Description: In the mid-1900s, Coatesville was a manufacturing gemstone amid the rolling farmland of Chester County. It was home to Lukens Steel, maker of the steel trees that became the first nine stories of New York City's World Trade Center. Retailers such as JC Penney, JJ Newberry, and Woolworth's were large employers serving Coatesville citizens and visitors from neighboring counties. By the mid-1970s, Coatesville's commerce was deeply affected by the influx of shopping malls and big-box stores. Thanks to locally minded developers and community advocates, Coatesville's revival is very real and centers on the arts, boutique retailers, faith-based progress, and handshakes. Coatesville marks its centennial in 2015.
Brief description: Karol Collins, a Chester County native, has shared dining rooms and church pews with generations of friends and family members who also call Coatesville home. She volunteers at the Brandywine Health Foundation's Strawberry Festival Committee, the National Iron and Steel Heritage Museum, the Western Chester County Chamber of Commerce, the former Coatesville Church Tour Committee, and the Coatesville Christmas Parade Committee. This book is her gift to loved ones who share her home.