Our great nation was born in this very region, and with that comes rich founding history that needs to be honored. We owe it to our forefathers, our country, ourselves, and future citizens to preserve and recognize that history forever.

 

A historic home just landed on Heritage Conservancy's Register of Historic Places that was a part of the birth of our nation. Greeneside, which is located on Old York Road in Warwick Township, is a historic farmstead comprised of four buildings, the oldest dating back to the mid-1700s.

 

Greeneside served as a Revolutionary War encampment site for the Continental Army from August 10 through August 23, 1777, and the headquarters of General Nathanael Greene. The house on the property is the closest [of the four buildings] to the road, and it is located directly across from the Moland House, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as being George Washington's Headquarters.

 

This encampment served as a critical location for the development of military protocol and refinement of discipline within the Continental Army. As you walk through, you can just imagine orders being shouted and plans being drawn to defeat the British.

 

Along with its national significance, this home is significant for its association with prominent local individuals: Colonel Joseph Hart, who commanded forces during the Revolutionary War and led forces in opposition to the Whiskey Rebellion, and his son, Samuel Hart; the Harts are the namesake for the nearby village of Hartsville.

 

Because of its historical significance and its ties to the building of our nation, the Greeneside home was once spared from demolition when the Old York Road bypass was widened to four lanes. This is why Heritage Conservancy strives to educate the community about our historic heritage: when people understand the importance of what we have, they will want to protect it. It is the responsibility of all of us to do so.

 

Thank you to Murrie and Chaya Gayman for being great stewards of this historic home and for working to have it recognized on our Register of Historic Places.

 

Heritage Conservancy's President, Jeff Marshall, will be giving a talk about "Bucks County Loyalists During the American Revolution" on June 23rd. Click HERE for more information.

We are pleased to welcome two new members to our Board of Directors. The Board of Directors provides guidance to Heritage Conservancy to further its mission of land and historic property preservation, to assist with financial goals, and to achieve regional prominence through outreach and marketing. Doug Carr, a previous Merck employee who has been integral in multiple biotech startups, and Brian Clark, an environmental lawyer for Buchannan, Ingersoll, & Rooney, PC, join the ranks of our prestigious Board.

 

"As someone who regularly bike rides past the breathtaking scenery and structures of Bucks County, I want to do my part in supporting and expanding the preservation of that beauty," says Doug Carr about why he was motivated to join our Board of Directors.

 

No stranger to Heritage Conservancy, Doug Carr came to our organization as a volunteer during our first Volunteer Orientation two years ago, and he put the pedal to the metal with getting involved in our mission. He chairs our Farm to Table event committee, he is on our Development and Community Engagement Committee, and we are proud to now call him one of our Board of Directors. Going above and beyond attending cleanups and outreach events, Doug has served as a strong community ambassador for Heritage Conservancy, and we know he will continue to do that in this new role.

 

Doug would like to utilize his talents to advance the overall mission of Heritage Conservancy with focuses on connecting people to existing preserved land and historic structures and engaging youth into the activities of Heritage Conservancy to not only develop the foundation for the future, but to solicit the ideas and energy of the younger generation.

 

Doug feels very fortunate to live in such a beautiful area, raising his two daughters here and black Labrador Retriever, Toby.

 

Nick DeRose, one of our dedicated Board members, first introduced Brian Clark to Heritage Conservancy, and it seems Brian was destined to join our organization with his strong qualifications!

 

As a practicing lawyer in the environmental area since 1985, Brian has helped to write environmental laws that are still on the books in Pennsylvania. The PA recycling law, the superfund act, and the storage tank act are just a few of the laws he helped to write. He was also responsible for helping to shape environmental and energy policies for gubernatorial candidates including Tom Ridge and Tom Corbett.

 

"Maintaining open space and historic aspects are invaluable for all residents. If I can play one small part in maintaining that legacy and quality of life for everyone, then that will be rewarding," says Brian Clark about what he hopes to accomplish as a Board member.

 

Brian is relatively newer to Bucks County. He is originally from Emporium, PA, in Cameron County; it has the smallest population of all counties in our state. The beauty of our area reminded him of home, with the added benefits of a rich history and things to do.

 

Brian and his wife Colleen are an environmental power couple: Colleen retired from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, and they are both very interested in conservation, recycling, and adaptive reuse.

 

In his spare time, Brian enjoys spending time with family: he has as son in college, and Colleen is from a family of 10, so there is no shortage of gatherings. Brian also enjoys traveling. His favorite places he's visited are Paris and Cuba.

 

We are fortunate to add Doug and Brian's valuable knowledge and enthusiasm to our diverse Board of Directors. We know they will serve as compassionate advocates for land conservation and historic preservation.

Croydon Woods Nature Preserve

J oin Heritage Conservancy for a day of family fun at Croydon Woods Nature Preserve! On Saturday, May 5th, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, we will welcome everyone to Earth Day in May, a free and family-friendly event. Get a guided tour of the preserve, meet with local environmental organizations, and find out what you can do to make a difference in your community. This community environmental fair will have activities for guests of all ages to enjoy along the trail.

 

Heritage Conservancy will focus on educating community members about the Croydon Woods Nature Preserve and local impacts on the Delaware River and Delaware River Watershed. We'll have guided hikes on the property, Enviroscape demonstrations, and a nature explorer activity for kids.

 

Partner organizations such as Penn State Extension Master Watershed Stewards,

Silver Lake Nature Center, GOAL, East Coast Greenway Alliance, Sierra Club of Bucks County, Clean Air Council/GoPhillyGo, and Dow will have games, giveaways, and children's activities as well.

 

It is our hope that this event will provide a place for community members to have fun while also learning about environmental and community issues, resources, and actions they can take.

 

Don't miss out! Light refreshments will be available.