Other Times
100 Years Ago – 1918:
Scores of Sunday pleasure seekers in Chester Park yesterday afternoon were given a thrill when five people fell into the Ridley River when a few planks being used as a temporary bridge for workmen collapsed. None was injured and all left for their homes to change to more comfortable clothing.
75 Years Ago – 1943:
Hundreds of cheering black school children greeted Edwin L. Barclay, president of Liberia, this afternoon when he arrived in Chester. The president was met at Ridley Creek by Mayor Ralph F. Swarts, and other officials including Councilman Michael A. Honan, Sheriff Raymond S. Munson and Deputy Sheriff Albert A. Reading, and escorted downtown. The official party drove through central streets to the City Hall where Barclay delivered his address of greeting. Leaving City Hall, the head of the Liberian Republic went directly to the Sun Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., where he was welcomed by John G. Pew, president of the company. Barclay addressed thousands of black workmen in No. 4 Yard after he was introduced by Dr. Emmett J. Scott, director of personnel at the yard.
50 Years Ago – 1968:
Delaware County’s 1968 spelling bee champion left today for Washington, D.C., with high hopes of bringing back the National Spelling Bee championship. Johanna (Jody) Hespenheide, a student at Media Junior High School, will spend an activity-filled week in Washington and will stay at the Mayflower Hotel, where the national contest will be conducted in its grand ballroom.
25 Years Ago – 1993:
A 23-minute-long drug blitz in Darby Township early yesterday netted a dozen charged with selling crack cocaine and marijuana to an undercover officer. The focus of the operation was on street-level drug traffickers selling cocaine in “crack” or “rock” form. The average purchase was two to four vials of cocaine selling for “as little as $5 a vial” to “as much as “$20” each and marijuana in bags of two to four grams, Police Chief Robert Thompson said.
10 Years Ago – 2008:
Child-support dodgers have until 4:30 p.m. Friday to pay up or face getting hauled off to jail. For the third year, amnesty is being offered to deadbeat parents in Delaware County who owe about $25 million in unpaid child support. They must act quickly, as the offer is good this week only.