Learn the History of CFS During August 20 Trolley Tour

As part of its 250th birthday celebration, West Whiteland Township is offering free, historic trolley tours on Thursday, August 20. Historical Commission narrators will share the history of the region with guests onboard air-conditioned trolleys, which will stop at the Pennypacker House on Swedesford Road, at Church Farm School and at Ship Inn. Head of School Edmund K. Sherrill II and alumnus Jim Tate ’52 will hop on the trolleys at Church Farm School to talk about the school’s history of farming, and how the land has been adapted for contemporary life, including an installation of a five-acre solar array that supplies more than 80% of the school’s electric needs.

At its height, Church Farm School comprised almost 1,700 acres in the area once known as Glenloch, which the students farmed throughout the year in addition to their studies. When farming was dissolved, the school sold off almost all of its land to the County and the Township, which has preserved much of it for green space.

 “CFS has had so much to do with the preservation of the area," says Bobbie Eckman, a member of the Historical Commission who is helping organize the tours. The tours will run on the hour beginning at 3, 4, 5 and 6 p.m. The three air-conditioned trolleys depart from the West Whiteland Township Building, where refreshments will be available and historical displays will be on hand for review. Copies of Earley's "West Whiteland Township," which talks about Church Farm School, will be sold. To sign up, you can call Bobbie at 610-363-9525 ext. 1915 or email her at [email protected].