Historic
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Chadds Ford’s Davis Tract House Officially Preserved, Becoming North American Land Trust HQ
The Davis Tract House, a historically significant 16-acre property in Chadds Ford, has officially been preserved, writes Rich Schwartzman for Chadds Ford Live. It will serve as the new headquarters of the North American Land Trust (NALT). Previously owned by artist N.C. Wyeth, who illustrated Treasure Island there, the property also played a role in…
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Ending the Curse of Billy Penn
Under a long-standing gentleman’s agreement, no building in Philadelphia could rise higher than the hat of William Penn’s statue atop City Hall. But in 1987, after that agreement was violated, Philadelphia’s formerly successful pro sports teams just stopped winning championships. The result: Philly went from four pro teams fighting for championships in 1980 to zero wins after 1986. …
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Historical Marker Now Commemorates Tredyffrin School Segregation Battle
A historical marker now commemorates the central role that Mount Zion African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church in Devon played in the Berwyn School Segregation Case, a historic battle for civil rights in the early 1930s. The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission approved the marker officially commemorating “The Berwyn School Fight 1932-1934” earlier this year. “As…
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Unexpected Federal Grant Aids Chadds Ford Joseph Davis House Preservation
Amidst a freezing of federal funds, one grant from the National Park Service came through for the Joseph Davis House, a historic property in Chadds Ford where artist N.C. Wyeth once lived and worked. On Tuesday, the National Park Service announced a $1.8 million grant for the 16-acre site where part of the 1777 Battle…
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Resolution Honoring Bayard Rustin Adopted by Pennsylvania House of Representatives
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives has adopted a resolution honoring civil rights activist and West Chester native Bayard Rustin, writes staff for The Unionville Times. House Resolution 86 was introduced by state representative Andre D. Carroll (D-Phila), and designates Mar. 17—Rustin’s birthday—as Bayard Rustin Day across the state. The resolution was officially adopted on Mar.…
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Chester County Black Cemetery to Get Historic Marker
Founded in 1817, the Shiloh African Methodist Episcopal Church in Westtown served as a center for the local Black community. But by the 1960s, the decaying building was demolished. The adjacent cemetery had the grave markers stolen (only one monument survives) and is now overgrown. Among the many buried here are 14 Black Civil War…
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An 1890s Media Plasterer Immortalized in Preserved Church Note
They were doing some construction work at the Allen AME Church in Cape May, New Jersey in 2024 when they discovered a 134-year-old note nailed to a beam in the rafters. “To all whom this may concern, Elwood Rowland, formerly of Media, PA Daniel Galvin [formerly of] Phila. Plastered this church during the month of…
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Like Ellis Island, Washington Avenue Immigration Station in Philadelphia Once Welcomed Immigrants to the U.S.
While not as famous as Ellis Island, Washington Avenue Immigration Station in Philadelphia used to be a place where immigrants were welcomed into the country, writes Michelle Myers for The Philadelphia Inquirer. The local immigration station opened 19 years before its New York counterpart, but it never achieved the same fame. It operated from 1873…
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Ardmore’s Raab Collection Selling George Washington’s 1777 Letter
The Raab Collection in Ardmore is offering a 1777 letter written by George Washington in Morristown, New Jersey, for $150,000, writes Rob Jennings for Military.com. Despite a recent defeat, the commander of the Continental Army penned an optimistic letter on the possibility of winning the Revolutionary War. Washington wrote that the strong resistance during the…
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Buried History Uncovered in Rosemont—But It’s Going Back Underground
vistaA contractor renovating Ashbridge House in Rosemont recently uncovered a 200-year-old underground cistern while working on the $5 million project, writes Richard Ilgenfritz for Main Line Times & Suburban. The discovery, made beneath a garden patio’s bluestone pavers, prompted immediate consultation with Lower Merion’s historic preservation planner and the township’s Historical Commission. The cistern is…
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How Malvern’s Eerie History Makes for an Intriguing Tourist Destination
Malvern’s history makes it one of the most unconventional towns in Pennsylvania, writes Aunindita Bhatia for World Atlas. The borough’s history of wartime violence has resulted in frequent reports of hauntings and ghost sightings. Many sightings are related to the Paoli Massacre of 1777, where over fifty American soldiers were ambushed by British troops. Although…
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Former Chadds Ford Resident, 99-Year-Old Dr. Hester Petty, Talks Fighting Racial Inequality
Dr. Hester S. Petty, 99, is looking back at her life journey of fighting racial injustice, writes Aaron Farrar for News 4 Jax. Petty noted a few instances where she had to fight racism. More than 50 years ago, she and her husband Leon were ready to buy a house in Chadds Ford. The couple…
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New Life for Anthony Wayne Theater in Wayne as Nonprofit Plans
A group of passionate local investors is coming together to save the nearly 100-year-old Anthony Wayne Theater in Wayne, writes Caroline O’Halloran for Savvy Main Line. The theater has been closed since it was shut down during the pandemic in March of 2020. The “Anthony Wayne Theater” (AWT) is a 501©3 nonprofit of local business…
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The Montgomery County Prison in Norristown is a Monument to Architectural History
Norristown is home to the castle-like Montgomery County Prison. Pamela W. Reilly reflects on the historic structure in Pennsylvania Heritage. The prison was built in 1851 and stood as a symbol of historical significance on Airy Street. Prominent Philadelphia architect Napoleon LeBrun designed the Gothic Revival structure. LeBrun is also known for the Schuylkill County…
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Chester’s Robert Ferguson Worshipped With Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Custodian Robert Ferguson, now 91, recalls a time when he worshipped at the historic Calvary Baptist Church in Chester alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., writes Wakisha Bailey for CBS News Philadelphia. The congregants were led for 41 years by the late Rev. J. Pius Barbour. In that time, Rev. Barbour mentored several young pastors,…
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Why Villanova University Is Now the Permanent Steward of MLK’s ‘I Have a Dream’ Speech
Villanova University is now the permanent steward of the original copy of Dr. Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech, writes Jackie Thomas for The Villanovan. University President Rev. Peter M. Donohue made the announcement on Aug. 27 on the eve of the speech’s 58th anniversary. The document arrived at Villanova University through its…
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Six Decades Ago, Cheltenham High School Welcomed Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as Speaker
On April 15, 1964, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered a speech at Cheltenham High School to a sold-out audience as part of the Cheltenham Township Adult School’s 5-Star Forum series, writes Kenny Cooper for the WHYY. The now-defunct series brought many important speakers to lecture before an audience over the years, including Maya Angelou,…
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Norfolk Southern Partners with Souderton’s Railroad & Industrial Preservation Society to Restore Classic Locomotive
Norfolk Southern aids Souderton’s Railroad & Industrial Preservation Society with a $10,000 grant to restore the Alco S2 No. 611, writes Trains.com. Built in 1948, the No. 611 is the last intact diesel train from the Lehigh & New England Railroad, and it operated until the railroad closed in 1961. The project is taking place…
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