Summer-Fall 2015 Newsletter of the Bucks County Historical Society Vol. 29 Number 2 IN THIS ISSUE: • EXHIBITS AT THE MERCER • RECENT ACQUISITIONS • FONTHILL TILE STUDY • FONTHILL’S NORTH STREET GATE • MERCER’S FAMILY PETS • SAVE THE DATE: COCKTAILS AT THE CASTLE • AND MORE! “Volunteer Firefighting” Members Preview Event on April 23. (L-R): Philadelphia Fire Commissioner, Derrick Sawyer with BCHS Board Chair, Bill Maeglin. The Tilley Family L to R: Elizabeth, Doug, Sam, Nancy, Jack, Michael and Barbara. (L-R): Trustee Gus Perea, Pete Van Dine and Linda Goodwin representing exhibit sponsor, Bucks County Foundation with BCHS donors Tina and Jim Greenwood BCHS Executive Director, Doug Dolan 2 Donor and Volunteer Recognition Celebration on May 12 Volunteers receive awards from left: Trustee Brian McLeod with Volunteer Coordinator, Frances Boffa; Trustees, Maureen B. Carlton and Michael Raphael; Jesse Crooks and Tim German. (L-R): Doris Carr and Amy Parenti. (L-R): Joan and Frank Whalon with Darlene and Dan Dean. Charles Yeske, Manager Moravian Pottery & Tile Works pours drinks for guests. SEE THE ARTICLE ABOUT THE Delware Valley Saxaphone Quartet L to R: Mike Seifried, Don Kline, William R. Schutt and Brian Freer. RECOGNITION EVENT ON PAGE 15 . 3 Firefighting Exhibit Opens THE NEW ORLEANS EXCURSIONISTS OF THE VOLUNTEER FIREMEN’S ASSOCIATION OF PHILADELPHIA. Rile and Company, Philadelphia, 1888. This photo shows VFA members in front of the Union League just before their departure for New Orleans. Gift of the Volunteer Firemen’s Association of Philadelphia, 1919. n April 25, the Mercer Museum Mississippi Engine Company No. 2, was volunteer era. The group also carried on a Oopened its latest exhibit, To Save Our the first member of the New Orleans number of long-established traditions Fellow Citizens: Volunteer Firefighting, Volunteer Fire Department to perish in the among firemen, including assembling for 1800-1875. The fascinating exhibit tells line of duty. An impressive stone elaborate parades and visiting fire the story of Philadelphia’s early volunteer monument to Ferry was erected later in the companies and other veterans’ organizations fire companies as the city grew and city’s Cypress Grove Cemetery. But how in cities across the country. Firemen from expanded over the course of the nineteenth did a carving made half a continent away in these cities returned the favor, and were century. A small companion exhibit features Louisiana wind up in Philadelphia, and received and entertained in lavish fashion by photographs and artifacts related to later at the Mercer Museum? Philadelphia’s volunteers. volunteer firefighting here in Bucks County. When Philadelphia transitioned from a In hosting visiting firemen, and on their Among the objects on display in the volunteer department to a paid firefighting own excursions, the volunteers often main exhibit is a carved wooden figure of a force in 1871, the surviving volunteers displayed their older hand-drawn firefighter emerging from rubble with a formed their own veterans’ organization. To apparatus, and donned elegant uniforms baby in his arms, flames licking at his feet. commemorate their earlier service, and and parade attire. The VFA acquired an old This statue actually did not originate in provide assistance to aging former firemen hand-drawn engine and hose carriage, Philadelphia but rather was produced by and their families, they established lovingly restoring each so that members figure carver John C. May in New Orleans, the Volunteer Firemen’s Association of could pull these vehicles proudly through Louisiana, probably sometime in the 1860s. Philadelphia (VFA) in 1875. The VFA the streets of Philadelphia and other cities. May’s carving is intended to represent eventually created its own museum The hand-drawn engine was painted with Irad Ferry, a well-respected citizen and collection, housed in a former hose house the dates of the VFA’s organization and firefighter who died tragically battling a on Buttonwood Street. Its members incorporation, while the ornamented hose blaze on Camp Street in New Orleans on gathered regularly to reminisce, and to carriage displayed the nostalgic motto of New Year’s Day, 1837. Ferry, foreman of honor and keep alive the memory of the the group, “Many Happy Days.” 4 In 1885, a contingent of volunteer were painted to accompany the figure Visit Bucks County, Tilley Family & Tilley firemen from New Orleans visited while on display or in parades. Both the Fire Equipment Company, In Memory of Philadelphia. As custom dictated, plaques and the figure of Ferry eventually Don Tilley’s Commitment to Volunteer Philadelphia’s veteran volunteers extended entered the Mercer collection in 1919, as Firefighting, Bucks County Foundation, a warm and festive reception to their the gift of the Volunteer Firemen’s William & Laurie Schutt, Susan E. Kane, brethren from the Crescent City. On the Association. The text on the plaques is Brian & Louise McLeod, Mission Appeal occasion of their visit and as a token of drawn from the inscription on the Ferry Donors-2014 Cocktails at the Castle thanks, the New Orleans firemen apparently monument in New Orleans’ Cypress Gala and Adopt-An Artifact Campaign presented the VFA with the carved figure of Grove Cemetery: “Irad Ferry/ Born in Contributors. ■ Irad Ferry. More than just a Louisiana Wilton, Connecticut/ 13 December 1801/ fireman, Ferry represented the heroism and Died 4 January 1837/ The sacrifice of sacrifice of volunteers everywhere. your life for the safety of others/ shall not Doylestown In fact, twenty-three years after be forgotten by your grateful survivors.” Ferry’s death in 1860, a new steam fire In 1888, the Volunteer Firemen’s Walking Tour engine company had formed in New Association embarked on an excursion to Orleans. The company took its name from New Orleans, giving the Crescent City’s of 2015: the hero of the 1837 Camp Street fire, volunteers the opportunity to return the Firefighting and became the Irad Ferry Steam Fire kindnesses shown them when they made Engine Co. No. 12. It is likely that the their 1885 visit to Philadelphia. More than History wooden figure was carved at that time, or forty VFA members made the trip, taking a few years afterwards, to serve with them a special parade carriage to as a company emblem. The way show off to their Louisiana brethren. the figure seems to look Undoubtedly, they were warmly received. downward — Ferry’s face is The Mercer Museum’s firefighting difficult to see unless you are exhibit extends through September 7, looking up at it — suggests that and more special programs are it may even have been placed planned for July and August. On above the company’s engine July 29, the museum will host house door as a sort of “An Evening of Firefighting figurehead. Memories,” a roundtable The top of the Ferry conversation with “old- figure was timer” firefighters remem- never bering some of Bucks finished. County’s firefighting Only a plain history. On August 16, the wooden block Mercer will present the sits atop its head — second of two “musters,” or probably to receive a displays of local firefighting Doylestown Fire Company, Shewell fire helmet equipment, on the museum Avenue, Doylestown, built in 1902 representing the Irad grounds. The August muster Ferry Engine Company. will focus on contemporary n August 14, enjoy taking a step The statue remained in firefighting methods and Oback in time while on an evening Philadelphia, and technologies. The program stroll exploring Doylestown’s occupied a place of includes special demonstra- firefighting history. This tour will honor in the VFA’s house tions, fire prevention informa- feature stops dedicated to on Buttonwood Street. In tion, and hands-on activities Doylestown’s early fire companies 1887, the figure was for all ages. The Mercer and apparatus, as well as structures featured on a float in a appreciates the support of that have been “lost to the flames.” volunteer firemen’s the Bucks County Fire This family-friendly walking tour parade in Philadelphia Chiefs’ and Firefighters’ concludes with an indoor visit to that marked the Association in presenting Doylestown Fire Company’s Shewell centennial of the these programs. Avenue fire station, designed by adoption of the United To Save Our architect Oscar Martin and built in States Constitution. Fellow Citizens: 1902. Our tours will begin at the A set of plaques Volunteer Fire- Mercer Museum’s front entrance. fighting, Tour times are at 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 FIGURE OF IRAD 1800- p.m. Adults: $11/$9 members; FERRY (1801-1837). Children (6-12): $6/$4 members. John C. May, c. 1860. 1875 is Gift of the Volunteer generously Call 215-348-9461 to register and Firemen’s Association sponsored by reserve your space. of Philadelphia, 1919. 5 Early Plane, Firefighting Artifacts Highlight Recent Museum Acquisitions n the early spring of 1768, a destructive otherwise imprinted on the side of the tool. Ifire raced through the building housing However, on this plane, only the stamped the Buckingham Meeting of Friends name on the toe is evident. (Quakers) in Lahaska, Bucks County. To help confirm the attribution to Bystanders noticed smoke and flames Edward Good, another wooden molding coming from the structure, and alerted plane in the Museum’s collection was members of the meeting who were, at examined. In 1909, Henry Mercer the time, engaged in worship. All donated a plane featuring the stamped escaped safely. name, “N. Good,” on the toe, and the Fortunately, even as fire destroyed brand, “Nathan Good” on the side. their meetinghouse, plans were This plane, which produced a series already underway for the construction of “reeds,” or decorative of a new, larger structure. grooves, on woodwork, Later that same year, the was found at an auction structure was completed.