Credit: Erich Martin/LevittownNow.com
SAVE THIS DATE . . . Saturday October 21, 2023 . . . Historic Bristol Day!
Come for a day of F-U-N! Always the Third Saturday in October!
Historic Bristol is amply steeped in remarkably unspoiled, unique capsules of history.
It’s the third oldest town in PA after Philadelphia and Chester.
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Welcome architecture aficionados or those simply curious to find well-kept buildings and perfect houses with varying styles! HBD is an excellent reason to explore the ones representing the march of time.
All are welcome to visit and tour some of the Public Buildings bursting with historical interest.
Sisters, Nancy Lee and Denise Riccio, chairs for the public buildings committee, are truly honored to have worked on this community project.
Among those included are the Bethel AME [African Methodist Episcopal] Church, the Bristol Borough Area Active Adult Center, the Borough Municipal Building, the Bristol Friends Meeting House, Bristol Masons F. & A.M. [Free & Accepted Masons] Lodge #25, the Bristol Riverside Theatre, St. James Episcopal, St. Mark Church and Zion Lutheran Church, Bristol Fire Station #51, and the Margaret R. Grundy Library and Museum.
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Bethel AME Church, located in the Borough since 1843, is celebrating its 180th Anniversary.
Pastor Reverend Katherine Peyton “Kate” Brooks, a Harvard-educated pastor and theologian confirms AME is a “friendly church and the doors swing wide on welcome hinges!”
Come early on HBD to meet Reverend Brooks.
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“The sanctuary is historically much the same. The basement served as a stop for the Underground Railroad, and the amazing stained glass windows were installed over 100 years ago,” the reverend said.
Visitors will receive a pamphlet on the history.
At one time, the late Cordelia J. Scudder [Jul 26, 1926 – Feb 7, 2019] would dress in historical garb and she would give a tour of the Church.
Evangelist Drucilla “Dru” M. Van Wright, BHS ’66, a lifetime member and the AME secretary, was born and raised in the Borough. Dru is also the founder/CEO/Owner of HOPEE House, Inc. [Helping Other People Endure by Empowerment], a transitional living facility for women in addiction recovery that provides counseling services to adult women.
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“Our AME Flea Market on the corner of Mulberry & Wood will be open 10:00AM-3:00PM, indoors, outdoors on the sidewalk, or in the yard.” All are invited to bring their own table and make a donation!
Light refreshments will be served.
ATTRACTIONS!
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*BB Area Active Adult Center ~310 Wood Street – along with the history of the building, there will be exhibits of the American Sewing Guild, the history of the sewing machine, and guild members’ quilts, sewing projects, and crafts. Join their workshop and “Make& Take Pumpkins”.
Kitchen will be open with refreshments for sale.
*Municipal Building ~250 Pond Street – ‘Welcome Friend’ has served Bristol as a motto since a wooden sign greeted the Marquis de Lafayette on his ‘Farewell Tour of America’ in 1824 and the original sign still hangs within the Borough Hall.
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*Friends Meeting House ~235 Market Street– Walk the Labyrinth Walk for reflection.
Kids’ activity will be located in the park at Market & Wood. Seasonal snacks available.
*Bristol Lodge #25 ~219 -221 Cedar Street– tours only
Masonic Lodge building was erected and completed on Monday May 1st, 1854, fitted with gas lighting making it one of the first buildings in Bristol to have such illumination. In 1897, it became one of the first buildings in Bristol to have electric lighting.
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*Margaret R. Grundy Memorial Library ~680 Radcliffe Street -tours. Visit the Children’s Corner and the “Cops & Kids- free books” sections. Watch the Dancing Divas of Bristol and the “Touch of History” [Snyder-Girotti 5th graders], and the Bristol Borough Land Forms [St. Mark 4th graders] presentations.
*Margaret R. Grundy Memorial Museum ~610 Radcliffe Street -tours. After recent renovations, guests may fully partake in the splendor of a bygone age, and catch a very personal glimpse of what life would have been like for a wealthy industrialist family in the late 19th century.
**Tickets for the BCHF Tea ONLY on the South Lawn with harp solos by celebrated artist / WCU professor, Gloria Galante are $2.00. The Artists of Bristol [AOB] exhibit will also be on the grounds.
St. James the Greater Episcopal Church ~ 225 Walnut Street– tours
St. James was the first church in Bristol and the only Episcopal church in Bucks County for 119 years.
The original church was built of Trenton field stone with bead moldings and corbels. This building was built in 1857 with a patterned floor design made of decorative pieces of ceramic tile made from handmade molds baked at the Moravian Tile Works, Doylestown.
St. Mark Roman Catholic Church ~ 105 Radcliffe Street- open for visitors
The parish of St. Mark was established in 1845 and is the first Catholic church in Lower Bucks County.
This brownstone church features a central tower with a pyramidal roof, stained glass windows, marble altars, and a Rosetta window above the center door.
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Zion Lutheran Church ~ 301 Jefferson Avenue-toursZion Lutheran Church was organized officially on July 31, 1917.Visit their historic pipe organ exhibit and enjoy a lecture about Casavant organs and a silent film.
* Claver and Samuel Casavant, sons of Joseph Casavant [1807-1874], the first organ builder, established Casavant Frères.
Bristol Fire Station #51 ~ 198 Wood Street –open for visitors
With a rich and deep history dating back to 1857, Station 51 is an all-volunteer fire department that is committed to serving the residents of Bristol Borough and the surrounding Bucks County communities.
Now make a HOME RUN!
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The BCHF committee has rounded up the most impressive Borough homes that continue to influence our town’s significant design sensibilities.
House A at 16708 River View Circle; HOUSE B at 16767 River View Circle; Wade’s Funeral Home at 1002 Radcliffe Street, with a Nutcracker display; and Galzerano’s Funeral Home at 430 Radcliffe Street, with a Bristol Barbie Photo Booth, will be open for tours from 10:00AM- 4:00PM.
*Like the Facebook event page “Bristol Barbie 2023 Facebook Event” and share your photo!
**VOTING ENDS on October 27th & WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED on October 28th**
Ticket required $15. [*available corner of Market & Radcliffe Sts. & corner of Walnut & Radcliffe Sts.]
Welcome Friend to this historic riverfront town for a day of FAMILY FUN!
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Recommend a “Spotlight”. E-mail vjmrun@yahoo.com
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