MORRISVILLE
Historic site in Morrisville celebrates Patriots Day
Posted: Saturday, June 9, 2012 4:33 pm | Updated: 8:10 pm, Sat Jun 9, 2012.
By Christian Menno Staff writer Calkins Media, Inc. | 0 comments
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The stately mansion — which was built in 1773 by Thomas Barclay and later owned by Robert Morris — was used as a headquarters by George Washington from Dec. 8 to Dec. 14, 1776, as he planned to cross the Delaware River and attack the Hessian outpost at Trenton
Many consider that battle as the turning point of the Revolutionary War.
Residents were treated to free tours of the house Saturday, along with raffles and plenty of activities for the kids. Some volunteers were dressed in period garb.
Hot food was sold outside and there was a bake sale inside one of the rooms on the ground floor, with proceeds going to the Historic Morrisville Society — the group that maintains the home and organizes Patriots Day.
Joan Monfalcone, 82, was dressed in a colonial-era dress as she gave a tour of Summerseat for some guests Saturday. She said she was a former president of the historic society but now just stays involved by relaying the history of the site through her tours.
“I just enjoy doing this,” she said. “I’ve put together my own spiel and I meet all kinds of people when I give these tours throughout the year. Some people are of course from Morrisville, but I meet many that are from far away and have heard of Summerseat.”
Morrisville residents Margaret Keaton and her husband, Bruce Wong, had been to the mansion once before, but said they wanted to come back Saturday in order to do their part in helping the historic society. Wong carried with him a healthy portion of treats that they purchased at the bake sale.
“We think this is a real treasure to have here in Morrisville,” Keaton said. “It is so well preserved and we like to support it. The fact that it all goes back to Washington planning his crossing of the Delaware
Ed Meigs brought along his sons Riley, 10, and Connor, 8, to check out the scene.
“It’s better to get (the kids) out to something like this instead of just focusing on video games or TV,” he said.
“It’s cool to find out so much about your neighborhood,” Riley said.
For more information about Historic Summerseat or to schedule a tour, call 215-295-7339.
8 comments:
It's over? Missed it.
I didn't know and would have gone. Where was it advertised?
I was thinking the same thing.
it was advertised all over town and takes place first weekend of june every year.
"it was advertised all over town and takes place first weekend of june every year"
I knew the first weekend of June part but people forget and lose track of time. That doesn't change that the advertising for this event was not good. It was not advertised "all over town".
I don't go in protest---- the School district needs to donate the Reiter land for $0 to Summerseat Open Space.
I would much rather see the school district give the land to the summerseat group than either of the current plans being brough up by some.
One plan is to have a developer come in.
The other plan is to purchase the land with the county open space money. I believe that Morrisville residents have already bought the land through school tax dollars. Our taxes would have to go up to afford to make the match if it was purchased with open space money, meaning we would be taxed again for the same land. Then we would be purchasing it with open space money which is county money that comes out of our tax dollars, meaning we would be taxed a third time for the same land. Not only this but taxes would have to be raised to maintain this same piece of land. The summerseat group would have absolutely no control over the purchased land because as open space, it would now belong to the borough.
I do not think this property should be seen as a golden goose for the school district. There is no short term fix for the school district and this property should not be seen as one.
In a perfect world this property would be an obvious addition to the summerseat grounds, but Morrisville has enough financial problems without willingly adding to them.
I am not saying I want a developer to come in or that I want to see anyone build any form of housing stock. This kind of short term thinking is one of the things that got Morrisville where it is today.
Too many decisions have been made over the years without thinking of the future of the town and I think that unknowingly, its happening again with the M.R. Reiter property.
Say the SB donates the site to the boro. Who pays to demolish Reiter?
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