Sunday, October 24, 2021

SEEN IN NEW HOPE

What a lovely pre-Halloween weekend! 

I have lived in the Doylestown /New Hope area for near 23 years now, and Im still as smitten as I was the first day. New Hope is located about 25 miles north of downtown Philly, and is often regarded as the halfway point between NYC and Philly. New Hope was called Coryell's Ferry as early as the late 1600's early 1700's, after the owner of a ferry business. The current name came into use following a fire in 1790 that destroyed several mills, lodgings and business. Their reconstruction was considered a "new hope" and the town flourished again. Over the years, the town had many famous resident from George Washington to Aaron Burr, a distant relative of mine, to the likes of James Michener, Odette Myrtil, Charlie Parker, Dorothy Parker, Oscar Hammerstein, George Nakaashima, not to mention a slew of authors, impressionist painters, musicians and other artist, sometime shunned from society,  making it a artist colony over the years. Famous and Broadway personalities are not uncommon to see in town randomly. Over the years I have seen Betty Buckley, Angela Lansbury, Shirley Bassey and Hugh Jackman. Celeste Holm and Nathan Lane use to come to Odette's regularly for cabaret acts. But the ghost, paranormal activity and spirits- what ever you may call it, are no doubt something out of the ordinary that attract people to New Hope. I have one friend who got so overwhelmed with unnerved feelings once he won't go back. But there is certainly something about New Hope. It is a quaint, very liberal community, still artist filled, and crossed with the witch craft crowd.... and a ghost filled town if there ever was one. We make a top ten list every  year.  The territory originally belonged to the Lenni-Lenape, and then "claimed" by King Charles II of England, afterwards given to William Penn in the 17th century. While I have never seen a ghost myself, I have felt presence in a few of the places. It's a picturesque town with charming shops and lovely eateries, yet there is no doubt that the eerie and unexplained phenomena have a pull just as strong. Halloween is no exception. Everyone working at these places have stories, and most resident have had some kind of experience Seems everyone get into the spirit so to speak.  It's been mobbed too. Some of the past residents are still here. I just wonder if I have encountered Aaron when in town and he kept a distance??? There is one thing that is definite, you cannot doubt the fact that there is plenty of spirit in this hamlet. Some shots from yesterday

The New Hope Railroad isn't know for the fastest service.

Many of you longtime readers will remember the numerous posts on this house. Dolores decked up her home after last years fore-go because of Covid. Nice to see it again this year.
Jan can be seen around town sharing her art with passer by.
Along the towpath

Today were some early birthday libations in East Falls at the Black Squirrel Pub

42 comments:

  1. Interesting (and spooky) history lesson!
    Loverly pictures as always.
    xoxo :-)

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  2. FABULOUS! My girlfriend and I will be in New Hope next week so this is perfect timing. We need a trip and we are just doing it. Now I can't wait. The train station looks so quaint. And loving those lanterns lights. Is that from a shop? I wish more towns embraced Halloween.

    And those cocktails!!! Is that a place we need to check out? They look delish!!!

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    1. Yes, the star lanterns are striking...I love them, and are at a little shop that a Turkish man owns. It's at the iron bridge before you across into Lambertville...and alas the Black Squirrel is in East Falls just outside of Philly, not in New Hope.

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  3. Oh, I loved the spirit in your town. Last year I read about New Hope's epic autumn celebration in Travel & Leisure's who rated it one of the best Halloween towns in the United States. It's history is certain fascinating, who a list of camp characters over the years.

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  4. I love that picture you snapped of the gargoyle. This enchanting town of New Hope looks to transform into an unforgettable Halloween wonderland. And those cocktails look amazing.

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  5. I have a few nice memories of visiting New Hope with AM. Now I'm wishing we had visited it more often over the years.

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    1. She wished that she mentioned, but I think the walking worried her. But I could have brought the cocktails to you guys!!!! lol

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  6. New Hope always reminds me of P-town but just without the ocean, but with a river instead. I think New Hope would be a great location for the next American Horror Story.

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  7. Looks like a lovely little town. I'll have to visit some day.

    Sassybear
    www.idleeyesandadormy.com

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  8. What an absolutely beautiful town and what incredible pictures, Maddie! You live in the coolest place! Honestly, this wowed my socks off. (I could do without the ghoosties but maybe them and I could come to some kind of understanding.) Now I want to move there! Make up your spare room, Chiquita, and leave a light on in the window for me so I know which one to break in through!

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    1. Just look for the red light coming from the windows lambchop!!! You two would love one of the biker bars, which is right across the street from the witch shop. Talk about a mix!

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  9. I could stroll around your quaint town, stopping to admire the many autumn touches and shop all day. I especially love all the old stone homes and that Victorian mansion is stunning. It must be fun living in a town with such history and just a tad of eeriness?

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  10. I love it there!!!! I hope to make it thee one day if only I knew made someone you could show me around???? My town of New Haven is pretty bit a bit boring for Halloween compared to New Hope.

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    1. Hmmmmmmmm, I wonder who could show you around?

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  11. Cap Chasen10/24/2021

    I haven't been into New Hope in years, but I do remember the fun times there not to mention that tad of an eerie feeling, much like Sleepy Hollow. But what I love the most is your pride and love for that area , that few seem to have it these days. ...there was a great sense of community I felt on my visits. I have read many historic tidbits over the years. Very rich in history and some stories of when the "Algonquian round table" members would hang at Mrs Parkers and the Hammerstein's resident's. Have you heard been to them Mistress?

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    1. I have been to the Hammerstein's farm many times with friends, it's a B&B and you can tour at certain times. The Dorothy Parker house is a English Tudor and is not open to the public, as it is privately owned.

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  12. I loved the Witch Shop, curious though, do you they come with their own brooms, or do you have to buy those separately?

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  13. I have always loved your little "seen in New Hope" posts. I had been years before I moved, and it always amazed me the small and quaint small town feeling it had being so close to Philadelphia and New York. And what's not to love about the Hallowe'en vibes?

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  14. "It is a quaint, very liberal community, still artist filled, and crossed with the witch craft crowd"

    But is it affordable?

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    1. Having been in the area for years, the rents and home prices vary drastically I found. There are one room apartments right up the road from $10 million dollar mansion and estates. It's all across the board. Middle class, I feel can thrive here too.

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    2. Thanks for answering that, Agnes. I truly was curious.

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    3. Yes Kirk, I think Agnes summed it up. We do have a nice cross section of all classes here and gas food and such is not to bad. I have an apartment with very decent rent still under 1000 a month. I don't make a fortune, but can't complain and I still enjoy my fairly nice life that I enjoy. But Agnes is right...there are many huge mansion and horse estates here also. The key to finding good living is mostly working the area. I have another friend right in New Hope only paying 750 in rent and not a bad looking place either I might add. Couse Philadelphia is INSANE.

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  15. A nice read for a Sunday evening. I love seeing New Hope in your eyes. I can remember once seeing Bea Arthur at the Bucks County Playhouse as well as Walter Matthau, Liza Minnelli, and John Lithgow for various productions. I know too Grace Kelly was seen several times in town back then. I loved seeing the opening picture. Now just when is your birthday...I know it' very close? And did we ever find out you sent the owl???

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    1. Tomorrow is the day I start another trip around the sun! And still have no idea who sent the owl.

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  16. I could use a weekend in New Hope. I think I'll take a day this week to take a walk and soak it in. And you know I love a street musician. Love the street art too

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    1. During the week is a much better time. The weekend are to crowded.

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  17. New Hope sound so much fun, mostly because of the ghost, paranormal activity and spirits.
    Coffee is on and stay safe

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  18. Every time you post about New Hope, I fall in love. I can’t believe I never visited. Maybe a side trip on a visit to NYC!

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    1. And a long afternoon is all you would need to see New Hope and Lambertville.

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  19. For us it is 5th November, although All Hallows Eve is catching up fast. We still celebrate the foiling of the plot to blow up parliament in 1603 and celebrate with bonfires and fireworks, burning Guy Fawkes in effigy. I wonder if the 6th January perpetrators will be vilified in over 400 years time?

    PS love the pics

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    1. January 6th will go the way of the civil war...they'll still be bitching they really won the war.

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  20. I love the pondering hell-hound. Just waiting for the next unlucky soul to arrive.

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  21. Wonderful photos! Love that sulky-looking gargoyle.

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  22. Quaint little place. Jx

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  23. Embrace those artists of the bygone era. They are happy to have such a welcoming place.

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  24. Moved there when you were 2?

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    1. You better brace yourself when you see the next post.

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  25. That really sounds like a place I'd love to hang out in, maybe even live in. If only it were in California.

    Then again, I'd imagine rent being $2,000 a month!

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  26. New Hope looks like a magical place!
    I hope you had a wonderful birthday, too!
    Sx

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Go ahead darling, tell me something fabulous!