Gause Pennock House
The Gause Pennock House was built in 1873. The plaque reflects the early two families that controlled the property. First, Samuel and Deborah Pennock owned the land. In 1873, it was sold to William and Elizabeth Gause. About 10 years later, the Pennocks bought the house and lived there for another 24 years.
Archie Ruggieri Building and Fanny and Joesph Soule House
These two properties share a common wall. On the left is the Fanny and Joseph Soule House, built in 1858. The house was built as a residence with a large lot. The property was divided and the Archie Ruggieri Building was built in 1923. Among the uses of the Ruggieri Building was The Dutch Kitchen, owned by John Blokzeyl and specializing in mushroom dishes.
John J. Woodward House
The John J. Woodward House was built in 1858 by Thomas Pyle. It started as a colonial-style house. A Dutch architect changed its exterior dramatically in 1888, embellishing it with Victorian-era details such as the tower, porch and gingerbread.
How to “take it back”
If these stories sparked your interest in learning the history of your property, you can do the research yourself. Start at the Chester County Recorder of Deeds office and get the most recent property transfers. Once you’ve gone back as far as you can, the next step is to visit the Chester County Archives, where all the early records are recorded on micro-fiche films and easily copied. Special thanks to local historian Lynn Sinclair for her help with the history of many of the properties. She has conducted the research for many of the properties within the borough, and is the administrator for the plaque project. Visit her at Sinclair’s Sunrise Cafe (127 E. State St., Kennett Square) if you have questions about conducting your own research project. www.kennettsquaretoday.com | Summer/Fall 2016 | Kennett Square Today
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