Allebach-Cholet Historic Farm

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Allebach farm during the early 1900's.

The Cholet house was built circa 1879 and has a "plain Victorian" style to it. The house is in the shape of a "T" with a summer kitchen and brick bake oven in the rear. The summer kitchen was built earlier than the house, probably from a previous building that could have burnt down or been taken down for structural problems in the mid 1800's. This house was built using "river rock" and has stucco over top. In the basement, you can see the original stone used to construct the home. Also in the basement you can see the hand-hewn joists across the ceiling. In the attic, you can still see the original roof; it is wooden shingled and being held on by wooden pegs, typically used in the 19th century instead of expensive nails.

House in 1962

House in 2005

Also located on the property, just to the left of the house and closest to Creamery Road, is an original German Style Bank Barn. The barn, along with the summer kitchen, was probably built in the early 1800's, or possibly the late 1700's. The bank barn received it's name because a bank was built on the northern side of the barn so people could pull the hay right into the second story of the barn. The south side of the barn opens into the field and was easy access for livestock to come in and out. Why was the bank on the north side? The bank is usually on the north side to block the northern winds and keep the animals warm.

The house and barn sit on the property of Johannes Scholl, an original settler to the Skippack Valley in 1708. The original house on the property could have been that of Mr. Scholl, but it is not believed the barn and summer kitchen were his.

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR EFFORTS TO PRESERVE THE PROPERTY AND CREATE A HISTORIC FARM PARK IN SKIPPACK TOWNSHIP

Chain of Title

??? - 1827 - Jacob Kolp
1827 - 1834 - Henry and Elizabeth Schwartly
1834 - 1855 - Daniel Cassel
1855 - 1865 - John Bergey
1865 - 1869 - Henry R. Tyson
1869 - 1875 - John B. Tyson
1875 - 1885 - Henry M. Alderfer (House Constructed)
1885 - 1898 - Garret Allebach
1898 - 1912 - Samuel P. Fox
1912 - 1950 - Jonas H. Allebach
1950 - 1952 - Sarah T. and Kathryn T. Allebach
1952 - 1964 - Claude and Edith Kratz
1964 - 2002 - Phillip Cholet
2002 - 2005 - Skippack Township

Researched and written by Nick Fountain
President of the Skippack Historical Society (2007 & 2008)