This file has not been completely proofread, nor have the sources been verified, so use this material with caution.
Collected by Jim Jones, David Flogaus, Kelly Kulp-Bosler, Mike Wolford and Bob Gialanella (Spring 1995). Additional data collected by Jim Jones, Vincent Civiletti, Christopher Waychunas, Nancy Hershey, Robert Troutman, Robert Gregory, John Morrison, Scott Harre, and Daniel Cleary (Spring 1996, for HIS480). Last edited By Kenneth McFadden (April 29, 1996).
1737 Source: Charles William Heathcote, HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY
PENNSYLVANIA (West Chester, PA: Horace F. Temple, 1926), 89.
In 1737, John Chadd was authorized by the county
commissioners to operate a ferry across the Brandywine Creek
on the Baltimore to Philadelphia road.
-----------------------------------------
1794 Source: Charles William Heathcote, HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY
PENNSYLVANIA (West Chester, PA: Horace F. Temple, 1926),
108.
Newspapers and founding dates in West Chester: "The Gazette"
(1794)
-----------------------------------------
1796 Source: J. Smith Futhey and Gilbert Cope, HISTORY OF CHESTER
COUNTY, PA, WITH GENEALOGICAL AND BIBLIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES,
Philadelphia: Louis H. Everts, 1881) p214
"In 1796, Isaac Webb removed from some other house to the
"General ... [card damaged in original file]
-----------------------------------------
1797 Source: Charles William Heathcote, HISTORY OF CHESTER
COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA (West Chester, PA: Horace F.
Temple, 1926), 108.
Newspapers and founding dates in West Chester: "The Literary
Museum" (1797)
-----------------------------------------
1797 Source: J. Smith Futhey and Gilbert Cope, INDEX TO FAMILIES
AND PERSONS, HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA: WITH
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES (Danbury, PA: Richard
T. and Mildred Williams, 1971), 226.
With his brother-in-law, Nathan Sharples Philip Derrick,
established " the tavern known by the Name of the Turk's
Head, in Goshen.. . " He added a new brick house. He also
founded "The Literary Museum, " a monthly magazine, but it
was in advance of the age and survived only a short time.
-----------------------------------------
1798/04/01 Source: Charles William Heathcote, HISTORY OF
CHESTER COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA (West Chester, PA:
Horace F. Temple, 1926), 92.
The first post office in the county was established at
Downingtown on 1 April 1798, under postmaster Hunt Downing.
-----------------------------------------
1799 Source: Darlington, William, DIRECTORY OF THE BOROUGH OF
WEST CHESTER, FOR 1857: CONTAINING A COMPLETE HISTORY OF THE
BOROUGH FROM ITS FIRST SETTLEMENT TO THE PRESENT TIME ...
(West Chester, PA: Wood & James, Publishers, E.F. James,
printer, 1857), 21.
The first fire companies in West Chester were the West
Chester Fire Company, founded 1799
-----------------------------------------
1800 Source: Charles William Heathcote, HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY
PENNSYLVANIA (West Chester, PA: Horace F. Temple, 1926), 91.
For an early list of old inns, see Bayard Taylor, STORY OF
KENNETT (Kennett, PA, 1866). The two best known inns in
West Chester were "Turk's Head" and "Greentree." There were
others, unnamed in this book.
-----------------------------------------
1802 Source: W. W. Thompson, editor, CHESTER COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA
AND ITS PEOPLE (Chicago and New York: The Union History
Company, 1898), 884.
A small market was built behind the public buildings in West
Chester in 1802, but it was not very successful because
merchants preferred to visit their customers at home. (JJ:
probably using wagons) The town built a bigger market on
Market Street in 1831 and enlarged it several times in the
subsequent 20-25 years.
-----------------------------------------
1803 Source: Charles William Heathcote, HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY
PENNSYLVANIA (West Chester, PA: Horace F. Temple, 1926), 90.
A road from Wilmington to Reading via West Chester was built
at an early date. It was extended in 1803 with a turnpike
from Downington to Harrisburg via Honeybrook and Ephrata,
and became known as the "Horsehoe Pike."
-----------------------------------------
1804/01/01 Source: Charles William Heathcote, HISTORY OF
CHESTER COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA (West Chester, PA:
Horace F. Temple, 1926), 92.
The West Chester post office was established on 1 January
1804.
-----------------------------------------
1809 Source: Charles William Heathcote, HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY
PENNSYLVANIA (West Chester, PA: Horace F. Temple, 1926),
108.
Newspapers and founding dates in West Chester: "Chester and
Delaware Federalist" (1809)
-----------------------------------------
1809 Source: W. W. Thompson, editor, CHESTER COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA
AND ITS PEOPLE (Chicago and New York: The Union History
Company, 1898), 885.
Dr. William Darlington laid West Chester's first foot
pavement using flagstones in 1809. Several other private
individuals followed his example, and started to use bricks
instead of stones.
-----------------------------------------
1812 Source: Heathcote, Charles William. "History of
Chester County Pennsylvania" (West Chester, PA: Horace
F. Temple, 1926), 215-216.
1812 - The Coatesville post office was created in 1812 and
Moses Coates became the first postmaster.
-----------------------------------------
1814 Source: Darlington, William, DIRECTORY OF THE BOROUGH OF
WEST CHESTER, FOR 1857: CONTAINING A COMPLETE HISTORY OF THE
BOROUGH FROM ITS FIRST SETTLEMENT TO THE PRESENT TIME ...
(West Chester, PA: Wood & James, Publishers, E.F. James,
printer, 1857), 28.
The Bank of West Chester was founded in 1814 on High Street
almost directly across from the court house.
-----------------------------------------
1815-1825 Source: Charles William Heathcote, HISTORY OF CHESTER
COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA (West Chester, PA: Horace F.
Temple, 1926), 92.
There was little canal construction in Chester County,
except along the Schuykill River between 1815-1825.
However, John Fitch of Bucks County operated regular
steamboat service between Wilmington, Chester, Philadelphia
and Trenton as early as 1787.
-----------------------------------------
1818 Source: Charles William Heathcote, HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY
PENNSYLVANIA (West Chester, PA: Horace F. Temple, 1926),
108.
Newspapers and founding dates in West Chester: "Village
Record" (1818)
-----------------------------------------
1823 Source: W. W. Thompson, editor, CHESTER COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA
AND ITS PEOPLE (Chicago and New York: The Union History
Company, 1898), 885.
In 1823, the town began to systematically lay brick
sidewalks.
-----------------------------------------
1827 Source: J. Smith Futhey and Gilbert Cope, HISTORY OF
CHESTER COUNTY, PA, WITH GENEALOGICAL AND
BIBLIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, Philadelphia: Louis H.
Everts, 1881) p359
In 1827, the Legislature authorized canal commissioners to
make examinations through Chester and Lancaster Counties for
a railroad to connect with the Pennsylvania Canal. In 1828,
these commissioners were directed to locate and put under
contract a railroad through Chester County via Lancaster to
Columbia.
-----------------------------------------
1827-1847 Source: Phoenixville Chamber of Commerce 1940
Trade Show
Company Background Information Sheet ""History of the Iron and
Steel Industry in Phoenixville, Pa." "
Historical Society of the Phoenixville Area
In 1827 the Reeves family purchased controlling interest in the
Phoenix Works, a small rolling mill and nail factory in
Phoenixville. By 1947 the Phoenix Works employed 147 people,
with an annual output of 1500 tons of pig iron and 32,000 kegs of
nails.
-----------------------------------------
1829-1830 Source: W. W. Thompson, editor, CHESTER COUNTY
PENNSYLVANIA AND ITS PEOPLE (Chicago and New York: The
Union History Company, 1898), 885.
In 1829 and 1830, Gay and Church Streets in West Chester
were paved for the first time.
-----------------------------------------
1831 Source: W. W. Thompson, editor, CHESTER COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA
AND ITS PEOPLE (Chicago and New York: The Union History
Company, 1898), 884.
West Chester built a bigger market on Market Street in 1831
and enlarged it several times in the subsequent 20-25 years.
-----------------------------------------
1831 Source: Charles William Heathcote, HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY
PENNSYLVANIA (West Chester, PA: Horace F. Temple, 1926), 93.
The Philadelphia and Reading Railroad was organized in 1831.
-----------------------------------------
1831-1832 Source: William Darlington, DIRECTORY OF THE BOROUGH OF
WEST CHESTER, FOR 1857: CONTAINING A COMPLETE HISTORY
OF THE BOROUGH FROM ITS FIRST SETTLEMENT TO THE PRESENT
TIME.. . (West Chester, PA: Wood & James, Publishers,
E.F. James, printer, 1857, 37.
"Among the causes which, about this time, began to impart
additional animation and vital energy to the Borough, was
the construction of the West Chester Railroad (9 miles in
length), in the years 1831-32." The track was constructed
of yellow pine pieces, plated with flat iron bars. The
motive power was horsepower.
-----------------------------------------
1832 Source: Charles William Heathcote, HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY
PENNSYLVANIA (West Chester, PA: Horace F. Temple, 1926), 93.
In 1832, a railway spur was constructed from West Chester to
Malvern, using yellow pine rails placed on stone sleepers.
-----------------------------------------
1832 Source: William Darlington, DIRECTORY OF THE BOROUGH OF WEST
CHESTER, FOR 1857: CONTAINING A COMPLETE HISTORY OF THE
BOROUGH FROM ITS FIRST SETTLEMENT TO THE PRESENT TIME.. .
(West Chester, PA: Wood & James, Publishers, E.F. James,
printer, 1857, 37.
John P. Baily, Esq. was in charge of the West Chester
Railroad. It was the first work of its kind completed in
Pennsylvania. It was finished on time and within the
estimated cost.
-----------------------------------------
1833 Source: Darlington, William, DIRECTORY OF THE BOROUGH OF
WEST CHESTER, FOR 1857: CONTAINING A COMPLETE HISTORY OF THE
BOROUGH FROM ITS FIRST SETTLEMENT TO THE PRESENT TIME ...
(West Chester, PA: Wood & James, Publishers, E.F. James,
printer, 1857), 21.
The second fire company in West Chester, the Good Will Fire
company, was founded in 1833.
-----------------------------------------
1833 Source: Charles William Heathcote, HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY
PENNSYLVANIA (West Chester, PA: Horace F. Temple, 1926), 92.
The first railroad was completed from Columbia to
Philadelphia in 1833 using horses for motive power.
-----------------------------------------
1834 Source: Charles William Heathcote, HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY
PENNSYLVANIA (West Chester, PA: Horace F. Temple, 1926),
106.
The Act of 1834 authorized the construction of public
schools so that the sons of poor men would obtain
preparation for college.
-----------------------------------------
1834 Source: Charles William Heathcote, HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY
PENNSYLVANIA (West Chester, PA: Horace F. Temple, 1926), 93.
In 1834, the first English-made locomotive was placed in
service on the railway spur that connected West Chester to
Malvern.
-----------------------------------------
1834 Source: J. Smith Futhey and Gilbert Cope, HISTORY OF
CHESTER COUNTY, PA, WITH GENEALOGICAL AND
BIBLIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, Philadelphia: Louis H.
Everts, 1881) p360
The Columbia Railroad began operating in February 1834 from
Columbia, Pennsylvania on the Susquehanna River to
Philadelphia.
-----------------------------------------
1834 Source: Alfred Sharpless, A HISTORY OF RAILROADING IN
CHESTER COUNTY in the "Daily Local News" (West Chester,
January 20, 1898), 5, in West Chester University special
collections.
1834 the West Chester Railroad built a connecting road from
Kirkland Station across to Whiteland to reach the limestone
and marble quarries (JJ: possibly Boot Road between PA100
and US202). The next year, marble from the Thomas quarry
was available for the front of the Chester County Bank.
This road proved a financial loss, however.
-----------------------------------------
1834/01/01 Source: Alfred Sharpless, A HISTORY OF RAILROADING
IN CHESTER COUNTY in the "Daily Local News" (West
Chester, January 20, 1898), 5, in West Chester
University special collections.
The West Chester Railroad declared its first dividend on the
first of January, 1834. The dividend was 3%. Future
prospects looked good at this point.
-----------------------------------------
1834/07 Source: Alfred Sharpless, A HISTORY OF RAILROADING IN
CHESTER COUNTY in the "Daily Local News" (West Chester,
January 20, 1898), 5, in West Chester University
special collections.
In July of 1834, William Sharpless was appointed the
Superintendent for the West Chester Railroad. He lived in
Philadelphia, because the company built a hotel on Broad
Street south of Race Street. Called the West Chester House,
it housed the company cars and was the depot for freighting
done to West Chester. Sharpless had large warehouses built.
-----------------------------------------
1837 Source: Charles William Heathcote, HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY
PENNSYLVANIA (West Chester, PA: Horace F. Temple, 1926), 32.
Illustration: engraved picture showing the intersection of
High and Market Streets in 1837. (Courtesy of the National
Bank of Chester County) JJ: It appears to show the
courthouse on the left, with a clock tower and weather vane
similar to the present one. That makes me think that this
picture must be of the view towards the north. However, it
must be the old courthouse, since this picture is dated
earlier than 1846 (see notes from p76). Note the use of
stone slabs to provide a pedestrian crossing at the
intersection of the dirt streets.
-----------------------------------------
1837 Source: Alfred Sharpless, A HISTORY OF RAILROADING IN
CHESTER COUNTY in the "Daily Local News" (West Chester,
January 20, 1898), 6, in West Chester University special
collections.
The Chester County Bank lost half of its capital in the
general crash of 1837. As a consequence, the West Chester
Railroad suffered major losses and fell heavily in debt.
-----------------------------------------
1838 Source: Darlington, William, DIRECTORY OF THE BOROUGH OF
WEST CHESTER, FOR 1857: CONTAINING A COMPLETE HISTORY OF THE
BOROUGH FROM ITS FIRST SETTLEMENT TO THE PRESENT TIME ...
(West Chester, PA: Wood & James, Publishers, E.F. James,
printer, 1857), 21.
The third fire company in West Chester, the Fame Fire
Company, was founded in 1838.
-----------------------------------------
1838 Source: W. W. Thompson, editor, CHESTER COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA
AND ITS PEOPLE (Chicago and New York: The Union History
Company, 1898), 884.
The West Chester street plan expanded in 1838 to include
land north of the Matlack property on the north side; beyond
the "old Turk's Head or Patton estate" on the east side, and
beyond John Rutter's land on the northwest.
-----------------------------------------
1839 Source: J. Smith Futhey and Gilbert Cope, HISTORY OF
CHESTER COUNTY, PA, WITH GENEALOGICAL AND
BIBLIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, Philadelphia: Louis H.
Everts, 1881) p214
The "White Hall" tavern, owned by Philip P. Sharples from
1838-1839, was popular among judges, lawyers, and
politicians who wanted to relax from their cases.
-----------------------------------------
1839 Source: Alfred Sharpless, A HISTORY OF RAILROADING IN
CHESTER COUNTY in the "Daily Local News" (West Chester,
January 20, 1898), 6, in West Chester University special
collections.
No dividends were paid to West Chester Railroad stockholders
during 1839. The stockholders were not happy. The West
Chester Railroad did receive some breaks from the state on
toll rates for use on the Columbia Road. The directors were
apparently maligned by the Directors. Since its inception,
the West Chester Railroad paid the state $30, 000 in tolls.
-----------------------------------------
1840 Source: Alfred Sharpless, A HISTORY OF RAILROADING IN
CHESTER COUNTY in the "Daily Local News" (West Chester,
January 20, 1898), 6, in West Chester University special
collections.
In 1840, the West Chester Railroad considered creating a
more direct line, but thought it was too expensive.
-----------------------------------------
1841 Source: W. W. Thompson, editor, CHESTER COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA
AND ITS PEOPLE (Chicago and New York: The Union History
Company, 1898), 881-882.
West Chester received its first waterworks system in 1841,
on land purchased from Anthony Bolmar for $2344.28 and land
from Joshua Hoopes for $200. The reservoir and pumping
station were located at Marshall Square.
-----------------------------------------
1842 Source: Alfred Sharpless, A HISTORY OF RAILROADING IN
CHESTER COUNTY in the "Daily Local News" (West Chester,
January 20, 1898), 7, in West Chester University special
collections.
In 1842, expenses were reduced from the previous year $2400,
but income on the WCRR dropped $2900. The condition of the
track was so bad that it needed to be relaid. The directors
authorized the purchase of 600 hundred ton of T-rails, but
they only bought 40 tons before they ran out of money.
-----------------------------------------
1842-1910 Source: Charles William Heathcote, HISTORY OF CHESTER
COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA (West Chester, PA: Horace F.
Temple, 1926), 108.
Newspapers and founding dates in West Chester: "The
Jeffersonian" (1842-1910)
-----------------------------------------
1844/05/25 Source: Alfred Sharpless, A HISTORY OF RAILROADING
IN CHESTER COUNTY in the "Daily Local News" (West
Chester, January 20, 1898), 7, in West Chester
University special collections.
An agreement was reached with Canal Commission for a rate of
$15 a train for running from the West Chester intersection
of the Columbia-Philadelphia Railroad to the inclined plane.
It started operating on 5/25/1844. Two second-hand 8-
wheeled passenger cars were bought for service. Then two
new cars were commissioned from the W.E. Allison Company.
The baggage on these cars was carried beneath the seat.
-----------------------------------------
1844/mid Source: the "Daily Local News" (West Chester, January
20, 1898), 7, in West Chester University special
collections.
Second half of 1844, the Executive Committee of the West
Chester Railroad recommended reconstruction of the road with
the same kind of rails as before. It would cost $15, 000.
-----------------------------------------
1845 Source: William Darlington, DIRECTORY OF THE BOROUGH OF WEST
CHESTER, FOR 1857: CONTAINING A COMPLETE HISTORY OF THE
BOROUGH FROM ITS FIRST SETTLEMENT TO THE PRESENT TIME.. .
(West Chester, PA: Wood & James, Publishers, E.F. James,
printer, 1857, 37.
Steam power was introduced on the West Chester Railroad in
1845, which crushed the wooden track by 1849. Iron edge
rails were substituted starting in this year. This made it
a substantial track. The West Chester Railroad connected
West Chester with Philadelphia.
-----------------------------------------
1846/04/28 Source: Alfred Sharpless, A HISTORY OF RAILROADING
IN CHESTER COUNTY in the "Daily Local News" (West
Chester, January 20, 1898), 7, in West Chester
University special collections.
On April 28, 1846, Philip D. Thomas appointed Superintendent
of the West Chester Railroad. There was already evidence
that the new locomotives were destroying the light iron
track.
-----------------------------------------
1847 Source: Alfred Sharpless, A HISTORY OF RAILROADING IN
CHESTER COUNTY in the "Daily Local News" (West Chester,
January 20, 1898), 8, in West Chester University special
collections.
The Directors of the West Chester Railroad proposed to
construct heavier track. Stockholders agreed to a further
mortgage of $15, 000 to secure the funds for this purpose.
Philip Sharples was again elected a Director. Directors and
officers of the road with friends raised $ to purchase new
rails. In 1847 the stronger track was rebuilt. The debt
was paid from profits in 2 years. (Not true MW)
-----------------------------------------
1849 Source: William Darlington, DIRECTORY OF THE BOROUGH OF WEST
CHESTER, FOR 1857: CONTAINING A COMPLETE HISTORY OF THE
BOROUGH FROM ITS FIRST SETTLEMENT TO THE PRESENT TIME.. .
(West Chester, PA: Wood & James, Publishers, E.F. James,
printer, 1857, 37.
Steam power was introduced on the West Chester Railroad in
1845, but the locomotives crushed the wooden track by 1849,
so iron edge rails were substituted.
-----------------------------------------
1850/10/14 Source: J. Smith Futhey and Gilbert Cope, HISTORY
OF CHESTER COUNTY, PA, WITH GENEALOGICAL AND
BIBLIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, Philadelphia: Louis H.
Everts, 1881) p360
John J. Parker, in some reminiscences published in the Daily
Local News of May 24, 1879, states that in 1850, after the
completion of the branch to West Philadelphia which avoided
the inclined plane, the West Chester passengers were
conveyed by this route to Philadelphia. The first train of
cars with passengers crossed the Philadelphia Market Street
bridge on Oct. 14, 1850, with Philip P. Sharpless (note
spelling M.W.), of West Chester, then superintendent of the
'old road' in charge.
Three passenger trains ran on the Columbia Railroad - 1)
fast line - west every morning, 2) slow line - west every
afternoon, and 3) nightime - west in the evening.
-----------------------------------------
1850s Source: Charles William Heathcote, HISTORY OF CHESTER
COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA (West Chester, PA: Horace F.
Temple, 1926), 85.
One of several "underground railroad" routes passed from
Kennett, East Bradford, West Chester, Willistown and on to
Philadelphia.
-----------------------------------------
1851 Source: Charles William Heathcote, HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY
PENNSYLVANIA (West Chester, PA: Horace F. Temple, 1926),
103.
Ercildoun Seminary was founded in 1851 by Smedley Darlington
as a boy's school, but it soon changed to an all-girls
school.
-----------------------------------------
1851 Source: Darlington, William, DIRECTORY OF THE BOROUGH OF
WEST CHESTER, FOR 1857: CONTAINING A COMPLETE HISTORY OF THE
BOROUGH FROM ITS FIRST SETTLEMENT TO THE PRESENT TIME ...
(West Chester, PA: Wood & James, Publishers, E.F. James,
printer, 1857), 45.
West Chester received its first telegraph connection in
1851.
-----------------------------------------
1851 Source: Alfred Sharpless, A HISTORY OF RAILROADING IN
CHESTER COUNTY in the "Daily Local News" (West Chester,
January 20, 1898), 8, in West Chester University special
collections.
The proponents of the West Chester-Media-Philadelphia
Railroad wanted to avoid the Canal Commission charges for
the use of the inclined plane west of Philadelphia. They
decided the cost would be one million dollars.
A new generation of professional men, some enemies of the
old West Chester Railroad, and businessmen from Delaware
County organized to build a "West Chester and Philadelphia
Railroad.
-----------------------------------------
1851 Source: Alfred Sharpless, A HISTORY OF RAILROADING IN
CHESTER COUNTY in the "Daily Local News" (West Chester,
January 20, 1898), 8, in West Chester University special
collections.
The two West Chester railroads clashed. The owners of the
old road, finding their property value increasing, refused
to join with the new road. They warned potential investors
in the other railroad, that they could lose all of their
money. A violent newspaper war ensued between the friends
of the two lines.
-----------------------------------------
1851 Source: William Darlington, DIRECTORY OF THE BOROUGH OF WEST
CHESTER, FOR 1857: CONTAINING A COMPLETE HISTORY OF THE
BOROUGH FROM ITS FIRST SETTLEMENT TO THE PRESENT TIME.. .
(West Chester, PA: Wood & James, Publishers, E.F. James,
printer, 1857, 38.
The proposal to build a second railroad was animated by the
belief that Philadelphia might be made a first rate place if
not so far from West Chester.
"In the age of Progress and annexation, we all go
incontinently for the annihilation of time and monopoly of
space." - the author
-----------------------------------------
1851 Source: Alfred Sharpless, A HISTORY OF RAILROADING IN
CHESTER COUNTY in the "Daily Local News" (West Chester,
January 20, 1898), 8, in West Chester University special
collections.
In 1851, the state finished grading tracks that took the
Columbia line directly into Philadelphia. The line ran on
bridge to Market Street and then to Broad Street. A depot
for passengers and freight on the southwest corner of Broad
and Market Streets.
-----------------------------------------
1852 Source: Darlington, William, DIRECTORY OF THE BOROUGH OF
WEST CHESTER, FOR 1857: CONTAINING A COMPLETE HISTORY OF THE
BOROUGH FROM ITS FIRST SETTLEMENT TO THE PRESENT TIME ...
(West Chester, PA: Wood & James, Publishers, E.F. James,
printer, 1857), 45.
West Chester received its first gas company (for lighting)
was founded in 1852.
-----------------------------------------
1852 Source: W. W. Thompson, editor, CHESTER COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA
AND ITS PEOPLE (Chicago and New York: The Union History
Company, 1898), 886.
West Chester received its first gas light company in 1852.
-----------------------------------------
1853 Source: Extract from George P. Donehoo, PENNSYLVANIA, A
HISTORY (n.d. [pre-1919]), concerning the firm of Hoopes
Bros. & Thomas Nursery Co., in Gerald R. Fuller, June Markus
Hoopes & Lillian Fredsall Webster, compilers and editors,
THE HOOPES FAMILY RECORD, Vol. II, The Seventh and Eighth
Generations (Houston, Texas: The Hoopes Family Organization,
Inc., 1979), 252.
Josiah Hoopes started his nursery in 1853 with specimens
shipped from "the great house of James Backus & Son of York,
England.".
-----------------------------------------
1853 Source: W. W. Thompson, editor, CHESTER COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA
AND ITS PEOPLE (Chicago and New York: The Union History
Company, 1898), 977.
"Josiah Hoopes, in October, 1853, first conceived the idea
of a nursery and green-house business, and began with one
small green-house and one acre of ground."
-----------------------------------------
1854 Source: Charles William Heathcote, HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY
PENNSYLVANIA (West Chester, PA: Horace F. Temple, 1926),
106-107.
The position of County Superintendent of Schools was created
in 1854 against the opposition of many school masters, and
the first man to hold the position was Robert Agnew Futhey
of Parkesburg. (JJ: J. Smith Futhey wrote a book indexing
biographies of Chester County citizens. It is in the
library.) Other superintendents were: Franklin Taylor
(1857-1860), W. W. Woodruff (1860-1869), George L. Maris
(1869-1872), Hiram F. Pierce (1872- 1876, 11 December),
Jacob W. Harvey (1877-1887), Joseph S. Walton (1877-1896
September), Frank P. Bye (1896-1900), George W. Moore (1900-
1914), Thomas A. Bock (1914-1920 December), and Clyde T.
Saylor (1920-).
-----------------------------------------
1855-1886 Source: Phoenixville Chamber of Commerce 1940
Trade Show. Company Background Information Sheet
""History of the Iron and Steel Industry in
Phoenixville, PA."
In 1855 the Phoenix Works was merged into a new company
incorporated as the Phoenix Iron Company. David Reeves
became president, and his son Samuel J. Reeves became vice
president and treasurer. The new company began the
manufacture of beams, bridges, roofs, girders, and other
varieties of structural iron. In 1886 the Phoenixville Iron
Company also began the manufacture of steel products, all
products theretofore having been exclusively iron.
-----------------------------------------
1857 Source: W. W. Thompson, editor, CHESTER COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA
AND ITS PEOPLE (Chicago and New York: The Union History
Company, 1898), 885.
By 1857, almost all of the sidewalks in West Chester were
bricked, and its streets were much improved.
-----------------------------------------
1857 Source: Darlington, William, DIRECTORY OF THE BOROUGH OF
WEST CHESTER, FOR 1857: CONTAINING A COMPLETE HISTORY OF THE
BOROUGH FROM ITS FIRST SETTLEMENT TO THE PRESENT TIME ...
(West Chester, PA: Wood & James, Publishers, E.F. James,
printer, 1857), 102.
Under the heading of libraries, Daniel Nields was listed as
vice-president of the Working Men's Institute.
-----------------------------------------
1857 Source: William Darlington, DIRECTORY OF THE BOROUGH OF WEST
CHESTER, FOR 1857: CONTAINING A COMPLETE HISTORY OF THE
BOROUGH FROM ITS FIRST SETTLEMENT TO THE PRESENT TIME.. .
(West Chester, PA: Wood & James, Publishers, E.F. James,
printer, 1857, 143.
The 1857-1858 West Chester directory contains an
advertisement for Sharples & Hall, Brickmakers. The owner
was listed as S. Emlen Sharples.
-----------------------------------------
1857/04/27 Source: Futhey, J. Smith and Gilbert Cope.
"History of Chester county, Pennsylvania, with
Genealogical and Biographical Sketches"
(Philadelphia: Louis H. Everts, 1881), 388.
On April 27, 1857, The Bank of Chester Valley was
incorporated. It was located in Coatesville. Abraham
Gibbons was president, Francis F. Davis was cashier, and
the board of directors consisted of; Abraham Gibbons, Nathan
Rambo, Enoch S. McCaughey, William Dripps, Henry G.
Thomas, Caleb Pierce, Lewis Maxton, Hugh W. Steele
(maternal grandfather of Loraine Stone McKinstry, A3-1),
Isaac Hayes, Charles Downing, John W. Wagoner, Samuel
Slokom, and James King Grier. In 1864, bank became the
National Bank of Chester Valley.
-----------------------------------------
1857/08/01 Source: Alfred Sharpless, A HISTORY OF RAILROADING
IN CHESTER COUNTY in the "Daily Local News" (West
Chester, January 20, 1898), 10, in West Chester
University special collections.
The Pennsylvania Company bought the rights to the state
railroads and canals at auction on August 1, 1857.
-----------------------------------------
1858 Source: J. Smith Futhey and Gilbert Cope, HISTORY OF CHESTER
COUNTY, PA, WITH GENEALOGICAL AND BIBLIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES,
Philadelphia: Louis H. Everts, 1881) p359
The West Chester Railroad Company was subjected to unjust
and oppressive regulations, according to officials of the
first West Chester Railroad. These helped cause the
formation of a company for construction of an independent
line by way of Media. In 1858 the old line was leased by
the Pennsylvania Railroad Company.
-----------------------------------------
1858/11/11 Source: Charles William Heathcote, HISTORY OF
CHESTER COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA (West Chester, PA:
Horace F. Temple, 1926), 93.
In 1857, the Pennsylvania Railroad took over the operation
of the railway line between West Chester and Malvern, and
the first train reached West Chester from Philadelphia via
Media on 11 November 1858.
-----------------------------------------
1859/04/06 Source: Alfred Sharpless, A HISTORY OF RAILROADING
IN CHESTER COUNTY in the "Daily Local News" (West
Chester, January 20, 1898), 10, in West Chester
University special collections.
An five year agreement between the West Chester Railroad and
the Pennsylvania Railroad began on April 6, 1859. The PARR
took possession of the line and agreed to run the trains on
satisfactory terms. The West Chester Railroad claimed that
the PARR was purposely running down the track in order to
the lower the value of the railroad so that the PARR could
buy it more cheaply at the end of the five-year contract.
-----------------------------------------
1860's/early Source: Alfred Sharpless, A HISTORY OF RAILROADING
IN CHESTER COUNTY in the "Daily Local News" (West
Chester, January 20, 1898), 10, in West Chester
University special collections.
The West Chester-Media Railroad Company's direct line did
better in the early 1860's under the President, Marshall B.
Hickman. A short time prior to the expiration of the
Pennsylvania Railroad's (PARR) lease on the West Chester
Railroad, the West Chester Railroad directors made an offer
to the PARR for a buyout. The PARR considered the offer too
high, so Hickman then made the new West Chester-Media
Railroad a better offer, which they accepted without
consulting the PARR. The PARR complained, but letters
uncovered, written by the chief officers, show they were
intending to stand pat on their offer.
-----------------------------------------
1861/08/23 Source: Charles William Heathcote, HISTORY OF
CHESTER COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA (West Chester, PA:
Horace F. Temple, 1926), 108.
"The Jeffersonian" (1842-1910) was one of only a few
northern papers that supported the South during the civil
war. A mob attacked its office and partially wrecked it (no
date given). On 23 August 1861, US Marshall William
Millward ordered the newspaper closed, but after a protest
and lawsuit, the newspaper was allowed to reopen on 26
October 1861. The Postmaster General Blair barred "The
Jeffersonian" from using the mails to distribute its issues,
but it continued in operation until 1910.
-----------------------------------------
Source: Charles William Heathcote, HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY
PENNSYLVANIA (West Chester, PA: Horace F. Temple, 1926),
103.
Smedley Darlington's younger brother, Richard Darlington,
bought the Ercildoun Seminary in 1861 and operated it
successfully until it was destroyed by a tornado in 1877.
-----------------------------------------
1863 Source: J. Smith Futhey and Gilbert Cope, INDEX TO
FAMILIES AND PERSONS, HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY,
PENNSYLVANIA: WITH GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL
SKETCHES (Danbury, PA: Richard T. and Mildred Williams,
1971), 387.
Philip Sharples was a member for the first board of
directors of The Bank of West Chester. "Before the
expiration of the last charter it was surrendered to the
state, and the bank, known as the Bank of Chester, was
reorganized under the laws of the United States as "The
National Bank of Chester County."
-----------------------------------------
1865/09/29 Source: Gerald R. Fuller, June Markus Hoopes &
Lillian Fredsall Webster, compilers and editors,
THE HOOPES FAMILY RECORD, Vol. I, The First Six
Generations (Houston, Texas: The Hoopes Family
Organization, Inc., 1979), 291.
Josiah Hoopes' uncle, Jasper Hoopes, (B19-2) died on
1865/09/29, probably in an insane asylum in Philadelphia.
-----------------------------------------
1866 Source: Extract from George P. Donehoo, PENNSYLVANIA, A
HISTORY (n.d. [pre-1919]), concerning the firm of Hoopes
Bros. & Thomas Nursery Co., in Gerald R. Fuller, June Markus
Hoopes & Lillian Fredsall Webster, compilers and editors,
THE HOOPES FAMILY RECORD, Vol. II, The Seventh and Eighth
Generations (Houston, Texas: The Hoopes Family Organization,
Inc., 1979), 252.
In 1866, George B. Thomas joined Josiah and Abner Hoopes in
their nursery firm as the "office partner" (accountant,
presumably). The name changed to Hoopes Brothers and
Thomas.
-----------------------------------------
1867 Source: Heathcote, Charles William. "History of
Chester County Pennsylvania" (West Chester, PA: Horace
F. Temple, 1926), 215-216.
1867 - Coatesville became a borough. First election of
officers: William B. Morrison, Abram Gibbons, Craig
Ridgeway, Richard Strode, William T. hunt, Joseph Suydam.
-----------------------------------------
1868 Source: W. W. Thompson, editor, CHESTER COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA
AND ITS PEOPLE (Chicago and New York: The Union History
Company, 1898), 608-609.
The firm of Hoopes Brothers & Darlington manufactured wheels
of all types. It was founded in 1868 by William and Thomas
Hoopes. Stephen B. Darlington joined the firm a short while
later. In 1898, William and Thomas Hoopes were still
partners, but Darlington had been replaced by E.S.
Darlington. The firm was located on Market Street just east
of the railroad.
-----------------------------------------
1868/08/23 Source: "Obituary for L.S. McKinstry" in "Daily
Local News" (West Chester, March 13, 1940).
L.S. McKinstry was born on August 23, 1868. Her parents
were John and Anna Exton (Steele) Stone. Her maternal
grandfather was Hugh E. Steele, who owned Laurel Iron Works
and served as president of the Wilmington and Northern
Railroad.
-----------------------------------------
1870 Source: Shirley Macauley, "W. Chester's squares failed as
rectangles" in "Daily Local News" (November 13, 1972), 84.
NOTE: Centennial issue nų1 of 5 by the Daily Local News
"Telephones for local service began to be common [in
America] about 1870, and by 1899, the town even boasted some
140 long-distance instruments, enabling `daily talks to
Chicago and Boston, and now and then to St. Louis, the
communication being carried on with perfect ease.'"
-----------------------------------------
1870s? Source: Gerald R. Fuller, June Markus Hoopes & Lillian
Fredsall Webster, compilers and editors, THE HOOPES
FAMILY RECORD, Vol. I, The First Six Generations
(Houston, Texas: The Hoopes Family Organization, Inc.,
1979), 573.
Josiah Hoopes of West Chester was a renowned authority on
evergreen trees and had one strain named after him ("picea
pungens glauca var Hoopesii," see vol. II, p253, photocopy).
He travelled throughout the USA and Europe in search of good
plant varieties. During his lifetime, he contributed to
"The New York Tribune," "The Horticulturist," "Gardener's
Monthly," "Mechan's Monthly," and other magazines. Josiah
was a founder, and for several years the president, of the
State Horticultural Association of Pennsylvania. He was a
vice-president of the American Pomological Society, a member
of the Academy of Natural Sciences, and honorary member of
the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, the National
Society of Brazil, etc.
-----------------------------------------
1871 Source: Charles William Heathcote, HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY
PENNSYLVANIA (West Chester, PA: Horace F. Temple, 1926),
105.
The Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary founded the
Villa Maria Academy in West Chester in 1871.
-----------------------------------------
1871/08/17 Source: "Constitution of the Friends Burial
Society" (17 August 1871), in Chester County
Archives, Corporation Book 1, pp372-374.
Article II: Directors of the FBS were Pierce Hoopes (B19-4),
Edward H. Hall (B71-2), Caleb E. Chambers (B3-3), William P.
Marshall (B21-2), Enos Smedley, James Powell (A21-1), Philip
P. Sharpless (C2-5).
Article V: regulations on grave markers that specified they
must lie flat, be made of white stone, be no larger
than 18" x 16" and contain nothing other than the
person's name, their birth date and death date.
-----------------------------------------
1871/09/25 Source: Charles William Heathcote, HISTORY OF
CHESTER COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA (West Chester, PA:
Horace F. Temple, 1926), 104-105.
The State Normal School opened on 25 September 1871 under
Dr. E. H. Cook (1871-1872), Dr. W. A. Chandler (1872-1873),
Professor G. L. Maris (1873-1881), Dr. George Morris Philips
(1881-1920), and Dr. Thomas Andrew Smith (1920-? ).
-----------------------------------------
1872 Source: Heathcote, Charles William. "History of
Chester County Pennsylvania" (West Chester, PA: Horace
F. Temple, 1926), 167.
November, 1872 - The "Daily Local News" became the premier
daily newspaper in West Chester.
-----------------------------------------
1872 Source: Charles William Heathcote, HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY
PENNSYLVANIA (West Chester, PA: Horace F. Temple, 1926),
108.
Newspapers and founding dates in West Chester: "The Daily
Local News" (1872).
-----------------------------------------
1874 Source: W. W. Thompson, editor, CHESTER COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA
AND ITS PEOPLE (Chicago and New York: The Union History
Company, 1898), 694.
Josiah Hoopes' doctor, Dr. Charles E. Woodward (1846/01/04-
??), was born in Marshallton, attended Westtown Boarding
School and the College of Pharmacy of Philadelphia, and
began to practice medicine in West Chester in 1874. He
received money from Josiah Hoopes's estate for "professional
services."
-----------------------------------------
1874 Source: J. Smith Futhey and Gilbert Cope, INDEX TO FAMILIES
AND PERSONS, HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA: WITH
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES (Danbury, PA: Richard
T. and Mildred Williams, 1971), 226.
The "White Hall" tavern, owned briefly by Philip P.
Sharpless from 1838-1839, was torn down in 1874.
-----------------------------------------
1874-1888 Source: W. W. Thompson, editor, CHESTER COUNTY
PENNSYLVANIA AND ITS PEOPLE (Chicago and New York: The
Union History Company, 1898), 967.
Josiah Hoopes served as the recording secretary of the
Chester County Agricultural Society from 1874-1888 (JJ: His
mother died in 1887; father died in 1888). The CCAS
disappeared in 1895 when the West Chester State Normal
School purchased the fairgrounds and declined to hold the
annual agricultural fair.
-----------------------------------------
1877 Source: Charles William Heathcote, HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY
PENNSYLVANIA (West Chester, PA: Horace F. Temple, 1926),
104.
In the summer of 1877, after the school was destroyed by a
tornado that struck its original site, Richard Darlington
moved the Ercildoun Seminary to a location just outside of
West Chester and renamed it the Darlington Seminary.
-----------------------------------------
1877-1931 Source: Heathcote, Charles William. "History of
Chester County Pennsylvania" (West Chester, PA:
Horace F. Temple, 1926), 167.
In 1877, W. Hodgson was the publisher and Wilmer W.
Thompson was the editor of the "Daily Local News" of West
Chester.
1877 circulation was 4,534
1885 - 6,750
1904 - 14,971
1914 - 15,815
1931 - 11,234 (depression could've caused this)
-----------------------------------------
1881 Source: Robert E. Carlson, compiler and editor, INDEX
TO CHESTER COUNTY (PENNSYLVANIA) BIOGRAPHY (West
Chester, 1983), 144.
Philip M. Sharples (born 1857/08/10; died in Pasadena, CA
1944/04/13) was a West Chester industrialist who
manufactured mechanical cream separators at the Sharples
Separator Co. from 1881. He loaned Josiah Hoopes money to
purchase property on Penn Street in West Chester.
-----------------------------------------
1883 Source: "Boys were sassy on switchboard" in "Daily Local
News" (November 14, 1972), 100. NOTE: Centennial issue nų2
of 5 by the Daily Local News
Norm Baker, manager of Bell Telephone's West Chester
operation, claimed that the first telephones in West Chester
were installed in 1883. The first customer was the "Morning
Republican," and others included Hoopes Brothers & Thomas,
Dr. John R. McClurg, S. A. Kirk, Jerome Gray, "The Daily
Local," and "The Village Recorder". The first switchboard
was installed over William Bell's grocery store at 10 E. Gay
Street, and Nathan Rambo was the first switchboard operator.
Boy operators were phased out around 1900 because they were
"too sassy" to customers, often telling them to wait for a
connection.
New telephone installations in the early years were so
important that they were often covered in front-page news
stories. By 1884, there were 50 subscribers and by 1901,
there were 175. When the West Chester exchange (Owens) went
to dial operation on July 15, 1956, there were 12,000
telephones. In May 1963, "Owens" became "696." As of
January 1, 1972, there were 31,202 telephones in West
Chester. In 1971, Bell Telephone employed 400 employees in
its West Chester facility, with an annual payroll of
$3,283,567.
-----------------------------------------
1883 Source: Breou's Original Series of Farm Maps, Chester County
(Philadelphia: W. H. Kirk & Co., 1883), 18-19.
South Franklin Street ended at Greenfield Alley and East
Nields Street ended at the PRR tracks. Linden Street ended
at Matlack Street.
-----------------------------------------
1883. Source: W. W. Thompson, editor, CHESTER COUNTY
PENNSYLVANIA AND ITS PEOPLE (Chicago and New York: The
Union History Company, 1898), 706.
Josiah Hoopes' dentist, Dr. Robert? M. Scott, took over the
West Chester dental practice of J. Lewis Baker in 1883,
following studies at the Dental Department of the University
of Pennsylvania. He received money from Josiah Hoopes's
estate for "professional services."
-----------------------------------------
1884 Source: Shirley Macauley, "W. Chester's squares failed as
rectangles" in "Daily Local News" (November 13, 1972), 84.
NOTE: Centennial issue nų1 of 5 by the Daily Local News
In 1884, the West Chester Women's Christian Temperance Union
was founded, the first such group in Chesco. They met at
the First Baptist Church. Sixty women attended the first
annual meeting.
-----------------------------------------
1885 Source: W. W. Thompson, editor, CHESTER COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA
AND ITS PEOPLE (Chicago and New York: The Union History
Company, 1898), 610.
The Edison Electric Illuminating Company of West Chester was
organized in 1885. Abner Hoopes and W. Hoopes were members
of the original board of directors. In 1898, Abner Hoopes
was still a director, along with Samuel Marshall, F.P.
Darlington, P.E. Jefferis.
-----------------------------------------
1887 Source: W. W. Thompson, editor, CHESTER COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA
AND ITS PEOPLE (Chicago and New York: The Union History
Company, 1898), 890.
The West Chester Board of Trade was organized in 1887, and
included Abner Hoopes as one of the directors, and Thomas
Hoopes as its president.
-----------------------------------------
1892/01/20 Source: Daily Local News (January 20, 1892)
After the borough of West Chester decided to extend East
Nields Street past the Pennsylvania Railroad tracks to the
borough line at Bolmar Street, a jury awarded damages of
$300 to A. D. Sharples and $105 to Pennsylvania Railroad.
-----------------------------------------
1892/04/06 Source: Daily Local News (April 6, 1892)
East Nields Street crossed the Pennsylvania Railroad "Media
Line" at "an ugly grade crossing" near the engine house.
The extension of East Nields Street offered a convenience to
farmers from southeast of town.
-----------------------------------------
1892/04/22 Source: Daily Local News (April 22, 1892)
John Ryan worked for Patrick King directing the workmen who
graded South Franklin Street through King's property. King
expected the borough to annex the property and extend South
Franklin Street in the summer 1892.
-----------------------------------------
1892/09/19 Source: Daily Local News (September 19, 1892)
The neighbors on South Franklin Street complained about the
smell emanating from the fill used to extend East Nields
Street and/or South Franklin Street. The author of this
editorial claimed that the most vile refuse from West
Chester's alleys was used as fill, including "rotten
tomatoes, fruit, etc." and "old oyster shells."
-----------------------------------------
1892/09/30 Source: Daily Local News (September 30, 1892)
The borough of West Chester announced plans to extend South
Franklin Street to the city line at Rosedale Avenue. This
required two bridges over Goose Creek at the intersection of
South Franklin Street and Linden Street, because the creek
made an abrupt right-angle turn at that point.
-----------------------------------------
1893 Source: "Obituary of E.L. McKinstry" in "Daily Local
News," (West Chester, March 30, 1951).
E.L. McKinstry joined the "Morning Republican" as a
reporter. In 1893, he became a reporter for "Daily Local
News".
-----------------------------------------
1893 Source: Samuel T. Wiley, BIOGRAPHICAL AND PORTRAIT
CYCLOPEDIA OF CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA, COMPRISING A
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE COUNTY (Philadelphia, Richmond IN &
Chicago IL: Gresham Publishing Company, 1893), 264.
Josiah Hoopes was the "senior member of the great nursery
firm of Hoopes Brother & Thomas of West Chester."
-----------------------------------------
1893/06 Source: "Obituary for L.S. McKinstry" in "Daily Local
News" (West Chester, March 13, 1940).
In June 1893, Loraine Stone McKinstry married Edwin L.
McKinstry. Shortly after her marriage, she became a
reporter for "Daily Local News".
-----------------------------------------
1893/07/06 Source: Daily Local News (July 6, 1893)
West Chester Streets Commissioner Eachus led an inspection
of the East Nields Street extension. At the time, a gang of
mostly Irish laborers were clearing brush and briars from
the "jungle" on the Pennsylvania Railroad property. They
obtained fill dirt to raise East Nields Street to the level
of the railroad from an excavation for an alley on property
owned by P. J. Jefferis, which ran from Matlack to Walnut
Streets between Nields and Lacy Streets.
-----------------------------------------
1893/09/12 Source: Daily Local News (September 12, 1893)
The borough of West Chester built a "substantial bridge" on
East Nields Street over the small creek just east of the
Pennsylvania Railroad tracks.
-----------------------------------------
1894/06/29 Source: notes, not dated, not signed
Robert E. Monaghan born 1822/07/24 died 1894.06/29. was
uncle of R. Jones Monaghan. son of James Monaghan by second
wife, Catherine Streeper. born West Fallowfield. father
was
from County Fermagh. Came to America about 1799. R.E.
Monaghan taught school, represented CC in state legislature,
was one of the original promoters of Public School System.
ran for US Congress in 1868, lost to Washington Townsend.
Invented machine called Vox Populi.
-----------------------------------------
1894/03/05 Source: Editorial in "Daily Local News" (March 5,
1894)
The lot at the corner of Union Street and South Franklin
Street was swampy and a potential source of malaria. The
author of this editorial urged the city to drain it.
-----------------------------------------
1894/10/05 Source: Daily Local News (October 5, 1894)
Water pipes were laid from East Nields Street north along
South Adams Street for a single square.
-----------------------------------------
1898 Source: "Oxford resident built first car" in "Daily Local
News" (November 13, 1972), 49. NOTE: Centennial issue nų1
of
5 by the "Daily Local News"
Burton D. Murdaugh (1875-1944) of Oxford built the first
car,
a small gasoline-powered buggy that ran on bicycle wheels
and
chains, in Chester County (pictured) in 1898. Later, he
moved
to West Chester, married Mary Swayne in 1906, and fathered
two
sons, Clem and Joe Murdaugh. Clem later became a national
motorcycle champion.
-----------------------------------------
1898 Source: W. W. Thompson, editor, CHESTER COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA
AND ITS PEOPLE (Chicago and New York: The Union History
Company, 1898), 978.
Hoopes Brothers & Thomas dealt mostly in fruit and
ornamental
plants. They began to use mail order and sent salesmen all
over the country. In 1898, they had a branch office in
Nashville, TN; they had 600 acres under cultivation, and
they
employed about 100 people during the "packing season" (JJ:
probably springtime for ornamentals; autumn for fruit).
-----------------------------------------
1898 Source: W. W. Thompson, editor, CHESTER COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA
AND ITS PEOPLE (Chicago and New York: The Union History
Company, 1898), 349.
"West Chester was known far and wide as being friendly to
the
slave ... it is largely for this reason that so many colored
people have made and now make this city their home. They
now
constitute about one fourth of the population, have a ward
of
the city practically all to themselves, and have had
representatives in the Council." (JJ: This was in 1898.
See
population statistics from p484.)
-----------------------------------------
1899 Source: Shirley Macauley, "W. Chester's squares failed as
rectangles" in "Daily Local News" (November 13, 1972), 84.
NOTE: Centennial issue nų1 of 5 by the Daily Local News
"Telephones for local service began to be common about 1870,
and by 1899 the town even boasted some 140 long-distance
instruments, enabling `daily talks to Chicago and Boston,
and
now and then to St. Louis, the communication being carried
on
with perfect ease.'"
-----------------------------------------
1901 Source: Charles William Heathcote, HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY
PENNSYLVANIA (West Chester, PA: Horace F. Temple, 1926),
104.
Richard Darlington sold the Darlington Seminary (former
Ercildoun Seminary) to Frank P. Bye, one-time Superintendent
of Schools in Chester County, who continued to operate the
school up to the time of publication of this book.
-----------------------------------------
1901/12/16 Source: Daily Local News (December 17, 1901)
Fire destroyed the "small one-story frame building on
Franklin
street south of Linden street, occupied for years by the
late
Patrick King and his wife Ellen." The fire broke out at
10pm
on 16 December. An alarm was sounded from Box 33 at the
corner of Matlack and Lacy Streets, and although it was too
late to save the house, the Fame Fire company got a chance
to
practice with "its chemical cart."
Mrs. King had left the previous Saturday for her former home
in Dublin, Ireland, so she was not at home when the blaze
broke out. "It is supposed that the fire was caused by some
of the boys of the southern portion of town. Mrs. King had
her own troubles with them and many of them have been
previously arrested and fined by the Burgess for molesting
her."
The value of the house was estimated at $500 and the value
of the furnishings at $100.
-----------------------------------------
1901 Source: Extract from George P. Donehoo, PENNSYLVANIA, A
HISTORY (n.d. [pre-1919]), concerning the firm of Hoopes
Bros. & Thomas Nursery Co., in Gerald R. Fuller, June Markus
Hoopes & Lillian Fredsall Webster, compilers and editors,
THE HOOPES FAMILY RECORD, Vol. II, The Seventh and Eighth
Generations (Houston, Texas: The Hoopes Family Organization,
Inc., 1979), 252-253.
Hoopes Bros. & Thomas opened an office in the Stephen Girard
Building in Philadelphia. (JJ: Get a photo or picture of
the
building). His sales staff served Pennsylvania, New Jersey,
Delaware, Maryland and Virginia; plus parts of New York and
New England.
-----------------------------------------
1902/01/16 Source: Daily Local News (January 16, 1902)
A new plank crossing was built at the railroad crossing on
Franklin Street.
-----------------------------------------
1904 Source: Extract from George P. Donehoo, PENNSYLVANIA, A
HISTORY (n.d. [pre-1919]), concerning the firm of Hoopes
Bros. & Thomas Nursery Co., in Gerald R. Fuller, June Markus
Hoopes & Lillian Fredsall Webster, compilers and editors,
THE HOOPES FAMILY RECORD, Vol. II, The Seventh and Eighth
Generations (Houston, Texas: The Hoopes Family Organization,
Inc., 1979), 252.
In 1904, the Thomas interest in the firm Hoopes Bros. &
Thomas was sold off.
-----------------------------------------
1905 Source: "Adventure called first drivers" in "Daily Local
News" (November 14, 1972), 108. NOTE: Centennial issue nų2
of 5 by the Daily Local News
Warren Baldwin built an automobile in West Chester by 1901,
but appears to have done this as an experiemnt, not a
commercial venture.
-----------------------------------------
1905 Source: "Adventure called first drivers" in "Daily Local
News" (November 14, 1972), 108. NOTE: Centennial issue nų2
of 5 by the Daily Local News
Burton Murdaugh manufactured a few automobiles between 1899
and about 1905.
-----------------------------------------
1905 Source: "Adventure called first drivers" in "Daily Local
News" (November 14, 1972), 108. NOTE: Centennial issue nų2
of 5 by the Daily Local News
The first automobile owner in West Chester was Joseph H.
Sager, who bought a Locomobile in New York City for $850 and
brought it to West Chester in 1899.
-----------------------------------------
1905/10/20 Source: Chester Country Trust Company, "The first
and partial account" (West Chester, 8 February
1906), in Chester County Archives, Will nų29810.
The remainder of Josiah Hoopes' estate was auctioned off on
1905/10/20. D.M. Golder was the auctioneer. The auction
was
advertised in both the Public Ledger and the Local News of
West Chester.
-----------------------------------------
1906/01/22 Source: Daily Local News (January 22, 1906)
South Adams Street was unpaved for a half block between
Market
and Miner Streets. It had no sidewalk at all.
-----------------------------------------
1906/04/18 Source: Daily Local News (April 18, 1906)
West Chester Streets Commissioner John C. Heed announced
that
improvements would be made to E. Union Street at the PRR
crossing. The PRR decided to leave an at-grade crossing, so
West Chester borough opted to raise the street level and
pave
it. This was an improvement for the horse teams that
carried
freight away from the PRR freight station on E. Union
Street.
The same article mentioned that the East Barnard Street
"underhead" bridge was not yet finished.
-----------------------------------------
1907 Source: Extract from George P. Donehoo, PENNSYLVANIA, A
HISTORY (n.d. [pre-1919]), concerning the firm of Hoopes
Bros.
& Thomas Nursery Co., in Gerald R. Fuller, June Markus
Hoopes
& Lillian Fredsall Webster, compilers and editors, THE
HOOPES
FAMILY RECORD, Vol. II, The Seventh and Eighth Generations
(Houston, Texas: The Hoopes Family Organization, Inc.,
1979),
252.
Charles Cattrell and Wilmer W. Hoopes became partners in the
firm of Hoopes Bros. & Thomas., Co., which was formally
incorporated in 1907.
-----------------------------------------
1907/03/26 Source: "Application of Hoopes Brothers and Thomas
Co." (26 March 1907), in Chester County Archives,
Corporation Book 6, p143.
Josiah Hoopes' company was reorganized after his death as
follows:
Shareholder residence shares value %
Abner Hoopes West Chester 20 2000 20
Wilmer W. Hoopes West Chester 10 1000 10
Charles E. Cattrell 236 S. 38th Street, Phila. 10 1000 10
Henry S. Cattrell 2315 Delancey St., Phila. 50 5000 50
Harvey Gourley Melrose Park, MontCo. 10 100 10
Directors: Wilmer W. Hoopes, Harvey Gourley, Henry S. Cattrell
Application made by Abner Hoopes, Wilmer W. Hoopes and Charles E.
Cottrell on 26 March 1907.
Purpose of business: everything to do with raising plants
-----------------------------------------
1909/12/24 Source: Daily Local News (December 24, 1909)
Burgess P. E. Jefferis offered a prize of $100 to be awarded
in the summer. It is not clear from the article, but the
prize appeared to be offered to neighborhood beautification
efforts. Recently, the borough paved the 500 block of South
Franklin Street with "white oyster shells only." An unnamed
resident of who had lived there for 14 years (1895-1909)
claimed that this was the first time in his memory that the
city had worked on South Franklin Street, that it was the
only
street in the borough paved white, and that he would
encourage
his neighbors to apply for the prize.
-----------------------------------------
1910 Source: W. Andrew Boyd, compiler and publisher, BOYD'S WEST
CHESTER DIRECTORY FOR 1910-1911 (West Chester PA &
Washington DC: W. Andrew Boyd, August 1910), 164.
The three fireboxes nearest to Riggtown (West Chester) in
1910 were located at South Matlack and East Lacey Streets
(firebox #3-3), at High and East Nields Street (#3-5), and
at South Franklin and Union Streets (#3-6).
-----------------------------------------
1911 Source: Charles William Heathcote, HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY
PENNSYLVANIA (West Chester, PA: Horace F. Temple, 1926),
106.
In 1911, Dr. George M. Philips of the State Normal School
played a large part in drawing up the School Code to
standardize public education in the county.
-----------------------------------------
1912 Source: "Baldwin founds firm" in "Daily Local News"
(November 14, 1972), 82. NOTE: Centennial issue nų2 of 5 by
the Daily Local News
Kinzer Baldwin, son of Walter C. Baldwin who founded the
Baldwin Electric Shop at 20« S. Church Street, was pictured
with other men from his firm as they installed an air raid
siren on the roof of an auditorium at Church and Washington
Streets in West Chester in 1941. Walter Baldwin opened his
business in 1912, and moved to its present location at 30 E.
Market Street in 1918. He died in 1923 and his son Kinzer
took over until he died in 1952. Kinzer married Amanda, and
was succeeded by his son Robert J. Baldwin, who was in turn
joined in the family business by his son Richard J. Baldwin.
In 1972, the company employed five men and one woman. (From
deeds, we know that both Walter C. and his son Kinser owned
the house at 387 E. Nields Street at some time.)
-----------------------------------------
1914 Source: Charles William Heathcote, HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY
PENNSYLVANIA (West Chester, PA: Horace F. Temple, 1926),
105.
In 1914, the Villa Maria Academy moved from West Chester to
its present location at Immaculata and was chartered by the
state of Pennsylvania in 1921.
-----------------------------------------
1914-1919 Source: Extract from George P. Donehoo, PENNSYLVANIA, A
HISTORY (n.d. [pre-1919]), concerning the firm of
Hoopes Bros. & Thomas Nursery Co., in Gerald R. Fuller,
June Markus Hoopes & Lillian Fredsall Webster,
compilers and editors, THE HOOPES FAMILY RECORD, Vol.
II, The Seventh and Eighth Generations (Houston, Texas:
The Hoopes Family Organization, Inc., 1979), 253.
The Hoopes Bros. & Thomas facility includes packing houses
that cover more than 1.5 acres, a packing crate
manufacturing facility, a scion orchard, and "broad fields
of trees, shrubs and plants (that) speak most effectively
for the business of doing one thing well for more than sixty
years."
-----------------------------------------
1917/fall Source: "Balloons lifted Schramm stock" in "Daily Local
News" (November 14, 1972), 59. NOTE: Centennial issue
nų2 of 5 by the Daily Local News
In fall 1917, the company of "Chris. Schramm & Sons" got a
contract to produce machinery for lowering aerial balloons.
The bought a building from the West Chester Engine Company
to house the operation.
The Schramm company was founded in Philadelphia in 1900 to
make air compressors. By 1908, they had perfected the first
portable air compressor which became widely used in the
construction industry.
In 1917, the firm was reorganized as Chris. D. Schramm and
Son, and in 1922 the name was shortened to Schramm, Inc.
During WWII, Schramm built "much-needed generator sets and
welders in addition to regular compressors."
By 1972, Schramm employed 350 people at its 33-acre site in
West Goshen Township.
-----------------------------------------
1918 Source: Shirley Macauley, "W. Chester's squares failed as
rectangles" in "Daily Local News" (November 13, 1972), 84.
NOTE: Centennial issue nų1 of 5 by the Daily Local News
The Boy Scouts were chartered in Chester County. Their
headquarters was located in the Farmers and Mechanics
Building in West Chester.
-----------------------------------------
1920 Source: Charles William Heathcote, HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY
PENNSYLVANIA (West Chester, PA: Horace F. Temple, 1926), 90.
Later, a covered wooden bridge was constructed at Chadd's
Ford (date unknown) and in 1920-1921, a concrete bridge was
built at a cost of about $78,000.
-----------------------------------------
1921 Source: Charles William Heathcote, HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY
PENNSYLVANIA (West Chester, PA: Horace F. Temple, 1926),
105.
The Villa Maria Academy at Immaculata was chartered by the
state of Pennsylvania in 1921.
-----------------------------------------
1923/10 Source: Daily Local News (November 10, 1923)
The Lawrence B. Doran brickyard in West Chester (Riggtown)
added a second block manufacturing machine, increasing their
output to 2000 bricks per day. The Pennsylvania Railroad
has also added a siding to serve the brickyard. There are
many similar brickyards throughout the region and all seem
to be oing a good business.
-----------------------------------------
1926 Source: Charles William Heathcote, HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY
PENNSYLVANIA (West Chester, PA: Horace F. Temple, 1926),
104.
The Darlington Seminary operated in West Chester under
Superintendent Frank B. Bye, since 1901.
-----------------------------------------
1926 Source: Charles William Heathcote, HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY
PENNSYLVANIA (West Chester, PA: Horace F. Temple, 1926),
105.
The State Normal School originally possessed ten acres of
land, but by 1926 it had about sixty acres. Construction
costs of the buildings was around $1,000,000.
-----------------------------------------
1926 Source: Charles William Heathcote, HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY
PENNSYLVANIA (West Chester, PA: Horace F. Temple, 1926), 31.
There is an excellent public school system, one of the best
in the state. The Friends maintain well-organized schools.
There is also a fine parochial school system organized from
the grades to the high school inclusive. One of the best
State Normal Schools in the United States is located here,
having a student body of twelve hundred.
-----------------------------------------
1926 Source: Charles William Heathcote, HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY
PENNSYLVANIA (West Chester, PA: Horace F. Temple, 1926), 31.
It is served by two branches of the Pennsylvania Railroad
and several bus and trolley lines. Its beautiful homes and
shaded streets make West Chester a delightful town."
-----------------------------------------
1926 Source: Charles William Heathcote, HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY
PENNSYLVANIA (West Chester, PA: Horace F. Temple, 1926), 31.
Its important industries are,--automobile wheels, tags,
nurseries, mushroom canneries, air compressors and cream
separators.
-----------------------------------------
1927 Source: Shirley Macauley, "W. Chester's squares failed as
rectangles" in "Daily Local News" (November 13, 1972), 84.
NOTE: Centennial issue nų1 of 5 by the Daily Local News
The Girl Scouts were chartered in Chester County at the
suggestion of Mrs. Herbert Hoover following a "tea" held at
the home (named "Greystone") of Mrs. P. M. Sharples.
-----------------------------------------
1928 Source: Advertisement in "Daily Local News" (November 14,
1972), 34. NOTE: Centennial issue nų2 of 5 by the Daily
Local
News
Schramm, Inc. opened in West Chester in 1928. The address
was
800 E. Virginia Avenue and the telephone was 696-2500.
-----------------------------------------
1929 Source: "Chef's browning secrets founds firm" in "Daily
Local
News" (November 14, 1972), 67. NOTE: Centennial issue nų2
of
5 by the Daily Local News
Grocery Store Products Company was founded sometime after
WWI.
Grocery Store Products entered West Chester in 1929 when
they
purchased the Edward H. Jacobs Co., producer of mushrooms.
They marketed mushrooms nationally under the brand name
"BinB"
(Broiled in Butter), processed at facilities in West Chester
and Kennett Square. The company's executive and sales
offices
were located in West Chester in 1972, even though the
company
was purchased by The Clorox Company of Oakland CA in 1971.
-----------------------------------------
1931 Source: "Mushrooms face 58 failures" in "Daily Local News"
(November 14, 1972), 13. NOTE: Centennial issue nų2 of 5 by
the Daily Local News
The Mushroom Growers Cooperative Association was formed in
1931 under the leadership of William Maule. Even before
that,
Edward H. Jacob founded a mushroom firm in West Chester that
became, after his death, part of the Grocery Store Products
Company. The Borden Company had an interest in the
Brandywine
Mushroom Corporation of West Chester.
-----------------------------------------
1931/09/11 Source: "Roaring Oil Blaze Perils Crown Here;
Three
Are Injured" in DLN (September 12, 1931), 1 & 10.
This is the account of the "Goose Creek Fire" which spread
from East Nields Street to asphalt tanks owned by the
Bituminous Service Company at East Union Street and the PRR
crossing. The fire broke out at 6:50pm and burned for three
hours.
"A match, a cigarette or a spark from a brush fire falling
on
the usually placid waters of Goose Creek, a small stream
running the length of the eastern end of town, set off the
conflagratio. The creek had an hour or so previously being
(sic) transformed into a stream of oil when two 10,850
gallon
tanks at the Bituminous Company service year, fell from the
supports and breaking, leaked into the water."
"Frame houses on Magnolia street and a row of brick and
frame
houses on South Franklin street were seriously threatened by
the fire. Sparks also flew across the railroad to the coal
shed of J. Leon Haggerty, the P. R. R. freight station and
the
lumber yard of Hoffman and Baldwin.
"The buildings in greatest danger were those along the creek
on South Franklin street. Wooden fences bordering the
stream
were set ablaze and the fire worked towards the houses with
unbelievable rapidity. ... Sparks, however, set fire to the
rear kitchen roofs of the homes of Lawrence Hamilton,
William
Montgomery and Nathan Shur." Nathan Shur (506 South
Franklin Street) lost a small building at the rear of his
house which housed 25-30 chickens. Lawrence Hamilton (Jr)
lived at (520 South Franklin Street) in the 1970s.
NOTE: the article mentions "several airplanes [that] circled
above the crowd and took pictures of the fire before
darkness settled."
George J. Moses was the West Chester fire chief.
Another small sidebar mentioned Jackie McCallin of 222 Lacey
Street who owned a dog named Jonah. Jonah fell into Goose
Creek and got soaked with oil, so his owner had to keep him
away from the fire.
There was also a quotation by William Patton, colored, of
307
South Franklin Street.
-----------------------------------------
1936/05 Source: Gerald R. Fuller, June Markus Hoopes & Lillian
Fredsall Webster, compilers and editors, THE HOOPES
FAMILY RECORD, Vol. II, The Seventh and Eighth
Generations (Houston, Texas: The Hoopes Family
Organization, Inc., 1979), 250-251.
Josiah Morgan Hoopes, son of Josiah Hoopes, first married
Emily Techurst Hervey (spelling differs with notes from
volume
I, p574) of Lindenwold, NJ (1914/03/22-1936/05/14).
However,
she died following the birth of their daughter Emily
Patricia,
and Josiah Morgan remarried a few months later. He married
Ruth Sober (born in Baltimore on 1913/06/10), a registered
nurse at the Chester County Hospital.
They had two children: Jane Anne (born in WC, 1941/05/24),
who
married Louis Rambo on 1961/02/18; Sarah Linda Hoopes (born
1944/02/14 in WC), who married George Judson Nye, Jr. at the
Calvary Lutheran Church in WC on 1962/07/14.
-----------------------------------------
1940 Source: "Obituary for L.S. McKinstry" in "Daily Local
News" (West Chester, March 13, 1940).
L.S. McKinstry was a member of the First Presbyterian Church
of West Chester, where she was a Sunday School teacher. She
was also a member of the Brandywine Grange, Patrons of
Husbandry, New Century Club, Children's Aid Society, and the
Treasurer of Wentworth Home.
-----------------------------------------
1940 Source: "Obituary for L.S. McKinstry" in "Daily Local
News" (West Chester, March 13, 1940).
Loraine Stone McKinstry's son was Hugh Exton McKinstry. He
was an alumnus of West Chester High School, Haverford
College,
Harvard University, and the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology.
-----------------------------------------
1942/07 Source: "National Foam started with fire hoses in 1819"
in "Daily Local News" (November 14, 1972), 85. NOTE:
Centennial issue nų2 of 5 by the Daily Local News
National Foam Systems Inc. began as a manufacturer of fire-
fighting hose in Boston. In July 1942, the firm opened a
plant in West Chester to produce fire-fighting foam for the
navy.
-----------------------------------------
1944/07/17 Source: Daily Local News (July 17, 1944)
Green Field was built on land donated to the borough by
realtor Harry F. Taylor, on the condition that it was named
after the prominent local family. The article mentioned
that
Greenfield Park stood at the edge of the Riggtown section,
which contained many children.
-----------------------------------------
1944/08/05 Source: Daily Local News (August 5, 1944)
Green Field required many loads of fill in the swampy area
around Goose Creek. A local resident, Joseph Cotter,
supervised the placement of truckloads of fill. He
constructed a small shack for his own use at the site, and
marked it with a sign to "Keep Out" to deter local vandals.
-----------------------------------------
1945/02/17 Source: Daily Local News (February 17, 1945)
Joseph Carter supervised the grading and distribution of
fill
in the "Riggins Lot" (Green Field) just south of Goose
Creek.
There were plans to build a cannery there to supplement the
cannery already in operation along the railway in
Willistown.
The fill came from rubbish collections in the neighborhoods
adjoining Goose Creek.
-----------------------------------------
1948 Source: "Aeroprojects uses ultrasound" in "Daily Local News"
(November 14, 1972), 7. NOTE: Centennial issue nų2 of 5 by
the Daily Local News
Aeroprojects Incorporated was founded in 1948 by J. Byron
Jones to conduct research in high frequency sound--
ultrasonics. Although Jones was not originally from West
Chester, he located the firm on East Rosedale Avenue because
"it has so many attractions as a home and because it is
conveniently located for business."
-----------------------------------------
1951 Source: "Obituary of E.L. McKinstry" in "Daily Local
News" (West Chester, March 30, 1951).
E.L. McKinstry was a member of: the West Chester Lodge No.
322 Free and Accepted Masons, West Chester Lodge No. 42
Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Brandywine Grange,
No. 60, Patrons of Husbandry.
-----------------------------------------
1951 Source: "Obituary of E.L. McKinstry" in "Daily Local
News," (West Chester, March 30, 1951).
E.L. McKinstry's son was Dr. Hugh Exton McKinstry. In
1951, he was a geologist and member of faculty of Harvard
University.
-----------------------------------------
1954/04/19 Source: Daily Local News (April 19, 1954)
The West Chester Borough extended East Nields Street from
Adams Street to the borough line at Bolmar Street.
-----------------------------------------
1964 Source: Walsh J.J., UNDERSTANDING PARAPLEGIA (J. B.
Lippincott Company, 1964), 3.
In conformity with the notable speeding up of progress in
other branches of medicine, and indeed, in other sciences
and technologies, which has marked the last two decades, our
understanding and treatment of the special problems of
paraplegia have advanced tremendously. The death rate from
paraplegia has greatly decreased. Less than 8% of the
people who have paraplegia die, over 85% get employed after
rehabilitation program.