The "Now …… wait a minute!" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Turned to page B13 in the Lancaster Sunday News and checked out the photograph that was featured for the week.  Valerie Marschka, on the staff of LNP, publishes photographs every week in an article called "Lancaster That Was."

Photograph submitted by Anne Zell showing her grandfather, second from the right in the white shirt, who worked at Philip Lebzelter & Son Co. in Lancaster, PA.

 The photograph today was of the Philip Lebzelter & Son Co. which was located on the east side of North Queen Street in the city of Lancaster, PA.  Now ...... wait a minute!  That can't be.  On October 5, 2014 I posted a story about Mr. Lebzelter founding the Eagle Wheel and Bending Works in 1854 on the corner of North Queen and West Walnut Streets.  

Photo I posted on October 5, 2014 showing the workers at
Lebzelter's Eagle Wheel and Bending Works in 1854.  I
inadvertently gave the wrong location of the business.

 I hate when I post something that isn't correct, since someone may be reading the story and taking it as fact.  In this case my research didn't yield the correct information and for that I am sorry.  Anyway, I studied the photograph on B13 and began to read the story under the photo.  Story told of the business pictured becoming Lebzelter's Total Car Care which eventually moved to the corner where I said it was founded.  The story goes on to say that the business in the photo was founded in 1854 as a carriage and wagon shop until it bought its first tires from Goodyear in 1900 and began stocking the tires for sale in 1913.  

Book where photo also appeared.

 In the photo are pictured several gentlemen and a few are named, including the second man from the right side of the photo whose name is Melvin Huber, the grandfather of Anne Zell.  Now ...... wait a minute!  Anne Zell!  For the past 40 years I have worked in the print shop at Manheim Township High School performing the in-house printing needs for the school with my friend Mike.  Mike Zell, husband of a woman named Anne Zell!  Seems that Anne submitted the photo to the newspaper for the "Lancaster That Was" column.  The photo previously had been printed in a book titled "A Pictorial History of Lancaster, Pennsylvania In The 20th Century."  Naturally had to give Mike a call and see if his wife had sent the photo to the newspaper and sure enough .... she did.  Stopped by his house to take a look at the book where the photo appeared and got permission from Anne to use it once again.  Her grandfather, Melvin Huber, lived a very rewarding life considering he became handicapped due to a terrible accident while working at Lebzelter's.  While inflating a tire at the shop it exploded, permanently blinding him.  

Anne's baskets that her grandfather had made after
losing his sight.

 He then became the second person in Lancaster County to use a "seeing eye" guide dog.  After his accident he made numerous appear- ances as a vocal soloist and speaker before church groups and service clubs.  He was a member and representative of the Blind Association, located oddly enough across from where the photo in the newspaper was taken.  He also made "market baskets" from willow wood while at the Blind Association.  A remarkable man who made the best of his life even though severely handicapped.  And, as for me, I will be more careful with my research so as not to change the course of history anymore than I already may have.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.