Historical Society Walking Tour To Salute New Hope Veterans

NEW HOPE, PA — The New Hope Historical Society on Sunday, Nov. 12 will present a Walking Tour of New Hope honoring New Hope residents who served in the armed forces beginning with the Revolutionary War.

The 2 p.m. tour, led by Roy Ziegler, past president, and current member of the society’s board of directors, will highlight several areas in New Hope that played important roles during wartime.

“Although it isn’t possible in a one-hour tour to include all New Hope veterans who served, our tour will highlight a few residents of New Hope who distinguished themselves in various wars over the past two and a half centuries to represent all,” Ziegler noted.

From left: Major Edward Parry (Civil War), Edgar H. Denson (WWI), Earl Bierman (WWII), June Bierman (WWII) and Herb Sandor (WWII). (Contributed)

Known as Coryell’s Ferry during the Revolutionary War, New Hope was occupied by a brigade of General George Washington’s army in 1776 prior to the legendary crossing of the Delaware to the Battle of Trenton, and again in 1778 when the entire Continental Army, about 10,000 soldiers, encamped and marched through the tiny borough along York Road to cross the Delaware River at the Ferry Landing on its way to the important Battle of Monmouth.

Members of Benjamin Parry’s family distinguished themselves in wartime. Major Edward Randolph Parry commanded two forts during the Civil War and his grandfather, Captain Edward Randolph, was a hero at the infamous Battle of Paoli where he was left for dead on the battlefield but survived to become a prosperous Philadelphia merchant and shipping businessman.

The tour begins at the Parry Mansion on 45 S. Main Street in New Hope. Tickets for the tour are $10. Reserve now at newhopehistory.org.