Other Times
100 Years Ago – 1917: Buy Allen’s Scrapple, U.S. government inspected in dustproof packages. Made from grain-ed pork with expert and scrupulous care as to quality and purity of ingredients. Sold in parchment paper packages that it may reach you as clean as it leaves us. No waste, always uniform. Insist upon Allen’s. If you dealer doesn’t have it, send us a card. Clement E. Allen Inc., Media, Pa.
75 Years Ago – 1942: The intensive probe of the Chester abortion ring may result in a grand jury investigation of the death syndicate. District Attorney William B. McClenachan Jr. announced that a careful check is being made of the records of all hospitals in the county over a period of three years in an effort to learn the number of deaths which have resulted from illegal operations. “I have assigned detectives to work on this case and nothing else,” the district attorney said.
50 Years Ago – 1967: Federal agents raided 18 places – including one in Chester — in an attempt to break up a gambling syndicate the government estimated grossed $50,000 a day in numbers plays and horse bets. Although 17 of the locations raided were in Philadelphia, a spokesman in the U.S. Attorney’s office said Chester was “very much involved” in the illegal gambling operation. IRS agents said they raided 721 W. Mary St. in Chester but made no arrests.
25 Years Ago – 1992: Radnor Commissioner Bill Spingler has voiced a determination to stop the state from replacing the venerable stone bridge on Radnor-Chester Road, over Ithan creek, with a structure of concrete and steel. A new bridge that “fits the charter of the area is being called for,” said Spingler. The state has said a new, fully stone bridge would cost over $208,000, and stone-faced retaining walls would carry a price-tag of $85,000. Some commissioners expressed doubt over the figures.
10 Years Ago – 2007: Aston commissioners presented proclamations to township residents Christopher Scott Rickards and John Leary for attaining the rank of Eagle Scout. For Richards’ Eagle service project, he planned, supervised and implemented extensive repairs to “Jupiter,” a 100-year-old tugboat, which is one of the vintage vessels berthed at Penn’s Landing in Philadelphia. For Leary’s service project, he installed a tool and storage shed in the Living Memorial Gardens, which is located in Upper Chichester Township and operated by the Delaware County Chapter of Parents of Murdered Children. – COLIN AINSWORTH