Days Gone By
100 YEARS AGO, 1924 » Three men were slightly burned during a fire that wiped out several garages owned by Frank Vernon, ice cream manufacturer, just west of Marcus Hook early today. Six trucks were destroyed. Four fire companies, including Viscose, Linwood, Marcus Hook and one from Wilmington, fought the flames for more than an hour. The loss will reach $5,000, partially covered by insurance. Discovery of the fire was made by a man named Bennett, awakened by the reflection in his bedroom. He ran to the Vernon home and awakened the occupants.
75 YEARS AGO, 1949 » Traffic fines soared to the highest level in recent years during February when the city collected $1,343.50 for violations of municipal ordinances. This was disclosed today by the monthly audit of the docket maintained by Police Magistrate R. Robinson Lowry. Pushing the fines to a new high was Mayor Ralph F.
Swarts’ insistence that recalcitrant motorists be punished. During the month Lowry, on orders from the mayor, issued 72 warrants. They were served on drivers who failed to obey summonses. No warrants were issued in January or several preceding months.
50 YEARS AGO, 1974 » Gov. Shapp says March will be worse for drivers than February, and the state’s energy chief says he doesn’t know how much gasoline Pennsylvania will get, or even has on hand. On Sunday, Shapp joined energy chief William Wilcox in saying that since March is three days longer than February, it could mean the same amount of gas for more days.
25 YEARS AGO, 1999 » Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., says he is opposed to any expansion of legalized gambling in Pennsylvania. Specter, in a letter to state Senator David Brightbill, R-Lebanon, yesterday about a proposed May 18 referendum on the issue, said he believes gambling is an indirect tax on the poor. “”It encourages people who cannot afford to lose money to spend some or all of their paychecks on gambling instead of providing for their familes’ needs,” Specter said. Gambling also brings undesirable elements, even organized crime, to the community, said the former Philadelphia district attorney.
10 YEARS AGO, 2014 » A new undercover, anti-crime unit is now operating in the township. Ridley Board of Commissioners President Bob Willert announced the formation of the unit at the board’s February meeting. “It’s very good to go on the offensive,” Willert observed in explaining the new unit will deal with crimes that affect the quality of life in the community. Police Capt. Charles Howley said the unit will concentrate on drugs, nuisance crimes, robberies, and burglaries.