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Home : Quarterly Archives : Volume 19 |
Tredyffrin Easttown Historical Society |
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Source: January 1981 Volume 19 Number 1, Pages 13–22 When the Pennsylvania Railroad Promoted Suburban Living During the last quarter of the nineteenth century and the first decade and a half of the twentieth, the Pennsylvania Railroad was quite active in the promotion of the advantages of suburban living and of summer residences along its lines. Beginning in the 1870's, when the railroad ran through only what is now the Main Line area, and from time to time thereafter, as a part of this promotion it published a number of booklets or guides describing the area "to show the present and prospective advantages of this region". In later editions, there were also listings of some of the boarding houses and hotels along its lines, a "directory of summer boarding houses ... as complete and reliable as the circumstances admit", as well as information to promote year-round residence "in the country". "Great cities grow westward," it was proclaimed in the second edition of Suburban Stations and Rural Homes on the Pennsylvania Railroad, published in 1875. "The tendency of population in the centres of civilization is to follow the sun, and to such an extent is this observed that the term 'West End' has become synonymous with the locality where refinement resides and comfort creates its homes. Reasons have been assigned for this tendency, based upon natural courses or deduced from ingenious theories, but as yet no conclusive explanation has been reached. The fact remains, and is no less a fact because the reason for it cannot be satisfactorily given." To explain (and encourage) Philadelphia1s westward growth, despite the fact that when "William Penn and his compatriots founded the City of Brotherly Love, he and they concluded that its greatest growth would be along the bank of the Delaware", two other considerations were also suggested in the Railroad's promotion booklet.
First was "the superiority of the region". It was pointed out in the 1875 guide, "It [the area west of the city along the Main Line] is elevated : the atmosphere is pure : it is thoroughly drained by numerous streams : its soil is fertile : and it is in striking degree picturesque. Nature — the great landscape gardener — has carved and moulded its rolling hills and placid vales, and so studded it with trees and interlaced it with crystal rivulets, that the picture everywhere is lovely to look upon." And second, of course, was that the railroad ran through this "region so blessed by nature" and provided exceptional commutation service. "Added to all," it was noted, "are the improvements made by the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. Station-houses that are models of beauty and comfort are placed along the road, so that every locality is accommodated, and trains of comfortable and luxurious cars are run to meet every convenience and requirement. Splendid hotels end comfortable boarding houses have grown up for the accommodation of those who seek retreats in the country from the city's heat in summer. Individual enterprise is adding to these attractions, and many beautiful homes are erected each year to supply the constant demand for them." To "accommodate" the upper Main Line area, in 1875 there were three of these "station-houses" in Tredyffrin and Easttown townships. The first stop in this area on the Main Line was Eagle, "the line of Delaware county having been crossed soon after leaving Wayne". ("The line of the Pennsylvania Railroad through all this region," it was explained, "follows closely the venerable Lancaster Turnpike, and the names of several stations are borrowed from noted taverns, which, in former years, were landmarks on that great thoroughfare between the East and West. Eagle is one of the appropriated names, as are Paoli and Green Tree.") "The country adjacent to the [Eagle] station," it was pointed out in this 1875 edition of the guide, "is devoted to agricultural and dairy purposes, and is well-improved." The next station-house was at Reeseville, described as "a respectable village". "The village is scattered over a number of eminences," it was observed, "and presents a pleasant picture from the railroad, — full of business animation and local importance. It has a population of about two hundred." Next came Paoli, "the point to which accommodation trains [as the "Local" was known at that time] from Philadelphia are run". The village was further described as "an old settlement, in the midst of some beautiful scenery, at an elevation of five hundred and twenty-seven feet above tide.
View of Paoli from 1875 edition cf Suburban Stations and Rural Homes on the Pennsylvania Railroad Pleasant groves are here, and shady roads lead into the. adjacent country, passing through great valleys and over gentle hills, where many scenes of beauty and interest can be discovered." It was also noted that "Paoli was a noted point on the Lancaster Turnpike before railroads were constructed", with comments on its early wagon traffic, as well as on the derivation of its name from the tavern "called after the heroic Corsican General Pasquale di Paoli. There were also notes on the Paoli Massacre, nearby Valley Forge, and Anthony Wayne's birthplace. During the next decade and a half, Philadelphia's suburbs had grown to such an extent that it was claimed by the Pennsylvania Railroad in its 1890 edition, "No section of the United States is richer in suburban homes that that of which Philadelphia is the centre," In the introduction to this edition of the Railroad's handbook, its title now Suburban Homes on the Lines of the Pennsylvania Railroad Thirty Miles Around Philadelphia with Useful Information for Summer-Home Seekers, it was further noted, "In addition to its natural endowments, this entire territory, in its present state of development, affords every requisite that could contribute to the comfort and convenience of the summer colony. Beautiful villas dot the landscape at every hand, where the business man lives during the heated term; picturesque hotels offer luxurious accommodations for those whose means are commensurate with their tastes; excellemt boarding-houses offer less pretentious quarters; while the country house promises the quiet of rural life, sustained by the fresh products of the kitchen-garden. Thus every class may live in a state suited to its condition, while all, rich and poor alike, may revel in these natural blessings of pure air, pure water, and rural beauty." And, again, the convenience of commuting by the Railroad was cited. "The comprehensive suburban service inaugurated, developed, and maintained by the Pennsylvania Railroad," it was pointed out, "brings every portion of the territory in direct and frequent communication with the centre of the city. ... Various classes of tickets are sold, from a little bit of tough cardboard entitling the holder to one ride, through all gradations of commutation tickets — monthly, quarterly, family and school — all sold at a rate that places them within the purse-power of every class of people. The commutation rates, considering the quality of the service, have been reduced to the lowest figures at which passengers can be carried with any percentage of profit." Concerning the service, it was further noted, "Under these conditions, the suburban resident may, in many cases, reach his rural home while his less fortunate city brother is still plodding homeward by the slower means of transportation which depends on horseflesh for its motive power." By 1890 there were five stations serving the upper Main Line area, starting with the new Strafford station, established in 1888 about a half mile west of the old Eagle "station-house" and replacing it as a stop. (The building used as the station was the former Wayne station, which had been outgrown; before its use in Wayne it had alledgedly been one of the buildings of the 1876 Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia.) Another new station, Devon, was next, a mile to the west of Strafford. Following it were Berwyn, as Reeseville was renamed in 1877; Daylesford, another new stop just opened earlier in 1890, and Paoli. The area was served by twenty-nine express and accommodation trains each way on weekdays and by nineteen trains on Sundays. The "running time" between Strafford and Philadelphia was 29 minutes on the express trains and 43 minutes on the accommodation trains; to and from Paoli it was 37 minutes and 53 minutes, respectively. The one way fare from these five stations ranged from 47 cents from Strafford to 60 cents from Paoli, while the cost of a monthly ticket ranged from $7.35 to $8.70. By 1890 Strafford had a "resident population now of four hundred and fifty", and was described as having "handsome residences, telegraphic, mail, express and fast-train service". Four years later, in the 1894 edition of the booklet, it was said to be "now one of the handsomest suburbs of Philadelphia, honored with an increasing patronage each succeeding year". At the same time, however, the area had apparently retained some of the "agricultural and dairy" characteristics that had been noted fifteen years earlier: the one suggested summer residence in the Strafford area was The Farm-House, operated by Mrs, John Swan, with the information that it was "Three-quarters of a mile from station. Conveyance free. Accommodation for fourteen persons. Rates, $12 to $14per week. Grand fishing in dam. Fruit, vegetables, and milk from own farm". Two summer residences were listed for Devon in the 1890 guide, the famed Devon Inn, operated by Messrs. H. J. and G. H. Crump (described as "Three hundred yards from station. Carriages and omnibus at all trains. Accommodates two hundred and fifty guests. Handsome location; all modern conveniences. Open May 17th to October 12th, Rates range from $10 to $60 per week. Tennis courts, billiards, bowling, ball ground, etc. Orchestra morning and evening") and Mrs. A. M. Garrett's Edelweiss ("One half mile from station. Conveyance. Accommodates thirty guests. Rates, $10 to $12 per week. Open all year. Good stabling; shade; tennis; orchard; fresh vegetables"). The Devon Inn was also listed in the 1894 edition, by this time under the management of Mr. C. J, Waters, but the Edelweiss was no longer listed; instead, there was a listing for Mrs. W. A. Miller's boarding house ("Five minutes walk from station. Accommodations for eight persons. $10 to $15 per week. May 15th to October 15th"). "The opportunity for suburban building," it was also noted of Devon, "is nowhere more favorably presented than here. Devon proper has a population of three hundred", who "enjoy excellent telegraph, mail and express service." Its location was further described as "overlooking the famous scenic Chester Valley, with all its kaleidoscopic beauty of hill, dale, and stream". Berwyn, in 1890, had almost three times the population it had had as Reeseville in 1875. "Berwyn is situated upon the crest of a hill, commanding an unobstructed view for miles in every direction," it was pointed out in the guide of that year, "from its high altitude and command of pure air it is a perfect haven for recuperation. Its population numbers five hundred and fifty, who enjoy telegraph, mail, and express facilities. In the village proper is one Baptist, one Presbyterian, and one Catholic church and one public school." In the 1894 edition it was also noted, "The place advances its just claim for a continuance of popular favor, and offers in its pretty cottages, fine building sites, healthfulness, and the best facilities, highly attractive inducements to those contemplating either temporary or permanent residence in a country place with the best of city conveniences." Three "temporary" or summer residences were listed for Berwyn in the 1890 edition: The Wynburne, under Mrs. H. D. Hallum ("One-quarter of a mile from station. Conveyance free. Accommodates sixty persons. Open May 15th to October 31st. Rates, $10 to $4-0 per week. New house, modern conveniences; large orchards and lawns"); Willow Dale, run by Mr. W. W. Downing ("One mile and a quarter from station. Conveyance. Accommodates forty-five persons. Rates, $6 to $10 per week. Open June to November. High location"); and Fairview Hall, operated by Miss A. K. Jardine ("Five minutes from station. Conveyance free. Accommodates thirty guests. Rates, $8 to $10 per week. Open: May to November. Beautiful drives, High location, Plenty of shade from fruit orchard about the mansion"). In the 1894 edition, in addition to the Wynburne Inn, Willow Dale, and Fairview Hall (by then run by a Mrs. Jas. Petery), three other summer homes and one year-round hotel were also listed: Maple Cottage, also operated by Mrs. Petery ("Seven minutes from station. Accommodations for ten guests"); Buttonwood Spring, operated by Mrs. H. E. Longnecker (no additional information given); Hayman Home, run by Miss Maggie Hayman ("Three minutes from station. Accommodations for ten guests. Rates, $5 to $12 per week"); and Mr. J. F. Kromer's Kromer's Hotel ("Two minutes from station. Accommodates fifty guests. Rates, $5 to $10 per week. Open all year"). Daylesford, "the latest addition to the list of stations that dot at such close intervals the tracks of the Main Line", in 1890 had "been so recently established that its identity has not yet become separated from that of the older stations on either side of it. The location is good," it was pointed out, however, "and the new station will doubtless develop rapidly". Much the same forecast was also expressed in the 1894 edition of Suburban Homes ..., in which it was again noted, "As yet Daylesford is but little developed; but, judging from the growth of other stations with even less advantages, it is safe to predict a bright future for what is really a very desirable and exceedingly pretty stretch of country." Of Paoli, in 1890, it was observed, "The healthfulness and scenic beauty of the surrounding country have induced many former city residents to build here." It was also noted that there was "one quaint little Episcopal church within short walk", as well as "three mails each way daily, and telegraphic communication". Four years later, it was further reported that this "sort of terminus for local trains between here and the city" also "boasts of two churches, a school, and a town hall". In addition to the homes built by "former city residents", for persons still living in the city the 1890 guide listed two inns for summer accommodations in Paoli: the Evergreens, run by Mrs. D. H. Lewis ("One-quarter of a mile from station. Conveyance for all trains. Accommodations for fifty five guests. Rates, $7 to $15 per week. Lawns, shade, and great porches. Vegetables from place. Alderny cows supply the dairy"), and Mr. Wilson Linn's Farm House ("Two miles from station. Conveyance free. Accommodates twenty guests. Open May to October. Rates, $8 per week, $25 per month. Very picturesque surroundings; high ground; shade trees and lawns"). In 1894 the Paoli Inn, under Miss Jardine's management, with accommodations for seventy-five persons, replaced Linn's Farm House in the listing, while the Evergreens also had a new manager, Mrs. J. H. Rennard.
Valley Road, Paoli from 1913 edition Thirty Miles Around Philadelphia on the Pennsylvania Railroad In the 1913 edition, Thirty Miles Around Philadelphia on the Lines of the Pennsylvania Railroad, the various summer hotels and boarding houses (three in Devon, two in Berwyn, and three in Paoli) were listed only in small type and in summary table form, as the major emphasis of the booklet was now to promote the rental or purchase of year-round suburban homes. On its title page, the guide was described as furnishing "Information for the Suburban Home Seeker and the Summer Sojourner". "The charm of this suburban life," it was noted in the Introductory section, "with its pure air, pure water and healthful surroundings, combined with the educational advantages provided, churches, stores, and excellent transit facilities to and from the city is manifest." "To the home-seeking suburbanite," it was also observed, "it [the booklet] will provide a compendium of facts and data, which should materially aid in the quest for a residence adapted to his finances or requirements." By 1913 there were 45 express or local trains serving the upper Main Line stations on weekdays, with 28 on Sundays. And, again, the "low rates of fares maintained, the high-class service and the various forms of commutation tickets provided" were noted as "features which must prove attractive to the suburban dweller, as well as materially aid in the future development of this entire region". Among the "facts and data" provided for Strafford in the 1913 edition were, "Gas, electricity and Springfield water are supplied. There are not many rental properties available and rents in the older section range from $35 per month upward. The trend of improvements here in recent years has been toward the better class of homes, valued at $15,000 upwards. Land, close to the station, ripe for development, can be secured from $1500 to $4000 per acre, while a little farther removed, at more reasonable prices, land may be had adapted for the construction of suburban homes of a more modest character." It was also reported, "There is one public school at Strafford and one Catholic Church. There are no hotels, boarding houses or stores in the immediate vicinity." The "well-known Devon Inn", with its golf course and polo field, was still regarded as the "most prominent feature" in Devon in 1913. "Around the grounds of the Inn," it was reported, "are modern suburban homes, all of a good substantial type, and many of pretentious style with grounds covering several acres. There is no suggestion of crowding, and the atmosphere of open country life is preserved. The country for several miles on each side of the railroad is devoted to farms and estates. Good roads are available in all directions, and the surroundings are attractive to the driver and motorist. ... There is one Presbyterian church in the settlement, several stores, and one private school for small children, the nearest public schools being at Strafford and Berwyn ... Desirable residences rent from $40 per month upward and range in price from $8,000 up. Land within reasonable distance of the station may be obtained as low as $2,000 per acre." Along with the other places along this section of the Main Line, it was also reported that gas, electricity, and Springfield water were supplied. Berwyn in 1913 was described as "a prosperous suburban town of the less expensive type". In the town were "a number of good stores, a bank, three public schools, including a modern high school, a Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian and Roman Catholic churches", and it was also noted that the "Lancaster Pike runs through the town and the roads in the vicinity are paved with macadam, and are well kept". "Houses can be rented from $10 per month upward," it was reported, "and sell for $2000 upward." Homes in Daylesford, according to this edition of the booklet, were priced' from $6000 upwards, and land in the vicinity brought $800 to $1500 per acre. "It is a small settlement delightfully situated," it was noted, "and possesses a number of attractive homes. There are no stores, churches or boarding houses at Daylesford, and residents use the Berwyn post office." Finally, Paoli was described as "attractive", with homes "of the less expensive type". Its features included "several good stores, a public high school fan error, since the joint Tredyffrin-Easttown High School had been built in Berwyn in 1908], and Episcopal, Methodist and Presbyterian churches". "The town hall," it was also observed, "is suitable for entertainments and the Churches have men's clubs affiliated with them, which add to the social features. Houses rent from $18 to $20 per month and sell from $3,000 to $6,000." Whether it was a result of this promotional activity by the Pennsylvania Railroad, or because of "the tendency of the population in the centres of civilization ... to follow the sun", or what, the population of Tredyffrin and Easttown townships did show a marked growth during the forty years between 1880 and 1920. Where the population of the two townships had increased by only about six per cent during the twenty years from 1860 to 1880, in the decade from 1880 to 1890, there was a 49 per cent increase in the number of residents in the two townships, from 2820 to 4210. This was followed by gains of 15 per cent, 28 per cent, and 12 per cent, respectively, in the ensuing three decades. (But it was in the 1950's, however, that the real population explosion took place along the upper Main Line, with a 144 per cent increase in the population of Tredyffrin and Easttown townships between the 1950 and 1960 censuses!) Whatever the cause, though, there is no question that one of the major factors leading to the change in the upper Main Line from a predominantly rural area to a suburban area was the service provided by the Pennsylvania Railroad and its promotion of this service and the advantages of suburban life in year-round and summer homes along its lines — when the Pennsylvania Railroad promoted suburban living. |
