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Local History
Henderson Road is a well-known and one of the busiest roads in Upper Merion Township. It is also one of the oldest roads in the township, named after early prominent settlers, the Henderson Family. Members of the Henderson Family participated in numerous business enterprises including farming and mining for over 200 years.
The first Hendersons moved to the area in the early 1700s and in 1734, the family owned 100 acres. Later on, prominent family member Samuel Henderson owned and operated the Henderson Marble Quarries and briefly served in Congress. The Henderson Marble Quarries were located along Henderson Rd. from Shoemaker Road up to the Gulph Mills Village Apartments area.
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The area surrounding the intersection of Church and Henderson Roads was once known as the village of Henderson Station, and there was a Pennsylvania Railroad train stop near that corner. The railroad transported people as well as marble and other goods to locations near and far.
The marble quarries operated for about 100 years from 1784 to 1889. They produced a very fine blue marble used extensively in local construction including the Montgomery County Courthouse and Girard College. In addition to banks, colleges, schools and post offices, King of Prussia Marble can also be found in Washington DC in the Senate Reception Hall.
Samuel Henderson's home and barn still stand, having been saved by being repurposed into stores and offices. The quarry workers homes also still stand, but are currently vacant; many may remember them as the site of the former Marrone's Restaurant.
Samuel Henderson Henderson Barn
Village Mart Shopping Center
Henderson Mansion
Tre C's Office Building (former Henderson Mansion)
Quarry Workers' Houses
PO Box 60716 King of Prussia, PA 19406-0716 www.kophistory.org Facebook.com/kophistory Preserving Upper Merion’s Past To Enlighten Its Future
