the 1696 thomas massey house

The history of an everyday family from the 1700s is a rare find. The people who give tours here take pride in it, and know a great deal about the life and times of the colonial lifestyle. You can really understand what life was like for an average PA family then. Thanksgiving time always offers a fun time to tour the house and see things inside come to life a little more. I wasn't at all begged or even asked to, but when I took some literature with me after a visit, I found myself sending some support their way to help keep this tiny hometown piece of history operating for others.

This well-preserved 18th century home is a tribute to the hard work of its first owner Thomas Massey - an English Quaker who came to Marple Township in the late 1600s as an indentured servant - and to the dedicated volunteers who have maintained this historic site since. Once dilapidated and due to be torn down, the story is told that one very dedicated citizen stood in front of the bulldozers as it came to do the tearing down. Marple Township's colonial history begins with 20 families who followed William Penn to Pennsylvania. Thomas Massey's house is the living symbol of their hard work and way of life - in seeing this house you'll see a piece of the past beautifully preserved by the hard work of history loving volunteers. Someone once said it's got a ghost in the attic ... but you'll enjoy your visit to Thomas Massey House for the history you'll learn and the ghost never comes downstairs.

This is one of the earliest examples of how one can overcome obstacles to live the American dream, Thomas Massey fulfilled his indenture and received the promised 50 acres of land from his master as well as 50 acres from William Penn. The house is furnished with period furniture late 17th and 18th century, much of which is original. The tour guides/volunteers are very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the house, Thomas Massey (& family) as well as history of the area (the suburban Philadelphia counties of Chester & Delaware). One of the docents was a 9 year old boy named Daniel, who was surprisingly knowledgeable and entertaining as a tour guide. I had watched him guide a family, including a child younger than himself and was able to engage them well. While there is no fee, donations are very much appreciated and needed to keep such interesting historical sites around.