USA > Pennsylvania > Chester County > History and progress of Chester County, 1969 > Part 4
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State except Allegheny and Philadelphia Counties. Real Estate Tax rate is established by the County Commissioners upon figures developed by the Board of Assessment and Revision of Taxes, of Chester County.
1968 TAX RATE: 71 MILLS
MILLS
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
YEAR 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68
Safeguarding Funds
The Controller exercises general supervision and control over fiscal affairs, and of accounts of all offices collecting or disbursing County Funds, by the Control- ler, an elective officer of the County. Vouchers for payment of all County obli- gations are drawn by the Controller and submitted to the County Commission- ers. Checks are signed by the Commissioners, Controller and Treasurer. County
COLLECTION OF COUNTY TAXES
YEAR
TAX LEVY
% Collected
1962
2,221,529.22
87%
1963
1,951,427. 03
88%
1964
2,039,160.03
88%
1965
2,539,803.71
89%
1966
2,667,096.63
90%
1967
3,017,625.41
89%
TOTAL PER CENT COLLECTED FOR
6 YEAR PERIOD . .. 88.5%
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funds are kept in various depositories within the County, each of which is deter- mined 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 Treasurer shall immediately transfer thereto all County funds. By law, the depositories must be in banks, banking institutions or trust companies located within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It will be noted, Chester County's depositories, by custom, are all within the County. Each depository furnishes or deposits collateral in escrow with the Federal Reserve Bank. The County Commissioners, Controller and his Deputy, the County Treasurer and all his employees, 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.
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INDUSTRY AND COMMERCE
Early Pioneers
Iron and Steels
The first industry to flourish in Chester County was located in the northern townships of Coventry, Nantmeal and Vincent. As early as 1716, Coventry Forge was established and for a period of years was the leading iron center in Pennsylvania. The first steel to be manufactured in America was produced in 1732 at Coventry Forge. Nearby Reading Furnace, also located along French Creek, was erected in 1720. Warwick Furnace was founded in 1737 and was famed for its stoves, pots, kettles, and irons, 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 and has in recent years been restored as a national historic monument.
The nineteenth 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 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 operated the Brandywine Iron Works. It was here the first boiler plate was made in Pennsylvania, and very probably the first in America. At the turn of the century, this mill was held to be the world's largest platemill, and the oldest continuous steel manufacturer in the nation. Subsequent to Dr. Lukens' death in 1825, his widow, Rebecca, successfully continued and expanded operations for many years. She, in later years, became known as the outstanding woman industrial executive of her time.
Papermaking
The County's first paper mill was started in 1779 by John Fulton on Big Elk Creek in East Nottingham Township. Since this beginning there have been paper mills at 63 other locations in the County. Of today's eight mills, six are located in or near Downingtown. The largest of these, Downingtown Paper Company, was established in 1881. It now has more than 700 employees at the
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Molten steel is tapped from an electric furnace at Lukens Steel Company in Coatesville. Lukens electric melting facilities are the most modern in the world devoted exclusively for the production of steels for plates.
Downingtown plant. The other seven mills currently have a total of more than 300 employees. By 1850 machine-made paper had displaced the hand-made product. Mechanization brought larger mills and centralization into a smaller number. Among Chester County families in which there have been three or more generations engaged in the Papermaking business are: Bicking, Garrett, Lysle, Marshall, McHenry, and Mcl Ivain.
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Rocks, Ores, and Minerals
The County has extensive deposits of limestone in the thirty-mile Chester Valley which extends in a narrow belt from Lancaster County on the west, to Montgomery County on the east. At scores of places in this belt lime was burned many years ago, but such operations are now largely limited to the giant plant of the Warner Company at Cedar Hollow in East Whiteland Township. Several small pockets of limestone are scattered over the County. Limestone has been widely used for building purposes and extensively crushed for road material. In the 1830's marble was obtained from the Thomas quarry near Whitford. Another marble deposit north of Avondale was worked in the early 1900's. Other noteworthy rocks in the County are - gneiss, sandstone, serpentine (once popular as a building stone), quartzite, and trap rock.
Downingtown Paper Co. Downingtown, Pa.
Iron ore containing hematite, limonite, or magnetite has been found in localized pockets in the northern half of the County. At an early date these deposits led to the erection of furnaces and forges. These, in turn, led to the establishment of slitting mills, rolling mills, and iron works. No deposits of iron ore are currently being used.
52
ATLAS OF CHESTER COUNTY
COUNTY
WARWIC-
READING
P
Elverson
-
-
-
PA 401
PA. 82
EA
-
TPKE.
WEST
NANTMEAL
RARROAD
IPA. 282
Honeybrook
WALLACE
US 322
PENNSTLYA
HONEY BROOK
1
10
WEST
U.S 322
COUNTY
Y'BRANDYWINE
1
WEST
CALN
1
PA. 82
1
PA. 340
PA 340
CALN
US. 30
Coatesville
US 30
WEST
VALLEY
SADSBURY
RARROAD
PA 372
South Coatesville
1
PA
A. 41
Atglen
PENNSYLVANIA
Modena
1
Parkesburg
EAST
FALLOWFIELD
READING
HIGHLAND
US. 10
. 841
1
WEST
PA. 82 |
MARLBORO
PA. 842
PA
4
1
LONDONDERRY
PA
1
PA. 796
1
UPPER
OXFORD
7
LONDON
GROVE
1
PENN
VAL
.
BY-PASS
PENNSYLVANIA
NEW
(
RT. 1
1
--
-
-+
1
1
Oxford
1
-
NEW
1
57
Y
PROPOSED
US. 1
EAST
NOTTINGHAM
5
BRITAIN
WEST
-
PA. 42
1-
NOTTINGHAM :
PA. 277
- 1
1
STATT
STATE
OF
MARYLAND
1
SADSBURY
PA. 82
1
PA 372
PENNSYLVANIA
WEST
FALLOWFIELD:
PA 896
U.S 10
1
West Grove
Avondale
LOWER
OXFORD
1
PA 841
PA. 472
LANCASTER
-
L
LONDON
PA 272
---
FRANKLIN
LONDON
/041
PA 472
ELK
J
PA 89%
1
1
=======
PA 896
1
2
1
PA 926
READING
1
U.S
BR
1
BERKS
PA
53
ASCIILYL
LKIL
PA. 724
NORTH
PA.100
PENNSYLVANIA
PA. 100
EAST
COVENTRY
PA. 724
/
- COVENTRY
Spring City
PA. 23
EAST VINCENT
RAILROAD
RIVER
.. 29
PA.
Phoenixville
NANTMEAL
WEST
VINCENT
1
EAST
PIKELANDA
-
RAILROAD
SCHUYLKILL
1
UPPER
O WEST
PIKELAND
UWCHLAN
1
40
CHARLESTOWN . 29
TPKE.
PA.
TREDYFFRIN
RT. 202
A. 401
UWCHLAN
EAST WHITELAND
1
READING
7-
WINE
Malvern
EAST
CALN
PENNSYLVANIA WHITELAND
--
1
Downingtown
PA
29
PA.
PENNSYLVAN
PROPOSED
EAST
GOSHEN
L
PA 100
WEST
GOSHEN
-
RADFORD
SPA 3
EAST
West Chester
BRADFORD
PA 162
1
WESTTOWN
-
HALL ROAD
LIN
VARROAD
1
PA. 926
THORNBURY!
PA. 842
POCOPSON
BIRMINGHAM
52
PA 100
MARLBORO
U.S 1
I PENNSBURY 1
--
Kennett Square
RALROAD
SPA 52
PA 82
DELAWARE
EN
PA 41
OF
CHESTER COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA
.
2
1
1
-
U.S. 202
COUNTY
WILLISTOWN
1
==
PA, 352
WEST
US 322
PA 926
1
1
1
US 202
PA 52
-
r
N
DELAS ARE
PENNSYLVANIA
U.S.30
PA. 282
PA. 113
US 30
RAILROAD
WEST
EASTTOWN
PA 100
PA. 363
U.S 202
-
RALROAD
PA 252
RAILROAD
1
PA.
COUNTY
READING
PA. 113
RAILROAD
PENNSYLVA
PA. 23
SOUTH
MONTGOMERY
. COVENTRY
.
PUBLISHED BY THE CHESTER COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION COURT HOUSE ANNEX WEST CHESTER, PENNSYLVANIA
PASS
KENNETT
PA.100
352
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Hewlett-Packard Co.
Burroughs
Burroughs Large Computer Systems Plant, Great Valley
55
Among minerals chromite, corundum, feldspar, graphite, kaolin, magnesite, mica, and talc have been mined on a limited scale in the County. Of these magnesite is the only one now of much economic importance. In past decades local quarries and pits were a source of a wide variety of mineral specimens and were patronized by mineralogists and "rock hounds." It has been claimed that Chester County contains a wider variety of worthless minerals than any similar area in the United States.
-
Foote Mineral Company
The Phoenix Iron Company was founded at Phoenixville in 1783. The property 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's Sale, the new ownership materially increased and improved the works until they were 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.
In the precious metals field, gold and platinum for industrial use, is Matthey Bishop Corporation, founded in 1842 by Joaquin Bishop and operated in Sugartown and later Malvern as J. Bishop and Company.
56
Wyeth Laboratories
Gindy Manufacturing Corp., Upper Uwchlan Twp.
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Agricultural and Horticultural
Historically, agricultural and horticultural activities have maintained a strong position in the economy of the County. Today, greenhouse products, roses, mushrooms and dairy products continue to provide a major source of income.
Summary
Aiding early industry as well as present industry are minerals, abundant water power, a good network of roads, rail facilities, communications and a skilled and productive labor force. In addition to those engaged in the early iron industry, the tax assessment rolls transcripts disclose an abundance of craftsmen in all trades and skills, appropriate for producing goods for local consumption. From these early foundations, many diversified industries have developed throughout the County, equally as interesting and noteworthy, up to and including the present atomic era or space age.
----
The Instructo Corporation, Paoli Industrial Park, Tredyffrin Twp.
58
C
G. O. Carlson, Inc. Thorndale, Pennsylvania
00
YALL
McAvoy Brick
59
The Present Industrial Profile
During the past decade, industry in Chester County has experienced a remarkable growth. There are now approximately 350 manufacturing firms located in the Chester County employing over 30,000 persons. Nearly one out of every four industrially employed people work in the three blast furnaces in the County, and 48 per cent of the total work in the 100 firms producing primary or fabricated metal products, and machinery, except electrical. Included in this total are firms producing computing and accounting machines, which, between them, account for the second largest group of employees, close to 3,000. Despite the accent on heavy industry, the 41 producers of food and kindred products employ 3,070 people, with roughly a third of them working for the mushroom canning industry. The chemical and allied products group of 26 firms employ an additional 2,620 with almost half in companies producing pharmaceutical preparations. Paper and allied products manufacturing accounts for employment of 1750 workers in 15 plants.
It is interesting to note that 21,550 workers are male and 8,200 female. Wages and salaries have risen steadily for an entire decade with total manufacturing payrolls doubling to a total of over $205,000,000.
Bundy Corp., National Rolling Mills Division, East Whiteland Twp.
60
Coatesville is the leading industrial center with close to 6,500 employees in its 13 major industries. Downingtown with 16 plants and Phoenixville with 21 compete closely for second place with about 3,000 employees each. West Chester, despite its cottage town atmosphere, has 2,200 people working in its 30 industries.
Matthey Bishop, Inc. Aerial View-MBI Plant- Frazier, Pa.
Chester County products find their way to countries around the world. Seventy-two firms now export goods to foreign countries and the value of such exports amounts to $27,000,000 annually.
Major Industries
Chester County has become the home of numerous industries which have chosen to locate corporate or regional headquarters here. The list of such firms which employ over 100 persons includes:
Aeroprojects, Inc. American Hardware Supply Co. American Lacquer Solvents Co. American Mushroom Corp. American Pamcor, Inc. Aqua-Chem Inc. Automation Industries, Inc.
Beloit Corp. Boiler Engineering & Supply Co., Inc. Bonney Forge & Foundry, Lenape Forge Div. Bordens, Inc., Brandywine Foods Div. Bundy Corp., National Rolling Mills Div. Burroughs Corp.
C & C Compost, Hudson Farms, Inc. Campbell Soup Co., Pepperidge Farm, Inc., Div. Cardinal Cottons Corp. G. O. Carlson, Inc. Chemical Leaman Tank Lines, Inc. Continental Can Company, Inc.
Deluxe Check Printers, Inc. Denney-Reyburn Co. A. P. de Sanno & Son, Inc. Dowingtown Paper Co.
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F. M. C. Corp. Foote Mineral Co. Alan I. W. Frank Corp. Gindy Manufacturing Corp. Grocery Store Products Co.
J. Halpern Co. Harowe Servo Controls, Inc. Hewlett-Packard Co. John R. Hollingsworth Co.
The Instructo Corp. Jones Motor Company Kennett Canning Co. Keystone Drawn Steel Co.
Lasko Metal Products, Inc. Layton-Greenfield, Inc. Lukens Steel Co.
Matthey Bishop, Inc. Milprint, Inc.
Mohasco Industries, Inc., Charles Lachman Div. Mushroom Cooperative Canning Co.
NVF Company Nachman Corp. National Foam System, Inc. Nottingham Canning Co., Inc. Nu-Pak Co.
Oxford Manufacturing Co., Inc. Oxford Royal Mushroom Products, Inc. Oxy-Catalyst, Inc.
Penguin Industries, Inc. Pennsylvania Flexible Metallic Tubing Co. Philco-Ford Corp. Phoenix Steel Corp. Phoenixville Manufacturing Co. Plastomatic Corp.
Rando Industries Roberts Packing Co.
Schramm, Inc. Sircom Knitting Co. Spring City Knitting Co. J. B. Swayne & Son, Inc.
Valley Forge Flag Co., Inc. Valley Maid, Inc. Vishay Intertechnology, Inc.
Warner Co. The West Co. West Grove Knitting Mills, Inc. White Motor Co., Autocar Div. Wyeth Laboratories, Inc.
Zeks Industries, Inc.
A complete listing of all industries in the county is contained in an Industrial Directory, periodically published by the Chester County Development Council and available at their office.
Industrial Development
Chester County has developed a program of sound industrial expansion by attraction of enterprises which can be expected to prosper here and which will be compatible with existing industries and living standards. The Chester County Development Council has been charged with this responsibility and its activities have been geared to create a climate for continuing economic growth.
Among the many advantages of a Chester County location are its markets, transportation facilities, highly productive and skilled labor force and the many excellent sites available for industrial use. Among the numerous planned industrial communities are one dozen industrial parks, a number of which have been designated as "Citation Sites" by the Development Council.
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Utilities and Communications
Modern public utilities now serve and sustain the present and expanding industry in Chester County. For electric power, the Philadelphia Electric Company is the prime source, supported in the Atglen area by the Pennsylvania Power and Light Company, and in the Elverson area by Metropolitan Edison Company. Philadelphia Electric Company also provides natural gas to most areas of the County excepting portions in the Oxford area served by Oxford Gas Company.
Water is provided by numerous private utility companies and municipal systems. The sources of water are abundant underground supplies and surface reservoirs. The most populous areas of Eastern Chester County are served by the Philadelphia Suburban Water Company.
Communications are amply provided by the Bell Telephone Company of Pennsylvania, three daily and nine weekly newspapers, in addition to the major metropolitan dailies, and local radio stations WCHE and WCOJ.
Transportation Markets
Chester County is located in the midst of the great markets of the Delaware Valley and the vast eastern megalopolis. Within 100 miles are markets with a population of 25 million. Among all counties in the Philadelphia metropolitan area, this County has the highest projected rate of population growth. Within 500 miles are over 50% of the U.S. Population, 70% of manufacturing employment and 55% of the total income. Our home markets alone are larger than many whole nations.
Distances
The distances in miles from the county seat to some major cities are: Allentown 50, Atlantic City 86, Baltimore 83, Boston 359, Harrisburg 77, Lancaster 34, New York City 115, Philadelphia 25, Pittsburgh 273, Reading 40, Washington 126, Wilmington 17, and York 63.
300 M.
200 M.
100 M. COUNTY SEAT
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Freight Transportation
Chester County is served by 80 interstate motor freight companies and numerous intrastate carriers, assuring prompt and economical deliveries. Rail freight service is likewise well provided by the systems of the Reading Company and the Penn Central Company.
Seaports
Chester County has ready access within 25 miles from mid-county to one of the largest fresh water ports in the world, the Port of Philadelphia. The Delaware Marine Terminal in Philadelphia provides the most modern cargo facilities within less than an hour's time.
Commuter Transportation
Bus service is provided by two transportation systems, Short Line, Inc. and Philadelphia Suburban Transportation Company. Commuter rail service is provided by the Penn Central Company in West Chester and along the railroad's "Main Line" in Paoli, Downingtown and Coatesville, and the Reading Rail- road which services Phoenixville. These systems are part of a coordinated trans- portation network which will be operated in the future by the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority or SEPTA.
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
25
Chester County Airport
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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 westerm 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
12!
56
PITTSBURG
PHILA.
187
19
13
ยท WILMINGTON
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 4600 feet by 100 feet, and a paved taxiway, both lighted. Has paved entrance road and ample parking area. The hangar building has room to park, 40 aircraft indoors, with a back supporting section of suspended cantilever type, and 60 outdoors. 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 60 tiedown facilities available for planes.
It is equipped with a M-H facilities, low frequency beacon, strobe lighting which provides positive identification of runways. Full weather service, communications, and has been approved for instrument approach for bad weather and night landings.
At present the airport has an approved flight training school by FAA and Veterans Administration, which is conducted by licensed flight instructors to provide instruction from students to air transport rating.
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.
65
COUNTY SERVICES
Assessment and Revision of Taxes, Board of
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. The Board is composed of three board members appointed by the County Commissioners. The departmental duties of the office is directed by the three member board. The various departments are made up of a Chief Assessor and assistant Chief Assessor, a group of 6 field appraisers, a mapping department, and a fifteen (15) member staff to enable the office to properly assess and re-assess 74,832 parcels of real property within the County, and to assure that all properties be assessed on a fair basis. The office maintains a card system identifying the ownership of every parcel of land in the County. The field appraisers visit and inspect each property, taking measurements, noting type of construction, improvements, age, de- preciation and type of neighborhood surrounding the property. The assess- ment ratio applied by the County Commissioners for tax purposes is 40% of the market value of each parcel. Previous ratios ranged from 29 per cent to 50 per cent. The combined aerial photography and professional appraisals cost the County $539,500.00. The Board sits as a semi-judicial body to hear and decide appeals. Appeals from the Board of Assessment decisions may be taken to the County Courts. The number of tax exempt items is less than 5 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 staff. The Bureau supplies the forms on which holdings of personal property 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 County Treasurer. Upon failure of a taxpayer to file a return, an assessment can be made by the Bureau with a penalty added, and a date set for an appeal, if the taxpayer so desires. Upon failure of a taxpayer to appear on a scheduled date and file a return, the amount of the assessment then fixed by the Bureau stands. Upon failure to pay Personal Property Taxes, a lien will be entered in the Prothonotary's Office. The tax rate is fixed by the legislature at four mils. 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. The 1967 total billing was better than $1,058,271,42.
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Central Purchasing
A full time purchasing agent was appointed by the county commissioners, February, 1969.
The purpose of this office is to centralize all purchases within all county governmental departments, in order to effect volume purchasing saving.
Chester County Building
The new County Building was constructed at the site of the old prison, New and Market Streets, West Chester, cost approximately $600,000.00 fully equipped and furnished. This is another reflection of progress by the County Commissioners toward the alleviation of over-crowded office conditions in the Court House and the Court House Annex. Occupancy was made in early fall, 1962. In this building is found the Chester County Library, Child Care Service and the County Superintendent of Schools.
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