While many Americans take it for granted that our nation will always be strong as we approach the July 4th celebration, the Founding Fathers who signed the Declaration of Independence felt otherwise. They recognized that the struggle for independence would be tortuous and the outcome was highly uncertain. Benjamin Franklin even joked about it: “We must all hang together, or we will surely hang separately.”…
Art lovers know that many renowned painters like Monet, Cezanne and others took their brushes and easels outdoors into remote places to capture the beauty of a scene on canvas. The Chadds Ford Historical Society honors a long tradition this winter with the seventh annual plein air event on Saturday, Feb. 7, from 5-8 p.m. Plein air is a French term denoting an outdoor activity. With…
Visitors to the Brandywine Valley know that the region holds many treasures, including its historic houses: long-standing structures many with rustic springhouses, some of which date back over 300 years. Driving the countryside, you can see these old friends on back country roads, where intersections are marked by the end of a stone wall built many decades ago, still standing as they signify a property…
When Colonel John Hannum, Commander of the First Battalion of Chester County militia and his friend Thomas “Squire” Cheyney left Martin’s Tavern in Marshallton, Pa. on the morning of Sept. 11, 1777, they didn’t know they’d be witnesses to a pivotal episode in American history. That morning as they rode toward Chadds Ford to join the rest of the local militia, “they discovered coming down…
Chester County has been the home for three signers of the Declaration of Independence, witnessed the largest land battle of the American Revolution and achievements in art, science and industry. Who’d think that a neurologist with a background in pharmaceuticals would want to start a winery here? After chatting with Dr. Brad Galer and his wife Lele, it becomes clear. They’ve sampled hundreds of vintages…
Many people assume that highly renowned businessmen focus almost exclusively on one thing — the success of their business. Yet some of our nation’s great industrialists have aggressively pursued hobbies — one being the preservation of scenery near Kennett Square. After the turn of the 20th century, the famous entrepreneur Pierre du Pont purchased a local farm to save an old grove of trees for…
This year is shaping up to be a very special one for the Chadds Ford Historical Society and local history buffs. The Society has several events scheduled to commemorate the 300th Anniversary of the Barns-Brinton House (circa 1714). This historic structure which sits on Baltimore Pike has been attracting attention from drivers for many years as they pass by the striking Flemish bond style red…
“They don’t build ‘em like that anymore…” Whenever I cross a covered bridge, I think how different they are from the towering steel monstrosities used today. Then my thoughts dwell on the people on horseback and wagons that passed that way many years ago. Thomas F. Gordon’s “Gazetteer of the State of Pennsylvania” calls our commonwealth “the state of bridges,” Pennsylvania being “unrivaled in number,…
Religious persecution historically has caused millions of people around the world to seek a better, friendlier place to live. In the 17th century, there were many dissenters in Great Britain who disagreed with the policies of the Church of England. After having a vision in which he claimed to have experienced the presence of Jesus Christ, George Fox began preaching a direct involvement of each…
If you’ve ever walked the streets of an unfamiliar town, wondering about the people who once lived there, you know the feeling. Strolling the back roads of Unionville, one senses the serenity of a small village on the fringe of a much more bustling part of Chester County. Even though it doesn’t get recognized or designated as an actual town on maps of the region…
“Drink your milk. It’s good for you.” Children hear these words every day. From Elsie the cow to “Got milk?” commercials in recent years, dairy products have remained part of our awareness of a healthy diet. Generating revenue of $4.5 billion, dairy operations make up the largest sector of Pennsylvania’s agriculture industry, with Chester County ranking fifth in the state. From very large farms to…