About Us

First, A Brief History of the PENNWOOD CIVIC ASSOCIATION.

Notes from Long Time Association Member, Frank Trolio

In 1794, the property now known as the Pennwood neighborhood was acquired by the Westtown School under the Friends Fiduciary Corporation. In those early days, the school cared for this tract as an apple orchard.

The Pennwood tract of land consisting of 64 acres was sold to the Westtown Development Company on Feb. 26, 1958. It was divided into 47 residential lots and a common area we now call the "pond" consisting of 6.3 acres. The residential lots are typically one acre each.

Three new streets were cut through the property. Fox Place was named after George Fox, founder of Quakerism in England in the mid 17th century. Carter Place was named after Mr. John Carter, known for his work in establishing a museum of ornithology at Westtown School. Carroll Brown was named after Mr. Carroll Brown, a renowned teacher at Westtown School. Lees Link was named after Mr. Jim Lees, the general contractor who built most of the homes in the neighborhood. Construction of homes began in 1958.

The date of origination of the Pennwood Civic Association is listed as April 5th, 1961 and the 6.3 acres of pond land was deeded to the association for $1.00 on Aug. 11, 1961 by the Westtown Development Co.

During the early years the pond was clean without sediment. Sand was brought in to make a beach and kids and adults swam there. The Goshen Fire Co. brought in equipment and crews for training weekly using the pond water. It was considered a practical source for water to be pumped into tankers for fires in the area, because there were no public water lines in the area at that time.

In the 1980's, algae and other plant life began to grow in and under the water. The pond was no longer suitable for swimming or for the Goshen Fire Company. Since that time the conditions at the pond have further deteriorated.

The focus of the Pennwood Civic Association today is to restore the pond area, getting it back to what it once was.

About the PCA

We do not function as a Home Owners Association (HOA). We are a volunteer civic association whose mission is to maintain and restore our private pond area, and to strengthen our community through collaboration and environmental stewardship. The association is 100% voluntary, so there is no penalty for neighbors who choose to abstain from the association. Being part of the Pennwood Civic Association has many benefits however, such as access to the private pond, invitations to community events, and added insurance protection under our membership policy.