The next edition of our “Why Heritage Conservancy?” series features President Bill Kunze. When asked what prompted Bill to apply for a position at Heritage Conservancy, he recalled his early memories of falling in love with nature through birds as a child. Later, in college and graduate school, Bill studied history. To this day, he […]
As we conclude our dedication to Women’s History Month, we hope you have enjoyed learning how Margaret employed some of the same skills that are necessary to successfully operate a business today. There is more to learn about her and her business ventures in Newtown, particularly with her purchase of additional properties near the Courthouse. […]
In previous posts, we have presented the story of Margaret Gale Thornton’s success as a colonial tavern and innkeeper. In this installment, we examine the possibility that Margaret Gale Thornton’s success may have depended on the forced labor of enslaved people. Thornton and Enslaved People at the Half-Moon Inn: Margaret Thornton may have benefited from […]
It’s that time of year again – the days are getting longer, and the ground is thawing, meaning it is time for hibernating amphibians to wake up from their slumber and begin migrating to their breeding sites. On warm, rainy evenings in early spring, a mass migration of frogs, toads, and salamanders can be observed […]
Late February marked the launch of Heritage Conservancy’s new Community Science project! A virtual kickoff meeting was held over Zoom, where 24 interested individuals listened to a presentation by staff members discussing the future of the group and why this work is so important. What is the best part? Anyone can be a Community Scientist! […]
In February, Heritage Conservancy staff guided groups of second, fourth, and fifth grade students from Keystone Elementary School into our Croydon Woods Nature Preserve for a mindfulness walk as a part of our Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Program. Students learned that mindfulness can help one be present in the moment and calm our busy […]
Have you ever wondered how your daily actions impact the water someone else is drinking or the habitat of animals in a different part of the world? Heritage Conservancy is working to help a group of fourth graders to connect those pieces. Our recently launched pilot Cross-Watershed Collaboration Program aims to connect students in different […]
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. […]
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 […]
