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October, a pastel drawing by HCM, is dated August, 1920. Mercer probably also composed the poem which appears as the caption. Sumttirr vtiUnot wait ^owlhiw/l rtrrshntv wil/i fcwrajwif ! CJor VVin Uts at the Cfatr ,/tnd ton the trhvt to<jrind fiirhnvrri | JowoTWcr hints tticswafloivs ffu Ocfobertmnqshcrmtilsto dierr 'flu- Scorpion tises in the sky ,7ta> shorter this onftwaniriQ ifnir j 1919 May 27: death of HCM’s only sister, Elizabeth Fidlervon Isarborn,in Aschau, Bavaria. Lela’s daughter, Walpurga Mary Elizabeth, had married Baron Eduard von Friesen of Aschau the preceding autumn. (The only descendants of the Doylestown Chapman/Mercer family extant today are the son and grandchildren of this marriage.) 1920 Created a series of large pastel drawings illustrating life and labors in the preindustrial period. Details from one of these, October, later appeared in two tile panels in Fonthill (see 1929). 1921 Organized and financed an expedition to China for the purpose of photographing and describing Chinese tools and technology. Rudolf Hommel led the expedition. Awarded gold medal for Allied Arts from American Institute of Architects, for distinguished achievements in ceramic art. 1922 September 4: authorized Dr. Amandus Johnson to collect tools and implements of native industries in Africa on behalf of the BCHS, forcomparative study with the existing BCHS collections. 1923 October 13: read a paper entitled, “The DatingofOld Houses,”ata mcctingofthc BCHS. 1925 May-October: Laura Long and Frank King Swain married and set off to Europe for a six-month honeymoon, a wedding present from HCM. Frank investigated hardware and medieval tiles for his boss, HCM; Laura purchased prints for her print-selling business, based at Fonthill. 1926 1000 three-year-old white pines planted on the grounds of Fonthill by the Doylestown Nature Club (see 1929). 1927-1928 Converted the top of the Fonthill garage into a “Summer Parlour” or “Terrace Pavillion,” intended as a meeting place for the Doylestown Nature Club. Accordingly, the decoration of this room, which has an adjacent terrace, celebrates nature. The labors of the seasons, the quarters of the compass, and the winds are among the themes depicted in tile on the walls and ceiling. Mercer himself did the concrete work on the outdoor flight of steps he designed to lead up to the terrace. 1928 May: Willie, Jr.’s destruction ofOld Aldie, following his construction of a new mansion, also called “Aldie,” led to a breach between the brothers. HCM died before they could be reconciled. November: November Night Tales, a collection of Gothic suspense stories, published by HCM. HENRY CHAPMAN MERCER: AN ANNOTATED CHRONOLOGY
Bucks-Mont, Pennsylvania Bucks County Hist Soc - Henry Chapman Mercer (30)