Secret Treasure, Secret Garden

FOR THIS ISSUE, our History Around the Corner inspiration came from one of our newest listings – 62 Thompson Mill Road, Newtown. The original section of the stone manor was built in c.1793 with two additions being added in c.1830 and c.1935. In 2004, the home was added to the United States Registry of Historic Places. In 1681, William Penn granted 1,000 acres of land in the “new” County of Bucks to William and John Tanner. However, the Tanner brothers never left England. Neither did the next owner, Benjamin Clark. The land was repeatedly sold and divided over the years until in 1748, 300 acres came to the Warner Family. Isaiah Warner, grandson of John and Elizabeth Dawes Warner, built the first section of the home along the banks of Fire Creek in 1793. In the early 19th century, one of the Warners married into the Thompson family, their neighbors. Shortly thereafter, the families went into the dairy business together and built the two barns, outbuildings, a holding pond, a corn crib, and an icehouse, all still located on the property. A single story “mother-in-law house” was added to the property in the early 1900’s.

In 1918, after 170 years, the Warner-Thompson Family sold the property to Isaac Ryan. Ryan operated a sawmill on the property. In fact, Thompson Mill Road was named because the road ran directly from the farm to grain mill owned by the Thompson Family along the Neshaminy Creek. In 1931, for financial reasons, Ryan shut down mill operations and transferred his business to Benjamin Musselman. It turned out that Musselman was a bootlegger from Philadelphia named Capriote. In 1932, a year before the Prohibition Era ended, federal agents found a 1,000 gallon still and 20,000 gallons of rye mash in one of the barns. This was the largest bootleg seizure in Bucks County history. Capriote posted bond, fled, and abandoned the property. By 1933, the property was so neglected it became known as “Skunk Hollow” and was sold for $370.91 at a sheriff’s sale. Colonel Ira and Glenna Flavel became the next owners from the late 1930s-1950s and made some improvements to the property and home. The property changed hands several times over the years. In 1980, the property was bought by the current stewards, and over the past 40 years, they have worked to make it one of the area’s most spectacular gardens – Pennsylvania’s Secret Treasure. ●

Chasing Eden: Design Inspiration from the Gardens at Hortulus Farm

By Jack Staub, Renny Reynolds

Dear Jay and Gina,

I just took a look at the photo tour of my parents’ house. Wow! What a lovely memento this is for us! And what a wonderful way to close out the closing! Thank you.

This whole process has gone very smoothly from our perspective. I fully realize that we had this experience because of the hard work and unseen labor on your end. You have been responsive and diligent at every moment. This is to your enormous credit.

Also, we are so pleased that you were able to find such an appropriate buyer, someone who will have the energy and desire to renovate and maintain the property. Be it ever so humble it is something of a family treasure and we feel good about our parents’ Jericho mountain legacy living on.

Again, you have our gratitude.

Best wishes, Sophie

G.