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History of
Salem
Creekside
Inn
Where the
Bristol Pike
crosses the
Neshaminy
Creek, just
off the
highway
stands a
beautifully
landscaped
property
that houses
a
contemporary
5 bedroom
Inn.
Originally,
known as
“The Ford
Inn or Holly
Tree Inn”,
this
historical
piece of
property was
originally
constructed
between 1760
and 1770 and
owned by
John Paxson.
This site
was home to
an Inn in
the
Revolutionary
days. During
the time of
Washington’s
encampment
on the
Neshaminy
there was a
goodly
company of
famous men
to take
advantage of
the
hospitality
of the Inn,
and some
very forlorn
foot-sore
soldiers
passed its
portals.
The legend
of the Ford
Inn is that
at School
House Run
Bridge a
ghost could
be seen at
night. The
Indian
spring and
Christ
Church,
Eddington,
and the
cedar grove
in the
ancient
graveyard,
the village
store, and
the remains
of wall and
logs of the
floating
raft bridge
are
described
below:
“A pure
white spirit
oftentimes
is seen,
She
sometimes
wanders all
along the
shore;
Sometimes
off the
rocks, she
seems to
look,
For
something in
the waters.”
The quaint
roomed
house, under
the
sycamore,
was the home
of the
legendary
ghost. At
the Ford Inn
Washington
and
Lafayette
were
sheltered,
and a window
pane showed
the name of
Hancock cut
on it with a
diamond. The
host was
farmer and
inn-keeper
combined,
who had been
a
Revolutionary
Soldier. A
little
daughter
blessed the
home, and
learned the
faith of
Christ, and
beheld the
works in the
flowers
about her.
Rev. John
Talbot, who
has been
thought a
non-juring
Bishop,
served at
St. James’s
Church,
Bristol,
where the
child was
taught her
Christian
lore. The
yellow fever
scourge in
Philadelphia
brings a
lady to the
rustic inn
for refuge.
The lady and
her daughter
depart.
Afterward,
among the
rocks, on
the shore,
near Farley,
the gentle
Ellen and
her father
find a
sportsman
who had been
injured by
falling in
leaping from
his boat. He
loves Ellen
and marries
her, and a
son blesses
the union.
The husband
dies, and
the wife
bears her
cross with
Christ. The
grandmother
desires to
take charge
of the
child, and
mother
refuses with
a mother’s
love, though
wealth would
have
surrounded
the son with
luxury. The
young widow
lived across
the stream
from the
inn, and one
night
visited her
parents,
leaving the
child with
his nurse.
On her
return the
parents hear
a cry of
agony, and
the nurse
and child
are gone, a
carriage
having borne
them
suddenly
away. The
bereaved
mother finds
comfort in
prayer. “One
sweet Lord’s
Day “she
died,
kneeling at
the channel
rail, having
just
received
“the
hallowed
Bread and
Wine,” and
fed on
heavenly
food.
“The Pastor
came and
found that
she was
dead,
Oh, how the
tears of
Christians
fell that
day!
Oh, how they
thanked God
for her good
release!
And so she
went to her
eternal
rest.”
Known today
as the
“Salem
Creekside
Inn, owned
by Anita
Carter and
Bill Rushton,
the Inn has
taken on a
more
glorious and
contemporary
style. At
the Inn you
will find a
sense of
warmth and a
calming
atmosphere.
Surrounded
by beautiful
trees,
glistening
ponds and
the view of
the
Neshaminy
Creek, it is
a home away
from home.
The Salem
Creekside
Inn
encourages
you to come
and stay in
one of the
five newly
renovated
rooms at the
Inn. Several
intimate
gathering
areas for
wedding or
baby
showers,
reunions,
tea parties,
birthday
parties and
any other
events that
you are
considering.
We also have
the grounds
to host
Weddings and
portraits on
our
beautifully
landscaped
property. We
may be
reached at
215
384-4094.
Breakfast
The Inn
provides
their guest
with a
comfortable
stay and
will
accommodate their
needs. The
guest will
be served a
full country
style
breakfast
that
satisfies
any appetite
and pleases
the pallet.
Breakfasts
are served
in the
Dining Room
or privately
on the
enclosed sun
room for all
seasons or
outside in
our seasonal
gazebo.
Breakfasts
are served
between 8:00
a.m. and
10:00 a.m.
Marvelous
water
life:
sailboats,
speed
boats,
fishing
boats
and
exquisite
sunrises
surrounded
by lush
greenery.
In each
season
nature
transforms
life.
Area is
inhabited
by blue
herons,
hummingbirds,
red tail
hawk,
falcons
and
migrating
birds.
Bird
watchers
can find
their
feathered
friends
in
secluded
habitat.
Binoculars
for
lend.
Relax
and
enjoy
the
beauty
of
nature
and get
away
from it
all! |