A year of new events for CFHS

Posted by Rich Schwartzman on May 16, 2021

Some people wore masks, and some didn’t but they all enjoyed being outside at the art show for the Chadds Ford Historical Society.

Saturday's spring festival and art show for the Chadds Ford Historical Society was as much a celebration and a hope for renewal as it was an art show and fundraiser.

The event was held at Thornbury Farm, owned by Randell Spackman, who is also the Historical Society president.

"I think this turned out successfully," Spackman said. "There are great people out here, and all the seats are filled. People are so glad to be able to get out and see one another. I'm really excited about the future."

(Update: Spackman said the day after that the event brought in $1,200 for the Historical Society. The money came in through art sales, food sales, and donations to CFHS.)

Musicians Ken Lawson, Joe Hillman, and Paul Wilkinson entertain during the Chadds Ford Historical Society Spring Festival and Art Show at Thornbury Farm.

It was a small event, with seven artist tents set up and artists selling their works. A trio of local musicians — Ken Lawson, Joe Hillman, and Paul Wilkinson — entertained the crowd with their brand of country music.

Helen Sipala was also there with copies of her book, "Beyond the MARRIAGE Bed: My Years as Friend, Model and Confidante of Andrew Wyeth." She said she didn't care whether she sold any books or not at the event. She was just happy to be there.

"This is great to be out," Sipala said, "and I have the best seat in the house. This is my kind of music.

But the event was for the Chadds Ford Historical Society. Like so many other organizations, the CFHS went through a yearlong hibernation because of the COVID pandemic.

"This was our spring event to kick off a season of new and exciting avenues of re-opening the historic houses on the weekends, and we'll be doing our battle re-enactment at the Chadds Ford Historical Society on Sept. 11," Spackman said. "We'll have re-enactors, and suttlers, and a true colonial fair."

The re-enactment will include an exchange of gunfire commemorating the Battle of Brandywine that took place in Chadds Ford, Birmingham, Thornbury, and Westtown townships on Sept. 11, 1777. It was the largest land battle of the War of Independence.

But Spackman seemed most excited about one particular event and what that event signifies.

"We're going to be doing our Great Pumpkin Carve again this year in person," he added.

The 2020 carve was done virtually because of the COVID-related government lockdown.

"COVID hit, and all small museums were hurt so badly last year. So now, the idea is to re-install the short trips, the little family things that can be done safely, that are close and get reinvolved with the community," he said

"We also want to get people reinvolved with the community and the Chadds Ford Historical Society," said Spackman. "There are people who live in Chadds Ford who may never have seen the John Chads House. The idea is to say, 'We're going to be open, let's get people back out into the buildings, appreciate local history and sense of community."

Spackman said CFHS would try to have the Chads House and Barns Brinton House open on the weekends, again, and have Lisë Taylor baking bread in the beehive oven at the Chads House on Saturdays. The society is also working on a textile exhibit at the Barn Visitors' Center.

About Rich Schwartzman

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.