29 East Park Road (206 Bewley Road?)

Unknown number of bedrooms & bathrooms

Built before 1897 in Tudor revivalist style

Inhabitants

History

29 East Park Road is one of the oldest and most beautiful homes in Llanerch. It is on the corner of Bewley and E. Park, and is built in the Tudor revivalist style of housing. It is so large, in fact, that since at least the 1970s, it has been used as an apartment building.

Although it's not listed with an owner, the 1897 Mueller Atlas does map out the correct location for the building, implying a creation date prior to then. It was located next to the "Mary Albertson" property. It is stated according to the historical DCPD submission of historic resources that Charles S. Taylor sold Atkinson the home in 1902, although he lived in the home prior, and definitely by 1899.

The bottom half of this page will deal with the elusive "206 Bewley Road", which doesn't seem to exist on any maps, but was almost certainly the half of this building facing towards Bewley Road. It was recorded seperately in censues and in newspaper records, so it will be addressed as such. It does not seem to be referred to as 206 Bewley after 2001.

1900 census: Builder John is living with his family and 3 servants.

1910 census: Atkinsons are living with 3 maids of Irish and African-American descent.

Tragedy struck the family in 1915 when John shot himself in the head with a revolver, committing suicide. Despite his death, the family continued to live in the home.

Pennsylvania death certificate for 1915 #24106

1920 census: Widowed Anne is living with her family and two maids.

In the 1929 map of Haverford Township, this property is referred to as "Bewley Apartments".

1930 census: "Light and heat" VP William is living with his wife

1940 census: Garlands are now living with their son.

1950 census: The Garlands are living alone again

William died in 1959, and May died in 1959, both while they lived in the home, although the general family might have lived there as late as 1967, when a potential relative of May's died. Judith Butler lived there in 1965. In 1979, the home went on sale, advertising "6 apartments" within the residence. It was sold to the Schmits in 1980 for $133,000, and again to the Sensenichs in 1984 for $172,000. The home was sold in 2010 to a company for $460,000.

206 Bewley Road

Inhabitants

1940 census: Potts family (maybe also temporarily of 24 Tenby Road?) is living in one unit, as are mathematics teacher Vashti, sales engineer Richard and his wife, English teacher Florence and roommate, and L. Virginia Jones (later of 122 East Park Road).

1950 census: Larger Potts family, along with Warwick and wife in another unit, as well as Anna Esrey (originally of 305 Davis Road).

Other people who lived under that address throughout the years were Rev. C.R. Webber, Millard Poole, Albert Altieri, Sheryl Costigan, and Francis Newton.

In 1953, a woman sued for $10,000 after falling down the stairs of the building.

Delaware County Daily Times, January 1st, 1953, page 2

Joseph Potts died in 1955, and Anna died the following year. Albert Altieri died in 1964, as did Warwick.

Philadelphia Inquirer, April 12th, 1955, page 11 & Philadelphia Daily News, June 13th, 1964, page 7

In 1973, resident of the home Francis Newton died of electrocution after falling from a railroad signalling tower.

Delaware County Daily Times, September 8th, 1973, page 4

The use of the address continued until 1998 and 2001, when multi-house yard sales were advertised under 206, rather than 29.