Our great grandfather, whom I had the delight of getting to know through his children and various newspaper clippings and photos.
John Clifford Kane was the son of Irish immigrants, John Kane & Elizabeth Martin Kane. He was the brother of Annie (who died at age 12), Barkley & William. His mother died when he was young and his father married Elizabeth Faire, who continued to raise the young family. After his father's death, Elizabeth moved in with John and his family.
As boys he and his brothers were very active in the Episcopal Church. He was an acolyte and his brother Barkley was in the choir. John's Godfather later became Bishop Remington.
In 1913, he married Helen Mae Holcroft, a Methodist, and would drive the family to church functions but would not attend himself. He was thrilled when daughter Betty decided at 15 to join the Episcopal (his) church.
John & Helen had four children: Betty, Buddy, Bill & Dick.
Around 1920, John owned a Dodge touring car, with running boards. It had isinglass curtains he could put on to keep the passengers dry. He would take the family on picnics. This was not limited to John, Helen & kids. It included a good deal of the Holcroft family who lived in the same neighborhood. Daugther Betty said the were like clowns in the circus in that car. They would drive out into the country for picnics, often getting swarmed by yellow jackets.
John had graduated from Chester High School and attended Drexel Institute. His earlier jobs included working in the offices of American Steel Foundries, Chester Steel Casting Company & Sun Oil Company. He also moonlighted as a car salesman. Around 1921, he found his true calling in Real Estate. By 1927 he was elected President of the Chester Real Estate Board.
During the Great Depression, son Bill recalls his father purchasing groceries for the less fortunate.
In 1942, John was appointed to the Chester City Council. As a city councilman, he served as the Director of Parks & Public Property and the Director of Public Safety. He served on the Council until his death in 1948.
In addition to his City Council service, John was a member of the Felton Fire Company,the Masons, Chester Rotary Club & the West End Businessmen's Association.
City Hall was closed the day of his funeral so that all city employees could attend. There were so many flowers, they had to be loaded in the bed of a Felton Fire Engine. The crowd was so large,it overflowed into the street.
A pedestrian bridge linking the municple parking lot to the downtown parking lot was dedicated to him.
John Clifford Kane was the son of Irish immigrants, John Kane & Elizabeth Martin Kane. He was the brother of Annie (who died at age 12), Barkley & William. His mother died when he was young and his father married Elizabeth Faire, who continued to raise the young family. After his father's death, Elizabeth moved in with John and his family.
As boys he and his brothers were very active in the Episcopal Church. He was an acolyte and his brother Barkley was in the choir. John's Godfather later became Bishop Remington.
In 1913, he married Helen Mae Holcroft, a Methodist, and would drive the family to church functions but would not attend himself. He was thrilled when daughter Betty decided at 15 to join the Episcopal (his) church.
John & Helen had four children: Betty, Buddy, Bill & Dick.
Around 1920, John owned a Dodge touring car, with running boards. It had isinglass curtains he could put on to keep the passengers dry. He would take the family on picnics. This was not limited to John, Helen & kids. It included a good deal of the Holcroft family who lived in the same neighborhood. Daugther Betty said the were like clowns in the circus in that car. They would drive out into the country for picnics, often getting swarmed by yellow jackets.
John had graduated from Chester High School and attended Drexel Institute. His earlier jobs included working in the offices of American Steel Foundries, Chester Steel Casting Company & Sun Oil Company. He also moonlighted as a car salesman. Around 1921, he found his true calling in Real Estate. By 1927 he was elected President of the Chester Real Estate Board.
During the Great Depression, son Bill recalls his father purchasing groceries for the less fortunate.
In 1942, John was appointed to the Chester City Council. As a city councilman, he served as the Director of Parks & Public Property and the Director of Public Safety. He served on the Council until his death in 1948.
In addition to his City Council service, John was a member of the Felton Fire Company,the Masons, Chester Rotary Club & the West End Businessmen's Association.
City Hall was closed the day of his funeral so that all city employees could attend. There were so many flowers, they had to be loaded in the bed of a Felton Fire Engine. The crowd was so large,it overflowed into the street.
A pedestrian bridge linking the municple parking lot to the downtown parking lot was dedicated to him.
Our great grandfather, whom I had the delight of getting to know through his children and various newspaper clippings and photos.
John Clifford Kane was the son of Irish immigrants, John Kane & Elizabeth Martin Kane. He was the brother of Annie (who died at age 12), Barkley & William. His mother died when he was young and his father married Elizabeth Faire, who continued to raise the young family. After his father's death, Elizabeth moved in with John and his family.
As boys he and his brothers were very active in the Episcopal Church. He was an acolyte and his brother Barkley was in the choir. John's Godfather later became Bishop Remington.
In 1913, he married Helen Mae Holcroft, a Methodist, and would drive the family to church functions but would not attend himself. He was thrilled when daughter Betty decided at 15 to join the Episcopal (his) church.
John & Helen had four children: Betty, Buddy, Bill & Dick.
Around 1920, John owned a Dodge touring car, with running boards. It had isinglass curtains he could put on to keep the passengers dry. He would take the family on picnics. This was not limited to John, Helen & kids. It included a good deal of the Holcroft family who lived in the same neighborhood. Daugther Betty said the were like clowns in the circus in that car. They would drive out into the country for picnics, often getting swarmed by yellow jackets.
John had graduated from Chester High School and attended Drexel Institute. His earlier jobs included working in the offices of American Steel Foundries, Chester Steel Casting Company & Sun Oil Company. He also moonlighted as a car salesman. Around 1921, he found his true calling in Real Estate. By 1927 he was elected President of the Chester Real Estate Board.
During the Great Depression, son Bill recalls his father purchasing groceries for the less fortunate.
In 1942, John was appointed to the Chester City Council. As a city councilman, he served as the Director of Parks & Public Property and the Director of Public Safety. He served on the Council until his death in 1948.
In addition to his City Council service, John was a member of the Felton Fire Company,the Masons, Chester Rotary Club & the West End Businessmen's Association.
City Hall was closed the day of his funeral so that all city employees could attend. There were so many flowers, they had to be loaded in the bed of a Felton Fire Engine. The crowd was so large,it overflowed into the street.
A pedestrian bridge linking the municple parking lot to the downtown parking lot was dedicated to him.
John Clifford Kane was the son of Irish immigrants, John Kane & Elizabeth Martin Kane. He was the brother of Annie (who died at age 12), Barkley & William. His mother died when he was young and his father married Elizabeth Faire, who continued to raise the young family. After his father's death, Elizabeth moved in with John and his family.
As boys he and his brothers were very active in the Episcopal Church. He was an acolyte and his brother Barkley was in the choir. John's Godfather later became Bishop Remington.
In 1913, he married Helen Mae Holcroft, a Methodist, and would drive the family to church functions but would not attend himself. He was thrilled when daughter Betty decided at 15 to join the Episcopal (his) church.
John & Helen had four children: Betty, Buddy, Bill & Dick.
Around 1920, John owned a Dodge touring car, with running boards. It had isinglass curtains he could put on to keep the passengers dry. He would take the family on picnics. This was not limited to John, Helen & kids. It included a good deal of the Holcroft family who lived in the same neighborhood. Daugther Betty said the were like clowns in the circus in that car. They would drive out into the country for picnics, often getting swarmed by yellow jackets.
John had graduated from Chester High School and attended Drexel Institute. His earlier jobs included working in the offices of American Steel Foundries, Chester Steel Casting Company & Sun Oil Company. He also moonlighted as a car salesman. Around 1921, he found his true calling in Real Estate. By 1927 he was elected President of the Chester Real Estate Board.
During the Great Depression, son Bill recalls his father purchasing groceries for the less fortunate.
In 1942, John was appointed to the Chester City Council. As a city councilman, he served as the Director of Parks & Public Property and the Director of Public Safety. He served on the Council until his death in 1948.
In addition to his City Council service, John was a member of the Felton Fire Company,the Masons, Chester Rotary Club & the West End Businessmen's Association.
City Hall was closed the day of his funeral so that all city employees could attend. There were so many flowers, they had to be loaded in the bed of a Felton Fire Engine. The crowd was so large,it overflowed into the street.
A pedestrian bridge linking the municple parking lot to the downtown parking lot was dedicated to him.
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