Highland Park Camp Meeting Historic District

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West Rockhill Twp, Bucks County, PA

Highland Park Camp Meeting Historic District

Historical Background

Origins (1890s)

Highland Park emerged from a church schism at Perkasie Park Camp Meeting in the early 1890s. The displaced group initially met at Derstine's picnic grove around 1891. The Highland Park Camp Meeting Association was officially chartered in 1895.

Noah O. Crouthamel, a carpenter-turned-cigar manufacturer, purchased the original 10-acre Derstine property and sold it to the association in 1896.

Key Historical Figures

Irwin B. Dill: First treasurer (1893-1922), insurance agent from Perkasie, owned elaborate cottage #82

Noah O. Crouthamel: Founding board member, successful businessman who built many of the first cottages (lots 17, 18, 19, 29, 71, 72, 83, 84) and is credited as the primary architect/builder

Early Success & Accessibility

1897 newspaper reported crowds of 8,000 people attending. The camp was strategically located along the North Penn Railroad with a dedicated station. The Lehigh Valley Transit Company trolley line (1898) connected the camp to Philadelphia and Allentown. It was featured in regional newspaper advertisements promoting its "pure, healthful air".

Architectural & Planning Details

Master Plan Design

Intentional compass orientation: Main rectangular area faces northeast, potentially designed so sunrise would dramatically illuminate the preacher during morning services. The design features a radiating alley system with narrow paths extending from corners and midpoints of the central tabernacle.

Based on a c.1896 blueprint by surveyor Irwin Y. Baringer showing 108 individual lots for sale.

The Tabernacle (1896)

Centerpiece building: 44' x 88' open-sided wooden structure with Victorian influences

Distinctive features: Large clipped gables (jerkin heads), wavy wood fascia, open arched sides, three-sided altar bay

Construction: Heavy timber frame with concrete floor, modern additions include paddle fans and lighting

Dual purpose: Religious services and secular entertainment (theater, lectures, concerts)

Cottage Architecture

Vernacular Gothic Revival style: Reflecting the popular mid-19th century architectural movement promoted by Andrew Jackson Downing's "Cottage Residences" (1842)

Standardized size: Approximately 13' wide by 22' deep, maximum 2.5 stories

Community-oriented design: Front porches and second-floor balconies allowed residents to socialize and view tabernacle services

Distinctive features: Gable-end orientation, decorative "gingerbread" scrollwork on elaborate examples, pastel paint colors, individual cottage names

Cultural & Educational Programs

Chautauqua Movement (1898-1899)

The camp hosted Sellersville Chautauqua Assembly featuring educational lectures on diverse topics:

Travel: "To and Fro in London," "Through the Bright Continent"

Politics: "Constitutional Prerogatives of the President"

Science: "Wind and Rain – How Caused"

Culture: Piano recitals by Boston Conservatory musicians

Lecturers came from major cities including New York, Philadelphia, and Boston.

Evolution & Modern Challenges

Infrastructure Development

1929: Central sewage system installed

1930s: Electricity replaced oil lamps, water closets added to cottages

Recent additions: Propane service enabled year-round use of some cottages

Changing Demographics

Mid-20th century: Declining attendance led to increased focus on youth programs

1940s additions: Volleyball and shuffleboard courts (now removed)

Current status: Continues 10-day annual religious retreats plus year-round cottage use

Modern threats: Suburban encroachment and potential expansion of adjacent Rockhill Mennonite Community

Comparative Analysis

The nomination includes detailed comparisons with other regional camp meetings:

Perkasie Park Camp Meeting (listed 2016): Historically related predecessor with nearly identical layout

Mount Gretna Camp Meeting (listed 2012): Lebanon County example with over 200 buildings and grid layout

Elim Grove Camp Meeting: Lehigh County Holiness Church site with more austere architecture

Property Details

Location: 415 Highland Park Road, West Rockhill Township, Bucks County, PA

Size: 22 acres

Period of Significance: c.1896 to c.1960

Contributing Resources: 55 total (48 cottages, tabernacle, plus 6 other historic buildings and 1 site)

Non-contributing Resources: 4 total (all post-1965 construction)

National Register Criteria: A (historical significance) and C (architectural significance)

Preparation Acknowledgments

The preparer specifically acknowledges the West Rockhill Historical Society contributors: Jill Cardell, Petrona Charles, Merel Landes, Larry Landes, Verne Hoffman, Janet and Scott Pottieger, Eleanora Gruber, Brenda Phelan, David Collingwood, and Shelby Splain.

The nomination is dedicated to the memory of Jill Cardell, Merel Landes, and Eleanora Gruber.


This comprehensive documentation represents a significant historical preservation effort, capturing both the architectural significance and cultural importance of one of Pennsylvania's best-preserved examples of the American camp meeting movement.

Adapted from: David Kimmerly of Mid-Atlantic Historic Preservation Services LLC, 2016, National Register of Historic Places nomination document, with assistance from the West Rockhill Historical Society

The preparer specifically acknowledges the West Rockhill Historical Society contributors: Jill Cardell, Petrona Charles, Merel Landes, Larry Landes, Verne Hoffman, Janet and Scott Pottieger, Eleanora Gruber, Brenda Phelan, David Collingwood, and Shelby Splain.

Nearby Neighborhoods

Street Names
Highland Park Road


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