A Visitor

During the past two hundred years, Bedford has been host to hundreds of distinguished visitors. They were Presidents of the United States, Senators, Congressmen, Dukes and dozens of other notables but one of the most colorful characters to come to Bedford was Eli Sheetz. He spent his boyhood days on the streets of Bedford. His life story could be compared with the usual Horatio Alger type—literally from rags to riches.

To the present generation this name will be unknown. However, there are still a few local residents living who knew him personally, and have a warm memory of this man.

Mr. Sheetz was born in Berlin, Somerset County. According to those who knew him intimately Eli came to live with an aunt and uncle at the age of ten. His parents had died thus they gave him a home.

From the stories I have gathered, his aunt made the best homemade candies in town. Eli would walk all over town and sell her wares. About 1890, he went to Lancaster, Pa. Here he started a candy business of his own. His venture was so successful that he moved to Washington, D.C. He named his product 'Martha Washington Candy'. At the height of his career as a candy maker, he had 15 candy factories and over 200 Martha Washington stores. Mr. Sheetz never forgot the village of Bedford. In fact he married a Miss Jane Shuck, a local girl. Mr. Sheetz was a very generous man. He donated large sums of money to many charities and other organizations, especially churches. The local Methodist church was one of his favorites.

Mr. Sheetz was not one to be entertained by his friends. Instead it was his pleasure to do the entertaining. When he came to Bedford, it was his custom to stop at the Borough line and assemble his troop, from six to thirty persons and march to his hotel. He would be dressed in a 1776 costume. With his flute and drum corps the residents along the street would know of his arrival. Prior to his coming, he would telephone ahead and reserve one entire floor for his troop. His first favorite stopping place was the Grand Central Hotel, later called the Washington Hotel, This is now the building where the Altoona Federal Savings is located. A large porch existed over the sidewalk. Here, Mr. Sheetz and his band I would give a concert. Hundreds of shoppers and listeners would line the street to hear him. Later he and his group stopped at the Pennsylvania Hotel.

One of his favorite visits was during the annual Halloween parades. He and his band became one of the highlights of this event. He and his band also entered parades and important events in Berlin on many occasions.

When friends from Bedford would stop in Washington, D.C. to see him, he would be the perfect host. His candy store and staff were most congenial. Back of the candy shop was a miniature museum of mechanical musical instruments. His private home was a sight to behold. Beautiful crystal chandeliers, large mirrors with gold leaf frames and world art treasures were everywhere.

After a delicious dinner, he would summon his enormous limousine, with a glass partition between the chauffeur and passengers, and take you for a drive about the city. Before he returned home, he would stop at the cemetery to pay his daily visit to his wife. Her body rested in a beautiful granite mausoleum. He would unlock the door and go to a large vault and remove one of his favorite flutes. Several hymns were played, then he would kneel down and offer a silent prayer.

Many readers will probably wonder how I know these intimate details. Well, you see I was one of the fortunate ones to be his guest back in the summer of 1923. Several Bedford residents also had the same courtesy extended to them.

Mr. Sheetz died in Washington, D.C. November 11, 1932 at the age of 84 years, leaving an estate of two-million dollars.