North Chester Borough.

little hamlets that had in former years gathered around the early mills were stationary or had lost the vitality to increase. What was known as Shoemakerville was laid out about 1830 by William D. and R. Shoemaker, and in 1833 there were at the place a store, blacksmith- and wheelwright-shop, several stone and frame dwellings. Hopes were entertained that it might grow to be a town of some importance, but it did not thrive, and is now but little larger than it was three years after it was begun. In 1842, Robert E. Evans kept store in Shoemakerville, and in 1850, John C. Murray had a coach-factory at that place.

On Aug. 23, 1847, at Burk & Powell's quarry, a ledge of rock weighing about eighty-six tons which had been displaced by a sand-blast fell. Burk was under it at the time, and hearing a noise above him attempted to escape, but his foot was caught by the falling rock and literally crushed into a mass. He was taken to his home in Shoemakerville, but bled to death before a physician could be summoned. The blood-stains on the floor of his then dwelling are visible to this day, and for many years the owner of the house had difficulty in obtaining tenants who would remain over a day or two in the building.

The first election for burgess and Council was held on the 29th of March, 1873. John M. Sharpless was elected burgess, but declined to serve, and at the organization of Council, on the 7th of April, 1873, Henry L. Powell, of the Council, was chosen to act as chief burgess, since which time the burgesses elected have been as follows:

1874, Stephen Parson; 1875, Hugh Shaw; 1876, Adam C. Eckfeldt; 1877, Thomas Coulter; 1878-79, Henry Greenwood; 1880, Anthony McMunn; 1881-84, John W. Martin.

Robert E. Hannum, March 13, 1875; March 30, 1880.

Friends' Meeting-House at Shoemakerville was built by the members of the Orthodox branch of the society in 1828, on land donated for that purpose by Enos Sharpless. It is a stone building, forty by sixty feet, and stands on a large plot of ground well shaded by forest trees, and adjoins the Oak Grove school-house. The prominent members of the society were Enos, John, Henry, Isaac, George, Daniel, and John M. Sharpless, Jesse J. Maris, Stephen M. Trimble, Richard Wetherell, and Gideon Smith, the last a ministering Friend. The present membership of the society attending this meeting is about fifty persons.

The North Chester Baptist Church was founded April 26, 1873. At that date a few persons favorable to the establishment of a congregation, and the erection of a place of worship for the Baptist denomination in the borough, met at the residence of James Irving, where, after some informal agreement and understanding, the congregation was organized by the appointment of James Irving chairman, and E. Mills clerk. At this meeting it was decided to erect a church edifice in North Chester borough, ten members of regular Baptist churches registering their names as an earnest of their purpose. Invitations were sent to the Union Baptist Church at Media, the First Baptist Church at Chester, the Baptist Church of South Chester, as also that of Ridley, and Mantua Baptist Church, Philadelphia, to meet in council with the organization in North Chester borough. On May 9, 1873, this council met and organized by the appointment of Rev. Dr. J. M. Pendleton, of Upland, to preside, and William R. McNeil, of South Chester, secretary. The visiting brethren were requested to take part in the exercises. The recognition services being concluded, Rev. Edward Wells was called to the pastorate of the church. In the eleven years which have intervened since its organization the church has had three pastors: Rev. P. S. Vreeland, who assumed pastoral charge Oct. 1, 1876; in January, 1879, Mr. Vreeland resigned, and on Aug. 31, 1879, the present pastor, Rev. John Brooks, was called, being ordained Oct. 2, 1879. The congregation has grown rapidly, largely composed of the operatives in the mills, - the present membership being about sixty. Pecuniarily the church has been sustained largely by the liberality of James Irving, who built the present sanctuary, and donated it and the lot on which it stands to trustees for the use and benefit of the congregation. The date stone has the figures 1872 cut upon it, which is clearly an error. No organization was effected looking to a church congregation there until April, 1873. It was recognized in May, and the church dedicated in June of that year, 1873.

Schools. - The first school-house erected in what is now North Chester was on a lot which was sold by Daniel Sharpless, March 18, 1813, to William Davis, Pierce Crosby, and Enos Sharpless, who were chosen trustees by the inhabitants in that part of Chester township. The lot had twenty-three square perches,