USA > Pennsylvania > Chester County > History and progress of Chester County, 1969 > Part 8
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retained as an additional precaution against possible loss or damage through fire or other disaster in the vaults of the commercial photostat firm with which the County does business. He serves also as Agent for the Commonwealth of Penn- sylvania in the collection of all realty transfer taxes. He is assisted in the duties by a staff of two deputies and certain clerical assistants; all of whom are empow- ered to administer oaths and affirmations with the same force and effect as if administered by the Recorder or the deputies. Attesting to the activities in this office, with attorneys and their representatives searching through the huge vol- umes of deeds and other papers, each cross-indexed for easier reference, is the fact that in one year more than 17,000 legal instruments have been recorded. The Recorder of Deeds serves a vital service in Chester County.
Register of Wills-Clerk of Orphans' Court
The Register of Wills is elected for a four year term. Since Chester County has a separate Orphans' Court he is also by reason of his election to the Office of Register ex-officio Clerk of the Orphans' Court. His salary as Register of Wills and Clerk of the Orphans' Court is $8760.00 per annum. As Register of Wills he is the Judge of Probate, having jurisdiction over admitting Wills to probate and for granting of Letters of Administration and Letters Testamentary. Inventories of the assets comprising estates and schedules of the lawfully authorized deductions are filed in the Register's Office and transmitted to the State Appraisers in order that the estates may be appraised. The Register serves as Agent for the Common- wealth in the collection of inheritance taxes being paid for this service a percent- age of the gross amount of tax collected ranging down downward from five per cent to one-quarter of one per cent depending on the amount of tax which is collected.
Accounts of Executors and Administrators are filed by the Register of Wills and certified to the Orphans' Court for appropriate action. The Register also issues required certified copies of Wills, exemplification of records, and short certificates required by Executors or Administrators in connection with the administration of the estates in which they have qualified.
An ex-officio Clerk of the Orphans' Court the Register receives for filing the accounts of Trustees and Guardians transmitting these to the Orphans' Court Judge for appropriate action. He has charge of the docket of the Orphans' Court and maintains and safeguards all records of that Court, including the impounded adoption records. As Clerk he advertises the filing of all accounts prior to the same being handed up to the Court for audit. The Clerk of the Orphans' Court issues all marriage licenses granted in the County and maintains the records of all persons who were born in Chester County between 1893 and 1906. Prior to 1893 the law made no provision for the registration of birth and since 1906 birth registration records are filed directly with the Bureau of Vital Statistics of the Commonwealth at Harrisburg. The Register in his joint capacity renders valued service to the County and carries out his duties, assisted by a staff of two deputies and a clerical assistant in probate matters, and a deputy, assistant clerk, and clerical assistant in Orphans' Court matters.
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Sheriff
The office of sheriff is one of the oldest and most important local offices in Pennsylvania, having been brought to the colony by Dutch and English settlers a generation before the arrival of William Penn. All of Pennsylvania's State Consti- tutions have required that every county have a sheriff. Because the Constitution specifically provides that the sheriff is a county officer, the office of sheriff cannot be abolished by the Legislature. A constitutional amendment would be necessary to abolish the office or even to change the manner of selection or the term of office.
The duties of the sheriff are many and varied. As a peace officer, his duty is to keep the peace and quell riots and disturbances. In the manner and under the cir- cumstances set forth in the law, he may make arrests, make searches of premises, seize certain property used illegally, remove certain nuisances, and issue firearms licenses to sell and permits to carry.
As an officer of the courts, civil and criminal, the sheriff serves the various writs, processes, orders and notices issued by the courts. He takes part in the selection of jurors and is responsible for summoning them. It is his duty to trans- port prisoners to and from their place of confinement and they are in his cus- tody when in the court rooms. The execution of the various judgments of the courts is the responsibility of the sheriff, and in this capacity he conducts sale of real estate and personal property in execution proceedings. After the sale he dis- tributes the proceeds to the parties entitled to them and makes a return to the court.
The sheriff has been a purely elective office ever since 1838, but the first to serve this county was in 1676. The present Sheriff, Jackson M. Ivins, is the 53rd sheriff to hold the office in Chester County. His term is for four years and his annual salary, set by the State Legislature is $11,400.00.
He is assisted by a staff of five full time deputies whose salaries are regulated by the Salary Board and other extra deputies when needed. The extras are paid on a per diem bases and the rate is set by the State Legislature. This office is fully self-supporting, its income derived from the legally prescribed fee charged for services rendered.
Treasurer
The office of County Treasurer is an important function in the Administration of County fiscal affairs. Elected for a four year term in the manner provided by the Act 1955, with an annual salary of $9,840.00 effective January 1, 1970. As in the case of the Sheriff, the Treasurer cannot succeed himself for re-election for the term next succeeding the one for which he may be elected. The Treasurer must receive all money due the County, issue receipts therefor, maintain accounts of all funds received and disbursed, and with the County Commission- ers, sign all County checks which, as they are returned cancelled, must be filed in his office as permanent record. Daily the Treasurer records all disbursements from the County Treasury and forwards such records to the Controller, along
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with daily records of all receipts, thus providing a further double safeguard on all public funds entrusted to his care. He states his accounts annually, along with receipts and vouchers and presents them to the Controller for final audit. It is his responsibility, together with the County Commissioners, to designate by resolu- tion the depositories for all county funds. By law, such depositories must be banks, banking institutions or trust companies located within the Common- wealth of Pennsylvania. By custom, such depositories are located within Chester County. For further protection, each depository chosen by the Treasurer and the Commissioners furnishes a bond to secure payment of deposits and such interest as may accrue to the County; or in lieu of such a bond, securities may be placed in escrow with the Federal Reserve Bank. More than 80,000 receipts, all in triplicate, are recorded annually by the Treasurer. Licenses in excess of 30,500 a year are issued by this office, which is the Agent for the Common- wealth for fishing, hunting and dog licenses. Checks for payment of all County expenditures are drawn in this office. The Treasurer is also a member of the Retirement Board.
The Treasurer's modern office equipment includes Remington Rand Electric Card-Veyor (cylinder type) for filing tax cards, averaging now approximately 90,000 with a maximum potential of 130,000 cards. Such modern improve- ments render a high degree of efficiency in the operations and costs of the office for the residents of Chester County.
Surveyor
He is elected for a four year term, but without salary. Originally he performed the engineering duties, now performed by the County Engineer. The position now has only an historic interest.
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Birmingham Meeting
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POINTS OF INTEREST
Baldwin's Country Store
Route 52, between West Chester and Lenape.
Brinton House
Erected 1704, on U.S. 202, just over Chester County line below Dilworthtown. New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania Veterinary Medicine Route 926 (Street Road) between Willowdale and London Grove.
Brandywine Battle Field
Just East of Chadds Ford, North of U.S. 1, in both Chester and Delaware Counties, including the Headquarters of Washington and LaFayette.
Bridges (Covered)
Bell Bank on Octorara, on Route 15156; Glen Hall, West Brandywine, on Route 15080, between Embreeville and Northbrook; Glen Hope, Little Elk, just South of Route 15008, West of Lewisville; Gibson's, East Brandywine, on Route 15076, between Sugar's Bridge and Harmony Hill Road on U.S. 322; Hall's, French Creek, on Route 15071, near Wilson's Corner; Kennedy's, just North of Kimberton and West of. 15059, French Creek; Knox, Valley on Route 15050, at Valley Forge Park; Larkins, Marsh, South of Route 15018 and Mil- ford Mills; Linton Stevens, Big Elk, just South of Route 15238, from New London below New Hope; Mercer Ford, Octorara, South of Atglen; Newcom- er's, Octorara, just North of Route 15156; Pine Grove, Octorara, on Routes 15006 and 15024 near Tweedale; Rapp's, French Creek, West of Phoenixville, South of Route 23; Rudolph & Arthur, Big Elk, on Route 15015, North of Lew- isville; Speakman's, 2, Buck Run, on Route 15068, South of Hepzibah.
Coventry Forge
The first in Chester County-1717, off Route 23, between Bucktown and St. Mary's.
Diamond Rock School (Octagonal)
North of Paoli, on Route 15108 in Chester Valley.
Embreeville State Hospital
Route 15180, between Marshallton and Romansville.
Geology and Natural Science, Falls of French Creek Off Route 23, North from Knauertown.
Historical Society-Chester County North High Street, West Chester.
Hopewell Furnace and Federal-State Parks
North of Route 23, on Route 15133 and 15210, between Elverson and St. Mary's.
cont.
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Immaculate College of Liberal Arts for Women Route 15095, between Morstein and Frazer.
Lincoln University
Now an integrated liberal arts institution, at Lincoln University, Pennsylva- nia-On Route U.S. 1, just East of Oxford.
Longwood Gardens
Internationally famous, at intersection of U.S. 1, and Route 52, at Anvil.
Swiss Pine's Park
Route 15049, between Devault and Charlestown, North of the Pennsylvania Turnpike.
Sharp's Woods Reserve
Sugartown Road, South of Berwyn.
Lukens Steel Company
One of the oldest continuous steel manufacturers in America, on South First Avenue, Coatesville, Pennsylvania.
The Newcomen Society
Upper Uwchlan Township (North Ship Road) Route 15184.
Paoli Monument
The site of the infamous slaughter of General Wayne's troops, on Route 15106 and Monument Avenue, Malvern.
Pennhurst State School
Route 83, between Spring City and Parkerford.
Pocopson Home
For the care of County indigent residents, on Route 52, between Lenape and Anvil.
Chester County Farms
For the incarceration of prisoners, off Route 52, adjoining the Pocopson Home, between Lenape and Anvil.
Red Rose Inn
Famous by reason of annual rent being paid by one red rose, at Jennersville, on U.S. 1, between West Grove and Oxford.
Star Rose Gardens
The country's outstanding Rose Grower, and the oldest in America in rose growing experience, South of West Grove and U.S. 1.
cont.
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Scouting: Horseshoe Scout Reservation
Open year round, on the Octorara, of 650 acres, off U.S. 1, to the right, two miles West of Rising Sun, Maryland.
Girls
100 acres, open year round, Camp Tweedale, on Route 15024, below Oxford, near the City of Chester Water Reservoir.
Townsend House
Built in two sections, 1785 and 1830, 225 North Matlack Street, West Chester. Valley Forge Park and Washington's Headquarters
On Route 83, North from U.S. 202.
Warwick Furnace site
1737, famous for Cannon, Cannon Balls and the first Franklin Stoves, on Route 23, near St. Mary's.
Waynesborough
Home of General Wayne, of Revolutionary fame, South of Paoli, on Route 15111.
West Chester State College
Teacher education (Philips Autographed Library) South High Street, West Chester.
Westtown School
Treasure Room, in main school building, on Route 15090, South of Route 3, East of Chatwood, West Chester.
Revised 1969
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Valley Forge Huts
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