During this week’s feature for Women’s History Month, we present another look at Margaret Gale Thornton and her accomplishments as one of Bucks County’s first female entrepreneurs. Like other businesspersons of her time, Margaret Thornton utilized the resources available to her to achieve her goals, including an affiliation with the practices of the Quaker tradition. […]
One of the best ways to attract birds to your yard is to plant native trees and shrubs. INTRO A common question we get from landowners is “what can I do to attract birds to my property?” And while the answer may vary depending on what kinds of birds you’re hoping to see, one strategy […]
The Beginnings of Margaret’s entrepreneurial journey: Margaret Gale Thornton is a Bucks County historical figure of Newtown, Pennsylvania, and former proprietor of the Half-Moon Inn. Her chronological biography has been documented among Bucks County historians for decades, yet little perspective has been given to her accomplishments as a businesswoman during the patriarchal society of the […]
Who were the African Americans who made Mount Moriah their home? We can learn a lot about them from census records, deeds, newspaper accounts, and family histories. Work and school: Although most men in Mount Moriah listed their occupations as “laborer,” while many women were “keeping house,” there was a variety of work available. Joseph […]
INTRO Eastern Milksnakes (Lampropeltis triangulum) are among the most misunderstood snake species we have in Pennsylvania. Because they bear a slight resemblance to the venomous (but also misunderstood) Northern Copperhead, they’re often senselessly persecuted by people. The truth is, not only are Eastern Milksnakes completely harmless, they actually make pretty decent neighbors. Let’s take […]
The community of Mount Moriah grew around its church, the center of social and spiritual life and the site of many christenings, weddings, funerals and burials that marked the milestones of parishioners’ lives. It began as an African Methodist Episcopal (AME) congregation meeting in a local home, with 33 members in 1818 and 50 in […]
Along the Aquetong Creek just outside the center of New Hope, there is a quiet neighborhood where, in a period of the 19th century before the Civil War, free African Americans built a community with Mount Moriah Church at its center. By 1860, 8.2% of the people in New Hope were African American. In a […]
There is no better way to wrap up the year than by welcoming friends back to Aldie Mansion! On December 5th, at limited capacity, our fully vaccinated guests gathered at Heritage Conservancy’s Aldie Mansion for our annual Christmas at Aldie fundraiser gala. Built in 1927, historic Aldie made the perfect backdrop to emphasize our mission […]
Join our Community Science Team! Are you interested in helping to protect the plants and animals on Heritage Conservancy preserves? How about collecting data that contributes to real science? To start the new year, we are very excited to announce the launch of our Community Science Program! Community Science involves people, like you, who contribute […]
The 53-acre Zeigafuse property located in Upper Mount Bethel, Northampton County has been in the family since 1812 – nearly 210 years. The farm features cultivated fields, forested wetlands, and critical wildlife habitat for rare and endangered species. The land is bordered to the south by the East Branch of Martin’s Creek and to the […]