Photos by Jeffrey Totaro
West Chester’s oldest home gets a thoughtful restoration—without sacrificing its colorful history.
Nearly a century after renowned architect R. Brognard Okie reimagined Dower House for novelist Joseph Hergesheimer, the storied West Chester residence is beginning another chapter. Built in the 18th century and shaped over generations, Dower House is the oldest continuously occupied home in the West Chester borough. Part colonial farmhouse, part architectural landmark, part literary salon, it continues to be defined by its hand-hewn beams and deep plaster walls…