Isaac Cornog General Store & Post Office
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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
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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 At the end of the 1800s, the tavern license was revoked due to the growing temperance movement, and the property was sold to the Brandywine Summit Kaolin Company, a feldspar mining company that operated the quarry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
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\ 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
Peter Driver House
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Peter Driver was a free Black man that owned land in Concord Township beginning in 1825 — prior to the American Civil War and 40 years before slavery was abolished. Peter Driver purchased 20.25 acres from Ezekiel Pyle in 1825, and additional acres from Job Perkins at a later date. He built a house c. 1830, and lived on the property with his wife, Lushada, and their 3 children. His property was located in the area now known as the Clayton neighborhood, at the corner of Garnet Mine Road and Concord Road. His other land parcel was located near the Concord Road-Featherbed Lane intersection. According to the 1850 Census, Peter Driver owned 35 acres, 18 of which were used for farming. He produced hay, corn, wheat, grass seed, and potatoes. He owned 2 horses, 4 pigs, 1 steer, and 1 cow, and produced 150 lbs. of butter and $35 worth of livestock a year. He also owned an orchard on the property that produced $100 worth of fruit a year. The whole farm was valued at $1,500 in 1850. Peter Driver was likely a cow farmer or tanner by trade. According to a newspaper article, Peter Driver owned a cow that gave birth to conjoined-twin calves. The article noted that the calf had 2 heads, 2 tails, 6 legs, and 2 backbones. Peter Driver died in 1883, and his property went to his daughter Anna Louisa Driver. In 1900, the property was purchased by Thomas Booth. In 1966, Delaware County purchased the property and demolished the house. However, many of the original Driver House floorboards were saved and used in the restoration of the Polecat Road House (Resource #141). The Peter Driver House and the long-standing land ownership of the Driver Family is significant in the overall history of Black successes within Concord Township during the 19th century.