Blue Bell Inn
| Blue Bell Inn | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
Alternative names | Blue Bell Tavern |
General information | |
| Location | 7303 Woodland Ave, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 39°55′02″N 75°14′48″W / 39.917242°N 75.246545°W |
| Years built | 1766 1801 (addition) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 3.5 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Henry Paschall |
The Blue Bell Inn (also known as the Blue Bell Tavern) is a historic inn located along the Cobbs Creek between Philadelphia and Darby, Pennsylvania.
History
[edit]
The Inn was constructed in 1766 by Henry Paschall along the stagecoach route connecting Philadelphia to the southern American colonies.[1] It was located in front of the Cobbs Creek river,[2] and was on the acreage of the first mill owned by William Wood.[3] It was frequented by both George Washington and his troops during the American Revolution;[4] it was the site of a November 1777 battle sieged by Lord Cornwallis and 2,500 of his soldiers.[5] It was located along the Washington–Rochambeau Revolutionary Route.[6]
In 1801, a three-story addition was added to the building, tripling the size of it. Several fires and floods damaged it enough that it was torn down in 1941.[7] It was owned starting in 1837 by proprietor Charles Lloyd.[8] Much of the surrounding area was cleared out to make way for the Cobbs Creek Parkway.[9] In 1913, it was acquired by the Fairmount Park Commission.[10]
In 1985, the "Friends of the Blue Bell" was formed in the interest of the building's preservation.[7]
In June 2023, a SEPTA trolley crashed into the building, breaking most of its windows, which were subsequently boarded up.[6]
References
[edit]- ↑ Leibrant, Michael Thomas (2024-08-03). "Septa Trolley Derails into History". stroudsburgherald.com. Retrieved 2026-05-11.
- ↑ Skaler, Robert Morris (2002-03-01). West Philadelphia: University City to 52nd Street. Arcadia Publishing. p. 69. ISBN 978-0-7385-0970-9.
- ↑ Wardell, Lindy Constance (2003). Darby Borough. Arcadia Publishing. p. 15. ISBN 978-0-7385-1191-7.
- ↑ "Darby Creek Valley Association - Places to Visit in the Watershed". www.dcva.org. Retrieved 2026-05-11.
- ↑ "BlueBellBattle". www.darbyhistory.com. Retrieved 2026-05-11.
- 1 2 "History column: Modern crashes take toll on Philly history". Metro Philadelphia. 2025-04-17. Retrieved 2026-05-11.
- 1 2 "The Tortured Ghost of Philadelphia's Blue Bell Inn". The Lineup. 2016-04-08. Retrieved 2026-05-11.
- ↑ "BlueBell1". www.darbyhistory.com. Retrieved 2026-05-11.
- ↑ Brightbill, George M. (1905). "Blue Bell Inn on the Darby Road, Philadelphia. [graphic]". Library Company of Philadelphia. Retrieved 2026-05-11.
- ↑ "Blue Bell Tavern (PA-131)" (PDF). Library of Congress. Retrieved 2026-05-11.