7 minute read
The Pancoast Family: Deep Roots in Marple
Resident Feature by Holly Stupak
Photos by Sierra Clark Photography www.SierraClarkPhoto.com
This month’s Resident Feature is the Pancoast Family: Seth III, Christine and their two children. If the name Pancoast sounds familiar, it’s because they’ve got deep roots in Marple. Seth and Christine have lived in their home here for more than 20 years, but the first Pancoasts have been here since the 1700s.
Seth III’s great-grandfather was a blacksmith who purchased property here in Broomall in 1894. The Pancoasts would eventually own numerous businesses in Marple, including Pancoast Gardens, which opened in 1959, and the area’s first self-service supermarket, The Pioneer Market. Now, that same property his grandfather bought in 1894 houses his dad Seth Jr.’s business, S. Pancoast Topsoil & Mulch.
Seth III grew up with his parents and sister in what the old maps refer to as “Broomall Park.” After graduating from Marple Newtown High School, Seth went on to Temple University, where he earned a BA in Technical Theater. After college, he spent several months on a cruise ship working for Carnival Cruise Lines. When he returned to Broomall, he began working in the parts department at Cycle City, a motorcycle shop on West Chester Pike. It was there that Seth met Christine.
Christine and Seth Pancoast III
Christine grew up in Flourtown, PA, with her two brothers and two sisters. Her parents came to the United States from Germany in the 1940s, and they spoke German and Ukrainian in their home. While Christine was growing up, her dad worked as an upholsterer and furniture refinisher and was a talented musician, and her mom was a homemaker with a talent for cooking and decorating.
Christine recalls how every Saturday, her grandmothers would spend all day in the kitchen. On Sunday, they would go to church, after which lots of family and friends would come back to their home, to eat all the delicious food her grandmothers had prepared. A tradition Christine’s mom taught her and her siblings to make was Pysanky (Ukrainian Easter eggs), which Christine then taught her own children to make, along with other traditional European traditions.
Ukrainian Easter Eggs (Pysanky)
Photo courtesy of Christine Pancoast
After graduating from high school, Christine attended Temple University in Ambler, and went on to become Montessori-certified. While working as a preschool teacher at a Montessori school in Wyndmoor, she became friendly with the family who happened to own Cycle City in Broomall, and was offered a job. As the Office Manager there, she enjoyed socializing with her coworkers on the weekends. One of those coworkers was Seth, and the two started dating, and eventually got married in 1996.
Shortly after they were married, they found the perfect home in Broomall: Seth’s childhood home. “I grew up in this house, and I love the familiarity!” said Seth. “A few of the neighbors I grew up with are even still living here.”
Abigail and Seth Pancoast IV
Seth and Christine have two children, Abigail Grace and Seth Ellsworth IV.
Abigail, age 20, is described by her parents as strong-willed, determined and independent. While a student at MNHS, she was in the Drama Club’s school musicals all four years, with lead roles in two of those shows. She played Ursula in The Little Mermaid, and had a lead role in the production of James and the Giant Peach. A talented singer, Abigail has entered voice competitions and has sung the National Anthem at local sporting events. She also inherited the crafty gene from her mom and grandmother, and loves jewelry-making and embroidery.
Now a junior at Temple University, Abigail is studying neuroscience with plans to become a Nurse Anesthetist. Although classes were virtual this semester, Abigail lived in an apartment close to campus. “I love the diversity at Temple,“ she said. “Being a student there has given me the opportunity to understand other cultures and open up my horizons. And Temple students are really friendly, so it’s easy to feel connected.” At Temple, Abigail serves on the executive board of The Giving Tree Club, a philanthropic organization that helps the homeless.
Seth IV is a 7th-grader at Paxon Hollow Middle School. An easygoing and funny young man, he loves sports and also enjoys playing the snare drum in his school band. He’s also an excellent student and is in the school’s gifted program, where his favorite subjects are History and Science and favorite teachers are Dr. Manno and Mrs. McAlea. Last year, he participated in a STEM design challenge in which his team built structures using K’Nex, and competed against other Delaware County schools.
Although the pandemic caused some changes to local youth sports, this fall, Seth was able to play baseball in a league that combined three Marple Newtown leagues. The season ended on a high note with his team winning the Championship title! He’s also on the travel soccer team for the Marple Newtown Soccer Association, and he recently started refereeing some younger players’ games. In his free time, he enjoys throwing or kicking a ball around with friends or playing on his Xbox.
Seth III now works as an Operations Manager for Bluestone Communications, a union telecommunications company based in Folcroft, PA. “Bluestone is a great company to work for!” said Seth. “I really enjoy interacting with our union workforce and project managers on a daily basis.” On weekends and evenings, Seth can be found helping his dad, Seth Pancoast Jr., with his topsoil and mulch business.
Since Abigail was born, Christine has enjoyed being a stay-at-home mom, especially because it gave her more time to be involved in her children’s schools. Recently, she began making and selling natural/essential oil candles. “I’ve always loved candles,” she said, “but I had a hard time finding ones made without chemicals, so I started making my own.” After word got around on social media about Christine's candles, her business, Sweet Orange Candle Company, recently took off, and she’s busier than ever!
The Pancoast Family at their home in Boomall
Seth III is proud of his deep local roots, and of being a long-time Broomall resident.
The Pancoasts are all very active in the community. Christine and Seth are very involved in the Marple Newtown Schools and sports teams. Christine served as PTO Treasurer at Russell Elementary when Abigail was a student there, and later served as Teacher Appreciation Chair. She was even awarded “The Pepper Award” from the teachers for her dedication and service to the school. For Russell events like the Pizza Bingo nights and the Fun Fair, Christine and Seth were heavily involved. Seth built many of the favorite carnival games that are still used today, one of which was “Rusty’s Repair,” a large replica of the “Operation” game.
When Abigail was in high school, Seth got the opportunity to use his carpentry skills again. This time, it was to help the Drama Club’s Stage Crew with many of the musical production sets. He also coached Abigail when she played for the Newtown Square Petticoat League (NSPL), and he also loves coaching Seth IV in baseball. “My grandfather was one of the founders of the Broomall Little League (now MTLL) in 1951, so it’s really fun for me to be a part of this league with my son,” said Seth.
Seth and Lonestar Soccer Coach Mitchell Torh
Photo courtesy of Christine Pancoast
This past summer, the Pancoasts took up a collection of soccer cleats to send to children in Liberia. “It all started when I sold a pair of Seth’s cleats to the soccer coach of the Lonestar Soccer Club of Philadelphia,” said Christine. “When I met Coach Mitchell Torh to exchange the cleats, he told me that the cleats would be sent to children in Africa. I went home and told Seth and he got the idea to collect more. We were able to get members of the community to donate more than 50 pairs of cleats!” The Lonestar Soccer Club recently honored Seth at one of their games. “We plan on making this type of collection a tradition,” Christine added.
Another Pancoast tradition is The Frostbite Run held every Thanksgiving morning at Broomall’s historic Thomas Massey House. Members of The Historical Car Club of Pennsylvania bring their antique cars for other members and spectators to enjoy along with donuts and coffee. “I’m a club member and past president and this is my favorite club event,” explained Seth, “because it’s actually a gathering my grandfather started back in 1964!” After Thanksgiving, Seth spreads holiday cheer at Bryn Mawr Hospital. He dresses up as Santa at their NICU reunion, something his dad started doing ten years ago.
Whether it’s in the schools, sports organizations or in the community, the Pancoasts are always happy to help out their neighbors.
