Newark post., 1921-08-24
INTERESTING STORY
OF GULPH ROAD
HAS ASSOCIATION
WITH DELAWARE
Narberth Is Present Home OF
Former Dean of Agricul-
ture at University
of Delaware

Associations past and present make
interesting reading for the Della
warean in John T. Faris's description
If the Gulph Road, in his book, Old
Poads ont of Philadelphia. Harry
HAYWARD, now head of the agricul-
ture department of N. W. Ayre and
Sons Advertising Agency is a resi-
dent of this historic section. "There is
ro more picturesque road near Phila-
da,nbia than the Gulph Road,
branches of which wind IN what
soon,s an aimless manner through
Lover Merton Township. The pedes-
+rian. the horseman or the automobile
owner will enjoy trip alcng the sec
t;ons which are marked on n good
road map as the Old Gulph Road. But
+be trip should be made in leisurely
manner that none of the points OF
historical interest may be missed.
"The oldest section OF the road
leads out of Narberth by way OF Mar
barth Avenue. On this section may
he seen the ruins of several old mills
dating from before the Revolution,
notably Dove Paper Mill, where the
naner for Continental bank notes and
other city government paper was
made"
In his description of the Bryn Maw'
section of this road, Mr.. Faris gives
the story of the famous Harrltof
House, so named by an early Deia
warean. The house was built IN lio'
bv Rowland Ellis, who called his es
tate Bryn Mawr, after his old nom
in Wales. "He was obliged to trans
mort in panniers, on horses, all tn
sand, stone and other material use
for the house, since there were at ina
4 time no road vehicles available. IL
q two story house, built OF ston'
with quaint dormer windows.
I "In 1719 the house was bought .
Richard Harrison, together with se'
eral hundred acres of land. Ihe nan
Harriton was bestowed by the ne
owner, this being his own name VII
~ the change Of a single letter.
"From his old home in Delawa
~ where he had been tobacco plante
Richard Harrison brought his nous
81 hold goods and slaves in a sallll
N vessel. The vessel was attacked
IN river pirates, and the goods we
~ stolen. The slaves were compelled
find their way overland to the esta
~ on the Gulph Road.
III "The story is told that some
9 these slaves soon afterward attem
ed to poison the members Oh
X Harrison family, that they might
free to return to Delaware. y
morning they put poison IN the enc
late, and placed it on the table J
before the silent moment when
il kent by the family, after the mani
~ of Friends. Just then there was
M knock. Some one, rising to open
door, overturned the chocolate.
one would have known OF the pol
but for the pet cat, which died a.
licking up the chocolate. Frlghte
A bv the event, the guilty slaves
fessed the crime they had attempt
"On the death of Richard Harr'
in 1747 the property came INTO
possession of Hannah HARRISON
daughter. In 1774 she mar
Charles Thompson, friend Oh be
min Franklin, and secretary OF
M Stamp Act Congress Of 1765, ana
81 retary of Congress for the first I
teen years of its history. History
that he presented to Washington
M certificate of his election as fresi
of the United States. But per-
his greatest claim to fame IS Una
was known among the Indians
III whom he dealt as "The Man Who
M ways Speaks the Truth.