New Living History Center Set To Open In Tredyffrin Township

TREDYFFRIN TWP. — Walk along a paved path dotted with daffodils to the entrance of a new museum Sunday to be treated to a spectacular lesson in American history in the Chesterbrook neighborhood of Tredyffrin Township.

With two decades of determination seldom seen, Pattye Benson’s vision of restoring a crumbling barn dating back to the American frontier has finally become a reality.

The Jones Log Barn Living History Center in Tredyffrin Township is set to open from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday at 279 Adams Drive, Tredyffrin Township, Chester County. The public is invited to attend.

The barn was relocated next to the Duportail House, which was built in 1740 and is used as a wedding venue.

The project was led by Benson, president of the nonprofit Tredyffrin Historic Trust Foundation, who said the museum provides a living history of the area.

On a recent morning, Benson opened the back door and proudly pointed to a collection of vintage farm equipment, including over 30 antique tools and pieces of equipment donated by Fred and Lura Wampler of Wayne.

“One piece of equipment that survived was a threshing machine,” Benson said, showing the completion of a long, involved restoration project.

A Revolutionary War History

The circa 1730 Jones Barn provides a look into early Welsh American architecture in Pennsylvania. It’s reminiscent of the English Lake District architecture.

Rowland Richard, the original owner of the barn, began cultivating heavily forested land in 1708. The barn was used for storing hay.

In the fall and winter of 1777, Sam Jones owned the farm. The Revolutionary War was underway.

In the third week of September, British Gen. Sir William Howe occupied the farm complex. The Paoli Massacre was launched from the original farm.

When Gen. George Washington and his troops were in Valley Forge in the brutal winter of 1777 and 1778, the farm was occupied by Gen. Charles Scott of the Continental Army.

Restoration Project

In October 2000, the Tredyffrin Township Historic Architectural Review Board petitioned the Board of Supervisors to save the barn.

The board agreed to loan the historic board $25,000 to dismantle and store the barn.

In 2001, a group of citizens concerned about preservation of history formed the foundation to save the barn.

The project was not simple.

The location on Adams Avenue was selected because it was previously occupied by a similar barn that perished in a fire.

Scott Walker and Axe Handle Timber, North Wales, Montgomery County, was the primary contractor for the project.

The Eadeh family donated another historic barn, the Fritz barn, to be used for the restoration.

The reconstruction project used historic materials, including its original red siding. The lumber Fritz Lumber Yard in Berwyn.

Admission to the museum is free, and it will be open 1 to 3 p.m. on Sundays from April through October. More information is available here.