William F. Haverstick

William Franklin Haverstick was the son of Robert Scott Haverstick and Sarah Hollabaugh Haverstick, born in Carlisle, PA in 1866^[1]. He worked for photographer J.N. Choate, (1846-1902) of Carlisle as a young man before coming to West Chester to open his own studio^[2]. John Nicholas Choate is well known for his series of photographs on the Carlisle Indian School^[3].

Haverstick came to West Chester in 1895^[4] as the successor to photographer William C. Bell^[5]. He opened his studio at 3 South High St. in what was known as the Darlington Building at the prominent intersection of the southeastern corner of High and Market Streets^[6]. Among his services he advertised artistic portraits, crayons, copying and enlarging and outdoor work^[7].

Many of his striking portraits in the Photo Archives of the Chester County History Center are toned matte collodion prints on mounts. Other examples of printing processes used include printing-out-paper, platinum prints and black and white photographs. He used two distinctive posing chairs – a wooden chair with a straight back and carved hand rests and a white wicker chair with a fan shaped back. Another service he advertised were portraits suitable for brooches and lockets in stock^[8]. Haverstick’s competitors through the years in West Chester included Frank Grubb, Levis P. Marshall, Albert I. Biles and Joseph W. Belt.

Haverstick’s studio prospered for many years, but when he encountered financial difficulties in 1911, he decided to sell the business. An announcement in the January 4, 1912 Daily Local News reported “Mr. and Mrs. Phillips who came here from Philadelphia some weeks ago to take charge of the Haverstick photograph gallery, under the impression there were much demand for art work in their line, have moved back to the above city.” The space was subsequently rented by Joseph W. Belt as a second studio to his 25 N. High St. address later that month^[9]. It was also reported in the West Chester Star, October 1, 1912 that J. S. Kunkle of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company moved his office to the third-floor space last occupied by the Haverstick gallery.

While living in West Chester, Haverstick displayed his expertise as a flautist and piccolo player in the West Chester Band. His solos were met with applause in summer concerts given on the Court House lawn. He had been a member of Old Union Band while previously living in Carlisle^[10].

Leaving West Chester, Haverstick spent some time in the South before enlisting in Company G, Eighth Pennsylvania Infantry in Carlisle, PA^[11]. He was headed to El Paso, Texas with his regiment when he died during transit on the troop train on July 10, 1916. Cause of death was acute indigestion while the train was passing through Dennison, Ohio. His death was a surprise to all. His family noted in his obituary that he was eager to serve despite being partly deaf. He had been the piccolo player in the regimental band, despite his disability. He was given a full military funeral in Carlisle, with six members of the Carlisle Band carrying his casket. The honor guard of the Sons of the Veterans fired their canon in salute while taps were played^[12].

©Pamela Powell, 2019