Stairs facing Lancaster Pike and Main Avenue, 1904
Description: In 1904, a small, south-facing stairway allowed commuters to walk directly from the east side of the station up the several feet to the elevation of Lancaster Avenue, directly across what was at that time called Church Avenue and is today Main Avenue. The stone stairway had substantial iron railings, but in 2014 all evidence of stairs or railings are gone. Upon climbing to the Lancaster Avenue level, the building that was shared by the Jos. W. Shank Groceries & Meats, and the Berwyn Post Office, can be seen to the left across the highway. On the opposing side of Church Avenue, one house north of the intersection with Berwyn Avenue, can be seen a residence with an unusual tower which at one time was occupied by the village doctor. And in the background one can barely see the bell tower of Trinity Presbyterian Church. The building barely visible on the far right of the image is a store erected about 1900 on land originally owned by Charles Thompson. That structure was subsequently razed, and replaced in turn by Lichtenfeld’s general merchandise store, a Stouffer’s frozen food outlet, and most recently as a restaurant called the Main Avenue Café (in 2014 out of business). - Herb Fry and Roger Thorne
