HISTORY of your PROPERTY - Doylestown Historical Society

HISTORY of your PROPERTY
1681
Sir William Penn, an admiral in the British Navy, died in 1670. He was owed £16,000
for services rendered to the British Crown. William Penn, heir of Sir William, wrote to
the King of England requesting that the King grant him lands in America in payment for
the debt and in lieu of money. On 4 March 1681, King Charles II (1630-1685) granted
William Penn (1644-1718) 40,000 square miles of land in America to satisfy the debt. 1
Penn named the territory New Wales or Sylvania, but members of England’s Privy
Council objected. The name was too similar to other lands. To settle the dispute, the
King suggested it be called ‘Province of Pennsylvania’ in honor of Penn’s father.
William Penn, a Quaker, determined to induce people to immigrate to America by
offering cheap land. The price for land was set at £100 for 5,000 acres. Penn set sail to
America in August 1692 to see his land for the first time. He established both Bucks and
Philadelphia counties during his trip and also made a treaty with the Lenni Lenape tribe
of the Delaware Indians who already lived on these lands. Penn was determined to deal
fairly and maintain friendly relations with the Indians. His instructions were to “be
tender of offending the Indians…To soften them to me and the people, let them know you
are come to sit down lovingly among them…Be grave, they like not to be smiled on.” 2
A painting by Benjamin West which depicts William Penn meeting and making
a treaty with the Lenni Lenape tribe of the Delaware Indians.
1682
This vast amount of land was much too large for Penn to manage himself, so he
sold about 20,000 acres to a group of wealthy Quaker merchants in England called “The
Free Society of Traders.”3 The Free Society of Traders, in turn, began selling off large
blocks of land. They dominated the sale of lands and kept the better parcels for
themselves. This caused great irritation with poorer Quakers and settlers. The Society
offices were located in Philadelphia on a hill near Dock Street and close the Delaware
River. The area neighborhood later became known as Society Hill.
From 1682 to 1683, the Society organized and dispatched over fifty ships to
Pennsylvania.
Penn also reserved several large tracts of land that were designated for proprietary
manors, including Pennsbury, Highlands, Perkasie and Richlands.
Early 1702 signature of Jeremiah Langhorne selling a portion of his plantation
1724
The Society also sold large amounts of land to Jeremiah Langhorne (16801742) . Nearly one-half of this land was located in central Bucks County, comprising
New Britain, Doylestown and Warwick Townships. Two of those parcels were 5,200
acres (surveyed) which sold for 936£ ($4,680) and 2,000 acres (unsurveyed) which sold
for 260£ ($1,300).5 Portions of these two Langhorne parcels make up what today is
Doylestown Borough. Jeremiah Langhorne, Esquire, was one of the earliest settlers and
largest landowners in Bucks
County.
He established a
manor or plantation with many
slaves in what is now Lower
Bucks County. He was a
Justice of the Peace from
1715-1719, President of the
Provincial Council, and Justice
of the Supreme Court 17261739. Langhorne served as
Chief Justice from 1739 until
his death in 1742.
4
Mansion of Jeremiah Langhorne – Bensalem Township
2
Hand drawn map by Wilma Rezer showing the original 5 tracts of land that today makes up Doylestown
1753
On 23 May 1753, the executors of the Langhorne Estate, Lawrence Growden and
Langhorne Biles, sold 172 acres and 141 perches of land to William Scott.6
Other owners of large tracts of land around the crossroads were Joseph Kirkbride,
Robert Scott, Edward Doyle and William Doyle, Isabella Crawford and the Flacks.
William Doyle was a tavern keeper just like his father Edward Doyle (16901770). William Doyle went to the county seat in Newtown with a petition for license to
keep a public house. He had the recommendation of fourteen of his neighbors and
friends. The petition stated that no public house was located within five miles of where
they lived. The Doyles built an inn in 1745 at the crossroads of the north-south Dyer’s
Mill road (later Main Street) and east-west Swedesford-Coryell’s Ferry road (later State
Street).7 The inn and tavern was known as Doyle’s Tavern and located at the northwest
corner of State and Main streets where Starbucks is located today. The Doyles ran the
tavern for 30 years before moving to New York state. The country crossroads in Bucks
County continued to be called Doylestown in honor of the early pioneer Doyle family.
Later that summer, on 6 August 1753, Scott sold the parcel of land to Archibald
Crawford (1732-unk) of Warwick Township.8 It is not known the sale price of these
transactions.
3
Hand drawn map by Wilma Rezer detailing the 10 acre 79 perch Magill land
1768
Archibald Crawford was the owner the large parcel of land for about 15 years
when he sold a 10 acre parcel to brothers Robert Magill (1736-1782) and Henry Magill
(unk-1799).9 They were recent Scots-Irish immigrants having been born in the north of
Ireland. They arrived in America about 1760 and settled in Bucks County. The brothers
operated a mercantile business at the southwest corner of the small village, opposite
Doyle’s Tavern.
Later in March 1776, Henry retired and moved to a farm in Bedminster
Township. He transferred his ownership in the land to his brother Robert, who now was
sole owner of this parcel.10 Henry died at his farm in 1799, leaving his widow Dorothy
and two grown children.
Robert married Martha Doyle on 7 October 1774 in Doyle’s Town. 11 Martha was
the daughter of William and Martha Doyle, owners of the local tavern.
Robert died without a will at his farm in April 1782. He left a widow Mary and
one child William Magill (1775-1824). Mary later remarried Jacob Troxel. Young
William was only seven years old when his father died but his father had requested that
his only son be educated and apprenticed to a trade. William apprenticed as a
clockmaker and followed that trade for many years, manufacturing large old-fashioned
clocks. He spent his boyhood with his mother and stepfather in the small village. His
education was provided by itinerant school-masters and local teachers. When he was a
young man, he operated his mother’s hotel, called the Mansion House at the corner of
what would later be State and Mains streets. 12 The ownership of the land passed down
through the family.
William married Mary Morris, daughter of Benjamin Morris, a next door
neighbor. They had five children: Louisa C., William D., Robert M., Benjamin, and the
youngest Alfred.
During the War of 1812, William enlisted in the military service and became a
captain in a unit that was known as the Bucks County Rangers. One interesting note
about his service is a reward notice he signed in 1814. 13 It stated:
4
TEN DOLLARS REWARD
Deserted from Camp Snyder, John Loudislager, a private belonging to the Bucks County Rangers
of the 1st Reg. Pa. Vol. Riflemen; about 5 feet 7 inches high, fair hair, light eyes, 20 years of age,
took with him a rifle stamped U.S., knapsack, marked S.P., and canteen. The above reward will
be paid for the apprehension and delivery of the said deserter at any military post in the U.S.
military district.
William Magill, Capt. Bucks Co. Rangers
He continued as an officer in the militia until his death.
A reproduction of an 1810 map,
drawn by George Burges for the
use by the commission appointed
by Governor Snyder to select and
establish the site for a new county
seat, shows the Magill residence
and mercantile business.
In 1813, the county seat
was moved from Newtown to the
crossroads
in
Doylestown
Township.14
Three streets in the new
village were named for the
members of the Magill family.
Mary Street, Louisa Street and
Arabella Street all were opened up.
In a deed of release, the streets “as
laid down on the said draft are
always to be kept open and free
1810 Doylestown map
from incumbrance of any kind.”15
A post office was established on 1 January 1802 with Charles Stewart serving as
Doylestown’s first postmaster. It was said that he regularly carried letters in the bellshaped crown of his high beaver hat to deliver mail to his patrons. A similar high beaver
hat worn by William Green, postmaster of Quakertown (183-1829) is located in Mercer
Museum.13
The 1817 map of Bucks County [next page], made from actual surveys by
Thomas G. Kennedy, shows the crossroads at Doylestown which at the time was located
in both New Britain Township and Warwick Township. Just four years earlier, in 1813,
the county seat was moved from Newtown to small village of Doylestown.
5
Portion of 1817 map of Bucks County by Thomas G. Kennedy
William Magill died in 1824 without a will and young Alfred Magill inherited
portions of his father’s land. This included a lot of land 49.5 feet along the road leading
to Philadelphia and 217.8 feet deep. (See page 9.) This rectangular parcel is the same plot
of land that the Doylestown Historical Society now has its home.
Early in his life, Alfred Magill was a school teacher. According to William W.H.
Davis in his 1905 history of Doylestown, Alfred Magill “built a stone school house for
his urchins and taught there, but how long we cannot say. The quaint-looking building
with its gable to the street is still standing on the west side of South Main Street below
State. It has been occupied as a dwelling for nearly three quarters of a century, and its
unique phiz (façade or face) assists to illustrate this chapter.”16
The neoclassical building was built in the style
of the Brothers Adam from Scotland. The two-story,
center-gabled, masonry structure had paired interior
chimneys which was typical of the Adam style. The
three-ranked window façade had symmetrical widows, 9 over 6 lites on the first floor
and 6 over 6 lites on the second floor. The windows had narrow muntins also typical of
the Adam style. The rough Bucks county fieldstone was covered with stucco, a mixture
6
of lime and sand, then whitewashed. The roof was covered with hand-split white pine
shingles. The shallow-molded, unadorned cornice was very common with the Adam
style.17
There has been much confusion about when the Magill house was exactly built.
In 1980, Wilma Brown Rezer tried to pinpoint the date of the masonry house. She found
it difficult and came up with four different versions of a possible date. The result was her
disclaimer on the front of her report. “Don’t draw conclusion on dates of verification
until you read entire history of lot #2.” [Her emphasis!] She never did come to a firm
conclusion but gave 1814, 1827 or 1836 as possible dates. 18
Later in 2005, Tim Adamsky tackled the problem at the request of society
president Judge Edwin Ludwig. Ludwig wanted to proceed cautiously and not produce
any printed material with a date of when the house was built until that date could
reasonably be determined. Adamsky’s conclusion was the house most likely was built in
1827, based on tax records.19
For a full reading of both reports, see Tract D #8-8-266-1 John Elfman Residence
56 S. Main Street by Wilma Brown Rezer and Doylestown Historical Society House
Research by Tim Adamsky found in the house files at the Doylestown Historical Society
library.
After reading Davis, Rezer and Adamsky, it seems that all three were a little bit
right and a little bit wrong. But on the
major facts, they presented a true
finding.
It now appears likely that the
building was not a homestead as first
thought but a school building. The size
and shape of the structure would lead
one to that conclusion. The first floor is
only one room, the second floor has two
small rooms and there was no clear place
for a kitchen. The northeast corner of
the building was not at a right angle,
following the property line. This shape was not usual for a house.
Both Rezer and Adamsky were confused as to which was first, the house or the
school or whether William or Alfred Magill built it. Davis states on page 40 of his book
that “stone house with an A gable to the street . . . was built by William Magill,” and on
page 241 “Alfred Magill . . . built a stone school house for his urchins.” 20
Both could be true. It appears that early in his life, Alfred was a teacher. Alfred
was a young man and could not afford to build such a building. His father William was
older, had wealth and could afford to build the structure. Since William died in 1824
when Alfred was only 22 years old, it seems likely that before his death, William built the
school for Alfred to teach school. Alfred, single, likely lived in the rooms above the
school. When he married in 1828 and had children, he added a wood addition to the
northwest rear of the stone school for his growing family. This can be seen in the 1876
and 1891 maps of the borough and the 1904 and 1922 Sanborn maps. When John Elfman
purchased the house in 1935, he complained of “old walls that were so drafty that when
the wind blew, it took the paper napkins right off the table.”21
7
Elfman demolished that old wood structure down in 1939 and built a new addition
that is existing today, using only a portion of the old stone foundation. See page 19 for
photos of the demolition and the appendix for the floor plans.
Adamsky focused his research on local tax records but they prove inconclusive.
The school would likely not have paid a tax and only after Alfred and his family began
living in the building did they pay a tax. Alfred turned from school teacher to farmer.
The list below shows significant dates during Alfred’s life and existing records.
Alfred born
1810 map
County seat moved
William Magill died
Tax record
Alfred marries Jane
1830 Census
Tax record
Sale of property
Map with A.M. Magill
Alfred dies
Map with J. Magill
1870 Census
Map with Mrs. Magill
Jane Magill dies
1802
1810
1813
1824
1826
1828
1830
1833
1836
1847
1854
1857
1870
1876
1876
Alfred 0
Alfred 8
Alfred 11
Alfred 22
Alfred 23
Alfred 26
Alfred 28
Alfred 31
Alfred 34
Alfred 45
Jane 46
Jane 49
Jane 61
Jane 67
Tax $3.00
wife & 1 child
House & lot $4.72
Lot #2 and #14
It seems likely that the building was constructed while William was still alive but
after Alfred was old enough to be a teacher. This leads one to conclude that the building
was built before 1824 but after 1818 when Alfred was only 16 years old. No firm date
seems to be available, but circa 1820 seems to be a good compromise.
The tax records for Doylestown Township in 1825 (Doylestown Borough was not
formed until 1838) reveal that Mary Magill owned 7 acres of land and a tavern. She was
taxed for one horse, two cows and a house, paying $26.34. 22
1826 Doylestown Township tax book
By contrast, young Alfred only paid a tax of $3.00 and no house, horse or cattle
are listed.
Unfortunately the tax records for the years 1827 through 1832 have been lost. No
records are available. However, in the tax records of 1833, Mary is again listed as the
tavern owner. Her tax was $20.00. Her son Alfred was taxed for 47 acres 20 perch of
land, a house and lot, two horses and two cows. His tax was now $15.75. 23
8
1833 Doylestown Township tax book
1836
In a deed dated 1 April 1836 but not recorded until 11 February 1847, Alfred
Magill (1802-1854) acquired ownership of two parcels of land described as lot #2 and lot
#14 of the Magill lands. He paid $211.60 for both lots.24 There was no mention of a
house on this land.
Magill was born 10 January 1802 in Doylestown. He later married Jane S. Mann,
daughter of John and Martha (Grier) Mann of Doylestown Township. They were married
in Philadelphia on 28 February 1828.29 They had six children: Laura, Theodore,
Edwardine, Eugene, Charles Howard and Alfreda.
Hand drawn map from Rezer’s Doylestown. . How it came to be
The growing village located at the crossroads in Doylestown Township was incorporated
in 1838 as Doylestown Borough.26 Only about 800 residents lived in the borough at the
time.
9
A map published in 1849 by M.
Diggs in Philadelphia shows the Magill
house with no addition to the rear but some
sheds for the Hargrave marble yard.
The 1850 Federal census for
Doylestown shows Alfred M. Magill (48),
his wife Jane (42) and their five children
Louisa or Laura (19), Theodore (16),
Edwardine (11), Eugene (10), Howard (8)
and Alfred (4) living in the house on South
Main Street. They also had a black servant
Hannah Schenk, age 15, living with them.27
.Alfred M. Magill died on 16
September 1854 at his home on South Main
Street.28 Jane was allowed to continue to
live in the house. His will stated that she be
1849 Doylestown map
granted payment of $5.28 per month by her children. Magill
was buried in section A of Doylestown Cemetery.29
As the borough grew, a branch line of the North
Pennsylvania Railroad was built in 1856 from Lansdale,
terminating in Doylestown. The railroad officially opened on
6 October 1856 when the first locomotive, the Civilizer,
arrived in town pulling two coaches. Trains ran twice daily
to Philadelphia, a morning run and evening run. A platform
and small wooden waiting room were the only protection for
passengers until in 1876, the present stone railroad station
was built.30
Widow Jane Magill was still living in the house as
shown on the 1857 map of Doylestown as shown below.
1857 Doylestown map
Magill family gravestone at Doylestown Cemetery
10
Widow Magill may have taken in boarders because in the 27 March 1860 edition
of the Bucks County Intelligencer two small interesting items were found. “John Morris
has moved to the house of Mrs. Magill on the west side of Main Street.”31 Also included
in that edition of the newspaper, “ Abraham Mosier has moved to part of Mrs. Magill’s
house on South Main.”32
The 1870 federal census for Doylestown lists Jane Magill (61), her two sons
Theodore (34) and Howard (26) as residing in the house.33 Also living with them were
daughter Edwardeene Cope (31) her husband Abraham Cope (32), and young Howard
Cope just six months old. Eugene had since passed away.
1876 Doylestown map
The 1876 map of the borough above shows the parcel of land as Mrs. Magee with
both an addition to the house and a barn at the rear. It is likely that Magee was
misspelled and should have been Magill.
Jane died on 17 July 1876 and her will stated the property should be divided
among her living children.34 Eugene had died and Edwardine had married Abraham
Cope. The property known as lot #2 was still in the Magill family however was vacant
when the census worker canvassed South Main Street on 12 June 1880.35
1881
Charles Howard Magill (1843-1919) was the next owner of this parcel of land.
Charles Howard, who went by the name of Howard, was born on 27 May 1843 and
attended school until he was 18 years of age. He started working for the express office of
Heston and Company located on State Street. Shortly, the Civil War interrupted his life.
In June 1864, Howard enlisted in Company E, 196th Regiment of the Pennsylvania
Volunteer Infantry and served under the command of Captain C.K. Frankenfield. He did
not see much action as his duties were mainly guarding Confederate prisoners in Chicago
and later at Fort Delaware.36 After his honorable discharge from military service, he
returned home to marry Anna J. Shelmire of Philadelphia in 1873. They had no children.
11
He later managed the Heston express office until, in 1879, he accepted the
position of express agent for the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad. Magill kept the
horse and wagon for his express business in the barn behind the main house. The barn
was likely built after the Civil War because beams used in its construction were machine
made. He was a member of Doylestown Lodge No. 245, Free and Accepted Masons and
the General Robert L. Bodine Post of the Grand Army of the Republic. He was said to be
an ardent Republican.
“James Gunagan has moved his hennery to the property he bought from Mrs. C. Howard
Magill just in from Main Street, entering by William Hoffman’s tin store. He is building a
chicken house 8 feet by 40 feet, divided into 4 pens, separated by wire.
Each pen has a runway to go outdoors with a southern exposure and sliding front sash.
The roof is tin and the floor is lime and sand. Nests are in each pen, under which are feed
troughs and above are platforms and over them are perches.” 37
This news item was found in the 11 May 1888 edition of the Bucks County
Intelligencer newspaper.
1891 Doylestown map
At some point Joseph G. and Wilhelmina Hart and their children moved into the
Magill house on South Main Street. The family was listed as living in the house in
1900.38 Hart was the deputy postmaster in Doylestown.
1900 Federal census
12
Joseph George Hart was born on 14 November 1861 in Clinton County, MO. 39
His family soon moved to Mauch Chunk in Carbon County where he lived in 1870. In
June 1883, Joseph married Wilhelmina K. Haldeman at the New Britain Baptist Church
parsonage with the Reverend N.C. Fetter officiating. Wilhelmina was born in April 1867
in Warrington Township.40
Joseph Hart was listed in the 1902 city directory as living on S. Main Street and
his occupation was a clerk.41
The Hart family was
also living in the house
when a Sanborn Fire
Insurance map was drawn
in 1904.
The two-story
dwelling had a stone front
(blue) with two-story wood
frame portions at the rear
(yellow). A two-story wood
frame barn at the rear of the
property also had a shed
roof at the southern side.42
Hargrave’s marble
yard and stone cutting
facility is shown next door.
After the birth of
their twelfth child Isabella
in the spring of 1904, the
Hart family had their
picture taken outside by a
local photographer.
[See page 14.]
1904 Sanborn Fire Insurance map
1910 Federal census
Wilhelmina and her family were again listed in the 1910 Federal census as renting
at 56 S. Main Street. She had given birth to 15 children but only 11 were still living in
1910. Joseph and his oldest daughter, Lizzie, 25, both worked at the post office. Mary
H., 20, was a servant for a private family and Clara B., 18, was a spooler in a mill.
Young Charles F., 15, was listed as a newsboy on the street. One question asked in 1910
was how many weeks were you out of work in 1909. Joseph and Lizzie were not out of
work but Mary H. was out of work for 4 weeks and Clara B. out of work for 10 weeks. 43
13
HART FAMILY
1904
Doylestown, PA
1. Joseph George Hart (1861-1931)
2. Wilhelmina K. (Haldeman) Hart (1867-1924)
3. Elizabeth “Lizzie” Hart (1884-1918)
6
4. Anna “Annie” (Hart) Walker (1885-1967)
5. Mary (Hart) Frank (1889-1974)
6. Clara B. (Hart) McHugh (1891-1944)
7. Charles Fretz Hart (1893-1976)
8. Liddie F. (Hart) Angeny (1895-1980)
9. Lucy F. (Hart) Neamand (1896-1970)
10. Hannah Kline (Hart) Schurr (1899-unk)
11. Sara B. (Hart) Stelwagon (1902-1968)
12. Isabella “Belle” W. (Hart) Boyle (1904-1949)
1
5
14
8
7
Not pictured - Edith Rhodes (Hart) Bradley (1907-1967)
4
3
9
2
1
1
11
12
10
1920
On 2 April 1920 and after more than twenty years
of renting the old Magill house, Wilhelmina Hart (18671924) purchased the house, barn and lot at 56 South Main
Street from Annie J. S. Magill, the executrix of Charles
Howard Magill, for $4,200.44 Her husband Joseph’s name
was not included on the deed.
When the 1920 Federal census was taken, only the
three youngest daughters, Sara B, Belle and Edith were
still living at home with their parents. 44
Joseph was still working as assistant postmaster for
the Doylestown Post Office. Hart was appointed
postmaster in January 1923, succeeding Asher K. Anders
Joseph G. and Wilhelmina Hart
(1869-1936) who had been postmaster for nine years. Hart’s commission was signed by
President Warren G. Harding and dated 12 December 1922. The promotion was an
anniversary gift for his 30 years of service to the same local Doylestown post office. The
photo below shows the clerks for the post office with Joseph at the extreme left and his
oldest daughter Lizzie in the middle.
1920 Federal census
Doylestown Post Office staff at Lenape building
1922 Sanborn Fire Insurance
map
Wilhelmina died without a will on 24 May 1924. 46 Her husband Joseph continued
to live in the house, while daughter Clara and her family moved in to help care for her
aging father. Clara was married to John McHugh and they had one son, R. John, born in
1921 in Connecticut.
15
Joseph was listed in the 1930 Federal census as living on South Main Street with
his daughter Clara B. and son-in-law John McHugh.47 His nine-year-old grandson John
also lived there. John McHugh from Connecticut was a mechanic for the railroad.
1930 Federal census
Joseph Hart died on 19 August 1931 of a stroke in Doylestown and was later
buried beside his wife in the New Britain Baptist Church
Cemetery.48 Other family members are also buried in the
cemetery.
After the death of their father, the ten living children
of Wilhelmina and Joseph G. Hart sold the property. The
ten heirs were Annie (Hart) Walker, a widow of
Philadelphia; Mary (Hart) Frank and her husband Casper L.
of Philadelphia; Clara (Hart) McHugh and her husband John
of Bethayers, Montgomery County; Charles Fretz Hart and
his wife Mary of Doylestown; Liddie (Hart) Angeny and her
husband Howard of Plumstead Township; Lucy (Hart)
Neamand and her husband Elmer S. of Doylestown
Borough; Sara B. (Hart) Stelwagon and her husband Frank
of Norristown; Hannah K. (Hart) Schurr and her husband Morris of Willow Grove,
Montgomery County; Bella Hart, single, of Philadelphia; and Edith (Hart) Bradley and
her husband Nick of Cherokee, NC.49
Charles F. Hart had filed for bankruptcy on 6 May 1927 and by error, did not list
his interest in the real estate as an asset. The bankruptcy was closed without accounting
for his interest. However, on 27 June 1935, the case was reopened to dispose of the real
estate. Helen Shaddinger, a trustee, conveyed the interest of Charles F. Hart to John
Elfman.50
One other interesting note about the Hart children happened to the youngest Edith
in 1922. When Edith was only 15 years old, she eloped with a young Cherokee Indian
named Nick Bradley.51 Bradley was 26 years old, was born in North Carolina of mixed
blood (½ Cherokee) and was a brakeman working for the railroad. Edith and Bradley
moved to the Indian Reservation in Jackson County, NC and raised ten children. Bradley
later became a Baptist minister and built a church on the reservation. Edith Rhodes
Bradley died on 4 June 1967 in Sylva, NC at the age of 59. She was buried in the Blyth
Cemetery, Cherokee, NC.52
16
The undated photograph at
left was taken before the
1930s. Although the original
roof was hand-split white
pine shingles, it was now
covered with standing seam
tin over the original wood
shingles.
Because of a
terrifying fire caused by a
defective chimney flue and
spread by gale force winds on
12 January 1914, several
homes on Mechanics Street, Court Street and Maple Street were destroyed or suffered
severe damage. Showers of sparks and fire-brands as large as a man’s hand were spread
from roof to roof by high winds. It was feared that rows of homes would be destroyed.
A quick response by the fire department and local residents saved the town from further
damage.53
Borough officials then required that all wood shingle roofs be replaced with either
tin or slate. The cheaper way was to cover the existing wood shingles with standing seam
tin as in the photograph.
1935
John H. Elfman (1912-1983) purchased the
house and lot of land on 31 July 1935 from the ten
heirs of Wilhelmina Hart.54 It is not clear the price of
the sale.
On the day of settlement, Elfman took a quick
tour of the house. He noticed that the antique box lock
on the front door was missing. He proceeded to the
real estate office for settlement with the Hart heirs.
Liddie (Hart) Angeny was representing the family.
Elfman refused to sign the settlement papers until the
lock on the front door was replaced. A quick call was
made to the Angeny brothers in Danboro (also
builders). The lock was found and after being
John and Jean Elfman
reinstalled on the front door, settlement took place.55
John Herman Elfman was born on 10 February
1912 in Doylestown the son on Augustus Charles Elfman (1888-1973) and Alice (Black)
Elfman (1889-1969). John graduated from Doylestown High School in 1930, was a star
athlete in football and track with the nickname of “Brickey”. He later graduated from
Penn State University with a degree in architectural engineering. He followed in the
footsteps of his father and grandfather as a building contractor. John was proprietor and
chief engineer of A.C. Elfman & Sons, Building Contractors, and owner of A.C.E.S’
Woodwork Shop.56 He was a charter member and president of the Bucks County
Homebuilders Association.
17
John married Jean Kerr (1913-1995) on 20 June 1936 in St. Paul’s Epicopal
Church. Jean was the daughter of George and Louisa Kerr of Doylestown. Jean
graduated in 1931 from Doylestown High School and Temple University in 1935 with a
music degree. They had one son John H. Elfman, Jr. (1940-2004).
In 1939, Elfman remodeled his old house. Having complained about the drafty
nature of the frame addition, he demolished the old two-story addition and built a new
two-story addition at the rear of the original building. He used a portion of the old stone
foundation but the new addition was more centered on the rear of the building.
He made drawings for the new addition that showed the elevations of the three
sides. A copy of that blueprint is shown below.
Workmen, including A.C. Elfman, his nephew John Howard Black and Bill
Holdefeller began demolition of the old frame structure. Note the overhang above where
a two-story porch had
been located in the
photograph below. Note
all of the ivy growing on
the stucco of the south
side of the original
building.
The
original
porch can be seen in the
1904
Sanborn
Fire
Insurance map shown on
page 13.
18
Demolition in progress
Jean with workmen
Augustus Charles Elfman in bib overalls with other workmen
19
The old wood shingles and tin roof were replaced with slate. The new addition
featured a kitchen, reading room and dining room on the first floor. The second floor
addition included a bathroom, three bedrooms and a master-bedroom in the rear. The
master-bedroom had a large bay window looking out over Jean’s garden and flower beds.
The middle bedroom later belonged to son John while the two bedrooms in the original
house were reserved for the frequent house guests the Elfmans entertained. The basement
was made into a family or TV room in the rear and office for his building business in the
original building. Access to the office was through a door on the south side of the
building. John’s personal office was also located in the basement with a drafting table
under a big basement window. A heavy metal safe, located on the north side of the
basement office, is still existing today.
The next year in 1940, the Federal census for Doylestown lists John and Jean
Elfman living at 56 South Main Street. 57 The house was valued at $7,500.
1940 Federal census
John was a business and civic leader in Bucks County. A charter member and chairman
of the Doylestown Borough School Authority, Elfman later served as vice-chairman of
the Central Bucks Joint School Building Authority, an autonomous body that owns the
school building while they are being financed.
John was also an active member for 45 years and president of Doylestown Rotary
Club. He maintained a perfect attendance record
at the weekly Rotary meetings for over 25 years.
Serving as district governor of Rotary International
in 1959-60, Elfman compiled a history of the
Doylestown Rotary Club that was published in
1974.
Jean was also very involved in community
affairs. She was president of the Village
Improvement Association and Doylestown Nature
Club. She was a member of St. Paul’s Episcopal
Church, member of the choir and member of the
Bucks County Choral Society.
The photograph at right was taken in 1956
1956 photo with Jean at the piano
in the Elfman living room. Jean was at her baby
grand piano practicing with choir members Joseph Walls, Mrs. Donald Lippincott, Peter
Eklington and Stanley Hellerman.
The Elfmans were active members of the
Bucks County Historical Society and John
served as president for five years.
Elfman added another small addition at
the rear of the house during the 1970s.
John died on 12 May 1983 while on a
vacation cruise in Holland with his wife, Jean.58
He was 71. John was later buried in section P3 of
Doylestown Cemetery.59
20
1953 advertisement
21
1991 photograph showing the original stucco façade painted white and
a recent photograph of the office sign that hung outside
22
1986
After the death of her husband, Jean Elfman and Continental Bank were coexecutors of the estate. The title of the house and land was transferred to Jean Elfman
and four years later, ownership of the house and lot were transferred to Holly E. Faus
(1963- ) granddaughter of John and Jean.60 Holly is the oldest daughter of John H.
Elfman, Jr. and Patricia (Fenley) Elfman. There was no tax paid as the transfer was
within the family. Faus was designated the trustee under the deed of trust. Jean Elfman
died on 22 August 1995.61 and buried beside her husband in Doylestown Cemetery. 62
Six years later, the house and property were sold.
2001
The Doylestown Historical Society acquired the old Magill homestead and barn
on 16 October 2001 as part of a multi-entity transfer of land from the Elfman estate.63
The purchase price was $427,400. The other transactions were the Hargrave House at 50
S. Main Street acquired by Jon Rudolph and the public park located between the stone
house and barn acquired by the Borough of Doylestown.
2008 site plan detailing new park and renovated barn
T
23
2012 photograph by Fletcher Walls
The Doylestown Historical Society remodeled the house and performed extensive
renovations to the barn to allow for archival storage of records and a second floor library.
In April of 2002, the existing white stucco was removed from the front and both sides of
the building, exposing the rough stone. This caused a controversy with the Doylestown
Historical and Architectural Review Board.
In a front page article entitled “A Masonry Miscue?” Intelligencer staff writer
Edward Levenson reported the board was “aghast. It complained that a group which is
dedicated to preservation of Doylestown’s history had compromised the integrity of the
venerable structure at 56 S. Main Street. The review board asked the society to re-stucco
the building. Review board chairwoman Ellen Happ wrote in a letter to the society, “The
historical society has lost some credibility for those in the community who realize the
removal of the plaster is historically inaccurate.”
She pointed to several features that indicate stucco was applied originally,
including the rough appearance of the stone, the protrusion of the window jambs and the
lack of decorative window arches.”64
The historical society reviewed the removal of the stucco and decided that maybe
the stucco was more accurate, but stone had more eye appeal. The building remains
exposed Bucks County fieldstone with hand-pointed joints. The new look shows what
Rick Brown called, “the romantic image of a Bucks County farmhouse.”65
Several artists have drawn or painted the Magill school over the years.
24
Pen and ink drawing by William H. Kenderdine (1913-2002)
Watercolor by Randulph Bye (1916-2003)
25
Watercolor by Constance Allan Eastburn (1936- )
Pen and ink drawing from” Views of Doylestown”
By Robert Larsen 2005
26
In the spring of 2013, painters removed the existing door knocker from the front
door to change the color and give it a fresh coat of black paint. Upon removing the
screws from the knocker, they discovered the 1956 signature of past home-owner John H.
Elfman written on the old paint.
27
2012 Aerial view from Google Maps
2012 aerial photograph from Google Earth
2012 Birdseye view from Bing Maps
28
RECOMMENDATION
for HOUSE PLAQUE
The historic plaque program of the Doylestown Historical Society is over 30 years old. Wilma
Brown Rezer and Jean Dawson were pioneers in the research of hundreds of properties that have
led to the historical markers that you see adorning the houses of Doylestown.
The inscription on the plaque which will be attached to the front of your house, by tradition, is
left to the homeowner. The report may make recommendations to the homeowner as to the
wording on the plaque. Below are two examples of the text for a plaque.
The research concludes that the house was built by the Magill family. My recommendation for
the plaque would be as shown below.
29
APPENDIX
OFFICE
JOHN’S
OFFICE
FAMILY
TV
ROOM
2002 Floor plans by
Richard E. Brown
Associates,
Architects for
Doylestown
Historical Society
Red labels show
use by the Elfmans
30
LIVING
ROOM
KITCHEN
READING
ROOM
DINING
ROOM
31
GUEST
BEDROOM
BATH
ROOM
GUEST
BEDROOM
JOHN JR.
BEDROOM
MASTER
BEDROOM
32
ENDNOTES
1. Rezer, Wilma Brown, Doylestown. . .And how it came to be, 1724-1980, 1982, Doylestown
Community Association, p. 8.
2. Hazard, S. Annals of Pennsylvania: From the discovery of the Delaware, 1609-1682.
Philadelphia: Hazard & Mitchell, p. 529.
3. Soderlund, Jean R., William Penn and the Founding of Pennsylvania: A Documentary History,
Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, p. 147.
4. Simons, D. Brenton, The Langhornes of Langhorne Park, Boston: Newberry Street Press,
1997, p. xxiii.
5. Rezer, Doylestown. . .And how it came to be, 1982, p. 85.
6. Bucks County, PA, Deeds, Bk 9C Vol. 2, p. 93, 23 May 1753.
7. Davis, W.W.H. 1905, History of Doylestown, Old and New. From its settlement to the close of
the Nineteenth Century, 1745-1900, Doylestown: Intelligencer Print, p. 6.
8. Bucks County, PA, Deeds, Bk 9C Vol. 2, p. 97, 6 August 1753.
9. Davis, History of Doylestown, p. 7.
10. Davis, History of Doylestown, Vol. III, p. 601.
11. Davis, History of Doylestown, Vol. III, p. 602.
12. Ibid.
13. Battle, J. H. 1887. History of Bucks County, Pennsylvania including an account of its
original exploration, its relation to the settlements of New Jersey and Delaware, its erection into
a separate county, also its subsequent growth and development ; with sketches of its historic and
interesting localities, and biographies of many of its representative citizens. Philadelphia: A.
Warner & Co., p. 862.
14. Davis, History of Doylestown, p. 28.
15. Davis, History of Doylestown, p. 195.
16. Davis, History of Doylestown, p. 40.
17. McAlester, Virginia, and A. Lee McAlester. 1984. A field guide to American houses. New
York: Knopf, p. 153.
18. Rezer, Wilma Brown 1980, Tract D, #8-8-276-1, John Elfman Residence, 56 S. Main, p. 223.
19. Adamsky, Tim 2005, Doylestown Historical Society House Research, p. 18.
20. Davis, History of Doylestown, p. 40.
21. Rezer, Tract D, p. 228.
22. Doylestown Township, Pennsylvania, 1826 Tax List, entry for Alfred Magill, roll #4;
Spruance Library, Doylestown.
23. Doylestown Township, 1833 Tax List, roll #4.
24. Bucks County, PA, Deeds, Bk 74, p. 55, 1 April 1836.
25. Announcement, Bucks County Intelligencer, 25 February 1828, p. 3.
26. Doylestown Sesquicentennial 1838-1988, 1988, p. 8.
27. 1850 U.S. Census, Bucks County, PA, pop. sch., Doylestown, p. 333a, image 18, line 33.
28. Pennsylvania, Deaths, 1852-1854 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com
Operations, Inc., 2011, entry for Alfred M. Magill, accessed 30 October 2012.
29. “Alfred M. Magill” digital image, Findagrave.com (Memorial # 88994978).
30. Rezer, Doylestown. . .And how it came to be, 1982, p. 77.
31. News item, Bucks County Intelligencer, 27 March 1860, p. 3.
33
32. Ibid.
33. 1870 U.S. Census, Bucks County, PA, pop. sch., Doylestown, p. 37, line 5.
34. Rezer, Wilma Brown 1980, Tract D, #8-8-276-1, John Elfman Residence, 56 S. Main, p. 240.
35. 1880 U.S. Census, Bucks County, PA, pop. sch., Doylestown, ED 137, p. 30.
36. Battle, History of Bucks County, p. 862.
37. News item, Bucks County Intelligencer, 11 May 1888, p. 3.
38. 1900 U.S. Census, Bucks County, PA, pop. sch., Doylestown, ED 14, p. 29A, line 10.
39. Hanline Family Tree, (http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/46351311/person/6632251572)
Ancestry.com, accessed 10 November 2012.
40. Ibid.
41. Bucks County Directory – 1902, p. 66.
42. “Map of Doylestown, Bucks County, PA,” published January 1904, Sanborn Map Company,
New York, sheet 5.
43. 1910 U.S. Census, Bucks County, PA, pop. sch., Doylestown, ED 22, p. 14B, line 1.
44. Bucks County, PA, Deeds, Bk 432, p. 186, 2 April 1920.
45. 1920 U.S. Census, Bucks County, PA, pop. sch., Doylestown, ED 17, p. 2B, line 30.
46. Bucks County, PA, Deeds, Bk 631, p 321, 31 July 1935.
47. 1930 U.S. Census, Bucks County, PA, pop. sch., Doylestown, ED 22, p. 14B, line 99 and p.
15A, line 1.
48. “Joseph G. Hart” digital image, Findagrave.com (Memorial # 28794191).
49. Bucks County, PA, Deeds, Bk 631, p. 321, 31 July 1935.
50. Ibid.
51. Rezer, Tract D, p. 243.
52. North Carolina State Board of Health, certificate of death, 19447 (1967) Edith Rhodes
Bradley, Office of Vital Statistics, Raleigh.
53. “Doylestown Has Terrifying Fire During Gale of Wind,” The Doylestown Intelligencer, 13
January 1914, p. 1.
54. Bucks County, PA, Deeds, Bk 631, p. 321, 31 July 1935.
55. Alan “Tuck” Elfman interview by author, 20 November 2012, Doylestown Historical
Society.
56. “John H. Elfman,” The Historian, Vol. 3, #7, Bucks County Historical Society, p. 55.
57. 1940 U.S. Census, Bucks County, PA, pop. sch., Doylestown, ED 9-81, sht. 61A, line 10.
58. “John Elfman Sr. of Doylestown, Dies,” The Daily Intelligencer, 15 May 1983, p. A-10.
59. “John H. Elfman” digital image, Findagrave.com (Memorial # 28455484).
60. Bucks County, PA, Deeds, Bk 242, p. 1885, 21 November 1990.
61. “Jean K. Elfman, active in community” The Daily Intelligencer, 24 August 1995, p. A-9.
62. “Jean K. Elfman” digital image, Findagrave.com (Memorial # 28455485).
63. Bucks County, PA, Deeds, Bk 2473, p. 971, 16 October 2001.
64. “A masonry miscue?” The Daily Intelligencer, 18 April 2002, p. A1.
65. “Stucco is more accurate but stone has more appeal” The Daily Intelligencer, 21 April 2002,
p. B4.
Photo credits:
Cheryl Hanline
p. 13, 14
Alan “Tuck” Elfman p. 17, 18
J. Fletcher Walls
p. 19, 21, 23, 26
34