100 YEARS AGO – 1908

A well known resident of the 1st Ward of Chester has had two cats, both of a black variety, and two dogs come to his house in the past week. All are black. He is asking his friends whether this is an omen of goodwill or ill will. He has kept two of the pets.David Stein, a grocer at 23rd and Madison streets, Chester, has been the victim of late of a number of boys in the neighborhood who tape on his store windows at night and otherwise annoy him. He may have a warrant issued for the lads.

75 YEARS AGO – 1933

Dr. Harry L. Smedley, one-time burgess of Media, died in San Diego, Calif., at the age of 74. He was a druggist and lived in San Diego for 20 years. Sleeper’s College on Welsh Street, Chester, offers morning summer school for delinquents.Philadelphia Electric Co. says it’s “your last chance to buy Chester coke’ at a special price of $9.28 cents a ton.”

50 YEARS AGO – 1958

Army Pvt. William G. Opdenaker, 23, son of Mr. and Mrs. Matthew J. Opdenaker of Wallingford Avenue, Nether Providence, has completed tank training at the Army Armor Training Center, Fort Knox, Ky. Before entering the service, he worked at the Ford Assembly plant in Chester.Mr. and Mrs. Walter Frysinger of Rose Valley Road, Wallingford, celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary. They have four children.Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Search of Prospect Park entertained in honor of their grandson, Barry Edgerton of Ridley Park who celebrated his 12th birthday anniversary.

25 YEARS AGO – 1983

Green Ridge American Legion Post 926 has named James Schmidt as its commander. The recipient of the American Legion Scholarship Award is Robert Baran, a Sun Valley High School graduate and a resident of Aston.Darby Mayor Louis Saraullo says the borough is using special squads and unmarked squads to crack down on “nuisance’’ bars in the borough. “If they are not gong run a clean establishment, we don’t want them,’’ he said.

10 YEARS AGO – 1998

U.S. Rep. Curt Weldon of Aston has been chosen to be a member of a committee investigating alleged connections between campaign contributions and a White House decision to allow a U.S. company to launch satellites on Chinese rockets.

---- LEN CASTERLINE

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