Sunday, September 20, 2020

Early Chester Pike History and Colonial Plantation and Newlin Grist Mill Events!!

 


A picture of Chester Pike from about 1900. The houses on the left are still standing, looking for a location and some guesses.


NOTE: There was a lot of interest in Chester Pike and it's history last week so I have written about the early history of the pike. The road was there as far back as the 1680's but it was not until 1706 that it was officially laid it. Please enjoy!


Early History of Chester Pike


March 19, 1705/6 – A petition was rendered to the “Leutt. Govern:  of the Providence of Pennsylvania and the 3 lower counties etc. to his Councils” by the inhabitants of the Town and county of Chester that they were much impressed by the future advantages and growth of the Town of Chester, and were in dire want for a direct road from there to Philadelphia.  Inasmuch as the petition goes on to request the Queen’s Road (Anne was on the Throne) to be laid out from Darby to Chester, it can again be assumed, and not particularly relevant to these notes, that that part of the ancient road from Darby to Philadelphia gave satisfaction.  The petition further avers that the request is “to answer the Bridge on Chester Creek”.  As stated, this bridge (Third Street) was not built until 1708, but for years the progressive citizens on both banks had been building the approaches and fighting hard to divert said ancient road as described elsewhere in these notes, to approximately what we now know it.  (Petition on file Logan Papers Vol. 3, p.122, Pennsylvania Historical Society, Philadelphia.)    The same day, an order was issued by Council to Jasper Yeates, Caleb Pusey, Jeremiah Collect, Robert Barber, Richard Crosby, and John Hendrixson directing ythem to lay one such road, and their return is dated June 28, 1706.  (Collect and Hendrixson did not sign), length, 7 miles.  In compliance with the order of Council, the road was promptly laid out, and the supervisors for Chester, Ridley and Darby Townships directed by the Court and notified by the Sheriff to clear the same.  (Original plan or draft on file at Harrisburg in the Department of Highways.)

          August 13, 1747 – Two petitions filed to lay out this road again (now King’s Road as George II was on the Throne) from Cobb’s Creek over Chester Bridge to New Castel County Line, there being doubt as to the 1706 road being duly recorded.  Petitions read in Provincial Council August 17, 18, 1747.

          September 7, 1747 – The Secretary reports having reached and found sundry orders relating to parts of the road.

          September 8, 1747 – Ordered by the Council “That the said road shall be re-surveyed and laid out according to the courses it now runs, beginning at the South Boundary of the city of Philadelphia, and from thence extending to the Lower Ferry, and from thence to Darby Creek, and from thence by the courses described in the recorded return made in the year 1706 to Chester Bridge, from thence by the present courses thereof to the limits of New Castle Government”.  One jury was appointed to lay out that part in the County of Philadelphia, another jury consisting of Caleb Cowpland, Joseph Parker, Joseph Bonsall, Samuel Levis, James Mather, John Davis, Peter Dicks, Thomas Pearson, and John Sketchley, or any five of them, to lay out that part thru Chester County.

          October 5, 1747 – Report of Surveyor General that road was laid out as far as Darby, but could proceed no farther with the Jury because the Order confined them to follow the courses of the 1706 Road from Darby to Chester, and since that time, alterations had occurred which barred their following the said order.  (The travelled road in some places was 330 feet to 660 feet south of the courses laid down in 1706).

          March 2, 1747/8 – A petition was read from the Jury and sundry inhabitants abutting the route of the proposed road to the effect that between Darby and Chester, the Road could not be laid out as recorded in 1706, due to encroachments on improved land, and deviations through woodland etc., from the present route.  The petitioners ask council to appoint a Jury for the purpose of laying out the Road “in the most convenient place to accommodate the Public”.  Petition dated December 3, 1747.  The Council, after inspecting maps of courses of 1706, and as now existed; rescind their order of September 8, and order and direct the Committee (Jury) to lay the same out “in the manner it now runs”.

          July 16, 1748 -      Return of the Road from Philadelphia to New Castle dated July 15, 1748, received and confirmed 60 feet wide, except in Chester and Darby where it is to retain its present width.  Joseph Bonsal and John Davis were the Commissioners appointed to survey and lay out this Road, and this date filed their return.  Signed by all the Jury except Parker.  From the description in the return, Cobb’s, Ridley and Chester Creeks were bridged, and the road still sported stumps and posts within its limits.  (The original plan or draft is on file at Harrisburg in the Department of Highways).

          The first mention thus far found of tollgates being established on this Road was in 1799 when an Act of Assembly was passed on April 11 to help lighten the burden of our Small County, then ten years old, in maintaining bridges.  This Act authorized the Commissioners to erect such gates for five years, and to collect toll from all travelers.  One tollgate was placed at Ridley Creek Bridge.

          Coach, light, wagon, or other pleasurable carriage, with

            four wheels and four horses                                                    25¢

          Coach, light wagon, ow other pleasurable carriage,

            with two wheels and two horses                                       15¢

          Chairs, sulky, etc., with one horse                                     10¢

          Sleight with two horses                                                        

          Man and horse                                                                       

          Wagon with four horses                                                       12¢

          Wagon with two horses                                                        

          Cart and horse                                                                       

          Every additional horse to carriages of pleasure                

          Every additional horse to carriages of burden                    

          Transportation in the early days was by horseback, the female, if accompanying the man, riding “side saddle” on a pillion back of the saddle.  A custom here the middle of the eighteenth century, and relating to marriage, was for the bride-to-be to ride in this fashion to the ceremony behind her father, or best friend, but to leave in position behind the groom.  Horse’s blocks were common – sometimes formed of three steps – for females to more readily munt behind their escorts.

The county and/or Townships becoming too poor to properly take care of and maintain this road, an Act of Assembly was passed April 14, 1851 incorporating the Darby and Ridley Turnpike or Plank Road Company, with power to construct a turnpike road on the Great Southern Post Road from the westerly side of the bridge over Darby Creek to the bridge between Darby and Ridley Townships (Muckinipates Creek).  this Act was under authority of a previous Act passed January 26, 1849 which authorized the Legislature to incorporate road companies, and with a stipulation that if the road be 50 feet wide, the company must build a 19 foot wide stone road, and if the road be 40 feet wide, then the improvement to be of plank.

          A supplementary Act passed February 19, 1853, changed the name to the Darby and Chester Turnpike Plank Road Company.  Other supplementary Acts were passed March 5, 1858, April 25, 1869, and May 4, 1869, again modifying the name to Darby and Chester Plank Road Company, and finally, the Chester and Darby Turnpike or Plank Road Company, with the westerly terminus changed to the east wing walls of the bridge over Ridley Creek (now River).  Authority was granted in the supplements, among other things, to issue stock to liquidate existing indebtedness.

          On February 13, 1889, one of the stockholders of the old company had a writ issue against it in the amount of $898.34, and sale took place April 20, 1889, the amount being $500!  This transfer was ratified by deed dated May 6, 1889.

          New life was given to the old road by an Act passed March 11, 1890, when the Chester and Darby Telford Road Company was chartered (Harrisburg, Charter Book 29, page 281; Media, Charter Book A, page 387, March 12, 1890).  This corporation was formed for the purpose of building and maintaining an artificial road or turnpike of stone gravel and earth”, and was a trifle over 6 miles between the bridges at Darby and Ridley Creeks.

          Thru the relocation of the Pennsylvania Railroad from Eddystone to Philadelphia to the site as we now know it (in 1873), the Turnpike, assumed renewed life due to the development along its bounds, and this ever-increasing prosperity to this area of the County induced the reviving of the road company as above set out.  The increased demand for more, and modern means of transportation induced the Company to enter into an agreement and lease with the newly chartered Chester, Darby, and Philadelphia Railway Company, for an annual rental of $1000, April 22, 1893.  A stipulation of the agreement was that a trolley track was to be laid along the north side of the roadway, and the top of the rails placed to conform with the camber (crown) of the improved roadway laid down by the Road Company.  This stipulation the Trolley Company failed to provide for, and it became necessary to take them into Court (#146 Sept. T. 1900), which suit, after affirmation by the State Supreme Court March 11, 1907, the Trolley Company lost, and they were therefore required to regrade their tracks.  It was during this period that the Telford Road again became almost an impassable highway, and the Road company’s bill of complaint averred that due to the track at places being from 2” to 18” above the established grade of the Pike, that bad drainage conditions prevailed, causing destruction of road surfaces, wash outs, and in this same period, causing the Boroughs of Ridley Park and Norwood to have entered condemnation proceedings against the Road Company, in which, however, the County does not seem to have joined.



Newlin Grist Mill Events

Virtual “Newlin Series” Talks To Be Offered GLEN MILLS, PA 


 Each year, Newlin Grist Mill hosts a series of presentations that explore different aspects of the site’s unique historical and environmental resources. This year’s “Newlin Series” focuses on foodways, to coincide with the restoration of the 1739 Trimble House kitchen & pantry. In addition to the talk that was already scheduled for September, an extra lecture has been added to in October, featuring a special guest presenter. Due to ongoing concerns with the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as recent flood damage in the park, the Newlin Series programs have gone virtual. The presentations will be free to the public, but attendees must register ahead of time through Zoom. On Thursday, September 24th at 7pm, Newlin Grist Mill’s director Tony Shahan and programs manager Laura Adie will present “Clues, Craft, and Cookery: Reconstructing a 1739 Kitchen.” They will talk about the process of documenting, restoring, and furnishing the original kitchen and pantry of the Trimble House in order to accurately interpret foodways on site. Register for “Clues, Craft, and Cookery” at https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJUlcu-tpzItH9yVIvcV0WQd6lorIAZu-gMT. On Saturday, October 24th at 2pm, English food historian Marc Meltonville will log on remotely from the UK to present “Brewing at Newlin: An English Ale in an American Kitchen.” He will be discussing an experimental project has been running over the last few years to brew household beer in the kitchen at Newlin Grist Mill. Find out how they made the beer happen, the process of putting together the 18th century equipment, and a little bit of beer history thrown in. Register for “Brewing at Newlin” at https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJYkfigqz0pHtFX6PjiMrh7ykxaXIc3iqun. For more information, or to learn more about Newlin Grist Mill, visit http://newlingristmill.org. 


Colonial Plantation Events

The Colonial Pennsylvania Plantation invites you to a Civil War Skirmish and Camp Saturday, September 26, 2020 10:30am—4pm Sunday, September 27, 2020 11am-3pm The Colonial Pennsylvania Plantation will be hosting a Federal and Confederate skirmish and camp on Saturday, September 26th and Sunday, September 27th. Visit the Plantation to witness firearm demonstrations, drills, and camp life. Skirmishes will take place on Saturday at 11:30pm and 2:30pm. Sunday’s skirmish is at 1:00pm. Note: While the skirmishes are in action, no one will be admitted to the Plantation, so please plan to arrive before or after the skirmishes. The Plantation’s hours are 10:30am to 4pm on Saturday (last admission at 3pm) and 11am to 3pm on Sunday (last admission at 2pm.) Admission is $12 for adults and $8 for children ages 4 to 12. Children under age 4 are free, as are members. No discounts or passes will be accepted for this special event. Please purchase tickets in advance by visiting www.colonialplantation.org GPS Address: 3900 North Sandy Flash Drive, Newtown Square, PA 19073.

Whether you're looking to hunt some ghosts, or hear horrifying true stories about our area's most gruesome deaths and hauntings, we have an event for you!


Spirits at Sunset
A Ghost Hunting Event
Saturday, October 3, 2020
7:00pm-9:00pm


What do you do when you come face-to-face with what goes bump in the night...?

With its first structures built in the 1690s, the Colonial Pennsylvania Plantation is host to a number of possible hauntings. Spirits at Sunset offers the opportunity to use ghost hunting equipment to explore four of the Plantation's oldest and most storied buildings, while the entire experience is tracked using LIVE night vision monitors.

Doors open at 7:00pm--please plan to arrive 5-10 minutes early as our site can be difficult to find in the dark. Plantation staff will give guests a historical overview of the site to better prepare them for their investigation. The investigation will begin around 7:15pm.

Tickets for this event are very limited. Due to Covid-19, we are restricting groups to 4-5 people and requiring masks to be worn at all times, indoors and out! Cloth or disposable masks that cover the nose and mouth please; no gaiters or bandanas. Face shields are not an acceptable substitute. Guests will move about the site in four small groups of 4-5, exploring both indoor and outdoor spaces.

For the first time, we are also offering an extremely limited VIP experience for 5 lucky individuals! For $70.00, ticket holders will receive a pre-hunt tarot card reading, a tour of the house and equipment by the investigation team, and the opportunity to stay after the public event for the team's private ghost hunt.

This event will be held rain or shine, and tickets are non-refundable. Proceeds from this event directly support the ongoing preservation and programming of the Colonial Pennsylvania Plantation. Terrain can be uneven--please plan to wear sturdy shoes and bring a flashlight. Guests will be going up and down stairs, and should be able to stand for long periods of time and walk over uneven surfaces.



Still Life with Skull by Philippe de Champaigne, 1671
Lantern Ghost Tours
Saturday, October 17th 6:00pm-9:00pm
Friday, October 23, 6:30pm-9:00pm

Scared yet? You will be.

Follow the torchlit path to the c. 1700 farmhouse, and face the darkness and weight of 300 years of human joy and misery.

For a limited time, members can enjoy VIP access to the best tour times and dates. Ghost Tours have sold out every year for the past six years, and we anticipate it will do so again this year. In 2020, Ghost Tours will be held on the following dates:

Saturday, October 17th
6:00pm to 9:00pm

Friday, October 23rd
6:30pm to 9:00pm

Tours leave every half hour, and feature horrifying tales from the Delaware County area. Each story features actual historical events and is based on research conducted by our staff. Tours last approximately 1.5 hours. Due to the graphic nature of some stories, we will not allow anyone under the age of ten to participate, and we recommend ages 12 and up. Visitors should expect some loud noises and scares, but no one will jump out at you or grab you. This is a walking tour, and visitors should expect darkness, uneven ground . If you have concerns about mobility, please let us know in advance of your visit.

For the safety of our visitors, we will be holding this event entirely outdoors, and tours will be limited to 10-12 individuals per time slot. Face masks covering the nose and mouth are REQUIRED AT ALL TIMES, even though we are outdoors. A face shield is not an acceptable substitute. This event will run rain or shine, and though we will make every effort to keep visitors under cover during inclement weather, you will want to come prepared.

We are offering a special ticket price of $13.00 per person for members in good standing for the 2020 season, and $15.00 for the general public.


When you reach the ticketing website, you will be prompted to choose how many tickets you want and at what level (member or non-member.) Below that on the left hand side you will be asked to choose the date and time slot you want. A maximum of 12 tickets will be sold for each time slot to ensure the comfort of our attendees.


Colonial Pennsylvania Plantation
P.O. Box 158
Gradyville, PA 19039
610-566-1725

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