Our Restaurant Is a Special Place...

This area is rich in history and we would like to share some of it with you.

The town of Thornton and the property the inn is on dates back to colonial times. This spot in Thornbury Township was at various periods known as Yellow House, Shintown, and Thorntonville. At the junction of Thornton and Glen Mills roads (just in front of Pace One) stands a large, two-story building with a wide old porch. This building, called "Yellow House," was the reason for the name of the area in colonial days. At that time George Gray (keeper of the ferry owned the house across the Schuylkill, which still bears his name) as a summer residence. During the Revolutionary War, Gray's family stayed at Yellow House where he felt they would be safer than in the house on the river.

Unfortunately, the movements of the British army necessitated the advance of Washington's army to Chadds Ford, which placed Gray's house within hearing distance of the fighting. During the Battle of the Brandywine in September of 1777, the sounds of the cannon were distinctly heard in the Yellow House, which became a field hospital for the American wounded. The Gray ladies, mother and daughters, helped care for the casualties, many of whom suffered from shin injuries due to the short firing range of the British muskets, and the manner in which the Americans fled through the brush. As history would have it, the village soon became known as "Shintown." The service provided by Gray's family is perpetuated today by "The Gray Ladies" who are seen in hospitals across the country.

After the war, the building was used by Thomas Carlton who manufactured toweling and linens on a handloom. Around 1830, a post office and general store were established in the Yellow House building. The Thornton Post Office is reputed to be the longest continuing post office in the United States.

The building you are in is a restored 1740s stone barn. As you look around, you can see the hand-hewn beams and the original stone wall of the barn. In decorating Pace One, we tried to accentuate the beauty of the old stone barn. We have designed our menu and service to blend well with this country setting.

We are open seven days a week for dinner and weekday lunches. Pace One provides excellent meeting and banquet facilities, as well as off premise catering. We sincerely hope that you enjoy your visit with us and that you will come again. --Ted Pace and the Pace One Staff