This year marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, and Pennsbury Township and the Chadds Ford Historical Society are about to launch some celebrations.
Pennsbury’s celebration on May 16 is part of Chester County 250, according to Dan Boyle, Pennsbury Township manager. He called it a family-friendly event.
But Randell Spackman, president of the Chadds Ford Historical Society, went into much more detail.
“This is the 250th anniversary of our nation. The excitement in the area and the nation is overwhelming right now because people have recognized that, despite everything else, this is the one thing that brings us all together because we have a commonality to celebrate,” he said.
The historical society will have a strong presence and involvement with Pennsbury’s celebration on the 16th.
“We will have. The Barns-Brinton House opens from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.,” Spackman said. “We’ll be baking bread, having house tours, and I believe Chaddsford Winery will be doing some things along with the antique mall.” He added that there will be some things happening at the Pennsbury municipal building.
He said the Barns-Brinton House doesn’t get opened to the public as often as he would like and hopes that this will change. Spackman added that he wants to see that house and the John Chad House open on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays this year.
Having the Chad House open won’t be part of the May 16 celebration, but said, “That is one of our own celebrations for making this year special. We want people to come out and see the local culture that was here before we had a nation.”
It’s that culture, he said, that helped lead to the War of Independence, adding that the Battle of Brandywine was fought in Pennsbury, Chadds. Ford, and the Birmingham township area.
He said having that opening celebration is May is good because by the time July 4 rolls around, people will have many other options, “But we’re trying to carry the celebration all year long.”
Speaking solely as CFHS president, Spackman said the society is trying to get more activities for people to explore, not just as part of America 250, but to continue beyond that.
“We’re trying to have the houses open more; we’re trying to do more activities. We’re trying to do a special marble-making, candle-dipping, bread baking. We want people to stop and say ‘Oh, let’s look at this,’ or let’s look at that,’” he said.
Further out, beginning in June, the society will be holding its annual summer camp, a total of four one-week sessions spread out through June, July, and August.
