By the end of March 1871, the Pennsylvania Railroad had moved its rail line to its current location 1/2 mile to the Northeast, making travel through the area more efficient (1). The removal of the tracks meant the former rail bed could be turned into a public road. This meant additional land in the Northeast section of Haydock’s farm to be sold to the public for housing developments. Up to this point in time, only family member dwellings and the Quaker meetinghouse were on the property.

 

     On December 26, 1873, Haydock Garrigues and his wife Sidney sell 2 acres and 44.5 perches (2.28 acres) to John Russell for $1,500 (2). Local maps of the area show that sometime between 1893 and 1896 all three houses had been built. A resident who purchased the residence at 605 Railroad Avenue told me that he found part of a newspaper lodged up in one of the rafters, that had the year 1896 on it. 
 

     On May 15, 1906, John Russell and his wife Jane sold purchased 1.22 acres for $8,000 to George H. Earle, Jr. The land ran from the southern border of now 615 Railroad Avenue to where Railroad Avenue and Walnut Lane converge (3).  

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     It was rumored that George Howard Earle, III (Governor of Pennsylvania 1935 -1939) bought the land which later became 601, 605, and 611 Railroad Avenue to build a home for each of his three daughters. Each house was designed in different styles: 611 Railroad Avenue = Dutch Colonial, 605 Railroad Avenue = Tutor, and 601 Railroad Avenue = Spanish.  While this made for a good story,  it was actually the  Governor's father, George Howard Earl, Jr. of Philadelphia, PA who purchased the land to build houses for his three unwed daughters.

   The WWI Draft Registration entry dated June 5, 1917, showed George H. Earle, III was living with one of his sisters during the war. At the time, George III was age 27, married with one child, and listed his occupation as a sugar refiner.  

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Sources:

1.   Twenty-Fifth Annual Report, Pennsylvania Railroad Company, February 20, 1872, reporting on the previous year.

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2.  Haydock and Sidney sells land to John Russell land: Indenture found online: book 0R03, page 433. The deed is recorded at the Deeds office, Delaware County Courthouse in Media, PA. Robert Stanton is a neighbor.

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3. John Russell sells Land to George H. Earle, Jr.:  Indenture found online: book 0K12, page 0018. The deed is recorded at the Deeds office, Delaware County Courthouse in Media, PA. Recorded on May 25, 1906.