In Bucks County, rich history sometimes lies in the most unassuming of places.  You could drive by historic Craven Hall, sitting on the corner of Street Rd & Newtown Rd. in Warminster, and never realize the beauty beyond your dashboard.  Last week, we met with President of the Board, Erik Fleischer, & Sharon McCoy for a private tour of the facility where we learned tons of interesting information about the historic structure of Craven Hall and beyond.

Craven Hall is estimated to have been built in the mid 18th Century by Giles Craven, who acquired the property in 1726.  In 1814, an elegant extension was added by new owner Harman Vansant, who held the house and farming property until 1953.  It was then that the Centennial School district purchased the house in order to accommodate the overflow of students in the school district, which lasted until 1977 when concerned citizens rallied to save the historic structure from demolition.

The beauty of Craven Hall surpasses the timeless cherry & tiger maple wood staircase, the old-fashioned indoor window shutters, and the magnificently restored hearth fireplace.  Instead, the true Craven Hall experience is found in the rich stories behind the common household items, tales that the volunteers so passionately share with visitors.  We learned about how 18th century children cherished their one linen outfit that had taken months to spin & sew by hand, discovered the real reason behind head & foot boards on beds (which prevented people from falling off since typically 4-5 people slept horizontally on a mattress), & laughed over stories about school children sitting in the fireplace due to over-crowded classrooms.  From the crumpled 1950s school-girl notes on display to the old-fashioned rope bed, Craven Hall is packed with sources that bring history to life.

You can visit Craven Hall for tours on the 2nd Sunday of every month from 12-3pm or check out some of their fun annual events.  In their colonial cooking classes, participants spend hours cooking a classic 18th century meal in the Craven Hall hearth oven and then get the chance to invite a guest to share in their delicious meal.

In honor of Warminster Borough's 300th anniversary in 2011, the historic committee is hard at work creating the John Fitch  Steamboat Museum, in honor of the 18th Century entrepreneur responsible for the first commercial steamboat. We can't wait!

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