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September 2, 1997
Web posted at: 3:02 p.m. EDT (1902 GMT)Story and photos by CNN Interactive staff writer KC Wildmoon
(CNN) -- A horse's hooves on concrete, the rumble of Harley-Davidson motorcycles, a steam engine's plaintive whistle, jet skis on the river -- these are the sounds of New Hope, Pennsylvania on a late summer's afternoon.
New Hope's narrow sidewalks buzz with the voices of delighted tourists taking in shops ranging from Suzie Hot Sauce (a fire-eater's nirvana where more than the conversation is heated) and tattoo parlors to the year-round Christmas Past, Meow Meow the cat emporium and Bow Wow the dog shop, along with fine jewelry and upscale antique stores. By night, the whispers of the old town's ghosts slip by on the wind.
These will also be the sounds of the eclectic village on the Delaware River this fall as the leaves along the river's banks erupt into vibrant hues, and the harvest begins at eastern Pennsylvania's wineries.
New Hope, which grew up around Benjamin Parry's lumber mills on the banks of the river in the late 18th century, holds within its one square mile a cultural and artistic legacy spanning back to some of the earliest European settlements in the New World. William Penn, the state's namesake, was the original owner of the tract of land that is now New Hope and surrounding Solebury Township.
Benjamin Parry's mansion is among the attractions -- built in 1784, the house remained in the Parry family until 1966. The various rooms represent the changes in decorative style that occurred during five generations, from 1775 to 1900.
Getting to know New Hope, page 2
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