In 1824, John Quincy Adams was elected the sixth President of the United States. The Monroe Doctrine had just been declared, limiting European expansion into the Western Hemisphere and shaping the world to this day. Living in a small log cabin his father built with his own hands, a 15 year old Abraham Lincoln was helping his family survive on a small farm in Indiana, but dreaming of something greater. And in Southeastern Pennsylvania, a solitary, stone barn was constructed in a large and scenic pasture.

The history of Barnstone Gallery
180 years ago, Barnstone was the barn headquarters for a spacious dairy farm, which occupied the surrounding land in northern Chester county outside of Phoenixville. Unfortunately, most of the barn’s early existence is unknown.

Our knowledge of the events that shaped the barn’s recent history begin in the 1940s, when Ralph Ashenfelter Detwiler and his wife Grace Oberholser Detwiler purchased the 30-acre dairy farm where Barnstone Gallery now stands. At the time, the plot of land stretched from Charlestown Road to Aubrey Lane and included the land, barn, and adjacent farmhouse. In the 60 years that followed, the property would become a lumber yard, antique store, and finally, Barnstone Gallery.

The first generation
In the late 1940s, fueled by post-war revitalization and a burgeoning economy, Ralph Detwiler launched a lumber business that used the barn as the main headquarters for storing and selling lumber. For the next eight years, Ralph co-managed the business profitably, and in the process, purchased additional property across Pothouse Road. In the early 1950s, Ralph, now joined by his son Jonathan, turned their entrepreneurial spirit to another related endeavor. P&D Lumber Hauling Company, a trucking business focused on delivering product throughout the Mid Atlantic region, was formed and became the basis of a trucking and cargo business that quickly grew beyond its beginnings at the Pothouse Road property.

The Coach Antiques
While Grace Detwiler kept the books for thriving P & D Lumber Hauling Company, her aspirations and her own entrepreneurial tendency led to a new chapter in the history of the barn. After renovations in the late 1950s, Grace opened The Coach Antiques in 1960. Among other collectibles, The Coach Antiques sold Majolica, depression glass, mercury glass, globes and oil lamps, cranberry glass, and accent tables and chairs, which Grace hung from the exposed rafters of the barn. Patrons’ entrances and exits were punctuated by the familiar clang of sleigh bells hanging from the main door.

With her shrewd business sense and endless energy, Grace quickly became known as a premiere dealer of specialty antiques, and often specialized in seeking out rare items upon customer request at auctions in the Mid-Atlantic region. She would also provide local schools with props for school plays and theater productions, and enjoyed success as a business owner and community member until the shop closed sixteen years later.

Passing on history and family tradition
From 1976 to 2002, the barn stood quiet and unused. During that time, Ralph Detwiler passed the property on to his son Jonathan Detwiler. In 2000, Brint Detwiler (Jonathan’s son and third-generation business owner), bought the barn and adjacent land from his father to protect and preserve Barnstone as a pivotal part of the Detwiler family heritage.

The inception of Barnstone Gallery
Brint and his wife Lynn saw an opportunity to preserve the beauty, history, and integrity of the property, while also contributing to the artistic revitalization of Phoenixville. After another series of extensive renovations designed to maintain the historical integrity of the barn, Brint and Lynn opened the doors of Barnstone Gallery in 2005, and in doing so, created a new chapter in the history of the barn. As Barnstone's Gallery Director, Lynn’s vision is to carry forward the legacy of Barnstone as a special place that offers high-end contemporary American art and collectibles, but also the wider experience of the local arts community.

Learn more about Lynn Detwiler, Barnstone’s Gallery Director, or preview the gallery space through our gallery tour.