Thomas Massey House facts for kids
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1696 Thomas Massey House
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Thomas Massey House, September 2018
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 Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Location | Lawrence and Springhouse Rds., Broomall, Pennsylvania |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1696 |
| Architect | Thomas Massey |
| Architectural style | Colonial |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000904 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | November 16, 1970 |
The 1696 Thomas Massey House is a very old home in Pennsylvania. It was built in 1696 by an English settler named Thomas Massey. This house is special because it is one of the oldest English Quaker homes in the state. It is a two-story house made of brick and stone. You can find it on Lawrence Road in Broomall, Pennsylvania.
Who Was Thomas Massey?
Thomas Massey was born in a village called Marpoole in Cheshire, England. He was a Quaker, which is a type of Christian. When he was young, he agreed to work for Francis Stanfield for a set time. This was called being an indentured servant. In return, Francis Stanfield helped Thomas and seven other servants travel to America.
Thomas sailed from Chester, England on a ship called the "Endeavor." He arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on September 29, 1683, when he was 20 years old. After he finished his work as a servant, he received 50 acres of land from his master. He also received another 50 acres from William Penn, who founded Pennsylvania.
In 1692, when Thomas was 29, he married Phebe Taylor. She was 22 and he had met her on the ship to America. Thomas and Phebe had seven children together: Esther, Mordecai, James, Hannah, Thomas, Phoebe, and Mary. Thomas Massey passed away in 1707 or 1708. His oldest son, Mordecai, inherited the house. The house stayed in the Massey family until 1925.
History of the House
Thomas Massey built the first brick part of the house in 1696. It was an addition to an older wooden house. Later, in the 1730s, Thomas's son Mordecai likely took down the wooden house. He then built the first stone addition. In the early 1800s, a stone kitchen was added. Around 1860, a second story was built above the kitchen.
The Massey family owned the house until 1925. It was used as a farmhouse until the 1930s. At that time, a furnace and electricity were added. As the land around the house became a neighborhood, the Massey House was used for storage and painting.
In 1964, a person named Lawrence M.C. Smith saved the house from being torn down. He was a descendant of Thomas Massey. Smith bought the house and one acre of land. He then gave the property to Marple Township, Pennsylvania. He had one condition: the house had to be restored within ten years.
Architect John Milner completed the restoration. During this work, they found a large walk-in fireplace and a beehive oven that had been hidden. Many of the house's original features have been fixed up and work just like they used to.
The Thomas Massey House was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970. It is also listed on the Historic American Buildings Survey. A Pennsylvania historical marker was placed at the site on May 9, 1986.
Visiting the House
The Thomas Massey House is open for tours from April through October. You can visit on Sundays from 1 PM to 4 PM. The house is decorated for the season. It has real items from the 1600s and 1700s. Some of these are original to the house, like cabinets, furniture, and cooking tools.
Special events are also held at the house throughout the year. These include talks, demonstrations, and cooking classes. Sometimes, they even prepare an old-fashioned colonial meal in the kitchen and serve it in the house!
Images for kids
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In 2018
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In 2009
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See also
- List of the oldest buildings in Pennsylvania
