Our Story

The (Short) Story of the Village of Intercourse

   This village was originally known as “Cross Keys.” Its first structure, built at the intersection of the two main roads passing through the area, was The Cross Keys Tavern (this building now houses the Lunch Basket).
   In 1814 the name “Intercourse” was adopted when George Brungard attempted to expand the village, which had grown to include five buildings. Brungard bought 48 acres of land in Intercourse and divided them into 151 lots. Hoping to sell the lots for $250 each, Brungard planned a drawing to award the lots by number. The lottery was unsuccessful, and the development of the village proved slow.
    A second tavern, the Travelers Rest Inn, was built in 1827 by Lemuel Sapington (at the northwest corner of the west intersection). Two brothers, Jacob and Joseph Wenger, then built a series of houses, including a store building in 1833 (The Old Country Store  now stands on that site).
    The village continued to grow, a small, friendly town in the middle of a fertile agricultural heartland. Today the population of Intercourse (not officially organized as a town) is estimated at 900 persons.

How the Village of Intercourse Got Its Name

    Visitors and local residents alike speculate about how the name “Intercourse” was chosen for this village. Three theories are commonly discussed, but none of the explanations can be proven.
One possibility relates to an old racetrack which was once located east of the village. The entrance to the course was positioned at the eastern end of town, and it was referred to as “enter course.” Some believe that this term gradually changed to “Intercourse.”
    The second theory regards the roads that cross in the village. The Old King’s Highway (now the Old Philadelphia Pike) ran through the town from east to west. The Newport Road (connecting to Newport, Delaware), ran southeasterly through the village and crossed the Old Philadelphia Pike in front of The Cross Keys Tavern (now the Lunch Basket). Some say that the intersection, or “intercourse” of the two roads, led to the village’s name.
    A third idea comes from writing dating to the early days of the town. The word “intercourse” was commonly used to refer to casual social interaction and friendship, certainly a part of a rural village like this one.
    Whether any of these theories are true or not, the name “Intercourse” was adopted in 1814 and has been used ever since.

The Story of The Old Country Store

    The first store in Intercourse was opened in 1833 at this location by Jacob Wenger. One year later, Moses Eaby took over the store, and eventually his son Jason joined him in the business. A fire in the fall of 1881 destroyed the store, but it was quickly rebuilt, this time in brick. In 1913 Jason died, and his wife, Amanda Zook Eaby, took over the store.
    Amanda passed the store responsibilities on to Ralph S. Worst in 1926, and eventually sold the business to him in 1931. Worst started a blacksmith shop behind the store, and opened the building next to the store (where the Village Pottery and Crafts of the World are now located), selling hardware and farming supplies. An elevator in the store was used to lift grains and hardware from the basement, and is still preserved in the Village Pottery.
    Through the years, the store has had a variety of occupants, including an antique business and a quilt shop. In 1984, the property was acquired by Merle and Phyllis Good and their partners (who also operate The People’s Place). They have overseen The Old Country Store since then, offering fabric, locally created crafts, quilting supplies, and food. The second floor of the Store features the nationally-acclaimed People’s Place Quilt Museum and The Museum Shop.

Milestones in the Life of the Village of Intercourse