100 Years Ago – 1918:
Fire completely wiped out a three-story structure of the old Chester Oil Company, at the foot of Irving Street. The unoccupied building burned with fury, due to the interior woodwork being soaked with oil. Because of the isolated location of the structure it was impossible for the firemen to get a stream of water on the fire. Hundreds of persons were attracted to the fire. Just how the flames had their inception is a mystery.
75 Years Ago – 1943:
The immediate acquisition of a new source of water supply for the City of Chester was placed squarely in front of members of the newly created post-war planning committee of the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce today as the number one problem to be attacked by that body. Mayor Ralph Swarts, guest at the meeting, indicated that the plans for acquiring the new source must be kept secret at the present time in order to avoid land speculation.
50 Years Ago – 1968:
The area’s mass transit agency and the Philadelphia Suburban Transportation Co. (Red Arrow), after months of bitter deadlock, are nearing agreement on the sale of Red Arrow. SEPTA Chairman James C. McConnon indicated SEPTA and Red Arrow are finally close together on the sale amount, but terms of financing still have to be arranged.
25 Years Ago – 1993:
A report to be released by Mayor Edward Rendell’s administration concludes that the deferral government probably won’t reverse its decision to close the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard in
1995. U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter says it’s far too early for such a “doomsday scenario.” The report, distributed to
28 members of a commission appointed by Rendell to study the future of the shipyard, concludes private investment is the only hope for saving 5,300 jobs at the base, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported.
10 Years Ago – 2008:
Chester City Council approved the first reading of next year’s $41.2 million budget, which holds the line on real estate tax and lowers earned income taxes and business privilege taxes. “There’s obviously a lot of variables you can’t anticipate,” said Thomas Moore, Mayor Wendell N. Butler Jr.’s chief of staff, but the city has benefited from increased income from Harrah’s Casino and the increased earned income tax and service tax revenues from ongoing development projects in the area. As a result, real estate taxes will hold steady at 29.792 mills, which equals approximately
$536 in taxes on the average Chester home assessed at
$18,000.