Historical Info
North Coventry Elementary School
The history of North Coventry Elementary School is rooted deep in the community’s educational past. The original school campus was made up of two buildings located along South Hanover Street in North Coventry Township. One of these buildings holds special significance—it served as the first high school in the area, welcoming its first students in 1912.
For more than four decades, the school educated generations of local students before closing as a high school in 1956. This change occurred when seven surrounding townships joined together to form the Owen J. Roberts School District, marking an important moment of growth and collaboration in local education.
Pictured below is a historic photograph of the original high school on South Hanover Street, a reminder of the strong foundation upon which North Coventry Elementary School continues to build today.
Owen J. Roberts
Owen J. Roberts School District is proudly named after Owen Josephus Roberts, a distinguished public servant whose life reflected a deep commitment to education, justice, and community. Born on May 2, 1875, in Germantown, Pennsylvania, Roberts showed exceptional academic promise from an early age. He attended the University of Pennsylvania, graduating as valedictorian in 1895, and went on to earn his law degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law School.
Justice Roberts built a highly respected legal career, serving as First District Attorney in Philadelphia and practicing corporate and estate law. In addition to his work in the courtroom, he shared his knowledge as a professor at the University of Pennsylvania Law School, demonstrating his lifelong dedication to learning and teaching.
From 1930 to 1945, Owen J. Roberts served as an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court. He became nationally known as a “swing justice,” often casting the deciding vote in closely divided cases and helping shape the direction of the Court during a pivotal time in American history.
Justice Roberts developed a strong connection to northern Chester County in 1929 when he purchased Bryncoed, a 700-acre farm in the Birchrunville area. What began as a country retreat grew into a place where he actively raised crops and cattle, embracing rural life and becoming an engaged member of the local community. Throughout his life, he generously volunteered his time in service to others, reflecting the values of leadership and civic responsibility that continue to inspire the district today.
Justice Roberts passed away on May 17, 1955, at the age of 80, and is laid to rest at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church. His legacy lives on through the Owen J. Roberts School District, where students are encouraged to pursue excellence, integrity, and service—values exemplified by the district’s namesake.
