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Railroad Bridges in Green Tree and Malvern
There were 3 bridges over the railroad in Green Tree and Malvern as shown on the above extract from a 1887 atlas1. When were they built?
This road plan2 from 1874 shows the Warren Avenue bridge already existing and proposes the Bridge Avenue bridge. The following newspaper clippings from 1881 thereby describe the underpass (below-grade bridge) at Green Tree station: June 8, 1881 Trouble About a Bridge. – There is quite a commotion among the citizens at the Green Tree, in Willistown township, as to the exact spot where the bridge shall be placed over the railroad at that point. Davis Gill, Esq., claims that his contract when selling his property to the Pennsylvania Company, called for it to be placed at one point on his property, while other parties claim that they also made a contract for it to be placed to suit their properties. Mr. Gill appears to have the majority of the citizens with him, but how it will be settled is difficult to determine.
August 3, 1881 Quarrying Stone for a Bridge – The Pennsylvania Railroad Company, is now engaged in quarrying out stone on the premises of Benjamin Bartholomew, East Whiteland, which will be used in building a bridge over the railroad at the Green Tree in Willistown township. The stone taken from this quarry are in fine large square blocks.
The Benjamin Bartholomew property was mainly in East Whiteland, but did extend into Willistown. Its eastern boundary was the township line with Tredyffrin. The property was purchased by Bartholomew in 1874 (see Chester County deed L8-307).
August 24, 1881 Preparing to Build a Bridge. – The Pennsylvania Railroad Company has contracted with David Ryan for the building of a new bridge over the company’s railroad at the Green Tree, in Willistown township. Mr. Ryan is now hauling stone for its erection.
September 30, 1881 The Green Tree Bridge. – Samuel Lemon, who has taken the contract to build the bridge over the railroad, at Green Tree, in Willistown township, has a force of about fifty men employed, and is pushing the work forward with great energy.
October 25, 1881 Grading the Pennsylvania R. R. – Mr. Lemon, the contractor having in charge the grading of the new portion of the Pennsylvania Railroad at the Green Tree, in Willistown township, is progressing with the work finely. It is expected that he will have the work done and the road ballasted within the next ten days.
November 17, 1881 Railroad Work – Samuel Lemon, the contractor, is pushing forward the grading of the Pennsylvania Railroad where it is being straightened at the Green Tree, in Willistown township, and expects to have the whole completed within a month. The Pennsylvania Railroad Company are hauling the dirt from the cut at Villa Nova and filling in at Wayne station. Samuel Lemon, who has the contract for building the bridge over the railroad at the Green Tree, in Willistown township, is now hauling stone for the bridge from Benjamin Bartholomew’s quarries in Tredyffrin.
Dec. 18, 1881 PRR opens new straight alignment of main line at Green Tree on Philadelphia Division. (CCHS) – PRR Chronology3. Apr. 5, 1882 New bridge opens on main line near Green Tree on Philadelphia Division3. References and Notes1. Atlas of Properties Along the Pennsylvania R.R. from Overbrook to Malvern Station, 1887 2. Willistown road plan L-51, dated 1/8/1874, entitled ‘A road leading from Kings Road to Lancaster turnpike’. 3. Pennsylvania Railroad Chronology, 1882, Hagley Museum. |
