Other Times
100 Years Ago – 1917:
The Capitol Film Co., producers of the moving picture “A Hero For a Minute,” have quite a treat in store for the people Chester today and tomorrow when the picture will have its initial showing at the William Penn Theatre. Of those at a private showing held yesterday at the William Penn, all seemed to be of the opinion that this picture is the classiest thing ever made in Chester in the moving picture line.
75 Years Ago – 1942:
Chester faced its first dry weekend since the repeal of the 18th Amendment in 1933, insofar as packaged liquor goods was concerned. The four state liquor stores remained closed today for the second successive day in a strike for increased wages. This morning the striking clerks did not picket the stores as they did yesterday. The largest store at Sixth and Welsh streets was shut tight, with no signs of activity inside.
50 Years Ago – 1967:
An estimated $1 million general alarm fire hit a large section of the Chichester Junior High School Monday night and early today. A total of 22 firemen were treated for injuries at nearby hospitals as more than 250 firemen, from as far away as New Castle, Del., battled the tricky blaze for more than five hours in Upper Chichester. Discovered by a school janitor shortly after 11:15 p.m. Monday, the fire raced through wooden beams and a false ceiling before it was declared under control at 4:30 a.m. today.
25 Years Ago – 1992:
St. James High School in Chester is one of eight high schools targeted for closing in a consultant’s report undertaken to rescue the local Catholic secondary school system from mounting debt and released Friday by the Philadelphia Archdiocese. Cardinal Anthony Bevilaqua will not make a final decision on the recommendations of Coopers and Lybrand Management Consultants until November, after six public forums are held in the region.
10 Years Ago – 2007:
Going “shopping with grandmom” took on a whole new meaning for an innocent child pushing her doll stroller through an Upper Darby department store. The 4-year-old girl and her toy baby carriage were used by the child’s 42-year-old grandmother to steal $400 worth of merchandise, police said. “Not only is this lady a grandmom stealing from Sears, she’s stealing this child’s innocence,” Police Superintendent Michael Chitwood said.