Fonthill's Guardians Recognized for a Century of Work

Doylestown's eccentric native son Henry Mercer would be proud.

Mercer's concrete castle, , has been an icon of Doylestown for a century, and now, the group responsible for maintainting the architectural treasure is being recognized for its work.

The Bucks County Historical Society will receive a Special 100th Anniversary Recognition Award from a nonprofit group dedicated to historic places in the greater Philadelphia region.

The Preservation Alliance of Greater Philadelphia is giving a preservation achievement award to the Bucks County Historical Society for "its outstanding service in preserving and protecting one of the region's most significant cultural assets, Fonthill Castle."

The award, which marks the occasion of the castle's 100th anniversary, will be presented at a luncheon in Philadelphia on May 8.

In bestowing the award, the alliance notes that Fonthill "is one of the Philadelphia region’s most distinguished historic properties."

Bucks County Historical Society executive director, Douglas Dolan, said the group appreciated the recognition.

"It is gratifying to be acknowledged by our colleagues in historic preservation who understand the challenges we face in preserving our National Historic Landmarks and sharing their stories with the public," Dolan said in a statement.

The society has several activities planned to celebrate Fonthill's centennial, Dolan said, noting that Mercer moved into his castle in May 1912.

Through May 25, visitors can learn more about Henry Mercer on the . It delves into topics rarely examined on other Fonthill tours including Mercer’s romantic attachments, personal and family relationships, political views and more. 

On Memorial Day, May 28, Fonthill will celebrate the completion of construction on the castle and the official day that Henry Mercer moved into his newly built home. Festivities include hands-on activities, a ground floor open house, the debut of the “Building Henry’s Castle” tour, food vendors, live music and an appearance by Henry Mercer himself.

On June 10, in the program, “Expression and Experimentation: The Building of Fonthill,” a panel of architects and historians will present a discussion that will focus on the broad context of Mercer’s work. Mercer’s creation of Fonthill Castle would transform the use of poured-in-place concrete and add a significant contribution to the Arts and Crafts movement in America.

With 44 rooms, 200 windows, 18 fireplaces and 32 stairwells, Fonthill is easily one of Doylestown's, if not Bucks County's, most recognizable buildings. Built entirely of hand-mixed concrete and decorated throughout with Mercer's handcrafted tiles, it remains today a living example of Mercer’s creativity.

Fonthill and its sister edifice, the , both are administered by the Bucks County Historical Society.

The Preservation Alliance of Greater Philadelphia is a non-profit organization which promotes the appreciation, protection and revitalization of the Philadelphia region’s historic buildings, communities and landscapes.