LOCAL HISTORY
The Moore-Irwin House, an Upper Merion Treasure
“As good almost to kill a man as to destroy an old house.” Artist Henry MacNeil (adapted from a saying by John Milton) Upper Merion Township's Moore-Irwin House, included on the PA Inventory of Historic Places, is located at 700 Moore Road in King of Prussia. The 4.8-acre parcel owned by the township also includes the Silas Burgess Arboretum dedicated in 1985 that was recently restored by the township's Shade Tree Commission. The 1750s farmhouse of John and Jane Moore is at the heart of what is now known as the Moore-Irwin House. The original section of the building dates back to about 1750. During the Valley Forge Encampment in the winter of 1777-1778, the farmhouse served as headquarters for Brigadier General Peter Muhlenberg, with troops camped on the grounds next to the house along Trout Creek. According to records of the Historical Society of Montgomery County, George Washington made several visits in times of peace to the area. Most memorable was his last visit to Upper Merion when he
came to see the old camp grounds at Valley Forge and went fishing. An entry in Washington's diary for July 30, 1787 reads: “In company with Governor Morris and in his phaeton with my horses, went up to one Jane Moore's in whose house we lodged in the vicinity of Valley Forge, to get trout.” In 1933, the building was purchased by the newly married couple A.D Leighton and his wife Aimee. At the time, the estate encompassed a total of 800 acres including what is now Moore Business Park all the way to North Gulph Road where the casino is today. Having been impressed with renowned architect R. Brognard Okie's work on another property, the Leightons hired him to transform the home into a country haven. The architect adapted the original farmhouse and a previous 1846 addition and added a new wing. This first project was completed in 1933; and he later designed another addition in 1944. Okie is particularly well known for his Colonial Revival style and restoring and reconstructing existing buildingings in a colonial style and homes that he designed are sought after even today.
This amazing township asset once served as the Upper Merion Cultural Center from 1968 until 1992 hosting a myriad of classes and cultural activities through the Upper Merion Parks and Rec Department. There was a study done in 2008 and another one in 2021 to determine what is needed to save the structure and to provide an estimate for repairs. Recently citizens advocated to save part the 4.8 acre park site from being developed into retail space despite its zoning designation as a park and open space. The historic home and park land is currently awaiting a township decision on what its future will hold.
PO Box 60716 King of Prussia, PA 19406-0716 www.kophistory.org Facebook.com/kophistory
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