In the midst of the greatest maelstrom this country had ever witnessed, one event stood above the rest, warranting special recognition for its importance. Two armies totaling 160,000 men met in combat in the small crossroads town of Gettysburg from July 1 through 3, 1863. The aftermath was staggering: 51,000 total casualties, the bloodiest conflict of the Civil War. Due to the magnitude of the…
Back in 1872, President Ulysses S. Grant had a good idea: preserve a beautiful tract of land forever as a national park. He called it Yellowstone. Over the past 140 years, hundreds of areas on the national, state and local level have become protected so we can experience the treasures of nature away from the noise and bustle of downtown congestion. Chester County has several…
When Red Hamer started working for The Evening Bulletin, Dwight Eisenhower was in the White House, Mickey Mantle hit 42 home runs for the Yankees and Ken Rosewall was dominating tennis courts around the world. Rosewall’s pursuit happened to be Red’s favorite sport. Hamer became a full-time professional sports writer in 1958 after having been a local tennis star himself. Covering other sports at the…
Who would ever think that an orange, strange-looking squash would generate both an unofficial holiday and a multi-billion dollar industry? Over many decades, the ritual of Halloween with carved pumpkins, masks and spooky outfits has become one of the most celebrated events on our fall calendar. The common pumpkin — Cucurbita pepo — is native to North America, the oldest evidence from seeds dating back…
Two world-changing events occurred on the same date separated by 224 years. One was the Battle of the Brandywine, the largest military engagement in America up until the Civil War. The latter one was an act of lunacy by terrorists that shocked the world. Both have earned an important place in our heritage. Although nearly 12 years have passed since the attack on Sept. 11,…
The Philadelphia area played an important part in the Industrial Revolution. Pennsylvania was the only one of the original 13 colonies that had the critical resources — coal, iron ore, lumber and petroleum — in abundance. During the early years of our industrial development, canals were important as a means of moving raw materials and finished goods to areas of commerce. Because heavy loads could…
This year is an important one for Civil War buffs —it is the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg, the Battle of Vicksburg and the Gettysburg Address. Despite the release of thousands of books and numerous movies over the last few decades, this devastating conflict continues to fascinate Americans. Notwithstanding the roughly 600,000 casualties, billions of dollars of property damage and families being torn…
The village of Landenberg has seen many enterprising characters settling in the region once inhabited by the Lenni-Lenape Indians. William Penn directed surveyor Henry Hollingsworth to lay out a plot of land for Penn’s children in 1699. From an original plan of 35,000 acres, William Penn Jr. received a patent for his land in May 1706. Approximately 8,913 acres of this plot became New Garden…
Pennsylvania was blessed with an abundance of natural resources which helped fuel the Industrial Revolution. Of the original 13 colonies, only the Keystone State had the critical building blocks — coal, iron ore, timber and petroleum — in abundance, leading the nation in the production of raw materials for 100 years, from 1820 to 1920. Chester County has held an important place in this heritage.…
“A horse! My kingdom for a horse!” --King Richard, in Shakespeare’s play “Richard III” When most people think of horses, images of sprinting stallions and the wild west come to mind. The scenic rolling hills of Chester County have been home to many horse breeders, trainers and riding enthusiasts for decades. Made popular in films like “Stagecoach” with cowboys galloping into the…
The 27th annual Candlelight Christmas tour ushers in the holiday season on Dec. 1 from 1-6 p.m. with visits to distinctive homes and historic sites in the village of Marshallton and its environs. Nine festively decorated private homes — most built in the 18th and 19th centuries and nine historic sites in and around Marshallton will be open. The tour is self-guided with directions and…