The "Marex on the Hill" mansion and upcoming events

The "Marex on the Hill" pictured above stood on Baltimore Pike till the 1960's. The large mansion stood where the west end of today's Springfield Mall is today. 

Note: Articles like the one below were common in the Chester Times Newspaper a 100 plus years ago. Numerous wealthy men and their families left Philadelphia to move to the "suburbs". Mansions like the one pictured below dotted Chester Pike, Baltimore Pike, West Chester Pike etc. Prior to 1920 Delaware County was considered farm country but the area began growing quickly in the 1920's. Slowly over the next 40 years these mansions disappeared. A few still remain.

 CHESTER TIMES – June  17, 1908 

SPRINGFIELD 

A New Mansion

          Mr. Graham, a rug manufacturer of Philadelphia, is having erected in Springfield Township along the Baltimore Pike a large and handsome mansion, which will be one of the most costly in this county.  The Philadelphia Engineering Company has the contract for the erection of the building.  The old blacksmith shop which has stood at Swarthmore Avenue and the Baltimore Pike for over a half century, and in which John Taylor has been continually and successfully conducting a horseshoeing and blacksmithing business for 52 years, has been razed to make room for the large and beautiful lawn which will adorn the front of this residence.  Mr. Taylor worked in the building until the fireplace in the shop was torn down.  Many of the best blacksmiths in this county learned their trade in this old shop with Mr. Taylor and many of them are gray-haired men today.  Mr. Taylor, who is nearly 80 years of age, will now retire from blacksmithing.

DCHPN Monthly E-Newsletter

September is Delaware County History Month and Underground Railroad Month! Check out all these events happening this month. Historic Sites are still open Read the announcements below for important information.

September Events

Story Time: Tops and Bottoms Sep 12, 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM Colonial PA Plantation, 3900 N Sandy Flash Dr, Newtown Square, PA 19073 Story Time is from 12:00 PM until 2:00 PM. Following Story Time activities will include harvesting vegetables from the garden, corn husk dolls and candle making. $6/10   Learn More

*September 11, 2001: 9/11 + 20 - History Presentation by Roger Arthur Sep 13, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM Marple Public Library, 2599 Sproul Rd, Broomall, PA 19008 Local historian Roger Arthur will be sharing a PowerPoint presentation using photographs of the day and its aftermath. What happened at the World Trade Center’s twin Towers in New York City, at the Pentagon’s west front in Arlington, VA and the fate of United Fight 93.   Learn More

*The Flood of 1971 50th Anniversary Presentation Sep 13, 7:00 PM Aston Community Center, 3270 Concord Rd, Aston, PA 19014 Power Point Presentation, original newspapers about the infamous Sept 13, 1971 Flood in Aston Twp and surrounding area. Program is being held on the 50th anniversary to the DAY AND DATE of the flood!! Building will open at  6pm  and you can enjoy ATHS various displays in the hallway cases.   Learn More

*DCHS Meet & Greet Sep 14, 6:00 PM Delaware County Historical Society, 408 Avenue of the States, Chester, PA 19013 Meet the new Outreach Associate for DCHS and other historically-minded people. Light fare and drinks available. Share ideas on how to promote and steward our history. RSVP requested   Learn More

A Kind of Private Princedome: The Story of the Country House Sep 16, 7:00 PM Athenaeum of Philadelphia, 219 S 6th St, Philadelphia, PA 19106 Adorned by great works of art and surrounded by nobly landscaped parks,  great ancestral homes are now being challenged by critics who see them as bastions of privilege, built from the proceeds of evil practices such as slavery. Clive Aslet will discuss their role in the past and today. $0-10   Learn More

*Yard Sale at 3rd Presbyterian Church Sep 18, 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM Third Presbyterian Church, 9th St & Potter St, Chester, PA 19013 All purchases help fund the restoration, to be converted to a health clinic, library branch and arts & theatre center. Spaces available for $20, call 610-316-2978. Rain date 9/19.    Learn More

*Public Archaeology day Sep 18, 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM Newlin Grist Mill, 219 Cheyney Rd, Glen Mills, PA 19342 For this season we will not be allowing hands-on public participation, but visitors will have the opportunity to watch the archaeologists work and talk to them about the process and their finds!   Learn More

*13th Annual Pirate Festival and Encampment Sep 18, 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM Market Square Memorial Park, 4 E Delaware St, Marcus Hook, PA 19061 This festival includes a full pirate encampment with period tents, demonstrations and showcases their wares, firearms, cannons and beer making. In the Park area we will have games, food, live music, face painting, pony rides, petting zoo, crafters, beer garden and much more. Benefits MHPS.   Learn More

Drink History Sep 18, 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM Historic Rittenhousetown Barn, 208 Lincoln Dr, Philadelphia, PA 19144 Paper making, beer, vendors, food truck, guided hike, tours of homestead, lawn games, live music and more! Enjoy an afternoon with friends & family and help preserve Phila. history. $25 (free under 12)   Learn More

Emilie Davis’s Civil War Sep 19, 1:30 PM Zoom- registration required Join Civil War scholar and author Judith Giesberg, Ph.D. for an illustrated talk about the diaries of Emilie Davis. Emilie Davis was 22 years old in 1861 when the Civil War began. In three slim pocket-sized diaries, Emilie wrote daily entries, recounting events big and small. $7/8   Learn More

*History Talk: Party Like It's 1976! Sep 22, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM Finley House, 113 W Beechtree Ln, Wayne, PA 19087 As we prepare for the country's 250th birthday, join local historian Jim Segrave-Daly to discuss how Philadelphia & Delaware County celebrated America's bicentennial. Bring your own chair or blanket.    Learn More

DCHS Open House & Lincoln Banner Unveiling Sep 23, 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM Delaware County Historical Society, 408 Avenue of the States, Chester, PA 19013 DCHS invites friends, donors and members to visit our building on Sept. 23 to tour the building and get the first look at the recently restored 1860 Lincoln Campaign Banner! $30   Learn More