The Bulletin Newsletter: January 2025

A hand drawn survey by Wm. Vaughn dated 1745. The land was in Marcus Hook near Chichester Creek (today possibly East Branch of Naamans).

Events and Programming:

Courtesy of the Sports Legends of Delco Museum in Radnor.

Happy New Year Delco! We are back with a new exhibit courtesy of the Sports Legends of Delaware County Museum, highlighting the life, career and military service of Delco sports legend Paul Arizin (1928-2006). Arizin served during the Korean War and made his career in the NBA as a small forward with the Philadelphia Warriors, played in ten All-Star Games, and was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1978.

Come by our location at 9 W. Front Street in Media to see our new display and to learn more about Arizin and other Delco sports legends and history. Thanks to the support provided from the Burman Family Charitable Fund to help DCHS display aspects of local history from the DCHS collection in collaboration with our local archival and sister institutions.

Delaware County Historical Society

9 W. Front Street, Media PA 19063

Hours: Tuesday through Thursday, 10 am to 3 pm.

Free and open to the public

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service:

DCHS will have a table at the MLK Day of Service at the Chester Cultural Arts and Technology Center (CAAT) in Chester on Monday January 19. In collaboration with the YES Center and the MLK Commemorative Committee of Chester & Vicinity, DCHS will have a table to highlight the history of Dr. King’s time at Crozer Theological Seminary. On display DCHS will feature a plaque from Dr. King’s room at Crozer Seminary, a book about his time there, and several photos of the seminary building.

2026 serves as the 75^th anniversary of Dr. King’s graduation from Crozer Seminary, a significant milestone in his life. The day will serve as a meaningful way to celebrate Dr. King’s life and provide and educational service to the Delco community.

Click here to learn more about the CAAT Center: Chester Cultural Arts & Technology Center

We the People Party! January 9th, 2026:

DCHS will be present at the We the People Party!

Get your tickets today for the official launch of America250PADelco. Join us as we celebrate the milestone year of 2026 in style on Friday January 9th at the Valley Forge Military College in Wayne. Tickets are still available.

Get your tickets here: 'We the People’ Delco Semiquin Kick Off Party - America250PADelco

Save the Date: April 18th-2nd Annual Delco Historical Conference!

The Second Annual Delco Historical Conference brings together the historic non-profits, historians, and historic groups of the Delaware Valley together to network and to foster community. The conference serves as both a casual and academic gathering to bring together local archivists. Presentations from local groups and historians are presented, with an emphasis on preservation techniques and how to better promote and protect local history. The next conference is scheduled for April 18^th, 2026, and will be held in collaboration with the Rose Valley Historical Society. More details TBA. This is an invite only event!

New Videos on our YouTube!

We have updated our YouTube page featuring videos from some of our lectures in 2025, our Delco Downhill Derby highlight reel and a portion of the Alex G performance from our Delco Summer Social!

Check out it out here: Delaware County Historical Society - YouTube

From the Archives:

A photo of the Plush Mill Bridge collapse near Baltimore Pike in 1920. The Plush Mill Bridge collapsed November 12,1920, when a truck carrying too much weight crashed through.

A deed to Abraham and Elizabeth Hoopes of Edgmont, dated November 10th, 1789, just six weeks after the creation of Delaware County. This may be one of the earliest documents of its kind that first uses "County of Delaware" in an official capacity.

Two silver tablespoons and two dessert spoons marked "Flavill", made by J. Ladomus of Chester. Made prior to 1876. Donated from the estate of Jane P. Baker. These spoons are made from "coin-silver" an alloy melted from silver coins.

Special Thanks to our Partners:

Delaware County Community College

Sports Legends of Delaware County Museum

Willows Park and Preserve

Media Arts Council

Media Borough

Delaware County Institute of Science

YES, Center of Chester

The Mill at Rockdale

Warehouse 3 in Swarthmore

Elwyn Inc.

America 250 Delco

Visit Delco

Visit Media

Greatest Hits Records and Books

Three Potato Four

Ship Bottom Brewery

Special Thanks to the DCHS 2025 Sponsors:

Delaware County Council

Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission

Philadelphia Funder Collaborative for the Semi-Quincentennial

Delaware County Interactive Gaming Authority

The Burman Family Charitable Fund

Mr. Andrew Saul

Visit Delco!

The Philadelphia Foundation

Anthony Makowski and Elise Brand

PECO/Exelon

2SP Brewing Company

Burmans Health Shop

Oliver HVAC

Entrepreneur Works!

Delco Gives!

S.R. Rosati Inc.

Riddle Village

Arasapha Farms

Welcome Society of PA

Jandzio Excavating

Media Cemetery Company

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!

 https://www.padelcohistory.org/support

 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:

DCHS Website: Delaware County Historical Society (padelcohistory.org)

Follow DCHS on Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/padelcohistory

Follow DCHS on Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/padelcohistory/

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.