Post Offices of Haverford Township and where "Havertown" came from

Post Offices of Haverford Township

By Carolyn Joseph

Many people have wondered about the name “Havertown”.  Where is it and how did the name come about?

The name “Havertown” was given to the geographical location encompassing Haverford Township.  Unlike other Main Line communities who have their postal zones named after the township, Haverford Township was given the designation of Havertown in 1946 by the U S Post Office.   Up to 1946, the Llanerch branch of the Upper Darby Post Office delivered mail to approximately 70% of the residents in Haverford Township.  In order to create more efficiency in mail delivery, the new postal zone, Havertown was created.  The Havertown designation also included Drexel Hill, Manoa, Ardmore, Newtown Square, West Park Station of the Philadelphia Post office, Haverford and Bryn Mawr.

Until 1946, Haverford Township was dotted with post offices which were located in various businesses.

At the grist mill, located at Darby Creek, a post office named Adele was opened in July 1892.  Augustus B. Leedom was proprietor of the mill and postmaster until May, 15, 1901.  Adele was the daughter of Congressman John B. Robinson, who was instrumental in securing the PO.  The Adele Post Office served the area of South Manoa.

The Wolfenden Woolen Mill, Haverford and  Eagle Road was home  to the Wolfenden Post Office 1881-1891 and provided mail service to Ardmore.

Zell’s Store on Darby road, established the Coreze Post Office and served the residents of Bryn Mawr, 1881-1895.  George Zell was the postmaster.

Samuel Moore’s general store served as the Manoa Post Office and was located at Manoa and Darby Roads.  It was in operation Dec 1881 to March 1915.

The Llanerch Post office, established July 1897 was located in the Railroad Freight Station on West Chester Pike and lasted until April 1918.

The train station on Eagle Road was also the Grassland post office from 1898-1900.

The Llanerch branch of the Upper Darby post office was opened on the west side of Darby road in 1929 and lasted to 1946 when the name “Havertown” was designated for the area.  The post office was located at Darby and Lansdowne Ave.  This change made it possible for the 70% of residents of Haverford Township who were served mail through the Llanerch Branch of Upper Darby  ost Office to have a Havertown, PA address.

Having outgrown the old building at Lansdowne and Darby Rd., the current building on Township Line Rd and Earlington Road was opened in 1972.  It was formerly a Food Fair store building and renovated to be the new Havertown Post Office with the zip code 19083.  The facility was three times the size of the former building.  The post master in 1972 was Benjamin S. Hehn of Sharon Hill.  This new facility provided 24 hour service, a new motorized delivery system, increased rental boxes and improved customer parking.

Although one would have trouble finding “Havertown” on the map, residents of Haverford Township know that it does exist!

Find out more about Haverford history at www.haverfordhistoricalsociety.org