Hametown-born Saubel’s Markets serves community during COVID-19

Saubel’s Markets started as a Community Pure store in the village of Hametown.

It has grown to cover a small group of four markets, with headquarters in Shrewsbury, just down the Susquehanna Trail from Hametown.

COVID-19 has the third-generation owner of Saubel’s, Greg Saubel joined by his wife Betti, working day and night to fulfill the needs of his community.

The YDR’s Frank Bodani took an in-depth look Saubel’s owners and employees working amid this crisis: How family, friends fuel Saubel’s Markets during the coronavirus crisis.

Here’s bit of history about Saubels from Greg about his grandfather, Claude:

“Claude Saubel was a tool and dye maker, working at the naval yard in Washington, D.C., when he took a leave of absence to help his father-in-law who was experiencing some health issues.  Upon his father-in-laws death, Claude quit his job at the naval yard to remain in Hametown and help run the store.  In 1926, Claude’s mother-in-law passed away, and he and his wife took over operations of the family business. The store operated as a Community Pure Foods store, which was supplied by P.A. & S. Small Company of York, PA.  Many unusual but necessary items were sold from this location, including dynamite, wire fencing, plow shares, hardware, clothing, shoes, and more.  Groceries were sold here as well, and home delivery was a big part of the operation.”

Other COVID-19 stories and links

• How do you handle things if you’re a working mom of five with all home from school? The YDR’s Candy Woodall writes about her experiences.
• The York County History Center has introduced a York at Home portal on its site with lots of virtual local history experiences. And as part of an initiative to create more digital content, all 10 “Journals of York County Heritage,” the History Center’s annual journal are now online.
• Retired Lancaster editor Ernie Schreiber is carefully following this pandemic on his Facebook page. Consider following this incisive observer of the Pennsylvania scene.
• Even when we were pressed to the max in World War II, American’s did not abide by the rules, just as today in this pandemic. So I wrote about various infractions by the public that created World War II headwinds.

Other topics

• York County’s national-level gymnast Trinity Thomas keeps bringing home honors: Top NCAA gymnastics honors.
• I put together this three-part FB tour of Wrightsville’s history-laden riverfront, including a tour below the massive Veterans Memorial Bridge.

Please click on date to open this Facebook post of the Saubels at work … .