Sugartown, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Sugartown Historic District
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Saddler's Shop and the General Store
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 Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Location | Sugartown, Boot, Spring, Dutton Mill, and Providence Roads, near Malvern, Willistown Township, Pennsylvania |
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| Area | 39 acres (16 ha) |
| NRHP reference No. | 84003230 |
| Added to NRHP | September 07, 1984 |
Sugartown is a small, old village in Pennsylvania, United States. It's located in the middle of Willistown Township, in Chester County. You can find it where Sugartown Road and Boot Road meet. This historic spot is about 18 miles west of the big city of Philadelphia.
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What Makes Sugartown Special?
Sugartown is known for its history. It's a great example of a "crossroads village." This means it was a central place where different roads met. People from nearby farms would come here to get supplies and services.
How Sugartown Got Its Name
The village was named after a man named Eli Shugart. He was a tavern keeper in the 1800s. A tavern was like an inn or a restaurant where travelers could stop and rest.
A Busy Village Hub
Sugartown was very important for the growth of Willistown. It had many useful businesses and services. Imagine a time before big shopping malls! In Sugartown, you could find:
- An inn, where people could stay
- A general store, selling all sorts of goods
- A blacksmith, who worked with metal
- A wheelwright, who made and fixed wagon wheels
- A cabinetmaker, who built furniture
- A saddler, who made leather saddles for horses
- A shoemaker, who made and repaired shoes
- A doctor, to help people who were sick
All these businesses helped the farming community around Sugartown.
The Sugartown Historic District
The Sugartown Historic District is a special area in the village. It's called a historic district because it has many old buildings that are important to history. There are fourteen main buildings in this district that show what life was like long ago.
Important Buildings You Can See
Some of the key buildings in the Sugartown Historic District include:
- The Sign of the Spread Eagle tavern: This old inn was built around 1790.
- The Sugartown Store: The store dates back to about 1800, with a residence added in 1860.
- The Willistown Township Building: This building was constructed in 1909.
- "Coxefield": Another historic home from around 1790.
- A shoemaker's shop: This shop also dates back to about 1790.
- The Sugartown School: Kids went to school here starting in 1866.
- The Friends school: This school has a long history, built between 1782 and 1783, and later updated in 1862.
- A schoolmaster's house: The teacher's house was built in 1785.
These buildings help us understand the past and how people lived and worked in Sugartown many years ago.
