With some bumps, the City of Coatesville Pennsylvania has remained a commonwealth.“Benjamin Franklin's Idea Of Commonwealth Has Abandoned Us - Ken Burns & Mandy Patinkin”

 “Commonwealth is a  traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good."

When I was chair of the Coatesvillle Democratic Committee Ed Simpson was running as a Republican Party incumbent unopposed to represent Coatesville’s First Ward at Coatesville City Council.

I made up palm cards, handouts for Democratic Party voters to write in Ed Simpson on the Democratic Ballot. 

Ed has been a steady voice for the people of Coatesville on City Council for decades, as had Bill Chertok had been as a Democrat.  And has David DeSimone as a Republican. I put those three together because they have all been effective working for the commonwealth of Coatesville. 

Although Chester County has until recently been a stronghold for Pennsylvania Republicans, the Democratic Party has been the dominant political party in Coatesville since at least the 1940s. 

With some bumps along the way Democrats & Republicans have worked together for the commonwealth of Coatesville and still do today.

Ken Burns Was Watching "Homeland" When He Realized Mandy Patinkin Should Be His Ben Franklin

Benjamin Franklin's Idea Of Commonwealth Has Abandoned Us - Ken Burns & Mandy Patinkin

Rebecca Lukens laid the foundations that made Lukens Steel Company an important part of the Westward expansion of the United States by railroad, and an essential part of the military build up for WWII. 

She also made Coatesville a “melting pot” of refugees,  Blacks from the South, Italian, Polish, Jews from Belarus & Germany, Syrian, Hungarian, Spanish, Greek and Ukrainian people looking for a better life, a commonwealth.

THE CITY OF COATESVILLE PENNSYLVANIA

Lukens made the “steel trees” left standing at the Twin Towers.

One Summer break from school I worked on the floor of “The Hill” Building at Lukens Steel Company. My dad operated the crane over my head at times.