Historical Photos Location Revealed

It's time for the answer to 's Historical Snapshot challenge, which featured an array of photos depicting a farm setting. This is one of the more involved historical photo answers we've featured, so we'll break it into sections:

Short answer: The lead photo was taken in 1956 or '57, and depicts a barn that has since burned down. The barn and surrounding land took up the whole area of Beth Lane and what is called the Down East. The barn was part of the farm that was owned by the residents of 261 Swedesford (modern photo above) which is at the junction with Conestoga Road (Route 401). 

Correct answers: This was one of the most popular photo challenges yet, with lots of guesses in the comments. missed the location, but did guess correctly that the barn pictured had burned down. Only two readers had the correct answer:

: The house sure looks a lot like the one at the corner of 401 and Swedsford rds.

: This is a total guess---possibly the farm that became the "Down East" development along Swedesford Road in E Whiteland? There remains a lovely old house and a stone barn off Winding Way. Down East was built in the late 50's/early 60's. The photo with the high tension lines was a clue and they run between that area and rt. 30 to the south...but again, just guessing! The photos are great, love the one with the little girl leading the huge cow.

Background: The East Whiteland Historical Commission interviewed Sue Gualatieri, a former East Whiteland resident who provided the old photos. Here's what she had to say:

"In 1953 I moved in to the ranch homes that line Route 401 just west of People's Light.  I moved in when I was 18 months old. My father Roberts Whyte befriended the then farmer at the farm situated at the corner of Swedesford and Route 401 or Conestoga Roads.  We used to walk up there together. 

The farmer's name was Elisha Forsythe.  Elisha and his family lived in the "farmer's house" which is currently on the market...it is situated in the fork of the road between Swedesford and Conestoga a little further up 401 from where the barn was situated.  The owner's name was Mr. Ivy. He lived in the lovely stone house directly across Swedesford from the Barn (near the triangle and traffic light currently. 

I have photos of the barn and in one or two of them you can see the Ivy house as well.  It was a working farm, with cows, a bull ..with papers named, Anconi, chickens, a silo, and a great hay mow. 

One of my scariest memories as a small child was the night the barn burned down.  At my house ...84 Conestoga Road (down near the entrance to Beth Circle) The sky was red and the flames were high in the sky.  My father and Elisha were members of the East Whiteland Volunteer Fire company, so they were both there that night."

Adding to the intrigue, Historical Commission member Tim Caban said that he'd spoken with the current resident of 261 Swedesford, who indicated the circumstances of the barn fire were not clear:

She said that a few years ago, two old black women came up and knocked on her door.  They said they had been servants in the house in the 50's and that the farmer at the time was being pressured to sell by the township so they could develop his land.  He didn't want to sell and just kept farming.  They said that the fire and the circumstances surrounding it were very suspicious at the time and that after the barn burned down, the owner of 261 swedesford who's name I guess was Mr Ivy lost heart and sold his land to allow for the development.

When the barn burned down, it also affected the farmer Elisha Forsythe.  Then without a livelihood, he went to work as a custodian at what became KD Markley elementary school where he served for many years.

Caban also shed some light on the people in the old photos of the farm:

• The man in the pictures (farmer on tractor and holding girls hand) is Elisha Forsythe - the farmer turned janitor when the barn burned down.
• Sue's name was Sue Whyte when the pics were taken.  The picture with the woman holding a baby is her mom Frances Whyte holding Sue as a baby.  That picture is taken in front of 84 Conestoga Road (401) as it was being built.  The houses cost $11,990 when they were built.
• There was a plaque that memorialized Elisha Forsythe's service as a custodian that was on an old building that was used as classrooms behind the current admin building.  It was since torn down.  

Thanks to everyone who offered a guess. If you click "Keep me posted" below, you'll be notified by email of the next Historical Snapshot challenge.