William Penn intended that his land grant would be settled with many "greene country towns." Indeed, Philadelphia was originally laid out according to such a plan: one or half acre plots with modest starter houses and common land called squares. ["Penn Plan House" pp. 88-89] That vision didn't catch on, but other visionary communities appeared and thrived, including Arden, Rose Valley, Viscose Village, and Wawaset Park. Arden and Rose Valley are something of sister communities, while Viscose Village and Wawaset Park offer an industrial contrast, as well as bring out class distinctions.
I. Arden
Henry George was an economic theorist who proposed that land be taxed but not improvements. Progress and Poverty (1879), his best known work, inspired a number of turn of the century visionaries, particularly in the region Around the Delaware Arc. These "Single Taxers" or Georgists established a few utopian communities. The most successful single tax community, Arden in Northern Delaware, continues to practice Georgist principles in a picturesque setting. A thorough, scholarly treatment of the planning and architecture of Arden enriches the experience of this very successful utopian community. ["Arden" pp. 96-97]
II. Rose Valley
Philadelphia architect Will Price was co-founder of Arden. He also founded the Arts and Crafts community of Rose Valley near Media Pennsylvania. Rose Valley is the region's finest collection of buildings that convey the spirit and aesthestic of the Arts and Crafts movement. ["Rose Valley" pp. 109-110]
III. Viscose Village
In the industrial town of Marcus Hook Pennsylvania, the first artificial silk (later Rayon) was produced at the massive American Viscose plant (1910). The rayon making process was labor intensive, as well as dangerous. To encourage laborers to work for the company, a model community (1913) was built adjacent to the plant. Though the factory is derelict, Viscose Village holds strong. The juxtaposition is a vision of post-industrial America.["Marcus Hook" pp. 139-140]
IV Wawaset Park
As the reorganized Du Pont Company prospered under the control of the three cousins in the lucrative era of the First World War, the company sought to recruit management. In 1917, it bought a tract of land in Wilmington and developed upper middle class dwellings in a park-like setting. Wawaset Park remains an attractive twentieth century community. It attained National Register of Historic Places status in 1986. A very detailed inventory of houses by the National Register of Historic Places provides a rare guide for enthusiasts of relatively posh planned communities in the first half of the twentieth century.
Food suggestions: Rose Valley is near the Delaware County Seat, Media. Media's State Street has plenty of restaurants with a street car line running along rails down its center. Mrs. Marty's Deli has an East Coast Jewish Delicatessen menu that is extensive and relatively inexpensive. In industrial Marcus Hook, the traditional and usually busy Sungate Diner has a one hundred, ninety item menu.
The Tour: Planned Communities
I. Arden
Henry George was an economic theorist who proposed that land be taxed but not improvements. Progress and Poverty (1879), his best known work, inspired a number of turn of the century visionaries, particularly in the region Around the Delaware Arc. These "Single Taxers" or Georgists established a few utopian communities. The most successful single tax community, Arden in Northern Delaware, continues to practice Georgist principles in a picturesque setting. A thorough, scholarly treatment of the planning and architecture of Arden enriches the experience of this very successful utopian community. ["Arden" pp. 96-97]
II. Rose Valley
Philadelphia architect Will Price was co-founder of Arden. He also founded the Arts and Crafts community of Rose Valley near Media Pennsylvania. Rose Valley is the region's finest collection of buildings that convey the spirit and aesthestic of the Arts and Crafts movement. ["Rose Valley" pp. 109-110]
III. Viscose Village
In the industrial town of Marcus Hook Pennsylvania, the first artificial silk (later Rayon) was produced at the massive American Viscose plant (1910). The rayon making process was labor intensive, as well as dangerous. To encourage laborers to work for the company, a model community (1913) was built adjacent to the plant. Though the factory is derelict, Viscose Village holds strong. The juxtaposition is a vision of post-industrial America.["Marcus Hook" pp. 139-140]
IV Wawaset Park
As the reorganized Du Pont Company prospered under the control of the three cousins in the lucrative era of the First World War, the company sought to recruit management. In 1917, it bought a tract of land in Wilmington and developed upper middle class dwellings in a park-like setting. Wawaset Park remains an attractive twentieth century community. It attained National Register of Historic Places status in 1986. A very detailed inventory of houses by the National Register of Historic Places provides a rare guide for enthusiasts of relatively posh planned communities in the first half of the twentieth century.
Food suggestions: Rose Valley is near the Delaware County Seat, Media. Media's State Street has plenty of restaurants with a street car line running along rails down its center. Mrs. Marty's Deli has an East Coast Jewish Delicatessen menu that is extensive and relatively inexpensive. In industrial Marcus Hook, the traditional and usually busy Sungate Diner has a one hundred, ninety item menu.
