Chadds Ford Historical Society

What exactly is the Chadds Ford Historical Society? The Chester County area is rich with history and historical places. The Chadds Ford Historical Society otherwise know as CFHS is a non-profit organization which owns the John Chadds house and Barns Briton House. Also, the CFHS hosts many events in the Chadds Ford area such as the Chadds Ford Days, Great Pumpkin Carve, Christmas Tree Lighting, Candlelight Tour, Antique-Classic Car Show and a golf outing.

Chadds Ford itself was named after John Chad who was a ferryman and a farmer. John was given the 500 acres where his house is located by his father. John's house was built buy John Wyeth, who has no relation with the famous Wyeth art family. The house's style reveals John's wealth and Quaker heritage. In 1729, John married a woman named Elizabeth Richardson who lived in the house for sixty years. In 1736, John petitioned for a license for a tavern and began a ferrying service across the Brandywine River. Then unfortunately John Chad died in 1760 leaving the house and forty acres for Elizabeth.

During the Battle of Brandywine, she was strong, hiding her silverware in her pockets since they were so valuable and she observed Hessian and Continental troop movements from her attic window. She refused to leave her home and watched the battle unfold in the fields around her.

On the opposite side of Rt. 100, parallel to the house is the springhouse, which is said to have been there before the original home was built and that is where John and his mason lived. The springhouse was used as a tenet's house and as a school in the early half of the 19th century. The corner of it was damaged by artillery during the Battle of Brandywine.

The annual Chadd Ford Days began on September 10, 1958 to remember the Battle of Brandywine. It was opened by cannon shot and the flag raising with a costume parade on Street Road. Events included shopping, along with art shows that held Howard Pyle's and the Wyeth's art. Craftsmen displayed and sold their art and the day ended with a square dance on Street Road.

The second Chadds Ford Days was held on September 8, 1962 where more attractions were added so more people would come. The next Chadds Ford days wasn't held until September 4, 1968, which was the first time for the newly formed Chadds Ford Historical society. Main attractions that year consisted of an art show of N.C., Andrew and Jamie Wyeth's paintings. Another big hit was a re-enactment of the Battle of Brandywine.

Finally in 1969 Chadds Ford Days was held at Hoffman Mill (today the Brandywine River Museum) where bagpipers and colonial soldiers demonstrated drills and military formations. Shops setup helped fund the buying of the Barns Briton House. By 1970 the Chadds Ford Days became a yearly event enjoyed by everyone, still raising money for the Chadds House and Barns Briton House.

You can catch the Chadds Ford Days every year in the early weeks of September. In fact the field used to hold the event is across Rt. 100 and the Spring house, John Chad's actual house and the Chadds Ford Historical Society Barn, all of which you can walk through. Some years there will be men dressed in colonial war outfits will talk on the hill in front of the house to visitors about what it was like. So come visit Chadds Ford and the Chadds Ford Days! There are raffles, colonial crafts, music, food, paintings and guided tours through the house. Come learn a little something about your town's heritage!

Official website of the Brandywine Battlefield Park

Official website of the Chadds Ford Historical Society

Official website of the Brandywine River Museum