On a quiet block of Canal Street, away from the bustle of Main Street, sits a vital landmark for a once burgeoning African American community in Yardley. “Main Street may be Yardley’s heart, but this place is its soul,” says Shirley Lee Corsey (pictured above). She is the current caretaker of the Old African Methodist […]
The Community Outreach team at Heritage Conservancy recently challenged writers of all ages from Lower Bucks County to capture nature in 100 words or less. We received over 70 entries, compelling narratives, evocative poems, and thought-provoking prose that impressed our judges. We had so many entries, it was hard to choose just one from each […]
They say the best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago, and the next best time is today. There are many good reasons to plant a tree. At Heritage Conservancy, we are primarily concerned with forest regeneration along streams, hard and soft mast production for wildlife, and trees and shrubs that support the […]
Heritage Conservancy has recognized nearly 700 local properties in Bucks and Montgomery Counties, adding them to its Register of Historic Places. Among its newest “inductees” is the Thomas Ellicott House on Aquetong Road in Carversville, Solebury Township. The home is a notable, well-preserved example of vernacular architecture. This historic stone home has also been associated […]
From procedural improvements for the Board to his critical assistance in the saving of Aldie Mansion, Chris Chandor has contributed much to Heritage Conservancy in the last three and a half decades. He just celebrated his 35th year serving on our Board of Directors, and his skills, energy, and time have helped shape the organization […]
Winter is beautiful in Bucks County. It’s no wonder (and no secret) that William and Martha Mercer loved Christmas, especially at Aldie. They enjoyed hosting parties at their estate for the holidays and entertaining local friends and family. Perhaps their most legendary Christmas gathering was in 1941, when they hosted the Von Trapp family singers […]
Bucks and Montgomery Counties are full of history, and one can find a rich mix of architecture in their streetscapes and housing stock. The various home and building styles create a footprint of the communities’ growth and development through time. Beyond being beloved landmarks, historic buildings create a living timeline. In a recent Heritage Conservancy […]
The white-tail deer is cute, yes. Over the past decade, many of us have enjoyed increased backyard visitation and photo ops from an expanding deer population. We may also have cursed them for the scat they leave behind and for the way they shamelessly devour our gardens and landscaping. The unluckiest of us may have […]
The landscape is transforming, as it always does this time of year. Vegetation becomes more nuanced, more colorful, and gradually returns to the earth. Within these new blankets of leaf litter, you’ll find a variety of interesting organisms, including amphibians, invertebrates, and perhaps most notably, mushrooms. For National Mushroom Day this past Sunday, Luke Smithson, […]
This month Heritage Conservancy has completed the preservation of a 55.6 acre property in Richland Township in Upper Bucks County. The Corn Property is adjacent to Heritage Conservancy’s 70-acre Quakertown Swamp Preserve, which is a DCNR-designated Native Plant Sanctuary. With its rare and endangered plant species, this property adds to the sanctuary. It also provides […]