Early Schools in Newtown

History Spotlight

Early Schools in Newtown Township, Delaware County, PA

by Doug Humes

William Penn, like all visionaries, had particular ideas about how life was going to be in his colony. In 1682, he wrote the first “Frame of Government” which outlined his ideas. Article XII provided that “the Governor and provincial Council shall erect and order all public schools”. This was a new idea – there was no compulsory public education in the world at that time. Most people could not read or write. Tavern signs had pictures of a “Black Swan” or a Spread Eagle or a painting of the King of Prussia, because travelers could not read.

Penn’s Quakers, who were the first to come here from England, took him at his word, and erected schools for their children, which they would then financially support. Over time, they allowed other children to attend, if their parents paid a fee. But in an agrarian economy, jobs were plentiful on the farm and you did not need to read or write to earn a living as a farmhand, or to develop a trade that would give you employment. It was not until 1834 that Pennsylvania took a serious run at compulsory education, passing the Public School Law that required all counties, townships and boroughs to form school districts, build schools, hire teachers and educate all of their children.

The Newtown Square Quakers had a succession of early schools on their property. The 1815 school was an octagonal design, and served until replaced by a frame building, still extant as the caretakers house overlooking Rt 252. In 1842, another octagonal school was built on the south side of West Chester Pike – and exists to this day on the Dunwoody property.

A photo of the Farris Octagonal School taken in 1919

Photo Courtesy of The Newtown Square Historical Society

Datestone of Chestnut Grove Seminary

Photo Courtesy of The Newtown Square Historical Society

Newtown had active mills in the northeast corner of the township, and the children that lived up and down the creek along Paper Mill road had to climb up St. Davids road every day to go to the school on Newtown Road close to the Easttown border. That school was replaced in 1870 by the Wyola School, still standing along Rt 252 on the Episcopal School campus. In 1859 another school was built on School Lane, the Chestnut Grove School (still extant – but now a home), and served until 1896 when replaced by the Red Brick School. This last school, built in 1896, was where Alice Grim attended and then taught at with her sister Myrtle. It also is still standing, caddycorner from Gentiles, though completely encased in 20th century plaster coating.

Newtown Square Quaker school

Photo Courtesy of The Newtown Square Historical Society

For more history on Newtown Square, Delaware County, and membership information, please visit the web site of the Newtown Square Historical Society at www.HistoricNewtownSquare.org