Yardley Historic District - Detailed Summary
Overview
The Yardley Historic District is a small borough in Lower Bucks County, Pennsylvania, located along the west bank of the Delaware River. With a 2000 Census population of 2,498, it was nominated for the National Register of Historic Places due to its significance in transportation and architecture.
Geographic Layout
The district features a linear, rectangular development pattern influenced by the Delaware Canal (circa 1830), which runs parallel to the Delaware River. Key streets include:
- Main Street: runs north-south parallel to the canal
- Canal Street: adjacent to the west side of the Delaware Canal (upper and lower sections)
- Cross streets: Afton Avenue, College Avenue, and Letchworth Avenue (running east-west)
- S. Edgewater Avenue: runs along the east side of the canal
Lake Afton, a man-made millpond created around 1705, dominates the northern end, creating a park-like setting.
Historic Resources
The district contains 215 total resources, with an exceptionally high preservation rate:
- 202 contributing resources (93.9%)
- 200 contributing buildings
- 1 contributing structure (Lake Afton)
- 1 contributing site (St. Andrews Episcopal Church cemetery)
- 13 noncontributing buildings
Architectural Character
Building Types and Materials
Most buildings are:
- Three bays wide
- One to two rooms deep
- Two to two-and-a-half stories tall
- Wood siding (predominant)
- Asphalt shingle roofs (some slate)
- Stone or brick construction (fewer examples)
Architectural Styles
18th Century:
- Georgian: Lakeside/Thomas Yardley House (circa 1728) at 20 North Main Street - three bays, two rooms deep, two-and-a-half stories with stucco over stone walls
- Federal: Joshua Van Horn House (c.1795) at 24 S. Main Street with segmental arched dormers
19th Century (predominant):
- Gothic Revival/Carpenter Gothic: Yardley Public Library (c.1878) with steep pitched roof, pointed arch windows, and decorative woodwork
- Federal: Buildings with modillions and segmental arched dormers (c.1835)
- Queen Anne: 70 South Main Street with irregular shape, wrap-around porch, square turret, and fish scale shingles
- Greek Revival, Stick, Italianate, Second Empire: Various examples throughout
Early 20th Century:
- Colonial Revival: Yardley Borough Hall (circa 1916, designed by A. Oscar Martin) and Yardley National Bank (circa 1900)
- Four Square, Romanesque Revival, Bungalow/Craftsman: Examples along Canal Street
Notable Buildings
- Yardley Grist Mill (c.1769): Large industrial building of wood and stone, now converted to retail
- St. Andrews Episcopal Church (c.1890): Carpenter Gothic stone construction with steep slate roof
- Yardley-Bethel AME Church (188 S. Canal St): Carpenter Gothic with board and batten siding
Historical Significance
Period of Significance: c.1728 to c.1925
Early Settlement (18th Century):
- William Yardley arrived from England in 1682, settling on 500 acres
- Family killed by smallpox epidemic (1693)
- Thomas Yardley (nephew) took possession and established ferry operation (1722)
- Ferry provided vital Delaware River crossing between Philadelphia and northern New Jersey/New York
- Thomas built Lakeside mansion (1728) and purchased gristmill (1732)
- By 1807, small settlement began taking shape
Delaware Canal Era (1830-1832):
The canal was the major catalyst for Yardley's development:
- Connected Lehigh Canal in Easton to Bristol in southern Bucks County
- Primarily carried anthracite coal
- Most active from 1830 to mid-19th century
- Spurred rapid growth: industries established, population increased
- Industries included: mills (using canal water for power), coal yards, boatyards, lumberyards
- Commercial enterprises: stores, taverns, hotels for canal boatmen
- Residential development: homes for canal workers and families
- Canal officially closed in 1931; purchased by Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 1940 and converted to state park
Railroad Era (1876):
- Bound Brook branch of North Penn Railroad built through southern Yardley
- Town renamed from "Yardleyville" to "Yardley" after the station
- Incorporated as Yardley in 1895
- By 1876: population of about 1,000 with various industrial establishments
- Railroad reinforced prosperity rather than replacing canal's impact
- Railroad worker housing built along lower Canal Street ("Eastburn Row")
Trolley Era (Early 20th Century):
- Trenton Street Railway Company constructed interurban trolley lines
- Connected to Morrisville, New Hope, Doylestown, Newtown, Langhorne, and New Jersey locations
- Trolley company purchased Yardley Power Generating Plant (c.1904)
- Trolleys stopped running in 1931
Neighborhood Character
Commercial District (Main Street between Afton and College Avenues):
- Various sized buildings close together, positioned near street
- Many former residences converted to offices and shops
Residential Areas:
- W. Afton Avenue: Large houses, widely spaced, set back from street
- S. Main Street: Large houses close to street and each other; some converted to commercial use
- Canal Street: Modest, small houses close to street and each other
Preservation and Alterations
The district maintains high historic integrity through retention of location, setting, materials, design, workmanship, feeling, and association.
Minor alterations include:
- Window replacements
- Enclosed porches
- Roof/wall material replacements
- Storefronts added to residential buildings (near commercial center)
Noncontributing buildings result from:
- Fire replacements (Yardley Jewelers, Canal Street Grill)
- Infill development (Wawa convenience store, small shopping center)
- Modern alterations (Yardley Power Generating Plant storefront)
Preservation measures:
- Historic district ordinance in place
- Historic Architectural Review Board regulates architectural compatibility
- New construction designed to be compatible with historic character
National Register Criteria
Criterion A - Transportation: Local significance due to Delaware Canal's major impact on economic development, reinforced by railroad and trolley eras
Criterion C - Architecture: Excellent examples of styles ranging from early 18th to early 20th century, particularly strong collection of Carpenter Gothic buildings
Comparable Historic Districts
The document compares Yardley to similar Delaware Canal communities:
- New Hope Historic District (1985): Similar ferry crossing origins, canal impact, architectural styles
- Bristol Historic District (1987): Larger scale due to being southern canal terminus
- Point Pleasant, Enwinna, Uhlerstown: Smaller villages with similar linear development patterns
Conclusion: Yardley represents a well-preserved example of Bucks County river towns that evolved from early 18th to early 20th century, shaped primarily by the Delaware Canal's construction and use.