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.
Frank Lees caption: "This is the northwest corner of State and Olive Street about 1860. The building is Haldeman's department store. On the second floor are the first offices of the First National Bank of Media, now [in 1979] Provident National Bank). This building is still standing and is owned by Irvin Stern." Another note reads: "A new facade was later put on this building and the windows were altered." Copy of original photo; source not noted
The Texas Compay petroleum refinery was in Linwood, Pa., Newspaper articles from 1916 say that this team was part of the Independent League. The Petroleum Athletic Association also existed around that time.
Frank Lees caption: “This building stands on the northeast corner of State Street and South Avenue, This lot was purchased by Mr. Beatty in 1850 when the County was auctioning off lots. Mr. Beatty built this building in 1850 and it became Media's first store, a grocery store . The building had a meeting hall on the third floor called the Temperance Hall. This photo was taken in 1899 when the First National Bank of Media (now [1970s] Provident Bank) occupied the store while the new bank building across State Street was being constructed. This building is still in use today. [2019]”. Copy of original photo; source not noted
Frank Lees wrote this long description of this building in 1976: Northeast corner of State St. and South Ave. (Veterans Square). Built by John C. Beatty in 1850. Building construction began in 1849, completed before Media became a Borough. Was once known as the Black Building and was occupied as a Dry Goods store operated by Ellis Smedley and the upper floor finished as a hall, was dedicated to the cause of temperance on February 16, 1850. Mr. Smedley's successor in business at this stand was Thomas D. Nelling, who subsequently gave place to Black and Sons, in turn followed by Hawley and Brothers. Was a post office 1853 to 1857. George Bartram Lodge #298, F. and A.M. once occupied the hall. Store was a grocery store for many years. This was the first lot sold by the County Commissioners, and it was purchased by John C. Beatty for $367.50 and as Media's first store sold groceries and feed. Later it was owned by William F. Campbell and operated as a feed store and garden and farm implements. Will. Calvert had charge of the store. The law firm of Butler, Beatty, Greer and Johnson now (1976) occupy the third floor, the old hall, as an extension of their offices, whose building is located at the corner of South Avenue and Jasper St., the old Charter National Bank Building. The building now (1976) houses the offices of First Federal Saving and Loan Assn. of Chester on the ground floor.
Frank Lees caption: "These five houses (331-339 W. State Street) ,on the north side of the street, are part of a row that includes some of the oldest homes in Media. Next to Dr. Hough's home is Kastenbaum's Book Store."
This newsstand is no longer a separate building, but has been absorbed into the storefront that is entered at the northwest corner of Orange and State streets.
Signed "J.R.L.E 1918". Copy of original photograph; source not noted. Similar in Fields Family Collection. An undated clipping from the Public Ledger newspaper, in Philadelphia (found in Volume 29, page 46 of the Castner Scrapbook Collection of the Free Library of Philadelphia; link: https://libwww.freelibrary.org/digital/item/61693) identifies the photographer as J. R. Lincoln Edwards, of Lansdowne, Pa. Edwards won a $10 prize for this photo.
Caption reads: "The Warriors. 'Nine Club', Chester, May 26th, 1898. With the compliments of their photographic member, L. D. Woodridge." A later notation, in pencil, reads: "Rebecca Levis Smith in center"
Probably giving this baby (a prize-winner?) its weight in silver dollars. Provident Tradesmens Bank & Trust Co., formerly the First National Bank of Media.
