Chester county was one of the three original pennsylvania counties created by william penn in 1682. Choose the decade you are interested in from the dropdown menu, then choose the date or dates that interest you. The chester county historical society also jointly administers the. Walking tour of west chesters downtown historical landmarks april 5 2018.
The courthouse was used by the delaware county historical society until 1966 when. Nov 05, 2019 west chester racism is a part of the boroughs history just like the warner theater and the historic courthouse are. Collection of photographs taken by the west chester camera club members ned goode and melvin gurtizen of the festivities celebrating 150 years of west chester borough history. Biographical directory of the united states congress. Macelree, west chester, pa 1918 chester county and its people, w. A history of east bradford township, chester county, pathe story of n.
Includes parades, beauty pageants, costume promenade, model airplane contest, historical displays and decorations in the borough and other events. The judges hear a wide spectrum of cases, including adult and juvenile criminal prosecutions, lawsuits involving money or property, divorce, custody disputes, child support issues, adoptions. The first biography of abraham lincoln was published in the borough. On june 28, 2000, the township became known as west chester when residents voted to approve the name change. Valley forge, the brandywine battlefield, longwood gardens, marsh creek state park, and other historical attractions are nearby. Over 10,000 photographs documenting architecture, landscape and events. The chester county historical society located in downtown west chester can explain all of the unique history of this county and how west chester came to be. These records are filed with the recorder of deeds office in west chester, pennsylvania. County of chester 3 west market street west chester, pa 19380 6103446000 contact us.
The history center includes a museum, library, photo archives, and museum shop. As of the 2010 census, the population was 498,886, increasing by 5. Today, the building serves as the local office of state senator andy dinniman. Birth, death and marriage records from various unofficial sources, 18041838 chester county pennsylvania state archives. Brandwyine taken by wilmer worthington macelree for his series of books. The design guidelines for the west chester historic districtare intended to be used as a community tool to assist property owners and harb members in an informed cooperative effort to protect the historical character of downtown west chester. The first biography of abraham lincoln instrumental in his eventual election to the presidency, was published in the lincoln building on west market street in 1860.
In 1993 the department moved to its current home in the government services center on westtown road. Chester county courthouse, west chester, pennsylvania. Chester county, pa official website official website. In 1789, the chester county seat was moved to west chester, pennsylvania and the.
Walter also designed the dome of the united states capitol. The chester courthouse is a historic courthouse in chester, pennsylvania, the former county. Alice thomas gives a firsthand account of racism in west. The history of west chester goes back to the 1700s, when settlers first trickled westward from the eastern seaboard to build log cabins in what was then still pristine forest. The large tower was taken off and replaced to look original note. History of west chester, pennsylvania history west. It is an engaging, wellwritten and documented record of three centuries of growth in an area which has always provided leadership for america, both in men and ideas. The chester county archives is closed to the public until further notice. Apr 05, 2018 a trolley line would eventually make its way past the corner connecting west chester to downingtown and coatsville. The county would provide the space for the archives while the historical. Aug 25, 2015 the county justice center is separate from, and two blocks west of, the historic chester county courthouse, designed by thomas u. Exploring historic west chester cheese plates and room. West chester books is an independent dealer in rare and antiquarian books located in historic chester county, pennsylvania. West chester, chester county, pa delaware valley regional.
West chester racism is a part of the boroughs history just like the warner theater and the historic courthouse are. Find 58 listings related to chester county courthouse in west chester on. It now stands as the historic courthouse of chester county becoming one of walters greatest architectural achievements and west chesters iconic structure. He lectured extensively on many different topics concerning chester county and also authored potters and potteries of chester county in 1945, chester county clocks and their makers in 1947, and covered bridges of chester county in 1976.
Walter, who designed the united states capitol, was commissioned to build several important buildings he designed the chester county courthouse, horticultural hall currently the headquarters for the chester county historical society, the bank of chester county, and several churches. Chester county court of common pleas the court of common pleas of chester county is a general jurisdiction trial court located in west chester, pennsylvania. West chester friends school opens at the west chester monthly meeting house on north high street, in the neighborhood known as quaker hill. All issues of the yearbook until 2008 are available in a digitized format on internet archive. With the development of west chester, renowned architect thomas u. Stay with us and walk to over 65 restaurants, dozens of shops, art. Hall is the president judge of the court of common pleas of chester county. Chester county pa legal practitioners to 1960, robert e. Chester county historical societysouth carolina chester. In 1911, the name of the publication changed to the serpentine, which has remained the title of the annual publication into the present day.
The chester county courthouse is a historic courthouse building located in the county seat of west chester, chester county, pennsylvania. Wcu digital collections west chester university of. Chester county, pennsylvania genealogy familysearch wiki. The photograph collection consists of over 100,000 images from the 1840s to the 1990s documenting the people, architecture, landscape and events in chester county, pennsylvania. The chester county courthouse is one of several thomas u.
Other locations like the american helicopter museum and educational center and the west chester railroad offer. It is the oldest continuously operating school in the borough. Other locations like the american helicopter museum and educational center and the west chester railroad offer experiences only available in west chester. Jim jones of the west chester university department of history, students of his his480 computer methods in historical research classes and other volunteers using data provided by the chester county historical society, the west chester university library. To oversee perpetual care of the chester courthouse and academy. The borough of west chester is the county seat of chester county, pennsylvania,1 united states. Historic museum commission took over the ownership and responsibility of the 1724 courthouse in the 1970s. The chester county historical society also jointly administers the county archives see above. A pictorial history is more than a social history of a county. This history is presented in a free ebook chester county and its people edited by wilmer w. Its a unique, and often overlooked historic gem, not to mention a pretty cool neighbor. Tscheschter kaundi, colloquially known as chesco, is a county in the u.
One of the nations first railroads was built in west chester in 1832, and a prominent courthouse, designed by thomas u. Chester county historical society the history center 225 n. Genealogical charts birth, marriage and death certificates at the chester county historical society, west chester, pennsylvania family history library list of marriages recorde sic in the clerks records that have taken place in goshen friends meeting house orthocox from 1814 to 1889 family history library. The history of chester county, the fastestdeveloping county in pennsylvania, is revealed by the uses of the land through the years, from the agriculture and industries of the nineteenth century to the specialty agriculture and service industries of today. The chester county courthouse is a historic courthouse building. West chester six walking tours book by bruce mowday. The town itself was founded in the latter part of the century and elevated to borough level in 1799. The collection is divided into the following divisions, and can be searched through inventories, indexes and in. Chester county courthouse, west chester borough, chester. Over the years i have borrowed a copy from the chester co library to explore at my leisure at home. Philadelphia, bucks, and chester were the three pennsylvania counties initially created by william penn on august 24, 1682.
Enjoy our downtown location, gracious hospitality, stunning rooms and the historic charm of downtown west chester, footsteps from our door. Chester county book company, west chester, pennsylvania. Alice thomas gives a firsthand account of racism in west chester in. Making extensive use of archival photographs, the author deftly weaves the story of westchester s growth and development over 200 plus years.
It was listed on the national register of historic places on june 5, 1972, and loc. Chester county courthouse, 10 north high street, west. The present courthouse in the town of chester was the third in town and was built in 1852. April 5, 2018 malcolm johnstone for a video tour, click on historical landmarks, produced by west chester prime and directed by johnathan ashton. Roney williamson and constructed from indiana limestone, was added in 1893. Mission of the chester shade historical association. At that time, chester countys borders were philadelphia county to the north, the illdefined western edge of the colony approximately the susquehanna river to the west, the delaware river to the east, and delaware and maryland to the south. The history of west chester, pennsylvania, began in 1762, when phineas eachus and chest weaterson were issued a license to build a tavern. The office of the westchester county clerk is home to millions of land and legal records, many of which can be accessed online from your home or office.
Historic milestones of west chester, chester county. Jul 20, 2018 fig west chester fig connects people with local shopping, dining, arts and entertainment, organizations, services, and events. We assist collectors and estates in liquidating books, including collections and single volumes. The guidelines provide an analysis of what is special about the historic. The county justice center is separate from, and two blocks west of, the historic chester county courthouse, designed by thomas u. History of northampton, lehigh, monroe, carbon, and schuylkill counties. Jim jones of the west chester university department of history, students of his his480 computer methods in historical research classes and other volunteers using data provided by the chester county historical society, the west chester university library, and the chester county archives. Chester county visits the landscape and community that has endeared generations of residents. The 1st chester county archives was in the basement of the mosteller annex of the courthouse, where the records. West chester downtown foundation and west chester historic preservation awards presented the chester county commissioners with a west chester historic preservation plaque commemorating the rehabilitation and restoration of the interior of the courthouse. The chester 1724 courthouse and new book baltimore pike in concordville looking east toward media about 1935.
One of the nations first railroads was built in west chester in 1832, and a prominent courthouse. Of course, this information is a compiled book similar to popular books of the mid 1800s to early 1900s. It was built in the early 2000s, and opened in 2007. Design guidelines for the west chester historic district.
On july 4, 1846, the cornerstone for a new courthouse, designed by thomas u. Books were very expensive, and attorneys needed books. He wrote four local history books that include a history of birmingham township. He wrote four local history books that include a history of birmingham township, chester county, pa. Chester county courthouse, 10 north high street, west chester, chester county, pa. Walter, was laid as construction began that would replace the first courthouse of 1786. It is very difficult to photocopy a page in the book. James collection chester county historical society. The chester county historical society is dedicated to the preservation of chester county history, and in promoting historical tourism by displaying the artifacts, and the history of, chester county, south carolina.
Now owned by wells fargo, the first bank building is the oldest commercial structure in west chester operating in the capacity for which it was built. Searching for a land document such as a deed, mortgage or satisfaction of mortgage. He lectured extensively on many different topics concerning chester county and also authored potters and. See more ideas about chester county, brandywine valley and chester. The hotel warner is the best hotel in west chester, pa. In 1784, west chester was established with the development of a grid map, made up of 32 parcels, in what is now the heart of downtown west chester. See more ideas about chester, chester county and brandywine valley. Thanks to the sharples separator works, west chester became a major industrial town at the turn of the. Jan, 2017 west chester books is an independent dealer in rare and antiquarian books located in historic chester county, pennsylvania. History of the chester county archives chester county, pa. Fig west chester fig connects people with local shopping, dining, arts and entertainment, organizations, services, and events. New book on westchester history westchester county. History of chester county, pennsylvania, with genealogical.
The 1st chester county archives was in the basement of the mosteller annex of the courthouse, where the records storage area was separated from the public. Chester was one of seven counties created in 1785 from the old camden judicial district. Chester county, pennsylvania genealogy familysearch. The west chester state normal school published the first yearbook, the pathfinder, in 1910. For more about the history of this area, see the history of union township butler county, ohio by virginia shewalter. Walking tour of west chesters downtown historical landmarks. Other historic buildings include the chester county courthouse, built in 1848 and the first bank of chester county built in 1837. It would be anchored by the first courthouse and a smattering of businesses that. Walter was the architect for girard college in philadelphia and was responsible for adding two wings and a cast iron dome to the capitol of the united states in the midnineteenth century. West chester towns of the philadelphia countryside. A history, by field horne, with over 225 illustrations 110 in full color, is the first comprehensive story of the county to be published in 40 years.
Chester county courthouse west chester, pennsylvania. James graduated from westtown friends school in 1915 and penn state. You may view land records including deeds going back to 1680 and mortgages recorded as far back as 1950. Situated in the rolling hills of south carolinas eastern piedmont, chester is bounded on the east by the catawba river and on the west by the broad river. As chester countys county seat, west chester has a strong political history. There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county. At fig, we envision a different kind of media messageone that energizes a thriving, sustainable local economy and revitalizes the community. Alice thomas gives a firsthand account of racism in west chester in her new book. Eightynineyearold alice thomas has written an autobiography.
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