Other Times

100 Years Ago – 1918:

Six hundred gallons of gas – neither sewer, foul or illuminating – but the kind with plenty of “pep” such as is used by noted speed kings and buzz wagon fiends were practically given away gratis to the resident of Third and Flower streets, Chester, by the Tex Oil Co. of Philadelphia. The singular accident which caused the action happened when a two-ton bus driven by Gasoline Gus went on a rampage while travelling east on West Third Street. After slipping and sliding for a considerable distance in a frantic effort to break the world’s skidding record, the rear end of the motor machine collided with a telegraph pole. The force was sufficient to break, not the record, but a seam on the tank section of the vehicle.

75 Years Ago – 1943:

From the Times’ Chestergrams column: Many comparisons have made concerning our national debt, but here is one figured out by a minster. Since Dec. 7, 1931 we have spent $230 billion on war. This is $54 billion more than the government spent for all purposes from July 4, 1776 to Dec. 7, 1941, a greater sum than has been spent on Christianizing the world since Jesus lived upon the earth.

50 Years Ago – 1968:

Gov. Raymond P. Safer branded as a “fabrication” reports that six Pennsylvania college students were blinded by starting at the sun during an LSD-induced trance about 18 months ago. State Commissioner of the Blind Dr. Norman Yoder “broke down and confessed” he invited the story because of his “concern” over the use of LSD by children, Shafer said.

25 Years Ago – 1993:

A Radio Shack employee faces criminal charges for a scam involving the theft of $11,159 in merchandise from Jan. 4-13, Upper Darby police said. The 20-year-old Philadelphia man, a sales clerk at the 6778 Market St. store, was arrested Jan. 16 after police were contacted by the store manager. “The same person kept coming in the store and opened up fictitious charge accounts, with [the defendant] waiting on the person,” Lt. Vincent Ficchi said.

10 Years Ago – 2008:

A state constitutional amendment to permit elimination of homeowners’ property taxes advanced out of the state House of Representatives, but it still faces a long road ahead. The measure would expand a provision in the state constitution that allows a 50 percent cut in property taxes for people’s primary homes.