Days Gone By
100 YEARS AGO, 1923 » Thirty-three years ago, William “Buck” Ewing, then a youth living with his parents in what was then known as the old borough of South Chester, obtained employment with the Crew Levick Oil Company, as one of its horse drawn tank wagons. Today “Buck” began receiving instructions in the operating go a new motor-driven tank truck, and according to his instructor, is providing just as apt in the handling of the “horseless machine” as he was in the handling of a five horse “hitch.”
75 YEARS AGO, 1948 » “Chester wants to take its rightful place in the nationwide Fourth of July program now being conducted by the National Safety Council to hold down the holiday accident toll. Let us remember that the Fourth of July celebrates our nation’s hard-won freedom and independence. To preserve it has been a costly endeavor through many struggles, so let us not add to the cost in human life by needless tragedy and suffering that result from holiday accidents.” — Ralph F. Swarts, Mayor
50 YEARS AGO, 1973 » Stephen J. McEwen Jr., announced Tuesday he is establishing a 12-member citizens committee to make recommendations on whether certain motion pictures, magazines and other material are pornographic. McEwen also said his office would be represented at a hearing before Chester District Justice Ernest L. Burke on a private criminal complaint alleging that the Boyd Art Theater, Eight and Welsh streets, Chester, has been showing obscene movies.
25 YEARS AGO, 1998 » The banner that hangs on the front of the St. George Roman Catholic Church depicts how the Glenolden parish has grown in faith, love and hope in its 75 years. Designed by Justine Bengermino, a 13-year church member who teaches art at St. George’s school, the threepanel banner reads, “”Rooted in faith. Strengthened by hope. Growing in love.” “”I love being here, everyone is so involved, the pastor and the teachers treat you like family,” said Bengermino. Founded in 1923 with 135 parishioners, St. George now has 3,500 members.
10 YEARS AGO, 2013 » Half of the 190 native perennials, shrubs and small trees planted this spring in Rose Valley’s Long Point Wildlife Sanctuary will be tempting to the white tails which roam the area. The remainder, however, will be beyond their reach. Andrew Casey, a member of Boy Scout Troop 272, recently completed his Eagle Scout project by designing and installing a deer exclosure. The 30-by-30 feet area, surrounded by eight-foot fencing and an open comparison plot, will allow the borough to evaluate the effectiveness of its deer maintenance program.