Carversville, Pennsylvania facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Carversville, Pennsylvania
Unincorporated community
Carversville Town Square
Carversville, Pennsylvania Location in Pennsylvania
Country	United States
State	Pennsylvania
County	Bucks
Township	Solebury
Elevation	226 ft (69 m)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	18913
Area code(s)	215, 267 and 445
GNIS feature ID	1203228

Carversville is a small, quiet community in Pennsylvania, USA. It's located in Bucks County, about 45 miles north of Philadelphia. Long ago, over 300 years, this area was a special gathering place for the Lenape people. They called it Aquetong, which means "many springs." Later, William Penn granted this land to James Harrison and Joseph Pike. A creek called Paunacussing Creek, also known as Fleecydale, flows through Carversville and eventually joins the Delaware River near Lumberville.

How Carversville Got Its Name

Carversville has had a few different names over the years! It was first known as Indian Village. Then, because of all the mills there, people started calling it Mill Town. This name was later shortened to Milton. Finally, in 1833, the community was renamed Carversville. This was done to honor the first postmaster, whose last name was Carver.

A Busy Center of Trade

From its very beginning, Carversville was an important place for business and trade. By 1730, roads were built through the thick forests. This allowed settlers to bring in lumber from the Delaware River and take out wool and farm goods. The community had many businesses, including several mills like Stovers Mill, Fretz Mill, and Carver Mill. There was also a factory that made bags and a famous hat factory called Roram Hat.

The Excelsior Normal Institute

In 1859, a well-known school called the Excelsior Normal Institute was built in Carversville. This large, five-story stone building sat on a hill overlooking the village. Many students studied there for years. However, the school eventually closed in the late 1800s.

After the school, the building became a resort, a place where people could go for fun and relaxation. But this didn't last long either. The building's final use was as the Carversville Christian Orphanage, a home for children without parents. Sadly, the building was torn down in the mid-1900s.

Carversville Today

Today, Carversville is home to about 100 people. The community is protected by a special rule called a Historic District Ordinance. This rule helps keep the area from being changed too much by new buildings.

The heart of Carversville is often called the Town Square. Here you'll find the Carversville Inn, a restaurant that has been around since 1813. There's also a dental office and the Carversville General Store.

The Historic Carversville Society helps keep the community lively with many events. These include Carversville Day, a fun town fair with a famous "pet parade." During the summer, they have "Films in the Field," where old movies are shown outdoors on the side of the General Store. And around Christmas, villagers gather in the Town Square to sing Christmas carols and visit Santa Claus.

Famous Connections

Carversville has been home to some interesting people and even inspired music!

Charles Hargens: The Artist

The famous artist Charles Hargens lived in Carversville. He was well-known for his amazing cover art. Mr. Hargens painted covers for popular magazines like The Saturday Evening Post and Collier's. He also created art for The Open Road for Boys and many western novels in the 1930s and 1940s.

Carversville in Music

The band Lincoln has a song simply titled "Carversville." During a concert in 1998, the band shared that the song is specifically about Carversville, Pennsylvania.

Historic Landmarks

Two important places in the area are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These are the Bridge in Solebury Township and the Carversville Historic District. Being on this list means they are recognized for their historical importance and are protected.