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Fonthill’S Anniversary Treasure at and Revitalization of the Philadelphia Region’S Historic Mercer Buildings, Communities and Landscapes

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Fonthill’S Anniversary Treasure at and Revitalization of the Philadelphia Region’S Historic Mercer Buildings, Communities and Landscapes July-December 2012 Newsletter of the Bucks County Historical Society Vol. 26 Number 3 Preservation Alliance Recognizes Hunt for Fonthill’s Anniversary Treasure at and revitalization of the Philadelphia region’s historic Mercer buildings, communities and landscapes. The Alliance notes that Fonthill Castle “is one of the Philadelphia region’s most dis- tinguished historic properties.” “We are extremely appre- ciative of the Preservation Alliance’s recognition of our stewardship of Fonthill Castle,” notes Bucks County Historical Society Executive Director, Douglas Dolan. “It is gratify- ing to be acknowledged by our Photo by Scott Spitzer Photography. Spitzer Scott by Photo colleagues in historic preserva- The Hunt for Treasure. Visitors L to r: Edward Reidell, Fonthill Site Administrator, Doug Dolan, BCHS tion who understand the chal- enjoy a previous installation of this Executive Director, and Bill Maeglin, Chair, BCHS Board of Directors, lenges we face in preserving engaging traveling exhibit, on view receive the 2012 Preservation Achievement Award recognizing Fonthill’s 100th at the Mercer through September 21. anniversary at the Preservation Alliance’s awards ceremony in Philadelphia. our National Historic Land- marks and sharing their stories urrently on view at the he Preservation Alliance of significant cultural assets, with the public.” Mercer Museum is the Greater Philadelphia pre- Fonthill Castle. The Special Fonthill is offering a series C T traveling exhibit, The Hunt for sented its 2012 Preservation 100th Anniversary Recogni- of programs this year to Treasure! Developed by NRG! Achievement Awards in May. tion Award recognized the mark its 100th Anniversary. Exhibits, this highly engaging The Alliance gave an award to occasion of Fonthill’s 100th The new Building Henry’s and interactive family exhibit the Bucks County Historical anniversary. The Preservation Castle Tour continues through features four themed areas: Society for its outstanding Alliance is a non-profit September 3, 2012 and is sunken treasure, buried treas- service in preserving and pro- organization which promotes offered daily in addition to the ure, detecting treasure and the tecting one of the region’s most the appreciation, protection regular guided tour. ■ modern treasure hunt. Through video and hands-on compo- nents, visitors will experiment “Apron Archaeologist” with metal detectors, take part in a treasure hunt game, learn EllynAnne Geisel to how underwater remote oper- ated vehicles (ROVs) operate, Appear at Mercer try their hands at safe-crack- n conjunction with the opening of the exhibit, ing, and hoist a pirate flag. IThe Apron Chronicles: A Patchwork of To complement the exhibit, American Recollections, the show’s originator the Museum has added numer- and curator, EllynAnne Geisel, will appear at the ous artifacts to the show, both Mercer Museum this fall. Although her precise from its own holdings as well itinerary is still being developed, Geisel is as private collections in the expected to be in the Doylestown area for area. Among the borrowed several days for media interviews, appearances objects on view are a silver and special program presentations. ingot from a Spanish treasure Opening the weekend of October 6-7, The Apron ship lost off of Grand Bahamas Chronicles explores the American experience as Island about 1525; coins from seen and read through nearly 50 images, text in story Photography Bigley/APS Steve the Atocha, another galleon “Apron Archaeologist” Ellyn Anne Geisel in One of …continued on page 14 Her Apron Creations. …continued on page 12 “Making History” Donor Recognition Celebration n May 17, a celebration was held in the OGreat Hall of the Mercer Museum to honor the donors to the “Making History” campaign. Bill Maeglin, Chair, Board of Directors, announced the official end to the campaign, stating that the original fundrais- ing goal of $10M was surpassed by $2M, to make the total funds raised $12M. Enjoying the evening are from l to r: Jay William D. Maeglin, BCHS Belding, BCHS Truestee, John Mauro & Board Chair thanks donors. BCHS Trustee, Grover Friend. Donor Elizabeth H. Gemmill, Esq. with, BCHS Executive Director, Doug Dolan. Artistic ironwork donated by Christine and Noel Figueroa of Elm Grove Forg evokes the experience within the Mercer Museum. Cocktails at the Castle serves tradition with a twist! n Friday, October 12, join us as Othe Mercer Museum unveils our new fall gala – Cocktails at the Castle: A Savory Exploration to Benefit the Mercer Museum. In keeping with the tradition of our Savory Sampler, the evening includes food and beverages prepared by our area’s finest restaurants, wineries, and breweries. But now as you wind your way through the castle, you will experience the museum’s collection in a whole new way! In addition, you will be able to bid on unique experiences and spectacular items at silent and live auctions. So save the date and look for your invitation this summer! For infor- mation, call 215-345-0210, ext. 132. Please remember the Mercer Museum and Fonthill Castle in your estate plans. Call our Development Office for information at 215-345-0210, ext. 129. 2 The Building Of “Fonthill” At Doylestown, Pennsylvania, In 1908, 1909 And 1910 Copy of a typewritten description found among the papers of the late Dr. Henry Chapman Mercer (Continued from previous newsletter) EILINGS AND ROOFS wind, on large drawings and then C— For the flat ceilings in turned upside down and pushed the cellar, platforms of boards into the sand. We feared sagging sawed to fit were placed be- of vault forms and the falling of tween the beam troughs and heavy tiles set in this manner, but these levels covered with earth. no such bad results followed. Later, for upper rooms, the plat- When we pulled out the forms were made very roughly platform props, the platforms of rails covered with grass under collapsed and tons of earth and the earth layer, and then about sand fell, exposing the tiles, after two inches of yellow Bucks which the loose sand was County sand was spread over washed off with a hose and the earth. The roof terraces and when dry brushed and shellaced flatter roofs were also so treated, between the tiles. but on the very steep roofs of the tower and east gable carpets INTERIOR FINISHING— only were spread over the CEILINGS:YELLOW ROOM The interior walls were not boards except on the east room furred. Sometimes they were ceiling, where, in spite of the compound was used for the steeple were not necessary as plastered with lime and sand steep slope, the earth and sand roofs or walls except Dycker- the surfaces under them were mortar or with cement and then layer was used as described. hof’s imported waterproof already waterproofed. shellaced with yellow shellac or The vault forms were made cement for the large west ter- tinted with a clay wash colored of heaps of earth spread over race. Otherwise, on the advice DECORATIONS—In the with dry paints. The panels in piles of boxes and overlaid as of Mr. Robert W. Lesley, based hall and Saloon clay troughs for the Pine Room, Dormer Room, before with sand, producing a on experiments then made with groins and borders and clay im- etc., were adapted from those at series of carefully graded lime, we used ten per cent. (to pressions of stoveplates were Haddon Hall, the Library pan- mounds resting on the platforms the volume of dry cement) of used in casting the ceilings. Oth- els were original and colored as before. This process began in powdered slacked lime used by erwise tiles were pushed face with water color paint sprayed the crypt of the tower where no plasterers and called “Limoid” downwards into the sand crust with shellac. The Morning sand layer was used. In the to waterproof the five-inch so as to project about a quarter Room was paneled with old Library the earth mounds were concrete layer on all roofs and of an inch on the backs. The tile Doylestown doors of varying raked into semi-circles or terraces. This was very success- and cement pavements were set dates and styles between 1760 ellipses and the sand overlay ful. Only one roof, namely, that after construction. A method of and 1850. carefully smoothed. All worked in the Smoking Room, ever casting designs or pictures upon The painted door in the Li- well notwithstanding the diffi- leaked, and that cured itself ceilings in colored cements was brary was made by outlining the culty of scalloping the wall probably by crystallization in twice dried successfully in the pattern with a cautery and was forms to meet the slopes of about two years. The large water cellar of the Saloon, but not at- copied from Froissart’s Chroni- these mounds, and cleaning or tank, resting directly on the ceil- tempted later. The ceiling tile cle and taken from my old room washing out the column forms ing of the Wind Room was thus work pictures, inscriptions, at Aldie. The iron balcony rail- from down-fallen earth and waterproofed, notwithstanding designs, etc., cast as described ings were patterned after those sand. Having heard of serious warnings from one of the directly during construction tried seen in an old second-class hotel condensation of moisture in a builders of the swimming first in the crypt and next in the in Genoa, those of cement in the recently built house in Canada pool at the Racquet Club in Library, was very successful. Saloon and outer terraces were we decided to cast a very porous Philadelphia, then recently built The elaborate and probably taken from the porch of San undercrust on all further ceil- and lined with tar paper. This overworked pictures in the Marco at Venice. The rhymed ings.
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