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Our
Restaurant Is a Special Place...
This area is rich in history and we
would like to share some of it with you.
The town of Thornton and the property
the inn is on dates back to colonial times. This spot in Thornbury Township
was at various periods known as Yellow House, Shintown, and Thorntonville.
At the junction of Thornton and Glen Mills roads (just in front of Pace
One) stands a large, two-story building with a wide old porch. This building,
called "Yellow House," was the reason for the name of the area in colonial
days. At that time George Gray (keeper of the ferry owned the house across
the Schuylkill, which still bears his name) as a summer residence. During
the Revolutionary War, Gray's family stayed at Yellow House where he felt
they would be safer than in the house on the river. |
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Unfortunately,
the movements of the British army necessitated the advance of Washington's
army to Chadds Ford, which placed Gray's house within hearing distance
of the fighting. During the Battle of the Brandywine in September of 1777,
the sounds of the cannon were distinctly heard in the Yellow House, which
became a field hospital for the American wounded. The Gray ladies, mother
and daughters, helped care for the casualties, many of whom suffered from
shin injuries due to the short firing range of the British muskets, and
the manner in which the Americans fled through the brush. As history would
have it, the village soon became known as "Shintown." The service provided
by Gray's family is perpetuated today by "The Gray Ladies" who are seen
in hospitals across the country.
After the war, the building was used
by Thomas Carlton who manufactured toweling and linens on a handloom. Around
1830, a post office and general store were established in the Yellow House
building. The Thornton Post Office is reputed to be the longest continuing
post office in the United States. |
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The
building you are in is a restored 1740s stone barn. As you look around,
you can see the hand-hewn beams and the original stone wall of the barn.
In decorating Pace One, we tried to accentuate the beauty of the old stone
barn. We have designed our menu and service to blend well with this country
setting.
We are open seven days a week for dinner
and weekday lunches. Pace One provides overnight accommodations, and excellent
meeting and banquet facilities, as well as off premise catering. We sincerely
hope that you enjoy your visit with us and that you will come again. --Ted
Pace and the Pace One Staff |
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