April 28, 1966

The Warner story: Chestnut Hill’s own story of success

In bygone days, the Young of Chestnut Hill had two semi-annual safaris. Spring and fall, the horses were hitched up to the Browning carriage and the Young were transported to Germantown to be shod at Cherry’s. These excursions were accompanied by goodies and ice cream if we behaved ourselves. They were practically full-day events, as it took over an hour just to drive from door to door. When I grew up, my life was made simpler by Frank Warner, a farm boy living in Dover, Delaware, who rode his bicycle up to Philadelphia and eventually, in 1909, opened a shoe store. Practically all Hillers have two feet which need to be shod from time to time and the convenience of a local store was a joy. The Warner family business has only expanded since then, with son Jack Warner taking over in 1951. The Warners are typical of the Hill’s individualistic shops, proud of their background, reputation and traditions.

April 29, 1976

Community involvement sparks Top-of-the-Hill park

The new park at the Top-of-the-Hill could be described simply as a magnificent solution to a group of community problems. However, that would tell only half the story of Chestnut Hill’s new gathering space.The other half is the number of our neighbors and their generous donations. When the plans were being drawn up, a number of concerns were expressed about the Germantown Avenue side of the area, which was an eyesore with two diners, a gas station, and nothing green in sight. It is already hard to remember that those problems remained unsolved until this spring, when the Top-of-the-Hill park seemed to grow magically and almost overnight.

May 1, 1986

$100,000 set as goal for Pastorius Park restoration fund

More than 100 people defied Saturday morning’s heavy rains and proceeded to Pastorius Park for the scheduled picnic and festivities to celebrate the park’s 50th anniversary — and the rains stopped and the sun came out. The aura of excitement in acclaiming the history of the park during the last half century, and the restoration that is to come, prevailed as neighbors and friends of the park met to hail “Glorious Pastorius” — the slogan for the day that Larry Murdoch sported on his chef’s hat. It was announced that the fundraising committee has a goal of $100,000 towards the park’s restoration, and so far there are pledges of $13,000. In addition, a $27,000 grant has been given by the Pew Foundation, with a matching gift from the Chestnut Hill Community Fund. The CHCF will match community contributions on a $1 for every $1.50 basis, up to $10,000.The remaining $17,500 will be paid out, with accrued interest, during the years 1988 through 1991.

May 2, 1996

Police solve crime spree with residents’ help

A crowd of over 100 concerned citizens attended a meeting last Wednesday at the Water Tower Recreation Center hosted by the South East Area Residents of Chestnut Hill (SEARCH) to address the recent increase in crime in the vicinity. Public officials from nearly a dozen city and county agencies also attended. It was explained that a group of teenagers began a crime spree which at first centered around acquiring vehicles from SEPTA parking lots near train stations, with Wyndmoor station a prime target. The youths then began to terrorize a 25-block area encircling that station with individuals addressing all their mugging victims with the line, “You know what this is.” The 14th Police District Capt. John J. Collins described how they broke the case wide open: A tipster met with police in the water tower basement and gave them a list of names and addresses, from which Northwest Detectives were able to piece together the identity of the ringleader and, with the aid of a stakeout unit, go to his hideout and arrest him and almost all of his associates.

April 27, 2006

Groundbreaking project at Saylor turns marsh into wetland

A favorite frolicking destination for neighborhood children that became an unused eyesore, Saylor Grove, is now the site of a cutting-edge environmental experiment. The three-acre parcel of Fairmount Park, just off Lincoln Drive at Wissahickon Avenue, is the first stormwater-treatment wetland in the city. The Philadelphia Water Department has spent more than $550,000 and five years turning the abandoned marsh into a refurbished park and water-treatment system.

April 28, 2016

Host of the Philadelphia International Cricket Festival

It may come as a surprise to many Hillers that our own Philadelphia Cricket Club not only originated as, but remains, an actual cricket club. And that this weekend, it will be one of five local clubs to host what is arguably the most important cricket event in the United States: the Philadelphia International Cricket Festival.