 The
Gables at Chadds Ford is situated on land that was originally part
of a 138 acre land grant from William Penn to Brinton King. Around
1745, a pre-Revolutionary style house was built on the property. This
was one of the first homes to be built in Pennsbury Township. For
the next 100 plus years, the property operated as a working farm and
quietly became part of the Brandywine Valley's history. The route
along Route One is well known to have housed numerous stops for the
Underground Railroad during the Civil War. It has been suspected that
the King house may have been one of these stops.
The house was renovated in the late 1800s by George C. King, son of
Brinton King. He adopted the popular Victorian style by adding wrap
around porches and twenty three gables. Two of the four original chimneys
from the pre-Revolutionary style home are still visible. In March
of 2002, the house was placed on the National Historic Register.
The bank barn was built in 1897, and the farm became a traditional
dairy farm until the late 1940s. The barn then reincarnated into
Dario's Dairy Bar and General Store. Dario's featured Elsie the
Borden Cow on the side of the building. By the 1960s, the site became
the Country Kettle, a home-style diner many Chadds Ford residents may
remember.
In 1997, Jack McFadden purchased and renovated the historic house
and barn into what is now known as The Gables at Chadds Ford. The
restaurant features the original frame, steel-framed doors and windows,
and Benheim restoration glass. The banquet room is accented with a
stunning wall of French windows and is crowned with an antique chandelier.
The name for the restaurant was derived from the large number of gables,
(gable n. the triangular upper part of an outside wall, between sloping
roofs), that are featured on both the house and the restaurant.
PROPRIETOR, JACK MCFADDEN
Jack McFadden has a long history in the restaurant business. As a
young man, he was first exposed to the business as a waiter at the
old Tabas Hotel in Downingtown. He later moved on to the Marshalton
Inn located just outside of West Chester. Here he developed his
knowledge of traditional fine dining and his personal management
style. Jack eventually became the owner of the Marshalton Inn. He
later opened the Oyster Bar, located in Marshallton, in 1979 and The
Restaurant and The Bar of West Chester in 1981.
Jack purchased the Country Kettle in January of 1997. The ten month
remodeling project resulted in a simple, yet elegant interior. Many
of the original features of the building were maintained. Still
visible are the post and beams and the hay pulley on the second
floor. Other original features include an exposed brick wall,
restored barn foundation that is now home for the patio, and the
original date stone located in the patio wall. The Gables at Chadds
Ford opened in November of 1997. From the beginning, the restaurant
has been acclaimed for the high standard of food, service and
ambiance.
In December of 2001, Jack opened the Turks Head Inn in West Chester.
Once again, by utilizing the historic integrity of the building, he
has created another unique and classic dining environment.
Jack has a long history as a restauranteur. His experience insures
that each of his restaurants will provide an inviting interior, a
well developed menu, and a courteous and knowledgable staff. Critics
and diners alike will testify to the quality and care that Jack
McFadden dedicates to his restaurants.
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