By Gene Pisasale
Contributing Writer

“When the number of slaves that were forwarded by Daniel Gibbons to… the northern part of Chester County, and by Thomas Garrett… became so great as to necessitate another route through Chester County, Eusebius and Sarah P. Barnard… were among the first to make their residence an established station on this new line of travel.” 

~ R.C. Smedley, “History of the Underground Railroad in Chester and the Neighboring Counties of Pennsylvania”

A structure more than two centuries old with links to the most divisive period in our history stands at 650 South Wawaset Road, just across from the Chester County Prison. The home of Eusebius and Sarah Barnard—conductors on the Underground Railroad—was a temporary resting place where they allowed freedom seekers to stay before they continued on their journey. Long in disrepair and passed between several different owners, the site, now called Barnard Station, is undergoing an extensive restoration to return the house to its 1800s-era roots.

The Barnard Station website notes that the original part of the structure was likely built by Amos Harry between 1803 and 1823. The three-bay, 2.5-story, gable-roofed structure had detailing in the Federal period style. Amos Harry died in 1823 and the house passed on to his brother Absalom; three years later, he sold it to Enos Painter. A section of plaster in the attic with a marking of “1829” indicates Painter made upgrades to the house. That same year, his daughter Sarah married Eusebius Barnard. Painter allowed the couple to use the house as their new home. In 1841 the Barnards constructed a 2.5 -story stone addition to the northern side of the house with Greek Revival detailing. They also ran a farm and a dairy on the property. As many Quakers in the area abhorred slavery, the home became an active “station” on the Underground Railroad where escapees “… were given food, shelter, clothes, and sometimes worked for money on the farm.”

In 1857, Enos Painter—who still owned the property—willed it to his grandsons, Eusebius, Jr. and Enos Barnard, upon their attaining adulthood. Eusebius, Jr. later took control of the house and farm. In 1878, he married Alta Downing, adding changes to the house including “… a steeply pitched gable with twin arched windows on the front… a single-story porch was added to the front, south and north…” 

The house remained in the Barnard family until 1944, when Dr. Frederick Dershimer, an industrial psychiatrist with the Du Pont Corporation purchased the property. By the mid-1950s, Chester County was planning to expand its nearby acreage holdings “supporting the Pocopson Home and soon-to-be-built Chester County Prison.” 

A century after Enos Painter’s transfer to his grandsons, the property was sold by Dershimer to Chester County. The 19th century porches and dairy barn were torn down. Subsequent to completion of the nearby detention facility, the Warden of the prison lived in the house. When he moved out, the building was converted into a duplex and rented to county employees. In 2008, the county transferred ownership of the structure and adjacent property to Pocopson Township. When initial moves to refurbish the house as the new Township Building ended, discussions between township personnel and Barnard family descendants resulted in a decision in 2021 to make it a Heritage Center to highlight the story of the family and the Underground Railroad.

The Friends of Barnard Station is a non-profit group which is restoring the first floor of the home. 

In 2023, an Historic Preservation Plan was completed by architect Daniel Campbell detailing changes needed to bring the house back to its 1850s appearance. Repairs of the original 1829-era parlor include removal of modern duct work, closet and walls, replacing missing portions of the floor and repairing sections of plaster, as well as installation of reproduction 19th century era moldings. These changes are largely due to the efforts of Don McKay of the Pocopson Township Historical Committee, along with outside contractors. Utilizing his experience in the construction industry, Don has spent many weekends at the house, helping to bring the structure back to life. 

An outdoor kiosk tells the story of Barnard Station, standing not far from a blue and gold historical marker which states: “Eusebius Barnard (1802- 1865): Born a Quaker, Barnard became a member of the Progressive Friends movement… His farm became a station on the Underground Railroad. He and his family, at great risk to their own lives, provided shelter to freedom seekers and then escorted them to their next safe haven…” 

The Barnard family may have influenced the course of history. Eusebius and his brother William were members of the Longwood Progressive Friends, many of whom were a bit more aggressive than the average Quaker and proactively involved in ending slavery. William and other Progressives met at the White House with President Lincoln in June 1862, imploring him to abolish the horrific practice. In his book “Just Over the Line: Chester County and the Underground Railroad,” William Kashatus states that Lincoln was quite impressed with their pleadings. Just a few weeks later, he met with members of his Cabinet discussing an executive order emancipating the slaves. William Barnard and others had emphatically stressed to Lincoln that freeing the slaves would aid him in the conflict against the rebels. This was a dramatic change for most Quakers— they were openly stating that freeing the slaves would help win the war. On September 22, 1862, Lincoln announced the Emancipation Proclamation, which took effect on January 1, 1863. Although many Quakers around the country had contacted Lincoln protesting slavery, it appears the Longwood Progressive Friends were “there at the right time” to influence him.

Friends of Barnard Station selected the name of their group for two reasons—Barnard Station was a stop on the Underground Railroad and the name for a station on the West Chester Street Railway. 

In the late -1800s, the West Chester Street Railway built a trolley line from West Chester to Lenape. At the same time, the Lenape Dance Hall and Park were built and marketed as a destination for trolley riders. Nearby residents petitioned the company to extend the line to Kennett Square. The Barnards’ enthusiasm prompted the railway to create a stop near their property at the intersection of Wawaset Road and Route 52, naming it Barnard Station.

Barnard Station is a link to an important time in our history. It brings visitors in touch with the Barnards and others who risked their lives defending freedom—for other people. This is their story, not often told, of men and women who stood up for what was right, of how a beleaguered President confronted and overcame the greatest crisis in our nation’s history, and how some peace-loving Quakers helped win the Civil War. 

For more information, visit their Facebook page and their website at www.barnardstation.org. 

Gene Pisasale is an historian, author and lecturer based in Kennett Square. His 11 books focus mostly on the history of the Chester County/mid-Atlantic region. Gene’s latest book is “Heritage of the Brandywine Valley,” showcasing the fascinating people, places and events of this region over more than 300 years. His books are available on his website at www.GenePisasale.com and also on www.Amazon.com. Gene can be reached via e-mail at [email protected].