At this crossroads, during the American Revolution, the war was brought home on a daily basis. The British soldiers occupied Philadelphia. They needed food and feed for their animals. The abundant Pennsylvania countryside could provide it, but the American forces sought to cut off any supplies from passing from the Tory farmers in Chester County along the main road leading east to the city, the Goshen Road. General Anthony Wayne had been born and raised in the area, a mile or two up the road at Waynesborough, and knew the roads and the people. As a result, troops and an American spy were stationed at the Lewis farm down the Goshen road from the local inn and tavern, to keep watch on the traffic headed east, report back to General Washington at Valley Forge, and stop any supplies intended for the British in Philadelphia. The British in turn would send out raiding parties, to take from local farmers what they would not sell, including their horses, their crops, and in the more abusive cases, their household goods. The ebb and flow of American and British troops continued throughout that fall, each passing by the local crossroads tavern that furnished liquid refreshment to both sides. 

At this crossroads, a young boy with artistic talent began to sketch, and was taught by local Indians how to use items found in nature to make colors with which to paint. The boy, son of the tavern keeper, went on to become court painter to King George III, a painter of international renown with his work sought by every great museum in the world. He is remembered in the art world as Benjamin West, father of American Painting.