William Penn’s reputation preceded him as he paved the way for these seekers of freedom.  One of his first treaties in 1698 was with the Native Americans along the well traveled Minquas trail.  This was located approximately 60 miles west of Philadelphia at a natural occurring “gap in the hills”.  Back in Europe, prospective settlers had to go through a rigorous screening process, proving themselves to be of “good moral character” and having the financial means to obtain a portion of “Penn’s woods”.  As early as 1708, some of the first qualified settlers moved into the “Gap In The Hills” valley, living out the first treaty began by William Penn.  Log cabins and stone cottages began to dot the untouched landscape. A simple stone house originally occupied by Samuel Jones was one of the first in the now famed “Gap In The Hills”.  By 1759, Samuel’s granddaughter Faithful Richardson had married  Lancaster judge Henry Slaymaker, son of Mathias Schliermachier and moved into the small stone cottage. Eventually, after changing hands a few times, they purchased the stone house on June 2, 1779, and thus began the next 200 years of successive additions to the home.  He added the first addition to the colonial house, followed by his son, Amos, with the front and southern addition in 1807. During this period of expansion, the bright newly-painted white chimneys glistened in the sparkling sunlight, and Hannah Slaymaker called out to her mother, declaring the beauty of the “White Chimneys”.  The name was a perfect fit and has never lost its’ charm since that day!  Finally the last addition was completed in 1923 with the most western wing.

   Many great visitors passed along the heavily traveled road from Philadelphia to Lancaster and stopped at White Chimneys. On July 31, 1777, Congress commanded Marquis De Lafayette as Major General.

   The next day, he met George Washington and began a life-long deep friendship. They wintered together at the now famed Valley Forge that year of 1777. Many years and battles passed as General Lafayette dedicated his life to the young America’s cause.  His love of constitutional liberty made him more at home in America than in his own country of France, where he was even at one point placed in exile by Napoleon.   Invited by President Monroe in 1824, the General was honored in the 24 states as he was celebrated as a national hero. During this trip in 1825, he spent the night at White Chimneys, most likely visiting his old travel paths.  Generations passed at White Chimneys, and the homestead took on various ventures such as a toll house stop, stage line stop, and tobacco farming.  After spending most of the last century in quiet repose, the Homestead is now ready for you to experience the wonders and simplicity of early American life.