Photos courtesy of Newtown Square Historical Society
West Chester Pike has been a witness to the history of transportation in Delaware County. From its first creation in the 1790s, the road saw foot traffic, horse and wagons, a “plank road” turnpike, regular stagecoach service and finally in 1895, a horse-drawn and later motorized trolley line that eventually connected the 69th Street Terminal with West Chester.
The Philadelphia and West Chester Traction Company built the trolley line to Newtown Square in 1895 – running nine miles from 63rd and Baltimore Avenue in Philadelphia to Newtown Square. The fare was 10 cents. The line was assured of initial financial success in 1896, when the US Post Office hired it to carry the mail to towns along the way: Manoa, Adele, Broomall and Newtown Square. More income would come in 1899 when the Castle Rock amusement park opened.
Initial passenger service was provided beginning in August 1895 with “steam dummies” before trolley cars powered by electricity were put into service. The trolley helped provide for access and growth to the western suburbs. The city could easily visit the country, and vice versa. Workers could look for jobs a little further from home when they did not have to walk to get there. Amusement and recreation destinations were created to lure the city dwellers out into the country. Broomall Grove offered live music and dancing. Castle Rock offered picnicking and rides.
Years of legal wrangling delayed the extension of the line the 11 additional miles to West Chester, but on New Year’s Eve of 1898, the first trolley left 63rd and Market Streets at 1:00pm and arrived at West Chester at 2:20pm, after a run of 20 miles. The first cars carried company President John N.M. Shimer along with other company officials and stockholders. They were greeted on their arrival by local officials, at which time they all made their way to the Green Tree Hotel for speeches and libations.
In the mid 1930s, the line was consolidated with other lines that were part of the Philadelphia Suburban Transportation Company, all converging on the beautiful new 69th Street Terminal building in Upper Darby, which opened on October 26, 1936. However, the postwar suburban boom and the rise of the private automobile led to the widening of West Chester Pike, leaving no room for the trolley tracks. The trolley line was abandoned in June of 1954, to be replaced by the next technology – the bus, which is still running today as Route 104!
For more history on Newtown Square, Delaware County, and membership information, please visit our website a www.NSHistory.org.
