Henry Mercer
Henry Chapman Mercer was born June 24th 1856 in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. He died 73 years later, at Fonthill, the magical house he designed and constructed from reinforced concrete in 1908-1912.
Fonthill is now owned by the Bucks County Historical Society. The Bucks County Historical Society also owns and operates the Mercer Museum and the Moravian Pottery and Tile Works. These three buildings make up "the Mercer Mile". All three buildings were designed and constructed by Henry Mercer in the early part of the 20th century.
Henry Mercer is well known for his research and books about ancient tool making, his ceramic tile creations, and his engineering and architecture. Major accomplishments included the assembly of the collection of early American tools now housed in the Mercer Museum, (Henry Ford stated that the Mercer museum was the only museum worth visiting in the US, and the Mercer Museum was apparently Henry Ford's inspiration for his own museum in Dearborn, Michigan) and for his tile work which makes up the floor of the Pennsylvania State Capitol Building in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and many other noteworthy buildings and houses.
Henry Mercer wrote extensively on his interests, which included Archeology, Early tool making, German stove plates, and ceramics.
Publications by Henry Mercer
- The Bible in Iron
- The Lenape Stone
- Ancient Carpenters tools
- Guidebook To The Tiled Pavement In The Pennsylvania State Capitol
- The Hill-caves of Yucatan
Many books and articles have been written about Henry Mercer and his work:
Publications about Henry Mercer
- Henry Chapman Mercer and the Moravian Pottery and Tile Works by MIT Master of Architecture Thesis by Kurt Eichenberger
