Widening “the Pike”

History Spotlight by Doug Humes

Photos courtesy of Lloyd Roach Collection at Newtown Square Historical Society

The West Chester Pike familiar to us was the child of an existing road out from Market Street in Philadelphia, and the need, in 1789, to have a good road for continuing the journey to the new county seat of Chester County. Back then, the eastern townships were split off to form Delaware County, which got to keep the county seat – the city of Chester. Chester County located its new county seat at the small crossroads village of Turks Head. The city fathers decided that naming the town for a swinging sign over the local tavern was perhaps not dignified enough for a county seat, and so they changed the name to West Chester. Otherwise we would be driving out there on Turks Head Pike!

Toll Booth on West Chester Turnpike

(postcard)

In 1793, the extension from Newtown Square was laid out, a narrow dirt road winding over the hilly Chester County countryside. The road was upgraded in 1848, to a toll turnpike, and a plank road was built from Philadelphia as far as Newtown Square, but the rest of the journey was still a rutted and muddy narrow road. Through much of the 19th century, a stagecoach ran from West Philadelphia to West Chester, with a regular stop at Newtown Square.

In the 1890s, the route west became easier for passengers, as a trolley line ran out from 69th Street all the way to West Chester, on the south side of the roadway. In 1918, the State of Pennsylvania took control of the road, and discontinued the hated tolls and toll booths.

Widening the Pike at Boot Rd, 1954 (the trolley tracks are gone)

The trolleys continued to run until the early 1950s, when service was cut back as portions of the road were widened from 2 to 4 lanes, using the trolley’s right of way for the 2 new automobile lanes. The widening project finally reached past Newtown Square, and in 1956, the section out to Boot Road was opened. The widened Pike was finally extended to West Chester by the end of 1961.

Lloyd Roach grew up on nearby Boot Road. He recently shared with us some slides his family took of the pike-widening work as it stood in 1955 or so. Step back in time and enjoy these scenes, which have not yet been seen outside of the Roach family!

West Chester Pike, 1955 (4 lanes almost fully paved)

For more history on Newtown Square, Delaware County, and membership information, please visit our website:

www.HistoricNewtownSquare.org