History in the Making

The Newsletter of the New Hope Historical Society

H i s t o r y i n t h e M a k i n g

May, 2017 History in the Making

N e w s l e t t e r

H i g h l i g h t s

Historical Society ‘s

2017 Home & Garden

Tour will be a new

“first” for the Society

Parry Birthday

Party celebrated

Jane’s and Benja-

min’s birthdays with

poems, letters and

good cheer

175 members and

guests attended the

15th Annual Speaker

Series in April

Annual Garden

Party set for June 4

Remembering Jan

“Yanek” Liebgold

Home and Garden Tour set for June 4 Location! Location! Location!—

the triple mantra of real estate

gurus everywhere, is no more

perfectly applicable than to Bucks

County, Pennsylvania.

So the New Hope Historical Soci-

ety has partnered with Bucks

County realtors to present a Mil-

lion Dollar Listing Bucks County

tour on June 4, that will welcome

visitors inside five of the most

beautiful estates in Bucks County.

When William Penn founded the

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

more than three and a quarter cen-

turies ago he began selling blocks

of land to the public. But he chose

the Highlands of Bucks County for

his own property because he felt it

was the most beautiful place he

had seen. Since then, countless

thousands of folks have followed

his lead as they discovered the

bucolic beauty of its rolling green

hills and winding streams.

Artists discovered Bucks County.

in the early 1920s. William Lath-

rop, Daniel Garber, Edward Willis

Redfield, Robert Spencer and

scores of artists established a new

art form now known international-

ly as the New Hope Impressionists

and Pennsylvania Impressionists.

Their works proclaimed the natu-

ral beauty and cultural diversity of

the area.

Playwrights and producers soon

followed. Inspired by the field of

corn as high as an elephant’s eye

across the road from his home in

Bucks County, Oscar Hammer-

stein composed some of his im-

mortal Broadway hits there.

Kauffman and Simon and Hart and

a host of others joined Rodgers

and Hammerstein as they present-

ed try-outs at the fabled Bucks

County Playhouse. Bucks County,

with all its rich history, art, culture

and diversity has become a mecca

for thousands of home-buyers over

the past two decades. The econom-

ic value of its grand homes located

within peaceful landscapes that

inspired so many great artists con-

tinues to draw them. And it’s

quicker to get to Bucks County

from New York City than it is to

travel to the Hamptons and easier

to travel there from center city

Philadelphia than it is to get to the

Main Line area.

Participants in the Home and Gar-

den Tour will see the interior

space and exterior grounds of five

of the grandest, most luxurious

homes and estates in the area.

There will be a tour of the eight-

eenth century Georgian-style Parry

Mansion, home of Benjamin Par-

ry, the Father of New Hope.

Purchase tickets at the Society’s

website,www.newhopehs.org.

2

The New Hope

Historical Society

Board of Directors

President

Claire Shaw, DMD

Vice Presidents

Edwin Hild

Kevin Joy

George Yarnall

Secretary

Mary Ellen Mason

Treasurer

Avril Barton Moore

Directors

John Blady

Dee Dee Bowman

Joseph Cummins

Ralph Curtis Fey

Robert Goodwin*

Lin Hodgdon

John Hover*

Les Isbrandt*

Ann Liebgold **

Fred Logan

Moira McClintock

Terry McNealy

Laurie Madaus

John Mauro

Ben Meadows

Chuck Mintzer

Pearl Mintzer

Kevin Nakashima**

Frank Policare

Dee Rosenwald *

Bryce Sanders*

Lynn Stoner*

Roy Ziegler

*Emeritus

**Honorary

Advisory Board

Adrianne Emmertz

JoAnn Goodwin

Cecily Laidman

Susan Sandor

Patricia Whitman

Barry Ziff

Executive Director

Deborah Lang

There has been a lot happening at the Mansion. A recent storm with straight line winds

was responsible for bringing down a huge tree which narrowly missed the spring house

and fortunately missed the mansion itself. A call to Hugh Marshall resulted in a quick

dispatch of the problem. Now just a few weeks later the crew returned to prepare our

grounds for our soon to reopen weekend tours.

Visitors this year will find two of the rooms on the first floor to be quite different than

last year. The Victorian Room has freshly refinished hardwood floors featuring an

historic tung oil finish. The piano is actually playable again as we heard during Victo-

rian Christmas days. We are also tending to time worn curtains and other such items to

return this room to its former glory. This spring we will also see the East-Lake room be converted into an

entirely new venue where it will serve as a home for changing displays. Please make it a point to visit us.

The 2017 Speaker Series was well attended and the last two lectures were moved to the New Hope Community

Hall to provide the space needed for the overflow crowds. I wish to thank Chair Bob McCaskey and his dedi-

cated committee: Laurie Madaus, Charles Tarr and Roy Ziegler, for providing great content, PR and beautiful-

ly presented refreshments for our guests.

As always we are asking for volunteer docents to help support our tours. If you can spare a few hours a month

we would be grateful and you will be rewarded with smiles from our visitors.

We thank you for being a member and look forward to seeing you at our next event.

Deborah

H i s t o r y i n t h e M a k i n g

Deborah Lang

History in the Making is a publication of the New Hope Historical Society

Roy Ziegler, Editor

Associate Editors: Edwin Hild, Deborah Lang and Claire Shaw

PHOTO CONTEST CHALLENGE!

While you're touring the homes in the Home & Garden Tour, pull out that camera or cell phone and snap some photos. Creativity can win you a prize. There will be 3 winners.

Contest Rules

1-Photos are to be taken the day of the tour, Sunday, June 4th.

2-Last day to email photos is June 12th.

3-Winners will be announced no later than June 15th.

4-Email your BEST photos to: GardenTourPhotos@gmail.com

5-You may submit up to 6 photos, or just one. Send in one email as an attachment.

6-Include your name and telephone number. Your information will remain private and not

used for any solicitation. 7-The best photos will remain on the NHHS website and you will be given named credit.

Questions? Contact Chuck Mintzer. Email: GardenTourPhotos@gmail.com

3

H i s t o r y i n t h e M a k i n g

Nearly 200 members and guests attended the 15th Annual Speaker

Series, “Mondays at the Mansion”

The New Hope Historical Society’s 15th Annual Speaker Series,

“Mondays at the Mansion.” series was presented each Monday

in April beginning at 5 pm at the Parry Mansion in New Hope.

“We were really pleased with the number of folks who attended

the Series,” said Bob McCaskey, chair of this year’s series.

On April 3, Linda Carol Gray presented The History of Ameri-

can Penmanship. Linda will discuss how records were kept and

written in the early days of our country and how written com-

munication and records continued and developed into the public

school system.....and where it is now. It's important to get the

word out that our kids and grandchildren won't be able to read

the Declaration of Independence unless they put cursive writing

back into the curriculum! Linda is a member of the International

Association of Master Penmen, Philadelphia Calligraphers' So-

ciety, New York Society of Scribes and the Doylestown Art

League. She is an Instructor at Scatter Joy Center for the Arts

and RCIA Coordinator for Our Lady of Guadalupe Church.

On April 10, Gerry Wild discussed Fun with the Ukulele. His

presentation included hands- on beginner music lesson with

audience participation! Gerry Wild is a local musician who

specializes in stringed instruments of all shapes and sizes. He is

a retired school teacher, former Naval Flight Officer and is an

active airman at the Golden Age Air Museum where he restores

and pilots vintage aircraft. During this session Gerry demon-

strated a few basic Ukulele chords and techniques which hope-

fully awakened inner musical cravings. After this lesson we

posted a listing of follow up lessons available at Youtube.com.

Some folks brought their ukulele or shared one donated to this

event by other society members. Hawaiian Shirts were option-

al. Ukes used at this event were purchased by guests.

The series continued on April 17, when Karen Etcoff shared

anecdotes and video depicting her 30 years as a New York Cast-

ing Director in film and television. The Strippers Won't Strip

title was explained as she presented the secrets and unique de-

mands of the Casting business. Karen and her husband, Kurt

Mattel, moved to New Hope in 2012. Karen volunteers for the

New Hope Historical Society as the Docent Coordinator, and in

Lambertville she works with the Acme Screening Room as the

Chair of The Programming Committee.

The Speaker Series concluded on April 24 when Katherine Van

Dell and Sebastian Clarke from Rago Arts presented Tales from

the Road. It featured a behind-the scenes program that gave

fascinating insights into the work of an auction specialist, in-

cluding experiences on the Antiques Roadshow, great finds in

unlikely places, changing tastes in the marketplace, and the psy-

chology of auction. Katherine Van Dell and Sebastian Clarke,

Rago specialists appear regularly as guest appraisers on the hit

television show, Antiques Road Show.

4

H i s t o r y i n t h e M a k i n g

A joyous celebration of Benjamin and Jane Parry birthdays

Benjamin Parry’s Georgian-style mansion on Main Street in New Hope was crowded with New Hope Historical

Society members and guests celebrating his 260th birthday. And that was not all they commemorated. It was also a

tribute to the Father of New Hope’s wife Jane on the occasion of her 250th birthday.

Historical Society president, Dr. Claire Shaw, welcomed the gathering to the Parrys’ home. Society board member

provided a brief biography to the Parry family and noted that Benjamin’s nephew, John Childs Parry was the first

burgess, or mayor, of New Hope. He acknowledged that New Hope’s current mayor, Larry Keller, was present for

the celebration, 180 years after the first mayor took office. Historical Society member, Charlie Huchet, who por-

trayed Benjamin Parry in the Society’s video about Parry’s life, recited a poem that Benjamin had written to Jane

when he was courting her. Karen Etcoff, coordinator of the Society’s docents, read a letter that Jane had written to

Benjamin when she was away in Philadelphia in 1790.

A sumptuous birthday cake created by Joel Vitart of C’est La Vie Bakery in New Hope delighted the partygoers.

Their enjoyment was enhanced as some sipped champagne and others, hot chocolate.

Charlie Huchet as Benjamin Parry Karen Etcoff reads Jane’s letter Birthday cake by C'est La Vie

Photographs by Gordon Nieburg

5

H i s t o r y i n t h e M a k i n g

A M e s s a g e f r o m t h e P r e s i d e n t

Did you know that Victorian Ladies communicated using their fans?

A variety of signals expressed their feelings and desires

The list on the right shows the various uses of

the fan that ladies in Victorian times used to

communicate

Since I became president of the New Hope Historical Society last No-

vember I have had the opportunity to see firsthand the remarkable va-

riety of activities that the Society presents for our members and the

community. We began the year by participating in the Lambertville-

New Hope Winter Festival with a Historic Walking Tour of New Hope

that traced the steps of three American presidents through New Hope.

Then, in March, we celebrated the 260th birthday of Benjamin Parry,

the “Father of New Hope” and the 250th birthday of his wife Jane. We

have continued our work to enhance the beauty of the Parry Mansion.

Recently we restored the original wood floor in the Victorian Room.

The April Speaker Series was a great success with more than 175

members and guests attending. Our annual Garden Party has been set

for June 12. Now we are hard at work on our major fundraiser of the year, our Annual Home and

Garden Tour to be held on June 4. I am truly thrilled by the untiring efforts of Pearl Mintzer and

her amazing committee on this event. They have assembled five spectacular homes for the Tour

and have recruited a record number of sponsors. Please plan to attend this marvelous tour. You

will certainly enjoy the variety and luxury of the homes and gardens—and your ticket purchases

will help the New Hope Historical Society continue our mission to preserve New Hope’s great

history of the present and future generations.

Dr. Claire Shaw

6

H i s t o r y i n t h e M a k i n g

The New Hope Historical Society acknowledges the generous support of our

2017 Home & Garden Tour Sponsors and Advertisers

ARCHITECT

$2500

Katherine & Joshua Littlefield

ELA Outdoor Living

DESIGNER

$1000

Gilded Tree Experts

Liza Mendosa and Gregory Taylor

Penn Wealth Planning, LLC.

Scannapieco Development Corp.

LANDSCAPER

$500

1740 House

Applebee’s Bank of Princeton Vivian Banta & Robert Field Begley, Carlin & Mandino, LLP Caryn Black-Kurfiss Bucks County Herald Celt-Iberia Traders A. T. Chadwick Co. Inc. Linda Danese-Kurfiss C. Raymond Davis & Sons, Inc. Dr. Lamberto & Barbara Donnelly Bentivoglio Eiseman Construction, Inc Diane Fitzgerald and Joel Koblentz Gayle Goodman & Jim Searing Bruce & Pat Hamilton Karen Hertzog-Landscape Design Studio Edwin Hild Holly Hedge Estate Jacqui & John Hover Hugh Marshall Landscaping Laurie Madaus John and Phyllis Mauro Art Mazzei Pearl and Chuck Mintzer New Hope Art League John Paton, Inc. Penn Community Bank Seasons Garden Center Happy Shipley Solebury Partners H. Joseph Phillips AIA Charles F. Tarr & Roy Ziegler The First National Bank of Newtown The Logan Inn Robert Welch

DECORATOR

$300

Angel's Cards & Gifts

Annapolis Horticulture Society

Bartlett Tree Experts

Bucks County Gardens

Phil & Dani Castrogiovanni

Crews Surveying, LLC.

DeFrehn Roofing

Louis Dierking and Marion Steadman

Ralph C. Fey, AIA Architects

Patrick & Mary Fowles

Denise Frost and Curt Shreiner

Heath's Service, Inc.

Linda B. Hodgdon

Hayward & Deborah Holbert

Hunterdon Healthcare Foundation

Kevin Joy

Susan E. Kane

Mayor Larry Keller

Deborah Lang

Leydon Landscaping

Fred & Peg Logan

Robert & Maria McEwan

Carolyn and Ben Meadows

Pamela Morrison

Bud and Judy Newman

Professional Landscape Services-PLS

Bryce & Jane Sanders

Claire E Shaw, DMD

Univest Banking

Charlotte & Bob Watts

George Yarnall

CONTRIBUTOR

Jay & Barbara Belding

Mary Ellen & Edric Mason

ADVERTISERS

Addison Wolfe Real Estate Bucks County Cabinetry and Design

Environmental Landscape Associates, Inc.( ELA)

Richard Gacek

Knobs 'N Knockers

Limeworks

Melson's Service Center

New Hope Arts

Niece Lumber

Lisa James Otto

Paxson Hill Farm

Pennswood Village

Pine Run

Reinard Insurance Agency

Shop Rite

The Little Gym

Thompson Motors

True Value/Delray Plus

7

H i s t o r y i n t h e M a k i n g

Historical Society mourns the passing of long-time member Jan “Yanek” Liebgold

For more than four decades, Yanek and Ann Liebgold

have been active members

and supporters of the New

Hope Historical Society.

They could be seen at a

Garden Party checking in

guests, or at the Mancuso

Antique Show selling tick-

ets, or you would see Ya-

nek flipping hamburgers at

an Arts and Crafts Festival

or bantering with his many

friends at our Annual Meet-

ing and Dinner or other

events.

Jan “Yanek” Liebgold was born in Krakow, Poland on May

4, 1922. His parents were traveling actors so he spend

most of his early childhood with his grandparents. During

World War II he was a prisoner at the Pushkov concentra-

tion camp in 1940. Four years later he was transported by

cattle car to Auschwitz-Birkenau, sent to a work camp,

Glivitz Drie, and liberated by the Russians, May 8, 1945.

He arrived in New York City in 1946, sponsored by his

brother Leon, an actor in the New York Yiddish theater

after he had served in the United States Army during the

war. For a brief time the brothers Liebgold performed as

Yanek and Lonek in the Yiddish theater.

In 1953, Yanek married Ann Walker, a dancer who also

grew up in a theater family. They moved to New Hope and

purchased the Cryer Hardware Store, expanding it to in-

clude decorative hardware and renaming it Cryer’s Little

Hardware Store.

Yanek was active in the New Hope community. He helped

to reorganize the New Hope Chamber of Commerce with

his friend, John Larsen. He was a member of the Ex-

change Club and served on the New Hope Borough Plan-

ning Board. He was a supporter of the arts and collected

works of many local artists. He was an avid tennis player.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Ann Walker

Liebgold; his son Michael, daughter Tania and son-in-law

Bradford Finch, and his grandchildren Scott and Benjamin

Finch, Nicole Williamson and Marcus Liebgold. He is also

survived by his great-grandchildren Gavin Ashley and Ty-

ler Williams.

Contributions in Jan “Yanek” Liebgold’s memory may be

sent to the Alzheimer Association Research Center, 225

N. Michigan Drive, Floor 17, Chicago, IL 60601.

Jan “Yanek” Liebgold

We thank the generous sponsors of our

2017 Home and Garden Tour

8

New Hope Historical Society

P O Box 41

New Hope, PA 18938

Non-Profit Org

U.S. Postage

P A I D

Permit No. 45

Doylestown, PA

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