A postcard of Park Ave. and Chester Rd. aka Rt. 320 about 1925 shortly before Chester Rd. was made into an underpass for the railroad as it looks today.
NOTE: Sometimes local stories, legends are true! When I was talking to one of my history buddies who specializes in Swarthmore history about the railroad gate incident with former President Woodrow Wilson, he laughed. It was an "old wives tale" he said not true at all!! Well sometimes "old wives tales" and legends are true!! Read below
CHESTER TIMES – October 29, 1921
VETERAN GATEMAN DEAD AT MEDIA
Michael McCarty, Sr., "Man Who Stopped a President,” Dies
Michael
McCarty, Sr., the man who stopped former President Woodrow Wilson from crossing
the tracks of the Pennsylvania Railroad at Swarthmore, during the Founder’s Day
celebration at Swarthmore College in 1917, is dead. He was one of the oldest residents in Media.
For
many years, Mr. McCarty was a crossing tender at the Swarthmore road
crossing. On the day the Founder’s Day
celebration was being celebrated at Swarthmore, Mr. Wilson came to Swarthmore
in a big automobile accompanied by a number of secret service men. Just as the car drove up to the railroad
tracks, the faithful Michael McCarty, as he always was, lowered the gates
because of the approach of a train. One
of the secret service men jumped out of the car and rushed over to Mr. McCarty
and demanded that he raise the gates, informing the gate tender that the President
of the United States desired to pass through.
“Is that so,” said Mr. McCarty with a kindly Celtic accent. “Well, the president and you will have to
obey orders,” and holding the secret service man by the arm, he continued,
“don’t you dare to go across the track until the train passes.”
After
the train passed, the secret service man went back to the President’s car,
thanking McCarty for obeying orders. Mr.
McCarty raised the gates and the former President crossed the tracks waving his
hand and smiling at Mr. McCarty as he passed him in his car.
Mr.
McCarty was born in Ireland and came to this country when a young man. He was about 82 years old. For many years he was employed as a section
hand on the Pennsylvania Railroad. For a
number of years he was a crossing tender.
Ab out two years ago he was stricken with paralysis, and was pensioned
by the railroad. Last Sunday he suffered
another stroke. He took to bed and died
about ten o’clock yesterday morning.
The
old crossing tender was well known in Swarthmore where he was held in high
esteem by young and old. He was a
particular favorite of the children and mothers. This was due to his careful and kindly
interest in the children. There was
hardly a day passed during his service as a crossing tender, when he did not
lead a number of smaller children by the hand across the railroad tracks.
For
his faithful service, the people of Swarthmore a few years ago presented the
old crossing tender with a loving cup.
Mr.
McCarty was a good natured and kind hearted Irishman, and he was endowed with a
fund of Irish wit, which helped him to make many friends.
He was a
member of the Catholic Church of the Nativity of Media, where he was a
consistent communicant until his illness.
He is
survived by his wife and five children, all residents of Media. They are:
John, Michael, Jr., Matthew, Thomas and Mrs. Marie Rawson.
His
funeral will take place on Monday morning from his late home on Manchester
Avenue. Services will be conducted in
the Church of the Nativity.
The "Great" Kate Clifford has put together February events for the
Delaware County Historic Preservation Network. Please visit our website and Facebook pages for more info.
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