OBIT: Franklin and James BAKER, 1945, Garrett, Somerset County, PA

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Meyersdale Library.
Transcribed and proofread by: Richard Boyer.

Copyright 2007.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/somerset/
________________________________________________


FRANKLIN and JAMES BAKER

Two Garrett Lads Drowned in Water Supply Reservoir
Only Sons of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Baker the Victims - Father Unable To Rescue Them

  What promised to be a joyous outing for a small family party at the reservoir 
a short distance west of the borough of Garrett, which furnishes that town's 
water supply, came to a tragic end when two young sons of Mr. and Mrs. Harry 
Baker fell into the reservoir and were drowned.
  The victims of the disaster were James Baker, aged 9, and Franklin Baker, 5 
years old, only sons of Harry and Orpha (Hosken) Baker of Garrett.
  Mr. Baker, his two little sons and a daughter, Kathleen, 12, arrived at the 
dam about 3 p.m. Tuesday.  Mr. Baker aimed to do some fishing and while he was 
preparing his tackle, the two little boys began playing along the bank.  They 
slipped and fell into the water.
  Mr. Baker, warned by his daughter's screams, raced to the scene.  He was 
unable to swim and the water was too deep to wade, but he grabbed a fallen limb 
of a tree and extended it to the lads who were struggling in the water near the 
shore.  They grasped hold of it but before he could pull them to the shore, they 
lost their hold and disappeared beneath the surface.
  The father ran three quarters of a mile to Garrett and summoned firemen and 
citizens.  Rescue parties began diving for the bodies about a half-hour after 
the tragedy occurred.  Grappling hooks also were used but to no avail.  The dam 
is about 25 feet deep at the point where the boys fell in.
  Merle Layton, caretaker of the reservoir, later recovered the body of Franklin 
and Rev. John Hoenstine located the body of the other boy at the bottom, but was 
unable to bring it to the surface.  Layton finally succeeded in bringing it up 
and to the shore.
  Besides the parents and sister mentioned, two other sisters survive - 
Genevieve and Mary, both at home.  The victims' paternal grandmother, Mrs. Sadie 
Baker, of Garrett, also survives.
  James, a pupil at the Garrett Grade School, would have been nine years old, if 
he had lived one day longer.  Franklin, who would have been six years old next 
month, was scheduled to enter school at the opening of the 1945-46 term.
  The remains of the unfortunate lads have been prepared for burial by Johnson & 
Son, Berlin morticians.  Funeral services will be conducted at 2:30 Friday 
afternoon in the Garrett Lutheran Church, by the pastor, Rev. John Hoenstine.  
Interment will be in the Garrett Cemetery.
  The tragedy has cast gloom over the town.  Much sympathy is felt for the 
bereaved parents and sisters of the victims.

Meyersdale Republican, August 23, 1945