Seen here in 1993 during a bus tour of the region’s diners sponsored by the Society of Commercial Archeology, the sale of the 1940 Paramount attracted a great deal of interest, but ultimately no takers.
Old York Road and its Early Associations of History and Biography 1670 – 1870.One of the most tragic losses to the roster of Philadelphia diners came with the demolition of the long-suffering Wayne Junction Diner. Reading List- The Old York Road has been the subject of several books, the last document on this list was published by the Commissioners of Fairmount Park and Discusses the acquisition of Hunting Park Charles Henry Fisher and wife to The City of Phila. Tobias Huber Trustee to Charles Henry Fisher. Evans, et al., executors, to Charles Henry Fisher. This Company in the Locality Indexes except the following:ĥ.2 mo. The Land Title and Trust Company having searched for instrumentsĪffecting the premises as above described or any part thereof orĪny ground rent issuing thereout, hereby certifies and guarantees: that no portion [of the said premises is described or included in any description in any instrument recorded in theĭeed or Release of Mortgage books in the office of the Recorder of Deeds since January first, 1683, and located and entered by Many prominent families were involved with he land over the years. The transaction history compiled by the land company is worth reading as well. It contains a little over forty-three acres. laws,) the care of it was vested in the Commissioners of Fairmount Park.
Though the grantor was Charles Henry Fisher, he acted for other citizens in the vicinity who made the purchase.īy an ordinance of July 10, 1856, (page 177 of the ordinances of that year,) the purpose of the gift was established-and by an Act of May 15, 1871, (873 of P. Hunting Park was given to the City by deed dated April 24, 1855, and recorded in Deed Book R.D.W. Thomas, now Whitman’s, where it again comes to the road in front of the house, which has been continued open to this part of the hill at Milestown (east side,) continues its width with the York road and again crosses at Oak lane to the west side through all the properties, and takes its route to the city line five hundred feet west of the York road. The old survey of the York road of 1711 is now the city survey of Broad street, where it crosses the York road below Branchtown it passes through part of Grange farm (Luken’s), the Nedrow tract, late York farm (Butler’s) to Green lane, taking fifteen feet of the de Benneville burial ground on the north side of the lane, and running in a direct line through this property, Dr. Hunting Park, formerly known as Allen’s Race Course, is situated on the northeast corner of the York road and Nicetown lane (now vacated) and a new avenue called Hunting Park avenue, opened just above, from the York road to Broad street, which has been extended from the Germantown road at Nicetown to its old survey at Fisher’s lane and the York road, which it takes in its route north as far as the Butler place (Penn street, or formerly Thorp’s lane), where it crosses to the north and extends to the city line five hundred feet west of the York road. The book gives the following history of the land and a summary of the transactions of the land that makes up the park throughout history. The road was built from 1710-1711 to connect Philadelphia with Elizabeth New Jersey. The Old York Road: And Its Early Associations of History and Biography follows the Old York Road as it travels through the city of Philadelphia and into Bucks County. In my readings of the old books of which I am so fond I came across a discussion of the history of the park, and how the city came to possess such a large tract of land. Philadelphians know the neighborhood has a rough reputation, as does north Philadelphia in general, but few of the runners, baseball or soccer players may ponder the history of the park. The park contains paths, soccer and baseball fields and is a major recreational area in that part of the city. Today Hunting Park is a large park located in far north Philadelphia. Fairmount, Wissahickon, Pennypack and many others offer citizens the opportunity to enjoy nature and get some exercise. Philadelphia is blessed to have numerous parks scattered throughout the city.