Langhorne Manor celebrated its 125th birthday on Saturday with live music, food, beer and the type of friends that only a close-knit community the scale of the borough could foster.
Langhorne Manor, founded in 1890, was the beginning of the American suburb, explained the history guide and lifetime resident Steve Pizzola. The high elevation of the community as well as the close proximity to easy travel in the way of stage coach and ferry made the community desirable in its first days in the late 1800s. Drawing residents based on easy access to major travel routes still rings true today with the borough’s easy access to highways and SEPTA Regional Rail service.
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In and around Langhorne Manor, neighbors and acquaintances are friendly with one another. The name tags that everyone was wearing at the celebration helped to foster the intimate atmosphere.
Despite Saturday’s weather, the birthday celebration garnered a strong turnout. At any given time, groups of people were in the .65-square-mile borough of just over 1,000 people watching presentations, outside at the face painter, grabbing a pint or bite and listening to music. Trolley buses were used to transport visitors throughout the borough during the birthday celebration.
“It’s going to go til’ 5 p.m. one way or another,” said Langhorne Manor Mayor Bob Byrne, explaining that tents and the manor itself could easily protect against the rain.
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The planning for the celebration began only five months ago when the Council Vice President Maryann Barnes brought the birthday up to council. The committee to put the celebration together consisted of 10 volunteers who met every other Tuesday to come up with ways to make the birthday bash more memorable and fun, Byrne said.
“We wanted to celebrate the birthday and also show off the building,” Byrne said, referencing the recent work to the borough hall, which is a historic school.
“We don’t do things a lot here, so when we do, we like to have a nice time with it,” the mayor said.
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Pizzola explained that these types of events are essential for a healthy community like the borough.
“I wanted to see a couple hundred people. Considering the weather, we are doing pretty well,” Byrne said.
