Painter's Folly Preservation Alliance July 2026 Newsletter A Fourth of July to Remember On July 4, 1903, Howard Pyle hosted his annual Independence Day celebration on the lawns of Painter's Folly — and by day's end, he had unknowingly set an artistic dynasty in motion. Later that day, Pyle drove his student, N.C. Wyeth, across the Brandywine landscape, describing the 1777 clash between Washington and the British in such vivid detail that Wyeth could hardly tell which century he was standing in. Wyeth would later call it "the finest discourse I ever heard." Writing to his brother soon after, Wyeth described imagining a wounded Continental soldier resting beside a brook — an image that would stay with him for the rest of his life, and one that helped tie the Wyeth family, for generations, to Chadds Ford and the story of the American Revolution. This Fourth of July, we're thinking of that conversation on the hill — a mentor, a student, and a holiday that changed the course of American art. Thank you, as always, for your support of Painter's Folly and the stories it holds. Happy Fourth of July! — The Painter's Folly Preservation Alliance A Remarkable Discovery: The Atwater-Cleveland Photographs We're thrilled to share that PFPA has acquired a collection of 900 Atwater-Cleveland family photographs, spanning from the 1840s to the 1960s. Many were taken at Painter's Folly and offer a rare window into the Chadds Ford landscape at the turn of the twentieth century. We're currently digitizing the collection before donating it to a permanent archive. The Cleveland-Atwater era was one of the most transformative chapters in Painter's Folly's history: Dr. Arthur Cleveland, a laryngologist on staff at Presbyterian Hospital and the Pennsylvania School for the Deaf, became owner of Painter's Folly and its 500 surrounding acres in 1903. A former ward of Joseph and Eliza Turner of Chadds Ford, he also served as President of the Birmingham Township Board of Supervisors. Together with his father-in-law, Richard Mead Atwater, Dr. Cleveland ran Lafayette Dairies — one of only two local dairies selling milk in glass bottles. By 1906, Richard Atwater had moved into Painter's Folly himself, while the Clevelands relocated to the neighboring Gideon Gilpin House. The Atwaters purchased the home and 47 acres outright in 1908. Richard Atwater — a glass manufacturing magnate and former mayor of Sea Isle City, NJ — became a local authority on the Battle of the Brandywine, regularly lecturing on Revolutionary War troop movements. (His wife, Sophia Greene Atwater, was a descendant of General Nathaniel Greene, Washington's second-in-command at the battle.) In the decades that followed, the Cleveland-Atwater family's holdings — including Washington's Headquarters, Lafayette's Headquarters, Painter's Folly, Wyndryst, Turner's Mill, and Red Barn Farm (Kuerner Farm) — placed the family at the center of the very debates that led to the creation of today's Brandywine Battlefield Park, formally established with the Brandywine Battlefield Bill of 1947. Richard Mead Atwater died at Painter's Folly in 1922. The property remained in the family until 1953, when it was sold to John and Mary Fisher, closing a fifty-year chapter in which the Clevelands and Atwaters helped shape the agricultural and historic identity of Chadds Ford and the Brandywine Valley. Andrew Wyeth on Widow's Walk The December 1990 issue of The Connoisseur magazine recently caught our eye — specifically, the exclusive interview in which Andrew Wyeth reflects candidly on several of his paintings, including Widow's Walk (1989), a piece he called "the biggest picture I've done since Helga." Wyeth explained that he was drawn to the painting's window glass in particular, describing the house as one that had stood in view his whole life. He shared a personal connection to the setting as well: his father had spent time there as a young student and was later killed within sight of the place, giving the scene what Wyeth described as a mystical quality for him. It's a striking glimpse into how deeply personal history, memory, and place shaped Wyeth's work — themes that resonate closely with our own efforts to preserve the landscapes and stories connected to Painter's Folly. © Ed Worteck, 2026 PFPA in The Mensa Bulletin We're proud to share that PFPA co-founder Emma Leuschner's essay, "The World Is a Small Place," appears in the July edition of The Mensa Bulletin, featuring photography by fellow co-founder Ed Worteck. The essay traces a remarkable full-circle moment: as a girl, Emma stood before Andrew Wyeth's 1993 tempera Marriage at Atlanta's High Museum of Art, unsettled and quietly moved by the painting's mysterious, dreamlike couple. Years later, after relocating to "Wyeth Country" in southeastern Pennsylvania and becoming involved in local preservation work, she learned that Painter's Folly had once been a hideaway for Wyeth himself — and that the very bedroom depicted in Marriage belonged to the home's former owners, George and Helen Sipala, who rented the property's carriage house. Emma went on to meet Helen — now in her 90s, and the same woman she'd once known only as a painted figure — and the two struck up a friendship, swapping stories about Painter's Folly, the Sipalas' decades-long bond with Wyeth, and Helen's own reflections on mortality, memory, and the interconnectedness of it all. Emma writes that stepping into Helen's carriage house felt like being pulled directly into the scene of Marriage itself — "the bedroom where Andrew Wyeth painted homeowners George and Helen Sipala asleep in their bed was virtually untouched." It's a personal look at how art, place, and preservation intertwine — and a reminder of why the stories held within Painter's Folly's walls are so worth saving. The Wyeth Interview Project: Preserving the Stories Behind the Canvas Andrew Wyeth remains one of the most celebrated American painters of the twentieth century, yet the individuals who modeled for him, and who knew him in Chadds Ford and along the Maine coast, have rarely had the chance to share their own accounts. The Wyeth Interview Project aims to change that — conducting oral history interviews with those models, friends, and associates to capture their firsthand knowledge and experiences. We've identified numerous potential interview subjects across Delaware, Pennsylvania, and Maine. Their recollections promise to enrich our understanding of Wyeth's creative process, challenge the narrative of the "solitary genius," and — importantly — restore the voices of the female models whose presence shaped so much of his most iconic work but whose own stories have gone largely untold. The project follows ethical oral-history best practices, including informed consent and subject review of transcripts, and anticipates roughly three years from launch to reaching both scholarly and general audiences through an archived collection and public-facing publication. We're actively seeking an institutional partner — a museum, university library, or historical society with existing Wyeth holdings — to help preserve this archive for future generations. If that's you, or someone you know, we'd love to talk. If you — or a parent, grandparent, neighbor, or old family friend — modeled for Andrew Wyeth, worked alongside him, or simply knew him as a familiar face around Chadds Ford or the Maine coast, we want to hear from you. We'd love the chance to capture those firsthand memories and add them to the historical record. If this describes you or someone close to you, please reach out — we'd be glad to answer questions about the process and what participating involves. Reach out to us at info@paintersfollypreservationalliance.com to discuss. PFPA Co-Founder to Present at the Pennsylvania Historical Association Conference Mark your calendars: this October, PFPA co-founder Emma Leuschner will present her paper, "Painter's Folly: A Catalyst for Revolutionary Memory and American Art," at the Pennsylvania Historical Association's annual conference. The 2026 conference will take place from October 22-24, at Northampton Community College in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. This year's conference, titled "Revolutionary Legacies in the Mid-Atlantic," explores Pennsylvania's long history of freedom, power, and dissent — from the colonial era to today. We're honored to have Painter's Folly's story included in the conversation. Leuschner's paper traces how Painter's Folly became the site of Pyle's Chadds Ford summer art schools from 1898 to 1903. She'll explore how Pyle's own ancestral ties to the village, his fascination with American history, and his belief in immersing students directly in the landscape they were painting all converged at Painter's Folly, giving rise to the Howard Pyle School of Art and the Brandywine School style of illustration. From there, the paper follows the ripple effects: the historical illustrations and wartime depictions produced by Pyle's students, and ultimately the founding of the Wyeth family art dynasty — all traced back to the Gilpin and Painter families' roots in Chadds Ford, the legacy of the Battle of the Brandywine, and Painter's Folly itself. The paper is currently available to researchers as part of the Delaware Art Museum's Howard Pyle Manuscript Collection. Painter's Folly named to the 2026 Pennsylvania At Risk List Preservation Pennsylvania has included Painter's Folly on its 2026 Pennsylvania At Risk list, an annual publication that spotlights the Commonwealth's most endangered historic properties. Painter's Folly is one of five properties listed in 2026, and the only one located in Delaware County. Painter's Folly also graces the cover of the hard-copy magazine! As Pennsylvania's only private, statewide nonprofit dedicated to historic preservation advocacy, Preservation Pennsylvania has been sounding the alarm about at-risk sites since 1992. Through the Pennsylvania At Risk program, they partner with local advocates, raise statewide awareness, and provide communities with the technical assistance they need to fight for these irreplaceable places. Today, Painter's Folly faces a critical moment. Owned by Chadds Ford Township since 2018, Painter's Folly has experienced ongoing physical deterioration and lacks a clear long-term stewardship plan. Proposals for limited façade easements raise concerns that historically significant interior spaces may go unprotected. Previous efforts to activate the site — including artist studios and public programming — have been discontinued. The Painter's Folly Preservation Alliance and a broad coalition of local advocates are actively working to identify a viable preservation path, including pursuing a long-term preservation partner. The Pennsylvania At Risk listing brings vital statewide attention to this pivotal moment. To learn more or get involved, visit preservationpa.org. Preservation Partners: we want you! In response to strong public interest, the Painter’s Folly Preservation Alliance reaffirms its commitment to securing a long-term preservation partner for Painter’s Folly. We recognize concerns about taxpayer cost, public programming, and accessibility—and we believe there is a sustainable path forward. Under the Second Class Township Code, Chadds Ford Township may convey or lease the property directly to an eligible nonprofit, school, institutional district, or the Commonwealth, rather than pursue a public auction. Across Delaware County, eighteen municipally owned historic sites operate successfully through similar co-stewardship models with nonprofit partners. We invite qualified preservation partners to explore the available resources and join us in ensuring that this landmark remains protected, accessible, and vibrant for generations to come.

PURCHASE OF THE PROPERTY Painter's Folly was purchased by Chadds Ford Township for $625,000 in 2018 using Open Space funds and is currently closed to the public and at risk of being sold in a public auction. HOUSE TOURS Following the 2018 acquisition, Chadd Ford Township explored income-producing programs in Painter's Folly. Chadds Ford Township currently rents the adjacent Carriage House for $950 a month. Painter's Folly home tours, led by Ms. Helen Murray Sipala, were available for $10 per person. From 2020 to 2025, Chadds Ford Township made $2,455 on Painter's Folly house tours. Chadds Ford Township discontinued the tours in 2025 despite Ms. Sipala's continued enthusiasm. COMMISSIONED PRESERVATION PLAN In 2021, Chadds Ford Township commissioned a preservation plan from the consulting firm Patterhn Ives. The total expense for this conservation initiative was $49,356, and the Township secured a PHMC Certified Local Government Grant of $25,000 to support the project. The study identified three prospective uses and their respective costs for Painter's Folly: artist studios, bed-and-breakfast, and artist apartments. Ultimately, Chadds Ford Township considered the artist studio program among these options but retained information on the other alternatives examined in the study. Several public meetings were convened by Chadds Ford Township on 27 July 2021, 24 August 2021, 15 August 2024, and 16 July 2025 to solicit residents' feedback on the most appropriate use of Painter's Folly. According to the 2023 PHMC Keystone grant application, Chadds Ford Township supervisors saw Painter's Folly as an opportunity to provide a much-needed venue for community gatherings, meetings, and events. ARTIST STUDIOS AT PAINTER'S FOLLY PROGRAM Chadds Ford Township inaugurated the Artist Studios at Painter's Folly program in January 2023. Multiple studio and scheduling options were made available for artists to rent and utilize. Each rotation persisted for three months, with the building accessible Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM. Artists showcased their works in a gallery on the first floor, and Chadds Ford Township received a 30% commission on sales. The Township was the recipient of a 2023 Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission Keystone Grant, awarded to support the Painter's Folly Rehabilitation Phase 1 project. This grant comprised a $100,000 matching fund designated for ADA accessibility enhancements, within a total project budget of $317,060. The scope of Rehabilitation Phase 1 entailed constructing a driveway ramp, leveling existing steps, installing an ADA-compliant restroom, and establishing an ADA-accessible artist studio on the first floor. In March 2024, following concerns raised by a resident artist regarding ADA accessibility, ventilation, and potential mold conditions within the building—observations which remain unverified—Chadds Ford Township discontinued the Artist Studios at Painter's Folly program. In the informational document dated July 31, 2025, the Township stated that the program's termination was due to unresolved ADA accessibility issues and indicated that the use of the 2023 PHMC Keystone Grant had been deferred pending major repairs before further development of the studio concept. The Township did not acquire matching funds for the project nor initiate or complete any sub-projects related to the grant. Subsequently, in September 2025, Chadds Ford Township received an extension of the 2023 Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) Keystone Grant for the Painter's Folly Rehabilitation Phase 1 project, which was scheduled to expire on September 30, 2025. The grant extension runs through September 30, 2026. PAINTER'S FOLLY LIAISON POSITION Chadds Ford Township established a Painter's Folly Liaison position in January 2025 to engage potential preservation partners. The position was held by Chadds Ford resident Ed Worteck, Professor Emeritus of Art and Art History at Goucher College. Mr. Worteck's expertise includes photography and historic preservation documentation for projects associated with the Lancaster Preservation Trust, Franklin Marshall College, and the Rouse Foundation. Mr. Worteck began serving in this role in January 2025 after several months of volunteering his photography expertise for Chadds Ford Township. All photographs produced during his tenure were made available to the Township for grant writing, research, and documentation purposes. Following the July 2025 Painter's Folly public meeting, where Mr. Worteck spoke in favor of continued site preservation, the Chadds Ford Township Board of Supervisors discontinued communication with him and revoked his access to the interior of Painter's Folly, preventing him from continuing his photographic documentation of the property. In January 2026, the Board of Supervisors elected to take no action regarding the appointment or reappointment of a Painter's Folly liaison for 2026. PUBLIC AUCTION In August 2024, Chadds Ford Township surveyed 25 township residents and 11 non-residents about their understanding of Painter's Folly and their suggested uses. Of the group, 27 responses indicated favorability for continued public use and preservation of Painter's Folly, while 11 responses indicated favorability for divesting of the property, either to private owners or to a non-profit/museum. Around October 2024, Chadds Ford Township began considering internal divestment from Painter's Folly. In early 2025, Chadds Ford Township began to publicly float language to explore the offloading of Painter's Folly through a public auction pursuant to the Second-Class Township Code. Chadds Ford Township has spent approximately $963,710 on Painter's Folly and has received only approximately $103,927 in income from grants, rentals, insurance reimbursements, and tours (*as of January 2026). At the 16 July 2025 Chadds Ford Township special meeting regarding Painter's Folly, several township residents complained that the township's ownership and maintenance of the building were a tax burden on residents. In the Painter's Folly update document released on 31 July 2025, the Township stated: "Due to the lack of a viable long-term preservation partner, the Township is now pursuing legal easements to permanently protect the structure from demolition or inappropriate alterations if no qualified partner is found, and a public sale is ultimately pursued. A public sale remains a viable option." First circulated in October 2025, the Chadds Ford Township Open Space Committee's 2026 draft budget included a $50,000 line item for a Painter's Folly "Conservation and Façade Easement." GRANT APPLICATIONS In November 2025, Chadds Ford Township compiled a Local Share Account (LSA) grant application for a $720,000 repair and maintenance project at Painter’s Folly. The Township consulted with John Milner Associates regarding the necessary repair work, specifically “exterior stabilization.” The Township provided further information on the scope of work in the January 28, 2026, Board of Supervisors Agenda, which includes windows, doors, shutters, and roof work. The Local Share Account grant application describes the scope as follows: Full roof replacement: $159,000 (quote) Restoration of 44 windows: $240,000 (quote) Restoration of 27 pairs of shutters: $130,000 (quote) Restoration of 6 exterior doors, including transoms and sidelights: $52,000 (quote) Repair Widow’s Walk millwork, including cornices, brackets, trim: $34,000 (quote) Chadds Ford Township stated that it does not intend to advance unfunded or speculative work related to Painter’s Folly. However, Chadds Ford Township has not completed a Historic Structures Report, as recommended by the Preservation Alliance of Greater Philadelphia, to guide future repairs, construction, and uses of the historic building. While Chadds Ford Township states there are no final interior programming plans for Painter’s Folly, they received an extension on the 2023 PHMC Keystone Grant to fund ADA-compliance projects related to the now-defunct Artist Studios at Painter’s Folly program. The Local Share Account grant application also lists the intent as follows: "These repairs will …. prepare the structure for the next phase of ADA accessibility upgrades required before public use.” However, the 2023 PHMC Keystone grant, awarded for ADA compliance projects, expires on September 30, 2026. The Local Share Account grants will be awarded in November 2026. CHANGES IN LANGUAGE In late January 2026, Chadds Ford Township updated the Painter’s Folly webpage ahead of the January 28, 2026, Board of Supervisors Meeting. This was the first major update on the page since July 31, 2025. Updates include information related to recent grant applications, 2026 budget line items, an ongoing Pennsylvania Historical Marker nomination, and a statement that no major rehabilitation, construction, or permanent reuse decisions have been approved at present. CONSERVATION EASEMENTS On 11 February 2026, the Chadds Ford Township Board of Supervisors voted to enter into a services agreement with the North American Land Trust for easements related to Painter’s Folly after receiving a proposal from the organization. Per Township Manager Lacey Faber, the intent of the easements is to "preserve the historic and environmental significance of Painter’s Folly while allowing reasonable stewardship of the property.” The Conservation & Facade easements would Prohibit demolition of the structure and prevent demolition by neglect Control changes to the exterior, including paint color, exterior finishes, windows, doors, roofing, and decorative architectural features Restrict the addition of outbuildings, garages, decks, or other structures that could alter the historic character of the site Prohibit subdivision of the parcel for development purposes Restrict new construction within the viewshed or historically significant areas of the property As previously published, CFT budgeted $50,000 of Open Space funds for these easements. However, CFT Township Manager, Lacey Faber, reported at the 28 January 2026 Board of Supervisors meeting that the Township is now pursuing an American Battlefield Protection Program grant to cover the cost of the NALT easements. The timeline and details for this grant have not been made public at this time. PRESENT DAY As of July 2026, Painter's Folly remains closed to the public. Per Township Manager Faber, Township Solicitor Mike Maddren closed Painter's Folly "to everyone. No one is allowed in the building." Chadds Ford Township states that nothing has changed regarding the property's potential outcome and continues to explore a dual-track approach: a public auction or a preservation partner. Chadds Ford Township has not issued a public Request for Proposals for Painter’s Folly to solicit adaptive-reuse proposals from the community. Chadds Ford Township states that no final interior programming decisions or comprehensive preservation plans have been adopted related to Painter’s Folly. While CFT has met with potential preservation partners and organizations (whose identities have not been shared publicly), the Township states that no partnerships have been formed to date.

How long did it run: The Artist Studios at Painter's Folly program was an idea born out of both an artist's dream of a local art studio in Chadds Ford and the Patterhn Ives 2022 Preservation Plan, which proposed three potential uses for the building: a bed and breakfast, artist studios, and artist apartments. The Artist Studios at Painter's Folly operated from January 2023 to March 2024. Building Use: The program used three rooms as communal art studios: the Pyle and Wyeth studios on the second floor and the NC Studio on the third floor. A first-floor gallery was also established in the den/library to display and sell work to the public during paid house tours given by former homeowner, Helen Sipala. Model sessions were held in the Pyle Studio biweekly throughout the year, except for July and August, which were taken off for vacation. These sessions were intended to allow professional artists to draw or paint the model in a group, shared setting, which enabled artists to keep costs down for their individual businesses by sharing the model fee. Helen Sipala was one of the models and wore the same outfit she wore for the first time when she sat for Andrew Wyeth. Who Was Involved: Annette Alessi, a master of fine arts, worked as the volunteer artist coordinator. Alessi dreamt of a Chadds Ford group artist studio and shared her idea with Barbara Moore of Barbara Moore Fine Art Gallery. Moore introduced Alessi to Maryann Furlong, who was then the manager of Chadds Ford Township. After approval from the Chadds Ford Township Board of Supervisors, Furlong and Alessi planned the program for 2022, with a scheduled launch in January 2023. Before the program closure, Chadds Ford Township and the Brandywine Museum of Art discussed adding Painter's Folly to the museum tour catalog to interpret its history and increase exposure to artwork on display for future art sales. According to Alessi, the artists enjoyed working together, especially when ideas and opportunities could be shared. In September 2023, the Painter's Folly artists held an exhibition at the Station Gallery in Greenville, DE, featuring the members' works. Pricing: Several studio and scheduling options were available for artists. Each session lasted 3 months, and the building was open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM. Artists displayed their work in a first-floor gallery, and Chadds Ford Township received a 30% commission on sales. Pyle Studio (2nd floor studio): open to two groups of 6 artists. Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays for $150 a month Tuesdays and Thursdays for $100 a month Wyeth Studio (2nd floor studio) Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays for $150 a month Tuesdays and Thursdays for $100 a month NC Studio (3rd floor studio): $200 a month and open to one artist Studio Rental Income Commission from Art Sales Supply Costs 2023 $7,195.00 2024 $1,450.00 Total $8,645.00 $1,170.00 -$2,856.00 Net Profit: $6,959.00 PHMC Keystone Grant Award: Chadds Ford Township received a 2023 Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) Keystone Grant awarded for the Painter’s Folly Rehabilitation Phase 1 project. The award consisted of a $100,000 matching grant designated for ADA accessibility improvements, within a total project budget of $317,060. The proposed Rehabilitation Phase 1 scope included the construction of a driveway ramp, leveling of existing steps, installation of an ADA-compliant bathroom, and creation of an ADA-accessible first-floor artist studio. Why did it end: After a Painter's Folly studio artist raised concerns about ADA accessibility, ventilation, and unverified mold issues in the home, Chadds Ford Township discontinued the Artist Studios at Painter's Folly program in March 2024. In a 31 July 2025 Painter’s Folly update document, the Township attributed the program’s discontinuation to unresolved ADA accessibility issues and stated that the use of the 2023 PHMC Keystone Grant had been deferred due to the need for “broader repairs” before advancing the studio concept. The Township did not raise matching funds for the project and did not initiate or complete any sub-projects associated with the grant. In October 2025, Chadds Ford Township received an extension on the 2023 Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) Keystone Grant awarded for the Painter’s Folly Rehabilitation Phase 1 project. Per the Keystone Grant requirements, Keystone Grant funds cannot be used for any costs outside the scope of the project for which the grant was awarded. Important Note: Chadds Ford Township experienced significant turnover in the township manager position and underwent another turnover during the artist studio program. All Artist Studios at Painter's Folly marketing activities ceased in December 2023 due to the management turnover. Since the purchase of Painter's Folly in 2018, Chadds Ford Township has had five township managers. Further Reading: https://www.chaddsfordpa.gov/media/5206 https://chaddsfordlive.com/2023/06/brandywine-art-guide-studios-of-painters-folly/ https://www.alessicreations.com/ArticleDetail/11437 https://www.alessicreations.com/blog/189566/the-story-of-how-my-vision-evolved-with-painters-folly-studios https://pa-gov.libguides.com/c.php?g=1306054&p=10398745

Former Painter's Folly Liaison to Chadds Ford Township, Professor Ed Worteck, at Painter's Folly As of January 6, 2026, the Chadds Ford Township Board of Supervisors has not taken action to appoint Painter’s Folly liaisons for 2026. Chadds Ford Township resident Ed Worteck previously served as Painter’s Folly liaison from January 2025 to January 2026. Worteck is a Professor Emeritus of Art and Art History at Goucher College with an expertise in photography and historic preservation documentation with projects associated with the Lancaster Preservation Trust, Franklin Marshall College, and the Rouse Foundation. Following the July 16, 2025, Painter’s Folly public meeting, the Chadds Ford Township Board of Supervisors discontinued communication with Mr. Worteck and denied him access to the interior of Painter’s Folly, preventing him from continuing his photographic documentation of the property. All photographs produced during his tenure were made available to the Township for grant writing, research, and documentation purposes. The Board of Supervisors and Township Manager did not respond to emails sent from Mr. Worteck following the July 16, 2025, public meeting or clarify the reasons for his termination. This development is of concern, as Mr. Worteck was responsible for strategic outreach to potential preservation partners, including Dr. William Coleman of the Wyeth Foundation; coordination with preservation organizations such as the Preservation Alliance of Greater Philadelphia; and advocacy for the preservation of the full historic site within Chadds Ford Township and the broader southeastern Pennsylvania region. We urge Chadds Ford Township to appoint a qualified historian, preservationist, or architect to serve as a Painter’s Folly Liaison. The Liaison would provide informed, impartial advocacy for the site and actively engage with potential preservation partners to support its long-term stewardship.

The preservation of Painter’s Folly is not just about a single building—it is about protecting a shared cultural legacy that continues to shape the surrounding community. The stakeholders listed below represent the places and organizations directly impacted by Painter’s Folly’s historical significance and potential for public accessibility. Their connection underscores why its preservation matters. View from Painter's Folly © Ed Worteck America250 Andrew & Betsy Wyeth Study Center Birmingham Friends Meeting Brandywine Battlefield Park Brandywine Baptist Church Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art Brandywine Valley National Scenic Byway Commission Chadds Ford Historical Society Chadds Ford Township Chadds Ford Township Open Space Committee Chadds Ford Township Residents Association Chester County Art Association Christian C. Sanderson Museum Delaware Art Museum Delaware County Heritage Commission Delaware County Historical Society Delaware County Planning Department Delco250 Drexel University Howard Pyle Studio Group N.C. Wyeth Research Foundation and Reading Libraries North American Land Trust Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission Schoonover Studios Visit Delco Walkable Chadds Ford Wyeth Foundation for American Art Westtown School July 2025 Letter of Support Campaign In July 2025, Painter's Folly Preservation Alliance members Emma Leuschner and Ed Worteck organized a letter-writing campaign ahead of the 16 July 2025 public meeting in Chadds Ford Township. Leuschner and Worteck drafted a sample letter of support stating the property's historical significance to local, state, and national history and sent it to area historical and preservation groups for signatures. Brinton 1704 House Aston Township Historical Society Bethel Township Preservation Society Brandywine Conservancy Brandywine Hundred Historical Society Chadds Ford Historical Society Colonial Pennsylvania Farmstead Concord Township Historical Society Daughters of the American Revolution - Delaware County chapter Delaware County Heritage Commission Delaware County Historical Society Eastern Pennsylvania Preservation Society Grange Estate Haverford Township Historical Society Marple Historical Society Middletown Township Historical Society Newton Square Historical Society Preservation Alliance of Greater Philadelphia Radnor Historical Society Rose Valley Museum and Historical Society Wyeth Foundation for American Art

The National Trust for Historic Preservation defines co-stewardship as a model in which historic sites are owned by one organization but operated by another, typically a special-purpose nonprofit created to serve as the site’s operating entity. Eighteen historic sites in Delaware County are municipally owned but operated by a separate organization, such as a friends group, historical society, or other nonprofit. These historic sites are: Village Green Schoolhouse: owned by Aston Township and operated by the Aston Township Historical Society Pierce-Willits House: owned by Concord Township and operated by the Concord Township Historical Society Polecat Road House: owned by Concord Township and operated by the Concord Township Historical Society Federal School: owned by Haverford Township and operated by the Haverford Township Historical Society Nitre Hall and Lawrence Cabin: owned by Haverford Township and operated by the Haverford Township Historical Society The Grange Estate: owned by Haverford Township and operated by the Friends of the Grange, Inc. Thomas Massey House: owned by Marple Township and operated by the Marple Township Historical Society Minshall House: owned by Media Borough and operated by Media Historical Society Thomas Leiper House: owned by Nether Providence Township and operated by Friends of the Leiper House, Inc. Papermill Road House: owned by Newtown Township and operated by Newtown Township Historical Society Square Tavern: owned by Newtown Township and operated by Newtown Township Historical Society Morton Mortonson House: owned by Norwood Borough and operated by Norwood Historical Society The Willows Mansion: owned by Radnor Township and operated by the Willows Park Preserve Central School: owned by Springfield Township and operated by Springfield Township Historical Society Lazaretto: owned by Tinicum Township and operated by the Lazaretto Preservation Association of Tinicum Township Ogden School: owned by Upper Chichester Township and operated by Chichester Historical Society Collen Brook Farmhouse: owned by Upper Darby Township and operated by Upper Darby Historical Society Lower Swedish Cabin: owned by Upper Darby Township and operated by Friends of Lower Swedish Cabin

Chadds Ford Township is a Class II Township and falls under the Second Class Township Code. The following section of the code, Article XV and Section 1503: Real Property, outlines the options available to Chadds Ford Township should it decide to dispose of the property. Options available under the code: Sealed Bidding Process: must be sold to the highest bidder after due notice Public Auction: must be sold to the highest bidder; the township can set a minimum bid based on the fair market value of the property Sell the property if no bids are received after proper notice Conveyance or lease by the township to the following: A municipal corporation The Federal Government The Commonwealth An institution district A school district A municipality authority A county A public utility A volunteer fire company A nonprofit corporation engaged in community industrial, commercial or affordable housing development A volunteer ambulance service or volunteer rescue squad located within the township A nonprofit corporation organized as a public library A nonprofit medical service corporation A nonprofit organization providing community service or development activities A nonprfit corporation established for the preservation of historical, architectural or aesthetic sites or artifacts A nonprofit association or nonprofit corporation organized to acquire and maintain real property for the preservation, conservation and stewardship of open space A council of government, consortium, cooperative, or other similar entity created pursuant to 53 Pa.C.S. Ch. 23 Subch. A (relating to intergovernmental cooperation The entirety of Second Class Township Code can be found here: https://www.palegis.us/statutes/unconsolidated/law-information/view-statute?txtType=PDF&SessYr=1933&ActNum=0069.&SessInd=0

Understanding the current condition of Painter’s Folly is essential to documenting and preserving its historic character. The following overview outlines the building’s architectural features and existing structural conditions, providing a snapshot of its current state. Architectural Description Painter’s Folly, built c. 1857, is a 6,870-square-foot, stucco-over-stone Italianate-style residence oriented toward Baltimore Pike. The house has a distinctive T-shaped plan with a three-story, five-bay main block and a two-story rear ell, built on a stone foundation with a basement. The building’s features, characteristic of the Italianate style, include a low-sloped hipped roof with wide overhanging eaves, heavy carved-wood brackets, tall, well-proportioned windows, and a central rooftop belvedere with arched sash windows. The wrap-around first-floor porch supported by stone walls and piers, with cast-iron posts and decorative elements, is a prominent exterior feature. The exterior elevations are marked by symmetrically arranged four-over-four double-hung wood windows, a combination of paneled and louvered shutters on the lower floors, multiple historic entrances, and decorative porches on the secondary elevations. Interior chimneys, standing-seam metal roofs, and finely detailed woodwork further define the building. The interior of Painter’s Folly reflects its mid-19th-century design through a well-organized floor plan and largely intact historic finishes. The first floor of the main block contains four principal rooms arranged around a central entrance hall with a dog-leg staircase, featuring hardwood floors, plaster walls and ceilings with decorative moldings, wood trim, and marble mantelpieces. The basement follows a distinctive T-shaped circulation plan and includes multiple rooms, a root cellar, two back staircases that connect to the upper floors, and an exterior entrance. The second floor consists of four finished rooms with similar period materials and wood mantelpieces. In comparison, the third floor also contains four rooms with simpler plaster and wood finishes, built-in closets, and access to the belvedere. Painter’s Folly is set on a 3.44-acre parcel elevated above U.S. Route 1/Baltimore Pike and is accessed by a paved driveway lined with historic stone retaining walls. Originally part of a 227-acre gentleman’s estate surrounded by rolling agricultural land, the property was gradually reduced in size during the early 20th century as farmland and outbuildings were parceled off, many of which are now incorporated into Brandywine Battlefield State Park. The south-facing mansion sits on a prominent rise, with the original stone farmhouse and barn remnants to the west. Several former agricultural structures, including barns and an ornate chicken house, no longer survive. A 20th-century swimming pool northeast of the house has been filled, leaving only partial concrete walls. The remaining carriage house, located north of the mansion, has been extensively altered for residential use. The historic stone retaining walls along the driveway remain contributing features that reflect the property’s rural historic setting, despite later changes. Threats to Painter's Folly In the July 31, 2025, Painter’s Folly update, Chadds Ford Township notes that there are “current and long-term maintenance and repairs needed” at Painter’s Folly. However, the specific repair and maintenance projects are unknown, and Chadd Ford Township has not made the information publicly accessible. Chadds Ford Township has sought to address public concern about the proposed public auction of Painter's Folly by using conservation and façade easements to safeguard the property's preservation. However, the Township has not clearly defined the scope of these easements. Unresolved issues include the number of exterior elevations to be protected from alteration, the permissibility of additions or modifications to unprotected elevations, and whether any interior spaces would be subject to easement restrictions. During the July 16, 2025, public meeting regarding Painter's Folly, Township Supervisor Kathleen Goodier indicated that the proposed façade easement would apply only to the two elevations visible from Baltimore Pike, leaving the remaining elevations potentially subject to alteration or expansion. As currently described, the proposed conservation and façade easements do not address the building's interior spaces. This omission was raised as a concern during a September 2025 meeting between representatives of the Preservation Alliance of Greater Philadelphia and Chadds Ford Township Manager Lacey Faber. The house's interior spaces are arguably the most critical part of the property. One of Howard Pyle's most profound, revolutionary-inspired works was painted while he lived at Painter's Folly. The Nation Makers (1902) is an oil painting depicting American forces marching into battle at the Battle of the Brandywine. In addition to housing the Pyle family, Painter's Folly was the site of critical group discussions regarding artistic expression. Andrew Wyeth used a third-floor room and a widow's walk in Painter's Folly as a private studio and workspace where he completed 15 titled works of art and countless studies and sketches, as noted by the Wyeth Study Center. Many of Wyeth's works reflect the interior spaces of Painter's Folly, including Glass House (1991), Dovecote (1992), Traveling Alone (1992), Marriage (1993), and Renfield (1999). The architectural integrity of the interior spaces is very high, as noted in the 2024 National Register of Historic Places nomination. In addition to the interior spaces, Painter's Folly currently retains several important antiques and artworks associated with the Sipalas and Andrew Wyeth, including a Wannamaker family grandfather clock, a marble bust of the Marquis de Lafayette given as a gift from Wyeth, hand-carved Eastlake Victorian furniture, and stone garden mermaid statues portrayed in Wyeth's Painter's Folly (1989) painting. Alterations to these interior spaces and the removal of essential physical materials would forever dissolve their historical significance, thereby depriving us of the ability to continue studying and scholarship on both Howard Pyle's and Andrew Wyeth's creative processes and bodies of work. Sources + Further Reading: Dorchester, Jane E. Publication. National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination Form: Painter’s Folly. United States Department of the Interior: National Park Service, 2025.

Helen Murray Sipala was the longtime owner of Painter's Folly from 1974 to 2018. Helen was a close friend, model, and confidante to the American artist, Andrew Wyeth, and recorded her friendship with Wyeth in a diary, now published as a book. Members of the Painter's Folly Preservation Alliance hired historian Thomas Wood to record Helen's oral history. Wood interviewed Helen Sipala in her home over the course of three sessions. The recordings are held in perpetuity at the University of Kentucky's Louie B. Nunn Center of Oral History. Project Summary: This project consists of 3 interviews with Helen Sipala. Artist Andrew Wyeth held a significant place in the hearts of his neighbors, Helen and George Sipala. They shared in one another's special events and holidays. Helen, who sometimes modeled for Wyeth, became his confidant in painting, family, religion, and many other sensitive subjects. She kept a diary, at his request, of their conversations. The interviews focus on Sipala's early life growing up in the community of Embreeville Psychiatric Hospital and her close friendship with Andrew Wyeth. Helen Sipala published her diary about Wyeth: Beyond the Marriage Bed: My Years as Friend, Model, and Confidante of Andrew Wyeth. Further Research: https://www.kentuckyoralhistory.org/ark:/16417/xt7vzzjmr7cks

The story of Painter’s Folly lives on not only in its physical presence but in the books and essays that document its significance. These sources underscore the site’s enduring impact and help make the case for its preservation. Window at Painter's Folly © Ed Worteck Books A Closer Look: Howard Pyle, N.C. Wyeth, Andrew Wyeth, and Jamie Wyeth (1998) by Joyce Hill Stoner Around Chadds Ford (2005) by Karen Furst Artists of Wyeth County: Howard Pyle, N.C. Wyeth, and Andrew Wyeth (2021) by W. Barksdale Maynard Andrew Wyeth, A Secret Life (1998) by Richard Meryman Andrew Wyeth: Life and Death (2022) by Karen Baumgartner, Rachael Z. DeLue, Alexander Nemerov Andrew Wyeth: Looking Out, Looking In (2014) by Nancy K. Anderson, Charles Brock Andrew Wyeth: Memory & Magic (2006) by Anne Classen Knutson Andrew Wyeth: New New England by Peter Marcelle/Marcelle Fine Art, Inc. Andrew Wyeth: People and Places (2017) by Thomas Padon, Karen Baumgartner Bertha Corson Day Bates: Illustrator in the Howard Pyle Tradition (1978) by Elizabeth H. Hawkes Beyond the Marriage Bed: My Years as Friend, Model, and Confidante of Andrew Wyeth (2021) by Helen Murray Sipala and Bruce E. Mowday Buttercups & Gratitude: My Illustrated Journey with Andrew Wyeth (2023) by Helen Murray Sipala and Bruce E. Mowday Drexel Institute of Technology: 1891-1941: A Memorial History (1942) by Edward McDonald and Edward Hinton Howard Pyle: A Chronicle (1925) by Charles D. Abbott Howard Pyle: Imagining an American School of Art (2011) by Jill and Robert May In the Footsteps of The Artist: Thoreau and the World of Andrew Wyeth (1986) by James A. Warner and Margaret J. White N.C. Wyeth: A Biography (2003) by David Michaelis Our Pennsylvania: Keys to the Keystone State (1950) by Amy Oakley Rethinking Andrew Wyeth (2014) edited by David Cateforis The American Historical Scene, as Depicted by Stanley Arthurs and Interpreted by Fifty Authors (1935) by the University of Pennsylvania Press The Wyeths: The Intimate Correspondence of N.C. Wyeth, 1901-1945 (1971) by Newell Convers Wyeth and Betsy James Wyeth Wyeth: Andrew & Jamie in the Studio (2015) by Timothy J. Standring Essays/Journals “Howard Pyle, Teacher of Illustration” (1966) by Richard Wayne Lykes "Painter's Folly: A Catalyst for Revolutionary Memory and American Art" (2026) by Emma Leuschner "The House that Haunts" (2025) by Clara Musheghyan "The Partnership" (2026) by Daid Michaelis and featured in By Design: The Worlds of Betsy James Wyeth "The World Is A Small Place" (July 2026) by Emma Leuschner in The Mensa Bulletin Misc. Publications Andrew Wyeth: Home Places by the Brandywine Museum of Art Howard Pyle blog by Ian Schoenherr Howard Pyle: His Art and Personality (1951) by Thornton Oakley (Delaware Art Museum archive) Memories of Howard Pyle by Anna M. Hoopes (Delaware Art Museum archive) The Brandywine Story, 1777-1952 by The Brandywine Battlefield Park Commission N.C. Wyeth and the Brandywine Tradition: Exhibition, October 13-November 28, 1945, by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission Wyeth's World: Exploring Chadds Ford through Art (2020) by Cissy Ming Video A Tour of Painter's Folly, Chadds Ford, PA by Oasthouse Creative

From its earliest days at the turn of the twentieth century, Painter’s Folly has served as both a creative refuge and a catalyst for some of the most important figures in American illustration and painting. Under the guidance of Howard Pyle, the site and its surrounding landscape in Chadds Ford became an open-air studio where students and masters alike translated history, literature, and the natural world into enduring works of art. The paintings produced here between 1898 and 1903—by Pyle and his pupils—capture not only dramatic historical narratives, but also the formative energy of a uniquely American artistic tradition. That legacy continued into the late twentieth century, when Andrew Wyeth returned to Painter’s Folly, reactivating the space as a deeply personal site of reflection and imagination. His works from the 1980s and 1990s, alongside later photography interpretations by James Welling, demonstrate the building’s enduring power to inspire across generations and media. Together, the works listed here trace more than a century of artistic production rooted in a single place—revealing Painter’s Folly not just as a structure, but as a living continuum of creativity, mentorship, and artistic discovery. Paintings that depict Painter's Folly The Big Oak (Date Unknown) -- Andrew Wyeth Untitled (Painter’s Folly and Kuerner Farm) (1967) -- Andrew Wyeth Toward Atwaters (1968)-- Andrew Wyeth Painter’s Folly (1989) -- Andrew Wyeth Lady in Waiting (1990 -- Andrew Wyeth Widow’s Walk (1990) -- Andrew Wyeth Beauty Rest (1991) -- Andrew Wyeth Glass House (1991) -- Andrew Wyeth Dovecote (1992) -- Andrew Wyeth Traveling Alone (1992) -- Andrew Wyeth Buttercups (1992) -- Andrew Wyeth Renfield (1999) -- Andrew Wyeth Art created at Painter's Folly (1898 to present day) The Evacuation of Charleston (1898) – Howard Pyle Arnold Tells His Wife of the Discovery of His Treason (1898) – Howard Pyle They scrambled up the parapet and went surging over the crest, pell-mell, upon the British (1899) – Howard Pyle Inauguration of Washington at New York (1902) – Howard Pyle In the Valley of the Shadows (1902) – Howard Pyle The Nation Makers (1902) – Howard Pyle Painter’s Folly (1989) – Andrew Wyeth Widow’s Walk (1990) – Andrew Wyeth Beauty Rest (1991) – Andrew Wyeth Glass House (1991) – Andrew Wyeth The Funeral Series (1991-1994) – Andrew Wyeth Buttercups (1992) – Andrew Wyeth Dovecote (1992) – Andrew Wyeth Traveling Alone (1992) – Andrew Wyeth Marriage (1993) – Andrew Wyeth Renfield (1999) – Andrew Wyeth Renfield (2011) -- James Welling Art created in Chadds Ford during Howard Pyle's summer schools (1898 - 1903) Lafayette’s Headquarters (1898) – Angel De Cora Woods Near Lafayette’s Hdqtrs (1898) – Frank Schoonover Home from the War (1898) – Frank Schoonover Springhouse at Lafayette’s Headquarters (1898 or 1902) by Bertha Corson Day From Post to Post the Horseman Passed (1899) – Anna Whelan Betts The Immigrants (1899) – Ellen Bernard Thompson Drummer Boy (1899) – Frank Schoonover Pencil drawing of John Chadds House (1899) – Emlen McConnell The Puritan (1899) – Emlen McConnell Nearer Sinking of the Yawl Boat (August 1899) – Frank Schoonover Nearer and Nearer They Approached (11 August 1899) – Frank Schoonover With a Groan, Giberson Fell (29 August 1899) – Frank Schoonover He Was Still Alive (11 September 1899) – Frank Schoonover The Chase (1900) – Frank Schoonover Maxwell Stabs Cardigan (1901) – Frank Schoonover And So, We Were Married (1901) – Frank Schoonover Untitled, Chadds Ford Landscape (1903) – N.C. Wyeth Untitled, view down a country lane (1903) – N.C. Wyeth Untitled, view down a country road (1903) – N.C. Wyeth Untitled, view of a brook and meadow (1903) – N.C. Wyeth Untitled, study of water (1903) – N.C. Wyeth Untitled, view of a fence and tree (1903) – N.C. Wyeth Untitled, landscape study (1903) -- N.C. Wyeth Untitled, Native Americans fishing (1903) – N.C. Wyeth Untitled, view of a river (1903 or 1912) – N.C. Wyeth Early Spring (1903 or 1905) – N.C. Wyeth *Note: This list does not represent the entire body of work created at Painter's Folly and the surrounding landscape.