Other Times
100 Years Ago – 1919: Private John M. Boyd, who was mustered out of the service a few weeks ago, has returned from his home at Charlotte, N.C., and is working in the pharmacy of H.H. Hayes in Upland. He is engaged to a Chester girl and likes Chester, too.
75 Years Ago – 1944: Mrs. Anna A. Lane, 24, of Leiper Avenue, Eddystone, bus driver for the Southern Pennsylvania Bus Company, and seven passengers escaped with minor injuries Thursday night when a short-circuit in the motor caused the vehicle to go out of control and crash into a building at 2610 and
2612 W. Third St., Chester, housing a shoe store and first-floor apartment. The accident occurred at 9:30 p.m. during a rainstorm. The short-circuit caused a sudden flash of light in the dash board and Mrs. Lane was momentarily blinded.
50 Years Ago – 1969: County Common Pleas Court Judge John V. Diggins ruled the Delaware County Community College can build its first permanent campus in Marple. In an 18-page decision, the judge reserved the township zoning board’s refusal on Nov. 1 to issue a special exception sought by the college to build on the 122acre Gideon E. Stull estate.
25 Years Ago – 1994: Hundreds of patrons, some in suits and ties, others in flannel and work boots – all male – packed Delilah’s Dolls on opening day for the beginning of what is shaping up to be a pitched battle over Upper Chichester’s reputation. Located near the intersection of Routes 322 and 452, the new club, formerly Boomerang’s, features a bone-rattling sound system, three bars, hostesses and bouncers in formal wear and enough skin to make a dermatologist dizzy. The openingnight customers loved it. Everybody else hates it, and many, including church groups, parents and township officials swear they will do whatever they can to keep the club from thriving. 10 Years Ago – 2009: Twyla Simpkins’ classroom is filled from floor to ceiling with hidden treasures. Handcrafted artifacts from Africa vie for space on a table with a 1938 Chester High School commencement program. All are pieces from Simpkins’ mobile Black History Museum, created from her enormous personal collection of art, artifacts, books, clothes and memorabilia. Booked solid for February, Simpkins, an honors English teacher at Chester High School, travels throughout Chester displaying her collection.