Levittown Historical Society Newsletter

Edited and published by Joann Cosgrove

Levittown Begins!

In 1951 , William J. Levitt purchased 1700 acres in Bristol and Falls townships and announced his plans for building a huge housing development. His first estimate was that he would build 10,000 homes!. Because of the Korean War, the US was desperately in need of steel and Levitt was able to have Lower Bucks County declared a "Critical Defense Area".

Benjamin Fairless the President of US Steel Company announced that he would build a new steel mill along the Delaware river near Morrisville and Levitt knew that "where steel goes,others go, and I know of at least 100 other plants that want to enter the area."

To attract buyers, Levitt built a display of his houses along Route 13 in Tullytown. His original exhibit included three model homes..The Rancher , Levittowner and The Country Clubber. Prices ranged from $9,900 to $16,900. The original terms required a $100.00 down payment unless the buyer was a veteran. Settlement costs were about $90.00. People who bought in Levittown were buying much more than just a house. They were buying into an entire planned community that was to include schools, churches, parks, recreation facilties and a shopping center called "The Shop A Rama." Tree lined, gently rolling streets would connect the community. Between 1952 and 1958 17,311 homes were built.

Each homeowner was given a "Homeowners Guide" that described the new home. It covered care of the lawns and shrubs, how to problem solve troubles with the heater and appliances, and also the rules of the the community. One of the most talked about rule was the one dealing with fences!! On page 22 of The Homeowners Guide it stated " You may plant a shrub or other growing fence BUT keep it no higher than 3 feet... NO FABRICATED FENCES (WOOD, METAL, ETC.) WILL BE PERMITTED. " If Levitt could see his community now!! The public flocked to the new exhibit center, and Route 13 and 413 were tied up for hours by the numbers of cars trying to get there.

A Town That's Not Really A Town!

Levittown is unique in that it is not really an incorporated town but rather a conglomeration of four municipalities. It covers area in Falls, Bristol, and Middletown Townships plus Tullytown Borough. Many people in Levittown wanted the town to become incorporated and several attempts were made to do so but none were ever successful. Despite this fact, when asked where they live, people answer without hesitation "Levittown!"

Bolton Mansion

The Bolton Mansion is located in Holly Hill on five acres of ground. The property is being restored by The Friends of Bolton Mansion under the direction of the Board of Directors with Mr. James Snow as President.

The original house, built by Phineas Pemberton in 1687, is a long low stone structure with massive walls and now forms the rear wing of the large addition built by Anthony Morris in 1790. Anthony Morris married Mary Pemberton who inherited the Bolton Farm from her father Phineas.

On November 17, 1683, Phineas Pemberton bought 500 acres in Bucks County on the Delaware River opposite Byles’ Island. Near the river he built a small log house which was the families first home in the New World. Later he built a sturdy stone house called Grove Place.

Wishing a more comfortable home for his family, he finished another house in 1687 about five miles further inland. This was Bolton Farm. Phineas Pemberton was a most efficient and prominent man in Bucks County. He was Clerk of the County Court, Deputy Master of Rolls, Deputy Register General, Receiver of Proprietary Quit Rents for Bucks County and a member of the Provincial Assembly in 1689-94-98. He was also Speaker of the Assembly in 1698, 1700 and 1701. The County Records, of which he left a great amount , were kept in his own handwriting and are models of what such records ought to be. Phineas Pemberton died at Bolton on 5 January 1702. He is buried at Grove Place where his family burial plot is still maintained. All that remains of the original farm is five acres which is now under the direction of Friends of Bolton Mansion with Bucks County Conservancy the deed holder. (Now Heritage Conservancy.)

Under Mr. Snows leadership monumental efforts have been made to restore the property. However, full restoration is still a long time away. A summer Festival is held every August; the house is decorated each Christmas season and tours are held to help raise funds for upkeep and restoration. Many activities are held to seek support for this wonderful old building, believed to be the oldest in Bucks County and one of the oldest original buildings. BOLTON was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971. Written by Marion Mizenko

The Levittown Historical Society has as its goal the collection, preservation, and protection of materials relating to Levittown's history. Materials which should be preserved for posterity and made available to others for historical research include personal papers, records, letters, diaries, memoirs, family histories, photographs, maps, films, videos, oral histories, ephemera and art work related to life in the community of Levittown.