Other Times

100 Years Ago – 1919:

A prominent citizen of Chester’s Fifth Ward this morning informed the office that he could not understand the reason for the difference in the price of coal here and in other cities. In Philadelphia coal is sold for $10.50 per ton and the dealers in this city are dispensing of coal for

$11.50 per ton. The citizen thought there should be some explanation of such a difference in the price.

75 Years Ago – 1944: Thirty-nine industrialists and businessmen have been named on the general committee in charge of the formal opening of the new Industrial Highway, Feb.

24, one of the largest celebrations to be held in this county in recent months. The announcement of committee members was made today by George L. Alston, secretary-treasurer of the General Steel Castings Corp., who is chairman. Members of the Program Committee will meet Feb. 18 at the Corinthian Yacht Club.

50 Years Ago – 1969: Miss Carol Nemsila of Llanwellyn Avenue, Glenolden, has been named to the Dean’s list at the University of Delaware; Debra Wax, of Odgen Avenue, has been named Betty Crocker Homemaker of the Year at Swarthmore High School.

25 Years Ago – 1994: From the AP Harrisburg Bureau: Suburban Philadelphia lawmakers said their counties, towns and school districts should get a share of what the city collects from its 4.31 percent wage tax on nonresidents. State Rep. Greg Vitali, D-166 of Haverford, said Philadelphia needs to refund suburban residents of a portion of its wage tax so they could pay their communities. City lawmakers said an amendment allowing the refund in a local tax reform bill would jeopardize the progress Philadelphia has made in its recovery from near-bankruptcy a few years ago.

10 Years Ago – 2009:

Mr. John Robert “Abe” Lincoln of Garfield Street isn’t as gangly as the 16th president of the United States – whose 200th birthday is Tuesday – nor does he possess the Great Emancipator’s characteristic beard. The U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam War was dubbed “Abe” in 1971 after he suffered a fate similar to the president, surviving a gunshot wound to the head in Philadelphia while working for SEPTA in maintenance. Now retired, the Darby Township resident at times dresses up as the president for historical events. He is one of many descendants of the president who helped settle the Darby area in the 17th century.