Sept. 8, 1966

Local boy sets record

Harry Rawls not only won the 50-yard butterfly contest at the Whitemarsh Invitational Championship Swim Meet but broke the previous 1962 record set for the butterfly, by making it in 26.4 seconds. Harry, of Willow Grove Avenue, swam for the Philadelphia Cricket Club team The Invitational Swim Meet, the largest held for private clubs in the Philadelphia area, took place at the Whitemarsh Valley Country Club on Aug. 21 and Sept. 2. There were 1,542 entries in the meet, leading to one of the largest audiences ever seen at a swimming meet.

Sept. 9, 1976

Back on the track

SEPTA’s Route 23 returned to full streetcar operations last Sunday. The first southbound trolley left the top-of-the-hill turnaround at Germantown Avenue and Bethlehem Pike at 1:27 a.m., traveling as far as Venango Street. The 4:24 a.m. departure rode to the end of the line — the world’s longest — at 10th and Bigler streets. Route 23 had been operating as a bus route since 1975 because of extensive sewer pipe reconstruction along Germantown Avenue as well as a fire throughout SEPTA’s vehicle system that put its convoy of streetcars out of service, and buses were substituted. The transit authority had been reconditioning 156 trolleys since the fire. So far, 60 have been repaired at a cost of $24,000 each.

Sept. 11, 1986

LUPC opposes festivals in Centre of Chestnut Hill

There will be no festivals in the parking lot of the Centre of Chestnut Hill if the Land Use Planning Committee has anything to say about it. The committee refused, at its meeting on Sept. 4, to recommend support for a use permit being sought by the Centre. Instead, it will recommend that the executive committee of the Chestnut Hill Community Association oppose the permit being sought by the manager of the Centre, and send a letter notifying the Zoning Board of Adjustment of its opposition. The reason that the LUPC gives for recommending opposition is that the Centre failed to answer the neighbors’ problems of noise, traffic, security, safety and trash caused by the festivals.

Sept. 12, 1996

Napoleon Cafe not coming

Napoleon Cafe is not coming to Chestnut Hill. The Local received a letter, dated Sept. 6 and addressed to the Chestnut Hill community, stating that the owners were forced to make a business decision against coming to the Hill. They had planned to be in the old post office building at 10-12 W. Gravers Lane but were opposed by near neighbors, who sent a letter to the Pa. Liquor Control Board protesting the granting of a liquor license on a residential street.The neighbors had also voiced their objections at several Chestnut Hill Community Association meetings, including one at which there was so much shouting and animosity that board members fled down a back fire escape. The news was met with disappointment from the business community and many residents.

Sept. 14, 2006

New lease on life for mansion

West Tulpehocken Street in Germantown is lined with old, historic homes and mansions. But in the 200 block, the gray tower of the Ebenezer Maxwell mansion rising from an unruly garden is all that can be seen from the street. The building, built in 1859, served as a historic museum until it was closed to the public earlier this year due to financial woes and previous mismanagement. Now the executive director is insisting that the mansion will be ready for the public by April, and he has high expectations for its use as a museum. The board had considered alternative uses for the house, including a bed and breakfast or possibly leasing the space as offices, but those who wanted to make such changes were outnumbered and resigned from the board.

Sept. 8, 2016

Historic Mt. Airy church closes after 288 years

After a 288-year-long history, St. Michael’s Lutheran Church, at 6671 Germantown Ave. in Mt. Airy, will hold its final worship services on Sunday, Sept. 11. According to church sources, the financial weight upon the congregation became too great. For many in the surrounding community it will be a great loss since St. Michael’s is known for its public outreach and has often been referred to as “the small church with a big heart.” The Southeastern Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America will host a final celebration and officiate the closing of the church. All are welcome to attend the closing services and come by the flea market on Saturday, Sept. 10. No plans have been announced regarding how the property will be used.