The Appleton Collection includes more than 2,000 glass photographic negatives, taken in Media, Pennsylvania and vicinity from 1888 to 1909. Media Historic Archives received the collection in 1988, but until 2018 most of these pictures had never been seen by the public.
Copy of survey showing about 10 acres of property of Thomas V. Cooper in Philadelphia near Oxford Ave. and Horrocks St. (formerly Oxford Turnpike and Elbow Lane), adjacent to Roosevelt Boulevard. Plan created by William E. Skyrm, drarughtsman, 1904, Philadelphia.
Party seems to be for the older woman (grandmother of the small children) at the center. Her daughter is likely standing behind her. There are several obvious sibling pairs, especially the girl on the far right and the boy standing second to the left of her, with the bow at his neck. The fathers of these broods (one would assume there are several families represented) are missing.
Chester Traction Co. trolley car bedecked with bunting and banner reading: Chester Media U.S. Mail. Conductor and operator standing at either end of car. According to an article in The Philadelphia Times, March 3, 1896, this service was inaugurated between Chester and Media the previous day. "The trip proved entirely satisfactory, and by the new system it will only require thirty-five minutes to carry the mail between the two cities. Formerly the mail had to go by way of Philadelphia and nearly two hours was spent in transit. There will be three mails each day between these points and [it] is the first trolley mail route established in Delaware County.' Frank Lees, in his book From Media's Past, writes that "freight and milk were also hauled, and a freight house once stood at 6th and Olive Streets."
Chester Traction Co. trolley car bedecked with bunting and banner reading: Chester Media U.S. Mail. Conductor and operator standing at either end of car. According to an article in The Philadelphia Times, March 3, 1896, this service was inaugurated between Chester and Media the previous day. "The trip proved entirely satisfactory, and by the new system it will only require thirty-five minutes to carry the mail between the two cities. Formerly the mail had to go by way of Philadelphia and nearly two hours was spent in transit. There will be three mails each day between these points and [it] is the first trolley mail route established in Delaware County.' Frank Lees, in his book From Media's Past, writes that "freight and milk were also hauled, and a freight house once stood at 6th and Olive Streets."
Appleton's title for this photograph, from his index, was "Laughing coons," using the derogatory term for African Americans. The men wear prison uniforms
