Tredyffrin Easttown Historical Society
History Quarterly Digital Archives


Source: July 1983 Volume 21 Number 3, Pages 108–110


Notes and Comments

Page 108

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"Pictures from Memory's Walls"

"Pictures from Memory's Walls", a poem written by Richard S. MacNamee in 1908, has recently been reprinted in booklet form by the Charlestown Historical Society. The poem is a picture of Charlestown Township and this area of the county, as the author, then fifty years old, "muse[d] o'er the scenes of dear long ago" and the "haunts of my boyhood".

A native of West Chester, MacNamee lived in Charlestown Township for many years. In 1889 he became the principal of the Strafford School in Tredyffrin, the beginning of a quarter of a century of service to its schools. It was largely through his efforts that changes were made in the School Code which made possible the formation of the joint Tredyffrin-Easttown High School in 1908.

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Two Tredyffrin Homes Contest Finalists

Two homes in Tredyffrin Township were among the three finalists in the Diamond Jubilee Homes Competition sponsored by the Chester County Board of Realtors this spring. The contest, held in conjunction with the 75th anniversary of the national realtors organization, was to find "the most representative local home built in 1908".

One of the finalists was the house at 26 E. Circular Avenue in Paoli, built in 1908 for Edward and Anna Dalton. A bungalow-style house, its exterior walls were made from hand-formed cement blocks, while the interior trim is of redwood originally purchased some twenty years earlier for a nearby Victorian house, but never used.

Page 109

The house, constructed on an area of building lots, reflects the migration of families from farms and rural areas into small towns and villages. It is thus representative of the suburban development that was taking place in eastern Chester County at that time.

The second finalist was the "Hatton" house at 1208 Old Lancaster Road in Daylesford (see Volume XX, Number 2 of the Quarterly). It was being built during 1908 by Edward E. Hatton, an uneducated employee of the Pennsylvania Railroad, for himself and his family of thirteen. He built the house himself, despite the lack of any training or special tools, the house becoming "a triumph of common sense and self-reliance that is representative of the truly best in the people in our community". It is thus representative of the "do-it-yourself" homes of that time.

The winner of the contest was "Chesteridge", located on Boot Road in West Whiteland Township. It was built in 1908 as a summer home for Benjamin Rush, the president of the Insurance Company of North America, and was designed in the colonial-revival style by George Bispham Page, an award-winning Philadelphia architect. While it is obviously not a typical family home, it was considered representative of the homes built on the large country estates established throughout the county during this period.

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T-E School District Recognized by Tricentennial

The week of May 1, 1983 to May 7, 1983 was designated "Tredyffrin-Easttown School Week" by the Board of County Commissioners, as part of the Tricentennial program recognizing each of the twelve school districts in Chester County.

In the formal proclamation, the Commissioners noted that the school district "holds the distinction of having established the first joint High School in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania", and also recognized some of the individuals, among them Richard S. MacNamee, David Robbins, S. Paul Teamer, and Mary Wingard, whose early contributions laid the groundwork for the development of today's educational programs.

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Freedoms Foundation Honors Tricentennial Program

The Chester County Tricentennial program was awarded the George Washington Honor Medal by the Freedoms Foundation in ceremonies held in Valley Forge on April 15th.

In commenting on this honor the County Board of Commissioners noted, "The award is both an honor to Chester County and a tribute to its citizens. It is especially meaningful in symbolizing the spirit of volunteerism which was helpful to make the entire Tricentennial celebration such a success. Long after the Tricentennial has drawn to a close, this community spirit and enthusiasm will continue as part of our county's heritage to future generations."

Page 110

The Tredyffrin Easttown History Club is pleased to have been a part of this observance of Pennsylvania's and Chester County' 300th anniversary.

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From the "Local" Fifty Years Ago

May 16, 1933

"It took a Berwyn boy to put Chester County 'on the map' Saturday afternoon. The youth, Wells Supplee, won the Philadelphia Metropolitan Marbles Championship at Kingsessing Recreation Centre, 51st Street and Chestnut Avenue in Philadelphia, succeeding William Cullen of Folsom, Delaware County, who captured last year's title. More than 200 spectators were on hand Saturday as young Supplee, calm and unmoved by the shouts of the audience, fought his way to victory over Richard Greer of Darby, the current Delaware County representative, by a score of 7-5, 4-7, 7-4 and 7-4. Supplee, who was awarded a wrist watch for his victory, will go to Ocean City to represent the district in the national championship. He is a seventh grade pupil at Easttown School and holds the championship of Chester County. His mother and father, Mr. and Mrs. Herman Supplee, were proud spectators. Wells will be accompanied to Ocean City by Francis A. Schlegel, Boys' Secretary at the YMCA here [in West Chester] and county chairman of the annual marble tournament."

 
 

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