Past Events

Rivers have always been important to people. A crossing or fording place in a shallow river often led to the emergence of a ferry and tavern and several houses. The presence of a tavern or ferry would encourage commercial growth, and if the crossing site was blessed with streams to provide water power for milling, a village would likely follow. Entrepreneurs often built a bridge across the river which funneled more traffic and business to the town.

River towns seemed to attract a special type of character. Hard working, fun loving people who could deal with the threat of flooding and other dangers of life along river as well as the beauty and vitality provided by the river.

Jeffrey Marshall, president of Heritage Conservancy in Doylestown, PA, has been involved in land conservation and historic preservation for 40 years. A strong advocate of community outreach and engagement, he has been the recipient of multiple tourism and historic preservation awards and is the author of six books on Bucks County architecture and history. Marshall serves as vice president of the Board of Directors of the National Barn Alliance and is a founding member and past president of the Board of Directors of the Historic Barn and Farm Foundation of Pennsylvania. He serves on the Board of Directors of Preservation PA and is a former president of the board of the Pennsylvania Land Trust Association.