Other Times
100 Years Ago – 1919: Upon the recommendation of Chester Mayor McDowell, the contract for the new police uniforms was awarded to S.E. Brandeis at a brief meeting of council today. Mr. Brandeis’ bid was $35 each for overcoats and $10.75 each for trousers for the patrolmen; $28 for overcoats and $12.75 for trousers for the mounted men.
75 Years Ago – 1944: “To most Americans, William Penn is a fat little Quaker in a shad-bellied coat who stood on the banks of the Delaware River a long time ago and made a treaty with the Indians.” Thus Life Magazine in its Oct. 16issue introduces a nine-page feature on William Penn in recognition of the 300th anniversary of his birth, which comes next Tuesday. And thus Life Magazine to everyone in Chester became a “fat little pictorial dunce,” guilty of rankest omission. For in all of these big pages of copy and pictures not one mention was given to a rather historically important fact: William Penn landed in Chester.
50 Years Ago – 1969: The Women’s Club of Newtown Square will have an orientation meeting for new members at the home of Mrs. Frederic P. Hoppmann, Monday, at 8:30 p.m. There will be a session to acquaint the new members with the aims, efforts and services contributed by the club to the community. Mrs. John MacConnell is membership chair.
25 Years Ago – 1994: St. James High School was put on the auction block last week – but there was only one taker. “The building has not been sold, but we are now in the process of considering the bids that were made,” said Jay Devine, spokesperson for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. A source in the archdiocese’s real estate department declined to name the lone bidder, except to note the bid was submitted by a minister. According to a stipulation of the bidding process, the archdiocese is not bound to make a sale based on the bid it received. If the bid is not acceptable, the building will be put back on the market.
10 Years Ago – 2009:
It took more than five years to travel the long and winding road that led to an Ellis Preserve town center, the construction of which has now been authorized as a 219-acre mixed-use planned residential development. The benchmark decision came after Newtown Township supervisors voted 3-2to approve a planned residential development tentative plan at the board’s Oct. 13 meeting.