100 YEARS AGO – 1908

Two prominent ladies of the Third Ward who rode on a trolley car were greatly insulted and subjected to the jeers and taunts of a crowd of excited women near Third and Broomall Streets, Chester, where they got off the vehicle. All sorts of abusive epithets were hurled at the ladies. A crowd of boys and young men congregate at the corner of 23rd and Chestnut streets and make a practice of addressing persons who happen to jump from the trolley car at that point. The names are not at all complimentary and some small children are taught such words as “scab’’ and similar epithets. The crowd hovers about the Friends burying grounds.Cummings & Glenney, 8 W. Third St., Chester, is cleaning out 100 good suits at half price. Suits priced at $12 are now $6 and the best suits at $20 are now $10.A number of boys are entertaining a large crowd on Seventh Street bridge in Chester by high diving. The water at this point is not very clean in Chester Creek and it is probable that health authorities will ban swimming there.

75 YEARS AGO – 1933

Lt. Harry Baxter of the U. S. Army Air Corps circled over the Seventh Ward of Chester in a greeting to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. H. Bruce Baxter of 1020 Parker St., on his way to League Island field in Philadelphia. He was in a pursuit plane. Four Tinicum youths -- Norman Walls, Charles Reese, Nappie Reese and Fritz Schrader -- left to see the sights at the Century of Progress at Chicago choosing a most unusual mode of travel. They are making the trip to Chicago in a motor boat.

50 YEARS AGO – 1958

Charlotte Wexler, 18-year-old blonde, blue-eyed daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Wexler, 300 W. 22nd St., Chester, has been selected as feature singer with Al Raymond and his orchestra. She is also a candidate in this year’s Miss Delaware County Pageant.Thomas F. Shapcott of 756 E. Providence Road, Aldan, willed his $12,000 estate to his wife, Mary. He died July 5.Michael Fadden, son of Mr. and Mrs William Fadden Jr., 322 Russell St., Chester, is spending three weeks at Camp Trinity on the Chesapeake Bay.

25 YEARS AGO – 1983

The Rev. David M. Dickson is the new pastor of the Old Union United Methodist Church on Brookhaven Road, Rose Valley.Dawn Marie Esposito, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Esposito of Concord is on the dean’s at King’s College in Briarcliff Manor, N.Y.

10 YEARS AGO – 1998

Ridley Park has a new memorial in front of the firehouse on Ward Street that salutes past, present and future members of the Ridley Park Fire Co. and its auxiliary.

---- LEN CASTERLINE

To contact Len Casterline,

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