For ex-slaves in the 1800s, Chester County was home

Swarthmore library curator delivers lecture on Underground Railroad By Kyle Carrozza, Staff Writer, The Times Christopher Densmore educates the audience at the National Steel and Iron Heritage Museum. COATESVILLE – In a country largely built by the unpaid forced labor of those who Moses Coates called “dark-skinned brethren,” Chester County became the home of many slaves who escaped the terrible...

Sanderson Museum opens for 2014 season

The Christian C. Sanderson Museum on Creek Road in Chadds Ford is now open for the 2014 season. CHADDS FORD — That gem of both Southeast Pennsylvania history and that of the better part of the 20th Century of American History — the Christian C. Sanderson Museum — is now open for the 2014 season, on Thursdays through Sunday from 12 pm to 4 pm. “We look forward to welcoming visitors to the Sanderson...

A man’s life, a nation’s history

Happy Birthday to our Presidents! By Linda Banks, Special to The Times Christian Sanderson and his mother Hannah in front of the fireplace at Washington’s Headquarters in an undated image. As published in the book Chris by Thomas R. Thompson, Copyright 1973. If anyone could claim to be entitled to deliver a happy birthday greeting to our presidents, it would be Christian C. Sanderson.  This...

Sanderson Museum boosts visitor hours

Now open Thursdays and Fridays, 10-4 through Nov. The Christian C. Sanderson Museum in Chadds Ford is expanding visitor hours. CHADDS FORD — The Christian C. Sanderson Museum is increasing its hours and will be open for visitors on Thursdays and Fridays from 12pm to 4pm, in addition to the same hours on Saturday and Sunday, March through November. “We are pleased to be able to expand our hours...

Living History: Chadds Ford Days brings past alive

By Gene Pisasale, Special to The Times A historic reenactor works on an 18th century loom, during a demonstration at the 2011 Chadds Ford Days, which take place Sept. 8 & 9. Photo courtesy of the Chadds Ford Historical Society. Local residents and visitors to the Brandywine Valley know it as the home of the famous Wyeth family of artists and picturesque countryside, but few know the history behind...

Living History: The Kennett Underground Railway

Chester County offered hope and a route to freedom for slaves By Gene Pisasale, Special to The Times The Progressive Friends Meeting House in Kennett is now the Chester County Visitors Center — but was a key border hub in the movement of slaves north of the Mason-Dixon Line and freedom. More than any other issue, the Civil War was fought to decide whether “the peculiar institution” known as...

Living History: Where have all the diners gone?

Although a disappearing breed, these eateries still can be found in Chester County By Gene Pisasale, Special to The Times The DK Diner in West Chester is a classic example of a disappearing breed: the railcar or prefab diner. Once plentiful in Chester County, now it requires a bit of a hunt to find these gems of Americana. From Edward Hopper’s 1942 painting “Nighthawks” to Airstream-sleek capsules...

Living History: The vanishing train depot

By Gene Pisasale, Special to The Times The Pocopson train station, located at the intersection of Route 926 and Pocopson Road opened to passenger service in 1890, but currently is home to veterinary practice. Before superhighways, railroads dominated the landscape providing transportation for both passengers and heavy commodities. Pennsylvania ranked number one among all the states in the production...

Pocopson teacher named tops in state

Stephens Recognized as National History Teacher of the Year for Pennsylvania By Suzanne Misciagna, Correspondent, UnionvilleTimes.com Ryan Stephens, Pocopson Elementary School teacher and Recipient of the 2011 National History Teacher of the Year Award for Pennsylvania POCOPSON – Students at Pocopson Elementary School weren’t the only ones put in the spotlight during the school’s Geography Bee...

History Made Personal: Historical Wyeth-Sanderson Map of Chester County

By Gene Pisasale, Special to UnionvilleTimes.com CHADDS FORD — Standing tall on a wooden easel in the entryway of the Sanderson Museum is a framed map, its blue trim surrounding red, green and yellow highlights calling attention to the people, places and events which have made the 768 square miles of Chester County so special in the history of our country. Fifteen people and 45 places of interest...