Chester

In 1682, William Penn chose Chester as his landing place in Pennsylvania. A hub for commerce in Colonial times, Chester continued its prosperous reputation during the industrial revolution, and it is famous for its textile and paper mills. The town is home to the oldest public building in continuous use--the 1724 courthouse. Kimberly-Clark, formally Scott Paper Company, is among the successful local businesses today. Through the years, many prominent people, including the Wetherill, Scott, Deshong, and Crozer families, called Chester home. Through vintage photographs, Chester documents the community's golden years from the post-Civil War era to the 1950s.

For the last 24 years, the Chester Historical Preservation Committee has worked to preserve historic sites and landmarks, including embarking on the restoration of a pre–World War I trolley car that once ran between Chester and Wilmington, Delaware. The committee showcases the area’s many historic homes and mansions during the holiday season and holds monthly meetings at the Chester Friends Meeting House to share the city’s history with others.