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
Airbrushed copy negative. Made for Hotel Media's advertising in Centennial Book 110. This building sat on the southwest corner of Baltimore Ave and Lemon St. Hill's Seafood now (2020) occupies the site.
This is Zimmerman's copy of an old photograph, which is not dated but could be ca. 1890. The business stood on the northwest corner of State Street and Jackson Street.
Ben Gross (with glasses) started the store about 1920; he died in 1955. The three younger men who appear in this series of photographs are probably his sons, William, Milton, and Jack. Date on negative envelope wrong.
Ben Gross (with glasses) started the store about 1920; he died in 1955. The three younger men who appear in this series of photographs are probably his sons, William, Milton, and Jack. Date on negative envelope wrong.
Ben Gross (with glasses) started the store about 1920; he died in 1955. The three younger men who appear in this series of photographs are probably his sons, William, Milton, and Jack. Date on negative envelope wrong.
Ben Gross (with glasses) started the store about 1920; he died in 1955. The three younger men who appear in this series of photographs are probably his sons, William, Milton, and Jack. Date on negative envelope wrong.
Ben Gross (with glasses) started the store about 1920; he died in 1955. The three younger men who appear in this series of photographs are probably his sons, William, Milton, and Jack. Date on negative envelope wrong.
Ben Gross (with glasses) started the store about 1920; he died in 1955. The three younger men who appear in this series of photographs are probably his sons, William, Milton, and Jack. Date on negative envelope wrong.
Reunion committee, Spanish American War Veterans, 6th Regiment PA Volunteers. Identifications by Frank Lees: Left to right: Paul Garcia, secretary; E. Morris DeCann, treasurer; Walter S. Worrall, E. V. Streeper, William Westcott, president and chairman; Thomas Schroeder, Sarah E. Westcott, Sara E. Halfpenny, chaplain, A. W. Heite, color bearer, Bertha Dillmore. Negative damaged.
AAA tow truck and gasoline pumps in front. The business was on the northwest corner at Front and Orange streets, "opposite the Court House," according to company's ad in the Centennial Book 82.
On the wall are testimonials from two local sports figures: Lew Jenkins, former lightweight boxing champion, and Jack Ferrante, a receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles from 1944-1950, who later coached the football Team at Monsignor Bonner High School in Upper Darby.
