Other Times

100 Years Ago – 1917:

Stepping out from the rear of a delivery truck which had blocked his view of the street, a widely known Sharon Hill businessman and member of borough council, 38 years old, was run down by a touring car almost directly in front of his home last night and died at 4:30 o’clock this morning. He leaves a widow and two small children, 3 years and 10 months old, respectively. A sad feature of the fatality was that his family had planned a reception for him last night, the day being his birthday. His mother lived with him, and because he has been seriously ill for some time it is feared the shock of her son’s death may prove fatal to her.

75 Years Ago – 1942:

A dream of city officials since the inception of radio in police work is nearing reality with the “go ahead” signal of Chester City Council to obtain bids for the installation of a police radio system. The receivers and transmitters will use the ultra-modern Frequency Modulation, thereby thwarting the dead spots found in cities utilizing the ordinary short wave system.

50 Years Ago – 1967:

Mischief Night — traditionally dedicated to pre-Halloween window soaping, doorbell ringing and property damaging — is tonight in Delaware County. Local law enforcement agents are hoping for a repeat of last year’s holiday activity, when police reports indicated a minimum of property damage occurred on Mischief and Halloween nights. Part of the decrease in countywide Mischief Night activity during the past two years may be because of a Swarthmore resolution outlawing pranks first drawn up in 1965 by a group of borough youths. The resolution was prompted by the fatal stabbing of a Swarthmore youth during a 1964 Mischief Night prank.

25 Years Ago – 1992:

Chester Police Chief James B. Clark recommended that at least two uniformed officers patrol the halls of Chester High School when classes resume to prevent a recurrence of the violence that has plagued the school this week. Violence erupted for the second straight day on Thursday. Nine people were arrested and the building was closed until Monday.

10 Years Ago – 2007:

David Belanger, Delaware County Library System director, has been appointed to serve on the Governor’s Advisory Council on Library Development. Belanger has been an employee of the countywide library system for 21 of its 30 years.