The Charles A. Melton Arts and Education Center, formerly known as the West Chester Community Center, has a rich history in the borough of West Chester. It was organized in 1919 to provide recreational, civic, and educational support services for the West Chester Community. The original building was constructed in 1934 to provide a gymnasium, auditorium, classrooms, and kitchen facilities. The Center provided services for the community regardless of race, color, or religious affiliation, unlike community facilities, such as the YMCA which were segregated at that time. The Center’s expanded its facility and the four-acre site served as a valued central hub for communal, recreational, and educational support activities for the children and families of West Chester, as it will continue to do in the future.
This home, owned and occupied by an active EENA member is a model of what historic renovation can be in a working class neighborhood. This house was bought a few years ago and has been carefully and thoughtfully restored over the last few years. The owner’s care has been a great asset to the neighborhood.
Owned and operated by the DeBaptiste Family, the funeral home has been a mainstay for years. Clifford DeBaptiste, the owner and founder, was the borough’s first African American Mayor, having served from 1994-2002.
Boyd Davis and Sons have been in business for years. This company continues to deliver reasonably priced gas to its customers. Recently, in a demonstration of community mindedness, Mr. Davis agreed to sell previously unused land to Habitat for Humanity for a series of new home buildings. The construction is set to begin in the spring of 2006.
Homes will be constructed on this property and another property surrounding Poplar Street. These homes will be owner occupied and will be a welcome addition to the neighborhood.
The multi unit building at the corner of Worthington and Barnard is noteworthy because Marvin Porter, EENA President was born and raised there, living on the third floor with his parents while the rest of his family inhabited the rest of the building. Mr. Porter now lives one building north on Worthington Street. At the opposite corner of Worthington and Barnard stands a building that EENA leaders hope to turn into a store to meet the needs of residents.
This is the home of the late Norman W. Bond, the local leader who challenged the nature of the borough’s council representation system in court. Since that time, the borough has adopted the ward system. His son, Stephen Bond, lives next door and is currently the borough councilman from the 2nd ward. Mrs. Bond, still alive and well, continues to live here today. The Bond family has direct connection to Moses G. Hepburn, who was Stephen's great uncle.
Owned by the Chester County Housing Authority, this is the headquarters of the East End Neighborhood Association Elm Street office. Meetings and small gatherings can be held in a small meeting room in the building.
Already underway, this Habitat Project demolished a previously condemned house and will construct a new one, centered on the property with a front porch opening onto the sidewalk. The folks from Habitat have saved materials from the old house’s front porch in an effort to incorporate the old with the new and have attempted to salvage the old stone foundation in order to do landscaping and patio design at the rear of the new building.
This is a potentially wonderful space. The Housing Authority has committed to seeking resources to re-landscape the courtyard in the middle of the property, complete with a young child’s play space and quiet sitting areas. The Housing Authority would also like to see public art spaces utilized to really make this a great place to gather for residents.
At the corner of South Franklin and Barnard, which is now the warehouse for Rubensteins Office Supply is the former Hoopes Brothers and Darlington Wheel Works site. After the Civil War, the company manufactured wooden wheels for farm wagons. It was the largest employer in the borough during at its height and continued to operate until 1973 when it closed. The site was redeveloped into what is there now. Workers at this site in 1958 won “what has been termed the largest settlement made under the National Labor Relations Board order.”
This railroad bridge was one of the first constructed in West Chester. The current construction dates back to 1917 when the railroad attempted to reduce train congestion at the Market Street Station.
Formerly a neighborhood bar, the Cares Center for Christ is now a faith in action agency that provides after school care and preschool care to neighborhood children. In July the Cares Center holds a family picnic for residents of the neighborhood to enjoy. Staffed with some professionals, the Cares Center relies heavily on volunteer support for tutoring and programming.
Named after West Chester’s first African American police chief, the John O Green Park was a former PECO substation. Utilizing brownfield funding and other creative adaptive uses, the brownfield was turned into a playground for younger children. A vacant plot of land across the street from the playground will be turned into a basketball court and climbing area for older children to utilize. The second phase is slated to begin next spring.
The Captain Levi Hood Lodge of the BP Order of Elks was founded in 1908 and named after a prominent local African American resident. The building appears to be constructed after 1891 but well before the Elks were able to obtain it before 1939.
Centered as a safe haven for area children and youth, PAL has blossomed into an after school program complete with many services for youth and families. PAL does operate a summer camp program and looks to expand its services to teens in the future.
The Star Social Club was founded in 1896 when a group of men decided to establish an organization where African American men could gather and socialize privately. The Start Club continues to function today and provides support to area non-profits looking for assistance in the form of volunteers.
The railroad left West Chester a while ago, but the West Chester Railroad operates on weekends for those looking for entertainment and a trip down memory lane. West Chester used to be connected to Philadelphia and the rest of the Main Line by rail, having about 6000 passengers move through this site a day. Passengers, freight and natural materials came and went out of the borough utilizing the railroad which had platforms at various points along the railroad corridor, include the Market Street station.
This family business started as a milk hauling and household goods moving company in 1916. This company is still in the Smith family and now includes general freight and warehousing in addition to its household moving services. They do not, however haul milk.
Located at 300-302 East Miner Street, this hotel was operated by Moses Hepburn as a restaurant and hotel for African Americans during the height of West Chester’s segregation. Hepburn was one of the boroughs most successful African-American citizens during the 19th century, having worked as a barber, operated a taxi service from the train station to other parts of town, made lucrative real estate investments and served as the first African-American member of West Chester’s Borough Council. The Magnolia House opened in 1866.
Looking at the building in the 300 block of East Miner Street, there are plaques fixed to the façade in between the first and second floors. These plaques were given to homeowners by the Chester County Fireman’s Insurance Company to show membership and coverage in the event of a fire.
This is the first African-American church in the borough. It was originally built on the western part of the town in 1816, but after land speculation drove many African Americans out of the west end, the church and most of its members relocated to the East End where it is today.
An African American women’s community service organization chartered in 1865. A part of the United Order of Tents. JR Giddings and Jollifee Union founded the organization in 1847 and was named for abolitionist Congressman Giddings and his law partner.
this large complex is on land that once belonged to Henry Guss where he operated his brick yard. In 1929 the land was purchased by the Grocery Store Products. They constructed the factor that stands to day. It has been subdivided into a variety of uses.
National Foam produces chemicals for fire fighting purposes. The plant was opened in 1942 to produce foam for the U.S. Navy. It is not uncommon for the firm to test its products onsite.
Currently located on the West End of town on Market Street, the West Chester Senior Center has begun renovation of currently unoccupied space that will serve as its new facility. This facility will serve the needs of seniors from the Greater West Chester area.
Judge Gwen Knapp presides over the court that is administered out of the building shared with the future Senior Center. This is a new district court that was opened in 2003.
These buildings along Union Street were build in 1998 on land that was declared Brownfield by the EPA. Alliance Environmental Systems, the company responsible for the remediation and operated on site, was recognized as Business of the Year in 2003 by the Greater West Chester Camber of Commerce.
Organized in 1833, this volunteer fire company provides service to the West Chester Community. The company was previously housed on East Gay Street, but was forced to relocate because of space constraints. The current location has been in operation since 2004.
