NOTE: Long time Media resident, V. Gilpin Robinson gave a talk in the 1920's on Media in the 1860's. A fun look back.
“I came to Media when I was 16 years of age and have been more or less interested in the borough ever since. I was born in 1851, and Media was here one year before I was, and I am sure, that Media is lustier than I am, although we are about the same age. Media has had a slow growth, but I will endeavor to tell you something of the early days.
“In back of the present jail site in those days was a tract in which each year camp meetings were held, and was the means of bringing many persons from the county who came to see the colored people ‘get religion.’ We also had lyceums on the tract, and I recall making a reputation for myself by delivering a recitation of a patriotic nature before the public at the lyceum.
“At that time the feature of the town was the court house and jail. Media had been made the county seat. I recall at Front and Monroe Streets an old building known as the Continental. This building was later the site of the Shortlidge Academy. Previous to this, however, the row of buildings had been used as a poorhouse. When the almshouse was moved to Lima, the row of houses was sold to Aaron Jones, a noted character, and the location became a great nuisance, fighting any disorder being in evidence, and I recall an attempted murder, which was a sensational trial in this county.
“The public road at that time came in over a section off what is now Washington Street, and came in at the Continental. The principal hotel at that time was the Chestnut Grove House, which was well patronized and a popular roadhouse. Later H. Jones Brooke conducted one of the most celebrated schools in the country and young women from all over the country attended, among whom was Mrs. William J. McKinley.
“D. Reese Hawkins then opened the Charter House, and I believe he was the only one who made it a success. He left the Charter House and conducted the Idlewild, which is still in existence. The Delaware County American was the only paper in the county and was owned by Thomas V. Cooper the red-headed and hopeful party leader. The paper was not only popular in the county, but was a popular weekly all over the country.
“Then we had a gas company. I was secretary, and my friend here, William Burke, also held a position there. The main stores of the town were Haldeman’s and the store of Mary Packard, which were the leading dry goods stores. The first grocery stores were conducted by the Blacks of Chester. They were finally conducted by the Hawley’s at South Avenue and State Street. E. H. Hall conducted a grocery store on the site where now stands the First National Bank.
“The Delaware County Institute of Science then purchased a lot and erected a building. The brick work was done by a man from West Chester. I recall the bricklayers went on strike. Then came the Delaware County Record as competition for the American, and then the Media Ledger, Jack Robinson’s paper. The Masonic order was organized and the third floor of Buckley’s building was fitted up for meeting rooms. The organization outgrew the quarters and they moved to the Shearer building.
“J. Howard Lewis, a successful paper manufacturer of Philadelphia, and a well-known fox hunter, then had Gleave Hall erected. He was always very proud of the building and on the stone is the name Gleave Hall and the fox hunt emblem. Then came the Delaware County Mutual Insurance Company, then housed in a frame office building on State Street.
“Then we had the present water works. I recall a bitter fight at the time when the people in Moylan wanted to use the water out of the creek. Next came the successful Media Building and Loan Association, which was started by Charles R. Williamson. In 1890 we started the Media Title and Trust Company by subscribing for stock. Of the original stockholders living I believe there are four, Samuel Hill, George Drayton, William M. Parks and myself.
“The Episcopal Church was supported principally by the girls from Brooke School. Each Sunday they attended the service in the body through Miss Eastman, a teacher. Then Mrs. Hickley donated a rectory, which still stands in memory of her late husband. The Methodist Church was very active at that time, as it is today. The Presbyterian Church was here and active and the Roman Catholic Church was in a small structure which has been replaced with the beautiful edifice now standing. The Baptists were modestly going along at that time.
“That the future of Media depends on men was evidenced at that time who were pushing Media along. I recall such men as Ralph Buckley, an Englishman, and William H. Miller. They say nice things about people when they are gone, but nice things can be said of Mr. Miller today for his services to Media today for his services to Media and his townspeople. I recall old Dr. Rowland, who rode through the county on horseback, a typical country doctor. It was often said if he was hungry or tired he could go in any house in the county, as everyone knew him. Then Isaac Johnson moved to Media from Ridley, where he had conducted a store, and was later elected prothonotary of the county. Then came Joseph A. Thorpe, who was one of the greatest orators of the day. There were two factions in politics, one controlled by Thomas V. Cooper, known as the ‘short hairs,’ and was one controlled by Brooke, known as the ‘swallow tails.’
“Two enterprising men at the time were James R. Cummings and Joseph G. Cummings. The former was a real estate man and the latter conducted a book store on State Street. Other men who pushed Media ahead as I recall them are Charles R. Williamson, Wes Brodhead, who erected a building which was used as an armory; Bill Mathues, who became a political leader in the county; Isaac N. Flounders, one of the best builders that was in the county; Jesse Baker, who served in the legislature and in the State Senate; Fighting Jack Robinson and Caleb Hoopes, who was sheriff of the county at one time.
“Transportation facilities were nothing compared with today. The only method of travel was on the West Chester and Philadelphia Railway. They used the hand brakes in those days, and it was amusing to see the brakeman rush to the car platforms and put on the brakes when the engine whistle gave two blasts, announcing it would stop. Lawyers from Chester then had horses and carriages. I walked to Chester to see my mother each Saturday and back on Monday unless some of the good lawyers would pick me up on the road. Then they built the Chester Creek Railroad and operated a stage line.
“Media at present has excellent transportation facilities. It has a new court house to compare with any in the state; First National Bank building, Media Club, Business Men’s Association, hospital, Women’s Club, Town Hall, and a fire company second to none in the county, armory building, new post office building, library and the bank building we are erecting which means an expenditure of approximately $100,000.
“The valuable assets to the future of Media are the men. Men make a community. Looking around see assets in Makiver, Allison, Rigby, Fussell, Green, Dr. Dickinson, Dr. Schoff, Dr. Clark, Dallett, Fronefield, Pierson, Snowden and Volkhardt. The future rests with you men. Your town council have your interest at heart and you should help them. They are the ones who expend your taxes and make assessment on your property and have the good of the community at heart. You should help them in every way.
“Media should have a sewer system. You should free yourselves of ignorance, and free yourselves of ignorance and free yourself of jealousy because one man might want to be a leader. The sewer system should be in the borough. Builders are forced to dig cesspools at great cost which would be saved if a sewer system was installed.
“Media is not a good location for manufacturing. You should have an up-to-date hotel building on Washington Street, which is part of the main highway to Philadelphia and New York and points in the south. Media should have up-to-date apartment houses, which will be a factor to many in the kitchen help difficulty. These apartments should be erected near an open plot, where if there were children they could have breathing space.
“You should compel the railway company to have better service from Media to angora, which would mean much to Media and adjacent property. You should have playgrounds, and above all things you should encourage the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. In 10 or 15 years from now they will be the asset of pushing Media ahead."
At the conclusion of his talk, Mr. Robinson read a letter from the National Surety Company of New York, asking him to cooperate in the suppression of crime. The part they ask to encourage a formation of an honesty instruction committee.
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