This collection focuses mainly on the Media Centennial Celebration, which ran from June 3-10, 1950 and included thousands of participants and attracted tens of thousands of spectators. Besides covering the centennial activities for local newspapers, Zimmerman took many photographs of local business, churches, and community organizations for inclusion in a souvenir book sold during the events. (The page number of these photographs, in this publication, are noted in each item’s description). To view a selection of Centennial photos by Zimmerman, click here. For an overview of the Centennial activities, click here.
A smaller but fascinating group of aerial photographs of Media and other nearby Delaware County, Pennsylvania communities, taken in 1950, show how much open space existed in the area at the time, and how quickly that land was being bought up and built up as part of the post-World War II housing boom.
Thanks to Adeline Cianella, for scanning most of the 750+ negatives and choosing appropriate subjects for each image; also to Matt Lake, for kicking off the project with a few dozen scans of his own. Most of the photographer's captions were minimal, so thanks also to Adam Levine, who edited each image and fleshed out the descriptions by perusing the Centennial souvenir book along with captions of published photos and newspaper articles describing the events, from both online databases and MHAC’s own scrapbooks and newspaper collection.
Identifier
Francis F. Zimmerman Photograph Collection
Spatial Coverage
Media, Pennsylvania and surrounding municipalities in Delaware County, Pennsylvania
This building was last occupied by Stillwell Moving and Storage, before it was condemned and demolished during Media's Baker Street Urban Renewal project. See photo in Baker Street Book 1-392, with plan showing the address; also various advertisements in the Chester Times. The Media News, a weekly newspaper, merged with the Media Comment in 1955, and offices of the renamed "Media News Comment" moved to the County Building on Veterans Square.
Left to right: Malcolm H. Laughead, chief; Harvey F. Snyder, Sergeant; Gunnar H. Jorgensen, corporal, and Patrolmen Thomas L. Highfield, Joseph V. Gessler, Phillip Lee, Thomas J. Bruton, Alonzo H. Baker, and Harry Pearson.
Left to right: Malcolm H. Laughead, chief; Harvey F. Snyder, Sergeant; Gunnar H. Jorgensen, corporal, and Patrolmen Thomas L. Highfield, Joseph V. Gessler, Phillip Lee, Thomas J. Bruton, Alonzo H. Baker, and Harry Pearson. Print originally in Photo Folder 1395, I. Frank Lees Collection. Negative damaged, but this is still better than 8x10 print in Folder 1395.
Left to right: Malcolm H. Laughead, chief; Harvey F. Snyder, Sergeant; Gunnar H. Jorgensen, corporal, and Patrolmen Thomas L. Highfield, Joseph V. Gessler, Phillip Lee, Thomas J. Bruton, Alonzo H. Baker
Left to right: Charles Higgins, John Barrall, William Battey, Rev. Charles V. Hassler, Frances Austin, Howard Wentz, Albin Ottey, Earle Suter, and George T. Lewis. Centennial Book 37.
In November 1950 this property became the Workmen's Circle Home, a retirement and nursing home. The Media Borough offices now (2020) occupy the property.
In November 1950 this property became the Workmen's Circle Home, a retirement and nursing home. The Media Borough offices now (2020) occupy the property.
This is probably Sidney M. Wilson, who also ran S. M. Wilson's Chrysler-Plymouth agency at the garage. See ad in Centennial Book, page 96. See also ZM-2750 for the outside of the building.
