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History of the Seven Stars Inn
 The History of Seven Stars Inn actually begins before it was known
as such. It began as the homestead of
Gerhard Brumbach who settled
in Vincent Township soon after his marriage to Mary Rittenhouse
Papen in 1718.
The land was then new and uncultivated; a small village of
Lenni-Lenape Indians nestled below the homestead. Gerhard made
friends with them and engaged them to work for him, giving
provisions in return. They were fond of potatoes, turnips and
especially milk. Gerhard earned the honored name of “Minquon”
meaning “never violent of wrong in dealings.”
In about 1720, Samuel Nutt, an Iron Master, opened the first
thoroughfare in this section of
Chester County at his own expense.
This great road, called Ridge or Nutt’s Road, extended by Gerhard
Brumbach’s homestead. With the growing iron industry and the
continued procession of new settlers on Ridge Road, Gerhard found he
was frequently sheltering weary travelers. On May 25, 1736, he
petitioned to His Majesty’s Justices for the privilege of conducting
a Publick House:
“On the ground that he was frequently oppressed by travelers whom he
was obliged to entertain, and that there were no publick houses
within twenty miles below, nor thirty miles above his place on the
Great Road which leads from Philadelphia to the Iron Works, and from
thence to Conestoga.”
 Gerhard prospered, improved his land and erected the first grist
mill along French Creek. In 1741, he gave a plot of ground for the
church “for a burial place for his family, his descendants, and his
neighbors.” This church,
Brownback’s German Reformed, still is in
use today. It stands just below the Ridge Road and is known as
Brownback’s United church of Christ. Gerhard died in 1757; his son
Benjamin succeeded him in conducting the business of the inn.
Benjamin was proprietor during the American Revolution. He was
commissioned a First Lieutenant, 2nd Battalion of the Chester County
Militia. Because of his prominence as a military man, the Inn became
a rendezvous for meetings. In 1776, Colonel John Beaton instructed
the making of gun powder in the old log shop which stood in the
vineyard. On August 30, 1776, Colonel Grubb charged Congress “for 55
breakfasts of Captain Adam’s Company at Benjamin Brownback’s.” It is
documented history that after the Battle of Brandywine, General
George Washington and his Army marched on the Ridge Road in an
attempt to protect the military supplies at the Reading Furnace.
Tradition is that the General departed the Inn at midnight on the
18th of September, 1777, to cross the
Schuylkill River at Parker’s
Ford.
Benjamin continued in business for nearly thirty years. Later he
erected a larger house at the junction of the Lancaster and Ridge
Roads, now called Heistands Corner. Benjamin died in 1786. His
widow, Rachel Parker, was murdered at the age of 85; her assailant
never being captured. The Inn, then known as the “Tavern,” was left
to his son Henry who was proprietor until his death in 1804. During this time the Inn was a bustling center of activity.
At about the peak of the
Conestoga Wagon days, it became a gathering
place for town meetings, elections and celebrations.
 The first appearance of the name Seven Stars dates back to the end of 1808. Then owner Benjamin Custard petitioned the Court of Quarter Sessions to operate as a public house by “the sign of the Seven Stars in the Township of Vincent.” The petition noted that said house “has been kept as a publick house a great number of years”, and was subscribed to by several neighbors including Henry Christman, Peter Brownback and John Longstreth.
The name “Seven Stars" remains a mystery. Some say it was named for
Seven Crossroads, or Seven Daughters. Others say it is for the seven
stars in the
Big Dipper or the Seven Years of America’s War for
Independence. From antiquity people have been fond of using the
number seven in naming their properties. “Seven Stars” was a popular
name for inns and taverns in England and Colonial America. The name
lent itself to simple, clear symbolic signs which were much in use
for the benefit of those who did not speak English.
In 1848, the owner was John Yeager, and avid fox hunter. At that
time the Inn was well known throughout Chester County as a hunter’s
retreat. During Prohibition it was used as a farm home and
headquarters for the sale of cattle. Other owners have been Joshua
Rhoads, George Christman, Jacob Smith, Isaac Davis, Washington
Smith, John Hipple, Russel Latshaw, Herbert Swanson, Kenneth Ott,
and Benjamin and Margaret Pupek. The present owner is Frank
Cacciutti.
 Over the years, work has been done to restore the original building
and add space in keeping with the Inn’s historic charm. The Inn is
decorated with beautiful Tiffany chandeliers, overhead brass
hurricane lanterns and antiques throughout. The bar features a
unique lighted seven point star which is used for an overhead glass
rack.
During construction of the Conestoga room in 1971, an old well was
discovered. While excavating, the contractor found the old well one
foot below ground level. The hand-dug well, believed to have been
dug prior to the building of the Inn, contained over 18 feet of
water. The roof and walls of the old well shaft have been restored.
The contractor also uncovered and arched brick cellar or passageway
measuring six feet wide by thirty feet long. It adjoined the well
and had walls over two and one half feet thick. A portion of it is
now being used as the wine cellar.
Whatever the origins of its name, Seven Stars Inn has become
synonymous through the centuries for gracious hospitality and
generous portions of the fines quality food. The “secret” to this
level of quality has also remained unchanged – purchasing only the
best ingredients and preparing them with fanatical attention to
detail. From Gerhard Brumbach to Frank Cacciutti, the proprietors of
the Seven Stars hope the Inn has brought you a full measure of
comfort and enjoyment and they would like you to note that the Seven
Stars still goes on, as in the beginning.
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