Edward A. Agnew, 63, of Chadds Ford, died peacefully at home on June 25.
Born and raised in Hatboro, he lived the past 13 years in Chadds Ford, , previously living in Wilmington.
Mr. Agnew served in the Army during the Vietnam War. He was then employed as a desktop publisher at the Dupont Co. in Wilmington.
Edward was a member of Church of the Holy Child in North Wilmington. He enjoyed spending time at Rehoboth Beach. He also enjoyed motorcycles, snow skiing, cooking and was known for volunteering at the Hispanic Community Center in Kennett Square.
He is survived by his wife of 23 years, Ann Dell’Orefice Agnew, children, Keri (Chris) Acors, Michael E. (Melissa) Agnew and Alaina Agnew, parents, Edward and Marilyn Williamson Agnew, sisters, Susan (Richard) Senatore and Amy Scherer and grandchildren, Jonathan Acors, Carter Agnew, Kyleigh Agnew.
His memorial service will be Monday, July 1, at 7 p.m. at the Pagano Funeral Home, 3711 Foulk Road in Garnet Valley.
Visitation is July 1, from 6-7 p.m. at the Pagano Funeral Home. Burial will be private.
Contributions: La Comunidad Hispana, 731 West Cypress St., Kennett Square, PA 19348
For the first time in a long time there was life after business hours in the Barn Shoppes in Chadds Ford Township. Several businesses stayed open late while others provided food and beverage during a June 21 Sunset Plein Air event at the Chadds Ford Gallery.
Plein Air is painting outdoors where sounds, smells and activity influence the product. There’s no sketching or photographing an outdoor scene then working in the studio. Soup to nuts, it’s all done outside in the open air.
The event was a collaboration between artist Jacqueline Beam and Chadds Ford Gallery owner Jackie Winther. Beam has been instrumental in promoting plein air in the area and has chaired such events at the Chadds Ford Historical Society.
“The thought was, what can we do that’s new and different,” Winther said.
Paul Scarborough takes time from his painting to give an autograph to local writer Gene Pisasale during the plein air event at the Barn Shoppes.
Last week’s event was designed as a kickoff to summer and a portion of proceeds from sales were donated to victims of the Oklahoma tornadoes.
A handful of artists — including local favorites Beam, Paul Scarborough, and Robert Stack — took part. They arrived at the Barn Shoppes at 4 p.m., staked out a view, loaded their palettes with color, primed their canvases and went to work.
As they painted, dozens of admirers visited the artists, chatting, asking questions and generally enjoying a sunny evening. There was live music, hot dogs on the grill, hors d’oeuvres from Brandywine Prime and wine from the Brandywine River Hotel. Transcend Yoga also held an outdoor class.
Stack — who doesn’t do a lot of plein air — said the event “sounded like a nice idea, a way to have some fun out here.”
Scarborough said he does about a third of his work outside. He said the challenge is working with a small window of opportunity and the elements.
“You have a two-hour window of consistent light, light and color. And the elements, heat and cold, change your reaction. You have to adjust your whole approach,” Scarborough said.
Among those elements are also sounds and wind, and that those challenges that sharpen the senses, making the painting better.
“You look for the fleeting something. It adds to the spontaneity.”
Another of the painters, Valerie Craig, of St. Davids, agreed.
She said working outside “enables you to feel the mood and spirit.” Adding that the sights, sounds and smells come together to generate a whole different feel.
The art will be on display at the gallery for another week and another plein air event is planned for October, weather permitting.
Top photo: Artist Jacqueline Beam works on her painting of Green Meadows Florist in the Barn Shopppes of Chadds Ford.
Rich Schwartzman has been reporting on events in the greater Chadds Ford area since September 2001 when he became the founding editor of The Chadds Ford Post. In April 2009 he became managing editor of ChaddsFordLive. He is also an award-winning photographer.
Grad student digs for battlefield truth in Thornbury and Chadds Ford
A graduate student at Temple University has been digging for evidence that could show the Battle of Brandywine was fought over a larger area than previously believed. Some of the research could also show where John Chads had his Chadds Ford ferry.
Kevin Michael Donaghy, a doctoral student in archeology, has been sifting through the soil at the Spackman Farm in Thornbury Township, Chester County, for the past three years looking for evidence that some of the Sept. 11, 1777 battle was fought on that property.
Prior to the fieldwork, Donaghy researched archives for historical documentation. He also went to Harrisburg and reviewed the documents of the Brandywine Battlefield task Force.
“What I’m looking for is not only where did people fight, but where they didn’t fight,” he said in a brief interview before addressing visitors to the farm on June 23. “When you’re looking at preservation, you need to know where people fought to protect the right land. We have land where people bled to death, but yet we have developments built over them with streets named after generals. My question on the Spackman Farm is really ‘How much activity really did take place here.’”
None of his findings have been conclusive, at least so far, he said, but he’s continuing to look. What he has found are horseshoes and pieces of nails, but they can’t be distinguished from what was used in civilian life.
“We haven’t hit a smoking gun. We haven’t hit that great big cluster of artifacts that you hope to find…There’s nothing stamped, ‘Property of his Royal Majesty King George,’” he said.
What he’d like is to be able to use some ground penetrating radar to survey the horse pasture and the intersection of Route 926 and Thornbury Road and behind the store at the farm, adjacent to the Birmingham Meetinghouse where there was military action.
“If the troops did move this way, that’s where we’d find the highest concentration [of artifacts],” Donaghy said.
During his address to members of the Thornbury Township Historical Preservation Committee and other visitors to the farm last Sunday, Donaghy showed period maps that indicate troop movement into Thornbury from Osborne Hill and the Birmingham Meeting and battle action on the farm.
The white stones indicate American Indians were engaged in stonework on what what os now the Spackman Farm in Thornbury Township. Kevin Donaghy said he doesn’t want the history of the Battler of Brandywine to erase the history before the battle.
“Historical accounts indicate fighting at Sandy Hollow spilled over to a ravine. That could be at the O’Dell property [in Birmingham Township] or the Spackman Farm.
There was one finding that he said is significant. Donaghy found pieces of flaked white stone that indicate the presence of Indian stonework on the property.
“We don’t want the battlefield investigation to make all the previous history here disappear.”
This summer he will be working in the area of the John Chad House in Chadds Ford Township, looking for clues as to how close fighting was to the house. During the battle, Wilhelm von Knyphausen led a Hessian division in a feigned direct attack across the Brandywine near the ferry. Fire was exchanged with Gen. George Washington’s troops while the main body of British soldiers flanked Washington’s position from the north. It’s believed that Elizabeth Chads stayed in the house, watching troop movements from her attic windows.
Some preliminary soil testing has already been done. This summer they will be working out the math to determine artillery positions.
Exactly where that piece of the battle took place is still undetermined.
“It’s a real tough question. There are written accounts that say guns were behind [the house] but, as an anthropologist, my question is what, linguistically, is ‘near’ the John Chad House. If there’s nothing else for a couple miles, you could be 150 yards away and be near the John Chad House. It may be the workers’ houses were built on top of the gun locations.”
Donaghy added during the interview that his research in Chadds Ford could lead to a better understanding of where Chads had his ferry by examining the soil and sediment.
“We might find the approach to it,” he said.
Top photo: Doctoral student Kevin Donaghy explains some artifacts to his mentor, David Orr, at the Spackman Farm.
Rich Schwartzman has been reporting on events in the greater Chadds Ford area since September 2001 when he became the founding editor of The Chadds Ford Post. In April 2009 he became managing editor of ChaddsFordLive. He is also an award-winning photographer.
For Jim Cunius, it’s always been a matter of confidence, work ethics and maybe a little bit of competitive spirit. That holds true for at least some of his students at Cunius Martial Arts in Olde Ridge Village.
Cunius opened the studio in May. With more than 25 years of martial experience, the banker by trade teaches Tang Soo Do — a Korean style of karate — and women’s kickboxing.
His interest in martial arts dates back to 1987 when he was 14 years old and had recently moved to the US from the Philippines. Martial arts movies were big on his list, but then he found a school that he liked and began taking formal classes.
“I liked the competition side of it, and also the art itself…I found that martial arts really helped me with confidence, school work and work ethics,” he said.
Studying any martial art, be it the two he teaches or any other of the numerous styles, Cunius said, is beneficial because everyone should have an understanding of the basics of punching and kicking, not to be a fighter, but for a sense of self confidence, self control and overall fitness. He also works cardio into his curriculum.
The focus of his martial teaching is awareness.
“Kicking and punching aren’t hard to do… but you have to be aware of what’s happening out there,” he said.
Cunius said that fighting is always the last resort. Being aware can help keep a person from getting into a bad situation in the first place. True martial training teaches the priority of avoiding trouble first, talking second and running away third. The only time to fight is if those three don’t work.
“If you can walk away, that’s the best self defense I can tell you. Nobody gets hurt. You don’t have to do anything else. Fighting is the last resort for me. To walk away, talk yourself out of trouble, that’s the best. Not just for women, but for kids and adults.”
His bottom line is to be confident and comfortable out in the world and learning martial arts will help build that attitude.
Students agree.
For Kristin Totoro, of Aston, studying with Cunius serves as a confidence builder and as a way to keep in shape.
“It’s different, more than just running and working out. It’s a completely different workout that really kicks you in the butt… The boxing is a mental thing. It’s control,” she said.
And some of the teaching stays with her when she’s not in the studio, but out and about in the world.
She said she’s more aware of her abilities in a “what if” type of situation, and that translates into confidence.
Totoro added that she enjoys class enough to explore competition and get into sparring.
Priscilla Basile, of Concord Township, has been with Cunius for a month, but studied kickboxing when she was in her teens. She came back to the study for better health and for self-defense. She also studies karate with Cunius.
“I’m not going to go out looking to fight, but [classes] do give a little bit of comfort knowing that I might be able to protect myself a little bit better if a situation came to me,” Basile said.
Kim Perri, also from Concord, said practicing a martial art makes her feel stronger and more in shape.
“I have so much more energy,” she said. “And it definitely raises your confidence.”
Classes are held 6-9 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and on Saturday by appointment. The karate curriculum accommodates students from 5 years of age to adult.
For more information, phone 610-299-7200, visit www.cunius.com or send an e-mail to james@cunius.com
Top photo: Jim Cunius reviews proper kicking technique with Kristin Totoro.
Rich Schwartzman has been reporting on events in the greater Chadds Ford area since September 2001 when he became the founding editor of The Chadds Ford Post. In April 2009 he became managing editor of ChaddsFordLive. He is also an award-winning photographer.
Living History: Long forgotten canal town comes back to life
The Philadelphia area played an important part in the Industrial Revolution. Pennsylvania was the only one of the original 13 colonies that had the critical resources — coal, iron ore, lumber and petroleum — in abundance. During the early years of our industrial development, canals were important as a means of moving raw materials and finished goods to areas of commerce. Because heavy loads could be moved much more easily on waterways than by horse or wagon, canals were developed around the nation. By 1840, more than 3,000 miles of canals linked bustling areas of business to distant markets. One of these canals ran for over 100 miles from the coal mining regions to the northwest towards the port of Philadelphia. A farmer who lived in northeastern Chester County allowed the construction of two locks on his property, completing a critical portion of this transportation artery.
The story begins in 1733 when Johannes “Hans” Grumbacher came to America. He purchased land in East Coventry Township the next year. One of Grumbacher’s descendants married John Frick, the farmer who permitted his land to be utilized for commercial purposes. The Schuylkill Canal began operation in 1825; locks 54 and 55 passed through Frick’s farmland, allowing hundreds of barges to pass through. Due to the bustling business activity, Frick’s Lock village developed around the canal. The oldest house in the village dates back to 1757, as Great Britain was waging the Seven Years’ War against the French and local Indian tribes in North America. More than a dozen other houses were built as people settled in the area over the ensuing decades. The genealogy of the settler’s families and history of the area is discussed in “The History of Frick’s Locks” by Paul Sumner Frick.
The Canal’s peak operating years were between 1830- 1860, but a rival was gaining attention as a means of transportation. By 1841 the Schuylkill Navigation was annually transporting over 737,517 tons of cargo. In that same year, the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad was completed as a competing means of transporting coal from the Schuylkill anthracite fields to Philadelphia. A rivalry between these two forms of transportation soon developed. Surrendering to the competition in 1870, the Schuylkill Navigation Company leased its waterway to the railroad for a period of 110 years. Under P&R’s control, the barge traffic continued to decline. Since the bustling Delaware and Raritan Canal was owned by the competing Pennsylvania Railroad, Schuylkill Canal boats were denied access to this important nearby waterway. As a result, traffic on the Schuylkill Canal decreased rapidly. The PRR itself invaded the Schuylkill’s territory with the construction of its Schuylkill Branch in the mid 1880s. Railroads became dominant in the transportation of raw materials and other goods by the late 1800s and canal traffic started to decline. The last barge floated down the canal around 1930, when it was closed to traffic. In 2003, Frick’s Lock was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
When the Philadelphia Electric Co. began planning to build a nuclear power plant along the Schuylkill in the early 1970s, they knew they would need an “exclusion area” for safety around the plant. PECO contacted landowners in Frick’s Lock for purchase of their properties. By 1980, the last residents had left the area to allow the construction of the power plant. Yet managers at PECO (and later Exelon, the new parent company) realized that the town had historic significance and wanted to preserve the structures in the area. A committee was formed for this purpose that included personnel from the Township Historical Commission, Exelon, Chester County Parks and Recreation, the Schuylkill River Heritage Authority and local government. Exelon earmarked $2.3 million for the restoration and preservation of several of the historic homes in the village. On May 10, 2013 representatives from Exelon and East Coventry Township along with U.S. Representative Jim Gerlach and state Senator Andy Dinniman met for an historic re-dedication of the newly restored village. The ceremony was especially touching, as Larry Frick (son of Paul Sumner Frick) described how his father loved the rich heritage of the area and wanted to attend, but was unable due to his declining health.
Due to rapid economic development, many of America’s historic landmarks are falling by the wayside. Once lost, they’re gone forever. Yet the Frick’s Lock project is one good example of how business can thrive and help preserve our heritage. Exelon is to be commended for its generous contribution to restoring this important part of our local history, now available for public tours. The coal barges no longer float by, but the village may yet receive a large influx of visitors. The Schuylkill River Trail is also expected to be completed in the near future, running alongside the property, bringing casual hikers and perhaps even a few history buffs right by the locks which once helped build the foundations of the country we now call home.
* Gene Pisasale is an author and lecturer based in Kennett Square. He’s written five books, including“Abandoned Address- The Secret of Frick’s Lock”, which focuses on the history of the village and some of the greatest inventors of the Industrial Revolution. His website iswww.GenePisasale.com. Gene can be reached atGene@GenePisasale.com.
Gene Pisasale is an historian, author and lecturer based in Kennett Square, Pa. His eight books and historic lecture series focus on the history of the mid-Atlantic region. Gene’s latest book is Alexander Hamilton: Architect of the American Financial System, which delves into the life and many accomplishments of this important Founding Father who almost single-handedly transformed our nation from a bankrupt entity into the most successful country in the history of mankind. Gene’s books are available on www.Amazon.com. His website is www.GenePisasale.com; he can be reached at Gene@GenePisasale.com.
Billy is a playful and affectionate young adult cat that has been at CCSPCA far too long for being such a sweetie. He came to the shelter in early March as a lost kitty. Billy gets along with other cats and doesn’t seem to mind dogs, either. He’s perfect for a home with kids who are looking for a feline playmate. If you are able to provide Billy or any of our other animals here at the shelter a home, visit the Chester County SPCA at 1212 Phoenixville Pike in West Goshen or call 610-692-6113. Billy’s registration number is 96813332. To meet some of our other adoptable animals, visit the shelter or log onto www.ccspca.org. Not quite ready to adopt? Consider becoming a CCSPCA foster parent. Kitten season is in full swing and CCSPCA needs fosters to raise kittens and mother cats. Additional information and applications are available online or at the shelter.
Rich Schwartzman has been reporting on events in the greater Chadds Ford area since September 2001 when he became the founding editor of The Chadds Ford Post. In April 2009 he became managing editor of ChaddsFordLive. He is also an award-winning photographer.
• State police are looking for a suspect in an armed robbery at the Clark’s store in Concord Township. A police report said the man selected three pairs of shoes and then displayed a pistol when the clerk was ringing up the sale. The suspect demanded money and threatened to shoot the clerk, police said. He then fled with the shoes, a small amount of money and a leather bag. The incident happened about 7 p.m. on June 24. Police described the suspect as black, early to mid 20s, with a thin build, about 5 feet 7 or 5 feet 8 inches tall. Anyone with information is asked to call the state police Media barracks at 484-840-1000.
• Following a chase down Route 202, three people were arrested in connection with a retail theft at the Gap store in Glen Eagle Square. Police identified the three as Tinisha Nicole Clark, 25, Jamal Mason, 22, and Deneisha Wright, 23, all from Delaware. According to police, the trio fled the scene in a gold Pontiac, traveling south on Route 202. Police said the driver — Clark — drove in an erratic manner, failing to stop at red lights and with a disregard for other motorists before crashing into another vehicle at Naamans Creek Road. The suspects then fled on foot, but were apprehended. The other driver and two children received minor injuries, as did the suspects. The incident happened shortly before 5 p.m. on June 21.
• A 43-year-old woman, whom police said is from Chadds Ford Township, was cited for following too closely following an accident on Route 202 at McComb Avenue near Smithbridge Road. Three vehicles were involved in the domino effect rear-ender.
• State police said one person received a moderate injury in a rear-ender accident on Naamans Creek Road near Concord Crossing on June 19. The report did not indicate if the other driver was cited.
• No injuries were reported, but lone driver was cited in a two-car accident at routes 1 and 202 on June 7. Police said Cherise J. Kovack, 56, of Leola, struck another car from behind while attempting to change lanes. The accident happened about 7:30 p.m.
• The Delaware Museum of Natural History is inviting visitors to explore the museum after dark with a family movie night on Saturday, June 29, at 6 and 8 p.m. This special night at the movies will feature the museum’s newest special exhibit, Water’s Extreme Journey, all of the Museum’s popular permanent exhibits, and the 2006 20th Century Fox film “Night at the Museum,” starring Ben Stiller, Amy Adams, Owen Wilson, and Robin Williams, and shown in the museum’s DuPont Auditorium. Tickets are $3 for members and $5 for non-members and can be purchased online or at the door. Online ticket sales end Friday, June 28. Light snacks and beverages will be available for purchase in the Coral Reef Canteen.
• Longwood Gardens and Collingdale Park will hold fireworks displays on July 4. The Collingdale display begins at dusk while the Longwood display is scheduled for 9:10 p.m. Longwood is also a paid event. Tickets are available online or by calling 610-388-1000. For a complete list of Pennsylvania fireworks displays for the year, go to fireworksinpennsylvania.com.
• Speed painting and story telling comes to the Brandywine Summit Camp Meeting on July 6. Dave Weiss will entertain with a religious message beginning at 7 p.m. The camp Meeting is at 119 Beaver valley Road.
• Pony Partners will be offered through Chester County 4-H from July 8 – 12, from 10 a.m. – noon at the Romano 4-H Center, 1841 Horseshoe Pike in Honey Brook. Geared for children with no prior horse or large animal experience, campers will learn safety, grooming techniques and non-verbal communication. Campers will learn behavioral skills as they recognize that horses respond directly to their behavior and body language. The ability to interact safely with an animal larger than you, for a child, builds great self-assurance, trust, and is a lot of fun. The cost of Pony Partners Camp is $75.00. For more information or to download the registration form, please visit the website at http://extension.psu.edu/4-h/counties/chester or call the Extension office at 610-696-3500. Registration is on a first come-first serve basis. Please call the extension office to verify class availability prior to mailing in payment.
• The Chester County Pops Orchestra will be performing at Unionville High School, Thursday, July 11 at 7:30 p.m. The program theme is “Red, White and…Swingin’!” Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for seniors 62 or older, free for children and students, and are available at www.chescopops.org or by phoning 610-594-9178. The event is held in partnership with the Unionville-Chadds Ford Education Foundation.
• The Young Friends of the Brandywine will hold the annual Tip-a-Canoe and Barbeque Too from noon to 11 p.m. on Saturday, July 20. An outdoor party follows a relaxing ride down the Brandywine Creek. For information, go to www.youngfriends.org or phone 610-388-8315.
Photo: Members of the Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce celebrate the re-opening of the Hilton Garden Inn lobby in Kennett Square with a ribbon cutting. Lori Gebhart said the entire lobby was renovated with new tile, carpeting, furnishings, paint and window treatments. The work took 45 days.
My family and I just returned from vacation. We had packed well yet there were still some items that we found ourselves wanting. For instance, although we brought several bottles of sun lotion, we decided that a higher SPF was required than we had originally planned. Also, we didn’t realize that the mosquitoes at our destination would be quite so voracious.
Conveniently, our host resort knew exactly what we (and every other family) would be needing and carried it all right there on the premises… for extremely over-inflated prices.
We decided that it was worth taking a short taxi ride into town to purchase the extra supplies. What we found was that, not only did the items cost less than half the resort prices, but also that some were bundled with other goodies – like a pail and shovel that came with bottles of sun lotion. The savings was so great that my 23-year-old daughter and I left with our supplies, happily swinging our new toys beside us.
Before we left the resort on our last day, I took what was left of our 3 bug spray bottles and strolled by the information desk as, coincidentally, 3 people were making inquiries. I interrupted to ask if anyone needed bug spray and laughed as a resounding chorus of “yes!” erupted from all three. The little girls to whom we gifted our pails & shovels seemed delighted by their unanticipated new toys.
The experience reminded me of the little trays that can be found at many convenience stores. The ones that recommend “Take a penny, leave a penny”. Sometimes you need just a little extra and, at other times, you just don’t.
There are many various similar opportunities that you can look for throughout the year to share or pass-on occasionally used items. Here are some ideas:
Beach or Pool: Have you ever gone to the beach and forgotten to bring toys for the kids? Visit the Lost & Found. There are always items that have been left behind. Let your kids know that you are “borrowing” them for the day and will return them when you leave.
Prom: Prom dresses can be so costly and are worn a handful of times at most. Encourage your daughters and granddaughters to pass on their dress and make room in their closets for what they love to wear every day. Visit www.fairygodmothersinc.org to find a location to donate.
Weddings: similar to the prom dress. If you know that the bride or bridesmaid gown is not something your kids or you would use ever again, while it is still in style and in good condition, consider either consigning it or visit www.bridesacrossamerica.com and donate it so a U.S. military bride can get a free wedding dress!
Power Tools: Wish you had a power-washer, table saw, leaf blower or snow plow? Consider teaming up with neighbors to invest in one of each for the block. You’ll all save by sharing the storage space, cost and maintenance. Be sure to write out a clear agreement as to the shared ownership, usage and costs, or visit http://www.houselogic.com/home-advice/green-living/co-op-tool-share/# to learn how to start a tool co-op.
Some things we use are only needed for a short while and some others, like the pail and shovel, are bonuses that aren’t needed at all. Instead of filling your home with things that you may or may not ever use someday, make yourself part of the ebb and flow of life. Take a penny, leave a penny.
* To contact Annette Reyman for organizing work, professional unpacking, productivity support, gift certificates or speaking engagements in the Greater Philadelphia area call (610) 213-9559 or email her at annette@allrightorganizing.com. Reyman is a member of the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO®) and President of its Greater Philadelphia Chapter. Visit her website at www.allrightorganizing.com and follow All Right Organizing on Facebook.
