The celebration to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the birth of Humphry Marshall is in full swing. Thanks to a number of Chester County non-profit organizations and community volunteers, the life and legacy of Humphry Marshall have been brought to the fore in a year-long fete worthy of the Father of American Dendrology. And with all of the well-deserved fanfare surrounding Humphry Marshall, we can’t help but relish the opportunity to showcase the rich history and bucolic charm of his old stomping grounds–the Village of Marshallton. A “working man’s village,” Marshallton’s unique architecture, rural character, and sense of community seeps through every nook and cranny of our historic village. We look forward to welcoming visitors from near and far over the next few months to explore the history of Marshallton and learn more about the many meaningful contributions of one of Chester County’s founding fathers: Humphry Marshall.
Conservation Easement Placed on Derbydown–the Birthplace of Humphry Marshall
Earlier this month, a very significant conservation easement transaction closed on the remaining 113 acres of pastureland on Castle Rock Farm. MCT is pleased to have helped fund this transaction. We served as a local sponsoring organization, which in turn assisted in securing other vital public funding. This completes the protection of another iconic Marshallton area farm, sometimes known as the Abraham Marshall Farm (Derbydown). This farm was the birthplace of Humphry Marshall which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. The land being conserved also falls within the Trimble’s Ford Strategic Landscape, indicating its significance in the Revolutionary War’s Battle of the Brandywine. Step by step our community is protecting very nearly the entire corridor leading from the west end of Marshallton all the way down to the West Branch of the Brandywine. This is an extraordinary achievement that is only possible through the continued support from the members of our community and our partners in preservation including West Bradford Township and Natural Lands. MCT is proud to have played a role and extends its sincerest gratitude to Peter and Barbara Giangiulio for choosing to preserve their iconic farm.
Pedal, Paddle, Pace, and Pedal!
The 48th annual Marshalton Triathlon makes its grand return on October 2nd as one of the special events designed to pay tribute to Humphry Marshall. The race course will identify three notable sites along its route associated with the life of Humphry Marshall–his birthplace in Derbydown, the home he built in Marshallton which is a national historic site, and his burial site in the Bradford Friends Meeting cemetery. Proceeds from the Triathlon benefit the all-volunteer West Bradford Fire Company and the Marshallton Conservation Trust. Visit www.marshaltontriathlon.net to register and for more information. (Friendly reminder, the price to register increases on August 3rd so race on over to register today!)