Wharton SF was largely bought with the purchase of the Wharton Tract.
How and when was Brendan Byrne/Lebanon SF bought - accumulation of small parcels,or what?
I believe I can answer that. Lebanon was purchased in many many multiple sections the same way Joseph Wharton acquired his various holdings. I have a map showing the list of all Lebanon purchases starting in 1909 up to 1982. It is quite detailed. Here is a sample of the first purchases listed. With that said, there certainly may have been more earlier but I tend to doubt that. This list is pretty complete.
On Saturday Ro and I were on a Botany/Bug outing at Parker Preserve and I told PBX I was posting my above query. He said he'd bet Teegate would have the answer and he, again,proved he was right on.
I've heard that Wharton Tract was offered to the state around 1900 at $1.00/acre (!) and the offer was turned down as too expensive. Then the state paid $5.00/cre fifty years later. True? Wonder what those 10K+ acres cost back then .....
johnny b