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Historic Views of Nether Providence & Rose Valley

Posted on February 26, 2013 by nphistory

Historic ViewsKeith Lockhart, publisher of the invaluable local history resource delawarecountyhistory.com, has written and given presentations on the history of our county for many years. Keith’s extensive personal collection includes rare publications and hundreds of photographs, many of which he’ll share with us in a presentation on Sunday, March 10th at 2:00 at The Helen Kate Furness Free Library, 100 North Providence Road in Wallingford.
Join us! The program is free and open to the public.

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In the News…One Hundred Years Ago Today

Posted on January 17, 2013 by nphistory
Click image to enlarge.

Click image to enlarge.

In the January 17, 1913 issue of the Chester Times, Mr. Leiper ran an ad for his quarries – urging readers to “build, don’t rent.” You could reach the company by phoning “36-A” if you had a phone (fewer than 10% of households did).

Among that day’s advertisements was one for a dentist, accompanied by a macabre illustration, offering to pull teeth for free! Myers & Brothers apparently earned their living on the replacements: “Good teeth” for $5 and “Gold crowns” for $3. Using an inflation calculator, the buying power of $5 in 1913 would be worth $116 now – quite a bargain for all that dental work! Today, The Myers’ building at 514 Market Street (Avenue of the States) in Chester appears to be unoccupied on the upper floors. The first floor is Lou’s Jewelry and Pawn Shop.

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In the News…Fifty Years Ago Today

Posted on January 17, 2013 by nphistory
17Jan1963

Click image to enlarge.

As reported in the Delaware County Daily Times, the prior evening’s Nether Providence school board meeting had a full agenda. A $290,000 addition to the high school was scheduled to start in 10 days and contracts were announced. The bonds for the project carried a 2.85% interest rate.

Mentioned at the end of the article is an appeal the Board would file against the State Council of Education’s plan to combine Nether Providence school district with Media and Swarthmore-Rutledge districts; the beginning of a process that continued for many years.

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Colonial Christmas Open House

Posted on December 12, 2012 by nphistory

Thomas Leiper HouseThis Sunday, December 16th marks the 30th annual Colonial Christmas Open House at Nether Providence’s Thomas Leiper House. Visit between 1:00 and 5:00 pm to tour rooms decorated for the holidays by local garden clubs: Swarthmore Garden Club, Country Gardeners, Rose Tree Gardeners, Springfield Garden Club, and Providence Garden Club.

Make a stop in the dining room for a piece of birthday cake in honor of Mr. Leiper’s 267th birthday. Additional refreshments will be served, and the repast will be enjoyed with a backdrop of classical guitar music provided by Strath Haven High School student Dean Maola.

The party is free and open to the public (donations for the upkeep of the historic house are always appreciated). After this weekend, the house, located at 521 Avondale Road in Wallingford, will close for the winter with tours resuming in spring.

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A History Old Union United Methodist Church

Posted on May 25, 2012 by nphistory

Old Union ChurchNether Providence Historical Society & Rose Valley Museum and Historical Society present

A History of Old Union United Methodist Church

Methodism, founded in England by John Wesley, arrived in America in 1771 with circuit riders who travelled from town to town, preaching in the open air. Methodist services in Nether Providence began with camp meetings at Hinkson’s Corner as early as 1804. Chartered in 1811, the Church as we see it today was constructed in 1835 when the original 1813 building was replaced. The cemetery predates the first structure. Soldiers of every war since the Revolution are buried there.

Join us in commemorating the long, rich heritage of Old Union as the Church turns the page on a new chapter in its history. Pastor Lori Wagner will talk about the history of Old Union and its cemetery. The Church will hold its last service on Sunday, June 17th.

Sunday, June 10th at 2 pm at Old Union Church

152 West Rose Valley Road, Wallingford

The program is free and open to the public.

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Marquis de Lafayette – Founding Son of the American Revolution

Posted on November 1, 2011 by nphistory

Speaker Gene Pisasale will trace General Lafayette’s arrival in America from France at age 19 and his rise to fame as a trusted member of General Washington’s military staff and his participation in the Battle of Brandywine.

Local historian Gene Pisasale is a member of Chadds Ford Historical Society, American Friends of Lafayette and Friends of Brandywine Battlefield. A lifelong history buff, Pisasale is the author of Lafayette’s Gold – The Lost Brandywine Treasure, an historic novel.

The lecture will take place at the Helen Kate Furness Free Library on Sunday, November 20 at 2:00pm. On display will be two items from the Leiper House’s collection; Mrs. Thomas Leiper’s invitation to a ball held in Lafayette’s honor, and a copy of a letter written by a Leiper relative describing the lavish event.

For more information, visit the Society’s website or its Facebook page.

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A Brief History of Nether Providence

Posted on November 19, 2010 by nphistory

Announcing…A Brief History of Nether Providence
A Brief History of Nether ProvidenceCompiled by Merv Harris and published by the Nether Providence Historical Society, the book traces the history of Nether Providence from its pre-colonial days, through its transition from farming community to suburb.

Join us for the book’s release on Monday, November 29th at 7:00 pm at the Helen Kate Furness Free Library.

Books will be available for purchase and Merv will be on hand to sign your copy.
If you can’t make it to the event, the books will be on sale at Furness Library and at Nether Providence Township Building.

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Welcome!

Posted on January 11, 2010 by nphistory

Welcome to History Notes, the online newsletter of the Nether Providence Historical Society. We hope you’ll check back frequently, or better yet subscribe to our newsletter by clicking the link in the left column.

We intend for this to be an interactive newsletter, so feel free to comment, correct and contribute. If you have an idea for an article or would like to contribute an article, just send an email to nphistory@verizon.net.

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