July 18, 2018

The Chadds Ford Historical Society has reached its golden years and is preparing to celebrate its 50^thanniversary. A celebration, dubbed “The Cannon Ball,” is scheduled for Friday, Aug. 24 at the Gables restaurant on Route 1 in Pennsbury Township.

Cost for the event — which will run from 7-11 p.m. — is $85 for CFHS and Chadds Ford Business Association members, $95 for nonmembers. There will be food, drink, a silent auction and a deejay.

“We want to celebrate 50 years of historic preservation,” said Historical Society Executive Director Mike Connolly.

The society came into existence in 1968 in an effort to preserve historic homes, principally the John Chads House on Creek Road and the Barns-Brinton House on Route 1. The idea germinated in 1967 when William Hoffman put the Chads House up for sale. He was asking $25,000 for the four-acre property.

According to CFHS Board President Phyllis Recca, a handful of people who had been involved with the original Chadds Ford Days recognized the historic significance of the site — the home was built in 1725 and was the home of John Chads who ran a ferry service across the Brandywine Creek — but the house was in a state of disrepair and faced the possibility of being demolished.

“Almost everyone loves historic houses, even people who don’t like history,” Recca said.

The society was incorporated in 1968 after Virginia “Pete” Morgan, Arabella Cleveland, Jane Morrel, Amelia “Millie” Jones and Betsy Wyeth signed the papers of incorporation. But, they needed to raise money to save the house.

Recca said the 1968 Chadds Ford Days became the event that launched a major fundraising effort. It was held at Hoffman’s Mill (now the Brandywine River Museum of Art) and lasted for eight days. Thousands of attendees paid $1 to view a million-dollar art exhibit featuring the works of Andrew Wyeth and others. The exhibit netted $37,000.

A year later, the Barns-Brinton House came up for sale and, again, “The Day” became another weeklong fundraiser. Profits from the event, along with generous donations, enabled the society to buy the property.

“The Cannon Ball” will serve as a replacement event for Chadds Ford Days this year. As previously reported, the Historical Society will not hold CF Days in 2018. Recca said it should come back next year, but not the traditional weekend after Labor Day. The format will be more in line with the art show that launched the society in 1968.

Recca and Connolly said they are reviewing more material and will announce in a few weeks what else they have in store for “The Cannon Ball.”

Tickets for the event may be purchased here.

(Images courtesy of Chadds Ford Historical Society.)