Days Gone By
100 Years Ago, 1922: From the United Press, Philadelphia — John Wanamaker died here today. He was 84 years old. Mr. Wanamaker, founder of the stores bearing his name in New York and Philadelphia, and former postmaster general, had been ill for several weeks. Though his malady was diagnosed as a severe “cold,” his advanced age and its long duration made it serious. John Wanamaker, one of the merchant pioneers of America, was born July 11, 1838, in the County of Philadelphia, a little over 17 years before its consolidation into the city. His father, John Nelson Wanamaker, was a bricklayer, and his grandfather was a farmer. Their ancestors came to America at the time of the landing of William Penn.
75 Years Ago, 1947: Rev. David Braun, D.D., pastor of Swarthmore Presbyterian Church for the past decade, died Thursday at 5 p.m. in Jefferson Hospital after a long illness.
He had been confined in the postal for the past seven weeks. He would have been 43 years old on Jan. 27. Dr. Braun, noted throughout the Presbyterian church as an outstanding pulpit preacher, was first taken ill in February and the ailment was diagnosed as leukemia, an affliction from which recovery is extremely rare. Though a comparatively young preacher, Dr. Braun was rapidly rising to national prominence in the denomination and he was particularly noted for his work with young people.
50 Years Ago, 1972: Donations to the Merry Christmas Fund arrive in everything from a beautiful greeting card with a sizable amount of money to a three-page letter covered with a childish scrawl and six pennies enclosed. Readers of the Daily Times are responding to the second annual Merry Christmas Fund which will be turned over to the Salvation Army to provide help to needy people in the area. 25 Years Ago, 1997: Belvedere Rehabilitation and Living Center in Chester has been purchased by Genesis Health Ventures Inc. of Kennett Square from Crozer-Keystone Health System as part of a 50-50joint venture partnership the two companies have formed called Crozer-Genesis Eldercare. Belvedere is one of four nursing centers owned by Crozer-Keystone Health System and purchased by Genesis who will lease the centers back to Crozer for 10 years.
10 Years Ago, 2012: The Burlap and Bean Coffee House in Newtown Square reopened shortly after a small fire was reported inside of a coffee roaster Tuesday. The fire was reportedly out before firefighters arrived shortly after noon. Employees at the coffee house said the mishap caused the store to be closed for about 30 minutes.