Zook House (West Whiteland Township, Pennsylvania) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Zook House
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 Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Location | 100 Exton Sq., Exton, West Whiteland Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1750 |
| Architectural style | Additive dwelling |
| MPS | West Whiteland Township MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 00000844 |
| Added to NRHP | July 27, 2000 |
The Zook House, also known as the William and Elizabeth Owen House, is a very old home built in 1750. It stands near Exton, Pennsylvania, right on the land of the Exton Square Mall. You can find it on the north side of U.S. Route 30 Business. This historic house is special because it's listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
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What is the Zook House?
The Zook House is a single-family home that has been around for a long time. It was first added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976 after some updates. Later, in 1984, more of the surrounding land was also included in its historic listing.
Why Was the House Moved?
In 1998, something big happened to the Zook House. The shopping mall nearby was getting bigger, so the house had to be moved. Workers carefully moved the house about 300 feet (about 91 meters) to the southwest. Even after its move, the Zook House was re-listed on the National Register in 2000. It's still recognized as an important historic site.
Who Lived in the Zook House?
The land where the Zook House stands has a long history. In 1683, William Penn first sold this land to Richard Thomas, a Welch Quaker. Richard Thomas's son, also named Richard, officially claimed the land in two steps, in 1704 and 1717.
Early Owners of the Land
In 1718, Richard Thomas sold the land to John Morgan, an English Quaker. Morgan then sold it to another English Quaker, William Owen, in 1734. William Owen was the one who built the Zook House in 1750. He lived there for ten years before selling the house and land to James Brown, another Quaker, in 1760.
The Zook Family's Home
The house got its current name from the Zook family. In 1770, Morritz Zug bought the farm and house. He later changed his name to Zook. Morritz and his family were among the first members of the Great Valley Ominist (Amish) Society. The house was made larger in 1800 and again in 1820.
What Happened During the Move?
When the house was moved in 1998, a new foundation was built for it. Sadly, the original basement from 1750 was lost during this process. Despite this, the house remains a key part of local history. Six generations of the Zook family lived in the house. They called it home until 1970.
Nearby Historic Homes
There's another historic house nearby called the Jacob Zook House. It's located on the south side of U.S. Route 30 Business. The Jacob Zook House is also listed separately on the National Register of Historic Places, showing the area's rich past.
Images for kids
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Former location of the house, about 300 feet northeast of the current site.
