Valley Forge Park: Renovation Of 1816 House Project Ongoing

VALLEY FORGE, PA —Valley Forge Park Alliance is spearheading a campaign to raise funds to rehabilitate the historic Maurice Stephens House for the alliance headquarters and a cafe on Grand Parade.

The Grand Parade is the land where the 13 armies trained and joined together as George Washington’s Continental Army during the winter encampment in 1777-1778.

It has since become a three-mile walking trail in a meadow at Valley Forge Park along Route 23. It provides a natural habitat for birds and animals.

Molly F. Duffy, executive director of the alliance, said the nonprofit is in the midst of raising $980,000 to renovate the house for visitors with the goal of opening in August 2023.

The park has partnered with the alliance for the project, awarding the alliance $25,000 in seed funding.

The alliance is also working with the Maurice Stephens Advisory Group, which is composed of community leaders who have an expertise in construction, fundraising and leasing.

During a recent tour of the house, Duffy shared just as the soldiers regrouped during the winter encampment - nearly 250 years later park visitors will have a nice place to regroup when touring the park.

Aneu Catering, based in Paoli, plans to open a cafe at the house, providing coffee, shakes, baked items and more.

“This will provide a great resource for our community,” Duffy said. “We are really excited about it.”

The stone house contains woodwork piping and fireplaces along with windy staircases. It also provides a panoramic view of the park.

History of the house

The house still has an old document providing this brief history:

• In a 1758 will, Elinor Edwards gave Maurice Stone, her grandson, the tract of 150 acres.
• From 1772-to 1785, Connecticut General Jedediah Huntington lived in the log house on the property during the encampment.
• In 1825, Maurice Stone sold the home to William Henry, a Pennsylvania legislator in 1850. Henry of Lancaster supplied arms to Washington at Valley Forge.

The two-story house is five-bay farmhouse with additions built in 1841. It was remodeled for the park in 1975. The house has been vacant since 2,000.

The alliance formed during the bicentennial 1976 under the name, Friends of Valley Forge Park.

More information about the campaign to restore the house is available here.