Section # 1 Glenside SEPTA Station
& Elcy’s Cafe & Mural & Farmers Market
Hello! My name is Tess and I am a senior at Arcadia, studying math with a minor in accounting. I’ll be leading you through our very first stop -- the train station, cafe, farmers market and mural.
People say “no train station, no Glenside.” While at this transportation hotspot, look down the streets and think about what parts were built when Glenside started to become what it is today. The station has been in service for rail passengers since 1873, although there was no underpass below the station until 1912. Now, not only do trains come and go almost every 30 minutes everyday, but vehicles are constantly traversing below the train tracks. The busy traffic, the pumping heart of Glenside, is the literal motor of the town.
One landmark in this part of the neighborhood is Elcy’s Cafe, which is owned by the lovely Amy. She opened this cafe with her husband in 2011 after purchasing the property from Lisa C. Amy kept the name Elcy’s to honor its previous owner, whose initials were L.C. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Elcy’s Cafe stayed strong through the support of the Glenside community. Amy feels grateful when she sees her local customers passing through the cafe on a regular weekday.
Saturdays were when Elcy’s Cafe really became involved with the community. Amy would help out at the farmers market, and she loved when musical acts would visit and perform in town. Elcy’s Cafe also showcased artwork from Arcadia University’s students from their trip to Ireland. In a way, it brought the students’ work a bit deeper into the community. If you feel a little hungry, we highly recommend their oatmeal raisin cookie. It’s so thick, it almost looks like a scone. So satisfying to bite into!
Now, when you are ready, walk back to the sign where we started, and you will see the stairs on the left. Walk down; watch your steps! Under the bridge, you will see the mural created by our previous public art class, titled Bits and Pieces. The project was born from a Glenside business meeting in 2014 discussing community impact solutions to beautify this dark walkway. The public art project created partnerships between Arcadia University and Cheltenham Township, the Downtown Business Partnership, and the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, or SEPTA. Students played a huge role in the project, working alongside mural artist David Guinn. From conceptual planning and community organization, to budgeting, fundraising, painting the mural and installing lights...our first public art class accomplished this seventy-foot-long mural at the Glenside Train Station. Listen now to Molly, a student who worked on the project, describe the Bits and Pieces.
“Bits and Pieces of Glenside will reveal themselves to you if you take the time to pause. The rooftop signs and storefronts on Easton Road, Arcadia University’s castle to the Keswick Theatre. The sidewalks under the tracks used to feel cold and dark, alone. But now, the neon lights illuminate our way home.”
When you are ready, walk up to the intersection. No need to cross the street, just turn right, and walk on West Glenside Avenue. On your left, facing the train station parking lot, you will see many residential and commercial buildings. This area was originally known as the Heist Farm, and it was the beginning of development in Glenside. In 1850, a developer named Martin Luther Kohler built Harrison Avenue and Lismore Avenue through this farmland and laid the foundation for Glenside’s future growth. These two roads are on your left. Kohler named this town Glen-side to tempt city folk from Philadelphia to move here for a piece of quiet and pleasant suburban life. With the railroad reaching Glenside in 1855, people were now able to commute by train. Seeing all the businesses and houses here, try to picture that, many years ago, it was all farmland! Let your mind travel back in time: you might see cornfields, or groups of dairy cows chewing grass while flicking their tails back and forth. After the Civil War, you would have seen market-gardens, which are small-scale businesses that sell fruits, vegetables, and flowers as cash crops, often directly to consumers and restaurants in Philadelphia.
Now, instead of those market-gardens, we have the Glenside Farmers market that sets up shop in the parking lot of the Glenside Train station every year, from May to November. Plan to bring some grocery baskets next time when you are here. You can also find them on Facebook for weekly updates. In addition to the stalls you expect to see, such as fruits, vegetables, and baked goods, there are a bunch of unique vendors as well. From fresh pressed olive oil to an apothecary, there’s a lot to check out that you don’t want to miss!
People say “no train station, no Glenside.” While at this transportation hotspot, look down the streets and think about what parts were built when Glenside started to become what it is today. The station has been in service for rail passengers since 1873, although there was no underpass below the station until 1912. Now, not only do trains come and go almost every 30 minutes everyday, but vehicles are constantly traversing below the train tracks. The busy traffic, the pumping heart of Glenside, is the literal motor of the town.
One landmark in this part of the neighborhood is Elcy’s Cafe, which is owned by the lovely Amy. She opened this cafe with her husband in 2011 after purchasing the property from Lisa C. Amy kept the name Elcy’s to honor its previous owner, whose initials were L.C. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Elcy’s Cafe stayed strong through the support of the Glenside community. Amy feels grateful when she sees her local customers passing through the cafe on a regular weekday.
Saturdays were when Elcy’s Cafe really became involved with the community. Amy would help out at the farmers market, and she loved when musical acts would visit and perform in town. Elcy’s Cafe also showcased artwork from Arcadia University’s students from their trip to Ireland. In a way, it brought the students’ work a bit deeper into the community. If you feel a little hungry, we highly recommend their oatmeal raisin cookie. It’s so thick, it almost looks like a scone. So satisfying to bite into!
Now, when you are ready, walk back to the sign where we started, and you will see the stairs on the left. Walk down; watch your steps! Under the bridge, you will see the mural created by our previous public art class, titled Bits and Pieces. The project was born from a Glenside business meeting in 2014 discussing community impact solutions to beautify this dark walkway. The public art project created partnerships between Arcadia University and Cheltenham Township, the Downtown Business Partnership, and the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, or SEPTA. Students played a huge role in the project, working alongside mural artist David Guinn. From conceptual planning and community organization, to budgeting, fundraising, painting the mural and installing lights...our first public art class accomplished this seventy-foot-long mural at the Glenside Train Station. Listen now to Molly, a student who worked on the project, describe the Bits and Pieces.
“Bits and Pieces of Glenside will reveal themselves to you if you take the time to pause. The rooftop signs and storefronts on Easton Road, Arcadia University’s castle to the Keswick Theatre. The sidewalks under the tracks used to feel cold and dark, alone. But now, the neon lights illuminate our way home.”
When you are ready, walk up to the intersection. No need to cross the street, just turn right, and walk on West Glenside Avenue. On your left, facing the train station parking lot, you will see many residential and commercial buildings. This area was originally known as the Heist Farm, and it was the beginning of development in Glenside. In 1850, a developer named Martin Luther Kohler built Harrison Avenue and Lismore Avenue through this farmland and laid the foundation for Glenside’s future growth. These two roads are on your left. Kohler named this town Glen-side to tempt city folk from Philadelphia to move here for a piece of quiet and pleasant suburban life. With the railroad reaching Glenside in 1855, people were now able to commute by train. Seeing all the businesses and houses here, try to picture that, many years ago, it was all farmland! Let your mind travel back in time: you might see cornfields, or groups of dairy cows chewing grass while flicking their tails back and forth. After the Civil War, you would have seen market-gardens, which are small-scale businesses that sell fruits, vegetables, and flowers as cash crops, often directly to consumers and restaurants in Philadelphia.
Now, instead of those market-gardens, we have the Glenside Farmers market that sets up shop in the parking lot of the Glenside Train station every year, from May to November. Plan to bring some grocery baskets next time when you are here. You can also find them on Facebook for weekly updates. In addition to the stalls you expect to see, such as fruits, vegetables, and baked goods, there are a bunch of unique vendors as well. From fresh pressed olive oil to an apothecary, there’s a lot to check out that you don’t want to miss!
