Northbrook   The Unionville -Northbrook area is a very interesting and historical place. The Northbrook Orchards, the Brandywine Valley Association, Star Gazers Stone and the Old Bridge are some of the many historical locations in the Unionville - Northbrook area. The Star Gazers Stone is located exactly 30 miles away from Philadelphia. It was used as an astronomical marker for the Mason Dixon Line, which was located on the border between Pennsylvania and Maryland. The Mason Dixon line is an invisible line that separated the North and South during the time of our nation’s Civil War. African American slaves that were escaping from their owners in the southeastern United States would have come up through the Unionville-Chadds Ford area. There is an engraving of a P and a M, these engravings stand for Pennslyvania and Maryland. The Brandywine Valley Association, or BVA, has been around since 1950. Its mission is to conserve property in the Unionville area. The BVA offers many educational activities which aid in learning about the importance of conservation. At these programs, they stress respect for the land, knowledge of the plants and animals, and the importance of teamwork. One historical monument that draws attention to the BVA is the William Penn Tree. This tree is estimated at over 400 years old. During a fossil dig, they uncovered artifacts such as watches and ammunition at the base of a tree. Deeper in the woods, a cannon ball, lodged between two trees, was found. Another program that they host every year is the Brandywine Clean-Up. At the clean up, they give you a canoe and you pick up every piece of trash that you can see. At the end of this event, you can see that you have made a real difference. In conclusion, my father once remarked that “every person that moves into Chester county wants to be the last.” I never realized how important that was until now. We must remember to preserve the beauty of this area.     Northbrook Station's sign Bridge that used to be covered Northbrook Station