The stone house at the corner of Leopard and Sugartown Road, known as Breeze Hill, suffered several fires in 2024. Many local residents may not know that the Sharp family, who built Breeze Hill and the nearby Hawthorne estate, played a significant role in Berwyn’s history.
Breeze Hill was originally part of a larger estate owned by Joseph Sharp and his wife Hannah Lindsey Sharp. Joseph Sharp emigrated to America in 1816, married Hannah in 1822, and established a successful wool and cloth import business in Philadelphia. In 1838, he purchased around 250 acres in Easttown Township. After his death in 1848, the property was divided among his four children. His eldest son, Joseph W. Sharp, inherited both business interests and eventually bought out his siblings’ shares of the land at fair market value.
Joseph W. Sharp (1828-1909) expanded his business to supply materials for indoor plumbing in Philadelphia. By 1857, he had replaced the original farmhouse with Hawthorne, a Victorian country estate that still stands at 521 Leopard Road. At that time, Joseph W. and his sister Rachel were unmarried; Rachel managed the household and served as social hostess.
Joseph W. Sharp contributed to community life as one of the founders of Berwyn National Bank in 1888 and served as its first president. He also held the position of Easttown auditor during the Civil War period. Upon his death in 1909, many considered him “the father” of Berwyn due to his involvement in local affairs during a time of growth along the railroad line.
Historical records from Tredyffrin Easttown Historical Society include diaries from Joseph W. Sharp’s family dating back to 1818 through 1907. These documents provide insights into daily life in eastern Pennsylvania during the nineteenth century.
In 1865, before marrying Sidney Serrill Bunting, Joseph W. began building Breeze Hill for his sister Rachel on family land at Sugartown and Leopard Road. The house did not receive its own deed but appeared on Pennsylvania Railroad maps by 1873.
The property included an older two-story spring house from about 1837 and a barn or stable built around 1865—both structures still stand today; the stable now serves as a garage with remnants of its original use visible inside. Local records suggest Leopard Road was used as part of the Underground Railroad network; it is rumored that escaped slaves found shelter at these buildings while seeking freedom.
Rachel Sharp lived at Breeze Hill until her niece Mary Bunting Sharp married William Morris of Villanova in 1888; they then moved into Breeze Hill and remained there until 1942. In 1901, when Pennsylvania law allowed married women to own property independently, Joseph W. Sharp deeded Breeze Hill to Mary for “$1 and her natural love and affection.”
After leaving Sharp family ownership, subsequent owners made various improvements to Breeze Hill over time. The most recent owners completed major renovations while preserving features like thick stone walls and interior woodwork before the fires occurred; neither the spring house nor barn was damaged by fire.
Sources referenced include TE History Quarterly (October 1993), Historical Society of Philadelphia blog (2014), and Chestercountyramblings.com Blog (July 2024).
