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The Bulletin Newsletter: August 2026

A bicentennial sign from 1976. Possibly from a business in downtown Chester.
A bicentennial sign from 1976. Possibly from a business in downtown Chester.

Events/Programs:


Delaware County Historical Society (DCHS) brings you the Second Annual Delco Downhill Derby aka The Triple D; a kinetic sculpture derby held on N. Edgmont Street in Media, PA on Saturday September 26th (Delco's and DCHS' Birthday!) The top prize winner will of course be immortalized in Delco history with their name carved into the famed William Penn stump of 1682!


The Triple D will be from noon to five pm and will feature stunning creations from folks all over the Delco community. Join us for a fun filled day of racing, creativity, and community! See you on the derby track!


$25.00 registration fee to participate. Free and Open to the public to attend, rain or shine. Register here: Registration Form-Delco Downhill Derby DCHS


Big thanks to our sponsors and supporters:

National Endowment for the Humanities

Mr. Andrew Saul

Media Borough

Wawa Inc:

Visit Media, PA

America 250 Delco

Sun East Federal Credit Union


Thanks to all who came to our Fourth of July Open House!

A display featuring items of Delco history, such as a land survey by John Morton, the William Markham Map of 1681, Lenni Lenape stone tools, and plates used by Lafayette and Washington.
A display featuring items of Delco history, such as a land survey by John Morton, the William Markham Map of 1681, Lenni Lenape stone tools, and plates used by Lafayette and Washington.

History Under the Stars returns in September!

Here's the announced line-up for the Fall 2026 season.

September 9th- Richard Pagano-Sports Legends of Delaware County Museum


September 16th- John Lemon, local historian, Delco sport history.


September 23rd – Walt Cressler, West Chester University: "Educators, Artists, Scientists, & Freedom Fighters: The Flow of History Along Gayley Run"


October 7th-Theresa Napson-Williams, Ph.D. Professor of History at Montco Community College. "African Americans and the fight for a 'more perfect Union': A Brief Historical Overview"


October 14th- Robyn Young, Delco historian, discussing PHMC " Blue" Markers.


Lectures are held at Delco Historical Society

9 W. Front Street, Media, PA

Rain or shine, free and open to the public!


If you miss our lectures, be sure to subscribe to our YouTube Page!

If you can't make it out to our lectures or wish to learn more about Delco history, visit our YouTube! We upload our lecture series, events, and videos on local history!




Sign Up for Delco Volunteers!

Delco Volunteers is a new portal created by America 250 Delco to bring folks from the Delco community together to help find volunteer opportunities. Created as legacy project for America 250, this program helps people connect to organizations and causes that they are passionate about to give back to their neighbors and community. Sign up today and find a volunteer opportunity that you are passionate about! Delco Historical Society has several volunteer opportunities

 available for those with an interest in history!


Click here for more information:




From the Archives:



The oldest newspaper of Delco history in the Delco Historical Collection is this edition of the Post-Boy or Delaware County Union, Vol. 1 No. 8, published on December 24th, 1819. The Post-Boy began publication sometime in 1817, and its slogan was "Intelligence is the Life of Liberty".


Throughout Delco history, there have been a large number of newspaper publications that have come and went, folded or merged with a larger newspaper publishing company. In the Delco Historical Collection alone, we have over a dozen different historical Delco newspapers, ranging from the 19th through the 21st century!


An edition of The Millbourne Observer, Vol. 1 No. 39, March 27, 1909. Note their slogan, "Watch Us Grow" and the first headline is "Last Issue of the "Observer""
An edition of The Millbourne Observer, Vol. 1 No. 39, March 27, 1909. Note their slogan, "Watch Us Grow" and the first headline is "Last Issue of the "Observer""

A remarkable photo from 1915 of the Washington House in Chester near the intersection of Fourth and Market Street. (Today Avenue of the States). The photo was taken on the second floor of the bank building across the street. Even more remarkable, is that in the center of the photo between the two cars, stands Senator William Sproul, four years before he would be elected the 27th governor of Pennsylvania.



The building behind them was built in 1747 and was formerly known as the Pennsylvania Arms and operated as a tavern and hotel. The tavern later became known as the Washington House, after it famously served General George Washington in 1777, after his defeat at the Battle of Brandywine. The Continental Army retreated to Chester to regroup and figure out their counterattack onto Philadelphia after losing to the British. It was here at this location that Washington oversaw the only written report on the Battle of Brandywine to the Continental Congress in Philadelphia. Washington informed them of the Continental defeat and urged Congress to evacuate Philadelphia.



For over two centuries, the building served as a meeting place for politicians like Governor Sproul, shipping magnates like John Roache, and the everyday dock worker in Chester. The building was demolished in 1959 after it fell into disrepair. To learn more, reach out to Delco Historical Society for a research request or stop by for resources and more! Special thanks to our volunteer Yvonne Bradley for their work in scanning this photo collection!


Before the invention of cars or trains, horses were the premier means of travel over long distances. Owning a horse was also a public statement of status, that one had means to own and maintain a horse. Thus, the more horses one could possess the more money they could also potentially earn. Enter horse theft; the age-old practice of stealing one's horses for their own travel or financial gain.



During the 19th century, horse theft was at all-time high. In Delco, folks from rural farming communities responded in-kind by forming groups with missions such as "detecting horse thieves, and the recovery of horses and other stolen property". Pictured here is the printed constitution of the Union Association of Newtown dated from 1835. Right next to it, Delco Historical Society has their original ledger and minutes, including this list of their first paid members.



Other groups formed as well in Haverford, Radnor, Chadds Ford, and even a Delco wide organization in 1885. Horse thievery in Pennsylvania was seen as a low crime, as one would leave their victims abandoned with no way to travel. In 1780, Pennsylvania passed a law called "An Act to Increase the Punishments of Horse Stealing". The punishment called for those caught stealing horses to be branded with an H.T. on their forehead so folks knew what you were accused of.



National Air Mail Week was held during the week of May 15-21, 1938, to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the inauguration of air mail service by the U.S. Post Office department in 1918. James A. Farley, Postmaster General of the United States from 1933 to 1940, presented the idea for a national campaign to help promote and bolster the efficacy of air travel. This wonderful little postcard represents Delco's own role in this historic week of postage.


The cover stamp to the left-hand side was designed by Delco Historical Society's own Chester F. Baker, and approved by Isaac A. Hiroth, the Chester City Postmaster General. The stamp depicts the historic 1724 Chester Courthouse, with a little prop plane flying above it. The flight course is on the right-hand side, from Buckman Airport which was formerly in Upper Chichester to S. Davis Wilson Airport, today's Philadelphia International. The 6-cent Eagle multi-colored air mail stamp was issued for this celebration, and over the week, thousands of Americans sent postcards all over in an effort to share a piece of their hometown with the rest of the country.


Special Thanks to our Partners:

Delaware County Community College

Sports Legends of Delaware County Museum

Media Arts Council

Media Borough

Delaware County Institute of Science

YES, Center of Chester

Rose Valley Historical Society

The Mill at Rockdale

Warehouse 3 in Swarthmore

Media Chapter NAACP

Brandywine Art Museum

America 250 Delco

Visit Media

Greatest Hits Records and Books

Three Potato Four

2SP Brewery


Special Thanks to the DCHS 2026 Sponsors:

Delaware County Council

Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission

Visit Delco!

Philadelphia Funder Collaborative for the Semi-Quincentennial

National Endowment for the Humanities

Delaware County Interactive Gaming Revenue Authority

The Burman Family Charitable Fund-In Memory of Harvey Burman

Mr. Andrew Saul

Dr. John S. Brooks

John and Gail Moore

Wawa Inc.

The Philadelphia Foundation

Sun East Federal Credit Union

McLean Contributionship

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.


Please consider supporting DCHS today by donating or becoming a member. Funding by members and friends help DCHS continue our mission of collecting and preserving Delaware County history and culture and making it available to the community!


 Venmo- @Delcopahistory


You can send a check or money order made out to Delaware County Historical Society, and mail it to our address at: 9 W. Front Street, Media, PA 19063


Links and Contact Information:

Email:

Director, Paul Hewes: outreach@padelcohistory.org

Library and Program Manager, Zach Beaver: research@padelcohistory.org

General Inquires: info@padelcohistory.org 

Phone: 610-750-0622

Address: 9 W. Front Street- Media, PA 19063. Tuesday through Thursday, 10 am to 3pm.


 
 
 

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