Oct. 27, 1966

The same old faces

The polling place where I work on Election Day is in the Methodist Church Sunday School at 8812 Germantown Ave. It’s a fine, sunny room; religious posters adorn the walls. We clerks, inspectors, workers sit at two long tables. There is an excellent and immaculate kitchen; as the long day and evening wear on us, we use it frequently for coffee breaks. Democrats and Republicans are all friendly at our polling place; every year the same faces appear and by now we feel we know each other. Pleasant as this feeling of friendship is, the reason behind the identical appearance of identical faces lies in the difficulty of persuading citizens to work at the polls.Why is this? What better service can neighbors render their community? Where are the ladies I see in frilly hats dashing into town to attend community meetings? Where are the prominent gentlemen who achieve such wonders on various charity boards? Have you done your share at the polls, neighbor, to help secure the Blessings of Liberty?

Oct. 28, 1976

CHCA will canvass non-members, Nov. 6

The Chestnut Hill Community Association will take its membership drive directly to the people with a door-to-door solicitation of community residents who currently do not belong to CHCA. Mrs. Mary Jane Shelly, CHCA board member who heads the membership committee, reported at last Thursday’s monthly board meeting on the final plans for the canvassing, which is set for Saturday, Nov. 6. “Board members will be given packets containing a letter explaining what we are about, a questionnaire, a membership envelope, a brochure that outlines all the CHCA activities and two back issues of the Local,” Mrs. Shelly explained. She urged board members who will do the canvassing to explain that joining at this time is a “real bargain” since they will get 18 months for the price of 12. Currently, over 52% of Chestnut Hill households are represented among CHCA members. The canvassing will begin with coffee and donuts.

Oct. 30, 1986

Services for Revolutionary War soldier

Historic St. Michael’s Lutheran Church at Germantown Avenue and Phil Ellena Street will be the scene of belated funeral services on Nov. 2 for a British soldier from the Battle of Germantown in 1777. The soldier, whose remains were accidentally unearthed last November by a construction worker at a nearby site, was identified by researchers as having belonged to the British 52nd Infantry Regiment. Two corroded buttons found with the bones have the number “52” on them. Arrangements for honoring the fallen soldier were worked out in consultation with West Mt. Airy Neighbors and the British Officers Club of Philadelphia. Local members of the Royal British Legion, made up of former British servicemen, will carry the remains in a special coffin into the church, where a piper will play “Amazing Grace.” Burial will be in the British section of Northwood Cemetery, where a military funeral with honors will be conducted. Also taking part will be a representative of the British Embassy in Washington.

Oct. 31, 1996

Garden festival planned for May

The first annual Chestnut Hill Garden Festival will take place next spring. Community organizations are joining forces to present the festival in May 1997. They have been conducting meetings frequently since last spring to plant and propagate ideas for the festival, which will feature a flower show in local shops, a cocktail party, a garden party on Germantown Avenue, lectures and demonstrations by garden book authors, a gardening workshop, and a Garden Festival Marketplace among other events. The festival will replace the Main Street Fair, a fundraising event for Chestnut Hill Hospital, started in the 1930s, that continued to be a highlight of Chestnut Hill activities for decades until it came to an end. The new event is seen as a way to broaden awareness of Chestnut Hill’s shopping area.

Nov. 2, 2006

New Covenant drops plans for homeless shelter

New Covenant Church of Philadelphia has shifted the potential location of its proposed program for the homeless from its campus buildings to homes in the neighborhoods of Philadelphia. At an Oct. 3 meeting between the church and East and West Mt. Airy Neighbors, church representatives told the civic groups that it had dropped plans for a city-sponsored homeless shelter program. When the proposed program was revealed in February, it surprised neighbors and community organizations, which were unaware of the discussions between the city and the church. This resulted in community opposition to the plan.

Oct. 27, 2016

Local Realtor behind sale of Grace Kelly’s family home

Over the weekend, the rumor that the home of Philadelphia icon Grace Kelly was purchased by her son, Prince Albert of Monaco, was confirmed in an interview the prince gave to People magazine. Chestnut Hill Realtor John O’Donnell, of Elfant Wissahickon Realtors, was the agent for the buyer. Kelly, a popular actress in the 1950s who retired from acting at the age of 26 to marry Prince Ranier II of Monaco, grew up in the East Falls home built by her father, Olympic rower John Kelly, in 1929. The 4,000-square-foot house is located on Henry Avenue. According to the family’s story, Prince Ranier visited Kelly’s family, asked for its blessing and then proposed to her. She died from a stroke she suffered while driving in 1982, just before her 53rd birthday.