History Fair Events & Presentations
3rd Annual Crooked Billet History Fair | Saturday, April 26, 2025 | Horsham, PA
Founders Sponsor
📆 Saturday, April 26, 2025
⌚ 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
📍 227 Meetinghouse Rd, Horsham PA
Breakout Room Presentations (Auditorium) - Times TBA
• The Lost Covered Bridges of Bucks & Montgomery Counties from Bucks County Covered Bridge Society
• The History of Fudge, America's Confection by Northeast Fudge Bar
• A Brief History of Willow Grove Park from Old York Road Historical Society
• History of the Grand Army of the Republic from Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War
• Threads of Time: Morgan Log House & From Farm to Fashion from Edward Morgan Log House
• The Battle of the Crooked Billet movie - Library (running all day)
Outdoor Activities (Front Entrance Plaza) - Running all day
• Colonial Surveyor David Rittenhouse from The Colonial Brewer Michael Carver
• Pop-Up Paper Making Studio with Historic RittenhouseTown
• What Did Kids Do Before The Internet? Hands-On Revolutionary-Era Games
Registration Area Events (Entrance Lobby)
• Ask Dr. Mark from Iron Mountain Orthopaedic Institute (various times TBA)
• Keith Valley Middle School Pre-Demolition Tours (10:15 am & 11 am)
(all events subject to change, check for updates)
The Lost Covered Bridges of Bucks and Montgomery Counties
Presented by Bucks County Covered Bridge Society
Auditorium, Time TBA
At one time, Bucks County and neighboring Montgomery County had 79 covered bridges. Today, only 12 remain—all in Bucks County. Why is the covered bridge extinct in Montgomery County? And what act led to the preservation of today’s surviving local bridges? R. Scott Bomboy is an author and historian who has frequently written about local history. He is the author of “Wooden Treasures: The Story of Bucks County’s Covered Bridges,” and the “American Hometown” book series about Perkasie. Bomboy is also chair of the Bucks County Covered Bridge Society. In his journalism career, Bomboy has received five Edward R. Murrow awards in television, and he currently is the editor of the National Constitution Center.
Threads of Time: Morgan Log House & From Farm to Fashion
Presented by Edward Morgan Log House
Auditorium, Time TBA
Join the Morgan Log House Historical Society for an engaging presentation on the history of Morgan Log House! Discover the stories behind this historic site and take a closer look at one of our current exhibits, From Farm to Fashion. Learn how clothing begins on the farm—through processes like raising sheep for wool or growing flax for linen—and how these raw materials are transformed into garments. Don't miss this opportunity to explore the fascinating connection between agriculture and fashion!
A Brief History of Willow Grove Park
Presented by Old York Road Historical Society
Auditorium, Time TBA
Founded by the traction company to increase ridership on the weekends, Willow Grove Park opened in May 1896. Famous as the summer musical capital of America, the Park attracted the likes of Victor Herbert, Walter Damrosch and John Philip Sousa. The Park reflected the cultural trends over the years and eventually closed after the 1974 season. The presenter will be David Rowland, author of Arcadia Publishing's Willow Grove Park and president of the Old York Road Historical Society.
History of the Grand Army of the Republic
Presented by Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War
Auditorium, Time TBA
Explore the origins and evolution of a pivotal post-Civil War veterans' organization, established in 1866 to unite Union veterans. This talk will delve into its role in fostering camaraderie, advocating for veterans' rights, and shaping national commemorative practices. Discover how this organization influenced politics, promoted patriotic education, and left a legacy through successor entities. The discussion will also highlight its local impact, including G.A.R. Post 101 in Hatboro, and its Museum and Library in Philadelphia, which continue to preserve its history.
Pop-Up Colonial Paper Making Studio Demonstration
Presented by Historic RittenhouseTown
Rolling two-hour demonstration in the Outdoor Activities Area
The art of paper making has been at the heart of non-profit Historic Rittenhouse Town — a National Historic Landmark District and America’s first paper mill (founded in 1690) — which presents a papermaking workshop dedicated to teaching the public about this fun and simple exercise and its historical context. Rittenhouse Town will have its portable papermaking studio on site to allow those interested to get hands-on experience making paper. The best part is you can take it home when you're done!.
Colonial Surveyor David Rittenhouse
Presented by The Colonial Brewer Michael Carver
Throughout the day in the Outdoor Activities Area
Michael Carver brings history alive through interactive portrayal of ordinary American life in the late 18th Century (1750—1799). This presentation will reenact what a surveyor was and did during Colonial times, portraying the first surveyors in America who arrived with the Jamestown Company in 1621. Given the goal of quickly settling Virginia and the vagaries of Royal Charters for Maryland, Virginia, and the Carolina colonies, surveyors were critical to establishing order in the colonies.
Keith Valley Middle School Pre-Demolition Tours
Led by Principal Jon Kircher
10:15 am and 11 am (9 am for exhibitors)
Keith Valley Middle School Principal Mr. Kutcher will be giving tours of the soon-to-be-demolished 67-year old school building complex in the morning at 10:15 am and 11 am. Tours last approximately 45 minutes. If you're a former KVMS student, parent, alum, or teacher, come take a tour for one last look before demolition!
What Did Kids Do Before The Internet? Revolutionary-Era Games
Hands-On Interactive Kids Games
Throughout the day at the Outdoor Entrance Plaza
Come and discover some of the toys and games that children played with during the Revolutionary War, from ball-in-cup to ninepins, whirligig and jacks, to hopscotch and games of graces, All games are hands-on and are for kids of all ages. Join us for some fun!
The Battle of the Crooked Billet movie
Presented by the Amy B. Yerkes Museum of Hatboro History
Throughout the day in the Library
On May 1, 1778 in the town of Crooked Billet (Hatboro) the British attacked a militia unit under the leadership of General John Lacey. This skirmish will become known as the "The Battle of Crooked Billet." The story shows that the Revolution was America's first Civil War. It is a story about beating the odds. About American heroes. About the birth of a Nation. The Battle of The Crooked Billet is based on the writings of General William W. H. Davis, Charles Harper Smith and Denis J. Cook. The film portrays the events of the battle, where British forces marched from Philadelphia towards the Crooked Billet Tavern, which is now in Hatboro, Pennsylvania. Starring Sam Ricco, Steve Pepper, JaQuinley Kerr, and Anabelle Garcia.
