Peek Into the Past
The long, rich history of the Golden Pheasant is reflective of the history of Bucks County. Harkening back to a way of life long forgotten, the spattering of covered bridges, stone walls, and notable buildings along the canal, and all throughout Bucks County, remind us of how much history lives here.
-
1769
In the Beginning
The current property on which the Golden Pheasant sits was part of the London company land grant. The land belonged to Arthur Erwin, a Scotch-Irish immigrant who settled in Bucks County in 1768. Erwin was a Colonel respectively in the Fourth and Second Battalions of the Bucks County Militia. Arthur Erwin is best known for his role in assisting Washington with the crossing of the Delaware River on Christmas night, 1776.
-
1786
A Ferry and a Furnace
River Road is extended from Lumberville, north through London Ferry, now Erwinna, to the Durham Furnace. London Ferry was a major ferry crossing to Frenchtown, New Jersey, and to markets north. Durham Furnace was also a major destination for iron goods like tools, pots, pans, stoves, and fireplace equipment.
-
1801
A New Owner of the 46 Acres
After his death, Erwin’s family sold numerous parcels of land, including 46 acres in 1801 on which the Golden Pheasant Inn now stands.
-
1811
Birth of Waterman's Inn
Joseph Haney bought the Inn property for 550 pounds and applied for a tavern license. The construction of a tavern, known as Waterman’s Inn, most likely grew out of the need of area farmers who traveled the river road with their grain.
-
1828
Sold for $1,950!
Fast forward a few years, the property was sold to Patrick Mulvaney for a whopping $1,950. The deed of transfer indicates the existence of the tavern. A tavern license was issued to Mulvaney shows his business was called Waterman's Inn.
-
1832
The Delaware Division
The Delaware Division of the Pennsylvania Canal was opened primarily to transport anthracite coal from the Pennsylvania mines to major east coast cities. The new canal ran directly through Mulvaney’s property, and it is likely that he constructed new buildings, including the mule barn for travelers passing through.
-
1836
A Saw Mill, a Flour Mill, and a Tavern
New construction of a neighboring flour mill and saw mill, owned by Henry Stover, allowed Mulvaney to benefit financially, and he sold the property for a considerable profit to John Buck 1838.
-
1841
The Inn Goes to Auction
After the sudden death of Buck in Oct. 1841, the Inn property was bought at auction by James Leslie. In the years that followed, the village of Erwinna experienced growth and expansion as a railroad line across the river at Frenchtown helped to make the area a vital transportation destination.
-
1856
Rising from the Ashes
After a massive fire burned the original tavern on property to the ground, we believe Leslie reconstructed it based on a documented advertisement that ran for several years following. This reconstructed tavern serves as the current main building of the Golden Pheasant.
-
1866
Changing Hands
From 1866-1885, the property changed hands several times, the only documented owner being Charles Eichlin.
-
1921
50 Years of Tourism
Jacob and Elizabeth Oberacher purchased the Inn and held the property for nearly 50 years. However, by the early-20th century, canal traffic had slowed considerably, and by 1931 the canal traffic stopped altogether. Tourism, on the other hand, began to take the place of canal freight and became the major industry supporting the tavern’s existence.
-
1986
The Faure Era
The Faure family purchased the Inn and surrounding properties and operated it for over 30 years until 2017.
-
2019
Thompson Hospitality
Jack Thompson and family, who have a passion for protecting historic properties and land in the area, purchased the inn in 2019. They proudly added the Golden Pheasant as a natural expansion to their other river-based, historic properties, the Blass Bass Hotel and Lumberville General Store, just down River Road in Lumberville, PA. They re-opened the Golden Pheasant in 2020 with a customer-focus approach that is the core of all restaurant properties as well as the family-run automotive dealerships located in nearby Doylestown.
