Other Times
100 Years Ago – 1917: Citizen soldiers in training at the Pennsylvania Military College for the past seven weeks staged a three hour battle in Chester Park on Memorial Day. The fighting centered about the bridge spanning Ridley River. A problem planned by Captain Lewis S. Morey was worked out. An attacking force from Chester County in command of John L. Wetherill, whose objective was to destroy the Sun Ship yard, was met at the bridge by a defending army in charge of James Henry Jr.
75 Years Ago – 1942: A Southern defense worker residing on Tilghman Street is in Chester Hospital in serious condition with two bullet wounds, and Patrolman Joseph Devlin is recuperating at this home from a severe beating following a brawl in the Busy Bee on Market Street, north of Third Street. The hospitalized man and another bar patron got involved in an argument. Devlin separated the men. After taking the defense worker’s concealed .38 calibre revolver, Devlin had to fend off the man’s companions and fired the two shots that struck the man.
50 Years Ago – 1967: Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion members reportedly marched “under protest” in the Marple Township Memorial Day parade because the United Nations flag appeared in the line of the march. Marple Newtown High School Band Director Ronald Smith said the war veterans heckled the girls in the color guard and used vile language in referring to the flag. Smith said the commander of the VW organization told him he considered the United National a communist organization.
25 Years Ago – 1992: Vietnam veterans in Delaware County will have a fundraising Beef-N-Beer at Fox-Smith Post 4845, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Essington, to benefit the proposed Delaware County Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Admission will be $12. Chadds Ford Ramada Inn, routes 202 and 1, hosts a sale by Bruce’s Wholesale Electronics of Pa. Get a 19-inch color TV for $69, VCRs for $99, and JVC 400 watt five way speakers for $77.
10 Years Ago – 2007: Lower Chichester Commissioners President Rocco Gaspari Jr. announced that 15 arrests were made for curfew violations over a recent three-day period. “Our curfew is 8 p.m. for individuals 18-years-old and under and will remain so until this board of commissioners meets in June,” said Gaspari.