Indian Making Fire

Henry Chapmen Mercer (1856-1930) was a Doylestown (PA) archaeologist, collector of artifacts, and ceramicist.  A Harvard graduate and trained as a lawyer, Mercer developed an early fascination with German tile-making and Pennsylvania history.  He was also influenced by the American Arts and Crafts Movement.  Mercer brought these interests together in the Moravian Pottery and Tile Works, which he established at Doylestown in 1898.  Now a National Historic Landmark, the Tile Works is still in business, owned and operated as a "living museum" by the County of Bucks, north of Philadelphia.

The Pennsylvania State Capitol at Harrisburg houses the largest collection of Mercer tiles.  This includes some 400 floor mosaics tracing the Commonwealth's history from prehistoric times forward.  His tiles were used in other principal Pennsylvania buildings, in Grauman's Chinese Theater at Los Angeles (CA), and in the Casino at Monte Carlo.

Mercer built three buildings — his home, known as Fonthill, the Mercer Museum, and the Moravian Pottery and Tile Works.  Henry Ford held the Mercer Museum in such high esteem that he used it as inspiration for his own Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village at Dearborn (MI).  All three still stand, because Mercer built them of reinforced concrete!  Building a poured-wall house is becoming more common these days; indeed, it's a bit trendy.  Mercer anticipated this by a century, as did my grandfather.

I am certain that Mercer and my grandfather, Dr. William Edgar Geil, were well acquainted.  Both were Doylestown natives born about the same time, and both were interested in ancient history and culture — Pennsylvania for Mercer, China for my grandfather.  In 1912, when Dr. Geil built a home as a wedding present for his new bride, he did so using reinforced concrete.  His decision to "pour" the house was probably influenced by Mercer's buildings.  I am told that my grandfather used 1-inch rebar (steel reinforcing bar) on 3-inch centers.  Not surprisingly, the house still stands (who could afford to demolish it?) and has been wonderfully renovated by its current owner.

Red Mercer tiles were used to pave the front porch at "The Barrens" — as my grandparents' home is known.  I considered doing likewise, on a much smaller scale, but the Tile Works discourages use of their pavers out-of-doors in cold climates.  More especially, my grandfather incorporated a Mercer mosaic — Indian Making Fire — into the fireplace hearth in his study.  It, too, is still there, looking as handsome as it did in 1912.  The Tile Works still produces this mosaic, and it will certainly find a place somewhere in my Lake Esau home.

Go to http://www.buckscounty.org/government/departments/tileworks/ for information on the Moravian Pottery and Tile Works.  It's a great place to visit if you are in the Philadelphia area. •••