Newtown community historian and resident Jeff Marshall is busy continuing his quest to preserve, document and bring national notoriety to places surrounding him. With a focus on historic buildings and barns, Jeff extracted great information about the origin and usage of many Bucks County properties.
A former staffer for 40 years, president for a decade and now adviser for the Heritage Conservancy, where he still volunteers, Jeff has nominated 40 properties to be added to the National Register of Historic Places, with three more in the works.
"A hidden gem is Tyler Hall, part of Bucks County Community College in Newtown," says Jeff. "Originally a mansion built by the Tyler family, this spectacular property with beautiful gardens and views holds plenty of historical mystique and was considered one of the most stunning homes in the county."
Jeff has received several awards for his work and efforts, including the inaugural Bucks County Preservation Legacy Award, Lifetime Achievement Award and the 2015 Ambassador of Bucks County.
London Purchase Farm, an Upper Makefield property, features more than 40 acres of Revolutionary War significance, including the Chapman house, where George Washington, Alexander Hamilton and Gen. George Knox worked on best-laid plans that led to the famous crossing of the Delaware. Jeff says he assisted the current owners with the acquisition of some of the surrounding lands.
Jeff also penned six books on land protection and historic preservation, including two on historic barns in Bucks.
He notes another Newtown spot of interest in the Court Inn, also known as the Half Moon Inn located at Court Street and Centre Avenue. Built in 1733, it stands as one of the oldest structures in Newtown and sits on a 5-acre parcel originally earmarked to become a courthouse and prison back in the day.
Jeff currently operates “Open Spaces & Historic Places LLC,” a company focused on assisting property owners in obtaining the historical relevance of their properties.
"Classic farmhouses to mid-century modern homes are what make up the character of Bucks County."