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Prime Suburban Realestate avialable Summer 1900...You too can call Overbrook Farms Home

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Submitted by J Parks on Fri, 07/27/2007 - 3:26pm
Overbrook Farms :  The Suburb DeLuxe
 
 

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marian's picture

Overbrook Farms

Submitted by marian (guest) on Sun, 07/14/2013 - 11:51pm.

I grew up in Overbrook Farms in a house built in 1896. We were the second family to live in that house. The owner's name is on that old map. I remember meeting the owner of the house before we moved in. What an honor and a delight to live there and actually meet the original owner.

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Here we are inhabitants of

Submitted by J Parks on Thu, 08/02/2007 - 4:12pm.

Overbrook Farms Then and Now

(Brynmawr.EDU)

 

6025 Overbrook

9999

 

 

5921 Overbrook Ave

6776

 

 

 

Here we are inhabitants of Overbrook Farms in 2007, adding yet more layers to the history of our culture. Can you add layers to the map of old Overbrook that will make the topography more current?

 

To get an accurate map of the area's current features visit

and type Beeber Middle School

 

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Here's a grid of the streets of Overbrook today (SEPTA):
2


Now here's where I'd like to go with my kids:
Having read the claims of the developers 100 years ago and seen the original grid for the community, let's take a look beyond the houses and streets we see today. What is the current status of the 'purer more healthful air', 'cool summers', 'drainage system', and 'clean pure water supply'?
Ultimately, how can you (my kids) contribute to the conservation of the quality of life in Overbrook Park today,and to the longevity of the suburbs you may indwell as adult.


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Jeff Cohen guided us as we

Submitted by J Parks on Thu, 08/02/2007 - 3:19pm.

Jeff Cohen guided us as we researched the evolution of Philadelphia since 1681. That was enlightening enough to inspire me to explore the evolution of a specific suburb-Overbrook Farms. The crux of my interest settled in on how similar the realestate developers' pitch 100 years ago was to that of todays. Settlers came to Philadelphia over 300 years ago and they've been spreading out to the suburbs ever since, and the "brochure" rhetoric used to lure folks out of the city then isn't a whole lot different from now for example:

Overbrook Farms: The Suburb deLuxe 1896

This community offers lofty country surroundings 200-250 feet above city level. With such features you will be afforded the luxury of enjoying cool summers, purer more healthful air, reliable drainage systems and clean pure water supplies unlike that of the schuylkil. Another benefit of the country-like setting is daily delivery of fresh farm products. Still want easy access to Broad Street? Don't despair, seventy -seven trains travel from Overbrook Farms to Broad Street Station daily.

Plan of Overbrook Farms Mueller Atlas,1896

(Lower Marion Historical Society)

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Now compare the verbiage of 1890's (above) to that of today. Try reading about new construction in the suburbs of Philadelphia today at the following urls:

http://www.pulte.com/homefinder/community.asp?commorg_acctcode=3016

 

http://www.tollbrothers.com/homesearch/servlet/HomeSearch?app=community_description&comm_num=8927

 

http://ltsbuilders.com/communities/millbrooke.asp

 

What were the major selling points for Overbrook Farms in the 1890's? What are the common selling points of todays developers found at the three url's above? Based on the information provided how has realestate advertisement changed how has it remained the same? What can you infer about the needs of the target population of potential home buyers then and now?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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OK since I began this

Submitted by J Parks on Tue, 07/31/2007 - 3:26pm.
OK since I began this workshop I've become acutely aware that it is now time for me to get in touch with the science of my new environment -Philadelphia more specifically Overbrook. Since I arrived in Philadelphia until now I think most of what I've done has been to acclimatize with the culture of the area . Now thanks to "Science and a Sense of Place" I'm mentally ready to move from not only adapting to the lifestyle, and cultural value system of the society but also to exploring the scientific history and evolution of the physical world which we now all inhabit. After all these were my motives for moving to this region of the country in the first place to explore, experience, and enrich.

 

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