The William Penn Inn was one of the well-known hotels that operated in Lower Gwynedd Township along with another well-known hotel that turned into a restaurant: the Spring House Tavern.
So how did the hotel change over time? Why was the hotel named after William Penn? Was the hotel actually established in 1714?
The Robert Evans Tract
Originally, the land was owned by Robert Evans (1658-1738), one of the four Evans brothers who settled in Gwynedd 1698. In 1719, his son Hugh Evans (1685-1734) received 275 acres of land in the north-earthen part, next to the Gwynedd Friends Meeting House, of his father's original tract. Later, Hugh's son, Jesse Evans, was given 55 1/2 acres of land from his father until in 1755, he sold it to George Maris for 270 £.
George married Jane Foulke, eldest daughter of William and Hannah Foulke, who owned the Foulke mansion during the 18th century. With their 10 children, they lived on the 55 1/2 acres of land purchased until George died in 1803, leaving behind a large estate he built.
David Acuff the Innkeeper
According to George's will, his son William Maris would take over his estate, but unfortunately died the next year in 1804. It was then passed on to William's nephew Jesse J. Maris, who later moved to Delaware County and sold 104 acres of the property to David Acuff in 1818.
Fun Fact #1: In 1819, David Acuff petitioned a license for his new hotel. He was not granted a license until 1827.
David Acuff (1785-1861) was born in Upper Dublin. Prior to purchasing the former Maris property, he was an innkeeper at a hotel in Spring House for many years.
Fun Fact #2: In 1822, David ran for sheriff in Montgomery County, but lost. It was during the time the Federalists and the Jeffersonian Democrats were rivals. David was one of the three Federalists who ran while Philip Boyer and the other two ran as Democrats. It was 3 Federalists vs. 3 Democrats.
After purchasing the former Maris property, he began operating a hotel. At age 16, his son Jacob Acuff (1817-1898) assisted his father to manage the hotel. Later on he officially took over the hotel until 1874. When his son David Acuff (1851-1911) married and took over his farm, Jacob returned managing the hotel until 1882. During that time, Jacob built a home next to the hotel where he and his wife lived for the rest of their lives.
As a hotel innkeeper, "he was a model of what a man should be in such a position." His wife Elizabeth, as his second-hand, maintained "the hotel in proper condition and keep up the high reputation which it enjoyed."
Algernon G. Yothers
During Jacob's management of the hotel, the hotel was a place for travelers to find reliable resources they needed most. Thus, the name William Penn Inn was born.It was Algernon G. Yothers (1857-1919) who took over the Acuff hotel and made renovations to the place with the help from the architect firm Streans & Castor.
He was born in Hilltown Township in Bucks County. When his mother died, Algernon had to earn money on his own, and he was 13 years old at the time. He worked in Spring House as an apprentice to John Stem, a well-known saddler and harness maker in the area. He then was engaged in the hotel business at the Spring House Hotel and other hotels in Doylestown, Philadelphia, and Norristown.
In 1894, Algernon worked at Hotel Ambler, then at the Three Tuns Hotel in Upper Dublin three years later. In December 1900, he purchased the William Penn Hotel, and immediately became a successful innkeeper along with his wife who operated the hotel with him.
Nicolas DeWilde
After the death of Algernon, his wife closed the William Penn Inn and moved to Ambler. It wasn't long until Belgian-native Nicholas DeWilde leased the property to make changes and cater the high-class and tourists passing by.
Prior to coming to the William Penn Inn, Nicholas conducted a French restaurant in Philadelphia called Le Trianon on 16th and Spruce Streets, and the Le Trianon Hotel in Chestnut Hill.
Fun Fact #3: In 1919, Nicholas DeWilde knew King Albert I of Belgium when he greeted him at the Bellevue-Stratford Hotel in Philadelphia where he previously worked.
Nicolas was the one responsible for adding a third story to the William Penn Inn with the help from Norristown architect Harry Gordon McMurtrie.
Bibliography
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"Descendants of Edward FOULKE: Generation Four." Gwynedd Friends Meeting. Accessed December 24, 2021. https://www.friendsjournal.org/legacy/abington/gwynedd/foulkefour.htm.
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Mueller, A. H. Atlas of the North Penn Section of Montgomery County, Pa., Plate 28, 1916.
Philadelphia Real Estate Record and Builders' Guide, v. 17, n. 51 (1902): 831.
Philadelphia Real Estate Record and Builders' Guide, v. 50, n. 44 (1935): 206.
Roberts, Ellwood. Biographical Annals of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Containing Genealogical Records of Representative Families, Including Many of the Early Settlers and Biographical Sketches of Prominent Citizens, Volume 2. (New York, Chicago: T.S. Benham & Co. and The Lewis Publishing Co., 1904): 489-490.
Scott, J. D. Montgomery County 1877, Gwynedd, North Wales, Ambler, Royer's Ford, Limerick Station, 1877.
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"Whitlock’s Whitpain." Wissahickon Valley Historical Society. Accessed December 24, 2021. https://www.wvalleyhs.org/whittocks-whitpain/.
"William Penn Inn To Be Improved." Ambler Gazette. October 3, 1935. Page 6. http://digitalcollections.powerlibrary.org/cdm/compoundobject/collection/wivp-gazett/id/23307/rec/4.
"Wm. Penn Inn To Be Reopened." Ambler Gazette. February 21, 1924. Page 7. http://digitalcollections.powerlibrary.org/cdm/compoundobject/collection/wivp-gazett/id/16412/rec/1.
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