I. Frank Lees Photograph Collection

Title: I. Frank Lees Photograph Collection
Description: The I. Frank Lees Collection forms the backbone of the collections of the Media Historic Archives Commission, and is its reason for being. MHAC--an official arm of the Media, Pennsylvania government--was created to administer a collection of photographs and other material which I. Frank Lees (1919-1999), a lifelong resident, donated to the borough in 1981. The collection contains roughly 15,000 items, including the more than 1,800 photographs which are presented here. More photographs from this collection, and from other collections donated after Lees' death in 1999, will be added to this site in the future.

THANKS TO
- Chris Welc, for scanning more than 1,000 photographs in the photograph folders that Frank Lees had created. and for creating the first version of the Excel spreadsheet that became the basis of the catalog records on this site.
- Adam Levine scanned hundreds more photographs, fleshed out the photograph descriptions, and created the final metadata now attached to each image.
- Media Borough Council approved the purchase of a new computer and scanners for MHAC, and funded the creation and upkeep of this website.
Spatial Coverage: Media, Pennsylvania and vicinity, as well as other locations (including the Panama Canal Zone) related to Media people.
Date: 1860-2000
Identifier: I. Frank Lees Photograph Collection

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120. Commercial. Drexelbrook Inn and Lounge.

The sign calls this a "Lodge." Address is approximate

122. Multi Garden new. Drexelbrook

Address is approximate

123. Multi Garden new. Drexelbrook

Address is approximate

127. 200 block Bevan St., Chester

Near Bevan St. and 2nd St. Bevan St. no longer exists. It ran between Market St. and Welsh St. Address is approximate.

129. 100 block E. 2nd St., Chester

Corner of Bevan St. and E. 2nd St. Bevan St. no longer exists. It ran between Market St. and Welsh St. Address is approximate.

130. Looking west on 2nd St. from Welsh St.

131. Alley

Probably in Chester, Pa.

133. Exterior. 100 block Kerlin St. Chester

This shows the corner of Kerlin Street and Cherry Street. In 2019, a few of these houses still stood.

134. Exterior. 100 block Kerlin St. Chester

This view is looking across the railroad tracks and Front Street to the backyards of the houses in Kerlin Street. In 2019, most of these houses were no longer standing.

135. 1700 block W. 2nd St., Chester

In 2019, only a couple of houses on this block still stood. Address is approximate.

136. 1714 Front St., Chester

This block, in 2019, was entirely vacant.

138. South of Front St. on Yarnall St., Chester

Yarnall Street below Front Street was closed, as of 2020.

139. Detached, new. 1300 block Town St., Chester Township.

Town Street is probably Townsend Street. In 2019, the 1400 Block of Townsend is mostly intact and resembles the 1954 photograph. Address is approximate.