100 YEARS AGO – 1908

Charles Ballentine acted as toastmaster as the Stonewall Club, one of the oldest social organizations in Chester, had a dinner reception at the Colonial Hotel in Leiperville.Thomas H. Garvin of Sharon Hill, chairman of the Delaware County Republican Executive Committee, predicts the county will go for Taft in a big way in the fall presidential election.

75 YEARS AGO – 1933

A concerted effort on corner-lounging has been started by Chester police following numerous complaints. Sgt. Peterson and a police detail arrested five loungers at Sixth and Wilson streets. It’s a favorite location for moonshine imbibers who use insulting language to passersby. All were fined $5 and $4 costs and, being unable to pay, were sent to jail for 10 days.Bargain automobile purchasers in the county were warned to be certain the car is free of encumbrances before paying the price. Robert C. Kitchen of the Keystone Automobile Club in Chester warned if there are encumbrances the titles will not be granted until they are satisfied.Four young Chester men lost their lives when a truck loaded with Lloyd AC members and friends returning from a picnic at Crystal Beach, Md., was rammed by a truck carrying a cargo of explosives. The accident was on the Wilmington-Philadelphia Pike at Holly Oak, Del.

50 YEARS AGO – 1958

Mark Paul Vermeychuk became the first baby to be born in the new wing of Chester Hospital. His father is an industrial-arts teacher at Collingdale High. Delivery was made by Dr. Paul Crowther of ChesterEdward J. “Ted” Lyons, a former policeman in Eddystone, Ridley Park and Glenolden, died at the age of 70. He was the driver for Eddystone’s first fire truck and saw duty in the Eddystone ammunition explosion of Sept. 10, 1917, when 132 people lost their lives.

25 YEARS AGO – 1983

Town watch members in Lower Chichester are having a picnic at Linwood Municipal Park, Hewes Avenue. Norm Chance is in charge of reservations.Gerald Connors of Nether Providence is complaining to the township about the weeds growing on Crestview Circle on property owned by PennDOT.A woman from Crosby Square Apartments in Chester has been ordered to pay more than $9,000 restitution for welfare fraud.

10 YEARS AGO – 1998

Folcroft Fire Co. is participating in the Save a Life Smoke Detector Campaign. Borough residents who need a smoke alarm should call Christine Foglio.

--- LEN CASTERLINE

To contact Len Casterline,

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or call (610) 565-4298