Chadds Ford Historical Society – ChaddsFordLive.com

Battle at Chadds Ford Weekend Brought History to Life

Resized_20250913_184610 — Battle at Chadds Ford Weekend Brought History to Life

CHADDS FORD, Pa. — Brilliant sunshine, booming cannons, and a deep sense of community filled the Brandywine Valley this weekend as Historic Chadds Ford Days returned for its annual Revolutionary War commemoration. The two-day festival culminated Sunday, Sept. 14, with the second day of the Battle at Chadds Ford, a full-scale reenactment of the Sept. 11, 1777 Battle of Brandywine — the largest single-day clash of the American Revolution.

A Living Battlefield

Visitors packed the fields to watch two skirmish reenactments that recreated the tactics, sounds, and chaos faced by Gen. George Washington’s Continental Army and the British Crown Forces nearly 250 years ago. Muskets cracked, cannons thundered, and soldiers in authentic uniforms demonstrated 18th-century maneuvers as crowds cheered.

Beyond the battlefield, guests explored living-history encampments, where reenactors portrayed colonial soldiers and camp followers. Demonstrations of blacksmithing, beer brewing, wool dyeing, and wood carving offered an immersive glimpse into daily life during the Revolution.

Family Fun and Hands-On History

Children joined the “School of the Soldier,” drilling with wooden muskets, learning commands, and marching alongside costumed troops. Other hands-on activities included candle making, tin crafting, marble games, and colonial dress-up, making history accessible to the youngest visitors.

Music, Authors, and New Traditions

The weekend also featured local artisans, food trucks, and regional breweries and wineries, creating a festive community atmosphere. Saturday night’s new “Tavern in the Groove” drew an enthusiastic crowd with music, food, and neighborly camaraderie — an addition organizers hope will become a tradition.

Local authors including John Ebenreiter, who penned Bye George about saying goodbye to King George, and Bruce Mowday of West Chester signed books and shared stories with readers.

Exhibitors inclduded Entrepreneur Jessica Nida, who demonstrated her handmade skincare products, including Tallow Calm, a blend of tallow, calamine clay, and essential oils for soothing skin irritation.

Community Voices

Operations Manager Sandi Johnson led the planning team behind the successful weekend. Chadds Ford Township Board member Jody Allen, who attended both days with his family, said the festival “brings people together to not only remember the past but talk about the future and the community we love,” adding that he especially enjoyed the Saturday night gathering.

Longtime participant and retired journalist Catherine Quillman observed that Saturday’s turnout exceeded expectations. “People were exploring all the crafts, the family activities, talking to the reenactors and learning about history,” she said. “This event is an important part of life in Chadds Ford.”

Honoring the Past, Celebrating the Present

With brilliant weather and record crowds, this year’s Historic Chadds Ford Days reaffirmed its place as one of the region’s most cherished fall traditions — blending education, entertainment, and neighborly spirit on the very ground where America’s fight for independence once thundered.

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Carving out chunks of fun

Local News

The Great Pumpkin Carve has been working its way through the village of Chadds Ford for decades. In that time it has also worked its way into local lore and into the hearts of virtually everyone who has ever taken part or simply been a witness.

As the story goes, it started at the Chadds Ford Inn until, as someone once said, “The pumpkins got in the way of the drunks.”

Another story says it moved from the inn after a young — and now famous — artist stepped back to admire his work, but stepped back into Route 1 where he was almost hit by a car.

Some people get deep into what they're doing. — Some people get deep into what they’re doing.

From there it went to the Barn Shoppes until that location became too small. Then to the parking lot at Hank’s Place until that site, too, was too small. The Brandywine River Museum took over then, but the event soon outgrew that parking lot.

Since 1991 its been held in the meadow at the Chadds Ford Historical Society. It continues to grow in popularity to the point where some people come from as far away as California. During its three nights, as many as 15,000 people flow through the pumpkin patch, delighting in what the carvers create.

This year saw a new feature added to the fun, a haunted trail courtesy of Phyllis Recca and Gene Pisassale. The trail featured scenes, one with ghouls coming up through their graves.

Some people, such as Heidi Murtagh-Brennan, left, and Jennifer Duffy, just enjoy the event.

In all, 75 carvers whittled, cut, chiseled and otherwise did nasty things to giant pumpkins this year. The event is one of the major fund-raisers for the Historical Society.

The winners of this year’s Carve can be found here.

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Living History: The Civil War comes To Chadds Ford

Along the Ford

Gettysburg-Reenactors2-lg — Living History: The Civil War comes To Chadds Ford

This year is an important one for Civil War buffs —it is the 150^th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg, the Battle of Vicksburg and the Gettysburg Address. Despite the release of thousands of books and numerous movies over the last few decades, this devastating conflict continues to fascinate Americans. Notwithstanding the roughly 600,000 casualties, billions of dollars of property damage and families being torn apart, people have given this war an almost reverent place in our heritage. Perhaps it is because this struggle above all others was such a transformational event- involving the abominable practice of slavery, the disruption of our government and the difficult aftermath of Reconstruction- that the Civil War changed how we view ourselves as a society.

A new exhibit at the Chadds Ford Historical Society tells this tragic story through letters, historical documents, memorabilia and relics directly from the battlefields. “The Civil War- Artifacts from the Christian Sanderson Museum” covers this intriguing maelstrom which raged for almost four years, from the initial cannonade against Fort Sumter to the final surrender at Appomattox. Chris Sanderson- the unofficial ‘village historian’ of Chadds Ford- had a strong interest in the Civil War, which is more fully documented by hundreds of artifacts at the nearby Sanderson Museum. Sanderson was captivated by history; his numerous mementos give us insights into the past. A letter written to Chris by W.S. Hammer- who took down the Union flag at Fort Sumter- begins the exhibit. Pieces of mortar shells, bullets and other remnants from Antietam to Chancellorsville are testaments to the fighting which touched millions of people trying to live their lives in peace. We see the purse owned by young Jennie Wade- killed by a sniper’s stray bullet as she baked bread for Union troops- the only civilian casualty at the Battle of Gettysburg. Near it sits a portion of a fencepost that witnessed something immortal- Pickett’s charge on the final day of that encounter. On the wood is written “High water mark, July 3, ‘63”, marking the furthest extent of Confederate forces in a turning point of the war.

An artillery saddle with its high-mounted grips sits in a corner of the oversized cabinet, the stirrups ready to support a new rider. Civil War officer’s epaulets are there, along with soldier’s friends- a Springfield model 1861 rifle and a cartridge bag. There are commemorative plates of both General Ulysses S. Grant and General Robert E. Lee. An oversized print “First At Vicksburg” hangs on the wall depicting the battle which ended a day after Gettysburg, giving the Union control of much of the Mississippi River, sealing the fate of the Confederacy. A large black and white photograph shows the faces of young boys grown old- the 88^th Pennsylvania Volunteers, in which Sanderson’s maternal grandfather fought. He was fortunate to survive the war, joining many of his comrades in arms as they stood before the camera. Sanderson’s paternal grandfather wasn’t so lucky. He was killed at the Battle of Chancellorsville.

An image of the man who tried almost everything to avoid this cataclysm stands above it all. Lincoln’s somnolent face was captured by Alexander Gardner on November 11, 1863, eight days before the President gave the most important oration in American history. The toll of two and a half years of war is evident, deep lines of tension revealing the brutal effect it had on him. A representation of the Gettysburg Address sits underneath, the words still powerful, resonating as you read them.

This compact display tells us about much more than the battles of the Civil War. One senses the depth of human suffering endured. You can almost hear the voices of soldiers who were so exhausted, they could barely lift a pencil to write home. The viewer experiences the bravery of troops on both sides who felt that this was a righteous struggle- one from which they might not return. Along with Curator Chuck Ulmann, this author acted as Assistant Curator for the exhibit, enthralled as we sorted through the enormous collection at the Sanderson Museum from which to portray this epic event. The artifacts themselves are mere emblems of what we have come to know- that the effects of this war still reverberate around the nation. Some people alive today remember words their grandparents spoke decades ago describing the horrors they experienced. Yet despite the enormous destruction it caused, we emerged stronger, more resilient, tempered in a forge of calamity, a society ready to learn from its mistakes and build a better republic, true to the promise that “government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the Earth…”

The Civil War exhibit will be on display at the Chadds Ford Historical Society, 1736 Creek Road through August 2013. For more information, please call 610-388-7376 or visit the Society website at www.chaddsfordhistory.org. The Sanderson Museum website is www.sandersonmuseum.org.

* Gene Pisasale is an author and lecturer based in Kennett Square. His works focus on historical topics of local interest. His latest book is “The Forgotten Star”, which delves into the War of 1812 and true life mysteries surrounding an American icon- the Star-Spangled Banner. Gene’s new lecture series covering the Civil War and its links to Chester County will be available this Summer. His website is www.GenePisasale.com. He can be reached at Gene@GenePisasale.com.

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Living History: The Great Pumpkin Carve

Along the Ford

Headless-Horseman — Living History: The Great Pumpkin Carve

The air’s a bit cooler now, with brisk autumn breezes replacing the sweltering humidity of summer. Children are back at school and parents are preparing for another busy schedule of soccer games and PTA meetings. With leaves on the trees generating a colorful tapestry of crimson and gold, and fireplaces being stacked with freshly cut wood, thoughts turn to the unofficial holiday of Halloween, when youngsters wander neighborhoods for treats and adults for one night can act like kids again.

Halloween, or All Hallows’ Eve, is celebrated around the world on Oct. 31, the eve of the western Christian feast of All Hallows. The roots of this celebration date back to pagan harvest festivals, notably the Celtic pageant of Samhain, derived from the Old Irish word for summer’s end. On the medieval calendar, this fell on the last day of autumn and was a time for taking stock, preparing for the cold winter months ahead. People felt this was when the physical and supernatural worlds were closest and magical things could happen. The souls of the dead were rumored to visit their former homes on Samhain Eve. To ward off the spirits, the Gaelic people built bonfires, some participating in pagan sacrifices to invoke the assistance of the gods.

In the Christian calendar, All Saints Day — known as All Hallows or Hallowmas — and All Souls Day fell on Nov. 1 and 2respectively. They were a time of praying for the departed who had yet to reach Heaven. Pope Gregory IV ordered its church-wide observance in the year 837. The making of crafts for this event dates back to the practice of carving turnips into lanterns as a way of remembering the souls in Purgatory. Over the decades, the ritual of going door to door, begging and pulling pranks began to occur around the time of this holiday. William Shakespeare mentions “puling (whimpering or whining) like a beggar at Hallowmas” in his play “The Two Gentlemen of Verona” (1593). Immigrants to North America in the mid-19^th century started carving pumpkins for the occasion, which were softer than turnips and easier to fashion into various shapes and ornaments.

Anyone over the age of 45 likely remembers the television special “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” which aired on Oct. 27, 1966 and became a smash hit. Colorful, whimsical scenes of kids playing, carving jack-o-lanterns and going trick-or-treating accompanied by the inspired music of jazz pianist Vince Guaraldi captured the hearts of millions in the U.S. and around the world. Guaraldi’s tune “Linus and Lucy” became so popular, it was later recorded by dozens of artists. The Charlie Brown special has become closely associated with Halloween. There are even parties scheduled on the evening it is shown when kids and adults enjoy a holiday second only to Christmas in terms of consumer spending.

Chadds Ford has celebrated this event since the early 1970s, when Jimmy Lynch persuaded Andrew and Jamie Wyeth to carve pumpkins for decoration inside the Chadds Ford Inn (now Brandywine Prime). Over the years other local artists such as Paul Scarborough and Rea Redifer joined in the fun. The collection of pumpkins was so expansive, they were arranged out in front of the Inn and around the nearby Chadds Ford Gallery. Thousands of people came to see the vibrant display and the event became very well attended. It was moved to the meadow grounds in back of the Chadds Ford Historical Society building in 1992. The society and the Concordville- Chadds Ford Rotary are sponsoring The Great Pumpkin Carve from Thursday, Oct. 25 through Saturday, Oct. 27 each night from 5 to 9 p.m. at The Barn, 1736 North Creek Road in Chadds Ford. Each night will feature hayrides, crafts displays, raffles and live music. More than 60 local artists will be carving pumpkins weighing from 125- 400 pounds, for which prizes will be awarded. The event is open to the public. For more information, please contact the Society at 610- 388- 7376 or visit their website at www.chaddsfordhistory.org.

* Gene Pisasale is an author based in Kennett Square. He’s written historical novels of Chester County including “Lafayette’s Gold- The Lost Brandywine Treasure” and “Abandoned Address- The Secret of Frick’s Lock.” Gene conducts public lecture series around the region on historical topics. He’s now completing work on his upcoming novel on the War of 1812 and mysteries surrounding the Star-Spangled Banner, expected out by year-end 2012. He can be reached at Gene@GenePisasale.com; his website is www.GenePisasale.com.

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Scavenger hunt series kicks off at historical society

Local News

Youngsters from Birmingham to New London took part in the first of three historical scavenger hunts scheduled for this summer in Chadds Ford Township. The hunts are open to kids 9-14 years old.

The first hunt was held at the Chadds Ford Historical Society on June 3. Those taking part had to answer a list of questions — 17 in all — based on the various displays at the society’s Barn Visitors’ Center. Participants would pore through the exhibits to get the answers. Those who got all the questions correct received a certificate of achievement and a small “Trophy of Knowledge.”

“It was fun. It’s really nice to learn all this stuff,” said Sarah Zrebiec, 11, of Birmingham Township.

Sarah said the event was just as informative as it was fun. Specifically, she learned more details of the Battle of Brandywine and how people lived during that time in history.

Ashley Zrebiec, 8, said it was interesting to learn that people used springhouse cellars to keep their food cool before the age of refrigeration.

Steven Zrebiec, also 8, said he learned about the battle and the cellars.

Since the John Chads springhouse was later used as a schoolhouse, Steven also compared that to today’s schools.

“It was small and didn’t have a lot of things…not like our school,” he said.

The scavenger hunts are sponsored by the Phyllis Recca Foundation.

Phyllis Recca said she and her husband, Gene Pisasale, enjoyed taking part in similar events themselves at other museums, but she was also looking for something new for her foundation.

That foundation was established in 2000 and was paying bills for some needy families whose children were patients at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

“My foundation has to be children related, any money I donate, mostly to CHOP, but I thought to do some local things,” said Recca.

She said she approached CFHS, the Brandywine Battlefield Park and the Chris Sanderson Museum, all of which were eager to have some events that were children oriented.

She and Pisasale talked about what they could do and decided on the scavenger hunts that they had enjoyed.

“[The kids] could learn history in a fun way,” Recca said.

She added that the foundation made a $1,000 donation to each site to host a hunt.

The next scavenger hunt is scheduled for the battlefield park on July 22. It will be indoors, in the Visitors’ Center. This prevents the event from being rained out. The third and final hunt of the series is scheduled for Aug. 19 at the Sanderson Museum. Both go from 1-4 p.m. The question and answer format for the next hunts will be the same as the first.

Participation costs $3, with the money going to the hosting site.

— By Rich Schwartzman

Photo caption: In the John Chads springhouse — which was also used as a schoolhouse — Sarah Zrebiec, 11, of Birmingham Township, reads from the “Eclectic First Reader” to get an answer to one of the scavenger hunt questions at the Chadds Ford Historical Society. (Photo by Rich Schwartzman)

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New exhibit at CF Historical Society

Local News

New exhibit at CF Historical Society
Battle of Brandywine: The Road to Recognition is on display through December 1.

By Rich Schwartzman

Spurred by the upcoming 235^th anniversary of the Battle of Brandywine, the Chadds Ford Historical Society and the Christian C. Sanderson Museum are co-sponsoring a new exhibit, Battle of Brandywine: The Road to Recognition. The exhibit is on display at the Historical Society’s Barn Visitors’ Center on Creek Road now through December 1.

Referring to the anniversary as the “excuse” for the exhibit, CFHS board member Sallie Corbishley — exhibit curator — said there was something else that she found interesting.

“What I found interesting is what has happened to the land over the years since 1777. Everybody has talked about the battle and the generals, but what has happened to the land,” she said.

After reviewing old newspaper files, Corbishley said people have been trying to save the battlefield site for years.

“They tried and tried, but it was hard to do,” because of money and politics.

She added that it was politics that led the state to buy the property on Route 1 in Chadds Ford and designate it the Brandywine Battlefield Park even though the battle was not fought there.

“For years and years they tried to get some land near Birmingham Friends Meeting where the battle actually occurred starting in 1900,” said Corbishley.

At that time, a Col. Francis Hooten had an agreement from landowners to sell an area of land at Sandy Hollow for a memorial, but it didn’t work.

“Apparently the governor vetoed that one,” Corbishley said. “One of the other early attempts, I understand, the Pittsburgh delegation voted against it. So, it’s all political.”

Part of the exhibit shows a timeline from 1777 to 2009.

“That’s all about the politics of battlefield land area, of trying to preserve the battlefield, to keep out development, and, until probably the 1950s, it really didn’t matter because this was still a rural area,” Corbishley said.

It all changed with the growth after WWII, she added, when the dairy farmers lost their European market and were burdened with extra rules and regulations.

“So they were willing for development, ripe to sell. They needed the money. That’s when the development started. That’s when everyone started to look at this. If we don’t do something now, there won’t be anything left to preserve,” she said.

Corbishley hopes people who see the exhibit come away with an appreciation for where they live and for what happened here.

In addition to the timeline, there are numerous artifacts on display, courtesy of the Chris Sanderson Museum.

According to Sanderson curator Chuck Ulman, the two organizations had worked together on other exhibits, so the collaboration was a no-brainer. The groups had just a couple of meetings before the Sanderson board agreed to get involved.

Ulman said there are about 20 items on loan from the museum with the primary one being a sheet map and a Washington Headquarters’ sign painted by N.C. Wyeth for Chris Sanderson.

CFHS Board President George Franz said he thinks the exhibit is “phenomenal.”

“Sallie always does a good job of trying to come up with an exhibit that appeals to multi-generational things. So, there’s lots of stuff in there that will intrigue kids and things that, I think, will intrigue adults,” Franz said.

One of the items, he said, youngsters will like is a table display filled with jelly beans representing the 27,000 British and Colonial troops that took part in the battle.

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