Chester, Pennsylvania | What Happened? 

Dan. Is it the Scott Paper Co that makes toilet and kitchen rolls ?

I live in Chester back in late 60s and till 80s went to school at chester high. Back when I was little it was great used to go to Woolworth 5 and 10 for lunch with my grandfather. Used to go to the butcher shop and the newsstand next to the train station. There was a hobby store in town. Pep boys JCPenney's Sears stoddards department store in the great leopard rolling rink My grandfather worked at sonship, my aunts and uncles own day. Very famous flower shop in Chester

I worked for the county government in the 1970s and saw the decline of Chester first hand. As noted the biggest problem for Chester was the closing of several big employers that paid good wages. With the lack of jobs many people that could afford to moved out and many of the new owners were poorer and could not do a good job maintain their houses. At that time there was also two major malls built nearby which also lead to a major reduction of retail locations in downtown Chester. So with the reduction of tax income there was little the city could do to help to maintain good services. The somewhat good news was with the help of the state and county the old Sun Ship location became the Harrah’s casino and racetrack. This did provide for some better paying jobs. Latter they also got the major league soccer team located their stadium also in the city. There also was some other redevelopment but they still have a long way to go to make it a good livable city again.

Sad, sad truth

My mother in law was born and raised on 3rd st in Chester. She always said what a beautiful city it was in the 40's and 50's.

My grandparents SWENSON lived there - writing a book about their lives right now- based on their 1930 then WW2 letters Chester Strong - worked Sun Ship and Oil ♥️ powerful people our ancestors no wonder the …

The middle class leaving doesn't just happen. There are elements they became concerned with that caused them to leave.

@@jefftube58 Chester was first founded Chester UK in 79AD. The Romans built a Fort, and Amphitheatre there, and it grew into a major trading centre.

I’ve been watching this guy’s videos of deprivation of ruined and abandoned neighborhoods. And I must say that it starts to bring me down. We’re heading towards end of days here. Like an avalanche of despair. The magnitude of extreme poverty around the country. I know Gary Indiana people see as the worst. But what is in the worst?? Ruins are ruins. To me, theirs no degree of poverty. Blows my mind. It’s all the same. 😞

Not only a northern problem. The South, Indian Reservations, and more recently, Southern California, Portland and Seattle.

Even the churches are trashed. Never saw that before.

🎻

People are still living there? Boy am I sheltered 😩

Why was that big church burned down

After the industrial decline in the 1950's, jobs were lost, businesses closed, and people had to move away from Chester.

Buildings are non living things so they become useless when nobody lives their

I know what you mean. As he drives by you can in your mind hear the buildings crying.

They must have looked so nice when they were new.

My thoughts exactly, extremely sad as the buildings were all new at one time, people shopped, laughed enjoyed life all gone in the blink of an 👁‍🗨 ppl need to wake up , it could be their town next 😢

Big nice cars!

That is what I saw in all the documentaries all big new cars. Well not in this one because no people live in these houses.

Thanks for watching!

You obviously haven't visited its original name sake in England. UK. Now that's deprived

Not worse than philly

what...you dont like Harrah's?

Things must have been much better there at one time! Did they lose major employers, or was it something else?

@@theboywithathorninhisside.4179 but they have a nice zoo there.

You can tell by the church's still-standing outer walls, that is was once beautiful. Totally sad.

The burned-out church was Third Presbyterian, a magnificent edifice built in 1872. It was gutted by a five-alarm fire on May 28, 2020.

Top 100? It usually ranks in the top 5, and has had the title several years.

Thank you so much for watching!

IT WAS I WAS RAISED WEST 6TH STREET ACROSS FROM JOE'S LUMBER YARD.

Thanks for watching!

He said even God moved out😂

Check out the other uploads on the channel, I get into some adventures for sure

Jesus.

We used to call Chester the armpit of the world. I’m just glad you’re ok

Thanks so much for watching!

Thanks for watching!

Oh I saw that and thought the same. 😿

@@lindapietrasz8070 Very sad. Cats are almost like people.😞

Amen to that.

i think the same - this is the top

I agree. Truly stunning in its depression atmosphere. And row upon row of ugly apartment buildings. Hard to see any well maintained buildings. And the sight of the church was pitiful. Only a few people outside in Chester. Trees growing in the abandoned buildings.

Having lived in the Detroit area for 64 years I agree- Chester is a lot worse.

@@redriveral2764 Gary Indiana is even worse than Chester. 🤮🤮

I love those Flatiron buildings.

Truly saddened by the state of those formerly beautiful homes

@@dianamarie5663 aha ! .. thank YOU ! I was trying to recall what those are called and up popped the answer … I’m from Mass. and I just love the older, unusual architecture … you have a wonderful week …

Thanks so much for watching Bryce!

7:05 The church looks in good condition.

My late father and mother in law owned and ran a trailer park in Chester. One day the Commonwealth came and bought them out. Exit Ramp for I 95. They took the money and left for better horizons!

What school? My mom taught at Jeffries ( long gone) and I started my teaching career there as a sub in 1976. Moved away shortly after that. It was going downhill for a long time.

Yes, strange. Where do they get the money?

I'll do a night version of this in the summer when it gets busy!

Thanks so much again for watching John, I appreciate it!

Exactly my sentiments exactly

The only thing missing are the atv's running around lol

Thank you so much Erica!

the day was 80 years ago

Can't imagine anywhere in that country would be nice to live nowadays. But you never know.

It was set on fire I googled it

That's CRAZY.

Hardly.

That is 550 Sproul Street; I could find no history on it.

LOL yeah that was great