2024 Barns & BBQ Program Book | Morning Tour

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12 th Annual

and BARNS BBQ

JUNE 1, 2024 st

Presenting Land Conservation Sponsors

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BUILDERS OF FINE ARCHITECTURE CELEBRATING 30 YEARS 851 Kimberton Road | Chester Springs PA 19425 610.827.7990 | www.griffithsconstruction.net Proud Supporters of Willistown Conservation Trust

WELCOME

TO BARNS BBQ and WILLISTOWN CONSERVATION TRUST

NOW IN ITS 12TH YEAR, Barns & BBQ has become a tradition of the Willistown Countryside, one that I look forward to every year. Not only does this special day provide us with a wonderful chance to enjoy time together as a community, but it also allows us to celebrate and honor the rich history and conservation legacy of our little piece of Chester County.

TOGETHER, WE CAN LEARN ABOUT THE LAND, HOUSES, AND BARNS that have been so meticulously stewarded by their owners. We also get the chance to appreciate the conservation initiatives by Willistown Conservation Trust and its founders who worked diligently to ensure the many properties and their history would be forever preserved. And best of all, we get to enjoy time in nature, admiring the colorful wildflowers and fresh blooms, the green woodlands and majestic trees, and the buzzing pollinators and chirping bird species that thrive here, too.

OF COURSE, THIS DAY WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT OUR MANY SUPPORTERS. To the hosts who have generously opened their barns, homes, and land to us, thank you! I am also deeply grateful to the hundreds of landowners, as well as the township, county, and state officials, who have helped us protect more than 7,500 acres of beautiful vistas, critical habitat, and Willistown history.

I OWE A HEARTFELT THANKS to those of you who have lent their steadfast support to WCT over the years: our donors, participants, volunteers, and sponsors. And finally, to our dedicated staff who work tirelessly every day to contribute to the success of Willistown Conservation Trust, I extend my gratitude.

I AM SO PLEASED THAT YOU HAVE DECIDED TO JOIN US on one of my favorite days of the year. Enjoy your time getting a closer look at the Willistown countryside and all it has to offer!

Sincerely, Kate Etherington

LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT | The work of Willistown Conservation Trust takes place on the ancestral lands of the Lenni Lenape. We honor the Lenape and other Indigenous caretakers of these lands and waters, the elders who lived here before, the Indigenous today, and the generations to come. We acknowledge the Lenni Lenape as the original people of this land and their continuing relationship with their territory. As we enjoy and protect the beauty of Willistown and surrounding areas, we cannot forget its original inhabitants and how their way of life echoes throughout the conservation of this land and its natural resources.

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BARNS & BBQ COMMITTEE

SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR BARN OWNERS

Amy & Michael Brooks

Colonial Pennsylvania Plantation

Cara & John Fry

Bev & Jim Kolea

Bonnie & Jim Van Alen

CO-CHAIRS

Molly Love & Adrian Castelli

Caroline Moran

Devin Wilkins & Kyle Wichser

COMMITTEE

Amy & Michael Brooks

Donna & Robert Corrato

Wendy & John Cozzi

Kate & Ben Etherington

Kate & Luke Etherington

Cara & John Fry

Kim & Russ Galligher

Kat & Steve Gord

Joy & John Grady

Bev & Jim Kolea

Sally & Joe Layden

John Stoviak, Chair

Leanne M. McMenamin, Vice Chair

Meg Tegler Hardesty, Vice Chair

Elizabeth C. Hucker, Treasurer

Michael Burg, Esq., Secretary

Clarke Blynn

Bryan D. Colket

Leanne & Rob McMenamin

Jennifer & Christopher Moller

Janice & Britt Murdoch

Leigh & Steve Oblack

Tracy & Joe Przybylowski

Tara & Jeff Shanahan

Holly & John Stoviak

Bonnie & Jim Van Alen

Penny & Tom Watkins

Beth & Nelson Wicas

Wendy Cozzi

Kimberley H. Galligher, VMD

Lindsay Scott Leisenring

Molly Love

Michael J. McGraw

Linda I. McIsaac

Britton H. Murdoch

Photography by WCT Staff

Silenia Rhoads

Justin N. Thompson

David L. Unruh

Jeanne B. Van Alen**

Rick Warden

Jason D. Weckstein, PhD

**President Emerita

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WILLISTOWN CONSERVATION TRUST 925 PROVIDENCE ROAD | NEWTOWN SQUARE, PA 19073 | 610.353.2562 | WCTRUST.ORG WILLISTOWN CONSERVATION TRUST BOARD OF TRUSTEES

BARNS & BBQ SPONSORS

Presenting LAND CONSERVATION SPONSORS

GRIFFITHS CONSTRUCTION INC. | WARREN CLAYTOR ARCHITECTS

BIRD CONSERVATION SPONSORS

Brandywine Realty Trust

Country Properties/BHHS

First Trust Bank

Saul Ewing LLP

Shreiner Tree Care

HABITAT RESTORATION SPONSORS

Audi Devon

Austin Hepburn Windows, Pella

Bank of America Private Bank

Barnard, Mezzanotte, Pinnie, & Seelaus LLP

Cambridge Masonry

Cherokee Construction

Claytor + Noone Plastic Surgery

James Brown Plumbing Heating & Air Conditioning, LLC

King Construction

Lighting By Design and Beyond

Marshall Sabatini Architecture

Marvin Window | Matus Windows

Mill Creek Capital Advisors, LLC

Peter Zimmerman Architects

Providence One Development

Ranieri & Kerns Associates, LLC

SPI Communications

Stoltzfus Construction

Stoney Bank Nurseries

The Baldwin School

The Mundy Wealth Management Group / Morgan Stanley Wealth Management

The National Bank of Malvern ThinkGreen

White Horse Village

Wisler Pearlstine, LLP

PROGRAM SPONSORS

Cullen Construction Inc.

Dewson Construction Company

F.L. Bissinger Architect

Kreischer Miller

Precise Buildings, LLC

The Classic Coachworks

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Event Calendar

Visit wctrust.org/calendar or scan code for more event information and registration

Recurring Events

WEDNESDAYS

“Just Show Up” Volunteer

Wednesdays at Rushton Farm

This is an opportunity to work in the fields with the farmers. You can show up at the farm from 9 am - 4 pm on any Wednesday during the season.

JUNE

June 1 | Barns & BBQ

June 6 | Mindful Birding at Dusk

June 11 | ECOcentric: Exploring the World of Birds

June 13 | Field to Feast with Malvern Buttery

June 17-21 | Rushton Nature Keepers

June 21 | Community Supper Series

June 23-29 | Creek Week

June 26 | Fireflies, Moths, and Your Yard in the Dark

June 26 | Nature Walk with Gretchen

JULY

All Month | Plastic Free July

July 20-27 | Wildflower Week

July 24 | ECOcentric: Discovering a Native Wildflower Meadow

SAVE THE DATES

August 3 | Summer Tomato Celebration

October 5 | Run-a-Muck | 5k and 1 Mile Walk

Events subject to change - check wctrust.org/calendar for the latest details.

THURSDAYS

Stewardship Volunteer Days

WCT maintains public nature preserves, spanning more than 300 acres and we rely on your help to accomplish our mission. Stewardship Manager John Holback leads Stewardship Volunteer Thursdays and all registrants will receive an email notification on the Tuesday before the workday with work details and location.

ECOcentric LECTURE SERIES

ECOcentric is defined as having a serious concern for environmental issues. It is a mindset that values the entire environment and all life within rather than only what is useful to humans. In other words, it is a deliberate shift toward the balance that can be achieved when we make nature our center rather than ourselves.

Through a variety of educational lectures and immersive field experiences with WCT staff and professionals, adults will gain a holistic foundation in four major conservation topics: birds and wildlife, regenerative farming, watersheds, and habitat stewardship.

RUSHTON NATURE KEEPERS (RNK)

RNK educational programming will resume in June! Check for registration details and the program schedule at wctrust.org/ rushtonnaturekeepers.

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saul.com We proudly support the efforts of Willistown Conservation Trust. John F. Stoviak, Partner 1200 Liberty Ridge Drive Suite 200 Wayne, PA 19087 (610) 251-5056 Michael S. Burg, Partner 1200 Liberty Ridge Drive Suite 200 Wayne, PA 19087 (610) 251-5750
The Power of Collaboration.

Brandywine Realty Trust is proud to support the Willistown Conservation Trust on their mission to preserve rural and historic land, and to help people of all ages and backgrounds develop a lifelong commitment to the land and the natural world.

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www.brandywinerealty.com Read our ESG REPORT: JOIN THE BRANDYWINE COMMUNITY TODAY Workspace. Lab. Retail. Residential.
Rob Van Alen (610) 212-5470 robvanalen@gmail.com Jody Vandegrift (484) 354-2474 jody@thecountryproperties.com Office: (610) 347-2065 1689 West Doe Run Road Unionville, PA Proudly Supporting Willistown Conservation Trust Working with conservation minded sellers and buyers Office: (610) 347-2065 | 1689 West Doe Run Road Unionville, PA Rob Van Alen | (610) 212-5470 | robvanalen@gmail.com

HISTORICAL. SERENE. COMMUNITY.

Firstrust is proud to support Willistown Conservation Trust.

For protecting this historically rich land, and offering our community a place to enjoy the beautiful nature, we thank you

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11 marshall sabatini | architecture + Photography 610.525.2993 www.marshallsabatini.com Proudly Supporting the Willistown Conservation Trust Providing architecurlal solutions for our clients for over 20 years!

Portfolio

Executive

Financial

12 © 2024 Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. Member SIPC. SUP001 CRC 5709449 06/23 CS 711289 06/23 Emily E. Endres, CFP®, CDFA® Insurance Planning Director Workplace Advisor— Equity Compensation Vice President Financial Advisor The Mundy Wealth Management Group at Morgan Stanley is proud to support Willistown Conservation Trust William H. Mundy, CRPC® Family Wealth Director
Investments Director
Alternative
Management Director
Director
Advisor The use of the CDFA® designation does not permit the rendering of legal advice by Morgan Stanley or its Financial Advisors which may only be done by a licensed attorney. CFP Board owns the marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, and CFP® (with plaque design) in the US. 899 Cassatt Road, Suite 100 | Berwyn, PA 19312 610-408-1993 • william.mundy@morganstanley.com advisor.morganstanley.com/the-mundy-wealth-management-group

N U R S E R I E S

Horse Barns I Bank Barns I Indoor Arenas I Garages I Restoration I Venues Building Your Dreams, Preserving Your Legacy 717.768.3200 I precisebuildings.com
Kreischer Miller is proud to support Willistown Conservation Trust Barns and BBQ Advisory | Audit & Accounting | Tax 100 Witmer Road, Suite 350 | Horsham, PA 19044 215.441.4600 | www.kmco.com
“WHEN WE SEE LAND AS A COMMUNITY TO WHICH WE BELONG, WE MAY BEGIN TO USE IT WITH LOVE AND RESPECT.”
- Aldo Leopold

The land we inhabit - the soils, waters, plants, and animals that form the fabric of our earth - is not just a resource; it’s our shared community. Fostering a sense of belonging and respect for our land is vital for its preservation and our collective well-being.

At Willistown Conservation Trust, we embrace this holistic perspective. Our mission is not just conservation; it’s a commitment to fostering deep, reciprocal relationships with nature – relationships built on love, respect, and care. From safeguarding critical habitats to promoting sustainable land use practices, WCT protects and nurtures the land that sustains us.

With your gift to the Annual Fund, you’re not just contributing to the protection of land; you’re investing in a legacy of stewardship that will benefit generations to come. Every contribution, no matter the size, brings us closer to a shared goal of creating a future where land thrives, and communities flourish. Together, let’s use our love and respect for the land to build a brighter tomorrow.

LAND CONNECTS ALL LIFE

Connect with WCT by supporting our 2024 Annual Fund today.

OCTOBER 5, 2024

Once a year, in the fall, the Trust dedicates a day to celebrating with the community our mutual commitment to protecting the inherent beauty and natural resources of the Willistown countryside. Over 500 people gather for a unique opportunity to run or muck over Willistown’s conserved open spaces and to enjoy a wonderful country supper.

SUMMERBANK

239 SPRING ROAD MALVERN

IF YOU’VE BEEN A WILLISTOWN AREA EQUESTRIAN OVER THE PAST 50 YEARS, CHANCES ARE YOU’VE RIDDEN AT SUMMERBANK FARM. As one of the earlier indoor riding rings in the community, it was an all-weather resource for many competitive riders, hobby equestrians, and pony clubbers. The 20-acre property has also been an important part of the equestrian trail network, connecting many adjacent farms and conserved open space.

THE LAND SITS IN THE GEOGRAPHIC CENTER OF WILLISTOWN TOWNSHIP, down the road from the historic crossroads village of Sugartown, a bustling hub of commerce and community in the 19th century.

SUMMERBANK’S DEED WAS ORIGINALLY TITLED TO THE WILLIAM MCCAHAN ESTATE, A PROMINENT PHILADELPHIA SUGAR REFINERY OWNER, KNOWN AS "ROSELAWN FARM". According to the deed, the property boundaries were “beginning at a point in the title line in the bed of Spring Road at a corner of land now or late of Theodore Roosevelt III”. Roosevelt was a grandson of President Roosevelt and served as Pennsylvania Secretary of Commerce.

IN 1973 THEN-OWNER ARNO M. MEYER CONSTRUCTED THE BARN AND HOME. In 2021, Jim and Bev Kolea purchased Summerbank and have thoughtfully renovated the home and restored the aging barn. The facility features a 19-stall barn, indoor and outdoor riding arenas, tack room, mud room, powder room, and heated wash stall.

TRADITIONALLY THE BARN HAS BEEN LEASED BY PROFESSIONAL TRAINERS WHO TEACH THEIR STUDENTS AND PROVIDE STALL SPACE FOR A NUMBER OF BOARDERS. After years of intensive pasture use, the Koleas are working to restore the grazing fields as they prepare to welcome their next equine residents. Resting grazed paddocks allows forage plants to recover and deepen their root systems, contributing to better soil, plant, and animal health.

MANY OF THE PASTURES ON THE PROPERTY HAVE AN ABUNDANCE OF BEAUTIFUL NATIVE TREES TO PROVIDE LOTS OF SHADE FOR THE HORSES ON HOT SUMMER DAYS. The property borders the Sugartown Preserve and is surrounded by hundreds of acres of conserved land. Some of the other plantings are magnolia trees, dog woods, weeping cherry trees, catalpa trees, rhododendrons, hydrangea and azalea, an English rose garden for pollinators, and many more indigenous trees and shrubs that grace the beautiful property.

THE KOLEAS ARE PROUD TO BE THE NEXT STEWARDS OF SUMMERBANK FARM. Bev says, “We have lived in Willistown Township for many years and appreciate its beauty! It is like a slice of heaven to us!”

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INDIAN RUN FARM

936 PLUMSOCK ROAD NEWTOWN SQUARE

WHEN YOU TURN SOUTH FROM GOSHEN ROAD ON TO PLUMSOCK ROAD YOU FEEL AS THOUGH YOU’VE STEPPED BACK IN TIME. With its dirt road, one of only three in the area, original farmhouses, old stone barns, and open fields in every direction, you can imagine what life in Willistown might have felt like 200 years ago.

IN FACT, THIS LAND HASN’T CHANGED MUCH OVER THE YEARS EXCEPT TO ADAPT TO ITS CHANGING POPULATION. In the early eighteenth century the Okehocking Indians approached William Penn to request a land grant. The resulting 500-acre Okehocking Indian Land Grant, including Plumsock Road, was later abandoned by the Okehocking tribe in 1720 as roads were built and Quakers began to settle in the area. Thus began the bucolic development of the Land Grant District, with the inclusion of a Quaker meeting house and school at the intersection of Goshen and Plumsock Roads.

BONNIE AND JIM VAN ALEN HAVE DEEP ROOTS IN THE WILLISTOWN COMMUNITY. Indian Run Farm had belonged to Jim’s great aunt, Lenore Lucas, who moved there in the 1920’s. Jim grew up on nearby Delchester Road, where he still recalls hearing the trolley running along Route 3 from Philadelphia to West Chester delivering milk. Jim and Bonnie purchased the farm and moved there in 1969. The original home, built in 1796, was a small three story building with an outhouse. Jim’s great aunt had completed a first addition in 1929, and Bonnie and Jim added two more additions in the 1990’s as their family grew.

RAISING THREE BOYS AT INDIAN RUN, BONNIE, JIM AND SONS FELL IN LOVE WITH THE LAND, HIKING AND RIDING ACROSS ITS OPEN SPACE. Realizing that they lived in an oasis of countryside vulnerable to development, Bonnie contacted the Brandywine Conservancy in the late 1970’s with the idea of creating a satellite program for conservation easements in Willistown. This program would ultimately become WIllistown Conservation Trust. In 1980 their property became one of the organization’s first easements. Indian Run Farm comprises 21 acres, with a total of 65 contiguous acres owned by the Van Alen’s and their family.

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THE BARN, BUILT IN 1826 BY MORDECAI BARTRAM, a nearby resident and namesake of the covered bridge on Goshen Road, originally housed cattle. The Van Alen’s had the original cow stanchions and floor removed, and added a tack room to create a barn suitable for horses. Today a pony for their granddaughter and 5 horses live there. The barn was built in two sections, with exterior of stone, stucco, and board and batten siding and a stone wall running between the two sections. Above the horse section as one enters the barnyard is a hayloft, and above the far section, which is used for tractor storage, is a newly renovated play room accessible by stairs and an upstairs porch.

THE BARN’S OTHER NOTABLE OCCUPANTS INCLUDE BATS WHICH RETURN EACH SUMMER TO THE HAYLOFT, AS THEY LIKELY HAVE FOR NEARLY 200 YEARS. Bonnie and Jim lay a tarp to protect the hay and straw and collect the valuable bat droppings for the garden. The bats are an important part of the local ecology, and the Van Alens enjoy watching them swoop for bugs over the summer pond. The barn houses old dovecotes, holes in the exterior near the roof of the barn which are unusual in a structure of this kind. The old nesting box attached to the far end of the barn was occupied for two summers by a female Kestrel that had been rescued by the Van Alen boys.

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ENCHANTING BARN OASIS

623 SUGARTOWN ROAD MALVERN

ALTHOUGH THE SETTING IS SUBURBAN, MICHAEL AND AMY BROOKS’ HOME IS REMINISCENT OF WILLISTOWN’S AGRARIAN PAST. The property is situated along historic Sugartown Road, once a bustling center of commerce and community life, and across the road from “Sugartown Strawberries”, a working farm beloved by the community for it’s delicious strawberries and abundant pumpkins.

THROUGHOUT THE 1800S “SHUGART’S TOWN”, LATER KNOWN AS SUGARTOWN, WAS A SOCIAL, EDUCATIONAL, COMMERCIAL AND MUNICIPAL CENTER. The location was ideal for a town being in the center of a large farming community, but also at the intersection of five roads – Sugartown, Boot, Dutton Mill, Spring, and Providence. In its heyday Sugartown provided more goods and services for a longer period of years than any other village in Willistown.

THE ORIGINAL DWELLING DATES BACK TO 1854, WITH LATER ADDITIONS IN 1992. Adjacent to the house sits an idyllic stone barn, built in 2000. The barn serves multiple purposes including garage space, horse barn, as well as space for entertaining and leisure. A beautiful pool rounds out the recreational space. A secondary barn, built by Precise Builders, was built this year to provide additional stall space for the resident horses.

THE PROPERTY IS HOME TO SEVERAL ANIMALS INCLUDING TWO RETIRED HORSES

– Baxter, a Connemara, and Mouse, a Paint, who graze on the two-acre pasture and are trail ridden for pleasure on the many local trails conserved by WCT. The Brooks’ children are active members of the Radnor Hunt Pony Club, and Amy serves as one of the joint District Commissioners. Each year they participate in the Pony Club’s Paper Chase, which benefits WCT’s open space preservation efforts.

IN ADDITION, THE FARM IS HOME TO EIGHT CHICKENS and one rooster named Clementine, and fresh eggs are enjoyed by all.

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COLONIAL PENNSYLVANIA PLANTATION

3900 NORTH SANDY FLASH DRIVE NEWTOWN SQUARE

COLONIAL PENNSYLVANIA PLANTATION IS AN 18TH CENTURY LIVING HISTORY FARM LOCATED WITHIN RIDLEY CREEK STATE PARK. The property was an original land grant by William Penn in the late 17th century and was occupied by the Pratt family, an English Quaker family, from 1720 to 1820 and acquired by Ridley Creek State Park in 1966.

IN 1971, MEMBERS OF THE BISHOP’S MILL HISTORICAL SOCIETY VISITED A NEGLECTED FARMHOUSE DATING TO THE 1690S WITHIN RIDLEY CREEK STATE PARK, now included in the National Register of Historic Places. Upon leasing the 112-acre property on which it sat in 1973, the founders restored five historic buildings (including the original house), crop fields, and a kitchen garden using painstaking historical and archeological research. The Society evolved with a more ambitious goal of establishing the colonial farm as a museum of Pennsylvania folklife and as a tribute to the hard-working colonial families who helped build America. Through the farm, interpreters could explore and demonstrate how local colonial farmers lived and worked, what they learned, and how their knowledge and life impacted the present. The renamed “Colonial Pennsylvania Plantation” (CPP) opened to the public for the Bicentennial in 1976. Called a “museum in the making,” the site allowed visitors to observe and even participate in the many activities of daily life on a farm in the Revolutionary era.

AT CPP, THE REVOLUTIONARY ERA IS BROUGHT TO LIFE FOR VISITORS AS THEY DISCOVER HOW COLONIAL FARM FAMILIES LIVED AND WORKED during a critical period in American history through the education, interpretation, and active participation in critically endangered historic skills that made 18th century life possible. CPP’s programs offer a unique opportunity for visitors to connect to the places, people, environment, and skills of the past through the act of doing, providing meaningful and lifelong experiences. CPP operates as a working living history farm open to the public and includes two functioning barns; wagon barn and stable barn.

THE TWO-STORY WAGON BARN IS USED FOR BOTH PROCESSING AND HOLDING CROPS AND MAINTENANCE AND STORAGE OF TOOLS, typical of an 18th century setup. The wagon barn also currently serves as an important program space for the farm offering an immersive environment for historic skills workshops and hands-on children’s programming. The farm’s banked stable barn houses feed, bedding, and supplies on the top and our two horses and ox on the bottom.

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THE FARM CONSISTS OF A MAIN FARMHOUSE, CONSTRUCTED BETWEEN 1690 AND 1790, several outbuildings, including a spring house, and two barns. CPP interprets the agricultural system as one in transition from a single barn to a two-barn system. A wagon or field barn would have been constructed in the early-mid 1700s with a livestock barn built in the early 1800s. The wagon and livestock barns were the precursors to the Pennsylvania bank barn, such as the one erected by the Pratt family in 1805. While the full barn structure is no longer standing, the foundation is visible and the site’s current barnyard and re-constructed livestock barn sit within the outlines of the foundation. The wagon barn was restored in 1975 based on archeological evidence and local architectural research. The structure has the characteristic two stories and wide double-doors on the gable ends for wagons to be driven straight through for loading or unloading. In 1991, the second-story floor was replaced using old beams and stairs were built for access by Sess and Glass of 18th Century Restorations Inc. The livestock bank barn was partially reconstructed on old foundations and the original eastern wall in 1978-79 and included the summer beam, joists, and sills from a local historic bank barn being demolished.

THE FARM INCLUDES TWO NATURAL WATERWAYS, RIDLEY CREEK AND THE SMALLER PRATT RUN. At the entrance to the farm is a wetland that boasts many native plants including Shrubby St John's Wort, Coralberry, Blackhaw viburnum, New Jersey Tea, Sassafras, Culver's Root, Northern Sea Oats, Redbud, and River Birch. The orchard with heritage varieties of apple and pear trees, a butternut tree, and two paw paw trees, along with the garden, provide a variety of pollen sources for the farm’s apiary.

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LIVESTOCK BARN AT COLONIAL PENNSYLVANIA PLANTATION

HISTORIC CHESTER COUNTY BARN

864 GRUBBS MILL ROAD

NEWTOWN SQUARE

AT THE CORNER OF GRUBBS MILL AND GOSHEN ROADS, A MASSIVE STONE BARN STANDS LIKE A WATCHFUL BEACON OVER KIRKWOOD PRESERVE, an important and iconic landmark at the heart of the Willistown countryside and neighboring historic White Horse District. The land here, originally 500 acres, was purchased in 1699 by the Massey family who built the James Massey House (c. 1730), the tenant house, and this traditional Chester County forebay bank barn. Since the 1700s, the buildings and landscape have undergone vast changes and many names — including White Horse Farm, the Alpaca Barn and Massey Farm — and now, thanks to the local community, this special place will remain forever preserved.

IN 2021, THE NOW 16-ACRE MASSEY FARM WAS LISTED FOR SALE, and a developer intended to purchase the land, demolish its historic buildings, and construct four new homes on subdivided parcels. Recognizing this imminent threat that would erase the history and important natural resources of this farm, two local nonprofit groups — Willistown Conservation Trust (WCT) and the Delchester Group, Inc. — partnered to purchase the property with the support of many community lenders.

PROTECTING THE PROPERTY WAS A PRIORITY FOR BOTH GROUPS, AND AS SUCH, 6.5 ACRES WERE ADDED TO WCT’S NEIGHBORING KIRKWOOD PRESERVE, while the remaining portion was sold to conservation buyers John and Cara Fry who are working to restore the barn and two homes and forever protect the land under conservation easement.

THROUGHOUT THE YEARS, THE HOMES AND BARN OF MASSEY FARM HAVE HOSTED A PLETHORA OF HUMAN AND ANIMAL OCCUPANTS, from farmers and the U.S. Ambassador Robert Strausz-Hupé, to cattle and alpacas. While vacant, the barn became home to many other critters including bats and birds. Today, the barn is home to Nat Fry Woodworking. Nat creates custom designed and handmade furniture using traditional joinery and ethically sourced hardwoods such as Ash, Walnut, Cherry, Oak and Maple. Over time the Frys will continue to renovate this massive barn to suit their family’s needs.

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BROOKS BARN

SUMMERBANK

RUSHTON WOODS PRESERVE & FARM

KESTREL HILL PRESERVE ASHBRIDGE PRESERVE

WOODPECKER WOODS PRESERVE

12 th Annual

BARNS BBQ and

REQUESTS

INDIAN RUN FARM

OKEHOCKING PRESERVE

• Please leave your dogs at home

• Since you’ll be walking in animal pastures with uneven footing, sensible shoes are recommended a few

• Dress appropriately for inclement weather — we will be outside

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PLAN YOUR DAY

TOUR | 9:00 AM TO 1:00 PM

SUMMERBANK*

Bev & Jim Kolea

239 Spring Road, Malvern

*Please use stable entrance

INDIAN RUN FARM*

Bonnie & Jim Van Alen

936 Plumsock Road, Newtown Square

*Parking along Plumsock Road

BROOKS BARN*

Amy & Michael Brooks

623 Sugartown Road, Malvern

*Parking is on Dovecote Lane

COLONIAL PENNSYLVANIA

PLANTATION

3900 North Sandy Flash Drive, Newtown Square

FRY BARN

Cara & John Fry

864 Grubbs Mill Road, Newtown Square

• Bathrooms are available at Willistown Conservation Trust Office (925 Providence Road)

• Only the barns are open for touring

• Please wear your wristband — it is your admission ticket

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FRY BARN KIRKWOOD PRESERVE RIDLEY CREEK STATE PARK COLONIAL PENNSYLVANIA PLANTATION

impact lives

Robert

610.567.4702 rob.mcmenamin@bofa.com

30 bankofamerica.com/PrivateBank Bank of America Private Bank is a division of Bank of America, N.A., Member FDIC and a wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of America Corporation. Bank of America and the Bank of America logo are registered trademarks of Bank of America Corporation. © 2024 Bank of America Corporation. All rights reserved. | MAP5718901 | PB-528-AD | 06/2023
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Bank of America Private Bank is proud to support Willistown Conservation Trust’s Barns & BBQ.
To learn how we can help you pursue your
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We are pleased to Sponsor Willistown Conservation Trusts' Barns and BBQ!

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46 JAMES BROWN PLUMBING, HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING LLC proudly supports the mission of the Willistown Conservation Trust to preserve and protect rural and historic local lands of Chester County for a brighter tomorrow. www.jamesbrownphac.com ten yearsCELEBRATING SUPPORTING THE WILLISTOWN CONSER ATION TRUST A DEGREE OF DIFFERENCE

F.L. BISSINGER ARCHITECTS

Tradition & Innovation

F.L. Bissinger Architects focuses on single family custom homes. Our goal is to celebrate the revival of fine craftsmanship, custom details, and high-quality materials.

Phone: (610) 525-6438

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Flbissinger.com Bissingerf@comcast.net

Classic Coachwork Main Line

Classic Coachwork Main Line is your most trusted collision repair facility in the area.

We offer repairs on European, foreign, exotic, and domestic makes!

51 Proud Habitat Restoration Sponsor of the Willistown Conservation Trust Barns and BBQ Alternative Dispute Resolution | Banking | Business, Corporate, and Tax Commercial Litigation | Condominium and Community Associations Construction Litigation | Data Privacy and Cybersecurity | Education Law Employment and Labor | Employment Litigation | Estate Planning and Administration Family Law | Intellectual Property | Municipal Law | Personal Injury Litigation Real Estate, Zoning and Land Development | Surety Litigation 610.722.5800 • wislerpearlstine.com MALVERN OFFICE 460 East King Road Malvern, PA 19355-3049
53 Marvin
Gallery by Matus Windows matuswindows.com
Design
54 Curiosity is a strength best implemented by thoughtful planning
218 West Front Street | Media, PA 610.565.4055 | bmpslaw.com Real Estate, Business Law, Estate Planning, & Litigation Barnard Mezzanotte Pinnie & Seelaus LLP Law Firm
PHOTO: BLAKE GOLL
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