Archives: This week in Chester History
This Week in Chester History
In 2008, local builder William “Bill” Asdal was inducted into the national Remodelers Hall of Fame. The honor came from the National Association of Home Builders who held a ceremony in Las Vegas for the occassion. He is best known for his zero-energy restoration of the Raritan Inn in Califon which exemplies his personal emphasis on energy efficiency and the balance between energy generated and used.
This Week in Chester History
In 2006, Michael Yamishita, Chester Township resident and renowned veteran photographer of more than 25 years for Natural Geographic, signed copies of his book Ghost Fleet: The Epic Voyage of Zheng He at a program held at the Brookside Community Church in Mendham Township. He has photographed locales all across the world: Singapore, Papua New Guinea, and Ireland amongst numerous others.
This Week in Chester History
In 1991, the Observer-Tribune interviewed longtime resident Charles Breitweiser who served in WWII in the Pacific Theater. He flew a total of 23 missions over three years as gunner with the 20th Air Force, 500th Bomb Group before he was discharged, then moved to Chester in January of 1946. Breitweiser ran a variety of businesses after the war: a vegetable stand,
This Week in Chester History
In 2009, the Observer-Tribune welcomed Lesley Karczewski as the new Director here at Chester Library. They highlighted her tech-savviness and the fresh innovation she brought with her new leadership: laptop computers, online databases, a collection of video games, and the ability to print documents. In her interview, she expressed an interest in community outreach, saying people “get busy with their lives and they forget about the local library.
This Week in Chester History
In 1981, the Combe Fill South landfill ceased operation after more than 30 years of community frustration, concern, and court involvement. Members of West Morris HALT (Help Avoid a Landfill Tragedy) and residents in the area were on the scene as gates were closed and locked for good. Despite the celebration, however, those living near the landfill continued to drink bottled water due to leachate contamination.
This Week in Chester History
In 1999, the Observer-Tribune placed a spotlight on C.M. Offray & Son Inc., a local Chester business owned by the Offray family. At the time of the article’s writing, the company produced ribbons, fabrics, webbing, and an artificial vein used in heart surgery. In addition to this, the Offrays also had the privilege of making the Olympic ribbons for many years.
This Week in Chester History
On Friday, Oct. 29, 1993 about 100 area residents put on their spookiest costumes for the Publick House’s annual children’s Halloween costume contest. Costumes ranged from Disney characters to Hannibal Lechter, and pumpkins and free hayrides were provided prior to the event by Alstede Farms. First place went to cousins Daniel and Morgan who dressed as an organ grinder and monkey,
This Week in Chester History
In 1988, the Observer-Tribune placed a spotlight on the Growing Stage children’s theatre company as it grew into its then-recently new venue: the Williamson School on Main Street. Stephen Fredericks, director and founder, and the original 10 members pooled their money to pay rent and were set to work converting the auditorium into a fully fledged theater. Their hard work has paid off as today,
This Week in Chester History
In 1991, Old Chester Road resident James Dean had a ghost vanish from his front yard. According to the police report, a small vehicle stopped in front of his house on Saturday night. The driver got out and took the three foot plywood ghost before driving away in the dark. Patrolman Stephen Beyer investigated.
