The Borough Of Media.

One hundred and thirty-four lots were still in the possession of the commissioners at the time of this sale, the total number having been two hundred. Large reservations had been made for the court-house and jail and a market-house. The lots were twenty feet front by one hundred and seventy in depth. At a second sale, on Monday, October 15th, forty of them were sold, and on the same occasion the Briggs farmhouse and barn were purchased by Mr. Esrey for fifteen hundred dollars and four hundred and five dollars respectively.

It was indicative of the enterprise and large-mindedness of the people of Media, and prophetic of the beauty of the town that was to be, that the first buildings erected were substantial and tasteful structures. The first building reared after the act of removal was a fine brick store located on the northeast corner of State Street and South Avenue. It was built by John C. Beatty, who commenced it in the fall of 1849 and completed it early in the spring. The lower story was occupied as a dry-goods and grocery store by Ellis Smedley, who afterwards removed to Chester, and the upper story, finished as a hall, was dedicated to the cause of temperance on Feb. 16, 1850. Mr. Smedley's successor in business at this stand was Thomas D. Nelling, who subsequently gave place to Black & Sons, in turn followed by Hawley & Brother. Other buildings were in process of erection before the Beatty block was finished, and soon the locality began to look like a town.

"After the first and second sales of lots," says a newspaper writer,¹ "the increase in the value of the surrounding property was so marked and immediate that it became highly expedient that the ground upon which the old almshouse was located should be sold, as it could be done with great advantage, and particularly was this course of action deemed advisable, as the old buildings were not well adapted to the purpose for which they were erected. The amount realized, it was argued, would more than pay for a better farm, and more commodious buildings, on a more eligible site. The action taken in the matter resulted in the sale of the old structure, which was purchased by Mr. Primrose, a citizen of Philadelphia, and subsequently from him by David Milne, another Philadelphian, who converted it into lodgings for a large number of colored families. The place soon became known as the 'Continental.'"

In 1851 occurred the first untoward event in the infant village, - the first fire. On Friday, June 20th, Peter Hill's shingle-factory and a considerable quantity of lumber were destroyed by the flames. The factory stood not far from the bridge over Ridley Creek on the Black Horse road. There was no similar disaster until after the lapse of eight years.²

As the village increased in population, and business lines of transportation and communication connecting with the outer world were established, Mr. Wesley C. Brodhead early in the history of the new county-seat placed a line of stages on the road, and in August, 1851, as w e learn from the following advertisement, which appeared in the Delaware County Republican, he increased the facilities for travel between the old and new county-seats:

"For Media. - Mr. Brodhead, the accommodating proprietor of the line of stages between this borough and Media, will place extra coaches on the route during the session of court. A capacious four-horse omnibus will leave the depot at half-past eight o'clock in the morning."

Mr. Brodhead made his line of coaches highly acceptable to the public, and continued running them for two or three years, but they were discontinued when the West Chester and Philadelphia Railroad was put in running order. In more recent years the stage service was revived.

A line of telegraph was run through Media along State Street, connecting Philadelphia with Baltimore, in August, 1852, and although no office was immediately opened in the borough, the people had not very long to wait for electrical communication with the great cities north and south.

During this year there was great interest manifested in the building of plank-roads, not only in this neighborhood but elsewhere in the county.

Various improvements were carried on, all tending to increase the beauty and solidity of the town, and enterprising men began to make investments in real estate, in anticipation of further growth. Early in the year 1853, John C. Beatty purchased from the Thomas estate eleven acres of ground, a portion of which was in the borough limits, and about August 1st he bought of the Directors of the Poor and House of Employment forty acres of land attached to the poor-house property, and lying south of the State road. For this he paid two hundred and fifty dollars per acre, a fact which clearly exhibits the increase in the value of real estate by reason of the town's growth. He at once divided a large portion of the tract into building lots for the convenience of those who wished to purchase and establish homes. The movement for church organization and building had been commenced before this time, and the house of worship of the Presbyterian denomination was afterwards erected on a lot in this tract.