UNDER CONTRACT!!!

Sit back and relax because it’s time for another one of my Magical History Tours!!!

The original land grant from William Penn for this portion of Pennsylvania was given to Thomas, Robert and Randal Vernon. What is now known as Rose Valley (and significantly more acreage) was owned & farmed by the Vernon family. A descendant of the Vernon family that owned the land at the time of the Revolutionary war was a Tory and all his land was confiscated.

Besides farming, one of the largest industries in this region were mills along the various creeks that provided significant resources for the manufacturing of multiple products. The mill that ultimately was the reason for the construction of my listing began in 1789 as a snuff mill along Ridley Creek.

Through a series of subsequent owners, it was sold to John White in 1818 and the mill was named Rose Valley Mill!

Several years later, the mill was converted from snuff production to bark grinding (which was considered to be of medicinal benefit) until the introduction of quinine eliminated the use of bark for healing.

The mill then was converted to the manufacturing of paper products from 1828 to 1850.

The mill complex was then abandoned for a decade until purchased by Antrim Osborne in 1861 and at that time, the mill was in ruins. Osborne repaired the dam and race and started a major restoration and expansion of the Rose Valley Mill. He converted the mills to manufacture woolens and by the time he completed his expansion, at its peak, the Rose Valley Woolen Mills housed 2,300 spindles, 100 looms and 15 sets of cards.

To house the workers, he constructed a series of 12 (6 room) residences along Rose Valley Road. One the East side, there were six connected properties while on the West side, three sets of slightly larger Twins were constructed. My listing is one of these original Twin homes to house the workers of the Rose Valley Woolen Mill!

A major fire destroyed the mill in 1885 and remained abandoned for the next 16 years.

After the mills were abandoned in the late 19th century, a group of like-minded “folk” set out to create a new Arts & Crafts community, founded on the ideals of John Ruskin and William Morris. That group was led by the Architect, William Lightfoot Price.

“To the Arts & Crafts philosopher, art and utility would give meaning to life if they could be wedded in a process that required imagination, creativity and personal responsibility. They thought mass production lowered the standards of design, workmanship and working conditions for the craftsmen and minimized their contribution to the finished product. Industry polluted and defaced the natural landscape thus reducing the quality of life for all, yet profits from the factory system went only to improve the quality of life of the factory owner.”

Those original shareholders purchased 80 +/- acres and all of the abandoned mills & houses that dotted the landscape.

The original ideals of a community built around “The Art that is Life” remain even today. The community spirit is alive & strong through its civic and non-profit organizations.

Hedgerow Theatre Company
Rose Valley Centennial Foundation
Rose Valley Folk
Rose Valley Museum & Historical Society
Rose Valley Pool & Tennis Club
The Gardeners of Rose Valley
Valley Voices

With a commitment to the pride of place, this community is a magical place to call home!

This delightful mill worker’s Twin has been lovingly maintained and enhanced over the years, offering exceptional historical details with modern conveniences.

Elevated from the road, climb a small set of stone steps to a little brick path that leads one to the front door, or down the side of the house to the private, terraced gardens and patios in the rear. Enter into the main living floor, and one has direct sight lines through to the rear yard.

The main living and dining area is one wide open space, with a bay window facing the side yard and beautiful exposed beams in the ceiling. A decorative fireplace is tucked next to the staircase, and a large storage closet is located just next to the entrance to the kitchen.

The kitchen makes use of every single space available and offers all the amenities necessary to create great meals. To honor the Arts & Crafts history of the community, decorative tiles were included in the flooring. A professional Lacanache gas range anchors the common wall with cabinets flanking both sides for great prep space. A Bloomberg fridge is tucked into the wall next to the stairs that also has a full wall of cabinets. The sink wall has a set of Fisher & Paykel dishwasher drawers next to the farmhouse sink.

The basement provides additional living space with surprisingly high ceilings (for a home of this vintage) with more exposed beams as well as the full-sized side by side washer & dryer along with a laundry tub.

The primary bedroom overlooks the front yard with a large bay window facing the side yard, two windows facing the street and a surprisingly large walk-in closet.

The full hall bathroom has been tastefully updated with a modern vanity, flooring & commode while the original clawfoot tub (with a shower extension) reminds us of the history of the house. The guest bedroom overlooks the rear yard.

The entire third floor is one huge bedroom with two sets of dormered windows overlooking both the front and rear yards. There is an abundance of storage options in this bedroom, from a series of closets along the common wall to storage cabinets under both windows.

The property has been enhanced with a high-velocity central A/C system that provides comfort to all three floors.

Step out back and you are embraced by Mother Nature with mature trees and shrubs that provide great privacy. There are two distinct entertaining spaces with a brick patio closest to the kitchen. Up one set of stone stairs, one finds the second brick patio with a stone fire pit for those chilly Fall or Spring evenings. A third set of stone stairs takes one up another level where you are at the level of the roof tops and great long distance views.

Rose Valley is a hidden oasis that even many locals don't know exist! One of the unique aspects of Rose Valley is how it was designed originally to provide connectivity amongst neighbors via a network of trails that emanate in all directions out from the Rose Valley Pool. One can easily walk to all the historic sections of Rose Valley from my listing. In addition to the network of trails connecting neighbor to neighbor, the Saul Wildlife Sanctuary is a 12-acre preserved landscape along Ridley Creek with additional trails for casual enjoyment.

Situated ideally in Delaware County, one has easy access to many destinations. Downtown Media and Swarthmore are just 5 minutes away. The SEPTA station is just up the road while the Philadelphia Airport is just a 10 to 15 minute drive away.

While the Arts & Crafts community was founded in 1901, the formal incorporation of the Rose Valley Borough as a separate and distinct governing body did not occur until 1923! So this year, the residents are celebrating their Centennial!!!

It's a delightfully charming property, rich in Rose Valley history that is waiting for its next owner to call it home!