James Michener's Solebury Township

James Michener is alive and well and living in Laos. Really! No, we're not talking about the James Michener who wrote "Tales of the South Pacific" and "Hawaii." That James Michener passed ...

2009-02-21T21:09:20Z

Linda
James Michener is alive and well and living in Laos. Really! No, we're not talking about the James Michener who wrote "Tales of the South Pacific" and "Hawaii." That James Michener passed ...

Misty Hills Farm on Phillips Mill Road in Solebury Township, where Jim tended cows and horses after school, and mowed fields throughout the summer.

2009-02-21T22:04:35Z

Linda
Misty Hills Farm on Phillips Mill Road in Solebury Township, where Jim tended cows and horses after school, and mowed fields throughout the summer.

Solebury Friends Meeting, where Jim's grandparents were married in 1907.

2009-02-11T19:56:52Z

Linda
Solebury Friends Meeting, where Jim's grandparents were married in 1907.

Due to the expansion of Quaker settlements in Pennsylvania -- the so-called "Quaker state" -- after the Revolutionary War, members of Buckingham Friends Meeting built and established Solebur ...

2009-02-21T20:56:48Z

Linda
Due to the expansion of Quaker settlements in Pennsylvania -- the so-called "Quaker state" -- after the Revolutionary War, members of Buckingham Friends Meeting built and established Solebur ...

The meetinghouse interior is two stories high and quite spacious. To the right of the pillar is a brick area where a potbellied stove used to sit. Its twin was in the room next to this one. ...

2009-06-04T22:03:43Z

Linda
The meetinghouse interior is two stories high and quite spacious. To the right of the pillar is a brick area where a potbellied stove used to sit. Its twin was in the room next to this one. ...

This is a photo taken from the second-floor gallery, looking down into the room that was in the previous photo. On the right side of the photo you get a glimpse of a second room, now called ...

2009-06-06T01:39:50Z

Linda
This is a photo taken from the second-floor gallery, looking down into the room that was in the previous photo. On the right side of the photo you get a glimpse of a second room, now called ...

In his youth Jim played the violin accompanied by Maude Funk on the piano. This would usually occur after meeting for worship, more commonly called "silent meeting." Jim was kind enough t ...

2009-02-21T21:23:09Z

Linda
In his youth Jim played the violin accompanied by Maude Funk on the piano. This would usually occur after meeting for worship, more commonly called "silent meeting." Jim was kind enough t ...

A window in the meetinghouse. At my first "silent meeting" I sat on the bench that ended near this window ... and fell in love with the view.

2009-06-04T23:48:42Z

Linda
A window in the meetinghouse. At my first "silent meeting" I sat on the bench that ended near this window ... and fell in love with the view.

Upper entrance to the burying grounds.

2009-02-21T21:23:30Z

Linda
Upper entrance to the burying grounds.

In the autumn the trees in the burying grounds turn a gorgeous amber color.

2009-02-21T20:19:34Z

Linda
In the autumn the trees in the burying grounds turn a gorgeous amber color.

As you enter the burying grounds from the upper entrance one of the first things you notice is the white shed in the background. This is the caretaker's shed. For many decades, Jim's grandfa ...

2009-06-04T21:21:04Z

Linda
As you enter the burying grounds from the upper entrance one of the first things you notice is the white shed in the background. This is the caretaker's shed. For many decades, Jim's grandfa ...

Michener Family graves in the burying grounds. The caretaker's shed is located directly behind me. I took this photo a year ago before I even knew who Jim Michener was.

2009-06-04T18:46:28Z

Linda
Michener Family graves in the burying grounds. The caretaker's shed is located directly behind me. I took this photo a year ago before I even knew who Jim Michener was.

Caretaker's shed. Jim had mentioned in an email to me that underneath the window you see in the photo there had been two or three nails where his grandfather used to hang, secretly, the key ...

2009-02-21T22:02:38Z

Linda
Caretaker's shed. Jim had mentioned in an email to me that underneath the window you see in the photo there had been two or three nails where his grandfather used to hang, secretly, the key ...

Indians are buried in this section of the burying grounds, one in a hollowed-out log.

2009-06-04T22:31:27Z

Linda
Indians are buried in this section of the burying grounds, one in a hollowed-out log.

What amazes me most about these burying grounds are the number of veterans who are buried here. Throughout history Quakers have generally been pacifists but there are quite a number who have ...

2009-06-06T02:42:12Z

Linda
What amazes me most about these burying grounds are the number of veterans who are buried here. Throughout history Quakers have generally been pacifists but there are quite a number who have ...

The headstone of Jim's Quaker grandparents, Hugh and Bertha.

2009-06-06T02:51:01Z

Linda
The headstone of Jim's Quaker grandparents, Hugh and Bertha.

Helen Walton Fitting's grave. This is the first grave Jim remembers digging -- he was 13, his grandfather, 77. Mrs. Fitting had been Jim's teacher for grades 1 through 3. She is one of t ...

2009-06-04T23:19:33Z

Linda
Helen Walton Fitting's grave. This is the first grave Jim remembers digging -- he was 13, his grandfather, 77. Mrs. Fitting had been Jim's teacher for grades 1 through 3. She is one of t ...

On Sunday mornings, even before he was a teenager, violin case in hand, Jim (then called Jimmy) would often be seen walking to meeting, which was in the woods at the top of the hill. This r ...

2009-06-05T01:11:16Z

Linda
On Sunday mornings, even before he was a teenager, violin case in hand, Jim (then called Jimmy) would often be seen walking to meeting, which was in the woods at the top of the hill. This r ...

The Solebury Township War Memorial. The one-room schoolhouse where Mrs. Fitting taught is in the background. The building dates back to 1755 and was used as a hospital during the America ...

2009-02-21T22:02:46Z

Linda
The Solebury Township War Memorial. The one-room schoolhouse where Mrs. Fitting taught is in the background. The building dates back to 1755 and was used as a hospital during the America ...

Close-up photo of the old one-room schoolhouse.

2009-06-04T20:02:22Z

Linda
Close-up photo of the old one-room schoolhouse.

The headstones of Bill Vasey's parents and Bill himself. Bill lost his life in a tragic incident in Viet Nam. Jim and Bill had been classmates and best friends throughout elementary, juni ...

2009-06-06T03:11:08Z

Linda
The headstones of Bill Vasey's parents and Bill himself. Bill lost his life in a tragic incident in Viet Nam. Jim and Bill had been classmates and best friends throughout elementary, juni ...

Closeup of the Vasey family headstone. Margaret Vasey is still living and active.

2009-06-06T02:36:10Z

Linda
Closeup of the Vasey family headstone. Margaret Vasey is still living and active.

Bill's USN grave marker.

2009-06-06T03:44:27Z

Linda
Bill's USN grave marker.

The church in Mechanicsville where Bill's funeral service was held. He is buried in the cemetery behind the church.

2009-06-04T20:12:22Z

Linda
The church in Mechanicsville where Bill's funeral service was held. He is buried in the cemetery behind the church.

The farm in Carversville where Bill grew up.

2009-02-21T20:05:26Z

Linda
The farm in Carversville where Bill grew up.

This house is not far from the Vasey Farm and was once known as the "Michener Post Office".

2009-06-05T23:28:29Z

Linda
This house is not far from the Vasey Farm and was once known as the "Michener Post Office".

The Carversville General Store and Post Office have remained virtually unchanged since the 1950's and 60's. Can't you just picture the "Three Musketeers" emerging from the door, ready for ...

2009-06-06T02:47:48Z

Linda
The Carversville General Store and Post Office have remained virtually unchanged since the 1950's and 60's. Can't you just picture the "Three Musketeers" emerging from the door, ready for ...

This former farmhouse is the centerpiece of Solebury School, a private school, grades 7-12, founded in 1925, located in Solebury Township. Jim's grandfather, Hugh, was the last farmer who ow ...

2009-06-05T00:46:05Z

Linda
This former farmhouse is the centerpiece of Solebury School, a private school, grades 7-12, founded in 1925, located in Solebury Township. Jim's grandfather, Hugh, was the last farmer who ow ...

This is the front courtyard of the farmhouse.

2009-06-05T01:23:35Z

Linda
This is the front courtyard of the farmhouse.

This was one of the exit roads from the farm. Near the stand of trees to the left of the bridge in the background is a small pond. Jim's father, Lewis, swam in it as a boy and Jim learned to ...

2009-06-04T20:22:32Z

Linda
This was one of the exit roads from the farm. Near the stand of trees to the left of the bridge in the background is a small pond. Jim's father, Lewis, swam in it as a boy and Jim learned to ...

Three generations of Micheners resided in this beautiful farmhouse in Solebury Township. Jim's father and grandfather were born there. This home is now an office and beautifully maintaine ...

2009-06-06T03:00:53Z

Linda
Three generations of Micheners resided in this beautiful farmhouse in Solebury Township. Jim's father and grandfather were born there. This home is now an office and beautifully maintaine ...

Burgess Lea Farm on River Road. When Jim was growing up, this was called the Johnson Farm. Jim had spotted a duplicate photo of this farm posted on a web site called Trek Earth and had sent ...

2009-06-05T23:35:37Z

Linda
Burgess Lea Farm on River Road. When Jim was growing up, this was called the Johnson Farm. Jim had spotted a duplicate photo of this farm posted on a web site called Trek Earth and had sent ...