School Building in Delco 100 years ago Upcoming events

A picture of the Springfield Twp. High School from 1948

Note: Delaware Co, was growing fast in the 1920's and improving schools and building new ones was a top priority to make Delco more attractive to new homeowners. A special Thanks to the "Great" Kate Clifford who puts all the events together below for DCHPN 

• CHESTER TIMES – April 23, 1921 

 PROMISING YEAR FOR NEW SCHOOLS IN THE COUNTY 

 Directors of Various Education Boards Prepare for Improvements

                This promises to be a great year for building new school buildings in Delaware County.  No less than six school houses will be built in various districts.  The new school houses are necessary because of the rapid increase in population, especially children of school age.

                This increase has been due principally because boroughs and townships in the east and the center of the county are being crowded with new people who are coming from Philadelphia.

                At a meeting of the School Board of Springfield Township on Thursday evening, a contract was awarded for nine one story and basement school for Springfield Township.

                The contract for the building was awarded to Edward Fay & Son, Inc. of Philadelphia and this county.  Their bid was $40,700.  L. C. Blunden & Company were awarded the electrical contract at $993.75; Burton L. Marker of Chester was given the contract for the plumbing at $2,216, and the American Heating and Ventilating Company was awarded the contract for heating at $4,107.

                Newton Flounders of Media is the architect.  His plans call for a pretty structure to be built of Johnston stone.  The building will be 40 by 150 feet, four rooms, with two play rooms in the basement.  The school will be a unit for a large school building in the future.

                The new school house will be erected on a two-acre lot on Saxer Avenue short distance from South Springfield station of the Media Short Line.

                The meeting was presided over by Joseph W. Sloan, president of the Springfield School Board.  The other members of the board, who were present, were:  A. A. Ackerman, Joseph Heller, W. F. Rice and D. Britton Chambers.  Harry J. Makiver, solicitor of the board was present and drew up the contract for the new school building.

                Ground will be broken on Monday morning for the new building which will be completed in time for the opening of the fall school term.

                The new school house will be in keeping with the present beautiful surroundings which is being built up with pretty homes.

                MORE NEW SCHOOLS – Upper Darby Township which already has the finest school houses in this county, is now having plans prepared for building of a new twelve-room school house in Garrettford.  This new school house will be built of granite and will cost approximately $150,000.

                Yeadon School Board has purchased a large tract of land adjoining the present school house on church Lane from W. Raymond Evans, the well-known real estate conveyancer of Yeadon and Lansdowne.  On this site, Yeadon will build an eight room school house.  This will be a decided improvement over the present one story old four-room building.  The new school house will cost approximately $75,000.

                Clifton Heights is also having plans prepared for a new four-room school house.  This school house will be built in front of the present building, and it will be a unit for a future big school house.

                Middletown Township school directors at a meeting on Thursday evening, opened bids for the erection of a new school to be built on a four-acre plot at Wells’ Corner, opposite Middletown Road.  Samuel Coates, of Philadelphia, bid $26,000.60.  He is the low bidder.  This building will be of stone, 100 x 40 feet.  The building will have three class rooms and a large play room in the basement.  The school will be a unit for a larger school in the future.  The officers of the Middletown School Board are Richard Taylor, president; Harry Varnick, secretary; Rowland Evans, John D. Lawton and William Eves.

               

A special Thanks to the "Great" Kate Clifford who puts all the events together below for DCHPN !! DCHPN Monthly E-Newsletter

Happy Holidays! Check out all these events happening this month Historic Sites are still open- lots of month-long events! Read the announcements below for important information   A Cup of Christmas Tea and other Holiday Readings performed by Actress Ceil Mann Dec 04 & 18, 2:00 PM Square Tavern, 3716 Goshen Rd, Newtown Square, PA 19073 Join us for a performance of some familiar and not so familiar holiday stories and poems by local professional actress Ceil Mann. Walk-ins welcome but space is limited. Email info@nshistory.org to reserve a seat. Refreshments served.   Learn More Elfreth's Alley Deck the Alley Dec 04, 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM Elfreth's Alley, Elfreth's Alley, Philadelphia, PA 19106 The Elfreth’s Alley Association invites the public to get a glimpse of contemporary life inside 18th and 19th-century houses, tour the Elfreth's Alley Museum, and immerse themselves in seasonal decor and song. $15/25   Learn More *Haverford Holiday Open Houses Dec 05, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM Havertown- various sites, 1682 Karakung Dr, Havertown, PA 19083 Come visit the historic buildings of Haverford Township at our special holiday open houses! Nitre Hall and Lawrence Cabin (with special treats at the cabin), and the 1797 Federal School will be open. Donations requested.   Learn More *Tree Lighting at Thunderbird Lodge Dec 05, 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM Thunderbird Lodge, 41 Rose Valley Rd, Media, PA 19063 Join us for a traditional lighting of the tree and singing carols. Event is outside. Drinks and cookies will be available. Museum open 12-5, ceremony at 5. Donations requested.   Learn More *Clear Toy Candy Making Dec 07, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM Swarthmore UMC Centennial Room, 129 Park Ave, Swarthmore, PA 19081 Local expert and candy mold collector Sue Davis will be sharing her knowledge with us. Sue will talk about the history of clear toy candy while instructing us as we make these nostalgic and tasty treats.   Learn More *Curator Conversations: Daring Design with Mark Sfirri Dec 07, 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM Online- registration required Join us for a conversation with Mark Sfirri, co-curator of the exhibition Daring Design: The Impact of Three Women on Wharton Esherick’s Craft. After a short presentation from Sfirri, we’ll learn more about his research and the role it's played in shaping both Daring Design and his own artistic life   Learn More *Washington Crossing the Delaware Dec 08, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM Zoom- registration required Join local historian Jim Segrave-Daly for a lively discussion of one of the most pivotal moments in American history. From the reading of Thomas Paine’s American Crisis to the troops, the dangers & the Battles of Trenton & Princeton, we’ll uncover why Washington’s plans saved the American cause in the Revolution.   Learn More Monument Lab: Civic ReImagination Dec 08, 7:00 PM Zoom- registration required Monument Lab’s Director and Cofounder, Dr. Paul M. Farber shares insights from the non-profit public art and history studio’s work on public memory in Philadelphia and beyond.    Learn More *DAG- Center for the Preservation of Civil Rights Sites Dec 09, 10:00 AM – 11:30 PM Zoom- registration required DAG will be joined by Randall Mason to discuss the Center for the Preservation of Civil Rights Sites efforts to protect black heritage sites. The Center collaborates with preservationists, stewardship organizations, advocates, and scholars.   Learn More *Creating Christmas: How a Centuries Old European Celebration Became Something Uniquely American Dec 09, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM Zoom- registration required How did the Christmas holiday become such a treasured tradition of gift giving, Santa Claus, family feasts, and domestic bliss? Join historian and archivist Mickey DiCamillo as he explains how the holiday was tamed, domesticated, and transformed into something uniquely American.   Learn More Holiday History Stroll Dec 11 & 18, 11:00 AM and 1:30 PM; Dec 12 & Dec 19, 1:00 PM Chester County History Center, 225 N High St, West Chester, PA 19380 Get in a festive mood with this 1.5 hour walking tour, brought to you by the historians and educators at Chester County History Center. At the end of the tour we will toast the season with a festive libation at a local restaurant (included in the ticket price).  Multiple dates and times. $25   Learn More A Christmas Carol at Stoneleigh Dec 11, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM Stoneleigh: A Natural Garden, 1829 County Line Rd, Villanova, PA 19085 This one-man performance of A Christmas Carol is by Philadelphia actor Josh Hitchens, where the play goes back to the book’s roots as a ghost story and celebrates the power of storytelling. $25-35   Learn More Christmas Tree Train- West Chester Railroad Dec 12, 8:00 AM West Chester Railroad, 230 E Market St, West Chester, PA 19382 Go on a 7.7 mile trip from West Chester to Glen Mills and see the historic train station at Glen Mills. Santa Express sold out. $20/25   Learn More The Shoulders of Giants Dec 12, 1:30 PM Zoom- registration required Learn about a football pioneer, Frank Kinney Holbrook, from former NFL wide receiver, Quinn Early. Mr. Early produced a short film entitled “The Shoulders of Giants” about the life and career of Frank Holbrook. Q&A afterwards. $10   Learn More *Abraham Lincoln: Assassins on the Run with Roger Arthur Dec 13, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM Zoom- registration required Dive deep into one of the most shocking events in American history: the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. Local historian Roger Arthur will take us through the details surrounding the conspirators, assassination plot, attacks, and escape attempts that followed this infamous crime.