Tag: Graeme Park

Native Americans: Lenape

Posted in People.

The Lenni Lenape The Lenni-Lenape (which means “Men of Men” or “Original People” (The Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape, 2007) or “the people”(Eden, D, 2015). They were also called “The Grandfathers or ancient ones” (Nanticote) by other native tribes. They are the oldest known nation in the Northern Hemisphere, heir oral history suggests that they crossed into Alaska across the frozen Bering Sea thousands of years ago and eventually made their way to the eastern shore of North America. Archeological evidence suggests that this may have been as long as...

Margaret Choate

Posted in In Memoriam, People.

Margaret Choate Margaret Ellen (Hinton) Choate died on April 5, 2017 in Horsham, Pa. at the age of 69. She and her husband, Peter Choate, founded the Horsham Preservation and Historical Society in 1997. In 2002 they both retired to work full time for this organization. Margaret was born in Philadelphia to Elsie and William Hinton. She grew up in Southampton, PA and graduated from William Tennant High school. Margaret worked in banking for 25 years for First Pennsylvania/CoreStates Bank, retiring in 1994 from the Horsham branch as Manager and Assistant Vice President. Margaret had a love...

Peter Choate

Posted in In Memoriam, People.

Peter Choate We are extremely sad to report the passing of our dear friend Peter Choate. Pete was the cofounder and long-time leader of our organization. He passed away peacefully January 13, 2025, at the age of 83. Pete and his wife Margaret are shown below in March, 2016 at the Penrose-Strawbridge House. Both Pete and Margaret committed the latter parts of their lives to our group, preserving the history of Horsham Township, the restoration of the Penrose-Strawbridge House and service to our community. Margaret passed away April 5, 2017. Peter Jacquet Choate was born on May 28,...

1865 Penrose Indenture

Posted in Projects.

The 1865 Penrose Indenture records the sale of portions of Graeme Park by four of the children of William and Hannah Penrose to their brother Abel Penrose. Their mother, Hannah Jarrett Penrose became the owner of Graeme Park (which at that time included what we now call the Penrose Strawbridge Farm) when the title was transferred to her from the estate of her father William Jarrett in 1832. We believe Jarrett had the title as collateral for a loan to Hannah’s husband Willam Penrose, and it became part of his estate that was then inherited by Hannah and her siblings. William...

Morris and Mary Penrose

Posted in People.

Not much is known of Morris Penrose. He was born on March 14, 1860, the second child of Abel and Sarah Penrose. Morris never married but did become the fourth generation of Penroses to farm Graeme Park. His sister Mary Penrose married William Carothers on April 16, 1913. Carothers was 23 years older and died two years later. Mary returned to Graeme Park following his death. She died in 1953. When Morris’ father Abel Penrose died on July 10, 1893, his will directed that the property could be purchased by his two sons, Morris B. or William Penrose, either jointly or individually,...

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...