Further Adventures in PA 

Pyramids, Roasting Corn and Solar Power

Between New Hope and Allentown, is Quakertown. While Quakertown has its suburban aspects, most of the area is extremely rural. Small farms, picturesque barns and old stone houses dominate the rolling hillsides. Tohickton Creek runs through the town. We found a wonderful campground right alongside the Creek. The entrance to the campground is through an old covered wooden bridge and the ruins of an old mill sits by the main gate. The campground office is housed in an ancient stone foundation barn. There was a new swimming pool, a large bath house and even a cafe on site. A perfect combination of bucolic splendor and modern conveniences.

While the camp ground was located just a short drive from our destinations, the area of Bucks County was so attractive we found ourselves driving around just to look at the structures. Francis would drive and I'd tell him slow down or stop, in order that I could photograph the beautifully maintained stone houses and the equally attractive run down wooden barns. Just along the lane from the campground was a perfectly picturesque rusted pickup truck next to a faded wood barn surrounded by old trees. It was a picture postcard.

While on one of these scenic drives we were astounded to see a field stone pyramid and a white pillared replica of a roman temple. What was lurking in Bucks County? We later returned so I could investigate. It is called Beverly Hall and has housed a Rosicrucian Order since 1899! 

In addition to the temple and three pyramids, one of which is a flowing fountain, there is a gazebo with a replica of the winged Venus of Somethrace, several traditional stone houses and two enormous solar collector arrays. As though the juxtaposition of Ancient Greece, Egypt and Rome with colonial architecture was not odd enough, the ultra-modern banks of solar collectors pushed the scene to bizarre.

Throughout the grounds were somewhat abandoned gardens. Two ponds filled out the bottom of the gentle hillside. The gazebo overlooked one, which was filled with lotus blossoms just beginning to go into seed pods. Nearby the stone houses lay a small lake of water lilies. 


There were a number of gardeners planting roses in structured beds around the pyramids. They told me that the site had been closed and gardens neglected for some time due to litigation between the Rosey leadership but now was going to reopen to the public. There had been over five hundred roses what had been a memorial garden and they intended to return it to its former glory. Instead of tombstones, cremation ashes were placed under a rose bush. This burial option is available to anyone, whether or not they were members of the sect. The memorial garden was not a somber spot. It had been a popular spot both for quiet contemplation and for events, such as weddings. When the roses bloom in the garden and the lotus and lilies open in the pond, it will be a glorious display!

The Clymer family had been involved from the beginning. Beverly Hall is on Clymer Road. Dr. Clymer had incorporated the Hall in 1909. The family was apparently still active in the area. Several signs had indicated the Clymer dairy farm; no notation whether they were affiliated with the Rosey Church but it seemed likely. In any case, the campground cafe served Clymer Dairy ice cream and it was the best creamiest, most delicious ice cream I have every tasted. When I brought Francis, who rarely finishes a portion, a scoop: he sent me back to get him another serving! If you see Clymer Dairy ice cream, try it.

Tohickton Campground was 20 minutes from Allentown. While one thinks of Allentown as gritty industrial; there are more rural areas of the City. One such is the location of the Museum of Indian Culture, on bucolic Fish Hatchery Road. Across nearby a riding stables and a fishing supply shop, you would think you were back in Bucks County. The Roasting Ears of Corn Festival brought together a wide array of tribes. 

The Lenni Lenape also called the Delaware were the indigenous people of Eastern Pennsylvania. The tribe settled from the Chesapeake to the Great Lakes. Local legend had it that Walker Lake had been owned by a Lenape tribal chief. He had operated as a rum runner during prohibition, trading ownership of the land to avoid prosecution for his illegal bootlegging. The chanting, dancing and regalia at a Pow Wow is always fascinating. This one would provide the opportunity to discover our local history, as well.

The Lenni Lenape were peaceful farmers, without dramatic performance art or regalia. Never the less, the recreation of a Lenape home and hearth and the explanations of their farming cooking and lifestyle were fascinating to me. Francis was more intent or capturing the varied rhythms of the chants and processions. There were fire dancers from South America, Women's dance groups from the far West, children's dances in which the elders threw candy on the ground for the “little chicks to peck at”. All day long the drums and flutes played and the dancers went round and around. The tempo was hypnotic and I found myself irresistibly swaying to it as I wandered around. In booths off to the sides of the central dance space were the vendors. These were fine craft not made-in-china replicas, all impressive hand work. 

The vendor which most attracted my attention was a musician who blended the traditional with modern. Arvel Bird had written a symphony retelling the story of Paiute / Irish youth coming to terms with his mixed heritage through music. The artist explained to me that the 18th century story was also his own personal tale as a native american / anglo musician. Whether playing an Indian flute or a European violin, the rhythms of that drumming still rang clearly through throughout the composition. The event was not all educational, high art and splendid regalia, there was also food. A variety of Native American inspired recipes were available. We tried the venison chili/stew and squash and corn chowder with the ubiquitous fry bread, all very tasty!

Staff from the nearby Da Vinci Science Center were at the Pow Wow, promoting Science Education and distributing information about the Solar Eclipse the following day. The Da Vinci Science Center is next to Cedar Creek Park, alongside Cedar Crest College. The Creek runs between the the Science Center and the College with a long linear green park continuing along both sides. It is an unexpected scene compared to the gray main drag of Allentown.

The Science Center housed a number of interesting exhibits about our minds and bodies and the world around us. The exhibits were scaled to a young audience but were never the less of interest to adults. Most of the exhibits had a hands-on interactive aspect. The area on brain function had puzzles. A series on energy sources had a number of interactive displays with different types of solar and water power generation.

Today the Center was crowded with eclipse watchers. Eclipse day had attracted both families with children, students from the College and older duffers like ourselves. Viewing glasses were available and people were passing them around sharing the limited supply. Others had brought cereal boxes to make pin hole cameras. It was a festive atmosphere; the science carnival was underway. We toured the exhibits inside, then borrowed a pair of glasses at the peak of the eclipse. In Allentown, the sun was almost 75% occluded but the day seemed as bright as any other. The power of the sun is so immense that even 25% is blinding. The experience outside put the solar energy exhibits inside the center into perspective.