West Bradford Township near West Chester in Chester County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Welcome to The Center House, or Martin's Tavern

[c. 1764]

Martin's Tavern image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Keith S Smith, March 14, 2012

1. Martin's Tavern

Inscription.
For over 250 years, a building has stood on this site. First a house, probably built in 1750 for William and Abigail Clayton. In 1764, Joseph Martin built an addition and opened The Center House, or Martin's Tavern. For 200 years it functioned as a Tavern, hotel, Post Office, service station, and boarding house. Abandoned and gutted in the 1970's, it sat neglected and deteriorating for 30 years. By 2005, it was on the verge of collapse. The Friends of Martin's Tavern, a non-profit group of local volunteers, was formed to stabilize and preserve what remained of this historic structure to create a community park.
The Tavern Keepers
1764 – 1776: Joseph Martin • 1768: William Clayton • 1776 – 1786: Abraham Marshall, Owner • 1776: Robert Peoples, Keeper • 1778: Joseph Martin, James Porter, Keepers • 1779: James Bruce, Keeper • 1780 – 1783: Thomas Carpenter, Keeper • 1786 – 1804: Abraham Marshall • 1802: William Marshall • 1805 – 1808: James and Joseph Miller • 1809 – 1811; 1815 – 1816: Joseph Chamberlain • 1818 – 1833: Isaac Carpenter • 1834: John Worrall • 1835 – 1838: Thomas Carpenter • 1839 – 1841: Milton Keech • 1842 – 1845: Israel Lamborn • 1846: Hanson Thornbury • 1847: Israel Lamborn • 1848: Richard Milleson • 1851 – 1858: Thomas and Richard Speakman • 1858 – 1866: John Steele • 1867:

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Elizabeth Milleson • 1868 – 1873: Robert B. Lilley • 1875 – 1876: William Steele • 1877: Benton Pierce French

“Remember what was; enjoy what is”
(caption)
Martin's Tavem before restoration, 2004.

(caption)
Martin's Tavem probably looked like this in 1765.

Erected 2006 by Friends of the Martin's Tavern.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Industry & Commerce • Notable Buildings • Patriots & Patriotism.

Location. 39° 56.987′ N, 75° 40.877′ W. Marker is near West Chester, Pennsylvania, in Chester County. It is in West Bradford Township. Marker is at the intersection of Strasburg Road (Pennsylvania Route 162) and Northbrook Road, on the right when traveling east on Strasburg Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 550 Northbrook Road, West Chester PA 19382, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Martin's Tavern and The Battle of Brandywine (here, next to this marker); Humphry Marshall (here, next to this marker); Tavern Fare (here, next to this marker); Court of Quarter Sessions (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Humphry Marshall

Martin's Tavern or Center House image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Keith S Smith, March 14, 2012

2. Martin's Tavern or Center House

(within shouting distance of this marker); The Home and Arboretum of Humphry Marshall (within shouting distance of this marker); The Marshallton Historic District (approx. 0.2 miles away); Marshalton Inn (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in West Chester.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.

Also see . . . Martins Tavern Website. (Submitted on July 18, 2013, by Keith S Smith of West Chester, Pennsylvania.)

Martin's Tavern or Center House Sign image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Keith S Smith, March 14, 2012

3. Martin's Tavern or Center House Sign

Photographed By Keith S Smith, March 14, 2012

4. Martin's Tavern or Center House

Photographed By Keith S Smith, March 14, 2012

5. Martin's Tavern or Center House

Photographed By Keith S Smith, March 14, 2012

6. Martin's Tavern or Center House

Photographed By Keith S Smith, March 14, 2012

7. Martin's Tavern or Center House

Photographed By Keith S Smith, March 14, 2012

8. Martin's Tavern or Center House

Photographed By Keith S Smith, March 14, 2012

9. Martin's Tavern or Center House

Friends of Martin's Tavern image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Keith S Smith, March 14, 2012

10. Friends of Martin's Tavern

Friends of Martin’s Tavern Acknowledge the Following Founding Donors and the many others who have helped enable the creation of this park, where stands the remains of a Revolutionary War Tavern.

Chester County Conference and Visitors Bureau

Chester County Historical Society

Margaret P. Anderson
The Douglas Barr Family
Curtis P. Cheyney III
Duke and Mary Evans
Kurt & Sutton Faller
John & Wiggie Featherman
Rob Fenza
Paul & Jeanie Filion
In Memory of Thomas L. Fisher
Elizabeth M. Hopkin
Drs. Raymond P. & Sibylle Jefferis III
Dale & Nannette Krapf
The Leidy Family
The Ludwick Family
Bob & Alma Lyng
Ron & Lizanne Madden
Debbie Nason Naples & Jerry Naples
In Memory of Jane & Toppy Nason
Mr. & Mrs. Bertram L. O’Neill, Jr.
Mikaela Reeves Larsen
David & Canby R. Page
Mr. & Mrs. Robert Portnoy
The Schweitzer Family
Stewart & Josephine Taylor
Temenos Conference and Retreat Center
Nicholas & Pamela Volpone
Alyssa Young by her Mother

Persons and Organizations who gave gifts or services in kind

Russel E. Daniels, PE
Penn State Master Gardeners
Linda Kaat
Craig Rybinski
John P. Kirwin, III
Swartz Campbell, LLC
Jack & Yvonne McFadden
Tim Still

Thomas McGuire
West Bradford Township
John Milner Associates, Inc.

September 24, 2006

Photographed By Detail of Tavern, March 14, 2012

11. Martin's Tavern

Martin's Tavern where the door should be -- looking east image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Keith S Smith, March 14, 2012

12. Martin's Tavern where the door should be -- looking east

Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 17, 2013, by Keith S Smith of West Chester, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 1,345 times since then and 61 times this year. Last updated on March 27, 2022, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11. submitted on July 17, 2013, by Keith S Smith of West Chester, Pennsylvania. 12. submitted on July 18, 2013, by Keith S Smith of West Chester, Pennsylvania. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.