Our History
Protecting and preserving the beauty, unique character and natural resources of Solebury Township includes appreciating its heritage. Solebury Township contains an abundance of historical sites, from pre-Revolutionary America, to Colonial Times and the Industrial Revolution. By keeping these sites alive and vibrant, we ensure that the history they impart is kept alive for future generations.
Brief History of Solebury Township
Solebury's wealth of unique and irreplaceable historic resources dates from the beginning of European settlement in the 17th century. Despite considerable change in the landscape in recent years, there remains in Solebury today an almost timeless sense of history. Conservation of historic resources is for Solebury today and for future generations who may learn from and appreciate the past. Historic resources (structures, sites, and landscapes) are vital to Solebury's special sense of place. They impart the area's heritage. By protecting them, they guide and inspire new development.
Solebury's Indian Heritage
At one time the area was inhabited by a group of Native American Algonquian Indians, who called themselves Lenni-Lenape, or the "Original People." One of three tribes from this group that settled in the Delaware River valley, the Turtle Tribe, occupied the area which later became Solebury.
In 1681, England's King Charles II conveyed a large tract of land to William Penn, creating the first boundaries in the area. It was Penn's policy to peacefully coexist with the Indians, and to purchase lands from them. But the Native Americans had no ideas about political divisions or property lines. Land was for the use of everyone, to be lived and hunted upon without boundaries.
But Europeans had for years been in close association and had developed strict rules of property metes and bounds, so that every square yard was owned by an individual, peer or institution, in fee simple - undisputed possession.
In July 1682, William Markham made the first treaty and purchase, before Penn's arrival. It included the southeastern part of Bucks County, and was approved by 13 Native American tribal leaders. The area of Solebury Township was included in a 1686 treaty. There were Indian settlements at Bowman's Hill, at the Great Spring (known today as Ingham Springs), along the Cuttalossa, and at Mill Town (originally called Indian Village and now Carversville).
Tishcohan, a chief of the Lenni-Lenape
At first, the natives adjusted to the white man's presence. But as the influx of Europeans increased, Native Americans were gradually eased out, moving into central Pennsylvania and Ohio. Current places in the Township, such as Tuckamony and Logan, derive their names from Native Americans.
Although there are few obvious reminders of pre-European settlement, the township currently treats any area adjacent to water as having at least some archaeological potential, based on the general settlement patterns of Native Americans in this region. The Township requires archaeological explorations prior to disturbing these areas.
Pre-Colonial History
English Quakers Begin to Settle the Area
English Quakers settled in the area around 1700, a time that Solebury was part of Buckingham Township. 1703 records show that Solebury had 28 tracts of land, averaging 414 acres, owned by 24 landowners and farmers. (The Borough of New Hope was part of the township until 1837.)
Colonial History
Population Growth
1700 saw the township's first homestead. By 1800, there were about 150. Tax records for 1778 show 141 heads of households, and 29 single men, a population figure of about six hundred, allowing five persons per average household. By 1800, that increased to approximately 800, or 36 persons per square mile. In 1950, the population was 2,200; in 1980, 3,700. The 2000 census lists the population as 7,743. As of March 1, 2004, the land has been divided into 3,927 tax parcels.
Solebury's Name Evolves
The origin of the name "Solebury" is thought to stem from a village in Buckinghamshire, England, about 20 miles northeast of Oxford, spelled "Soulbury." Soulbury is near the villages of Stowe and Marsh Gibbon, where the Paxon family, one of the area's first settlers, lived before coming here. The present spelling of "Solebury"first appears in a 1720 lease. In 1731 and again in 1758, it appeared as "Soleberry." In 1730, it was recorded as "Soulbury" and as late as 1809, there was reference to "Solesbury."
Early Activity
Agriculture has played a dominant role in Solebury Township throughout its development. Solebury has the highest number of well-preserved large stone farmhouses and barns in Bucks County, including one of the highest concentrations of 18th century stone structures. In 1871, Solebury ranked among the best agricultural townships in the county. Apples were raised in great abundance, and stone farmhouses and barns began to dot the landscape.
Isaac Pickering House, on the Honey Hollow Watershed
The first section of this stone farmhouse (left) was built in 1747 by Isaac Pickering; a second section was added in the 1780s. The farmhouse sits on the Honey Hollow Watershed off of Route 263. (Photograph by Elaine Crooks and text from Solebury Township Historical Society 2002 Calendar)
Burgess Lea
A typical English manor house, the first part was built in 1732, a two-story fieldstone structure. The 1788 addition features the early Federal style with three bays, and pedimented gable ends. The fieldstone is rough cut with decorative quoins on the corners. The original landowner, Richard Burgess, married Elizabeth Paxson in 1692. The property was owned by the Paxson family from 1698 until 1811, and is located on River Road, just north of Centre Bridge. (Photograph by Randl Bye and text from Solebury Township Historical Society 2002 Calendar)
Barn at Glen Oakes Farm
Dating back to the time of William Penn, the original owner, Bassillian Foster, was granted 1000 acres, encompassing land from the farm's location on Route 263 to the Delaware River. Over time, parcels of land were split off. In addition to the stone farm house and barn, other significant features of the Glen Oaks Farm include a limekiln, an old smokehouse, and a carriage barn. The barn pictured here has a date on it of 1870, but the owners believe it was actually built much earlier and renovated in 1870. (Photograph by Barbara Drew and text from Solebury Township Historical Society 2002 Calendar)
Quarries and Lime Kilns
A limestone belt about a mile wide runs across the township, and was a source of building stone and mortar. Lime was roasted in kilns to produce agricultural lime and mortar. Sandstone and shale quarries supplied additional building materials, along with an abundance of field stone.
Lime kiln at Aquetong
The lime kiln at Aquetong was in operation for over 100 years until it was abandoned in 1924. This kiln, one of at least 20 operating in Solebury Township, was owned for over 50 years by the Naylor family. The quarry was on the left, the center bay was used for storing and there were three furnaces. (Photograph by Cara McGarry and text from Solebury Township Historical Society 2002 Calendar)
Mills
Five natural streams - the Paunacussing, Cuttalossa, Primrose, Aquetong and Pidcock - were capable of mill power, and in early times were put to good use. There was once a grist mill on the upper Pidcock, but only remnants can be found today. There was a grist mill and a saw mill, first built by John Pidcock, in about 1701, which later became the Thompson-Neely mill. On the Aquetong were a fulling mill for processing woolen cloth, a paper mill and a linen mill.
On Primrose Creek stood Phillips grist mill, now a community center. The Cuttalossa, at Sugan Road, saw the Armitage grist mill, a saw mill and plaster mill. Farther downstream was a larger saw mill, parts of which are now incorporated into the Cuttalossa Inn.
The Paunacussing was also noted for its mills: the Stover grist mill and adjacent saw mill in Carversville, built about 1727; a tannery across the road and the Carver grist mill on Fleecydale Road below the village; and the nearby Ely tannery.
Stover's Mill
The first mill established in the Carversville area was built in 1725-1726 by John Hough, Jr. and Ambrose Barcroft. It is believed that the original structure was made of wood, severely damaged by fire, and replaced with a stone structure. The last owner to operate the grist mill was Henry Stover who, following a fire in 1894, rebuilt the structure, adding height and replacing the peaked roof with a mansard type. He operated a mill until his death in 1915.
Located in the center of the village of Carversville (formerly Mill Town), this grist mill ground grain which was poured into bags made by hand of twisted straw or hay, forming a sort of rope. This rope was known as "sugan" ( pronounced "suggin"); hence the bags were called "sugans." It is believed that this is how Sugan Road received its name. (Photograph from Historic Carversville Society Archives and text from Solebury Township Historical Society 2002 Calendar)
The Mill at Cuttalossa Farm
Perhaps the most photographed spot in all of Solebury Township, Cuttalossa Farm is dominated by the "mill seat," a home constructed for Watson Kenderdine by his father John. A small building next to the residence was the ice house. Across from the mill seat is the mill pond, now much smaller than in milling days. Water to power the mill below went under the Cuttalossa Road into the mill race paralleling the residence driveway and into an elevated, wooden aqueduct to a wheel on the north corner of the mill. This aqueduct fed the saw mill and the axe handle mill. (Photograph by Jenn Barbo and text from Solebury Township Historical Society 2002 Calendar)
Other Influences
Early highways such as the Upper and Lower York Roads and the Pennsylvania Canal played a significant role in the township's development. Solebury boasts numerous buildings and places associated with the American Revolution and subsequent historical events.
Thompson Neely House
It is believed John Pidcock build the first section of this house (on right) in 1702. In 1757 Robert Thompson added to the house. Thompson's daughter Elizabeth married William Neely in 1766. This is how the house got its name. In December 1776, the Thompsons and Neelys were asked to vacate temporarily as the house was needed to accommodate Lord Sterling and his aids, Captain William Washington and Lieutenant James Monroe, later to become the 5th president of the United States. It was from the Thomson-Neely house that many senior officers, serving under General George Washington, set forth for the battle of Trenton on Christmas Day 1776, the turning point of the American Revolution. (Photograph by Randl Bye and text from Solebury Township Historical Society 2002 Calendar)
Village Centers Develop
Over time, seven villages or hamlets developed in a scattered pattern across Solebury Township: Aquetong, Carversville, Centre Bridge, Cottageville, Lumberville, Phillips Mill, and Solebury. An eighth hamlet or cluster of historical structure is at Cuttalossa, essentially an extension of the village of Lumberville.
Each village has a distinctive quality and contributes to the character of the area immediately surrounding it, as well as the township as a whole. Some villages are clearly defined by natural or physical features; others have boundaries not so easily discerned. The historical and architectural characteristics of each village are unique, irreplaceable, and worthy of preservation.
Today six villages in Solebury Township are national Historic Districts, more than any other rural/suburban municipalities in the commonwealth: Carversville (95 properties), the Upper Aquetong Valley (32 properties), Center Bridge (59 properties), Lumberville (82 properties), Phillips Mill (16 properties), and the Cuttalosa Valley.
One of the original residences in the Historic Carversville District, this pointed stone home was built in1785. At one time an outbuilding served as a cobbler's shop. (Photograph from Historic Carversville Society Archives)
Historically, the predominant land use in many villages was residential; however, a few were commercially oriented. Buildings associated with commerce mostly fall into the category of agricultural service activities. Resources included taverns, hotels, blacksmith shops, general stores and combination shops. Many old commercial structures have survived intact, giving Solebury its unique historical charm.
The Carversville Inn
Originally this was the Carversville Hotel, built in 1813-1815 by Isaac Pickering as a two story peaked roof structure, opening as a tavern in 1815. Isaac Stover added a third floor and a two-floor porch in 1859. It functioned as a hotel until around 1915-20, and since then, its lower floor has seen a succession of uses, such as a general store, tavern, hardware store, and art gallery. Today it is the Carversville Inn Restaurant. (Photograph from Historic Carversville Society Archives)
Religious Structures Appear
Religion also wrought a legacy on the historical landscape. Some churches that held services for the original Quaker, Episcopalian, and Presbyterian settlers still survive today.
Solebury Meetinghouse
In 1805, Solebury Monthly Meeting purchased two acres of land on Sugan Road from Aaron Paxson. The Quaker Meetinghouse was built in 1806 by members and friends, using locally cut timber and stone from nearby quarries. It has been in continuous use ever since. (Photograph by Randl Bye and text from Solebury Township Historical Society 2002 Calendar)
Carversville Christian Church
This church, a stone and plaster building of Greek revival architecture, was built in 1866 on the site of a former 1837 small church. A kitchen wing was added in 1950 and a spire in 1970. An addition was added with classrooms and offices, and the church is in use today. (Photograph from Historic Carversville Society Archives)
Trinity Episcopal Chapel in Solebury Village was built in 1876. The small brown stone building accommodates 100 persons, but it was without a rector until 1948. A 1998 fire severely damaged the structure, but it has been restored and is now used as an adjunct chapel to the new and larger church built on the property in 2000.
In 1992, the Heritage Conservancy (then the Bucks County Conservancy) completed the Bucks County Historic Resource Survey, documenting all pre-1941 historic resources not already listed on the National Register of Historic Places (individually or in districts) in Solebury Township. Four individual properties in Solebury Township are listed on the National Register and 311 located within National Register districts or designated National Historic Landmarks.
These additional areas were deemed worthy of future study as possible rural historic districts:
- The area encompassing Paxson, Comfort, and Laurel Roads, settled by the Paxson family and containing an unusual number of 18th century stone houses.
- The area between Upper and Lower Mountain Roads. The two largest properties in this area are rated as eligible for National Registry.
- The area extending from Buckingham Township between Sawmill and Mechanicsville Road, which still has farmsteads and was part of the same original land patent.
- The area around the intersection of Greenhill and Mechanicsville Roads, including several large farms with fine collections of rural architecture.
The area paralleling the Cuttalossa Creek and Cuttalossa Road was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in June 2002. The collection of properties is one of the best preserved areas in the township.
Artistic Heritage
Along with its neighbors on both banks of the Delaware River, Solebury Township has enjoyed more than a century as a nationally recognized arts community. Since painters began moving here from Philadelphia in the late 19th century, the migration of artists to the area continues virtually unabated. Now, as in the past, the area's attraction stems both from its proximity to Philadelphia and New York, and its unique mix of natural beauty, historic charm, and cultural vitality.
Since its incorporation in 1702, the beauty and special character of Solebury Township has drawn many talented and creative people. Painters are lured by the countryside with its hills and stream valleys, rich farm land, the Delaware River and Canal and the abundance of unique historic buildings. Writers find quiet, peaceful spots to do their creative work and glean inspiration from tranquil settings in such places as the Cuttalossa Valley and the village at Phillips Mill.
Many of the artists in what is known as the New Hope School of Impressionists lived and worked in Solebury Township. The following photographs feature historic properties that were home to many of our artists and writers.
Harry & Rachel Franck House
It's hard to imagine wanting to ever leave this stately Solebury home. Yet travel writer Harry Franck spent much of his life on the road, often accompanied by his wife, author Rachel Latta Franck and their five children. His first book, the perennial favorite, A Vagabond Journey around the World (1910), launched a career that produced almost 30 travel books for adults, children and schools. (Photograph courtesy of Claudia Waldo and text from Solebury Township Historical Society 2004 Calendar)
Nell Smock Cottage
This storybook cottage was the home of children's book illustrator Nell Smock during the 1980s. Built as a springhouse circa 1700, New Hope architect Don Hedges converted it into a residence around 1960. Among the many works Nell illustrated is "Pussy Cat Talks to her Kittens" (1942) by Fannie Mead, which was intended to teach proper behavior for human children. (Original hard-cover price: 10 cents) Her adorable drawings have made the books collectors items.
Known for her love of animals - especially cats- and for gardening, she also illustrated calendars on topics ranging from botany to coins. (Photograph by Randl Bye and text from Solebury Township Historical Society 2004 Calendar)
Morgan Colt, Studio, Phillips Mill
Morgan Colt and his wife Jane bought this former pigsty in 1910, then converted and expanded it into a picturesque studio. He called it the Gothic Studio - appropriately enough for a Renaissance man. Morgan was a painter, architect and craftsman whose Arts and Crafts influence is evident throughout the hamlet of Phillips Mill, where he restored or built many of the buildings. (Photograph by Randl Bye and text from Solebury Township Historical Society 2004 Calendar)
Moss Hart & Kitty Carlisle House, Aquetong Valley
"George Washington Slept Here" had already become a real-estate cliché bestowed on colonial-era houses when playwright Moss Hart purchased this "fixer upper" n 1936. Fix it up he did, including adding the dramatic Gertrude Lawrence Wing and swimming pool. First, though, he had to drill some seventeen wells before finding water (if long-time collaborator and neighbor George S. Kaufman's memoir is to be believed). (Photograph by Randl Bye and text from Solebury Township Historical Society 2004 Calendar)
|