Notes on Daily Local News articles from December 1930 by Jim Jones, copyright 2006

Disclaimer: These notes on articles from the West Chester, Pennsylvania Daily Local News were collected for specific research projects related to industrialization and the Depression of the 1930s. They do not include all of the articles in any issue, nor do they contain all of the information in any particular article. While every reasonable effort was made to insure its accuracy, information on this website 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. To report an error, make a comment, or submit notes on additional articles, please contact Dr. Jim Jones.

Chester & Delaware County farm products 850$ prize ... Agriculture show set to run on High Street expected to be good despite the drought and unusual weather prevailing the past season.

Oliver Harding from Chicago pulled in front of police station, shooting 4 cops. One died and two were critically wounded ... 1 hit in hand then he got in car in the back seat and unloaded gun into Harding's back killing him. ... Ordeal was over GAMBLING

Burglars hid in storeroom of UNITED CIGAR STORES on MARKET ST. Owned by Ralph J. Hoopes and his father Joseph Hoopes ... Manaer Thomas Armstrong said they stole approximately 100$ cash and took tobacco, cigarettes, and other goods over 200$ from the storeroom ... place had been burglarized before in the same manner ... believed to be an "inside job"

H.T. Heiser manager of West Chester's Montgomery Ward Company Store arrested for embezzlement of $478.14 on Dec 26, 1929 and keeping false accounts in Company books

Public welfare conies first, .non partisan plan is ready opening of congress Dec lst ... Pres. Hoovr & Sen. Robinson of Arkansas agreed on non-partisan program program seeking to life the economic depression ... Sen. Robinson dem. Leader will sponsor legislation to provide relief for drought farmers ... Expand pblic buildings construction ... Fed road aod and improvement of waterways in non-partisan program.

For past 2 days unemployed men have registered with Chamber of Commerce at the office in the National Bank Building. Several men have gotten placement ... 160 have made applications for jobs ... H.S. Plummer already has employed several of the men.

Horace S. Entrekin local contractor filed bankruptcy to US District court in Phila ... met with creditors Sat to come to a settlement ... 18000 is the creditors claim

Cash retailers meats Groceries provisions ... Salmon can lOc LOCATIONS: 29 E Gay ... 42 S HIGH ... 300 W BARNARD ... 119 LACEY

Citizens Committee on unemployment is formed to conduct a community survey ... 14 men represent important public utilites educational and welfare agencies met with Burgess George J. Brinton at Chester County Trust Company to conduct research of unemployment with Clinton E. Moffett Executive Secretary of the Association.

The executive commiee of West Chester Civic Association expresses publicly its appreciation of West Chester Dining rooms offer to contribute 10% of cash receipts toward unemployment relief fund for providing meals and clothes for people of distress

Negotiations being made by a large oil company to establish a filing station in West Chester Trans. Pending with a owner of a long frontage on E Gay Street

H.T. Heiser former manager of chain store is in Chester County prison today charges of embezzlement. PAGE 3

Mr & Mrs Edward Seaboldt Sr attended the CHURCH DINNER at Lionville on Thursday.

Chief Burgess George J. Brinton opened the Chester-Delaware County farm products show at 7:30 last nite ... it reflects the credit and glory of the town and county.

Quanity of illegal goods found in Home of widow on Adison street ... raided the home of Mrs. Anthony Ciserik ... Gallon of Whiskey and many bottles of home brew.

The old Dr. R. V. Carvey Mansion, now the Chester Valley Inn, burnt down loss of approximately $50,000. Mrs. Rosemary Brownfield was the owner.

Frank W. Coffinan former Paoli bank and Trust Company up who was recently arrested and held on embezzlement charge named defendant in a damage suit instituted yesterday at the Prothonotany's office here.

Borough council met in regular session Monday evening. Bills paid that month $2962.97 Chairman of Finance committee was authorized to borrow sufficient funds to meet current bills.

152 deaths brought attention for investigation by the new Coroner of Chester County. Herbert C. Ford can look back on term that eclipsed in activity that of any previous incumbent of this particular office ... had more than usual quota of accidental deaths.

A colored woman, 29 year old Edith Dickerson, was admitted to the West Chester Homeopathic Hospital. She ran into a knife on her kitchen table and was stabbed in abdomen.

Members of Fame Fire Co. serve 3 hours fighting blaze at Market and Brandywine streets that has been giving trouble for many months.

More deer than ever before were known in Chester County are being displayed today or will be seen here during the coming week. Many homes are happy for food during these struggling times.

Ida Twaddell of Chester held for retail investigation. When her husband came home, she told him to come upstairs, where he found two kids dead on floor, drowned in the bathtub.

H. T. Heiser waived his hearing yesterday on embezzlement growing out of alleged speculation using money from the Montgomery Ward Company where he was the manager. The 27 year- old westerner was charged with embezzlement of $478.14.

This article contains a directory of deposits into Chester County banks with the amounts linked to each bank.

The Pennsylvania Railroad announced special reduced rates for weekend travel in the hope of getting many more people to visit Philadelphia, Lancaster and other destinations.

The editor of the Daily Local News wrote about Henry George's essay, "The causes of the Industrial Depression," thanks for printing it footnotes and all.

More than 10,000 people visited the twin county display of farm produce, including 3,500 in the final night. [DF: This is a long article about success with different types of produce.]

Paper Company believes it is first mill to take work to aid in alleviating population of Brandywine Creek. They intend to install a system apparatus to improve the quality of the stream.

Farmers and other people contributed many bushels of potatoes during the early months of the fall to the Coatesville Welfare Association, but they had run out.

Herbert C. Barker, the Superintentendant of the Chester- Delaware Farm Products show association, expressed great satisfaction with this year's farm show.

James Austin, a Negro of West Chester, pleaded guilty to stealing chickens on April 3,0 1930 and was sentenced to pay $50 and serve 6-12 months in jail.

Hold up robbery on High Street at the drug store of Henry V. DeHaven at High and Dean Streets. The robber robbed Leroy Brooks as he was getting in his car with a revolver.

The Women's Home Missionary Society of the Methodist Church met Moday evening at the home of Mrs. James Barton on E. Chestnut St. Members took Christmas packages to her home.

The installation of an ornamental lighting system is complete and the men have been laid off since the drop pipe line was completed. In all, three hundred men who were hired in laying pipe line were laid off Friday.

In one day, thirty men men influenced 270 others to appeal to do work on Route 1 from Philadelphia to Maryland.

West Chester Borough Council received a letter from an E. Gay St. property owner asking to be exonerated from paying her share of installing the new street lights. She claimed that she could not afford to pay.

R. Jones Patrick asks "Just why is the government hold-up the payment of the unemployment fund until next July?"

State Senator William H. Clark claimed that he was heading the fight for jobs.

Pierre S. DuPont, a Longwood philanthropist, made a contribution of $500 to aid West Chesters unemployed, West Chester Social Service Society and the Salvation Army.

Robert C. Brinton, the treasurer of Inter State Milk Producers Association and a resident of West Goshen, announced today that the price of milk will drop one cent from thirteen to twelve cents.

William E. Rudolph, a 21 year old negro of 211 E. Market St., was arrested after shooting at his wife Veria Rudolph following an argument on S. Matlack St. They argued about her running around with another man. He shot at her feet and threatened her life.

Agencies in county must report their calls. This was the most definite step yet taken for the survey of unemployment in West Chester and Chester County and for administration of relief.

In an effort to futher relieve the unemployment situation in Coatesville, city engineer George Rommel placed 16 more men to work on city jobs today.

Two thieves robbed the home of William H. Doyle, Jr. on Cassat road. They are thought to have hidden in the house and escaped. Jewelery worth 600$ were stolen

At a meeting of the Bernard F. Schlegal Post No. 134 American Legion, Captain Walter Kerwin gave detailed plans for a new sewage disposal plant which West Chester plans to have in place.

Dr. Charles Heathcote, head of the department of Social Studies at State Teachers College, has been giving a number of lectures on historical topics. He said that John Brown gets pushed to forefront because of the economic situation.

Someone [business eladers?] offered prizes to aid making West Chester the brightest town in the district. Monetary prizes will be awarded to those with the best decorated Christmas tree in West Chester in hopes of brightening up West Chester for this holiday season

The sweeping survey of economic and social conditions in various parts of the county is practically complete. The local organization that cooperates with State Unemployment Committee reports that Chester County is well favored.

Dilwyn Huey of 312 W. Miner St has brought a suit to recover $2500 damages as a result of an automotive accident on West Chester Pike last June. At the time, Mr. Huey was on his way to Philadelphia with some friends.

Today West Chester's post office handled a record amount of mail. The volume handled gives evidence of revival of businesss here. The post office received much more money in window receipts. All doors will be closed on Thursday and service will be suspended except for special deliveries.

The editors tried to list reasons for peopel to be happy at Chrsitmas. Young people take a leading part in teaching the elderly. Household fun and school jollity have right of way during this most precious season {trying to enlighten the people during economic hardship with seasons cheer}.

Motors block firemans way in rescue work. Falmes that started in a hay mow burned through the roof as aid arrives. Two horses and a cow perished in flames, and the loss was estimated at $10,000.

The owners of the Hoffman & Baldwin Lumber Company were Vernon L. Hoffman and George D. Baldwin. They were located at the corner of Franklin and Union Streets (300 E-Union),