ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

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CELEBRATING 250 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

In celebration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the Nockamixon Historic Commission is proud to present a special series entitle NOCKAMIXON HISTORIC MINUTES. This commemorative initiative aims to highlight and honor Nockamixon's rich and enduring legacy.

EARLY SETTLERS OF NOCKAMIXON TOWNSHIP PART 3: THE IRISH By Roseann McCarty

In 1737, a group of Irish Catholics, fleeing religious persecution, came to Penn's Colony and purchased land in what later became Bucks County.

The McCarty family of County Cork, Ireland, were leaders in this group. They bought 500 acres of land from the Penn family. Some sources and descendants suspect the tract may have been as large as 800 acres. This land later became part of Nockamixon and Haycock Townships.

The McCarty family and the family of Thomas Garden provided lodging for the circuit riding Jesuit priests who, by 1743, were traveling on foot and horseback from Maryland to the New York border and into Canada. Eventually, the McCarty Homestead became the central gathering place for Catholic services. The priests provided services, baptisms, marriages, and funeral services in private homes. Their travels and locations of services are recorded in a book called The Goshenhoppen Registers.

A church with a classroom was built at the foot of Haycock Mountain. The first church and school room burned down but its successor still stands surrounded by graves of Catholics who worshipped there throughout the centuries. St. John the Baptist Church continues to be used once a week for Mass and for private weddings and funerals.

The original McCarty Home, also known as the "The Mass House," has been restored and is currently a private home. Two McCarty descendants currently own 16 acres of the original homestead.

The McCarty name, like many family names, has been spelled in different ways. Due to different languages and accents, immigration officials or clergy often misheard the name and recorded them incorrectly in legal and church records or changed the names entirely. Sometimes the newly arrived immigrant simply chose a different name because they wanted a new name in a new country.

McCarty Family Name Variations include: Carty, Cardy, McCarthy, Megaddy.

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2026 BUCKS COUNTY HAZARDOUS WASTE COLLECTION DATES & LOCATIONS

• August 8 - Bensalem High School, 4319 Hulmeville Road, Bensalem
• October 24 - strayer Middle School, 1200 Ronald Reagan Drive, Quakertown

2026 Bucks County HHW Flyer, provides more information on the materials you can bring.

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GET PAID TO RECYCLE YOUR OLD APPLIANCES

Contact First Energy/Met-Ed to schedule a pickup for your old refrigerator, freezer, washer/dryer, air purifier, dehumidifier, or dishwasher and get a check for $15 to $50! Call 888-314-4116 or visit www.energysavePA.com.

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HOW CAN I PRESERVE MY PROPERTY?

Email a letter of interest to or mail it to Nockamixon Township office at 589 Lake Warren Road, Upper Black Eddy, PA 18972. (Click here for the: Sample of Landowner Preservation Interest.) After your letter is received, a Nockamixon Open Space Committee member will contact you, arrange a meeting to explain the program, provide an application, and discuss your preservation goals. 

• Preliminary Conservation Easement_Application

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WATER WATCH UPDATE

Drought conditions and water levels have officially entered the “watch stage”. Groundwater is at a WATCH Status with data from the Nockamixon SWL wells showing that 67% of wells are below median water level. Please use water wisely and avoid wasting water unnecessarily to avoid depletion of your well and maintain groundwater levels as much as possible.

More info go to the GMC website: https://www.bntgmc.org/ and the PA Drought Map: https://rconnect.usgs.gov/PA_drought_map/  

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COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE: 2026

A Comprehensive Plan is the main policy guide that summarizes a community's vision for planning and development issues along with a current inventory of the township’s resources. Beginning in 2025, Nockamixon Planning Commission has draft updates under the guidance of the Bucks County Planning Commission. On January 6, 2026, the Planning Commission finalized its review. After a 45-day public review period beginning April 20th and ending June 5th, the Board of Supervisors adopted the 2026 Comprehensive Plan Update at the June 18, 2026 Board  meeting. 

Click here for the final Nockamixon Township Comprehensive Plan Update - Online Version. 

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NOCKAMIXON NEWSLETTER

Click here for the latest NOCKAMIXON NEWSLETTER 2026 which highlights a Nockamixon Historic Minute!

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