September 18

Notables mentioned; "Doc' Shipman, Peck Bean, George Losasso, Leo Cunningham, Tony Gunther, Ray Neilson, Mike Daley, Jerry O'Shea, Chet Sullivan, Bill Sokol, Carl Jacobson, Walt Tindal, Katheryn Herman, Bill Pare, Bill Frances, Jerry Smith, Dortha Abbott, Bob Joyner, Earle Towne, Guy Van Cleave, Leon Wurl, Earl Goodman, & Lee O'Brien. Places/Events: First Firehouse, fire equipment, rodeo, Davey Crockett Day [lake], Post Office, Penquin Drug Store, Farmers Highline Canal, Job?s Daughters, Grange, Gregory Hill, Police Department among others. Harvey and Erma England came to Westminster in 1937. The story is that he could not afford to build a house. He sent for plans from the agricultural department on how to build a structure to house chickens. He built that structure and that became their home for over 40 years. He was a very active volunteer in the community. He was a Westminster Volunteer Fireman. Harvey?s passion was the promotion of ?wholesome recreation for clean living for our young people.? In 1941 he organized an Old Timers Baseball and also an organization for the smaller boys to play summer baseball. He later organized a Santa Claus program to help provide Christmas gifts and fun for the children in our area that might not have Christmas. He also played Santa for the children and he would arrive on the fire truck. He was a volunteer Adams County Deputy Sheriff where he dealt with Juvenile delinquency. Harvey served on the Westminster Town Board for fourteen years and was the only person to serve as the Westminster Safety Commissioner. During his time on the Westminster Town Board he served on the Water Committee, the Street and Alley Committee and the Finance Committee. He was the first president of the Adams County Safety Council and for a number of years he supervised the active patrolling of streets and crosswalks in the vicinity of schools during the hours when children were coming and going to school. In May of 1951 Harvey and Erma organized Jobs Daughters Bethel 18 in Westminster. Prior to 1953 Westminster did not have a Police Department and city employees doubled as marshals. In May of 1953 he was one of the original members of the Westminster Police Association. He resigned as a Westminster Town Board member in 1953 and ran for Mayor of Westminster. 1953 was a landmark for Westminster the population had reached 2,500 and making it possible to assume second class city status. Harvey was the first Mayor to our up graded city. One of Harvey?s dreams was to have a park for children to play and his dream came true when the City purchased 20 acres of land at 71st and Raleigh Street. A portion of this land would be used to build a filter plant but the land not needed became a park and it was named England Park in his honor. Harvey was the Mayor of Westminster from 1954 ? 1956.