Thomas Pierce – John Way House / Concordville Inn
The Thomas Pierce – John Way House was initially built in 1794 by Thomas Pierce along the Baltimore Pike. The original house was a 33 x 24 foot two-story stone house. Samuel Trimble sold 3 acres to Thomas Pierce in 1794. Abraham Sharpless purchased the property in 1799, and the house was likely being used as an inn due to the high selling price. The property passed to William Hewes in 1811 and then to Robert Parry in 1823. John Way acquired the property in 1824 and developed the property into the Concordville Inn. He was granted a license to operate an inn in 1830. The Inn was described in 1860 as a two-and-a-half-story stone building measuring 42 x 33 feet. The Inn also had a two-and-a-half-story stone addition at the back, with guest rooms, a dining area, and a tavern. Also on the property were a saddler shop, two stables, a tenant house, and other outbuildings. The Inn became known as the Concord Hotel in 1861. The most modern iteration of the property was built in 1874 by George Drayton. The building sustained fire damage in 1914. Innkeepers through the years included Joseph Hannum, George W. Taylor, Zadock Speakman, and James Cloud. The property’s final chapter began in 1968 when the Hionis family took ownership. They operated the Concordville Inn as a restaurant, marking a new era in the property’s history. This property was demolished in 2023. Concord Township Historic Resource #163
Nicholas Newlin – Casper Sharpless House
The Newlin-Sharpless House is a large stone mansion built c. 1698 with major additions in 1840 and 1979. It sits high upon a hill that overlooks the Newlin Grist Mill complex and Route 1. Nicholas Newlin was the founder of the Newlin Grist Mill along the west branch of the Chester Creek. He built the original section of this home to live in. The property eventually passed to Nathaniel Newlin, and then to Thomas Newlin Esq. and Justice of the Peace in 1798. The home at that time was described as being a 60 x 20 foot two story stone structure with attached stone kitchens. The property at that time also contained two barns, a frame carriage house, a frame shop, a stone springhouse, and a stone ice house. Casper Sharpless, also a one time owner of the Newlin Grist Mill, purchased the property in 1848, and built an addition to the home. Casper’s landholdings grew to 351 acres. In addition to owning and operating the grist mill, Casper Sharpless also served as the school director for the public school system in Concord from 1836-1839. The property then passed to the Hill family. John Hill purchased the Newlin Grist Mill in 1870 from the estate of Casper Sharpless, and continued milling operations. The home eventually fell into ruin in the 20th century, but was saved by the Vadaz family in the later half of the 20th century who completed major reconstruction projects. This property is a private residence, and not open to the public. Concord Township Historic Resource #182
Samuel Trimble – Hillborn Darlington House
The Trimble-Darlington House was built c. 1783 for Samuel Trimble as a two story stone field house on 43 acres that once belonged to John Hatton. Samuel Trimble was a hatter by trade. It is alleged that the Marquis de Lafayette visited the Trimble family in 1824 at this house during his farewell tour! The property stayed within the Trimble family until 1836 when it was sold to Nathan Middleton. Middleton farmed the land until 1850 when he put the house up for sale. It was described as being a two story stone house with a front piazza, multiple parlors, a dining room, and a kitchen. Also on the property was a pump well, a stone and frame barn with stables and granaries,, carriage, straw, and corn outbuildings. The farm was valued at $5,000 in 1850. Middleton sold the property to William Scattergood who owned the property until his death in 1857. The property was then sold at a public sale to Dr. Hillborn Darlington, a local physician. Dr. Darlington operated his practice out of the home, and later used the house as a nursing home. His son, Dr. Horace Darlington, owned the property after him. Dr. Horace Darlington’s son Canby Darlington, organized the Concord Fire Department and was at one time the Fire and Police Chief for Concord Township. The home and land remained in the Darlington family until 1948. The property is now subdivided into private apartments, and not open to the public. Concord Township Historic Resource #120
Bayton Hickman – Frederick Mitchell House
The Bayton Hickman-Mitchell House is a farmhouse along Schoolhouse Lane built c. 1840. In 1848, the property was described as having the two story stone house with attached kitchen, a stone and frame barn, wagon house, wood house, hog house, ice house, milking shed. An interesting feature of the property was that the barn and house were fed by hydraulic water pumps. Bayton Hickman was a school director for Concord Township and a farmer. He lived on the property with his wife, two sisters, his brother, and three boarders. By 1844, Hickman owned 91 1/4 acres and farmed 88 of those acres according to the 1850 census. The farm was valued at $10,000 at that time. A picture of the house and barn were featured in the 1875 Stuart Atlas when Samuel Benington owned the property. The barn has a date stone that reads “F.M.M. 1937,” however it is believed the that the barn is much older and the date stone relates to an addition. The barn was used for cattle until the later half of the 20th century when it was converted into offices. This house is a private residence and not open to the public. Concord Township Historic Resource #186