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olebury hronicleVolume 15, No.3 Autumn 2013

S CA newsletter of the Solebury Township Historical Society

INSIDE THISISSUE

– President’s Letter

– Revolutionary War Tour

– Website update

– New books in Library

– Business Members

– Campaign forSchoolhouse repairs

– New members

– Thank yous

– Upcoming events

– Scholarship

– Hidden CollectionsInitiative

History Quiz?

The Solebury Township Historical Society is“Repeating” our wildly successful dinner fundraiserfrom 2003 to help us raise money towards our goal of$45,000 needed to cover renovations to our Soleburyjewel, the one-room schoolhouse.

Indulge in a wonderful evening of convivialityand great repast in gracious settings. Reserve earlyand meet us at the barn at Rolling Green Farm at 5:30p.m. on Saturday, September 21, 2013. Enjoycocktails, meet neighbors and at last discover whereand with whom you will be dining. You will then headto one of eleven different homes where you will bethe recipient of a gourmet meal prepared by MasterChef Ian Knauer.

Space is limited, so do not miss out. Visit ourwebsite to secure your reservations:soleburyhistory.org. Or call organizer John Touheyto arrange to pay by check, 215-297-9799.

STHS Repeats HistoryA one-night only extravaganza

Many thanks to our PatronsMr. Art Mazzei & Mr. George KuebrichMrs. Naudain SellersRockwood Wealth ManagementMs. Barbara DonnellyFirst National Bank & Trust Company of NewtownBountiful AcresMr. & Mrs. Thomas HolmesMr. John Touhey & Dr. Michael PredigerMr. Rick LansillRago ArtsMs. Gayle Goodman & Mr. Jim SearingGeorge Nakashima Woodworker, SAFinkels HardwareNew Hope Crushed StoneTinsman Bros., Inc.Paxson Hill FarmFREEMAN’S AUCTIONEERS & APPRAISERS

FriendsAugenblick & Company , P.C.

ContributorsMr. Ian KnauerMr. Richard CarlsonNancy Heyrich & Janet EshlemanChico’s Peddler’s Village *

* Shop at chico’s at Peddler’s Villagebetween September 6 and 20, 2013, and Chico’swill donate 10% of the amount of your purchaseto the STHS when you mention either theSolebury Township Historical Society or theRepeats History dinner.

Don’t Miss our Annual Picnic!Fiesta Mexicana

Sunday, August 25, 4-7 p.m.Home of Linda Kenyon

3015 Sugan Road, New Hope (park in Trinity Church parking lot)

Suggested donation $5

We provide the burgers, sausages, hot dogs, buns, wine, beer, margaritas and music. Please bringyour favorite covered dish—it does not need to be a Mexican dish.

No reservations necessaryWhat was the firstmajor road in SoleburyTownship?

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Solebury Township Historical SocietyDrawer 525

Solebury, Pennsylvania 18963215-297-5091

www.soleburyhistory.org

Board of Directors

Donneta Crane, PresidentBeth Carrick, Vice PresidentElaine Crooks, TreasurerRayna Polsky, SecretaryJim Brown, Oral HistoryGwen Davis, ResearchJoan Fitting, Archives

Melody Hunt, DevelopmentLinda Kenyon, Events

Robert McEwen, Education

Presidents Message

Board EmeritusSally Jagoe

Franca Warden

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Answer to Do You Know?

This is the house where Edward Redfield lived from 1898 until hisdeath in 1965. Redfield is one of the most well-known of the PAImpressionists who lived and worked in the New Hope-Soleburyarea. Congratulations to Sally Drayer and Gail Keim for guessingthe right answer within hours or receiving the Chronicle!

What an exciting, busy year it has been. We are working on somany projects, plans and events that we are constantly busy andloving it. Repairs on the schoolhouse will commence soon, thanks toRobert McEwan; our website is being recreated, thanks to BethCarrick and Mike Seifried; our Oral History project is being expandedby leaps and bounds, thanks to Jim Brown. Linda Kenyon is workingto set up the picnic on August 25 at her house, and Melody Huntand John Touhey are spearheading the fabulous dinner scheduledfor September 21. If you haven’t signed up, you should go to ourwebsite as you can now register and pay online.

In October, Jesse Crooks will be giving us another wonderfultour of the Solebury Friends cemetery. We learned so much last year– it was incredible. November brings us to the annual meeting, so ifwe miss you at any of the previous events, we will definitely hope tosee you on November 17.

I think the most exciting news is that that Solebury TownshipHistorical Society was invited to be a part of the Historical Society ofPennsylvania’s Small Collections initiative. Joan Fitting and GwenDavis are moving this project forward.

As always, we can use as much help as our membership canoffer. Beyond volunteering for our events, if you have a desire to beinvolved with the board, please call or email to let us know. Wewould welcome your help. As we continue to grow so does our needfor additional support.

If you know someone that you feel would be a worthy recipientof the Honored Citizen award, please send us the details.

Looking forward to seeing you soon,

2013 Scholarship AwardSTHS was proud to select New Hope-Solebury High School

Senior Larissa DePamphilis of Solebury to receive our 2013 NedHarrington Scholarship. Larissa’s high GPA, her solid perfor-mance in AP history and her active contributions to severalvolunteer organizations speak of a very mature young lady whowill benefit from the $1000 scholarship. Larissa will unfortu-nately be “lost” to history in the coming months as she willenroll at The College of New Jersey School of Engineering andspecialize in Biomedical Engineering, but we trust her energy willcontinue to be devoted to good Solebury causes. Well doneLarissa!

Robert McEwan, Larissa DePamphilis, Beth Carrick.

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Tour of Revolutionary War Sites in New Hope-SoleburyThis past June — 235 years after General George

Washington’s army marched through Solebury andcrossed the Delaware in New Hope chasing GeneralSir Henry Clinton’s British Army across New Jersey —members of STHS, New Hope Historical Society andPhillips’ Mill Community Association gathered to learnabout the historic locations and stories. June 20 saw asell-out crowd of more than 100 people at Phillips’ Millto listen to local historian Terry McNealy and NHHSmoderator, Roy Ziegler, talk about the trials andtribulations of Continental Army members survivingand fighting through extreme heat and cold on boththe 1778 and 1776 marches. Many local sites fromBogart’s Tavern to the Thompson-Neeley House werediscussed, and questions ranging from local taxationto Malta Island were fielded.

Sunday, June 23, witnessed the type of heat waveWashington’s encountered on their march through thearea in 1778 (mid 90’s!), but again, a sell-out crowdmounted three trolleys and toured key sites with stopsalong the way. Fortunately the trolley’s air condition-ing systems kept us all in good form as we enjoyed avisit to downtown New Hope and Coryell’s Ferry on asummer Sunday afternoon. It was remarked that thisday on a tourist weekend was akin to what the localpopulation in 1778 of about 400 souls survived: ahorde of 13,500 troops, with horses and wagonsnumbering in the hundreds, camping out on what isnow ball fields of New Hope-Solebury High Schooland marching down through the middle of town inpreparation for crossing the Delaware River.

Our tour group went on to see a number of sitesin Solebury Township that played a role in theRevolutionary War including Rolling Green Farm, theIngham House property and the Thompson NeeleyHouse.

We look forward to offering more joint programswith these two organizations and perhaps repeatingthis very popular event next summer.

Some 90 guestsboarded the air-conditioned trolleys totour Revolutionary Warsites in New Hope andSolebury.

Coryell’s Ferry

ParryMansion

Phillips’ MillThompson-Neeley House

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Improving our Web SiteBecause going to our web site is the easiest and most natural

way to find out what you want to know about the Society, we areworking on improving the site. Webmaster Mike Seifried iscurrently working on the new design, and members of the Societyare helping to gather materials needed for the update. Mike is afreelance website developer based in Doylestown. While he hascommercial clients in the Central Bucks area, much of his work isfor non-profits, whose goals he supports. After retiring from acareer in international marketing, Mike has found time to pursuehis dual interests as a website designer and jazz musician, and heinvites you to visit his website at tenormanmike.com. The Societythanks Mike for his work for us.

Our first change is already visible. As a convenience we arenow able to accept payments on line, beginning with reservationsfor our “STHS Repeats History” dinner in September. If youhaven’t already reserved, go to www.soleburyhistory.org and clickon Upcoming Events.

For those of you who use the web but have never thoughtabout designing a site, the next time you visit the web think aboutall of the information that has to be put together to make a sitework. For STHS, first we have decided what is important for ourmembers—basic information about us to be put on the homepage, directions to the schoolhouse, information about theschoolhouse and its restoration, what is in our research library,information about our Honored Citizens, etc. Now we are writingthe material, gathering pictures where appropriate, and findingdrawings and graphics. All of the pages must flow and be linkedtogether, if appropriate. So far the document that details all of thisis over 100 pages in Microsoft Word and growing.

We hope you will find our new site easy to use and helpful.We expect to have it completed in the fall and will announce whenit is ready. In the meantime, our current site will remain available.

New books enhance our ResearchLibrary

Many of our members and neighbors have been pleasedwith the help we have been able to give them in findinginformation about their properties and their families. How-ever, sometimes these community members give back to us.

David and Marilou Stewart recently donated a com-plete and bound set of the History of Bucks County byW.W.H. Davis. These books are considered by many to bethe foremost source of factual information about the growthof our beautiful county. What history buff hasn’t turned toDavis to look up a name, a place or an event in the courseof his/her research? The three volumes are beautifullybound and are a most valuable addition to our researchlibrary. Thank you so much, Dave and Marilou.

We also received a most interesting set of bound copiesof the periodical American History Illustrated, published byThe National Historical Society. These were donated byJohn F. Hartzel. There are a total of 14 volumes, eachcontaining one year’s editions of the magazine from 1966 to1979 with articles ranging in subjects from the Civil War tothe story of John Jacob Astor. Each article is beautifullyillustrated with maps, drawings and old photographs. Evenlooking at the ads from over 40 years ago is amusing! Iguarantee you will love browsing through them. Thank youso much, John.

Come visit us any Wednesday from 3 to 5 p.m. to seeour new additions.

Joan S. Fitting, Archivist

SAVE the DATESunday October 27: 12 to 1:30 p.m.

The Great Cemetery Tour of the SoleburyMeetinghouse Cemetery Repeats in 2013!

Our thanks go to Jessie Crooks, local historian, foragreeing to lead his informative historical tour of themany famous and forgotten souls resting in The Meet-inghouse Cemetery. Last year’s tour was a very wellattended attended success despite Super Storm Sandydescending upon us. The tour is being returned bypopular demand. We know Jessie is adding new infor-mation to his talk based his research and on the manycomments and questions at the initial tour. We lookforward to seeing you there with your friends andfamily.

Seeking Nominations forHonored Citizens of Solebury

Do you know of someone who has made important contribu-tions to the Solebury area? If so, please consider nominating thatperson for our annual Honored Citizens of Solebury award. Eachyear we give the award to a current citizen and one to a historicfigure.

The process is simple. All we need is your name and contactinformation, the name of the nominee, and a paragraph or twostating why you feel this person is eligible. If you wish, a nomina-tion form is available on our website, soleburyhistory.org.

Nominations should be received by November 1. The awardsare presented at our annual New Year’s Brunch on January 1.

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History Quiz AnswerThe first major road in the Township was Lower

York Road between Lahaska and New Hope.

From the writings of Edwin (Ned) Harrington

When in the course of human events...Washington took charge of a rag-tag army at Cam-

bridge, and after many ups and downs of conflict, lateautumn of 1776 found his weary forces retreating acrossNew Jersey toward the Delaware.

During that same period, the Pennsylvania Committee ofSafety was organizing militia, and the Bucks County Com-mittee usually met at Bogart’s Tavern in Buckingham. Therewas established Company C of the Fourth Battalion, Cap-tains George Wall and John Lacey commanding. It firstserved during the hapless Canadian campaign of 1776,centered on Fort Ticonderoga.

Washington and his troops passed three times throughSolebury Township during the Revolution: notably in Decem-ber 1776, when his little army crossed the river at Coryell’sFerry (New Hope) and rested under an oak tree near YorkRoad, before venturing to the redeeming victory at Trenton.The top brass stayed briefly at the Logan Inn, and justbefore the crossing Washington met with his staff at theThompson-Neeley house(1). Captain James Moore died onChristmas day and is buried there. Buckingham FriendsMeetinghouse was used as a hospital, and the good Friendshad to convene elsewhere, reluctant to be concerned withthe fray. Once more the troops passed through, in August1777, seeking out Howe’s forces that were aiming forPhiladelphia; and the Americans then spent two weeks nearCross Roads (Hartsville), where Washington occupied theMoland house, before proceeding to Brandywine. And againin June 1778, marching from Valley Forge via York Road,toward the embroilment at Monmouth. One unknown soldierdid not make it, and is said to be buried near the Paxsonhouse in Aquetong. Otherwise, the war touched lightly uponSolebury Township.

From January to May 1778, renegade Quakers GeneralJohn Lacey and Colonel Joseph Kirkbridge commanded themilitia, defending against the British in Philadelphia. Twenty-eight of the soldiers were from Solebury Township, andeleven of those were from Quaker families – and wouldhave been read out of Buckingham Meeting….(1) In recent years research is unable to confirm that Washington evervisited the Thompson-Neely house.

Historical Society of PennsylvaniaHidden Collections Initiative

The STHS is proud to announce that we have beeninvited to participate in Historical Society of Pennsylvania’s(HSP) effort to identify and catalogue the small, hiddenarchival collections of smaller historical societies throughoutthe area.

The goal of the project is to visit the smaller repositories,survey and access the collections, and create a summaryfinding aid to each collection. The finding aid is publicallyavailable and is accessible in an online searchable databasedeveloped by the Philadelphia Area Consortium of SpecialCollections Libraries (PACSCL) available at:

http://dla.library.upenn.edu/dla/pacscl/index.html.

Our archival materials have been surveyed, and withinthe next three to four months we will receive a report fromHSP which will, among other items, include the following:

1. Categorize our materials into “collections” Collection title, creator, dates, etc. Background notes Types of materials and subject/topic Provenance

2. Assess our collections Quality of Housing Condition of material Intellectual access (card catalogs, inventories, etc.) Physical access (degree of organization)

Once we receive the report we will reorganize ourmaterials in the format recommended by the report. It willthen all be listed on our website. The HSP will have a link tothe above website where our material will be available.

It is very exciting to be included in this project. It willexpose both the STHS and the data we possess to anincredible number of researchers, students and the generalpublic. Watch for further information about the completionof this project in a future newsletter.

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Support our Business MembersWe are grateful for the support of the local business com-

munity and encourage you to patronize these fine businesses:

StewardAddison Wolfe Real EstateBountiful AcresFirst National Bank & Trust Company of NewtownHolly Hedge Estates/1740 House

Joe & Amy LuccaroRockwood Wealth Management

ProtectorBlack Bass Hotel, LumbervilleTinsman Brothers Inc., Lumberville

GuardianAugenblick & Co. PCDelray Plus True ValueEagle DinerFirst Federal of Bucks CountyFREEMAN’S AUCTIONEERS & APPRAISERSMancuso Show ManagementGeorge Nakashima Woodworkers, SANew Hope Crushed Stone

Our fund-raising campaign to finance necessary renova-tions to our historic one-room schoolhouse has gotten off to agreat start thanks to many friends and neighbors who havemade contributions. Over $13,000 has been contributed todate and we acknowledge our deepest appreciation to thefollowing:

GRADUATESElaine & Malcolm CrooksGayle Goodman & Jim SearingThe Haley Foundation

3RD GRADERSDonneta & Stephen CraneJohn & Sussan EichertPeter & Star GroverBill & Lois McKeemanStephen Raab

2ND GRADERSRichard & Elizabeth CarrickPeggy & Bill HechtChee JamisonGail & Alan KeimFrederick F. LansillBill & Jane MacDowellKerrie D. MacPhersonCarol & Harry RosePat Witlicki

1ST GRADERSJoy AlbanoEd & Linda ArentzCarl & Pam AsplundhJill AsplundhAndrew & Carolyn BaileyWalter BogartBrussock FamilyCaputo FamilyTom & Jenny CarrollJames & Daniela ColePaul & Mary CosdonJulie DaviesGeorge M. DavisJonathan DownJoan & Don FittingMichael & Jean FowlerCllifford & Betsy FunkPhyllis GagnerCraig & Gina GarretsonDavid & Connie GillisRobert & Doris HolmquistRustem HusenajRichard & Nancy KimmelRichard & Margaret Knoster

Edward R. LeydonTom & Amy LuccaroBrenda MackayPeter & Camille MancusoMatt MarksRobert McEwanChuck & Pearl MintzerKevin NakashimaDorothy Downie & Robert OrrillRhoda & Daryl RenschlerWillis RivinusEric SauterDouglas & Charlynn ShapiroAnne StephanoScott & Marjorie SullivanI.H. & Birgitta vonZelowitzAnn WarrenMichael & Ruth Ann WilsonRobert Beck & Doreen WrightGeorge M. YerkesEdward Zekas

FRIENDSBruce RoushGeoff & Lorraine RidoutAnnette AntolikMarianne BenderBarbara DonnellyDonald T. HornishWendy McGarryVirginia & Zachary ObedinTed & Charlotte ZanidakisClair & Jack DonohueKaren GreeneJonel LamarianaAlice BettsFred & Betty BriehlSusan & Vincent DeGiovanniPeter Gatto & Pamela BurrellEugene & Wendy GladstonTim Hartman & Ron SwidorDavid Dimicco & MeaganLongrose

David & Marilou StewartMarc StiefelHelene Pavlov & HarveyZeichner

The steady return on our fund raising is allowing us toarrange for several much-needed renovations to the school-house. The most urgently needed repair is to replace theroof. Our current roof is asbestos tiles which probably datefrom the 1950’s. We have lined up our contractors and theyshould begin work in mid August, weather permitting.Several smaller jobs, including replacing the bulkhead door tothe basement, plumbing to allow garden hose access, andelectrical updates will follow as we move into fall. As moredonations come in, we will have the windows and framesrepaired and repainted.

Many thanks to those who have contributed and thosewho will contribute via our various fund raising efforts.STHS and the community are committed to keeping thishistoric gem in good repair, looking fine and more secure.

Update on Historic Schoolhouse Renovations

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With Gratitude . . .

Every effort has been made topublish a complete and accurate listof memberships received since thelast newsletter (May) and up toabout August 12, 2013. We regret ifthere are any omissions.

Many Thanks . . .The generosity of so many folks help the Societythroughout the year. We greatly appreciate the supportof our friends and neighbors:

David and Marilou Stewart for donating a completebound set of History of Bucks County to our researchlibrary.

John Hartzel for donating a bound set of the periodicalAmerican History Illustrated to our research library.

Mike Seifried for donating his expertise to update ourwebsite.

Dick Carlson for the use of his barn at Rolling GreenFarm for the STHS Repeats History reception.

John Touhey for conceiving of and leading the plan-ning for the STHS Repeats History dinner.

The advertisers in the Solebury Chronicle help offsetthe cost of producing the newsletter. These are local busi-nesses, and we urge your patronage.

(Call 215-297-5091 or email soleburyhistory@verizon.netto place your ad in the next Solebury Chronicle.)

Members are the backbone of our organization. We are deeply ap-preciative of the support of the residents listed below who have re-newed their membership or joined the Society since the last news-letter.

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Steven Cohen & Pamela BlakePaul & Marianne BogenMargo & Harold BusundRichard CarlsonBob CarrRichard & Elizabeth CarrickAnna Burbank & David CramerJesse CrooksForrest CrooksMarne Kies DietterichJack & Claire DonohueRuth Campbell & Joseph DuffyJohn & Susan EichertErnest B. & Barbara H. FeldgusMaria FellGeoffrey & Kathleen FisherJoan & Don FittingEugene FluehrCarolyn FoxPhyllis GagnerLois Carbone & Charles GarefinoPhil GettyLewis Baratz & Guy GlassAlison R. Gross - NEW MEMBERJoseph GrossStar & Peter GroverL.Rhea & Susan HarveyRobert & Sally HuxleySusan KaneLinda KenyonRichard & Nancy KimmelJoseph KubiakPaul & Marilyn LanctotDavid LinehanJoseph & Amy LuccaroRichard & Jeannette Lynch

Bill & Jane MacDowellStanley A. MarcusPhyllis & Robert MathieuRobert & Maria McEwanAli McMenamin - NEW MEMBERLinda MetcalfSuzanne MeyersDouglas & Renee MorsbachDr. & Mrs. Jay R. PetrieChris Potts & Kristin Orlieb-PottsMichael J. & Elizabeth SchmidtJurgen Schweickhardt & John BaymaBeth & Bill ShortCurt Shreiner & Denise FrostFaith & Gurney P. SloanJerry Steinbrink & Liz Smutko -

NEW MEMBERMary L. Spencer - NEW MEMBERJanice SpurrDavid & Marilou StewartTim Hartman & Ron SwidorSusan D. TinsmanAnthony & Monica Ufolla - NEW

MEMBERPatricia WhitmanRobert Beck & Doreen WrightMr. & Mrs. Richard A Yarnall

SOLEBURY TOWNSHIP HISTORICAL SOCIETY

“Over 60 years of Excellence”P.O. Box 577

Holicong, PA 18928215.794.7043

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Solebury Township Historical SocietyDrawer 525Solebury, PA 18963

Upcoming STHS EventsAugust 25 Summer Picnic: 4-7 p.m.

Home of Linda Kenyon

September 21 STHS Repeats History -Gala Dinner PartyGet your tickets online atsoleburyhistory.org.

October 27 Solebury Friends CemeteryTour: Noon

November 17 Annual Meeting: Pot Lucksupper: 5-8 p.m.

January 1, NEW YEAR’S BRUNCH2014 Holly Hedge Estates

STHS members receive invitations to all STHS events.

Related Community EventsOctober 19 Trinity House Tour, featuring

historic houses in Soleburyand Upper Makefieldtownships. 215-297-5135

Do You Know?

Call 215-297-5091 or email your answer tosoleburyhistory@verizon.net. You may win a prize!

This is a street scene in Solebury Township in 1935. What road isthis (it’s now paved!) and what is the building in the picture (it’s nolonger there)?