Organization-Collingdale Police Department

Location: 800 MacDade Boulevard

Hours of Operation: Office open 8-4 pm Monday -Fridays...patrols run 24/7

Founded: The police department was one of the six departments established in January 1892. For the first six or seven years, only one or two officers patrolled the streets. Much of the history of the department is still buried from the early years.

A brief history: It wasn't until September 1911 that it became apparent that the one patrolling officer needed help. Borough council member Andrew Voss and a few other council members decided to ask for volunteers to support the officer in his duties. It was a few years before a solid group was formed of dedicated men willing to serve their community in this manner. In the photograph seen here from 1915, members of the first police department pose for their picture. Isaac Diehl, second from left on first row, is recorded as serving as a police officer from January 8, 1912 to March 1916. The first chief of police, William Fitzpatrick, took charge of the first non-volunteer police force in January 1928 and served until his retirement in 1948. Under his leadership the department expanded its services and was able to implement community programs. Today the police department shows the same quality of leadership and integrity in keeping the streets safe. One of their many programs is the D.A.R.E. program that educates young people about the dangers of drugs and alcohol

For more information: visit....Collingdale Police Department.

Profile-Charles McCloskey Johnston, 1st Mayor of Collingdale

Role played in the borough: Charles, his wife Florence and their children, Paul, Joseph, Nancy and Eileen were active in the community from the 1940's to the 1960's. Charles started running for public office during the Second World War when wardens were needed to support the war efforts. He helped establish a temporary headquarters (shelter in place) in the basement of the First Lutheran Church. Eileen has memories of performing errands for the headquarters which fortunately was never utilized during the war. His involvement increased in the 1950's when he became a member of borough council and was elected Burgess in 1954. A Pennsylvania state ruling in November 1961 changed the official title of the office to Mayor, and thus Mr. Johnston was the first Mayor of Collingdale until he left office in January 1962.

Accomplishments: Charles accomplished some improvements to the civic organizations in the borough and was supported by his wife, Florence and the whole family in his endeavors..She was elected president of the Collingdale Library Association in the 1940's and had been active in the Women's Club for many years. She actually was one of the founders of the Women's Club in 1936. Charles was known as a fair man and very stylish. Easter parades and other celebrations were his forte.

A brief history: The Johnston family had a stable foothold in the community during the 1930's and 1940's. Memories of their efforts on behalf of the library and other civic organizations are well known. What may not be known however is that Mr. Johnston's support of various events such as the annual Halloween Parade helped keep them going. When he left office, that support disappeared and was sorely missed. 

Business-Changing Lanes Learning Center Inc

Location: 1200 Clifton Avenue

Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday 7 am- 6 pm

Specialize in: Teaches and supports Pre-K  (Ages 3-5) children with peanut and other related allergies. Provides special programs such as Show & Tell and special theme days.

Founded: July 2010

A brief history: The catalyst for starting this facility was the need the director, Naomi Pereira-Lane had for her young son who has peanut allergies to have a place where he could learn and grow in a safe environment. Ms. Lane researched area preschools, studied the curriculum and made the discovery that although there were two preschools in the area, they didn't provide the needed support a child with peanut and other related allergies needed. There was some resistance at first for having yet another facility in the borough where there were already three other facilities available in a three mile radius. Ms. Lane addressed that resistance by offering unique programs and by emphasizing the fact that their facility catered especially towards children who wouldn't be able to go to another facility due to medical issues.

Having a facility that would create a safe environment for the children wasn't enough. Ms. Lane wanted to make sure the children were also enriched by the education they received from the center. All teachers are certified for early elementary and Pre-K education and actively participate in both the National Association for the Education of Young Children and the Delaware Valley Association of Young Children.



Naomi Pereira-Lane

For more information, visit:Changing Lanes Learning Center Inc

Church-All Saints Episcopal Church

Location: 801 MacDade Boulevard

Ministry hours: Sunday School 9:15 AM
Church service 10:30 AM

Denomination: Episcopalian

Founded: September 1912 as part of Trinity Episcopal in Collingdale.

A brief history: All Saints started as sub-entity of Trinity Episcopal in its mission to the people of Darby. They didn't have a building to meet in, so they sublet Trinity's building in Collingdale until they acquired land in Darby around 1913. Building commenced rapidly and the congregation moved into the building on Summit and Market streets in Darby about a year later. Research is still ongoing for this church, but it had a very active role in Darby with its outreach programs. Deterioration of the roof which would have cost the church thousands of dollars was the determining factor behind moving back to Trinity Episcopal in November 2010. By that time Trinity had closed its doors forever and was on the auction block to be sold. It was definitely a "win" for them and for the community to keep this church intact.

Update: Church is now closed....December 2013....Building is endangered historical landmark and on auction block to be sold

Update Two....Pilgrim Seventh Day Adventist Church now owns this building. Services started January 2, 2016

Organization-Collingdale Fire Company No. #2

Location: 310 MacDade Boulevard

Hours of operation: Volunteers are on call 24/7

Founded: October 1916, chartered as a fire company January 31, 1917.

Founding members: Hugh Carlin, Harvey Faust and Andrew Voss

A brief history: The fire company came into being due to the fact that a number of fires on the east side of Collingdale, sometimes also known as the southside, were not being attended to quickly enough. In those days the fire apparatus was a horse and wagon which would pull the attached tank where needed. Having a separate fire company was a smart move for those who lived on the east side and made sense at the time. Residents supported the incorporation and helped raise funds for the new company which then purchased land on Rhodes and Parker Avenue for a building. Before the building was built, the fire company used existing buildings in the area to store equipment. There are no existing records of which building(s) they used. Through the years they supported Collingdale Fire Company No. #1 fighting fires, raising funds and in community services. One of the most memorable events that both fire companies supported was the annual carnival that was held across the street from Collingdale Fire Company No. #2 for a number of years until it wasn't a viable source of revenue anymore. The firemen of Collingdale Fire Company No. #2 still volunteer their time and efforts in supporting community events and offer their hall for rentals.

To learn more, please visit:

Collingdale Fire Company No. #2

Past businesses-Mena's Kitchen

Location: 1030 MacDade Boulevard

A brief history: This store opened in June 2010 after the Pretzel Factory closed in May 2010. The diner is best known as the MacDade Diner and is still listed as such in the manta website. The MacDade Diner closed in 2009 due to a number of factors. Mena's specialized in home cooked meals such as meatloaf and had a wide variety of choices. They served breakfast, lunch and dinner when they first started, but soon decided not to serve dinner to accommodate groups that wanted to hold meetings there. The staff was very accommodating and went out of their way to serve their customers. Unfortunately both the economy and other factors made it necessary to cut hours which deterred groups from meeting at that location. The restaurant closed January 2013.

Church-Golden Gate Christian Assembly

Location: 815 Clifton Avenue

Ministry hours: Sunday School 9:30 am
Morning worship service 11 am
Wednesday evening bible study 6 pm
Healing services-every third Saturday 10-12 pm
Evangelistic services- every first Sunday  2 pm

Denomination:  Non-denominational

Mission statement: Enter to Worship, Depart to Serve

A brief history: The church started as the Golden Gate Baptist church April 23, 1972 and had its home in the sanctuary of the West Philadelphia Seventh Day Adventist Church, 55th and Haverford Avenues in Philadelphia. They changed locations twice before moving permanently to Collingdale. Once to St. Phillips Evangelical Lutheran church, 53rd and Wyalusing Avenue on November 9, 1975 and once to 28th street in Philadelphia. It was at this location they remained until 2005 when the roof collapsed in the church. The congregation wandered for a time, and finally found a home when the Mariner's United Methodist church closed its doors and the property became vacant March 2010.

For more information: Golden Gate Christian Assembly