Real Estate Investor Plans To Bring Buckingham Landmark 'Back To Life'

BUCKINGHAM TOWNSHIP, PA — A local real estate investor and builder from Buckingham says he has plans to bring the historic General Greene Inn "back to life."

Bob Welch has announced that he has signed agreements to buy the historic structure at the busy intersection of Durham and Old York roads in the heart of the township

Supervisor Paul Calderaio made the announcement in a Facebook advertisement.

“For many years, many people have tried to save the General Greene Inn, including myself," said Calderaio. "Today we have an opportunity to save the General Greene Inn and I’m very happy to be here with a Buckingham resident who is very much a pillar of the community.”

Welch, who has restored Keystone properties in Doylestown, New Hope, and in Buckingham, said he’s looking forward to renovating the structure and bringing it back to life.

“The General Greene Inn has a special place in my heart,” said Welch. “I’ve always had my eye on it for years and years. I’m looking forward to giving it some love and investment because it’s a beautiful building inside and out.”

The General Greene Inn, Buckingham. (Jeff Werner/Patch)

Calderaio said Welch has spent decades bringing back to life some of the most cherished landmarks in Buckingham and the surrounding areas.

"I've worked with the township before and great people like Paul Calderaio and his leadership, and the other supervisors, Maggie and John," said Welch. "They've always shown me great courtesy and respect. That's a big reason why I wanted to do this, because I know I can get something done."

“I look forward to working with Bob to restore The General Greene Inn back to its former glory,” said Calderaio.

According to a history of the property compiled by the Solebury Township Historical Society, the inn and tavern now known as the General Greene Inn was first opened for business by Henry Jamison in 1763. The Bucks County Committee of Safety met in the tavern in the summer of 1775 to organize opposition to British rule, and patriots continued to meet there during the war years.

By 1776, when General Nathaniel Greene used the tavern as his headquarters, Jamison’s widow had married John Bogart, and the inn was known as Bogart’s Tavern. From this place General Greene ordered “16 Durham boats and flats down to McConkey’s Ferry” on Dec. 10, 1776. These boats were used for the Christmas crossing of the Delaware and the subsequent successful battle in Trenton.

The tavern has also been called by various owners’ names and by General Greene’s name.