Robert Wilson House and General Store
The Robert Wilson House and general store is a stucco and brick 2 1/2 story house located within the Clayton Park historic area in Concord Township. Robert Wilson, a successful merchant, purchased 9 acres from Joseph and Sarah Way on January 28, 1732. Mr. Wilson operated a general store in the basement and main level of the house, and lived on the second floor. The basement of the property contained several arched brick storage chambers, and housed goods such as rum, cider, molasses, and sugar. The Wilson General Store was noted by Henry Ashmead that “all business transactions were conducted in an honorable and straightforward manner.” There was a neighboring general store owned by John and Simon Gest located only 300 feet away from the Wilson store, and the two were highly competitive. The 1766 valuation of both stores were around 200 pounds, with the Wilson store valued slightly higher than the Gest store. The property was sold to John Peters in 1766 after Wilson’s death, and it is noted that John Peters also purchased the inventory for the store, indicating he continued operation of the business. By 1799, Caleb Perkins purchased the property, and also likely continued operation of the store. This house is a private residence and not open to the public. Concord Township Historic Resource #91
Isaac Cornog General Store & Post Office
This modest stone and frame shingle building was built c. 1870 as a grocery store for Isaac Cornog along Baltimore Pike/Route 1. In 1898, when Isaac Cornog assumed the position of postmaster, the post office moved to his grocery store which sat to the east of the Concordville Inn. In the 1920s, the building then passed hands to the Robinson family, where Paul and Bessie Robinson owned and operated a grocery store and the post office. Bessie Robinson became postmaster in 1935, and served as postmaster for almost half a century. Presently, the building is used as a custom embroidery retail store. Concord Township Historic Inventory Resource # 167
Smith’s Drove Tavern
The Smith’s Drove/Drover Tavern was built c. 1818 at the Elam Crossroads in Elam Village (the northwest corner of Smithbridge Road and the Wilmington-West Chester Pike). The crossroads area was originally known as “Pleasant Hill Crossroads,” but postal authorities required the name to the changed in 1844 after discovering an established post office named Pleasant Hill in the Lancaster County area. The tavern license was first granted in 1823 to James Smith after several failed attempts at obtaining a license years prior beginning in 1819. Smith operated the tavern under the name “Smith’s Drove Tavern.” The tavern was quite busy due to the prime commercial location along the Wilmington-West Chester Pike. The tavern remained in the Smith family until 1844, when Milton Stamp purchased the property. The name changed over the years to Drove Tavern, Drovers & Travelers Inn, Pleasant Hill Tavern, Farmers & Drovers Inn, and Elam Hotel. The property changed landlords frequently through the mid to late 1800s, with the tavern falling into ownership to families such as the Gilpins, Cheyneys, Mays, Speakmans, and Jenkins. At the end of the 1800s, the tavern license was revoked due to the growing temperance movement, and the property was sold to the Brandywine Summit Kaolin Company, a feldspar mining company that operated the quarry to the south. In 1908, the Order of United American Mechanics Lodge purchased the building, retaining it into the 1930s, and converting the building into that of a lodge hall. In later years, the building served as apartments, a clog shop, and pool care store. The building itself is a large Italianate stucco-over-fieldstone 3 story structure. Concord Township Historic Resource #35
William E. May and Howard May Houses
\ The William E. May House (#39) and Howard May House (#40) are twin Victorian homes built c. 1875 and located along Smithbridge Road in Elam Village. William E. May was a Union Army captain during the American Civil War, and also owned the Drover Tavern from 1864-1868. William E. May purchased the land from Mary Cheney in 1864. Howard May also served in the Union Army, and became a farmer after the war. The Howard May House has a 1920s addition along the back of the home, and was part of the Talley Farm during the 20th century. The houses feature wonderful Mansard roofs and stucco over stone facades. These properties are private homes, and not open to the public. Concord Township Historic Inventory Resource #39 + #40