Carversville, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Carversville is an unincorporated community
in Solebury Township, Bucks County
, Pennsylvania
, United States
, approximately 45 miles north of Philadelphia. It was originally a Lenape
gathering placed called Aquetong (translation: "many springs") more than 300 years ago the area's land was granted to James Harrison and Joseph Pike by William Penn
. The Paunacussing Creek also called Fleecydale runs through Carversville and meets the Delaware River at Lumberville
.
By 1730, roads had been formed into Carversville's dense forests so that settlers could haul out wool and farm produce and bring in lumber that had been rafted down the Delaware River
from northern Pennsylvania.
Carversville was originally called Indian Village, though was later named Mill Town for the presence of its mills. Its name was later contracted into Milton before finally, in 1833, being renamed Carversville in honor of the first postmaster, whose last name was Carver.
Carversville was a center of commerce from its inception, and boasted enterprises such as Stovers Mill, Frets Mill, Carver Mill, Suggin Bag Manufactury, a sash and blind mill, and the famous Roram Hat factory.
In 1859, the Excelsior Normal Institute was founded on the hill that overlooks the village. This five-story stone building became a well-known school which turned out scholars until it fell on hard times in the late nineteenth century. When teaching ended, pleasure began as the building became a resort. However, its lifespan was also short-lived. The final use for the property was as the Carversville Christian Orphanage. The building was rased in the mid-1900s.
Today, Carversville is home to some 100 residents, and is protected by a Historical Society which prevents the area from being marred by over-development of new homes and businesses. The center of Carversville, nicknamed the Town Square
is home to the Carversville Inn, a restaurant which dates back to 1813 and the Carversville General Store. Carversville maintains an active schedule full of events for its residents, which includes Carversville Day (a town fair that includes the famed "pet parade"), Films in the Field (dated movies shown once per month during the summer that are projected on the side of the General Store), and carolling in the Square (where villagers gather in the Town Square to sing Christmas carol
s and visit Santa Claus
).
Carversville was home to noted artist Charles Hargens
famous for his cover art. Mr. Hargens painted covers for The Saturday Evening Post
, Collier's
, The Open Road for Boys
and many western novels of the 1930s and 1940s.
In music, "Carversville" is the title of a song by the band Lincoln
and during a concert in 1998, the band announced it to be specifically about Carversville, Pennsylvania.
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
in Solebury Township, Bucks County
Bucks County, Pennsylvania
- Industry and commerce :The boroughs of Bristol and Morrisville were prominent industrial centers along the Northeast Corridor during World War II. Suburban development accelerated in Lower Bucks in the 1950s with the opening of Levittown, Pennsylvania, the second such "Levittown" designed by...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, approximately 45 miles north of Philadelphia. It was originally a Lenape
Lenape
The Lenape are an Algonquian group of Native Americans of the Northeastern Woodlands. They are also called Delaware Indians. As a result of the American Revolutionary War and later Indian removals from the eastern United States, today the main groups live in Canada, where they are enrolled in the...
gathering placed called Aquetong (translation: "many springs") more than 300 years ago the area's land was granted to James Harrison and Joseph Pike by William Penn
William Penn
William Penn was an English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania, the English North American colony and the future Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He was an early champion of democracy and religious freedom, notable for his good relations and successful...
. The Paunacussing Creek also called Fleecydale runs through Carversville and meets the Delaware River at Lumberville
Lumberville, Pennsylvania
Lumberville, Pennsylvania is a village on the Delaware River in Solebury Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, with a zip code of 18933. It is seven miles north of New Hope, Pennsylvania, and is located along River Road....
.
By 1730, roads had been formed into Carversville's dense forests so that settlers could haul out wool and farm produce and bring in lumber that had been rafted down the Delaware River
Delaware River
The Delaware River is a major river on the Atlantic coast of the United States.A Dutch expedition led by Henry Hudson in 1609 first mapped the river. The river was christened the South River in the New Netherland colony that followed, in contrast to the North River, as the Hudson River was then...
from northern Pennsylvania.
Carversville was originally called Indian Village, though was later named Mill Town for the presence of its mills. Its name was later contracted into Milton before finally, in 1833, being renamed Carversville in honor of the first postmaster, whose last name was Carver.
Carversville was a center of commerce from its inception, and boasted enterprises such as Stovers Mill, Frets Mill, Carver Mill, Suggin Bag Manufactury, a sash and blind mill, and the famous Roram Hat factory.
In 1859, the Excelsior Normal Institute was founded on the hill that overlooks the village. This five-story stone building became a well-known school which turned out scholars until it fell on hard times in the late nineteenth century. When teaching ended, pleasure began as the building became a resort. However, its lifespan was also short-lived. The final use for the property was as the Carversville Christian Orphanage. The building was rased in the mid-1900s.
Today, Carversville is home to some 100 residents, and is protected by a Historical Society which prevents the area from being marred by over-development of new homes and businesses. The center of Carversville, nicknamed the Town Square
Town square
A town square is an open public space commonly found in the heart of a traditional town used for community gatherings. Other names for town square are civic center, city square, urban square, market square, public square, and town green.Most town squares are hardscapes suitable for open markets,...
is home to the Carversville Inn, a restaurant which dates back to 1813 and the Carversville General Store. Carversville maintains an active schedule full of events for its residents, which includes Carversville Day (a town fair that includes the famed "pet parade"), Films in the Field (dated movies shown once per month during the summer that are projected on the side of the General Store), and carolling in the Square (where villagers gather in the Town Square to sing Christmas carol
Christmas carol
A Christmas carol is a carol whose lyrics are on the theme of Christmas or the winter season in general and which are traditionally sung in the period before Christmas.-History:...
s and visit Santa Claus
Santa Claus
Santa Claus is a folklore figure in various cultures who distributes gifts to children, normally on Christmas Eve. Each name is a variation of Saint Nicholas, but refers to Santa Claus...
).
Carversville was home to noted artist Charles Hargens
Charles Hargens
Charles Hargens painted covers for The Saturday Evening Post, Colliers, Country Gentleman, Farm Journal, Boy's Life, The Open Road for Boys and 300 books, including the Zane Grey Western novels of the 1930s and 1940s. His work is similar to that of Frederic Remington...
famous for his cover art. Mr. Hargens painted covers for The Saturday Evening Post
The Saturday Evening Post
The Saturday Evening Post is a bimonthly American magazine. It was published weekly under this title from 1897 until 1969, and quarterly and then bimonthly from 1971.-History:...
, Collier's
Collier's Weekly
Collier's Weekly was an American magazine founded by Peter Fenelon Collier and published from 1888 to 1957. With the passage of decades, the title was shortened to Collier's....
, The Open Road for Boys
The Open Road for Boys
The Open Road for Boys, a boys' magazine encouraging the outdoor life, was published from November 1919 to the 1950s. The magazine was a monthly for the first 20 years and then switched to a schedule of ten issues a year. It began as The Open Road, which expanded to The Open Road for Boys in...
and many western novels of the 1930s and 1940s.
In music, "Carversville" is the title of a song by the band Lincoln
Lincoln (band)
Lincoln was an American alternative rock band consisting of four members: Chris Temple , Gonzalo Martinez De La Cotera , Danny Weinkauf , and Dan Miller . They were based in New York City...
and during a concert in 1998, the band announced it to be specifically about Carversville, Pennsylvania.