Join Society Leader Curt Collier, members, and non-member friends of our Society as we tour the Mercer Museum, Fonthill Castle, the Moravian Pottery and TileWorks, and either the James A. Michener Art Museum or the Pearl S. Buck historic home. (Because of time limits, you will choose either the Michener museum or the Buck home.)
This two-day visit to Doylestown, about a two-hour drive from Teaneck, will be on Dec. 10 -11, leaving from the meetinghouse. Curt will be driving participants in a van to all the sites, which are close to the center of Doylestown.
The cost of the trip is $225 (double occupancy) and $275 (single occupancy); in addition, participants will be responsible for paying for meals (two lunches and a dinner). The cost of the trip covers the transportation in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, fuel/insurance, hotel, entrance fees, and donation to the Ethical Cultural Society of Bergen County. The tour is limited to 11 participants; to reserve a spot, please email [email protected]. An overview of sites on the tour and the schedule for each day are below.
Sites on the Tour
By 1897 handmade objects were being discarded in favor of new machine-made goods. Historian and archaeologist Henry Mercer (1856-1930) recognized the need to collect and preserve the outmoded material of daily life in America before it was swept away by the Industrial Revolution.
— Mercer Museum, Bucks County, Pa.
The Mercer Museum contains 40,000 collected objects ranging from hand tools to horse-drawn wagons, even an entire Conestoga wagon. The Mercer Museum is a National Historic Landmark and is housed in the original six-story concrete castle, built in 1916.
Fonthill Castle, another concrete castle, was the unique home of Henry Mercer. Not only was it his home, it was a showcase for his collection of tiles and prints. It was the first Mercer building in Doylestown and served as a showcase for Mercer’s Moravian tiles produced during the American Arts & Crafts Movement.
The Moravian Pottery and TileWorks was built by Mercer to “master the potter’s art and establish pottery under personal control.” These unique tiles were praised by critics and sought by architects. Craftsmen currently work in the TileWorks to create Mercer tiles.
The James A. Michener Art Museum collects, preserves, interprets, and exhibits art, primarily American art, and promotes the Delaware River Valley region’s rich artistic and cultural heritage, with a particular focus on Bucks County.
The Pearl S. Buck house is a National Historic Landmark Museum and was the home of Pearl S. Buck and her family. Pearl S. Buck (1892-1973) was a writer, activist, and humanitarian who was awarded the Pulitzer Prize and the Nobel Prize for literature.
Doylestown Tour Schedule
Please note: This itinerary is subject to change if unforeseen circumstances occur. Some short walks are required.
Accessibility Note: Fonthill Castle has steep stairs and narrow, uneven passages throughout the interior. If this limits your participation, an alternative would be to tour the castle grounds, including the Fonthill Castle Park Walk.
Tuesday, Dec. 10
8:30 am: Meet at the Ethical Culture Society, 687 Larch Ave, Teaneck, NJ.
9-11 am: Board van and drive to Doylestown.
11:20 am: Arrive at Fonthill Castle, Henry Mercer’s home, for a one-hour guided tour beginning at 11:30 am.
11:30-12:30 pm: Guided tour of Fonthill Castle. (Please see Accessibility Note, above. If we go in two groups, the second tour will begin at 11:45 am.)
1-2 pm: Lunch at The Hattery. Curt will drop us off in front and park the van.
2:30-3 pm: Walk to the Mercer Museum (a nine-minute walk on flat terrain) for a 20-minute orientation with an educator, followed by self-guided tour (3 pm start).
5 pm: Board van for Montgomeryville, Pa.
5:30 pm: Arrive at Quality Inn, Montgomeryville. Check-in.
7 pm: Travel to The Red Cedar for dinner.
Wednesday, Dec. 11
Breakfast on your own at the hotel; check out after breakfast.
9:15 am: Van leaves for Moravian Pottery and TileWorks.
10 am: Moravian Pottery and TileWorks; we have 30 minutes to tour.
10:30 am: Board van to go to either Michener Art Museum or Pearl S. Buck Historic House.
11 am-1 pm: Tour either the Michener Museum or the Buck House.
1 pm: Board van to return to Teaneck. Stop for lunch at The Turning Point in Doylestown.
5 pm: Arrive at Ethical Culture Society building.