Townships mark 300th Anniversary

EAST NOTTIGHAM >> State Sen. Andy Dinniman, D-19, recently marked the 300th anniversary of the establishment of East and West Nottingham Townships.

Dinniman met with members of the both the East and West Nottingham Township Historical Commissions and their respective boards of supervisors in honor of the momentous occasion.

“Chester County is home to a rich heritage thanks to the many historians and volunteers who’ve worked to preserve it,” Dinniman said. “The story of East and West Nottingham Townships is rooted in the creation of our Commonwealth and can be traced to the spirit of independence, bold self-reliance, and Quaker values that continue to guide us today.”

Dinniman also presented both townships with special Senate citations in recognition of the milestone birthday.

In 1701, “the Nottingham Lotts,” later recognized as Nottingham Township, was founded by William Penn and earlier Quaker settlers. Thirty-seven lots were given as grants to fifteen families.

In November 1717, township officers voted to spit the township between East and West, based on the Penn survey map of 1702. In 1718, the township was officially separated.

However, the area remained disputed territory between Pennsylvania and Maryland until 50 years later with the establishment of the Mason-Dixon line. In 1768, the line was created, the dispute resolved and both East and West Nottingham officially became part of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

SUBMITTED PHOTO State Sen. Andy Dinniman with members of the West Nottingham Township Historical Commission and Board of Supervisors. Pictured from left to right, back row: Sue Lamborn of the Historical Commission; Tiffany Bell, Chair of the Board of Supervisors; and Bill Winand, Vice Chair of the Board of Supervisors; front row: Dottie Freese and Lois Horton of the Historical Commission; Angie Thompson-Lobb, Secretary/Treasurer of the Historical Commission; and Dinniman.

FRAN MAYE FMAYE@21ST-CENTURYMEDIA.COM State Sen. Andy Dinniman with members of the East Nottingham Township Historical Commission. Pictured from left are: Dinniman, Aperna Sherman, Karen Olivieri, Ralph Denlinger, and David Johnson.