Joseph Walker : “Delaware County History July 6: Significant Events in the Past”

100 Years Ago, 1924:

Joseph Walker, a 15-year-old resident of McCormick Avenue in Ridley Park, suffered a severe injury to his right hand on Friday evening. The incident occurred while he was playing with a dynamite cap in celebration of the Fourth of July. Walker attempted to detonate the dynamite cap by striking it with a rock. When the cap did not explode despite multiple attempts, he decided to pick it up, resulting in a sudden explosion that caused the loss of the ends of four fingers on his right hand. He was promptly transported to Taylor Hospital, where he received medical treatment for his injuries.

75 Years Ago, 1949:

The temperature soared to a scorching 100 degrees on Tuesday, matching the record set in 1919. The oppressive heat wave led to two fatalities in the county, with two additional individuals suffering from heat exhaustion and receiving treatment at Chester Hospital. A severe electrical storm swept through the Chester area around midnight, causing significant damage. The storm triggered seven fires in various locations, keeping fire crews occupied throughout the night and resulting in injuries to three firefighters.

50 Years Ago, 1974:

A sudden and violent summer thunderstorm swept through Delaware County on a Friday afternoon. The strong winds caused trees to topple onto power lines, causing a temporary blackout at Taylor Hospital in Ridley Park. Lightning struck a church and a doctor’s office in Marple, while rain interacting with chlorine crystals produced a hazardous gas that affected eight individuals at Paxon Hollow Country Club in Marple, leading to their hospitalization. Fortunately, only one person required admission for further treatment.

25 Years Ago, 1999:

Responding to a petition from concerned parents of Glenolden School students, the Interboro School Board agreed to hire an additional teacher and open a fourth third-grade class starting in September. Earlier, the district had recruited third-grade teachers at Prospect Park and Norwood following funding from the federal Class Size Reduction Initiative program. However, parents highlighted that the class size of 28 students at Glenolden was significantly higher than that of other schools in the district, prompting the board to take action.

10 Years Ago, 2014:

Exciting development projects were proposed at the western entrance of Media, potentially transforming the appearance and perception of the county seat. Representatives from Cornerstone Communities and Arcadia Land Co., including David Della Porta and Jason Duckworth, presented plans for a four-story, 150-unit apartment building on the south side of Baltimore Pike near Brooke Street. Additionally, a complementary project featuring 22 townhouses on the north side of Baltimore Pike close to State Street was also discussed. The positive feedback received from the council members at the July work session indicated a promising future for these projects.

— COLIN AINSWORTH