HISTORY

History

History of Manchester Farms

In 2011 Manchester-Farms was recreated at Carnegie Science Center, Miniature Railroad and Village, by Curator, Patty Rogers. This is what was written about our farm at the time in their pamphlet 
On Track, 2011-2012.
“Manchester-Farms is a living, breathing photograph. It’s a look back into the time when life was much simpler, when technology didn’t keep us “connected” 24 hours a day, when the more you put into your land, the more it gave back. The farm is an ever-evolving time capsule filled with two centuries worth of letters, tools, clothes, and furniture that tell the story of Pennsylvania’s farming history. For eight generations, Manchester-Farms also called Plantation Plenty or the Isaac Manchester House, has kept Pennsylvania’s agricultural roots alive.”                                                                           
I would like to introduce you to Manchester-Farms and my ancestors. I am Margie Manchester, my 5th great-grand parents, Isaac & Phebe Manchester were the founders of this farm.
Isaac, Phebe & their 12 children moved here from Newport, Rhode Island in 1797. They bought this tract of land in western Pennsylvania from Captain Samuel Teeter. With the help of their children they built the farm house and all of the outbuildings with materials found on the land. The bricks that built the house and outbuildings, were made of clay from the farm and baked on site. The timber was cut, cured, hand hewed and Isaac with his large family made the farm self-sustainable.  

In 2005 My husband, Joe and I with our sons, Dante & Marcus, purchased my 5th great-grandfather’s farm from another family member. Today, the buildings are still standing strong, and the farm is as lively as it was in the early 1800’s. We live in the farm house, a beautiful three-story colonial brick home, which Isaac built and completed in 1815. There are many outbuildings on the farm including 1773 distillery, an 1800 workshop, an 1803 bank barn, and 1815 granary and chicken coop, and an 1818 springhouse and carriage house. 

Most of the farm’s original elements can still be found on the property, which we have worked to preserve with the help of curator Bonnie Reese, of Meadowcroft Rockshelter and Historic Village, a division of The Heinz History Center. In 2011 we were put on the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s list of the “11 Most Endangered Historic Places in America” because of the destructive threat of longwall coal mining below our precious land.  

Also in 2011 we were honored with the “Chairman’s Award” by Preservation Pennsylvania for demonstrating leadership in the preservation movement.  
“The Manchester family is being honored for their long term commitment to preservation from the very first day of ownership up to the present. The Manchester’s Family’s eight generations of stewardship is an unparalleled example of foresightedness and dedication to protecting a unique sense of place.” 
The Chairman’s Award is sponsored by A. Roy Smith.

Today our son, Dante and his girlfriend, Meagen live and work on the farm. They have expanded the use of this serene farm and have built a beautiful ten stall horse barn, 100 x 200 foot arena and are now boarding horses.

I believe all of the ancestral stewards of this farm, are smiling upon us as we together continue to preserve and sustain the family farm as we look towards a bright & beautiful future.
The Manchester Sisters
Circa 1875-1880

Top row - Annie, Francine, Jenny & Mary

Bottom row - Alice & Cora 

Missing - Keturah & Phebe

Contact Us

Sign up to our newsletter

Share by: