The scenery looked different then of course, back in the 1950's.
Sprawling farms nested in lush green hills, bumpy little narrow
country roads that promised chickens, pigs, cows and horses around every corner.
I remember the smells. Oh those magnificent, sultry warm,
green smells of fresh cut grass, hay, corn and even the manure.

Oh, those smells ...

Springtime smells so seductive ... that to a little girl who hated
everything about the city, evoked dreams of the future and the day
when the country would be mine to wake up to every day.

It took me a very long time to get here.
A lot more of that manure got in my way than I had anticipated.

But I am here now, no chickens, horses, pigs or cows.
Instead, I have been blessed with my wonderful, best buddy, soul mate,
Lambertville raised husband whom I met
in New Hope - in John & Peter's to be exact, on April Fools Day 1988 ...
our sweet furbaby, our schizophrenic bird and about
eight square feet of grass in front of my door.

I so very much miss the way things were when I think back.
All the things a Sunday trip to the country embodied
to an impressionable little girl with so many dreams ...
Truly a time gone by which we will never get back.
What a frightful shame so few people will ever again see a real Bucks County farm
or smell the pure, intoxicating country air that has long since drifted into our memories.
Ahhh, life goes on.



Ugh! Uploading is not always kind to photographs!



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New Hope, often called the "Jewel of Bucks County", is an eclectic
river village community with unique charm, sophistication and beauty,
nested on the banks of the Delaware River and historic
Delaware Canal - surrounded by rural countryside and just
opposite historical, tourist friendly, Lambertville, New Jersey.

Aproximately only 1.1 square mile, New Hope Borough enjoys a
rich diversity in her people, businesses, cultures and
her history. Long known as a haven for artists, the village
gained recognition as a theater town in 1939, when the
Bucks County Playhouse opened in a former mill overlooking the river.

From impressive art galleries, specialty shops, antiques, talented artisans,
gourmet restaurants historical landmarks, a working steam powered train,
a mule powered barge and an occasional ghost, New Hope continues to
thrive and spark interest from tourists worldwide.


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .



I welcome your New Hope, PA stories, history links & vintage photos
Please feel free to contact me;
firewife@bellatlantic.net



. . . . The Journey Begins . . . .

New Hope & Ivyland Railroad
Take a scenic steam engine ride into the past!

The Parry Mansion
New Hope Historical Society.
Dedicated to Maintaining the Unique Historical and Cultural Background of New Hope.
Purchasing and renovating the c.1751 Parry Barn. It is now a long-established art gallery, featuring Bucks County artists, and still the property of the NHHS. Purchasing and restoring the c. 1784 Parry Mansion, which had been in the possession of the Parrys since its construction.

WASHINGTON CROSSING HISTORIC PARK
On December 25, 1776, the icy waters of the Delaware River provided the setting for one of the pivotal events of the American Revolution. The Continental Army had little to celebrate that Christmas and seemed beat by hunger and cold. After crossing the rough winter river at night, General George Washington and the Continental Army landed at Johnson’s Ferry, at the site now known as Washington Crossing State Park. At 4 am, they began their march to Trenton where they defeated the Hessian troops in an unexpected attack. Originally preserved for its historical significance, the park is also well known for its trails and wildlife habitat.
A wide variety of migrating birds use the stream and ravine as a resting place and for nesting. Many bird species winter in the park, creating a perfect location for bird observation year round. Routs 32 & 532, 3 miles north of I-95, Exit 31. Includes the noted Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve. Outdoor recreation and picnic areas.
Just 10 minutes from New Hope.(215) 493 4076

New Hope & Local History
Excellent, detailed reference & includes some Eagle Fire Company history here.

David's Tour of New Hope & Bucks County PA
By David Hanauer. "New Hope was first settled around 1700. The town was known by several name including Wells Ferry (1722-1747), Canbys Ferry (1748-1764), and Coryells Ferry from 1765 until 1790 when a fire destroyed several large mills in the town. The mills were rebuilt and were called the "New Hope Mills" and the village took its name from that. The Delaware Canal runs through New Hope, and there is also a train station which is part of the New Hope and Ivyland Railroad. Mule-pulled barge rides are given on the canal. New Hope is also home to the Bucks County Playhouse, built in a 1780s mill, which is the "official" State Theater of Pennsylvania. During the early part of the 20th century, New Hope was home to a well known artist-colony. Today it is home to many tourist-oriented novelty shops. New Hope contains one of the five oldest inns in the United States, being built in 1722. The town was also recently voted to be the 5th "Top Art City Destination" in the U.S, according to American Style Magazine's readers." (note from Firewife: Like history? Check this site out! Many New Hope photo's included as well as other local areas.)

History of the Delaware Canal
The significance of the Delaware Canal was recognized in 1978 when it was designated a National historic Landmark. It is preserved today as the most intact and fully-watered of America's towpath canals. The Delaware Canal is the only remaining continuously intact remnant of the great towpath canal building era of the early and mid 19th century. The canal remains today with almost all of its features as they existed during the one century of its commercial operation. With the exception of the last .7 mile, the canal retains all of its engineering and operational structures.
Since the advent of the Delaware Canal as a state park, people have flocked to this area each year to enjoy the recreational facilities the canal affords including picnicking, fishing, hiking, bicycling, canoeing and pleasure rides on the mule-drawn boats operating out of New Hope. The towpath is also a designated mountain bike trail.

The David Library of the American Revolution
Devoted to the study of American history circa 1750 to 1800. The David Library is primarily a microform archive of approximately 10,000 reels that contain an estimated 8 million pages of documentation. The collection is supported by a reference collection of 40,000 books and pamphlets in both bound volumes and microcards. Although the main focus is on the American Revolution, in recent years the library has been augmenting its materials on the French and Indian War and the early national periods. Important personal and official papers include those of Aaron Burr; Benjamin Franklin; Nathanael Greene; the Hancock Family; Henry Knox; Henry Laurens; the Lee Family; Gouverneur Morris; Robert Morris; Timothy Pickering; Joseph Reed; Arthur St. Clair; Baron von Steuben; Jonathan Trumbull Jr.; George Washington; and Oliver Wolcott Jr. In addition, the collection has a large number of letters, diaries, account books, and journals of other prominent and lesser-known people. This is a history lovers gold mine!

Dr. John A. Flood remembered
Dr. Flood - thrice Chief Executive of the Borough, 60 years a dentist, devoted father, husband and churchman - undoubtedly was the First Citizen of New Hope. He was known to thousands of tourists as the man who sat on the front porch of his home at 28 South Main Street on fair Saturdays and Sundays to watch the passing parade. One of those tourists said, when illness forced Dr. Flood to remain inside: "New Hope's just not the same without Doc Flood out on the porch." New Hope will never be the same without Dr. Flood anywhere. As a poet said about Lincoln's passing, Dr. Flood's death "leaves a lonesome place against the sky."

THIS PAGE IS DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF MY FATHER
who passed his love & curiosity of nature and living things on to me.
I miss you so.

~ Sunrise, Sunset ~
"The only time I ever danced with my father ..."

Is this the little girl I carried?
Is this the little boy at play?
I don't remember growing older - When did they?
When did she get to be a beauty?
When did he get to be so tall?
Wasn't it yesterday when they - Were small?
Sunrise, Sunset ... Sunrise, Sunset
Swiftly flow the days
Seedlings turn overnight to sunflowers
Blossoming even as we gaze
Sunrise, Sunset ... Sunrise, Sunset
Swiftly fly the years
One season following another Laden with happiness and tears
What words of wisdom can I give them?
How can I help to ease their ways?
Now they must learn from one another - Day by day
They look so natural together
Just like two newleyweds should be
Is there a canopy in store
For me?
Sunrise, Sunset ... Sunrise, Sunset
Swiftly fly the years
One season following another
Laden with happiness and tears





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