USA > Pennsylvania > Chester County > History and progress of Chester County, 1962 > Part 3
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Swiss Pines Park, Bartschi Foundation, Charlestown
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Swiss Pines Park-Bartschi Foundation
This foundation was founded of recent date as a non-profit organization to promote educational, scientific, research, charitable, and literary activities in the fields of horticulture, ornithology, and conservation for the general public recreation. The Foundation has the responsibility to establish, maintain, operate and develop a public park known as "Swiss Pines." It is located on Pennsylvania Route 15049, between Devault and Charlestown, in Charlestown Township, north of the Pennsylvania Turnpike. It is presently concentrating on creating and restoring slender five needle Swiss pines, brought from world travels by William H. Llewellyn back in the early twenties, and in re-arranging the Japanese Gardens of stone lions, toads, lanterns, and buddhas over a four acre site. Eventually groups of native and foreign shrubs will flourish over nearly fifteen acres, some landscaped as gardens, others retained in their natural habits for wild life, with 3,000 red and white pines, spruce, and larch in the plantation. The other 200 acres will grow wild with woods, streams, gardens, fields, and meadows. It is open to the public Monday through Friday from 10 A.M. to 4 P.M. Conducted educational tours by appointment. The sanctuary is operated by the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia.
Primitive Hall Foundation
This foundation was established by Mr. Stewart Huston, of Coatesville, Pennsylvania, and opened to the public, October 16, 1961. The site, located in the orchard on the grounds of the Primitive Hall Foundation, consists of approximately 21/2 acres, in West Marlborough Township, on Pennsylvania route 841, south from Green Lawn to Chatham. Its purposes are to restore the brick mansion (Primitive Hall) to its original grandeur, eventually to be- come a library and museum, and to create a recreation area, which now in- cludes facilities of picnic tables, charcoal braziers, running water, sanitation and parking areas.
Sharp's Woods Reserve
This reserve of over 15 acres of woodland and Darby Creek running through a tall growth of oak, beech, and other deciduous trees, was acquired in 1959, from the Estate of Mary B. S. Morris, through the interest of Miss Ellenor Morris, by the Philadelphia Conservationist. The reserve is situated in Easttown Township, bounded by Darby Road, Leopard Road and one mile south of Sugartown Road. Its purposes are for the preservation of a natural park area, and for the development of nature education, nature trails, wild life, plant survey, property and habitat.
Chester County Art Association
This association was founded in 1931, and incorporated in West Chester
33
1933, as a non-profit corporation. Its purposes are to lawfully further the promotion of the cultivation of the fine and applied arts. The new Art Center building, which includes a large gallery, opened in 1953, is located on North Bradford Avenue, West Chester. The current membership is approximately 700 persons.
Native Sons and Daughters Achieving National Recognition
Smedley D. Butler Dr. William Darlington John Fritz
General, Marine Corps
Scientist
Iron Manufacturer
Dr. Isaac H. Hayes
Surgeon-Explorer
Rebecca Lukens
Female Industrialist
Humphrey Marshall
Astronomer-Botanist-Author
Thomas Mckean
Signer of Declaration of Independence
George Morris Philips
Education
Samuel W. Pennypacker
Author-Historian-Governor of Pennsylvania
St. Agnes Roman Catholic Church, West Chester
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Thomas Buchanan Read Mark Sullivan William Marshall Swayne Bayard Taylor Anthony Wayne
Poet-Painter-Sculptor
Historian-Columnist
Sculptor
Poet-Diplomat-Traveler
General, Revolutionary War
CHESTER COUNTY DAY
HS
Chester County's natural charms have been proverbial since the days of William Penn: abundant streams, fertile valleys, rock and mineral-laden hills with a great variety of trees and a wealth of plants and shrubs. From the rugged Welsh Mountains across the Great Valley to fhe gently rolling cattle country of the southwestern area, Chester County's remarkably varied topog- raphy resembles an old time quilt with the beloved Brandywine meandering through patches of historic yesterdays and proud todays while "sowing the fields and woods together with its silver thread." Such an area with plentiful building materials attracted many well-to-do early settlers whose stone and brick houses-simple, sturdy and beautiful-are still landmarks along the great roads that crossed old Chester County. A great deal of history "hap- pened" in this part of Penn's "green countrie" and Chester Countians, wisely realizing the importance of the past, have made this history an integral part of their lives. With a heritage so deeply rooted and revered, it is not at all surprising that one of America's largest "Open House" days should have developed here. Since 1936, on the first Saturday in October, public spirited owners of old and historic homes have welcomed thousands of guests for the annual tour called Chester County Day. At first the guests were local residents only, but attendance has spiralled to last year's all-time high of over four thousand persons representing twenty-two states. Historic landmarks form the background for the forty or so places visited each year as the Day explores different areas of the County. Since its inception, this completely volunteer project, the work of some five hundred women annually, has raised over $100,000.00 for charity. The fascinating story of Chester County now reaches the entire nation through the publications of this project which have won two Freedom's Foundation Awards and a George Washington Honor Medal for "outstanding achievement in helping to bring about a better understanding of
35
the American Way of Life." Chester County Day, Box I, West Chester, Pennsylvania.
Waynesborough-Home of Gen. Anthony Wayne, Paoli
Freedoms Foundation
At the base of our National Shrine-Valley Forge-in Chester County on Pennsylvania Route 23, to Phoenixville, we have, filling an urgent need, a patriotic Center serving as a marshalling point for the active forces of free- dom, known as Freedoms Foundation. The Foundation was founded 1949. Non- profit, non-sectarian, non-partisan and non-political, the Foundation's sole purpose is to encourage all Americans to understand and defend the rights, freedoms and responsibilities they enjoy as Americans under our constitutional democratic form of government, and to undergird our constitutional Republic and combat the increasing threat of Socialist Communism to the American Way of Life. Using the free enterprise principal of incentive and reward, Freedoms Foundation conducts an annual National Awards program based on the American Credo which reaches into Main Street, U.S.A., encouraging and stimulating citizens of every age level to think, write, speak and act in behalf of the American Way of Life. The Foundation has no capital funds, nor endowments. It is supported through the tax-exempt membership sub- scriptions of individuals, corporation and other foundations.
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BACKGROUND OF COUNTY GOVERNMENT
Court House
The original Court House was erected at Upland (now Chester) in 1679, and replaced in 1724. Because of the distance and the hardship interior citizens experienced traveling to the County Seat, a movement was made, led by Colonel John Hannum, of Goshen, to remove the Court House to the Turk's Head area. This war-like movement was resisted by the people of Chester during a temporary halt in the construction of the new Court House and ad- joining jail and jail yard, but upon arrival they found the new work ably de- fended. This resulted in an armistice, and the County Seat was removed to its present site in 1786. At the northwest corner of High and Market Streets a new records building was constructed in 1791. The present Court House was erected in 1874. The jail was replaced in 1839, located at New and Market Streets in West Chester.
The present clock on the Court House was purchased in 1835, and installed in 1836.
From the three original counties, since 1878, Pennsylvania has been divided into sixty-seven Counties. The Constitution of 1874 prohibits local or special laws from erecting additional new counties. Following the three original counties, the next sixty-three counties were created prior to the Constitution. The youngest county by decree of Act, under General Act (since repealed) created Lackawanna County in 1878.
The Boundaries of our present County, as established, are located in the Southeastern corner of Pennsylvania, bordered on the South by the States of Delaware and Maryland, 1763; East by Delaware County, erected in 1789; North by Montgomery County, erected in 1784; Northwest by Berks County, erected in 1752; and West by Lancaster County, erected in 1729.
The Area of the County is forty-five miles in length, thirty miles wide, and seven hundred sixty square miles, or 486,400 acres. The approximate land use today in acres and percentage-
Agricultural
293,000
60.2
Industrial
2,500
.5
Residential
33,000
6.8
Vacant Land, Woods & Parks
157,900
32.5
Chester County has a total of seventy-three sub-divisions; fifty-six, second class townships; one first class township; fifteen boroughs, and one city. Chester County is a Fourth Class County, determined by population as provided by the State Legislature. There are nine other fourth class counties in the State,
37
namely: Beaver, Cambria, Dauphin, Fayette, Lehigh, Northampton, Schuylkill, Washington and York. Counties of this class have a population of from 150,000 to 250,000.
The Federal Census of Chester County for Each 10 Years From 1790-1960
1790
29,937
1800
32,093
1810
39,569
44,45 l 1820
1830
50,910
1840
57,545
1850
66,438
1860
74,578
1870
77,805
1880
83,48l
1890
89,377
1900
.90,695
1910
109,213
1920
115,120
1930
126,629
1940.
135,626
1950
159,141
1960
210,608
TOWNSHIPS CREATED
1960
TOWNSHIPS
1960
DATE
POP.
CREATED
DATE
POP.
Birmingham
1684
453
West Fallowfield
1743
1425
East Bradford
1705
1713
Franklin
1852
817
West Bradford
1705
1894
East Goshen
1704
1694
East Brandywine
1790
1618
West Goshen
1817
8214
West Brandywine
1844
1675
Highland
1853
1029
Caln
1702
6685
Honeybrook
1789
1584
East Caln
1728
758
Kennett
1855
3026
West Caln
1744
2140
London Britain
1725
686
Charlestown
1737
1931
Londonderry
1734
718
North Coventry
1841
4367
London Grove
1723
2734
East Coventry
1718
2183
East Marlborough
1704
2417
South Coventry
1841
1212
West Marlborough
1730
901 .
Easttown
1704
6907
East Nantmeal
1739
730
Elk
1857
593
West Nantmeal
1740
968
East Fallowfield
1714
2745
New Garden
1700
3718
38
New London
1704
845
Schuylkill
1826
3461
Newlin
1724
1477
Thornbury
1687
746
East Nottingham
1702
2298
Tredyffrin
1706
16004
West Nottingham
1715
1137
Uwchlan
1712
995
Lower Oxford
1797
2007
Upper Uwchlan
1858
909
Upper Oxford
1754
997
Valley
1852
3101
Penn
1817
1097
East Vincent
1832
5453
Pennsbury
1770
936
West Vincent
1832
1431
East Pikeland
1838
2817
Wallace
1852
1065
West Pikeland
1838
782
Warwick
1842
1436
Pocopson
1849
1315
Westtown
1685
1947
Sadsbury
1717
2066
East Whiteland
1704
5078
West Sadsbury
1878
1102
West Whiteland
1704
4412
Willistown
1704
6492
BOROUGHS
1960
BOROUGHS
1960
INCORPORATED
DATE
POP.
INCORPORATED
DATE
POP.
Atglen
1875
721
Malvern
1889
2268
Avondale
1894
1016
Modena
1921
859
Coatesville
1867
see city
Oxford
1833
3376
South Coatesville
1921
2032
Parkesburg
1872
2759
Downingtown
1859
5598
Phoenixville
1849
13797
Elverson
1911
472
Spring City
1867
3162
Honeybrook
1892
1023
West Chester
1799
15705
Kennett Square
1855
4355
West Grove
1893
1607
CITY CHARTERED
DATE
1960 POPULATION
Coatesville
1915
12,97|
TAXES DUE
739, 114,93
800,004.13
841,404.84
888,754.99
1,174,949.91
1,256,222.08
1,333,904.59
1,392,326.62
1,754, 354.59
1,745, 110.61
PERCENT
COLLECTED
YEAR
52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61
ANNUALLY
90
89
88
87
86
85
Result of collection of County taxes over the past ten years averaged .886%
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COUNTY FINANCES DEPOSITORIES - SAFEGUARDING FUNDS
Tax Collection Procedure
Tax collectors are elected to office for a term of four years and perform the duties thereof, collecting the local taxes in their communities. The County Assessors office prepares and mails all County tax bills, which are payable directly to the County Treasurer. The Assessor also prepares the assessment roll lists, and distributes to the local collectors on or about May Ist, annually, containing thereon the taxpayers names. As required by law, the tax collector must qualify by filing bond and satisfying other legal requirements. The Col- lector is required to submit monthly reports to the local agencies of all local taxes collected and remitted. Tax collectors are paid a percentage, and in some instances are paid salaries, for all taxes collected. Expenses for postage, supplies and insurance bond in addition are permitted, for which he is re- imbursed.
Collection of Delinquent Taxes
In compliance with Act of 1947, known as "The Real Estate Sales Law," Chester County established a Tax Claim Bureau, which consolidated the former duties of the County Treasurer, with direct supervision under the Commissioners in all pertinent matters concerning the collection of taxes and sales of Real Estate for non-payment of taxes. The duties are performed by a department chief, and two assistants, appointed by the Commissioners. Current taxes become delinquent if unpaid by November Ist, each year. Penalties of five per cent are added after November Ist. If still unpaid by the first Monday in May the succeeding year, they become a matter of the Tax Claim Bureau, and an interest penalty of one-half per cent per month is added to the balance already accumulated. It is then the Delinquent Tax Collector is immediately appointed by the Treasurer for that year, and is charged with the collection of all delinquent county taxes. Remittance for current tax collections are made directly to the County Treasurer, while delinquent tax collections are made to the Tax Claim Bureau. Operating
1962 Tax Rate: 6 Mills
MILLS
52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61
8
7
6
5
4
3
40
under this law, gives the advantage to the property owner by permitting him to make quarterly payments on his delinquent taxes, all within one year; and the County benefits, in that it allows the Bureau to sell, free and clear of all encumbrances, and to issue a Deed in Fee simple for the property sold, except in certain circumstances-first mortgages.
Government Operation Costs
As a citizen, taxpayer of Chester County, you contribute by your taxes to the cost of County government operations. In Fourth Class Counties like Chester County, government today has developed into "Big Business," and as such, approved business practices and policies are continually practiced, mak- ing for efficiency and economy. Government economic housekeeping opera- tions of the County are reflected by the Real Estate Tax Rate millage over the past ten years, averaging less than five mills, in the face of consistent rising costs, rapid expansion and modern improvements.
The millage rate now reflected is for the County, which includes the opera- tion of the Institution District, since the latter was abolished as of January I, 1962.
Chester County is among those Counties with the lowest combined tax rates in the State. From time to time, the necessity for Capital expenditures,
General Fund Receipts and Expenditures-1961
CURRENT TAXES $ 1, 912, 407.68 .72 ¢
Receipts: $2,652,355.93 cents per tax dollar
COURT HOUSE OPERATIONS $ 1,949,567.13 .785 ¢
o $134,567.26
DEP'T EARNINGS $ 266.418.58
FARM PRISON $ 217,436.26 .087¢
DEBT SERVICE $ 254,912.50 .1036 ¢
MISC. $37,581.00
1929-60 $28,592.11
RENTALS $9,425.82
$2,243.50
TEMP. LOAN $200,000
OUTLAY $ 33,221.08 . 0132¢
RESERVE $ 27,950.00 .0112¢
LIENS
LIC.
Total County Budget-1961
COUNTY $ 2,261, 877.50 . 655¢
$3,460,055.75
LIQ. FUEL TAX $ 413,500,00 . 119 ¢
INSTITUTIONAL DISTRICT $ 784,668.25 226 ¢
TAXES 1960
COURT COSTS FINES
$61,119.98
Expenditures: $2,483,086.97
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as recommended by Citizens Survey Committees, for expansion and new con- struction have necessitated Bond Issues, rather than considering tax increases. The first of these issues was for the Institution. District in 1949, for the new Pocopson Home, at Pocopson, of $1,200,000.00; the next, for the County in 1955, for demolition of part of the Old Annex and New Orphans' Court build- ing addition to rear, thereof, $250,000.00, and third in 1957, for the new
Liquid Fuels Receipts and Expenditures-1961
GAS TAX $ 311,545.86 . 626 ¢
Receipts: $497,517.69
GRANTS TO BOROUGHS - TWP-CITY AND OTHER EXPENSES $ 347,665.86 .9051 ¢
$960.00
Expenditures: $384,139.95
$14,469,99
CASH IN BANK $ 113,337.74
TRANS COUNTY
BALANCE IN FUND $ 185,011.83 .3721¢
MAINT. OF BRIDGES $ 22,004. 10
.228¢
UNAP. BALANCE $92,577.74
UNPAID GR'T $ 20,800.00
Institution District Receipts and Expenditures-1961
EXPENSES OF INMATES PAID BY INDV. $ 109,081.37
1961 LEVY $ 510,507.63 .5901¢
Receipts: $865,086.18 cents per tax dollar
OTHER
TAX
REF.
CARE $553.00
COUNTY HOME $ 375, 925.35 .488 ¢
MAIN'T. $3,761.90
TAXES 1960 $ 42,288.68 .0492¢
BAL. TREAS. $104,951.15 .121¢
SINKING FUND
CHILD WELFARE $ 232,897.07 .302¢
CHILD C. $ 16,627.50 LIEN'D .0192¢
$136.76
Pa. D of W $ 65,473 32 ·0756¢
PRINCIPAL $ 50,000.00 .064¢
MISC. $ 54,690.10 .072¢
TAXES $12,639.18 0145¢
MISC. $3,38059 .0039¢
FARM
Chester County Farms Receipts and Expenditures-1961
GENERAL OPERATIONS $ 206,195.66 .948 ¢
CARPET #4,246.63
$3,148.00
RENT
CHAIRS $2, 111.91
MED .- DENTAL $ 5,759.00 .027¢
$2,899.12
ADM. SAL.
MAINTENANCE $21,690.23 .099¢
COMP INS
$ 17,071.03 .079 ¢
INS.CL.
Receipts: $217,436.26 cents per tax dollar
CUSTODIAN SALARIES $ 126,079.01 . 579 ¢
MISC. $ 22,334.62 .106 ¢
POWER OIL-GAS $ 20,517.35 ·095¢
D &D $1,151.00
CLOTHG $286.59 WOOD $ 135.00
MISC. $102.47
$59.00
Expenditures: $217,436.26 cents per tax dollar
OUTLAY $ 1,228.50
$ 857.18
GEN'L
ADMIN. $9,024.85
$10,156.00
FARM $31,227.80
Expenditures: $770,321.56 cents per tax dollar
LAND DAMAGE
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Chester County Farms, Pocopson
Chester County Farms Prison, at Pocopson, for $3,350,000.00. The total bonded indebtedness of $4,800,000.00, is now reduced to $3,510,000.00, December 31, 1961. Average interest rate less than 3 per cent.
General Fund Receipts
The County's income is derived principally from Real Estate and Personal Property Taxes. Other sources are from fee offices, and miscellaneous revenues such as commissions, interest, rentals, and fines. Gross revenue from fee offices are turned over to the County's general fund, after which expenses of operation of the fee offices are deducted. The Personal Property Tax is levied by Act of Legislature setting uniform rate in the State except Allegheny and Philadelphia Counties. Real Estate Tax rate is established by the County Com- missioners upon figures developed by the Board of Assessment and Revision of Taxes, of Chester County.
Safeguarding Funds
Safeguarding funds of County is practiced by general supervision and control over fiscal affairs, and of accounts of all offices collecting or disburs- ing County Funds, by the Controller, an elective officer of the County. Vouchers for payment of all County obligations are drawn by the Controller and submitted to the County Commissioners. Checks are signed by the
43.
-
Birmingham Friends Meeting House
Aerial View of Lincoln University, Lincoln University, Pa.
44
Commissioners, Controller and Treasurer. County funds are kept in various depositories within the County, each of which is determined and designated by the Commissioners and the Treasurer by resolution. This is generally done some time in mid January, following the election of the County Treasurer. Upon designation and qualification of such depositories, the County Treas- urer shall immediately transfer thereto all County funds. By law, the deposi- tories must be in banks, banking institutions or trust companies located within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It will be noted, Chester County's deposi- tories, by custom, are all within the County. For future protection, each deposi- tory chosen shall furnish a Bond to secure payment of deposits and such interest as may accrue to the County, or in lieu of such a Bond, Securities may be placed in escrow with the Federal Reserve Bank. The County Com- missioners, Controller and his Deputy, the County Treasurer and all his em- ployees, as well as other employees entrusted with collecting or disbursing County funds are Bonded. Employees of the Treasurer's office are finger printed. Burglary insurance is carried on the Treasurer's office and vault, as is messenger insurance on funds transported to or from a depository. The Voucher system provides for attaching the check to the vouchers so that one entry covers all needs. They are made up in one original and one copy. The original is attached to the bill and filed in the Controller's Office. The first copy is filed separately in the Controller's Office. This system requires each officer to sign only once for check and voucher.
E-7
G. O. Carlson, Inc., Coatesville Plant
45
Aerial View, Lukens Steel Co., Coatesville
46
INDUSTRY AND COMMERCE
Early Pioneers
Among the early pioneers in the development of industry and commerce, the northern townships of Coventry, Nantmeal and Vincent, were the first to have an industrial development in the County. As early as 1717, while still a province, Coventry Forge was established, and was the oldest leading iron center in Pennsylvania. The first steel in America was manufactured in 1732, at Coventry, located on the French Creek. Reading Furnace was first erected at Coventry Forge, in 1720. Warwick Furnace (Potts-Iron) was founded in 1737, and was famed for its stoves, pots, kettles, andirons, clock weights, revolutionary cannons and cannon balls. Valley Forge Furnace was founded in 1757, and destroyed by the British in 1777. Hopewell Furnace, now in Berks County, was erected in 1770. Isabella Furnace was erected in 1830. The nine- teenth century saw the same industry promote the growth of Coatesville, Parkesburg and Phoenixville. Lukens Steel Company, the first rolling mill not only in Chester County but in the nation, was established in East Fallowfield Township at Rokeby by Isaac Pennock about 1793. Located on Buck Run, it was known as the "Federal Slitting Mill." Dr. Charles Lukens, after marrying Isaac Pennock's daughter, Rebecca, joined in a partnership with his father- in-law. In 1816 the Doctor and his wife moved to Coatesville where he oper- ated under lease the Brandywine Iron Works, established in 1810. It was here Doctor Lukens thus became the pioneer in this phase of iron manufacturing, and where the first boiler plate was made in Pennsylvania and very probably the first in America. This mill before the turn of the century was then held to be the world's largest plate-mill, and one of the oldest continuous steel manufacturers in the nation. The first charcoal plate rolled in the United States was turned out here in 1820. Subsequent to Dr. Lukens death in 1825, his widow, Rebecca, successfully continued and expanded operations for many years, and she in later years became known as the outstanding woman indus- trial executive of her time. Today, Lukens Steel Company is Chester County's outstanding industry, employing over 5,000. It is the third largest producer of steel plate in America. Steel ingot making capacity annually is 930,000 tons.
Phoenix Iron Company
The Phoenix Iron Company was founded at Phoenixville in 1783. The prop- erty of Jonas Thompson, it was renamed Phoenix Iron Works in 1813, and continued without much success until 1828, manufacturing nails principally. Following acquisition of the property at a Sheriff Sale by Reeves and Whitaker,
47
the new ownership materially increased and improved the works. Equal to, if not superior to, any rolling mill in the world, surpassing in size the then mighty "Krupp Works" in Germany, it manufactured iron for railroads, fancy works, bridges, beams and joists for building, and ribs and decks for iron ships. Controlling interest remained with the Reeves family until 1944, when it was acquired by its present owners, The Phoenix Steel Company, a subsidiary of Barium Steel Corporation, who also that same year acquired the Phoenix Bridge Company. This company is now the third largest producer of struc- tural steel in America, employing over 2,000.
J. Bishop and Company
In the precious metals field, gold and platinum for industrial use, is J. Bishop and Company, founded in 1842 in Philadelphia by Joaquin Bishop. This com- pany transferred their operations to Sugartown, in Chester County in 1865, and, because of fire, finally established at Malvern in 1903. Subsequent growth started with platinum hypodermic tubing, then in 1931 stainless steel hypo- dermic tubing. It also produces specialties from tubing of many different alloys. Its expanded plant now includes a new modern tube mill of 165,000 square feet just south of U.S. 30, about a mile west of Malvern.
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