5 East Park Road
4 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms
Built around 1950
This is the second of the "flat top" development in Llanerch. It was probably built around 1950, along with 3 and 7 East Park Road. However, it seems like there was an older building here prior to the development, because the houuse is listed as extant as early as 1907! And it is (potentially, it could be a wrong address number) included on both the 1940 census.
Inhabitants
| Names | Years |
|---|---|
| John Wheaton Lynch | ?–1907 |
| William Charles Torkington & Frances Brooks Torkington | fl. 1940 |
History
Although the home isn't included in the 1910 or 1920 censues, the first inhabitant, John Lynch, is an incredibly interesting man. His father was born in Kingston in the Colony of Jamaica. His mother originated from Plymouth, England. He himself was born in 1839 in Baltimore, and was a Captain of Company C 106 of the Pennsylvania Infantry during the Civil War. He is buried in the West Laurel Hill Cemetery in Bala Cynwyd.
1940 census: Weaver William is living with his family and maid.
| Name | Age | Relation to Head of Household |
|---|---|---|
| William J. Torkington | 33 | Head |
| Frances B. Torkington | 30 | Wife |
| Jane Frances Torkington | 4 | Daughter |
| Jacqueline B. Torkington | 1 | Daughter |
| Helen Schultz | 25 | Maid |
The Torkingtons eventually moved, and later lived in Palm beach in their elder years. The home sold in 2023 for $400,000.