IFDA Philadelphia Annual Holiday Party & Charity Raffle 

Please join us on Wednesday, December 3 , 2014,  for the final IFDA Philadelphia Chapter Event of the year. We will gather at the historic Inn Keep's Kitchen, located at the Dilworthtown Crossroads Village, just south of the town of West Chester.   

Enjoy a festive cocktail hour with an Open Bar followed by a delicious buffet dinner, prepared especially for us by the Inn Keeper's chef in their demonstration kitchen.  Following dinner we will have our annual awards presentation for the 2014 Chapter Board and introduction of the 2015 Chapter Board.   Please join us in thanking your current Board, and meeting your new one!  

The finale of  the evening will be the ever-popular Charity Raffle.  This year "President's choice" charity is Andy's Friends, a Cat Rescue & Adoption Facility.

                                                         History of the Inn Keeper's Kitchen

James Dilworth built the first house here, a log cabin. In 1754, to accommodate his family of 11 children, he built a new home behind that, which eventually became the original section of the Dilworthtown Inn. 

Known by many names during its storied history, the Dilworthtown & Inn Keeper's  were variously called the Sign of the Pennsylvania Farmer, The Black Horse Tavern, Sign of The Rising Sun, and Cross Keys. It got its current name in 1821.The Dilworthtown & Inn Keepers Inn operated as an inn and private residence until 1969, when extensive renovation began. It reopened in 1972 and survived a fire in the mid-1990s.

The British Army occupied the village after the Battle of the Brandywine, inflicting major damage. Losses included broken doors and a sullied staircase as well as missing cattle, horses, hogs, sheep, salt, hay, grain, potatoes, rum, brandy, whiskey, bedding, furniture, china, pewter and clothing.

After the Revolutionary War, Dilworthtown itself became a thriving village located at an important crossroads. A blacksmith shop and a wheelwright shop operated in the village for more than 100 years.

Other vital businesses included a general store, housed in a building constructed in 1754 that served the village and area farmers is now the site of the Blue Pear Bistro.  Dilworthtown was also home to a harness and saddlery shop, a cheese factory, a hat business, a shingle and stave cutting concern and a barrel and powder keg manufacturer. In 1849, that business produced 1,000 powder kegs for the DuPont Co., in addition to 20,000 flour barrels.