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

Walking the Line

The Province of Pennsylvania

— The Province of Maryland —

Walking the Line Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Carl Gordon Moore Jr., February 27, 2022

1. Walking the Line Marker

Inscription.

Walking the Line. The Province of Pennsylvania. , In 1763, nearly 240 years before the widespread use of GPS, surveyors and astronomers Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon came to the New World to end a bloody, 80-year boundary dispute between Pennsylvania and Maryland. Their survey, which established the official line between the two colonies, stands among the greatest scientific achievements of the time., They were dispatched on their mission by the Royal Society following decree by the Court of Chancery declaring the border to be exactly 15 miles south of the southernmost point in Philadelphia. There was just one problem: no one knew where that was., The duo picked a clear geographical location due west of Philadelphia -- the forks of the Brandywine Creek in Embreeville -- and set up an observatory from which to make their observations. Using a device with a six-foot-long brass telescope that allowed them to establish their position relative to the stars, they observed the night sky from the observatory through frigid winters and oppressive summers for nearly five years. A marker, known as Star Gazers' Stone, was placed to mark the astronomical meridian line north of the observatory., The marker and the Harlan House where Mason and Dixon stayed are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Star Gazers' Stone is also designated a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark, one of 125 sites in the country., support for improved access to Star Gazers Stone was provided by Newlin Township, photographics Journal of Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon 11/15/1763-09/11/1768, Record Group 59; General Records of the Department of State, 1763-2002, National Archives at College Park, MD; painting by Brian F. Tucker, provided by The Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors and The Mason and Dixon Line Preservation Partnership, [labels on left picture, omitting line breaks within each label:] , Main ChesLen Preserve , Township Building / Office , Township Maintenance Garage , You Are Here , Trail , Harlan House and Observatory (Private residence) , Please stay on trail , (Private residence) , Star Gazers' Stone

In 1763, nearly 240 years before the widespread use of GPS, surveyors and astronomers Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon came to the New World to end a bloody, 80-year boundary dispute between Pennsylvania and Maryland. Their survey, which established the official line between the two colonies, stands among the greatest scientific achievements of the time.

They were dispatched on their mission by the Royal Society following decree by the Court of Chancery declaring the border to be exactly 15 miles south of the southernmost point in Philadelphia. There was just one problem: no one knew where that was.

The duo picked a clear geographical location due west of Philadelphia -- the forks of the Brandywine Creek in Embreeville -- and set up an observatory from which to make their observations. Using a device with a six-foot-long brass telescope that allowed them to establish their position relative to the stars, they observed the night sky from the observatory through frigid winters and oppressive summers for nearly five years. A marker, known as Star Gazers' Stone, was placed to mark the astronomical meridian line north of the observatory.

The marker and the Harlan House where Mason and Dixon stayed are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Star Gazers' Stone is also designated

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a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark, one of 125 sites in the country.

support for improved access to Star Gazers Stone was provided by Newlin Township

photographics Journal of Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon 11/15/1763-09/11/1768, Record Group 59; General Records of the Department of State, 1763-2002, National Archives at College Park, MD; painting by Brian F. Tucker, provided by The Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors and The Mason and Dixon Line Preservation Partnership

[labels on left picture, omitting line breaks within each label:]
Main ChesLen Preserve
Township Building / Office
Township Maintenance Garage
You Are Here
Trail
Harlan House and Observatory (Private residence)
Please stay on trail
(Private residence)
Star Gazers' Stone

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Colonial Era. A significant historical year for this entry is 1763.

Location. 39° 56.256′ N, 75° 43.795′ W. Marker is near Coatesville, Pennsylvania, in Chester County. It is in Newlin Township. It is on Embreeville Road (Pennsylvania Route 162) 0.2 miles east of Stargazers Road, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1751 Embreeville Road, Coatesville PA 19320, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Pennsylvania and in Greater Philadelphia.

It is also in the American Northeast

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

New Netherland,

and one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of

Photographed by Carl Gordon Moore Jr., February 27, 2022

2. Walking the Line Marker

Shift right a little from photo 1.

this marker, measured as the crow flies: views of the past (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Site of Mason & Dixon’s “Stargazing” Observatory (about 700 feet away); The Star Gazers' Stone (approx. 0.2 miles away); Indian Hannah (approx. 0.2 miles away); Here Rests Indian Hannah (approx. ¼ mile away); remnants of the past (approx. half a mile away); a different marker also named views of the past (approx. 1.2 miles away); a different marker also named views of the past (approx. 1.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Coatesville.

Photographed by Carl Gordon Moore Jr., February 20, 2022

3. Walking the Line Marker

Pennsylvania 162 is the road running into left background.

Photographed by Carl Gordon Moore Jr., February 20, 2022

4. Walking the Line Marker

This is further east than the last previous marker.

Photographed by Carl Gordon Moore Jr., February 20, 2022

5. Walking the Line Marker

Corcoran's Bridge, across route 162 from the parking lot where the subject marker is.

Photographed by Carl Gordon Moore Jr., February 20, 2022

6. Walking the Line Marker

Corcoran's Bridge again, but now looking straight across so that signs are visible and legible

Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on February 22, 2022, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. This page has been viewed 885 times since then and 57 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on February 22, 2022, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. 2. submitted on March 2, 2022, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on February 23, 2022, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.