Philadelphia's Main Line as it Really Was
Philadelphia's Main Line as it Really Was
The "Main Line" of the Pennsylvania Railroad stretches west from
Philadelphia to Paoli and beyond. It has long had the undeserved reputation of extravagant wealth and social snobbery. But it is so much more than the rich and pampered lifestyle embodied by Kate Hepburn's portrayal of Tracy Lord in the film, The Philadelphia Story. Molly TenBroeck lived on the Main Line all her life and, like Hepburn, was a graduate of Bryn Mawr College. But the comparison stops there. Molly always felt that this interesting and colorful place had all too often been misrepresented by even the most prominent of authors. She wrote this book in an attempt to portray the inhabitants as they really were. Yes, there were the wealthy but there were far more who were farmers, shopkeepers, commuters, and housewives. She describes life in the mid-20th century, especially during the Second World War, and how the locals, both wealthy and not so fortunate lived and worked. In spite of rationing and the war-time economy they ran errands for each other, supported the Scouts, the Red Cross, charity drives, church activities and had a great deal of fun doing it. Molly was clever and insightful, a keen observer of the world and the people around her, with an appreciation for them both. She was a consummate storyteller.
"We Scrapples is not only an engrossing memoir but a damn good yarn, mellifluous with old-fashioned phrases . . ." - L Kinkead
This book will be a fascinating read not only for those who lived in or are familiar with the area but also for those interested in the history of the time and place. You may even recognize an old friend