Tredyffrin Easttown Historical Society
History Quarterly Digital Archives

Source: October 1959 Volume 10 Number 4, Pages 87–91

The Leopard

Mildred F. Fisher

Page 87

In reading the history of our locality through the last two hundred years we soon realize what an influence the old inns had on the community.

The tired traveler found rest for the night and food for his strength, and probably they then said "a drink to keep him warm." Inns were the gathering places for the gentlemen of the neighborhood to meet and discuss the problems of the day. The old Leopard Inn, as the first and only Inn in Easttown Township, answered for all these things.

Early applications for a license read like the following: "0n the 8th day of the Sixth month called August 1744. Petition of John Marran of Easttown living on the great road, by Evan Ellis's store." The petition was signed by William Evans, Francis Wayne, Robert Ponvell, Jos. James, and David Evans.

"Nathan Scholfield, Easttown, at this situation stands upon the crossroads the one leading from Lancaster to Darby and the other from Edgemont to Swedesford upon the Schuylkill, no other public house in the Township."

Dated 5-27-1783, signed James Morris, George Lee, and James Gleaves.

"May 1786, John Harris lately in possession of John Phillips, at Roads from Lancaster to Chester and Darby, and Valley Forge to Grub Mill, Edgemont and Goshen, no other in the Township."

Page 88

It is interesting to note that at this time John Harris owed Benjamin Franklin, Esq., Pres. of Pennsylvania, 100 lbs.(sic)

John Phillips left the Leopard Inn to take over the Ball.

"May 1787, William Bittle having moved into the Public House wherein Major John Harris lately kept, known by the sign of the Leopard, situate on the Road leading from Lancaster to Darby where a license has been continued for a great number of years."

Signed
James Morris, John Taylor, Samuel Caleb, John Phillips, Nathan Scott, John Ivans, and Wm. Hunter.

In 1829 we find Thomas Temple exchanged farming for public house keeper of the inn known as the Sign of the Leopard.

On 4-3-1852 we find Isaac Thomas selling at public sale his personal property and bar fixtures. This was done because Chester County had gone dry. Following his death the Old Inn was opened as a country store by John Hayman.

During the life of the Inn it had served as a gathering place for all kinds of community affairs, as we read in the article by Mr. Sachse. In the year 1844 we find the Democratic Association of Tredyffrin, Easttown and Willistown holding a meeting at the Leopard Inn on Saturday at 6 1/2 o'clock with speaker John H. Brinton.

Previous to the year 1866 this community had been known as Evansville, then on April 2nd of that year the Leopard Post Office was opened in Mr. Hayman's store and the village became known as The Leopard. The Post Office continued until 1907 with Mrs. James Worrall as the last Postmistress, but the Old Inn continued as a store and private school until it burned down in 1952. Thus ended the story of an old inn with a date stone of 1726 on the west end.

While an old inn served the community one way, the country store served the entire community, and we read in a letter from Annie E. Fry Zearing of Iowa, dated May 29, 1939, "The store and home where Mr. and Mrs. Hayman used to live, how well I remember taking my pennies to the store and buying a stick or two of candy, also when Mr. Hayman started a little school."

During the time that William Bittle was the innkeeper in 1787 - 89 cigars sold for one cent a grab or two for a cent, and whiskey at 8 1/2 and 12 1/2 cents a quart.

There is a tradition that this Inn was built at the crossroads of an Indian trail and old Darby Road. Doors and window shutters were originally lined with sheet iron studded with nails, probably as a protection from the Indians. Mr. and Mrs. Macleod removed these in 1928. In 1890 the Inn had come into the possession of James E. Worrall, and later his son Milton Worrall carried on the business until July 31st, 1928.

Page 89

In 1840 we find the Inn used as a polling place, and the old wooden ballot box which they used may be seen at the Chester County Historical Society, West Chester. At that time William Wayne was the Judge of Election.

The house on the Inn property is now the home of Mr. and Mrs. Cameron Macleod. Previous to the building of the Macleod house there had apparently been a small log cabin with a large stone fireplace; this fireplace was kept and included in the new house and is now the fireplace in the dining room. The house has two other fireplaces, both of which are in the large living room; one was built with the house and the other was brought from an old Philadelphia house at 930 N. Front Street, owned by the Coates family. About the year 1800 the first section of the house was built, then about 1826 there was an addition to the front, and the final remodeling under Mr. Brognard Okie took place in 1928. The attic floor is beautiful solid walnut. A man named Mr. John Evans, said to have been a cousin of Anthony Wayne, ran the distaff side, probably was the original owner. A son of this man, Dr. Thomas W. Evans, who was a well known dentist, became the dentist for the Empress Eugenie and helped her with her escape, at the time of the Revolution, from Paris to England. While in Paris he made a considerable fortune and later came back and founded the Thomas W. Evans Museum and Dental Institute at the University of Pennsylvania. In the Museum at the Institute is the carriage used by the Empress in her escape from Paris in 1870. Anna J. Nicholson (Mrs. Wm. B.) bought the house at the death of Jane Evans, widow of Dr. Evans. Following Mrs. Nicholson as owners were William Harrar, Benjamin Shephard, Wilmer I. Bartram and a Mrs. Fulner.

The Donnon homestead was the second west of the Leopard Road. It was formerly the Bishop farm. Andrew Donnon purchased this farm where he was a fox-hunter and had the Donnon Hunt. The house was an old one with a cellar kitchen.

Dr. White's mansion on the north side of the road west of the Leopard is shown on the 1860 map, also on the Witmer 1873 Atlas, as the John Still Store.

The Senator Pepper homestead is on the James Lockwood place on the 1883 map. Senator Pepper built his home in 1912.

On the northeast corner of the Leopard Road we find the Hays Blacksmith Shop. The second floor was a cabinetmaker's shop built by Enoch Ottey and his son Enoch, both cabinetmakers, about 1800. William Atkinson was the last blacksmith about 1925, after which it was used as a garage.

Page 90

There were several sawmills in the vicinity; two were built at the time of the building of the Plank Road. There was Judson Campbell's sawmill at the head of Darby Creek, Newtown Road, one mile from Berwyn, later a plaster mill; this was on the "property long known as the Humbert B. Powell property, and now owned by Joseph C. Hoffner. Half a mile below the Campbell Mill on Darby Creek, one and one half miles from Berwyn on the Newtown Square Road was Jabez Beaumont Mill; this one never ran again after the death of Mr. Beaumont on April 1st, 1888. There was also a sawmill on Sawmill Hill on the Yerkes property now owned by Warren Van Meter.

The first schoolhouse stood on the same spot as the second one which is now the home of Mr. and Mrs. Warren, which they call "Recess." The second schoolhouse was built by H. Morgan Ruth and was a stone building with a porch across the front.

After the building of the schoolhouse much of the social life of the vicinity took place there.

On April 4th, 1857, examinations and an exhibition were held at the Leopard School. There were essays by Annie Dougherty and B. H. Haly. Other students who took part were Esther A. Pharoak, C. Lawson, D. Dougherty, Susie Bowman, Jane Porteus, Lizzie Horn, H. morris, Cordelia Campbell, Ruthanna Bishop, Mattie Kauffman, Albert Bowman, and Allison Alexander.

In 1866 we find a notation that there had been a series of very interesting meetings held at the Leopard Schoolhouse. They speak in warm terms of the devoted and earnest labors of Rev. Mr. Sagebeer.

In 1874 The Leopard Sunday-school held its Annual Jubilee at the Great Valley Baptist Church. It consisted of most excellent music by scholars of Prof. J. F. Kauffman and addresses by Rev. Dr. Rice, Randolph, and Pierce. The following tokens of love and esteem were presented by the School: Deacon Ildridge, solid gold-headed ebony cane; Prof. Kauffman, a beautiful Scotch inkstand; Miss Lucy S. Morris, teacher, a napkin ring. The Sunday school was one of the most successful ones in the county, under the efficient management of Deacon Henry Kauffman of Great Valley.

On January 25th, 1879, the Literary Society met there, at this time Miss Sallie J. Embree was the teacher. Officers included Wm. H. Johnson, President; Florence A. Lockwood, Vice President; A. Belle Donnon, Secretary; Jennie I. Donnon, Treasurer; and Gracie Hoskins, Editor. These officers were followed by President Temple L. Gregg, Vice President Florence Lockwood, Secretary Annie Lawrence, and Treasurer Jennie Donnon.

Page 91

4-28-1879.

"Yesterday the Union Sunday Sabbath School at the Leopard was organized and opened for the coming season; Henry Kauffman, superintendent; G. W. Harlan, Assistant Superintendent; Jeremiah Griffith, secretary; and Ellen McAfee, Librarian and Treasurer."

In 1880 Fannie Barsby was Librarian; Mrs. Margaret Clair, Treasurer; and Master H. Kauffman, Organist.

On February 2nd, 1880, they held a spelling bee, the proceeds of which were to purchase a new dictionary.

7-15-1884.

"The Leopard Union Sunday-school with J. H. Hayman, Superintendent, through the generosity of Henry Coates of Berwyn was presented with 52 new library books."

8-26-1887. A picnic was held at the Paoli Monument grounds by the Leopard Sunday School.

6-9-1888.

"For the past few years J. W. Hayman, Leopard, has kindly given the use of his house for a Sunday School, and as he has taken an active part in its affairs it has increased to such an extent that he is unable to supply accommodations. In consequence thereof a movement is now on foot to erect a neat little edifice for the accommodation of the Sunday School, already $350.00 has been subscribed."

This little building was erected on the south side of Darby Road just opposite the Macleod property in 1890. The barn for the Old Inn stood just a little west of the Sunday School on the same side of the road. Both have been out of existence for a long time. The building was deeded to the Newtown Baptist Church as a Union Sunday School which was discontinued about 1913.

On 12-3-1888 a notation states that Marion Peirsol, Oscar Broadbelt, Irvin Myers, Clarence Firth, and Florence Lockwood had perfect attendance, and Lizzie Broadbelt and Lizzie West missed only one day on account of storm.