Office Hours: 

Monday - Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM

History:

East Goshen Township contains many historic resources that date back to when Europeans initially settle the area in the late 1600′s and in the early 1700′s. These resources have largely retained their historical integrity and greatly contribute to community character.

East Goshen Township was originally a part of a 5000-acre parcel of land known as the “Welsh Tract” and purchased from William Penn September 16, 1681. Early settlers conveyed the name Goshenville on the area but Goshen Township became the formally established municipality in 1704 encompassing West Chester and East and West Goshen Townships. Goshen Township was reduced in size with the incorporation of West Chester Borough in 1788 and the remaining Township was further divided into East Goshen and West Goshen Townships in 1817. Today, East Goshen Township comprises 10.1 square miles in area.

Many of the first settlers were Swedes and Dutch. These settlers created a fully self-sufficient agricultural community with the establishment of grist mills in the area of the village of Goshenville to grind their grain and the development of the Chester Road to take their produce to sell or trade. The first Quaker Meeting was built at the crossroads of Paoli Pike and Chester Road in 1702 which later became known as the village of Goshenville. The adjacent communities of Milltown, Rocky Hill, Hershey’s Mill and Dutton Mill were established around the grist mill operations in the township. By 1883, the township had three post offices in Goshenville, Milltown and Rocky Hill. Support retail operations such as blacksmiths and general stores emerged in the local communities.

Robert Williams is believed to have been the first settler in what is now East Goshen. It is said that he first lived in a cave. The exact site is unknown but is thought to be on what is now the south side of East Boot Road. In about 1702, Friends of Haverford contributed some 19 pounds for him to build a house. This house still stands on East Boot Road and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is also thought that early Goshen Friends meetings were held in this house. The first Friends Meeting was built at the crossroads of Paoli Pike and North Chester Road in 1702.