| Notes on West Chester,
Pennsylvania
by Jim Jones, copyright 2006
|
|
| Notes on West Chester,
Pennsylvania
by Jim Jones, copyright 2006
|
Disclaimer:
1. The Borough of West Chester is not responsible for, nor
has it authorized this web site. Information on this site is not
intended to replace official versions of the same information.
2. The notes presented on this web page do not contain
everything that was recorded in the official minutes.
3. All content of this page is derived from public
documents, and while every reasonable effort was made to insure
its accuracy, information on this site is presented AS IS without
warranty, either expressed or implied, as to its accuracy,
timeliness, or completeness. It is intended as a resource for
historians, and nothing more.
4. To report an error or make a comment, please contact Dr. Jim Jones.
Borough Council accepted a gift of land on Ashbridge Street from Edward Jackson of Denver (CO or PA?).
Borough Council approved three petitions for "new incandescent lights" for the 100-block of E. Virgina Avenue, the corner of Sharpless Street and "Bradford Road," on Everhart Ave. between Price and Sharpless Streets.
Borough Council made two appointments to the Board of Health: Edgar T. Walker to fill the term of A. C. Whitcraft until January 1, 1932, and Dr. Ellwood Hickman reappointed to January 1, 1934.
Borough Council discussed plans to build a sanitary storm sewer in the alley between Price & Sharpless Streets in the block between Church and Darlington Streets. Each property owner will need to pay $40 to hook up to the system. Council wanted to get agreements with the property owners before permitting construction to begin.
Borough Council authorized the solicitor to prepare an ordinance "requiring garbage collectors to file bond and take out a permit for the collection thereof."
Borough Council approved the purchase of a motor for the town clock.
Borough Council accepted a proposal to create a map showing "all water mains, sewer shut-off valves, width of all streets, etc."
Joseph B. Smith & Son submitted a bill for the repair of the water line serving 619 W. Miner Street which the property owner claimed was broken when a contractor tested the "new sewer pump at Everhart Grove." The Borough's contractor did not believe his test caused the damage. Everhart Grove received "new pumps, motors and switchboard." The work is not complete.
Borough Council received a petition from neighbors to extend the sanitary sewer under E. Miner Street from Matlack to Bolmar, under "E. Miner" [error in minutes; should be E. Barnard] from Worthington to Bolmar, and under Bolmar between Miner and Barnard Streets.
Borough Council received an application from William S. Ingram to extend water and sewer lines to a house at the corner of Elizabeth & Franklin Streets.
Borough Council accepted bids for crushed stone from Howellville Quarries and for "dust-laying oil and penetration asphalt" from Headley Good Roads Co.
Council discussed the proposed map showing sewer valves, street widths, etc. They decided to go ahead to divide the Borough into four quadrants and map one of them. If that is successful, they will consider mapping the other three quadrants.
Borough Council refused a request from N. J. Puerta for a water hookup for houses he proposed to build on Milltown Road near the East Goshen Baptist Church.
Borough Council received a letter from the state claiming that the Borough's two sewage disposal plants cause "pollution of state waters" and "are not operated well and are overloaded." The state letter mentioned a broken pipe at "the Goose Creek plant."
George J. Palmer Co. got permission to put a "gasoline storage tank" in the basement of the Bell Telephone building at Walnut and Market Streets [which appears to have been under construction at the time].
Borough Council received a letter complaining about unsanitary conditions at the dump on W. Market Street owned by D. N. Showalter [David N. Showalter].
Several members of the "George F. Smith Post, Sons of Veterans (colored)" came to ask Borough Council for money. They explained that their post had failed and its responsibilities had been taken over by another veteran's groups, "Kearney's Camp, sons of veterans," as "George F. Smith Post, no. 103." They received $50, as did the McCall Post GAR; Holmes Post American Legion (colored), Bernard Schlegel Post American Legion (white) and Spanish American War Veterans. The Sons of Veterans (white) received $15.
"Dr. J. A. Farrell, chairman of a committee of service clubs and board of trade," presented a proposal to Borough Council to install "ornamental boulevard lights" on "certain streets" at the expense of the property owners along those streets.
Council instructed the solicitor to draft an ordinance that would designate Gay Street as one-way westbound from Matlack to Darlington Street with parking only on the north side, and Market Street one-way eastbound from Darlington to Worthington with parking on the south side from church to the PRR tracks. It would also limit parking to one side of Church and High Streets between Miner and Gay.
Council received a complaint about stray dogs in the Borough.
Harry J. Fryer complained about an outdoor toilet at 36 Price Street.
Borough Council met with a representative of the PRR to look at the tracks along Evans Street between Matlack and Walnut Streets. The PRR had raised the tracks to as much as one foot above the street level at the Matlack Street end, and it caused drainage problems at Walnut Street. The PRR's Lynch proposed to construct a passage under the tracks at Walnut Street to allow stormwater to run off.
Council discussed Farrell's proposal for downtown lighting again. It would cover the blocks between New and Matlack, and between Gay and Market. William O. Lamson, the manager of the Philadelphia Suburban company in West Chester, explained the cost of the proposal. It would require 78 standards composed of 12 foot posts at 600 candlepower incandescent bulbs costing $156 per standard. In addition, the company would charge $60 per year for each standard to power and service it. [JJ: total equipment = $12,168. Annual charge = $4,680]
Borough Council received a letter from the state Department of Health praising their installation of a new filter system at the water plant.
Council received a letter from the "state teacher's college" refusing to pay their 1929 sewer rent. [JJ: which was higher than in 1928 because at an earlier meeting, Council decided to charge for several new hookups.]
The Board of Health complained to Borough Council about garbage collection. The "truck is without cover, also that fluids are permitted to flow on the highways creating an unpleasant smell and is unsanitary." Council referred the complaint to the police and the Burgess.
Borough Council received a complaint from Mrs. Frank E. Baily about the "Market Street dumping grounds."
J. P. Yarnall complained about "dogs running loose in the borough."
William J. Corcoran, representing John S. Garrett Jr., asked Council to extend the sanitary sewer north along High Street from Dean to Union to service "new stores and apartments being erected by Mr. Garrett." [JJ: Garrett owned the greenhouses on the northwest corner of Dean & High streets. Corcoran was an architect.]
Borough Council received advice to erect a fence around its "Howell Run Disposal plant" located near land owned by S. E. Howell.
MacElree reported that he went to Harrisburg to see if he could get the state teachers' college to pay is sewer bill, but was told by Department of Justice officials that the Department of Education "is without authority" to pay the WCSTC sewer bill.
This meeting was called to appoint a police officer to replace Charles B. Dorsey, who died. Dorsey was a "colored" officer who patrolled in the East Ward. For the time being, Officer Monaghan patrolled there, but Council wanted to get another "colored" officer. There were five applicants: F. D. Clark, Charles B. Dorsey Jr., Marshall J. Cain, Alphonzo Reid and William B. Gibbs. On a motion by Thorp, seconded by Temple, Council voted 6-1 to offer the job to Alphonzo Reid. MacElree opposed it because he was friends with the Dorseys and had promised to support Charles B. Dorsey Jr. They hired Reid at a monthly salary of $135.
Borough Council approved Farrell's downtown lighting plan.
Borough Council learned that the state had taken action to reduce the pollution from the Borough's garbage collection by tearing down the pig pens on the Tapper farm.
Borough Council received a letter from the state Department of Health which said the Taylor's Run sewer plant "had been neglected, permanent improvements and extensions are necessary." The Borough engineer, Thomas G. Colesworthy, said that the plant uses chlorine properly, but it "is neglected by the caretaker and in a very filthy condition."
After receiving more complaints about "the western disposal plant" (i.e. Taylor's Run), Borough Council fired the caretaker, Robert Crawford, effective October 1, 1929.
Council refused the request by Standard Oil for a water connection to their facility on Maple Avenue along the PRR Frazer branch, just outside of the Borough in West Goshen.
The Borough Council was forced to rescind the ordinance that created one-way traffic on Gay Street because, in compliance with the "State Highway Code of 1929," they had designated Gay [& High] Street(s) as "thru traffic highways" through the Borough.
Following a delay in completing the contract with the light company for the downtown lighting program (a dispute about who would own the new lights), "a large delegation of taxpayers" and their spokesman, Dr. J. A. Farrell, presented a petition urging Borough Council to sign the contract with the light company quickly.
The U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed the appeal in the "Fitzgerald suit" (Fitzgerald v. Borough), affirming the decision in favor of the Borough for $3,170.17.
Borough Council heard a new appeal from Standard Oil for a water hookup, and this time they granted it.
P. H. Corcoran asked the Borough Council to refund part of the 1928 water charges for his "Parkview Apartment House" but they refused.
Borough Council agreed to lease the house near the "West Goshen disposal plant" (i.e. Goose Creek) to John Boyles.
Council hired Norman Roth as assistant engineer at the water works for $125 month and gave him "the house at Fern Hill" to live in.
Council selected Fred Veit to take care of the "northern disposal plant" [JJ: at Taylor's Run].
Council formally hired Fred Veit as the caretaker at the Taylor's Run sewage plant at a salary of $90 per month, effective November 1, 1929.
| Copyright 2010 by Dr. James A. Jones |