Liberty Hall is an historic, American building that is located in Quakertown, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Purchased by the borough of Quakertown in 1977,[2] it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.[1]
Liberty Hall | |
 Liberty Hall, September 2012 | |
   | |
| Location | 1237 W. Broad St., Quakertown, Pennsylvania |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 40°26′34″N 75°21′7″W / 40.44278°N 75.35194°W |
| Area | 0.2 acres (0.081 ha) |
| Built | 1777 |
| Built by | Roberts, Abel |
| Architectural style | Colonial |
| NRHP reference No. | 78002358[1] |
| Added to NRHP | January 26, 1978 |
History and architectural features
editBuilt in 1772 as the first permanent residence in Quakertown, this historic structure is a two-story, 15 feet (4.6 meters) by fifteen-foot building with one room per floor. It was built using native fieldstone and has a half gambrel roof. It represents a simple colonial Quaker style of design.[2]
The Liberty Bell is purported to have been hidden on the property overnight on its way to Allentown, Pennsylvania. In 1777, the Continental Congress had decreed that the bell be moved before the British Army captured it and melted it down for ammunition. On the night of September 23, 1777, six days after the Liberty Bell was removed from Philadelphia, it was stored overnight behind Evan Foulke's house near The Red Lion Inn at the corner of Broad and Main Streets in Quakertown.[3]
The next day it continued on its journey to Allentown, where it was hidden for the remainder of the Revolutionary War.[4][5]
This historic home remained in use as a residence until 1805, when a new dwelling was constructed. It was then used for farm storage and later for commercial purposes.
Purchased by the borough of Quakertown in 1977,[2] it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.[1]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
- ^ a b c "National Historic Landmarks & National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania" (Searchable database). CRGIS: Cultural Resources Geographic Information System. Note: This includes Kathryn Ann Auerbach and Daniel Soliday (January 1986). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form: Liberty Hall" (PDF). Retrieved 2012-10-07.
- ^ Markoviitz, Hal. "Restoration Funds Sought For Liberty Bell". Newspaper. Morning Call. Retrieved 2012-10-04.
- ^ Marcovitz, Hal. "Liberty Hall's History Scrutinized". Newspaper. The Morning Call. Retrieved 2012-10-04.
- ^ Mann, James. "Quakertown Harbors the Liberty Bell". On line article. Archived from the original on 2013-08-17. Retrieved 2012-10-04.
External links
edit- Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) No. PA-5593, "Liberty Hall, 1235 West Broad Street, Quakertown, Bucks County, PA", 7 photos, 2 data pages, 1 photo caption page