Thornton Village Historic District

Thornton Village Historic District
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. Historic district
Yellow House, October 2009
Show map of Pennsylvania Show map of the US
Location	Centered on Thornton and Glen Mills Rds., Thornbury Township, Pennsylvania
Coordinates	39°54′36″N 75°31′54″W / 39.91000°N 75.53167°W / 39.91000; -75.53167Coordinates: 39°54′36″N 75°31′54″W / 39.91000°N 75.53167°W / 39.91000; -75.53167
Area	12 acres (4.9 ha)
Built	c. 1750, c. 1777
Architectural style	Colonial, Federal, et al.
NRHP reference #	06000745
Added to NRHP	November 14, 2006

Thornton Village Historic District is a national historic district in Thornbury Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania. Located in the crossroads village of Thornton at the intersection of Glen Mills and Thornton Roads, the district includes 13 contributing buildings built between 1750 and 1855, some in the Federal style. Among its structures, most of which face Glen Mills Road, are the Yellow House, one commercial building, seven residences, a converted blacksmith shop, a converted barn, three stables or carriage houses, and two frame sheds. Some of the houses are .

It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2006.

Over the years, the Yellow House has served as tavern, post office, general store, grocery, textile factory, and hair salon.

The Yellow House opened as an inn and tavern about 1750; the surrounding village was known by the same name until it changed to Thornton. The Yellow House was originally owned by George Pearce. One of the important clients of the Yellow House Inn was George Gray, owner of Gray's Ferry over the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia. As the American Revolution proceeded, Gray moved his family away from Philadelphia to avoid the impending British Army occupation. Yet Gray's family could hear cannons during the Battle of Brandywine on September 11, 1777, and fleeing Continental Army troops came down the road right in front of the Yellow House. Gray's wife treated wounded soldiers in the Yellow House and later a group of Virginia soldiers signed a note of appreciation for her efforts.