A Foundation of Farming
As workable farmland, the property grew linseed and grain, which was processed close by at the Prallsville Mills, and then barged down the Delaware River to be sold. It was also known for the beautiful orchard at the front of the property, which existed until the mid 1900s.
Welcome the Woolvertons
In the mid-1800’s, Maurice and Asher Woolverton purchased a portion of the land and the old farmhouse. They completed significant renovations, transforming the building into its current form, a three-story grand Colonial Manor house with a lovely year-round veranda overlooking the great lawn.
Fun Fact: Mary Woolverton Bray, wife of Daniel Bray, made linseed suits for the Continental Army, carding and spinning wool, and weaving cloth.
Daniel Bray was a Captain on General George Washington’s staff during the Revolutionary War. Captain Bray, along with other members of the militia under his command, collected the boats necessary for crossing the Delaware on the night of December 25-26, prior to the Battle of Trenton.
Art Invades the Area
The historic region surrounding Stockton, mainly New Hope, PA and Lambertville, NJ, transitioned in the 1930s to sustain a more artistic, creative industry.
Crowds flocked from New York City and Philadelphia to spend time roaming through art galleries, enjoying the quiet, bucolic scenery, and dining at local, well known restaurants, including the Stockton Inn, where the charming song “There’s a Small Hotel” was written by Songwriter Richard Rodgers and lyricist Lorenz Hart.
Summer Home to the Seymours
Whitney North Seymour was a well-known New York trial lawyer who served during the Hoover Administration, and later as the 84th President of the American Bar Association. The property was a summer home during the 1940’s for the Seymour family.
The Seymour Family called the property ‘Woolverstone’.
Fun Fact: Julia and Paul Child were married on property in 1946.
Home to Playhouse Patron
The opening and future success of the Bucks County Playhouse in New Hope brought well-known faces to the area, including St. John Terrell, Anne Elstner (of Stella Dallas), Chet Huntley, and JP Miller. St. John (pronounced “Sinjin”) Terrell was a master showman and local founder of the arts. Our property was his private residence during the 1950-60’s.
Sinjin established the Bucks County Playhouse in 1939, and went on to found the Lambertville Music Circus in 1949, which featured acts like Diana Ross and the Temptations, Liberace, Duke Ellington, and Stevie Wonder – some acts even passed through our doors! On Christmas Day, he would don a tricorn and cape to re-enact George Washington’s famous 1776 crossing of the Delaware River.
Sinjin and his wife Elrita called the property ‘Northridge’.
