Days Gone By
100 Years Ago, 1922: The first uncovering of the mystery of any of the barn burnings which have terrorized three counties for weeks came yesterday. A watchman at Radnor confessed that he had set one of the fires — there have been nearly 40 recently — but he declared he had merely started the blaze to cause excitement. The Radnor police and the state police are quizzing the man in an attempt to connect him with a possible gang of firebugs.
75 Years Ago, 1947: Chester’s community Christmas tree was down for a while, but not out, after a bout with a drunken driver late Monday night. A 22-year-old Collingdale youth is being held by police, and is charged with striking the tree. He was arrested just after being pulled from the wreckage of his automobile after it overturned at Second and Pusey streets at 11.30 p.m. Witnesses who saw the car hit the tree identified the youth’s auto. 50 Years Ago, 1972: After experiencing a “tremendous” business day last Sunday, Chester merchants will be open again this Sunday to accommodate last minute Christmas shoppers. Alan Harwitz of Morris Jewelers, president of the Chester Merchants Association, said Weinberg’s is joining the stores who were open last week. Weinberg’s will be open from noon to 5 p.m. The other stores will be open from noon to 6p.m. The stores are defying the state’s Blue Laws in conducting the Sunday hours but Harwitz said no one bothered the merchants last week over what he termed an “archaic law.” The two major stores that will remain closed on Sunday are Speare Brothers and Sears, Roebuck & Co.
25 Years Ago, 1997: The Rose Tree Media School Board unanimously approved a $9.95million bond issue, earmarked for a variety of capital projects Thursday night. The money will go toward renovations and improvements at Penncrest High School and Springton Lake Middle School, the purchase of a new education center in Media, and the acquisition and implementation of new technology for the district. The board previously approved a $20 million bond in June 1996, $5 million of which was targeted for technology. The Penncrest project alone is now threatening to consume the entire amount.
10 Years Ago, 2012: Ridley Township Commissioners Wednesday night gave final approval to a no-taxincrease budget for 2013, calling for expenditures of $17,169,375 and a real estate millage rate of 8.016, or $8.16 for each $1,000of assessed property valuation. For a property assessed at the average of $100,000, the tax bill for next year will be $816.