History of Upper Darby Told Through Photographs

Oct. 24, 2011 - PRLog -- The newest addition to Arcadia Publishing’s popular Images of America series is Upper Darby from local authors Beverly Rorer and Barbara Marinelli for the Upper Darby Historical Society. The book boasts more than 200 vintage images and memories of days gone by.

Upper Darby, one of the earliest settlements west of Philadelphia, began with the Lenni Lenape Indians and early Swedish settlers of the 1650s. Mills and farming were fueled by several creeks forming a fall line before dropping off to the Piedmont through Upper Darby.

From the beginning, influential families left their mark. The descendants of Samuel Sellers were inventors whose skills benefited the nation. Dr. George Smith authored the bill for Pennsylvania public education, and famous financiers A.J. Drexel and his son A.J. Drexel Jr. created beautiful estates with landscaped vistas where residents enjoyed leisure activities.

By the early 1900s, most farms had turned to dairying and became part of “the Butter Belt.” The Sixty-Ninth Street Terminal, built in 1907, was the transportation hub for those going farther west and brought rapid development to the community. Upper Darby chronicles the people and the changing demographics of this thriving area.

Highlights of Upper Darby:
•   The book features the early mills and life around the hamlets.
•   The book includes some well-known persons such as Tina Fey, John Cappalletti (Heisman Trophy winner), Eleanor Roosevelt and husband of Katherine Hepburn.
•   A portion of the profits from the sale of the book will be used to benefit historical restoration in the area.
•   Most of the images came from historical society archives made from donations from members and from early area photographers.

Available at area bookstores, independent retailers, and online retailers, or through Arcadia Publishing at www.arcadiapublishing.com or
(888)-313-2665.

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With more than 7,500 local history titles published to date, Arcadia Publishing is the leading publisher of local and regional history in the United States. Widely recognized sepia books feature hundreds of vintage historical images.