Friends of Strode's Mill

Friends of Strode's Mill Preservation of 6.9 acres along Plum Run & restoration of the English stone barn This intersection is perfectly sited for historic interpretation.

Strode's Barn: an important building in an irreplaceable historic district

East Bradford Township
West Chester, PA

The Strode's Historic District includes a remarkably well-preserved collection of buildings. Unlike other important intersections in the area, it has retained its intimate character, with most of the original buildings still surrounding a rural crossroads. The barn would make an ide

al stop on a Battle of the Brandywine trail, since it is on the road the British took to arrive at Sandy Hollow, just a few miles away. It's also perfect for a demonstration of the early industry of Chester County. On this corner, the Etter family (name later changed to Strode) operated a range of thriving businesses for over 250 years. These included a farm, grist mill, school for boys, blacksmith, pork processing barn and more. The grist mill, built in 1724, ground corn, pressed cider, and turned trees into usable lumber. The pork-processing barn was added later. Pork may not sound romantic, but Strode's became nationally known for it's quality sausage and scrapple, produced with hogs grown on the surrounding farm. The date stone says 1875, but the foundation suggests an earlier barn stood here long before. We envision the barn as a place to stop and learn about the region's important role in early American history on many levels. Restoring the barn will further stabilize the historic district and preserve this example of prosperous early industry for future generations. Please support us in our efforts to restore this important fixture in our community and history!

Completing the restoration work on the barn.
12/21/2024

Completing the restoration work on the barn.

Beginning barn restoration
12/21/2024

Beginning barn restoration

02/03/2021

Have you been receiving updates from the board? We would love to include any of you who wish. Please message us with your email in order to be included in the list.

The Daily Local has recently written an article that affects the land around the Strode's barn
12/11/2020

The Daily Local has recently written an article that affects the land around the Strode's barn

CHADDS FORD — The Brandywine Conservancy awarded $40,000 to support preservation work in seven municipalities.

What a day at the barn.
11/30/2020

What a day at the barn.

Covid has disrupted all of our lives, personally and professionally. We are fortunate that the work along Plum Run cont...
11/18/2020

Covid has disrupted all of our lives, personally and professionally. We are fortunate that the work along Plum Run continued fully and uninterrupted. The restoration work is almost complete, sections of the trail are already built, an engineering firm has been hard at work designing the details for the main sections of the trail network that will bring everyone right to the Heritage Center planned for the Barn.

So very much work has been done here. The Township, the Brandywine Conservancy and Brandywine Red Clay Alliance have all been actively involved. Stroud Water Research Center has also helped out. Friends of Strodes Mill has always been focused on the restoration of the Barn. That part is about to become more of the focus. Patience is required here.

Strode's Mill is important for more than scrapple. See the new historic plaque that is coming. Strode's Mill was importa...
10/12/2020

Strode's Mill is important for more than scrapple. See the new historic plaque that is coming. Strode's Mill was important in the Battle of the Brandywine.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPgaoE44W6I&feature=youtu.beSeptember 11, 1777, was a Thursday - it was baking day for t...
09/04/2020

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPgaoE44W6I&feature=youtu.be

September 11, 1777, was a Thursday - it was baking day for the Quaker families in Chester County and as the Graves Family were busy with their daily chores, they had little idea the massive Crown Forces would be marching through their 184 acres. General Howe's flanking movement brought his troops past Strode's Mill toward Birmingham Hill and Sandy Hollow. Great losses were experienced by the farms and mills along their march. Properties were plundered and lives impacted for years to come. In this video, the Chester County Archives staff peel back the layers and study how the battle impacted one Chester County family.
Enjoy this interesting piece of local history.
Thank you to Chester County Archives who have shared the Graves Family story.

You've likely heard of the Battle of Brandywine. Maybe you're even familiar with Birmingham Hill. But have you heard of the Graves family? They owned the lan...

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998 Lenape Road
West Chester, PA
19382

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