Call Number:

06

Repository:

Newtown Historic Association

Extent:

65.0 linear feet

Language:

English

Date:

1960-2013 (bulk) and 1850-2013 (inclusive)

Creator:

Newtown Historic Association (Newtown, Bucks County, Pa.)

Abstract:

Newtown was the county seat of Bucks County, Pennsylvania from 1726 to 1813. The Newtown Historic Association vertical files, circa 1960-2013, consist primarily of photocopied newspaper clippings, with some copies of primary source documents, ephemera, and other materials. The collection is organized into four series: People, Subjects, Streets, and Obituaries.

Newtown traces its roots back to William Penn, who purchased 5,000 acres (20 km2) from the Lenni Lenape Indians in 1683. Situated where the Neshaminy River and the Newtown Creek meet, Penn named this land my "New Town," which gradually evolved to Newtown.

According to tradition, Penn had his surveyor Thomas Holme lay out Newtown in a fan shape of 16 tracts radiating out from a central square or common. Each land owner received a town lot of 20 to 50 acres that bordered on the common and a much larger country lot that ran from the town lot to the edge of the township. Newtown developed and prospered as an agricultural, industrial and trade center. Excellent examples of most styles of architecture can be seen in its buildings and structures.

Newtown served as the County Seat of Bucks County from 1726 until 1813, when the Court was moved to Doylestown. In 1838, the area comprising the commercial center, plus a number of homes, was incorporated into Newtown Borough. The Borough was enlarged four times since 1838 and now includes 640 acres.

Today, Newtown Township surrounds Newtown Borough and each has its own form of government. Newtown Borough is governed by a Mayor and a six member Borough Council, who are elected to serve four year terms. Newtown Township is governed by a five member Board of Supervisors; members are elected to serve 6 year terms.

An historic district was first established in 1969. In 1985, the Historic District was enlarged and added to the National Register of Historic Places. Today, Newtown still retains the much of its historic character.

Bibliography:

Borough of Newtown. "History." Accessed January 29, 2013. http://www.boroughofnewtown.com/History/.

Mayer, Thomas. A History of Land Ownership Newtown, Bucks County, Pennsylvania 1683-1850. Bedminster, PA: Adams Apple Press, 1999.

Newtown Township. “History” Accessed October 10, 2013. http://www.twp.newtown.pa.us/history.htm

This collection consists primarily of photocopied newspaper clippings, with some copies of primary source documents, ephemera, and other materials. The collection is organized into four series: People, Subjects, Streets, and Obituaries. The People series includes primarily genealogies and newspaper articles about local Newtown residents, in alphabetical order by last name. The Subjects series is in alphabetical order by topic, and includes folders on schools, transportation, businesses and industry, social issues, and similar subjects of local interest. The Streets series is organized by location, and includes real estate advertisements, copies of photographs, title searches, and other materials relating to the history of Newtown properties. The Obituaries series includes photocopied obituaries of Newtown residents, organized alphabetically.

Original documents from the vertical files--mostly pamphlets and ephemera--were separated and are stored in the Oversize Room, organized alphabetically by subject.

An item-level inventory is available in a database on-site.

Partial inventories of subjects and individuals and families included in the photograph collection are listed below:

Subjects: 3D Printing & Copy Center 4H Club A & P A. Blaker & Co. A. E. Girton, Painter & Paperhanger A. W. & M. W. Lumber Yard Academy Reataurant Acme Markets Advance of Newtown Agway All American Billiard & Shuffleboard Allen's Mill American Fire Insurance Company American Legion American Red Cross Antique Car Show Arbor Day Archambault House Atkinson Family Baker Family Barclay Court Barclay J. Smith, Real Estate Barnsley House Beans House Bell Telephone Company Benetz Family Bennett Family Bill Marsh Ford Bird-in-Hand Blackfan Family Blaine Garner, MD Blaker Family Bond Brothers Motor Company Bond Family Bond Service Station Boy Scouts Brick Hotel Bridge Street Briggs House Buckman Family Bucks County Agricultural Society Bucks County Association for the Blind Bucks County Bankers Association Bucks County Community College Bucks County Court of Common Pleas Bucks County Electric Company Bucks County Firemen's Association Bucks County Historical Society Bucks County Public Service Bucks County Singers Bucks County Trust Company Bunting Family Bunting House Burns Auto Repair Burns Family Burns Hardware Buttermilk Soap Company Bye Family Cadwallader Family Cahill's Blacksmith Shop Callahan Family CameraCraft Shop Carl J. Durr, Jeweler Carver Family Carver & Greer's Store Cary Family Center Auto Service Central Penn Bank Centre Avenue Chamberlin Family Chambers Family Chancellor Street Chandler Hall Charles F. Schwartz Funeral Home Charles Savidge, Boot & Shoe Store Charles T. Hunter, MD Chesner Family Church Family Church Street Civil Defense Clark's Flower Shop Clayton Keller Barber Shop Clouds Room Clover Crest Dairy Farm Cologne Mill Colonial 5 & 10 Comfort Farm Commonwealth State Bank Community Welfare Council Congress Street Conrad Family Core Creek Park Cornell Family Cornell's Pharmacy Council Rock Concert Association Council Rock Youth & Community Center Council Rock School District County Court House County Jail County Seat Coupe Automobile Dealer Court House Lots Court Inn Court Street Court Street Yarns Coyle Family Crossing Community Church Cunningham Family Cyrus Hillborn, Auctioneer D. Russell Bond Brothers Davis Family Dekalb's Drug Store Delaware & Atlantic Telegraph & Telephone Company Delaware Canal Delaware Valley Meat Lockers Doan Brothers Doan Family Dolington Dolohan House Donovan Family Doylestown Trust Company Duckworth Family Durham Road E.F. Church, Printer Eagle Road Eastburn & Gray Eastburn Dry Goods and Groceries Eastburn Family Ed Grace Cigar Store Effrig's Grocery Elizabeth Bond MD Ellenger Flour & Grist Mill Ellis Family Enterprise Printing Office Ettenger Family Excelsior Bobbin and Spool Company Eyre Family Fabian Family Fabian Fuel Oil Fairview Farm Farmers' & Mechanics Mutual Insurance Company of Bucks County Felton Family Fenton Family First Baptist Church First Fourth First National Bank & Trust Company of Newtown First Night Fitzgerald's Electric Shop Fleecydale Factory Flum's Department Store FNB Bankcorp Ford Family Foster Family Fountain Farm Fourth of July Celebration Franklin Smith, Tinsmith Free Church Friends Boarding Home Friends Meeting House Frost Lane Frost Watson Lumber Yard G. B. Girton, Builder Galloway Family Gaine & Murfit Chevrolet Garrett Goodnoe, Carpenter George A. Jenks, Attorney George Leck & Son George School German Tract Girl Scouts Girton Family Godwin Building Golden Acres Goodnoe Family Goodnoe Farms Dairy Goodnoe Restaurant Grand Army of the Republic Grange Fair Grave Yard Field Greene Street H. S. Roberts Nursery Haines Family Half Moon Inn Hampton Family Hanging Lamp Antiques Harris House Hart House Hennessey Family Henry M. Pownall, Dealer in Harnesses Heston Family Hibbs Family Hibbs Hardware Hicks House Hidden Valley Farm Hillborn & Worstall Hillborn Family Hillborn House Hillborn News Agency Hillborn Nurseries Homestead Restaurant Hoover's Pharmacy Horace A. Effrig's Store Horace G. Reeder, Real Estate Howard A. Trego, Dentist Hugh B. Eastburn, Realtor Hutchinson Family Independent Mutual Fire Insurance Company Ira H. Cornell, Auctioneer J. B. Chamberlin, Architect J. B. Roberts, Stoves J.C. Burill, Dry Goods J. J. Burns, Hardware J. P. Hutchinson, Real Estate J. Stanley Lee, Realtor J. Wilmer Lundy, Plumbing Jack's Pioneer Market James Moore, Blacksmith Jaime Fashions Janney Family Jannsch's Bakery Jefferson Court Jefferson Street Jenks Fulling Mill Road Jenks Family Jenks House Jesse Hillborn, Florist Jesse Packer, MD John A. Merrick Insurance John Firman, Carpenter John LaRue, Carpenter Johnson Companies Johnson Family Joint Downtown Newtown Joseph Ely, Auctioneer Judy's Restaurant Justices House Keith House Keller Building Keller's Barber Shop Kenderdine Family Kenderdine's Kester Family King Family Kirk Farm Knights of Pythias Krusen Family L. C. Wettling, Jewelers Lafayette Street Lang Family LaRue Apartments LaSalle University Lavalle Aircraft Company Lavender Hall League of Women Voters Lee Family Leedom Family Leedom Farm Leedom Welding & Fabricating Lenni Lenape Indians Lewis Fitzgerald's, Electrcal Contractor Liberty Street Light House Hill Cemetery Lin Bethman Auto Center Lincoln Avenue Lincoln Heights Nursery Lindenhurst Road Linton Family Linton Hill Road Lions Club Longshore Family Lovett Farm Lower Dolington Road Lower Street Lower House Lownes Chrysler & Mack Truck Dealer Lownes Farm Lukoil Gas Station Lundy & Shinn, Stoves & Ranges Lundy Family Lutheran Church of God's Love Macedonia Baptist Church Madryn Maher Family Mark Granite's General Store Market Day Mary Gray Lewis Lampshades Masonic Lodge Mawson Brothers McBride Chrysler Plymouth McClanen Family McGowan & Heurscher Wagon Shop Mercer Street Merrick Family Merrick Insurance Company Middle Store, Stapler & Carver Middle Street Miller Family Milnor House Mitchell Family Moon Nurseries Morrell Smith Post #440 Morrell's Antique Shop Morris Family Mudcats Murray Family Mutual Beneficial Insurance Association Musser's Drug Store Napoleon Street Ned's Cigar Store Needlework Guild Neshaminy Creek Neshaminy Farms Neshaminy Valley Youth Center New Century Club New York Short Line Railroad Newtown Academy and Free School Newtown Agricultural Works Newtown Ambulance Squad Newtown Artesian Water Company Newtown Arts Company Newtown Bank and Trust Company Newtown Banking Company Newtown Bicycle Shop Newtown Borough Council Newtown Borough Hall Newtown Building & Loan Association Newtown Businessmen's Association Newtown By-Pass Newtown Carriage Company Newtown Cemetery Association Newtown Chamber Orchestra Newtown China Company Newtown Common Lots Newtown Community Center Newtown Cooperative Newtown Creek Newtown Crossing Newtown Cut Wheat Cereal & Trading Company Newtown Electric Light & Power Company Newtown Electric Street Railway Newtown Enterprise Newtown Exchange Club Newtown Exhibitors Newtown Farmer's Market Newtown Fire Association Newtown Fire Hall Newtown Fire Insurance Company Newtown Foundry Newtown Friends Meeting Newtown Friends Home Newtown Gas & Water Company Newtown Gas Light Company Newtown Gate Newtown Giant Incubator Corporation Newtown Grant Newtown Hall Newtown Hardware House Newtown High School Newtown Historic Association Newtown Historic District Newtown Ice & Trading Company Newtown Improvement Company Newtown Industrial Commons Newtown Joint Historic Commission Newtown League of Women Voters Newtown Library Company Newtown Lyceum Newtown Meadows Newtown Methodist Episcopal Church Newtown New Century Club Newtown Pastry Shop Newtown Post Office Newtown Presbyterian Church Newtown Producing Company Newtown Railroad Newtown Reliance Company Newtown Rotary Club Newtown Savings & Loan Association Newtown Swim Club Newtown Theater Newtown Title & Trust Company Newtown Township Newtown Trolley Company Newtown-Langhorne Ice Company Oak Dale Farm Odd Fellows Old Skunky Old Washy Oldfields Open House Tour P. H. Morris, Clothing Packer Family Palmer Family Parry Family Paxson Purcel General Store Paxson, Croasdale, Dry Goods Peaceable Kingdom Pearson Farm Penn Family Penn Street Penn's Park Pennswood Village Pennsylvania Canal Philadelphia & Reading Railroad Company Philadelphia Suburban Gas & Electric Company Phillips Family Pickering Field Pickering Manor Home Pickering, Courts & Summerson Pidcock Blacksmith Shop Plummer Family Pontypool Shop Pownall House Price Farm Purple Heart Quakers Randall Carriage Company Randall Photography Studio Red Lion Inn Reeder Family Renninger House Revolutionary War Rhodes Flower & Gift Shop Richboro Road Robert H. Dilks, Inc. Roberts Family Roberts Ridge Park Ross & Ross, Law Office S. E. Dolton, Notions Savidge Brothers Store Schofield Ford Bridge Schofield House Scott Family Scully Family Selective Service System Shady Brook Farm Sharon Short Street Shull Farm Siloam Lodge, I.O.O.F. Smith & Harvey, Heaters & Stoves Smith & Emby Heaters & Stoves Smith Family Smock House South State Street Spring Garden Mill Spring Street St. Andrew's Roman Catholic Church St. Luke's Episcopal Church St. Mark's AME Zion Church St. Mary's Hospital Stacy B. Brown, Funeral Director State Street Stenton Sterling Street Stockberger Chevrolet Stocking Works Stone House Bistro & Catering Stonehurst Stoopville Road Stradling Family Strathie Family Strathie Pharmacy Strickland's Lane Stuckert & Yates Stuckert Family Sullivan Street Sutton Family Swamp Road Swamp Road Park Swartz Givinish Funeral Home Swayne Family Sweet Land Sycamore Street T. D. Market, Groceries T. S. Kenderdine & Sons Taylor Family T. H. Wynkoop Post #427 GAR Temora Farms Temperance House Temple University Thompson Family Thompson Farm Thomas B. Linton Memorial Fountain Thornton's tavern Tomlinson Family Tomlinson Stove & Tinware Shop Torbert Family Towne Shoop Township House Restaurant Township House Store Townstead Tranter Family Tranter Moving & Storage Trego Family Tricentennial Triumph Lodge of Good Templars Triumph Store Twining Family Twining Farm Twining Ford Bridge Tyler Estate Tyler Park Tyler Walk U.S. Bobbin & Shuttle Company Upper Street VanArtsdahlen Express VanArtsdahlen Family Vandegrift Family VanHorn Family VanHorn Farm Veterans Veterans Plaza Vigilant Society Village at Newtown W. Aubrey Merrick, Insurance Walking Tour of Newtown Walton Jewelers Warner & McGowan Wagon Works Washington Avenue Washington's Headquarters Washington Village Watson Family Watson's Sash & Blind Factory Welcome Day White Hall Hotel White Hall Mutual Fire Insurance Company Whittam & Son Wiggins Auto Body Willard Family William T. Wright Company William W. Fabian & Sons Willow Grove Park Willow Hill Wilson Family Wind Tunnel Windsock Cocktail Lounge Wisteria House Wm. W. Fabian & Son Women's Christian Temperance Union Woodmont Farm Woolies etc. World War I World War II Worstall Brothers Coal, Bricks, Ice Worstall Family Worstall House Worth Family Worthington Family Worthington's General Store Worthington Mill Wright Family Wrightstown Wycombe Wynkoop Family Yamaoto & Sons Yardley Yardley & Canby Retailers Yardley Family Yardley Ferry Road Yates Family Ye Old Temperance House Yonder Street

Individuals and families: Afflerbach, Henry Archambault, Joseph Bachman, Vance Beans Benetz, George Bennett Blackfan Blaker, Alfred Bond Boyd, James Briggs Brown, Stacy B. Buckman Burns Cadwallader Carey Carver Cary Chamberlin, James B. Chambers Chapman Chapman, Abraham Chesner, Peter Church, Watson P. Clark Cornell Cornell, Charles Croasdale Davis Doan Eastburn Ely Erwin Ettenger Evans Eyre Fabian Firman Forsyth Fuhrer Galloway, Joseph German Girton, Garrett B. Goodnoe Gray, Samuel Hampton Hance, Robert Harris Hart Harvey Hennessey Heston Hibbs Hicks Hicks, Thomas Hicks, Edward Penrose Hicks, Sarah Hillborn Hogeland Hough Hutchinson Janney Jenks Johnson Keller Keller, Marvin V. Kenderdine Kenderdine, Robert Kenderdine, Thaddeus Kester Kester, Reuban P. Kirkbride Kitchin Krewson Krusen Lang Lang, Edna Langhorne LaRue LaRue, Frank Lauble Lavalle Lavalle, Thomas Lee Lee, J. Stanley Leedom Leedom, Jesse Lefferts Lewis Linton Longshore Lownes Luff Lundy Lundy, J. Wilmer Magee Maher Marchion Martin Martindale Martindell Mayer Mayer, Elizabeth Mayer, Thomas McAllister, Eliza McGowan McMaster McMinn, Andrew Merrick Millard Miller Milnor Mitchell, John H. Moore Morlock Morrell Morris Morris, Edmund Morris, Enos Murfit Murray Murray, Francis Nelson, Henry Paff Pannepacker Pannepacker, David Parker Parry Palmer Paxson Phillips Phillips, Aaron Phillips, Samuel Pickering Porter Porter, Roland Pownall Pownall, Henry M. Pugh Pyle Raguet Raguet, Henry Raquet Randall Randall, James V. Reeder Reeder, Horace G. Reeder, Millard W. Rempfer Roberts Roberts, Charles Roberts, H. Stanford Roberts, Joseph B. Roberts, Stokes L. Roberts, W. A. Robinson Robinson, Wesley Rogers Rook Rose, Aaron Ross Rounsavill Rowland Rutherford Ryan Satterthwaite Savidge Savidge, Clarence Savidge, Charles Savidge, Morris Scarborough Schofield Scott Sedia Sharpless Siddon Slack Smith Smith, Charles B. Smith, Josiah Smith, Letty Ann Stackhouse Stapler Stapler, Robert K. Stradling Strathie Stuckert Sutton Swartz Swayne Taylor Taylor, Israel Terry Terry, H. Calvin Thomas Thompson Thornton Tomlinson Tomlinson Tomlinson, Calvin Tomlinson, Homer A. Tomlinson, Richard Torbert Torbert, Samuel Trego Trego, Edward Trego, Howard A. Twining Twining, Beulah Twining, David Twining, Stephen Tyler Tyler, George Tyler, Stella Urban, Charles VanArtsdahlen Vandegrift Vandergrift VanHorn VanSant Voorhees Walker Wall Walley Walton Walton, George A. Warner Watson Watson, David L. Watson, William M. Watts Weasner Weaver Webster White Wiggins Wiley Willard Williams Wilson Wood Worstall Worstall, George Worthington Wright Wright, William Wynkoop Yardley Yardley, Samuel Yates Yates, James Yerkes