Keith House (Upper Makefield Township, Pennsylvania) facts for kids
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Keith House—Washington's Headquarters
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Keith House. November 2012.
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 Location in Pennsylvania
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| Location | Pineville Road, Upper Makefield Township, Pennsylvania |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | c. 1742 |
| NRHP reference No. | 78002356 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | November 14, 1978 |
The Keith House is a very old and important building in Upper Makefield Township, Pennsylvania. It is also known as Washington's Headquarters or Headquarters Farm. This house was a key spot for George Washington during the American Revolutionary War. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978 because of its historical value.
The Keith House Story
The land around the Keith House was first set aside by William Penn. He was the founder of Pennsylvania. In 1697, he sold the land to a group of investors. The house itself was probably built around the year 1742. William Keith bought the land and house in 1761.
Washington's Secret Headquarters
During the American Revolutionary War, the Keith House became very famous. General George Washington used it as his headquarters. He stayed there from December 14 to December 24, 1776. This was a very important time for the American army.
From this house, Washington made plans for a daring move. He planned the famous crossing of the Delaware River. This led to the surprise Battle of Trenton. This battle was a big win for the Americans.
There is a legend about the house's spring house. A spring house is a small building over a natural spring. It was used to keep food cool. The story says that a spy named John Honeyman was held there. He was a double agent, meaning he worked for both sides. He told Washington about the plans of the Hessian soldiers in Trenton. Hessians were German soldiers fighting for the British.
Who Owned the House?
The Keith family owned the house for a very long time. They kept it for 133 years. After John Slack Keith passed away, the house was sold in 1893. John Paxon bought it then. Later, Henry Bristol owned the property from 1933 to 1946. After him, James Rendall became the owner.
