Delaware House

The Delaware House at the corner of Bridge and Main streets in New Hope was a stop on the stagecoach line. Since fugitives were frequently put on the coaches for the trip north, many of them would have gotten the coach at this location.

The Delaware House was built by William Maris, and the original sign was painted by the famous Quaker artist Edward Hicks, best known for painting The Peaceable Kingdom. Bucks County was a secondary route on the Underground Railroad, so there were not many stations nearby. Once the fugitives got to New Hope, the next station could be quite a ways off. For example, for fugitives taking the Pennsylvania route, their next two stops might be Quakertown followed by Montrose. In his autobiography, Edward Magill recalls driving five fugitives to New Hope and paying their coach fare.

Delaware House

Delaware House

Upper floors of the Delaware House

Upper floors of the Delaware House

Delaware House

Delaware House

Upper porch of the Delaware House

Upper porch of the Delaware House

Sign on the side of the Delaware House

Sign on the side of the Delaware House