History Unlocked-June 2017, Temperance
The Temperance Movement in Concord Township By: Karen Dingle Kendus, Concord Township Historical Society Previously, History Unlocked discussed the history of taverns and public houses in Concord Township (Taverns in Concord Township – May 2017). Not everyone was thrilled about the flow of liquor through the community. For the religious leaders in the township, especially the Quakers and Protestants, the increase in alcohol consumption was alarming. They had been preaching moderation for many years. By 1830, Americans above the age of 15 were consuming nearly 7 gallons of pure alcohol each year. This is about three times the amount Americans drink today. Religious leaders started preaching outright abstinence, and pursued governmental intervention in the sale and possession of alcohol. Another group interested in curbing alcohol consumption was women. Alcohol abuse, primarily by men, was directly affecting the lives of their wives. In a time when women had few legal rights, and depended on their husbands for sustenance and support, alcohol abuse was a huge problem. In an attempt to mobilize support for their cause, temperance supporters began societies to promote their ideas and call attention to the issue. Many temperance groups formed all over the country. The Delaware County Temperance Society was founded in 1835 and encouraged the townships and boroughs therein to join. Concord Township joined the Temperance Society under the name Union, and can be found in the meeting minutes. Temperance societies like these were so strong, that the state legislature took notice. In 1846, a bill passed authorizing a vote by those in each township to determine whether or not liquor should be sold in their area. (This law was later struck down as unconstitutional). In this pre-Civil War period, Concord Township voted to keep selling liquor in the township, 60 votes to 15 votes. By the 1850s, support for temperance dwindled as the tensions between the north and south of the country intensified. As a matter of fact, the temperance movement did not come back to full force until after the war, and nearly the end of Reconstruction (early 1870s). In Pennsylvania, the state legislature passed the “Local Action Law” in March 1872 that had electors in each township vote on whether or not liquor should be sold therein every three years. Concord Township voted against selling liquor within the township in the spring of 1873, 96 votes to 56 votes. (This law was repealed by the legislature in 1875. The post-Reconstruction period saw the most fervent support for temperance. The National Prohibition Party was founded in 1869 and even nominated someone for president. In 1873, the Women’s Christian Temperance Union was formed and chapters opened all over the country. By the end of the 1800s, the Women’s Christian Temperance Union, led by Frances Willard, began lobbying the government for local laws restricting alcohol. Once the Anti Saloon League formed, bringing together many different social and political groups, and World War I contributed to the image of drunk Germans creating war, public opinion had swayed enough in favor of temperance for the passing of the 18th Amendment in 1917. It went into effect in 1920. As it turns out, the easy part of curbing alcohol (making it illegal to manufacture, sell, or transport/export intoxicating liquors) was completed with the 18th Amendment, which ended up being ratified by all but two states within two years of flying through Congress. Enforcing this law would be a whole different story. Economically, temperance supporters expected the sale of clothing and household goods to increase, rents to rise (as neighborhoods were cleaned up with the closing of saloons), and attendance at theaters to increase (as citizens looked for other ways to entertain themselves). None of this happened. Instead, there was a decline in amusement and entertainment industries across the board. Restaurants failed when they could no longer sell liquor to pay their bills. There was also a loss of jobs since without breweries, the barrel makers, transporters, and waiters were no longer needed. And perhaps the largest consequence of the criminalization of alcohol was the lost tax revenue. At the time of passing, 75% of New York’s state revenue came from liquor taxes. The Federal government gave up a total of $11 billion in liquor taxes and it cost the federal government $300 million to enforce the 18th amendment. Income tax was supposed to replace the revenue gained through liquor taxes, but it did not come close. Socially, the criminalization of alcohol did not necessarily lead to less drinking. There were a number of loopholes that led to continued drinking since the law did not prohibit possession or consumption of alcohol. Pharmacists could administer whiskey for all sorts of illnesses and bootleggers realized that running a pharmacy would be a lucrative way to sell their merchandise. The number of registered pharmacists in New York tripled during this period. Americans could also still obtain wine for religious purposes, so enrollments in congregations at churches and synagogues increased, as did the number of self-professed rabbis who could obtain wine for their followers. The law was not clear about Americans making wine at home, and while the stills were illegal, one could still buy them at a local hardware store. Unfortunately, with how lucrative the illegal alcohol trade became, the quality of black market alcohol declined. 1000 Americans died every year during Prohibition from drinking tainted liquor. Prohibition had good intentions but led to an increase in the excess of alcohol consumption. The consequences were so severe that a repeal amendment, the 21st, was passed in 1933. By this point, the public supported decriminalization of the liquor industry and were pleased to see the passing of this amendment. References Ashmead, Henry Graham. 1884. History of Delaware County, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: L.H. Everts & Co. pp. 190-192. Case, Robert P. 1998. Concord Township: Progress and Prosperity in the Nineteenth Century. Kutztown, Pa.: The Kutztown Publishing Co. pp. 295-297. Lerner, Michael. 2011. Prohibition. PBS. http://www.pbs.org/kenburns/prohibition/roots-of-prohibition/ Accessed: 6/6/2017. Lewis, Jone Johnson. 2017.
History Unlocked-April 2017, Faith in Concord, Elam United Methodist Church
By: Karen Kendus, Concord Township Historical Society As a child, I had a pretty consistent schedule. During the week, I had school, sports, and music obligations. Saturdays were usually for more sports and music (depending on my age and the season). Sundays were family days, which included a morning of worship at our local church. We would be up, dressed in our suits and skirts, and out to 9:30am Sunday school. During the years both of my parents taught Sunday school, we joined them for church afterwards at 11am. Occasionally, my father volunteered to count offering, and for part of my childhood, my parents were also the custodians. In both instances, we would be at the church into the afternoons some Sundays. As I am sure you have noticed, Concord Township (and surrounding townships) is not short on places of worship. One even has his or her choice of denomination. In Concord Township alone, St. John’s Episcopal, St. Thomas’ Catholic, Elam United Methodist, Concord Friends, Concord Liberty Presybeterian, Valley Point and Covenant Fellowship are all located within its boundaries. I grew up attending Elam United Methodist Church[1], situated right down Smithbridge Road from Wilmington-West Chester Pike (Route 202), in Elam, Pennsylvania (previously known as Pleasant Hill). Elam UMC was not always located in that spot. As a matter of fact, Elam grew out of the Brandywine Summit Camp Meeting in 1875. Camp meetings[2] were part of a growing trend in the years following the end of the Civil War, as citizens sought spiritual healing and a closeness with God. After the Brandywine Camp Meeting that year, Reverend Edward Kenney, the pastor at Siloam UMC, continued preaching in a tent at Johnson’s Corner, where Beaver Valley Road meets Route 202. In the fall of 1875, a board chapel was built about 100 yards south of Johnson’s Corner, where the Camden-Valleybrook Apartments sit now. The building held sermons, Sunday school, and was also used as a schoolhouse to handle overflow students from the No. 3 schoolhouse located across Route 202. It was not until 1879 that the Ladies’ Aid Society purchased the land upon which Elam UMC now stands. It was part of Daniel Husbands’ farm. The wooden chapel was moved to the site in 1880, about the same time a charter was granted to the church. In September 1883, under Reverend Maris Graves, the wooden structure was replaced by a one-room, thirty by forty-five foot stone structure, using serpentine stone from Daniel Husbands’ quarry nearby. In my youth, this chapel served as the youth lounge. The beautiful stained glass windows in the chapel were not installed until 1892, when the pulpit furniture was also added. Even in the late 1990s, this room offered a subtle glow, mostly from the sun through the stained glass. Today, this portion of the church is once again a chapel and used for smaller ceremonies. It was recently renovated in 2005. In 1928, a vestibule was added and subsequently, in 1929, a social hall was added. The vestibule had classrooms for Sunday school when I was a child. The new social hall held more classrooms as well as a large main room where people could gather. The social hall also had its own door to the outside. Today, the social hall is used for Children’s Day Out programs. There were no additional significant renovations until 1967 when a new sanctuary and gallery area were added. The new sanctuary boasted a floor to ceiling stained glass window called the “Children’s Window.” The window is made of multicolored stained glass, and because of how the pieces are situated, one can see a distinct cross within the windows. When the sun is on that side, streaming in, the sanctuary is surprisingly bright and very warm. The hallway connecting the social hall and new sanctuary had floor to ceiling windows and lovely red brick flooring. In the winter, when the sun roasted those bricks, I loved removing my dress shoes and sliding around on the warm floor in my stockings. In more recent renovations, this area was expanded out and enclosed, but I will always remember those beautiful red brick floors. In 1986, a preschool complex, narthex, kitchen, and family life center were dedicated. The preschool complex is still used in that fashion. The narthex (like a vestibule) was used as a gathering space before and after services. The family life center and kitchen continue to hold potlucks, parties, and some casual church services. The features added in 1986 remain largely the same today. In the early 2000s, Elam UMC went through more renovations to add an education center, improved office spaces and additional meeting rooms. This particular renovation expanded the front hallway (with the beautiful red brick floor) out into the front courtyard. This created more gathering space in the foyer, larger offices, and improved space for the library. These renovations also added a second floor where the majority of Sunday school classrooms are located now. Elam UMC will always be a fundamental part of my childhood. My brothers and I spent a lot of our time there, and despite the physical changes, Elam UMC will always be an important and formative part of our youth. [1] Elam United Methodist Church started out as Elam Methodist Episcopal Church, as chartered in 1880. The name went through some changes as relationships changed. In the 1940s, the Methodist Episcopal Church merged with the Methodist Protestant Church, North and South. In the late 1950s, the Methodist Church merged with the United Brethren Church, which created our current United Methodist Church. [2] Camp Meetings were held in the summer. Entire families spent their summers in simple cottages surrounding a central meeting area for group sermons and prayers. References Ashmead, Henry Graham. 1884. History of Delaware County, Pennsylvania. L.H. Everts & Co.: Philadelphia. Pp: 491 Brandywine Summit Camp Meeting Website. 2017. Brandywine Summit Camp Meeting – History. http://brandywinesummit.net/history/ Accessed: 3/27/17. Pennington, Beula. Unknown Year, but pre-1984. “History of Elam United Methodist Church.” Handwritten,
History Unlocked-March 2017, The Greens in Beaver Valley
By: Karen Kendus As spring slowly trickles into the Delaware Valley, I cannot help but dream of being outside for longer than a brisk walk to the mailbox. For me, the dawning of spring means more sunlight in the evenings for running outside, the start of Farmer’s Market season, and general happiness as my poor deprived body soaks in that glorious sunlight. At the first sign of warmth, I dust off my running sneakers and venture out into the budding green landscape, anxious to see how winter changed my favorite trail. Spring is truly a rebirth, not only of life in nature, but also of my motivation to actually move around, exercise, and stop curling up on the couch under a mound of blankets. Luckily, this area of Pennsylvania has plenty of running trails, walking paths and parks. In addition to the paved path at Concord Township Park, the dog park off Bethel Rd and the walking trails around the township building on Thornton Rd, the citizens of Concord Township and the surrounding areas can always find a place to be outside. Another beautiful park is found nestled in the southern part of the township in an area called Beaver Valley. Beaver Valley is an area that covers parts of Concord and Chadds Ford Townships, as well as Brandywine Hundred in New Castle County, Delaware. Today, most of it is preserved land, with trails that connect to Brandywine Creek State Park and a number of historic structures visible from the trail. Originally, the portion in Concord Township was settled in 1689 by Thomas and Margaret Green from Wiltshire, England. They acquired 400 acres, 150 of which was part of Beaver Valley. Thomas passed away by 1699, but his sons managed to grow the farm into a staple of society at the time. They built a commercial saw mill, powered by Beaver Creek, which meandered through their property. They also operated a smokehouse for them and their neighbors. They also built the oldest surviving bank barn in 1772 (found in present day Chadds Ford Township). In 1815, the Green property was parceled and sold off under the direction of the Orphan’s Court to accommodate the growing number of Green children and grandchildren. Many of the children were already settled around the property and the Orphan’s Court simply made the arrangements legal. Isaac Green, a grandson, received 50 acres on the north side of Beaver Valley Road, between the farms of his brothers, Thomas and Daniel. Isaac grew Indian corn, oats, potatoes, and hay to feed his livestock and his family. He was also able to produce 300lbs of butter per year, which was enough to sell at market after keeping a portion for his family. Isaac was profitable enough to build and improve several additional structures. He expanded the federal dwelling house he inherited and replaced a plank barn with a large stone barn. The house is still standing today, and one can still see the stone barn foundations. Isaac and his family remained on this property until the 1890s. Another member of the Green family, Thomas (Thomas and Margaret’s grandson), received the smallest parcel from the Orphan’s Court ruling in 1815. He inherited a log home, which he replaced in 1809 with a 2.5 story stone home. This house still stands today. We believe he also inherited the mill, found along Beaver Creek, to account for the small acreage he received in the Orphan Court settlement. In 1844, this property passed to the Twaddells, who lived there until 1908. It was sold to the Boulden family, who remained until 1967, at which point Woodlawn Trustees acquired the property. Beaver Valley remains an area of Concord Township frozen in time. While people still reside in the houses found in this area, much of the landscape remains how it looked before farmers tilled the land. Many of the structures from the Green family inhabitants also remain and offer a glimpse into their past. The volunteers at Concord Township Historical Society has put together a captivating exhibit on Beaver Valley, its natural resources, and its history. This display can be found in the Concord Township Historical Society Museum found in the Pierce Willits house on Smithbridge Road. Please stop in when the museum is open to review the lovely artist renditions of the landscape and additional information on this gem of Concord Township. References Michel, H. John Michel and Pam Rizzo. 2014. Beaver Valley: A Framework for Historical Analysis. The Beaver Valley Conservancy. 2017. Accessed: 2/15/17 http://savebeavervalley.org/
AME – Del Co Daily Times Article 2013
The Delaware County Daily Times (delcotimes.com), Serving Delaware County, PA Historic Concord church’s future remains up in air Tuesday, February 26, 2013 By LESLIE KROWCHENKO Times Correspondent CONCORD — “Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled” (John 14:1), etched above a painting of Jesus wearing a crown of thorns, graces the altar of the former Spring Valley African Methodist Episcopal Church. The verse, often repeated following the death of a loved one, serves as a reminder that individuals do not face the end of their lives alone. The same could be said for the future of the building. The one-acre site containing the church is for sale, and the Concord Township Historical Society is hopeful the ultimate buyer will value the structure as much as it does. The sanctuary represents a period in the community’s history that the group would like to see preserved. “We are concerned about the fate of the church,” said historical society member Pennie Scott. “We would certainly like it to be saved.” Donated in 1880, the property at 270 Spring Valley Road was deeded to John Myers to build a house of worship for members of the AME church, a denomination formed by African-Americans in the late 1700s as a protest against slavery and sociological and theological beliefs. The most significant era of development occurred during the Civil War and Reconstruction, and by the year Spring Valley was formed, AME membership had reached 400,000. The congregation became the church home for many local families living on tenant farms. The township was a strong agrarian community and it served as their cultural center. “At the turn of the 20th Century, approximately one-third of Concord’s population was black,” said Scott. “Many people left during World War II, however, to work for Sun Ship and other industries in Chester.” Because of a declining and aging membership, the church closed in the 1980s, with the faithful transferring to Thornbury AME. The abandoned property, composed of the sanctuary and meeting hall, was purchased in November 1997 by local businessman and township resident Thomas Gillespie, who apparently wished to restore it for use as a start-up church or for community functions, said Scott. Several weeks later, however, the parish hall burned to the ground in a blaze labeled by investigators as arson. The southwestern corner of the sanctuary was also damaged, although firefighters were able to save it. The parcel, surrounded by open land owned by Meadow Run Estates, has been considered for several uses, including offices for a construction company, a farmers’ market and artist studio. Gillespie died last year and the property is now being marketed by his son, Jim. The township preservation ordinance outlines the parameters for maintaining historic structures on tracts purchased for development, with the intent of incorporating houses, barns and other edifices that reflect the township’s past into its future. Historical society members noted the possibility of receiving support from the AME Church or African-American community, either of which may be interested in protecting the building. URL: http://www.delcotimes.com/articles/2013/02/26/news/doc512c2b744a3b9911598530.prt © 2013 delcotimes.com, a Journal Register Property