Jewish institution of its kind in America, founded, 1898. From
Doylestown southwest, two miles, CASTLE VALLEY, Prospect or Spruce Hill,
fine view, and grave, according to county tradition, of Lenape Chief,
Tammany, whose name is used in Tammany Hall, New York; continuing the
automobile route, Buckingham turnpike near Doylestown, small stone
bridge, said to be 179 years old; facing masonry, more modern; date
stone, 1814. BUCKINGHAM, Tavern, General Green’s headquarters, lunch
room restored in ancient style; Friends Meeting House, with lost graves
of Continental soldiers along roadside; Buckingham Mountain and Wolf
Rocks, center of runaway slave settlement, old negro church on summit;
left of Old York Road, ancient limestone quarries and kilns; HOLICONG or
“Conkey Hole” deep funnel-shaped depression with water hole in
neighboring field; residence of Colonel H. D. Paxson, contains unique
collection of light and fire making apparatus, and of North American
Indian objects including the Lenape Stone; LAHASKA, Dr. Staveley’s
residence, “Bleak House.” AQUETONG, Logan’s or Ingham Spring, one of the
largest limestone springs in East United States, residence of Samuel
Ingham, General Jackson’s Secretary of State; north of York Road,
SOLEBURY, Friends Meeting House.
CENTER BRIDGE, on the Delaware, house in which William G. Whittier, the
poet, lived. Residence of Edward W. Redfield, landscape painter, many of
his paintings are made from scenes in this vicinity. NEW HOPE, summer
art colony, residence W. L. Lathrop, and other artists; Parry House,
“Cintra,” stone, with walls of great thickness, said to have been built
by William Maris in 1816, is so strikingly like the famous Octagon House
in Washington, D. C, that both were probably from the same model, a wing
of the old castle “Cintra” near Lisbon, Portugal; the heavy paneled
cherry doors, with silver-plated knobs, on first floor, are said to have
been originally part of Robert Morris’ house, “The Hills,” in Fairmount
Park; Mr. Maris is credited with several buildings in New Hope, also,
near New Hope, “Spring Dale,” with octagonal entrance hall, once the
home of Dr. Charles Huffnagle, who was United States Consul to Calcutta
and later United States Consul General to British India; who brought a
notable collection of curios from the Orient which for many years were
on exhibition at Spring Dale.
In December, 1776, four brigades under Generals Sterling, Mercer,
Stephen, and De Fermoy, were posted from Yardley’s to Coryell’s Ferry,
now New Hope, to guard fords above Trenton. Farmhouse of William Keith
above Brownsburg, built, 1763; marked, inscription, “Washington’s
headquarters previous to Battle of Trenton, December 14-25, 1776.” Old
Eagle Tavern to right, fine view of river, hills, and valley southward;
picturesque valley of Knowles Creek along Jericho Hill, site of American
Army camp. North, line of William Penn’s first Bucks County purchase
from the Indians, near site of Indian town Playwicky; below, “Lurgan,”
near river, named in honor of James Logan’s birthplace in County Armagh,
Ireland. On December 25, Washington and army crossed the river at
McConkey’s Ferry, now TAYLORSVILLE, before midnight; nine hundred-foot
bridge there now; twenty-four hundred troops were transported by 3.00
A.M. December 26; marched to Trenton, in two divisions, under Generals
Greene and Sullivan, conquered the Hessians, and recrossed the river
same evening, with nearly one thousand prisoners, arms, and several
cannon.
At NEWTOWN, then county seat, Washington wrote of his victory to the
President of Congress, December 27, 1776, in residence of John Harris;
his headquarters until December 29. Old Brick Hotel, built, 1684,
enlarged, 1764, called, “The Red Lion,” Hessian prisoners were brought
here; in 1829, residence of Major Joseph O. V. S. Archambault, born at
Fontainebleau, France, aide to Napoleon in Battle of Waterloo, member of
his household at St. Helena; was visited here by Prince Murat and Joseph
Bonaparte. Old Friends Meeting House; old Court House; and Bank, robbed
by the Doans after the Revolution. North of Newtown, one mile,
WRIGHTSTOWN, Lenape monument, on site of chestnut tree, land given by
Miss Martha Chapman, inscription, “To the memory of the Lenni-Lenape
Indians, ancient owners of the region, these stones are placed on this
spot; the starting point of the ‘Indian Walk,’ September 19, 1735, Bucks
County Historical Society, 1890.” Friends Meeting House; nearby, in
fields, site of cave house of John Chapman, first settler: very
beautiful views beyond Buckmansville toward Wrightstown, Solebury
Mountain in plain view. On Richboro Pike, at RICHBORO and CHURCHVILLE
are Dutch Reformed churches, about 200 years old; near is Southampton
Baptist Church, built, 1764. From WRIGHTSTOWN, through YARDLEYVILLE to
MORRISVILLE, population 3639; opposite Trenton; Island off lower part
was first Pennsylvania land occupied by Europeans, 1624; first ferry,
1640. “Summer Seat,” built by Thomas Barkley, 1773, conveyed to Robert
Morris, 1791, still standing; was Washington’s headquarters December 8
to 14, 1776; Lincoln Highway enters Pennsylvania here. FALLSINGTON,
Friends Meeting House and quaint old buildings.
Return to Philadelphia on Bristol and Frankford Turnpike; “The King’s
Highway,” laid out by Provincial Council, first road cut through Bucks
County; early milestones still standing; pass Wheat Sheaf to Pennsbury,
site of William Penn’s country house, frames and other work brought from
England; he lived here one year. EDGELY, greenhouses where “Queen of
Edgely Rose” originated; Landreth’s seed farms above BRISTOL,
population, 10,273, named for Bristol, England, home of William Penn’s
wife, Hannah Callowhill; the Keene house, built by Major Lenox, 1816,
American minister to England, his niece, Sarah Lukens Keene, inherited
and died here, bequeathing it to the Protestant Episcopal Church of
Philadelphia, in trust, as home for aged gentlewomen; St. James’
Protestant Episcopal Church, built, 1712, has silver communion service
presented by Queen Anne, church was used for stable by cavalry during
the Revolution; interesting burial ground, tomb of Captain John Green of
American Navy, said to have been first to carry the American flag in
voyage around the world. Farmers’ Bank of Bucks County, Radcliffe
Street, Grecian, Ionic, built by James Craig, nephew of Nicholas Biddle,
for residence, bought for bank, 1830.
LANGHORNE, residence of Joseph Richardson, Esq., built, 1738, Edge Hill
stone, with white oak joists and rafters, sawed by hand with pit saw,
now occupied by his descendants; headquarters of Lafayette and Dr. Peter
Yarnall. “Night after battle of Trenton, part of Washington’s army came
to Attleboro,” now Langhorne: old Galloway House, Trevose, residence of
Jeremiah Langhorne, part owner of Durham Furnace. One mile east, on
Lincoln Highway, is stone mansion, one of the oldest in Pennsylvania,
exterior is in original state, residence of the late A. Haller Gross,
Esq., notable for its art, architecture, and landscape gardening; an
addition, in French chateau style, built, 1911, has rooms and floors
enriched by very beautiful tiles, designed and made by Dr. Henry C.
Mercer; his work is further shown on the terraces and gardens; in a
fountain of green enameled tiles; the concrete balustrade, and pavilion
dragons and other devices are in the sunken Moorish garden; and in the
Italian garden, with its pergola, sun dial and fountain. BYBERRY,
birthplace Dr. Benjamin Rush in 1745, house still standing; and Friends
Meeting House, with large library. EDDINGTON, St. Francis Roman Catholic
Industrial School, built and endowed by the Drexel family; CORNWELLS,
“Castle of State in Schuylkill”; ANDALUSIA, named by John Craig,
Philadelphia merchant, in memory of successful ventures in Spain; here
is Church of the Redeemer and King Free Library. Old Red Lion Inn, on
the Pike, near three-arched stone bridge, over Poquessing Creek,
Washington’s army encamped around it in 1781, on march to Yorktown;
seven years earlier, Massachusetts delegates to the First Continental
Congress stopped here.
TORRESDALE, Philadelphia County, place of fine residences; Eden Hall now
Convent of St. Elizabeth. BUSTLETON, old Baptist Church, with
interesting burial ground. Over Pennypack Creek, two arched stone
bridge, date, 1800, style has been reproduced in the Fairmount Park
trolley bridges. HOLMESBURG, Edwin Forrest Home, “Spring Brook,” and one
hundred and eleven acres, bequeathed by him, for retired actors, men and
women; bought in 1865 for his country seat; House of Correction,
accommodates 1000; well-kept grounds. Over Pennypack Creek, stone bridge
built 1697-8, in good repair, oldest in Pennsylvania; about a mile
distant, near Rowland Station, is old Crispin Cemetery, contains
monument, inscription, “In memory of Thomas Holmes, died, 1695, age 71,
Surveyor General for William Penn, he drafted the plan and laid out the
City of Philadelphia.” BRIDESBURG, United States Arsenal. FRANKFORD,
site of a Delaware Indian Camp, on banks of Frankford Creek; many
arrowheads have been found in this locality; Indian names are retained
at Tacony, Tackawanna, Wissinoming; an interesting Roman Catholic
Church, Gothic, is at Tacony, also Louis A. Burk’s Japanese garden and
orchid farm. Swedes settled here in 1667, and were followed by the
English. Philadelphia delegates to the First Continental Congress came
to Frankford in 1774 to meet the Massachusetts delegates on their way to
the city, and held a conference here relative to the Independence of the
colonies, which decided the destiny of the nation. In 1781 General
Washington and his army marched through Frankford from New York to
Yorktown; a stop was made at the “Jolly Post Hotel,” built, 1680, on
Frankford Avenue north of Orthodox Street.
In 1824 Lafayette passed through Frankford from Bristol to Philadelphia,
riding in an open carriage drawn by six cream-colored horses, with
postilions; he was escorted by a detachment of the City Troop under
command of Captain Albert Ashmead, Captain of the Philadelphia County
Troop; the Washington Grays, and several other companies of mounted
volunteers. Rooms of the Frankford Historical Society, Frankford Avenue
north of Sellers Street, contain many objects of interest, illustrating
this locality in old times. Residence of Commodore Stephen Decatur is
on Powder Mill Lane. The old Friends’ Meeting House, corner of Unity and
Waln Streets, was organized in 1682; first log church built, 1698;
present building, 1775.
Rehoboth Methodist Church, formed in 1830; used the old Academy; the
Supreme Court met here in 1800; now on Paul Street below Unity Street;
present building Spanish architecture, dark brick, erected, 1879. St.
Mark’s Protestant Episcopal Church was a Mission of Trinity, Oxford;
started in 1709; present church, Frankford Avenue below Sellers Street,
erected in 1908; English, Fourteenth century Gothic; Port Deposit
granite with Indiana limestone trimmings; architects, Watson and Huckle;
windows by D’Ascenzo and Tiffany. Frankford Presbyterian Church, corner
of Frankford Avenue and Church Street, was originally German Reformed;
corner-stone laid, 1770; for many years the church was supplied with a
preacher from the Market Square Church, Germantown; present building
erected, 1859; architect, McArthur. St. Joachim’s Roman Catholic Church,
corner of Church and Franklin Streets, built, 1874; Gothic, brownstone
and sandstone; has a very beautiful tower, resembling that of Magdalen
College, Oxford; architect, Edwin Durang; contains three carved marble
altars; also a large mosaic, and memorial windows from Munich.
Automobile, north from Centre Bridge, River Road, to DURHAM, commands
some of the most beautiful views in eastern Pennsylvania; through
LUMBERVILLE, Devil’s Half Acre; right, at Like Kiln, site of important
Indian fishing village, many relics have been found here. POINT
PLEASANT, mouth of Tohickon Creek, Indians quarried argillite rock for
blade material; RIDGES ISLAND, Indian village site; grave of Edward
Marshall of the “Indian Walk,” in his family graveyard. Tinicum Creek,
picturesque gorges, ringing rocks, cliffs of the narrows, with fine view
from Table Rock, very rare “ice plant” grows here. Hill Presbyterian
Church, built, 1761, on Durham Road near OTTSVILLE.
KINTERSVILLE, ruins of Durham Furnace, built, 1727, stone, thirty-five
feet square at base, thirty feet high; large leather bellows used to
give the blast, were operated by a water wheel; charcoal fuel was made
in pits close at hand; in 1758, Durham was regarded as best iron works
in the country; in 1773, one thousand acres were reserved for the
furnace; fire backs and stove plates were made here until 1794, when it
blew out; eight genuine, Durham fire backs are at “Stenton,” Germantown,
home of James Logan, who was one-fourth owner of the furnace, three bear
the date, 1728; cannon balls for the Revolutionary war were made here in
quantities, specimens may be seen in the Bucks County Historical
Society; in 1773 Joseph Galloway became first individual owner, it then
comprised over eight thousand acres, and was leased to George Taylor, at
one time a filler at the furnace; he later was a signer of the
Declaration of Independence; scanty remains of the once celebrated
Durham Cave, destroyed for its limestone as flux for iron ore. The road
passes site of Indian village of Pechequeolin, jasper quarries worked by
Indians for arrowheads on neighboring Rattlesnake Hill. Fine old stone
arch bridges over Tohickon and Durham Creeks. RIEGELSVILLE, old
Reformed and Lutheran Churches.
Places of interest in Bucks County, north and west of Doylestown, via
Easton and Dublin Turnpikes, PLUMSTEADVILLE, beautiful views of Haycock
Mountain, and upper county, Moses Doan’s grave, marked with inscription;
west, DUBLIN to HILLTOWN, two Mennonite and Amish meeting houses, stone
arch bridge over Deep Run. PERKASIE, Trinity Lutheran Church, mural
painting in chancel, “Angel with Trinity Symbol,” the late H. Hanley
Parker, artist.
[Illustration: CHESTER COUNTY]
III
CHESTER COUNTY
Third county formed by William Penn; named for Chester, England. This is
rich agricultural district; its broad well-kept farms, great gray barns,
and comfortable homesteads of stone or brick, many still occupied by
descendants of the original Quaker settlers; together with the gently
rolling surface of the country and its many beautiful streams, all
combine to give the county a character of its own, of quiet pastoral
charm. Both the family names and place names indicate in a general way
the character of the original settlement of the county, Birmingham,
Bradford, Marlborough, and Kennett indicating the settlements of the
English Quakers in the central and southern portion of the county:
Tredyffrin and Berwyn, those of the Welsh in the east; while the Germans
came later into parts of the north; and the Scotch-Irish Presbyterians
into the southwest.
The Lincoln Highway, Lancaster Pike, enters the county at STRAFFORD; St.
Peter’s Protestant Episcopal Church, built, 1823; Eagle schoolhouse,
1772, on site of Lutheran log church, 1767, one of the cradles of the
nation in education; now contains historical library and relics of the
neighborhood; site, of “Spread Eagle Inn,” built, 1732, post and relay
station.
PAOLI, 535 feet above sea, Tredyffrin township. “The General Paoli Inn,”
built by General Joshua Evans, who was elected to State Legislature,
1820; recruiting went on briskly here for War of 1812. Road southwest
to West Chester, nine miles. One mile south of Paoli, colonial
homestead, “Waynesborough,” birthplace of General Anthony Wayne, built,
1724, in original condition, now residence of Captain William Wayne;
contains many relics of the General; Lafayette was guest here one night;
marked with bronze tablet; near Paoli is Great Valley Baptist Church,
second oldest in state, built by Rev. Hugh Davis, from Wales, 1722;
present church, 1805; interesting burial ground. DUFFRYNMAWR Post
Office, “The Green Tree,” George King, builder and host, died 1792,
native blue limestone, stopping place for Mennonites and Amish.
MALVERN, terminus of the West Chester Railroad in 1833, cars were then
drawn by horses; “The Warren Inn,” stopping place for Lancaster County
Germans, sold to John Penn, 1776; British army quartered here before
Paoli Massacre; in 1786, sold to Casper Fahnestock, member of German
Mystic Community at Ephrata; three fugitive French princes were here in
1789, Louis Phillipe, Duke de Montpensier, and Count de Beaujolais.
One mile southwest of Malvern, site of Paoli Massacre, 1777; two
monuments, marble, 1817, granite, 1877, same inscriptions, erected by
Republican Artillerists of Chester County and citizens; here General
Wayne’s company, fifteen hundred men, were surprised by a greatly
superior force of British under General Grey, and charged with bayonet
before they could arm for defense; Wayne saved his artillery.
DOWNINGTOWN, birthplace of Jacob Eicholtz, artist.
[Illustration: BRONZE TABLET IN BOULDER
This is located on the farm of Dr. Thomas G. Ashton, near Willistown
_Designed by Paul P. Cret_]
“General George Washington Inn” known as Downings, now a dwelling.
Interesting colonial mansion of the Thomas family, well preserved, now,
Public Library. “The Ship Tavern” one mile west, old sign perforated
with bullet holes by Continental soldiers, now a residence. Old gray
stone bridge across the East Brandywine, built, 1741.
Two miles north, near Guthrieville, birthplace of Thomas Buchanan Read
in 1822, poet and artist; marked, bronze tablet.
On the limestone road, following Indian trail, leading from Parkesburg
to Oxford and south, are Faggs Manor, six miles northeast of Oxford,
classical school, established, 1739; marked, bronze tablet. St. John’s
Presbyterian Church, early burial ground; Whitefield stood under the old
oak trees.
An interesting early highway known as the “Street Road,” laid out in
part by William Penn, has almost the directness and width of a Roman
road; entering the county near Westtown, and crossing Brandywine Creek
at Pocopson, to London Grove, original name, Marlborough; Street,
stately old Quaker Meeting House at London Grove; wonderful oak trees.
WEST CHESTER, county seat, formed, 1786, population 11,717. In one
block, High Street between Gay and Market Streets, are good specimens of
the three great orders of Grecian architecture, designed by Thomas U.
Walter, architect of Capitol at Washington; National Bank of Chester
County, built, 1836, Doric, white marble; First National Bank, Ionic,
white marble; the Court House, Corinthian, built, 1847, Pictou stone; on
Court House lawn is Soldiers’ Monument to Civil War patriots, bronze
figure, granite base, erected, 1915; sculptor, Harry Lewis Raul. Public
Library, North Church Street, memorial to Bayard Taylor, contains
interesting collection of his manuscripts; “The Story of Kennett,” his
books, sketches, and other relics; also marble bust of General Anthony
Wayne; sculptor, W. Marshall Swayne. The new Library of the State Normal
School contains portrait of Washington by Peale, painted at Valley
Forge; historic autograph letters; Indian stone relics; large herbarium;
and small permanent collection of original paintings, among them works
by Hugh Breckenridge and Mary Butler; annual exhibitions of modern
paintings and sculpture are held; Della Robbia reproductions in
auditorium; Chester County Historical Society rooms are here, containing
many interesting local historical collections; addresses on subjects of
local historic interest are frequently given, and published in their
bulletins.
Churches noteworthy for architecture, Holy Trinity, Protestant
Episcopal, South High Street, native serpentine stone, Gothic; and
Westminster Presbyterian, South Church Street, tower suggests famous one
of Magdalen College, Oxford. At north end of High Street, stone drinking
fountain, surmounted by bronze figure of boy, sculptor, Martha J.
Cornwell; placed by New Century Club. Marshall Square, a public park,
contains rare collection of trees. West Chester, noted for men of repute
in scientific world, was the residence of the late Dr. Joseph Trimble
Rothrock; in 1893 he drew up a bill creating a Forestry Commission, to
investigate and report upon the forestry conditions of Pennsylvania,
this bill was passed, and in 1895 he was appointed Commissioner of
Forestry.
Favorite drives, with succession of beautiful vistas, are along the East
Brandywine from Downingtown south, and West Brandywine, from Mortonville
south. At MORTONVILLE, three miles southeast of Coatesville, is fine,
old, gray stone bridge, with four arches, graduated in width, and
rounded buttresses; built, 1826.
Following the stream, and crossing several picturesque wooden covered
bridges, through EMBREEVILLE, a half mile east of which is Point
Lookout, where sentries were posted to guard supplies for American
Encampment at Valley Forge; marked by Chester County Chapter of the
Daughters of the American Revolution; opposite is “Star Gazers’ Stone,”
set by Mason and Dixon, 1764, in running a base line for boundary
between Pennsylvania and Maryland; here they made various astronomical
observations; calculated the force of gravity; and measured a degree of
latitude on the earth’s surface southward; this stone was walled and
marked, with bronze tablet. Several places in the vicinity, connected
with the Lenni-Lenape Indians, are also marked; in County Home, grounds,
grave of Indian Hannah, last of her race in this county; site of her
cabin half mile south of NORTHBROOK; Indian cemetery half mile west of
Northbrook; and Indian Rock, just west of Northbrook; from the latter
point the Indian chief, Checochinican, claimed that land had been
reconveyed to the tribe up to source of stream, a mile on either side;
these negotiations, in the picturesque language used by the chief, are
among the records of the provincial assembly; Okehocking, Indian Town,
has been marked by tablet.
Just east of Northbrook, birthplace of Humphry Marshall, botanist; two
miles north, at MARSHALLTON, adjoining his old home, is interesting
arboretum, still containing many trees planted by him; marked with
bronze tablet.
Continue drive to LENAPE, amusement park, where East Branch of the
Brandywine, from Downingtown, unites with western; down main stream,
skirting, just above Pocopson, a beautiful spot, Dungeon Bottom; and
passing several antique, covered, wooden bridges, to CHADDS FORD; here
the ranks of British, Hessians, and Continentals charged to and fro at
Battle of Brandywine, September 11, 1777; two miles northeast, old
BIRMINGHAM meeting house, used as hospital by troops, and center of some
of the fiercest fighting; many points connected with the battle were
marked with tablets by Chester County Historical Society, in connection
with State Historical Commission, in 1915.
On State Highway, six miles west of Chadds Ford, Kennett Square,
birthplace of Bayard Taylor, poet and traveler, and his later home
“Cedar-Croft,” built by him, one mile south, both marked with bronze
tablets; he was buried at Longwood Meeting House, about two miles east;
artistic monument, a cylindrical stone; at this meeting house, of
“Progressive Friends,” many prominent leaders of anti-slavery spoke
before the Civil War. This region was center of anti-slavery sentiment,
many of the old Quaker homesteads were stations of the so-called
“underground railroad,” by which fugitive slaves were protected and
carried