The City Of Chester.

After continuing for some time in the Ward building, arrangements were made to remove to a room in Holly Tree Hall, which was done, and the association remained till 1880, when rooms were obtained over the post-office, and a reading-room opened. For some reason this was not successful, and the association returned to Holly Tree Hall, where they remained till March, 1884. The association was not accomplishing much good work by the methods employed, and it was determined to reorganize and adopt the plans and methods now used by other associations. In accordance with this decision the association was suspended, Nov. 14. 1883, and a new board of managers elected, who held their first meeting on the 5th of December. Ward Bliss was chosen president; T. W. Stone, vice-president; B. Frank Beatty, secretary; B. F. Hall, treasurer. At the meeting in November, the Rev. S. A. Taggert, secretary of the State Association, explained new methods of working now in use. At that meeting a committee was appointed to select a room suitable for the association. This committee reported, Jan. 4, 1884, that rooms could be had in Samuel Black's building on Market Street. On the 15th of January they were authorized to secure the rooms and fit them for use. The room on the first floor in front is an office, where are directories, time-tables, and the office of the general secretary. In the rear is a reading-room, which is supplied with the magazines, papers, secular and religious. The second story is fitted as a conversation-room, connected by folding doors, with a well-furnished parlor. These rooms can be thrown into one, and are used for public talks, lectures, and religious meetings. The building was dedicated March 2, 1884, with appropriate services. Addresses were delivered by the Rev. Thomas McCauley, Rev. Henry Brown, Rev. Dr. P. H. Mowry, and Dr. John F. Van Leer.

The association is controlled by a board of managers composed of fifteen persons, who form the executive, finance, and lecture committees.

The other work of the association is delegated to seven committees, chosen from the members, as follows: Membership, Reception, Christian Work, Employment and Boarding-house, Work for Boys, Visiting, and Invitation.

The membership at the last annual report was sixty-seven.

The present officers are Ward R. Bliss, president; T. W. Stone, vice-president; B. Frank Beatty, secretary; Theodore Hampson, general secretary; B. F. Hall, treasurer.

The presidents who served the association from its organization, in 1875, to November, 1883, were Dr. W. S. Ridgely, Thomas W. Stone, Charles C. Larkin, Col. Theodore Hyatt, Charles C. Larkin, and Dr. John F. Van Leer.

Building Associations. - Chester is eminently a city which has been benefited largely by the establishment of loan associations, by which means men of limited incomes were enabled to build or purchase homes. It is not extravagant to say that one-fourth of the present improvements in Chester have been made by the opportunity offered to industrious toiling mechanics by these associations. In 1850 the Chester Building Association, the first incorporated in the borough, was formed; John M. Broomall being the president and Joseph Taylor the secretary. It continued ten years and ten months, during which time it loaned sixty-two thousand dollars to its members. In 1852 the Penn Building Association was formed, William Hi nkson being the secretary. In eleven years it ran its course, during which time it had loaned many thousands of dollars to its stockholders. In 1853 the South Ward Association was organized, and in August, 1854, the Washington Building Association was founded, and both of these organizations settled their affairs and were disbanded. The Second Chester was instituted Nov. 24, 1860, and the William Penn on April 1, 1865. In November of the same year the North Ward Building Association was founded, H. L. Donaldson secretary. On March 9, 1867, the City Association was instituted, and in July, 1869, the Delaware County was founded, and has issued a new series every year thereafter; the first series expired in 1879. The present officers are William Dolton, president; D. M. Johnson, treasurer; Orlando Harvey, secretary and solicitor. The Mechanics Building Association was established in 1873, - President, Benjamin F. Baker; Solicitor, John B. Hannum; Treasurer, Charles Roberts; Secretary, H. L. Donaldson. In October, 1873, the Chester and Upland Association was founded, with Daniel V. Hoffman, president; David Garrett, secretary; Amos Gartside, treasurer; and D. M. Johnson, solicitor. In May, 1874, the Third Chester Building Association was organized, with Benjamin F. Baker, president; Jonathan Jennell, treasurer; Edmund Jones, solicitor; and George M. Booth, secretary. The Excelsior Building and Loan Association was instituted in 1876, of which D. M. Johnson is president; P. M. Washabaugh, secretary; Jonathan R. Johnson, treasurer; and Orlando Harvey, solicitor. On June 12, 1879, the Fidelity Association was established, - Jonathan Pennell, president; H. L. Donaldson, secretary; Jonathan R. Johnson, treasurer; and John B. Hannum, solicitor; and in November, 1879, the Iron-Workers Building Association was organized, with David Houston, president, and George B. Lindsay solicitor. The Home Building and Loan Association was organized in February, 1881, with Jonathan Pennell, president; P. Bradley, secretary; J. Howard Roop, treasurer; Ward R. Bliss, solicitor. The Keystone Building Association was organized May, 1882, - President, John Spencer; Secretary, O. B. Dickinson; Treasurer, Thomas Lees; Solicitor, D. M. Johnson. The People's Building and Loan Association was formed May, 1883, - President, Amos Gartside; Treasurer, D. M. Johnson; Secre-