Darby Borough is a small town located on the outskirts of the City of Brotherly Love. Bordering the Southwest side of Philadelphia enabled "Darbarians" to travel to and from the city for work.
Employment opportunities were abound in Philadelphia. Many rode the trolley. Darby is only 8 tenths of a square mile but it is more densely populated than the City of Philadelphia. Settled in 1682, it was home to many a pioneer and an integral part of the forming of our country. Twenty three Quakers came here to Darby, one of which was John Blunston.
During this time, William Penn was in the process of writing the "Rules of Privileges" that formed the basis for the Laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. John Blunston contributed much to these Laws.
In 1687, he was elected Speaker of the House of Representatives in Pennsylvania. These Quakers came to Darby from England on one of William Penn's ships. They established the Borough of Darby where they practiced their faith that provided Freedom of Religion and Tolerance.
John Blunston was also instrumental in the Anti Slavery movement. Some of our oldest buildings have been home to the Underground Railroad and helped Slaves escape to a free world. During the end of George Washington's presidency, on his way back to Mount Vernon, his cook, Hercules, cook, disappeared "somewhere between Philadelphia and Chester. He most likely had local help as he was never recaptured. So, as you see, Darby has deep rich history that molds, models and forms our way of life.
Sitting in my home or in the backyard, I can look out over Darby and remember very clearly, many good things about growing up here. Not too many sad memories here.
A typical Darby family... Back in the Day...
In the early 1900's, Clifton Pacaud Martin and Rosa Buechler Martin met and fell in love. He left home at the age of 13 in Shreveport Louisiana. He met Rosa in Brooklyn, New York. Rosa and her family were German Immigrants. They married and moved to Darby. They purchased a new home (1year old) at 206 Highland Avenue (where we presently reside). Here in this 4 bedroom home, they raised 9 children. My grandfather was a 30 year career Marine.
In 1927 he built a tailor's shop in the back yard. It was made of old used garage doors from the Quartermaster (now called the Defense Personnel Support Center) located at 20th & Oregon Avenue in South Philadelphia where he worked.) The building was 27 " x 27". My great Uncle August Buechler was a tailor and operated his business here. When the war began, all the windows were painted black and black lights were installed. It was then used as an Air Raid Warden's Headquarters, Post #8. When the siren blew, all the air raid wardens would gather here and meet.
My great grandmother, Wilhelmina Buechler also lived in the neighborhood. She lived across the street with her family. As Rosa and Cliff's children grew up and married. They too stayed in the neighborhood. Pauline married Herman Rourke and moved around the corner. Cliff married Doris and they too moved around the corner. John married Evangeline Reilly and moved up to the top of the street. Viola married Sam King and moved across the street. Madeline (my mother) married Everett Evans and stayed at the original home on Highland Avenue.
Our home soon became the home away from home to many soldiers during the war. Soldiers from all over would stay here and my grandmother would feed them and "entertain" them. They were made to feel like family. She always had an open door policy. Darby has been, still is and hopefully will remain as a birthplace of lifetime friendships and memories.
My mother and father raised 3 children here in Darby. At that time, Darby was the "shopping hub" of Delaware County. Main Street was always crowded with shoppers. We had five supermarkets, the best clothing and shoe stores, a Hat Shop, Record Shop, A Baseball Stadium, Jewelry Store, a Bowling Alley, 5 & 10, two movie theaters, restaurants, and just about any other store your could imagine. Darby was a real family town. It was the kind of place that you grew up in, stayed and raised your family and when the children grew up, they too stayed and raised their families.
The only times homes went up for sale, were when our older folks passed away and there wasn't any family to move in. Rentals were unheard of. Section 8 was not "invented" yet. People worked, came home, took care of their families, their houses and yards and everyone got along. There was only 1 apartment building in Darby but it was engulfed in fire in the early "60"s and never rebuilt.
