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Home : Quarterly Archives : Volume 23 |
Tredyffrin Easttown Historical Society |
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Source: January 1985 Volume 23 Number 1, Pages 15–24 Reports of Chesterbrook Farm from the Daily Local News January 12, 1881 The farm of David Havard, in Tredyffrin Township, which was recently sold to A. J. Cassatt, has been in the Havard family for 250 consecutive years. January 22, 1881 Large Sale of Personal Property, - Messrs. H. B. & W. H. Torbert sold on Thursday last the personal property on the farm of H. B. Torbert, recently sold to Mr. Cassatt of the Pennsylvania Railroad. The sale was largely attended by persons from far and near. Before it took place a splendid dinner was served up, which was partaken of with a will. The sale was a very large one, and the prices obtained were good. Some of the articles were disposed of at the following prices: one pair of mules, $310; gray mare, $71.50; cows ...averaged $46. As but few of them were in profit, the prices obtained were certainly good. Bulls, $34.50; chickens, $.145 per lb.; grain in ground, $16.50; farm wagon, $27.50; farm wagon, $50; hay flat, $13.50; horse cart, $13.50; horse rake, $9; express wagon, $60; butcher wagon, $19; trotting wagon, $18; an old grain drill, $12.50; roller, $16; sleigh, $18.50; sleigh, $17; Imperial plow, $10.50 and $14.50; mower and reaper, $60; horse power and thresher, $22.50; grain fan, $10; fodder cutter, $19; rope & pulleys, $9; hay fork, $4.50; corn sheller, $13.50; milk cans from $1.30 to $3; cart harness, $4.25; oats, 42 cents per bushel; hay, $24 to $27 per ton; lot of straw, $88; lot of oats straw, $33; corn, 38 to 60 cents per bushel; 1000 bundles of corn fodder, 5.5 cents a bundle; set of light harness, $12, James E. McFarlan was the auctioneer. March 19, 1881 Will Build A Fine Barn - A, J. Cassatt, who recently purchased the Havard and Torbert farms with the intention of turning them into one stock farm, is making arrangements to tear down the old barn on the Havard property and build in its place a large and elegant structure 80 by 100 feet. It will be of stone and joints pointed. It will probably be one of the finest buildings of the kind in Chester County. March 21, 1881 Handsome Improvements. - A. J. Cassatt, Esq. ... has made arrangements to macadamize a piece of road through his farm about a mile and a half in length and will also plant about 7 miles of hedge fence on his premises. Mr. Cassatt has contracted with William Johnson, Howelville, for breaking the stone for turnpiking the road above mentioned and expects to have a crusher on the ground next week to commence the work. Mr. Cassatt will erect one of the finest barns in the country and a large tobacco shed. He intends putting in next season a "small patch" (10 acres) of tobacco and if successful will go into the raising of the weed pretty extensively. Mr. Cassatt has recently purchased a fine Leamington stallion, which will occupy an important stall in his stable. April 8, 1881 Improving His Stock Farm, - A. J. Cassatt ... is having [his farm] put in the very best condition that is possible ... Car load after car load of manure and other fertilizers are arriving every day or two. A large number of men are at work grading a handsome drive through his property, which is to be turnpiked in the very best style. He is also planting seven miles of hedge and is preparing to build one of the largest and handsomest barns in Chester Valley. The farm is to be stocked with the very best cows, horses, bulls, hogs that can be found in the country. When these improvements are made, Mr. Cassatt will have one of the best, if not the best, farm in the country. April 16, 1881 The new barn which is to be built by A. J. Cassatt in Tredyffrin Township will cost $21,000, It will be the finest barn in the State, May 17, 1881 Erecting Water Works. - A. J. Cassatt, Esq., who some months ago purchased the Havard and Torbett farms in Tredyffrin Township, is making wonderful changes in these properties. He now has a large force of workmen engaged in building a reservoir, and is preparing to put in a pump and engine for throwing water into it. The water supply will be obtained from Chester Creek [Valley Creek] which flows through these farms. Teams are engaged in hauling the pipe necessary for the waterworks. Mr. Cassatt is also building a first-class bridge over Valley Creek, which will connect the two farms. June 30, 1881 Being Put Under Roof. - A. J. Cassatt, who is building a barn of immense size on the farm he purchased from David Havard, in Tredyffrin Township, has now a force of workmen putting on the slate roof. One of the large mows in the barn is ready to receive the hay, and the other soon will be. When this barn is completed, it will be one of the largest and most convenient in the County. - David Havard has sold a wood lot on Valley Hill, Tredyffrin Township, containing 24 acres to A. J. Cassatt on private terms. July 25, 1881 Making A Race Track. - A. J. Cassatt is now engaged in surveying a race track on his farm in Tredyffrin Township, which will be used in training his horses. August 24, 1881 Rebuilding. - A. J. Cassatt, o'f Tredyffrin Township, has a force of workmen engaged in rebuilding his tobacco house, which was demolished by a cyclone on Saturday the 13th instant. August 24, 1881 Improvements. - Among the fine improvements made by A. J. Cassatt on his stock farm in Tredyffrin Township, this county, is a handsome bridge over Valley Creek, which runs through the place. Below this bridge he has built a dam across the stream, and a race some 250 yards long. The water for this turns a wheel that throws the water into a reservoir also recently built by him, which furnishes water to his house and also to his two barns, in one of which is kept his horses and the other his cattle. He also supplies nearly all the fields on his farm with water from the same source. August 27, 1881 - A new siding has been built on the Chester Valley Railroad at the stock farm of Mr. A. J. Cassatt, in Tredyffrin Township, for the use of that farm. October 21, 1881 - A. J. Cassatt proposes planting fifty-two acres of tobacco on his farm in Tredyffrin Township next year. October 22, 1881 Improvements, - A boiler house which is being erected for A. J. Cassatt on his stock farm in Tredyffrin Township is nearly completed. This boiler house stands a considerable distance from the barn, and is intended to supply steam to the engine which will be used in the barn and for cutting straw, hay, as well as doing many other kinds of work on the premises. The race track on Mr, Cassatt's farm will be ready in about three weeks. The track is 3/4 of a mile long, and would have been completed some time ago had the workmen not struck a lot of rocks in making the excavations. February 14, 1882 Stock Farm, - W. H. Torbert, who has the supervision of the stock farm of A. J. Cassatt, was in town Monday. He tells us he has just completed the threshing of the grain on the farm, which is done by steam, as almost everything else is which can be accomplished in that way. Mr. Torbert also states that there are 75 head of cattle in the herd, besides 72 head which are being stall-fed for market. The cattle have free access to water which flows into their stalls. There are ... 18 farm horses, 22 thoroughbred horses, ten of which are brood mares. There are also three stallions, one "Stratington", the others are colts. Richard Pryor is the trainer of the stock. Mr. Cassatt intends engaging largely in tobacco culture, and for that purpose has employed Wm. Shields, of Lancaster County, to attend to that branch of the business. He is preparing 52 acres of ground for that purpose. March 24, 1882 More Tobacco Warehouses. - A. J. Cassatt is preparing to build four more large tobacco barns on his stock farm in Tredyffrin Township, as well as one or two more stables for his stock. One of the features of Mr. Cassatt's stables are the floors, which are laid with bricks made of asphaltum, asbestos and limestone, which are of a peculiar consistency. They are as easy as a dirt floor for the horses to stand upon, and at the same time the wear upon them is very slight. June 13, 1882 Mr. Cassatt's farm. - A. J. Cassatt, Vice President of the Pennsylvania Railroad, has had planted upon his farm in Tredyffrin Township, Chester County, 145 acres of corn, 52 acres of tobacco, 10 acres of potatoes, and expects to harvest wheat from 42 acres and rye from 22 acres. He has mechanics employed who are erecting 3 extensive tobacco houses, which when finished will make five in all of the most complete buildings of the kind in the State. ... August 19, 1882 Cassatt's Stock Farm. - Wm. H. Torbert ... tells us that Mr. Cassatt is now having his tobacco cut and cured. He has about 60 acres planted, 17 acres of which have been cut. The entire crop, Mr. Torbert thinks, cannot be equalled by any crop in the State. He also has 140 acres planted with corn which is looking remarkably well and bids fair toyield an enormous crop, the result of heavy manuring and careful farming. The Telford roads which Mr. Cassatt has been building through his farm are now nearly completed, and give a fine appearance to the place. Some of the colts of Mr. Cassatt have been placed on the turf and are performing admirably; his two year old colt Fairfield carried off the purse in the 1/4 mile race for two year olds at Long Branch a day or two ago. All his colts give promise of great speed. January 3, 1883 Fine Stock. - A gentleman who visited the stock farm of A. J. Cassatt... saw 70 steers standing side by side in stalls which are being fatted for market, and 360 head of sheep of fine breeds. ... October 10, 1883 At a Stock Farm. - A gentleman visited the stock farm of A. J. Cassatt. ... Among his imported stock are 7 Guernsey cows, six of which have calves by their sides which, like their dams, are full blooded and all very handsome. Some of these were at the Chester County fair on exhibition and took both first and second premiums. ... Mr. Cassatt is now erecting a number of "paddocks" consisting of high board fence surrounding a lot some 100 feet square in which the stallions and other horses are taken from the stable and put into exercise. Only one of them is placed in the same "paddock" at one time. There are four of these now built. ... November 8, 1883 A. J. Cassatt is having five of the large buildings he erected for tobacco houses turned into stables for his fancy stock. He is also having a building erected, 40 by 20 feet, for the purpose of holding roots, the upper floor of which will be used as a store and tool house. February 18, 1884. Building a Cottage, - A. J. Cassatt is building a cottage on his stock farm ... for the use of his horse trainer, John Huggins, and the men employed in the training stables, numbering some 18 or 20 men and boys - rubbers and riders. Beside these there are some 25 other men on the place engaged in raising and curing of tobacco and in the stables of his fancy cattle. ... Mr. Cassatt is having another of his tobacco houses turned into a stable. December 21, 1884. A. J. Cassatt has just built a large and handsome hennery on his stock farm. It is built in cottage style and would make a fine dwelling.... Mr. Cassatt has a large building on his property, 260 feet long by 60 feet in width, in which he has an oblong track on which he exercises and trains his horses during the cold weather. April 8. 1885 A. J. Cassatt has made arrangements to erect a large building on his property ... for stabling his Guernsey stock. November 17, 1885 ... Standing about the centre of Mr. Cassatt's large stud farm is a cluster of large, well constructed brown painted buildings constituting the immense barn, brood stables, tobacco houses and other large buildings belonging to the estate and nearby are some substantial stone buildings used for different purposes and there are also a blacksmith shop, tool house, and the residences of employees. This farm is surrounded by beautiful wooded hills and any eminence commands a view of Norristown, Phoenixville, Conshohocken, and other towns. A splendid stream rushes through "Chesterbrook" and supplies all the water needed. The farm contains many excellent roads and there is a meadow for general pasture of 75 acres, nearly a mile long, well watered, and on which brood mares and foals roam at will. Another pasture of 67 acres is inclosed by a post fence, and 8 other fields of 40 acres each are surrounded by a neat Osage orange hedges. Of the land 140 acres are used for wheat and rye, 80 acres for corn, 7 acres for tobacco, 6 acres grow potatoes, 5 acres carrots, and 6 acres small truck. The land produces an average of 35 bushels of wheat to the acre and 1500 bushels of potatoes, . . . The racing stables near by are L-shaped and are over 200 feet long. November 27, 1886 Mr. Cassatt's Winnings. - Goodwin's racing guide announces that Mr. A. J. Cassatt's stables in Tredyffrin have earned $58,746.00 during the past season. Of this sum, The Bard, the best three-year-old of this or any other year, contributed $41,545 ... The Bard has won more money than any other horse on this continent during the past season. ... April 28, 1887 Sunday afternoon Harry Sloyer, Esq., ex-Recorder of Deeds, took a drive into Chester Valley behind Mr. Sloyer's fine Kentucky roadster, which is as pretty as a picture and a fine traveler. During their ride they spent an hour at Chesterbrook Farm. ... Here the writer found quite a town, composed of a massive barn, two large breeding stables, a large building for housing sheep, large stable where the running horses are kept, house for trainers and stable boys ... smith shop, school room, mammoth corn cribs, wagon house, office, tool house, store room, farm house, and many other buildings, which give Chesterbrook quite a townlike appearance. ... May 16, 1887 Mr. A. J. Cassatt's beautiful country seat, among the Chester County hills, never presented a more gala appearance than it did on Sunday. The merry members of the New York Coaching Club, freshened by a night's sojourn in Philadelphia and liberal indulgence in the baths at the Lafayette after their dusty drive through the sand hills of New Jersey on Saturday, mounted their favorite coach, the Pioneer, again yesterday morning and drove out through the beautiful scenery of Chester County to Chesterbrook. Here Mr. A. J. Cassatt, the popular owner of the farm, was waiting to receive them. Everything bore an air of expectancy, even the thoroughbreds . . . The Bard, the greatest galloper in Mr. Cassatt's stable, and the equal of any race horse on the American turf, threw back his ears as the "Pioneer" rolled in the big gate . . . The party arrived at Chesterbrook at about 11 o'clock, and, after a short rest on the porches of Mr. Cassatt's mansion, took a stroll through the grounds and stables of the farm, accompanied by their host and trainer John Pluggins. All seemed charmed with the scenes that met their view and were satisfied that Mr. Cassatt had one of the most beautiful and most finely equipped stock farms on the continent. When the party returned from their tour of inspection they sat down to a splendid repast, which had been made ready for the occasion, and indulged in the reminiscences, stories and jokes that always abound amidst a party of merry club men. Mr. Lorillard chatted freely about the Rancocas and Westbrooke stables, ... Mr. Havermeyer related his experiences as a gentleman jockey at Cedarhurst and Pelham, and Messrs. Roosevelt and Reeves told what they knew about polo ponies and polo players, while Colonel Jay, in one of his jolliest moods, entertained the party with volumes of untold social history and numerous interesting jokes. ... April 28, 1883 One of the finest stock farms in Pennsylvania and probably east of "the Rockies", says the Media Record, is the ranch of Mr. A. J. Cassatt. It is the intention of Mr. Cassatt to put 18 horses on the turf this year and ... some of the most astonishing records will be made by some of them, April 20, 1889 This elegant farm is located in Tredyffrin Township, Chester County, and is perhaps, in England, the best known spot in America by reason of its producing the fastest running horses in the world. It belongs to Mr. A. J. Cassatt, who, although worth his millions, yesterday ... stood for several minutes watching John Jackson, Jr., his horseshoer, preparing a set of shoes for one of his pet horses. His blacksmith has a shop of his own and is a good smith. He is the son of John Jackson, of West Chester. October 29, 1889 The announcement that Mr. A. J. Cassatt will dispose of his racing stables and that the famous tri-color of Chesterbrook which has been borne to victory by some of the greatest horses that have contested for the rich purses of American turf ... will be met with deep regret. ... The reason given for the retirement ... is that he had more or less troubles this season ... and needed a complete rest. October 29, 1889 A New York special of Oct. 28 says, "I have just spent an hour or so at the American Horse Exchange at 50th Street and Broadway looking over the Chesterbrook horses that will come under the auctioneer's hammer tomorrow morning. ... January 16, 1890 A Visit to Chesterbrook Farm. - ... We first visited the stables of thoroughbred horses where they were enjoying all the comforts of home. Each animal is provided with a wide box stall, 10 feet by 12 feet, and seems entirely familiar with his groomsman. ... The Guernseys ... over 100 - and quite a herd of Polled Angus make in all ... near 200 head ... purchased at a cost of $1500 each, with pedigrees reaching almost the length of that macadam road. There are some 200 head of Hampshiredown sheep. ... Altogether, some 600 animals require the daily attendance of ... expert herdsmen to keep all in show condition. ... All the stables, which are neat and clean, are bedded down with peat., (this is shipped to Chesterbrook baled and in car-loads) which is an excellent absorbent. The water supply comes from a reservoir, supplying the stock, furnishing power for grinding feed. ... The machinery would remind one of an agricultural warehouse. March 20, 1891 A. J. Cassatt's famous stock farm Chesterbrook is now a great centre of attraction. Carriages occupied by ladies drive there every pleasant day, gentlemen riding are seen entering the hedge-bordered lane, and even persons walking, despite the fact that the farm is fully two miles from Berwyn Station. Mr. Cassatt has given orders to admit any who are desirous of looking at his horses and their luxurious quarters. As the farm contains over one square mile, it is an afternoon's employment to explore the place. June 23, 1893 The Duke and Duchess of Veragus and members of their suite arrived in Philadelphia yesterday upon the invitation of Mr. George W. Childs. ... The pleasantest feature of the day's entertainment was the dinner given to the Duke by the Farmers Club at A. J. Cassatt's Chesterbrook Farm. The Duke is a farmer himself, and is the breeder of the great Andalusian bulls, which make the bull fights of Madrid so popular. He is a great admirer of country life. So, when he alighted from the train at Haverford yesterday afternoon and entered a coach to be driven to Mr. Cassatt1s residence, there was peace and contentment in the smoke which curled from the cigar which he puffed between smiles. It was a jolly informal party which was driven by Mr. Cassatt on his tally ho to the Chesterbrook farm, and many were the enconiums of the Duke on the magnificent country through which he passed. ... March 3, 1898 Twenty pure-bred Guernsey cows, the stars of the herd which A. J. Cassatt has been breeding for twenty years passed, perished last night in a fire on his stock farm, Chesterbrook, two miles from Berwyn Station. ... The barn in which the animals were kept was destroyed, and the farm stable adjoining was also destroyed. [it was to replace this barn that A. J. Cassatt called on Furness, Evans & Co. to design the barn described in the previous issue of the Quarterly.] December 17, 1901 Country Life in America for December contains an article from the pen of Col. Francis Nelson Barksdale on "Chesterbrook Stock Farm" - a unique Blue Grass farm in the East. December 27, 1906 Alexander Johnston Cassatt, President of the Pennsylvania Railroad, whose death occurred yesterday, once lived in West Chester, ,., Mr. Cassatt died at 1 o'clock ... at his city residence, No. 202 West Rittenhouse Square, aged 67 years. His demise was unexpected, although he had been ill for several months, never having fully recovered from an attack of whooping-cough from which he suffered last Summer. ... May 6, 1907 R. A. Colgan, manager of Chesterbrook Farm, has about 300 head of stock there and will raise many colts this season. ... The owner of the farm, Captain Edward B. Cassatt, has given instructions that the number of animals shall be maintained and the farm kept in good condition as in the time of his late father, A. J. Cassatt, President of the Pennsylvania Railroad Co. March 18, 1913 Captain E. B. Cassatt has taken to the breeding of thoroughbred horses with the same enthusiasm as his father, A. J. Cassatt, who was a power on the turf several years ago. Captain Cassatt has a number of young horses on blood lines that should do much to revive the glories of the one famous stables. ... [from the West Chester Star] June 15, 1968 A vacant four-story mansion constructed in the 1700's was destroyed by fire of unknown cause today. ... Helen Boland, who has lived in one of the six houses on the Cassatt estate all her life, said the mansion had been vandalized for the past two years. ... The property ... is now owned by Cassatt's grandson, A. J. Cassatt, of Rose Hill, Cecilton, Md. ... The mansion was used as headquarters of General Davis, member of Washington's staff, during the Revolutionary War. November 29, 1969 The 514.4- acre Chesterbrook Farm property in Tredyffrin has been sold for $2,322,760 by Alexander Cassatt to Lillian Cohen, Great Valley Corporation ... according to records at the Chester County Recorder of Deeds' office. The transfer occurred on Nov. 5, 1969 ... |
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