White Horse Inn

In 1817, Joseph Hannum petitioned court for license to keep a public house of entertainment on the West Chester and Concord road, although it would have been more accurate had he said on Concord road, for the White Horse Inn was located on the latter highway, a short mile above Chelsea. The old building, partly of logs and partly of stone, recently the property of Robert M. Smith and now owned by J. and J. Darlington, still stands. He was successful in his application, and he received the court's favor annually thereafter until 1837, when it ceased to be a tavern. During all the time it was a licensed house, the electors of Concord, Birmingham, Bethel, and that part of Thornbury lying west of a public road, from Street road by the shops and continuing by the house of Jacob Parks, to the road dividing the townships of Concord and Thornbury (in 1823), all voted at this inn, while in 1830 the second election district of Delaware County, comprising Concord, Birmingham, Bethel, and Thornbury, had their polling-place at the White Horse, and continued annually to be held there until and including 1837, when a tavern at that place was discontinued.[bib]703[/bib]