Chelsea, Pennsylvania Explained

Official Name:Chelsea, Pennsylvania
Settlement Type:Unincorporated community
Pushpin Map:Pennsylvania
Pushpin Label:Chelsea
Pushpin Label Position:top
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Pennsylvania
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Delaware
Subdivision Type3:Township
Subdivision Name3:Bethel
Timezone:Eastern (EST)
Utc Offset:-5
Timezone Dst:EDT
Utc Offset Dst:-4
Elevation Ft:299
Coordinates:39.8669°N -75.4681°W
Postal Code Type:ZIP code
Postal Code:19060
Area Code:610 and 484
Blank Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank Info:1203253

Chelsea is an unincorporated community in Bethel Township in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. Chelsea is located at the intersection of Concord Road, Chelsea Road, Foulk Road, and Valley Brook Road in the northern part of the township.[1]

The Chelsea blacksmith shop was the longest continually used blacksmith shop in Delaware County and was reputed to be one of the oldest in the County.[2] A blacksmith had operated from that location since the time of the French and Indian War. The original building was demolished in February 2013 and the operations were moved to a larger facility on Foulk Road. The blacksmith shop is still run by the same owners since the early 1900s, the McKinleys.[3]

History

In 1683, Edward Beazer and Edward Brown had 500 acres surveyed to them in the northeastern corner of Bethel Township. On this land was founded Bethel hamlet, later known as Corner Catch (Ketch) and the village of Chelsea.

In 1777, after the Battle of Brandywine, the British Army passed through Chelsea on Concord Road as they chased the retreating Continental Army toward Chester.[4]

Notes and References

  1. PennDOT. [ftp://ftp.dot.state.pa.us/public/pdf/BPR_pdf_files/Maps/GHS/Roadnames/delaware_GHSN.PDF Delaware County, Pennsylvania Highway Map]. 2013. January 15, 2014.
  2. Book: Goodley. George Walter. Bethel Township Delaware County, Pennsylvania Thru Three Centuries. 1987. 68–69.
  3. Book: McCarrick. Elizabeth. Bethel Township, Delaware County. 2013. Arcadia Publishing. Charleston, South Carolina. 978-0-7385-9818-5. 56–57.
  4. Book: Ashmeade. Henry Graham. History of Delaware County, Pennsylvania. 1884. L.H. Everts & Co.. Philadelphia. 308. 29 May 2017.