Today in Delaware County History, November 4

100 years ago, 1924: Lt. Edmund W. Lunch Camp, No. 94, Department of Pennsylvania, United Spanish War Veterans, will hold their regular meeting this evening in the Riley building, Fifth street. Beginning with the next regular meeting, November 17, Lynch Camp will occupy the spacious headquarters of Hibernia Hall, Edgmont Avenue, above Twelfth.

75 years ago, 1949: The Ford Motor Co. plant. Chester will be able to continue truck and car production through November instead of ceasing operations on November 15, it was announced today by ER Breech, the company’s executive vice president. It had previously been announced that the Chester plant would have to close by the middle of this month due to the coal and steel strikes, resulting in the layoff of around 300 local workers involved in assembly line work.

50 years ago, 1974: Collingdale police arrested four juveniles after a brief chase early today and charged them with vandalizing the home and insurance office of State Rep. Joseph W. Dorsey (R-162) at 400 MacDade Blvd. Borough Police Chief Elmer Andress said the four are Democratic Party workers attending a rally Sunday evening in Springfield for Democratic 7th Congressional District hopeful Rev. Robert W. Edgar of Marple. According to Andress, a storm door on the front of the building was damaged and around 1 p.m., a rock thrown through a window also broke a neon sign.

25 years ago, 1999: Thornbury supervisors last night approved a conditional use application for the Hawthorne Subdivision, a 37,415-acre housing development with 18 lots at Locksley and Slitting Mill roads. The tract extends through Thornbury and Edgmont townships. The developer must verify the location of the lots and an on-site sewage system. The soil is being tested for its ability to handle the system, Supervisor George Morley said. At a hearing in August, residents raised concerns about the contamination left by the former owner. Representatives of General Residential Properties Inc., the developer, said soil testing showed no toxins.

10 years ago, 2014: A 2-year-old boy was found in the middle of Wembly Road Monday night while his grandmother, who was babysitting, slept, Upper Darby police said. The toddler was rescued before he was injured, while the 57-year-old was charged with child endangerment. “I guess the moral of the story is grandma shouldn’t be babysitting the baby,” said Police Chief Michael Chitwood. “According to a witness, three cars swerved around the child, narrowly avoiding colliding with the child.” A female driver stopped her vehicle, got out and grabbed the toddler, wrapping him in a blanket before calling 911.

– COLIN AINSWORTH