East Oak Lane, Philadelphia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
East Oak Lane
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| Country |  United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Philadelphia |
| City | Philadelphia |
| Area code(s) | 215, 267 and 445 |
East Oak Lane is a cool neighborhood located in the northern part of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. It's known for its many different types of houses. You'll find large single homes and 'twin' houses, which are two homes connected together. There are also lots of classic Philadelphia rowhouses, which are houses built in a row, sharing side walls.
Contents
Where is East Oak Lane?
East Oak Lane is easy to find on a map!
- To the north, it's bordered by Cheltenham Avenue. This road is also the line between Philadelphia and Cheltenham Township.
- To the west, you'll find Broad Street.
- To the south, it's bordered by Godfrey Avenue.
- To the east, you'll see N. 5th Street.
A Look Back: East Oak Lane's History
This area of Philadelphia has a long history, dating back to 1683. That's when William Penn first settled this part of the city!
How Did Oak Lane Get Its Name?
In 1695, a man from Wales named Griffith Miles bought a huge piece of land – 250 acres! He built a log home along a dirt road that would later become Oak Lane. Because of him, the area was known as Milestown by 1711. Farming became very popular, and soon, water-powered mills were built.
The road that became so important to the neighborhood was first called Martin's Mill Road. But in 1860, a landowner renamed it Oak Lane. This was to remember a very old oak tree that had fallen down in a big storm.
Milestown School: A Historic Place
The first school building in this area was a one-story schoolhouse built in 1745. It was located where 12th Street and Oak Lane are today. In 1761, a man named Joseph Armitage gave the building to the people who ran the Milestown School.
Some famous teachers worked here, including:
- Alexander Wilson, who studied birds.
- John Bachman, another person who studied birds and nature.
In 1818, an interesting octagonal (eight-sided) schoolhouse was added. Later, in 1866, the school building and its land were given to the City of Philadelphia to become a public school.
Today, the Ellwood School stands on this historic site. It's an elementary school built in 1957, replacing an older schoolhouse from 1875.
Cool Buildings and Landmarks
East Oak Lane has many interesting buildings!
- Right across from Ellwood School, you'll find the Oak Lane Branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia. This library is in a beautiful historic building from 1910. It has been updated a few times, in 1958 and 1999, but it still keeps its classic look.
The neighborhood is famous for its "large, elaborate houses of various styles" and "grand churches." You can see many different types of architecture, especially between 65th and 69th Avenues. Some of these homes have even been painted by the artist Chuck Connelly!
If you cross the railroad tracks, you'll find a row of shops. Most of these were built in the second half of the 1900s. They make the area feel like a small town's Main Street.
People of East Oak Lane
East Oak Lane is known for having a mix of people from different backgrounds and cultures. This makes it a very diverse and interesting place to live.
Some famous people who used to live in East Oak Lane include:
- Noam Chomsky: A very smart linguist (someone who studies language) and political thinker. He grew up on Fairhill Street in East Oak Lane.
- Vivian Green: A talented singer, songwriter, and pianist.
- Leslie Odom Jr.: A Tony Award-winning actor! He played the important role of Aaron Burr in the super popular 2015 Broadway musical Hamilton.
- Hugh Panaro: An actor who played the main character in The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway for over eight years!
