West Chester Pike freed 100 years ago!! Upcoming events

 

West Chester Pike at Darby Creek looking toward Marple Twp. c. 1912

NOTE: Many people know that Chester Pike was a toll road till June of 1921, many are unaware that West Chester Pike was also a toll road and was freed just 100 years ago.

 

 

West Chester Pike Freed!

 

 

CHESTER TIMES – November 16, 1917 – TURNPIKE TO BE TOLL FREE – West Chester Road Promises to Become Property of the State First of the Year

                The Philadelphia and West Chester turnpike will be freed from toll by the first of the new year if the present program does not miscarry, and there seems to be little doubt that the famous pike will be freed from toll forever and the road become the property of the State.

                It will be remembered that about one year ago, C. Edwin Hunter and many other big property owners along the West Chester Pike, petitioned the court for a jury of view to take testimony and to estimate the cost with a view of having the county take the road over at a price to be fixed by the jury.  Several hearings were had in the case by the jury and much testimony was produced by the petitioners who desire the road to be free from toll in which they showed the necessity of having the toll road become a public one.  They showed that the toll road was hindering the progress of property along the West Chester Pike.  The officers and stockholders of the Philadelphia and West Chester Turnpike Company showed that the road was a valuable property and that they should be reimbursed to the extent of thousands of dollars.  The hearings were abruptly continued. 

                Yesterday the County Commissioners received a welcome and interesting letter from J. Denny O’Neil, State Commissioner of Highways, stating that he had given the matter of the West Chester Pike full consideration, and that he has placed the matter in the hands of Engineer Hunter of the State Highway Department with instruction to confer with the County Commissioners at an early date relative to having the state and county purchase the road from the turnpike company provided the county would pay fifty percent of the purchase price, after which the road will become the property of the State and will be maintained by the State.  In the letter to the County Commissioners, Councilman XXXXXXX should be freed from toll by January first of next year.

                FAVORS THE PLAN – County Commissioner Jesse D. Pierson, president of the Board of County Commissioners said today that he is very much in favor of freeing the West Chester Pike of toll.  He said he realized that it was a public necessity and that the commissioners will undoubtedly agree to pay for half the purchase price of the road if the price is reasonable.  Mr. Pierson also said that he fully realized if the jury of view fixed the purchase price of the road, and the court would approve the action of the jury, then it would be up to the county to pay the entire cost of the road and at the same time keep the road I good order, the same as it does bridges and other county property.  Mr. Pierson said it would be more economical for the county to pay fifty per cent of the purchase price of the road, and relieve the county from maintaining road in the future. From what could be learned from Mr. Pierson the price for the purchase of the road will be satisfactory to the state and county, although he would not state what the figures would be.  He did say, however, that the turnpike company had asked $100,000 for the pike, but he felt sure that no such price would be demanded in the final settlement of the question.

                The West Chester Pike is a stretch of road about three and one-half miles long, and it runs from the Philadelphia city line at Sixty-Third and Market Street to Newtown square.  This piece of road is in fairly good shape and needs but touching up in spots to make it perfect.