Historical Society Tour To Honor New Hope Town Fathers

NEW HOPE, PA — As a tribute to all New Hope fathers, the New Hope Historical Society will present a special Father's Day Walking Tour of Historic New Hope on Saturday, June 20 beginning at the Parry Mansion at 45 South Main Street.

The 1 p.m. tour will highlight the lives of several fathers in New Hope’s history who helped enhance the town’s development and reputation over the past three centuries including Benjamin Parry, Oliver Parry, Don Walker, Dr. Arthur J. Ricker, and others.

Benjamin Parry was named, “Father of New Hope, because his rebuilt Hope Mill, which had been destroyed by fire and renamed the New Hope Mill, eventually led to the name of the town - Coryell’s Ferry - being changed to New Hope in 1837.

His nephew, John Childs Parry, later became New Hope's first burgess (mayor).

Parry, a community leader for half a century, was a catalyst in New Hope, becoming the industrial and manufacturing capital of Bucks County in the early 19th century.

From left: Benjamin Parry, Oliver Parry, Don Walker, and Arthur J. Ricker, M.D.

Benjamin Parry Oliver Parry Don Walker Arthur J. Ricker MD
Parry’s son, Oliver, managed the business of his aging father while beginning his career as a major developer of speculative housing in Philadelphia as the city expanded west during its
reconsolidation in the mid-19th century. He and his wife Rachel had 12 children, most of them born in New Hope.

Rachel was one of 15 children of Revolutionary War hero Captain Edward Randolph and his wife Julianna.

Don Walker, arguably the father of the Bucks County Playhouse because of his negotiations with New York investors, was one of the greatest orchestrators and arrangers for Broadway shows in history. He was the orchestrator for 80 Broadway shows including South Pacific, Oklahoma, and
Fiddler on the Roof. Walker also brought Odette Myrtil to New Hope as manager of the Playhouse Inn. He is the father of longtime New Hope Historical Society board member and
officer, Ann Leibgold.

Dr. Arthur J. Ricker was the “Father of the New Hope Historical Society. His vision and drive created the society in 1958, preserving the 1790 English-style Parry Barn, the 1787 Georgian-style Parry Mansion, and the 1891 Victorian New Hope/Ivyland Train Station. He was the first president of the society, serving ten years in that office in two non-consecutive terms. Through his and society’s efforts most of downtown New Hope was included on the National Register of Historic Places.

Tickets are $15 and may be purchased at newhopehistorical.org. Admission is free to members of
the New Hope Historical Society.