Photo by James Short
Whitpain Township staple has a lengthy history of serving the community
It is a rather iconic landmark for the communities in and around Blue Bell. It’s distinct white shell, and blue shutters have stood on the corner Skippack and Penllyn/Blue Bell pikes since 1743. It is a location that has welcomed everyone from our nation’s founding fathers, to local families for centuries. There are not many businesses that can say they’ve remained operational for 281 years.
The Blue Bell Inn, located at 601 W. Skippack Pike, in Blue Bell, has stood the test of time. It was even recently named on Restaurant Clicks’ “Oldest Bars in America.”
The Inn, which was first called the White House, was first a space known for lodging hunters. It was later marked on soldiers’ maps that pre-date even the Revolutionary War, as a place for weary travelers. By the time of the American Revolution, the Inn had made its mark on history.
“After the defeat at the Battle of Germantown, George Washington and his troops retreated to the Blue Bell area and made their headquarters on Lewis Lane from Oct. 6 to Dec. 15, 1777,” according to the Blue Bell Inn’s website. “During this time, Washington often stayed at the Inn.”
According to the Wissahickon Historical Society, Washington was accompanied by 10,000 troops who camped in what is today’s Blue Bell Country Club area, as they prepared to defend the then-capital, Philadelphia. Philadelphia, 20 miles south of the Inn, was then the second-largest English-speaking town in the world, second only to London.
Wissahickon Historical Society’s Carol Kalos described the deep histories of the Inn in a June 2024 issue of “Stroll,” even sharing some of the building’s lore.
“Although a hard worker, Washington, well over six-feet tall and an elegant dancer, had a reputation for being easily charmed by the ladies,” wrote Kalos. She relates a story from the Whitpain Crossroads in Time, 1977, that the general once overheard kitchen maids whispering about him.
“One of them, obviously enthralled by the tall, graceful leader, said she wished to give him ‘one good, sweet kiss,’” Kalos wrote in Stroll. “Washington pushed open the door and offered to oblige her, but not one of the giggling maids admitted to making the remark. Imagine their blushes when he gave each of them a kiss.”
If you are curious how the “White House” suddenly became the “Blue Bell” Inn, then you’d have to review history circa 1796, when, according to the Inn’s history webpage, “a tower was erected over the Inn to house a distinct bell.” That’s when the establishment opted to change its name to The Blue Bell Inn, which has stuck ever since, and even lent itself to rename its entire surrounding town from Pigeontown to Blue Bell.
Though the Inn has changed hands several times since, it has still maintained its charm. It has remained in business for its entire run. It’s current co-owner, Scott Dougherty, worked his way up through the ranks of the Inn, starting as a busboy, then a maître de, until he was a general manager.
In 2013, Dougherty partnered with Bruce Goodman and Kevin Clib, to officially purchase the Blue Bell Inn. The group has worked with its staff to make it a fine dining restaurant that is open still today.
The Blue Bell Inn is open Monday through Thursday, from 11:30 to 9 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. On Sundays, the Inn opens from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
For more information on the Blue Bell Inn, call 215-646-2010 or email [email protected].
