You may have driven by many times without even noticing the historic marker and story in front of this red brick house at 107 South Church Street in West Chester.
Today the building is home to Brandywine Valley Advisors Group, Mazzone & Associates Insurance, Dan Beirne Real Estate, and Avatar Environmental.
It is the childhood home of composer Samuel Barber (1910-1981). Barber won two Pulitzer Prizes for his work. The first in 1958 and the second in1981. According to the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission Barber's compositions include The "Adagio for Strings" and "Knoxville: Summer of 1915"
According to a sign hanging the porch of the building this was the Barber family home for 40 years from 1919 to 1959. "From our community Samuel Barber went forth to enrich and inspire the world with his music."
A graduate of the famous Curtis Institute Barber did leave a local legacy. He wrote the old "West reChester High School's Alma Mater song," according to the Historical Commission.
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