Historic Quaker Houses of Delaware County, PA

The 1704 Brinton House
Near West Chester, PA
Built by William Brinton, Jr.

Image source: Smallbones, Wikipedia.org

 

 Today the 1704 House is one of the most authentic restorations in Pennsylvania and its neighboring states. The furnishings, based on the inventories of two centuries ago, are equally authentic. Many of the pieces of furniture have been in the Brinton Family for several generations.

 

 House Restored by the Brinton Family Association
1980 Brinton Reunion
At Birmingham Friends Meetinghouse:

Images source: Left: HABS, Top right: HABS, Lower right: Philadelphia Quakers 1681 - 1981, Robert H. Wilson, Internet Archive
The Brinton Family Association was created in the early 20th century to preserve the legacy of the Brinton family in Pennsylvania. Their primary focus became the 1704 Brinton House. By the mid-20th century, the house had deteriorated, prompting the association to commission a meticulous restoration. In 1954, architect G. Edwin Brumbaugh led the restoration. He used physical evidence and period records to return the house to its early 18th-century appearance.
The Brinton Family Association has since maintained the site as a historic house museum. Their stewardship helped secure the home’s listing on the National Register of Historic Places in 1968. The house is among the most authentic restorations in Pennsylvania. The furnishings are based on the inventories of two centuries ago. Many of the pieces of furniture have been in the Brinton Family for several generations.

 Birmingham Friends Meeting was established in 1690 shortly after William Penn founded Pennsylvania. Friends worshiped in the cabin of William Brinton until the first meetinghouse, a log structure, was completed in 1722. A community school, also made of logs, was built nearby in 1756. A burial ground was established next to the meetinghouse and a stone wall constructed around them which still stands today. In 1763, the log meetinghouse was replaced by the stone structure we use today. A modern kitchen and education wing were added to the meetinghouse in 1968.  A shed and ADA accessible restroom are also recent additions.

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