Lansdowne and it's pretty Buildings!! Upcoming events

This postcard from about 1908 shows South Lansdowne Ave. exact location not known. Hard to believe Lansdowne Ave. looked like this. If you recognize the location please let me know. Thanks

CHESTER TIMES – March 4, 1902

            LANSDOWNE, A CITY OF PRETTY BUILDINGS 

One of Delaware County’s Beautiful Suburban Towns – How the Borough Grows

            Lansdowne does not owe its development to any extent to land speculators, but rather to the gradual assembling of suburbanites who make their livelihood in Philadelphia.  The land is high, and residences in this district are almost on a level with the statue of William Penn, perched upon the tower of the City Hall.

            The pioneer of building operations in Lansdown was John McConaghy.  About five years ago he erected a group of handsome residence. This experiment was very successful.  The Edward T. Bishop, a local builder, did some very creditable work in this line.

            Quite recently real estate men, recognizing the possibilities of this place so favored by position, healthfulness and natural beauty of topography, have erected at intervals more than 100 artistically finished homes.

            A PLACE FOR PRETTY HOMES – Several years ago Gorman & Ryan instituted quite a boom in Lansdowne Heights and Edwin L. Price at Lansdowne Park.  Immediate development did not follow, because transportation facilities were not then in an inviting condition.  Since that time this disability has been removed.

            Charles Prettyman built not long ago a number of pretty residences in Lansdowne Park, and Lansdowne Heights is fast improving mainly through private enterprise.

            The Roman Catholic congregation of St. Philomena a little over a year ago built a handsome stone edifice of Romanesque style at Baltimore and Gibbons Avenues.  As soon as their funds have reached the requisite amount a parochial school and a convent are to be erected.  Rowland Boyle, the architect who designed the church will in all likelihood prepare the plans for the new structures.

            Last April the final touches were put to the fine Gothic grey stone church known as St. John’s P.E., located on Baltimore Avenue, near west Lansdowne avenue.

            Besides these edifices there is the Lansdowne Baptist Church at Lansdowne and East Lacrosse Avenues; the Lansdowne M.E. Church, with its attractive windows at Lansdowne and West Stratford Avenues, and the First Presbyterian on Lansdowne Avenue, northwest of Stewart, organized May 26, 1887.

            The educational facilities are exceptionally good.  Lansdowne has a school system and a high school that are models for all Delaware County.  To this high school flock the youth from a wide circuit of neighboring villages The West Chester branch of the Pennsylvania railroad had such an increase of traffic from this community that the directors had a handsome new station built during the last year.

 

DCHPN Monthly E-Newsletter

Happy Black History Month, President's Day, Chinese New Year, and many more! For a short month, there is a lot happening. Check out all these events happening this month Be safe and healthy- wear a mask at in-person events. Help stop the spread Read the announcements below for important information   *Finding Black Families: Stories from The Chew Family Papers Feb 22, 6:30 PM Zoom- registration required Spread throughout the 288.5 linear feet of The Chew Family Papers at the HSP is the evidence of the lives of early American Black families, free and enslaved. This conversation with Cliveden, the African American Genealogy Group, and the HSP will share discoveries arising from a recent collaboration   Learn More *Virtual Website Workshop for Historical Organizations- DCHPN Feb 23, 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM Zoom- link goes to meeting DCHPN & Penn State Brandywine LaunchBox present a Website Building Workshop specifically for Delaware County historical organizations. Link goes right to meeting. If you have questions email cliffordk@co.delaware.pa.us.   Learn More *Sun Shipbuilding's Yard No. 4: Segregation & Shipbuilding During WWII Feb 23, 6:30 PM Zoom- registration required Learn about Sun Shipbuilding & Drydock Co.'s Yard No. 4, the all-Black segregated shipyard during WWII. Hosted by Delaware County Historical Society.   Learn More *Historic Preservation Advocacy Requests in 2022 Feb 24, 3:00 PM Zoom- registration required Hear about efforts to fund and reauthorize the Historic Preservation Fund, strategies to enhance the Historic Tax Credit, key opportunities to protect cultural places, and tactics for effective federal engagement by preservation partners.   Learn More *The Life of Phillis Wheatley presented by Daisy Century Feb 24, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM Online- registration required Historical interpreter Dr. Daisy Century will present the life story of Phillis Wheatley.  The first published African-American poet and the first African-American female published writer, Wheatley was born around 1753 in West Africa.    Learn More Spinning Workshop Feb 26, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM Edgmont Township Municipal Building, 1000 Gradyville Rd, Gradyville, PA 19039 Up until the end of the 18th century all of the yarn and thread used to make clothing and other textiles was spun by hand. In this class we will start out with the park-and-draft method of learning and everyone will be able to progress at their own pace. $35   Learn More David Rittenhouse Award honoring Clarence Holbert Feb 26, 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM Historic Rittenhousetown Homestead, 207 Lincoln Dr, Philadelphia, PA 19144 The David Rittenhouse award will be part of a month-long celebration of Black History and Clarence E. Holbert being the second Black American U.S. engraver, the engraver of Eritrea's currency, the Nakfa. This celebration parallels Nakfa's own 25th anniversary.  $55   Learn More Trolley Trail Hike Feb 27, 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM Chamounix Hostel, 3250 Chamounix Dr, Philadelphia, PA 19131 The Fairmount Park Trolley operated in East & West Park from 1896-1946 providing a reliable and enjoyable means of accessing park amenities. Explore the physical remains of what is now a hidden trolley network along this 4 mile loop hike led by Kevin Roche. $15-25   Learn More *Public hearing on transfer of the Philadelphia History Museum at the Atwater Kent collection to Drexel Feb 28, 10:00 AM City Hall Rm 425, Philadelphia, PA 19107 Hearing on the Petition of the City of Philadelphia, By its Board of Trustees of the Atwater Kent Museum, Trustee, To Deviate From The Administrative Provisions of the Atwater Kent Museum Collection Trust and to Substitute Drexel University as the New Trustee of the Collection.   Learn More