Chester CountyPRESS
www.chestercounty.com
Covering Avon Grove, Chadds Ford, Kennett Square, Oxford, & Unionville Areas
Volume 156, No. 43
Wednesday, October 26, 2022
$1.00
Candidates given forum at chamber luncheon By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer Six candidates vying for election to political offices in Harrisburg and Washington, D.C. shared their history, their platforms and their vision at the Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce’s (SCCCC) annual Fall Luncheon on Oct. 20 at Hartefeld National Golf Club.
INSIDE
Titled “Election Perspectives: Legislative Candidates Business Forum” and held before more than 100 local business leaders, the one-hour event began with introductory remarks by each candidate, several of whom directed their addresses to the business community as they wrap up their campaigns before the Nov. 8 election. Calling herself a “bipar-
tisan representative,” U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, who is campaigning for reelection to Pennsylvania’s 6th District against Republican Guy Ciarrocchi, told the audience that she has spent some of her first term initiating events to bring increasing awareness to the economic opportunities in Chester County. Recently, she invited Japanese diplomats to Longwood Gardens as a way to increase eco-
The Nixon Park Blue Heron: ‘Everybody knows his name’ By Chris Barber Contributing Writer
Chadds Ford Life Magazine
Kennett High School celebrates Homecoming...1B
Anson B. Nixon Park in Kennett Square is more than a couple of nice ponds, a yearly trout rodeo, wandering paths and a splendid forest. It is also the home to the widely known and dearly loved Great Blue Heron, who appears to be the sentinel of the water. This large bird with a six-foot wingspan and a long, pointed bill stalks meals most often from weeds at the edge of the water and waits patiently for small fish and insects to swim by. When he sees them, he bolts downward for the prey and swallows them whole, later shaking the water from his face. On occasion, has been observed flying to the highest branches of the tall trees there and playing on the branches in the woodlands—perhaps looking for more lucrative fishing grounds. One unusual characteristic of this particular bird is that he has little fear of park visitors, except children who chase him, and seems to pose willingly for photographs. Sometimes he will do the photographer the courtesy of gliding over the water to cast a large reflection following a prolonged, sit-down photo shoot.
nomic ties between the U.S. and Japan. In addition, she toured Constellation Energy to gauge the impact of the federal funds provided to the company through the bipartisan Infrastructure Continued on page 2A Photos by Richard L. Gaw
Several area political candidates were given a forum to share their messages at the Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce’s Fall Luncheon, held at the Hartefeld National Golf Club on Oct. 20.
FROM OUR LENS A Landenberg vista
Photo by Richard L. Gaw
The White Clay Creek Preserve reached a brilliant height of colorful foliage this past week, as captured from a private residence in Landenberg. The daily autumn views throughout southern Chester County are anticipated to be on display through Thanksgiving.
Continued on page 3A
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Oxford Borough manager congratulated at one-year anniversary on job
© 2007 The Chester County Press
By Betsy Brewer Brantner Contributing Writer Oxford Borough Council President Kathryn Cloyd and the entire borough council applauded Borough
Manager Pauline GarciaAllen as they congratulated her on her one-year anniversary in the position. Cloyd said, “This month, you’ve been with the borough for a whole year. We’re looking forward to
continuing to work with you to bring all the hard work you’ve done to fruition. I have enjoyed seeing how quickly you’ve brought yourself up to speed with all our departments. I have said this a number of times to
a number of people: I feel that you’re creating a solid foundation that will allow this council and future councils to carry out our plans to improve life in our borough.” Garcia-Allen came on
board on Oct. 4 last year after the search committee, chaired by former council member Mary Higgins, performed an extensive search to find the right person for the position. Continued on page 5B
LI V ING H IS TORY
by Gene Pisasale
The Red Rose Inn: An historic structure comes back to life By Gene Pisasale Contributing Writer If you have lived in southern Chester County for many years, you’ve likely driven past a structure which has a long and storied history. The Red Rose Inn sits on property deeded to William Penn’s grandson in 1731, leased for a unique fee. The deed stated that “his heirs and assigns forever pay one Red Rose, on the 24th day of June, if same be demanded.” Why the unusual fee? It is believed to be related to a tradition that dates back centuries, as does the Inn itself. That structure has seen many decades of visitors to Penn’s land and despite years of abandonment, now holds a special place in the history of Penn Township.
In their book, History of Chester County, authors Futhey and Cope noted that Penn Township “… was formed by a division of Londonderry, in 1817. The greater part of it was originally included in Fagg’s Manor, and the settlers were largely from the north of Ireland.” The area was a crossroads for travelers between Philadelphia and Baltimore. An old dirt trail and an Indian footpath intersecting it became Baltimore Pike and Pennsylvania Route 796. Although some sources indicate there was an inn present as early as 1740, no records to corroborate this claim have been found. Samuel Cross purchased property in this area from the original land grant and built a log structure, in which he was later charged
with illegally running a “tippling house” (where liquor was sold and consumed by patrons). Although Cross had applied for a tavern license, he was denied because there was already one operating across the road. Cross experienced ongoing financial difficulties; the property was eventually sold in 1797 to George Clymer. Clymer is one of our forgotten Founding Fathers, one of only six men to sign the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution. In 1807, Clymer began construction of a brick mansion at the site. The following year, John Dorat purchased the structure and was later issued a tavern license for an operation there. Over the next century it would be
The newly renovated Red Rose Inn.
called the Penn Cross Inn, the Jennersville Inn and the Jennersville Hotel. In 1927, Robert Pyle, president of the Conard-Pyle Star Nursery purchased the hotel and renovated it. Researching its history, he was fascinated by the link to roses and decided to rename it the Red
Rose Inn for a grand reopening in 1928. According to Meg Daly Twaddell in Inns, Tales and Taverns of Chester County, the legend of the red rose payment is believed to be related to a feudal practice when landholders pledged loyalty to a liege lord. Continued on page 4A