When Galbraith Moved His News Stand Rather Than Pay More Rent

Many of us are familiar with Krebs news store, or Bobs Broadway news.  It was located on Broadway, beside the old Stetler.  But did you know that in 1882, that very building stood on Front Street, where the Milton Realty building stands today?

Bartram Galbraith began his career as a shop owner at the age of 18.  Partnering with Charles Bronell of Williamsport, they sold fruits from a shop in the Cadwallader building.  

 Bronell and Galbraith were the  newspaper dealers in town, selling first the Philadelphia Record, and later, adding the Williamsport Breakfast Table.  Before long, they were handling most of the leading Philadelphia and New York papers as well.

In 1882 the men built a frame building on  the corner of Broadway and Front Street, where the Milton Realty building stands today. Cadwallder owned the land, and they paid him rent.  Until 1909, when the rent increased by $10.  (Nearly $300 in today's money)  By this time Bronwell had left the business and Galbraith's brother had joined the partnership

In 1909, rather than pay an extra $10 in rent,  Bertram Galbraith & Bro loaded the news store onto logs, and horses pulled it from it's font street location, to it's new location on Broadway.  Galbraith posted a sign on both ends of the building that said "It's cheaper to move than to pay rent", and he continued to do business from his  store as it moved up the street.

Galbraiths Newstand, in it's new location, 1909

Bells Genealogical and Biographical Annals report s- "He moved his frame structure to the new location bodily (leaving the old stand March 22, 1909), without taking any of his goods out, doing business all the time his building was on the move, and had electric light every night."  

March 26, 1909

The Miltonian had remarkably little to say about the move.

Galbraith had purchased the "Globe" hotel that we think of as the Stetler, or now Speedys, building today, and he placed his news stand next door.

Bartram Galbraith 1864-1944

Owner of the Bartram Hotel - which he purchased it in 1909. Shown here on his two wheel bike "a familiar site around Milton", in front of his hotel on Broadway in Milton.  

"Mr. Galbraith purchased the valuable property at the corner of Arch and Broadway owned for many years by the Fonda estate and occupied by the “Globe Hotel,” and he has improved the place until it is now one of the best appointed apartment houses of its size in Northumberland county." - Bell

May 1909

 Inside Galbraith's News Store

"He improved both the store and the stock, which is now comprehensive, including a fine line of cigars and tobacco, sporting goods, newspapers and supplies, for which he finds a steady demand" - Bell

Once on Broadway, the building was repainted -

As an advertisement for Wrigley's Chewing Gum!

This is NOT on the Milton building, but it is an example of
similar advertising by Wrigley in that time frame.

Krebs News Store, in the 1972 Flood

In the late 1950s, the store, Krebs News Stand,  was owned by Larry Krebs.  

   In 1981 it was sold again, becoming Bobs Broadway News.

 The Powell Family owned the store in 2017, when it, like so many other Milton landmarks before it, was lost in a fire. 

 Today "Speedys" - the old Bartram, "Globe" Hotel that later became the Stetler - has added an addition where the News Store stood for more than 100 years.

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Fore More Stories & History Of Milton

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More About Bertram Galbraith

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Galbraith was a well known "old fashioned bicycle rider"

He would ride as Uncle Sam in many parades.

From The Genealogical & Biographical Annals of Northumberland County - 

Bertram Galbraith, eldest son of William B. Galbraith, was born Oct. 25, 1864, in Milton, and there received his education in the public schools. Shortly after the great fire of 1880 he became a messenger for the American Union Telegraph Company, this company later becoming the Western Union. 

When eighteen years old he commenced business with Charles E. Brownell, of Williamsport, their first location being in the Cadwallader building, on Broadway. They did business under the name of Brownell & Galbraith, and dealt in fruits.

They were among the pioneers in the daily paper line, the first paper they handled being the Philadelphia Record, the second the Williamsport Breakfast Table, and gradually they came to handle almost all the leading Philadelphia and New York papers, Mr. Galbraith still dealing in this line. 

In April, 1881, Mr. Galbraith accepted the position of night operator at the telephone exchange, where he remained for nearly three years, meantime also continuing his business and attending high school, and he was very well known to his many patrons as Milton’s young news agent and rising business man.

 In 1882 Brownell & Galbraith put up a frame building at the corner of Front street and Broadway, where they established their business, and shortly after their removal to that location Mr. Brownell retired from the association, Mr. Galbraith continuing the business alone with the ‘success which has at tended all his efforts until 1903, when his brother became a partner in the firm, which is now Berram Galbraith & Bro

 For many years he was located at the corner of Broadway and Front street, on leased ground. When the rent, however, was increased ten dollars per month, being raised from twenty-five to thirty-five dollars, he would not pay it, and to secure another business location

he purchased the “Globe Hotel” property,'corner of Broadway and Arch streets. He moved his frame structure to the new location bodily (leaving the old stand March 22, 1909), without taking any of his goods out, doing business all the time his building was on the move, and had electric light every night. On each end of the building was a sign, “It’s cheaper to move than pay the rent.”  lt was located next to his apartment house, the “Bartram.” He improved both the store and the stock, which is now comprehensive, including a fine line of cigars and tobacco, sporting goods, newspapers and supplies, for which he finds a steady demand. As stated, Mr. Galbraith purchased the valuable property at the corner of Arch and Broadway owned for many years by the Fonda estate and occupied by the “Globe Hotel,” and he has improved the place until it is now one of the best appointed apartment houses of its size in Northumberland county.

 In addition to his other enterprises, Mr. Galbraith has been interested in the insurance business for the past ten years, having been in partnership with his father, as junior member of the firm of William B. Galbraith & Son, now W. B. Galbraith’s Sons.

In 1906 Mr. Galbraith was elected tax receiver of the borough of Milton, and was reelected in
1909, without opposition, an honor which is sufficient comment on the value of his services and the satisfaction they have given to his fellow citizens generally. He is a Republican in political sentiment.

Mr. Galbraith is widely known socially. He was the first dealer in bicycles in this section and be came an expert rider, winning many prizes in local contests, and he was a well known long distance rider when bicycling was at its height, the newspapers having made many of his trips famous. He was a member of the old Century Wheelmen of Philadelphia.

 Athletics generally have always claimed his interest. He was the owner and manager of the Milton Base Ball, Club from 1902 to 1904, and in 1905, with a few other citizens of Milton, formed an association known as the Mi ton Athletic Association, which acquired its base ball park through Mr. Galbraith’s efforts, it being presented to the team.

Mr. Galbraith holds membership in Milton Lodge, No. 913, B. P. O. Elks (charter member), Lodge No. 84, I. O. O. F., the F. O. E., Modern Woodmen of America and Royal Arcanum. He attends the Presbyterian Church. His numerous relations, social, business, fraternal, etc., make him a valued correspondent for various newspapers, including several of the leading Philadelphia papers. He makes his home with his parents.

1928

1944