Help Newtown Borough Name Its New Park

NEWTOWN BOROUGH, PA — Newtown Borough officials are asking for community input as they look to find a suitable name for a new park.

In 2019, the borough purchased the property at 112 Court St, also known as Bird-in-Hand, Lot 2, to develop into a new park. The design is being finalized and construction will begin in 2022.

The Bird in Hand is one of the most historically significant properties and the last remaining lot of the original "six squares" laid out by William Penn. It was originally owned by Shadrack Walley, one of the first settlers in Newtown, largest single landowner and sometimes called the Father of Newtown, who built the wood frame house around 1686, with a post and beam structure and walls done in wattle and daub – woven young saplings covered with mud and straw. Over 330 years old,
it is believed to be the oldest frame building in Pennsylvania.

It was renamed the Red Lion Inn by George Welch between 1726 and 1728 and was operated as Newtown's first tavern until 1858. It was also known as the Old Frame House. Since 1817, it has been called the Bird-in-Hand, after Edward Hicks painted a sign representing Benjamin Franklin’s adage, “A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.”

In 1778, this property was the site of the only Revolutionary War action to take place in Newtown; when there was a skirmish with Loyalist troops, during which 5 Colonists lost their lives, 4 were wounded, and 32 were captured while protecting woolen fabric stored here for uniforms for Washington's army encamped at Valley Forge.

Newtown’s first Post Office opened here on July 1, 1800 and the Library Company was housed here in 1818. The Newtown Reliance Company for the Detection and Apprehension of Horse Thieves and Other Villains was founded here in 1819. During World War II, the building was the headquarters for the Local Selective Service Board, Ration Board and various other civilian defense agencies.

You can drop off the entry form at Newtown Borough Hall, 23 N. State St, or email it to jmusto.newtown@gmail.com. Entries will be accepted until July 9.

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