Milestone 30 Missing
*Banner images taken in Downingtown, PA.Remains of old mill building on the left, Second from left built 1729, became part of a boarding school along with the building to its right. It later became a tea house. That third building from the left is now the town library. No known history of building to far right.
The 30 milestone is gone despite being there in 1952. A milestone from a 1771 road is in the area of where it should be. The mileage is different because of a different starting point for the road and a longer route. There are apartments on the North side of the road about where the stone should be. The milestone may have been lost when they were put up. The sketch is based on a photograph of the milestone from 1952.
A later view of The Halfway House (notice the utility pole).
Front and back view of 1771 Milestone. Back view looks north onto the Lincoln Highway.
The Halfway House, halfway between Philadelphia and Lancaster was between the 30th and 31st Milestones. It was West of the 33 Milestone from the 1771 Road. It is now a parking lot. Members of the Continental Congress stopped here on their way to York, PA. in September, 1777 to set up a temporary government. Future 15th President stopped here as well. According to the story he was having problems with his sweetheart - A Miss Anna Coleman and was heading back to Lancaster to see her. The next morning he noticed a funeral procession heading West in front of the Halfway House. He asked who it was for and was told it was for a young girl known for her charm and beauty. He asked her name and to his horror it was his own Anna Coleman.
A sketch of the Swan based on several pictures. A photo of the Swan, date unknown.
The Swan Hotel and Tavern(1805) was built by Thomas Parke. Its property extended from the Southeast corner of the Turnpike to what is today's Boot Road. As late as the 1950's the hotel still hosted coming out parties for the towns leading daughters. In 1965 it was torn down and replaced by a Savings and Loan. Today that corner of the former Pike is Route 322 and Lancaster Avenue. Downingtown National Bank sits on the Southwest corner of the intersection.
Milltown was the commonly used name for this town in its early days. It had a lot of water powered mills. Later Downings Town came into vogue and later that was tightened up to Downingtown.
A map with the salmon colored stickpin showing the general location of missing Milestone 30 and present Milestone 33 from 1771.