Clark Nature Center

Coordinates: 40°13′42″N 74°55′56″W / 40.22833°N 74.93222°W / 40.22833; -74.93222

Clark Nature Center
Settlement
Dry bed of a seasonal creek in the park
Country	United States
State	Pennsylvania
Region	Bucks County
District	Newtown Township
Center	Newtown Township
- elevation	167 ft (50.9 m)
- coordinates	40°13′42″N 74°55′56″W / 40.22833°N 74.93222°W / 40.22833; -74.93222
Area	0.079 sq mi (0.2 km2)
Location of Newtown in Bucks County
Location of Newtown in Pennsylvania

Clark Nature Center is a nature trail park within the Newtown Township, in Pennsylvania just off Durham road (Route 413), USA. Established in 1997, on land originally bought from the Leni Lenape Indians in 1683 by William Penn. The park covers an area of (approx) 50.6 acres, with a mixture of dirt and wood chipped nature trails. Two seasonal creeks run through the park. Park benches have been sited at various view points along the trail. Local wildlife includes Wild Turkey, Deer, and occasionally Foxes can be seen.

The Newtown Creek, situated to the west, across Swamp road, is a tributary of the Neshaminy Creek, running North to South it is the western boundary between the borough of Newtown and the township of Newtown.

History

William Penn

A history of the land that comprises the park can be seen on the Park and Recreation website of Newtown Township,^[1]

Early history

• (October 27–28, 1681) - William Penn conveyed to Christopher Taylor 5,000 acres (20 km²), 564 of which in Newtown.

• (June 2, 1702) – Israel and Joseph Taylor, sons of Christopher, conveyed 564 acres (2.28 km²) to Samuel Hough (DB p100). Samuel Hough sold his land in a number of transactions, Northern Portion, Middle Portion, and Southern Portion. The southern land included the lower part of the country lot and the entire town lot of Samuel Hough passed to William Buckman through an unknown conveyance around 1702.

• (April 4, 1716) [proved (August 26, 1716)] - William Buckman, in his will, left his land that he purchased from Samuel Hough to his son William Buckman, Jr.
• 1750 - Buckman, Jr. sold to his son John Buckman
• 1790 - John Buckman willed to his son John Buckman, Jr.
• 1807 - Buckman, Jr. purchased 158 acres (0.64 km²) from nephew, William Buckman, 4th.
• 1833 - John Buckman, Jr. dies
• 1838 - The estate of John Buckman, Jr. sold 50 acres (200,000 m²) and 120 perches of land to Stacy Buckman. “It appears that Stacy Buckman built the house that today stands on the property soon after his purchase, and the property remained in his family until 1891. It was given the name Mount Pleasant”
• (October 29, 1891) – George B. Buckman and Marianna Hpilborn, executors of the last will and testament of Stacy Buckman sold to Isaac Eyer.
• (October 30, 1891) - Isaac Eyer sold to George V. Doan

20th century and onwards

• (April 1, 1910) - George V. Doan sold to John Lownes
• (March 31, 1923) - John Lownes sold to John Mast
• (March 27, 1931) – In a sheriffs sale, Cheltenham Building & Loan Association, No. 2 bought the property for US$130.59.
• (May 29, 1935) - Cheltenham Building & Loan Association, No. 2 to Lyman Clark for one US Dollar.
• (July 5, 1935) – Lyman Clark sold to John M. McCoy for one dollar
• (July 5, 1935) – John M. McCoy sold to Lyman and Mary Clark for one Dollar.
• December, 1997 – Lyman and Mary Clark sold 50.632 acres (204,900 m²) to Newtown Township to be preserved in perpetuity as open space.

Image gallery

• 

  Eastern Wild Turkey

• 

  Adult Fox

• 

  Adult Deer

• 

  Park benched area.

See also

Tyler State Park (Pennsylvania)

References

1. ^ "A History of Land Ownership, Newtown, Bucks County, Pennsylvania 1683 – 1850" by Thomas C. Mayer, Newtown Historic Association

External links

• http://www.twp.newtown.pa.us/ntrec/parks/clark.htm
• http://www.twp.newtown.pa.us/