Springfield Twp. becomes first class township 100 years ago!!!

 

A early 1920's postcard of Powell Rd. You are standing at Woodland Ave. looking east. Note the dirt road and no people.

Note: many townships and Boros became incorporated or first class in the 1920's. There was a lot of growth and building in Delco 100 years ago. even with all that work a good portion of Delco was still farm country.

CHESTER TIMES 

 July 28, 1923 

 SPRINGFIELD TO BECOME FIRST-CLASS TOWNSHIP 

 Magic Growth of Development and Progress Experienced

          Springfield Township which has been in swaddling clothes so far as a local governing body is concerned since Springfield was Springfield, is known to don the robes of a first-class township.

          Springfield, like Upper Darby Township and other sections in the northeastern section of this county, has felt the magic growth of progress and development, until now it is absolutely that the citizens of the township, take steps to have its own legislative body, for the purpose of making such local laws as provided in the act of assembly which relates to townships of the first-class and which will be the means of better building, health, sanitary and other regulations which commissioners of the townships of the first-class have the power to enact.

          At the September primary election, candidates will be nominated for five commissioners, school directors, constables, township treasurer and other municipal officers.

          Springfield Township being overwhelmingly Republican, naturally, Republicans will fill the offices.  At this time the good citizens of the township are already concerning themselves about the caliber of men and women who shall represent them in the board of commissioners and school board.  The names of men are already being advanced for some of the offices to be filled.

          There is little doubt that the greatest care is being taken by the citizens of Springfield in selecting candidates to represent them in their coming township government.

          It is generally believed that only men of business experience will be selected, because it will take careful business men to govern the rapidly growing township who will have many details to work out which will include the spending of the citizens’ taxes.

          Here are a few names of prominent business men who are being very much talked of at this time for office to represent the new township government and who are being urged to become candidates by the best people of the township:

          Harry C. Marshall, Dr. George C. Speirs, Maltchi S. Pancoast, Joseph S. Keller and A. Ackerman, are much talked of as logical material for commissioners.

          Mr. Marshall is a resident of Rolling and State Road.  He has been a resident of the township for a number of years.  He is a successful business man, and a member of the firm of Marshall Brothers, coffee roasters of Philadelphia.

          Dr. Speirs has been a resident of Springfield for twelve years.  He is conversant with the needs of the township and he is a successful dental surgeon of Philadelphia.

          Mr. Pancoast is a farmer and builder.  He is at present a supervisor of the township, and a lifelong resident of the township.  He has seen the township grow from a sparsely settled farming district until it now has a population of about 2,500.

          Mr. Ackerman is one of the successful business men of the township.  He is also a lifelong resident of the township and at present supervisor.

          Much pressure is being brought to bear on Joseph S. Keller.  Mr. Keller has lived in the township many years.  He is at present a member of the school board.  He is president of the Pratt Food Company.

          It will be seen if the above five men consent to become candidates and be elected to form the first legislative body of the township under its coming form of government.  Springfield’s future as a successful township will be assured.

          William A. Allison, present tax collector is being urged to become the candidate for the township treasurer.  Mr. Allison is a man of ability and careful business judgment.

          Charles G. Cope has been put forward as a candidate for school director to succeed D. Britton Chambers.  Mr. Chambers is a widely known and successful real estate dealer and business man.  Mr. Britton has declined to be a candidate for re-election because of the press of business.  Mr. Britton is a man who has always taken a deep interest in the success of the township’s development and while he will not be a candidate for any office, he will be interested in the future success of the township.