Morton Homestead
Encyclopedia
Morton Homestead is a historic homestead
that is part of Morton Homestead State Park at 100 Lincoln Avenue in Prospect Park, Pennsylvania
.
The homestead was founded in 1654 by Morton Mortenson, a Finnish immigrant, when the area was part of the New Sweden
colony. Mortenson's great-grandson, John Morton
, signed the Declaration of Independence
in 1776. Parts of the current house date back to the 1698 with a large addition constructed in the 18th century. The site was added to the National Register of Historic Places
in 1970.
Homestead (buildings)
A homestead is either a single building, or collection of buildings grouped together on a large agricultural holding, such as a ranch, station or a large agricultural operation of some other designation.-See also:* Farm house* Homestead Act...
that is part of Morton Homestead State Park at 100 Lincoln Avenue in Prospect Park, Pennsylvania
Prospect Park, Pennsylvania
Prospect Park is a borough in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 6,594 at the 2000 census. It originated as a bedroom community of Philadelphia...
.
The homestead was founded in 1654 by Morton Mortenson, a Finnish immigrant, when the area was part of the New Sweden
New Sweden
New Sweden was a Swedish colony along the Delaware River on the Mid-Atlantic coast of North America from 1638 to 1655. Fort Christina, now in Wilmington, Delaware, was the first settlement. New Sweden included parts of the present-day American states of Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania....
colony. Mortenson's great-grandson, John Morton
John Morton (politician)
John Morton was a farmer, surveyor, and jurist from the Province of Pennsylvania. As a delegate to the Continental Congress during the American Revolution, he provided the swing vote that allowed Pennsylvania to vote in favor of the United States Declaration of Independence...
, signed the Declaration of Independence
Declaration of independence
A declaration of independence is an assertion of the independence of an aspiring state or states. Such places are usually declared from part or all of the territory of another nation or failed nation, or are breakaway territories from within the larger state...
in 1776. Parts of the current house date back to the 1698 with a large addition constructed in the 18th century. The site was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1970.