Little-known cultural jewel in Delaware County! I believe when we took the tour they said this is…read morethe oldest structure still standing in Delco! First, yes, this is kind of out of the way of more obvious places, and is on some "back roads" for those not familiar with that part of Delco ("back roads" as in winding through the residential parts of Brookhaven/Upland, not as in some rural route). You will literally have to drive through a neighborhood of 20thC homes in order to get to Race Street, where what remains of the plantation is located. But it's easy enough to get to, with "Pusey Plantation" signs pointing the way when you are close, and definitely worth the trip. The address says Brookhavem but it really seems like it is in Upland, FYI. The location is kind of behind some project housing, which is so bizarre given the fact that this used to be a homestead on a 100-acre farm. But don't think you are in the wrong place, just keep going until you see it around the corner. The heavily constructed area will open up to a small park and the old home. It's a little oasis in the middle of sprawl and creeping citification. The tour (offered May - Oct), is really intimate in the tiny house, and the antiques and period items are very cool to see up close. The guide was personable, and very friendly about asking questions and showing her love of local culture and the history of the home. They host a fall festival which is great for kids (as is the tour, which they adjust for kids' interest levels). Here is info from their website: "Built in 1683 and occupied by Caleb Pusey, this is the only building still standing 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."

Going back over four hundred years, but only noted with this single marker that reads:…read more "John Grubb, one of the original English settlers in Delaware, acquired a one-third interest in a 600 acre tract of land at this location in 1680. Several generations passed and the Grubb family greatly increased their land holdings in the area and successfully opened leather tanning and iron manufacturing businesses. In 1783 one of John Grubb's great-grandsons, Amor Augustus Grubb, built a fieldstone home which is believed to be on the foundation of his great-grandfather's original house from 1684. The house and land would remain in the hands of Amor Grubb's heirs until 1913. In 1918 the house and surrounding land were bought by Edward Worth of The Worth Steel Company who would expand the house and double its size. The Worth family named the estate Ledgeworth. In 1952 the Catholic Foundation of the Diocese of Wilmington purchased the estate and sold it to the Holy Rosary Parish to be used as a convent for the Sisters of Saint Joseph. The Convent was closed in 1980 and the mansion was used for various activities and meetings as well as a retreat. In October 2011 the mansion was reopened after an extensive two year renovation as the Holy Rosary Parish Pastoral Center."

SO COOL!! So much history here it's amazing to see. I was…read moreable to take our wedding photos here and I'll post them so you can see how amazing of a backdrop it is!! Totally recommend

One of the things I never realized until I left Philadelphia was the sheer mass of historical…read moreplaces and artifacts I was surrounded by. There are so many places that are important to understanding where we came from that some end up becoming obscure, unknown, sometimes demolished in the name of progress. Then there are those that are saved from that fate, usually by passionate historians and community members who lobby to save the place from being destroyed. In the case of the Lazaretto Quarantine Station and Hospital, they succeeded - just barely. It is a success story worthy of a Hallmark special. The Lazaretto Quarantine Station and Hospital was the first of its kind, built and put into service after the Fever of 1793 swept through Philadelphia, killing 25% of the city's residents. This Quarantine station was built by the City of Philadelphia, long before the Federal Government became interested in such matters, because of the devastation of 1793. The Station served as a first point of entry for ships coming from abroad, where passengers were screened for contagious diseases and either held until their health was assured, turned away or let pass. It, along with the more famous Ellis Island, served as a major portal for immigrants coming to the United States for over one hundred years. It ceased being an immigration point in 1895, after which it was used as a port for seaplanes, an athletic club, and for many years after that, an abandoned property. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972, which gave it some protection. It was the threat of demolition that saved it, when a group of citizens and historians worked with Tinicum Township and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to restore the property. It is now home to Tinicum Townships' government offices. Walking around the building, still being restored, it's breathtaking. The long porch facing the river is stunning, the rooms all being carefully preserved while being updated with modern conveniences. I love that this has been done and love that it will continue to serve the residents of the Commonwealth, not from infectious disease, but serving as a place where they might get a building permit, enact ordinances, meet on issues concerning their community. Call this one a win for history.

We had a lovely time at the Rose Valley Museum. The history in Pennsylvania is amazing and this is…read morejust the start of our exploration of history and culture in Delaware County and beyond. Also known as the Thunderbird Lodge, this was a community of artist who started with a leap of faith in 1904 with approximately 60 people and moved here from Paoli. They started a community of woodworking enthusiasts, artists, painters, writers etc.. and were very successful in the arts and crafts movement. The museum was opened in 2017 to the public and has been thriving ever since. The property is approximately laid across one acre of land. There is a wonderful gift shop with may artifacts from the eighteenths and nineteenths centuries, that you may purchase for yourself or others to enjoy for your own pleasure Please, if you live in Delaware County come experience the history of our community and give back to the ones that keep our history alive. There is a mere $10 donation collected at the door when you enter. Unfortunately, the building is not handicapped accessible due to the structure and the artifacts in the building, but this is a great place for couples, especially if you are planning to be in the area or families who want to come to visit and enjoy a day trip learning some historical history about our community. Thank you to the volunteers who were so knowledgeable about this project and extremely helpful to us.

The Rose Valley Museum has been around a little over a year now, but I just discovered it a couple…read moreweeks ago. When I took a look at their events and saw a whiskey & chocolate tasting, um, I was there! Admission is $10 for non-members, but with our $20 event, we got free admission to the museum. I'll explain the museum first, and the event we attended, below. The museum is housed in Thunderbird Lodge, designed by architect, Will Price, who was the father of the Rose Valley craftsmen guild at the beginning of the 20thC. The museum is primarily dedicated to this era in Rose Valley's history, however, there are Native American artifacts, remnants of RV's 18th/19thC. Quaker inhabitancy, and other facets of the borough's history, to learn about, as well. The interior of the lodge is gorgeous! Exposed beams, Arts & Crafts features everywhere, handmade EVERYTHING! Artfully laid fireplace stones, hand-hewn stair railings, leaded glass windows! There were handmade Moravian tiles wherever appropriate (Will Price was friends with Mercer). Just art everywhere! The main room you hit upon entry is where they hold events. Beyond there, you find a sitting room and dining room, arranged for use with original Rose Valley furniture, and period lamps, rugs, and decor, all either made by the original guild, or authentic to the period, and part of the Arts & Crafts style. I saw some Tiffany type lamps, but no Van Erp. Furniture was Stickley style, with a little more rusticism and character, IMO, which adds to the charm. I saw a lot of Art Nouveau pieces, especially in things like candlesticks, pottery, and smaller carved wood decorative objects. Tons of pottery was housed in china cabinets, and glass cases. The woodwork for the trim and built-ins around the lodge is high quality, and beautiful. They are currently restoring it back to its original form (for example, the dining room used to have a curved gold-leaf ceiling). Loads to see, especially if you admire this aesthetic. Since we were there for an evening event, there were various fireplaces roaring, adding so much to the ambiance, as well as candles, and parchment-shaded lamps. It was so cozy and inviting! Upstairs is another large room, which housed a more eclectic array of Rose Valley history. There is a small hand-carved totem pole, papier-mâché animal heads, an original guild worktable, antique train station sign for Moylan-Rose Valley, more original furniture pieces, Plein Air painting, portrait of Price, etc. If you are at all curious about the Arts & Crafts movement, they have truly captured a great feel for its flavor at this museum! ---------------------- Now, the event! I highly recommend trying one of their gatherings! The museum's board was there, and they run things, hands-on, like devoted hospitality ambassadors! They are all so welcoming and friendly. We seriously felt like we'd been invited to a 70-person dinner party, and had conversations with almost all of the board members. They were amazing hosts! Note that this event was sold out, and they had a waiting list, with people at the door hoping to get in. They allow you to sign up online, so if you see something you want, get it! Our tasting was four different rounds of whiskey drink, personally made up by a board member, who knows his stuff. Each round was paired with a chocolate from Shane Confectionery in Philly. Our aficionado announced each round with a fun story, and gave all the details of his ingredients' origins. Every table had ice and water if needed (not for me!). They even went around and offered everyone seconds, and sometimes thirds, on each round... I politely accepted a few of those. We got more than our money's worth, it was amazing! After the tasting, they had a full spread of hors d'oeuvres to help sober up, but, for those hoping to keep the party going, there was also a bar available. Everything was beautifully, tastefully done. I can't wait to try another event!

Family went to visit the house to satisfy a requirement for a scouting merit badge. We arrived at…read more1:15 on a Sunday (website said it opened at 1:00). Knocked several times and no one answered. Called the number from the website. A woman pulled into the driveway and after some discussion agreed to do the tour. She went inside and then a man came out of the building and said that the woman who had just offered the tour would not give one after all. There was no notice on the website or any sign on the premises indicating that it was closed for the day. A total waste of everyone's time.

Another historic gem in Delco, which was home to a signer of the Delclaration of Independence…read more (Below info from Wiki and the Morton Project Websites): The homestead was founded in 1654 by Morton Mortenson, a Finnish immigrant, however, the structure itself, was originally constructed circa 1698. The Morton Homestead was home to Morton Mortenson, and subsequent Morton family members. The Homestead sits in what was once the colony of New Sweden, and it is one of the oldest buildings in Pennsylvania. Morton Homestead is now part of Morton Homestead State Park in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. Parts of the current house date back to the 1698 with a large addition constructed in the 18th century. The site was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970. Mortenson's great-grandson, John Morton, signed the Declaration of Independence. John Morton cast the tie-breaking vote for independence as a member of the Pennsylvania delegation to the Continental Congress in 1776. John Morton is absent from many stories of American independence, but historical records paint a different picture. Morton's service included representing Pennsylvania in the mysterious Stamp Act Congress that adopted a Declaration of Rights and Grievances for the British government. He was later chosen as a Pennsylvania delegate to the First Continental Congress and selected again for the Second Continental Congress, where he cast the decisive ballot that swung the Pennsylvania delegation over to an affirmative vote for independence.

Not much to see here other than a house though it seems that there are art classes available…read more The marker reads: "The home of world-renowned illustrator Felix O. C. Darley (1822-1888). Built in the late 18th century and enlarged several times during the first half of the 19th century, the house was purchased by Darley in 1863 and renamed "The Wren's Nest." During his career, Darley illustrated books for Washington Irving, Edgar Allen Poe, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Charles Dickens, and James Fenimore Cooper. Two of his most notable works were Irving's The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Rip Van Winkle. Charles Dickens visited here for two weeks during his triumphant tour of America in 1867. The house was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974." See also https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F._O._C._Darley and http://www.finitesite.com/thewolfspirit/.

Great job. Would recommend. I am very satisfied. Thanks for everything. Anthony came out and did a…read morewonderful job. Did it all on his own, no help. I was impressed. Thanks for everything.

I used Timestone Monument for my brothers Monument. Helen was super efficient, helpful and good to…read morecommunicate. Most of our communication was through text and it did not matter the time I texted her she always responded. Helen was helpful in sending me pictures of monuments based on the things I shared I wanted on his headstone. Helen is a good sales person to deal with. I also found their prices to be better than most Monument places.