Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
HERITAGE DAY
City celebrates: Various events held to mark centennial year
In honor of Coatesville’s centennial year as the only city in Chester County, the city hosted a Heritage Day on Saturday to celebrate Coatesville’s history over the past 100 years.
Various events and activities were held in different areas of the city during the morning and afternoon.
Antique cars and emergency vehicles were on display at Gateway Park. Kids enjoyed activities such as a moon bounce and pony rides at Ash Park.
At the Lincoln University Coatesville Campus, formerly the Gordon School, Ross Kershey presented his “History of Coatesville” talk, and former South Coatesville Mayor James Kennedy, 98, spoke about his views on the last 100 years of the city’s history.
Several historical exhibits were on display in the school. The Coatesville Century exhibit includes everyday items from different times in the past 100 years, such as old radios, record players, cameras, bicycles and wagons. The “100 Years of Fashion” exhibit features various assortments of clothing from 1915 to the current year.
A Coatesville Sports Hall of Fame exhibit was set up in the school’s gym, with uniforms, trophies, photos, memorabilia and background information on successful athletes and teams from the Coatesville Area School District as well as former students
Coatesville is named after Moses Coates, a farmer and postmaster who in 1787 purchased land that now makes up the center of the city. A village in the area where Coates purchased land came to be known as Coates Villa.
who went on to become professional athletes.
Free tours were available at the National Iron and Steel Heritage Museum, which is housed in the Lukens Executive Office Building, and local author Bruce Mowday hosted a book signing in the building. The Lukens Band played tunes in front of the building.
Paintings by the late Ida E. Jones were on display at the Coatesville Savings Bank. Eleven churches in Coatesville were open for self-guided tours.
People who attended Heritage Day were invited to sign guest books that will be placed in a time capsule which is scheduled to be opened in 2115.
Coatesville is named after Moses Coates, a farmer and postmaster who in 1787 purchased land that now makes up the center of the city. A village in the area where Coates purchased land came to be known as Coates Villa, and in 1867 it merged with the neighboring village of Midway to form the borough of Coatesville.
As Coatesville grew, its citizens eventually voted to turn it from a borough into a city in a public referendum. The decision was appealed to the state of Pennsylvania, and the state government’s letter of approval was dated April 27, 1915.
The city held a kickoff ceremony at the Coatesville Train Station on April 27 this year to mark the beginning of its centennial anniversary.