100 YEARS AGO – 1908

The strange spectacle of a man, bearing a small child in his arms and two others toddling alongside of him, was witnessed in Judge Johnson’s court in Chester. The man took the stand against his wife who he said deserted him. Neither of the parties could speak English and their stories were told through an interpreter. From what could be gleaned, both husband and wife accused each other of having other affinities. The husband declared that his wife left him with the children to go with another man and the wife declared that her husband had put her out of the house for another woman. Judge Johnson was visibly disgusted with the whole affair. “There’s no evidence of desertion here,’’ he said. “Go hunt up a sensible lawyer to give you some sound advice. You are discharged.’’ “You take your wife home,’’ said District Attorney MacDade to the husband.

75 YEARS AGO – 1933

A successful minstrel show was given in the Ridley Park auditorium by the student nurses and interns at Taylor Hospital before a capacity audience. The show as directed by Mrs. Helen Rhodes Warwick of the hospital staff.
Large size Turkish towels are 7 cents apiece at the Montgomery Ward Store in Chester.

50 YEARS AGO – 1958

Storekeeper Seaman Claude B. Boyles, son of C.B. Boyles, 1037 Leiper St., Eddystone, is serving with the Navy at Rota, Spain.
With the arrest of four persons, Chester Police have ended the operation of a check theft ring that has been active in the city since last March. Officials estimated that more than $10,000 in government and state checks were stolen from mailboxes. The checks were cashed at many local stores.
Retail gasoline prices in the county dropped to a low of 19.9 cents a gallon.

25 YEARS AGO – 1983

About 70 families and 12 senior citizens have been served by the free food distribution center operated by Upland Baptist Church at the Notty Pine Dining Hall at Camp Upland Park. Norman L. Haase, a Swarthmore attorney, has been elected chairman of the board of directors of the Benjamin Banneker House on Concord Ave., Chester.

10 YEARS AGO – 1998

Rutledge Councilwoman Diane McGaughey has been elected the new president of the Delaware County Association of Boroughs. There are 27 boroughs in the county association. She is a Democrat and her husband, Edward, is a Republican.

— LEN CASTERLINE

To contact Len Casterline,

e-mail: lencas1038@verizon.net

or lencas1038@yahoo.com

or call (610) 565-4298