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The History of Vincent Forge

Dating back more than three centuries, Vincent Forge Estate has a rich history that predates the Revolutionary War.

In 1700, a German man by the name of William Davies built a two-story stone cottage with a small porch on the banks of French Creek. The Davies family had a large inglenook fireplace in the living area downstairs for cooking and smoking meats, and they slept upstairs on the second floor. 

The iron industry began taking off in the French Creek Valley and by the mid-18th century, Pennsylvania became the leading iron-producing colony. The Davies set up a modest iron forge in 1759 with two hammers, powered by the fast-flowing and easily dammed creek right in their own backyard. 

1700s

In 1765, the Davies sold the forge and property to the Yung family, who also hailed from Germany and whose name was later anglicized to Young. John Young and his wife, Susanna, ran a thriving business and added two additional hammers to the forge, making it one of biggest forges in Pennsylvania. Almost all ironworks were also known locally by the owner’s name so the Vincent Forge was also called Young’s Forge. 

 

The Youngs almost immediately began construction to expand the original Davies cottage, engaging local artisans to build their mansion. On the street-facing and business-facing sides of the house, they used hand-dressed fieldstone — which had to be expertly chiseled, making it hugely expensive and a sign of wealth and success. The less visible walls were built of undressed stone, indicating the Youngs were economical and keen businessowners. 

 

They completed the forgemaster’s mansion in 1769. The ground and first floors were used for running their business — with a basement kitchen, a large mess hall for the forge workers (now the current kitchen), a reception room (now the dining room) where he welcomed business acquaintances, and an attached office where he conducted his business. His original cash drawer remains in the office today. The family lived upstairs in elegant quarters. They had a large parlor area outfitted with ornate paneling, which remains intact today. John and Susanna slept in the master suite upstairs, and their three children slept on the third floor in the dormer. 

 

George Washington actually slept in the master bedroom for three nights after the Battle of Brandywine, having ridden to the forge from Exton. There were many inns at the time, but Washington preferred to stay in private homes and the Youngs’ was one of the finest in the area. After John Young died in 1785, Susanna ran the business successfully for many years before leaving it to her sons. 

In 1802, John Young Jr. and his brother sold the mansion and forge to be used as a farm. The property ran as a successful farm known as the Kerry Dell Farm for more than a century. 

The large parlor area was divided into two bedrooms during the Victorian area, and remains so today. The stone from the forge was used to build a huge bank barn at the end of the current driveway. The property was bought for its iron by the Phoenixville iron company in 1837 but it continued as a productive farm for many years afterward.

Kerry Dale Farm 1800s

A Summer Getaway - Early 1900s

A Home Once More - Mid 1900s

Unfortunately in 1949, the bank barn burned down and all that remains of the original forge today is rubble. The estate continued as a successful summer camp well into the 1960s. In 1979, the Archdiocese sold the property to a couple called the Pearsons and it became a residence once again. The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. The home sold once more, but was eventually left empty and fell into disrepair. 

In 2021, Lawson Macartney and Mike Skubish purchased the property and began uncovering and restoring the rich craftsmanship that was buried under years of neglect.

2021

In 1925, the property was sold to the Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia to be used as a summer camp. During this time, they added a wing to the property to serve as a dining hall for the children. Children at Camp Glenmar enjoyed picnics on the banks of the historic French Creek as well as swimming, boating, fishing, and plenty of time engaging in sports and enjoying the outdoors.

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