Delaware Canal State Park

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Visit our Tour Destination: Pennsylvania page to see the entire tour of the state’s Save America’s Treasures sites.

The restored Sommer's Bridge in Delaware Canal State Park.
Photo courtesy of Delaware Canal State Park.

Delaware Canal State Park

Sommer’s Bridge

The park is located along the historic canal and towpath

paralleling the Delaware River on the Pennsylvania side

from Easton to Bristol.

Sommer’s Bridge spans the canal

in Lower Makefield Township

approximately a half mile south of I-95.

Website:  Delaware Canal State Park

The Treasure:  The Delaware Canal is a national treasure and the restored bridges that cross it, like the Sommer’s Bridge, add to its authenticity.

Background:  Two years after New York’s Erie Canal opened to lots of fanfare in 1825, the Pennsylvania State Senate passed a bill to dig a canal of its own. There were solid economic reasons for states to invest in canals. As the most cost-efficient commercial transportation systems then available, canals were good for business. Large deposits of anthracite coal had been discovered in northeastern Pennsylvania and there were huge markets for the coal in cities like Newark, New York City, and Philadelphia. To get the coal to Newark and New York City, New Jersey dug the Morris Canal. And in Pennsylvania, the Delaware Canal was constructed to transport the coal to the state’s largest city, mutually benefitting the economies of northeastern Pennsylvania and the growing industries of Philadelphia.

View from Sommer's Bridge.
Photo courtesy of Delaware Canal
State Park.

The digging commenced in October 1827. Nearly five years later, the 60-mile-long canal celebrated the delivery of its first shipment of coal, with a loaded barge traversing the distance from Easton to Bristol. During its first forty years, the Delaware Canal more than justified its $1.43 million expense, fueling the growth of industry in eastern Pennsylvania. The engineering required was impressive:  the canal utilized 23 lift locks to control water flow, along with an array of aqueducts, waste gates, dams, and overflows. But in practice, it didn’t look particularly sophisticated. Slow but steady, teams of mules trudged along the towpath, pulling barges loaded with up to 90 tons of coal.

The heyday of the American canals lasted only a few decades. As new railroad lines were built in the middle of the 19th century, the important role of the Delaware Canal slowly diminished. The last commercial barge descended down the canal in 1931. Appreciative of the historic importance and beauty of the canal and towpath, local citizens have consistently fought for its preservation over the years, from its initial establishment as Theodore Roosevelt State Park in 1940 through today’s maintenance of Delaware Canal State Park by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

Sign posted during the restoration.
Photo courtesy of Delaware Canal
State Park.

Save America’s Treasures funding was used to preserve one of the original bridges built to span the canal. Dating back to 1831, Sommer’s Bridge is located just 15 miles from the terminus of the canal at Bristol, close to Philadelphia. In the early days, over one hundred small camelback bridges of this type crossed the canal. Today, only six remain. Thanks to the Save America’s Treasures funding, Sommer’s Bridge was the fourth of these surviving historic bridges to be restored.

The best way to see Sommer’s Bridge is to hike the towpath, a National Recreation Trail.

Sommer's Bridge during restoration.
Photo courtesy of Delaware Canal State Park.

Sommer's Bridge, restored.
Photo courtesy of Delaware Canal State Park.

Other Recommended Sites:  A hike along the towpath takes you past one historic site after another, with opportunities for stopovers at several delightful small towns. For iconic national history, Washington Crossing Historic Park is located just three miles north of Sommer’s Bridge. Small towns like Yardley, New Hope, Lumberville, Erwinna, and Upper Black Eddy cater to tourist crowds who come to Bucks County for the scenic riverfront, the antique shops, the bed and breakfast inns, and many fine restaurants.

Delaware Canal State Park.  Photo by Bradford Van Arnum.
Source:  Wikimedia Commons.

Tour America's History Itinerary

Wednesday:  Atmosphere and Environment XII by Louise Nevelson

© 2013 Lee Price

Cliveden

View Cliveden in a larger map

Visit our Tour Destination: Pennsylvania page to see the entire tour of the state’s Save America’s Treasures sites.

Cliveden:  The Chew House.
Image courtesy of Cliveden, a National Trust Historic Site, Philadelphia, PA.

Cliveden

6401 Germantown Avenue (visitor entrance on Cliveden Street)

Philadelphia, PA

Website:  Cliveden

The Treasure:  Dating back nearly 250 years, this handsome Georgian estate encompasses a wealth of stories that illuminate centuries of American history, including a critical role in the Battle of Germantown during the American Revolution.

Accessibility:  Cliveden is open for tours from April through December, Thursday through Sunday from noon to 4 p.m.

Background:  As Philadelphia’s Centennial Exposition approached in 1876, the country’s understanding of historic preservation began to change. Previously, preservation was mainly associated with holding onto the family hand-me-downs and treasured items associated with the great men of history. The Centennial Exposition provided impetus for new movements that celebrated American origins through the systematic preservation of our material past. Directly involved with planning the Centennial Exposition, Samuel Chew III became so associated with a commitment to preservation that he earned the nickname “Centennial” Sam.

Cliveden's parlor.
Image courtesy of Cliveden, a National Trust Historic Site,
Philadelphia, PA.

The American heritage of “Centennial” Sam Chew was broad and deep. In 1876, he could trace his American ancestry back more than 250 years to the 1622 arrival of John Chew in Jamestown. A century and a half later, his ancestor Benjamin Chew built Cliveden to serve as the family’s summer retreat, safely distant from the frequent yellow fever epidemics that broke out during Philadelphia’s hottest months. During the Revolutionary War, Cliveden stood at the center of the important Battle of Germantown, an event that led to Washington’s iconic winter at Valley Forge.

“Centennial” Sam and his wife Mary placed a new emphasis on recovering and saving the historic artifacts of the Chew family, from the buildings to the furniture to the paper documents. Part of their effort was family pride but it was also based in the new national interest in claiming and understanding our American identity. Their work was continued by other Chew family members, eventually leading to the decision to transfer ownership of the historic house, 5.5 acres of surrounding parkland, and a collection of artifacts to the National Trust for Historic Preservation in 1972. Ten years later, the Chew family papers were given to the Historical Society of Pennsylvania.

Thanks to this far-sighted approach to preserving a family’s heritage, Cliveden has become a window onto the past for the public and researchers alike, providing insight into life within a wealthy and influential family, the key role of the house during the Battle of Germantown, and the day-to-day lives of the generations of African slaves and Irish servants who worked on the property. The Chew papers at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania offer an unusual level of detail concerning the family’s slaves, indentured servants, and the paid staff, with records that supply important genealogical information and letters describing the working conditions.

Through the grant, an enormous
amount of equipment was installed in
the cellar.  Image courtesy of Cliveden,
a National Trust Historic Site
Philadelphia, PA.

The building itself is a classic example of Philadelphia Georgian architecture—stately and symmetrical. The Save America’s Treasures grant was used to install a new climate management system to ensure the long-term preservation of the interior and its collections. To complement this work, drainage and plumbing projects were implemented to reduce water infiltration into the building. With a little help from 21st century technology, the long-standing commitment to preservation at Cliveden continues.

The air handler intalled as part of the new climate
management system.  Image courtesy of Cliveden,
a National Trust Historic Site, Philadelphia, PA.

Other Recommended Sites:  Scroll down the Historic Germantown website to the map of historic sites located either along Germantown Avenue or in the immediate neighborhood. There’s Wyck, Johnson House, Stenton, and many more. Historic Germantown proposes visiting them all with their HG Passport!

New ductwork was run through Cliveden using the closets to hide
the modern climate management system.
Image courtesy of Cliveden, a National Trust Historic Site, Philadelphia, PA.

Tour America's History Itinerary

Friday:  Delaware Canal State Park

© 2013 Lee Price

Brookville Historic District

View Brookville Historic District in a larger map

Visit our Tour Destination: Pennsylvania page to see the entire tour of the state’s Save America’s Treasures sites.

The restored Jefferson County Court House in Brookville.

Brookville Historic District

Brookville, PA

Website:  Historic Brookville

Jefferson County History Center

The Treasure:  The restored houses and businesses of Brookville Historic District are a welcome reminder of the picturesque hospitality of 19th century small-town Pennsylvania.

Accessibility:  Open year round.

Background:  Small rural towns may look like they’ll last forever but in reality they inexorably change. Maps are dotted with boom towns that dwindle to ghost towns. And, conversely, tiny communities suddenly spring up like mushrooms overnight. In either case, the nature of the town—the way it looks and the way it is experienced—often changes altogether. Towns have a hard time holding onto their pasts.

Victorian details on the facade of a building on Main Street.

Located in the rural northwest portion of Pennsylvania, Brookville has somehow beaten the odds and stubbornly retained its charming late-Victorian-era appearance. A 2006 Save America’s Treasures grant provided some welcome preservation assistance, contributing to the restoration of the facades of eligible homes and businesses located within the Historic District, including the handsome 1869 Jefferson County Court House. Funding also went to the Jefferson County History Center, located in the newly preserved N. G. Edelblute Building (1855-1875) on Main Street, enabling the History Center to address accessibility and energy issues.

Settlers first moved here in the early years of the 19th century, attracted by its strategic location at the confluence of the North Fork Redbank Creek and the Sandy Lick creeks. Bears, wolves, and rattlesnakes retreated deeper into the surrounding woods as the town grew. The completion of the S&W toll road in 1822 provided a further boost to the growing town. The lumber industry flourished, with lumber mills floating timber down the creeks to Pittsburgh. Other businesses established themselves within the town, including hotels, a ladder factory, a glass and tile factory, two breweries, furniture companies, and a carriage manufacturer.

In the early years of the automotive industry, Robert Twyford established the Twyford Motor Car Company in Brooksville. On a ten-acre site, the company produced the Twyford Stanhope, now credited as the first four-wheel-drive automobile. Local historian William McCracken has built a full-scale replica of a Twyford car, which is one of the most popular exhibits at the Jefferson County History Center.

The Marlin Opera House block on Main Street.

While a stroll through the town suggests America’s past, a visit to the Jefferson County History Center provides the historic details of everyday life in this region of the country. The Living on the Land permanent exhibit uses original artifacts to explore the land’s early settlement, as well as its businesses and industries. In addition, the History Center features a recreated Victorian parlor, a model railroad exhibit, and an art gallery, all summoning up the feel of Brookville in the old days.

Historic postcard of Main Street, Brookville, looking west.
Image courtesy of Jefferson County History Center.

Historic postcard view of Main Street, Brookville.
Image courtesy of Jefferson County History Center.

Other Recommended Sites:  The borough of Punxsutawney, famous for its prognosticating groundhog, is located in Jefferson County, just twenty miles southeast of Brookville. Punxsutawney Phil’s annual big event takes place at Gobbler’s Knob on February 2.

The restored N. G. Edleblute Building is now home to the
Jefferson County History Center.

Tour America's History Itinerary

Friday:  Cliveden

© 2013 Lee Price