Other Times
100 Years Ago – 1920:
Measles are on the increase in Chester. Fourteen cases were reported to the Health Department today and one new case of mumps. There has been a falling off in deaths and new cases of pneumonia and measles is the principal disease the officials have to contend with at the present time.
75 Years Ago – 1945:
The search for 27-yearold Theron King, Chester’s badly wanted phantom burglar, spread today to Baltimore and Washington after detectives discovered that the fugitive had been seen leaving a local rooming house with two suitcases late Tuesday night. King, who escaped from the Ohio State Penitentiary seven years ago, has been identified as the phantom and copies of his photograph are being rushed to police departments all over the East. In addition to committing scores of burglaries that netted more than $100,000 in loot, he is wanted for shooting Fabian Dailey, a Philadelphia detective who stopped him for routine questioning shortly after Tuesday’s break at the Eastern State Penitentiary.
50 Years Ago – 1970:
The proposed sale of the John J. McClure property, a city landmark, at 20th Street and Providence Avenue, to William J. Coopersmith, Chester businessman, was confirmed today by Mrs. Jean Weathers Tracy, head of the McClure Insurance Agency and longtime business associate of the late political leaders. The sale, for an estimated price of
$100,000, is contingent upon a zoning change for the tract from its present
R-2 residential status. Coopersmith reportedly plans to raze a mansion on the site and build a colonial-style, two-story office structure with a bank branch. Part of the property would be used for parking.
25 Years Ago – 1995:
Brookhaven Councilmember Mike Hess announced at last night’s workshop that yesterday was officially Brookhaven’s
50th anniversary, having been declared a borough on April 4, 1945. The borough is celebrating its golden anniversary with special events throughout the year, including construction of a new community center/ municipal building off
Cambridge Road. The borough is planning an open house to celebrate around July 4.
10 Years Ago – 2010:
A full complement of Nether Providence Township Commissioners is in place once again with the swearing-in of its new 5th Ward representative. Larry Baker joined the sevenmember board April 1 after taking the oath of office from county Judge Chad Kenney. He did so with his wife, Denise, and 9-year-old son Ryan holding the Bible. Another son, Jeremy, could not be present because of baseball practice. Baker, an Upper Providence police corporal, was then unanimously approved to chair the public works committee.