CRAven haLL NEWSletter
Volume 14 Issue—April 2017
P.O. Box 2042 Street and Newtown Roads Warminster, Pa 18974
Erik Fleischer: President
Laura Garrison: Secretary/Treasurer
Terry Stone: Corresponding Secretary
Photographer: Kent Sloan
Editor: Jeanette Fusco
PRESIDENTS LETTER
In early 2016, we celebrated our 39th year as a Society
(not 19 years as I misstated last year) with some goals
achieved and more opportunities available moving forward.
We want to extend a hearty wellome to our newest active member, Eric Schaefer, from Southampton and to
our returning member and former Treasurer, Deborah
Potter.
Another highlight of 2016 was the introduction of a new
educational venture with Centennial Middle Schools,
promoting STEM [Science, Technology, Engineering
and Mathematics] using John Fitch’s experiments with
steam and steam engines.
MORE ON STEM PROJECT- Also early 2016 brought
us the request from the Centennial School Administration, to initiate a program with Log College and
Klinger Middle Schools to encourage students to consider careers in STEM, using John Fitch’s steam engines and the steamboat as a basis for understanding
how the use of steam still powers our modern society.
John Fitch’s experiments with steam engines and the
steamboat as a basis for understanding, shows the use
of steam still powers our modern society. Students first
learned the importance of steam in generating electricity, then they were asked to construct model steamboats
to race in a modified rain gutter. The students first displayed a wide range of creativity in constructing their
model steamboats. The Program also included an Essay contest on Electrical Power Generation with the
winners of each class earning a $60 Restaurant Gift
See pic. of modified rain gutter above
certificate, courtesy of the John Fitch steamboat Museum Inc. The exercise also proved to be a good example of trial and error as the students operated their
model steamboats. We would like to commend the
creative talents of Technical Education Teachers,
namely Mike Edney, (Log College) and Anthony
Quintangelo (Klinger) for their development of the
simple, inexpensive model Steamboat Exercise. We
look forward to working with the Program during
2017.
TWO STEAMBOAT MODELS DONATED TO THE FITCH MUSEUM
The John fitch Steamboat Museum is thrilled to receive the donation of two model
steamboats—The first, a steamboat used to push barges on the Mississippi and other
rivers.
Thomas J. Sliney, a World War II Navy Veteran, is now deceased. The Sliney Model
was donated to the museum by family members. Mr. Sliney was a passionate woodworker and model maker in his retirement years. We are pleased to be able to share
his model making expertise.
Sliney Model
King of the Mississippi
The second model, “King of the Mississippi” was beautifully crafted and donated by Jim Semmel, a resident of Ann’s Choice and represents the elegance of riverboat traveling. You will
find both models prominently displayed in our museum. While John Fitch never lived to see
steamboats on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, it was his early dream for such a mode of transportation that spurred the steamboat invention.
Local Quester Support is Deeply Appreciated
Over the years, several local Quester chapters have made it possible for
Craven Hall and the John Fitch Steamboat Museum to purchase items on our
“Wish List” and we are deeply appreciative of these grants.
In addition to our Burying Ground Project supported by a grant from
Neshaminy Creekers referenced in another part of this newsletter, we have
received additional grants from Ann’s Choice Questers for Replacement window candles and a 2nd grant from Neshaminy Creekers Questers for a replica
fireback for our open hearth fireplace.
Battle of Crooked Billet Exhibit Opened December, 2016
After many delays, we finally completed and opened our latest exhibit of the Battle of Crooked Billet; the only large scale Revolutionary
War Battle fought in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. We have taken
some license in labeling our exhibit—The American Revolution, our
First Civil War.
The Exhibit portrays two Bucks County residents, Abraham Sutphin,
an American Militiaman, (right above) fighting for independence
from England, and Samuel Sutherland, Queens Ranger, an American
Loyalist (left) who sided with the British. During the battle the retreat of American Militia passed through the Craven lands. History
records that Abraham Sutphin was attached to Issac Longstreths’ unit
and was assigned sentry duty down by the Old Mill in Hatborough.
Sutphin claims to have fired a warning shot when seeing enemy
troops approaching, which gave General Lacey time to escape capture.
i
Abraham is a “resident” in the Van/Sant Burying Ground. Abraham
was the brother-in-law of Cobe Scout, a close friend of John Fitch,
Steamboat inventor. Cobe is also a “resident” of the Craven/Van
Sant Burying Ground.
NEW FRONT LAWN SIGN
Our main front lawn sign was badly in need of replacement, and correction of some misconceptions regarding the
age of the house. The previous sign had a few different
dates that pertained to both the date of the property purchase by the original land owner, Jacobus Craven and a
construction date.
To clarify the issue of building construction, we decided to use the only documented date we had uncovered.
1845 was the date of an early fire insurance policy on the
building as you now see it. Our visitors have learned that
Craven Hall was originally constructed much earlier as a
simple tenant house of two rooms with a garret attic. Architectural features remaining, place construction between
1790-1815. The front of the house faced Street Road. The
major wing facing Newtown Road was completed by 1845,
although we have no definitive record when construction of
the wing was begun. Tax records for the property reveal a
sharp increase in value around 1814-1815. The Board decided that we should use the only definitive date we have of
1845, which is now used on all signage on the property.
Centennial Fourth Graders visit Craven Hall
For the past 19 years we have hosted
third grade students from the Centennial Elementary Schools with a
program designed to let them experience what life was like before the
advent of electricity and all our modern devices. After a short hiatus and
a curriculum change in 2016, the
program restarted in December 2016
with fourth grade students. We are
pleased to again welcome Centennial
students to our program, “Life in the
18th and 19th Centuries.”
We have modified the program to include a visit with Abraham Lincoln as we are fortunate to
have Dr. Fred Antil, a Lincoln scholar, join our
Society. Dr. Antil has studied and portrayed
Abraham Lincoln for over 30 years. The visit
to our colonial kitchen expertly conducted by
Jeri Lutman, a former teacher, is also a highlight of the students’ visit. Here they get the
opportunity to sample colonial scones and
spiced apples cooked over the open hearth.
e
Craven/Sansant Burying Ground—Project Update
In last year’s newsletter, we announced a major initiative to complete the restoration of
the historic Craven/Vansant Burying Ground. Thanks to major support from Neshaminy
Creekers Questers, we are moving ahead with the manufacture of genealogical tablets that tell
the story of the residents of the Burying Ground along the historic information on key individuals buried there. The tablets will be housed on a raised platform overlooking the graves and
we hope to have the tablets in place by June, 2017.
New Sign
We have received our new sign marking the Burying Ground and the complete interior of
the site has been cleared of brush and reseeded. The major work remaining is reconstruction of
the North Wall of the Burying Ground. We are hopeful that the Tall Oaks Project when commenced will help us in the rebuild. Their property abuts the North Wall and is indicated as open
space on the project plans.
Cleared area in front of north wall
Historic Craven Hall and the John Fitch Steamboat Museum, along with other local Historic Societies joined together last year to produce a new brochure
designed to attract attention to our local area and its rich heritage. We were
joined in this effort by the Moland House.
NAME: _______________________________________________________
STREET: ______________________________________________________
CITY: ______________________________ STATE: _____ ZIP: __________
TELEPHONE: ____________________________
E-MAIL ADDRESS _______________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL
MEMBERSHIP
( ) Individual or Family
$10.00
Annually
( ) Small business
$25.00
Annually
( ) Corporate
$100.00
Annually
( ) Donation assistance in the restoration of the quilt.
VOLUNTEERS:
I am interested in working with the following at Craven Hall:
( ) Restoration/Repairs
( ) Docent (Tour Guide)
( ) Fund Raising
( ) Membership/Public Relations
( ) Historic Research/Library ( ) Special Events
( ) Centralizing Records
( ) Gravestone Restoration
( ) Other
( ) Volunteer
If you are interested in volunteering, please also check that off. We really need you. Thanks.
CONTRIBUTION TO THE FITCH MUSEUM
( ) Amount: ___________________ Thank you.
DVD of CRAVEN HALL ( ) Amount: By check:
$17.50 check to address below.
Amount: Pick up:
$15.00 at Craven Hall. Please leave a message
215 675 4698 to arrange
Contributions to aid in the restoration and operation of Craven Hall are always welcome. Please make your check payable to the Craven
Hall Historical Society, Inc. The Society is a non-profit corporation registered in Pennsylvania; your contribution is tax deductible. Return
to Craven Hall, P.O. Box 2042, Warminster, PA 18974
Craven Hall 1900’s
Craven Hall Historical Society
P.O. Box 2042
Street & Newtown Roads
Warminster, PA 18974