USA > Pennsylvania > Chester County > History and progress of Chester County, 1962 > Part 4
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Majolica China
In the late 1800's, near Phoenixville, the firm of Griffith, Smith and Hill was established, manufacturing the now famous "Phoenixville Etruscan Majolica China," the Gold Medal Winner at the New Orleans World's Fair in 1884.
Parkesburg Iron Works
Later, following the closing of the Philadelphia Columbia Car Shops in Parkesburg in 1851, the Parkesburg Iron Works was established by H. A. Beale & Company, when they converted the shops to manufacturing of skelp and flue iron. It was abandoned upon the death of Mr. H. A. Beale's son, Mr. H. A. Beale, Jr., on or about 1926.
Downingtown Paper Company
The family of John Frederick Bicking, beginning in 1750, established a paper mill near Philadelphia. Later, three of five sons were paper makers. Joseph built a mill at Wagontown, West Brandywine Township; John at Fisherville, in East Brandywine Township, the first in Chester County. Still later, a great grandson of John Frederick Bicking founded the first paper mill in Downing- town in 1881. The capacity of this mill now is forty to fifty tons a day.
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McAvoy Vitrified Brick Company
It was founded in 1895 by Thomas Bell McAvoy, located in Schuylkill Town- ship between Valley Forge and Phoenixville on the farm owned by the Penny- packer family. Today this site has been developed into a modern plant with approximately 500 acres of land, from which their brick ingredient sources of clay -and shale comes in more than YALL ample supply. The standard brick is 21/4" x 33/4" x 8". Other sizes may be made. Different colored bricks are de- veloped by sand blast, to give colors of red, buff and misty white.
Interior view McAvoy Brick, Phoenixville
Minerals
Aiding early industry as well as present industry are the minerals, the most common of which are: magnesia, kalin, lead ore, iron ore, chrome, serpentine, red shale, secondary limestone, white sandstone, primitive limestone, talc and mica slate, gneiss and traprock. Along with these were an abundant water power, farm products, good network of roads, rail facilities, communications, and skilled, intelligent labor. In addition to those engaged in the early iron industry, the tax assessment rolls transcripts disclose an abundance of crafts- men in all trades and skills, appropriate for producing goods for local con- sumption. Prudent expansion with sound investment blended with an ideal loca- tion from which to do business, and with its people living culturally as well as economically, industry and agriculture have expanded side by side with a balanced economy. From these early foundations, many other diversified in- dustries have developed throughout the County, equally as interesting and noteworthy up to and including the present atomic era, or space age.
Some of the Pioneers in This Space Age Are:
Aeroprojects Incorporated
Aeroprojects Incorporated, established here at the County Seat in 1948 as a research center, now has carried the name into the inner sanctums of some of America's largest companies, and those of the Country's defense arms. Highly successful in research of electronics, physics, metallurgy, me- chanical design, it has many patents granted and others pending. Also, through its subsidiary, Sonobond-Corporation, it produces and markets ultra-sonic metal joining equipment.
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Burroughs Corporation Research Center
In the field of automation, the Burroughs .Corporation Research Center, organized in Philadelphia in 1949, transferred its activities to Chester County with three new modern facilities of over 250,000 square feet. The name was changed in 1960 to Burroughs Laboratories. The first division, "Research Cen- ter," was established in 1954. The second division, "Military Systems," was established in 1956. Both are located in Paoli, on Central Avenue and U. S. route 202. The third divison, "Great Valley Laboratory," was established in 1958 on Pennsylvania Route 15132 (Swedesford Road) just north of Malvern. This company is meeting the demand for computers and ultra high speed printing techniques, the seaward extension of "Sage," and the initial stabiliza- tion data computers for Polaris carrying submarines and navigation, ballistic missiles, air craft bombing and communications systems.
G. O. Carlson, Incorporated
G. O. Carlson, Incorporated, was founded by G. O. Carlson, in the early 1930's. Production of Stainless Steel tailor-made plates was begun in 1937.
Downingtown Paper Co., Downingtown
The firm was incorporated in 1940. Its main office is in Thorndale. Production, engineering and laboratory facilities are centered at the company's Viaduct Plant in Coatesville, meeting the growing demands in metal working, chemical process, nuclear energy, aircraft and missile industries.
F & M Scientific Corporation
In the field of primary research in electronic scientific instruments, the F & M Scientific Corporation was established mid 1961, located on Pennsyl- vania Route 41, two miles east of Avondale. It also develops linear programmed temperature gas chromatograph with flame ionization, Beta-Argon Ionization and Thermal Conductivity Detectors, Automatic Attenuators, G. C. accessory
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CHESTER COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA
SCALE
0
?
3
MILES
ELVERSON
-
WEST
-
82
PENNA
HONEYBROOK
282
WALLACI
HONEYBROOK
322
Brondywine,
Monor
WEST
10
WEST
CALN
82
Guthrissville
Compossville
BRANDYWINE
L.
340
TY
Wogontown
340
10
The
U SVET HSP
VALLEY
30
Sodsburyyilla
COATESVILLE
WF ST
SADSBURY
SOUTH
572
SADSBURY
COATESVILLE
PARKSBURG
EAST
572
Ercildoun
ATGLEN
FALLOWFIELD
41
10
1
HIGHLAND
QOoe Run
WEST
WEST
02
FALLOWFIELD
MARLBORO
Cochronville
841
842
LONDENDERRY
926
896
Chothom
UPPER OXFORD
ORussellville
796
1
Jennersville
AVONOA'LE
LOWER
Forestvill
, PENN
IGROVE
GROVE
472
OXFORD
-
LINCOLN UNIVERSITY
GAF
OXFORD
NEW
FRANKLIN'
LONDON
EAST
NOTTINGHAM
LONDON
84
Kemblesvitls
Nottingham
472
WEST
NOTTINGHAM
1
ELK
1
896
Lewisville
1
M
A
R
Y
L
A N
D
HOPEWELL PARK
W.
BERKS
St Morys
40
NANTMEAL
EA
COUNTY
1
Londo Grov
LANCASTER
LONDON
WEST
1
10
272
BRITAIN
) MODENA
51
UNTYY
83
So Pottstown
Kenilworth
NORTH
COVENTRY
EAST
Porkerford
SOUTH
-
PENHURST
COVENTRY
-
683
Bucklown
*Coventryville
Knouertown
Pughtown
EAST
VINCENT
23
83
1
1
WEST
/
EAST
IANTMEAL
1
US VET
PIKELAND
113
Ludwigs Corner
83 23
SCHUYLKILL
WEST
1
29
23
UPPER
100
-
-
Eagle
/
TURNPIKE
202
Devolf
TREDYFFRIN
83
Howeltville
EAST
250
Lionville
UWCHLAN
WHITELAND
30
Berwyn
WEST
Fro"er
MALVERN
Exton
113
30
EASTTOWN
WHITELAND
EAST
1
CALN ·
EAST
WILLISTOWN
29
1
WEST
202
GOSHEN
EAST
WEST
3
BRADFORD
WEST
GOSHEN
-
CHESTER
162
Marshalltar
STATE HOSPITAL
BRADFORD
WESTTOWN
842
QEmbreeville
202
LIN
Lenode
1.
POCOPBON HOME
926
Dilworthtown
52
Pocopson
-- BIRMINGHAM
E
EAST
MARLBORO
PENNSBURY
Longwood
Homortan
Chadds Ford
KENNET
SQUARE
KENNETT
3
1
82
EW
E
R
41
A
W
A
MONTGOMERY
SCHUYLKILL
COVENTRY
-
-
L.SPRING CITY /
COUNTY
RIVER
VINCENT
Kimberton
PHOENIXVILLE
/
-
-
/
PIKELAND /
CHARLESTOWN,
UWCHLAN
RANDYWINE
352
DOWNINGTOWN CALN
1
100
COUNTY
322
Milltown
sttowe
LO
THORNBURYY
POCOPSON
DELAWARE
Unionville
1 Forville
boli
VALLEY FORGE PARK
FAST
:K
3
O
52
items, Column Packings, Safety Ignition Units and Schoniger Oxygen Flasks.
Foote Mineral Company
In the manufacturing of lithium chemicals, lithium compounds, zorconium, hafnium, ferro alloys for the welding industry and ground minerals, Foote Mineral Company expanded their Philadelphia operations with two plants in Chester County. The Exton Plant was established in 1941, on Pennsylvania Route 29 just North of U. S. 30 at Glen Loch. Their Research and Engineering Center at Exton was built in 1960 on Pennsylvania Route 100 just south of U. S. 30. Specialized research is done in a wide variety of scientific fields related to chemicals. Effective January 29, 1962, their Philadelphia Adminis- trative facilities are now centered here.
Pennsylvania Flexible Metallic Tubing Company
As a recognized leader in the manufacturing of interlocked flexible hose and tubing of Stainless Steel, the Pennsylvania Flexible Metallic Tubing Com- pany (Penflex), founded in 1906 by Samuel H. Collom, transferred their opera- tions to a new modern plant at Frazer on U. S. 30 in 1960. Under the direc- tion of Samuel H. Collom, Jr., it meets the demands of military requirements for Saturn, Titan and Atlas missiles, as well as the needs of the Diesel industry in power, chemicals and petroleum, metal working, air conditioning, marine, transportation, coal, cement, food and steel.
F & M Scientific Corporation, Avondale, Pa.
Wyeth Laboratories Incorporated
In the field of modern medicine, one of the oldest and largest makers of pharmaceuticals is Wyeth Laboratories Incorporated founded as a drug store in Philadelphia in 1860. Now a world-wide organization, they established their West Chester plant in 1942 as an antibiotic laboratory, developing delicate
1
53
chemical and biological techniques from the now widely known life-saving mold for the mass production of penicillin. They also produce sterile injectable drugs. They were the first company to produce penicillin commercially. They are now operating with a personnel of over 500. The Wyeth Great Valley Plant is located in Chester Valley at Lancaster Pike and Moorehall Road, just north of Malvern. An eight million dollar facility, it was completed with full operations late 1961. Staffed with 650 scientific, technical and administrative people, it is producing general pharmaceuticals.
Industry Survey
The 1959 Industry Survey of Chester County by the Bureau of Statistics, Department of Internal Affairs, of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, discloses the following prevailing industries: lumber and wood products, paper and allied products, rubber and plastic products, stone, clay, glass products, pri- mary metal industries, fabricated metal products, machinery both mechanical and electrical, transportation equipment, miscellaneous manufacturers, furni- ture and fixtures, petroleum, instruments and related products. The County has a total of 249 manufacturing industries, with capital expansion of $18,734,- 300.00, employees 25,458, wages and salaries $130,588,300.00. Value of pro- duction and related activities $503,338,400.00. Value added by manufacturing is $239,988,500.00.
Industry and Commerce
With the above developments, the aspects of industry and commerce of Chester County are sound. Harmonious relations exist between employer and employee. We have aggressive expansion and intelligent studies by planning commissions, boards, including the Chester County Development Council, the Chester County Redevelopment Authority and the Chester County Water Resources Authority. The institution era of a few predominant industries is rapidly fading. Provincial thinking likewise has faded into the dim past, result- ing in the forces of the county combining their efforts and recognizing the need for civic improvement, and taking steps to secure them. Chester County offers ample, attractive space and invites both new homes and diversified in- dustries, which could substantially contribute to our future economic, educa- tional, cultural, religious and social development, and, at the same time, share in the low county taxation atmosphere, and its conservative, yet progressive government.
Markets
Chester County is in the midst of the great markets of the Delaware Valley, and the Mid-west. Within a five hundred mile radius are, 53 per cent of the U. S. population, 71 per cent of manufacturing employment, 62 per cent of
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non-agricultural employment, 57 per cent of total income, and 54 per cent of retail sales. Our home markets alone are bigger than many whole nations. Within the Delaware Valley are markets with approximately twenty-five million employees.
Distances
The distance in miles from the County Seat to some major cities is: Allen- town 50, Atlantic City 86, Baltimore 83, Boston 359, Harrisburg 77, Lancaster 34, New York City 115, Philadelphia 25, Pittsburgh 273, Reading 40, Washing- ton 126, Wilmington 17, and York 63.
300 M.
200 M.
100 M. COUNTY SEAT
Seaport
Chester County has ready access within an hour's ride to Philadelphia, to the second largest seaport in the United States, with a waterborn tonnage of over 45 million tons.
Vacation and Recreation
Within this area is offered easy driving range for vacation and recreation to the Chesapeake Bay and Ocean resorts, with winter and summer sports in the state parks, mountains, lakes and the famous Poconos. See also Chester County Park and Recreation.
International Airport
Chester County also has access to the International: Airport in southwest Philadelphia, one of the Country's leading air facilities for both Trans-Atlantic to Europe, Trans-Continental to California, connecting direct with Trans- Pacific air service to the Far East. It is one of the top three airports in air mileage in the Federal Airways, making Pennsylvania one of the top two states in total cargo and mail ton-miles in local service, as well as being one of the top states in the number of commercial airports.
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Chester County Area Airport, Coatesville
Chester County Area Airport Authority
In keeping pace with air progress for the civic, industrial and residential development of our County, through modern and progressive planning, Chester County is among the first counties in Pennsylvania to establish an Airport Authority within the Metropolitan area of Philadelphia. This authority was created from the inspiration of several active and progressive-minded residents, and our County Commissioners, under the Municipality Authorities Act of 1945. It was incorporated in 1957, and established in 1959. Directed by a nine member board, with a Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer, with the advice of an appointed 28 member Advisory Committee. Funds were obtained by the Authority through voluntary contributions from federal, state and area funds to meet the nearly one half million dollars capital investment required. It is located in Valley Township about a mile east of the western terminus of the Coatesville-Downingtown cut-off on U. S. 30, west of Coatesville. It has a frontage of 1,400 feet on the south side of the Lincoln Highway, comprising
Air Miles to Cities in Pennsylvania
ERIE
BRADFORD
221
SCRANTON
163
79
WILLIAMSPORT
92
HARRISBURG
ALTOONA
121
56
PITTSBURG
PHILA.
187
19
13
· WILMINGTON
56
approximately 250 acres. Readily accessible from all parts of the County, by auto, bus and rail. It has preferred topographical and atmospheric conditions. It has a paved runway of 3,500 feet by 75 feet, and a paved taxiway, both lighted. Has paved entrance road and ample parking area. The hangar build- ing has a 60 foot front, 80 foot depth, with a 28 foot back supporting section of suspended cantilever type. It is complete with necessary facilities to meet the requirements of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Bureau of Aeronautics, Labor and Industry, as well as the Federal Aviation Agency. These facilities are sufficient to permit use of most executive type twin engine aircraft and helicopters. It has an excellent potential as a feeder of both passenger and freight to and from the metropolitan airports, which now have over-taxed demands. There are 15 tiedown facilities available for planes. It has an appli- cation with the Federal Aviation Agency, Communications Division, for license for radio communication and frequency to operate it. The Agency is also examining a request for installation of ILS, for instrument approach for bad weather and night landings. Aviation gasoline facilities for 80 and 100 octane are available, including major repair for most light air-craft.
The Federal Aviation Administration has just recently awarded a permanent license, replacing the temporary license.
Public Utilities
From the early individual and varied private power sources and communica- tions, corporate modern public utilities sources provide and sustain the present and expanding industry in Chester County. For power, light and gas, the Phila- delphia Electric Company is the prime reliable source, supported in the Atglen area by the Pennsylvania Power and Light Company from Lancaster, and in the Elverson area by the Metropolitan Power and Light Company from Read- ing. In communications are the Bell Telephone and Western Union Telegraph companies, and the Chester County Broadcasting Company, radio station WCOJ, of Coatesville and West Chester. The station operates day and night with a clear channel, having a radius of approximately 35 miles, with 1420 kilocycles-5000 watts. It is affiliated with the Quaker Network. The County is also amply provided for passenger and freight services by bus, rail and trucks.
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COUNTY SERVICES
Board of Assessment and Revision of Taxes
The Board now has the responsibility, under the assessment law of May 21, 1943, to make proper assessments, re-assessments and revision of taxes on all taxable real estate within the County: This system replaces the locally elected individual sub-division and School District Assessor's functions. The Board is composed of the three County Commissioners. The departmental duties, directed by a Chief Assessor, and an Assistant Assessor, include a map- ping division and a field assessor's division, and twenty-two trained mem- bers of the staff to enable the Board to properly re-assess the 61,692 parcels of real property within the County, and to assure that all properties be as- sessed on a fair and equal basis, with each paying its proper share of tax. The work of covering the entire County with aerial maps, preparing them for the various political sub-divisions, plotting each property thereon, setting up a card system identifying the ownership of every parcel; having appraisers visit and inspect each property, taking measurements, noting type of construc- tion, improvements, age, depreciation, type of neighborhood and many other factors, has been completed. From all these factors the Board has determined the tax ratio to be applied as 40 per cent of the market value base. Previous ratios ranged from 29 per cent to 50 per cent. The combined aerial photogra- phy and professional appraisals cost the County $539,500.00, which reduces it- self to an approximate cost per parcel of $9.00. The assessment period runs for a period of five months, April through August. The Board sits as a semi- judicial body to hear and decide appeals. Appeals from the Board of Assess- ment decisions may be taken to the County Courts. Assessments have been made by professional Field Assessors, of the firm of Cole-Layer and Trumble, under contract with the County until December 31, 1961. Beginning January I, 1962, assessments will be the full responsibility of County field assessors, under direct supervision of the Board of Assessment and Revision of Taxes. The 1961 Assessment was $348,856,808.00. The number of taxable items were 61,692. The number of tax exempt items was approximately 10 per cent.
Personal Property Bureau
This phase of assessments on personal property functions in a Bureau, created in 1956 by the Board of Assessments and Revision of Taxes, which has the responsibility of assessing personal property comprising mainly taxable bonds, stocks, mortgages and notes, owned by County residents. Department duties are performed by a Director, an Assistant, and a clerical member of the staff. The Bureau supplies the forms on which holdings of personal prop- erty are to be listed. Based on these returns, tax bills are prepared and mailed to the taxpayer by this department, and payment therefor is made to the
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County Treasurer. Upon failure of a taxpayer to file a return, an assessment can be made by the Bureau with a 50 per cent penalty added, and a date set for an appeal. Upon failure of a taxpayer to appear on the scheduled date and file a return, the amount of the assessment then fixed by the Bureau stands. Upon failure to pay Personal Property Taxes, suit may be entered and judgment secured. The tax rate is fixed by the legislature at four mills. Since the creation of the Bureau in 1956, with the total assessment then of 114.4 million dollars and a collection total of $456,145.66, assessments for 1961 have risen to 235.8 millions, with a total billed $951,542.97, a better than a 100 per cent collection increase, with better than 5,232 taxpayers. The 1962 total billing is better than $1,058,271.42.
Child Care
In keeping pace with changing conditions, the County in recent years or- ganized a department, Child Care Service, for the betterment of its citizens. It was expanded beyond its original intent by the Commissioners in 1957, and now provides foster care. It believes, however, that a child needs its own home, and it is dedicated to the premise that the child should be kept in its own home if at all possible. Child Care Service works untiringly with parents, attempting to produce conditions within the home which will aid in the growth and development of the child. It is the aim of Child Care Service to help families stay together and help parents become better parents. Case work service is offered in all areas. The Service has been under the supervision of the Chester County Welfare Services. Services are included for neglected children under eighteen years of age, foster homes and institution placement, adoption and protection. Likewise, facilities are provided for emergency and temporary care. The service is operated by a Director and a staff of qualified trained Case Workers, Welfare Workers and a clerical staff. It has the benefit of an advisory committee, the members of which are representative of the County area, serving without pay. For the protection of the child from forces without, and to prevent forces within, Child Care Service, through counselling and moral assistance to the parent or parents, attempts to establish and pro- mote a home atmosphere healthy in every respect to a growing child. Often when such counselling is successful, the child is retained at home. When chil- dren are being cared for in a foster home, case-work services are offered, not only to the child but the child's parents and foster parents so that the period of separation may be generally constructive. Every effort is made to find out and develop latent strength within the parents so that the home may be re-established and the child returned. Placement of dependent or neglected children in foster homes requires extreme caution, and in each instance where a child is placed in such a home, it is impressed on the foster parent that the child's stay may well be temporary, in keeping with the goal of restoring the child to its natural home if at all possible. There are numerous applicants for the roll of foster parent, and each must meet rigid qualifications. An appli-
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cant must be independent of the recompense for housing the child, must be fully mature mentally and morally, and must wish to share the home life with- out displacing the actual parents in the mind or heart of the child. At times, there is no possibility of re-establishing the child's own home. In such situa- tions, casework service is given to assist the parents in relinquishing the child. Likewise, casework service is given to assist the parents in relinquishing the children so that through adoption these children may obtain the security of a permanent home. Although adoption itself is under the jurisdiction of the Orphans' Court, Child Care Service renders valuable assistance in the pre- liminary steps required before a child may be adopted. In Chester County matters pertaining to adoption are impounded, in that a couple adopting a child may not know the child's parents nor may the parents know the identity of those adopting the child.
The problem of unwed mothers represents another phase of Child Care Service. In these instances assistance and counsel to the unwed mother, and to her parents if necessary, are given, so that the soundest decision may be made for the mother and child.
Civil Defense
Civil Defense was established in 1950, and maintains an organization in the event of war emergencies which is a responsibility of the County Commis- sioners. The County provides annual appropriations for its operations and space in the Court House Annex. The duties are performed by a Director, two assistants and a secretary. Its activities are in cooperation with the Federal Bureau of Civil Defense, in the Defense Department and the State Council of Civil Defense. As a result of its organization development, all political sub-divisions of the County are organized with many men and women volunteers serving without compensation. Each division of activity has a chief, with his appointed staff, for Welfare, Security, Communications, Damage Control, Medical Education, Transportation, Rescue and Special Weapons. Chester County is cooperating with similar organizations in an eleven county area for the purpose of mutual aid in the event of an attack. The Com- missioners have the responsibilty for the safety of county records. To maintain continuity of county government during a disaster, if all Commissioners were unable to function, the emergency duties of the Commissioners would be performed by the Executive Assistant. Judges will function in accordance with instructions announced by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. The warning systems are identified officially as Conelrad 640 or 1240 on the radio, the Bell and Light (Y-R-W), and sirens with long and short blasts.
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