In 1979, a teenage boy was convicted of stealing US$300,000 worth of paintings over a three-year period by taking them off the wall and sliding them out of the museum's windows.

The museum building and park were given to the Delaware County Industrial Development Authority and the art collection was moved to Widener University.

[5] It contained over 300 pieces of art including 19th-century American and European paintings, Chinese carved stone jars and Japanese ivory statues.

[8] The paintings included those from American Impressionist artists George Loftus Noyes, Edward Redfield and Robert Spencer.

[9] Alfred O. Deshong was a wealthy businessman who operated a successful quarry business and was a director of the Delaware County National Bank.

He died in 1913 and donated his art collection, mansion and 22-acre (8.9 ha) property to the city of Chester.

[15] Between 1976 and 1979, a teenager named Laurence McCall from Chester, Pennsylvania, stole multiple paintings and a plate from the gallery.