No Pigs in Upper Darby!!! a episode of “The Dead Files” filmed in Upper Darby and Leiper Open House

 

A rare view of West Chester Pike in the then, new area of Highland Park, back when Upper Darby had piggeries

 

 

 

Note: A little over 100 years ago Upper Darby Twp. was the place to get pigs for sale as late as 1922 there were still 6 pig farms in the township. I was first contacted by the Travel Channel in May about filming an episode of the "Dead Files" in Upper Darby. The show airs Tuesday, December 10th at 9pm on the Travel Channel. They interview me about the murder, so please take a minute and watch the episode.  Steve and Amy travel to Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, where a single mother claims the dead are attacking her three children.

 

 

 

 

 

PIGGERIES BANNED IN UPPER DARBY

Three Violators of the Township Laws Are Arrested and Fined

                It will be almost next to impossible to raise pigs in Upper Darby in the future, all because the Board of Health of that progressive township, which is destined to be a large city before many years, has decided to either make the few remaining pig owners live up to the letter of the law of the township, or quit the business.

                Until five years ago, Upper Darby Township was a place where thousands of porkers were raised for the market, but the township, during the past few years, has developed from a farming section to a beautiful rural community with hundreds of fine homes.  People coming to the township do not want to be annoyed by noxious odors, and the Board of Health and the commissioners of the township has taken the necessary steps to give Upper Darby pure health and pure air – not air permeated with the odors of swill and filth.
                Fifteen months ago, the commissioners adopted an ordinance which made it a violation of the township for any person, persons or corporation to keep pigs within 100 feet of a running stream, and 1500 feet from any house.  The ordinance was adopted and the owners of pigs were given a full twelve months’ notice to get out of business or to build their pig sties to come within the scope of the ordinance.
                Naturally many of the pig raisers could not live up to the law, and they moved from the township.  However, three of the six remaining pig owners failed to comply with the terms of the new regulations and for their insistence to violate the township law, they were hailed before Magistrate F. F. Williamson yesterday morning and were fined.
    The first defendant was Stanley Bolenski, who conducts a piggery on the State Road near Burmont Avenue.  William J. Steele, health officer for the township, was called as a witness by Howard M. Lutz, solicitor for the township.  Steele testified that the defendant operates aw piggery 850 feet from the home of Robert Flynn.  That he had advised the defendant time and again to comply with the ordinance, but that Bolenski always demurred.

Charles Scheidy, a surveyor employed by A. F. Damon, township engineer, testified that he had made the measurements referred to by Health Officer Steele.

      W. C. Alexander, attorney for the defendant, admitted his client had violated the law, but asked Magistrate Williamson to be lenient so far as the punishment was concerned.  He asked that the maximum fine of $100 not be imposed and that his client be left off by paying the costs.
Solicitor Lutz took exception to the appeal and said that the township is insisting that the ordinance of the township to become effective if some fine was not placed on the defendant. Magistrate Williamson thereupon fined Bolenski $25 and costs, a total of $36.74.
      Peter Bolenski, a brother of the defendant was the second victim.  He has a piggery adjoining that of his brother and was also fined the same amount.
     W. E. Gorman, another farmer in the township, was luckier than the Bolenski’s and got away with paying a fine of $10 and costs.  It was testified by Health Officer Steele, that Gorman’s pig pens are within sixty feet of a running stream.  Gorman said he would comply with the township law, by running the water in the stream through a pipe and carry it off in another direction.  It was also shown that Gorman keeps the pig pens unusually clean.
      Health Officer Steele said there are but six piggeries in the township at this time.  Three of them have been in the township for a long time and the owners will be permitted to retain them so long as they comply with the law, but said that it was but a question of a short time when all of the pig raising business in the township will be a thing of the past because of the hundreds of houses being built.
     Mr.  Steele also said that three of the piggeries were established since the township ordinance went into effect, and that these must get out of business, as it will be impossible for them to comply with the law.

 

 

HH