Main Liner's opinion of Kennett Square (Chester, West Chester: school district, living, gardens)

[Pocopsonite]

The other day I came away from a conversation that left me shaking my head in both disbelief and dismay. A friend who lives in Bryn Mawr, works in West Chester, made an offhand comment about the amount of drinking and number of bars in Kennett Square.

I live in West Chester, but in the southern part of the mailing address. About a mile north of Longwood Gardens. So 5 miles or so from Kennett.

I was stunned when he referred to the heavy drinking and concomitant problems with alcoholism in Kennett Square. He joked about how many AA chapters there must be "down there." I had never heard that stereotype before.

Wow. Is Kennett Square known as an alcoholic enclave "up there" on the Main Line? Yes, I know the property values are lower and the school district isn't Lower Merion. But I was so surprised to hear there's a very distinct bias about Kennett Square. Or are the other towns around here also disdained? Chadds Ford, e.g.? (FWIW, yeah, I've heard about the "terrible mushroom smell." Already know that's a problem a few times a year at most unless you're living quite close to a mushroom farm. We never have the problem.)

I'd be interested to hear what else "Kennett Square" brings to mind.

[ElijahAstin]

Originally Posted by Pocopsonite

The other day I came away from a conversation that left me shaking my head in both disbelief and dismay. A friend who lives in Bryn Mawr, works in West Chester, made an offhand comment about the amount of drinking and number of bars in Kennett Square.

I live in West Chester, but in the southern part of the mailing address. About a mile north of Longwood Gardens. So 5 miles or so from Kennett.

I was stunned when he referred to the heavy drinking and concomitant problems with alcoholism in Kennett Square. He joked about how many AA chapters there must be "down there." I had never heard that stereotype before.

Wow. Is Kennett Square known as an alcoholic enclave "up there" on the Main Line? Yes, I know the property values are lower and the school district isn't Lower Merion. But I was so surprised to hear there's a very distinct bias about Kennett Square. Or are the other towns around here also disdained? Chadds Ford, e.g.? (FWIW, yeah, I've heard about the "terrible mushroom smell." Already know that's a problem a few times a year at most unless you're living quite close to a mushroom farm. We never have the problem.)

I'd be interested to hear what else "Kennett Square" brings to mind.

No, Kennett Square is not ubiquitous with alcoholism on the Main Line. There's no distinct negative bias to speak of, and I'm surprised you'd equate one offhand remark with with region-wide disdain.

I've heard people from all over talk about the "mushroom smell," so to the extent that's overstated, it's a very widespread notion.

[cpomp]

Originally Posted by Pocopsonite

The other day I came away from a conversation that left me shaking my head in both disbelief and dismay. A friend who lives in Bryn Mawr, works in West Chester, made an offhand comment about the amount of drinking and number of bars in Kennett Square.

I live in West Chester, but in the southern part of the mailing address. About a mile north of Longwood Gardens. So 5 miles or so from Kennett.

I was stunned when he referred to the heavy drinking and concomitant problems with alcoholism in Kennett Square. He joked about how many AA chapters there must be "down there." I had never heard that stereotype before.

Wow. Is Kennett Square known as an alcoholic enclave "up there" on the Main Line? Yes, I know the property values are lower and the school district isn't Lower Merion. But I was so surprised to hear there's a very distinct bias about Kennett Square. Or are the other towns around here also disdained? Chadds Ford, e.g.? (FWIW, yeah, I've heard about the "terrible mushroom smell." Already know that's a problem a few times a year at most unless you're living quite close to a mushroom farm. We never have the problem.)

I'd be interested to hear what else "Kennett Square" brings to mind.

I have never heard that either. One mean lone wolf shouldn't cause you to worry.

Plus Chadds Ford is nicer than most of the Main Line anyway.

[ElijahAstin]

Originally Posted by cpomp

I have never heard that either. One mean lone wolf shouldn't cause you to worry.

Plus Chadds Ford is nicer than most of the Main Line anyway.

It's far more spread out/less developed, as country exurbs are wont to be. Whether that's better or worse is a matter of perspective.

Seriously though, I've never heard a Main Line snob put down Kennett Square, which is beyond most residents' sphere of familiarity. It's almost an hour away from Bryn Mawr, after all. Ditto to Chadds Ford.

[Pine to Vine]

Originally Posted by Pocopsonite

I'd be interested to hear what else "Kennett Square" brings to mind.

Mushrooms

[MikeNigh]

And in other news mainline resident has snobbish attitude about other region.

[ElijahAstin]

Originally Posted by MikeNigh

And in other news mainline resident has snobbish attitude about other region.

Really no different from other similarly affluent areas. Regardless, having any strong opinion about Kennett Square is a new one for me. Not a whole lot of cross-travel between the two regions.

[selhars]

It's almost an hour away from Bryn Mawr, after all. Ditto to Chadds Ford.

Almost an hour? How are you getting there walking?
Just kidding of course, but it's not quite that long.
I do tend to speed though.....

[ElijahAstin]

Originally Posted by selhars

Almost an hour? How are you getting there walking?
Just kidding of course, but it's not quite that long.
I do tend to speed though.....

Without traffic, Google Maps says 50 minutes to Kennett Square and 41 minutes to Chadds Ford.

[selhars]

Yes I know, I looked it up before commenting. Not arguing. It still just doesn't seem to me to take that long. That's all.
Also, 45 minutes. (to me) is not 'almost and hour.'