Memorial Marker in Memory of Isaac Sharpless

Volume 19, No. 2 Autumn Number, 1930 Bulletin of Friends' Historical Association MEMORIAL MARKER IN MEMORY OF ISAAC SHARPLESS The summer meeting, 1930, of Friends' Historical Association had for its chief objective the dedication of a marker at the birthplace of Isaac Sharpless. The marker was erected under the joint auspices of Friends' Historical Association, The Haverford College Alumni Association, The Westtown Old Scholars Association , and The Chester County Historical Society. It consisted of an inscribed bronze tablet, attached to a native field stone taken from the banks of Brandywine Creek, a short distance south of the old home in which Isaac Sharpless was born. The first exercises of the day were held at the old Sharpless homestead, about three miles south of West Chester on Birmingham Road, at the foot of historic Osborne Hill. Here the marker was unveiled by Lydia Cope (Mrs. Isaac) Sharpless, and a few feeling and appropriate words of dedication were spoken by Davis H. Forsythe. The company then adjourned to old Birmingham Meeting House where the longer addresses were given. Although a heavy rain somewhat dampened the latter part of the occasion, the down-pour fortunately did not begin until the company was safely within the shelter of the meeting house. It was estimated that over three hundred people attended the meeting. The papers available for publication are printed below, followed by a detailed statement of the program and of the committees in charge. The paper by Rufus M. Jones is to be published in the near future in a history of Haverford College. J. Carroll Hayes did not read a formal paper, but in an extemporaneous address drew upon his ample store of knowledge concerning the great events of Birmingham neighborhood. Dr. William T. Sharpless, brother of Isaac Sharpless, was unable to attend the meeting on account of pressing duties elsewhere, and 61 62 BULLETIN OF FRIENDS' HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION his paper was read by Dr. Frederic C. Sharpless, son of Isaac Sharpless. The occasion was felt by many present to have been an outstanding event in the history of Friends' Historical Association. Those interested will be pleased to know that, after the payment of all bills for the marker, a fund of more than three hundred dollars remained unexpended. By the consent of the joint committee of the four cooperating associations, this fund has been set aside in the keeping of Friends' Historical Association for the perpetual care of the marker. If the fund accumulates and becomes more than adequate for such care, the excess may be appropriated by the Directors of Friends' Historical Association for objects appropriate to the historical interests of Isaac Sharpless. REMINISCENCES OF THE OLD HOME By Ann Sharpless "The hills are dearest which our childish feet Have climbed the earliest; and the streams most sweet Are ever those from which our young lips drank, Stooped to their waters o'er the grassy bank." With feelings akin to Whittier's, our brother, in after years looked upon the scenes of his childhood ; for though his residence at Birmingham practically ended when he went to Westtown near the age of fourteen, he always loved to come back to his birthplace; and it was out of his own experiences that he wrote The Quaker Boy on the Farm. It was the charm that nature had for him that in great measure made him a fisherman. Our place was called "Radley Farm" from the little stream, mapped as Radley Run, which had its rise near Dilworthtown and took its winding course through our meadows and thence to the Brandywine. This Run played an important part, in various ways, in the education of the family. In it Isaac watched the tiny minnows disporting themselves, and grew well pleased over the speckled trout. Later he fished down the stream to the expanse called "Forsythe's Dam," and perhaps ...