Glen Nor High School - Chieftain Yearbook (Glenolden, PA)

Page 15 text:

1916 'llhe Chester and liddystone Street Railway Company leased their rights to the Southern Pennsylvania '1'raction Company for a term of 990 years. In 1910 the Chester, Darby, and Philadelphia Street Railway Company had made the same agreement. 1923 'l'he title of ownership passed from the Chester and Darby Telford Road Company to the State of Pennsylvania. The sum paid for the franchise and physical property was 5100,000, of which the State and County each paid half. On bluly 25, 1921. the toll houses were abandoned, and 2111 informal celebration marked the passing of the old road company. 19254M1926 ln answer to agitations for improvement the Public Service Commission approved the project of removing the trolley tracks to the center of the highway. Delaware County paid S231,622g the State, 5336,-1935 and the trolley Company, approximately 8200.000-ct total of three quarters of a million dollars. 1934-1935 llpon the abandonment of the trolley line and the substitution of buses, the trolley strip was paved by the State in the winter of 1934-1935. From rm'm'd,r ,r11bnzilIfa7 by L1IIES'l'l'IR F. ll.-xxlclt. Delaware County Historical Society.

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HISTORIC MILESTONES HICSTER PIKE, the first highway in what is now Pennsylvania, was established by the Swedes and the Dutch inhabiting the Western shore of the Delaware River prior to the accession of this territory by the British in 1674. 1678 The hrst mention of a road in the province was made in a court order requiring every person to clear his land to make good and passable ways. 1706 An ofhcial order was issued by Council to lay out a road from Darby to Chester. 1799 An Act of Assembly authorized the Commissioners to erect toll gates for live years, and to collect toll from all travelers. 1851 The Darby and Ridley Turnpike or Plank Road Company was incorporated, and was given power to construct a turnpike road on the flreat Southern Post Road from the westerly side of the bridge over Darby Creek to the bridge between Darby and Ridley Townships. As the result of supplementary acts the name was eventually changed to the Chester and Darby Turnpike and Plank Road Company. 1890 The Chester and Darby Telford Road Company was chartered for the purpose of building and maintaining an artificial road or turupilce ol' stone, gravel, and earth. . 1911 The State of Pennsylvania, by act in 1911, denoted the Chester and Darby Telford Road as one of its primary lrigliways, and subsequently designated it as Legislative Route No. 180.

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GFFICIALLE' ifiteiffz Route 180 by the Pennsylvania Department of Highways, Chester Pike has been known una'er far more romantic and impressifoe n ames. At first it turned to royalty ancl was prouclly known as 'KThe Kingjs Roailf' ancl then the Queen's Roadf' When sovereign popularity cle- clined, the highway took the names of Philadel- phia, Wilmirigton, and Baltimore Post Road or Trurnpikef, Philadelphia and Wilmington Post Roaa',,' ancl Great Southern Post Road. The builcling of the plank roacl about 1850 was regarclecl by the community as a great public im- profvement, ancl won for it recognition as The Plank Roaclf, The popular boast of making H240 on the plank roaaw has passecl away with the worn out names of the thoroughfare. 1 ? l