Hide Article Text (OCR)
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 1975BUzoneVAVI SOcarsTralt;bideWORKING TO PRESERVE HISTORY AT BOLTON MANSION... Friends of Bolton Mansion rlean op before Saturday’s fund raising fairProjects, grants help fundBolton Mansion restorationBy LANNY MORGNANESICourier Times Staff WriterThe group gathered under theshade of an enormous tree to sipired tea and relax Around them lav their toolsw ■rakes. lawn mowers and wheelbarrows The Friends of Bolton Mansion had worked hardSaturday cleaning the grounds of the pre-revolutionarv house, and the break was well desen edMike Krauss. a 25-vear-old Lev-ittown resident active in the drive to restore the mansion, looked up at the building and sighed ‘ It’s hard to believe when the commissioners vacated this building it was intact ’The Bolton Mansion is located in the Holly Hill section of Levit-w ■town It was built around 1700 and was the home of Phineas Pemberton. often called the father ofBucks CountyMunicipal BuildingThe mansion was used bv Bristol Township as a municipal building until 1966 Since then it has been the target of arson and vandalism Now a concerted effort isunderway to restore it “First it was looted by bargain hunters,’’’ Krauss said “Marblemantlepieces. bathtubs sinks Thev took whatever wasn't nailed* tdowmNext, Krauss said, it was theneighborhood kids who helped suck the life out of the building “It was a territory thing The kids thought it was theirs “One dav we worked all afternoon boarding the mansion up and the next day it was open I mean those kids meant to get it Thev came with mallots and hackI *sawsBut Kraus^ said vandalism has decreased with the upswing in interest to restore the building “Before it was the kids who were alwavs out there Now it s us.”( utting GrassThe Friends group was out Saturday cutting the grass and policing the area in preparation for a fund raising event scheduled forthis SaturdayBilled as the Bolton Mansion Flea and Fun Market.’’ the event will raise money for the building srestoration Featured will behorse-and-buggy rides, an exhibit of Bolton artifacts and a children’s pet show.A number of dignitaries areexpected to attend Among themare Congressman Edward G. Bies-ter (R 8), Democratic County Commissioner Joseph Catania and State Representatives James L Wright 'R-142) and John Rennin-ger (R-I43i.Krauss estimates total restoration will take five years and costclose to $250,000 He expects the F'riends group, an affiliate of theBucks County Conservancy, to raise $70 000 this vearGrant ReceivedKrauss said a grant receivedfrom a Massachusetts manufacturing firm for exterior renovation was erroneously reported to be $100,000 when it was actually only $750But he said since the mansion isnow registered as a national historic site, all funds raised will be matched by the federal govern-mr nt and the $250 000 goal should be reached Letters of solicitation have been sent out to historic-minded groups, Krauss said and large firms have been asked to sponsor the restoration of individualrooms.Krauss, the Republican candidate for the ninth ward commissioner's seat in Bristol Township, said the restored mansion will beopen for public useJames Snow chairman of theFriends group, said the mansionhas “enormous cultural potential.“People need to know where thev came from he said, “andBolton can help them remem berMIII! CHOyreqpnrandsaicNotpav to lt;S
Newspaper Details
Bucks County Courier Times
Levittown, Pennsylvania, US
Wed, Jun 25, 1975
Page 5
Full Page
Clipped by
Margaret R.
PA, USA 18 Apr 2022
Other Publications Near Levittown, Pennsylvania
Levittown Courier Times
Levittown Times
Bucks County Times
Bucks County Courier Times
