Delaware County Historical Society

To celebrate Juneteenth, Delco Historical Society would like to share the story of Allen Ricketts of Darby. Ricketts was born sometime in 1820, enslaved in Maryland. Ricketts managed to escape enslavement at the age of 11, making his way to Darby, PA. Upon arriving in Darby, Ricketts was taken in John and Rachel Hunt, a Quaker family, and was educated at Darby Friends School.

In 1847, while Ricketts was working as a farmer at the Sharon Boarding Academy, he was kidnapped and taken to Baltimore and sold to the notorious enslaver Hope H. Slatter. Ricketts, who was literate, was able to write a letter to a friend in Darby, George Truman, and urged him for his help. Truman went to noted Maryland abolitionist John Needles for his help to negotiate for Ricketts freedom. Slatter refused to free Ricketts unless he was paid $800 by the following week. Darby minister John Jackson helped to spread the news to the people of Darby. The residents of Darby, led by the Darby Monthly Meeting, raised the $800, and after two weeks of enslavement, Ricketts was returned to Darby.

By 1860, Ricketts was married and working as a coach driver in Elmwood Park. In 1870, he moved his family to Darby, where he lived until he passed away at the age of 91 in 1910. Allen Ricketts was laid to rest at Eden Cemetery in Collingdale. His daughter, Estelle Ricketts, was an accomplished pianist, and her 1893 parlor piano piece "Rippling Spring Waltz" is the earliest known piano solo written and published by a Black woman. The Ricketts family is one of the most incredible stories of Black history in Delaware County.

From the Archives:
-A Copy of "Boyd's Directory: Delaware County, Pennsylvania, 1902-1903" where it lists Allen Ricketts of Darby residing at 115. N. 10th Street.

-We have two copies of this directory dating from 1906, compiled by Lawrence L. Barrett and C.I. Wilson, titled: "Home Directory of the Colored People of the City of Chester". The directory not only has home addresses, but descriptions about local clubs, churches, businesses and more, all based within the Black community of Chester.

- A copy of the story of Allen Ricketts and his escape as it was reported in the Mercury, Merseyside, England on June 29, 1847.

We got a big prize for you to win from the Philadelphia Union! You have a chance to win this wonderful jersey signed by the Union team, with a certificate of authenticity. Just in time for the World Cup, you can win this jersey for yourself or a loved one but only if you get tickets to the Delco Summer Social at The Mill at Rockdale on Saturday, June 27th! Get your ticket to come support Delco Historical Society, enjoy locally crafted beer, watch live music and take your chance at winning some prizes!

Get your tickets today:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-delco-summer-social-a-concert-fundraiser-for-delco-historical-society-tickets-1989311301654

Big thanks to our sponsors:
Visit Delco, PA
2SP Brewing Company
National Endowment for the Humanities
Philadelphia Union
The Philadelphia Funder Collaborative for the Semi-quincentennial

Join us tonight at 8:15 pm for our final History Under the Stars lecture for the Spring series! Tonight, will feature Amanda Burdan, Senior Curator for the Brandywine Museum of Art in Chadds Ford, with her presentation, "The Making of N.C. Wyeth's Apotheosis of the Family Mural". Please join us at Delco Historical Society tonight for this exciting presentation, free and open to the public!

To support Delco Historical Society and our public programming, consider making a donation in support: https://www.padelcohistory.org/donate

From the Archives:
The first is from the book N.C. Wyeth: The Collected Paintings, Illustrations, and Murals, by Douglass Allen & Douglass Allen Jr. from 1972. This portrait is entitled Mowing and was painted by N.C. Wyeth in 1907.

Wyeth spent a lot of time in the Brandywine Valley in the townships of Birmingham and Chadds Ford, studying under Howard Pyle at Painters Folly with the Brandywine School. The landscape of the Brandywine Valley deeply inspired him, especially at the Brandywine Battlefield.

Pictured here is a photo dating from 1924 and taken by Louise Deshong Woodbridge, a charter member of Delco Historical Society, the New Century Club of Chester, photographer, and daughter of John O. Deshong. The photo shows a group of women gathered at the front of Washington's Headquarters (also known as the Benjamin Ring House) at the Brandywine Battlefield Park.

We hope you can join us for the Fourth of July celebrations coming up for the big 250!

On July 1st, Delco Historical Society will be on State Street for Dining Under the Stars where we will be bringing the history to you!

On Fourth of July, Delco Historical Society will be hosting our Summer Open House from 11 am to 4 pm. Stop by our location to see pieces from people such as Delco signer John Morton, Benjamin West, George Washington, Marquis de Lafayette and more! Stop by and celebrate America's birthday with Delco Historical Society!
9 W. Front Steet
Media, PA- Free and open to the public!

Special thanks to our program partners and sponsors:

Visit Delco, PA
Visit Media PA
America250PADelco
93.3 WMMR Philadelphia
Heiler Painting
Rafferty Subaru
Rockdale Music
Media Arts Council
Colonial Pennsylvania Farmstead
National Endowment for the Humanities
Philadelphia Funder Collaborative for the Semi-Quincentennial

2SP Brewing Company will be pulling up with the local brews at the Delco Summer Social on Saturday June 27th at The Mill at Rockdale! Get your tickets today to support Delco Historical Society in promoting and protecting Delco history!

Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-delco-summer-social-a-concert-fundraiser-for-delco-historical-society-tickets-1989311301654

Special thanks to our sponsors:
Visit Delco, PA
National Endowment for the Humanities
Philadelphia Funder Collaborative for the Semi-Quincentennial

From the Archives:
A photo from 1965 showing a man drive through Chester in an Ortlieb's beer truck probably dating from the 1910's (or even earlier). Notice the lack of steering wheel and the little horn attached as well. Handy little truck to have with you for the big events!

Join us on State Street in Media borough for a fun evening of history! Delco Historical Society will be on hand with games, posters and t-shirts for sale, and more. We'll see at Dining Under the Stars on July 1!

Thanks to our partners and supporters:

Visit Media PA America250PADelco 93.3 WMMR Philadelphia Heiler Painting Rafferty Subaru Rockdale Music Media Arts Council Visit Delco, PA Colonial Pennsylvania Farmstead

✨SAVE THE DATE ✨

📅 Wednesday, July 1st
🎉 250 Under the Stars

Join us for a Dining Under the Stars celebration you won't want to miss! More details coming soon! ⭐

America250PADelco 93.3 WMMR Philadelphia Heiler Painting Rafferty Subaru Delaware County Historical Society Rockdale Music Media Arts Council Visit Delco, PA Colonial Pennsylvania Farmstead

Happy Delco Day everyone! We hope you're having a wonderful week winding down towards summer, and getting ready for some fun! Be sure to get your tickets today to the Delco Summer Social on Saturday June 27th at The Mill at Rockdale!

Tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-delco-summer-social-a-concert-fundraiser-for-delco-historical-society-tickets-1989311301654

From the Archives:

An incredible hand drawn cartoon by Delco's own historian Chester F. Baker, created by him when he was 15 years old in 1908. Chester Baker would serve as president of the Chester Rural Cemetery Association and director of the Delaware County Historical Society. Baker also compiled an immense number of volumes of scrapbooks, photographs, notes, letters, and indexes of Delco history going back three hundred years.

Delco has been used as a shorthand going back to the 19th century but was mostly used as a means of saving space or money, as paper printers charged either by word or letter. We were looking for an early use of "Del. Co." and this was a good one. It's from 1908 as well, advertising the architect, Charles. M. Wells based out of Rutledge, Del. Co. PA., printed in the Morton Chronicle.
#610

We are looking to kick off the summer with a BANG and that's why we're bringing back the Delco Summer Social on Saturday June 27th at The Mill at Rockdale!

Get your tickets today: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-delco-summer-social-a-concert-fundraiser-for-delco-historical-society-tickets-1989311301654

From the Archives:
A photo dated from 1897 showing the aftermath of a gasoline explosion at Samuel McCardell's Grocery store in Chester. This was on W. 3rd Street and the S.E. corner of Pennell Street. Look how much of the wall was knocked out!

Big thanks to our bands!
Knifeplay: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7oT0M95uIX2aJGN4we092i

Radiator Hospital:
https://open.spotify.com/artist/0HMLp79IAd9Z8zMgxqpyxn

Sun Organ:
https://open.spotify.com/artist/13ZwcU5VGUsd4nB6hsUYCp?dl_branch=1

Thanks to our sponsors:
Visit Delco, PA
2SP Brewing Company
National Endowment for the Humanities
Philadelphia Funder Collaborative for the Semi quincentennial

Big thanks to our friends and volunteers showing up this past weekend! Thanks to and Francis Beaver for joining us for the Pride Parade in Media hosted by !

Big thanks to for having us as well for the Haverford Heritage Festival!

Be sure to get your tickets today for the Delco Summer Social concert fundraiser at ! Tickets are available in our link 🔗

The Delco Summer Social returns! Saturday June 27th at The Mill at Rockdale!

The Delco Summer Social brings together the community of Delaware County to celebrate the incredible musical history of the area with a live performance of local talent. Delco Historical Society hosts the Delco Summer Social at the Mill in Rockdale, nestled along Chester Creek, for an evening of music, fun, prizes and of course history. Your support helps Delco Historical Society continue to provide stewardship for Delco history and to share it with the community. Delco Historical Society helps promote and protect Delco history for the next generation of archivists and historians!

Click here for tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-delco-summer-social-a-concert-fundraiser-for-delco-historical-society-tickets-1989311301654

Knifeplay: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7oT0M95uIX2aJGN4we092i

Radiator Hospital: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0HMLp79IAd9Z8zMgxqpyxn

Sun Organ:
https://open.spotify.com/artist/13ZwcU5VGUsd4nB6hsUYCp?dl_branch=1

Thanks to Frances Beaver for the poster design!
Thanks to our supporters and sponsors:
2SP Brewing Company
Visit Delco, PA
National Endowment for the Humanities
The Philadelphia Funder Collaborative for the Semi-Quincentennial