NEW GARDEN VILLAGE

As such, New Garden Village doesn't seem to have had a separate identity for many years. New Garden Post Office was established January 1, 1803 in the New Garden Inn, but the address served most all of the Township for Avondale Post Office was not established until 1828 and Landenberg and Toughkenamon not until twenty and forty years after that. There were references to events in New Garden in the mid-1800s, and later, that seem to have happened in the Village area. At one point New Garden Road was part of "Newport Road," presumably the Turnpike. Wagoneers and other travelers supposedly used it to skirt the hill on the Turnpike which was treacherous in bad weather. All early maps show the Turnpike in a straight line, with New Garden Road well established by 1847.

The Post Office was moved from the Inn to the brick house on the corner of New Garden and Newark Roads owned by Benjamin Wood now, and a store was opened in the same building at a date not determined. The first reference to any store was in 1845. James Cullen filed a complaint against a keeper who "did sell and deliver to be drank in his house and about his premises whiskey and other strong liquors contrary to law;" and a petition of another to sell "vinous and spirituous liquors" was denied in 1851. The latter probably wasn't needed since the Bottling Works at New Garden sold porter ale "convenient for the inhabitants and adjoining section of the country." George Woodward ordered the contents of his store auctioned off in 1866. Thomas Mitchell purchased the building and sold clothing, hardware, medicines, and a general assortment of the goods usually kept in a country store. There were many owners through the years. One extended credit for the term of one year on "all sums $10.00 and upwards, or 6% off for cash."

The Villagers were probably healthy. Jacob Taylor was Agent for Brandeth's Universal Pills, made by Dr. Brandeth of Philadelphia, in 1841. They were good for many ailments. W. and T. J. Chambers were authorized to sell in New Garden George B. Markley's celebrated "Lancaster Dutch Medicines" in 1850; and the Polar Star Drug Company manufactured cough medicine and other curatives near New Garden. Their "Little Soldier" pills, taken at night made you feel very fine by morning. N. P. Walton was Secretary of this company when its annual meeting was held in 1912.

The New Garden Social Circle organized on November 18, 1871 at the home of Jeremiah Starr where 22 members signed the constitution. They met "for our general improvement... and that the long Winter evenings may be spent both pleasantly and profitably..." Their By-Laws stated "that no refreshments shall be expected; but the Ladies are earnestly advised to stock their pantry well, with cakes and pies, against the epoch of their 'so' returning home." They met faithfully through the years. J. Howard Palmer was Toastmaster at the Annual Banquet in the Avondale Hotel in 1912 when speeches were made by Franklin J. Pratt, Ada D. Shortlidge, Howard C. Wollaston, Elizabeth Mitchell, Samuel G. Wickersham, and Bessie J. Bowers. Their last meeting was held on March 29, 1946 at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Roland Parrish. Very reluctantly, the members present decided to discontinue "Circle" rather than have it die slowly from neglect.

Emma Starr, Emilie C. Chandler, Ellen Yerkes and Mary J. Wickersham were elected officers when the New Garden Branch of the Chester County Hospital Auxiliary met at Mrs. Starr's home in 1896. A brickyard operated down Bucktoe Road a short way in 1860; Josiah Lamborn and his brother, Alfred, opened a creamery near lower New Garden Meeting in 1885. Farmers had been watching for thieves many days when a man was shot in 1902 for stealing potatoes from a basement.

New Garden no longer has its Post Office or store, but the old homes still stand and surround the Meeting House as reminders of the little crossroads village.