Tredyffrin Easttown Historical Society
History Quarterly Digital Archives

Source: July 1941 Volume 4 Number 3, Pages 75–76

Southern Lancaster County pilgrimage

Hilda E. Heagy

Page 75

On Sunday, July 13, twenty-two members and friends of the Tredyffrin-Easttown History Club took a pilgrimage to a few of the many historical and picturesque scenes of southern Lancaster County. Leaving Berwyn about 10:15 A.M., the pilgrims traveled to the scene of the Christiana Riot, and enjoyed the beauty and tranquility of the wide valley

"where bondage perished and free men were born".

Here was fought a miniature of the great straggle of opposing ideas that culminated in the shock of Civil War -- a conflict between law and liberty, which at last ended in peace and a regard for the integrity of motive which alike animated both parties to the conflict.

Enroute to Quarryville, the pilgrims paused to read a sign on the Green Tree Hotel, built by John Thompson, a Revolutionary War colonel, and highly respected citizen of Bart Township. Continuing westward, they viewed the Middle Octoraro and United Presbyterian Churches and their respective cemeteries, both with deeds from the Penns. In the Middle Octoraro Cemetery lie many notable people, one of whom was the Rev. David Anderson, grandfather of Dr. Hutchinson, President of Washington and Jefferson College.

At Quarryville, a borough made famous by the Slumbering Ground Hog Lodge, the pilgrims had the pleasure of seeing the home and store of George W. Hensel, Jr., a business owned and operated for one hundred four years by a father and his son. Several men of note were born here; perhaps the best known was William Uhler Hensel, editor, banker, lawyer, Attorney-General of Pennsylvania, traveler, author, President of Franklin and Marshall College, and an orator of national reputation.

Leaving Quarryville, the next stop of interest was the Hopkins Furnace Estate, one time a great industry for making iron and casting stoves. Turning left at Cochran's Cross Roads to Chestnut Level, we saw the historic church, which was in the course of construction when news of the bloodshed at Bunker Hill was received. All work ceased and the Steel brothers, accompanied by a party of neighbor boys, set out on foot to enlist. Some of the Calhouns of John C's family are buried in the old graveyard of this church. Chestnut Level was also the home of an academy at which many notable men received their preparatory education, the celebrated physicians and surgeons, John B., Harry C, and Richard W. Beaver; Editor Bob Risk; W. U. Hensel; Barrister Hugh R. Fulton; and Presbyterian ministers by the score.

Traveling on to Unicom, we stopped to read the historical marker which tells the story of the Steel brothers, Colonel Porter and Dr. Ramsey, of whom volumes could be written. Porter, like Robert Morris, sacrificed his fortune equipping soldiers and contributing to the support of the patriots. Ramsey was a wonderful man who led a brilliant career and was one of the best biographers George Washington ever had.

The next stop was at a home, nationally famous as the birthplace of Robert Fulton, who is remembered in history for his solution of steam application and the revolutionizing of life and labor on the ocean wave. Besides this, he was a great painter and student of Benjamin West. A short distance from Fulton House we saw an old brick house built of bricks brought from England in 1760. On the opposite side of the road, our eyes were focused on the brick house, birthplace and early home of one of this country's greatest engineers, William H. Brown, under whom six presidents of the Pennsylvania Railroad served, with him as Chief Engineer. He was a dominating factor in the development of that marvelous system. He had no technical education, but it has been said of him, "He was born an engineer." His illustrious career bears out that statement.

Page 76

Proceeding south, the next home of interest was that of the late Neal Hamilton, a noted botanist, banker, skilled mechanic, and prominent Quaker, progressive farmer, a man who was advised by his physician to take an ocean voyage when only eighteen. He did so, and then worked in a California lumbering camp for two years. The man who had but one chance in a hundred to live took consumption for a ride and left it in the California woods. The irony of the story is that he lived to be 98.

From this place, the pilgrims visited Cutler's Point, a beautiful spot 400 feet above the Susquehanna River, where they feasted their eyes on the beauties of the surrounding country. The river is one mile wide here, affording a view of Eagle's Isle and many other picturesque sights. They had the pleasure of sharing their lunches with Mr. Cutler and Mr. Hensel, two gentlemen who did much to make this trip a success.

An unexpected part of the pilgrimage was a trip to Fishing Creek, a few miles from Cutler's Point, where Mr. Hensel introduced the visitors to Dr. Ward Evans, his wife and daughter. Dr. Evans is a professor at Northwestern University. He and his wife have a summer home on on old mill property built in the 1700's. Dr. Evans showed us some unusual rock formations, Indian darts, etc., and proved a most interesting and congenial host.

On the return trip, we again stopped in Quarryville to meet Mr. Hensel's charming wife, and to see his unique collection of elephants, fine home, and business. It was Mr. George W. Hensel, Jr., who was largely responsible for the pilgrimage, as he supplied the information and mapped out the route. Therefore, it was a special privilege to have the honor of visiting his home and delighting in his unlimited fund of information and witticisms. Before leaving, he presented Mr. Burns, President of the History Club, with a large cow bell from his store, to be used in calling the meetings to order. Needless to say, it will ever be a pleasant reminder of Mr. Hensel and the southern Lancaster County trip.

After visiting the few spots which the time afforded, we quite agreed with Mr. Hensel when he said,

"I never wanted to be rich, but I would like to own Lancaster County."

The friends and members of the Tredyffrin-Easttown History Club wish to thank all those who helped make the pilgrimage a success: Mr. George W. Hensel, Jr., Mr. Cutler, Dr. Ward Evans, and Mr. W. Ryland Brown who acted as guide.

The Old Riot House. William Parker's home. The place where the battle was fought.