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Leiper House Cancels 2020 Colonial Christmas Open House

The Friends of the Thomas Leiper House announced today that the organization’s annual holiday event will not take place in 2020.

“We’re sad to miss a year of what is always a lovely holiday tradition,” said Angela Hewett, Curator of The Leiper House, “but, it involves preparations by teams from five local garden clubs and lots of visitors in and out of small Colonial era-sized rooms, we knew there was no way to safely put on the event this year.”

The group is looking forward to planning their outdoor summer event and next year’s Colonial Christmas Open House.

Thomas Leiper House

The Path of America’s First Railway

 

Leiper built a temporary track in the yard of the Bull’s Head Tavern in Philadelphia to demonstrate the merits of his railway.

Did it go through your backyard?

Historians say the horse-drawn railway that Thomas Leiper laid out in 1809 from Crum Creek to Ridley Creek, through today’s Governor Sproul Estates, was the first commercial railway in the United States.

Pierre Lacombe, New Jersey Geologic Historian, has precisely mapped the railway. He’ll present a talk with maps and photos. You’re invited.

Sunday, October 20 at 2:00 PM at the Helen Kate Furness Library: 100 North Providence Road, Wallingford.

RSVP via Email.

The program is presented by the Nether Providence Historical Society and is free and open to the public.

 

Delaware County Arts Week

Thomas Leiper House is participating in the Delaware County Arts Week.

On Saturday and Sunday, September 28 and 29 the Leiper House will be open from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.  Visitors can see original paintings of Leiper family members by famous artists. There are also old paintings of buildings that are no longer standing but were part of Leiper’s estate, “Avondale.”

Local artists Ursula Ippoliti and Dennis Goldsborough will display their paintings of notable Delaware County locations.  They will have prints and notecards of their paintings available to purchase.

LEIPER HOUSE | 521 Avondale Road, Wallingford

Party on the Porch

Leiper House
The Friends of the Thomas Leiper House invite you to their annual summertime Open House.

Enjoy summer refreshments. Visit the outbuildings. Take in the view of the park and Crum Creek.

Friday, June 28 from 7:00 until 9:00 pm
521 Avondale Road, Wallingford

Colonial Christmas Open House

You’re invited!

Join us Sunday,

Sunday, December 15, 2019, from 1 o’clock until 5 o’clock at Thomas Leiper’s 1785 Country Home.

You’re invited!

Join us at the Lieper House, 521 Avondale Road,
on Sunday, December 14, 2014 from 1 o’clock until 6 o’clock.

Christmas Open House

 

Prez Wins Award

Angela HewettAt its annual meeting, the Delaware County Historical Society presented its A. Lewis Smith Award to Angela Hewett, president of the Nether Providence Historical Society and long-time president of The Friends of the Thomas Leiper House. The award is presented annually to an individual who has made “significant contributions to the preservation of the history of Delaware County.”

Angela has conducted extensive research into the Leiper family and has edited two booklets – a compilation of correspondence between Mr. Leiper and Thomas Jefferson and another of his correspondence with James Madison. She is also the curator of the Leiper House; organizing and training its volunteer docents and coordinating the many events and programs hosted there.

She was on the steering committee for our township’s tricentennial celebration in 1987 and helped found our historical society soon after. She is also a board member of the Delaware County Historic Preservation Network.

The honor bestowed is well deserved.

 

New Acquisitions in the Leiper House Collection

Thomas Leiper Kane (1822 – 1883) was an American attorney, abolitionist, and military officer who served as a Union Army colonel and general of volunteers in the Civil War. He received a brevet promotion to major general for gallantry at the Battle of Gettysburg. Kane was born in Philadelphia, to John Kintzing Kane, a U.S. district judge, and Jane Duval Leiper. His brother was naval officer, physician, and explorer Elisha Kent Kane.

Thomas Leiper Kane (1822 – 1883) was an American attorney, abolitionist, and military officer who served as a Union Army colonel and general of volunteers in the Civil War. He received a brevet promotion to major general for gallantry at the Battle of Gettysburg. Kane was born in Philadelphia, to John Kintzing Kane, a U.S. district judge, and Jane Duval Leiper. His brother was naval officer, physician, and explorer Elisha Kent Kane.

The Leiper House will open for the season on Saturday, April 27th and will be open for tours each Saturday and Sunday from 1:00 until 4:00. Be sure to visit and see two recent acquisitions to the collection.

Mr. William Archard donated a large painting of the Leiper barn that once stood in the location of the parking lot. The picture was painted by Valerie Morrison in 1972, about two months before the barn was razed for construction of the Blue Route. It hangs in the middle bedroom, where the barn would have been visible from the windows.

In the fall, Mr. Thomas Africa of Warren, Pennsylvania, donated a china punch bowl that likely belonged to Thomas and Elizabeth Leiper. The bowl is decorated with the monogram of the Leiper’s son, William. William inherited it and other items from his parents and, having never married, left them to his nephews and nieces. A large painting of Avondale Village was left to Thomas Leiper Kane. Mr. Africa’s mother, a Kane descendant, left the painting to the Leiper House several years ago, as a bequest of her will. When the punch bowl was discovered, Mr. Africa kindly donated it as well. It now sits on the dining room table.

Another new display, courtesy of the efforts of Eagle Scout Dan Lordan, features the Leiper House’s antique tool collection.

Stop in for a tour!

 

 

Love is in the air! Love Letters of Thomas and Elizabeth Gray Leiper

In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, curator of the 1785 Leiper House and NPHS board member Angela Hewett, will give a talk on the love letters of Thomas and Elizabeth Gray Leiper. To find out more about the Leipers, click here.

Monday, February 8th at 3:00 pm

Plush Mills Senior Living will host the program and provide refreshments – 501 Plush Mill Road in Wallingford.

The event is free and open to the public. Registration is recommended. Call Plush Mills at 610-690-1630.

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