History 1
100 Years Ago, 1924: A Byram Street man downed a few glasses of a top brand of whiskey that was being clandestinely sold in the West End neighborhood. His overindulgence caused the drink to become misleading and he wandered into the home of Mrs. Victoria Potocki at 225 Engle Street. The woman screamed when she saw a stranger trying to make her bed in her living room, a scream that attracted the attention of neighbors who chased the drinker out. Angered by this welcome, the man threw a rock at the front window of the house in revenge.
75 years ago, 1949: A bill to establish William Penn Memorial Park in Chester and create the vast Delaware River Port Authority was vetoed by Gov. James H. Duff on Friday. Also vetoed was a budget proposal to provide $500,000 for the construction of a school building at the Elwin Training School for state children. Private educational institutions should receive funding only for maintenance, not capital expenditures, the governor said.
50 years ago, 1974: In a show of fervent patriotism and unity unlike any seen in recent memory, more than 1,000 people lined the streets of tiny historic Upland on Monday to pay tribute to the local and national fallen. Paul W. Perkins, commander of the Delaware County Detachment of the Marine Corps League, called the memorial “a clear expression of a resurrected American spirit.” “It seems like a complete 180-degree turn from the apathy and negativity of the 1960s,” Perkins said.
25 Years Ago, 1999: Associated Press, WASHINGTON — Rep. Kurt Weldon yesterday accused the Clinton administration of relaxing export controls to benefit campaign donors, allowing “a massive auction of sensitive U.S. technology” to China. Rep. Weldon, a Republican from Aston’s 7th District, charged that an “extensive network of Chinese front organizations” and Chinese “influence operations” have contributed to major losses of U.S. technology, from high-performance computers to sensitive satellite launch information that has allowed China to improve the reliability of its military rockets.
Ten years ago, in 2014: Two Chester STEM High School students were selected in April as Gates Millennium Scholars, receiving significant financial aid to attend a four-year college. Kamri Staples, 17, and Justin Pratt, 18, were two of 1,000 recipients of the scholarship, which also includes mentoring services, academic and financial support. More than 54,000 applicants nationwide submitted multiple essays and were recommended by educators and community leaders. Staples and Pratt began the application process in August 2013.
Colin Ainsworth
