The barn, built in the mid-eighteenth century, easily accommodated the 60-something guests that attended. Its doors were thrown wide open and clean autumn sunlight spilled in as we milled about, eating and drinking, the easy murmur of small talk echoing off its stone walls.
As part of the historic house program, the historical society is now offering custom-made plaques for homes built before 1900 featuring the house's date (or "circa date") of construction. So the homes built after 1900 don't feel left out, street-address plaques are also available. (Plaques cost $100 for STHS members and $125 for non-members.)
Residents mingled around a table where a sample plaque was on display and order forms were available. A happy, low-level anticipation was in the air. I was really curious to hear Jeffrey Marshall speak — I've always looked up to him but had never actually seen or heard him in person — and I wasn't disappointed. Far from it.
Marshall got his start in historical research when I was just a twinkle in my daddy's eye, cataloging Upper Makefield houses for Bucks County's bicentennial celebration. He's taught classes on local history and preservation and serves on the Board of Directors of the National Barn Alliance and Historic Barn and Farm Foundation of Pennsylvania. He's written numerous books, including Barns of Bucks County and Bucks County Farmhouses.
In 2003 he was the recipient of the Bucks County Commissioners' inaugural “Bucks County Preservation Legacy Award” for more than 20 years of preservation of historic places and open spaces — an award created in his honor.
In short, he's right up there with W. W. H. Davis and Terry McNealy on my growing list of role models.
Chatting with him before his lecture, Marshall seemed friendly, albeit a little quiet. In front of a room of people, however, he was completely at ease: animated, informed, and, best of all, remarkably funny. Even his PowerPoint presentation (I usually can't stand those) was great, full of clever pictures and little moving arrows.
More importantly, it was informative. I didn't know, for example, that tax records can teach you much more than deeds (since they list buildings, not just land), or that wills can contain valuable information about a house that might not be mentioned anywhere else ("I hereby bequeath my silver-plated chamberpot, located in the hidden room beneath the drawing-room floor, to my youngest son, Ebenezer.")
Afterwards Marshall deftly fielded questions from the audience and was thereafter mobbed by fans, so I wasn't able to talk with him much. Which was probably for the best.
It was a wonderful time. STHS sold lots of plaques, there was delicious food, and I got to tell everyone that I found a turn-of-the-century telephone earpiece under my floorboards. Everybody wins.
For more information
Solebury Township Historical Society
3020 N. Sugan Rd
(PO Box 525)
Solebury, PA 18963
215-297-5091
www.soleburyhistory.org
Jeffrey L. Marshall
www.historicbuckscountybooks.com
Heritage Conservancy
Aldie Mansion
85 Old Dublin Pike
Doylestown, PA 18901
215.345.7020. ext. 100
www.heritageconservancy.org
Your enthusiasm for this stuff is heartwarming, and infectious. Those plaques are very cool. :-)
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