Monthly Archives: September 2017
farm cat
Image
covered bridge ❤️
a gift of chester county history from south dakota: learning about hiram woodyard
Above is the grave of Hiram Woodyard. He was a freed slave and Black Civil War Soldier who resided in the village of Bacton, “Bacton Hisotric District”, AKA “Bacton African American Community”.
In 1991, Jane Davidson, the then Chester County Historic Preservation Officer certified that one of the houses attributed to him on Conestoga Road as a “County Historic Resource”. She said “The events and activities that have occurred in and around the site form a chronological record of past knowledge that portrays a history of the area.”
The historical information listed in some of the paperwork states:
This resource is part of the Bacton Historic District which is a post-Civil War, Afro-American community. This resource is also connected with Hiram Woodyard who was a prominent member of this community….Due to previous development there is an eminent potential to widen Rte. 401,this threat would negatively impact the integrity of this resource.
In other paperwork, the same author continues:
Hiram Woodyard, one of two leaders in the Bacton African-American community, has become a local folk hero in recent years. While part of the timber industry as a fence maker, he also commanded a great deal of respect for his leadership ability, not only in the community, but also in the Union army.
This fascinating information would have been something my friend the late (and missed) Al Terrell, would have loved. He and I shared another soldier (it’s how we both became interested in the site), Joshua Johnson (Pvt., Co. K, 45th Reg., United States Colored Troops (USCT) (Civil War). I find this to be incredibly historically significant as the army began to organize African Americans into regimental units known as the United States Colored Troops (USCT) in 1863.
Al was so excited this time last year when grave after grave was uncovered, including Hiram Woodyard, whom we knew had started out life as a slave. As a freed slave he did so much, including by all accounts being a revered community leader, and he fought for a country which had originally enslaved him.
This new information (and I will embed everything shortly within this post), did not come to me via Chester County. It came to me all the way from Winner, South Dakota, thousands of miles away!
This information started to arrive on September 12, 2017 from Eleanor Miller, who along with her sister, Grace English, once lived in East Whiteland at 416 Conestoga Road.
In the first packet of information was a letter and here is an excerpt:
Enclosed please find the papers in regards to my grandparents’ home. (Charles and Stella Rost, 418 Conestoga Road.)
I married and moved away from my home, 416 Conestoga Road, in 1967…In 2012, Malvern Patch identified the house on 414 Conestoga Road as Hiram Woodyard’s. I believe they were incorrect….My sister and I try to visit Bacton Hill once a year.
To follow (embedded) is what Eleanor sent to me. It is part of Hiram’s history she gained through personal research. This is such a treasure to receive!
Ebenezer is hanging in there and one of Al’s sons still comes back and cuts the grass and weeds when he has time, but Ebenezer needs ALL of our love. I put out the plea once again if anyone can interest the AME church in their own important history, please do. These old souls belong to us and all of our history in Chester County as well as being crucially important historically to the AME Church and black history in general.
Say a prayer in remembrance for the old souls buried at the ruins of Ebenezer on Bacton Hill road in Frazer, and remember Al Terrell too.
Pax
Hiram Woodyard Chester County Paperwork
got acorns ?
what a sky!
preservation party with a purpose
When you go to a party at Duportail it’s alway fabulous. But it’s especially fun when it is a Tredyffrin Historic Preservation Trust event.
This evening was the preview party for the TPT Historic House Tour which is Saturday, September 23. (You can still buy tickets and it’s so awesome a day!)
This event is courtesy of my dear friend Pattye Benson who is President of the Trust and Innkeeper at The Great Valley House of Valley Forge.
The preview party was terrific and as always wonderful food and gracious company.
And the music. The music was fabulous! We had the pleasure of listening to the CPFA Jazz Mavericks from the Center for Performing and Fine Arts in West Chester. These young musicians were incredible!
A wonderful evening and all about historic preservation. All proceeds benefit the Living History Center at Duportail.
Remember you can still sign up for the house tour! It’s going to be amazing and there will be a stop at another favorite place – Life’s Patina at Williwbrook Farm! (It’s their fall sale weekend)
remember our history!
**Robin Ashby photo credit.**
Look how cool! The 240th Anniversary of The Battle of The Brandywine. If I have my numbers right, I believe there are over 800 re-enactors here for this.
These events remember how our founding fathers fought and died for our freedoms. They deserve to be honored, and as Americans we should honor their legacy.
Also remember sites like this and the importance of preserving our history the next time there is a meeting on Crebilly — which is this Tuesday.
There is a conditional use hearing coming up this coming week as per Crebilly Farm Friends:
NEXT CONDITIONAL USE HEARING
Tuesday, September 19th, 6PM – 10PM
RUSTIN HIGH SCHOOL
1100 Shiloh Road, West Chester, PA 19382
Historical Significance Letter to your legislator
Negative Impact Letter to your legislator
Neighbors for Crebilly also tells us:
John Snook of the Brandywine Conservancy will be the last expert for the Westtown Planning Commission to testify after which time groups and people with party status will be permitted to present their own witnesses.
community
A real community is a rare thing indeed in today’s busy world. It’s funny because we are all so connected via social media, yet a lot of times in reality we are very disconnected. So when you have the opportunity to get together with some really amazing people in real time to just hang out and enjoy each other’s company, it is truly terrific.
Politicians and others often underestimate the power or sense of community. That isn’t the point of this post, but it is an observation.
I have only been in Chester County a few years. Today I was invited to a neighborhood block party outside my own neighborhood , and it was wonderful. I had the best time.
A sense of community is a real sense of place. When I first moved to Chester County, it was hard. Yes, I had friends out here, but the place I left was a place where I was really part of the community, as in my immediate community and extended community. Today I felt that sense of community again. I felt the sense of extended community like it was my own neighborhood. (And I love where I live and my neighbors!)
Community bonds for any number of reasons. When it happens, it is in my opinion, a wonderful and positive power for good.
To the people I spent time with today, thank you for inviting me. Thank you for including me as part of your extended community. I think you all are amazing.
“SLAPPED”…again
Social media page screenshotted above FIRST is one of the many pages which I follow. I am not an administrator or page owner. The SECOND screen shot is from the public docket –Case #2017-03836-MJ. The developer has filed for reconsideration.
Timing being everything, this all happened around the same time this week as State Senator Larry Farnese’s press conference in Philadelphia City Hall regarding the anti-SLAPP legislation currently pending in the PA house. (Visit this link http://www.senatorfarnese.com/farnese-delaware-riverkeeper-network-news-conference-on-anti-slapp-suit-legislation)
CLICK HERE to find out about the bill and please contact your State Representative in PA and urge their support. Residents in Chester County, please contact YOUR state representative and urge passage of this legislation. CLICK HERE to find out who represents YOU as a Chester County, PA resident.
And as I was asked to prepare a statement for the aforementioned press conference, here is what I wrote- Farnese Press Conference Philadelphia PA 9.13.2017
CLICK HERE for the link to the PA DEP page on Bishop Tube.
Thanks for stopping by.