Schuylkill Township is located along the Schuylkill River on the eastern border of Chester County in southeastern Pennsylvania.
Schuylkill Township municipal offices are located at 111 Valley Park Road, Phoenixville PA 19460; phone: 610-933-5843.
The township covers 9.44 square miles. Population at the 2000 census was 6,960.
The Schuylkill River forms the township's northern boundary, and Mount Misery (also known as Valley Forge Mountain) is the southern boundary. To the east is Valley Forge National Historical Park. The Borough of Phoenixville lies to the north and west.
Of the many historic resources located in the township, several have been entered into the National Register of Historic Places. Meadow Brook Farm (aka the Moses Coates Jr. Farm); his father, Moses Sr., was descended from the "Lords of Coates de Ville" of Staffordshire, England. Moore Hall (mid 1700s) was home to the prosperous William Moore, a colorful, historic colonial figure who served for more than 40 years as President Judge of the Chester County Court. The Matthias Pennypacker Farm (aka TInker Dam Farm); Matthias was one of several grandsons of the original Pennypacker settler. The General Fredericl von Steuben Headquarters (located in Valley Forge Park) was originally a tavern, later used a camp hospital during the Revolution. Also on the Register is the White Horse Farm (see below).
White Horse Farm
White Horse Farm, built around 1770, was the lifetime home of politician and prominent abolitionist Elijah Pennypacker (1802-1888) and a depot on the Underground Railroad. In 1831 Pennypacker was elected to the House of Representatives and lobbied on the passage of bills concerning commerce, education, and transportation. In 1839, Pennypacker decided to end his political career in order to fully aid the antislavery cause. He became active in various antislavery societies, spoke widely against slavery and became one of most influential leaders of Pennsylvania's abolitionist cause. In 1840 he opened his home as a major stop on the Underground Railroad. Hundreds of fugitive slaves from three different routes, coming from neighboring counties and Delaware, were directed to White Horse Farm. Pennypacker personally transported slaves from his home to Norristown and other points to the north and east. No slaves were ever apprehended while in his care. John Greenleaf Whittier, another celebrated abolitionist, said of Pennypacker, "In mind, body, and brave championship of the cause of freedom, he was one of the most remarkable men I ever knew." After slavery ended, Pennypacker attempted to rejoin politics. As a member of the Prohibitionist Party, he unsuccessfully ran as state treasurer of Pennsylvania in 1875 which marked the end of his political career.
Source: US National Park Service