Delaware County Daily Times from Chester, Pennsylvania • Page 49

4A Thursday, November 25,1976 DELAWARE CXHJNTY DAILY TIMES First manufacturing plant established in1850 "The Columbus nf He named his factory the eneine and the music of thp Pamnbell's enfprnHep "The Columbus of manufacturing in Chester." That's what thev called James Campbell, who established the first manufacturing enterprise in Chester in late March of 1850. His venture was a textile mill, which he built partially on the old Chester jail property on the north side of 4th Street between Market Street and Edgmont Avenue. Campbell bought the Chester prison at public auction for $3,520 on Dec. 9, 1849, and also acquired an adjoining frame building which had once housed a bowling alley. The frame building became the site of his factory, housing the first looms ever seen in Chester.

Born in Stockport, England Aug. 12,1805, Campbell came to America as a young man and settled in Rockdale. He acquired considerable capital through management of the Houghton Mill in Penn- sgrove and the Leiper Mill in Leiperville, which he had leased from George C. Leiper. Campbell had worked in British textile mills as a boy and had become an expert in cotton weaving.

After acquiring the jail and workhouse. Campbell tore down the northern wall and built out in that direction, extending over to and including the prison yard walls. Imagine seeing show for dime You could see a combined vaudeville and photo-play movie for only a dime 57 years ago at J. Fred Zimmerman's Edgmont Theatre on Edgmont Avenue at 4th Street in Chester, the present site of the Chester Postoffice. Matinees daily at 2.30 p.m.

were priced at 10, 15 and 20 cents, and evening shows at 7 and 9 at 15, 25 and 30 cents, depending on where you sat. An Edgmont Theatre program for Thursday, Friday and Saturday Feb. 27, 28 and March 1, 1919, was sent to the Daily Times by Mrs. J. Daniel Wood, 26 Riddlewood Drive, Middletown.

It opened with selections by the Edgmont Theatre Orchestra under the direction of Harry Ward followed by the showing of the ninth episode of the photoplay, "The Lightning Raider." Five vaudeville acts followed: Kane Morey and Moore, "Striking a Balance;" Demerest and Doll, the Man; the Girl and a Piano; Harry Lester and Co. in a comedy sketch, "A Business Proposal;" Truly Shattuck and Emma O'Neill, "Punctuating Life's Manuscript," and as the smashing climax, H. W. Winston's Water Lions and Diving Nymphs, "The Aquatic Marvel of the Twentieth Century." A portable glass tank, reportedly the largest ever constructed for exhibition purposes, was used by the group. It contained 90 square feet of two-inch imported plate glass and contained 6,000 gallons of water.

It weighed ap- proximately 25 tons. Mrs. Wood attended the theatra Friday Feb. 28,1919. "This was during our courting days when to sit in the loge was a big deal and probably so was the 30 cents admission," Mrs.

Wood wrote. The cost of printing the theatre program apparently was defrayed by M. H. Bickley's Drug Store, at 4th and Market Sts. Bickley's had the only advertisement in the program.

ALL DENTISTRY ON CONVENIENT EASY CREDIT BROWN PlAJfS WPAWD 61S of the Stile, CHESTER, NO VPOINTMENT NECESSARY MlllMtol TB PHONE TR 4-4316 He named his 'Pioneer Mills." In the newly-built factory space Campbell placed his Jacquard looms and concentrated on quilts and fabrics. Campbell apparently began operation the last week of March in 1850. The Delaware County Republican of April 5, 1850, carried this news item: "PIONEER FACTORY The new manufacturing establishment projected in the borough by Mr. James Campbell was put in partial operation last week, and the puffing of the steam engine and the music of the shuttle are daily heard in our midst, causing us increased wonder why a town possessing so many advantages as our town was not years ago converted into a great manufacturing mart. Mr.

Campbell is about to extend his buildings and in a short time will have 100 looms in active operation. The machinery used is handsomely finished and of a superior kind. We have examined a specimen of the goods made by it and predict that they will find a ready sale in whatever market they may be offered." Campbell's enterprise was hardly established when "The Great Panic of 1857" struck the nation, closing manufacturing establishments by the thousands all across the land. Campbell also couldn't stand the financial strain and in 1858 the "Pioneer Mills" passed from his control into the ownership of Gen. Robert E.

Patterson. But from his small beginning and failure. Campbell had provided the spark that was to make Chester one of the great industrial centers on the East Coast, and to bring prosperity to its people. CHRISTMAS PRESENT Begin A Christmas Club Now; PAY 49 WEEKS-GET 50th FREE Savings Accounts Savings Certificates Vacation Clubs Mortgages Save by Mail We pay all Postage AMERICAN RAGLE SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATION 2712W. 3rd Chester, Pa.

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Score pegs tally points Ages 5 up The action will test your speed, coordination visual perception. Comes complet with cries Stuff Paper pencil fun with this real stapler, calendar, penc sharpener set. CHILD GUIDANCE MATTEL HUSH LI'L BABY 15" tall. Comes with dress, bottle and easy to assemble cradle. DR.

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