DAYS GONE BY

100 Years Ago, 1923:

Today is the beginning of the “Better homes in America” demonstration. This is the first year Chester has entered the plan and the committee feels encouraged by the response on the part of Chester’s merchants. Better Homes week comes the same period as the better Babies contest. In Deshong mansion, where the “Better Babies” will be seen, the committee in charge of the Home demonstration will have a room fitted up to represent the best nursery to produce the best baby.

75 Years Ago, 1948:

Sources in Media reported this morning that calling cards belonging to Karl V. Kerth, 71-yearold druggist who was brutally murdered in his Third Street drugstore on May 1, were found scattered on a street in Leiperville on Thursday. Several children found the cards which have been turned over to police and their discovery has prompted new and extensive investigations by the Chester city, county and state officers who have been working on the baffling case for more than a month.

50 Years Ago, 1973:

People aren’t exactly storming the stores to buy tickets for Pennsylvania’s new lottery, Winner’s Choice. But Revenue Secretary Robert Kane says he expects sales to pick up after more promotion work. The $1 tickets went on sale in mid-May. Gross for the first two weeks — $595,408 and $422,770. Meanwhile, the 50cents lottery was bringing in about three times that and the Lucky 7 game nearly twice that.

25 Years Ago, 1998:

Chester Acting Mayor Dominic Pileggi got two votes for mayor yesterday during an informal poll of downtown pedestrians. State Rep. Thaddeus Kirkland, D-159, also got two votes. The city’s Republican council is expected to give the nod to Pileggi when it convenes tomorrow to fill the vacancy created by Aaron Wilson’s appointment to the Public Utility Commission. One tip-off was Wilson’s name had already been removed from the wall directory at City Hall, replaced with Pileggi’s. But Pileggi and Kirkland could well face each other in a mayoral battle in November 1999.

10 Years Ago, 2013:

An historical marker commemorating the 125th anniversary of the founding of Williamson Free School of Mechanical Trades is now standing proudly at the school’s front entrance on Route 352in Middletown Township. Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission member William V. Lewis was on hand for its unveiling and dedication June 1, held as part of the three-year trade school’s annual alumni weekend. Later that day, the marker was erected along the highway by students, who had dug the hole and poured the concrete.