USA > Pennsylvania > Chester County > History and progress of Chester County, 1962 > Part 5
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7
Cost Clerk
The functions of this office are as follows: filing and indexing all tax bills received from the Clerk of Courts, forwarding to Probation Office a notifica-
1
60
Aerial View of Rose Growing Greenhouse
61
tion on non-support bills of the defendants with bill number and the amount of cost, issuing receipts for fines and costs and stand committed bills money, preparing insolvent discharge petitions and forms for signature of Commis- sioners, entering judgments in Prothonotary Office, processing bail bonds for- feitures, reporting annually to Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Revenue at Harrisburg, all insolvent motor violation discharges, reconciling accounts monthly, and working in close cooperation with the Chester County Farms Prison.
Engineer-County
The County Engineer is a responsible, professional, registered engineer, appointed by the Commissioners. With the aid of his staff, he prepares, sur- veys, plans specifications and estimates for all engineering work undertaken by the County Commissioners. He prepares and revises periodically the county road maps and supervises all major engineering problems related to all county property, including roads and bridges. He performs as Executive Secretary to the Planning Commission. He represents the County at State Highway and Public Utility Commission hearings. He prepares record plans of land and buildings for the Planning Commission.
Library-County
By action of the County Commissioners, a free public library for the County was created in 1935, making available books and literature, and a "Bookmobile" providing a wider source of literature primarily for students in the rural schools within the County. The library is sustained by an annual County appropriation, which for 1962 is $32,000.00. It is operated and directed by a board of seven members without compensation, with a Presi- dent, Secretary and Treasurer. Duties are performed by a librarian and an assistant. It is located in the Court House Annex, pending completion of the New County Building later in 1962 at Market and New Streets. Circulation by "Bookmobile" to the schools in 1961 was approximately 161,313 volumes, and the total circulation 166,496.
County Board of Elections
The Election Bureau, located in the Court House Annex, operates under the Election Code of June 3, 1937, which makes Counties responsible for the holding of all elections in the County, and the payment of all costs. The County Commissioners constitute the Election Board. It maintains all the equip- ment and supplies used in connection with elections. The Board provides petitions for candidates; arranges for drawings to determine places on the ballot; provides ballot boxes and booths for each voting district; causes the necessary number of ballots to be printed; arranges for the polling places,
62
and names the tabulating board which makes the official count of votes cast. The official count is begun at noon on the Friday following Election Day. The official count is certified by the Board of Elections, and the books are kept open for five days against possibility of appeal. When the County Commis- sioners themselves are candidates, the Court supervises the vote tabulation. Nomination petitions must be filed at least sixty-four days prior to the Primary. Nomination petitions shall be circulated prior to twenty days before the last day on which such petition may be filed, making the first date on which a petition may be circulated eighty-four days prior to the Primary. Polls open for elections at 7:00 A.M. and close at 8:00 P.M., E.S.T. All persons except watchers, persons in the course of voting, and persons lawfully giving assistance to voters, must remain at least ten feet distant from the polling place during the progress of the voting, and when the hour for closing the polls shall arrive, twice the number of voters as there are voting booths, who have already qualified and are inside the enclosed space, shall be permitted to vote; plus ten qualified electors who are in the polling place outside the enclosed space, waiting to vote, shall be permitted to vote, if found qualified. Provision is made for the use of Military, Veterans and Civilian Absentee Ballots. The secret ballot was adopted in Pennsylvania in 1891.
Pocopson Home
As evidence of its early consciousness and concern for the care of its indigent residents, Chester County established the Chester County Poor Dis-
Pocopson Home, Pocopson
63
trict with a director, overseers and guardians of the poor in 1798. This was replaced by the Pocopson Home which was established in 1951, at Pocopson on Pennsylvania route 52, between Lenape to Anvil, and operated under the County Institution District Law of June 24, 1937, as a separate corporation, until January 1, 1962, at which time the County Institution District Law was abolished, and the entire responsibility for operations was transferred to the County operations under the County Commissioners. The County Commis- sioners are the Executive and Administrative officers. The home is directed by a Superintendent. Today more than two hundred men and women make their homes within its walls, admitted after careful investigations as to their finances or means of support. Pocopson Home is indeed a far cry from the Alms House or Poor House of early days. A humane quality, and a concern for those less fortunate in worldly or material means, and a desire to see the declining days of the residents made as comfortable as possible, consistent with a commendable husbanding of county funds, are the guiding motives in the administration of the care of the guests of the Home. The Home is of recent, brick, fire-proof construction. It is a two-story building with a base- ment. It is divided into areas for men and women, and further divided into areas for ambulatory residents and for those requiring special attention. The first floor, in addition to housing the administration area, contains a comfort- able, well furnished sitting room where residents may meet and enjoy visitors; a chapel, in which services of major faiths are conducted; a kitchen, spotless and with tempting aromas prevalent as meals are prepared; dining rooms for the ambulatory residents, and the men and women's dormitories. It has a modern laundry, and ample sanitation facilities are provided. The first floor also houses a most interesting area-the department of occupational therapy. Here residents are encouraged to occupy themselves, using skills of former years, in the making of needlecraft, leathercraft, and other items requiring imagination and dexterity. Aprons, pot holders, belts, towels and many other skillfully contrived items are on display and may be sold. Proceeds revert to new inventory of material for this therapy. The second floor is devoted to those residents requiring special attention. Many, because of the infirmities of age, are confined to their beds. Others still needing the special care, are semi-ambulatory. A physician makes regular calls and is on call should illness strike. The basement contains the laundry in which all the clothing, as well as bed linens, towels and other washable items are laundered and pressed. Store rooms and maintenance facilities complete the basement. Every resident of Pocopson Home is given the opportunity to work within the limits of his or her physical abilities. No one, however, is ever forced to work; it is on a purely voluntary basis. Some of the residents work in the laundry, some in the kitchen, while others who prefer outdoor occupation busy themselves around the grounds. All of the milk consumed at Pocopson comes from the fine herd of dairy cattle maintained at the home. Many of the vegetables which appear at meals are grown at the home. Those residents who choose the opportuni- ties to work are paid. The money, although modest, is theirs to spend as they
64
see fit. Admission may be accomplished by applying directly to the Superin- tendent. If the qualifications for admission are met, those applying are placed on the waiting list until a vacancy occurs.
Contagious Diseases
In lieu of the County Institution providing special facilities for the care and treatment of contagious diseases, both corrective and preventive requiring isolation, a special unit is operated at and by the Chester County Hospital and maintained by the County by annual appropriations; in 1961, it was $20,000.00. This special hospital wing is known as the Chester County Con- tagious Disease Unit. It is self contained and can offer care to eleven patients at a time by means of two private rooms and nine cubicles, plus certain an- cillary services. In addition to a nurse station, an operating room is provided for minor surgery. Food is prepared in the hospital dietary department, brought to the contagious unit, and served on plates and dishes which never leave the unit. Because of modern preventive medicine and improvements in public sanitation, demands upon the facilities of the contagious disease unit have decreased over the years. However, a constant vigil is maintained so that persons suffering from diseases with a high risk of contagion may be properly isolated while their ills are treated. And in addition, for the con- siderable free services rendered by the general hospitals of the County to its residents, the County Commissioners make annual appropriations. The ap- propriation of $66,000.00 for 1961, has been increased to $72,500.00 for 1962, to assist those hospitals to defray such expenses. This includes the Chester County Mental Health Clinic, and Health and Welfare Council. The over-all 1962 hospital appropriations total $92,500.00.
Liquid Fuels Funds
These are derived from part of the permanent tax on fuel, collected by the State, paid into the Liquid Fuels Tax Fund of the State Treasurer, and distributed to the Counties under the Liquid Fuels Tax Act. The broad use and purposes are for construction, reconstruction, maintenance and repairs of roads, highways and bridges, for property damages occasioned by the re- location or construction of highways and bridges, and for payment of interest and sinking fund charges on bonds issued, or used for highways and bridge purposes. Expenditures from the fund by the Commissioners for new construc- tion of roads and bridges made only upon approval of the plans by the depart- ment of highways. Allocations to sub-divisions are made only upon proper approval of the Department of Highways. Unencumbered balances are dis- tributed two ways and only upon application by the political sub-divisions; 50 per cent on mileage ratio basis; and 50 per cent on population basis. Funds may not be co-mingled with County funds but deposited and maintained in a special fund designated as the County Liquid Fuels Tax Fund. For the purposes
65
of conserving the time of the members of Borough Councils, Boards of Super- visors and the County Commissioners discussing county aid needs, the Com- missioners have adopted the requirement that a formal application for county aid be prepared and submitted in lieu of personal appearance. The applica- tion to be in the hands of the Commissioners before the end of March annually, at which time action will be taken in every case. Those applications received after March, will, of necessity, have to be satisfied with their portion of what- ever remains on hand beyond that date.
Maps
The official county map, first printed by the County in 1925, identifying sub-divisions, all traffic route numbered highways to scale, are distributed without cost. One of the most valued services provided by the County is that of the Map Department of the Board of Assessments, which lists every foot of Real Estate in each municipality, worked out on a scale map basis. The index maps, identify all roads, major streams and boundary lines. The property record maps are scaled 400 feet to the inch for open areas and 100 feet to the inch for developed areas. The aerial maps on topography are scaled to 400 feet, 1000 feet, and 2000 feet each to the inch. Any of these maps are avail- able at a nominal cost to incorporated bodies at $5.00 each and to individuals at $ 10.00 each.
Microfilm-Records
Photocopying of important records is a modern development and a valuable service of county government established within the past few years. The de- partment is maintained on the lower floor of the Court House. Permanent records kept in this manner are impervious to the ravages of time, insuring the maintenance of pertinent documents while conserving space by elimina-
Immaculata College, near Frazer
66
tion of many old dockets. The Courts have jurisdiction over original papers and may direct from time to time that all or any part of them which have been on file for a period of ten years or more may be reproduced on Micro- film or other mechanical process which produces a clear, accurate and per- manent copy. The Court order may direct that the original thereof, except papers which determine ownership or established title to real property, be destroyed and the reproduction substituted as a public record.
Park and Recreation
The pastoral beauty of Chester County adds greatly to its charm and nat- urally attracts people to the County. Chester County, in keeping with modern planning, created a Park and Recreation Board in January, 1958. The Board is composed of ten civic minded men and women appointed by the County Commissioners. They serve without compensation, and function as an advisory body. It is directed by a Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer. They are assisted by an Executive Secretary. The office is in the Court House Annex. Its purposes are the coordinating and promoting park and recreational facilities and the making of appropriate recommendations. The 1961 annual report of the Board indicates some progress and considerable studies. The office maintains a display rack containing free pamphlets on recreation and information completed on existing recreation programs. Publicity is released inviting gifts of property with potentials for recreation and conservation. Addresses are made by the Chairman to many civic organizations in the County on the objectives of the Board. It develops specifications desirable to meet minimum requirements for both townships and county parks as a guide. It examines certain properties possibly suitable for development as part of a county park and recreation program. An initial acquisition of land was made in 1961, comprising approximately 468 acres in Nottingham Township. An inventory has been compiled on county assets in the park and recreation field. Chester County has approximately 6,000 acres of park and recreation facili- ties. In Warwick Township the French Creek Park federal acreage is 1,031.6, and the Hopewell area with a lake as the State Game Commission acreage 799.4. The State has Valley Forge (Historic) Park, in this County, Tredyffrin township 287.8 acres and in Schuylkill township 326.1 acres. Public school rec- reation acreage is generally about 1,200. The balance of park area, approxi- mately 2,500 acres, is in private foundations, such as Longwood, on U.S. I, at Anvil, east of Kennett Square; Swiss Pines Park in Charlestown township, on Pennsylvania route 15049, between Devault and Charlestown; Sharp's Woods Park in Easttown township near Berwyn on Pennsylvania routes 15111 and 15112, and the campus grounds of colleges or other municipal areas.
Planning Commission
In keeping with modern processes, the Commissioners established a Planning
67
Commission in 1950, sustained by annual appropriations. The Commission is composed of nine civic minded men and women members serving without com- pensation in planning for the future of the County. Its activities are directed by a Board Chairman, Vice-Chairman, with the County Engineer performing as Executive Secretary, with headquarters in the Court House Annex. In creating the Planning Commission, it was the philosophy of the County Commissioners to offer the service and counsel of the Commission to mu- nicipalities within the County in a spirit of cooperative effort, but with no thought of dictation in the solving of local problems. Early in 1958, the Com- missioners approved a comprehensive plan submitted to them by the Planning Commission. The plan provides for the operation of the County Planning Com- mission Staff during the current year and for the continuation of the program of sub-division examination and review; the establishment of a Planning Assist- ance Program to assist the local political units within the County prepare or revise any or all of the basic elements of their comprehensive community plan. Such local planning assistance is furnished in the form of Technical Planning Staff and services to those communities requesting assistance within the limits of the staff and financial ability of the County Planning Commission. Local planning assistance is furnished to aid in the preparation or revision of the following basic elements of comprehensive community plans:
(a) A land use plan which shows the location and extent of land in the com- munity proposed to be used for residential, commercial, agricultural, industrial and public purposes.
(b) A highway plan which indicates the system of existing and proposed major, secondary and tertiary highways.
(c) A community facilities plan which shows the location and types of schools, parks, and other important public facilities.
(d) A public improvements plan which is a capital program with budget identifying those future public improvements necessary to carry out the com- munity development objectives and recommending priorities for their extension.
(e) Sub-division regulations which provide for control of undeveloped land in the Community in terms of adequate size, appropriate street grades and widths, provision for street improvements and utilities, and establishment of proper offical record.
Under this local Planning Assistance Program, the Chester County Planning Commission will: (1) Assist the respective community in making application to the Department of Commerce of the State of Pennsylvania for 50 per cent of the costs of the proposed planning program under Section 701 of the United States Housing Act of 1954. (2) If such application is approved by the Depart- ment of Commerce, the Chester County Planning Commission will further assist the local community by furnishing technical planning staff and services in an amount equal to twenty-five percent of the costs of the proposed plan- ning program. In no instance shall the total amount of assistance outlined in this paragraph exceed $1,000.00. The respective local community will furnish the balance of the cost of the proposed planning program. The Chester County
68
Planning Commission will continue work and study in the field of industrial development and in the study of the major expressway and highway needs within the County. The Planning Commission acts for the Commissioners, and takes an active part in "Penn-Jersey" transportation studies program. Chester County has voting membership on both the Policy Committee and Technical Planning Committee of the "Penn-Jersey" transportation study. It is financed by contributions from Chester, Bucks, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadel- phia Counties, in Pennsylvania; Burlington, Camden, Gloucester and Mercer Counties in New Jersey; the Federal Bureau of Public Roads, and the Highway Departments of Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Overall study costs approxi- mately $3,400,000.00 to provide Eastern Pennsylvania and Southern New Jersey with a definite, long range highway and transportation plan, scheduled for completion late in 1962.
Chester County Housing Committee
The Chester County Housing Committee was created by the Commissioners in 1962, for the purpose of making investigations and studies of housing con- ditions throughout the county, and to recommend to the local authorities where improvements should be made. The board is comprised of fifteen mem- bers of county-wide representation.
Chester County Development Council
In further keeping with modern processes, the Commissioners by resolution designated the Chester County Development Council, in mid 1960, to meet the need for a coordinated, county-wide, long range program to ensure stable and orderly economic progress, civic and general welfare. Incorporated as a non-profit dues paying membership organization in late 1960, in compliance with Act 1956, known as the "Industrial Development Assistance Law." Direct- ing the organization is a Board of fourteen Directors, with a Chairman, four Vice-Chairmen, Treasurer, Secretary and an Executive Director. The work is directed to the planning and promotion of programs to stimulate the establish- ment of new or enlarged industrial and manufacturing enterprises within the County. The phase of work involving studies, surveys, investigators, compiling data and statistics to carry out the program has been developed, and have now entered into a promotional advertising program under contract with the National magazine publications of Fortune and News Week.
Chester County Redevelopment Authority
Again meeting modern processes to promote the elimination of blighted areas and supply sanitary housing in areas for health, safety and welfare, the Commissioners, by resolution early in 1960, created the Chester County Re- development Authority which was incorporated the same year and established
69
in mid 1961, in compliance with Act of 1945, cited as the "Urban Redevelop- ment Law." It is directed by five appointed citizens, residents of Chester County, serving without compensation with a Chairman, Treasurer and Secre- tary. Tenure of initial appointments shall be for terms of one, two, three, four and five years respectively. Thereafter, the term of office shall be five years. Its purpose is redevelopment-undertakings and activities for the elimination of blighted areas. They may include planning, replanning, acquisition, rehabili- tation, improvement, clearance, sale, lease, or other disposition of land, build- ings or other improvements in blighted areas, or portions thereof, the relocation of businesses and families affected thereby in or outside of a redevelopment area, or any combination of such undertakings and activities; the installation, construction or reconstruction of streets, utilities, parks, playgrounds and other improvements necessary to carry out plans for a program of voluntary repair and rehabilitation of buildings or other improvements. The Authority may exercise the right of Eminent Domain. It will have authority to issue Bonds with all the qualities of negotiable instruments under the Law of Merchant and the Negotiable Instruments Law of Pennsylvania.
Chester County Water Resources Authority
Here again, to meet changing conditions, for the purpose of protecting the health, needs, safety, welfare and to further conservation, the Commis- sioners, by resolution in 1961, created the Chester County Water Resources Authority, which was incorporated the same year. It is directed by nine appointed citizens, residents of Chester County, contributing their time with a Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer. Tenure of initial appointments by the Commissioners shall be for terms of one, two, three, four and five years, respec- tively. Thereafter, the term of office shall be five years. Its purposes are to develop flood controls, prevent waste of water, property damages and soil erosion. Construction of dams for water storage to meet the present and future needs of Chester County citizens and industry. Their responsibilities include the acquisition of land by Eminent Domain, rights of way, easements, and the authority to create bond issues with all the qualities of negotiable instruments under the Law of Merchant and the Negotiable Instruments Law of Pennsyl- vania. Cooperating agencies are the departments of the U. S. Soil Conservation Service and Forest and Waters of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Chester County Farms (Prison)
Another of the many facets of county administration is the maintenance of a County Prison. The County Prison, which adjoined the Court House, was established in 1786. It was replaced by the prison at New and Market Streets in 1839, and again replaced early in 1959 by the new Chester County Farms. It marks another progressive milestone for the County officials. The prison is located in the rural atmosphere in Pocopson Township, adjoining the Pocopson
70
Home at Pocopson on Route 52 between Lenape and Longwood Gardens. The modern, fire-proof structure is a far different one than the preceding insti- tutions, the last of which was built to house a maximum of forty-two persons, (the present one can hold one hundred seventy-two prisoners). Here again, foresight was exercised in the planning of the structure, utilities, kitchen, hos- pital ward, chapel and other basic services, whereby it may be expanded to accommodate some three hundred and fifty prisoners by the simple addition of one and a half wings of cells, or housing space. Census in the recent aban- doned prison averaged one hundred thirteen, far in excess of that contemplated even when the original building was expanded. The new Chester County Farms averages one hundred forty monthly, with confinements and releases averaging eighty per month. The prison policy does not encourage idleness among the prisoners while serving their sentences. Numerous tasks, both within and without the prison proper, are available, and those who work are very modestly paid. The health of prisoners is cared for by both a physician and a dentist. Food is ample and well prepared, but delicacies are not included. The farms them- selves will provide a large percentage of the food products consumed both by the prison and adjoining Pocopson Home. Personnel totals thirty-three, includ- ing the Warden and Matron on duty to maintain security twenty-four hours a day. For legal guidance, a Solicitor is provided. Motor Code violations account for the largest single cause of confinement, since the Courts are justifiably strict in the punishment of those who endanger life through improper use of automobiles. Modern and humane attitudes govern the administration of the prison. A Board of Prison Inspectors, composed of the three Judges of the Common Pleas Court, County Commissioners, District Attorney, Controller and Sheriff, make periodic inspection tours of the prison. The Board of Prison Inspectors (whose members serve without compensation) has as its prime responsibility the inspection of the facilities, all matters pertaining to its proper conduct and maintenance, and the treatment received by the inmates. This acts as another balance or check in the task of administering the affairs of the County fairly and efficiently.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.