This year marks the 75th anniversary of the incorporation of the Borough of Chester Heights. On August 6, 1945, a petition was submitted to Delaware County requesting the incorporation of a new borough to be called Chester Heights. The petition contained 108 signatures, representing the majority of property owners within the boundaries of the new borough. Prior to its incorporation, Chester Heights had been a part of Aston Township. The first organizing meeting of the borough took place on January 7, 1946.

Chester Heights Moments in History
Wawa Corporation
In 1890, George Wood purchased 1000 acres in the area of Chester Heights and imported Guernsey cows to start Wawa Dairy Farm. Initially the business delivered bottled milk to households throughout the area. In the 1960s, the company started establishing convenience stores that have expanded to over 900 stores in the Mid-Atlantic region, Virginia, and Florida. The Wawa headquarters remains in Chester Heights and is the largest employer in the borough.

Chester Heights Moments in History continues with Hamanassett History in Pictures. Here is a photo of the home in 1875.

The flooding we've experienced throughout the area has us reaching back to a not-to-distant moment in history here in CHB. Sept 11th-13th of 1971 Delaware County experienced record-breaking flooding stressing and breaking the Lenni dam a few days later. The curious thing is that the dam was just under review by the council for removal. We've compiled a few links for you to dive back into history. We'd love to hear your stories in the comments.

In 1983 The Delaware County Planning Department with the help from Robin DiCampi, Anna Dickson, Carl Chandler, Ciro Iannucci, and local home owners put together a Historic Resources Survey for Chester Heights. We’ve already highlighted a few of the homes in the list throughout the last few months. The image this week is that of # 50 on the list.
This concludes our weekly moments in history as we say goodbye to summer and jump into the new school year. We hope you’ve enjoyed a peak back in time. Happy 75th CHB!

In the early 1870s, a group of Methodist Episcopal clergymen in Philadelphia suggested establishing an excursion site in the countryside for the religious and social use of their congregations. They required that the location be easily accessible by railway from Philadelphia. In 1872, they purchased 148 acres in what is now Chester Heights (then Aston) and chartered the Philadelphia Camp Meeting and Excursion Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church, later known as the Chester Heights Camp Meeting. In the first year, the camp meeting hosted 17,915 people. In the years that followed, a post office, train station, and other businesses were established to support the number of excursions held at the camp meeting location. Between 1874 and the early 1900s small cottages were built to accommodate attendees. The Chester Heights Camp Meeting continues to be active and the site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Just in time for Independence Day let's remember our humble connection to the Battle of Brandywine. On September 11, 1777, the longest single-day battle of the American Revolution was fought near Chadds Ford. Known today as the Battle of Brandywine, it was a defeat for the Continental Army against the British army’s march toward Philadelphia, the capital of the new United States. On the evening following the battle several scattered American soldiers gathered in the area of what is now Chester Heights. They found shelter in the outbuildings along Logtown Road, now known as Valleybrook Road, as they made their way back to Chester.

Chester Heights Moments in History - This photo was taken at the Rosehill private school for individuals with special needs in 1938, a year after Mr. William Fager became the owner-director.

Ms. Carol Fager his daughter-in-law kindly shared it with us along with a few other photos that can be found on our website.

Chester Heights Moments in History - The Drayton House Legacy. In 1891, George Drayton of Chester Heights, a Prohibitionist made his bid for State Treasurer on a Third Party Ticket.

St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church has the distinction of being Pennsylvania’s oldest Catholic parish. Founded in 1729, St. Thomas first met at the home of Thomas Wilcox in Concord. Having outgrown the chapel at the Wilcox mansion, the parish began construction of a new church in 1852 in what is now Chester Heights. Bishop John Neumann, who was later canonized in 1977, blessed the cornerstone of the new church building. St. Thomas parish has continued to grow throughout its nearly 300-year history. Mass is now held in a larger church built in 1991, near where the 1852 church still stands.

Today we are sharing with you a picture from March 23rd, 1909, taken during the Lima Fox Hunt on the Hamanassett Estate in what is now Chester Heights. Click on the link to learn about the Hunt, including a few new pictures we have to share with you courtesy fo the Dohan Family. We are grateful to them and to Mr. and Mrs. Mon for teaching us a thing or two about the history of their home. We'll be sharing more about Hamanassett in the near future.

Chester Heights Moments in History 1920 On July 7th, 1920 in the early morning hours traveling on US Route 1 from Washington to New York through what is now Chester Heights, a "well-lubricated" Babe Ruth driving his brand new Packard at a fair clip flipped it onto its roof. The injured Ruth and company walked a few hundred yards to the historic Chamberlain- Pennell house where the owners Mr. and Mrs. Coates Coleman recognized him and tended to his injuries. Ruth and his traveling party are said to have left around 5:00am catching the 5:34am train to New York.

Moments in History. There are many who will remember the moment CHB doubled their population and the controversy that surrounded Village of Valleybrook. What once was controversial development has become an integral part of our town. After considerable trouble throughout the construction process. CHB gained 264 new households, new neighbors, and a place we all love to visit especially on Halloween when the Village of Valleybrook fills with families and laughter, lights and smiles, candy, and friends. Thank you to Charlie Larkin and Betsy Dotts for sharing their personal photos and stories with us so we can share them with you.