Old Chester, PA: Guest Book entries April 2002 - Part 2

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Name: Pat (male) CHS49
Email:
Date: 4/30/2002
Time: 11:53:12 PM

Comments

Kate: No, I don't know pp and it isn't my intention to offend anyone. Like others, I get bored hearing about Phoenix, AZ. Also, I believe she gets off on irritating people so that she has a chance for a "come-back". It's obviously an EGO thing with her. This is, after all, Chester Community Bulletin Board and that's what I like about it.


Name: Frank Vaul
Email:
Date: 4/30/2002
Time: 11:47:39 PM

Comments

U W Great line: "Don't cry because its over, Smile because it happened". Is it yours?, if so can I use it some time?


Name: Sue Watras
Email: wattsix@aol.com
Date: 4/30/2002
Time: 10:56:58 PM

Comments

Looking for old classmates from Resurrection?


Name: Pat McFadden (CHS50)
Email:
Date: 4/30/2002
Time: 10:50:45 PM

Comments

I noticed "Jimmy" addressed me as pat mefadden. So, translated, partly in gaelic that means "Me Pat is son/daughter of Little Streamlet." Do you know something I don't? Was my father an Indian? Oh this is interesting. So "pat" could also mean "stroke, gently touch several times." So, oh my gosh, my Indian name then is, "stroke the stream for fish." That answers why, if I could chose the time in history I preferred the most to live in Chester, it would be when it was a fishing village. That makes sense!!! Thank you, Jimmie.

So, Jimmy, do you know in what years Chester was indeed a fishing village? So, this is your big chance to elaborate on Chester's history. Let's hear it.


Name: Harvey Martin
Email: hsmartin@snip.net
Date: 4/30/2002
Time: 10:47:42 PM

Comments

Does anyone remember laying in bed and listening to the fog horns sounding on the river?


Name: Pat McFadden (CHS '50)
Email:
Date: 4/30/2002
Time: 9:58:35 PM

Comments

George - Forgot to mention that you are the one who brought up the sex issue, not I. Therefore, you bear the burden, you opened the door - I just responded. It's also apparent that grandchildren are not the joy to you that they are to me. Too bad!


Name: Floyd CHS 48
Email: fljftru@aol.com
Date: 4/30/2002
Time: 9:53:47 PM

Comments

To Jean: I tried to send you 2 e mails.They were both returned. I have info RE McKinney.Try to mail me


Name: Pat McFadden (CHS50)
Email:
Date: 4/30/2002
Time: 9:53:01 PM

Comments

George - I will take your suggestions under advisement. Have done so, and was told to ignore you and your lack of humor.


Name:
Email:
Date: 4/30/2002
Time: 9:38:27 PM

Comments

Wow, we gals seem to be hot at it.


Name:
Email:
Date: 4/30/2002
Time: 9:37:20 PM

Comments

Rudy Pompilli played sax for Bill Hailey. He was one of the best around. He was also a great guy. He lived in parkside.


Name: mike garvey
Email:
Date: 4/30/2002
Time: 9:34:44 PM

Comments

sorry wilson liner


Name: mike garvey
Email: chesterchevy19061@yahoo
Date: 4/30/2002
Time: 9:29:23 PM

Comments

My mother tells me the story of how she met a younge man while on the wison liner going to riverview beach. He and she had sutch a good time that they missed the last boat home and had to take a bus to philly then a bus home to chester. They married and raised a great family in chester. Does anyone know who played sax for Bill Haley ?


Name:
Email:
Date: 4/30/2002
Time: 9:19:12 PM

Comments

I do not believe someone as old as you must be could use a computer, no way


Name: George
Email: gpmalick@wideopenwest.com
Date: 4/30/2002
Time: 9:17:48 PM

Comments

Patricia: I think it's best to change the topic, I can't think of a more depressing subject for other folks to read about than your sex life and my alleged ensuing need for Viagra. I notice that you are still having trouble posting messages on this message board and some of them get posted 2 or 3 times. One way to overcome that is when you are done typing, DO NOT click the submit button, click the one to the right of it,,,,George


Name: 'good ole joe'
Email:
Date: 4/30/2002
Time: 9:06:22 PM

Comments

Were the Four Aces once called The Four Western Aces, and did they not sing CW music at WPWA? I thought me and some of my buddies saw them one saturday morn. many years ago, on horseback doing a 'promo' at the station...the field across the street was still a corn field then, Brookhaven was much smaller then...


Name: FlorenceCHS50
Email: buffyk@fast.net
Date: 4/30/2002
Time: 8:43:03 PM

Comments

Chester, As I have said before my mom and dad and myself and younger sister used to walk all the way down to the waterfront in Chester and board the Wilson Line for the midnight dances on board and then when it docked we walked all the way home around 1937. I was never allowed to be rude or disrespectful to anyone older or younger, that is why I always refer to people I am talking to, as Mr or Mrs.People should be kind to each other, God knows we all need to look out for one another. My littleones are all grown up now and I miss them, but they are never far always looking out for us. I remember my two oldest when they were judt old enough to fish the creek by theirselve, everytime they caught a carp , they would run it up to show me, water it with the hose and run it back


Name: Albert Haywood
Email: 36993@udel.edu
Date: 4/30/2002
Time: 8:12:23 PM

Comments

My mother,Emmajean Barsby, lived in Upland circa 1894 and graduated from Chester High in 1912.She had two brothers-Dr John & Frank a teacher, a sister,Mary.


Name: jimmy
Email:
Date: 4/30/2002
Time: 7:40:01 PM

Comments

pat mefadden" we do not like it...give some other people a chance to elaborate on old chester subjects,,,bug off


Name: kate
Email:
Date: 4/30/2002
Time: 7:38:45 PM

Comments

Hey Patricia, your enimies are now mine, I think....Just tell me what I should lighten up about? LOL


Name: trish
Email:
Date: 4/30/2002
Time: 7:35:40 PM

Comments

lighten up kate........this is not your personal web site even though you think it is


Name: Kate
Email:
Date: 4/30/2002
Time: 7:17:25 PM

Comments

Patricia, I was asking Pat(CHS49) not 79, if she knew you, I was curious about her one line comment. I sure do know I can ask you if I want to know anything..!!


Name: Pat McFadden (CHS50)
Email:
Date: 4/30/2002
Time: 7:09:46 PM

Comments

Before anyone asks what my last post has to do with old Chester - I haven't the faintest idea, except that without sex, there wouldn't be an old Chester.


Name: Pat McFadden (CHS50)
Email: pidipat@earthlink.net
Date: 4/30/2002
Time: 7:02:52 PM

Comments

Now George Malick - you cut that out about my sex life. I think you're younger than me, so you better stock up on Viagra right now, so that when you reach my age, you can at least think you're enjoying what used to come naturally. I always preferred older men - never knew when I reached 70 that an older man would mean a "last gasper"! Ah me, the joys of youth - never forgotten.

To the person whose fingers are tired from scrolling through my posts - try exercising your brain along with your fingers. It's your brain that's tired, not your fingers.

In defense of Kate's statement about being irritated with no names. She is saying exactly what I've been trying to get across for a long time. It's NOT the fact that you are anonymous, it's the fact that you feel more comfortable posting these nasty remarks because no one can point at finger at you; you hide behind your nastiness by being unidentifable. So, you're really not too proud of yourself, are you? So, no one cares that you choose not to post your identity, it's your negativity and constant criticism that put a damper on other people's enjoyment. You are what is commonly referred to as a "party pooper."

Kate - Pat CHS79 and I do not know each other. It's unfortunate that I share my first name with someone with a one-line negative thought. And, if you are curious about anything about me, just ask me. I'll be glad to answer - so will Florence or Frank Vaul or anyone else who knew me "back then". I have nothing to hide nor to be ashamed of.

About my sex life - darn you George, you re-awakened old memories!! Men still chase me, but I'm not interested in being caught because what we used to do all night, now takes all night to do. That's why it's called "retirement" - now have more time. (he-he)


Name: FlorenceCHS50
Email: buffyk@fast.net
Date: 4/30/2002
Time: 6:30:11 PM

Comments

My youngest son had a lot of huge snakes and lizards and many other things. He worked at the SPCA for his first job.He had quite an assortment even a capuchen monkey. Quite a few memories here for me.One time the parrot landed on the monks cage and was plucked clean.


Name: FlorenceCHS50
Email: buffyk@fast.net
Date: 4/30/2002
Time: 6:25:03 PM

Comments

Tom, I remember when my youngest son had quite a few big snakes and large lizards,and quite a few other things. I can remember the snakes lifting the tops up and getting ouy. We really had to weigh the lids down. Wehad special cages and etc and heat for them.I had to help him do different things with them.One snake we had would eat a egg raw in the shell. I probably got pretty educated on snakes and caring for them. His first job was at the SPCA, he brought many things home to take care of. ONe thing was a capuchan monkey, bimbo, she was here forever.


Name: U.W.
Email:
Date: 4/30/2002
Time: 4:38:15 PM

Comments

thats good Harvey. I think that would be a great question. I done after this one.

How many times do you open the door to OLDCHESTERPA and let the memories come in? daily, weekly, monthly, never.

I think what we called "Turtle Rocks" is what Florance K. called Trainer Rocks. Now a small park area.

Figured out what happens with the multiple postings. I accidently hit the space bar and it took what I was typing and sent it 3 times. Sorry about that folks.

I miss hearing from Pisano, enjoyed the Italian village updates.U

.


Name: Tom CHS76
Email: t9257@yahoo.com
Date: 4/30/2002
Time: 4:30:35 PM

Comments

I remember one time I came home with about 30 various sized gardner snakes and sneaked them in the house up to my bedroom. I put them in an old fish tank I had. I was young and it was before I became aware that cats go after more than just gold fish. My mom heard the crash as the cat jumped up and tipped the tank which was on the edge of my desk. Needless to say there was about 20 snakes that got away from the cat which meant they were lose in the house. My mom freaked out. She made me check everywhere in the house. I rounded up a dozen. She wouldn't walk around the house at night without every light on for 2 weeks and I was grounded for longer than that. The cat didn't even get in trouble.. :(


Name: FlorenceCHS50
Email: buffyk@fast.net
Date: 4/30/2002
Time: 3:43:27 PM

Comments

Harvey---guilty. I can remember when we lived on 15th st., my two small boys came home from a picnic, with their pockets full of grasshopers, without their wings. I did not didcover this till I did the wash. I remember also when they came home with two giant jars full of little frogs.


Name: Florence Robinson Kramer
Email: Fekramer@aol.com
Date: 4/30/2002
Time: 3:26:10 PM

Comments

Westenders: Do you remember----- Playing "box hockey" at the playground in the village Buying "chinese apples" at McGlones (the alley store) The "Brandywine" ice cream truck Zagara's water ice Catching tadpoles in the "woods" - William Penn school now occupies the site "Trainer Rocks"


Name: Harvey Martin
Email: hsmartin@snip.net
Date: 4/30/2002
Time: 2:26:40 PM

Comments

I just figured out this board is getting 400 hits a day...that means there must be 7 other people who check it 50 times a day like I do.


Name: U.W.
Email:
Date: 4/30/2002
Time: 12:55:26 PM

Comments

John B. Webmaster: How about the walking tour on Saturday. Time for a update on the hidden history that the city of Chester has within afew blocks. I think I remember about 6/7 years ago Geo. Washington on a horse pulled buggy outside the old court house then getting out of the buggy and going inside. We are all anxious to see "WHAT's NEW" updated.

Thanks Harvey..that was a pleaent break during lunch.


Name: No Name
Email:
Date: 4/30/2002
Time: 12:54:40 PM

Comments

To UW

You express exactly what I wrote about. You prefer to be Unknown Writer as well as I do. So does Kate think you irritate her too? I hope not. I have respect for her and her other contributions. So, we don't know who you are and it really doesn't matter because you contribute so much to this site. Just like you said, there are ups & downs. There's also good and evil, positive and negative. That's everyday living. This world and the people living in it aren't perfect and neither is Chester, it's former residents, it's present residents, No Names and the people who want to post their names. I agree that the powers-to-be in Chester can gather useful input from some of these posts, positive and negative. If all were positive, then there would be no need for changes. Keep up the good work UW. I enjoy your contibutions.

To Tom

Same as the above in reference what you prefer to post. If it's all positive in your eyes, write what you feel but allow others to express how they all feel too.

To Harvey

I saved the last for you. "Let There Be Peace On Earth". What a Wonderful link as usual. You are the "Peacemaker". Keep up the good work. All your postings and "links" are most enjoyable. A pleasure I enjoy very much.

A word on PEACE

Peace can be attained when respect for the rights of others are put in practiced, not only here on this board but throughout the whole wide world. That's the biggest problem with all the bad happenings going on in this world today.

To All

AS Harvey so well posted the link to "Let there be Peace on Earth and let it begin with me".

Let's not forget all of you out there in cyberspace, let it begin with you too.

Have a nice day all.


Name: Harvey Martin
Email: hsmartin@snip.net
Date: 4/30/2002
Time: 10:59:49 AM

Comments

Peace on Earth

http://www.angelfire.com/ma4/blueyes/peaceonearth.html


Name: Tom CHS76
Email: t9257@yahoo.com
Date: 4/30/2002
Time: 10:20:25 AM

Comments

It was as bad as you let it be in Chester. I used to walk home from the West End Boat Club (Front & Jeffries) to McCaffery at 1 in the morning after work. Many a night and I was never bothered. That was in the mid 70's. I hear people talking about the riots and stuff. Hell I lived them and even knew the guy who got shot. I have not brought up to many negative things about where I grew up. I was jumped in Chester High a few times, but I was I guess what you would call a crazy white boy because I fought back. Those years are long gone and there is no bitterness in me it was to me just part of growing up and learniing about life in the city. The GOOD times well out number the bad, so I chose to talk about them. Which keeps me in a positive state of mind and makes me proud of where I grew up until the mid 80's CHESTER. I have many a bad stories I could tell but choose not to. Long live the good memories of Chester.


Name: U.W.
Email:
Date: 4/30/2002
Time: 10:12:05 AM

Comments

No Name:

Thank you, I prefer to remain the "Uknown Writer" (U.W.) for my own reasons that would bore anyone else. And yes Florance, Harvey, Paul, Geo. Patricia,etc. do contribute so much to this message board as well as any one that takes the time from their daily chores or work day to say hello with what ever comment they make. Life is not filled with only ups, there are some downs. Recently the "Town Meeting" although it seemed Negative to some on this board may have added insite to the Mayor about how the outside world really sees Chester.

Lets not think for one moment that the Mayor and governing body in Chester are not aware of this message board. This site is food for thought.

again I think the following phrase can be repeated for us OLDCHESTERPA people

"Don't cry because its over, Smile because it happened".


Name:
Email:
Date: 4/30/2002
Time: 9:47:57 AM

Comments

Kate,

What difference does it make if you know or don't know who is posting? Anyone can make up a name and you still wouldn't know who they are. Few people posting their names feel the need to be constantly recognized, like they need all the world to know all the intimate details of their lives. They are more irritating with their overassumptions, know-it-all attitudes. People like you, UW, Harvey, Florence, usually contribute interesting information. So you see it really doesn't matter to you or anyone else who we/I am. I don't know you but I truly enjoy what YOU contribute and like I told you before, even though you are younger, you have a lot on the ball. If you know what I mean.


Name:
Email:
Date: 4/30/2002
Time: 9:22:11 AM

Comments

hey pidipat sounds like phoenix,may have the makings of chester/west 2002 edition!where you going to move,from there?hong kong?can you make phoenix into a historic site west?


Name: Kate
Email:
Date: 4/30/2002
Time: 12:30:24 AM

Comments

You people that don't post your names are really irritating


Name:
Email:
Date: 4/30/2002
Time: 12:14:50 AM

Comments

Just had a fast question. Is this board about Phoenix or Chester. I read all the posts and I thought this was about the memories of Chester.


Name: Kate
Email:
Date: 4/29/2002
Time: 11:41:33 PM

Comments

Pat 49 chs, don't you know PP??? You & her must have been in CHS together.... Why did you say that???? I am curious


Name: Pat CHS49
Email:
Date: 4/29/2002
Time: 11:37:46 PM

Comments

HoHum, pidipat is back.


Name: Bob
Email:
Date: 4/29/2002
Time: 10:32:26 PM

Comments

Over 12 years ago, a Realtor who sold our beautiful home in Chester , told us if our house was located in Ridley Park or Glenolden, we could have sold it for over $100,000. Had to sell it for less than half because of the location in the first ward. It is boarded up now.


Name:
Email:
Date: 4/29/2002
Time: 10:16:21 PM

Comments

One can easily afford to move to the first ward in Chester now. But who would want to live there? It's just as bad as all the other wards in Chester. What was once beautiful homes are now rundown or boarded up. The decay started from the west to the east part of town, around Front, second, third, fouth, fifth and eventually up to 25th including all the named streets in between up into North Chester. It would take a lot of money and know-how to turn the WHOLE city around. This is not being negative. It's being realistic.


Name: George
Email: gpmalick@wideopenwest.com
Date: 4/29/2002
Time: 9:36:35 PM

Comments

Pat: Thanks for the insight, so you turn 70 and no more sex and then you can REALLY enjoy the grandkids? Didn't know that. And the Mexican Invasion of Phoenix must be devistating to you just as the European invasion was to folks back at the turn of the last century. U.W. In the early 60's, you could still do a little crusing on 7th to downtown and then back on 9th to Linton's and Shusters but that was over by 63 and 64. Coinciding with the riots in Newark and Detroit, we had them bad in Chester too. Cars at Shusters were deluged with rocks being thrown from the field just below on Flower. False Alarms were so dominant that many of the volunteer fireman were deputized to help the police. That caused the demise of the "pull" firebox on every other corner. Yeah, it got bad. Some neighborhoods stayed pretty safe, the area around St.Hedwig's was one, other people on here could probably refer to more. In '60 I and a group of my buddies were "jumped" on Wilson as we walked from my house on 4th St to 6th & Wilson. My parents could never have afforded to move from there to the 1st Ward, so they stuck it out as long as they could. George


Name: Kate
Email:
Date: 4/29/2002
Time: 9:15:07 PM

Comments

Patricia, ya know what else you are missing...today you do not tell people what they should be doing & you know why-THEY WILL SHOT OR KNIFE YOU, in any city across the USA.


Name: Pat McFadden (CHS50)
Email:
Date: 4/29/2002
Time: 9:11:45 PM

Comments

Sorry that long post was duplicated. I'm having so much trouble with my computer.

Well, you mentioned the shootings, etc. - EXACTLY, the same thing here, EXACTLY.


Name: kATE
Email:
Date: 4/29/2002
Time: 9:09:30 PM

Comments

u.w lINTON'S & sHUSTER'S WERE O.K. IN THE EARLY 60'S i THINK THE BIG CHANGE WAS A LITTLE BIT LATER.


Name:
Email:
Date: 4/29/2002
Time: 9:05:21 PM

Comments

FORGOT TO SIGN, kATE


Name:
Email:
Date: 4/29/2002
Time: 9:04:13 PM

Comments

Patricia, what you just wrote about I would not want to be a part of, see I think you should work hard and have goals & be where you want to be in life as you get older. The one thing I can tell you that happened in the 60's, I was there for this is the blacks rioting, the blacks burning down CHS, I had a bullet go thru my windshield at the traffic light on Flower St., which is now i95, then they were not content to have every low income project in Chester but one, they started moveing into McCaffery Village, which was all white. they had riots in the 70's I know of some who were killed. What do you think anyone could of done about that? the cops could do nothing... I rest my case.


Name:
Email:
Date: 4/29/2002
Time: 9:01:18 PM

Comments

for goodness sake, if you want to write a book on pheonix sent it to a publisher. my finger hurts from scrolling past your history of pheonix arizona. what's with you? you need a hobby.


Name: U.W.
Email:
Date: 4/29/2002
Time: 8:58:58 PM

Comments

George: Of course you had great teen years, everyone did-just some years were a little better than others in the bygone days..

You mean to tell me that after 1954 when my family moved it got that bad? I can remember catching the train into Chester and meeting a couple of old friends in town. We walked from town to Memorial park then down to St. Hedwigs for some type of function they were having. That was in about 55. Actually it seems we walked everywhere in those days. Do you remember walking to "Turtle Rock" and sliding down the rocks in the Summer. The rocks were like a natural waterslide. I went past them several weeks ago and they don't look quite as large as they did to a kid between the age of 7 thru 12.

I would have been 16 in 1956 and I can remember driving my car down to Shusters to take my suburban friends to this great place. Is my memory fading, was it bad and I just can't remember. I think I even brought them to 9th and Kerlin to the Linton drive in that was there. It was a lintons wasn't it? Which one did the waitresses roller skate to the car?


Name: Pat McFadden (CHS '50)
Email: pidipat@earthlink.net
Date: 4/29/2002
Time: 8:42:45 PM

Comments

Well, here I am again, like it or not.

If you will permit me 2 days of your time, I will explain to you why I said that I blame Chester's neglect on we the people is because the very same thing is happening to us here in Phoenix, as I speak. Age brings not only wisdom, hopefully, but insight into what is going on around us. Our hormones aren't racing anymore, most ex-husbands or lovers are either gone or dead, and our love now extends to our grandchildren, the most "joyous" of loves, I think.

So, here in Phoenix, the city is slowly, but surely, but surely, being taken over by the steady influx from Mexico, most of whom are here illegally. The pregnant wives come here one way or the other, the babies are born here, and that entitles them to all the benefits of citizenship right here. Phoenix is the capitol and therefore, houses most of the AZ attorneys. The majority of the lawsuits are malpractice (of stillborn babies, or other baby defects) and automobile accidents. I know what I say because I work in law offices. The attorneys are so greedy that the more lawsuits, the better, thus affecting so many aspects of the working man's life. The car dealers are more than happy to have their business - $25 down and $25 a week for a wreak. Stores have opened all over the city ready to give them an "advance" until they get their paycheck. We never had that type of store before. Twice, already, the citizens have had to vote on whether or not they wanted to make "Spanish" our OFFICIAL LANGUAGE. That's the influence they are exerting.

We (the people I know and talk to in Phoenix) all agree that someday Arizona will be strictly Spanish-speaking and inhabited by Mexicans. And WE, WE are permitting it to happen.

We intermingle on a day-by-day basis in our everyday lives. Most of them (not all) are extremely rude to the "gringos", their children run wild in shopping centers (they go up and down the aisles, throw items on the floor and leave the place trashed) and the parents permit them. A friend told me just recently that she was in a one of the big retail stores that sell bicyles and two Mexican kids grabbed two of the bikes and rode them around the store. No parental interference at all - let them do as they choose. They trash their homes and if you have to share common facilities with them, expect the facilities to be trashed; beautiful grounds are destroyed, they yell at 6 in the morning and 10 at night constantly and play their music so loud you can't hear your own TV. They show not only complete disrespect to the "gringos" but utter disregard for what we think and our principles. Many of them are draining our welfare system, and at stores, I see them pull out a WAD of money.

The reason I listed (just a few) the above, is because most people are simply afraid to stand up to them. THIS IS WHAT I MEAN WHEN I SAID IT WAS YOUR FAULT - you let them get away with it.

We have a pool in our complex. The rules are spelled out that children are to be supervised by an adult (we have too many, many too many child drownings in our city and the city weeps over each and everyone of them), and guests are permitted only with approval of management. A Mexican woman moved in. That weekend her 5-6 yr old girl with another one about the same age were in the pool with a 10 yr old sweeping out the leaves and throwing them on the cooldeck. We had just had a wild windstorm come through. I went out (manager not here on weekends) and told them they had to have adult supervision. These children DO NOT KNOW HOW TO SWIM. They have never had a "pool" in their life. And, then we're expected to feel badly when their children drown when the mother sends them out to the pool with no supervision. The mother came out then with 8 members of her family (guests, not residents) and took over the entire pool. I went out again and told them they were breaking the rules. Well, you can just imagine what words were hurled at me; however, I stood my ground until they all left, and I haven't seen them back again. They insist on not acknowledging what you say. The mother said at one point, "See, you made my daughter cry." I thought, "better alive crying, than dead at the bottom of the pool." You see, two completely different ways of thinking. They don't care if they break rules - period.

If the ones who want to take over aren't confronted with the fact that they are breaking the rules and we're not going to put up with it, then they get away with it time and time again, until the "prize" belongs to them, and it's turned into a slum.

In a way, it's like naughty spoiled children. If no one tells them what is expected of them, they do as they please, then they hate you when they get older and reach out to destroy. They do not have the wherewithall to continue on with what you have started - so decay arrives rapidly.

I am not afraid to stand up to rudeness and trashing where I live - I will call them on it. Most people don't "want to get involved" - but I do. They call me the "monitor of the laundry room." You bet!!

Now, I've tried to explain my take on why Chester bellied-up. It has always bewildered me why people let other people get away with breaking rules, being self-serving and absolutely no consideration for others. I didn't post the poem "The Bridge Builder" here for no reason. It just takes one person to tell them you are not going to put up with it. If they break the law or the rules, a citizen has the right to call them on it. But, damn it, we don't - be nice, now, be nice. Nice doesn't always get it. I am pleasant to everyone I know, except what I just explained. Banks cater to them. You can stand in line for 15 minutes waiting for the teller trying to explain they don't have an account with that bank and they can't cash their check. I told one teller to hire a Spanish-speaking person for the "turn-down" line alone.

I realize I wrote about all the new construction taking place in mid-Phoenix, and it is; AND the take-over influence is completely ignored. I sincerely hope it helps, but I doubt it.

I wasn't in Chester in the 60's when it really started to rot. Can anyone explain here what you saw on a day-by-day basis that might have caused it. I mean individual experiences, where you wish you had said or done something, etc., such as I just did. Anything similar? Seriously, please let us know, because it starts with just one person, not the politicians. From your personal experiences, not supposition on the part of what you think caused it. Give us real, hard, personally experienced facts.


Name: Jean
Email: js18008@cedarnet.org
Date: 4/29/2002
Time: 8:38:28 PM

Comments

Hi! I have a hobby horse(50+ years old)with the address of J.W.McKinney, 1506 Edgemont Ave, Chester. Penn on the bottom of it. Does this business still exist or did it change names? There are three large rubber bands on it to give it bounce and I'm wondering if the address is for the rubber bands. If anyone has any information the could share with me on this company, I would really appreciate it. Just e-mail me. Thanks Jean


Name: George
Email:
Date: 4/29/2002
Time: 8:22:39 PM

Comments

Forgot to mention that there are some lonely folks in the Chat room tonight, It's West End Night, see ya there, G

http://prv-groups.aol.com/oldchesterpa/


Name: George
Email: gpmalick@wideopenwest.com
Date: 4/29/2002
Time: 8:21:12 PM

Comments

U.W.: I didn't say it was "Night of the living dead" back then, just not like some of the great memories others have posted. One good friend of mine on the board grew up with my older brother in the 40's and talks about "walking" downtown from the West End! Yeah right, not in MY day, we couldn't go past Engle St and got so bad we couldn't go to "Moe's" (Shusters) or even Memorial Park. Thanks,,,,George


Name: FlorenceCHS50
Email: buffyk@fast.net
Date: 4/29/2002
Time: 8:12:24 PM

Comments

U.W. I received that message also.I worked in Chester for many years, even after I moved a few minutes away. The only reason I didn't work there later is because they moved the place and business I worked for.


Name: Jim
Email:
Date: 4/29/2002
Time: 8:08:43 PM

Comments

To . EG....... What the heck street do you live on???? Please........


Name:
Email:
Date: 4/29/2002
Time: 7:37:40 PM

Comments

West-end chat night tonight....


Name: U.W.
Email:
Date: 4/29/2002
Time: 6:32:34 PM

Comments

Geo: I am sorry that you missed the really good years in So. Chester. You missed a H___ of a great time. Those of us that left did so with I am sure no regrets. But that does not mean that we can't remember. I received a email last week and the following phrase struck me as a good one for those of us that enjoy the memories that are and were awaken by "OldChesterPA". it is:

"Don't cry because its over, Smile because it happened".

and for those that stayed, I hope your mayor makes it happen again in some better way than it is today.


Name: FlorenceCHS50
Email: buffyk@fast.net
Date: 4/29/2002
Time: 6:12:15 PM

Comments

I also grew up in Chester during the 30's and 40's.And I have all good memories, my sister and her family still live in Chester. As my children grew so did my wishes for them to be better off than I was, not with my growing up, but I would have liked them to have better than me. They have grown into wonderful caring people.


Name: Kate(N.D.65)
Email: lucydesi8@comcast.net
Date: 4/29/2002
Time: 6:00:50 PM

Comments

George Malick, I too share the same feelings about Chester, well said.


Name: George Malick (-P)
Email: gpmalick@wideopenwest.com
Date: 4/29/2002
Time: 5:21:16 PM

Comments

To FC: I normally don't like to join in any of the rhetoric about the quality of life in Chester. Last time I did that I got called out for being negative but when you say that most of the blame for the demise of the City belongs to those that moved out, I really have to take issue with you. Recently, when I was back in town to attend my sister's funeral, I told my brother, who still lives in Chester, about the OldChester web site and told him I didn't have many of the fond memories that a lot of people do that post messages. He said "well you grew up in the 50's and 60's, you missed it" I was lucky enough to be at the tale end of the glory days at Chester High. I truly believe that I got as good an education there that I could have anywhere else. The problem was by that time there was little if any opportunity in Chester. It was next to impossible to get a good job, the streets were not safe and I sure as hell knew I didn't want to raise a family there. I can only speak for my own parents, but I'd be willing to bet that they were like most other's in the fact that they wanted better for their kids, better jobs, better housing, etc. Quite a few of us took that advice and left friends and family behind to go make our mark on the world. Some people call that the American Dream. FC, it just wasn't available to most of us in Chester. So put the blame someWHERE else but not on us. The sad part is that the black population that moved INTO Chester, was looking for a better opportunity than they had wherever they came from also. Funny how it's true, that one man's junk is another man's treasure. And to Craig, I apologize if this offends you and you feel I'm being negative but the heading at the top of THIS page states "Share your recollections about Chester!" These are mine. To EG, don't go away mad because of some of the comments that offend you. You sound very proud to be a part of Chester, so defend it, tell us what's going on to make you feel that way, we'll never know if folks like you don't tell us. George


Name: R2
Email:
Date: 4/29/2002
Time: 4:49:39 PM

Comments

WATER SEEKS ITS OWN LEVEL.


Name: EG
Email:
Date: 4/29/2002
Time: 4:14:48 PM

Comments

THIS WILL PROBABLY BE MY LAST POSTING ON THIS WEBSITE. I AM ONE OF THE 10% THAT STILL LIVE IN CHESTER, I AM NOT AFRAID TO SAY I AM FROM THIS CITY, I LIVE ON A VERY MULTI-ETHNIC BLOCK, WE HAVE BLACKS, HISPANICS, HINDUS, MUSLIM,WHITES, MENTALLY CHALLENGED, AND WE ARE A COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE WHO CARE ABOUT THEIR PROPERTIES AND WE DEFINITELY HAVE DIGNITY. IF YOU DON'T HAVE ANYTHING NICE TO SAY THAN DON'T SAY ANYTHING, IF YOU LIVE 5 MINUTES AWAY FROM THE CITY, THEN MOVE 30 MINUTES AWAY FROM THIS CITY, BROOKHAVEN, ASTON,RIDLEY ALSO HAVE CRIME MURDERS AND UNSAVORY CHARACTERS. I AM FINISHED AND I AM PROUD TO BE A PRESENT CHESTERITE,WITH A MAYOR WHO IS TRING TO DO SOMETHING POSITIVE WITH WHAT IS LEFT IN CHESTER. CHESTER MAY HAVE A LOT OF FAULTS AND BAD PUBLICITY, BUT I AM PROUD TO BE A PART OF THIS CITY.


Name: Craig Rainey
Email: CraigyFled86@aol.com
Date: 4/29/2002
Time: 3:14:34 PM

Comments

To the coward that wrongly identified his or herself as Chester Clipper. I am going to pray for you. Chester may have some things in common with many of the places that you mentioned, but why didn't you take the time to research to find all of the positive cities in this country that also has things in common with the positive aspects of our great city of Chester. We don't want to read your trash, especially if you are not man or woman enough to also add the positives. Don't read or visit our website if you don't have anything positive to offer. Visit the website in your town and enjoy sharing your hate there. We are positive people with positive thoughts and don't want you as a part of this group unless you can change and have something productive to offer. No! Don't even think for one moment that in any way you've spoiled my day because you haven't. Many of the negative elements that you mentioned about Chester is also available and going on daily at most of the Suburban towns across this country, without much of the same press. Weren't you intelligent enough to realize this before posting your silly comments? I'm very happy that a true Chester Clipper could just give a fake Chester Clipper OR WANNABE CLIPPER a little bit of Chester love.


Name: U.W.
Email:
Date: 4/29/2002
Time: 2:19:14 PM

Comments

Did you know that although there was a one room high school in Ridley Park as early as 1887 that in 1917 new construction began for the Ridley Park High School and it was dedicated in 1918. (Outside students to the school came from Marcus Hook, Parkside, Trainer, Linwood, Upland).

What does that have to do with Chester you might ask..

Before that most Ridley Parks students attended Chester High School.


Name:
Email:
Date: 4/29/2002
Time: 2:17:28 PM

Comments

TO FC How do you figure any blame goes to the people who moved out of the city, blame the people who moved the bad element in, once the blacks had a strong hold in Chester, the migration started. Everyone has a right to live where they want.


Name:
Email:
Date: 4/29/2002
Time: 2:13:34 PM

Comments


Name: Tom CHS76
Email: t9257@yahoo.com
Date: 4/29/2002
Time: 2:07:48 PM

Comments

Well go figure.


Name: FC CHS68
Email:
Date: 4/29/2002
Time: 1:02:00 PM

Comments

To Pidipat-Go to the Oldchesterpa home page and look for the link to City of Chester and the mayors name and picture will come up. If you can't find an address-it is City of Chester 34 E 5th St Chester Pa 19013.


Name: FC CHS 68
Email:
Date: 4/29/2002
Time: 12:43:33 PM

Comments

To Tom- there is a KFC at 9th & Ave of the States--TO Florence-They are tearing down all houses on the south side of 2d st for the new highway. Also you and noname are spelling Widener Univ all wrong.TO NOMANE- Joe Klecko also used to bounce at the Anvil Inn in Kennett Sq.He now lives in NJ as ahouse builder and has a son playing for Temple U football team. TO JOAN- Donna was right,some if not most of the blame for the way Chester is now can be put on the people who mved out of the city along with malls and factories.


Name: Chester Clipper
Email:
Date: 4/29/2002
Time: 9:57:02 AM

Comments

What does Chester have in common with the following cities?

Washington, D.C. , Paterson, NJ, Wilmington, De, Detroit, MI, Atlantic City, Gary, Indiana, Camden, NJ, Jersey City, NJ, Compton, Ca, Berkley, Ca, Brooklyn and the Bronx, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Oh, South Central Los Angeles, Hartford and New Haven,, Baltimore, Md, Philadelphia, Pa

Answer: Crime, drugs, gangs, poverty, dilapidated and decaying housing, unmarried women with children on welfare, and Blacks are more than 50% of the population!


Name: Mike Mangan StJ'57
Email: mangan0521@aol.com
Date: 4/29/2002
Time: 9:53:58 AM

Comments

Tom CHS'76:: Tom, my hair is a little grey on the sides now, but not in the '70's. In fact I moved to Charlotte in '68. I worked tending bar at Rube's through most of the 60's on the weekends. I was still working at Westinghouse. I knew John McCloskey very well. He used to work at the Clipper Ship on McDade before going to the old Club 31 or McCloskeys. Of course, John was from the neighborhood also. Nice guy.


Name: Tom CHS76
Email: t9257@yahoo.com
Date: 4/29/2002
Time: 9:41:36 AM

Comments

Mike, I think I am remembering you. Did you, hate to ask this, have grey hair in the late 70's always combed back? My dad was good friends with John McCloskey and was always in Rubes and he use to clean the bar at McCloskey's on Sundays.


Name: u.w.
Email:
Date: 4/29/2002
Time: 8:12:45 AM

Comments

Paul: the music teacher at Clayton around 1950 was Ms. Sidorsky. She moved to a suburban school in the early 1950's. I am told you really learned when she was your instructor she was a no nonsence teacher.

Know very little about Highland Gardens always got the 3 communities mixed up. Knew some people there thru school and some in the area who were family.


Name: Mike Mangan St,'57
Email: mangan0521@aol.com
Date: 4/28/2002
Time: 10:02:43 PM

Comments

Frank Sbandi:: Yes they were the good times in Chester, when you didn't have to lock your doors, and life was a lot slower & it seemed like everyone knew their neighbors. I remember as a kid going to Rube's or your Mom & Dads place and watching the Friday night fights on the TV with the magnifying glass on it. Gillette on Fridays & Pabts Blue Ribbon on Wednesdays. I thought a aweful lot of your Mom & Dad also. They were genuine people.. Yes I was with Westinghouse. Stayed with them from 1958 to 1994.


Name: Paul D. Crowther
Email: pcrowther4@cogeco.ca
Date: 4/28/2002
Time: 5:33:09 PM

Comments

TO UW.. I don't know who Donald's teacher was. It seemed like every other Friday afternoon at Clayton school we would have a sort of talent show. Quite often Don would entertain with his accordian. I really enjoyed hearing him. Wonder if they still do this at schools today.


Name: TomCHS76
Email: t9257@yahoo.com
Date: 4/28/2002
Time: 3:34:24 PM

Comments

Frank, I worked for Albert at the bar for a few years. I also took his wedding pictures up in Philly when he married Mayor Greene's niece (I think she was, anyway). How is he doing these days? I haven't seen him since Doris Adam's son past away with MD.

Kate, You were right, again. I talked to my buddy who works at the RS and he said Klecko worked there when he was like 18 and he was a bouncer. Jack you were right Joe played Defensive End, Defensive Tackle and Defensive Back. I know that he used to live in Westtown, don't know now, though.

Mike Garvey, I'll probably see you next month you won't recognize me, but maybe. I used to hang around with your sister, you know the one that's been married for 25 years now.


Name: Sam
Email:
Date: 4/28/2002
Time: 3:04:38 PM

Comments

To UW, No I'm not from Temple. I was born in Chester in 1934. You know me and my family, but we dont know you.


Name: Frank Sbandi
Email: Frankgolf01@hotmail.com
Date: 4/28/2002
Time: 11:16:33 AM

Comments

To Mike Mangan: Your mother and father were good friends of my mother and father who owned the bar at 9th and Keystone and Clover Lane. The building has now been removed and the other day a Jack and Jill man was shot to death on the street corner.After church on Sunday at Rez I would go to Honeysuckle for a banana split prepared by your Mom. It was huge. Remember the boys hanging at Fletchers sandwich shop and Johnsons pharmacy which later became Vesuvios Pizza place. I think Mike worked for Westinghouse and took the opportunity to go to North Carolina when they opened a new plant. My Dad always thought highly of you.I am an attorney in Media,Pa.


Name: PamRHS75
Email: watt6@aol
Date: 4/28/2002
Time: 5:00:27 AM

Comments

My husband saw Joe not too long ago. I think he lives in Chester County. Had lunch with him about 4 yrs ago also.


Name:
Email:
Date: 4/28/2002
Time: 1:09:16 AM

Comments

Mike

You are right. The bar was at 9th & keystone. If I am not mistaken again, Liberty was down around 3rd & Reaney Strs. The whole family were nice people.


Name:
Email:
Date: 4/28/2002
Time: 1:04:44 AM

Comments

Mike

You are right. If I am not mistaken again, Liberty was down around 3rd & Reaney Strs. The whole family were nice people.


Name: Pat CHS49
Email:
Date: 4/28/2002
Time: 12:30:24 AM

Comments

Excuse me spelling teacher. It should be "superintendent" not "superintendant". Thank you.


Name: Mike Mangan StJ'57
Email: mangan0521@aol.com
Date: 4/28/2002
Time: 12:26:06 AM

Comments

TO: NO NAME I don't know much about the young Ferrara's sexuality, but he seemed very nice when he came into Rube's. Liberty Bottling was down on 3rd St. somewhere. Mary married Frank Sbandi & they had the bar at 9th & Keystone. After they divorced & Frank got the business, she still lived upstairs in an apartment. Both Frank & Mary were great people in my book. Young Albert their son ran the bar for some years after I was transferred to Charlotte. It has since closed.


Name: Pat CHS49
Email:
Date: 4/28/2002
Time: 12:17:31 AM

Comments

To Florence, Buffy and any others concerning "Hail Chester High" I played alto sax in the CHS band and sure enough my memory of our Alma Mater was that "CD Long" was printed at the top right hand of the music sheet. I'm sure that he wrote the music but I don't know if he wrote the words. I played that song many times during my final two years at CHS. Mr. Long was our director and later he became Superintendant of Chester Schools. He was strict and a no-nonsense person and was liked by all who knew him. One interesting note about Alma Maters: Many times schools used music that had already been composed and had words written for that music. For example Chichester uses Far Above Cayuga's Waters". Anyone know if Chester still uses this version of CD Long. Thank you for your responses.


Name: Harvey Martin
Email: hsmartin@snip.net
Date: 4/27/2002
Time: 11:38:18 PM

Comments

I see Mr. Piscotti most mornings at OLC. He is doing good.

My grandfather, Mike McCarthy, played an old German accordion...mostly Irish songs like Washerwoman... but he did do Beer Barrel Polka.


Name: u.w.
Email:
Date: 4/27/2002
Time: 11:21:41 PM

Comments

Paul: No Paul,did he take from Geo Hoven or Mr. Piscotti? In those days the teacher would come to the house for private lessons and my dad who could play any instrument by ear had to suffer though the half hour along with Mr. Piscotti. The nice thing is I can still pickup the accordian today and play tunes. Not as well as Sammy from "The Night Riders". but enough that

I impress only my grandkids and the dog.


Name: Harvey Martin
Email: hsmartin@snip.net
Date: 4/27/2002
Time: 11:19:56 PM

Comments

Polka Radio - 24 Hrs - 7 Days

http://www.247polkaheaven.com/


Name: U.W.
Email:
Date: 4/27/2002
Time: 10:34:41 PM

Comments

Sam: Are you at Temple?


Name: Paul D. Crowther
Email: pcrowther4@cogeco.ca
Date: 4/27/2002
Time: 10:31:38 PM

Comments

TO UW.. Did you know an accordian player fromthe West End named Donald Makuch?


Name: Paul D. Crowther
Email: pcrowther4@cogeco.ca
Date: 4/27/2002
Time: 10:20:19 PM

Comments

TO SAM.. I don't really know when they started to build Highland Gardens. I think the last section which is North of where the I-95 is now was completed last. We moved there in 1944. The street wasn't paved at the time.


Name: Paul D. Crowther
Email: pcrowther4@cogeco.ca
Date: 4/27/2002
Time: 10:15:27 PM

Comments

I remember Franny Fedina. He used to date my best friends sister. He had a nice 1955 Olds Brand new!


Name: Harvey Martin
Email: hsmartin@snip.net
Date: 4/27/2002
Time: 10:05:49 PM

Comments

On The Way To Cape May

http://www.paulrichardson.com/catalog.html


Name: Sam
Email:
Date: 4/27/2002
Time: 9:30:25 PM

Comments

Again I ask, especially U W. Can anyone tell me when Highland Gardens was developed?


Name: Born and rased in Chester
Email:
Date: 4/27/2002
Time: 9:25:22 PM

Comments

Chester is not the only nice tpown to go down the drain after industry pulled out. There are many towns where people who moved out after the jobs dwindled. The people of those towns had many fond memories of growing up in a nice town such as Chester was. Dont dwell on the town as it is today, rember the good days and smile.


Name: U.W.
Email:
Date: 4/27/2002
Time: 8:10:23 PM

Comments

Thanks to the following for putting the words to either the alma mater, popular school song and some cheers together. They are all put together here. Any additions lets put them here so they can go in the school section.

Pat McF: the Title Florance with the author Mary (Marie)Constantini Larner - the words no name for the song/cheer -Were from CHS

CHESTER HIGH ALMA MATER

C.D. Long (Charles D. Long) Music Supervisor

"Hail Chester High"

Hail Chester High! All honor praise be thine, We owe what e'er we are to thee, What e'er we hope to be. On future's broadning path, Where life's stern duties lie, we'll firmly tread with visions clearand thank thee Chester High.

Was the following a song sung at sporting events or a cheer?

We're from Chester High School, Clippers our name, we'll fight for victory, We'll fight on for fame.


Name:
Email:
Date: 4/27/2002
Time: 7:55:54 PM

Comments

Mike, I don't think the son ever married. He appeared to be gay. His mother (Bessie) was sister to Mary Sbandi who owned the Liberty Bottling works (Beer & Soda Distributor)near 9th & Keystone.


Name: mike Garvey
Email: chesterchevy19061@yahoo
Date: 4/27/2002
Time: 6:58:23 PM

Comments

you are all right it was a tailor shop. I would sit across the street as a child at the beer celler. My uncle woody and father fran, mother worked thier my aunt.almost the whole family. I would wait for the Bud truck to come and ride the cases down the old tracks as the men stacked the beer one case at a time. I would run across the street and peek in the windows, Boy thier was alot of windows. just another memory of my child hood. thank you for keeping it green for me

mike Garvey


Name: mike garvey
Email: chesterchevey19061@yahoo
Date: 4/27/2002
Time: 6:54:15 PM

Comments


Name: Mike Mangan StJ'57
Email:
Date: 4/27/2002
Time: 2:34:41 PM

Comments

To No Name:: You are right, it was Ferrara. Fedina lived on 6th st. The son used to stop in Rube's once in a while..Just a little slip of the old memory..


Name: FlorenceCHS50
Email: buffyk@fast.net
Date: 4/27/2002
Time: 11:37:24 AM

Comments

Pat, not only is my mind going but also my eyes. It was C.D.Long, which must have been Charles D. Long, our music supervisor.


Name: FlorenceCHS50
Email: buffyk@fast.net
Date: 4/27/2002
Time: 11:36:57 AM

Comments

Pat, not only is my mind going but also my eyes. It was C.D.Long, which must have been Charles D. Long, our music supervisor.


Name: FlorenceCHS50
Email: buffyk@fast.net
Date: 4/27/2002
Time: 11:13:31 AM

Comments

Pat, according to my annual it was A.D.Long


Name: FlorenceChs50
Email: buffyk@fast.net
Date: 4/27/2002
Time: 11:11:59 AM

Comments

Pat in the annual, A.....D Long is at the top of the page over the song. I don't know if he wrote the words or the music or both.

I was remembering in the 50's, as I was walking home from work, how beautiful the bushes and trees were around 14thst, and how wonderful it smelled, such a beautiful area then,


Name: FlorenceChs50
Email: buffyk@fast.net
Date: 4/27/2002
Time: 11:11:39 AM

Comments

Pat in the annual, A.....D Long is at the top of the page over the song. I don't know if he wrote the words or the music or both.

I was remembering in the 50's, as I was walking home from work, how beautiful the bushes and trees were around 14thst, and how wonderful it smelled, such a beautiful area then,


Name: FlorenceChs50
Email: buffyk@fast.net
Date: 4/27/2002
Time: 11:11:20 AM

Comments

Pat in the annual, A.....D Long is at the top of the page over the song. I don't know if he wrote the words or the music or both.

I was remembering in the 50's, as I was walking home from work, how beautiful the bushes and trees were around 14thst, and how wonderful it smelled, such a beautiful area then,


Name: u.W.
Email:
Date: 4/27/2002
Time: 9:30:15 AM

Comments

I see my computer swallowed some letters in the words I wrote..I know you know what I meant. Have a good week end, be good to yourself.

SEE YOU AT THE WALKING TOUR..MAYBE..


Name: U.W.
Email:
Date: 4/27/2002
Time: 9:27:52 AM

Comments

Thanks all did not mean not to leave a signature. My memory most be slipping. Why I would not have TM's made there in the early 50's if it were that close to where I live. Went up to the Italian neighborhodd and had them made there. Guys and gals even came from the burbs to get them made on 3rd street.

Agan thanks, gotta go eat some crow prepared by the worlds best older sister.


Name:
Email:
Date: 4/27/2002
Time: 9:10:15 AM

Comments

The family that lived in the house and had the tailor shop in the rear of the house at 9th and Booth was Ferrari"s. In fact Amedeo was the name of father and son. The son just passed on a few weeks ago.


Name: Mike Mangan
Email: mangan0521@aol.com
Date: 4/27/2002
Time: 3:46:54 AM

Comments

To: No Name The hoise at 9th & Booth was a tailor shop. The family lived in the housr out front, on 9th St. Their name was Fadina, I believe. I remember the one son who's name was Franny. I had a custom made suit made there in the early 60's. He used to measure you up with the pins & chalk & the whole 10 yards. He did a super job.he pop was from the old country, spoke in the brokem english.


Name: Pat  CHS49
Email:
Date: 4/27/2002
Time: 1:19:35 AM

Comments

Does anyone know who wrote "Hail Chester High"?


Name:
Email:
Date: 4/27/2002
Time: 12:15:18 AM

Comments

Their seems to be a lot of old west end people on here, does anyone remember a girl Dothery White class of CHS50? I know her very well in high school, but never saw her after graduation. Is she married, still live in the area?


Name:
Email:
Date: 4/27/2002
Time: 12:07:08 AM

Comments

Mike Garvey: I think your just the person that can answer a question for me. The corner house on 9th and Booth..just behind had this intriguing building. Oddly shaped and many windows. When I lived in Chester I remembered it as a shoemakers shop someone else said a tailor. I left in 54..


Name:
Email:
Date: 4/26/2002
Time: 11:47:48 PM

Comments

Mike Garvey, I feel your pain, hope you are well Peace.


Name: Mike Mangan St J'57
Email: mangan0521@aol.com
Date: 4/26/2002
Time: 10:48:08 PM

Comments

Joan: I'll bet I probably know you. We used to be there all the time. If not a the store, we would be close to it, in the little shopping center. We all went to Rez or Dewey Mann, then later years St. James or CHS. If you want some names, I can run them off for you. Had a lot of good clean fun was had there. Very good memories. By the wat my moms name was Loretta. She worked all days..


Name: Mike garvey
Email: chesterchevy19061@yahoo
Date: 4/26/2002
Time: 10:39:07 PM

Comments

My brother-in-law Roy palmers mom Mrs Palmer still lives in one of the remaining row homes in McCaffery Village. I lived at 1007 Booth Street with my family most of my life. What a great place to live. I shined shoes in all the bars, Brownies, Rubes Bank tavern McCluskies. My family ran the Beer Celler under the chester library. I backed bags at Penn Friut. I even worked at HG Hientz Lumber yard for henry Hientz. It was the Summer of 1976 that changed my life. It got harder for a younge man or even a younge lady or family to live in the projects.Christ that was about the time the avon lady was killed. I remember the riots that summer. When I think back I have anger sadness pain. I wounder why It had to turn ugly. Why couldnt I still live thier? why did I have to move? I just get sad thinking about it. We were a tight group of families. Thats what nieghbers are, friends. I still see some of them Frank Pilkington, Ron Hess. Some I have not seen since thier families moved. When they started tearing down the houses I went and retrieved the address block of our old house. The Garveys 1007 Booth Street Chester, Pa 19013 Proud to say I am From Chester Pa.


Name: Mike garvey
Email: chesterchevy19061@yahoo
Date: 4/26/2002
Time: 10:38:52 PM

Comments

My brother-in-law Roy palmers mom Mrs Palmer still lives in one of the remaining row homes in McCaffery Village. I lived at 1007 Booth Street with my family most of my life. What a great place to live. I shined shoes in all the bars, Brownies, Rubes Bank tavern McCluskies. My family ran the Beer Celler under the chester library. I backed bags at Penn Friut. I even worked at HG Hientz Lumber yard for henry Hientz. It was the Summer of 1976 that changed my life. It got harder for a younge man or even a younge lady or family to live in the projects.Christ that was about the time the avon lady was killed. I remember the riots that summer. When I think back I have anger sadness pain. I wounder why It had to turn ugly. Why couldnt I still live thier? why did I have to move? I just get sad thinking about it. We were a tight group of families. Thats what nieghbers are, friends. I still see some of them Frank Pilkington, Ron Hess. Some I have not seen since thier families moved. When they started tearing down the houses I went and retrieved the address block of our old house. The Garveys 1007 Booth Street Chester, Pa 19013 Proud to say I am From Chester Pa.


Name: U.W.
Email:
Date: 4/26/2002
Time: 10:36:39 PM

Comments

One of these days I might do that Harvey. Mr Piscotti would make me sign a paper saying that he never taught me...maybe I'll record myself and let everyone suffer just like my music teacher had to.

There was one kid in Chester that could really play the accordian. In fact she was so good she was on Tony Grants "Stars of Tomorrow" program. She came from 5th and Highland. Would be about 61 now.


Name: Kate
Email:
Date: 4/26/2002
Time: 9:21:17 PM

Comments

George, Is this Notre Dame nite????


Name:
Email:
Date: 4/26/2002
Time: 8:53:54 PM

Comments

Where is Klecko now?


Name: Harvey Martin
Email: hsmartin@snip.net
Date: 4/26/2002
Time: 8:50:24 PM

Comments

Joe Klecko

http://www.polishsportshof.com/hof50.htm

U.W. - I wish you would play us some polkas on your accordion!


Name: Lee (CHS53)
Email: wshorter@aol.com
Date: 4/26/2002
Time: 8:49:58 PM

Comments

Looking for information about Lugwig Holland Aircraft Factory in Chester during WWII


Name: U.W.
Email:
Date: 4/26/2002
Time: 8:40:32 PM

Comments

The George Halas Trophy is awarded to the outstanding defensive player as chosen by a panel of sports experts.

1981 Joe Klecko, N.Y. Jets


Name: Kate
Email:
Date: 4/26/2002
Time: 7:52:48 PM

Comments

Thank you, Jack, I'm sure Tom knew that.


Name: jack
Email: j.kersh@worldnet.att.net
Date: 4/26/2002
Time: 7:50:34 PM

Comments

just a couple of guess fact's for pp.(90%is a guess)

i do appreciate all of your concern for chester and the people who live there now....but i really think that 90% of the people on this sight don't live there anymore although they are still interested in the city.

on the klecko thing...he was a middle lineman wich could of been on honest mistake by tom... he also played left and right lineman(or outside) and was the only player to ever play all three in the pro bowl...


Name: jack
Email: j.kersh@worldnet.att.net
Date: 4/26/2002
Time: 7:49:50 PM

Comments

just a couple of guess fact's for pp.(90%is a guess)

i do appreciate all of your concern for chester and the people who live there now....but i really think that 90% of the people on this sight don't live there anymore although they are still interested in the city.

on the klecko thing...he was a middle lineman wich could of been on honest mistake by tom... he also played left and right lineman(or outside) and was the only player to ever play all three in the pro bowl...


Name: Kate
Email:
Date: 4/26/2002
Time: 7:30:55 PM

Comments

o.k., what position was it, Mr. Mystery man?


Name:
Email:
Date: 4/26/2002
Time: 7:28:22 PM

Comments

yes he did but not middle linebacker


Name: Kate
Email:
Date: 4/26/2002
Time: 7:16:25 PM

Comments

No Name, Tom is the same age as my younger brother which is in his 40's I won't give his age but I know Klecko played for the Jets.


Name:
Email:
Date: 4/26/2002
Time: 7:10:35 PM

Comments

Tom how can you remember so much as a kid how old is your goddaughter. Joe Klecko was not a middle line backer


Name: Val
Email: gracey4558@aol
Date: 4/26/2002
Time: 6:31:48 PM

Comments

Does anyone remember Maureen Lee from St Michaels? Maybe the class of 1953? I'm looking for info about her.


Name: VAL
Email: gracey4558@aol
Date: 4/26/2002
Time: 6:29:08 PM

Comments


Name: Mary (Marie)Constantini Larner
Email: Rere628@aol.com
Date: 4/26/2002
Time: 6:00:14 PM

Comments

Pat McFadden - I read your posting abut 2 a.m. this morning and it drove me crazy trying to remember the missing line. Woke up with the alarm about 6:00 and damn if the song wasn't going through my mind and I finally remembered it (guess St. Anthony helped with that one. Here it is:

Hail Chester High! All honor praise be thine, We owe what e'er we are to thee, What e'er we hope to be. On future's broadning path, Where life's stern duties lie, we'll firmly tread with visions clearand thank thee Chester High.


Name: florenceCHS50
Email: buffyk@fast.net
Date: 4/26/2002
Time: 4:53:01 PM

Comments

Kate, I honestly don't know right now


Name: florenceCHS50
Email: buffyk@fast.net
Date: 4/26/2002
Time: 4:52:45 PM

Comments

Kate, I honestly don't know right now


Name: Tom CHS76
Email: t9257@yahoo.com
Date: 4/26/2002
Time: 4:33:03 PM

Comments

Klecko played most of the 80's until a knee injury caused him to quit. Don't know about Ridgeway or the people that were in McCaffery. I know that Mrs. Palmer is still around but that's about all. I'm kind of rushed right now and have to get done my work, so I will check in tomorrow with some further info.


Name: Kate
Email:
Date: 4/26/2002
Time: 4:21:05 PM

Comments

Tom or Florence,How is th Ridgeway project going & where did the people go that lived in mcCaffery& who are going to live in the new homes?


Name: FlorenceChs50
Email: buffyk@fast.net
Date: 4/26/2002
Time: 4:06:56 PM

Comments

What happened, I honestly don't know, but I don't think it's the fault of the people. I think it had to do with economyGod know I love the city we came from, and so do many others.Maybe their were so many people, that their just wasn't enough jobs to employ them.Then eventually a lot of business's moved away.A lot of business's have even left the country.More unemployed. Another giant is about to make another move and their will be more unemplyment. I don't think their is a cure


Name: Kate
Email:
Date: 4/26/2002
Time: 4:00:54 PM

Comments

THANK YOU HARVEY, I have put that in my favorite list so I won't have to bother you about the music I like....K.


Name: Donna
Email:
Date: 4/26/2002
Time: 3:44:56 PM

Comments

Joan,I just read your posting and have to say I felt offended but your last comment. You stated that you don't know why chester has become a slum, but you figure it has alot to do more with the people who stayed in Chester, than the ones who left. I could care less why anyone left, all I know is that I stayed for awhile along with alot of my original neighbors. I know for a fact that we didn't contribute to the ugliness of what happened to our neighborhood. Alot of people I know STILL live in Chester and I know that they are law abiding residents. They work, they pay their taxes, they keep their property clean. So, I very much disagree with you that people who stayed , made it like it is. Not everyone who stayed had to go on welfare,live in public housing and gave into the crime and drug scene. I agree that the street I grew up on is the pits. It's a disgrace and it's just getting worse, I didn't contribute to the decay, and this I know!


Name: No Name
Email:
Date: 4/26/2002
Time: 3:43:10 PM

Comments

Wrong Tom

Wouldn't want the job of Mayor of Chester. The ones elected before Pileggi did nothing for the city so he has a big job on his hands to undo all the damage that the others left for him.


Name: Harvey Martin
Email: hsmartin@snip.net
Date: 4/26/2002
Time: 3:41:57 PM

Comments

American Pie

http://www.noackagency.com/personal/music.html


Name: George Malick
Email: gpmalick@wideopenwest.com
Date: 4/26/2002
Time: 2:58:29 PM

Comments

Mongo Jerry: I tried to e-mail you after I saw your post on the board but it came back undelivered. If you are the "Mongo Jerry" of 6th & Wilson fame, e-mail me, been trying to find you for some time. George


Name: Kate
Email:
Date: 4/26/2002
Time: 2:43:02 PM

Comments

Tom, What years did he play? I remember him standing at the top of the stairs at the RS, he was a big guy.


Name: Tom CHS76
Email: t9257@yahoo.com
Date: 4/26/2002
Time: 2:37:59 PM

Comments

Kate, Don't know about the first part. I have a good friend who has worked at the RS for Junior for years, I'll ask him. You're right on the second. He was an ALL Pro middle linebacker for the Jets from Highland Gardens. I used to work on his car (well Kenny Brown did the work I just helped) at Ed's Arco 4th and Highland.


Name: Tom CHS76
Email: t9257@yahoo.com
Date: 4/26/2002
Time: 2:23:41 PM

Comments

O.k. Noname, come clean. You're the mayor of Chester, aren't you? :)


Name: Kate
Email:
Date: 4/26/2002
Time: 2:04:55 PM

Comments

Hey Tom, Joe Klecko was a bouncer at the RS club at one point & I also heard he played football for the Jets, & I remember his sister Joanne


Name: Kate(N.D.65)
Email:
Date: 4/26/2002
Time: 2:02:27 PM

Comments

Harvey, how about the song "American Pie".Thanks.


Name: Tom CHS76
Email: t9257@yahoo.com
Date: 4/26/2002
Time: 2:00:14 PM

Comments

Does anyone know who Joey Klecko is? I once saw him hit a softball onto the railroad tracks down at Memorial Park. No he didn't play baseball. He was in the movie Cannonball Run or CB Run II I think, with Jackie Gleason.

Does anyone remember Timmy and Tommy Chism from Buckman Village? They both had World series rings. I mean one of them either lost the ring or someone Stole it. I forget which one I always got them mix up. So if anyone out there has found a World Series ring I know who the rightful owner is.

Their father was the huckster in the West End that had the red stake back truck.


Name:
Email:
Date: 4/26/2002
Time: 1:06:30 PM

Comments

Joan, the arugments(?) if there are any, have to do with one-sided thinking and no room for posting opposing views of what is and what was. Chester is Chester, it once was a great place, it no longer is, and who knows which direction it is going. You are right when you said it slid into the slums with the SOME of the people that stayed. The statement referring to people that left was that those were the taxpaying people. When they moved out of the city, what was left were mostly low income people who couldn't or didn't pay taxes, thus causing a bigger burden on the taxpayers that stayed. Plus the fact they dragged Upland into being part of their school system which icreased taxes for Upland residents. That is the reason many Upland residents move or send their kids to private schools. Who wants their kids bused into the crime districts?

There are pros and cons with the whole subject of what Chester is now or what it could be. Some people can't accept the fact that opinions differ. And why not?


Name: Joan
Email: joaniiii@yahoo.com
Date: 4/26/2002
Time: 12:40:47 PM

Comments

***tapping my foot***

Don't any of you EVEN think about directing all the arguements over the current condition of the Chester slums to the OldChester message board. I can delete the mean spirited arguing faster than they can be posted.

Chester was a good working class city. The puritan work ethic was alive and well when I lived there in the 50's. Unfortunately, even then, opportunity for advancement was almost non-existant.

For me, there was no hope of college, a better job, or better housing. At 16, I left home to realize my own dreams rather than be hampered by everyone telling me my dreams were not possible.

Chester is a slum. In the 1980's PBS did a newscast on the welfare system and receipients in Chester. Chester was depicted as a terrible place to live. One of the worst in the nation.

I don't know why Chester slid into the slum state but it has more to do with the people that stayed rather than the people that left.


Name: Joan
Email: joaniiii@yahoo.com
Date: 4/26/2002
Time: 12:24:22 PM

Comments

To Mike Mangan StJ'57

I remember Honeysuckle Farm. It was on Ninth Street just past Highland Avenue. We kids hung out there from 8th grade to 12th grade.

Joan CHS 1956


Name:
Email:
Date: 4/26/2002
Time: 12:13:18 PM

Comments

Tom

William Penn did land in Chester. There is or was a plaque or statue, (not sure,) at the foot of Front and Penn Streets in Chester.


Name: Tom CHS76
Email: t9257@yahoo.com
Date: 4/26/2002
Time: 11:59:29 AM

Comments

Thanks for the link no-name. It brought back another memory of when I was very young back in the PMC days my father was a maintenance man at the college he worked with a guy name Charlie who was his boss. The shop was under the stadium and thats where I would go if it got to cold. He used to take me to the football games on Saturday and I would spend the whole day at the college. I remember how the cadets all would march to the stadium with me on the sidewalk marching right along with them, they sat in one section and at halftime they would all go out on the field and march. When I was a child I often thought that I would someday be in one of those uniforms," because I was allowed to because my dad works here and that means I can go for free". LOL Childhood imagination.


Name: FlorenceCHS50
Email: buffyk@fast.net
Date: 4/26/2002
Time: 11:49:55 AM

Comments

Tom, yes that is true.


Name: FlorenceCHS50
Email: buffyk@fast.net
Date: 4/26/2002
Time: 11:49:33 AM

Comments

Tom, yes that is true.


Name: FlorenceCHS50
Email: buffyk@fast.net
Date: 4/26/2002
Time: 11:49:20 AM

Comments

Tom, yes that is true.


Name: FlorenceCHS50
Email: buffyk@fast.net
Date: 4/26/2002
Time: 11:49:02 AM

Comments

Tom, yes that is true.


Name:
Email:
Date: 4/26/2002
Time: 11:19:05 AM

Comments

hey gang,it is widener university at http://www.widener.edu/


Name: Tom CHS76
Email: t9257@yahoo.com
Date: 4/26/2002
Time: 10:48:26 AM

Comments

I'm sitting here in my office in Philly looking out the window and you know who I see every time why it's old Billy Penn. I remember one Saturday during the Bi-Centenial in 1976 there was a big shindig in Chester specifically at the West End Boat Club old Billy himself stopped by in his boat, he was with the Philly Phanatic they took pictures with all the kids and stayed for about two hours. Then up the river they went. It was pretty windy that day you can see it in the picture we have of my goddaughter with the phanatic. Anyway, Isn't it true that Billy actually stopped in Chester first? May have even stayed for a while before heading further up river.


Name:
Email:
Date: 4/26/2002
Time: 10:16:27 AM

Comments

pp no one is sneering or degrading you. we just have different views which anger you because we don't agree with your ideas. you are not laughing, you are angry or you wouldn't have said that you were being sneered at and degraded. you constantly contradict your own self. you try so hard to impress. don't try too hard then maybe you will succeed.


Name: Tom CHS76
Email: t9257@yahoo.com
Date: 4/26/2002
Time: 9:55:37 AM

Comments

Ahh, Honeysuckle spent many an after school day there. I used to get the french cheese steak (which was basically a steak sandwich made on a round roll)and a large milkshake cost about 2 bucks. I worked at the fair at Sacred Heart hospital every year and used to take the money I earned over to Honeysuckle.


Name: C.
Email:
Date: 4/26/2002
Time: 8:58:16 AM

Comments

Vince in TampaBay: Just curious, what type of store. My son-in-law in a Dr. at Tampa General

Iris: you were a beautiful "Probie" in your blue and white striped uniform with that starched to stand up by its self white cover apron. And the caps that said to the public, "I a registered Nurse" Does anyone wear them today? Can you remember your "big sisters" name from training? Mine was Liz Stroud. Wonder whatever happened to her.


Name: Mike Mangan StJ'57
Email: mangan0521@aol.com
Date: 4/26/2002
Time: 3:29:25 AM

Comments

Does anybody remember Honeysuckle Farm on W 9th St. across from Rez. My mom worked there for years. I even worked there when I was going to Rez. I used to help Mr. Wolf, the owner, make icecream at about 5am in the morning. Then I'd leave & go to school. I'm willing to bet that he had more flavors then Ben & Jerry or any of the large ice cream makers around. He used real rum in his Rum Maple. Just an small attempt on my part to get the subjects changed & return to why this site exist.


Name: Pat McFadden (CHS '50)
Email:
Date: 4/26/2002
Time: 2:47:25 AM

Comments

I went through all posts looking for questions that I should answer. I found no questions.

I live a few thousand miles away, but I am concerned, really concerned enough about the town most of you live in called Chester. I truly love the people back there and I am fighting for YOU - not me. I'm here in Phoenix, but I care enough for you and what you're going through. I am giving you something to think about and maybe work towards, so why are you challenging my dreams for something you can benefit from? It does not matter at all to me that you choose to criticize what I have propose, because I do it out of caring for you, and if I can give instead of take, I'm satisfied. Love thy neighbor - we are our brother's keeper. Remember?

If you choose to degrade or sneer at my idea, again, it does not bother me, because I tried in a positive way to offer a viable solution. It has always been my way that if I am going to criticize an unwholesome situation, it sits better with the person to whom you are complaining, if you can also come up with a solution to the problem. Because the boss can't fix it unless you're smart enough to offer a solution.

When I attended Notre Dame, we had the most marvelous nun who taught us French. She was truly a "blythe spirit". All of us girls adored her - really. She was a combination of Ingrid Bergman in appearance, and the personality of Sally Fields when she played the "Flying Nun" years ago. She made the class so much fun and she would walk up and down the aisles making us repeat what she was saying: "Ouvre la finetra, la crayon, la porte, mal a la tete, etc." (Sorry misspellings, I'm sure - wish I had continued with French). She did it all in rhythm and we sang "Frere Jacques" everyday. I still say "ferme la bouche" to people who annoy me and they're not offended because they have no idea what I said, they just think I can't speak english.

Occasionally, she would get very angry with us and put us in our place verbally, then she'd leave the classroom for a few minutes, as though in disgust. We all felt really bad about having upset her. At the end of the school year, she "confessed" to us that when she would show us anger, the reason she left the room was because when looking at our serious faces, she could not contain the laughter she felt inside - so, she left the room to make sure we took her seriously. What a credit to being a teacher and a nun, she was. She knew she had to "be in charge at all times" but found it difficult to be that type of personality.

That's how I feel. Not that I could ever compare to her, but - I'm really laughing at how serious you take me - when all I'm doing is trying to submit ideas for change. Of course, I'll never measure up to that saint of a nun, but I'll never forget her and I adore what she exemplified. One of the girls in our class went on to be an interpreter for the French language, married a French man. That's how good that sister was. So, if you could see how I "break myself up" with some of the things I post, you'd laugh along with me. But, I am serious about making a government-approved historical site of our city. Nothing is impossible, only takes time.


Name: Vince
Email: vcasciat@tampabay.rr.com
Date: 4/26/2002
Time: 1:20:12 AM

Comments

UW, Thank You...Worked perfect. Thanks again. Vince


Name: Pat McFadden (CHS '50)
Email:
Date: 4/26/2002
Time: 1:18:44 AM

Comments

I remember the melody to the CHS song posted by someone, but I too cannot remember the rest of the words except maybe "when we get together" and that's it. However in my annual of 1950, it has a song called "Our Alma Mater" with the music there also, which I will be glad to email you, if possible. But the words are:

Hail Chester High! All honor praise be thine, We owe what e'er we are to thee, What e'er we hope to be. On future's broadning path, Where life's stern duties lie, we'll (here the words are blocked out by a characture of a chorus singing) .... and thank thee Chester High. Maybe the missing words are: "we'll always praise and thank thee, etc. Don't even remember ever singing that song. But according to the 1950 annual, that's "Our Alma Mater". I think the other more memorable song was just for the games.


Name: U.W.
Email:
Date: 4/26/2002
Time: 1:03:51 AM

Comments

Vince C:

http://www.delcotimes.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=3684518&BRD=1675&PAG=461&dept_id=18171&rfi=8 The web address for the times is www.delcotimes.com to find past articles in the search area type in the name your looking for and then go to refined search under it. This will bring you to a period of time you can click on to go back 30 days, 60 days etc.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Thanks, I do remember now that you mention it the Welcome...Did you know that the original year marker is set in the wall behind the delcora offices in Chester on 5th street?


Name: Pat McFadden (CHS '50)
Email:
Date: 4/26/2002
Time: 12:56:36 AM

Comments

Vince: Go to www.delcotimes.com. I look at it every day. At one time, I needed something that appeared there and I believe there might be a section there where you can email the editor, because I got what I wanted. So, you might ask the editor about that. I saw the article last week and it was there for 2-3 days. It appears he was found dead in his car.


Name:
Email:
Date: 4/26/2002
Time: 12:54:11 AM

Comments

UW

Checked 3 yearbooks to see if Chester High's song is printed somewhere. Couldn't find it. Chester High's newspaper was called "The Welcome".


Name:
Email:
Date: 4/26/2002
Time: 12:47:18 AM

Comments

Thanks


Name:
Email:
Date: 4/26/2002
Time: 12:42:22 AM

Comments

Ridley Park, Chief Marks.


Name:
Email:
Date: 4/26/2002
Time: 12:42:11 AM

Comments

yes, a couple of weeks ago.


Name:
Email:
Date: 4/26/2002
Time: 12:37:36 AM

Comments

wwhen? the police chief of Ridley?


Name:
Email:
Date: 4/26/2002
Time: 12:32:39 AM

Comments

Vince you can access the Daily times on the Computer. Not sure if you could get past news. It's true about the police chief


Name: U.W.
Email:
Date: 4/26/2002
Time: 12:31:29 AM

Comments

Harvey: Thanks for the link. MZ always had a good column. Isn't he with the Wilmington News Journal these days.

Joe Zelnick also formerly with the Chester Times is down the shore. Editor of the Herald.

http://www.capemaycountyherald.com/


Name: Vince Casciato
Email: vcasciat@tampabay.rr.com
Date: 4/26/2002
Time: 12:23:49 AM

Comments

I wounder if anybody here can help me with some info. I live in florida and I do not have access to a Daily Times. Somebody came in my store yesterday and said they heard the Police Chief of either Ridley Township or Ridley Park Commited suicide.Does anyone know where I could find the article on this. Any information would be apprecated.. Vince SJ56


Name: Vince Casciato
Email: vcasciat@tampabay.rr.com
Date: 4/26/2002
Time: 12:23:11 AM

Comments

I wounder if anybody here can help me with some info. I live in florida and I do not have access to a Daily Times. Somebody came in my store yesterday and said they heard the Ploice Chief of either Ridley Township or Ridley Park Commited suicide.Does anyone know where I could find the article on this. Any information would be apprecated.. Vince SJ56


Name:
Email:
Date: 4/26/2002
Time: 12:22:08 AM

Comments

1 2 3 4 5 Speak up! I said so.


Name: BM
Email:
Date: 4/26/2002
Time: 12:16:49 AM

Comments

one, two, three, four, who you gonna cheer for Chester thats us.

think thats the end of the cheer.


Name: Pat McFadden (CHS50)
Email:
Date: 4/26/2002
Time: 12:05:47 AM

Comments

OH, sorry - what questions did you want answers to? Must have missed that.


Name:
Email:
Date: 4/26/2002
Time: 12:05:30 AM

Comments

My, we are up past our bed time.....


Name: Pat McFadden (CHS50)
Email:
Date: 4/26/2002
Time: 12:03:21 AM

Comments

Anonymous 3 and 4 - I told you not to speak unless called upon.


Name:
Email:
Date: 4/26/2002
Time: 12:01:03 AM

Comments

We're from Chester High School, Clippers our name, we'll fight for victory, We'll fight on for fame.

something like that, not sure of the rest of the song.


Name:
Email:
Date: 4/25/2002
Time: 11:59:24 PM

Comments

I so agree, PP always has the last word...


Name:
Email:
Date: 4/25/2002
Time: 11:56:11 PM

Comments

Dictating when and who can speak up again PP? Do we need your permission now? You sound angry! Is this the Bullock website or McFadden? You are too much!


Name: U.W.
Email:
Date: 4/25/2002
Time: 11:51:33 PM

Comments

Orange and Black were the CHS colors. The Clipper Ship its emblem

What was the words to the School Song? Did CHS have a school song?

I can remember afew words to an old cheer from the football games...went Hurrah for Chester, Hurrah for Chester someone in the crowd is yelling hurrah for Chester...there my memory fades.

If any one has the words for the song, would love to add it to my sisters memory book.


Name:
Email:
Date: 4/25/2002
Time: 11:50:46 PM

Comments

ya know PP, you never answered any questions , you just confuse everyone and laugh at the board, some of us get it.


Name: Pat McFadden (CHS '50)
Email: pidipat@earthlink.net
Date: 4/25/2002
Time: 11:42:50 PM

Comments

Here I am! You talking to me? Are you talking to me? You wanna piece of me? Go ahead - make my day! God, I wish Clint Eastwood and Robert DeNero were here, especially DeNero!!! Let me get my hormones back in balance and I'll be right with you.

Alrighty now - A few of you "no names" are so blatantly nasty (easy to do that when you're "undercover"), you attack RC for posting about gaslights. Ruth knows more about Chester history than anyone here and "gaslights" are a vital part of memories in Chester, or didn't you know that? Your anonymous rudeness is typical of many people today. You certainly don't take any pleasure in making people happy; just condemn them, because you're used to being condemned yourself. That's your life. Thank God, it's not mine. Now, I'm trying to do something good here and you have trouble handling that, and show respect to others just as you yourself would enjoy respect - but you don't get it, unless you give it. Do unto others as you would have it done to yourself. (Gee, that's a scary thought too.)

And for those who want to get back to what this board was designed for - this is exactly what it was designed for = Chester of yesterday and Chester today - and possibly an historical instead of hysterical site. If I have a dream for Chester, just tolerate, but don't condemn. At least, I have a vision and I'm not afraid to voice it. A lot of people seem to enjoy stomping on dreams. It's the people with "dreams" and "ideas" that have made your life more comfortable today than it was 50 years ago. So, instead of watching sitcoms, quiet yourself and meditate on something worthwhile.

NOW, getting back to hysterical Chester. I am no government authority (as I've often said, I am an authority on absolutely NOTHING), but it would seem to me that once an area is designated "an historial site" (which is what I had in mind with downtown Edgemont Ave.), the government is NOW IN CHARGE.

As some of you know, Nevada has no state tax. That's because the gambling industry has poured so much money into the state, they don't need to have a state tax. Phoenix also has a low state tax - because of TOURISM. Get the point!

Incidentally, whose idea was it to change the name Edgemont Ave. to Avenue of The States? Have you ever given any thought as to why it was given that name? Stupid name as far as anyone is concerned. But, there must have been a reason. Why Avenue of the "States". Think about that. Someone, somehow thought the street important enough to designate it that way. An historian perhaps, who knew how important Chester was to history? Or, some drunken jerk who thought it would be funny?

If, let's say 2 sq. miles of downtown Chester, were to be designated "an historical site", it could only be designated as such by the US government, I think (I will find out). If the US government controlled that parcel, all the vermin would be cleaned out and it would be made a safe, notice please SAFE, SAFE, SAFE, place for the American people to visit. And, surrounding homes would also be protected, I think (I will find out). I know of no crime in Williamsburg, VA - do you?

Now - the forum is open for debate. Anonymous #1, you have the floor. Anonymouses 2,3,4,5, quiet until called upon.


Name: Kate
Email:
Date: 4/25/2002
Time: 11:40:02 PM

Comments

Hey, thank you, I always say what i feel.


Name:
Email:
Date: 4/25/2002
Time: 11:36:53 PM

Comments

Babs : The angry ones are not necessarily the nameless ones. Reread the posts. We nameless are not angry, we just may have a different perpective on a subject that someone else brought up. Not to constantly repeat myself, but I do prefer not to post my name for my own personal reasons, but I have every right to express my opinion even if it is about the negative side of what is the present day Chester. In fact, the whole NEGATIVE subject of present day Chester was brought up by a person who posts her name and who has dreamed up a lot of changes that she thinks would draw tourists to the city. I have a right to disagree. I live 5 minutes away from Chester and know more of what is going on in that city than someone who is thousand miles away. A message board doesn't have to be one sided.

Kate: Thank You! Great Post! You are younger than most people posting on this board and you seem to have more common sense than some of the older posters. We all must agree that we have a right to disagree.


Name: Mongo Jerry
Email: MongoJerry44@hotmail.com
Date: 4/25/2002
Time: 11:29:35 PM

Comments

I have been visiting this web page for over a year now and have, for the most part, enjoyed reading the various comments. I have watched it evolve from a small and very good idea to quite a large endeavor. Like everyone else, I offer my kudos to John for coming up with the idea and putting up with some of the heartache and frustration I am sure he has and is enduring. As with most undertakings that enjoy feedback from visitors, this community bulletin board has taken some nasty turns. I have seen the full spectrum of emotions conveyed and watched the original idea and purpose of the page turn into one so different now that it is hard to accept. I have no quarrel with anonymity but after reading some of the "shots" that are being fired back and forth, I wonder if it's a good idea. Some time ago, someone suggested and started a chat room, which is exactly where most of this correspondence belongs. Someone else started the email feature. Both excellent ideas but not used very much by the regulars. I think it's time that we all sat back and took a deep breath and then get this bulletin board back on track. Why not take a good look at what you're going to post here and see if maybe the chat room or email isn't a better forum. Hope I haven't thrown a damper but felt compelled to say it. MongoJerry


Name:
Email:
Date: 4/25/2002
Time: 11:25:42 PM

Comments

Babs, get a life


Name:
Email:
Date: 4/25/2002
Time: 11:22:24 PM

Comments

you people must be on drugs!!


Name:
Email:
Date: 4/25/2002
Time: 11:21:09 PM

Comments

Trish; get a real life!


Name: babs
Email: barraehatch@aol.com
Date: 4/25/2002
Time: 11:16:38 PM

Comments

Florence,come back, Please don't be intimidated


Name: Kate
Email:
Date: 4/25/2002
Time: 11:05:52 PM

Comments

Patricia, I'm waiting for your answer to things on the board, I gave my opinion, what say you??


Name: BABS
Email: barraehatch@aol,com
Date: 4/25/2002
Time: 11:00:08 PM

Comments

Does anyone remember Barbacanes Farm on INCINERATOR RD? They used to have a day every year when you could watch sheep being sheared and a farmers market?

How about Moe seidman's market delivered your food order?

If your child had a fever of 104, the doctor cared enough to come to you? and never asked if you had INSURANCE? People used to really care about each other then, I don't think anybody cares about anybody any more.


Name: Harvey Martin
Email: hsmartin@snip.net
Date: 4/25/2002
Time: 10:56:52 PM

Comments

Matt Zabitka Sportswriter

http://www.fightforchildren.com/dev/mattstory.htm


Name:
Email:
Date: 4/25/2002
Time: 10:56:25 PM

Comments

Florence, what are you apoligizing to Trish for, u did nothing....


Name: Kate('65N.D.)
Email: lucydesi8@comcast.net
Date: 4/25/2002
Time: 10:37:29 PM

Comments

I have a few things to say about this web site. First of all, everyone should have a right to express thierselves without reprisels.e.g. watch what you say or the site will be shut down....freedom of speech better prevail or we will be living in a communist country. second, we have too many chiefs & not enough Indians on this site, e.g. everyone has thier own set of rules about what we are supposed to be talking about. and third, if this web site is only about Chester than all of you better take the good with the bad...Memories are fine but some things have been said about Chester in the present and all is true, pollution, drugs, crime, decay, poverty but most of all Chester is never coming back. If John doesn't want to hear about the present then he better close his web site b/c some things have to be said.


Name: R2
Email:
Date: 4/25/2002
Time: 10:13:19 PM

Comments

Trish, what is your problem???


Name: babs
Email:
Date: 4/25/2002
Time: 10:12:07 PM

Comments

It seems this wonderful website is becoming a place for angry people who are mostly nameless to spread hostility. Most people who have an ounce of intelligence know it was created for a fun place to recall good times in Chester and not be a place for frustrated political activists to vent their anger. PLEASE PEOPLE, DON'T LET THESE NEGATIVE COMMENTS STOP YOU FROM GETTING BACK TO THE ORIGINAL PURPOSE OF THIS SITE. HAVE FUN OR IT COULD POSSIBLY END


Name: Pat
Email:
Date: 4/25/2002
Time: 9:43:53 PM

Comments

to trish which Pat are you referring to?


Name: FlorenceCHS50
Email: buffyk@fast.net
Date: 4/25/2002
Time: 8:55:51 PM

Comments

Trish, I will not say another word. Sorry for making you uncomfortable.


Name: trish
Email:
Date: 4/25/2002
Time: 8:46:47 PM

Comments

To: Pat, Florence and Corkey, please refrain from comments on Old Chester. Com for about one week....please i beg you......


Name:
Email:
Date: 4/25/2002
Time: 8:26:15 PM

Comments

Hey Florence, those of us who stay in the real world always pray for what is going on today but this site is about what is going on in Chester or what is it about??


Name: FlorenceCHS50
Email: buffyk@fast.net
Date: 4/25/2002
Time: 8:22:25 PM

Comments

Now actually we have plentyof other things that should come first in our thoughts. Our prayers go out to all from 911 and to all of our service men and women and the people who run this great country of ours. And by the looks of things we had better pray hard for rain. The situation is very bad.


Name: FlorenceCHS50
Email: buffyk@fast.net
Date: 4/25/2002
Time: 8:22:14 PM

Comments

Now actually we have plentyof other things that should come first in our thoughts. Our prayers go out to all from 911 and to all of our service men and women and the people who run this great country of ours. And by the looks of things we had better pray hard for rain. The situation is very bad.


Name: FlorenceCHS50
Email: buffyk@fast.net
Date: 4/25/2002
Time: 8:22:02 PM

Comments

Now actually we have plentyof other things that should come first in our thoughts. Our prayers go out to all from 911 and to all of our service men and women and the people who run this great country of ours. And by the looks of things we had better pray hard for rain. The situation is very bad.


Name: FlorenceCHS50
Email: buffyk@fast.net
Date: 4/25/2002
Time: 7:53:46 PM

Comments

I think that a lot of older people had to sell their property becausew they could no longer afford to pay all the taxes. A lot of children take care of their parents. Their are some people who don't have giant pensions and social security. Some people never went to college , so only the ones who went get the bigger moneies.And thats to their credit, they worked for it.I was never encouraged to go , but I urged my children to go.Some people didn't have the money to send their children. So if you were not a rich working man, but a normal working man, you did not earn a lot,so raising your family took almost every dime. I think a lot of people got greedier and greedier, they all wanted big bucks, and a lot of people won't work, they I don't have to work. Sometimes I think we need another tea party. People who don't work, don't pay taxes and so on, soon everything is starting to look pretty bleak.


Name:
Email:
Date: 4/25/2002
Time: 7:48:49 PM

Comments

I agree with you there. My point was that at least some of the rundown houses & blight in that part of Chester took on a nicer look after Weidner bought the properties.

I am sure that most students do not stray too far from the campus, like going into other areas of the city. If they did, they might be in trouble.


Name:
Email:
Date: 4/25/2002
Time: 7:44:12 PM

Comments

Everyone has to pay taxes, but do you seriously believe that the well to do would send thier son/daughter to a location such as Widener? I think not


Name:
Email:
Date: 4/25/2002
Time: 7:40:48 PM

Comments

What happened at Weider was terrible. Again it was what humans do to other humans. Just like the Jack & Jill Ice Cream man who was murdered in Chester the other day.

Most colleges have drugs and booze on campus.

On another note, I am sure that Weidner pays a good share of the city taxes.


Name:
Email:
Date: 4/25/2002
Time: 7:36:03 PM

Comments

Rc who said anything about gas light? Where is Pidipat, we would like to hear her response to what she has started?????


Name:
Email:
Date: 4/25/2002
Time: 7:28:59 PM

Comments

PP, Wrong again! You said that the people who live here are responsible for the high taxes. No it's the taxpayers who moved way, INCLUDING YOU, that caused taxes to go up. The majority of Chester residents, after the "Exodus" of the taxpayers, were either in government housings, and/or on welfare or unemployed and couldn't afford to pay. Only the ones still working for a decent wage were able to pay the taxes. Someone had to. Businesses moved out so that accounted for losses in Revenues. Yes, you and others that left Chester caused the taxes to go up. You got things backwards again.


Name: RC
Email: Email
Date: 4/25/2002
Time: 7:28:01 PM

Comments

About gas light. It was a great improvement over what went before but far from perfect. I was around 8 when our house was wired for electricity but I remember it as a very exciting time. With gas, you had to walk into a dark room,feel around for light, get out a match, turn the gas on, light the jet, and then adjust the flow. Mostly, the family spent the evening in one room. In the winter-dinner in the kitchen and evening in the around the table in the dining room. We went to bed in the dark. Of course, summer was a lot better. There was usualy one light in the each room. The glass globe faced up (unlike the electric ficture). The gas flame was concentratrd by a mantel.This was a little dome shaped gadget that was pourous and had to be replaced from time to time. Do you remember the Ingrid Gerbman picture--Gas Light"?


Name:
Email:
Date: 4/25/2002
Time: 7:14:44 PM

Comments

If Weidner wasn't making accomedations for the students they would go elsewhere, so money is the reason, & doubt if they will be around much longer with murders & drugs going on.


Name:
Email:
Date: 4/25/2002
Time: 7:11:22 PM

Comments

I think Weidner has to be commended for buying up those delapidated homes and converting them into dorms and for the buildings they put up. At least that part of Chester is nice to look at. Lot better than looking at rows of rundown homes.


Name: FlorenceCHS50
Email: buffyk@fast.net
Date: 4/25/2002
Time: 7:04:47 PM

Comments

Something I did not know that all the houses have been knocked down on second st. and they are or have built a highway. Both sides are torn down. God knows I would love to go back. Back to what.All my family except for my sister and her family, I mean like my mom and dad and grandparents are ll gone. All the people that I grew up with are mostly gone. I have MY husband and children, thats the future for me. The home my mom and dad lived in was bought by Weidner and the other is a wreck. All that's left is cement stones.


Name:
Email:
Date: 4/25/2002
Time: 7:02:41 PM

Comments

Florence, Right on. You are absolutely right. Think PP takes every opposing post as a personal attack against her. If you don't agree with her, then she goes on a tangent, interpreting other people's posts in a negative way. Facts are facts. We may not like them but that's reality.


Name:
Email:
Date: 4/25/2002
Time: 6:51:50 PM

Comments

PP : Knew you would be attacking the posts written today because we don't agree with your way of thinking. NEGATIVE! OF COURSE WHAT IS THERE IN CHESTER NOW IS ALL NEGATIVE. You can sit by your computer and bash what we are saying, that's your right, but by the same token, we also have a right to post what is fact, not pipe dreams.

With all you pipe dreams about facades, Drug stores, tourists, selling memorbillia, etc. etc.---, again, who in the hell would drive there to buy this BS you are talking about? Who would dare go into a movie house in Chester? Who would park their cars there so they can be stolen? Who desires to be mugged or killed?

Employees dressed in Poodle skirts, peg pants, Oh my goodness girl what drugs are you on?

You see it is only a dream,(not reality) that you wish to come true. You may crusade all you want but I doubt that it will happen. Put your money where your mouth is and buy some property in Chester and you start it up, then see how many people get interested.

Why did the Wilson Line stop their Midnight Dance Cruises? Because people ruined the good times by drinking and fighting. With the Drug situation, can one image a Midnight cruise along the Delaware. I can, it would be chaos if not worse.

What you don't realize, investors don't want to come to Chester. They know the history of why others left the city.

As far as who is responsible for taxes, again how do you know what is going on when you are thousands miles away?

You think you know so much but girl, you are so way off base.

What was will never be again and the "Tourist attraction you talk about in Chester will never happen either. The most one can hope for is Industry to move back, but that is debatable because soooo many moved out to get away from the riff raff and the crime.

Your lengthy post wasn't worth reading because it sounds like a script from a ficticious movie.


Name:
Email:
Date: 4/25/2002
Time: 6:32:44 PM

Comments

Florence, thank you, you are right in what you are saying.


Name: FlorenceCHS50
Email: buffyk@fast.net
Date: 4/25/2002
Time: 6:17:12 PM

Comments

Pat I know that you mean well, but they tried renewal some time ago. Along with the problems, many business's have left the area, and another giant is about to go midget. Weidner has bought up a lot of buildings and lots for dorms. and etc.I only live 5minutes from Chester, my sister lives right on 18th. st. and her daughter down the road.If they relocated everyone and tore down the complete area, maybe something could be done, but most people have moved on. The taxes are so high in every area, no one has money to fight it.Everyone has their growing up memories in the area that they loved. Everyone must move on. You can't go back. I know we don't want to, but it is the cycle of life. I know that their are very great drug deals out there.It seems that the big people that are head of everything can't seem to stop it. I am not being too negative. It is just the way it is.


Name:
Email:
Date: 4/25/2002
Time: 6:04:36 PM

Comments

PP first you were shocked about the air poluters, now is about the decay and drugs??? Chester is a slum city, don't be so surprised...


Name:
Email:
Date: 4/25/2002
Time: 5:49:44 PM

Comments

The reason you have so many negative comments is because that is all you see if you dare go into Chester. if you have not been there in over 25 years you do not have a clue in what you are talking about. keep reading all the comments because you will get them.


Name: Pat McFadden (CHS '50)
Email: pidipat@earthlink.net
Date: 4/25/2002
Time: 5:38:35 PM

Comments

Every post, EVERY POST, since I last posted is NEGATIVE, NEGATIVE, NEGATIVE. As long as you think NEGATIVE, THEN you will continue to have an extremely NEGATIVE downtown Chester. The crime will get worse and before long, the city will really give you something to cry about. Almost EVERY post talks about WHAT IS - try WOULD CAN BE!!!!!! Not one of you has mentioned the "what if's". No wonder the city decayed. I can relate terrible stories right here in Phoenix too - baby drownings almost daily; babies being killed by the mother's "boyfriend"; drive-by shootings, killings, killings, killings. Relating horror stories does not cure anything - CHANGE cures. OK, it happened - what are YOU going to do to try to change things? Yes, YOU, reading this right now.

Don't tell me because I live a few thousand miles away that I don't know what it's like there. We have terrible, terrible crimes right here in Phoenix too. There was also crime when I lived there - unspoken crime. Crime is something we unfortunately must bear. But my heart and hundreds of other hearts are broken over what has happened to a loving, family-oriented, neighbor-takes-care-of-neighbor city. I grew up on the east side till age 10, then the west side to age 18. I went back for a few years in the late 70's. I drove through downtown Chester, by myself, and saw the bleakness. I was there in 1974 with my dad and uncle; my dad shed tears right there on Edgmont Ave. across from the sign "What Chester Makes, Makes Chester". Enough said! You're not living up to your motto. Are you now proud of what you've made of Chester? The minorities didn't do it - you did by permitted them to do it.

You who have remained there all your lives are the ones responsible for those high taxes. You let it happen. I was appalled when I was there in the late 70's with all the taxation, a borough tax, a city tax, taxes on your behind if you left it out all night. Did you have "taxation without representation"? Were you so complacent with your new-found "wealth" - more electronic equipment, a bigger house, a bigger car that you just didn't "vote" that day? The pilgrims had more spunk than you. They were fighters for what they believed in.

I truly resent being called an "outsider" with "no idea of what's going on there". What do you think I'm suggesting? I have noticed that quite a few of you read, but do not "comprehend" what is written. I explain in detail, I know I do, but you twist it. This time I'll post it in big letters, and as long as you taxpayers are the ones who let the powers that be get away with what they did, you still have a chance to change things. If I had the money and the wherewithall, I would be there in a heartbeat to fight what rightfully belongs to every person who contributed to making Chester as "memorable" as it is.

The concept is: "Do not restore Chester back to what it was, that is impossible. MAKE A REPLICA OF OLD DOWNTOWN CHESTER AS A TOURIST ATTRACTION. Many of the buildings would just be facades, the ones catering to tourists would sell memorabilia, there would be a fine dining spot, Whelans or Boyd's Drug Store could be re-opened selling the same identical things they did in the 40's - a genuine shake or malt; even vintage cars from the 40's and '50's - One of the movie houses could be reopened showing movies from that era, the skating rink could be reopened = everything and anything from that era. Employees dressed in "poodle skirts"; the guys in peg pants, DA's, etc. Brochures could be given out indicating other historical spots; the Pusey House, the old Court House, that little cabin by the creek I spoke about - good grief, so much history. This can be a reality, not just a "silly idea on the part of someone who moved away years ago and doesn't understand." I still live there in my heart. Isn't that enough for you?

From what has taken place here in Phoenix, the people whose homes were torn down, were paid more money for their homes than anticipated, AND, they love their new homes (I know 2 people personally).

For crying out loud, if you (the people who have really hung in there) can't see the possibilities, then there is nothing more to be said. If, what I see as a dream, were to come about, I would move there in a heartbeat and love every minute of telling the "tourists" what a great city we used to have, and hope they have enjoyed re-visiting an important part of American history - "the good old days".

I know I'll be attacked for this - I expect it - by those who haven't had an original idea since the day they chose to use the toilet as opposed to their diapers and can only say, "Oh, it's dreadful there, no one would ever live there again, but, we have our memories and that's enough for us". I remember when the South was considered "slow" and "behind the times". My mother moved to VA in 1952; she had to order her oven, refrigerator, etc. from a Sears catalog. Neighbors were surprised that she cooked something other than cornbread and beans - TRUE. The south has since rebounded and grown in areas not thought possible; Atlanta, GA is a hub bub of economic wealth. Then, there's Chester!!!!

NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE - only unimagined And, please someone send me those addresses of the mayor and the historical society.


Name:
Email:
Date: 4/25/2002
Time: 5:28:23 PM

Comments

I just don't know about the cops. Maybe they are afraid too. That's my point. That people and things are not like they use to be and neither will Chester be as it once was. In todays's society, with all it's permissiveness, anything goes. From what you hear lately, it just seems to get worse. The most absurd things have been happening. Who knows what it will take to turn things around.


Name:
Email:
Date: 4/25/2002
Time: 5:07:30 PM

Comments

Yes, I have read about the killings that goes along with drugs but I know of a family who reported thier kids going into Chester for drugs & nothing has ever been done, the cops of today aren't like the ones in old Chester.....


Name:
Email:
Date: 4/25/2002
Time: 4:58:20 PM

Comments

Did you remember reading about the whites who were killed when they went to buy the drugs. The sellers took their money and the drugs that they were suppose to sell to them?


Name:
Email:
Date: 4/25/2002
Time: 4:53:00 PM

Comments

There may be a lot of poverty in Chester but you wouldn't know it when you see the locals getting government aide while living in new lower prices houses, fill their grocery baskets with the best cuts of meat, while others drive lastest expensive cars and live in dilapidated houses, others boarding buses heading for Atlantic City, long lists at the lottery machines. Many don't have priorities in the right place. So it's not only drugs, it's a way of living too. It just isn't going to get better. You can talk about it all you want, even writing to the Mayor of the City, but there's only so much that can be done with all the problems involved.


Name:
Email:
Date: 4/25/2002
Time: 4:37:04 PM

Comments

Hey, I agree but I also know of whites that go into Chester for thier drugs.from the surrounding areas, they are safe as long as they are leaving the money for the drugs.


Name:
Email:
Date: 4/25/2002
Time: 4:32:46 PM

Comments

Drug dealers and users are of all races. Read stories of whites who went into Chester to buy the drugs (possibly to sell or use themselves) and didn't come out alive. Read the same thing happening to people of color. Drugs are everywhere. Related drug shootings are deals gone bad. There's a lot of money in that business and a human life means nothing when it comes down to which is more important. The problem with Chester is that everyone is afraid to do anything about the situation because it is so vast there and uncontrollable. I am sure the Authorities are doing their best but they take their lives on the line too because it is dangerous and so widespread.

If the whole town was completely leveled and started over from scratch, then I would think there may be hope for a New/Old Chester, PA.

But we all know that's not going to happen.


Name: R2
Email:
Date: 4/25/2002
Time: 4:18:44 PM

Comments

You know the people who think something can be done about Chester haven't a CLUE about what life has been like in the last 25 or more years b/c they don't live near or don't read the Dailey Times...Chester is infested with drugs & poverty like has never beenseen in most places in the USA.


Name: U.W.
Email:
Date: 4/25/2002
Time: 4:17:23 PM

Comments

R2...see what happens when you ask a question and someone answers...by the way, my business takes me into or thru Chester on occasion. I too was told not to linger at stop lights/signs and that was recently. He/she told me to eat the ticket if I got stopped.


Name:
Email:
Date: 4/25/2002
Time: 4:13:39 PM

Comments

would like to hear from someone living in downtown Chester bet they would tell you the white kids from the burbs are keeping them in business.


Name:
Email:
Date: 4/25/2002
Time: 4:13:29 PM

Comments

To R2

You are right. And the person who wants to revitalize it doesn't live near Chester and probably wouldn't move back even if there were changes for the better.

Along with Company officials telling their employees not to stop at red lights, the Police Chief of Chester, a few years ago said the same thing. He said when you approach a red light, make sure no one is crossing the intersection, then proceed throught the red light. I have done this on many occassions myself when I was on second or third shift and had to go through Chester after midnight.

A few years ago, a young man with his wife and child in the car, exited I-95 at 12 & Kerlin Streets. He had stopped at the red light. He was dragged out of his car a shot right in front of his wife and child.

Up the street at the old Shopping Center off of Kerlin Street, a young girl was abducted and ravishly raped during daylight hours.

These are just a drop in the bucket of what is happening everyday in Chester. There was a killing at Weidner. Believed to be drug related. Nevertheless, it cost a life. This goes on everyday in the new Chester.


Name: Tom CHS76
Email: t9257@yahoo.com
Date: 4/25/2002
Time: 3:52:03 PM

Comments

And yes this is considered a Bulletin board. So post what you want, to who you want to post it to. If old (or should I say previous) friends find each other through this board then I do enjoy reading their comments to each other. If some people haven't noticed there is a lot of 2 or 3 way messages going on here. That's how people who haven't seen each other for years just might catch a name of someone they knew back when. When and if they choose to carry on their conversation privately is up to them, 80% of this board would not be here if it weren't for some of the post that are put up here.


Name: R2
Email:
Date: 4/25/2002
Time: 3:49:32 PM

Comments

i can't be positive but didn't this discussion start when someone suggested a revitilization & people moving back to Chester? If you drive thru Chester you take your life in your hands.....many years ago Companys in Chester told thier employees to not stop for traffic lights in most areas ...the crime has been out of hand for a long long time, no one will ever get control unless they tear down & remove the low-life & drug s out of Chester.


Name: Tom CHS76
Email: t9257@yahoo.com
Date: 4/25/2002
Time: 3:40:45 PM

Comments

My buddy's dad was a Red Arrow bus driver. I remember whenever he use to drive our neighborhood on his route we would just ride around on the bus with him for a couple hours till we got bored or he threw us off because we were clowning around in the back.


Name:
Email:
Date: 4/25/2002
Time: 3:37:32 PM

Comments

To Former Chesterite:

Totally agree with your post. No RESPECT for humans and property is one of the biggest factor in Chester becoming a Slum area. Went through some of the neighborhoods, it looked like a bombed out scene from WW2 in Europe. What were beautiful homes have been destroyed. Public property for public use have also been destroyed. As long as people don't want to work for a living and depend on crime for their livelihood, the cities will stay in ruin. Why is it years ago one didn't have to lock their doors at night but now even if you do lock them, they break into homes to steal and kill. Who wants to be near that sort of thing. Such the reason for EXODUS out of Chester. What a shame. As Bob Hope always sang, "Thanks for the Memories".


Name:
Email:
Date: 4/25/2002
Time: 3:22:33 PM

Comments

I am sure everyone will agree that they would like to see changes made in Chester. The problems (crime, drugs, destruction, and non upkept of property, etc.) should have stopped years ago before they got out of hand. Neighborhood decay will always be. The econonmy, plus misuse of city, county, and state government funds contributed to the downhill conditions in neighborhoods. Plus the fact that people no longer tooktake pride in keeping private property in good condition with repairs and then there are/were those who reveled in destroying public property just for the heck of it. Chester Park was a very dangerous place to be in with drug dealings, the tennis courts & buildings had to be replaced because they were destroyed. Not to mention the dreaded graffiti on the old buildings. The Deshong Musuem had to close. They had put a free swimming pool in Crozer Park years ago, only to be destroyed by individuals. They had to close that one too. Often thought that these people who waste their energy painting graffiti would put their energy into constructive things like beautifying their homes by painting the inside and outside of them. Like I mentioned before, enjoy the memories of the oldChester because it won't be the same ever again.


Name: Former Chesterite
Email:
Date: 4/25/2002
Time: 2:58:16 PM

Comments

This is a message board regardless of how anyone chooses to describe it.

In 2002...Chester, PA is a slum. A very bad slum. The only way to turn a slum around is to tear it down, renovate the area, and make it appealing to people that will respect their neighbors and neighborhoods.

I have my memories just as everyone else has theirs, but the Chester I remember simply doesn't exist any longer.


Name: Tom CHS76
Email: t9257@yahoo.com
Date: 4/25/2002
Time: 2:49:29 PM

Comments

There's been a lot of bad ramblings going on about our HOMETOWN fact of the matter is there were problems, there are problems and there always will be problems. I only live a couple of neighborhoods away. When I was looking to buy a house I actually thought about buying in Chester, but Chester is choking it's own self the taxes in Chester are one of the highest in the county, the schools are the worst and there is not one major business in the city (no one major fast food chain, major Super market, not a WAWA to be found and the list goes on) My point being is that the city needs to clean out the crime, find a way to attract business, and tear down all of the abandon and drug infested neighborhoods, give the land away very cheap so that investors will come in and build, lower the ridicules taxes and just maybe people will start buying houses again in Chester. Of course you can buy many of the dumps in Chester for around $40 thousand but who wants to live in a dump. Sorry, but with the way the postings have been lately, I just had to put my 2 cents in.


Name: A.Harold Showalter CHS 49
Email: hshowalter@pa.net
Date: 4/25/2002
Time: 2:27:17 PM

Comments

Dear webmaster John I would appreciate your E-mailing me your address so I can send you info on my dad Addison H. Showalter former Supt. of Chester Schools. Your web site is great.


Name:
Email:
Date: 4/25/2002
Time: 1:34:52 PM

Comments

e.g., why didn't you mention how high the crime rate is and the drugs that run Chester & have permently ruined it years ago. anyone who reads the newspaper will see what goes on in any 24 hours.


Name:
Email:
Date: 4/25/2002
Time: 1:19:44 PM

Comments

First of all Pidipat, you're living in a dream world. Wake up! Where would they replace all the people whose homes have turned into parking lots? Move them to the neighboring boros so they can become ghettos? Get a grip girl! Who in their right mind would want to drive into Chester? Just yesterday a young driver of an ice cream truck was shot and killed. Just doing his job selling ice cream to kids. It would take many many years and a humongus miracle to turn Chester around. I am 5 minutes away from there & the only improvements I see are some newer homes, the city paid new sidewalks on certain streets. The bad elements are still there regardless of how many police and police cars there are, marked or unmarked. If you are so strong in your desire to turn Chester around, come back to Chester, live here and work on it yourself.

The only thing good about Chester now is it's memories from years ago.


Name: Pat McFadden (CHS50)
Email: pidipat@earthlink.net
Date: 4/25/2002
Time: 1:15:35 PM

Comments

Well, if someone would please email me the full name and address of your mayor and the local Delaware Historical Society, I would very much like to write them.

Thanks.


Name: hgc/pmc 59
Email:
Date: 4/25/2002
Time: 12:50:04 PM

Comments

e.g. well said!!!!!!!!!!!!!!the whole world has changed; some for the better,some for the worst.each of you ,do you still drive your 1953 chevy?memories and info on chester are great ,kicking around the past mistakes and errors and misdeeds are up to you to decide,your not going to change them.


Name: eg
Email:
Date: 4/25/2002
Time: 12:26:39 PM

Comments

I AM HAVING A TOUGH TIME FOLLOWING THE LATEST POSTINGS, I LOVE THIS SIGHT, BUT IF IT'S GOING TO ONLY BE ABOUT THE PITFALLS OF CHESTER, THEN WHY READ ON, I BELIEVE THAT A LARGE PERCENT OF YOU DO NOT LIVE IN CHESTER ANY LONGER AND IT HAS BEEN A JOY TO READ YOUR POSTINGS OF YOUR WONDERFUL MEMORIES, BUT TRY TO BE A BIT KINDER TO THE FEW OF US THAT STILL LIVE, WORK AND POSSIBLY BELIEVE THAT CHESTER CAN STILL BE A FUNCTIONAL CITY. MAYOR PILLEGI IS DOING HIS BEST WITH WHAT HE WAS HANDED. WE NOW HAVE A WONDERFUL SWIMMING POOL IN MEMORIAL PARK, HANDLED VERY WELL BY THE CITY, TRINITY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH HAS A FARMERS MARKET, SPONSORED BY READING TERMINAL OF PHILADELPHIA ON THURSDAYS IN THE SUMMER MONTHS. CHESTER PARK IS AS BEAUTIFUL AS EVER, WITH NEW TENNIS COURTS, A NEW MUSIC SHELL AND A PARK SERVICE THAT CARES ABOUT THAT GREAT PARK, THERE ARE NUMEROUS THINGS HAPPENING AND FORMER AND PRESENT CHESTERITES SHOULD BE PROUD. THE WATERFRONT PROPERTIES ARE AVAILABLE AND I KNOW WILL HELP CHESTER STAY ALIVE. WE ALL KNOW THAT CRIME IS A PROBLEM, NOT ONLY IN CHESTER, BUT OTHER CITIES IN OUR GREAT NATION. ONE OF OUR PROBLEMS IS,THAT WE ARE NOT A KIND OR RESPECTFUL SOCIETY, AND WE ALL KNOW THAT IF THAT TRAINING IS NOT STARTED AT A YOUNG AGE IN OUR HOMES, THEN KINDNESS AND RESPECTFULNESS WILL NEVER BE RECOGNIZED IN OUR SOCIETY. I AM SORRY TO RAMBLE ON, BUT IT BREAKS MAY HEART TO READ WHAT IS BEING SAID, WHEN MOST OF YOU HAVE NOT EVEN BEEN BACK IN CHESTER FOR YEARS. MAY GOD BLESS EACH OF YOU. KEEP THOSE MEMORIES COMING, THEY'RE GREAT!!!!


Name: U.W.
Email:
Date: 4/25/2002
Time: 12:26:14 PM

Comments

It will take courageous moves on the Mayors part to put Chester back into a thriving city. All the issues that have come up can be solved. It has happened again and again elsewhere. Chesters problems are not unique to this area alone.

If I were standing alone at the end of my journey as Mayor and saw a city rise from the ruins then I would know that I did my job. The rebirth of a city can be a legacy like no other.

The question now comes up. What steps would you take to change things if you were mayor?


Name: Pat McFadden (CHS '50)
Email: pidipat@earthlink.net
Date: 4/25/2002
Time: 11:56:11 AM

Comments

PAUL: I don't know if your thought is too far out or not, but the main reason for my concept of rejuvenation was to bring tourist money into the area and give our city credit for its great contribution to American history. Also, the neighborhoods where most of the crime comes from would be replaced with parking lots, etc. And, of course, at almost every development such as this, there is 24-hour security. And, the people who are committing these crimes could have gainful employment which would also cut down the crime. It would open up many jobs for locals.

The grand homes that are still existing in Chester could also be rejuvinated and have tours. Phoenix has 2 entire blocks close to downtown that have been restored and open to the public for tours. One has a dummy resembling Teddy Roosevelt that speaks and welcomes you to the house. Those homes were done about 15 years ago and still attract and make money. They also have arts and crafts and farmers' market on certain days of the week.

But, the big problem is still the toxic waste. I don't know if anything can be done without its removal. But I have read so much about new businesses moving in there - surely they have concern about that waste. They wouldn't subject themselves and employees to that.

Maybe you all think this is a crazy idea, but I, for some reason, see it as being workable.


Name: Caroline
Email:
Date: 4/25/2002
Time: 8:54:42 AM

Comments

Patricia:

You refer to the Hoagie Dip recipe. It is a fun recipe to have at a function. I modify the original recipe to what herb tastes, meat, cheese types I like most. I use a blend of oil rather than mayo. Never thought a mayo Hoagie was a real hoagie. Experiment....Thats the fun of cooking.

Here is the link for the recipe and as you can see it even figures out the portions.

ENJOY...BON APPITIT'

http://appetizerrecipe.com/AZ/HgiDip.asp


Name:
Email:
Date: 4/25/2002
Time: 12:27:58 AM

Comments

Yes,Paul,that is too far out thinking. You can enclose a mall downtown but getting downtown to the mall would be the bigger problem. Carjackings, Druggies, Robberies,etc. Who would want to chance the drive into the city? It just isn't safe there anymore. The bad elements have to be removed and that is almost an impossibility.


Name: FC CHS68
Email:
Date: 4/25/2002
Time: 12:25:08 AM

Comments

The Daily Times on 4-23-02 mentioned something about a tennis club some years ago at 15th & Siegal st in Sun Hill. Does anyone remember it?


Name: FC CHS68
Email:
Date: 4/25/2002
Time: 12:17:24 AM

Comments

TO fLOYD- tHAT WAS THE jASPER i WAS REFERING TO.


Name: Paul D. Crowther
Email: pcrowther4@cogeco.ca
Date: 4/24/2002
Time: 11:23:13 PM

Comments

Another small perhaps,but contributing factor in the early downhill slide of the City can be blamed on the indifference of the politicians. Many of you can recall when the 7th. St. parking lot was opened and the footbridge was built on 6th. St. to provide easy access to shopping. It wasn't very long before peoples cars were being broken into on a regular basis. Then began fairly regular muggings and robberies when shoppers returned to their cars. The City did nothing to offer any protection. As a bare minimum the downtown merchants should have hired a private guard service. Never happened. Needless to say,the parking lot became empty. I think if I were in a position of power there today I'd make an all out effort to completely enclose the downtown. Make one huge shopping mall. Ban all vehicles except busses and the trains of course. Provide the maximum in security,entice a major chain[such as Wal-Mart] as an anchor, and a rejuvination may be possible. Am I too far out with this thinking?


Name: Pat McFadden
Email:
Date: 4/24/2002
Time: 11:08:27 PM

Comments

UW - Thanks for at least a sparkle of hope for the renewal of Chester. But, can you imagine how much fun it would be to go through a replica of old Chester - with everything pertaining to the 40's and 50's?

Caroline has a receipe for a "good old-fashioned" hoagie. We're waiting Caroline.


Name: corky
Email:
Date: 4/24/2002
Time: 10:06:12 PM

Comments

Thank you.Chat to you people later.......


Name: U.W.
Email:
Date: 4/24/2002
Time: 10:05:48 PM

Comments

Patricia:

The History of Chester will never die, it had its roll and played it out well. Today there are groups of people trying to preserve the History of Chester. They see the value in what has passed. They see a value in what the future can be. There are many major organizations trying to put Chester back on a industrial map. It should be there, that is its past. That can be its future again.

It may never be a Historical Tour bus stop, but opportunity for a thriving business area is a possability.. And when new business comes in, preservation of the old gets renewed interest. It takes only one major investor with forsite and afew good plans to make it happen. Look at Baltimore, Look at the Camden waterfront just to name two.

I think this Mayor is trying to make Chesters future turn around-- it is no easy job that's for sure. But let us not forget this is America, it is still the land of opportunity for those that are not afraid to work hard to accomplish their goal. How is it so many people from other countries can see that and the people that are here can not.

Now to a lighter subject. Who has a good Chester recipe for a good old fashion hoagie?


Name:
Email:
Date: 4/24/2002
Time: 9:27:18 PM

Comments

your right corky .if people didn't leave messages their wouldn't be any messages.


Name: Pat McFadden
Email: pidipat@earthlink.net
Date: 4/24/2002
Time: 9:10:32 PM

Comments

I neglected to include the health issues of that toxic waste, but I hope you realize that I do know how hateful, irresponsible, and a blatant disregard for human life that is. I remember speaking to people back east telling me of the health problems that they, their family and friends were experiencing. My friend Kay told me that skin cancer seems to be prevalent back there. I am sorry, truly sorry, for those of you who lost loved ones because of this disaster. Skin cancer supposedly comes from too much exposure to the sun - the sun don't shine that much during the year in Chester. I think someone has some 'splainin' to do.

In peace and love - Patricia (Pidipat)


Name: corky
Email:
Date: 4/24/2002
Time: 8:59:01 PM

Comments

lallalalalalla


Name: Pat McFadden (CHS50)
Email:
Date: 4/24/2002
Time: 8:52:50 PM

Comments

I went to the site suggested by Kate and read what I had time to read. Makes me even angrier. Printed it out too. I'm going to do what my Uncle Bill used to do - yell out the window tonight, "I'm angry as hell, and I'm not gonna take it anymore." Uncle Bill not only liked to walk on the roof and ledges, he also loved to yell out of windows. He was so funny.

At any rate, this is far from funny. I resent those money-grabbing, power-hungry sub-humans destroying our city. With no other support, I will write to whomever I have to, tell them I'm an old lady (they seem to listen to old ladies), tell them I am dissatisfied with the "product" they made of Chester and throw it right through their front window. Maybe I'll catch the attention of someone "drug-free" and get an answer.

Not only that, but everyone is well aware that tobacco-growing was a big part of the south - what about Chester? We grew tobacco too, but I never knew it - always thought it was only the south.

Incidentally, the majority rules - email where appropriate. From what I know, this is a "message" board, but not a chat room. There is a chat room available to you through George Malick who posts here regularly. He can set you up through his email address of gpmalick@wideopenwest.com.


Name: Kate
Email:
Date: 4/24/2002
Time: 8:51:07 PM

Comments

Florence, You are so right.


Name: FlorenceCHS50
Email: buffyk@fast.net
Date: 4/24/2002
Time: 8:49:37 PM

Comments

I can say that everyone on both sides of my families have died from some form of cancer. I know for a fact that their ships that bring in their waste and have it bottled right down in Chester. I cannot understand why that was allowed.I loved that time in Chester as everyone else did. I don't think that it can be renovated , but we can still remember our favorite places. They will always be in your heart and mind, but it will never be the same again. It is not the only city that has decinegraded, their are others.


Name:
Email:
Date: 4/24/2002
Time: 8:36:50 PM

Comments

I am a former resident, I will tell you again this site is about Chester not a message board, just state your e-mail address & let people e-mail you, don't waste space on John's site.. I expect nothing else but mean from Chester, your still thier aren't you????


Name: corky
Email:
Date: 4/24/2002
Time: 8:31:54 PM

Comments

This is to no name. I don't know what you think this site is for.I was repling to a post to someone I haven't seen in a long time.This is what tis site is all about so you should just mind your own business.John has this site for the former and current residents.Ask him I'm sure he will tell you!!!!!!!Sorry to the rest of the nice Chester people but I had to be a little mean.Next time leave your name.


Name: Kate
Email:
Date: 4/24/2002
Time: 8:18:13 PM

Comments

If everyone has e-mail addresses that is what you do , e-mail each other , not post on this board....


Name:
Email:
Date: 4/24/2002
Time: 8:12:01 PM

Comments

This is not a message board!!


Name: Tammy
Email: lynn1_33@hotmail.com
Date: 4/24/2002
Time: 7:59:22 PM

Comments

Hey no name,,,,,its a message board and that is what she left,,,,, a message..next time why dont you say who you are!!


Name:
Email:
Date: 4/24/2002
Time: 7:53:39 PM

Comments

Hey Corky, this is not a chat room....


Name: Pat McFadden (CHS '50)
Email: pidipat@earthlink.net
Date: 4/24/2002
Time: 7:20:22 PM

Comments

I just read Kate's post, and darn it, I'm not giving up here. Of course, we know Chester is "down the sewer", so to speak. What I am saying is, don't let the history die with it. London, England is hundreds of years older than us, still it exists and attracts tourists from all over the world. Chester will never, ever be what it was, neither will Williamsburg, VA, but tourists come by the thousands. What was can never be again!!! But things we can touch, smell, hear and see as a reminder fascinate us. Never say "never".

Surely, you can see what I'm getting at.


Name: Kate
Email:
Date: 4/24/2002
Time: 7:19:43 PM

Comments

Patricia, Go to U.W. url & then click on THE Perpetrators-Russell, Rea& Zappala & then tell me what you think.....I think Chester is now a wasteland & will be forever so, I am glad U.W. posted so all could read. I am positive nothing will change, no one cares except maybe you or others on this board.....Sorry.


Name: corky
Email: corky_1964@hotmail.com
Date: 4/24/2002
Time: 7:12:29 PM

Comments

Hi Babs, It,s very nice to hear from you.Yes it would be nice to have Kathy's E-mail.So how are the your children?And how are you?Boy I haven't seen your family for almost 20 years.Tell everyone I said Hi.


Name: Pat McFadden (CHS50)
Email: pidipat@earthlink.net
Date: 4/24/2002
Time: 7:02:40 PM

Comments

UW, John, Paul Crowther, Harvey, RC, Caroline, Florence and others who visit this site daily: The Irish in me makes me mad that the history of Chester has been stifled. Everyone knows about the Liberty Bell, cracked though it may be; many people have visited Plymouth Rock, Mass. and seen the replica of their little village. I, for one, found it rather dull and modern-looking. The only "authentic" building I saw was the "Howland House" - because if it wasn't the original, it was darn close, with a "birthing room" on the first floor. Anyone know why there was such a room?

I have been so impressed by what I have learned on this board about our little city's history that I feel strongly that others should know also, instead of it just being a sign on the freeway (interstate)to bypass. My son drove through the east and said he saw where Chester was, and "Oh, that's where my Mom was born." There should be more to it than that. I showed him the photo of 7th & Edgmont that appears at the top of this site, and he said, "Wow, that's really interesting." Just a photo of downtown and he thought it was Wow!

Well, you know I love to write. To whom in government should I write with a plea to get rid of the toxic waste and restore a little-know historical city to its rightful place in history? Would it be the Secretary of the Interior? I don't know. But, first, I need to know if it's possible to purify the existing toxic dumps. I am not sure, but I feel it may be the US government's problem to take care of that waste, and if convinced of our historical value, donate the funds to make restoration possible.

Any help out there in cyberspace?


Name: Kate(N.D.65)
Email: lucydesi8@comcast.net
Date: 4/24/2002
Time: 6:53:26 PM

Comments

U.W. I think you have done a wonderful justice to this site-stating what has to be said-the older folks have their memories but they have to have reality too. Chester is never going to contribute any more that it already has.Most of us have moved on that grew up their & saw the change a comin, thanks for what you posted, it was good to be reminded of what took over.


Name: Babs
Email: barraehatch@aol.com
Date: 4/24/2002
Time: 5:56:23 PM

Comments

CORKY; Yes you know who I am, 3 other kids Paul, KATHY and Sandy W. If you want Kath's e- mail address, let me know and I will send it to you.


Name: U.W.
Email:
Date: 4/24/2002
Time: 5:24:27 PM

Comments

Patricia: I am not mad, perhaps the word is saddened that what could have been is not. And for selfish motives I suspect. You see I love to visit historic places and as a hobby do research. What Chester had to give in open space and Historic content is mostly gone now. But it is still part of a Industrial Corridor that is still one of the most productive in the country..

My parents moved us out of Chester in 1954 so I really have no right to be angry. I never wanted to come back and live. Saddened as most of us are. Didn't someone once say that "education was wasted on the young"

The Deshong park area could have been a beautiful museum and botanical garden. Can you imagine the tourist funds that would have contributed to the city. I went to the museum while a student at Horace Mann and received a wonderful introduction to art. The theaters that had balconies could have been made into live theater. We love going to Players clubs all over the country. Philadelphia and Wilmington had zoos. Why not Chester. Places were torn down that could have been revitalized to make paying attractions. We were a Jazz town at one point. Now those of us that like Jazz go to Philly or perhaps the festival in NC. If we like Opera we go else where. We could have been the Polka capital of the world. Remember the Hoagie, it was invented in Chester. Can't you see a giant hoagie that you could walk thru.


Name: Pat McFadden (CHS50)
Email:
Date: 4/24/2002
Time: 4:49:27 PM

Comments

R2 - "Difficult" takes a while; "impossible" just a little while longer.


Name: Pat
Email:
Date: 4/24/2002
Time: 4:39:19 PM

Comments

Sorry Donna, I meant to say corner of 10th & Highland. I'm just carried away with the tought that perhaps Chester can become a "tourist trap".


Name: Pat McFadden
Email:
Date: 4/24/2002
Time: 4:37:19 PM

Comments

UW - Would the presence of those toxic dumps and waste materials have an effect on such a restoration of old Chester? I mean, of course, if they were cleaned up? These may sound like stupid questions because I am complete ignorant when it comes to disposal of these elements. Is it possible to purify these sites? Is there a safe place they can be done away with? I'm sure no tourism could take place with these sites still in existence. Why are the dumps still there? May sound stupid on my part, but I am ignorant on these things and I'd really like to know.

Donna - Dr. Murray's house was I believe right on the corner of 9th and Highland - southwest corner. One of his sons was in my class at Rez - Frank Murray, and he had an older brother Tom (deceased) and an older sister who coached our basketball team. Other than that, I can't tell you much - have no idea what type of doctor he was. His son weren't real big guys, but with you being just a little girl, the doctor probably did seem big.


Name: R2
Email:
Date: 4/24/2002
Time: 4:26:34 PM

Comments

Pidipat, with all due respect who do you think would want to visit a place like Chester with the articles that I just read posted by U>W.??Did you PP read those articles.? U.W., I too have relatives still living in the area, one with a lung removed others who have died with related lung diseases..Polution is and was in our time living thier a problem, the lucky ones moved..Thanks for your input.


Name: Donna
Email:
Date: 4/24/2002
Time: 4:17:32 PM

Comments

Pidipat, I really have no idea what that big 'ole scary doctors name was, all I know was after that visit I had to go to the hospital and have my tonsils taken out,but I enjoyed all the special treatment I recieved when I came home. alot of ice cream and popsicles and my mom even got me a real big doll who walked. The next time I see my mom I'll see if she remembers the doctor ok. If this helps about what kind of doctor he was, besides real big and scary, I went there because I had really really bad ear aches and sore throats! And guess what? ever since my tonsils were removed I have never suffered a bad earache again. I know it's a little more information than you asked for , but I'm feeling pretty chatty!


Name: Pat McFadden (CHS50)
Email: pidipat@earthlink.net
Date: 4/24/2002
Time: 4:12:27 PM

Comments

Good for you UW - I wish your last post could be book-marked for reference from time-to-time. You sound as angry as I am over the neglect of the city fathers years ago to promote tourism in Delaware County. Tourism was what made Phoenix grow into one of the biggest cities in the country. It was always a scare to city government when the "snow bird" dollars were not as much as projected. The city depended on them.

I just had a "brainstorm". The West has many, many replicas of "old western towns"; Dolly Parton has "Dollywood", etc. Wouldn't it be wonderful if a replica could be made of old Chester, Pa downtown? Complete with our favorite stores, the skating rink, and oh, the Court House that's still there. Movies have been made about life in smalltown, USA in the late 40's and 50's - and people love them. I really feel people would come in droves to "get the feel" of those times. It would create jobs too for locals. John's t-shirts and mugs, calendars (dated in the mid-50's) would bring in a fortune. Neighboring homes could be bought by the government to make room for parking lots, etc. That's what they did here in Phoenix to make room for the freeways. And people were happy in the places they were relocated to.

A friend of mine just came back from a visit to England. He said that in one area of London, they felt like they were back in the times of "Dickens". Really felt like that. Going back in time - what fun.

Just a thought - but my gosh - what a thought! What do y'all think? From a little acorn, the mighty Oak tree grew. I'm excited again.


Name: U.W.
Email:
Date: 4/24/2002
Time: 4:07:52 PM

Comments

R2:

I included the Chester web page after I posted my statment of life in Chester as I saw it. I will note that the conditions that are mentioned on the web page were also in most of our lifetimes. Probably with all the rules and regulations of today...they have been somewhat cleaned up.

Earlier I wrote of the SLAG piles south of Highland Avenue the waste disposal plant south of Highland avenue and second street, unknown content. The pipe mile and then the trash plant. And the Wade site. Lead paint poisoning is a problem all over the country. Asbestos. I have family members that have spots on their lungs from where they worked. Chester was and is a industrial town, you cannot get away from the bad that comes with the good. The one good thing that there is today is people that watch the numbers.

The following article comes from Johns menu on the tradedies. Someone in past postings asked about a school mate by the name of Tees. You will see Don is one of the people written about in the article. A good man, a family man. A non complaining man.

http://inquirer.philly.com/specials/2000/fire/

I meant huge, not Hugh in my post. sorry, I did say I was a bad speller.


Name:
Email:
Date: 4/24/2002
Time: 3:20:47 PM

Comments

you can find 2000 census info at

chester population according to 2000 census http://www.census.gov total population 36854 white 6,980 black 27980 amer ind 75 asian 226 hawian 4 hispanic 1986 some other race 1116


Name: R2
Email:
Date: 4/24/2002
Time: 2:31:09 PM

Comments

EVERYONE SHOULD READ WHAT U.W. HAS POSTED, IF YOU WANT TO KNOW ABOUT CHESTER thanks


Name: U.W.
Email:
Date: 4/24/2002
Time: 2:24:00 PM

Comments

http://www.penweb.org/chester/index.html


Name:
Email:
Date: 4/24/2002
Time: 1:22:27 PM

Comments

in reference to chester's population i believe you can get an idea from the 2000 census,i believe there is a web site for the census,but i don't know off hand.i believe it does break out by race,the daily times may be able to help you.


Name: R2
Email:
Date: 4/24/2002
Time: 1:14:33 PM

Comments

Does anybody know how many blacks & or whites now live in Chester????


Name: U.W.
Email:
Date: 4/24/2002
Time: 1:11:30 PM

Comments

As mentioned in the past postings on many occasions "Chester, PA of Today" will never come back as it once stood. The Question is: Can Chester be awaken from its long sleep?

The location of this once thriving city still remains one of Hugh economical value, between Philadelphia and Wilmington, one hour from Baltimore. With access to the Riverfront, rail, major interstate highway even a major airport just minutes away. BUT as mentioned in a newspaper articles several times, prospective business owners won't risk the safety of their employees making a wrong turn by accident, or working into the evening and then having to drive to 95 on the dangerous streets of Chester. They do not mean potholes.

You cannot give a city away and you cannot allow the city to be taken away.

There are many in Chester from "old" Chester even today. But they are being smothered by those that have little respect for the city. People of the new generation that do-- are struggling along with Chester in their survival. The new Chester is for Today..it takes work, to make it work.

The city cannot be the caretaker: to make sure the city dwellers: · do not get into trouble, (a proposed mini police station in each new project) · to keep the new houses looking new. to keep the streets clean, · to make sure your garbage is put out on the curb at the right time in proper trash receptacles. · Give jobs to everyone that lives there, that is not an answer, it is a small bandage for a big booboo. · How can a city survive with no revenue coming in only going out.

People lose dignity when everything is given to them. We begin to expect it-- then expect more and more.

The people of Chester that came here from other countries somehow without the ability to speak English (THE NATIONAL LANGUAGE of the USA by the way) were able to rise up above the little that they had and worked to buy homes for their families. Those that rented kept "their" home as if they owned them. They were not small families by any means. They built their own churches and schools to teach the new ways to their families yet keep the language of their homeland alive. Yet leaning this new language so they too could communicate-- as broken English as it may have seemed to many. They brought families over to this country, they sent families that stayed behind packages of clothing, and when able money. They took responsibility seriously. The peoples that came up from the South and other places early in Chester history gave so much to the city, they too knew what Elbow Grease was and used it. Good things do not come easy. ( They must have been good, our memories are so many). These people all felt an obligation to make a go of the new life. They did and added to what we remember as "OLDCHESTERPA".

Many of us did not want the old ways; we wanted to move on. We did. But the way our parents/grandparents remembered the homeland, we remember Chester. The OLD CHESTER PA that is.

Had the politicians of the past been wiser, they would have started a trend to make CHESTER the Historical place it should have been. The Tourist stop-over it could have been. In the Early 60's many towns found that people loved to visit places like Philadelphia, Williamsburg, Sommerset, Cape May, Fort Mifflin, Fort Mott and many other towns and places with a past. They got together and made things happen. Tourism saved the old and made it work with the new. Chester did not. Hind site is always 99%.

The movement today is here on Johns website. and Some small groups giving tours to help awaken a new interest in Chester. CHESTER does hold a strong history. Awakened by John for those of us that enter this site.

Does it surprise anyone that many of us have found this site a History lesson about Chester that we did not have in school?


Name: Pat McFadden (CHS50)
Email: pidipat@earthlink.net
Date: 4/24/2002
Time: 1:03:19 PM

Comments

TO: JACK REZ '51. Did Chester ever get any recognition in that LA Times cover story about the Glomar Explorer? I find it irritating, to say the least, that our little city appears to have had little, if any, national recognition for any of its accomplishments. It's obvious that most of Chester's historical contributions were in a "silent mode" by the fact that here we are as adults (lot of seniors here) and are being fascinated by Chester's history. Wonder why it wasn't part of school curriculum.

Have we always been the "wind beneath the wings" with no recognition at all? Did old Chester have a Chamber of Commerce? If so, what were they doing? Here I am at this stage in my life, at 70 yrs old, and just now, just now, feel proud of the city in which I was born.

Long live Chester!!!


Name: Iris CHS "54"
Email:
Date: 4/24/2002
Time: 9:32:49 AM

Comments

I remember Dr. Robbins very well!!! In 1942 my mother took me to him because I had excruciating pain and could not stand. He told her that I was fine and "faking" because I did not want to go to school (I loved school and would not miss). That night I was rushed to a hospital in Philadelphia with a ruptured appendix and peritonitis--prior to penicillin! I almost "checked out" because of this wonderful imitation of a doctor. Yes, I remember him well! One thing in his favor, because of this incidence, at that point in my life I always wanted to become a nurse--and did.


Name: hgc/pmc59
Email:
Date: 4/24/2002
Time: 9:30:50 AM

Comments

Art ,you are probably right about Chester,but there is a ton of money being pumped into Chester,redevelopment of the water front,rehab of houses throughout the city,huge amounts of money for former bank buidings at 5th and Ave Of The States(MARKET ST),the police dept. has a fleet of unmarked patrol cars,and a fleet of marked cars,(i would guess 25+ cars),someone thinks something is going to happen in Chester there is a river of money coming in Chester.Alot of the money is government money,but there is alot of private money also.I don't understand why, but that is whats happening in Chester's redevolpment.But the old Chester is gone,never to return.


Name: Spanky
Email:
Date: 4/24/2002
Time: 1:28:48 AM

Comments

One one corner was a drug store, another corner a Gulf gas station, the other corner a A & W Root Beer stand. The other corner the Mel Tone Musical Bar.


Name: spanky
Email:
Date: 4/23/2002
Time: 10:52:01 PM

Comments

Back in the late 50s and early 60s there was a used car dealer on th corner of 9th st and morton ave in the east end of chester. Does anyone remember what was there prior to that old car yard? Someone I know says it was drive in ice cream shop.


Name: R2
Email:
Date: 4/23/2002
Time: 10:41:46 PM

Comments

FOR ONCE AND AGAIN THE SPELLING IS McCAFFERY & I ALSO AGREE WITH ART, CHESTER IS ONLY A MEMORY FOR ALL OF US & WILL NEVER BE ANYTHING ELSE.


Name: trish
Email:
Date: 4/23/2002
Time: 10:29:05 PM

Comments

To Art:

We all know Old Chester is gone forever but it is so nice to read all the nice things people remember about our once great town, it also brings back some great memories to some of us....


Name: Art
Email:
Date: 4/23/2002
Time: 10:02:47 PM

Comments

If anyone out there thinks Chester can be turned into something better, it's a pipe dream. Old Chester is dead and buried!


Name: Sam
Email:
Date: 4/23/2002
Time: 9:58:32 PM

Comments

Which came first, McCafferty Village or Highland Gardens?


Name: Jack Rez51
Email: jfralston55@aol.com
Date: 4/23/2002
Time: 9:44:39 PM

Comments

SUN SHIP and THE Cold WAR

One of the most secret Cold War CIA programs involved Sun Ship and Howard Hughes.

On 11th April 1968, the Russian Golf II class submarine K129 was lost some 600 miles northwest of Hawaii. Despite an intensive search, the Russians were unable to find the wreck. But using the SOSUS underwater sound detection network, the United States Navy was able to locate the area where the submarine was.

Project Jennifer was the U.S. effort to raise a sunken Soviet submarine from the Pacific seabed. A special vessel, the Glomar Explorer, was built by a mining company owned by Howard Hughes. On 12 August 1974, the Glomar recovered about half of the submarine, with two nuclear torpedoes onboard.

The Glomar Explorer was built in Chester at Sun Ship in the early 70s'. The cover story was that Hughes was going to mine the ocean floor for minerals.

The recovery of the Russian Sub was partially successful. Raising the sub from the ocean floor at depth of 17,000ft (nearly 3 1/2 miles) was the tremendous task. The Glomar Explorer raised the entire Soviet Sub up halfway when the huge claw partially failed and the sub broke up. A third of the Sub was recovered.

After the Glomar returned to California, the Los Angeles Times broke the cover story and the Glomar was mothballed by the Navy.


Name: George Henderson
Email: jestergeorge@mchsi.com
Date: 4/23/2002
Time: 9:23:20 PM

Comments

Love this site. Was on a cruise in the Carribean this winter and ran into old Chester folks. I told them about this site. It's great.


Name: FlorenceCHS50
Email: buffyk@fast.net
Date: 4/23/2002
Time: 8:53:58 PM

Comments

Hello everyone. What year was the agreement for the running of the Mason-Dixon line made. On the 27th of August,1687, the first jury of women was called to serve in any court, which is now the United States, was empaneled at Chester. In the year 1701, Oct. 13th, Wm.Penn Chartered Chester as a borough.


Name: corky
Email: corky_1964@hotmail.com
Date: 4/23/2002
Time: 7:41:11 PM

Comments

babs,

Do have any other children? My mother use to watch a Shelly and her mothers name was Barbara.


Name: babs
Email:
Date: 4/23/2002
Time: 7:25:58 PM

Comments

DONNA.Well that didn't take long! You always were pretty sharp.


Name: Pat McFadden (CHS50)
Email: pidipat@earthlink.net
Date: 4/23/2002
Time: 7:13:25 PM

Comments

To DONNA LEWIS: Could that doctor have been Dr. Murray? He was directly across the street from Rez on Highland Ave. Never knew what his specialty was however.


Name: Donna Marie Lewis
Email:
Date: 4/23/2002
Time: 4:30:37 PM

Comments

Babs, is that a nickname for Barbara? Well, Shelly is younger than me and my younger brother Joey so we didn't play or hand around, hmmm, I'm thinking but don't know if I'm right or not,is Shelly's dad name Paul?


Name: babs
Email: barraehatch@aol.com
Date: 4/23/2002
Time: 2:36:35 PM

Comments

Donna;

The only picture Ihave of Harriett Peters mansion is in my head,sorry.

Here's your hint; I have a 26 year old daughter named shelly


Name: Pat McFadden (CHS '50)
Email: pidipat@earthlink.net
Date: 4/23/2002
Time: 2:11:39 PM

Comments

Ray Agent: I was going to email you but there are others who post or read the board and if you read the obituaries today, you saw that one of the people we share our memories with passed away - Mary McGonigal Dougherty. You had just mentioned her to me, remember?

Last month I posted something about our "Bobbysox Club" when we girls lived in Buckman Village - Mary was one of those girls. Much to my amazement, listed as "survivors" are four of the girls who were members of our "club". Mary had six beautiful children and they are not mentioned in the obit. Strange. However, I wrote that the members of the "club" kept in touch all their lives, even with me way out here, and that kind of long-time friendship is rare. I know I can speak for them when I say "we all feel as though we've lost a sister, or better still, someone we could and would share our innermost secrets."

Mary and I were the "awnry" ones in the group. The others shied away from trouble, but not me and Mary - she was my co-conspirator. The last time I saw her was at her home, Kay Galvin was there too and we had hoagies. Her children were still young and her attention was on them at all times. I can still hear her yelling "NO". And I was laughing, because I still remembered her as a young girl, now she had all these children. I told her she was meant to be a mother; she said, "Six wasn't exactly what I had in mind, but guess so, 'cause I feel like I've been through this before!" Goodbye my friend, rest in peace. You'll always be remembered and you were a valuable part of our "Bobbysox Club."


Name: hgc/pmc59
Email:
Date: 4/23/2002
Time: 12:10:36 PM

Comments

To jak c.thanks for the info; thats the cemetary ,I still remember it.I just went through Chester at(5 th and Market) and remember all the trees planted on THE GREENWAY with the curvy drive through?well it looks like some or all the trees are going,going,gone!looks like a major reconstruction on THE GREENWAY.25 YEARS AND GONE!!!!!!!!!!!!that and the wetherill building are having a rough spring,the wetherill still is standing ,but just barely.


Name: FlorenceCHS50
Email: buffyk@fast.net
Date: 4/23/2002
Time: 12:09:24 PM

Comments

Pat, It's wherever your hometown was. Everyone has memories about their home town.


Name: TomCHS76
Email: t9257@yahoo.com
Date: 4/23/2002
Time: 11:37:15 AM

Comments

Thanks to all for the DR's name. To clear up the inspection thing. Pa has 2 inspections one is mechanical for safety and the other is for emmissions. Both are done at the same time at an average cost of $80., once a year. But, in my original post my main point was that most of the cabs that were on the road then would never pass todays inspections. :)


Name: Donna Marie Lewis
Email: AquarianWoman@msn.com
Date: 4/23/2002
Time: 11:34:17 AM

Comments

Tom, I was really feeling for ya when I read your posting about your allergies when you were just a little guy. I never had allergies when I was younger but oh do I suffer now from those sinus headaches,really bad. Happy to say I haven't had to do the rubber tube and vacumm thing, hopefully never will. I can't picture you crying,nor do I want to. Has it gotten any better Tom? You guys talkin' about doctors, got me remembering when I was about 6 yrs old, my mom took me to a doctor on highland ave near Rez about my ears. Of course I don't remember who he was, but I remember him being BIG and scary 'cos he put tubes down my ears and up my nose,ugh, it was torture when you were a little kid,and probably still is,that's why I won't go to an allergist, nope don't want no prodding on any body parts. I'm wondering now who was that doctor? Hey Tom: how ya doin' hahahaha


Name: Donna
Email: AquarianWoman@msn.com
Date: 4/23/2002
Time: 11:22:30 AM

Comments

Hello Babs, when I was reading your post and got to the part about the dogwood trees being knocked down, I was thinking if I was around then and saw that I probably would of cried too. Then I got mad 'cos I would of loved to grow up and had them trees on our street. I often wonder what makes people do stuff like that: destroying and getting rid of God-given beautiful nature! I got excited when I read that you went to school with my mom&dad. And you said you know me? Well I haven't figured out who you are yet, don't tell me, give me another hint and see if I figure it out. Did you watch me grow-up? Did you live in my neighborhood? Were you ever over my house? OK enough questions, please give me a hint.


Name: Donna
Email: AquarianWoman@msn.com
Date: 4/23/2002
Time: 11:14:46 AM

Comments

Paul, that mansion story is so interesting to me partly 'cos I never knew that. I wish I could see a picture of that.


Name: Pat
Email:
Date: 4/23/2002
Time: 12:18:31 AM

Comments

To Tom CHS76

The doctor's name that was on Highland Avenue was Dr. Robins.


Name: Pat McFadden (CHS '50)
Email: pidipat@earthlink.net
Date: 4/22/2002
Time: 11:31:15 PM

Comments

Yes Ray - that's the way it is here in AZ too. New registration every year, but only have to pop into the state inspection station every two years. Don't know if PA has a set registration fee, but ours is based on the year of your car. Some people don't buy brand new because the registration fee (and insurance) is tooooo high, incredibly high.

Uttering a word is like striking a note on the keyboard of the imagination. -Ludwig Wittgenstein, philosopher (1889-1951). One of the ladies who reads our posts and hasn't posted anything yet, sent me a gift of a "Word a Day" which I receive every day via email. This appeared today and I wanted to share it with all of you. It is also said that when you speak out loud, all your words go out into the universe; and like a boomerang, come back to you.


Name: Ray Agent SJ '50
Email: rayagent@earthlink.net
Date: 4/22/2002
Time: 11:11:00 PM

Comments

Patricia, I don't remember what the inspection requirements were in the early '40s. I can tell you that from my knowledge they always had twice a year inspections. Now, the law has been changed to take into consideration the problems of pollution. I really don't know what the requirements are today. You see, I've been living in Delaware for the past 34 years and I get my car inspected every two years by a state run inspection station. Here, it is a requirement to have an inspection before the registration is renewed.

Paul - Happy to oblige


Name: jak c
Email:
Date: 4/22/2002
Time: 9:35:00 PM

Comments

to hgac/pmc59

if you cvlick on cemeteries and click on Quaker Burial Ground there is some info on the scary cemetery.


Name: Carol CHS 52
Email: clshadwell@aol.com
Date: 4/22/2002
Time: 9:34:36 PM

Comments

Does anyone know anything about the Knights of Pythias? I saw it on the Civic/Social Organizations. I have a sword from their organization and would like to know about it. Thank You, Carol


Name: Pat McFadden (CHS50)
Email:
Date: 4/22/2002
Time: 9:28:35 PM

Comments

Ray - You're right, I didn't know that - but was it a law that your car had to be inspected before they'd issue your registration? Here in Phoenix, that law came into effect approx. not more than 20 yrs. ago. Also, PA has 2 required inspections a year, I think. Is that right? AZ has just one.


Name: Paul D. Crowther
Email: pcrowther4@cogeco.ca
Date: 4/22/2002
Time: 9:28:17 PM

Comments

I thank you Mr. Agent for the confirmation!


Name: Pat McFadden (CHS '50)
Email: pidipat@earthlink.net
Date: 4/22/2002
Time: 9:19:45 PM

Comments

Florence - If you're referring to the fact that we dwell on the times we spent in Old Chester with good memories, yes, I agree wholeheartedly. We're fortunate to have this board to share our memories of our city, but I would wager that if other small cities around the country had this advantage, it would be almost identical to ours.

I feel the reason for this is because life was so much simplier then. Life can be so complicated today with just everyday life; so many things to take care of - too many. That fan of Mrs. Healy that I spoke about before was made 40+ years ago; today, if you buy, for example, a VCR, two days later it's practically obsolete; same with computers. And what's this new thing "a burner" for your CD's? I think it duplicates discs - but even the english language doesn't make sense any more. I can't keep up with it all. All this "stuff" keeps us homebound with very little social activity except for holidays. People are what make people happy, not electrical toys.

So, we were more carefree in our youth, companionship was everywhere and life was simple. Even cooking - simple meals, not expensive gourmet menus calling for every spice in the world. The entire family sat and "looked" and listened to the radio. Today even with TV, too many outside activities for the kids; that means, drive to pick them up, take them there. And without a car, it's practically impossible to get where you MUST go. Just a normal car, of course not - an RV or an SUV or - what do these letters mean anyway? I'll take an XLG and an SUV - how much will that be? Oh my goodness, call the bank and get an extension on our loan, or refinance the house - got to have those vehicles.

So, enough soap box; however, I really don't know how I'd get along with my computer.


Name: Ray Agent SJ '50
Email: rayagent@earthlink.net
Date: 4/22/2002
Time: 9:11:45 PM

Comments

Tom - It was definately Dr. Robbins. I used to walk past his office on Highland Av. four times a day when I attended Rez. The one time I had to use his services was to remove a cinder from my eye. He did not even charge me - my kind of guy.

Patricia - Your memory is getting as bad as mine - yuk! I remember garages that did state inspections as early as 1941. I think they inspected for a number of years before that. The main concern was the condition of brakes, tires and exhaust system. Re the convertibles: It was introduced just before the war (the big WAR, that is!) but few people could afford them. Also, the old cars were plenty fast. I used to drive a 1939 LaSalle with a 16 cylinder engine. It could do ninety between two stop lights on Ninth Street(not that I ever tried it). If you rode in the rumble seat of one of the old cars, you were taking your life into your hands - especially the girls.

I was wondering if anyone has tried to list the springs in Chester when we had the GREAT water. I remember going to all the parks to fill jugs and I was a regular (not that I liked it, but Mother insisted) at the spring at the end of Highland Ave. There must have been plenty more springs. After all, there were about 60,000 good people living in Chester during WW II and NOBODY drank the piped in water.


Name: Florence CHS50
Email: buffyk@fast.net
Date: 4/22/2002
Time: 8:38:37 PM

Comments

I think when people get older they reach for that part of their life that was a happy and secure time for them. Everyone's time is different.


Name: Florence SmalleyKnottCHS50
Email: buffyk@fast.net
Date: 4/22/2002
Time: 8:30:44 PM

Comments

Mr. Crowther, I think that must have been my husband hollering duck in that bar. Just kidding. It could have been, I have heard many stories about the fights he used to get into. Him and his friend.


Name: Paul D. Crowther
Email: pcrowther4@cogeco.ca
Date: 4/22/2002
Time: 8:16:27 PM

Comments

TOM... Yes,the Bell Taxi's were black. Prior to 1949 they were all different colors. This was due to the shortages of cars for the first few post-war years. Bell had 13 cars on the road at one time. Their office and garage was on E.5th. St behind the Hanley Hose. They then moved from there to E.8th St. behind Larkin School. From there they moved to Upland St. between 8th. and 9th. I'm probably telling you more than you cared to know though. In early 1960's they began using Checker cars. These were the ones with the jump seats. I'm familiar with this because I used to work in their garage as a mechanic. On weekends,or whenever I wanted,I could take one of the cabs out and make a few extra dollars. I think I got a large part of my education from those experiences! First time I went out,I was sent to the bar on E.5th. St.across from the Hanley. When I walked in to let the passenger know I was there someone yelled"DUCK". Good thing I did! A beer bottle went flying over my head. After that night it was all downhill. One of the early owners of Bell Taxi was Wm. Shallet. He was a very short tempered guy. He got mad at a driver one afternoon,ripped the telephone off the wall and threw it across the garage hitting the door glass of a cab and it shattered. Of course that made him even madder. Another time he knocked over a desk full of money he had just counted sending the money all over. Fun! WOW!


Name: Pat McFadden (CHS50)
Email:
Date: 4/22/2002
Time: 3:50:52 PM

Comments

No Tom - no inspection stickers - unheard of back then; but of course, there weren't that many cars around to produce the pollution we have today. The buses could take you almost to the front door of anywhere you wanted to go.

How can we ever forget the "rumble" seat. Good grief if you ever rode in the "rumble" seat of a car, you'd never forget it. I suppose we liked them because the convertible hadn't been introduced yet. Do any of you men know the maximum speed those old cars could go; because it would have been possible for someone to be bounced right out of that seat if it went too fast.


Name: Tom CHS76
Email: t9257@yahoo.com
Date: 4/22/2002
Time: 3:37:35 PM

Comments

I remember Bell cabs being black and they also had like a round seat that unfolded to become a seat. When ever we rode in the cab that was my seat. I thought it was cool to ride in that seat. The cabs were so bouncy because of the bad shocks and rattled like they were going to fall apart. Did they actually have inspection stickers back then or was it just a fee you paid the garage to say it was inspected. LOL


Name: Tom CHS76
Email: T9257@yahoo.com
Date: 4/22/2002
Time: 3:28:11 PM

Comments

Now, question number 2. Was it Robbins as Paul wrote or was it Robinson? Paul the vicinity is correct and I do remember the bay window. I also remember a lot of bushes maybe on the side.


Name: The Deaf One
Email:
Date: 4/22/2002
Time: 2:10:04 PM

Comments

It was "Lost in Space"

One day my family was going to Chester to do some clothes shopping for "back to school" clothes, it was a treat to ride in those old Yellow Cab run by Bell Taxi co? Those back seats were so wide that you could walk back and forth without bumping into anything. I think those cabs had 2 benches that faces each other?


Name: Sheree (Austin) McGowan
Email: Picabostow@hotmail.com
Date: 4/22/2002
Time: 1:48:15 PM

Comments

To JackRez51: I agree, something about being from Chester, it never leaves you. I always thought it was just me....but I share the same with lots of others I see.

To Tom: Dr. Robinson had the pleasure of removing a tick from my ear. His great technique, he held a match to my ear until it emerged. Wonder what the charge for that was????

The show.....Lost in Space

Sheree


Name: hgc/pmc 59
Email:
Date: 4/22/2002
Time: 1:15:07 PM

Comments

i remember passing by that cemetary late at night,coming back from the boyd theater on the way to 3rd and market,about 11 pm on a friday/saturday night.we were scared to death when we walked by.it was "REMOVED"and a 5/10 store was built there. it was on the right hand side going toward 3rd street. graves were also"REMOVED" around third and market to welsh street,i believe john morton was burried at 3rd and market/welsh location.some of the dead never got the chance to "rest in peace".their graves were used for variety stores and/or parking lots.phila did the same thing i guess that is/was progress


Name: Pat McFadden (CHS '50)
Email: pidipat@earthlink.net
Date: 4/22/2002
Time: 11:52:51 AM

Comments

The fact that the cemetery on Edgemont had a 5-6 ft. wall in front of it seems to have answered the question for me. I guess it never occurred to me to peek over that wall. Thanks to you who submitted that. And, I refuse to go to that cemetery site again. I've been there so many times, the residents are beginning to recognize me - no more "site seeing."

Frank Vaul - you are right about the racing contests at the skating rink. If you won a race, you got a free pass to next Saturday. But, there was one other thing you could also do to get that pass. I did it all the time.


Name: Jack Rez51
Email: jfralston55@aol.com
Date: 4/22/2002
Time: 11:47:46 AM

Comments

I am amazed at the number of people that post on this site. What is it about Chester that awakens such positive memories?

My wife (an Ohio girl) has a saying she uses on me every once in awhile..."You can take the guy out of Chester, But you can't take Chester out of the guy!"

Haven't figured out if she is complimenting me or not. In any event, the attachment to Chester has remained strong over the years.

Maybe the basis of our strong sense of roots in Chester is that it was built on strong, industrious people. The Chester of my youth was a collection of great ethnic blue collar neighborhoods, populated with people who were proud to say they were from Chester.


Name: Tom CHS76
Email: t9257@yahoo.com
Date: 4/22/2002
Time: 10:57:38 AM

Comments

Thanks Paul, I always thought it was Dr. Robinson. I was very young back then. I guess growing up may have made Robinson stick in my head because of Dr. Robinson on T.V. "Danger Will Robinson, Danger Will Robinson" Can you guess the show? I watched every time it came on.


Name: Westinghouse
Email:
Date: 4/22/2002
Time: 10:21:01 AM

Comments

Beth R & D was the Research & Development Dept.


Name: mike
Email: keywestmike@aol.com
Date: 4/22/2002
Time: 8:04:56 AM

Comments

For Ted:::My Grand Father was one of the welders at Westinghouse but he retired from ther in 74 i beleive, his name was Whitey McMahon, did ya know him Ted?


Name: Beth Bucella Beal
Email: Bethb222@aol.com
Date: 4/22/2002
Time: 3:07:05 AM

Comments

RE: WESTINGHOUSE-- When a friend of the family passed away I as given his bedroom set for my house. The is a mirror in the top drawer of the bureau to lift up when you have it open. Inside was his WESTINGHOUSE ID. I think it was leather and had a picture of him when he was very much younger than when I used to visit him in Glenn Mills. He had retired by the time I was old enough to remember and I thought he had worked at a place that I thought was called R&D. His name was Steve Torhan and he and his wife Ann were good friends with my grandparents, Bus and Mil McGinn.


Name: Westinghouse  clerk
Email:
Date: 4/22/2002
Time: 12:33:03 AM

Comments

To Ted who inquired about Westinghouse. Also worked in the #1 shop for a couple of years, but in the office. A great place to work with a lot of very nice people.


Name: FC CHS68
Email:
Date: 4/21/2002
Time: 11:24:21 PM

Comments

To Pidipat-the old burial ground was on Edgmont Ave between 6th & 7th next to the Lincoln store and it extended back toward Sproul st and had a high stone wall w/a black iron fence around it. That is where they built the Woolworth store.


Name: George Malick
Email: gpmalick@wideopensest.com
Date: 4/21/2002
Time: 9:33:22 PM

Comments

Sounds just like Court TV, Judgement Days and Sleepless nights.


Name: Pat McFadden (CHS50)
Email:
Date: 4/21/2002
Time: 9:12:36 PM

Comments

The first court session in Chester, Pa (then Upland) convened on June 27, 1683, presided over by Wm. Penn.

The first homicide trial was held in Chester on April 17, 1718. First such trial to be set down in the County records. Two men, Lazarus Thomas, a laborer, and Henry Pugh, a millwrigh, were accused of the murder of Johnathan Hayes, the owner of the largest tract of land in Marple Township.

In 1644, The Swedish crown granted the land on the PA side of the Delaware to Gov. Printz' bodyguard, Joran Kyn.


Name: FlorencSMalleyKnottCHS50
Email: Buffyk@fast.net
Date: 4/21/2002
Time: 8:39:10 PM

Comments

What did the Swedish crown do in 1644? What meeting was held at the Robert Wade dwelling in 1685? When was the first court trial convened at Upland, now Chester? When did Wm.Penn convene his first court trial?


Name: Paul D. Crowther
Email: pcrowther4@cogeco.ca
Date: 4/21/2002
Time: 8:26:08 PM

Comments

TO TOM... I think you're referring to Dr. Robbins. He had his office originally at the corner of Highland Ave. and Swarts St.[he had the bay window at the side] He later moved further up Highland Ave. [ATTN. JOHN BULLOCK] if you're reading this please include Dr. Robbins to the list.

DONNA.... Babs description is accurate. I remember when Peoples St. was developed. Can't remember the year though. My guess would be about 52-55. Everyone was talking about the very different design. Yes, the hedge was on Bethel Rd.


Name: Tom CHS76
Email: T9257@yahoo.com
Date: 4/21/2002
Time: 8:09:25 PM

Comments

Well my allegies are kicking in real strong now and that just brought back another Old Chester memory. There was a Dr. Robinson who had an office in his house around 13th and Highland Ave. I remember he use to make house calls. He came over to my house when I was very sick in bed and gave me a needle in my rump. House visits were $10.00 and office visits were $7.00 I remember when I was young I had allegies so bad that my eyes would actually bleed from me rubbing them so much. I would get such bad sinus headaches that I could not get out of bed. When I was that bad I would go to Dr. Robinson's office and he would put an ice pack on my face. Then came the part I will never forget as long as I live. He would take this rubber tube and shove it all the way up my nose and then turn on this vaccuum. I hurt so bad it made me cry. It always worked though because my headaches would be gone within a 1/2 hour. Till this day I still hate that sound and it always reminds me of Dr. Robinson. I didn't dislike him I knew in the end I would feel better. Anyone else remember him? I didn't see his name in the doctors list.


Name: babs
Email: barraehatch@aol.com
Date: 4/21/2002
Time: 7:56:47 PM

Comments

Donna,Back in the early 50's, Bethel / Chichester RD was changed by the post office because of all the confusion with upper-chi mail. The whole property that your house was on; Chichester & People street was owned by the PETER's family. There was indeed an old stone mansion there,all rocks, it had a beautiful swirling staircase, they were very well-to-do.When Mr. Peters died, his family moved elsewhere, and the mansion deteriorated and the tract was eventually sold t the building contractor,(I can't remember who they were). Thre were beautiful Dogwood trees all over the huge lot and I remember crying when I watched them being bulldozed. I also watched the construction of the super-highway---- THE CONCHESTER! I got over it pretty fast when I discovered all those new kids to play with, and the (upstairs Kitchens). I went t school with Ja& Ar, and know you, can you figure out who I am?


Name: Frank Vaul
Email: itvaul@fast.net
Date: 4/21/2002
Time: 7:24:43 PM

Comments

Pat, I remember that they would have races on Saturday afternoon at the skating rink and free passes were given to the winners. I know because I won a lot of times. A friend of mine at the time was Sonny Dempsey who was a national speed skating champion who showed me a lot about racing.


Name: FlorenceCHS50
Email: buffyk@fast.net
Date: 4/21/2002
Time: 7:04:24 PM

Comments

Pat. He paid 25.00 for it. It has a lot of interesting facts in it all about Chester long ago. I will try to write some of them in later

Florence Smalley Knott


Name: Donna
Email:
Date: 4/21/2002
Time: 6:53:23 PM

Comments

Babs: I still don't know where your talking about when you say brick row homes "starting at People Street" I thought yu were at first talking about the section off of People Street which is Bethel Road going towards Yank's Market and Bootn Bonnets bar and the beginning of Concord Rd which leads to Aston. Felton Ave was near the churchyard right, 2 blocks over from People Street


Name: Donna
Email:
Date: 4/21/2002
Time: 6:47:11 PM

Comments

Paul C- I'm interested in any info or history about People Street. Are you telling me that once there was a mansion just the large mansion that took up the whole block? when you say the hedges faced chichester do you mean Bethel Road?All I ever knew was that Bethel Road was around the block. I know Bethel Rd goes into Chichester.My mom and dad moved to People Street from Garden City when I was one. I remember when the street was white with alot of rocks, and I mean before they put down the blacktop. My dad also told me that when they first moved there, I-95 wasn't behind our backyard either. It was all grass, and people just walked to other parts of Chester like the Gardens i think


Name: Pat McFadden (CHS50)
Email: pidipat@earthlink.net
Date: 4/21/2002
Time: 5:55:22 PM

Comments

Florence, it looks as though your question has already been answered. There was a whole lot of tobacco growing there.

That book on Chester that you got at super Sunday could be worth a fortune. When I as there 22 years ago, I came across a book in a used book store. It was all about the history of Chester, it had to be 400 plus pages and I seem to remember the cover was an olive shade and they were asking $80 for that book. I wanted it so badly, but couldn't afford it then. Wonder if it's the same book - and you acquired it for what $1.00/$2.00. I think you have a real treasure there.


Name: Paul D. Crowther
Email: pcrowther4@cogeco.ca
Date: 4/21/2002
Time: 5:35:38 PM

Comments

I may not be quite enough of an old timer,but I remember the homes on Bethel Rd.[Chichester]from the 1940s'. I never heard them referred to as "murderers row". There were several Black families living there. Very nice people. The whole area where Peoples St. is now was once the site of a very large mansion. We used to call it the haunted house. It was a pretty scary looking place. Many of us played there lots of times. It had a big overgrown hedge fronting on Chichester.


Name: U.W.
Email:
Date: 4/21/2002
Time: 4:45:35 PM

Comments

RE: Welsh Tract

Taken from the link that follows the paragraph.

Company No. 4. The grantees under the patent, dated 14. 7mo. 1681, for 5,000 acres, issued to John ap John, the founder, probably of the Welsh Tract idea and indirectly of the Merion Meeting, and Dr. Wynne, were Denbighshire people, and in part, as follows: It seems that each of these "trustees," John andthomas, took 2,500 acres of their joint purchase to keep, or to sell, as they thought best.

Their purchases were laid out in Merion, Radnor, Goshen and New Town townships, in the Welsh Tract, . . .

http://www.rootsweb.com/~GENHOME/wlanco.htm


Name: Ted Dobrowski
Email: teddobr@bellatlantic.net
Date: 4/21/2002
Time: 4:37:47 PM

Comments

Like to hear from any guys that put time in Westinghouse.. I put 30 years there from "57 to 87". Worked i 1 shop on 20ft vbm. Great place to work , was there till they closed..


Name: U.W.
Email:
Date: 4/21/2002
Time: 4:30:47 PM

Comments

Florance: RE: Welsh Tract

I think you may be right. The only thing I have on Welsh tract is in regard to the Pugh Family. I have posted that below. From the genealogy posting it looks to have been the name of a town.

PUGH LINE - THIRD GENERATION

THOMAS PUGH

Born: 1685 at Merionethshire, Wales Died: 1723 Merion, Phila. Co. PA

Parents: Ellis Pugh - Sinah____

Married: 10-23-1709/10 at Haverhill Meeting, Welsh Tract, PA to Jane Roger. She was b. abt 1688 At Radnor, Delaware Co PA. Jane Ann Roger (possibly Roberts) was dau of Roger Roberts and Elizabeth. Jane went by surname of Roger.


Name: florence
Email: buffyk@fast.net.
Date: 4/21/2002
Time: 3:46:21 PM

Comments

Babs I think the Welsh tract is part of Radnor and Haverford


Name: FlorenceCHS 50
Email: buffyk@fast.net
Date: 4/21/2002
Time: 3:41:43 PM

Comments

That part of Chester comprised between the Delaware,Ridley and Chester rivers,extending northwestardly to where is now the Crozer theological Seminary was origionally a tobacco plantation run by the Swedish.I don't know if they call that the WELSH tract or not


Name: babs
Email:
Date: 4/21/2002
Time: 3:13:25 PM

Comments

Florence, I think that plantation was called the WELSH TRACT, maybe?


Name: FlorenceSmalleyKnottCHS50
Email: buffyk@fasy.net
Date: 4/21/2002
Time: 2:54:33 PM

Comments

Hi, here is question for anyone. 1. What part of chester was origionally a tobacco plantation? What do you think Pat?This book is called Chester, copyright 1914. Found it today in Media at the suoer Sunday. Lots of interesting facts


Name: babs
Email: barraehatch@aol.com
Date: 4/21/2002
Time: 2:54:31 PM

Comments

The houses I was talking about are brick row-houses, starting at people st. I Grew up in feltonville, my mom and grandparents lived there in 1924 and then moved over to Felton ave. fr 50 years. I was hoping some of our old-timers would remember, because my mom who is 81 now forgot.


Name: Pat McFadden (CHS50)
Email: pidipat@earthlink.net
Date: 4/21/2002
Time: 2:19:31 PM

Comments

No one has answered the question about the free pass to the skating rink. Ah geez guys, don't you care?


Name: doris
Email: des1932@aol.com
Date: 4/21/2002
Time: 2:09:08 PM

Comments

BETHEL ROAD, FROM CONCORD ROAD TO THE 322 OVERPASS, IN UPPER CHICHESTER, WAS NEVER CALLED MURDERER'S ROW. SOMEONE GAVE YOU WRONG INFORMATION. I HAVE LIVED ON BETHEL ROAD IN CHESTER TWP. FOR 46 YEARS, HAVE NEVER HEARD OF A MURDER YET. ACROSS FROM FRANKLIN SCHOOL LIVED MANY NICE FAMILIES AS I'M SURE DONNA FROM PEOPLES ST. KNOWS.


Name: FloreceSmalleyKnottCHS50
Email: buffyk@fast.net
Date: 4/21/2002
Time: 1:13:07 PM

Comments

Here are some more words for cemetary. cimitery,crmitere,coemiteruim,koim,keiman,keisthal.sanskirteete,burial ground.


Name: Donna
Email:
Date: 4/21/2002
Time: 12:33:27 PM

Comments

To Babs, I lived on People Street for a very long time, and this is the first time I have ever heard anything like that part of Bethel Rd, being called Murderer's row. Never heard anything about a murder. I used to walk around there many, many, times day and night.


Name: Babs
Email: barraehatch@aol.com
Date: 4/21/2002
Time: 9:46:56 AM

Comments

There is a row of houses on Bethel Rd. (brtween People St. and the Boots and Bonnett's Bar) Years ago it was called MURDERER'S ROW.Does anyone remember why it was called this? I don't remember. Thanks.


Name: babs
Email: barrahatch@aol.com
Date: 4/21/2002
Time: 9:34:30 AM

Comments

Does any one know: There is a row of houses on Bethel Rd.(between People St. and the Boots and Bonnets Bar). Years ago, it was called MURDERER'S ROW. Anyone remember why?


Name: PM CHS49
Email:
Date: 4/20/2002
Time: 11:59:46 PM

Comments

Rememberimg Dr. Jordan. There was a time when CHS was a very highly accredited institute of learning. In part due to people like Dr. Jordan. It also speaks for the students. Another memory: The teachers had a dress code. Suits and ties for the men and blouses/skirts or dresses for the ladies. Good old days.


Name: Harvey Martin
Email: hsmartin@snip.net
Date: 4/20/2002
Time: 10:08:37 PM

Comments

Squirrel Nut Zippers

http://www.audio.msk.ru/

Down at the bottom of the page (in small print) you'll see squirrel nut zippers...click on "hot" or "the inevitable" or "perennial favorites" to hear the album.


Name: Dan CHS 54
Email:
Date: 4/20/2002
Time: 5:27:46 PM

Comments

To 12:46:10AM Sorry, but phony teachers shouldn't be sarcastic, condescending, and smug. When Dr Jordan corrected you in that manner at least she had previously earned your respect. Oh, you forgot to put your name in the upper right hand corner of your paper.


Name:
Email:
Date: 4/20/2002
Time: 4:07:40 PM

Comments

Pat McFadden: click on "cemeteries" then on Quaker Burial Ground and you'll see what I mean, the bodies were moved in 1959.


Name: HarryV CHS48
Email: hpvmdv@mchsi.com
Date: 4/20/2002
Time: 1:21:37 PM

Comments

Does any one Know were you can park if you come for the walk on the 27th.???


Name: Pat McFadden (CHS '50)
Email: pidipat@earthlink.net
Date: 4/20/2002
Time: 12:47:05 PM

Comments

UW - Regarding the Ft. Mifflin ghosts - I believe boys as young as 12-14 were called into service at the time of the revolution. So, it could very well be young soldiers - especially the drum. You know boys like to beat on a drum and that could have been the reason they were in the army - the thrill of beating that drum. Sound logical?

Another word for graveyard - how many letters in it? Could it be dumpster?


Name: Harvey Martin
Email: hsmartin@snip.net
Date: 4/20/2002
Time: 9:57:03 AM

Comments

S-E-M-E-T-E-R-Y, Ma'am.

Thanks for the Fort Mifflin site, U.W.


Name: U.W.
Email:
Date: 4/20/2002
Time: 9:04:55 AM

Comments

aahh..spelling. Mrs. Mielky 5th grade Dewey School would sure like that. I flunked or just about passed every test.


Name:
Email:
Date: 4/20/2002
Time: 12:46:10 AM

Comments

Boys and girls, it's time for a spelling test. The word I'm looking for is another word for graveyard. (hint) It you have a problem just look to the left side of the screen. Hope you won't cheat.


Name: U.W.
Email:
Date: 4/19/2002
Time: 11:29:07 PM

Comments

Patricia:

The Fort Mifflin tour is a interesting one. They have dinner tours and a Halloween Tour. I believe it is on the Ghost of Philadelphia tours. It is Chester side of the Skullkill River just about a half mile from the airport.

True story: someone went on a regular day tour quite afew years ago. When the group got near a bunker hill she could not enter the cave like area. She felt a presence there. They tried to get her to go in and they could not. Her husband said when she gets this feeling she will not go where a presence was felt by her. The continued the tour into the bunker and when the group came out and she was outside waiting. They went to another building and the tour guide did demonstrations and then asked if anyone had any questions. People asked about the rifles, gun powder, etc. and she quietly asked if there were any negro soldiers there. None of record was the answer. He asked her why. Her reply to him was she felt two young negro boys about 12 and 13 were there crying. That their pain was so great she could not enter the area. The guide said he found that interesting because there was new evidence that negros may have been there. Another person said(but she said 12 year old kids) she replied he had a drum next to him.


Name: Dan CHS 54
Email:
Date: 4/19/2002
Time: 11:24:43 PM

Comments

The cemetary on Edgmont between 6th & 7th had a stone wall 5 to 6 feet high(a long term memory ??) with the cemetary ground level well above Street level. This may be the reason many can't remember a cemetary being there.


Name: Pat McFadden
Email:
Date: 4/19/2002
Time: 11:15:41 PM

Comments

Sorry - in my last post, the last paragraph should read "does NOT state". The omission of one little word can make a big difference.


Name: Pat McFadden (CHS50)
Email: pidipat@earthlink.net
Date: 4/19/2002
Time: 11:07:06 PM

Comments

To whoever suggested I go into "cemetaries" on the menu to the left of the screen - at your suggestion, I again went there (3rd time) and this is verbatim what it says:

In 1946 the court refused approval to sell the site for mercantile purposes. At that time the bodies were to have been removed to Cumberland Cemetery in Middletown.

I wanted to make sure I read it correctly the first 2 times, so please notice, it says "were to have been removed" - does state for sure that they were. Maybe it answers the question for you, but it doesn't for me.

Thanks again.


Name: Pat McFadden
Email: pidipat@earthlink.net
Date: 4/19/2002
Time: 9:58:44 PM

Comments

I went to the site given to us by UW and it is very interesting. It appears it is located a short distance north of the Philadelphia airport. Thank you UW.


Name: Paul D. Crowther
Email: pcrowther4@cogeco.ca
Date: 4/19/2002
Time: 8:37:20 PM

Comments

The original name of Second Street was 38 foot street.

The first street of any sizable use to be laid out in Chester was Front Street [Edgemont Avenue]


Name: U.W.
Email:
Date: 4/19/2002
Time: 7:51:48 PM

Comments

We did learn recently that Chester means "Army Post" in Latin. Did we have one? Yes. Just next door.

http://www.fortmifflin.org/


Name: Harvey Martin
Email: hsmartin@snip.net
Date: 4/19/2002
Time: 4:06:56 PM

Comments

Okay, Donna,

You mean the T Shirts that will be available at Freeman Enterprises Gallery (29 E 5th St.) on Saturday, April 27th? I'll go.


Name: Donna
Email:
Date: 4/19/2002
Time: 2:59:50 PM

Comments

Harvey,let's go get the new Chester T-shirt!


Name:
Email:
Date: 4/19/2002
Time: 12:40:27 PM

Comments

Pat McFadden, you should reread "cemeteries" then you'll know for sure what year the bodies were reburied.


Name: Harvey Martin
Email: hsmartin@snip.net
Date: 4/19/2002
Time: 11:32:28 AM

Comments

Romantic Songs

http://www.reflectionshawaii.com/lounge/index.htm


Name: C.
Email:
Date: 4/19/2002
Time: 8:13:56 AM

Comments

REF: "T" Shirts.

according to Johns note on the WHATS NEW section he will have the shirts available for email orders

after April 27th. For those that want to buy one at the tour of old Chester on that date the size and price is noted there also. John will be there, the location is noted on the WHATS NEW news brief.

Watch the WHATS NEW section MESSAGE BOARD BECAUSE John will probably announce the mail order address soon.. Price of shirt plus shipping - I would assume.

If you have not seen the shirts John does have a link to click and see.


Name: Harvey Martin
Email: hsmartin@snip.net
Date: 4/19/2002
Time: 6:16:22 AM

Comments

Easy Listenin'

http://iarecords.com/jukebox/easy.htm


Name: jwhiskers
Email:
Date: 4/18/2002
Time: 11:32:36 PM

Comments

To: Spanky & John, Im, glad you guys remember Whitey News and Tex. But grasshopper was Whiteys, sister Marcellas, boy friend. We called him grasshopper because he chewed tobacco and always spit alot. You were right, that old bird sure could chase you down the street. But if you both remember, Whiteys, biggest day was the Chester Halloween Parade, when he wore his white auxzilary police hat and moved the traffic along Welsh st at 8th. I hope you read Joe Squires, article in the times when Whitey passed away, a real tribute. John, you got me with Sleepy, I almost forgot that black guy who was so harmless, yet a product of Chester in his own way.


Name: mike silva
Email: keywestmike@aol.com
Date: 4/18/2002
Time: 9:25:37 PM

Comments

Can someone send me the address where i can send for one of those fine "oldchesterpa" T-shirts..i live outta state and would like to get my hands on 1 or 2 of them...thanks all


Name: C.
Email:
Date: 4/18/2002
Time: 9:18:16 PM

Comments

John: OLDCHESTERPA "T" shirts are finally here. Glad to see that you posted the places where we can get one or two or three.. Great price 2.

Folks if you have not seen the shirt, go to the whats new section right under the school reunions John has given us the information about size, price and place to get them.

BEACH TOWELS NEXT JOHN? Cause it is the season.


Name: Pat McFadden
Email:
Date: 4/18/2002
Time: 9:12:36 PM

Comments

Didn't mean to ignore the post about the cemetary - standing across to catch the bus in front of Lincoln's. The site on the menu here to the left under "cemetaries" indicates it was to be moved in 1946. Perhaps it was delayed for quite a while trying to indicate who was going to do it. "Not me!! Not me!! I ain't diggin' up our dearly departed. Let them rest in peace. My grandma never did take kindly to change."

Don't know how I missed that cemetary in the late 40's, because to this day, I love visiting old cemetaries - especially the one in Linwood and the one where many of my relatives are buried (Chester Rural?) where they have photographs on the headstones. Fascinating because these people lived and had lives, not just bodies in the ground. The "phrase" on their gravestones couldn't begin to tell their interesting lives. Maybe we should post obituaries on those headstones. Nowadays, pets are being listed as a "survivor". Interesting!!! Visited one in Colorado one time where most of the cemetary was taken up by graves surrounded by steel "cribs". You look at the dates and you realize there was some epidemic that took the lives of tiny babes.

Still can't believe I never noticed that grave yard.


Name: Pat McFadden
Email:
Date: 4/18/2002
Time: 8:50:39 PM

Comments

HGC/PMC - Your contribution here re the name "Chester" is very valuable. Thank you. I also think either UW or Paul Crowther (I get you two mixed up, along with Paul's brother, Bill) was right when he said it came from a Latin word which meant "fortress". I do really remember a Chester in northern Ireland which was "the last holdout" in some war or other. So, we have two meanings for the word: 1) Fortress and the other 2) trading post. I think "fortress" is the original meaning and even a "fortress" can change its ways, become friendly and therefore, a "trading post". Boy, what I've learned.


Name: Kate(ND'65)
Email: lucydesi8@comcast.net
Date: 4/18/2002
Time: 8:33:22 PM

Comments

Harvey, thanks for the memories, back when I was in High School, Chester Park was THE hang out especially on Sunday afternoons, and parking after dark till the cops ran us out ...Thanks for the memory Kate


Name: tbill
Email:
Date: 4/18/2002
Time: 6:34:27 PM

Comments

I rember Jasper. I use to hang out with some times. You are right, he was one of the KOOLEST CATS Chester ever had. I think his name was Jack Williams, but I'm not sure.


Name:
Email:
Date: 4/18/2002
Time: 5:56:57 PM

Comments

Correction fr previous comment "it's "Peg" pants. Sorry.


Name:
Email:
Date: 4/18/2002
Time: 5:55:26 PM

Comments

To dance w/Jasper (think he had a side kick, Casper)was a real treat, you were noticed by all @ the dance ( St. Mikes, Ridley Twp,etc)don't know if it's the same Jasper. He wore ped pants & blue suede shoes. Is this the same Jasper you are talking about? Piditpat: I stood in front of Lincoln store to catch the bus home & there was a cemetary there in the late 40's & early 50's,used to be scarey. Don't know why but girls were supposed to be scared, I guess.


Name: hgc/pmc 59
Email:
Date: 4/18/2002
Time: 4:51:10 PM

Comments

I talked to an Episcopal priest from England,he states there is a "Chester" in the northwest corner of England.He states Chester is an historic Roman site,and the word Chester in dicates an historic Roman site.He mentions Manchester as another example of chester.(roman site). On another note ,do you remember the "37" trolley ptc/prt destination sign "CHESTER PA"?The reason for that was to stop any confusion about Chester,Pa and Chester Ave in Phila,Pa. The reference book on this states there are 29 states with a Chester location. I remember TEX. singing and playing his guitar . he told us he was on the way to l.a. to sign a country and western contract with Gene Autry. Didn't happen but we believed it.


Name: Pat McFadden (CHS '50)
Email: pidipat@earthlink.net
Date: 4/18/2002
Time: 3:51:02 PM

Comments

GEORGE AND OTHERS: The fact that Chester was absolutely instrumental in so many ways to the development of our great nation is one of the things I learned in doing that quiz. I was learning right along with everyone else. Forget about Plymouth Rock, concentrate on Historical Chester, PA. The only reason they chose Plymouth is because it had that damn stupid rock laying there with the year 1620 on it. A big temptation, yeah, yeah, we know Plymouth, but we got it all over you. So there!!

It matters greatly that our small town went to ruins, but the history of it can never be ruined. They have rejuvinated dull, very dull downtown Phoenix, building beautiful apts and condos and people are moving back downtown by the hour. Why can't they rejuvinate Chester the same way? Phoenix can't compare with Chester when it comes to history. And why don''t they bring back the Wilson line dances?

To FC-CHS68 - We knew it was moved, but are you sure it was in the 60's? I remember Edgemont Ave and all the stores well, but I don't remember a cemetary there in the 40's. I think the old Swede burial grounds were down at the bottom of Edgemont, near the river - but I don't remember one further up on Edgement between 6th and 7th.

The question now tho' is, we've come up with TWO "original" Quaker burial sites - one on Edgemont but another nearer to Sproul built in approx. 1680 (that's only 40 yrs after the arrival of the Pilgrims). We're trying to find out if there were two "original" QUAKER cemetaries, OR are they one and the same? Mr. Warfel's original cemetary is the one on Edgemont, which was based on my question. However, Kate submitted some info that is no doubt authentic of another location. Someone, somewhere has the answer to this.

I never know what kind of feedback I'm going to get when I sit down here and let my fingers do the talking. It never fails - I am surprised EVERYTIME, EVERYTIME. I seldom expect any feedback, but it's almost always there. I usually wind up stirring things up and it's always a SURPRISE. So my damaged feelings were repaired when so many people truly enjoyed when I more-or-less said, OK people THIS IS WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO NOW - very interesting. Always did write better when I was angry - that too is interesting. The interesting thing about writing something is that when you think you're being humorous, some people take offense; when you think you're being nasty, no offense taken. And you wouldn't believe all the emails I get - pro and con.

However, it turned into something that was entertaining, so much fun, a great learning experience for us all, and the spirit of good sportsmanship came through - because everyone was a champ!!! Thanks to everyone for enjoying what started out as a "whim" on my part and also your kind remarks.

Now, next "humble" question and the answer does not come from a book.

At the Great Leopard Skating Rink, which so many have posted about, and I too was there every Saturday when I lived at 7th and Madison, what could you do or would you do to get a free pass for next Saturday?


Name: George Malick
Email: gpmalick@wideopenwest.com
Date: 4/18/2002
Time: 12:58:33 PM

Comments

Recently there were several postings about the number of cities in the country named Chester. I found it very interesting when I moved to Denver that the streets in Denver where laid out of a grid system that uses the order of the alphabet to name streets that run North and South from Broadway. Going west they selected names of Indian tribes, i.e. Acomoa, Bannock, Cherokee, etc. After Z, they used famous Generals names. Going to the East, they chose to use two A streets, then two B streets etc, the first is a name of a tree, the second is the name of a famous city. Of all the famous cities they could have selected for the "C" street such as Chicago or Columbus, they selected good old Chester. In doing a little research, I found that the selection committee chose a city that was instrumental in the economic development of the country. It was a nice feeling to find that people in other parts of the country,even as far away as Colorado could appreciate the significance of our hometown. George


Name: dave
Email: shropfam@aol
Date: 4/18/2002
Time: 12:01:14 PM

Comments

thanks for the info everyone,sorry to hear bout jasper.he always would wave to us when we were hanging out at moyamensing fire house.i laughed when i read about tex's car,remember it. and whitey(grasshopper) at the little league,lots of laughs.i could never hit hte ball out at chester east,then when i was older and went back there the field looked so small.


Name: Helen Buck Donaldson
Email: hbdonaldson@hotmail.com
Date: 4/18/2002
Time: 11:23:14 AM

Comments

I have beeb searching on the web for my father's family (Harry A. Buck) whose sister was Emma Buck--organist and soloist at North Chester Baptist Church, Chester Pa. This was about the nineteen twenties.


Name: Kate
Email:
Date: 4/18/2002
Time: 11:12:21 AM

Comments

HARVEY, thank you!


Name: a chester type of guy
Email:
Date: 4/18/2002
Time: 10:50:44 AM

Comments

jasper died in july, 2000


Name: spanky
Email:
Date: 4/18/2002
Time: 7:49:51 AM

Comments

Boy i remember old Whitey News from my days at the chester east little league, we would call him grasshopper and he would freak-out and chase us ,thank God he really never caught anyone. and is tex still alive? see someone says he moved to chester county..


Name: floyd murray
Email: gooddoc02@hotmail.com
Date: 4/18/2002
Time: 1:55:49 AM

Comments

Hi Everyone - Had to take a much-needed vacation from Hell to drop in, albeit briefly. Question for CHS68 - you wrote "To Dave, Jasper died a couple of years ago." My friend, are we thinking of the same Jasper?! Short fellow, thick glasses, much older than he looked, with a large, black wig? Did not smoke nor drink but was a regular at most Chester and Aston area clubs? Used to hang at Tom Jones in Brookhaven sometimes? Yeah, a little goofy but one hell of a nice, harmless guy. He used to get up onstage at the old Elks Club on 9th St. circa 25 years ago and sing - he actually had a good voice and could dance. (I'm speaking of the Elks which is now - or was - Bennie's - on the corner - next to the old Rainbow Diner. The doorman would not let me in there until I had pulled my long hair back into a ponytail. Those were the days before hair transplants ;-) If this is the same Jasper, I am very sorry to hear that he is gone. He was a hell of a nice guy, always friendly and harmless, unlike some of the other folks I knew back then. Did him a small favor once when he wanted his name in my Times column. I only knew him as "Jasper" - but then, everyone only knew him as Jasper. Oh, well. Shit. Life goes on. Anyway - re some of the other Chester "characters" mentioned here - Whitey News was Phil News's cousin or brother - I forget which. Phil was getting prominent in local union and political circles and did not want this known around. Phil and his wife Mary were also my Godparents. As a tyke, I remember Whitey walking along Morton Ave. in Sun Village with both arms outstretched, weaving along the sidewalk. He apparently thought he was an airplane. I was going to Jefferis then and he would come into the playground and babble at us kids but he was safe, harmless - no danger, just - well - "there is a pleasure sure in madness found, that only madmen know". 'Nuff said. Re Tex - one of my first girlfriends - and "long lost loves" (she joined the Air Force and broke my 17 year old heart) was his cousin. She told me about the thumb-pushups but I never saw him do it. She lived on Lehman Street in Highland Gardens and did not like him very much. Re Larry - Yes, I remember him too. He was small, a hunchback, and looked a little like Chico Marx in the face. I had a very street-wise, older cousin who drove a cab in town for years and he told me that - this was the late 60's when Chester was turning sour - that the "word on the street" was that the old hunchback was to be left ALONE. And as far as I knew, he was never mugged nor beaten up or bothered and he was left be to tote his little newspaper cart around the center of town, even after dark. My cousin - I called him my "Uncle Jim" - never lied to me and I like the touch of "honor" in that little anecdote. Finally - anyone remember the little old -very old - lady who used to stand on Edgmont Ave. in downtown Chester? She always wore a broad-brimmed straw hat, summer or winter, the type you see in the old photos of Gibson Girl types from the turn of the century. She was a Jehovah's Witness and always had a handful of the magazine The Watchtower and other Jehovah's Witness publications to sell. They were about a dime each. I'd buy them off her sometimes - just to let her know that someone noticed her there, I guess. And also the fellow with the newsstand underneath the bridge on 6th St.? Chubby fellow, was there for years, used to put out a large rack of mags and newspapers each day and close them up at night. Oddly, the closed-up "stand" is still there, under the bridge - but the fellow is gone. AAARRGHHH! ENOUGH! :-) One memory leads to another - moving on. Anyway, to Pidipat - thanks for the great quizzes! I love them - they are both fun and informative! Please keep them up - IF and WHEN I actually know the answer to a question, I'll send it in - but you've stumped me so far. Will keep trying. Anyway, my very best to everyone on this great list and will post more when I can.


Name: TRISH
Email:
Date: 4/17/2002
Time: 10:59:03 PM

Comments

to Jim, thanks for the information re kimmel center


Name: FC-CHS68
Email:
Date: 4/17/2002
Time: 10:56:28 PM

Comments

I remember Chester Tex who once painted his Olds with 10 cans of spray paint only to have it start peeling about 2 weeks later. He moved to Honeybrook-Chester County about 10 years ago. Also to Pidipat the old burial ground on Edgmont Ave was dug up in the 60's to make room for the Woolworths.


Name: CHS68
Email:
Date: 4/17/2002
Time: 10:31:13 PM

Comments

To Dave, Jasper died a couple of years ago.


Name: dave shrop
Email: shropfam@aol
Date: 4/17/2002
Time: 10:23:31 PM

Comments

wasn't tex the dude who could do all the pushups on his thumbs? anyone remember the guy named jasper who used to walk on 9th st on the east side?how about louie the security guard at deshong park?


Name: T. Nicolaides CHS 54
Email: tnicolaides@fastnet.com
Date: 4/17/2002
Time: 10:22:37 PM

Comments

Jack Mills CHS 55....Right on target. A little vague on the trips to Shoosters but I'm sure it will come back to me. You must have been chatting with Pete also. Take care....will talk to you again. Tom


Name: Bill Locke
Email: wlocke2@comcast.net
Date: 4/17/2002
Time: 7:53:38 PM

Comments

I can't remember the name but there was a shall I say homeless man that used to hang around downtown that always wore an old coat year round even had holes in it well anyway he was picked up for vagrancy or something they took him to broadmeadows and come to find out he had quite a few thousand dollars in the lining of that coat.Believe they let him go.don't remember when the Daily Times ran that story 50's or 60's can't remember.hope i don't get yelled at for rambling on


Name: Jack MillsCHS55
Email: flojac1429@aol.com
Date: 4/17/2002
Time: 7:28:38 PM

Comments

Tom Nicolaides you and I used to go down to Shoosters together when we were in school. And for your #2 could it be that your daughter had triplets just like mine did.


Name: Jim Vincenzo
Email:
Date: 4/17/2002
Time: 5:59:43 PM

Comments

Trish: KIMMELCENTER.ORG


Name: Jim Vincenzo
Email: grimble@earthlink.net
Date: 4/17/2002
Time: 5:55:53 PM

Comments

I have been trying to find some classmates from Immaculate heart School Class of 1960.

Michael C. Priest Joel Hutchins (son of Dr. Hutchins) Milton Porter Ronald Moore

Anyone know where they may be?

Regards, Jim Vincenzo


Name: trish
Email:
Date: 4/17/2002
Time: 5:53:50 PM

Comments

hello, I am looking for the web site for the kimmel center in Phila.....(may not be spelling it correctly) can anyone out there help...Thanks.


Name: Jim Vincenzo
Email:
Date: 4/17/2002
Time: 5:49:54 PM

Comments

I discovered this site by accident. A great tribute to a great city. Jim Vincenzo


Name: John
Email:
Date: 4/17/2002
Time: 5:39:11 PM

Comments

How about the swinging bridge that was on 6th. St. that you could only walk across from the west 7th. St. parking lot to the business district.


Name: T. Nicolaides CHS
Email: t.nicolaides@fast.net.com
Date: 4/17/2002
Time: 5:11:09 PM

Comments

To: Jack Mills CHS 55....Ran into a classmate of yours today (Pete Elthoriou of Johns' doggie shop fame). Seems you and I have a couple of things in common, but I wanted to be sure we were talking about the same Jack Mills. #1.You played the trumpet in high school. #2.????....If you are the Jack in question, let me know and I will clue you in on # 2. Take care....Tom N. CHS 54


Name: Kate(ND'65)
Email: lucydesi8@comcast.net
Date: 4/17/2002
Time: 4:46:38 PM

Comments

Harvey, for some women that is true, I also have been the recipient of the music only you know how to find..Thanks


Name: Harvey Martin
Email: hsmartin@snip.net
Date: 4/17/2002
Time: 3:20:29 PM

Comments

New Song Title...

The Way to a Woman's Heart is through Her Ears.


Name: Donna
Email:
Date: 4/17/2002
Time: 2:54:15 PM

Comments

Tom,I think it was 1990 or 91 when I went to that class, and yea I used to complain about alot of things back then. I can laugh at it all now. I was a pretty mixed up girl back then, that's for sure,Iknow. Back then was my very first intrduction to business and computers. Rez and Notre Dame didn't have the modern technology. Well when I was in Rez there probably wasn't anything modern even around, ya know what I mean. Anyway,there were 30 women in the course and 2 computers. It was all so new and confusing to me. I don't know about conquering it yet, I just got my new computer on Valentine's Day this year it was delivered. Guess who is my best email buddy? He sends me really good stuff and alot Aerosmith tunes? Harvey! I love 'em, he's a good friend. Tom, I saw Carol alittle after Christmas and she's still the same, my mom sees her alot. I'm pretty much alot different though! bye-bye


Name: Harvey Martin
Email: hsmartin@snip.net
Date: 4/17/2002
Time: 1:13:05 PM

Comments

The Underground Railroad through Chester

Go Here http://www.swarthmore.edu/library/friends/

Then Click on Quaker Account of Underground RR

Then Click on George S. Truman


Name: TomCHS76
Email: T9257@Yahoo.com
Date: 4/17/2002
Time: 12:31:27 PM

Comments

Donna, I also remember you having a bit of trouble on the computer or should I say complaining about the class. Looks like you conquered it pretty good.


Name: TomCHS76
Email: T9257@Yahoo.com
Date: 4/17/2002
Time: 12:25:22 PM

Comments

I remember Tex used to watch in amazement how he could roll his own cigarettes with one hand. The guy that was the hunchback I was afraid of him. Hey, I was real young.


Name: Donna
Email:
Date: 4/17/2002
Time: 11:27:14 AM

Comments

Tom, hello,I'm glad my hunch was right about if you were you! I haven't seen you in a long time, and this site is cool, for it provides people to be able to "keep in touch" if you will. Tom, you asked how am I, and I'm happy to say,I don't remember ever having it so good. My life is wonderful and I'm really, really HAPPY! I hope your enjoying life and all is good! It's been nice "running into ya" haha Take Care Tom


Name: RS-CHS '59
Email:
Date: 4/17/2002
Time: 10:37:18 AM

Comments

Thought I would add some information to the question about the city name Chester in other states. I was told a few years ago that Chester, Connecticut; Chester, New Jersey; Chester, Pennsylvania were trading centers along the rivers. The name was the same to designate it as a trading post. There is a book about this, but unfortunately I do not have the title or author. Enjoy the website.


Name: PamRHS75
Email: watt6@aol
Date: 4/17/2002
Time: 10:01:03 AM

Comments

I remember Tex! Also remember Larry who went around town with a wagon selling the Chester Times, he was a hunchback. My grandmom would always give him money. To be politically correct, it is Native American, after all we did come here & steal their land & destroy their way of life. They were here for thousands of years & we came & polluted everything in a thousand, amazing.Sorry, one of my pet peeves. Turn the a/c on today fellow Chesterites! I think 1 of the reasons many children were named after family members was respect & also to carry on names due to the high mortality rates. My great-g-parents had 14 children & 11 lived to adulthood.


Name: Mike Mangan StJ '57
Email:
Date: 4/17/2002
Time: 1:40:19 AM

Comments

Pat: Yes, Butch McGinn's dads name was Charlie. Mom was Nellie. I posted that article about the cavier a month or so ago. It was just one of those "did you know" sort of things.When I read the article I knew I had to post it.


Name:
Email:
Date: 4/17/2002
Time: 12:30:48 AM

Comments

YUCK!


Name: Chs'55
Email:
Date: 4/16/2002
Time: 11:55:37 PM

Comments

Spanky, I remember the panhandlers too. My great-grandmother always cooked enough food for extra "guests". She always gave them a plate of warm food, but often asked them to do some chore around the yard so that they felt useful.


Name: Pat McFadden
Email:
Date: 4/16/2002
Time: 11:53:39 PM

Comments

Hate taking up so much room here, but I have to respond to Mike. First I have to congratulate you on that "caviar" answer. How'd you know that? I would never even guess that caviar was a product of the Delaware River, imported to Russia, then back to Phila. as an expensive delicacy. Another reason to be proud of Chester; lots of reasons we never even knew. Incidently, I posted something here about you knowing Butch McGinn's dad's name and you never answered. What was it - Charles?

Yes, Mike, I figured as much, because the settlers in New England had that tendency too, to name their town in the new world after the town they left behind. I guess that's why a lot of us tend to name our children after our ancesters - it's a nice tradition.


Name: Pat McFadden
Email: pidipat@earthlink.net
Date: 4/16/2002
Time: 11:23:06 PM

Comments

HARVEY - the words "Thank You" seem so shallow with, again, what you have provided us. That publication, I believe, has answered my questions. We heard so much about the Cowboys and Indians out west, but very little about the Colonists and the Indians in the 1800's - because war was still being raged in the east and it appears that complete agreement on all issues has not yet been reached.

I do now remember hearing or reading that the Indian had no tolerance for white man's diseases, nor alcohol (still true today with the alcohol - their system seems to really go out of whack - many drunken, staggering Indians in downtown Phoenix when I first came here) thus many died from contracting our diseases and drinking our alcohol. Also, many were converted by missionaries and took on the white man's fashion of dressing, hair styles, etc. One portion of that article claims that at one time 600 white people had been captured and when released, more than half refused to leave the tribe - joined them. Incredible!

A few weeks ago, I saw on TV a wonderful movie about a colonial woman who was captured by Indians and fell very much in love with her abductor. It was based on a true story (I found that interesting) and I believe it was called "Lies of the Heart". It was on the Life channel. According to the movie, she was a devout Christian but her love for her Indian was overwhelming. She was a "mail order" bride at the time and was in fact married to one of the locals (whom she just tolerated). The movie is tastefully and beautifully done. As we know, Indians are known for their dreams, visions and pyschic powers. It appears the Indian had seen the "white woman" in a vision many years before, and just as he was getting ready to shoot her (she was with a wagon train heading west), he realized she was the "vision". Don't know the actor's name, but he was so good, the look in his eyes told you what words didn't have to, that he knew her from somewhere. I have an easier time now accepting that movie as fact, after reading that publication.

So, I think my question has been answered - war was still going on the east, many Indians died off, many were "Americanized" and inter-racial marriages were prevalent.

Just one more question: Who kept pappa's wigwam when mamma went teepee?


Name: Mike Mangan StJ '57
Email:
Date: 4/16/2002
Time: 11:13:45 PM

Comments

Pidipat::Many cities & towns in both North & South Carolina are named after northern cities. There is Chester SC, Lancaster, SC, Wilkes Barre NC, Concord, NC & many more. I read an article that these towns were named by folks who migrated south, thus naming these towns from the towns they came from.


Name: spanky
Email:
Date: 4/16/2002
Time: 11:04:35 PM

Comments

Talk about characters of Chester, there were so many Im sure , but I remember Tex when I was a kid too. There was that Whitey news, Moon the Huckster, old Sleepy and i also remember as a kid the homeless would come knock on our door and panhandle for food. wow, 40 years ago.


Name: Rick Shalander
Email: chevair@yahoo.com?
Date: 4/16/2002
Time: 10:32:01 PM

Comments

Paul would that be the old Incinerrator RD?


Name: Joe
Email: jrod4857@aol.com
Date: 4/16/2002
Time: 10:07:32 PM

Comments

John: Thanks for the post about Tex. He was an interesting guy. I remember that he could do a hand stand using the fingertips on one hand. Used to see him all around town but mostly around the old farmers market on saturdays.


Name: Paul D. Crowther
Email: pcrowther4@cogeco.ca
Date: 4/16/2002
Time: 9:45:37 PM

Comments

Thanks for the article Harvey. Interesting reading!


Name: Pat McFadden
Email:
Date: 4/16/2002
Time: 9:34:11 PM

Comments

I read a portion of what Harvey provided to us, and will read more when time permits. As for what tribes were in PA prior to the white man, the only way I could tell you is by thinking of the "odd" names of some of our rivers, etc. - like Susquehanna, Algonquin, Chesapeake, Pokonos, etc. It appears that a lot of cities in NY state (I think Ohio too) have Indian names, whereas Massachusettes has copied most of its names from England. So, tribute has been given to the Indians in this way.

One of my long-time friends here in AZ is an Indian (almost full-blooded - beautiful and resembled Ava Gardner in her younger days) from the Chakshaw (sp.?) tribe in Oklahoma. When her brother and sister-in-law were visiting here from OK they told me that during the famine in Ireland, Indians from OK donated much money, clothing, etc. to the Irish. I never knew that and was quite impressed. Isn't that something?


Name: U.W.
Email:
Date: 4/16/2002
Time: 8:55:58 PM

Comments

For those that are interested in the Indians. Has many links and is an interesting addition to PA history.

http://www.accessgenealogy.com/native/pennsylvania/index.htm


Name: FlorenceSmalleyKnottCHS50
Email: buffyk@fast.net
Date: 4/16/2002
Time: 7:58:14 PM

Comments

It is said that the house that is off of Harvey rd, is very old, it is a historical site. They say that they have a ghost down there. They say he was a lenape indian. LenAPE'S WERE ONE group.


Name: john
Email:
Date: 4/16/2002
Time: 7:08:35 PM

Comments

I know everyone from Chester remembers Tex, who wore a Koon skin hat and had a beard off an on, I always thought he was Daniel Boone when I was younger. One of many Chester charachters.


Name: Kate
Email:
Date: 4/16/2002
Time: 6:47:15 PM

Comments

Thank You Harvey, this will keep me busy reading for a while, very interesting.


Name: Harvey Martin
Email: hsmartin@snip.net
Date: 4/16/2002
Time: 5:56:54 PM

Comments

Native Americans in the Delaware Valley

http://www.tolatsga.org/dela.html


Name: Kate
Email:
Date: 4/16/2002
Time: 5:24:53 PM

Comments

What a wonderful idea, researching the Indians who were driven off thier land by our govt. Know we can find a lot about that on the net...Before moving to Northwestern Fl. we stayed at the Indian reservation in the Great Smokies, read a lot about the Cherokee Indian. What Indian tribes were here when Wm. Penn came a callin?


Name: Pat McFadden
Email:
Date: 4/16/2002
Time: 5:02:15 PM

Comments

Made a mistake in last post - should have been "northwestern" county that is somewhat dangerous to travel through. Maybe they want what money we're taking with us on our way to Vegas. Never know.


Name: Pat McFadden (CHS '50)
Email: pidipat@earthlink.net
Date: 4/16/2002
Time: 4:54:55 PM

Comments

Kate: Do you mean other states that also have a "Chester"? (I was surprised when I learned that too - as a teenager - thought we were the only one). OR, different spellings meaning the same thing? Whatever you have in mind, go for it.

I am very curious about something that does not appear in Mr. Warfel's book or anywhere else I know of. Where did all the American Indians go after most of the northeastern coast was taken over by the newcomers? Growing up in Chester, I never encountered one and only knew about them from being taught in school. I read a wonderful novel (think it was called "Cape Cod" - great novel filled with fiction but authentic historical places, etc.) once that talked about how the Chesapeake Indians kept moving and moving, but where? Much to my surprise, one of my cousins recently told me her mother, my aunt now deceased, was part Indian; however, she was from Ohio. My second husband had some Indian blood in him - from Massachusettes.

The reason I am curious is because here in Arizona, they are still very much present (without feathers and horses, of course), have their own communities and now they own successful gambling casinos on the outskirts of town. Until two years ago, there was a school right in the center of town strictly for the Indian community - One of our main streets is "Indian School Road". And, in one of our notheastern counties, it is considered rather dangerous to drive through there - "old memories never die."

So, where did the Eastern Indians go as opposed to the Western Indians? I don't think this subject has ever been addressed by anyone or anywhere.


Name: Jack MillsCHS55
Email: flojac1429@hotmail.com
Date: 4/16/2002
Time: 4:34:46 PM

Comments

The cemetery located on edgmont ave. between 6th and 7th st. according to the book I have which was printed in 1863 was called friends burial ground. also edgmont ave was formerly the kings road. fifth st. was old queens road. third st. was james st. and church st. fourth st. was called road by prison.


Name:
Email:
Date: 4/16/2002
Time: 4:12:23 PM

Comments

All has been discussed if you scroll down/with answers


Name: hgc /pmc '59
Email:
Date: 4/16/2002
Time: 3:49:36 PM

Comments

I noticed that there was a question about the word "kill",as i understand it is Dutch in origin. We have the Schuykill River in Phila.and the Murderkill River and Broadkill River in Delaware.Incidentily the English were not the least bit ashamed to change places and words to suit themselves.Thats how Upland became Chester.


Name: Michele
Email: Meashele@aol.com
Date: 4/16/2002
Time: 3:04:38 PM

Comments

Tina I am verly close to Marcus Hook's Library, if you would like me to look up a name for you just let me know. .


Name: Tina
Email: Cupatea712@hotmail.com
Date: 4/16/2002
Time: 1:56:06 PM

Comments

Speaking of cemeteries - does anyone out there have a book entitled Baptist Burying Ground, Marcus Hook, Pa.? It was printed in Philly in 1903 - I was wondering if anyone had a copy or had access to one and would look up a name for me, please.


Name: Kate
Email:
Date: 4/16/2002
Time: 1:08:40 PM

Comments

Thanks Patricia, I too would like to know if there are two cemetaries. Ilearned a lot even how to copy & paste thanks to my husband who is from Balto. & now he too knows more about Chester than he wanted to know. Something else we might want to explore the similarities sp? between cities like Chester & some in other states, just a suggestion..Kate


Name: PatMcFadden
Email: pidipat@earthlink.net
Date: 4/16/2002
Time: 12:53:18 PM

Comments

Answers 1 through 5 of Paul's quiz: Don't know. Except maybe Q#2 is Market Street?

Don't know what people ever saw in caviar - I'd rather have scrapple.


Name: Pat McFadden
Email: pidipat@earthlink.net
Date: 4/16/2002
Time: 12:25:20 PM

Comments

Good morning Kate: I went to the site you suggested and copied what it said in part:

"Many of the early settlers are buried in the ancient Quaker Burial Ground, located at the intersection of Old Sproul Road, or as it was known in colonial days Chester Road, and Springfield Road. Given to the Quakers by Bartholomew Coppock, the younger, in 1686, the two-acre tract contains a possible 5,000 burials, and while few of the graves are marked today with headstones, those that are marked bear the names of families appearing on the early land-grant lists."

I went to the site suggested by UW, and it states the old Quaker burial ground was on the west side of Edgmont (notice it does not say above Edgemont) and above 6th - between 6th and 7th, directly across from the Sun Ray drug store.

Perhaps the one you refer to Kate is an even earlier gravesite than the one on Edgemont - don't know. So, because I have forgotten the proximity of Sproul to Edgement, and other streets, you could be absolutely correct. You may have even given us information that has somewhat been forgotten. However, you deserve as much credit, if not more, than the winner because you contributed a lot of information to us in our "game" and you have our respect for your efforts and intelligence.

It would be interesting tho' if someone could tell us if the two old Quaker burial sites are one and the same. The photo on the "Cemeteries" site on this website does not appear to hold 5,000 graves nor to be 2 acres; so if this is the case, the one on Edgement could be a second burial site. Hope this is answered.

Now, you're gonna see how dumb I am because I don't think I know the answers to any of Paul's questions.


Name: U.W.
Email:
Date: 4/16/2002
Time: 9:29:03 AM

Comments

Sorry clicked before adding.

Boyd Diner was on W. 7th Street. as were the state House Restaurant and Pete's Greek Restaurant. I think the Boyd Drugstore was at 8th and Walsh. The was a little luncheonette somewhere on Welsh called Laura's.

Commission Row was at 2nd and 3rd Street on Edgmont. That was That was Chesters version of Philly's Italian market on 9th Street. There were food markets on Commission row where you could buy and pick your own fresh poultry, vegetables, fruit, and fish.

As for the "Flagpole Sitter" I thought that was a gimmick by a local radio personality. Or a dare of some sort.


Name: U.W.
Email:
Date: 4/16/2002
Time: 8:26:15 AM

Comments

Patricia:

Regarding the Quaker B.G. ..if you visit John's menu at cemeteries then go to the Quaker BG there is a picture and history about it. The picture post cards and information that he has on the site is really a history book in the making.

Paul: I know 2nd St. was called the Industrial highway at one time. Running from Phila. to Delaware.


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