Tredyffrin Easttown Historical Society
History Quarterly Digital Archives

Source: July 2000 Volume 38 Number 3, Page 78

Foreword

Page 78

Recent developments along the Route 202 corridor have almost completely obliterated the last vestiges of the Chester Valley Railroad which once traversed the Great Valley on a path roughly parallel with Swedesford Road. For over a hundred years the Chester Valley Railroad served the local residents well. Bob Geasey has carefully documented the history of this remnant of rail transportation as it once existed. His findings are presented as the first article in this issue.

We were surprised recently to hear that Bertrand Russell, British writer, philosopher and recipient of a Nobel Prize for Literature, once had a Malvern post office address when he lived for a time in our neighborhood. Barbara Fry explains the story of his brief sojourn in America, and what brought him here, in our second feature.

The History Club is pleased with its considerable library devoted to local history subjects. A listing of the books in its collection, along with a perspective on the library and how it may be used, has been assembled by Herb Fry and is our final offering this quarter.

Our cover photograph, of the no longer existent Howellville train station on the CVRR, is from the photo archives of the Chester County Historical Society, West Chester, Pa., and is used by permission. The illustrations on pages 86 and 92 are from the History Club archives.