Mount Penn Dedicates Memorial Clock to Honor War Heroes
On the evening of July 18, 1949, the borough of Mount Penn solemnly dedicated its war memorial—a bronze-cased clock atop a towering limestone pylon—in tribute to the men and women who served in the armed forces during World Wars I and II. Despite steady rainfall, nearly 800 residents gathered at the corner of 23rd Street and Howard Boulevard to witness the unveiling of what would become a lasting symbol of the borough’s gratitude and remembrance.
A Community’s Tribute in Stone and Bronze
The memorial, a three-foot clock of original design encased in bronze, rests atop a 12-foot shaft of Indiana limestone. At its base, a bronze plaque bears the following inscription:
“This memorial is dedicated in honor of the men and women of the Borough of Mt. Penn who served their country during World Wars I and II. Erected by the citizens of the Borough of Mt. Penn.”
The $5,000 marker, funded and championed by Mount Penn citizens and civic organizations, represents nearly three years of planning and community effort. The project was led by John E. Esterly, general chairman of the memorial committee, with the clock design and logistics managed by a subcommittee chaired by Peter J. Salino.
Mothers Unveil the Memorial
The unveiling was a moment of both pride and heartbreak. Mrs. J. Calhoun Smith and Mrs. Frank Miller, both mothers of fallen servicemen, had the honor of drawing the cover from the monument. In a particularly moving moment, Harry Hinnershotz and Gordon B. Risheill laid a basket of flowers at the foot of the structure in memory of their sons—Bruce H. Hinnershotz and Gordon Risheill Jr.—who had died in service.
A Ceremony of Reverence
The program began with music by the Carpenter Steel Ingots band under the direction of Myron R. Moyer. The Rev. David U. Druckenmiller, pastor of Faith Lutheran Church, opened the ceremony with a prayer, followed by Salino’s reading of the memorial’s history.
Judge Forrest R. Shanaman of the Berks County Court of Common Pleas delivered a rousing dedicatory address that paid tribute to the sacrifices of the borough’s servicemen and women. Esterly then presented the memorial on behalf of the committee to borough council president C. Raymond Smith, who formally accepted it on behalf of the community.
The program concluded with the singing of the “National Anthem” and the benediction delivered by the Rev. James P. Sullivan, pastor of St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church.
The Fallen of Mount Penn
At the heart of the tribute are the names of 18 borough residents who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of their country. Their names are etched into the community’s memory:
- Harry R. Aigiedinger
- Sidney Alberts
- Stanley Alenier
- Robert M. Bitting
- Willard R. Dimmick
- Robert Eckenroth
- William M. Friedman
- Bruce H. Hinnershotz
- John Richard Joyce
- Donald T. Loose
- William Lord
- Dale T. Miller
- Gordon Risheill Jr.
- William M. Smith
- John N. Whitt
- Joseph R. Zeock
- Philip W. Ziegler
- Samuel P. Ziegler
The Committees Behind the Clock
The memorial was the product of tireless community involvement. In addition to Esterly, secretary Mrs. Robert E. DeTurk and treasurer Howard J. Snider played leading roles. The clock committee included Salino (chairman), Mrs. Smith, Russell Feroe, Gordon B. Rishell, and Snider. The program committee was made up of Salino (chairman), Snider, Charles Long, Frank Miller, John Leinbach, George Ennis, and Walter A. Schultz.
A Marker of Memory
The memorial clock remains a cornerstone of Mount Penn’s civic landscape—not only as a timepiece but as a timeless reminder of service, sacrifice, and community unity. As the hands of the clock turn, they mark not just hours, but decades of gratitude owed to the borough’s heroes.
Photos from the evening show Judge Shanaman and John E. Esterly standing proudly beside the completed memorial, a bronze plaque gleaming under the overcast sky—a solemn but proud testament to a community that remembers.
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