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!