Descendants of Andrew Moore, one of the founders of Sadsbury Friends Meeting, are invited to attend a celebration of the 300th anniversary of his arrival in the United States. The event will include an open house at Greenwood Forge, Andrew Moore's homestead, 300 Swan Road, Atglen, on Saturday, Oct. 14, from 1 to 7 p.m. for Moore family members.

The event is being hosted by Bill Wilde, who owns Greenwood Forge, which was Moore's original homestead from 1723 to 1763. A direct descendant of Moore, Wilde has been living in and completing restoration work at the home since 1986.

"(Moore) got off the boat in 1723 from Ireland in New Castle, Delaware," said Wilde, noting that Moore was encouraged to leave Ireland and come to the United States by his brothers. "He had two brothers already in Chester County that came over ahead of him. They established one of the first gristmills on the Brandywine River in Downingtown." Although it no longer exists, there was also gristmill on the homestead property.

Wilde was always interested in acquiring the property. "I always knew it was my ancestors' homestead because I was told that as a little boy growing up in Parkesburg," he stated.

Wilde explained that he made a connection with the homestead's previous owner Hugh Douglass, who was his French teacher in seventh and eighth grades at Octorara. "We struck up a friendship (because of) our mutual connection that we are both descendants of Andrew Moore," Wilde said. "I told him I would be interested in buying the house. He told me that he didn't want anyone else to have it."

Wilde has since been restoring the home, with a goal of bringing the house back to its 18th-century appearance. Restoration work has included painting, glazing and painting the window sashes, replacing windows and reconstructing an outdoor retaining wall. "I do all the restoration work myself," Wilde shared. "It is a passion of mine."

Tours of the home will be featured during the event on Oct. 14, and visitors will be able to see the home's 18th-century walk-in fireplace. The day will also include food and demonstrations by craftsmen. "(The event) is for descendants of Andrew Moore and there are quite a few of them in this area and across the country," said Wilde. "We will have a large tent set up outside. People can meet and greet one another and talk about their ancestral lines. Later in the day, we will have an Irish band coming."

Following the 10:15 a.m. Sunday service on Oct. 15 at Sadsbury Friends Meeting, 1089 Simmontown Road Gap, which is open to the public, a private Colonial dinner will be served at the homestead at 1 p.m. "We will serve an 18th-century menu, some of which will be cooked in the fireplace," Wilde said. The dinner is limited to 26 attendees, and a fee will be charged per person.

Wilde has established a Facebook page - http://www.facebook.com/andrewmoorehomestead - that details the restoration work that has been completed at the site, as well as information about the upcoming reunion events. Those who would like to reserve a space for the private dinner are asked to contact Wilde through the Facebook page or by email at bjwilde@epix.net.