100 YEARS AGO – 1908

Big hats are still the rage and some of the spring styles that are seen in Chester are remarkable. The hats are of various sizes but some of them seem to be too wide to pass through a doorway without striking the sides.
There is no boy in Chester today that is happier than George Downes of 813 W. Eighth St. He received word by a special delivery letter that he was the first on the list of boys who had made gains over previous orders for subscriptions to The Saturday Evening Post magazine and that he is entitled to a trip to Europe or $250. As George is only a little more than 8 years of age, he decided to take the $250. George is a bright little fellow that will very likely be found among the captains of industry in the future.

75 YEARS AGO – 1933

Employees of the manufacturing departments of the Irving Worsted Mills at Ninth and McIlvaine streets, Chester, staged a “walkout” following announcement by mill officials of a wage cut of 15 percent. William Lewis of Ulrich Street, near Fifth Street, blossomed out in a brand new Derby hat that a neighbor thought it would be a good joke to break the headgear. The neighbor took the hat off Lewis’ head and put his fist through it. He then promised Lewis another hat and invited him to his home to get it. Instead of a hat the neighbor is said to have tried to fit a chair on the head of Lewis, the fitting being so violent that the hat loser had to go to Chester Hospital for repairs.

50 YEARS AGO – 1958

Malcolm B. Petrikin of Wallingford was named Man of the Year by the Chester Business Men’s Association. Elaine Michaels of Village Green was honored at a bridal shower and birthday anniversary party at her home on Knowlton Road. Miss Michaels will marry George Wright of Eddystone later this month at Middletown Presbyterian Church.

25 YEARS AGO – 1983

The Delaware County Cooperative Extension Service is having a workshop that teaches participants how to weave a seat for a caned chair. Participants are to bring the chair they want caned.
Sharon Lee White of Concordville has joined Durham Travel in Lionville as a travel agent.

10 YEARS AGO – 1998

Sun Valley High School Senior Jaime Klinger demonstrated weaving techniques to Coeburn Elementary School students in Brookhaven during the “Teaching Experience Days.”

— LEN CASTERLINE

To contact Len Casterline,

e-mail: lencas1038@verizon.net

or lencas1038@yahoo.com

or call (610) 565-4298