BRIDGE: Sweet Creek bridge is closed

I simply had to investigate when I read a PennDOT press release saying that the Green Valley Road bridge over "the west branch of the Brandywine Creek" had been shut down due to structural damage.

Mostly because to my knowledge, Green Valley Road doesn't actually cross the Brandywine.

Well, it doesn't. We drove up there on Saturday afternoon and found that the bridge in question crosses a tiny tributary called Sweet Creek. The bridge is so small that it couldn't accommodate any kind of an antisocial troll underneath; in fact, a Newlin Township groundhog would be a tight fit.

PennDOT has installed "Road Closed" signs at the bridge, but they were pushed out of the way when we drove through. The official detour takes you along Powell Road and Brandywine Creek Road.

PennDOT says the steel beams under the bridge have deteriorated, and it will remain closed until they can decide what to do with it.

 

BAPTISTS: Chapel Road church dissolved

At the May West Marlborough Township meeting, I learned that the Chapel Road Baptist Church has been recently dissolved, due to dwindling attendance, and sold. A few "old-timers" filled me in on an earlier chapter in the church building's history.
Around 1980, when it was known as the "Doe Run Chapel" and owned by the King Ranch, a small group began to hold Sunday services there. A rift occurred shortly thereafter, though, when the worshippers wanted to install indoor bathrooms but the owners wanted to maintain the building's historical authenticity (it dates from 1843).
In January 1982 the worshippers ended up moving to an old elementary school building (with indoor plumbing) in Marshallton.

Doe Run Chapel

 

ART: Local artists open their studios

This year's Chester County Studio Tours, where local artists host open houses, will be from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, May 21, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, May 22. We visited several of the studios on last year's tour and enjoyed it very much.
The website gives you a complete listing and maps so you can pick out the artists you want to visit. In the center of Unionville, Doug Mooberry, Pat Mooberry and J. Clayton Bright will be displaying their woodwork, pottery and sculpture (respectively) at Kinloch Woodworking. Also on the tour in our area:
1. Ree Gallagher and Lore Evans on Pond View in Chadds Ford (just off Kennett Pike)
2. Stan Smokler, 270 Marshall Bridge Road, Kennett Square
3. Annie Strack, 105 Kabob Lane, Kennett Square
4. In downtown Kennett: Robert Jackson, 208 E. State St.; Peter Willard, 105 S. Broad St.; Mala Galleria, 206 E. State St.
5. Karen D'Alliard, 101 E. Street Rd. in Willowdale (above the Landhope)
6. Thomas Von Koch, 1255 Newark Rd., Toughkenamon
7. John Baker, 119 W. Evergreen St., West Grove
8. Mitch Lyons, 209 Newark Rd., New London
9. Street Road Gallery, 725 Street Road, Cochranville

BIRTHDAY: Kennett Symphony hits a milestone

Edythe Joines asked me to spread the word that the Kennett Symphony is celebrating its 75th birthday with a gala at the Stone Barn on Route 842 on Saturday, June 11: cocktails and hors d'oeuvres at 6:30, buffet dinner at 7:30, dancing to follow with music by the Gin Canaries. Tickets are $100 and the suggested dress is "casual chic." You can buy tickets online (go to the "Buy Tickets" link on the Symphony's website) or by calling the Symphony office (610-444-6363).

LIBRARY: The front-porch library is no more

"Faithful Reader Barbara" wrote to me in distress after discovering that Unionville's "Little Free Library" on Route 82 is no longer in existence. I told her that alas, Shanyn Fiske, the library's founder, moved into Kennett at the end of April. Barbara writes:

"I have been using the front porch library since your inclusion of the info in your 'news.'  I was just there 2 weeks ago to swap books and happened to drive by on Sunday, May 8. The front porch is completely cleared of cabinets and chairs. What has happened?  I have 10 books to return. Can you explore this? Is she gone or can I leave the books on the porch? It was so enjoyable to explore authors and books I normally would not have read.  Sorry to see it gone."

Perhaps Shanyn, who is an English professor, might start a library at her new house?

LONGWOOD: Speaking of the fountains project

If you're like me, you've been watching with interest the massive construction project that's going on at Longwood Gardens to revitalize the iconic fountains.
Colvin Randall, the P.S. DuPont Fellow at Longwood, is going to be giving a public lecture about the project at 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 1, at the Episcopal Church of the Advent in Kennett. The Four Seasons Garden Club of Kennett Square is hosting the program, and there's no admission charge.

 

RIP: A longtime Longwood Fire Co. supporter

Longtime Longwood Fire Co. supporter Elsie Johnson died on April 28 at age 84, and a friend who attended her funeral in Wilmington on May 5 said the hearse was escorted by three fire trucks, along with many Kennett-area firefighters.
As her obituary said, "Elsie, along with her late husband, Joe, were instrumental at the Longwood Fire Company." Joe served as chief for decades and Elsie provided tireless support "to so many members, their families, events and most of all to the community which they served." The members of Station 25 posted a sign outside the firehouse expressing how much they will miss her.

SPEEDING: Slow down through Unionville

Harry Wackerman, the jovial host at Hood's BBQ, came up to our table at lunch the other day and turned very serious for a moment. He asked me to beg motorists to slow down while driving on Route 82 through Unionville, especially now that baseball season has started and kids are crossing the road from the URA ball fields to get to the restaurant.
Harry estimated that some people speed through town at 60 mph (the speed limit is 30 mph), and he's already seen some near-misses this spring. He really doesn't want a front-row seat to a horrible tragedy.

PLANT SALE: Rain doesn't deter gardeners

It takes more than rain to keep people away from the annual London Grove Meeting plant sale.
Margaret Walton told me that she started out with 209 hanging baskets on display, neatly arranged on pipes hung from the porch roof. By mid-morning, there were just a few dozen left.
Margaret told us that the serious gardeners show up at 6:30 a.m., make their selections and then are standing in line waiting to check out at the official opening time of 7 a.m.
We were definitely not in that first wave, arriving at about 9 a.m. After making our first round of the perennials, annuals, vegetables, shrubs, herbs and geraniums, we went inside the meetinghouse and had coffee and breakfast sandwiches. At a neighboring table, Dale Hendricks kept us entertained with his awful jokes. A sample:
Dale: "What's a pirate's favorite letter?"
Tilda: "Arrrr!"
Dale: "That's what many people say, but they forget that a pirate's first love is always the 'C.'"
We noticed that the London Grove Kindergarten parents are getting very creative in their fundraising and had a baked goods table, raffle baskets and several mini-shops set up.
As always, the plants are only part of the attraction: the plant sale is also a big social event. We got to see lots of friends either working at the sale or buying plants. I felt sorry for Mark and Anna Myers, whose field, already soggy from the rain, was getting pretty torn up by all the cars driving across it. (Anna didn't seem too concerned, saying that the field would be fine.)
I'm told that later in the day, when the sun peeked out from behind the clouds, a cheer went up.