The Thornton Village Historic District is a national

historic district A historic district or heritage district is a section of a city which contains older buildings considered valuable for historical or architectural reasons. In some countries or jurisdictions, historic districts receive legal protection from c ...

that is located in Thornbury Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania. Situated in the crossroads at the intersection of Glen Mills and Thornton Roads in the village of Thornton, this district includes thirteen contributing buildings that were built between 1750 and 1855, some of which were created in the Federal style. Among its structures, most of which face Glen Mills Road, are the Yellow House, one commercial building, seven residences, a converted blacksmith shop, a converted barn, three

stable A stable is a building in which livestock, especially horses, are kept. It most commonly means a building that is divided into separate stalls for individual animals and livestock. There are many different types of stables in use today; the ...

s or carriage houses, and two frame sheds. ''Note:'' This includes It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2006.

Yellow House

Over the years, the Yellow House has served as tavern, post office, general store, grocery, textile factory, and hair salon. The Yellow House opened as an inn and tavern about 1750; the surrounding village was known by the same name until it changed to Thornton. The Yellow House was originally owned by George Pearce. ''Note:'' This includes One of the important clients of the Yellow House Inn was George Gray, owner of Gray's Ferry over the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia. As the American Revolution proceeded, Gray moved his family away from Philadelphia to avoid the impending British Army occupation. Yet Gray's family could hear cannons during the

Battle of Brandywine The Battle of Brandywine, also known as the Battle of Brandywine Creek, was fought between the American Continental Army of General George Washington and the British Army of General Sir William Howe on September 11, 1777, as part of the Ame ...

on September 11, 1777, and fleeing

Continental Army The Continental Army was the army of the United Colonies (the Thirteen Colonies) in the Revolutionary-era United States. It was formed by the Second Continental Congress after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War, and was establis ...

troops came down the road right in front of the Yellow House. Gray's wife treated wounded soldiers in the Yellow House and later a group of Virginia soldiers signed a note of appreciation for her efforts. In 1800, Thomas Charlton set up a hand loom in the Yellow House to make

linen Linen () is a textile made from the fibers of the flax plant. Linen is very strong, absorbent, and dries faster than cotton. Because of these properties, linen is comfortable to wear in hot weather and is valued for use in garments. It also ...

. ''Note:'' This includes John King established the Thornton Post Office in the Yellow House in 1829. One of the first in its county not located on a post road, the Thornton Post Office is thought to be the oldest U.S. post office still in its original building. ''Note:'' This includes In 1845, the Yellow House was purchased by William D. Pennell at a bankruptcy auction.

Isaac Pyle House

The Isaac Pyle House, a stone example of the Penn Plan, was built circa 1777.

Caleb Hoopes House

The Caleb Hoopes House is a two-story, four-bay building that was built circa 1790.

Blacksmith House

Built by Joseph Moore around 1805, this two-story, four-bay building reflects a style often referred to as "Pennsylvania Farmhouse".

Beebe House

George Beebe replaced his log cabin with this house, built circa 1851 to a similar plan as the Blacksmith House.

William D. Pennell House

This

Gothic Revival Gothic Revival (also referred to as Victorian Gothic, neo-Gothic, or Gothick) is an architectural movement that began in the late 1740s in England. The movement gained momentum and expanded in the first half of the 19th century, as increasingly ...

-style house was built circa 1850.

References

{{National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania Historic districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania Federal architecture in Pennsylvania Historic districts in Delaware County, Pennsylvania National Register of Historic Places in Delaware County, Pennsylvania