Public Events
Baseball, the Civil War, and the Doubleday Myth
Author and historian Patricia Millen will reveal the true story of baseball’s lineage as detailed in her groundbreaking book, From Pastime to Passion: Baseball and the Civil War, in a presentation hosted by the Lower Makefield Historical Society on Sunday, April 27.
The Revolutionary World of a Free Black Man
The Lower Makefield Historical Society welcomes historian Larry Kidder for a revealing look at Jacob Francis, a free Black man who fought for American independence as well equal rights for all.
At a time when American colonists struggled against long odds to gain their freedom from Great Britain, Jacob Francis, a free Black man, fought not only for American independence, but also for equal rights for all people in our newly formed nation.
A native of nearby Amwell, N.J., the patriot joined Gen. George Washington’s Continental Army in October 1775 – despite Washington’s efforts to prevent Black men from enlisting – and fought heroically in the Battle of Trenton.
Author and historian Larry Kidder will detail Francis’ long, meaningful life in a special Black History Month presentation hosted by the Lower Makefield Historical Society on Sunday, February 16. This free event, open to the public, will be held from 2-4 p.m., at the Lower Makefield Township Community Center, 1550 Oxford Valley Road, in Yardley, Pa. Seating is first come, first served.
Jacob Francis lived long enough to see an American flag with 25 stars. After the war, he purchased an enslaved woman named Mary, emancipated her, and married her in the home of her former master. They presided over a well-respected Flemington, N.J., family, raising nine children, including Abner Hunt Francis, who spent his adult life working for the cause of abolition and equal rights for all people.
Larry Kidder is the author of The Revolutionary World of a Free Black Man: Jacob Francis 1754-1836. He taught history for 40 years and is past president of historical societies in Ewing and Hopewell Townships in New Jersey. Kidder has been a volunteer historian, interpreter, and draft-horse teamster at the Howell Living History Farm and is also a consultant and battlefield tour guide for the Princeton Battlefield Society. The author of five books focusing on the American Revolution, Kidder serves as an interpreter for full-day bus tours of the “Ten Crucial Days” event. Learn more about Larry Kidder at wlkidderhistorian.com.
Washington’s Crossing of the Delaware and its Depiction on Canvas
Author and historian Larry Kidder will discuss these almost daily crossings and their relationship to the one that helped swing the momentum of the Revolutionary War at the Battle of Trenton in a special presentation hosted by the Lower Makefield Historical Society on Sunday, November 10, from 2-4 p.m., at the Lower Makefield Township Community Center, 1550 Oxford Valley Road, in Yardley, Pa. The event is free and open to the public.
Pumpkin Art Kids Tent at Yardley Harvest Day
Decorate a pumpkin! Visit the Pumpkin Art Kids Tent at Yardley Harvest Day, sponsored by the Lower Makefield Historical Society. We’ll have stickers, markers, and more for kids of all ages to decorate craft pumpkins. Visit us in the Yardley Community Center lot, right along Canal Street. Free!
Local author spotlight on Becky Libourel Diamond: The Gilded Age Cookbook
Join us for a delicious and decadent journey to the past when local food writer, librarian, and research historian Becky Libourel Diamond discusses her latest book, The Gilded Age Cookbook.
This event is free and open to the public. Refreshments, including sample cookies from the cookbook, will be served!
The style and excessiveness of this era (1868 to 1900) has ties to modern popular culture through books, films, and television shows, the Julian Fellowes television series The Gilded Age, on HBO. Ms. Diamond’s work transports the reader back in time to lavish banquet tables with rich soups, juicy roasts, and luscious desserts, all coming to life through historic images and artistic photography. Entertaining stories of the Vanderbilts, Astors, and Rockefellers are melded with historic menus and recipes updated for modern kitchens. Learn more at beckyldiamond.com.
How to register
No registration is required. Seating is general admission. Please join us!
Location
This event will be held at the Lower Makefield Township Community Center.
Women History Makers of Bucks County & Beyond
Thank you to all who attended our inaugural event! See photos from our gathering here.
Who are the women who made history in and around Bucks County?
Celebrate women’s history in Bucks County with a special presentation hosted by the Gather Place Museum and the Lower Makefield Historical Society.
Shirley Lee Corsey, a gifted storyteller and Conservator/Executive Director of The Gather Place Museum, will share stories about Women History Makers of Bucks County & Beyond.
This event is free and open to the public. There is limited street parking.
Location
This presentation will be held at Gather Place Museum, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization headquartered at the Historic African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Church located in the Historic District of Yardley, Pa. With the mission of "Bringing History To Life," the organization is dedicated to preserving history, celebrating culture, and fostering community engagement. Learn more at gatherplace.org.
Women History Makers of Bucks County & Beyond, Sunday, March 3, 2024
Local author spotlight: Becky Libourel Diamond, Gilded Age Cookbook, Sunday, April 15, 2024
Pumpkin Art Kids Tent at Yardley Harvest Day, Saturday, September 21, 2024
Washington’s Crossing of the Delaware and its Depiction on Canvas, Sunday, November 10, 2024
The Revolutionary World of a Free Black Man: Jacob Francis, Sunday, February 16, 2025