Politics & Government

Doylestown Armory Fireplace to be Saved

We heard from readers who wondered whether the Mercer tiles would be preserved for future generations.

Doylestown history buffs can breathe easier.

The unique tiled fireplace that had been on the second floor of the armory on Shewell Avenue has been saved. It will be incorporated into the new Bucks County courthouse, which is under construction now.

We recounted the in a History Guy column on Jan 19. Afterwards, we received several messages from Doylestown folk wanting to know if the fireplace had been destroyed along with most of the rest of the armory.

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On Tuesday, DoylestownPatch was assured that the fireplace was indeed saved from the wrecking ball.

Jerry Anderson said the fireplace has been preserved and will be on display inside the new courthouse; Anderson heads Bucks County's general services division and is the county's point person on .

Find out what's happening in Doylestownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"It will be part of the break room, cafeteria area in the new courthouse," Anderson said Tuesday. "We’re going through great pains to save part of that building."

Heavy equipment already has taken down most of the armory building, which had stood on Shewell Avenue since 1910. The armory closed in 2003.

County officials had agreed to preserve parts of the historic building and direct the architect to incorporate it into the designs for the new courthouse.

Anderson said that proved difficult once the work was underway, but the county stuck to its agreement.

"It was incredible what bad shape it was in once we got inside. It was much worse than we had expected," Anderson said, of the armory. "But we're doing it."

The armory facade will not be an entrance to the new courthouse, Anderson said. The fireplace, however, will be visible from the inside of the new building.


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