Branch A

The house for some time previous had been the terminal of the West Chester Railroad. William Williamson, the Secretary of the last named road, under the date of October 23rd, 1832, gave public notice that “until further notice the cars would leave West Chester at 8 a.m. and 2 p.m., and in return leave the house of Jonathan Jones at the Green Tree Tavern at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Further that as soon as the Pennsylvania Railroad is finished the trains will be run to Paoli, leaving 20 minutes earlier.”

The Wayside Inns on the Lancaster Turnpike by Julius Sachse, 1915 edition.

The West Chester railroad actually had only been opened in September of 1832. The eastern part of the Columbia and Philadelphia Railroad opened in November 1832, so the Green Tree Hotel could only have been the terminus for the maximum of 2 months.These dates are quoted in [31].

Wednesday, March 4, 1840 the house was discovered to be on fire, it having caught from a spark from a passing locomotive, wood then being used exclusively as fuel ... preparations were at once made to rebuild the Inn. It was decided, as the walls were so solid as to have withstood the devoring element, to add an additional story, making it a three story building.

The Wayside Inns on the Lancaster Turnpike by Julius Sachse, 1915 edition.

1847 Atlas

It is said the work of straightening the track at Green Tree is to be commenced in a few days, and in doing so the old hotel, now owned and kept by Ex-Sheriff Gill, will be sadly interfered with, perhaps totally demolished. It has long been one of the landmarks of middle Chester county.

Daily Local News 16th January 1877

When the Pennsylvania Railroad straightened its road-bed in 1877-8 the new center line was run directly through the house, necessitating its removal. The building was shortly afterwards demolished ...

The Wayside Inns on the Lancaster Turnpike by Julius Sachse, 1915 edition.

This is incorrect. The new track was north of the Hotel which was not demolished until 1881 (see news clipping below) which was after the new track became operational. - MB

A new hotel was built at the corner of the Turnpike and Grubb Road.

While were engaged tearing down the old hotel, a pine board, seven by eighteen inches, was discovered in the wall under the plaster, with the following written thereon in red chalk: &ldquo:This house was rebuilt in 1840 by J. Jones. The carpenters was [sic] B. F. Roberts, B Miller, Wm. Dampman, A. H. Miller, & Jn. M. Emrey.”

Jeffersonian, June 4, 1881 [30]

The previous advertisments are from the book ‘Acres of Quakers’ [30]

Green Tree Hotel, 1886, photograph by Julius Sachse

Branch B

Branch C

Branch D - Duffryn Mawr Hotel

Breou’s 1883 Atlas (note: north is to the left)

1887 Atlas

1912 Atlas