The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-01-04
A MlSNAMED TOWN.
Even Philadelphia Calls Bustleton 6
Sleepy Old Place.

Even Philadelphia Calls Bustleton a
Sleepy Old Place.
Nesting cozily at the junction of
two colonial highways out in the
Thirty fifth ward, Bustleton enjoys
the unique distinction of being g
veritable Sleepy Hollow within the
limits of this great city, in spite OF
the activity supposed to be indicated
by its name. While every other por-
lion of the city and many country
sections have their free postal deliv-
cry systems, the residents of Bustle-
ton are still compelled to go to the
postofice and inquire for any mail
matter that may be awaiting them.
In the way of facilities for reaching
the heart of the city they are also
practically no better off than they
were half a century ago, when the
stage coach was the only method Of
public conveyance.
The town is most beautifully To-
Gated at the junction of the old
Welsh road, laid out and used al
most 200 years ago, and the main
road leading from Bucks county to
the city. known as the Bustleton
turnpike, which was macadamized
about 1907 The Welsh road was so
named because it held from the old
Kings highway-the Bristol turn
rike-at Eolmesburg, to the Welsh
hills. Back of Bustleton and run
ming past the old Pennypack Bap-
tist meeting house. the Oldest of its
Kind in the city. is the Krewstown
road, which takes its name from a
celebrated family of patriots during
che Revolutionary war, the descend
ants of whom are still living in that
section.
Bustleton itself, according to ira
dition, got its name from a woman.
who in the early days lived on the
site of the present railroad station.
She was an active housewife, and
when the question of naming the
village came up some one suggested
the name Of the woman. The name
was, however, a Welsh one and
rlther hard for the uninitiated to
g.t around, and that idea was given
up. But, according to the stories
handed down in the old families, the
town was called Brstle town inhon-
ol'of the bustling character Of the
woman. Since then the name has
been corrupted into Bustleton.
For over~70 years the only means
OF travel between Bustleton and this
city were the old stage coaches. But
in 1870 the Pennsylvania railroad
built a branch out from Holmes
burg, which resulted in driving off
the stage coaches. George Birk-
mann, now proprietor of hotel at
Holmesburg Junction, formerly
owned the stage coach line, and he
tells many interesting stories of the
old days. lie bought the line about
1850. But it had been operated for
half century before that by John
Rbsdon, David Davis and others.
The fare to and from the city from
Bustleton was 25 cents each way.
Byrailroad it is now 64 cents for the
round trip, or 38 cents for single
fare.
two trips were made by the stage
coach each way to Second and Arch
streets, and the time consumed be-
tween the terminal points was one
and half hours. Counting delays,
by reason of trains laying over and
aft,srward taking trolley cars at
Front and Berks streets, Birkmann
claims that there is little or no saw
ing in time between then and now.
By the recent taking off Of trains for
want of traffic, Bustleton is in point
of fact no better off today in the
matter of early and late transporta-
ton than it was when stage coaches
were run half century ago.
Twenty-Five years ago Bustleton
had the large La Grange and the
Lodges Print works running, which,
together with the Yerkes Edge Tool
works, near by, gave employment
to several hundred people of both
sexes. Now not one of these is run
ming, and there is not single man.
ufacturing interest employing half
a dozen hands being carried on in
the town. Notwithstanding all this,
Bustleton is one of the most delight
full and healthful sections of the city
in which to live, and its people are
happy and contented. But they
would like to have mail delivery by
carriers.
Among the residents of the pretty
little town are still many families
whose ancestors for generations