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| The above invite is extremely rare. For approximately 40 years starting in the 1870's the Republican Party of Delaware County held once a year "Cornboils". At this meetings, a picnic basically, attended by some 250 to 300 of the parties movers and shakers. Andrew Dalton ran them for many years the above meeting his 15th was held in Essington. |
Delaware County Republican's Cornboils 100 plus years ago
NOTE: As hard as it is to imagine, the "Corn boil" was the way political business was handled in Delaware County. At the "corn boil" nominees and elections were planned and discussed, local problems, solutions etc. were handled and planned. The following articles give some idea of what they were like.
CHESTER TIMES – JULY 25, 1910
WILL THE CORNBOIL BE HELD?
WHY, OF COURSE
Delaware County Politicians Will Not Let This Time-Honored Custom Go by the Board
“Will
the cornboil be held this year?” Foolish
question No. 7,655,432. Of course it
will. How could Delaware County get
along without a cornboil? Who would
think of shattering a time honored tradition and breaking up the annual
gathering along the historic Brandywine?
Shatter the thought! Who has ever
been on a cornboil excursion has ridden with the jolly gathering from Media to
Chadd’s Ford, traveled in hay wagons which bounced up and down, striking with
heavy jolts, while the dust piled over the occupants, and enjoyed the feast and
sport at the famous park would ever think of doing away with such a memorable
event?
The
cornboilers have played an important part in Delaware County’s history for some
years. They have assisted in making the
list of candidates for office. A few years
ago it was on the cornboils that the leaders would nod their heads or shake
them in disapproval of a candidate for office in the county, and those nods and
shakes meant the will of the people, so to speak, for seldom if at all, the
nods and shakes failed of their purpose.
Far from it, for when the work went forth it was known who would land in
the official positions. So history says,
and it is seldom mistaken in facts. Last
year it was different. Candidates were
on the grounds, but they were unable to secure assurances of support except
from individuals, and they were not in haste to pledge themselves.
Of
course, the cornboil will be held this year.
Captain General Andrew Dalton, the genial prothonotary, verifies the
statement, and he knows. He is the
chiefest among all of the cornboilers, from Radnor to Birmingham, and the clans
gather about him to take part in the annual celebration. And, oh, such corn! What does it matter if the cornboilers have
to be gathered about a rough board table in the grove and crowd together so
that there may be seats enough for all, as long as the corn is delicious, juicy
and the finest that the county can produce?
He who has eaten of the corn and well prepared potatoes and enjoyed the
other provisions and eatables (washed down with good pure water) cannot resist
an invitation to be present the next year.
The
cornboil will be held the latter part of next August, and preparations will
soon be begun for the affair. Deputy
Prothonotary J. Harvey Smith was very active in the work last year and it was
largely through his good management that last year’s event was such a success.
If you
aren’t a cornboiler you cannot realize what the annual cornboil is, and what an
important event it is. Men prominent in
affairs in Delaware County will again be numbered among the cornboilers this
year.
CHESTER TIMES – August 31, 1910
CORNBOILERS’ ANNUAL OUTING
Gathering of the Clans at Birmingham Park on Saturday Next Will Be a Big Event – Politicians Will Be There
Next to
the annual banquet of the Young Men’s Republican Club, which always brings
together men prominent and active in the political affairs of the city and
county, the Cornboilers’ yearly outing is one of the two big events that are
looked forward to with great interest, one occurring in the waning summertime
and in the open, while the corn is green on the cob, and the other late in the
fall, around the festive board in the banqueting hall when the summer days are
over. Both are opportunities for the men
who do the political hustling to meet each other and get better acquainted in
talking over past and future campaigns.
The Cornboilers’ outings have taken the place to some extent of the
popular excursions down the bay conducted by the Delaware County Republican
Executive Committee and kindred organizations and they are becoming more
popular every year. Old friends meet and
greet each other, learn what is going on politically, socially and otherwise
and have a general good time at least one day in the year.
From
present indications there will be a t least 300 persons from different parts of
Delaware County at the annual outing of the Delaware County Cornboilers
Association of which Captain General Andrew J. Dalton is chairman. The cornboil will be held at Birmingham Park
and the Captain General has announced that the special car which will take the
party to the affair will leave Media station at 9 o’clock sharp on Saturday
morning. Captain General Dalton says
that the arrangements are almost complete and a big day is expected. Everyone present may expect to have the time
of their lives.
There
will be plenty of sports at the cornboil and some interesting events are being
arranged, but the contestants will not be announced by the Captain General for
a day or two at least. He says that
Kelly will be there with his green necktie, positively, as Kelly, who has been
in obscurity, has sent on his $2, which means that he will be present. There will be several 100 yard dashes between
men weighing 200 pounds, lean men’s race and other odd sports.
“Tom”
Berry will also be present and Captain General Dalton says that “Tom” was at
the original cornboils held years ago by the Indians, and that is where he
first became acquainted with “Tom.” The
Captain General also says that “Tom” has been an old man as long as he knew
him.
The
Chester City Band has been engaged to enliven things with sweet music. Every man who attends the cornboil and pays
his $2 will be guaranteed to weigh 10 pounds more when he leaves Birmingham
Park than when he left his home. There
is every reason to believe that if the day is a favorable one that a big crowd
will be present, among them the big and little politicians of the county.
CHESTER TIMES – September 5, 1910
CORNBOILERS BRAVE THE RAIN
HOLD ANNUAL OUTING
Captain General Andrew J. Dalton and His Band of “Warriors” Have a Jolly Time at Birmingham Park – Feast on Good Things and Make Merry
Amid a
heavy downpour of rain, about one hundred and fifty cornboilers of this county
left Media shortly after nine o’clock on Saturday morning on a special train
for Birmingham Park. The annual conclave
of politicians, big and small from this county was the best ever. Captain General Andrew J. Dalton, who had
charge of the affair, had everything arranged in fine style, but he certainly
went wrong on his wireless message which he received on Thursday telling him
that the weather would be fair and that Jupiter Pluvius would be good on the
day of the cornball. Now Captain General
Dalton asserts that he was given the wrong message. On the other hand George Darlington, Esq.
consulted an almanac which told him it would be a wet day and the result was he
remained home.
Once the
train reached the station all hands made for the big pavilion which was used
during the day and later on about fifty more cornboilers came in automobiles
and other vehicles. Despite the
inclement weather, a very delightful day was spent; the trying circumstances
and the rain did not dampen the ardor of the cornboilers in the least. Of course the Citizen’s Bank of Chester which
was present was forced to play oftener that it would have had the weather been fair. The time was spent in exchanging stories,
while others rendered songs at intervals.
Once during the day that the rain halted for a short time, there were
some quoit matches and other sports but the “boys” soon had to retire to the
pavilion.
While there
was no slate-making, many little political confabs were held and candidates for
various offices were on hand seeing the “boys” and sizing up their chances as
best they could. Taken all in all,
however, the cornboil was more on the order of a family gathering than a
political function, and politics were not permitted to mar the pleasure of the
cornboilers, or to interfere with their appetites.
Among
the prominent visitors present was Hon. Isaac Johnson, president Judge of the
Delaware County Courts. Judge Johnson
mingled with the “boys” and enjoyed the occasion very much.
The
dinner was served on tables neatly arranged and the menu was made to tickle the
palates of the politicians, consisted of corn on the ear, chicken, clam
chowder, rolls, coffee, sandwiches and cigars.
The cornboilers, together with Kelly and his green necktie, returned to
Media shortly after seven o’clock, well pleased with the day’s outing. Captain General Dalton was not dismayed at
the weather, but he said that the next time he would consult a real weather
prophet before setting the date for the cornboil. Among those present were: Judge Johnson, Major Jesse Baker of Media;
John J. McClure of Chester; John E. Hayburn Harry Hayburn of Concord, Frank
Thomas of Yeadon, Nelson Kershaw of Upper Darby, A.M. Getz of Morton; Geo. T.
Wadas, Isaac E. Johnson, Hon. Thomas H. Garvin, chairman of the Republican
County Executive Committee; Edward McKeen of Clifton Heights; Harry J. Makiver
of Media; Thomas Fields, warden of the county prison; Frank Worrell of
Swarthmore; William H. Garrett of Upper Darby; Deputy Prothonotary J. Harvey
Smith; Richard J. Baldwin of Chadd’s Ford; County Commissioners George W. Allen
Van Leer E. Bond E. Louis Barlow; Richard A. Donnelly of Fernwood; Charles Mathues
of Media, and others.
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