Places | Horsham Preservation and Historical Association

Abel and Sarah Penrose

Posted in Places.

Abel Penrose married Sarah L. Beisel of Allentown on Christmas Day, 1856. He was 39 and she was 20. Sarah’s father, Daniel Beisel, was a prominent farmer in the Lehigh Valley and a member of the Reformed Church. Sarah probably became a member of the Society of Friends since she is buried at the Horsham Friends Cemetery. 2 We believe this photo shows Abel and Sarah on the front porch of the Penrose-Strawbridge House sometime in the 1870s. The second half of the 19th century was a turbulent time in the U.S. Although the civil war was over, the Indian wars continued in the...

Governor Road

Posted in Roads.

Governor Road Governor Road is the original entrance to Graeme Park and the Penrose-Strawbridge House. It currently exists as a gravel road extending only a short distance from Keith Valley Road southeast to Gate 9 of the former Willow Grove Naval Air Station, but its history dates back almost 300 years. Governor Sir William Keith authorized a road to be built from Philadelphia to his “new building” (Graeme Park) in Horsham from Round Meadow (now Willow Grove) in 1722. The road became known as The Governor’s Road Governor Road ran north from the Horsham...

A painting of the Limekiln toll house painted by Leon Clemmer

Limekiln Pike

Posted in Roads.

Limekiln Pike was dedicated in 1737. Its present course was laid out in 1855, when the road was moved about one-fourth mile to the west at the upper end of the township. It was also known for a time as Whitehall Turnpike. Thomas Fitzwater sailed from England with William Penn on the Welcome. He was granted 1,000 acres in what is now Upper Dublin. Fitzwater later added to these holdings. Fitzwater’s rich limestone deposits became one of the most important area sources for limestone (the others located in Lower Merion) and led to construction of the first road “into the...

Hallowell Hotel

Posted in Points of Interest.

When the Doylestown-Willow Grove Turnpike was made a public highway north of Private Road in 1839, the village of Davis Grove lost its position as a strategic crossroads. At the same time, the settlement along the turnpike near Justinian K. Hallowell’s hotel became important. This area became known as the village of Hallowell. Justinian Hallowell112 and his brother George bought a farm on March 15, 1880 that would become the Hallowell Hotel. They ran both until George’s death in 1897, when his sister Lydia became a partner. At some point they added a store and a post office name...

Bloodgood Nurseries

Posted in Places.

Bloodgood Nurseries was a fixture in Horsham since the 1970s when Al Edling moved the existing business from Doylestown. But its roots go way back – claiming to be America’s oldest nursery, established in 1790! Bloodgood is a name that has long been associated with various plants. The Bloodgood Japanese Red Maple Acer palmatum atropurpureum is probably the single most popular upright purple-leafed Japanese maple. Bloodgood introduced it to North American gardening shortly after the Civil War, a very long time before the general craze for Japanese maples was really...

Golden Ball Tavern

Posted in Places.

The Golden Ball Tavern, located in the village of Davis Grove, was built about 1787, and served as an Inn and assembly hall until 1857. Thereafter, it was used as a private dwelling. It has been demolished and the Village of Davis Grove absorbed by the Willow Grove Naval Air Station.39 More History of Horsham Help us preserve Horsham. Learn about membership and sponsorship with HPHA. Discover the benefits of preservation. Support HPHA

Brewery Farm

Posted in Places.

The “Brewery Farm” was a farm along what is now known as Herman Road that was owned by Henry Schaeffer of the Arnhold and Henry Schaeffer Brewing Company. Schaeffer purchased the 144-acre farm in 1891 and while he did reside here it is not known if brewing was done here. Arnhold and Schaeffer was one of several brewers that defined the Brewerytown section of Philadelphia. According to oldbreweries.com they were in business only from 1884-87 but the Philadelphia Inquirer (Aug 27, 1927, p.3) mentions the company having 15 vats of beer returned to them during prohibition. Help Wanted...

Kenderdine Mill

Posted in Places.

The Kenderdine Mill, at the intersection of Keith Valley and Davis Grove Roads in Horsham, is a beautiful and well-preserved example of an early 18th century mill and industrial complex. The mill was built in 1735 and remained in operation until 1917. It was later restored by Ronald Mintz and was placed on the National Registry of Historic Places in 1992 (Registry #91002011). The mill and complex are currently a private residence. Joseph Kenderdine built the mill and later sold a half-interest to his brother Thomas. Following Thomas’ death in 1779 the mill continued operation until 1796...

Joseph Kenderdine House

Posted in Places.

The Joseph Kenderdine House previously stood near the intersection of Davis Grove and Keith Valley Roads on the corner of what is now Commonwealth National Golf Club. This land was originally purchased by Richard Kenderdine from Samuel Carpenter in 1713, and Richard’s son Joseph built the original grist mill here c1735. The belief is that part of this house was built at that time but Charles Harper Smith in his “Settlement of Horsham Township” states that Joseph Kenderdine moved to Horsham c1738 and that a foundation discovered a few yards south of the Alcorn House may mark the...