Beechwood
1908: Homestead Real Estate Company
Beechwood may be the most curious development in Haverford Township. Beechwood was created and advertised as a community built around an amusement park. in 1907 The P&W (Philadelphia and Western) set out a development around its Beechwood station. The amusement park was intended as the lure to attract home buyers to the suburban location along its new line.
Excerpts about Beechwood
Presented by: Louis Michael DeVecchis Ill
Beechwood Park, Beechwood, to those of us who live here, is a charming Hamlet located within the township of Haveford. Over the last few years, Beechwood has become one Of the most desirable neighborhoods to live and invest in along the Main Line. A respite of tall trees and unique homes built upon history, with characteristics all their own.
Here in Beechwood we are secluded and sheltered from the rush and bustle of urban life, but within easy commuting distance of Philadelphia and it's outlying suburban communities (Vla the Route 100 train and the 105 bus at Delmont Avenue and Haverford Road).
Seeping in history, lush and foliage full of tails of mystery and intrigue of long ago, there is only so much that can be highlighted here.
(excerpt courtesy of Janet Steiner)
Presented by: Louis Michael DeVecchis Ill
Beechwood Park, Beechwood, to those of us who live here, is a charming Hamlet located within the township of Haveford. Over the last few years, Beechwood has become one Of the most desirable neighborhoods to live and invest in along the Main Line. A respite of tall trees and unique homes built upon history, with characteristics all their own.
Here in Beechwood we are secluded and sheltered from the rush and bustle of urban life, but within easy commuting distance of Philadelphia and it's outlying suburban communities (Vla the Route 100 train and the 105 bus at Delmont Avenue and Haverford Road).
Seeping in history, lush and foliage full of tails of mystery and intrigue of long ago, there is only so much that can be highlighted here.
(excerpt courtesy of Janet Steiner)
Cobbs Creek in the Days of the Old Powder Mills, John W. Eckfeldt, 1917
The decline of the sawmill industry, due to the depletion of the woodlands in that section of the country, together with the failure of the milling business as already described, caused the mills to be closed and the property sold to the Philadelphia & Western Railroad. The mills were removed about 1907 and the railway company's building erected. Situated where the lane united with the public road, these mills were snugly and prettily located. The surrounding rocky and wooded hills, with the dam and creek in the valley, gave pleasing responses to sounds uttered in the stillness of the cool, shaded hollow. This was "Echo Hollow." Within a few years past there has been built in this section one of our interesting and pleasant suburbs, with cheerful and ornamental houses and grounds, scattered throughout the wooded hills and slopes, and known as Beechwood. The railway built a station at this point prior to the erection of these homes, at the same time establishing an amusement park. Fortunately, this park had a short ex- istence, as the disquieting nature of the place was undesirable to the neighborhood, and finally proved to be an unsuccessful investment. It was closed, removed and more refined improvements laid out, much to the delight of the older residents.
The Philadelphia and Western
April 1906
Beechwood Park
1907 - 1909
Summer 1907: Newspaper Announcements offer some fascinating and humorous examples of the park's entertainment program.
July 1907
Beechwood Amusement Park had a very short life. Freeman's held an auction for its contents on January 19th, 1909.
The Beechwood Station
From Pig and Whistle, Ronald de Graw, photo from the collection of Robert T. Prichard
Pig and Whistle, DeGraw,
Pig and Whistle, De Graw, photo from the collection of Bob Foley
The Power House : 1907 - 1919
Pig and Whistle, DeGraw
Pig and Whistle, De Graw, photo from the collection of Bob Foley
The ruins of the Philadelphia and Western station were visible until recently. Unfortunately they were removed. There is, however, a bulkhead wall that stands behind the station.
Beechwood 1913. The amusement park is gone.
Towards the bottom right is a white crescent that was a quarry, but it does not appear on any map.
Towards the bottom right is a white crescent that was a quarry, but it does not appear on any map.
Elegant Homes of Beechwood
The Lathrop House. Once directly visible from Manoa Road teh Lathrop Home is now hidden behind another house. The Lathrop home is shown on the 1908 map. It may also be the same building shown in 1870 as owned by Sam. H. Hibberd.
Information on the twin homes below is incomplete. Any information would be appreciated. They appear on the property of Mrs. Charles O'Conner 1902
Martin Bullen kindly offered the following information.
"My understanding is that this was the original Inn, dating to around 1750, although it has long since been a private house. I also understand that it served as some sort of boat house for the Lakeside lake, in period.
We are told that the foundation for our home was the foundation for the barn for the inn, and that they date to around 1750. The height, stone work and other aspects of the design of the basement walls add some credibility to this assertion. The current home structure was added around 1860."
"My understanding is that this was the original Inn, dating to around 1750, although it has long since been a private house. I also understand that it served as some sort of boat house for the Lakeside lake, in period.
We are told that the foundation for our home was the foundation for the barn for the inn, and that they date to around 1750. The height, stone work and other aspects of the design of the basement walls add some credibility to this assertion. The current home structure was added around 1860."
Please visit the Lower Merion Conservancy site for more information: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/996f9ba9adfa44fcbcaba0caf74d8d23