Today in Delaware County history, June 8

100 Years Ago, 1923: A large number of the members of the Masonic Fraternity of this city will go to Milford, Delaware, tomorrow night for the purpose of assisting in making President Warren G. Harding, Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Theodore Roosevelt and George B. Christian, secretary to the President, members of the Tall Cedars of Lebanon, of the Delaware State Forest. This will be one of the most important meetings ever held by a Delaware Masonic lodge or organization and thousands of visitors from this and other states will be guests of the Milford Cedars.

75 Years Ago, 1948: The fourth annual Folk Festival will be presented at PMC stadium at 7.30 tonight. Admission is free. More than 5,000 persons are expected to jam the place to capacity. Co-sponsored again by Chester Recreation Board and the Chester Times, the festival offers two and one-half hours of entertainment based on the theme of “One World.” From the moment Hal Moore, of Broomall, steps to the microphone in a return appearance as master of ceremonies until the final swirl of skirts and cashes by the Bavarian dance group, the audience will see and hear performers representing nearly every national strain that makes up the American populations.

50 Years Ago, 1973: Dr. Nathan V. Plafker, Chester dentist and until recently chairman of the Chester Planning commission, died Thursday night in Crozer-Chester Medical Center, Upland. Dr. Plafker was 68 and lived at 919 Avenue of the States, Chester, where he maintained his dental offices. Dr. Plafker was long a civic leader in Chester. He served at one time as chairman of the Chester Housing Authority and was first chairman of the short-lived Chester Human Relations commission.

25 Years Ago, 1998: Yes, those were state police officers on horses patrolling the Highland Gardens section of Chester Friday night. The patrol is an element of the state’s Weed and Seed program, a zero-tolerance crimefighting effort. The six horses with state police astride patrolled the area throughout the night, and will continue to appear on an unannounced schedule.

10 Years Ago, 2013: Ed Chamberlain should have graduated from Chester High School in 1953, but left high school as a sophomore to enlist in the United States Army to help his widowed mother make ends meet. Friday night, Chamberlain realized a lifelong dream by walking in the Chester High School graduation ceremony and receiving the diploma he has waited 60 years to hold. “I had a great time tonight and I thank everyone who has helped me achieve this goal,” said the 79-year-old Chamberlain.

— COLIN AINSWORTH