Days Gone By
100 YEARS AGO, 1924 » Receiving a report late last night that a man had shot himself and was lying in a vacant lot near Third and Madison streets, Captain of Police Robinson and Officer Owens hurried to the place. They found the unconscious form of an East Third Street man lying on the pile of dirt. He was placed in the patrol and conveyed to Chester Hospital where an examination disclosed that he was suffering from wood alcohol poisoning. The stomach pump was used with successful results and today the man has a chance to recover. He refused to say where he had purchased the concoction. The was found by a storekeeper who was attracted to the lot at the rear of his story by the man’s groans, mistakenly believing the man shot himself.
75 YEARS AGO, 1949 » Observance of Good Friday tomorrow throughout the Chester area will reach its peak of solemn commemoration between noon and 3 p.m. when business establishments will permit employees to leave posts of duty to attend services of worship. A few businesses will close completely. Several motion pictures houses also will be closed from noon until 3 p.m. the postoffice will be open throughout the day, and there will be regular mail deliveries. City hall offices, Media Courthouse and state liquor stores also will be closed all day.
50 YEARS AGO, 1974 » Two Delaware County Prison guards have been suspended in the wake of Friday night’s escape by seven inmates. Meanwhile, the search by county authorities continues as the seven men remain at large. Warden Roland W. Walker said the suspensions for five days without pay were meted out because doors in the Cellblock D area were left unlocked. All the prisoners were inmates of the cellblock.
25 YEARS AGO, 1999 » Groundbreaking for the long-awaited Rocky Run YMCA on 32 acres of county land on West Baltimore Pike, between Thomas Chevrolet and Granite Farms Estates, is set for between June 1 and 15, John Vairo announced at Monday night’s Middletown Council meeting. “”It’s really going to happen,” said Vairo, one of the most enthusiastic supporters of the anticipated 37,000 square foot facility
10 YEARS AGO, 2014 » Upper Darby Police Superintendent Michael Chitwood plans on participating in the “Coffee with a Cop” initiative from 10 to 11 a.m. Wednesday at the McDonald’s located at State Road and Lansdowne Avenue. “Six to eight officers will be assigned to participate and just meet and greet,” Chitwood said. “It’s a good way to communicate with the residents and a nice public relations opportunity.”