JOHN F HASSLER, STEEPLEJACK, DIES - 1952

Philadelphia Evening Ledger 5 July 1917

Philadelphia Inquirer 25 July 1952

JOHN F HASSLER, STEEPLEJACK, DIES

John F. Hassler, known as dean of the steeplejacks here and daredevil outdoor entertainer of 30 years ago, died Tuesday at his home, 1932 W. Venango St. He was 72.

Mr. Hassler began his work high above the crowds nearly 50 years ago and continued almost until the time of his death. He recently supervised work on the demolition of Broad Street Station and had a hand in the erection of the WCAU tower at Moorestown, N.J.

DANCED ON PENN'S HAT

In 1916 and also in the 1920s he either danced on the rim of William Penn's statue on City Hall or swung from a rope tied to Penn's outstretched hand. 

He won his reputation as a "human fly" in the first decade of the century. In 1910, he climbed down the full length of the 18-story Morris Building on Chectnut St, west of Broad.

During his career, Mr. Hassler worked on church steeples, industrial smokestacks and lofty towers and frequently was consultant on problems involving construction or demolition aloft.

AMATEUR ARTIST

He also was an amateur artist and put together all kinds of strange and fanciful things by knotting twine. In his workshop he had a canvas, nearly life size, which he painted in oils. It portrayed a steeplejack swung in a bos'n's chair, regilding an eagle atop a pole.

Mr. Hassler was a veteran of the Spanish-American War and was a Mason and a member of the Reformed Church at Fort Loudon, Pa.

Services were held last night at Oliver H. Bair's 1820 Chestnut St. Interment was at Fort Loudon.