An early view, c.1910 of the 69th Street Terminal in Upper Darby. In the early days trolleys went
everywhere in Delaware County the article below will give some ideas.
MANY TOWNS NEAR TO CHESTER REACHED FROM SIXTY-NINTH
TERMINAL
A STUDY OF THE SITUATION – The fine
Union Station at Sixty-Ninth Street.
Philadelphia really means a great deal more to Delaware County real
estate than even its substantial line would indicate. Few pay much attention to it, or give any
thought to it at all, further than to make the change to the point at which
they are aiming. Its greatest value to
the community is the fact that it has made development possible to a great
range of suburban county for a distance of 15, or perhaps, 20 miles.
Take, for instance, the stretch of the
old West Chester Pike. To that it means
as much, or more, than to any of the attractive outlying points. It is considered a few years ago country
forever, and how it come into the market, and very much into the market.
Not so many years ago even young people
can remember the end of the Market Street line at Sixty-Third Street, and how
everyone who had the courage to go to West Chester that way, slighted in the
road. It was bad at any reason of the
year, the car was seldom there, and if it was the rush for it ended “in the
survival of the fittest,” and many had many had to stand.
Contrast this with conditions
today. The line is now run by
electricity with crowds, of course, at the rush hours, but in the main, with
good accommodation – only thirty minutes from Front and Market Streets,
Philadelphia, and then a comfortable station to wait in, and good cars to all
points on a schedule that means something.
A passing view of some of the sections
is all that is possible, only a few of the activities being stated as well as
sales.
DREXEL
HILL – At this point a very desirable tract of land is being developed by George
W; Statzell. The entire property contains about 30 acres. It is the highest point in the vicinity and
the Delaware River is clearly seen from any part of the property. The scheme is based on a division into
one-half acre tracts and upwards.
Many attractive dwellings have already
been built, and the land is selling at $3000 to $4000 per acre. Buyers locating at this point will be in easy
distance of the proposed new golf course if plans now under consideration are
carried out.
MEDIA
– This morning a new trolley line was put in operation from the Sixty-Ninth
Street terminal direct to Media, connecting that attractive borough with the
Market Street ferries and with the center of the city of Philadelphia. The running tie from Sixty-Ninth Street to
Media will be 30 minutes and the fare ten cents.
This line will open up to the highest
development a virgin section running about one mile north of the Baltimore
Pike. A syndicate has been formed and
has been very active in acquiring property for development, the following
properties have so far been purchased.
Property of Lizzie G. Worrell, 120
acres, on Springfield Road
James S. Austin, 74 acres, on
Springfield Road
Simon Bennett, et.al. 103 acres on
State Road
Jen Jensen, 3 acres on Springfield Road
Samuel G. Hart, 53 acres on Springfield
Road and Powell Avenue
Directly opposite to this property is a
tract of 92 acres on which an option is held.
This, with additional land available – in all, 120 acres – is under
consideration by a prominent Philadelphia golf association. Should it be determined upon, it will be one
of the finest courses near the city.
Further to the north, between Media and
Newtown Square, Samuel M. Vauclain has purchased the following property:
From Nathan L. Pratt, 150 acres on Newtown Road
William Bartram estate, 160 acres on Line Road
Springfield Water Company, 100 acres on Bishop Hollow Road
Jesse L. Grim, 147 acres on Bishop Hollow Road
Dr. Samuel Trimble, 107 acres on Bishop Hollow Road
These purchases combined, make a
holding of 550 acres in Marple and Newtown Townships and the land was acquired
at from $200 to $300 per acre. The
property adjoins Crum Creek and also some of the finest estates near
Media. Large residence will be built
upon the site. Mr. Vaughan is the
general manager of the Baldwin Locomotive Works.
Other sales show as follows: February 3, 1909, residence and 53 acres of
ground, purchased by George H. Schott for $53,000; May 23, 1910, the Clothier
residence at Media was sold by S. T. Freeman & Co. comprising large stone
dwelling, stable and outbuildings and 40 acres of ground for $25,600.
NEWTOWN
SQUARE – It has been definitely announced by the Pennsylvania Railroad
Company that the Main Line is to be electrified as far as Paoli. The next section, it is believed will be the
central division of the Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington Railroad
Company, on which are located some of the finest suburban settlements in and
around Philadelphia.
Newtown square has many attractive farm
and suburban properties and more inquiry it noted her than for some time. December 19, 1911, a sale of 211 acres
appears on the West Chester Pike. Edgar
C. Howard to Thomas D. Wood, at about $600 an acre. The fine property known as “Greenland” is
held at $800 per acre. Conditions are
promising for an active market when spring opens.
LANSDOWNE
– one of the noted sections in the nearby suburbs, where a marked development
has been made in the last year, is Lansdowne, located as it is only seven miles
from Broad Street Station, on the central division of the Philadelphia,
Baltimore and Washington Railroad.
This community affords every
convenience for the seeker of suburban homes, large or small, and can be
reached by train in 13 minutes from Broad Street station, and by several
trolleys with good running time.
The country is rolling, draining into
the valleys of Cobb’s Creek and Darby Creek, and is from 150 to 250 feet above
tidewater. Every convenience can be had
– water, gas, electricity, tidewater sewage, schools, trust companies and
general merchandise stores.
One of the many attractive portion of
Lansdowne is the southerly side of the railroad along Lincoln Avenue east at
Wycombe Avenue and about six minutes from the station, and a very short
distance from the Country Club of Lansdowne, which contains one of the finest
nine-hole golf courses in this part of the country. A very fine class of dwellings has been
erected on lots 50 by 150m, houses being placed 40 feet back from the street,
which is 50 feet wide thus giving ample room for the fine lawns and shrubbery.
Properties are for sale now in
Lansdowne, conditions are the best and the outlook all that could be wished.
YEADON
– This little suburb lies practically between Lansdowne and Darby, with which
it is connected by the Darby and Lansdowne trolley, which, however, stop at the
borough line, the Burgess and the powers in Lansdowne refusing their consent to
have it go further. It connects at the
station in Darby with Philadelphia, Media and Chester.
Land at this point is valuable. It sold in 1904 at $800 per acre, as shown in
the sale of 21 acres by the estate of Joel J. Bailey, to George J. Haehn for
$12,129. Some portions near Yeadon are
much sought for on account of available sites for factory purposes, but, of
course, sells at much higher figures.
SWARTHMORE
– Swarthmore is a collegiate suburb and has grown a great deal in recent
years. Many fine dwellings and handsome
homes have been erected. The short run from the city makes it extremely desirable. Some trouble, however, is caused by the
scarcity of coaches, on the trains, especially on Sunday. Friends often with their entire families,
after spending a most enjoyable day in the country, find every seat
filled. Such a condition does much to
disenchant the city man or woman.
The Richard G. Parker tract on
Swarthmore Avenue and River Avenue, is now being developed. It lies north of the station. The dwellings will contain “the last word in
real estate” of their class.
WALLINGFORD
– Wallingford, too, is getting into the land activity. Purchases have been made by T. Elwood Allison
of a tract of ten acres adjoining Wallingford station now being developed into
the finest kind of a residential section.
He had also purchased Richard A. Downing’s farms of 54 acres on
Wallingford and Plush Mill Roads, as well as the Twaddell farm on Baltimore
Pike, containing 49 acres. The new
trolley road to Media runs direct through this property.
MOYLAN
– In the Rose Valley section of Moylan, Charles J. Schoen has purchased
Bancroft lower bank, farm, on Brook Have Road and Ridley Creek Road, 215
acres. Old “Ted Morden Hall” is located
upon the property and has been remodeled into one of the show places of the
vicinity. It will be remembered that
this dwelling dates back to the Revolution.
Mr. Schoen’s own residence is known as
“Schoenhaus,” on the Rose Valley Road.
Adjoining it is the studio and residence of Mrs. A. B. Stephens.
Desirable property through this section
is now held at $2000 per acre. A sale
was recorded June 220, 1912, at Manchester and Idllewild Avenues of a stone
residence and stable and one acre by Dr. William A. Phraener for $15,000.
DARBY
– Another center for the various systems of trolley lines is the borough of
Darby, containing about 6000 residents, and being practically a part of
Philadelphia, with all the conveniences of a large city.
The dwelling proposition in Darby is
largely constructed upon terraces. Some
of them have two and even three sets of steps.
All local interests report an exceptionally good winter along the lines
of realty. There is little for sale, but
the usual amount is for rent, which according to present indications, will all
be taken up in the next 60 days.
Several building operations are under
way, one of ten dwellings near Darby station at Third and Pine Streets. Four of these are nearly finished, and they
will sell at about $2200. Another
operation about to be begun at Seventh and Walnut Streets is to be of 12
dwellings.
On Darby Heights, just west of Darby
proper, an operation of 20 dwellings, two story, porch front and terraces, has
just been started by Frank Rhoads. They
will be very attractive in appearance and will sell for about $2200 each.
It has been found that dwellings of
this size are very much needed and that the demand is growing.
Darby is still hoping for the elevated
railroad out Woodland Avenue. Local
leaders are still working for it, and they think it is bound to come.
Double tracks are about to be laid on
Chester Pike from Darby to Chester. This
matter, it is believed, has been definitely determined upon, and as the work
will start soon, this will help, as does everything, even the smallest
betterment in service, to real estate conditions at outlying points
No comments:
Post a Comment