Chichester Historical Society

06/12/2026

Our fourth historical marker was installed last week at Memorial Presbyterian Church on Chichester Avenue. Thanks to Upper Chichester Township for sourcing grant monies to pay for the marker and Public Works for installing it.

06/03/2026

If you’ve never toured one of the two remaining camp meetings in Delaware County, now is your chance!

05/17/2026

Happening today…

04/24/2026

Today is National Historical Marker Day! Upper Chichester established its local marker program in 2017. The first marker provides a brief history of the founding of Upper Chichester Township on one side and the history of McCaysville on the reverse. It is at the intersection of Chichester Avenue and Meetinghouse Road. A second marker was unveiled at the 250th anniversary celebration of the historic Friends Meeting House on Meetinghouse Road. The third marker is located at Johnson Avenue park. It highlights the history of the Linwood Heights subdivision and the Johnson Avenue school that was formerly located on the site.

01/21/2026

Any reenactors out there???

Auditions being held for historical reenactors, storytellers in Philly ahead of America's 250th

01/01/2026

Happy New Year to all our friends and follower!

12/30/2025

We searched for months for a display cabinet to house a new collection. We found one locally and the seller accepted our offer. While we were waiting for instructions to pick it up, the seller reneged on the deal and sold it to someone else. 😡

Well, as the saying goes, sometimes bad things happen for a reason. We restarted the search and found this lighted cabinet on Marketplace and the seller agreed to give it to us at no cost! 🆓 Thanks to Stephen Ora for his generosity and to Rick’s Sheds and Ogden Supply for picking up and transporting the cabinet to the schoolhouse. 🙏🏻

Stay tuned for details about the special collection this cabinet will hold...

12/26/2025

Inkwell desk donated by Emma Leuschner

12/26/2025

As we close out 2025 we want to remember the community that supports our mission to preserve local history. Earlier this year, Emma Leuschner donated this antique school desk.

Based on our research, we suspect that the original desks at the 1919 Ogden School were replaced during a 1950s remodel. This Anna Breadin-style desk is likely very similar to what the students used originally. It features a single seat inkwell desk constructed of wood with graceful cast iron legs. The curved seat and back, as well as the storage cubby, are indicative of turn-of-the-20th century school desk design.

Our thanks to Emma for this unique and period appropriate addition to the schoolroom at the Ogden School. 🙏🏻

12/25/2025

Merry Christmas to all!

For many years, Sunoco decorated the 12-3 plant in the area of Seventh and Green Streets in Marcus Hook. Robin Moore O'Toole shared these photos of her stepdad and his co-workers in 1959 sorting through the lights. Her stepdad was responsible for decorating the Houdriflow stack at the Marcus Hook refinery.

In her book "Marcus Hook", Patricia Ann Miller provides this description, "The giant 150-foot candle was 25 feet wide with a 60-foot base. It was outlined by red lights and had a 30-foot flame with yellow lights and a base of green lights."