The Historic Pawling Farm

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Autumn, Crops, Farm, Historic Property, Montgomery County, National Park, Sunset

The Pawling Farm is part of Valley Forge National Historical Park and sits on the Perkiomen Peninsula, which is created by a bend in the Schuylkill River near its confluence with the Perkiomen Creek. This area played a critical role in the winter encampment of George Washington’s troops in 1777-78. It was a strategically important avenue of approach from the north to the encampment on the south side of the river and also served as the site of a commissary function that saved the troops from starvation. The National Park Service brochure on the area can be found here.

Currently the property’s main buildings include an old barn, a small home (which currently appears to be in use), a privy building, and the remains of the old mansion. The mansion was lost to fire in 1967 and is now a ruin. There are hiking trails which connect to the rest of the Valley Forge system and a mix of habitats including meadow, forest, wetlands, and vernal ponds.

The old barn is an impressive structure.

A view of the house and barn. You can see here that the barn is a bank barn like the one in Sugartown in my previous post.

The house that remains on the property, apparently the only building still in use.

The area immediately around the buildings is meadow which is cut for hay.

More hay bales, just because I like hay bales.

According to my research, this building was used as a privy.

The privy with the remains of another building behind it.

Here are some overview shots and other views of the farm.

Autumn Crops Farm Historic Property Montgomery County National Park Sunset

Comments

11 responses to “The Historic Pawling Farm”

October 6, 2020

Alice Bampton

The house in your photograph was the tenant farmer’s house when the Wetherills owned the property. It was built in the 1800s and is currently occupied by national park employees.

The house behind the privy in your photographs is what remains of the Pawling farmhouse. It was originally twice that size, but the first Wetherill owner tore down half of the house and built a large manor house which was attached to what remained of the Pawlling house. Ruins of the Wetherill house stood until about a year ago; it was destroyed in a fire in the 1960s.

Reply
1. October 6, 2020
  
  rshaner
  
  Thanks for your helpful information. Your comment is a first for this blog.
  
  Reply
March 1, 2024

Donna Phillips

Where the Pawling family wealthy?

Reply
1. March 1, 2024
  
  rshaner
  
  Thanks for your comments. I don’t have additional information about the farm. I imagine the family was relatively well off for the time. The Park website might have more information.
  
  Reply
March 1, 2024

Donna Phillips

I think George Washingtons Continental Army, ( 15,000 soldiers), must have build that four story barn!

Reply
March 12, 2025

margie stevens

I have been to this spot on a birding trip with Rick Wolf as the leader. I think your photos are fantastic each one tells a story and there is a softness in each photo You captured the area so well

Reply
1. March 12, 2025
  
  rshaner
  
  Thanks. It’s good to know someone is reading.
  
  Reply
  1. May 17, 2025
    
    Jan Haig
    
    I live in the area and love to read any history of the Pawling/Wetherill properties (hike back there as well), so thank you so much for posting. I recently learned that the Wetherill estate was an instrumental landmark along the Underground Railroad!
    
    Reply
May 17, 2025

rshaner

Thanks for your comment. I didn’t know about the Underground Railroad history.

Reply
June 3, 2025

Margaret Smith

Ms. Shaner,
I just found your website this morning and am very grateful to you for capturing the beauty and history of Pennsylvania.
Keep up the stellar work, please!

Reply
1. June 3, 2025
  
  rshaner
  
  Thank you for your kind words. I’m glad you enjoy it.
  
  Reply