West Hill Manor

West Hill Manor was built between 1797 and 1799 by Samuel and Susanna Emlen, both from prominent Quaker families. It is an elegant, well-preserved local example of the Federal style of architecture as interpreted by wealthy Quakers at the turn of the nineteenth century. Most of the interior features are original, including its 11 fireplaces. The property has also been continually farmed since 1799. Notably, Susanna was one of the earliest breast cancer surgery survivors in the United States. Her letters to her father give visitors a firsthand account of the ordeal from a woman’s point of view. In 1851, the home was purchased by Eliza Gurney, an avid abolitionist and social reformer. The Quaker minister visited President Lincoln in 1862 to assure him of the support of Quakers in his leadership of the Civil War and asked Eliza to corresponded with the President. Her first letter was found in his jacket pocket upon his death. Explore the manor’s well-kept interior and historical exhibits.