Brake for Bristol Day
by Cate Murway
The perfect place, alive and well with a plethora of promising great things to happen, invites you to come to shop, eat, stroll, chat and spend the day.
Pennsylvania's assortment of charming historic towns warmly captures the spirit of the making of America, the importance of freedom and the drive for innovation.
Historic Bristol on the Delaware has been a site of recreation venues for the people of the area for centuries and one event in particular is reminiscent of the great fairs held in town during the colonial period.
Mark your calendar and brake from 10:00 –5:00 PM for the 34th Annual Historic Bristol Day on Saturday, October 16, 2010, sponsored by the Bristol Cultural & Historical Foundation. Radcliffe Street will be closed to vehicular traffic for the event. You are invited to pick your way through real treasures and interesting collectibles along a leisurely loop tour with vendors lining both sides of the 200 and 300 blocks.
Experience the heart and discover the small-town Bristol on the Delaware history, hospitality and happiness.
Behind just the inviting historic beauty of its buildings, you'll find a thriving contemporary community of shops, salons, restaurants and professional services. Bristol Day is chock full of colonial like entertainment including music, dance, living history, children's games and particularly delicious festive food.
Savor a hearty meal in the town's excellent handful of gem restaurants!
Since 1978, the venue has included historic homes, walking tours, displays, children's corner, crafts and entertainment. According to the Historic Bristol Day chairperson, Catherine McCarry, each is worth a stop to poke around in the exhibits, food and fun.
“Bristol is under- rated. There is lots of history in over 300 years.”
Action Karate- Newtown will “kick” things off, providing an exhibition at 11:00 AM.
A variety of traditional enthralling activities for all ages to enjoy, include jugglers and acrobats, are guaranteed to put a smile on anyone’s face.
The Mummers' All-Star String Band will contribute to the festivities and local singers Sonny Mosco and Gary A. Tosti, Bristol’s “Garyoke”, the karaoke kings will share their versatile singing skills.
The walking tours will begin at the vintage Coca-Cola sign that is painted right on the brick building. Your guides will be Tony Russo, Nick Rizzo, Margaret R. Grundy Memorial Museum docent Alan J. Vogenberg, RPh, and author/ historian Harold Dodson Mitchener, member of the BCHF Board of Directors and editor of the Gazette newletter for the last 25 years. Tours are scheduled to begin at 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM.
Tax collector/BCHF member Anna Bono Larrisey has been working tirelessly to secure locations for the historic house tours and tea. The Wade home at 1002 Radcliffe Street and the White home at 1118 Radcliffe Street will be open to welcome you.
The Bell Apartments lobby at 824 Radcliffe Street will be the setting for harpist Gloria Galante and 3 or 4 of her Celtic harp students at 11:30AM and 1:00PM.
To see such a diverse artist is to be mesmerized by her infinite magic. Gloria enthralls her audiences with her unlimited enthusiasm as she plucks, strums, and practically dances on those strings!
There is a $10.00 fee for the house tour & tea but a discount is offered on advance tickets. Call 215.781.9895.
The musical programs by the Bracken "Cavaliers" Drum and Bugle Corps will take place in front of the Presbyterian Church on 225 Radcliffe Street.
The Bracken “Cavaliers” hail from Bristol and claim to be the first organized [1924] Junior Drum and Bugle Corps. In 2004, the members first organized a reunion, borrowed instruments and practiced for Bristol Historic Day.
Take some chances. Don’t miss your opportunity to win a highly coveted painting of the Bristol waterfront by the renowned, celebrated local artist Joseph Sagolla, who has been immortalizing Bristol Borough for over 35 years.
Chances are $1.00 each/ 6 for $5.00.
Joe’s original masterpiece image greeting cards with watercolor celebrations of the profoundly historic structures that grace the borough are available to order, as well as large letter historic Bristol postcards created by Larry Fulton, the former Hollywood Production Designer of such films as The Sixth Sense.
Anne Quattrocchi Walp, proprietor of "Great I.D.’s by Anne” on 257 Radcliffe Street has secured the vast variety of arts and craft vendors for the street festival.
The Grundy Memorial Library in collaboration with the Bristol Oral History Initiative committee is hosting an exhibition of historic photographs, personal recollections and artifacts depicting "Life on the Home Front: Bristol during World War II" beginning with an opening reception Friday, Oct. 8 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and continuing through Oct. 23 during regular library hours.
For further information call 215.788.7891 x5 or x6.
Corporal Charlotte Swift Landreth-Melville’s original Marine forest green serge uniform along with her cap and the picture taken the day she was discharged from the Marines from Camp Lejeune, NC, November 1945 will be on display. Charlotte is a member of the Landreth family who owns The D. Landreth Seed Company, the fifth oldest corporation in America.
By the way, she can still fit in her original uniform, and is an active member of The Women Marines Association [WMA].
Charlotte will be attired in an authentically reproduced colonial costume sewn by the late seamstress, Marlene Sweitzer, giving directions and distributing pamphlets at the booth in the front of the Bristol Riverside Theatre.
William James Salerno, Sr., Esquire is dedicated to preserving our heritage and he will open his office at 220 Radcliffe Street to house some Civil War memorabilia.
Heeding the call of President Lincoln and of the country, Bristol men fought in great numbers and with much gallantry. From a town of only 3,000 people, 505 soldiers and sailors, and 34 officers answered the call to arms.
A picture of Charlotte’s grandfather, Capt. Burnet Landreth, Company G, 43rd Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division will be displayed.
The highest-ranking Bristol gentleman, Brigadier Gen. William H. Montgomery, a West Point graduate and commander of the 1st New Jersey Brigade, found a sword on the battlefield and gifted this to the Landreth family. This authentic period piece will also be on display.
African American Historical Cultural Society of Bucks County President Emeritus Sidney Lawrence Taylor will host a table of information and diversity.
Per Sid, “Growing up in Bristol was a terrific time. The diversity was beautiful.”
He continues to work diligently toward his goal of a Cultural Diversity Center.
Photographs of the Harriet Ross Tubman monument erected on the banks of the Delaware River in the Lions Waterfront Park, taken by the AAHCS VP, Deal Wright will be available for purchase.
Dr. Keith Jones is the current AAHCS president.
Whether you visit during a parade or a festival when the streets are brimming with activity, or take in the simpler life while sitting on a bench near the postcard-perfect Victorian gazebo in the waterfront Bristol Lion's park, you will always be welcome.
Welcome Friend!
For more information:
Bristol Cultural & Historical Foundation
321 Cedar Street
Bristol, PA 19007
215.781.9895
Recommend a “Spotlight”. E-mail: vjmrun@yahoo.com
Catherine McCarry passed away on Thursday, June 30, 2022 at Silver Lake Center.
She was 78. Born in Bristol, daughter of the late Gerald and Arabelle (nee Barrett) McCarry, she was a lifelong Bristol Borough resident. Catherine graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, and prior to her retirement worked for many years at Cigna Insurance. She enjoyed traveling and visited Europe several times. Catherine was a board member for Bristol Cultural and Historical Foundation. She will be remembered as a caring sister and wonderful aunt.
Predeceased by her brother, Gerald McCarry, she is survived by her sister, Liz Fisher, several nieces and nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend her Funeral Mass on Wednesday, July 6, 2022, 11:00am at St. Mark Church, Bristol Borough. Interment, St. Mark Cemetery. Friends may call Wednesday morning 9-10:30am at the Wade Funeral Home, 1002 Radcliffe Street, Bristol Borough.
Radcliffe Street
No. D 1799 published by John Angus, Bristol PA
