Colonial Taverns and Inns of Bucks County
is dedicated to my husband Ed, the love of my life with whom I love making history,
to my children Mai-Ann and Buddy, they are my oxygen--the reason for my every heartbeat,
and to Tommy and Christian, both of whom I adore and am proud and privileged to have as nephews.

And to the
Revolutionary soldiers who are buried in unmarked graves in a tiny corner of Langhorne,
thanks to the citizens of Langhorne they are no longer forgotten.


My very sincerest appreciation to the following people and organizations
that participated in the writing and production
of this book...

Doug Miller, Tabitha Dardes, Margaret Scott, Susan Taylor, Amy E. Stock, Stacey Hajdak, Kathleen Kornell, Matt Buber, Ann Bartholomew, and Kathleen Kornell.  All of these wonderful and helpful people work on behalf of our state parks, historic societies, and museums, and they are diligent in preserving our history.

Rosanne Bell, BFF, Bucks County representative of the Pennsylvania Historical Society, for her friendship, her loveliness and her phone calls to whomever whenever I needed them.

Saunders Robinson, my editor, for her help, guidance and patience. Jaime Meuhl, my copy editor, for her "red pen" which was not as painful as I had anticipated, Katie Parry for her public relations savvy, and to everyone at History Press for their help, creativity, and knowledge (and for putting up with me).

And to my dear friend Greg Chalson…for the wonderful suggestion.

I would also like to thank the restaurant owners and managers, too many to mention by name, who cooperated in helping me gather information and obtain historic photos of their establishments.

Kim and Joe DaCosta and their gracious friends Rita and Lawrence Adair, Nancy Clark, Amy Clark and Loreto Mistretta, for their enthusiasm, smiles, and the wonderful meal at the Bridgetown Mill House.
 
Special appreciation to Geno and Amy Peruzzi and Jonathan and Elizabeth Hunt for the passion they all feel for their historic homes and for sharing that passion with me.

The Delaware Canal
From Stone Coal Highway to Historic Landmark
is dedicated to the Americans--born and bred and immigrant alike--who "worked" the Delaware Canal...the laborers who built the canal with nothing more than shovels and picks...the pilots who steered the snappers and stiff boats from four o'clock in the morning until ten o'clock at night...and the mule drivers (mostly children and often in bare feet) who guided the mules more than sixty miles each way eight months a year.  Their stories are inspiring, moving, and legendary.
And, as always, to Ed, Mai, and Buddy--my history and my future--and to Tommy and Christian, my best guys.

My most sincere appreciation is extended to:

My wonderful editor, Saunders Robinson, for her confidence in me, and to all the people at The History Press who seem to make things happen almost effortlessly.

Jim Greenwood, for taking time out of his busy schedule to write the beautiful foreword for this book and for his wife Tina's gracious hospitality in allowing me to do some research in their lovely historic home and stables along the canal.

Charles Lauble Jr., of the Historic Langhorne Association, for all of his assistance and support--he is extraordinary.

Millard C. Mitchell, who is painstakingly keeping alive the stories of the underground railroad in Lower Bucks County--he is truly a great gentleman and historian.

The New Hope Historical Society, especially Barry Ziff, for his help, his stories and his expertise.

The Grundy Library, for all of their assistance in my research.

The National Canal Museum in Easton for their assistance in obtaining photographs for this book, especially Ann Bartholomew and Susan E. Francisco--without their help, this book would not be as visually interesting.

Friends of the Delaware Canal, especially Susan Taylor, who shared the Friends' dreams for the canal.

Rosemary Tottoroto, a wonderful artist, for sharing her photographs and experience in designing one of Bucks County's "icon" mules.

Paul and Harriet Gratz of Gratz Gallery in New Hope and Sara Buehler of the Michener Museum--they all went above and beyond in helping me obtain images of the paintings of our American impressionists who so loved the Delaware Canal.

Robin G. Lightly, Mineral Resources program manager of the Bureau of Mining and Reclamation, for sharing her moving and sobering images of the children and men who worked the mines in Pennsylvania.

Frank Lyons of the Continental Tavern, for sharing information about the historic tavern and allowing me to experience the secret room that protected the courageous and hopeful Americans who sought freedom before the Civil War.

Greg Chalson...just because.

And finally to the historians who keep the stories of the canal era alive through their writing and lectures, especially Lance Metz, Albright G. Zimmerman, C.P. Yoder, James Lee, William H. Shank, Will Rivinus, Terry McNealy, Robert J. McClellan, and the New Hope Canal Boat Company, especially "Captain" Dave and his mule driver, Charles.

PLEASE NOTE:  Anyone who wants to know more about the Delaware Canal or who would like to walk it from Lock to Lock and know a little about each one, should get Guide to the Delaware Canal by Willis M. Rivinus, Bucks County's preeminent historian and expert on the Delaware Canal.