The Birth of Llanerch
Comfortable and reliable rail transportation to and from Philadelphia encouraged the development and growth of suburban neighborhoods in Haverford Township. The large sign behind the trolley car instructs perspective buyers of homes in Llanerch to visit the trolley station for information. Homes on Llandaff and Tenby can be seen in the distance.
For a nickle, commuters traveled from Ardmore to 63rd Street in 22 minutes. The trolley ran along Darby Road stopping at Brookline, Oakmont, Merwood and Ardmore Junction on its way to Ardmore on the Main Line. The Ardmore Line operated until December 1966.
The neighborhood of Llanerch, on land originally granted to Welsh Quaker, Lewis David grew from the farms of Silas Bewley, Morgan Davis, Mary Albertson and Charles Taylor. Mary Albertson is credited with naming Llanerch for a location in Wales.
Many of Llanerch's beautiful homes were designed by the architectural firm of Kennedy, Hays and Kelsey. Both Robert G. Kennedy and Frank A. Hays maintained residences here. Mr. Hays planned the home of William C. Pritchett known as "Richland" across West Chester Pike where Gilmore and Olympic Roads are today. Llanerch was the first subdivision in the township to make use of deed restrictions, setbacks and minimum cost of the homes. By 1912 the community had two churches, an elementary
school and a grocery store, now the Llanerch Fire House.
[Photo captions, from left to right, read]
Opening day of the West Chester Traction Company's Ardmore Line at Llanerch Junction on May 30, 1902.
1909 Map of Llanerch
Early 1900's postcard of Davis Road
Postcard of Llanerch grocery store, now the Llanerch firehouse.
Erected 2007 by the Haverford Township Historical Society and the Citizens of Haverford Township.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Man-Made Features • Railroads & Streetcars • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical month for this entry is December 1966.
Location. 39° 58.165′ N, 75° 17.862′ W. Marker is near Havertown, Pennsylvania, in Delaware County. It is in Haverford Township. Marker is at the intersection of West Chester Pike (Pennsylvania Route 3) and Darby Road, on the right when traveling west on West Chester Pike. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 216 Darby Rd, Havertown PA 19083, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. The Llanerch Car Barn (here, next to this marker); The Battle of Llanerch Crossing (here, next to this marker); Abraham L. Pennock (approx. 1.4 miles away); Old Haverford Friends Meeting (approx.
Also see . . .
1. History of Llanerch. (Submitted on April 13, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
2. History of Haverford Township. (Submitted on April 13, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 13, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 412 times since then and 51 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 13, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. 4. submitted on April 14, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.