History:
The
community of Bustleton-Somerton, once full of thick woodlands, was a
rich farming area for most of its history. According to one theory,
Bustleton grew around Busselton Tavern, a local watering hole
established before the Revolution. Verree Road takes its name from
Verree's Mill, a tool factory on Pennypack Creek that once shipped
hatchets and axes all over the East Coast.
The Bustleton library had its beginnings near the turn of the 20th
century. In 1905, when horse-drawn wagons still plodded up Bustleton
Pike, the Free Library placed a "traveling library" of 50 books in
Tustin's Drug Store. Six years later, the library was moved from the
drug store to St. Luke's Chapel, where it resided for the next 30
years. However, the space at St. Luke's was too small and was only open
one day a week, so in 1941 citizens of Bustleton petitioned City
Council for an official branch, which opened the following year in
Union Hall at 9230 Bustleton Pike.
In 1960, in anticipation of the present building, the library
was moved to rented quarters on the second floor of 9507 Bustleton
Avenue. The quarters were larger and more pleasant, but there was still
inadequate floor space.
Finally, on October 1, 1965, the current branch opened on land
donated by the Philadelphia Board of Education. The one-story brick
building was designed by Alexander Ewing and Associates, Architects and
Engineers at a total cost of $337,300.
When you visit Bustleton Library, take a look at the carved
wood mural, "Man's Learning Preserved." Created by James House, Jr.,
the mural depicts many signs and symbols used to record ideas from
ancient times to the space age.
