HOUSE AND GARDEN 
July, 1910 
A glimpse of the driveway entrance porch from the semi-formal garden. The photograph was 
taken too early in the spring to show the garden at its best 
painted woodwork of the interior had 
a distinction in its simple dignity that 
architects despair of attaining, and the 
place stood serene under the shelter of 
trees that only a century could grow. 
Then there was the atmosphere of 
historical associations about the old 
landmark. As far back as the time of 
the Revolutionary War the inn was 
well established and known the coun¬ 
try around. When the Continental 
Army moved from Valley Forge to 
Chester, during the occupancy of Phila¬ 
delphia by Lord Howe, the patriot offi¬ 
cers had spent their evenings in the tap 
room of the Sorrel Horse Inn planning 
their movements for the coming days, 
and the upper bedrooms were filled to 
overflowing. 
Very little had to be done, after all, 
to make the old inn conform to modern 
needs for a country home. The remod¬ 
eling, which was done under the super¬ 
vision of Messrs. G. W. 
and W. D. Hewitt, archi¬ 
tects, consisted largely in 
the restoration of dam¬ 
aged woodwork and the 
installation of modern 
plumbing, heating and 
drainage systems. 
A stone wall along the 
road side secured the de¬ 
sired privacy, while the 
rear, with a large porch, 
was given a more rational 
connection with the broad 
stretch of lawn under the 
old trees at the rear and 
ence for old furniture, old books, old 
landmarks. All this is evidence that a 
very young people is gaining in wis¬ 
dom and in years. The first mad rush 
is spent and we are slowing down to 
a speed that permits us to enjoy some¬ 
thing of the landscape as we pass by. 
The country home that is illustrated 
herewith is that of a man who was one 
of the first to reach this stage of our 
national development. A number of 
years ago, when most of us had our 
axes out chopping down the big trees 
that we might put up our brand-new 
clapboard cottages, Mr. George H. Mc- 
Fadden’s eyes were opened to the fact 
that a very old and very dilapidated inn 
along the post road between Philadel¬ 
phia and Lancaster had in it the pos¬ 
sibilities of a charming country home. 
The fact that the old stone building 
stood directly alongside the public road 
dismayed him not at all. Of greater mo¬ 
ment was the fact that the thick walls 
of weather-worn stone had acquired 
a quality that modern building ingenu¬ 
ity could not hope to match, the white- 
just beginning to develop 
this same feeling of rev¬ 
erence for that which has 
been honored by time. It 
begins to show itself in a 
new attitude towards old 
trees; a few years ago we 
would have cut down the 
century-old monarchs in 
order that our puny little 
dwelling might occupy 
the exact center of its 
plot, whereas now we 
would move the house 
rather than the trees. It 
shows itself in a rever- 
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(gs * . | . w w ... . _ ■ ■ , ■■ , 
At the lower side of the great rear lawn stands the old spring house 
V-.V 
Most of the bedrooms have the outlook over the clover lawn opposite the post road front. 
rear door to the hall appears at the right 
