Overbrook Farms, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Overbrook Farms is a neighborhood on the western edge of the West Philadelphia
section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
, United States
. Roughly bounded by City Avenue (US Route 1), 58th Street, Woodbine Avenue, and 66th Street at Morris Park. The neighborhood is bisected by Lancaster Avenue (Route 30) and the original Pennsylvania Railroad "main line" which today is used by Amtrak and SEPTA's Paoli/Thorndale Line. The historic district description and statement of significance can be found at http://www.uchs.net/HistoricDistricts/overbrook.html. Overbrook Farms, Its Historical Background, Growth and Community Life by Tello J. d'Apery, M.D. [the Magee Press, 1936] also provides a complete history of the area.
This region of Philadelphia and its suburbs were originally settled by Welsh immigrants who purchased land from William Penn. Two of these farms contributed land for the Overbrook Farms neighborhood. The neighborhood is often incorrectly considered to be a sub-section of the larger and densely developed Overbrook
neighborhood, yet Overbrook Farms was founded first in 1892 as the first planned community on the Main Line of the Pennsylvania Railroad. The Overbrook Farms Company was the neighborhood's developer with links to directors of the Girard and Drexel Banks and the Pennsylvania Railroad. This planned community includes some of the first residential projects of the first graduating class of the University of Pennsylvania's architectural program.
Overbrook Farms maintains the oldest continually operating neighborhood association in America, the Overbrook Farms Club (OFC). OFC sponsors an annual house tour each Spring.
There is a more recent development of smaller homes with modern incursions, called Greenhill Farms and is not on the Historic Register. This development extends from 66th St. up to 72nd Street. It is bordered on three sides by Morris Park and on the west by City Avenue and includes some original mansions built on Wistar Morris' gentleman's farm
.
operates the Wynnefield Branch http://libwww.library.phila.gov/branches/branch.cfm?loc=WYN.
West Philadelphia
West Philadelphia, nicknamed West Philly, is a section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Though there is no official definition of its boundaries, it is generally considered to reach from the western shore of the Schuylkill River, to City Line Avenue to the northwest, Cobbs Creek to the southwest, and...
section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Roughly bounded by City Avenue (US Route 1), 58th Street, Woodbine Avenue, and 66th Street at Morris Park. The neighborhood is bisected by Lancaster Avenue (Route 30) and the original Pennsylvania Railroad "main line" which today is used by Amtrak and SEPTA's Paoli/Thorndale Line. The historic district description and statement of significance can be found at http://www.uchs.net/HistoricDistricts/overbrook.html. Overbrook Farms, Its Historical Background, Growth and Community Life by Tello J. d'Apery, M.D. [the Magee Press, 1936] also provides a complete history of the area.
This region of Philadelphia and its suburbs were originally settled by Welsh immigrants who purchased land from William Penn. Two of these farms contributed land for the Overbrook Farms neighborhood. The neighborhood is often incorrectly considered to be a sub-section of the larger and densely developed Overbrook
Overbrook, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Overbrook is a neighborhood northwest of West Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The area contains an assortment of housing from large, old homes to row homes to 3-4 story apartment buildings.-Physical setting:...
neighborhood, yet Overbrook Farms was founded first in 1892 as the first planned community on the Main Line of the Pennsylvania Railroad. The Overbrook Farms Company was the neighborhood's developer with links to directors of the Girard and Drexel Banks and the Pennsylvania Railroad. This planned community includes some of the first residential projects of the first graduating class of the University of Pennsylvania's architectural program.
Overbrook Farms maintains the oldest continually operating neighborhood association in America, the Overbrook Farms Club (OFC). OFC sponsors an annual house tour each Spring.
There is a more recent development of smaller homes with modern incursions, called Greenhill Farms and is not on the Historic Register. This development extends from 66th St. up to 72nd Street. It is bordered on three sides by Morris Park and on the west by City Avenue and includes some original mansions built on Wistar Morris' gentleman's farm
Gentleman's farm
A gentleman's farm is an extremely small or non-operative farm. They are generally small acreages that are not used to produce large amounts of food, grain, or livestock for major markets. Gentleman's farms are also used as hobby farms, for horse rearing, or as bed and breakfast establishments...
.
Public libraries
Free Library of PhiladelphiaFree Library of Philadelphia
The Free Library of Philadelphia is the public library system serving Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.-History:History of the Free Library of Philadelphia: Initiated by the efforts of Dr...
operates the Wynnefield Branch http://libwww.library.phila.gov/branches/branch.cfm?loc=WYN.
External links
- Overbrook Farms history Overbrook Farms its historical background, growth and community life. This entire book is available free for download from Penn State's Digital Bookshelf.