Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States Pennsylvania Chadds Ford Archie's Corner

Archie's Corner

These ruins of an octagonal stone school that was later used as an A.U.M.P. church exemplify a popular school design from the 1830s.

Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania

Added By
Ian Hall
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
Archie’s Corner   blimpcaptain / Atlas Obscura User
Archie’s Corner historical marker   blimpcaptain / Atlas Obscura User
Archie’s Corner   blimpcaptain / Atlas Obscura User
Intersection of Ring Road and Bullock Road   blimpcaptain / Atlas Obscura User
Archie’s Corner   blimpcaptain / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

The Bullock Octagonal School was constructed in 1838 on land purchased from Robert Bullock. The eight-sided plan where the design placed the teacher at the center of the room, allowing oversight of the full class.

The school was sold in 1875 and a new schoolhouse was built on neighboring property. In 1891, Linda A. Archie, a Black preacher, bought the property and set about building a church on the site.

"Mother" Archie's African Union Methodist Protestant congregation met in this church until some time after her passing in 1932. A cemetery stands near the ruins of the octagonal building, but only some of the markers for the gravesites that once existed are still visible at the site.

The name Archie's Corner is derived from a 1953 drawing of the site by famed realist painter and artist Andrew Wyeth, a native of Chadds Ford who frequently visited the site. 

Related Tags

Ruins Schools Octagon Buildings

Know Before You Go

There is a small drive just off of Bullock Road near the historical marker. The ruins of the octagonal building and cemetery are open for exploration, but the property on which the replacement octagonal school building was built is on private property. Please respect the owners of that property and limit visitation to the aforementioned ruins.

Community Contributors

Added By

blimpcaptain

Published

March 25, 2022

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • http://www.tgoldmanphotography.com/mother-archiersquos-church-of-chadds-ford-pa.html
Archie's Corner
3 Ring Rd
Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, 19317
United States
39.865122, -75.575735
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Christian Sanderson Museum

Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania

miles away

Smith's Bridge

Wilmington, Delaware

miles away

Brinton 1704 House

West Chester, Pennsylvania

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Chadds Ford

Chadds Ford

Pennsylvania

Places 2

Nearby Places

Christian Sanderson Museum

Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania

miles away

Smith's Bridge

Wilmington, Delaware

miles away

Brinton 1704 House

West Chester, Pennsylvania

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Chadds Ford

Chadds Ford

Pennsylvania

Places 2

Related Places

  • Velha Goa, India

    Gate of St. Paul's College

    All that remains of a 16th-century Jesuit school is this carved, worn gate.

  • Gowar School Ruins

    Gower, Australia

    Gowar School Ruins

    This school was established during the height of the Australian Gold Rush.

  • East Timor

    Escola do Reino de Haudere Ruins

    A surprisingly large and sturdy ruin on the outskirts of a remote village.

  • All that remains is the door.

    Athens, Greece

    Old Madrasa of Athens

    The ruined doorway is a portal to the building's turbulent and torturous past.

  • New York, New York

    P.S. 186

    From scholastic to sepulchral - now under reconstruction.

  • The Point Lobos Marine Exchange Lookout Station seen from the access road

    San Francisco, California

    Land’s End Octagon House

    The one-time watch house for incoming ships at the Golden Gate now stands abandoned and hidden in trees.

  • Port Tobacco, Maryland

    Port Tobacco Schoolhouse

    A remarkably well-preserved one room schoolhouse that dates back to 1876.

  • The island is sometimes accessible on foot at low tide.

    Kamakura, Japan

    Wakae Island Ruins

    The ruins of the oldest artificial island in Japan, still used for mooring today at 800 years old.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.