Newtown Township celebrated a milestone on Saturday, May 3rd, as the Board of Supervisors and Equus Capital Partners participated in a ceremonial signing and transfer of the 1742 Square Tavern. A large turnout of local residents, township officials, historic society members and friends witnessed Leonard Altieri, chairman of the board of supervisors, and Steve Spaeder of Equus Capital Partners sign over the Square Tavern
property to Newtown Township.
The property, at the corner of Goshen Road and North Newtown Street Road, dates back to 1742 and has been preserved through several renovations over the years. The property includes the historic building, the surrounding yard, the parking lot and the trailhead. The parking lot is also an integral access point to the Township’s trail system.
Earlier this year, the Newtown Township Board of Supervisors announced that Equus Capital Partners had agreed to donate The Square Tavern to Newtown Township. This generous donation ensures that this historic property, which is significant and provides access to one of Newtown Township’s most popular trails, is preserved in perpetuity. In addition to the property transfer, Equus Capital Partners agreed to donate $25,000 for future maintenance projects.
An open house followed with traditional colonial tavern music, food and drink and a special art exhibit of Carl and Alice Lindborg’s work. Both Carl and Alice were artists, educators and historians who volunteered their time and talents to Newtown Township for many years. In fact, if you have visited our Newtown Township library and administrative building the last few years, you likely noticed two colorful Lindborg paintings: Across the Line at the top of the staircase and Les Danseurs at the bottom.
Carl’s paintings have been exhibited in notable places such as the Whitney Museum in New York and the Corcoran Gallery in Washington, DC. In mid-life, he took up sculpture, and produced the William Penn statue at Pennsbury Manor, Revolutionary War scenes on the Fort Mercer Monument, the bust of John Hanson at Old Swedes Church in Philadelphia and the seven-foot tall statue of Governor Printz at his namesake park, the site of the Swedish settlement on the Delaware River. Carl’s bust of his wife, Alice is on display nearby at the Paper Mill House Museum.
Alice was an accomplished pianist, a landscape artist and a full partner with her husband in their Newtown Township history work. In their spare time, the Lindborgs were two of the founding members of the Newtown Square Historical Society and the primary editors of the 1984 book The History of Newtown Township, spearheading an effort by a variety of residents and writers to research and publish a comprehensive 300-year history of Newtown Township.
The Square Tavern—childhood home of American artist Benjamin West (1783-1820)—has long stood as a symbol of Newtown’s heritage. It is known to be where he began his extraordinary career as a world-renowned artist and teacher. Known as the Father of American painting, Benjamin West spent his childhood years at the Square Tavern, where his father worked. His art caught the attention of many prolific individuals who sent him to study in Italy. He then established a studio in London, was selected as a court painter to King George III, and became one of the founders of the Royal Academy of the Arts in London; he is buried at St. Paul’s Cathedral there.
During its ownership of the Square Tavern, Equus continuously supported the Newtown Township Historical Society and graciously allowed the Society to use the property without charge for activities and events, including art shows, monthly open houses and tours for the public on its Historic Newtown Square Day. With the transfer of the building, adjacent yard, parking area, and trailhead, we take a major step forward in transforming this landmark into a publicly accessible hub for education, culture and connection.
“This isn’t just about acquiring a historic building—it’s about thoughtful leadership and delivering on our promises,” said Leonard Altieri, Chairman of the Board of Supervisors. “The Board heard the community loud and clear: the Square Tavern matters. Together, we’ve taken decisive action to preserve it and weave it back into the fabric of daily life. This acquisition reflects the Board’s commitment to protecting our heritage while planning responsibly for the future. The Square Tavern is no longer just a landmark—it’s a symbol of what we can achieve when we lead with vision and unity.”
We are fortunate to live in an area so rich in history and to have many friends and neighbors committed to preserving and educating our community. We must thank Equus Capital Partners, our Newtown Square Historical Society and our Newtown Township Administrators and Elected Officials for their ongoing commitment to keeping Newtown Square’s essential landmarks and stories alive.