Historic Newtown Square Day 25th Anniversary Celebration –TAKE 2!

History Spotlight by Doug Humes

Photos courtesy of the Newtown Square Historical Society

This time last year, the Newtown Square Historical Society (NSHS) was preparing to celebrate the 25th anniversary of its annual Historic Newtown Square Day. But COVID-19 forced all live events to be canceled. This year, things are starting to look up: Many have their vaccinations, we’ve all learned to “mask up” and social distance, and we’re getting reacquainted with the world around us. With that in mind, NSHS is hosting its first live event in over a year:

The 25th Annual Historic Newtown Square Day

Saturday June 5, 2021

The Square Tavern Museum and Art Center, the “heart” of the celebration

Our public sites will offer tours from 10am–4pm. Come out and visit the buildings that started serving Newtown residents over 200 years ago: the 1711 Newtown Square Friends Meeting, the 1742 Square Tavern, the 1828 Paper Mill House & Museum, the 1841 Hood Octagonal School, the 1860 Bartram Bridge, the Garrett Williamson silo and barn, and the 1895 Newtown Square Railroad Museum.

The Paper Mill House & Museum: 300+ years of Newtown history

MANY EXCITING ACTIVITIES NEW THIS YEAR!

On the Square Tavern Green:

• Lenape Native American camp and food demonstration • Revolutionary War encampment • Basket weaving workshop and demonstration • Sheep shearing demonstration • 1700s spinning wheel demonstration • 1700s music by Robert Mouland, musician and historical interpreter • Various local artists painting outdoors and selling their work • A variety of children’s art activities

A “well-regulated militia” on the Tavern Green

How does this old spinning wheel work? Find out at Historic Newtown Square Day!

Inside the Square Tavern Museum and Art Center:

• Costumed guides and interpreters will be serving Square Tavern ham sandwiches and ale, Thomas Jefferson’s vanilla ice cream, and baked goods • Live period music while you enjoy tours of the Tavern • Summer Art Exhibit and Sale • The Benjamin West Gallery tour, hosted by local sculptor and historian Terry Jones

Benjamin West, “Father of American Painting”

Benjamin West (portrayed by local artist Terry Jones) will be “in residence” at the Square Tavern on Saturday, working on his latest painting, “William Penn’s Treaty with the Indians.” He’ll also talk about his boyhood (his father was Proprietor of The Square Tavern) and his development as a painter. Terry Jones has proposed sculpting a life-sized statue of young Benjamin West, to symbolically bring Benjamin West back to his boyhood home of Newtown Square. Fundraising for the life-sized statue will kick off at this event. Be sure to stop in and see the scale version of the statue Terry has proposed, and watch the master at work.

Scale version statue of Benjamin West and his first teacher

Cost? Free!!!

This year, no tickets are required. Tours are free, but if you feel the urge to donate to the Society for all we do to support historic education and preservation in Newtown Township, feel free to drop your contribution in a donation box at the Tavern or the Paper Mill House. At each site, look for a program book containing more history, and guides will be available to answer questions.

Two costumed guides at the 1711 Friends Meeting House

SATURDAY JUNE 5, 2021

The 25th Annual Historic Newtown Square Day

For more on the history of Newtown Square, Delaware County, and membership information, please visit our website: www.NSHistory.org.