|
Historic Unionville, the time period from when the first settlers lived here to the 1840's, covers the very beginning of the town. Before this time, however, native Americans had territory spread all across this area. The first family to settle in the town of Unionville itself, however, was the Jackson Family. This explains why the small town of Unionville originally was called Jacksonville. The Jackson family lived west of the center of the town, in the first of the historic homes, then gradually made there way to the center of town, where today the Route 82 and Wollaston Road intersection is, as their family grew. Historical records believe that the family made their original homestead in 1751. As time passed, two main roads passed directly through Jacksonville, making an intersection that still is there today. Small businesses sprouted up almost over night, so the town grew larger and larger. As of 1830, 17 buildings existed, including a tannery, a cabinetmaker's shop, an undertaker, a country store, the Cross Keys Inn and a medical hospital. From the time of the original family's homestead to 1830, the town had experienced drastic changes, mostly contributed to the lack of transportation available at the time. This very lack of transportation led Jacksonville into the Transition Period, which ran from the middle of the 1800's to 1920. Prior to the Civil War, even before tensions began between the North and South, the town had a total of 40 existing buildings surrounding the immediate area. These included the Unionville Academy, several of the Academy's boarding homes, many tenant homes, the Union hotel, a tin shop, the Unionville Female Seminary and three churches. These three, an African American, a Quaker and a Presbyterian, were separated due to religious belief and segregation. Emerging to the post-Civil War era, the town name was mysteriously changed to Unionville. Many give two reasons for this puzzling change. One possible reason was so the town could show pride to the Union, after the US became divided. Another theory is that one day, a traveler with his buddies said, "Lad's, lets call this town Unionville," because of the two main roads intersection through the bustling town, creating a "Union." Either theory seems logical, making the name of Unionville official. The final time period of the Unionville starting at 1920 and ending at 2000. This period was years after the original Jackson settlement and after our soldiers went to war. The first telephone wire had already been connected to the town and all of the 67 historical homes in Unionville had been built. The African American church was taken down and the tannery was a small store after being burnt down. Suddenly, many of the people from Unionville and Kennett Square were sent to war, both World War I and World War II. Afterward, the town transformed from a common side town to the larger town and community that it is today. Homes became common food stores and ice cream parlors as a sign of the times. Little change took place from then on, which brought Unionville to the twenty-first century. Many of the buildings today remain intact, although the insides have been renovated, some more than once as new owners moved in. In conclusion, this
information explains the towns' great historical
significance to the surrounding community. This brief report
gives on-lookers a 249-year old glimpse of Unionville,
including construction and renovations through the years. In
describing Historic Unionville, the Transition Period and
Unionville today, it is true that the significance of
Unionville is evident to all that live and work in and
around the rural community. |
|
|