Newtown Square Historical Society

Newtown Square Historical Society LOGO 2022


Newtown Township is fortunate to have an active, energetic and committed Historical Society, who have become the caretakers and teachers of our rich and proud local history. The main purpose of the Society are to protect, preserve and promote the historic resources of the Township, and to tell its story to all  of its residents and visitors. Each year, children and adults find a full schedule of activities, events and opportunities to visit our historical sites. The Society is an all-volunteer, non-profit 501(c)(3) community organization. 


Visit our Facebook page or website for all current as well as upcoming activities!  We hope you'll come out and enjoy all the important history that Newtown Township offers!


Meetings

1st Tuesday of every month 

Members 

Name Position / Focus
Cathy Cavalier-GachPresident / Events 
Vince GutierrezVice President / Facilities
Larry FischerTreasurer 
Mary ReaneySecretary 
John CusterSolicitor 
Doug HumesCommunications and Programs
Nancy FalconeGuides and Membership
Kathy LuskusSquare Tavern
Arlene CarusoAt Large
Karen BottgerAt Large
Walt AlbertAt Large
(Position Open)Paper Mill House

Newtown Township Welcome Sign

Newtown Township Historic Ordinance and Historic Sites

Historic Ordinance Presentation


  1. What do we do in the community
  2. What help we need

What do we do in the community?

  • Monthly programs run from October through May.  
  • Annual Historic Newtown Square Day in June (started in 1995 – next year is 28th anniversary)
  • Program book for Historic Newtown Square Day – our biggest revenue source – funds all that we do
  • Annual school tours:  since 1995 – 4th graders learn about Newtown Square history and life in Colonial Times
  • Ellis Scholarship Award:  $500 each year to a local high school student
  • Newtown Square History Center at the 1828 Paper Mill House - open most Saturdays from 12 - 4pm. Visit the website below for scheduled dates and times
  • 1742 Square Tavern - open most Saturdays from 1 - 4pm.  Visit the website below for scheduled dates and times
  • Bartram Covered Bridge and Hood Octagonal School; visit the website below for scheduled dates and times
  • Visit the Newtown Historic website for more information and follow us on Facebook!

What’s in store for future?

Brief History of Newtown Square

  • 1681:  William Penn – real estate developer; Penn’s first planned inland New Town west of City – Holmes map
  • Settled by Welsh Quakers
  • Father of American painting, Benjamin West, lived at Tavern. 
  • Was a crossroads of the Revolution – Wayne lived up the street, British raiding parties visited several times, one of          Washington’s spies, Major John Clark, operated from the Lewis farm on Goshen Road.
  • The outlaw Sandy Flash reportedly had a connection to the Tavern

Crossroads of history – Ben West, Sandy Flash, British raids, Major Clark – all at crossroads – get photo from tavern window

After Revolution, West Chester Turnpike was built – new hotel built up there in 1793 or so, and slowly the town gravitated to that intersection and away from the Goshen Rd intersection.

National Register Site 

Five Buildings on National Register of Historic Places:

  1. 1715 St. David's Church
  2. 1742 Square Tavern
  3. 1828 Crosley
  4. 1842 Hood Octagonal
  5. 1860 Bartram Bridge
  6. Annual School Tours

1715 St. David's Church and Graveyard:

 The second oldest church building in the community, the old stone church that was standing at the time of the American Revolution is still there, Longfellow’s “little church among its graves”, the final resting place of General Mad Anthony Wayne.

Newtown Square Historical Society

Visit the Newtown Square Historical Society website for a history of our Township, view many historical images and maps and find other history- related links.