Earl Jamison was a descendant of early settlers of Bucks County and was raised on his family farm in Jamison. The Jamison family tradition of hospitality can be traced back to 1763 when Henry Jamison opened a tavern in Centreville along the Buckingham Township stagecoach line. The tavern, known as “Jamison’s”, thrived as a welcome respite for weary travelers between Philadelphia and New York and played a role in the early development of this young nation. Henry Jamison’s tavern is now known as the General Greene Inn, named after Nathaniel Greene, who commanded the left wing of General Washington’s army during the Battle of Trenton. The inn takes its place in history as the site at which – during the frigid winter of 1776 – sixteen Durham boats and flats were ordered down to McConkey’s Ferry. From there, George Washington made his famous crossing of the Delaware River on Christmas Day.
In the early 1960s Earl and his young family opened Bountiful Acres, the well-known garden center in Buckingham. He founded Peddler’s Village in 1962. It opened on six acres of property at the crossroads of Routes 202, 263, and Street Road in Lahaska, once known as Hentown. The property had housed a chicken hatchery, chicken coops, and a barn. Earl transformed them into 14 shops and the Cock’n Bull Restaurant. The buildings, nestled amid winding brick pathways and award-winning gardens designed by Earl, reflected the architectural style of colonial America, a style he maintained consistently. Earl’s vision built Peddler’s Village to the destination shopping area that it is today.
For making his vision a reality, Earl Jamison received numerous business and community awards. His award-winning gardens, home, and business ventures have been the subject of television segments such as QVC’s Pennsylvania Week and The TV Food Network. Feature articles have also appeared in Architectural Digest, County Home, and Country Inns magazines as well as Time-Life Books. In 2002, the Central Bucks Chamber of Commerce honored Earl with a Lifetime Achievement Award – Ambassador of Bucks.
From a simple roadside country market to a multifaceted village of shops, restaurants, lodging, and family-friendly entertainment, one common thread was woven throughout Earl Jamison’s tapestry of dreams – a commitment to carry on a tradition of excellence in caring service and country hospitality.
Earl Jamison passed away in 2003.
