Other Times

100 Years Ago – 1917:

War has at last made itself felt even in the schools of the city. Announcement was made last night at the monthly meeting of the school board by City Superintendent Dr. Charles A. Wagner, that unless assurance is given by the fuel administrator of this county that future deliveries of coal to city schools are assured, the schools will be forced to suspend for a period.

75 Years Ago – 1942:

Taxes were reduced, salaries of city employees were increased, and provisions were made for the appointment of two policewomen, as the 1943 budget for Chester was introduced by City Council today. The budget provides for an allotment of $40,000 to the Civilian Defense Council, a slash of $80,000 from the $120,000 requested by the Executive Committee of the Defense Council. The city tax rate for 1943 will be 13.4 mills, as compared to with 14.9 in 1942.

50 Years Ago – 1967:

The fate of a new $156 million tax program, including an increase through July 1, 1969, in the state sales tax from 5 to 6 percent, rested largely today in the hands of minority House Democrats. The House Republican caucus, 102 members strong, lined up overwhelmingly in support of the 18-month sales tax increase as the basis for a program that would settle Gov. Shafer’s current financial problems once and for all. The question was whether the Democrats could see their way clear to provide the assistance the GOP requires to put it over.

25 Years Ago – 1992:

Chester, desperate to inspect its 3,500 unlicensed housing units before tragedy strikes again, will offer a month-long amnesty period for renegade landlords to make their properties code-compliant. Public Safety Director Chuck McLaughlin announced the program begins Dec. 21. He urged landlords without certificates of occupancy to contact the city to schedule inspections now or pay the consequences later. Landlords lauded the amnesty program as a positive step but wondered if the hardcore “slumlords” would bother to comply.

10 Years Ago – 2007:

In the dimly lit church where he celebrated his first Mass more than 45 years ago, Cardinal John P. Foley was the brightest star Saturday night. “As I said at SS. Peter and Paul Basilica the other evening, it’s good to be home,” the Sharon Hill native said, triggering a standing ovation from his town parishioners during a 5 p.m. Mass at Holy Spirit Church. “I had my first Mass in this beautiful new church and I can still remember that day like it was yesterday,” said Foley, who grew up on Bartlett Avenue and was baptized and confirmed in the old Holy Spirit Church, which was razed in 1960.