Вест-Честер запустил пешую экскурсию «Революционная Вест-Честер» о событиях 1777 года

WEST CHESTER–While recognizing the ongoing America250 celebration, the Chester County History Center has created a new walking tour–Revolutionary West Chester. Last week’s tour in West Chester was led by Jennifer Green, CCHC’s Director of Education and Erica Imparato, tour guide. The tour zeros in on a two week time period during September 1777. The Battle of Brandywine is highlighted by the tour guides and took place on September 11, 1777. West Chester did not exist in 1777, instead the mostly farm country was then known as Turk’s Head. The little village was named after a tavern built in 1760, at a crossroads connecting Wilmington and Philadelphia. At the time of the Battle of Brandywine, the tavern was located on the northeast corner of High and Market streets where Truist Bank now stands. Everyone in Turk’s Head was touched by the Revolutionary War in 1777. Patriots, loyalists and many pacifists who did not take a stand, including Quakers, lived together. There were also some who did not care about the war one way or another. The Revolutionary West Chester tour is based on the lives of seven men who were all impacted by the war in their daily lives. Imparato talked about what some call “Hoopesville,” and the family that is the namesake of a park in the borough. This family owned 220-acres of farmland in the Village of Turk’s Head, with some of the property set aside for family quarters for 17 living children. While most Quakers were pacifists and stayed out of the fray, many of the Society of Friends did support boycotting British goods. A few even enlisted in the Pennsylvania Militia. Those who chose not to serve in the army either were required to send someone in their place or pay for someone to serve. Many Quakers refused to support the war effort and this put them at odds with local patriots. The tour guides also discussed the school at the southwest corner of High and Gay streets where Iron Hill Brewery also stood. That school was used for a Revolutionary hospital and soldiers were buried in the school’s playground. In 1790 the school was torn down. It took 8,000 British troops four hours to march through Turk’s Head on High Street in the aftermath of the Battle of Brandywine. Patriot snipers killed two soldiers and the British did not return fire. For more on the Turk’s Head Tavern, the battle of West Chester, several men named John and how West Chester got its name, take the tour. Additional tour topics coming this fall by the Chester County History Center include Plagues and Pestilence, a tour exploring diseases and their historical treatments; these tours will run through the month of September. Then in October, look for a full schedule of the ever-popular Chilling West Chester with a variety of dates and times. All tours run about 90 minutes, cover about a mile-and-a-quarter, and are completely outdoors. If walking tours aren’t your cup of tea, the History Center offers a compelling menu of virtual lectures. Please see the Events page at mycchc.org for schedules and ticketing information for the walking tours, lectures, and other engaging offerings.