The rest of the world is starting to discover something I've known for some time now.
Pennsylvania - and Delco in particular - has some very odd geography.
For instance, there is this little matter of post offices vs. municipalities.
They cause me all sorts of problems.
You might have heard about that devastating fire that destroyed a portion of Our Lady of Angels Regional Catholic School last week. Every story - including our first references to it - noted that it was a longtime institution in Morton Borough.
Only one problem with that.
It's not in Morton. It's in Ridley Township. It is, however, served by the Morton Post Office, thus it is referred to as the Morton section of Ridley, even though they are two different towns.
Then there is the office where I now report to work ever day.
Everyone refers to it as Swarthmore. Except for one thing. It's not in Swarthmore. It's in Springfield Township. That's correct, even though it does not touch any part of the rest of Springfield. No wonder I sometimes feel like I am on an island.
That's because I am.
I've always wondered how this came about. How this little stretch on Route 320 before you cross over the Blue Route somehow got connected to Springfield. It apparently has to do with when Swarthmore and Morton broke off from Springfield. They didn't necessarily want this little strip of Chester Road. Thus it was left for Springfield.
Take about 15 steps in one direction and you are in Ridley. Another few steps and you're in Nether Providence. The other way on 320 puts you back in Swarthmore. We do get our mail from Swarthmore Post Office, thus the Swarthmore designation, even though we are geographically located in Springfield.
Yeah, I know, it's weird.
But it is kind of appropriate.
After all, before the move, I spent more than three decades going to work in a place called Primos, which actually didn't exist other than the U.S. Postal Service. There is no such place as Primos. It's only a post office designation. And of course a train stop on the Media Elwyn line. And how could be ever forget our beloved Wawa on Oak Avenue.
Miss that place.
I don't miss the headaches that these designations cause me. People getting arrested in "Aston" who don't live in Aston. They actually live in Upper Chi, but of course get their mail from the Aston Post Office.
And that area down there by Darby Township, Glenolden and Collingdale.
To be honest we don't know where those folks live.
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