| New Freedom Borough Mayor, Jeff Joy, and the New Freedom Borough Council recently renamed the Borough street, Centennial Avenue, to Wilber Fry Avenue in honor of lifelong New Freedom resident and Rose Fire Company Chaplain, Wilber Fry. A dedication ceremony was held on Saturday, July 4, 2009, 11:00 am at the intersection of Centennial Avenue and North Third Street at Mr. Fry's residence.
Wilber L. Fry, Sr. was born on January 11, 1920 on his family's farm in New Freedom. The farm was located just past where North Third Street now ends and encompassed all the land to the east of Boundary Road, to the wooded area on the right. It was there he resided until the age of five, when he moved to Forrest Avenue in Shrewsbury Borough. Wilber lived between the New Freedom farm and his mother's Forrest Avenue home throughout his adolescence. He attended Shrewsbury Elementary until 6th grade, when he relocated back to New Freedom and completed his education at the New Freedom School.
Wilber was extremely active in the New Freedom community from a young age. His passion for athletics was evident, as he played baseball for both Shrewsbury and New Freedom youth teams and he was the small lightweight tailback for the New Freedom football team. Wilber graduated from New Freedom High School in 1937 and was hired to work at the American Insulator Company in New Freedom. It was there he became very adept to the Tool and Die Trade, so much in fact that throughout WWII, he repeatedly received a critical skills deferment to the US military so that he could remain state side and produce equipment for the War.
In November of 1940, Wilber married the love of his life, Mae Marie Calhoun. They built their house on North 3rd Street in 1942 and settled in New Freedom Borough. It was that year, as well that Mae gave birth to their son, W. Lee Fry. Since that time, Wilber has demonstrated great pride in his community. Wilber became a member of the Rose Fire Company, where he is recognized as a "Life Member" with 67 years of service, and for the past 26 years has held the position of Chaplain. He also served on Borough Council for eight years, during that time campaigning for the placement of sewers in the Borough and serving in the capacity of Animal Control Officer. He and Mae had over 400 dogs and cats neutered at their own expense. Wilber is most undoubtedly known for his commitment for keeping up the appearance of New Freedom. Wilber and Mae would often be seen picking up debris on the streets of town, which led to the loosely organized group known as "Wilber's Boys". Young men from the community would meet him in the evenings and on the weekends to clean up sections of town.
It was and is gestures such as these that truly demonstrate Wilber's dedication and pride in New Freedom. The renaming of Centennial Avenue in his honor is only a small token of the town's appreciation to him for all of his dedication.
Congratulations Wilber on this oustanding recognition for all you have done and still do! |
