 |
| Hewlings House today |
Located on Evesboro-Medford Road, the Hewlings House is a memory of a by-gone day. The Hewlings were the 2nd family to settle in Evesham (after the Eves family) in 1678, when William Hewlings emigrated from England. In 1684, he purchased the land where the Hewlings House still stands. The house was built in 1832 by his great great grandson Amos. It was the Hewlings home for the next 6 generations.
 |
| Map of Evesboro, 1876, showing location of Hewling House |
In 1910, Mel Stow contracted to farm shares of the property and live in the back wing of the house. His son, John Morgan Stow, was born there in 1912. J Morgan grew up in the house and in 1940, he married his childhood sweetheart Thelma from the neighboring farm in the house as well.
In 1952, J Morgan Stow bought the farm, raising numerous crops for the next two decades.
 |
| Pumpkins from Stow Farm, 1968 |
 |
| J Morgan Stow, 1968 |
In 1972, after J. Morgan and his wife Thelma’s only son decided to become an engineer, they sold the farm (except for 4 acres) to Stow Acres, a partnership that purchased the land for investment purposes, with an eye on future development. The 110 acre farm, with 2600 feet of frontage on Evesboro-Medford Road sold for $430,738. The Stow's kept 4 acres adjacent to the farm and built a small home there. They had a direct view of their old farm from their new home and were able to watch what was to come.
 |
| Stow Farm sold in June, 1972. Hewlings House in the background. |
Throughout the 70s, there were several approved submissions at the planning board to build 250-275 single family homes, but the plans fell through. Despite it never being developed, 'Stow Acres' still appears on many maps today.
 |
| USGS Map showing Stow Acres |
There is even a ‘paper neighborhood’, a map showing a neighborhood layout and street names, though the roads were never built. While somewhat similar perhaps, Tenby Lane and Hewlings Drive of Westbury Chase today do not quite correspond with Cornburn Drive and Governors Boulevard of the mythical Stow Acres.
 |
| 'Paper neighborhood' - Stow Acres mapped but never built. Roads across the street in Evesboro Downs were never built either. (Photo courtesy of John Flack) |
Scarborough purchased the land in 1986, and as part of the approved development deal, agreed to fix up the Hewlings House.
The name of the neighborhood was changed to Westbury Chase, and the Hewlings House, restored to its former condition, was used as a sales office for the new neighborhood.
 |
| Boarded up Hewlings House at the time of Scarborough purchase |
The name of the neighborhood was changed to Westbury Chase, and the Hewlings House, restored to its former condition, was used as a sales office for the new neighborhood.
 |
| Hewling House in 1989 after renovation |
Westbury Chase opened in 1988.
 |
| Westbury Chase under construction, 1988 |
J Morgan and Thelma Stow were on hand when the newly renovated Hewlings House was re-opened, as honored guests of the Scarborough corporation.
 |
| J Morgan Stow and Thelma Stow in 1990 |
Westbury Chase was built from 1988 through 1994 and contains approximately 254 homes.
In addition to farming, Morgan Stow was a bus driver for the Evesham Township School District for 31 years, until he retired in 1985. The Stows remained in Evesham their entire life - Morgan died in 1996. Thelma died in 2008.
Like my Facebook Page to get the latest posts - A View From Evesham. You can email me at MarltonNeil@yahoo.com.
Like my Facebook Page to get the latest posts - A View From Evesham. You can email me at MarltonNeil@yahoo.com.