Hayti Cemetery and the Marple UAME Church
Underneath a Blue Route overpass lies what is commonly known as Hayti Cemetery. This cemetery, originally the churchyard of the Marple UAME Church, is the final resting place for generations of Delaware County's African American community....
Glenwood: The Westward-Moving Cemetery
Most people know that during the 20th century, many residents of American cities moved to the suburbs. What people may not know is that along with stores and families, a cemetery moved from Philadelphia to Broomall....
The Jones Pottery Factory: Part Two, 1850-1869
In 1842 Benjamin Jones began a profitable pottery manufactory in Marple Township, but in less than 30 years, the factory was destroyed and its existence was slowly fading from memory......
The Jones Pottery Factory: Part One, 1842-1850
For roughly three decades Benjamin Jones operated a pottery on West Chester Pike in Marple Township, yet aside from scattered references, little has been written about it until now....
Burglars and Bullets: The 1887 Post Office Break-In
A country store. A cracked safe. Evidence dumped in farm fields. Gunshots and a grievously wounded man. Over the course of a Saturday night in July 1887 the peace in Marple and Haverford townships was shattered by related crimes that to this day have not totally been solved....
In Memoriam: Rich Paul, 1943-2020
On December 29th A. Richard “Rich” Paul, the “History Hugger” of Marple Township, passed away. His death is a loss to not only Marple, but all of Delaware County....
“…In Harvest Thou Shalt Rest”: Rev. Compton’s Marple Farm
About a year ago, I came across Robert Compton, who was listed as a “Baptist clergyman” in the 1860 census schedules for Marple Township. Compton caught my attention because I was not aware of a Baptist congregation in Marple during this period, so I began digging. I soon discovered...
Isaac Burn and His Failed Mineral Spring Resort
Two hundred and ten years ago this August, Isaac Burn (also spelled Burns) advertised his Mineral Chalybeate Springs in Marple Township as a health and pleasure resort. Seeking to cash in on the popularity of mineral spring resorts, the cash-strapped Burn tried for several years to make an attractive...
The Election of 1960: Future Presidents Campaign in Lawrence Park
Sixty years ago, not one but two future presidents came through Marple Township during their campaign for the White House. Republican Vice President Richard Nixon and Democratic Senator John F. Kennedy of Massachusetts were squaring off in a tight race to win the presidency that saw air travel, television,...
Broomall (not Marple): A History of the Township’s Post Offices
Most residents of Marple Township have a Broomall, Pennsylvania mailing address with a 19008 Zip Code. No one has a "Marple, Pennsylvania" mailing address. Despite this, there is not, nor has there ever been a township, borough, or city by the name of Broomall (in Pennsylvania at least). What...