USA > Pennsylvania > Chester County > History and progress of Chester County, 1969 > Part 2
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Newspapers
Educational activities were first extended into the field of journalism late in the 18th century. Some of the earlier and better known newspapers and periodi-
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cals in the County were in West Chester: The "Gazette," 1794; The "Chester- Delaware Federalist," 1809; The "Village Record," 1818; "The Jeffersonian," 1842; The "Daily Local News," 1872. In Downingtown the newspapers were the "Temperate Zone," 1808, and the "Independent Journal," 1827. In Phoenixville the first newspaper was. the "Phoenix Gazette," 1846. Others preceded and fol- lowed throughout the County, equally interesting and perhaps as noteworthy. Today throughout the County there are three dailies and nine weeklies being published. At the County Seat, the "Chester County Reporter" was established for legal notices, in 1881. In 1853 the "Chester County Medical Reporter," a quarterly journal was inaugurated by the Chester-Delaware County Medical Societies, at West Chester.
Colleges and Universities
The desires, support and appreciation of Chester Countians for higher educa- tion is to be seen in its two colleges and a university, which offer full accredited higher education. Lincoln University, formerly Ashmun Institute, was established by Charter of the Legislature in 1854, to provide liberal arts educa- tion for the colored. It was renamed Lincoln University, in 1866, following the
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Immaculata College
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West Chester State College Philips Memorial Building, College Administrative Offices, In Snow-Time
assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. This university is located on U.S. 1, east of Oxford, in Lower Oxford Township. Lincoln University now is inte- grated. Its original buildings date from 1856-1896. Immaculata College was founded in 1908 by the Order of Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, as Villa Maria College, and chartered in 1921, as Villa Maria College for women stu- dents in Liberal Arts education. Its name was changed to Immaculata College in 1929. It is situated in East Whiteland Township, near Frazer. The West Chester State College was established as West Chester Normal School in 1871, following a merger of the West Chester Academy. The original buildings on the campus date from 1872-1890, beginning with "Old Main Dormitory." By Acts of the legislature, the name was changed in 1927 from Normal School to West Chester State Teachers College, and again changed in 1960 to its present title. A move- ment at this time is being made to lift its status to a university. This college pro- vides co-ed elementary and secondary teacher curricula in music, health and physical education, and a graduate program which was established in 1959. The University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine (New Bolton Center) was established in 1952, was moved to a 300 acre tract, formerly the Pusey property, near Kennett Square in East Marlborough Township on Street Road. Also the Flowers and Cook Observatory of the University of Pennsylvania was established in 1956 on Providence Road in Willistown Township. This purely scientific institution is not open to the public.
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Lincoln antony
Lincoln University
Boy Scout Facilities in Chester County
Chester County Council Inc., Boy Scouts of America, 200 So. Concord Road, West Chester-"Horseshoe Scout Reservation," of approximately 700 acres, on both sides of the Octorara; Oakwood District, Cecil County, Maryland; West Nottingham township, Chester County; and Fulton township in Lan- caster County, off U.S. 1, right, two miles west of Rising Sun, Maryland. Containing (1) Scout Camp, (2) Explorer Base and (3) Jambo Camp, open yearly, with an annual attendance of approximately 3,500.
Girl Scout Facilities in Chester County
Freedom Valley Girl Scout Council, Box 321, Valley Forge Rd., Valley Forge-Camp Tweedale, of approximately 100 acres in Lower Oxford Township, established in 1930. Open year round, with an annual attendance of approxi- mately 2500. Off Pennsylvania route 15024 to Pine Grove on Tweed Run at the City of Chester Water Authority Reservoir.
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Chester and Delaware Counties Dental Society
The Chester and Delaware Counties Dental Society was established early in 1895. At that time it adopted a Code of Ethics embracing obligations to patients, standard of character, regard for associates, and conservation in adver- tisements. The nature of the Society is unique in its combination of social and professional activities.
The Newcomen Society in North America
A non-profit educational corporation, with 18,000 members in USA and Canada, for the study and recognition of business, industrial and institutional history and achievement. Established in 1923. Affiliated with The Newcomen Society for the Study of the History of Engineering and Technology and The Royal Society of Arts, at London. Maintains, on grounds of the Society at 412 E. North Ship Road, Exton, Pennsylvania, 19334, Route 15184, The Thomas Newcomen Memorial Library and Museum in Steam and Business History-open to the public, free of charge, during office hours Mon-Fri and on weekends, by appointment. Maintains various Awards in field of business history writing at universities and colleges. Publishes in field of business, industrial and insti- tutional history.
The Chester County Medical Society
An organization of over 220 practicing physicians in Chester which meets monthly in various places throughout the county. It is one of the oldest Medical Societies in the United States, having been founded in 1828. Although autono- mous, it maintains close liaison with the Pennsylvania Medical Society and the American Medical Association. In addition to its educational function for the physicians, it serves the public in maintaining lists of physicians by areas, spon- soring immunization drives, answering grievances, etc. It's executive office is in Phoenixville.
Libraries
The burning desire for knowledge and culture by our early ancestors was evidenced in their support of public libraries. Some of the early libraries are Birmingham, 1795, New London, 1806, Farmers of London Grove, 1805, and Windsor, 1866. Among the Public Libraries in efficient operation today are the Atglen, Easttown-Berwyn, Coastesville, Dowingtown, Bayard Taylor Memorial-Kennett Square, Oxford, Paoli, Parkesburg, Phoenixville, Spring City, West Grove, and West Chester. College Libraries are Immaculata College- Malvern, Vail Memorial-Lincoln University, and at West Chester State. In 1967 West Chester State College was appointed as a Federal Central Depository Library. The Chester County Historical Society also has an extensive library.
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Inns and Taverns
Blending with the history and development of the County, some of the early and better known Inns and Taverns were the Leopard Inn, Tredyffrin Township, 1716; Chrome Inn, East Nottingham, 1715; White Horse Tavern, Willistown Township, 1721; Paoli Inn, Paoli, 1725; Eagle Hotel, Uwchlan Township, 1727; Red Rose Inn, of Rose payment rent fame, near West Grove, on U.S. 1, 1731; Half-Way House Tavern, Chatham, 1741, renamed Chatham for the Earl of Chat- ham, William Pitt, in 1766; Ship Inn, originally above Downingtown, 1755, later moved to West Whiteland Township at Ship Road, on U.S. 30; King In Arms Inn, at Downingtown, 1761, which later housed the original Post Office in Ches- ter County; Turk's Head Inn, West Chester, 1761; Anvil Inn on U.S. 1, at Longwood, near Kennett Square, 1782; Buck Tavern, at Routes 23 and 100, 1790; Black Horse Tavern, 1794; and many others equally famous and nonethe- less interesting. Among the earliest licenses granted within the present limits of the County for the sale of alcohol was that of Thomas Moore, at Downingtown, in 1717.
Post Offices
The earliest Post Office established in Chester County was at Downingtown, 1798, others following were Cochranville, New Garden, New London, Chatham, and Kennett Square respectively. West Chester was established next in 1804. Today there are fifty-six Post Offices in Chester County. Postmasters were appointed by the Postmaster General, until 1849. Since that time, they have held office by Presidential appointment.
Slaves
Before the Swedes and William Penn and the English, the Dutch introduced slavery. Following the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713, England secured a monopoly on the slave trade. It predominated in the Welsh Townships of Charlestown, Tre- dyffrin, East Nantmea!, and Nantmeal, and in those places settled largely by the Scotch-Irish, such as New London, Londonderry, Oxford, and East Nottingham. Very few slaves were to be found elsewhere in the County. Opposition to slavery began with the Friends in 1688, aided by other groups. Pennsylvania was the first state to abolish slavery by Act of Assembly in 1780. Aided by the "Fugitive Slave Law" which was passed by Congress in 1850, Chester Countians keenly sympathized with and aided the runaway slaves as they passed through established routes and stopped at friendly homes. These designated citizens' homes were known as the "Underground Railroad Stations." Among those established in Chester County were the home of Rachel Pierce (now Longwood), and homes in Kennett Square, West Chester, Downingtown, Honey Brook, Unionville, Kimberton, Phoenixville, Ercildoun, and Townships of East Brad- ford, Newlin and Willistown.
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NATIONAL SANI
CRETTER COUNTY
TRUST ĐƠNTARY
National Bank of Chester County
Banking
From Provincial times to the present, banking has contributed a major role in our industrial and economic life. Banking records disclose that the "Bank of Chester County" (now the National Bank of Chester County and Trust Com- pany) was the pioneer bank of Chester County, having been established by Act of Legislature, in 1814. It opened for business in 1814 on the second floor of the then County Records Building at the Northwest corner of High and Market Streets. It moved across the street in 1818 to the building in front of the Court House where it remained until 1837 when the bank moved next door to its pre- sent site. The bank building used from 1818 to 1837 was then used as a resi- dence by an official of the Bank until 1883. From that time until 1958 it was leased for public offices. Again, in 1959 it was taken over by the Bank, this time to be its Trust Department. Following the passage of the National Banking Act, the bank became a National Bank in 1864, as the "National Bank of Chester County." Some of the earlier banks following this first bank were: National Bank of Chester Valley at Coatesville, 1857; National Bank of Oxford, at Oxford, 1858; National Bank of Downingtown, at Downingtown, 1861; The
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First National Bank of West Chester, at the County Seat, was the first bank in the County granted a National bank charter 1863, and opened for business in 1864. The only mutual savings bank in the county is the Dime Savings Bank of Chester County, established in 1890. It is one of seven within the State. From this beginning Chester County now has thirteen excellent banking institutions with 39 banking offices. Ten of these offices are directed from outside the County. These many banking facilities render invaluable assistance to the citi- zens of Chester County, and are available to serve diversified new home and industrial expansion within the County.
Hospitals
From Provincial days to the Revolution, humane care and treatment of the ill was provided largely in private homes. After the Battle of Brandywine, hospitals became necessary and were provided, for the sick and wounded, by comman- deering churches, meeting houses, taverns, schools and barns. At West Chester were the Turk's Head Tavern, the old school house at the intersection of the Valley and Brandywine Roads, and the Birmingham Meeting House for the Battle of Brandywine, for both American and British casualties. There was also the Uwchlan Friends Meeting House, at Lionville, for the wounded of the Paoli Massacre. Others were the barns of Joseph Downing at Downingtown, Herman Prizer's, in East Coventry Township; the churches of the German Reformed in East Vincent Township; and the Zion Lutheran, in East Pikeland Township. In
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Chester County Hospital
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addition, commodious and well arranged army hospitals were established at Yellow Springs (Chester Springs) in Pikeland Township for the Continental Army patients from Valley Forge. These hospitals were at the site of the mineral springs, then a famous resort since 1750. While the springs still exist, they are little known today. Also used was the encampment hospital known as the Man- sion House, at Valley Forge. From this background, follows the development of our general hospitals in the County at present. Chester County is proud of its humane record of hospital care. We have the Atkinson Memorial, established in 1932, and the Coatesville Hospital in Coatesville, established in 1899; the Ches- ter County Hospital at West Chester, established in 1893; and the Memorial of Chester County, originally Homeopathic, established in 1912, name changed in 1945, at West Chester, was again changed when facilities moved to Paoli in 1968, now known as Paoli Memorial Hospital; the Community Hospital established in 1925, at West Grove and succeeded by Community Memorial Hospital, near Jennersville, in 1959, on U.S. 1; in Phoenixville, the Phoenix- ville Hospital, established in 1893. Memorial Hospital of Chester County is moving into entirely new facilities in Paoli in 1968. Other hospitals are the Valley Forge Army Hospital, established in 1943 near Phoenixville, in Charlestown Township and the Veterans Administration Hospital, established in 1930, at Coatesville, for treatment of neurological and psychiatric disorders of war-time veterans. The latter two institutions are under Federal control. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania maintains the Embreeville State Hospital, established in 1941, at Embreeville, on Strasburg Road, in West Bradford
Contour strips and farm pond on Tornquist farm.
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Township, for mental disorders, and the Pennhurst School, established in 1907, near Spring City, in East Vincent Township off Pennsylvania Route 183, for the care and training of mentally defective children beyond nursery age.
Agriculture
It was the farmer who elevated the County above the conditions in which it had been held by the Indians. From the 1680's until after the Centennial, the rest of Chester County had been chiefly of an agricultural and dairy economy. Today the principal agriculture products are cattle, corn, milk, truck farming, floriculture, mushroom, and poultry. Along with agriculture, some of the early nurseries were: Cherry Hill (Hoopes Bros. and Thomas, established in 1851), at West Chester, as well as the Morris Nurseries, established in 1851; Jason Mahan Nurseries, established in 1836, at Sadsbury; Dingee and Conard Company-As a nursery, was founded and operated by Charles Dingee in 1850, to about 1865, when the business was identified as Dingee and Conard, later chartered Dingee and Conard Company in 1871. Shortly thereafter, the company converted to roses and continued until 1938. Were the first to sell and ship roses by mail, con- tinuing until 1938. The firm was sold to the West Grove Greenhouses with oper- ations devoted to a cut flower business-shipping to the wholesale flower mar- kets. Conard-Pyle Company (Star Rose Growers)-Founded and operated from 1892 to 1897 by Alfred Conard, formerly of Dingee and Conard Company. Incorporated at West Grove in 1897 as Conard and Jones Company until 1923, when the name was changed to Conard-Pyle Company. Blending with the agri- culture program, are the Buck and Doe Run Valley Farms established in West
Marlborough Township, Chester County in 1946, along Pennsylvania Route 82 between Unionville and Coatesville. These farms, comprising 10,000 acres owned and 2,000 acres leased, are maintained by the King Ranch of Kingsville, Texas, as grazing land. Annually, about May 1, each year, 6,000 steers are shipped from Texas, which are grazed on grass for six months, and then sold for slaughtering, serving the large consuming centers on the Eastern Seaboard. Those steers not sold are placed into feed lots for further fattening on corn to produce a top meat product. Color too is blended into the program by the presence of the southwes- tern plains cowboys working the herds.
Mushroom Industry
Based on the value of the crop, the investment in property and equipment, and the size of the labor force, the mushroom industry is one of the most important economic assets of Chester County.
In 1885 William Swayne and Harry Hicks, florists of Kennett Square, began growing mushrooms beneath the benches in their greenhouses and later erected houses for the specific purpose of producing mushrooms. Others followed their example and Chester County became the mushroom growing center of the United States.
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Harvesting matured mushrooms
Of some 600 growers in Pennsylvania, most are located in Chester County which now produces more than 80 million pounds of mushrooms annually.
J. Bancroft Swayne carried on the work started by his father and the fourth generation of the family is now active in the company which has added spawn making and canning to its operations.
The late Edward H. Jacob of West Chester was the founder of a mushroom growing and canning business which later became a part of the Grovery Store Products Company. The Brandywine Mushroom Corporation, also of West Ches- ter, developed from an early partnership and is now a subsidiary of the Borden Company.
In 1931 the Mushroom Growers Cooperative Association was formed and under the leadership of the late Walter M. Maule, developed a spawn and mush- room supply business and a canning operation. A number of other canneries are also located in the Kennett Square and Avondale areas.
In the early years of the industry, spawn had to be imported from abroad, pri- marily from England. The late Louis F. Lambert of Coatesville is credited with developing the first spawn production in this Country.
The American Mushroom Institute is a membership organization which was formed in 1955 to promote the interests of the mushroom producers. It sup-
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Bed of mushrooms in local Chester County Mushroom House
ports research work at Pennsylvania State University and the University of Dela- ware and has engaged in an extensive public relations program to interest con- sumers in using mushrooms.
The industry is located primarily in the southern part of the county and is con- centrated largely in the Kennett Square, Toughkenamon and Avondale areas.
Agriculture Census and Economic Information
The Agricultural Census for 1964 by the U.S. Department of Commerce discloses that there are 2339 farms in Chester County, of which 1845 are commercial farms. Total land area in Chester County is 486,400 acres of which approximately 55% is in farms, or 269,552 acres. The average size of farms is 115.2 acres. The average value per farm for land and buildings is $70,597. Farm operators owning their own farms number 1533. The average age of farm operators is 50.4 years. The number of farm operators over 65 years of age is 402. It is estimated that 815 farm operators are engaged in at least some off-farm work for part of their income.
The Pennsylvania Crops and Livestock Annual Summary for 1966 reports an estimated cash receipts from the sale of all agricultural products and government payments for Chester County of $51,579,000 of which less than 1% ($449,000)
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is government payments. This gross income ranks second in the State, exceeded only by Lancaster County. The largest source of income is from horticultural specialties which includes mushrooms, commercial florist crops and nursery crops. Second largest source of income is from dairy products. Other major sources of farm income are from the sale of meat animals and poultry products, general farm crops, vegetables and fruits.
Farm Organizations
Some of the early farm organizations were the Agricultural Society of Chester County 1820; the Chester County Horticultural Society 1848 to 1869, then reestablished by Charter in 1939; the Oxford Agriculture Society 1870; the Brandywine Farmers Club 1879. Today there are also the Chester-Delaware Pomona Grange; Farm Loan Association; Chester-Delaware Ayrshire Breeders Association; Chester County Guernsey Breeders Association; Chester County Holstein Breeders Association; Chester County Jersey Cattle Club; Chester- Delaware Fruit Growers Association; Producer's Co-operative Exchange; Mush- room Growers Co-operative Association; Chester County Farmers Association; Chester-Delaware Farm Bureau Co-operative Association; Chester County Flow- er Growers Association; Chester County Beekeepers Association; Chester- Delaware County Poultry Association; American Mushroom Institute and the Middle Atlantic Carnation Growers.
Cooperative Extension Association
The Cooperative Extension Service is a partnership undertaking in adult and youth education between the Pennsylvania State University and the United States Department of Agriculture, Chester County Government and local citi- zens. From its beginning, as stated in the founding legislation of the Smith-Lever Act of 1914, its major function is:
"To aid in diffusing among the people of the United States useful and practi- cal information on subjects relating to agriculture and home economics, and to encourage application of the same."
Cooperative extension service programs throughout the United States are inti- mately tied with the functions and responsibilities of the Land Grant University system. Thus, in Pennsylvania all extension workers-county extension workers and State subject matter specialists-are staff employees of the Pennsylvania State University. In Chester County the University has assigned 3 Agricultural Agents and 2 Extension Home Economists to work with local people in develop- ing the Chester County Cooperative Extension Service program. At all times the widespread participation of local people is stressed in both planning and con- ducting the local program.
Seven broad areas of program emphasis constitute the core of Extension's informal educational activities:
Efficiency in Agricultural Production
Efficiency in Marketing, Distribution, and Utilization
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Conservation, Development, and Wise Use of Natural Resources Home and Family Living Youth Development Community and Resource Development Public Affairs Education
All people in Chester County may take advantage of the information offered by the Cooperative Extension Service. The program is not restricted solely to the interests and problems of adults, nor is it restricted to work with farm families and rural groups. It works with people in rural, suburban, and urban settings. For more than half a century the Extension Service has functioned as the spon- sor of 4-H Club work, which is the youth development phase of the extension program for the 9-19 year olds.
In all types of Extension activities, the role of the volunteer local leader is a significant one. This role may be one of securing the necessary local funds from county government officials to operate the program; it may be the role of assist- ing the extension workers in identifying problems and formulating extension teaching programs; or it may be the role of contributing personal time and tal- ents to others by using information and program aids made available by the Cooperative Extension Service for teaching subject matter to groups in the com- munity.
Soil Conservation Service
The Soil Conservation Service of the USDA is a technical agency which cooper- ates with the Chester County Soil and Water Conservation District. The District was established by resolution of the County Commissioners in 1948 and is administered by a board of seven directors. These directors are all residents of the county including the County Commissioner member.
The purpose of the District is to coordinate the work of agencies and organiza- tions active in the field of Soil and Water Conservation. These agencies include the USDA Soil Conservation Service, Pennsylvania Department of Forests and Waters, Pennsylvania Game and Fish Commissions, Department of Highways, Vocational Agriculture Departments, Brandywine Valley Association, and the Agricultural Extension Association.
The main responsibility of the Soil Conservation Service is providing technical assistance to landowners in solving soil and water conservation problems. This is done by providing engineering surveys, designs, and layout, and supervision of installation.
These services are provided at no cost to the landowner. The only requirement is that the landowner be a cooperator with the Chester County Soil and Water Conservation District. Soil Conservation Service technicians then assist the land- owner in preparing a conservation plan, and set forth conservation practices and measures needed to maintain or increase production and protect the soil for years to come.
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