Forgotten Crossroads of Chester County, Pennsylvania

FORGOTTEN CROSSROADS OF CHESTER COUNTY

Once they were Indian paths used by local tribes to go from their home sites to places of hunting for sustenance. Later they were Colonial trails, rutted in the rains of Springtime, jarring riders in Conestoga wagons for days as they crossed virgin countryside which would become dotted by homesteads and small villages. Today several towns in western Chester County survive as testaments to those who came before us, hearty Native Americans and settlers who cleared thick forests, followed streams and built pathways for future generations.

The land where the borough of Atglen now sits was once a wilderness. Centuries ago, Indians traveled from Paxtang (present day Harrisburg) to Newcastle, Delaware to trade with Swedish and English colonists. The Provincial Highway was laid out in 1730; the Newport Road to iron mines at Cornwall was constructed in 1796. Previously called Penningtonville, the area was renamed by court decree due to its proximity to Glen Run, a stream that flows nearby. Sitting at the intersection of Route 41 and Route 372, this sleepy village may be the only one in America where East and West Main Street run north and south.

The region attracted immigrants from England, Scotland and Ireland. The earliest organized religious groups here were the Presbyterians; Upper Octorara Presbyterian Church opened in 1720. The Moore and Philips families were among the first prominent dynasties, the two owning much property around present day Atglen. The Greenwood Forge operated at the location where the Moore homestead stood; it’s now a private residence. Local lore says Indians slept there by the fireplace to keep warm in the Winter.

First known as the Fountain Inn, the town of Parkesburg predates the Revolutionary War, when the establishment served weary travelers. The Inn was closed in 1836 and became the first Post Office. Later the town was renamed for local politician John G. Parke, related to Union General John Parke who fought at Fredericksburg and Vicksburg during the Civil War. Parkesburg expanded rapidly when the Philadelphia and Columbia Railroad ran through the settlement beginning in 1831. Numerous repair shops sprung up to service the busy line.

Educational institutions were begun to serve the needs of the growing area, including the Parkesburg Academy chartered in 1858 (subsequently titled the Parkesburg Institute). When Horace Beale relocated his iron works from Hibernia to the area, it became the Parkesburg Iron Company. The metals industry hit hard times during the Great Depression. Many workers later found employment at Lukens Steel in nearby Coatesville. Today Route 10 and Route 372 converge at this once bustling location.

Compass lies at the intersection of two old Indian paths, one of which ran east-west and became Old Peter’s Road (now Old Philadelphia Pike). It was named after Peter Bezellon, trader and founder of Coatesville who spoke “the King’s English” as well as Indian dialects. Old Peter’s Road ran between Philadelphia and Lancaster and was so widely traveled, several inns and taverns were built along its expanse. One of these- ‘The Sign of the Mariner’s Compass’ still stands today. The other route was the north-south Octorara Trail which went from the Welsh Mountains to Chesapeake Bay.


St. John’s Church was formed in 1727 by English, Scotch and German settlers; its graceful structure is prominent along the road running through town. Pastor Thomas Barton was such a loyal Tory during the Revolutionary War, Patriot residents dunked him in the creek to try and persuade him to alter his views. Thomas Halliday, Esquire served as one of His Majesty’s Justices for the Province of Pennsylvania. Stone markers for Bezellon and Halliday stand stoically in the adjacent cemetery. Known first as Compassville due to the well-known tavern, the name was shortened to Compass in 1896. Being the principal village of West Caln Township, Compass attracted many merchants including a general store, a mill and other businesses. Route 340 and Route 10 come together now where the trails once linked.

So if you want to take a leisurely drive along some serene crossroads of yesteryear, visit these towns… and stroll through scenes from our history. The quiet villages were built at a time when your horse determined whether you were late for a meeting and the general store carried everything you needed for a good life, along the back roads of our young republic.