Bloomfield Memories and Records

The book Bloomfield Memories and Records was published in 1920 to commemorate reunion of the Chambers family on Saturday was July 31, 1920 at the family homestead "Bloomfield" in Kennett Square.

This collection of first person narratives drawings and photographs paints a vivid picture of the history of the property that would become Anson. B. Nixon Park.

This kind of personal and unfiltered document is rare. It's not a formal history, it’s a patchwork of recollections, poems, photos, and notes created before the voices that spoke them disappeared.

The wonderful everyday details about mills, trees, childhood games, visits with relatives, inventions, local places makes it feel as if you are in the room as they speak. This is how a family understood itself captured in their own words at the moment they realized those memories needed saving.

The authors (Ruth A. Huey, John T. and Alice J. Chambers) note in the introduction

Few family homesteads have to their credit Bloomfield 's long and honor able record, together with the dignity and recognition accorded it by the community in ·which it has stood for so many years.

Following our recent gathering... some of you expressed a desire for some souvenir record of the occasion, and we three, as a self-appointed committee, have given some thought to the subject.

Here's a PDF version of the entire book:

The 1920 Reunion

From an article in the Daily Local News (West Chester, Pennsylvania) · Tuesday, Aug 3, 1920

A GOOD TIME AT "BLOOMFIELD." descendants of John P. and Hannah Thompson Chambers, to the fifth generation, were entertained to at "Bloomfield" on Saturday afternoon and evening.

The event was to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the home at "Bloomfield," the 50th.anniversary of the only other family reunion and the 50th year of the marriage of the host and hostess, Mr. and Mrs. John T. Chambers.

The family gathered from Syracuse, Buffalo, Trenton, Boston, Philadelphia and Wilmington to the number of nearly fifty. Many of these attended the reunion a half-century as little children and had vivid recollections of that day and many other happy days spent at "Bloomfield" afterward. After the joyous meeting of the various relatives the festivities began under the of trees by the reading of an original poem of welcome by Mrs. Stanley Chambers.

There were interesting papers of reminiscences by J. Howard Chambers and John P. Croasdale, and others gave entertaining and amusing incidents of their childhood. There was poem: by Mrs. Wm, A, Mode, and John T. Chambers gave a genealogical record of the family from 1600 and told of the planting and history of the many beautiful trees on the place.

After this the guests adjourned to the west lawn, where a bountiful supper was served. followed in the twilight by singing by the host, beautiful piano music by Mies Marjory Frump and charming songs by Mrs. Willard, a bride of the occasion.

The people present were:
Mr.and Mrs. John T. Chambers
Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Chambers
Mrs. Lindley Kent, Lindley C. Kent, Jr.
Mrs. Ruth A. Huey
Mrs. William A. Bird, Frank Bird, Herman Bird
Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Huey, Miss Elizabeth Huey
Mr. and Mrs. Bertrand Willard
Mr. and Mrs. William A. Mode, Miss Katherine Mode, Miss Josephine Mode, Herbert Mode
Wm. J. Chambers
Mr. and Mrs. Edward N. Trump, Miss Marjorie Trump,
Mr. and Mrs. John P. Croasdale, Miss Hannah Croasdale, J. P. Croasdale. Jr.
Mr. and Mrs. J. Howard Chambers, Miss Edith Chambers, Miss Mary R. Chambers
Mr. and Mrs. Rowland Cornly, Robert R. Cornly,
Dr. Paul Chambers, Miss Sara D. Chambers
Mrs. Frank Thomas, Miss Jeanette Thomas.
Mrs. George W. Chambers, Henry M. Chambers,
Mr. and Mrs. Wm. H. Wyatt, Miss Ellen Wyatt

The 1870 Reunion