Friday, January 28, 2022

95 years ago Delco had 995 Farms!! Imagine that!! My own History Blog!!

 

The above picture is a farmers driveway in Newtown Square. LOL JUST KIDDING!!! This is Providence Rd. aka Route 252 about a 1/4 of a mile south of West Chester Pike aka Route 3. You are looking south toward Media.


Note: Hello everyone !! This is my first history blog since the Delco  Times newspaper let me go. I will be posting more events and pictures etc. Hope all of you will like my blog!!



CHESTER TIMES – July 26, 1926 

 996 FARMS ARE IN THIS COUNTY 



Have Acreage of 61,426 and 3354 Persons Reside On Them

          Delaware County has 996 farms with a total acreage of 64,425 and 3354 persons living on them, according to statistics contained in the Pennsylvania state triennial farm census, which was taken in 1924 for the first time, the figures of which were made public today by F. P. Willits, secretary of agriculture, Harrisburg.

          The Pennsylvania triennial farm census was authorized by the act of April 26, 1921.  Under the provisions of the act, the state Department of Agriculture bears all the costs of printing, tabulating, compiling and disseminating the census information, while the individual counties bear the cost of collecting the data.

          The census was taken in the autumn of 1924, enumerating the crops and livestock as of the time of the assessor’s visit.  The federal census began December 1, 1924, covering the crop season of 1924, enumerating the crops and livestock as of the time of the assessor’s visit.  The federal census began December 1, 1924, covering the crop season of 1924 and enumerating the livestock and all other farm items as of the first of January 1925.  The effect of the different dates of enumeration is reflected principally in the number of swine, the state census being taken before slaughtering season for the federal after this.

          The farm population of 3354 is divided as follows:  Males, 7173; females, 1641.  The operators are classed as owners, 809; tenants, 187.  The winter wheat acreage is given as 2289; rye, 163, oats, 1736; corn (for grain),m 5418; (silage), 1158; buckwheat, 27; potatoes, 933; all tame hay, 9503; alfalfa, 2103; number of apple trees (bearing age), 28,322; (non-bearing), 18,651; horses (all ages), 2484; mules, 151; cows (two years old and over), 5747; bulls and all other cattle, 894; number all other cattle all ages, 1132.

          Steers fattened past winter, 128; swine, 7406; sheep (all ages), 1145; hens and pullets, 91,906; beehives, 477; silos, 218; tractors, 1258; automobiles, 791; motor trucks, 382; farms equipped with electricity (individual plant), 117; central plant, 258; radios, 253.

          Under the caption, “Facts Concerning the Census,” the Department of Agriculture has the following to say about the cooperation of those who assisted in the gathering of the facts:

          “The census work was new, of course, to the assessors, and its importance was probably not fully realized by all of them; but the, together with the county commissioners and the 200,000 farms of Pennsylvania, have earned full commendation for the fine spirit of cooperation in the census.  On the whole it represents a splendid piece of work and lays the foundation for getting more reliable and trustworthy reports in each successive triennial farm census, the next one of which is to be taken in 1927.”


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Heritage Commission Preservation Awards

Call for Nominations

The Heritage Commission traditionally sponsors the Annual Preservation Awards each May during National Preservation Month.  Awards are bestowed to those who have contributed to retaining and maintaining our County’s heritage through a construction project, a special program or project, a planning effort, or a publication. Additional awards are granted to an individual and young person who has contributed significantly to our heritage. The Leedom B. Morrison Award recognizes a construction or special project in Chester City. The legacy award recognizes a long-term business in a historic resource.

The Call for Nominations for 2022 Awards is active now. Submissions are due by 4 pm on February 25, 2022.

Click here for more information and the registration form

 

Rockdale Memorial Day Parade needs your help!

The Rockdale Memorial Day Parade has been going on since 1881 but is in danger of going away due to Covid related financial difficulties, along with a decline in membership of Vets.

A newly formed non-profit, Board driven, entity has offered to work with the VFW members and oversee all finances and logistics of the Rockdale Memorial Day Parade moving forward. Find out more and help donate here.

They're also looking for a fife and drum corps to march, so if you have a contact, let Dave know (contact details on the GoFundMe page)

 

America 250 PA Delco

America250PADelco is an official partner to America250PA. Help celebrate over 250 years of American history in Delaware County! The America250PADelco committee is an official county partner to America250PA, and is looking for organizations and individuals to help commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Our mission is to engage all Delaware County residents in the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence by providing and supporting experiences, now through 2026, that ignite imaginations, elevate diverse stories, inspire service, and  highlight the American founding and 250 years of American history through Delco’s unique lens.

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Website    Email: info@america250padelco.org

 

DCHPN Survey

We would like to start having DCHPN meetings again, and would like to arrange one for early next year to discuss Heritage Tourism, America250 and other things. There is also an opportunity for a Website workshop from Penn State Brandywine. Please fill out this survey about both of these opportunities. 

 

Delco Heritage Tourism

If you are with a Delaware County Historical Organization, you may have received a survey by the Heritage Tourism Task Force about Heritage Tourism in Delaware County. This survey is for all organizations that host events and/or have sites to visit so that Visit Delco, PA can help promote your group, including free marketing materials and photos. Please fill it out as soon as you can. https://arcg.is/1Knzim is the link to the survey. Fill out one survey per site and/or organization (so if you are responsible for two sites, fill it out twice). Thanks!

 


1 comment:

  1. Yes, I can imagine this, as the photo shown looks like the familiar landscape of my childhood, as we traveled to my grandma's farm in Cataraugus County, NY. That is, except for the poles carrying 50 lines apiece! This area stayed "farmy" until the building-binge of the 1990s. The west side of Providence Road is at the northern corner of Ridley Creek State Park; the east side of Providence now has a cul-de-sac of mini-mansions with generously sized yards. But my oh my what a change on Rt.3 in those parts west of Reese's Run!

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