The Centennial House: Patriotic Relic or Just a Local Legend?
According to local legend, a building from the 1876 Centennial Exposition ended up as a house in Marple Township. Was this a real relic of America’s 100th birthday or just a tall tale?...
Marple in the 1850s: Part Three — Farming
The previous post in the 1850s series discussed how farming formed the backbone of Marple Township’s economy during the 1850s, much as it had for generations. What were farms growing though, and how do we know?...
The Coppock House: A Preservation Failure
By Sam Pickard With Delaware County initiating the formal takings process to acquire what is commonly known as the “Don Guanella Woods” for use as a county park, it’s worthwhile to look back on the history of the 213-acre tract of land.[1] While this future park could easily supply half-a-dozen...
“…In Harvest Thou Shalt Rest”: Rev. Compton’s Marple Farm
About a year ago, I came across Robert Compton, who was listed as a “Baptist clergyman” in the 1860 census schedules for Marple Township. Compton caught my attention because I was not aware of a Baptist congregation in Marple during this period, so I began digging. I soon discovered...