100 YEARS AGO – 1908

Because he refused to get out of the house on West Front Street, a Chester man had his face badly lacerated by a frying pan in the the hands of his wife. According to the husband, the woman ordered him to leave the premises and he refused. She seized the frying pan and struck him several vicious blows on the head. He went to the Chester Hospital where Dr. Dunn addressed his injuries. The police were not notified of the fight because the husband refused to prosecute his better half.
The practice of stealing coal from train cars along the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad has grown. When one of the log cars reached Eddystone, about fifty men and boys boarded the cars and began kicking off the coal. About ten tons of coal were stolen from cars at Front and Highland avenues, Chester. Men, women and children help themselves to the coal after it is kicked from the cars. It is said that a gang of boys has been making a practice of selling the stolen fuel by going door to door.

75 YEARS AGO – 1933

Junior Carpenter, son of Mr. and Mrs. George Carpenter, 1208 Clover Lane Buckman Village, a member of Troop No. 7, Boy Scouts, is wondering who could be mean enough to take the two pair of pants and suit he recently purchased from the line in the rear of his home. He says if he recognizes them, off they come.

50 YEARS AGO – 1958

A physically handicapped Lansdowne man offered to donate $2 a week to the Collingdale School District to help tide the school system over its current financial problems. John Larking, who had lived in had lived in Collingdale, said he would give the money “for as long as I am able or as long as it is necessary.” Larking is a longtime booster of Collingdale schools.
Jane Bertram, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Conrad Bertram of Brookside Road, Wallingford., has been named to the dean’s list at Brown University in Providence, R.I. She is a graduate of Nether Providence High School.25 YEARS AGO – 1983Free toothbrushes are being exchanged for old ones brought in by youth at the Springfield Mall for those who show up for free dental screening examinations.

10 YEARS AGO – 1998

Lower Chichester Commissioner Edward Brooks reported that Operation Vehicle has been a huge success. “Within the past month 20 abandoned vehicles have been removed from the township,” he said.

--- LEN CASTERLINE

To contact Len Casterline,

email: lencas1038@verizon.net

or lencas1038@yahoo.com

or call (610) 565-4298