Delaware County Heritage Trail
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Description
Explore Delaware County, Pennsylvania, its people, its places, and events
1. Anna Howard Shaw Historical Marker
Erected in 2014 by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, this historical marker was commissioned to honor the life of Anna Howard Shaw (February 14, 1847 – July 2, 1919). This marker can be found at the intersection of S Orange St. and S Ridley Creek Rd on S Orange St. Shaw was a leader of the women's suffrage movement of the United States. She was also a physician and one of the first ordained female Methodist ministers in the United States. Shaw is known for being a key member in the unification of various suffrage groups to create a united front in the women's suffrage movement. She lived near the location where this historical marker was erected from 1908 until her death.
2. The Rose Valley Museum at Thunderbird Lodge
What is now known as the Thunderbird Lodge began its existence as a late-18th century fieldstone barn. It was then transformed into artist studios and attached to an early-20th century house connected via an octagonal staircase by the leading architect of the Arts and Crafts Movement, William Lightfoot Price. The lodge was part of the larger Rose Valley utopian community created by Price and others in 1901. The lodge later became the home of leading civil rights activists, Judge Allen and Mildred Scott Olmsted. It was then donated to the Rose Valley Centennial Foundation in 2015 by the Olmsted family. It now serves as an Arts and Crafts museum and is home to the Rose Valley Museum and Historical Society. The lodge was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989 and is part of the Rose Valley Historic District which was designated in 2010.
3. Benjamin West Birthplace
Located on the campus of Swarthmore College, the Benjamin West Birthplace now serves as both the Visitor’s Information Center and Office of Public Safety. West was born in the stone, 2.5 story home in 1738 when the area was known as Springfield. West was, perhaps, the greatest American artist of his generation. He began his career as a portrait painter but quickly moved on to complex historical and religious works after he toured Italy and moved to London in 1763. His influence on American art is difficult to overstate as numerous artists traveled to London to learn from and work with him. His birthplace was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1965.
4. Malcolm X Visits Chester, Pennsylvania
Following months of protests against segregation in the county's schools, Malcolm X attended a school board meeting in Chester, PA.
5. Dr. Anna E. Broomall Historical Marker
Dr. Anna E. Broomall was an obstetrician and gynecologist known specifically for her revolutionary work in fetal medicine. She continuously worked with women in high risk pregnancies to decrease the infant mortality rate. Broomall strategized with different methods that were uncommon for her time, including cesarean section, to promote safer deliveries for both mothers and their babies, while also creating one of the country’s first maternity care clinics in Pennsylvania. She wrote articles and studied cases regarding different fetal complications, and she also presented ideas that would come to change the fetal medicine industry.
6. Crozer Theological Seminary
The Crozer Theological Seminary is located in Chester, Pennsylvania. It opened in the fall of 1868 by Baptists. The Crozer Theological Seminary adopted a nondenominational approach to religious education, gaining reputation as a theologically liberal institution ("Crozer Theological Seminary"). It gained significance due to Martin Luther King attending and graduating as valedictorian of his class in 1951. Martin Luther King strengthened his commitment to the Christian social gospel and ideas about nonviolence as a method of social reform which later played a huge role in his fight for equality. The Crozer Theological Seminary merged with another Baptist Seminary in New York in the late 1960's, forming the Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School ("Crozer Theological Seminary"). The old building in Chester, PA is not used by the Crozer Hospital and the seminary's grounds are now the Crozer Arboretum.
7. Caleb Pusey House
The Caleb Pusey House, built in 1683, is the oldest continuously standing house in Pennsylvania open to the public. Built and occupied by Caleb Pusey, this is the only still-standing building which can claim documented association with the proprietor, William Penn, and which he is known to have visited on several occasions. This unique English vernacular house stands beside Race Street, the small road once paralleling the millrace that brought water from Chester Creek to power the mills.
8. Ethel Waters Historical Marker
This is a marker to commemorate the life of Ethel Waters, one of the most renown singers and actresses of the early 20th century. Waters was born on October 31, 1896, in Chester, Pennsylvania. This marker is where Ethel grew up. She did not have an easy childhood, and craved affection she never received. Her family was always on the move, and she suffered from many illnesses and injuries as a child. After a rough childhood, she moved to Baltimore and it was there that her career began. After her big break, Waters went on to become a famous jazz singer and a Broadway sensation. In 1933, Waters appeared in her first all-Black film, Rufus Jones for President, that featured the child performer Sammy Davis Jr. as Rufus Jones. She continued her career always holding multiple jobs at once, and was even nominated for an Academy Award in 1949. Waters was married three times, and had no children. She lived a long and successful life that came to an end from uterine cancer on September 1, 1981.
9. Old Chester Courthouse
This Pennsylvania structure is the oldest public building in the United States that is still in use. The building dates back to an era when the land that now comprises Delaware County in southeastern Pennsylvania was part of Chester County. At that time, the small town of Chester was the county seat and this building served as the courthouse for Chester County from 1724-1786. The building has long been part of Delaware County and as a result, it served many functions including the county seat of Delaware County. The building later became the Chester City Hall and is now home to the Delaware County Historical Society. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971.
10. Delaware County Historical Society
Established in 1895, Delaware County Historical Society collects and preserves historical documents, objects, data, genealogy, and artifacts relative to the history of Delaware County, Pennsylvania. Located in the old Delaware County National Bank building (later Southeast National Bank) the three-story building houses DCHS's extensive research library, archives, artifacts, education center, and exhibit hall. The footprint of the original bank is still visible with the preservation of old teller windows, bank vaults, and marble staircases. The building is also immediately adjacent to the 1724 Courthouse.
11. Thomas Garret Station Master on the Underground Railroad
Harboring fugitive slaves had been a career for Thomas Garrett’s family from the time he was born. When he was young, he had helped a kidnapped slave escape from slave hunters, and from that point forward, he knew what he was meant to do in life. His life was full of many triumphs, but also had errors while trying to help the slave community. He was called Delaware's greatest humanitarian by the people of Delaware because of his accomplishments involving the underground railroad. He helped over 2500 slaves to freedom before his career ended.
12. Talon Energy Stadium
State of the art Major League Soccer stadium, home of the Philadelphia Union. Built in the city of Chester, on the banks of the Delaware River.
13. Eden Cemetery
Located in Collingdale, Pennsylvania, Eden Cemetery was created by five leading African American residents who petitioned the city and overcame protests to create a space where Black Philadelphians could be buried with dignity. The city approved the purchase of the land but hesitated to allow the creation of a "colored cemetery" after white residents protested. The city approved the creation of the cemetery in 1902, but the leaders of the community had to endure one final act of indignity. During the funeral and burial of Celestine Cromwell, the wife of one of the five men who created the cemetery, white residents of Collingdale attempted to physically block the funeral party's access to the cemetery. Mourners refused to abandon their plans, and Cromwell became the first person buried at Eden Cemetery. The cemetery serves the final resting place for many Black leaders, including women and men who were active in the Underground Railroad. In 1902, William Still was buried at the cemetery. Still helped hundreds of slaves escape.
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14. Bank Barn
The original barn associated with the Miller's House was no longer standing when the property became part of the Newlin Grist Mill park, so in 1986, a barn located in northern Delaware was acquired and rebuilt on site to help represent the agricultural aspects of the site in the 18th century.
15. The Printzhof and statue of Johan Printz
Located in Governor Printz Park, the Printzhof is the structural remains of a 17th-century residence of the governor of New Sweden, Johan Printz. The stone foundation of the structure is all that remains from the first European settlement in what would later become Pennsylvania. Printz relocated the capital of New Sweden from Fort Christina, in present-day Wilmington, Delaware, when he arrived in the New World in 1643. His first home was destroyed by fire along with most of the surrounding buildings in 1645. The structrue was rebuilt, but all that now remains of the Printzhof is its stone foundation and artifacts excavated from the site during archeological digs in 1937, 1976, and 1989. The Printzhof was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1961.
16. Brickmaking Area
An important part of Newlin Grist Mill's approach to history is that the staff and volunteers at the site learn about historical processes by actually doing them and documenting the experiences. This comes from the field of "experimental archaeology." One of the projects that has been done onsite is traditional brickmaking.
17. Potash Kiln
An important part of Newlin Grist Mill's approach to history is that the staff and volunteers at the site learn about historical processes by actually doing them and documenting the experiences. This comes from the field of "experimental archaeology." One of the projects that has been done onsite is the making of potash.
18. Deer Statue
This bronze deer statue was commissioned by Elizabeth Newlin, one of the founders of the park. Edward Fenno Hoffman (1916-1991) was the renowned sculptor who made the deer statue, and it was dedicated in 1973.
19. Archive
In the first half of the 18th century, the Newlins built a general store next to the mill. The store was constructed over the top of the mill’s tailrace, which was enclosed by an arched masonry tunnel. For many years, it served as a store and residence. It now houses the archives and library of the Nicholas Newlin Foundation and the Society for the Preservation of Old Mills (SPOOM).
20. Trimble House
The Trimble House sits uphill from the Grist Mill and Miller's House. The Trimble family purchased the property adjacent to that of the Newlins in 1737. Also in the milling trade, they would go on to lease the Grist Mill from the Newlin family and eventually purchased it from them. --- *** PLEASE NOTE: Part of the Trimble House continues to be used as a private residence. Please be respectful of the occupants and refrain from knocking on doors, looking in windows, etc. ***
21. Miller's House
When the Newlin Grist Mill was expanded to a merchant mill in 1739, a 2-story stone house was also built nearby to attract a miller. This would have allowed the miller and his family to live onsite and oversee operations. It is thought that by this time, the members of the Newlin family were no longer involved in the day-to-day of the mill and had hired a master miller to run what was now a large merchant mill.
22. Paper Press
Besides grist mills to produce flour, there were numerous other types of mills along Chester Creek including sawmills, textile mills, and papermills. There were two papermills downstream from Newlin Grist Mill. These turned linen and cotton rags into paper for writing, printing, and currency. The iron paper press here (mounted on a reproduction wooden frame) came from Trimble's papermill and would have been used to squeeze water out of the paper pulp and compact the fibers into smooth sheets of paper.
23. Newlin Grist Mill
The Newlin Grist Mill and the surrounding 160-acre park is a place for exploration of both history and the environment. The site features a working grist mill, offers public history and nature programs, and includes over eight miles of walking and hiking trails. Whether you are involved in preservation, education, outdoor recreation, or just relaxing, there is something for you.
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24. Grist Mill
The Grist Mill was built by Nathaniel Newlin (son of Nicolas) and his wife Mary in 1704. It was owned by the Newlin family until the early 19th century, when it was sold to the Trimble family. It would go on to pass to the Sharpless and Hill families until a ninth-generation descendant of Nicolas Newlin, E. Mortimer Newlin, purchased it in the mid-20th century and restored the mill to represent the site's colonial history.
25. Lazaretto Quarantine Station
Philadelphia's Lazaretto Quarantine Station is the oldest standing facility of its kind in the Western Hemisphere and the sixth oldest in the world. Built in 1799-1800, it is estimated that as many as one third of all Americans are descended from immigrants who passed through this station, which predates Ellis Island by a century [1; 7]. It stands on the site of Pennsylvania's first European settlement, New Sweden's capital under Governor Johann Printz, established in the 1640s. The grounds and buildings of the Lazaretto were later used for recreation, then became the first seaplane base in Philadelphia [7].
26. The Darby Free Library
On March 10th, 1743, a group of Quakers and merchants residing in the village of Darby chose to meet and organize the first institution in the area. On this day, 29 people met and signed an agreement which would serve as the first building block for one of the first public libraries in America. The building itself might seem easy to miss; however, the history and culture surrounding this old institution is definitely worth checking out. This library, along with many others founded during this period of American history warrant a thorough investigation of history.
27. Merion Golf Club
Comprised of two 18-hole courses, the East and West courses, the Merion Golf Club has hosted 18 United States Golf Association (USGA) championships, more than any other. The first course built on the site was created by the Merion Cricket Club in 1896. That course was replaced by the Hugh Wilson designed East Course in 1912 and the West course was added to the club in 1914. The East course is the more challenging of the two, has hosted all USGA championships, to include five U.S. Opens, and is thus, better known. The club is private and only open to members and their guests. The Merion Golf Club was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1992.
28. Hilldale Park
Located in Derby, PA, Hilldale Park was the longtime home of the Hilldale Daisies. During the 1920s, the Hilldale Daisies were one of the most successful Negro League Clubs. Dominating the early Eastern Colored League, they won the pennant each of the league’s first three years. In addition to the Hilldale Daisies, other lesser known African American baseball teams also used Hilldale Park. One of the most notable sites in the ballpark was a large tree behind the centerfield fense that had branches extending over the fence.
29. The Baldwin School of Bryn Mawr / The Bryn Mawr Hotel
The Baldwin School of Bryn Mawr is one of the United States’ most prestigious all-girls schools. Since 1888, the Baldwin School has served the Greater Philadelphia area and it has been located here in the former Bryn Mawr Hotel for most of those years. While the building has undergone some modifications since its original construction in 1890, the school still calls this building home and has overseen and contributed significantly to its preservation as a historical landmark.
30. The Pavilion at Villanova University
The Pavilion at Villanova University is home to the men's and women's basketball teams. It is used for other sports and recreational use for students. Great teams and players have played in the Pavilion where basketball has become the main attraction. Donors and Villanova alumni have gathered money to support for a renovation and rename the stadium to the Finneran Pavilion.
31. M. Carey Thomas Library, Bryn Mawr College
This structure, completed in 1907, served as the campus library until 1970. In 1991, the building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. Not only is this architecturally significant building one of the most visible places on the historic Bryn Mawr campus, it continues to serve a gathering place. The building's Great Hall hosts performances and lectures, as well as campus and public events throughout the year. Quita Woodward Memorial Room for recreational reading with recent books on literature, art, religion, current affairs, as well as many classics. The building is named in honor of M. Carey Thomas, the first dean of the school and it's second President. The building and its signature Great Hall were inspired by campus buildings at Oxford University.
