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Pocopson
Township – Historical Diaries
In the mid-1800’s, our
community was focused on education, politics and community debate.
Resident often attended educational events or “lyceums”. Edward J.
Marshall, a teenager from Pocopson Township spoke of such events in his
dairy:
1860
- September 11 . Tuesday – We all went to Chadds
Ford to a political meeting – went in the two-horse wagon. The meeting
was very large. There was about 5 or 6 thousand persons in attendance.
1863
- March 20 Friday – Sarah, Caroline and I went to
Exhibition of Unionville Academy in Odd Fellows Hall. Declamations,
Original Orations, Essays, Dialogs and theatrical pieces. Very
creditable to school and scholars.
- July 19 Sunday – Pap came in afternoon, read
speech of ex-President Peirce to Alice, Peter and I.
- September 23 Wednesday – Pap and I went to West
Chester. Were at the Abolition meeting at the Fair Grounds. Governor
Curtin ( a judge and a senator) and several others spoke. About three
thousand persons present.
- October 3 Saturday. I went up to the Democratic
Club meeting in evening. There was a pretty large gathering. The
meeting was addressed by John H. Brinton and R.E. Monaghan, Esqrs.
- October 8. Thursday. We all went to the
Democratic meeting at Downingtown…. It rained so heavily about 3 or 4
o’clock that most of the people went home. There was an escort of
ladies dressed in white and riding white horses. They were from Chester
Springs. There was also 2 or 3 hundred horsemen from the Springs. The
West Bradford delegation joined by one from Fallowfield. Some people
from Romansville and some from West Chester made quite a display. They
had several good flags and banners and a ban from Philadelphia.
- December 5. Saturday Alice, Caroline and I
walked up to Marshallton in evening to the Lyceum. Uncle Jona. Gause
gave a lecture and debated with Rev. Mr. Kurtz. Subject of the debate
“ Resolved that intemperance is a greater evil than war.” The
schoolhouse was crowded with people from some distance.
- December 19. Saturday Wm. Marshall and I went to
the Lyceum in Marshallton in the evening. Shakespeare’s piece entitled
“The Merchant of Venice” was spoken.
1864
- February 13 Saturday. Alice, Caroline and I
walked up to Marshallton in evening to hear Dr. Sumner Stebbins lecture
before the Lyceum. Subject: “Homeopathy” He gave an interesting
lecture.
- April 9 Saturday. I went to Marshallton to hear
Dr. J.P. Wood deliver a lecture before the Lyceum, which he called
“Homeopathy and Allopathy Contrasted”. There was not a full house on
account of stormy weather.
For more information on these diaries or other
activities of the Pocopson Township Historical Committee, please contact
Sarah Mims at 610-793-5152.
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