Gardenville–North Branch Rural Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Gardenville–North Branch Rural Historic District
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The Gardenville Hotel. October 2012.
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 Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Location | Roughly bounded by Durham Rd., Pt. Pleasant Pike, Valley Park Rd. and N. Branch Neshaminy Cr., Gardenville, Plumstead Township, Pennsylvania |
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| Area | 600 acres (240 ha) |
| Architect | Multiple |
| Architectural style | Italianate, Georgian |
| NRHP reference No. | 91000954 |
| Added to NRHP | November 7, 1991 |
The Gardenville–North Branch Rural Historic District is a special area in Gardenville, Plumstead Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. It is known for its many old and important buildings, farms, and structures. This district helps us remember what life was like long ago in rural Pennsylvania.
This historic district covers about 600 acres. It includes 107 important buildings, 4 historic sites, and 18 other structures. These include homes, businesses, and farm buildings. Many of them show off old building styles like Georgian and Italianate architecture.
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Exploring the Gardenville Historic District
The Gardenville–North Branch Rural Historic District is like a living museum. It protects a large area that shows how people lived and worked in the past. This district is important because it helps save the history and unique look of the area.
It includes the village of Gardenville and the farms around it. When you visit, you can see how the village grew and how farming shaped the community over many years.
What Makes it Historic?
A "historic district" is a special area that has many old buildings or places that are important to history. These places are kept safe so future generations can learn from them. The buildings in this district show different styles of architecture from the past.
Some buildings are in the Georgian style. This style was popular in the 1700s and early 1800s. It often features balanced, simple designs. Other buildings are in the Italianate style, which became popular in the mid-1800s. Italianate buildings often have tall, narrow windows and decorative brackets under the roof.
Famous Buildings and Farms
Many interesting buildings are part of this historic district. The Gardenville Hotel, built around 1875, is one of them. It was likely a busy place where travelers could stay. Another old building is the Plough Tavern, which dates back to about 1761. Taverns were important meeting spots in early American towns.
The Quaker Meetinghouse, built in 1875, is also in the district. This building was used by the Quaker community for worship and meetings. Several old farms are also included, like the Ewing-Michener Farm and the Wismer-Myers Farm. These farms often have unique "bank barns," which are barns built into the side of a hill. This design allows for easy access to different levels.
Joining the National Register
The Gardenville–North Branch Rural Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991. The National Register is the official list of places in the United States that are important to history. When a place is added to this list, it means it is recognized for its historical or architectural value. This helps protect it for the future.
