Editing Millbourne, Pennsylvania (section)

== History ==

=== First settlement ===
Before the arrival of European settlers, the Lenape people were already in the [[Delaware Valley]]. After [[William Penn]]'s signing of the [[Treaty of Shackamaxon]], Samuel Sellers, the pioneering settler of the [[Sellers family]], came from [[Derbyshire, England]] in 1682, with his brother George Sellers. Both brothers purchased two tracts of land totaling {{Convert|75|acre|ha}} and {{Convert|100|acre|ha}} from [[William Penn]]. The official survey for the land was not completed until 1690. Over time, Samuel, his sons, and grandsons expanded their land holdings through additional purchases in the surrounding area. George Sellers later died due to an unexplained death involving a [[tomahawk]].<ref name=":6">{{Cite book |last=Havens |first=Ruth W. |title=Historical Millbourne |publisher=Upper Darby Historical Society |year=1960 |location=Upper Darby |language=en}}</ref>

Samuel Sellers, the original settler, was a skilled weaver who played a pivotal role in the early industrial development of the region. He is credited with establishing the first [[Cotton mill|twisting-mill]] in America. Building upon his father's legacy, Samuel's son, also named Samuel, and his grandson, [[John Sellers (scientist)|John]], continued the family tradition of weaving.<ref name=":7">{{Cite book |last=Ashmead |first=Henry Graham |title=History of Delaware County, Pennsylvania |publisher=L. H. Everts & Co. |year=1884 |location=Philadelphia |pages=547 |language=en}}</ref>

=== Millbourne Mills ===
{{Main|Millbourne Mills (Pennsylvania)}}
[[File:Millbourne Mills.jpg|left|thumb|[[Millbourne Mills (Pennsylvania)|Millbourne Mills]] was located on present-day 63rd and [[Market Street (Philadelphia)|Market Streets]] in Millbourne.]]
The presence of a dam in Millbourne was first documented in an important deed issued by [[John Sellers (scientist)|John Sellers]] on August 27, 1752. [[John Sellers (scientist)|John Sellers]] recognized the potential of harnessing the waterpower of [[Cobbs Creek]], leading to the development of six sites along the waterway. These sites became essential for subsequent generations and contributed to the growth of [[Millbourne Mills (Pennsylvania)|Millbourne Mills]], first called Sellers Mills.

During this time, Millbourne was part of [[Darby Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania|Darby Township]]. But in 1786, Millbourne was separated with other municipalities to form [[Upper Darby Township, Pennsylvania|Upper Darby Township]].<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Fine |first1=Mary Jane |last2=Wagenveld |first2=Mark |date=February 27, 1983 |title=DIV...IDED |pages=B01 |work=[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]}}</ref>

Following [[John Sellers (scientist)|John Sellers]]' passing in 1804, his estate was inherited by his sons, with George receiving the majority of Millbourne. John Sellers II inherited the [[Gristmill|grist]] and [[sawmill]]s, which were already established before 1749. [[Millbourne Mills (Pennsylvania)|Millbourne Mills]] were initially operated by James Steel under the ownership of John Sellers Sr., and later by Thomas Steel, who took over in 1805.

In 1814, Thomas Steel acquired the Darby Mills and relocated, while John Sellers II. expanded the existing mill, resulting in the construction of the original section. John Sellers also owned a tannery on the Wayside farm in 1782. Additionally, an [[oil mill]] operated near the dam supplying water to [[Millbourne Mills (Pennsylvania)|Millbourne Mills]] until 1848.

The original [[gristmill]] underwent changes over time until its discontinuation. The new mill, built in 1814, was managed by John Sellers II. and featured advanced machinery. It achieved significant grain production, including [[wheat]], [[rye]], [[corn]], [[buckwheat]], and [[oat]]s.

The mill underwent expansions and upgrades, including a four-story addition in 1868. It utilized a [[Turbine|turbine wheel]] and later incorporated auxiliary [[Steam-power|steam power]]. John Sellers II passed away in 1878, and his sons continued operating [[Millbourne Mills (Pennsylvania)|Millbourne Mills]] with Thomas Steel. [[Millbourne Mills (Pennsylvania)|Millbourne Mills]] produced 250 barrels of Millbourne branded flour daily, with substantial wheat purchases and flour production in subsequent years.<ref name=":7" />

=== 20th century ===
[[File:Millbourne & Burd Ave.jpg|thumb|Millbourne homes built along [[Market Street (Philadelphia)|Market Street]] (formerly [[West Chester Pike]])|left]]In 1906, a patch of Millbourne was sold by John Sellers II's son, John, to make way for [[69th Street Transportation Center]], which connected [[Upper Darby Township, Pennsylvania|Upper Darby]] to [[Philadelphia]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Difilippo |first=Thomas J. |title=History and Development of Upper Darby Township |year=1992 |edition=2nd |pages=87 |language=en}}</ref>

During the early spring of 1907 and throughout 1908, a considerable amount of construction took place on the hill west of [[Millbourne Mills (Pennsylvania)|Millbourne Mills]], situated on [[West Chester Pike]]. Builders Samuel Shoemaker and John L. Fry, seeing a commercial opportunity, undertook the development of a suburban community featuring [[semi-detached]] homes. Upon completion, the properties boasted landscaped lawns, while the streets and sidewalks lined with trees. The location offered transportation options. The properties sold, with many units being purchased prior to their completion. Consequently, the homes attracted respectable businessmen and their families, leading to the establishment of a growing community.<ref name=":6" />

In 1909, Judge Issac Johnson of [[Delaware County, Pennsylvania|Delaware County]] issued an opinion that allowed for the incorporation of Millbourne as a borough within [[Upper Darby Township, Pennsylvania|Upper Darby Township]]. The exceptions raised during the proceedings were subsequently dismissed. Attorneys representing the petitioners, who included a significant portion of the community, prepared a decree in accordance with the judge's opinion. Millbourne became the fourth borough to be formed in the township, joining [[Clifton Heights, Pennsylvania|Clifton Heights]], [[Lansdowne, Pennsylvania|Lansdowne]], and [[Aldan, Pennsylvania|Aldan]] at the time.<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 13, 1909 |title=Millbourne to be borough |pages=3 |work=[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]}}</ref> The Millbourne Fire Company and the Millbourne Police Department opened shortly after.<ref name=":6" />

The [[Philadelphia Transportation Company | Philadelphia Rapid Transit Company]] (PRT, now [[SEPTA]]) opened a [[rapid transit station]] in Millbourne on March 4, 1907.<ref name="cox2">{{Cox-Upper Darby|page=16}}</ref>

In 1910, [[Millbourne Mills (Pennsylvania)|Millbourne Mills]] was sold to the Shane Brothers and continued to produce flour until 1921. Millbourne Mills ceased operations in 1926 and was demolished to make way for a [[Sears, Roebuck & Co.|Sears Roebuck & Co.]] store.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Marinelli |first1=Barbara |title=Upper Darby (Images of America) |last2=Roer |first2=Beverly |collaboration=Upper Darby Historical Society |publisher=[[Arcadia Publishing]] |year=2011 |isbn=9780738576374 |pages=16 |language=en}}</ref>

Millbourne students would attend schools in the Millbourne School District but in 1971, Millbourne merged with other municipalities to form the [[Upper Darby School District]].<ref name=":9">{{Cite news |date=July 1, 1971 |title=Millbourne board ends business |pages=3 |work=[[Delaware County Daily Times]]}}</ref>

==== Financially distressed municipality ====
The [[Sears|Sears Roebuck & Co.]] store operated from 1926 until 1988. The owner of the property Morris Willner, president of Willner Realty and Development Co., announced in April 1988 that [[Sears]] would move from Millbourne to a former [[Gimbels Department Store|Gimbel's Department Store]] in 69th Street in [[Upper Darby Township, Pennsylvania|Upper Darby]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Reilly |first=Linda |date=August 3, 1988 |title=It's official: 69th Street developer buys Sears |pages=28 |work=[[Delaware County Daily Times]]}}</ref> After the move, Millbourne continued to collect parking fees from the former [[Sears]] parking lot. But in May 1990, Willner announced that Millbourne was no longer permitted to collect fees.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Reilly |first=Linda |date=May 8, 1990 |title='Worst' hits Millbourne |pages=14 |work=[[Delaware County Daily Times]]}}</ref> There was plans to develop a discount supply store, but the company went bankrupt before plans could be arranged. The former [[Sears]] site was demolished in the 2000s.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Stoll |first=Michael |date=August 27, 2000 |title=Razing of Sears raises borough's hope for rebirth |pages=ML01 |work=[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]}}</ref>

During the early 1980s, Millbourne had the highest crime rate in all of [[Delaware County, Pennsylvania|Delaware County]].<ref name=":10" /> In 1989, The Millbourne Fire Company was temporarily closed due to budget problems. After years of negotiations, The Millbourne Fire Company reopened in 1992.<ref name=":13" />

After the relocation of [[Sears]], Millbourne went into financial hardship.<ref name=":12">{{Cite web |last=Charles |first=J. |date=August 19, 2019 |title=Leaning on the Land |url=https://www.governing.com/archive/gov-land-tax.html |access-date=June 15, 2023 |website=[[Governing]]}}</ref> By the 1990s, due to mismanagement of borough funds, Millbourne was on the brink of bankruptcy. To receive enough funds to stay afloat, Millbourne had to be designated as a [[Financially Distressed Municipalities Act|financially distressed municipality]] by the state of Pennsylvania, be absorbed back into [[Upper Darby Township, Pennsylvania|Upper Darby]], or contract municipal services within Millbourne out to [[Upper Darby Township, Pennsylvania|Upper Darby Township]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=O'Connor |first=Dan |date=October 28, 1992 |title=Tiny town battles bankruptcy |pages=52 |work=[[Delaware County Daily Times]]}}</ref>

Millbourne was designated a [[Financially Distressed Municipalities Act|financially distressed municipality]] on January 7, 1993, by the state of Pennsylvania. Factors that led to a distress determination included revenue loss created from the closure of [[Sears]] and an evaluation by the [[Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development]].<ref name=":02">{{Cite web |last=Kelley |first=Marita |date=July 2013 |title=EVALUATION REPORT BOROUGH OF MILLBOURNE |url=https://dced.pa.gov/download/millbourne-borough-act-47-evaluation-rescission-report/?wpdmdl=60106 |access-date=June 15, 2023 |website=[[Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development]]}}</ref> Fairmount Capital Advisors Inc., hired by the state of Pennsylvania, presented a five-year plan to recover Millbourne. The plan included:

* reducing the numbers of officials in Millbourne council;
* hiring a borough manager;
* establishing a business office and a civil service commission;
* acquiring market-rate, tax-exempt bond financing to finance bank debt, and raise capital for infrastructure repair; and
* improving financial management with new computer systems.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Reilly |first=Linda |date=August 5, 1993 |title=Millbourne gets 'common sense' tips for survival |pages=5 |work=[[Delaware County Daily Times]]}}</ref>

Susana Smith of Bloomfield, New Jersey was hired as the borough manager.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Reilly |first=Linda |date=January 6, 1994 |title=New boss hired in Millbourne |pages=18 |work=[[Delaware County Daily Times]]}}</ref> Taxes for homeowners in Millbourne rose between 1993 and 2014.<ref name=":12" /> A 40% increase in real-estate taxes in the 1995 preliminary budget was adopted by Millbourne due to the distress determination.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Reilly |first=Linda |date=December 6, 1994 |title=Millbourne hit with 40% tax hike |pages=29 |work=[[Delaware County Daily Times]]}}</ref>

=== 21st Century ===
In the 2000s, Millbourne was still designated as a [[Financially Distressed Municipalities Act|financially distressed municipality]]. Since the 1970s, Millbourne has seen a notable rise in its South Asian population. Following the events of the [[September 11 attacks|September 11th attacks]], Sikh New York cab drivers, relocated to Millbourne in order to seek safety from instances of hate crimes. Millbourne gradually became a secure haven for the expanding [[Sikhs|Sikh]] community due to its appealing amenities and the presence of a [[gurdwara]]. Millbourne became known as a "[[Little India]]."<ref name=":14" />

In 2009, under the leadership of mayor Thomas Kramer, Millbourne enacted [[land value tax]]. Millbourne began imposing taxes on the land itself and not on the structures built there. This allowed Millbourne to raise the necessary funds to stay afloat. The former [[Sears]] lot became the largest source of revenue for Millbourne.<ref name=":12" /> On October 21, 2014, Millbourne was removed from the [[Financially Distressed Municipalities Act|financially distressed municipality]] list. Millbourne had not overspent its budget in 5 years and even went as far as to use goats to remove weeds.<ref name=":63">{{Cite news |last=McCrystal |first=Laura |date=March 20, 2014 |title=Corbett: Delco town no longer 'distressed' |work=[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]] |url=https://www.inquirer.com/philly/news/20140321_Corbett__Delco_town_no_longer__quot_distressed_quot_.html |access-date=January 27, 2022}}</ref> The [[South Asia]]n population in Millbourne continued to rise. In 2019, The Millbourne Fire Company closed indefinitely.<ref name=":4" /> In 2022, the former [[Sears]] site was developed and a Service and Logistics facility for the [[Children's Hospital of Philadelphia]] opened.<ref name=":102" />