The Battle of Brandywine

“Advance With The Hessians”

Pennsbury Township Historical Commission Chester County

Summer 2017 Town Tours and Village Walks

ThePennsburyHistoricalCommissionwouldliketothankthefollowingChesterCountyorganizationsforsupportingour2017TownToursandVillageWalksSummerBusTour

“AdvancewiththeHessians“:

THE CHESTER COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION CHESTER COUNTY CONFERENCE AND VISITORS BUREAU

BRANDYWINE BATTLEFIELD PARK CHADDS FORD HISTORICAL SOCIETY

KENNETT FRIENDS MEETING PENNSBURY TOWNSHIP

BUS SPONSORSHIP PROVIDED BY: CHESTER COUNTY HISTORIC PRESERVATION NETWORK

PENNSBURY TOWNSHIP THE GABLES AT CHADDS FORD RESTAURANT

POST TOUR OPEN HOUSE AND GUIDES PROVIDED BY THE BRANDYWINE BATTLEFIELD PARK

WEBSITE REGISTRATION PROVIDED BY: CHADDS FORD HISTORICAL SOCIETY

BROCHURE PRINTING PROVIDED BY: HANK’S PLACE, BRANDYWINE RIVER ANTIQUES, MUSHROOM CAFÉ,

CHADDS FORD WINERY, ANTICA RESTAURANT, THE PENNSBURY INN SpecialacknowledgmentforhelpfromPennsburySupervisors,TownshipManagerKathyHowley,

ChesterCountyHeritagePreservationCoordinatorKarenMarshall,BrandywineBattlefieldEducationDirectorAndrewOutten,

ChaddsFordHistoricalSocietyExecutiveDirectorMikeConnolly,OfficeManagerColleenSmarr,MembersoftheKennettFriendsMeeting,ChaddsFordUnionvilleSchoolDistrict,

RobertsGarage,McGovernSanitationCo.,andMailing,Inc.

BRANDYWINEBATTLEFIELDPARK(20.)islocatedonthenorthsideoftheBaltimorePike.Establishedin1949bytheCommonwealthofPennsylvania,thePAHistoricandMuseumCommissionoverseesthePark.BudgetdecreasesnowlimitPHMC’shelptomaintenanceandupkeep.Currently,acommunitynonprofitorganization,theParkAssociates,raisesfundsandoperatesthesite.VolunteerstakeleadrolesasBattlefieldinterpreters.ThePark’sgoalsincludeprograms,exhibits,tours,andevents“thatwillbroadenpublicunderstandingandappreciationoftheBattleofBrandywine’ssignificance.”Formoreinformation,goto:www.brandywinebattlefield.org

OLDKENNETTMEETINGHOUSE(1.)wasestablishedin1711.Theexistingstuccooverlocalfieldstonestructurewasbuiltin1730bymembersoftheMeeting.ContinentalsoldiersfiredatBritishforcesfrombehinditsstonewallsearlyinthemorningonSeptember11th,1777,whileQuakerssatinsilentmeetingforworshipwithin.Thereisacemeteryontheeastsideoftheproperty.Remainsofsoldiers,whowerekilledintheBattle,areburiedinamassgraveatthesite.TheMeetingHouseisopenformonthlyservicesinthesummer.Formoreinformation,goto:www.old-kennett.webs.com.

ABRAMPIERCEHOUSE(2.)wasconstructedpriortotheRevolutionaryWarbyJoshuaPierceIII,sonofJoshuaPierceJr.JoshuaJr.boughttheHopefamilyresidenceonHickoryHillRoadin1770,alongwith170AcresfromAmosHope’s350Acrefarm.TheacreageincludedthepropertywheretheAbramPierceHousestandstoday.JoshuaPierceJr.fileddamageclaimsaftertheBattleofBrandywine.Theoldestpartofthehouseisthewesternsection,whichincludesanintactbeehiveoventhatcanbeseenonthewestgableexteriorwall.TheentryisnowonthenorthsideofthestructureduetothewideningandreroutingoftheBaltimorePike.ThePiercefamilyownedthehouseuntil1900.JOHNHOPEHOUSE(3.)alsocalledtheDanielPierceHouseafteralaterowner,wasbuiltintheearly18thcenturyonaPennLandGrantpurchasedbyJohnHope.ItsitsbackfromthejunctionoftheBaltimorePike’scurrentlocation,butwasclosertotheoriginalRoadtoNottingham/Chesterwhenfirstconstructed.John’syoungestsonAmosinheritedthefarmin1749.Unfortunately,AmosdiedatayoungageandhiswifesoldtheHopehousetoJoshuaPierceafterAmos’deathin1769.JoshuafileddamageclaimsaftertheBattleofBrandywine.ThePiercefamilyownedthehouseuntil1926.Ithasremainedaprivateresidenceforover300years.

PENNSBURYINN(4.)wasoriginallythesecondresidencebuiltbyJohnHopeattheintersectionoftheoldRoadtoWilmingtonandtheRoadtoChester.Ithastwoearly1800’ssections:Theoldesttwostorypartisstone;thelaterisbrick.Dr.JosephPierceboughtthepropertyin1772aftermarryingAmosHope’swidow.HeandJoshuaPierceJr.werebrothers.JosephfiledreparationclaimsfordamagesintheBattleofBrandywine.TheLancasterfamilyboughtthepropertyin1822,operatingitasanInnuntilthe20thcentury.Bythemid1900’s,thebuildingneededrenovations.Newowners,theHaldemanfamily,constructedanadditionandwereresponsibleforthehome’slistingontheNationalRegister.Theresidenceagainbecameaninninthelate1900’s.Formoreinformation,goto:www.pennsburyinn.com

BRANDYWINERIVERANTIQUES(5.)isthelargemid19thcenturybankbarnonceownedbytheLancasterfamilyandtheHaldemans.TheBarnbecameaseparatecommercialentityafterthePennsburyInn’ssalein1995.Itisnowanopen,exposedbeam,multilevelexhibitionspaceforthesaleofcollectibleantiques,arrangedindifferentthemeddisplays.Visitorswillfindfurniture,china,glassware,toys,tools,andalltypesofveryearlyhouseholdaccessories.Formoreinformation,goto:www.brandywineriverantiques.com.

PIERCETENANTHOUSE(6.)isanearly19thcenturystuccooverstonestructurewithaframeadditionthatwasoncepartoftheJosephPiercefamilyproperty.ItappearsinthebackgroundofalithographwiththeLancasterInnandBarnreprintedinFutheyandCope’s,HistoryofChesterCounty.PennsburyTownshiphasrecentlypurchased23acres,includingthetenanthouse,frombankruptcyproceedings.TheTownshipcompletedeasementsinDec.of2016,topreservethebuildingandacreagefromfuturecommercialdevelopmentforcommunityparkland.Plansfortheoldstonetenanthousearenotyetcomplete.PENNSBURYMUNICIPALBUILDING(7.)wasoriginallyconstructedasavacationhomefortheChandlerfamilyfromPhiladelphia.Builtin1925,theCraftsmanstylehouseisaccentedbycrossgablesanddecorativebrickworkontheexterior.Thelargewestcrossgableincludesanexposedbeamhighceilingedroomwithamassivefireplace,whichwasoncethegreatroomfortheChandlers.ItisnowusedforPennsbury’sTownshipmeetingsandotherpublicevents.TheLaytonfamily,laterowners,giftedthepropertyand7.5AcrestotheTownshipSupervisorsinthe1960’s.By1973,arehabilitationplanhadbeenapprovedandrenovationsbegan.Thankstothehome’ssolidconstruction,andPennsburySupervisors’preservationinterests,avacationhomehasbecomeauniqueMunicipalBuilding.

CHADDSFORDWINERY(8.)wasbuiltasaresidencebytheBrintonfamily,whoownedover600acresoffarmlandalongtheBaltimorePikeintheearly1800’s.ConstructedaftertheRevolution,thebuilding’sclassicFederalstylecanbeseeninthesymmetricallyplacedwindowswhichbalancethecentralfrontentry.TheBrintonsistersinheritedthefarmin1840,butsoldmostoftheacreageandthehousein1859.Thebarnwasaddedbylaterowners.Since1983,theresidenceandbarnhavebeenpartofthewineproductionfacility.Itisopentothepublicfortoursandwinetastings.Formoreinformation,gotowww.chaddsford.com.BARNSBRINTONHOUSE(9.)wasoriginallybuiltasatavernbyWilliamBarnsin1714.Barnswasablacksmithbytrade.Hisskillisevidentinthehandwroughtdoorandcabinetaccessories,whichstillremainintheoldbuilding.In1753,theTavernand100AcreswerepurchasedbyJamesBrinton,whoownedadjacentfarmland.HessianTroopsmarchedbythetenanthouseontheirwaytoChaddsFordearlyinthemorningonSeptember11th.However,soldierswouldhavemarchedontheothersideofthebuildingwheretheRoadtoChesterorPostRoadwasthenlocated.James’oldestson,JosephBrinton,fileddamageclaimsfortheBrintonfarmaftertheBattleofBrandywine.In1969,theChaddsFordHistoricalSocietyboughtthebuildingandhadneededrestorationsperformed.ItwaslistedontheNationalRegisterin1971.TheHistoricalSocietyopenstheTavernfortoursandeventsthroughouttheyear.Formoreinformation,gotowww.chaddsfordhistory.org.

BRINTONKINGFARMSTEAD(10.)islocatedonthenortheastcornerofBrintonsBridgeRoadandtheoldRoadtoChester.TheconstructiondateoftheoriginalstoneTrinitystylehouse,whichhadoneroomonthreefloors,iscirca1780.JamesBrinton’sson,Joseph,builtthestonefarmhouse,buttheexactdateisunknown.BrintonpropertiesontheRoadtoChesteratthetimeoftheRevolutionthatstillexisttodayincludetheBarnsBrintonHouse,asmallertenanthouseontheOldBaltimorePike,andpossiblyahouseattheBrintonsBridgeRoadcorner.TheBrintonfamilyfiledreparationclaimsaftertheBattleofBrandywine.Bythelate1880’stheBrintonKingshadgreatlyenlargedandVictorianizedthefarmhouseandconstructedthethreestorybankbarn.Bothstructuresremainmuchastheywereinthe19thcenturyandareunderthesameownership.ThefarmhouseandbarnarelistedontheNationalRegister.THEGABLESRESTAURANT(11.)islocatedjusteastoftheBrintonKingFarmsteadonthenorthsideoftheoldRoadtoChester.Thethreestorybankbarnrestaurantdatestothe1880’s,althoughanearlierbarnwasontheproperty.Ithasanexposedbeamprivateroomonthesecondlevelforspecialevents,andalargerusticdiningroomonthefirstfloor.Acoveredpatioborderedbystonewallshasbeenaddedintherearforoutdoordining.Therestaurantisdecoratedwithrustic19thcenturyantiquesandfarmimplements.Formoreinformationgoto:www.THEGABLESATCHADDSFORD.COM.

WILLIAMHARVEYHOUSE(12.)ishiddenfromviewatitsBrintonsBridgeRoadlocation.Itwasconstructedin1715asamodesttwostorystonePennPlanresidence,withtwowindowsonthesecondfloorsymmetricallyplacedoverawindowanddooronthefirst.TheowneratthetimeoftheBattlewasWilliamHarveyII,sonofWilliam1.HissonAmosalsolivedonthefarmin1777.The300acrepropertystretchedtotheBrandywine.DamageclaimswerefiledbyAmosHarveyaftertheBattle.TheHarveyhousewasownedbythefamilyuntil1857.Twentiethcenturyadditionshaveenlargedthehome,whichisontheNationalRegister.Thephotowastakeninthe1920’s,beforerenovations.Itremainsaprivateresidencetoday.

TENGALLONHATWINERY(13.)isnowclosed,butbeganlifeasaVictorianfarmhousewithasmallbankbarninthemid1800’s,whenthelandwasusedasanorchardbytheRichiefamily.Ciderpressequipmentwasfoundinthebarninthelate1900’s.Thehousehasalsobeenanantiqueshopandanarchitect’soffices.Thewineryowner’snewbarnwasbuiltonthestonefoundationoftheoldstructure.Asilowasaddedtoprovideastairwelloffthesouthgableend.Thesmallstonebuildingpredatesthehouse,andmusthavebeenaworkshoporforge,sincealargewoodendoorcoveredanentiregableendatonetime.Thehomewasrenovatedinthemid1900’sintheVictorianQueenAnnestyle.TheOldBaltimorePikeranonthesouthsideofthehousebefore1938andwasthepropertyentry.

DARLINGTONHOUSE(14.)wasbuiltcirca1869,agoodexampleofVictorianStickstylearchitecture.Notethedecorativecrosspieceexteriorframing,thesteeplypitchedroofsandgables,andthepatternedshingles.Inthelate1800’s,thehousebecamepartofatrainstationforChaddsFordJunction,astopontheWilmingtonandNorthernlinesthatranfromReadingtotheportofWilmington.‘Junction’wasaddedtothenametodistinguishitfromChaddsFordStationontheeastsideoftheBrandywine.ChaddsFordJunctionclosedduringtheDepression,buttrainsstillrundailyfromWilmingtontoCoatesville.Thehousehasbeenusedforofficesinrecentyears.

DARLINGTONCREAMERY(15.)islocatedattheeasternpointofPennsburyTownshipontheBaltimorePike.Dairyproductswereshippedbytrainontherailroadrunningadjacenttothebuilding.Thecreamerywasconstructedinthelatterpartofthe19thcentury.OncepartoftheDarlingtonHouseproperty,ithasbeenagaragesincearound1935,andhasbeenownedbytheTaylorfamilysince1960.TheOldBaltimorePikeroutebecameanextensionofFairvilleRoadin1938,whenRoute1waswidenedtothreelanes.Atthattime,thegarageentrancewaschangedtothenorthsideoftheCreamerybuilding.Thegaspumpswereremovedin1999.Taylor’sGarageisoneoftheoldestcontinuingfamilybusinessesintheChaddsFordarea.

BRANDYWINEMUSEUMANDCONSERVANCY(16.)iscelebratingits50thbirthdayasalandpreservationorganizationandmuseumforimportantartists,suchastheWyethfamily,FrolicWeymouth,HowardPyle,andFrankSchoonoveramongothers.TheMuseumisconstructedaroundHoffman’sMill,builtin1864byGeorgeBrintonasamerchantflourmillthatgroundgrainfromlocalfarmersandexportedtheproductsbytrainontheadjacentrailroad.SellersHoffmanboughtthemillin1871.Itoperateduntil1948,butby1960wasinverypoorconditionandpartofaplannedindustrialparkdevelopment.Localresidents,membersoftheTriCountyConservancy,boughtthepropertyin1967topreservetheBrandywineRiver’ssceniclegacyandprotectthestream.ArchitectJamesGrievesdesignedanartmuseumaroundthebrickstructurewhichhaditsfirstexhibitin1971.Forinformationabouthours,tours,andotherevents,gotowww.brandywine.org.

CHRISTIANC.SANDERSONMUSEUM(17.)wastheresidenceofawell-knownlocalhistorianandcollectorofitemsconnectedtoChaddsFordandU.S.History.Builtin1850,theSandersonhomeandmuseumisadoublehouseoflocalfieldstonecoveredwithstucco.Foraperiodoftime,theSandersonssharedthehomewithWillardSharpless,whooperatedablacksmithshopinabuildingbehindthehouse.Sandersonlivedinthehomewithhismotherfrom1937untilhisdeathin1966.Thefirsttworoomsofthemuseumwereopenedin1959.Sanderson’s18,000itemcollectionincludesartifactsasdiverseasIndianarrowheadsandAndrewWyethart.TheeightroomresidenceisfilledwithartifactsfromtheRevolutionaryandCivilWarperiods,aswellas20thcenturymemorabilia.AfterSanderson’sdeath,AndrewWyethwasinstrumentalinhelpingtoestablishthemuseum.Formoreinformation,goto:www.sandersonmuseum.org.

JOHNCHADHOUSE(18.)locatedonCreekRoadisatypical18thcenturyQuakerstonedwelling.Builtin1725,itwasthehomeofJohnChadandhisfamily.By1736,ChadshadreceivedatavernlicenseforhispropertyandbeganaferryserviceacrosstheBrandywine.ItwasthiscrossingplacethatgaveChaddsForditsname.Johndiedin1760,buthiswidowlivedinthehouseduringtheBattleofBrandywineandafterward,untilherdeathin1790.Theferryoperateduntil1827,whenabridgewasbuiltacrosstheRiver.TheChaddsFordHistoricalSocietyownsandmaintainstheresidence.Itisopenfortoursduringthesummerandforspecialeventsthroughouttheyear.Formoreinformation,goto:www.chaddsfordhistory.org.

CHADDSFORDHISTORICALSOCIETY(19.)islocatedinan18thcenturystyledstoneandframebankbarnontheeastbankoftheBrandywineacrossCreekRoadfromtheJohnChadHouse.Designedandconstructedin1990onthefootprintofWilliamHoffman’sdairybarn,thestonebankbarncontainstheHistoricalSocietyoffices,museum,researchlibrary,museumstoreandinformationcenter.TheHistoricalSocietyformedin1968topurchaseandrestoretheJohnChadHouse.TheSocietyalsoownstheBarnsBrintonHouseinPennsburyTownship.TheSociety’sMuseumandOfficesareopentothepublicweekly.TheSociety’smembersareactiveinorganizingcommunityevents,suchasChaddsFordDaysandtheannualPumpkinCarve.Formoreinformationabouttours,exhibits,activities,andthefacilities,goto:www.chaddsfordhistory.org.