Borough of Kennett Square

The Borough of Kennett Square was formed from the Township and incorporated in 1855. The original village in the Township served as the nucleus of the Borough. The Borough itself comprised a little over one square mile of land and included 606 inhabitants at the time of its formation.

Military History

Kennett Township holds a significant place in the annals of our nation's military past. Amidst the Revolutionary War, it became a notable waypoint for British troops and Hessian mercenaries en route to Chadds Ford. Historical records highlight preliminary clashes of the pivotal Battle of the Brandywine occurring around the Anvil at Hamorton and in proximity to the Old Kennett Meetinghouse. The township's early inhabitants primarily comprised English Quakers, a community historically averse to conflict and oath-taking, thus remaining largely neutral amidst the strife between Britain and America.

War of 1812

During the War of 1812, an encampment of 3,000 soldiers under the command of General Bloomfield drilled on the site of the present Kennett Square Borough Waterworks. He gave his name to the property which supported a series of early mills in the Township and was owned by the Chambers family for over a century.

Civil War

Before the Civil War, numerous Quakers residing in Kennett Township actively participated in the "Underground Railroad," a clandestine network aiding runaway slaves in their journey to Canada. Following railroad terminology, those facilitating the transportation of escapees were termed "conductors," while the safe houses where they sought refuge were referred to as "stations." Among the well-known conductors were John and Hannah Cox, whose residence stood near the Anvil. Dinah and Isaac Mendenhall harbored countless slaves in their home along the road now recognized as Route 52. Another notable conductor, Dr. Bartholomew Fussell, resided a mile east of Kennett Square in a sizable residence later known as "The Pines," owned by Mr. and Mrs. Frank Way. Many historic farmhouses in the area possessed concealed compartments where slaves found sanctuary during the day, clandestinely moving to the next station under the veil of darkness.

Early Settlers

The initial settlers primarily engaged in farming, capitalizing on the fertile soil of Kennett Township, which lent itself well to a variety of agricultural endeavors. Numerous farmers cultivated produce, which they transported to markets in Philadelphia and Wilmington using horse-drawn wagons, traversing roads that were often difficult to navigate.

By the mid-1800s, a coalition of merchants and farmers pooled resources to finance the construction of a turnpike connecting Kennett Square to Wilmington, known today as Kennett Pike. This thoroughfare operated as a toll road until the early 1900s.

Dairying

Dairying developed as an important agricultural pursuit, and after the advent of the railroad in 1859, many of the farmers hauled their milk to the creamery on East Birch Street in Kennett Square or to Rosedale or Mendenhall where it was loaded on the train for Philadelphia.

Agricultural

A significant step in the agricultural progress of the community was the forging of the first iron plow in Pennsylvania by Bernard Wiley in a blacksmith shop on Bayard Road in 1810. Blacksmiths, necessary in any economy depending upon horse-drawn transportation, were frequently wheelwrights as well.

Saw Mill

An essential component of land development for agriculture and settlement was the establishment of sawmills for lumber production and grist mills for grinding flour, vital for human consumption and livestock feed. These mills, powered by water, were strategically situated along streams.

The Township's first recorded grist mill emerged on the banks of the Red Clay Creek in 1689, although precise details regarding its location and operator remain unclear. However, historical records confirm John Marshall's operation of a saw and flour mill along the Red Clay Creek in 1763, situated on a farm known as "Marshallvale." In 1856, Thomas S. Marshall transformed this mill into a paper mill, laying the foundation for the present-day National Vulcanized Fiber Company (NVF), a significant industry in both Kennett Square and Yorklyn, Delaware, just across the state line.

Additionally, the Clifton Mills, positioned south of Kennett Square, commenced operations in 1770 and continued functioning without interruption until the 1930s, serving as another crucial hub for milling activities in the area.

Building Materials

In addition to supporting a profitable agricultural community, the national resources of the Township provided clay for bricks, lime for mortar and fertilizer, and hornblende for building stone. This black building stone, found nowhere else, was used extensively for construction in the early days. Limestone was quarried from about 1850 to 1910 from at least two quarries in the area.

Greenhouse

Around 1895, a novel agricultural pursuit emerged in Kennett Township, as several residents embarked on cultivating flowers and vegetables under glass. Greenhouses began to dot the landscape, with some still in operation today, primarily focused on cultivating roses and carnations.

The hallmark of Chester County's global recognition in specialized agriculture traces back to approximately 1885, when William Swayne, a prosperous florist in Kennett Square, pioneered the concept of cultivating mushrooms beneath his greenhouse benches. Importing spawn from England, Swayne's initial results were promising enough to prompt him to construct a dedicated structure for mushroom cultivation. Erecting the area's first mushroom house, his son, J. Bancroft Swayne, assumed control of the mushroom enterprise upon his return from college, transforming it into a thriving commercial venture. Under his stewardship, the business expanded to include a spawn plant and a cannery alongside the growing houses.

Inspired by the success of the Swayne family and enticed by the lucrative prices of mushrooms in urban markets, others in the region began to prioritize mushroom production as their primary occupation.

Private Schools

There is record of two early private schools in the Township, one, conducted by Rebecca Gillingham in her father's home known as "The Pines," and the other under the care of Kennett Friends Meeting, which was located in the triangle between Schoolhouse Road and U.S. Route 1. Most of the one-room public schools in the Township were converted to dwellings after they were closed following the building of the Kennett Consolidated School in 1931.

Post Offices

Of the three post offices which have existed over the years in the Township, only one remains. The Hamorton office was closed soon after 1900, Norway changed to Rosedale about 1910 and was closed in 1967, leaving only the office at Mendenhall still functioning.

Landmarks

Among the well-known landmarks in Kennett Township was Woodward's Boarding House, a large three-story summer resort with a sweeping veranda. Built in 1899 on Hillendale Road about one mile south of Rosedale, its 40 rooms welcomed guests arriving by train from Philadelphia, New York City, and Wilmington, who were taken by horse-drawn carriage from the Rosedale station to the Boarding House. Guests enjoyed playing croquet and shuffleboard, dances, walks in the country, and entertainment with area residents until the end of World War II when rail passenger service to the area was terminated. Woodward's Pine Hill Fruit Farm provided most of the fresh fare for the table. The Boarding House was destroyed by arson, July 27, 1961.

Quakers

Most of the early settlers were members of the Society of Friends (Quakers). When they first arrived in Kennett Township, they had to cross the Brandywine to attend New Ark Meeting in Brandywine Hundred. Because fording the Brandywine was impossible at some seasons of the year, Old Kennett Meetinghouse was built in 1710, enlarged in 1719, and again in 1731.

Meeting House

The meeting house, now recognized on the National Historic Register, features a meticulously maintained burial ground and sits to the east of Hamorton, marking the entrance to Kendal-at-Longwood. It welcomes worshippers during the summer months. Hamorton, once a bustling commercial hub during the early and mid-19th century, earned its place on the National Register of Historic Places in April 1990.

Longwood Meeting House

The Longwood Meeting House, located behind the Longwood Fire Hall along Route 1, was established prior to 1850 by a group of Progressive Friends concerned with the abolition of slavery. The House was dedicated in 1855 and provided a platform for many of the most radical speakers of the day on abolition, temperance, single tax and equal rights for women. The renowned author and editor, Bayard Taylor, is buried in the cemetery adjacent to the Longwood Meeting House. This building is now a tourist information center.

Longwood Gardens

The 1,077-acre Longwood Gardens consists of varied outdoor gardens, ranging from formal to naturalistic in their landscape design, and 20 indoor gardens within a 4.5 acre (1.8 hectares) group of heated greenhouses. Longwood's Conservatory contains 4,600 different types of plants and trees, as well as fountains.The gardens also have extensive educational programs including a tuition-free two-year school of professional horticulture, a graduate program, and extensive internships. It hosts hundreds of horticultural and performing arts events each year, from flower shows, gardening demonstrations, courses, and children's programs to concerts, organ and carillon recitals, musical theatre, fountain shows, and fireworks displays. It also hosts an extensive Christmas light display during the holiday season. The Longwood tract, of which there are over three hundred acres located in Kennett Township, dates back to 1700 as an original land charter from William Penn. Longwood was formerly called "Peirce's Park" after George Peirce, its founder, who established the magnificent grove of trees.

Heritage

The rich heritage of Kennett Township's extensive history is too valuable to fade into obscurity. Over the span of more than three centuries, many individuals and locales within the township have experienced notable transformations. Yet, even amidst change, Kennett Township remains, much like its earliest days, a delightful and fulfilling place to reside. It falls upon all its inhabitants, who reap the rewards of living in this township and benefit from the pioneering spirit of its early settlers, to safeguard the resources and legacy entrusted by the past for the prosperity of future generations.

Condensed from 1971 Comprehensive Plan