The W.A.S.P.’s of Doylestown is an essay regarding the culture of White Anglo Saxon Protestants that live in Doylestown, as well as the roots of the town. This town’s history is rich with folk lore and stories, some of which I have been pleased to have been a part of myself. I will recount my experiences with the culture of youths found in Doylestown as well as provide background of the stepping stones that formed this community. An interview with a Doylestown community member, (born a White Anglo-Saxon Protestant and now an Occultist) Meg Howard provides us with a view into what it is to be a part of the upper-middle class.

Nestled quaintly just above the Mason-Dixon line there lies a small town called Doylestown. It is located in the heart of Central Bucks, Pennsylvania. Cottages date back to the early 16th century: built of stone and brick. These were the homes of the Kirkgoods, the Doyles, the Wells, the Beals and the Merediths. Early as 1735 you could find dirt roads that led through the woods to a hostelry that was run by William Doyles. Late in the 1700’s one could find only two or three log cabins in the whole 5350 acres that make up the town. During the mid to late 1800’s Doylestown developed some of its best known features. These include its multiple Victorian style homes, its cemetery next to the Mercer Mansion as well as the Mansion itself. Cobblestone roads that were laid down in the 1800’s still are in place today: they stand in front of the old Fountain House that has recently been turned into a Starbucks.

The Doylestown Fountain House was originally a Tavern for travelers. A long time local named Grant Stevens recounted the story that at one time, “each stool had a box installed below the bar with a pistol in it. These boxes could only be opened from behind the bar, and if a customer got too rowdy, the justice would be served just as cold as the beer,” (Stevens). Stevens knew Doylestown well, speaking well of the railroad system, which also happened to be where he worked for over fifty years. Despite the coolly dispensed justice in forming a high-brow white society built on capitalism, a different story spills regarding the bestowal of Doylestown upon a man named Cudjo not long before the Fountain House was built in 1758. Ultimately, Doylestown is a haven for White Anglo-Saxon Protestants that has steadily increased in economic class since the 16th Century when this mysterious man “Cudjo” originally owned the Doylestown Proper area.

Ethnically, the scope of Doylestown has stayed rooted in white Christians throughout the history of being built. Those of Scotch-Irish descent were the first to settle this area that lies only one mile away from the very center of the county. As stated, 1735 was the year William Doyles first settled in a cabin of his own in this land; thus the name Doylestown. It is understood that since Doylestown was only eight miles from the church in Deep Run, (built in 1732), Doyles may have settled so that he’d be close to his congregation. During 1942, a neighbor of Doyles named Jeremiah Langhorne passed away. During this year the ethnic percentage of Doylestown landowners were significantly off balance in regard to the rest of the town’s history.

As a testament to his will, Jeremiah Langhorne left an emancipated slave named “Cudjo” his entire estate including ten cows, eight horses, twenty sheep and a homestead, (Blanchard, 2004). It is said that Cudjo was the only Black Forefather of Doylestown. All 156 acres that Cudjo was granted upon his master’s death have been developed. Doylestown’s most prominent buildings stand on the acreage that was Cudjo’s right, had he accepted it. The Fountain House was built on Cudjo’s land, the Mercer Museum, the County Theatre as well as the location of the last remaining cobblestone roadways that used to lead from Doylestown to Philadelphia. Despite Cudjo’s right to this property in the year 1742, five months after he was granted this property he sold it all. A historian named Wilma Rezer explains, “To suddenly be isolated in a vast undeveloped area proved to be too much,” (Blanchard, 2004) “At no time since [the sale] has Doylestown been known for racial or economic diversity,” (2004). Common-folk here maintain that this town is a “generally tolerant, well-educated place,” (Blanchard, 2004).

In my own experience, I’ve known several African-Americans, Asians and I myself am Hispanic. Tolerance is something that people will say they have towards minorities when the paper approaches them: reality is a much different story. I am lucky, as I happen to look more German than I look Portuguese; therefore I am “white” in the eyes of my peers.

I do look like the people here, yet the way they look outwardly when in the presence of an outsider that is African American or Hispanic looking, (for some reason Asian-Americans have been demonstrated more respect in my peer groups) is not the way I look. I’ve seen disdain, disgust and depreciative cold shoulders from Doylestown residents because of a minority presence. Being Portuguese, even though these looks aren’t directed at me, I feel as though they hit me indirectly. A fine education does not necessarily mean a warm and tolerant society. Statistically, the Knight Foundation compiled a database of population provided with the Doylestown newspaper, The Intelligencer. According to the report, 91.2 percent of Bucks County itself is white, (Dedman & Doig, 2005). I’ve noticed that among younger kids who are neither bigoted nor open-minded in regard to minority classes; the underclassmen of my High School and Colleges have been primarily indifferent to the cultures beside their own. These are the attitudes of the youths I’ve spoken with.

A commonly coined phrase among White Anglo-Saxons when speaking of African-Americans that they are friends with is, “It doesn’t matter that he’s black… there’s a difference between a black person and a nigger.” A person is a person regardless of their color, creed or heritage and any offensive terms deigned to their affiliations are condescending towards them as well. Experientially for the now 8.8 percent of non-white residents in Doylestown, their hometown is full of double-standards. Median income for a Doylestown household is $73,000, (Dedman & Doig). According to the article Diversity in Spirit, if Not in Fact, in Community, Dick Johnston calls Doylestown, “a booming town for people who have over $250,000 to buy a house with. It’s not nearly so friendly for people on the lower end of the financial scale,” (Blanchard, 2004). As a half-Hispanic man working in Doylestown, my yearly wage is at $18,000. If I were to marry a woman in a comparable position our household income would be just over $30,000. We as minorities are chastised for being different and we are left at the bottom of the socioeconomic scale.

A differing viewpoint comes from Meg Howard, a twenty-five year resident of Doylestown who has a familial history in politics and who is currently attending Temple University for theatre’. I had an opportunity to speak with Meg about her experience in Doylestown which was notably different than my own. Megan’s grandfather, Ed Howard had been a representative of the State Senate from 1950 till the late 1980’s. His liberal views affected Megan, despite his ticket as a Republican. Ed was a member of the North American Religious Liberty Association, (NARLA) during his time in the Senate. This attitude of tolerance between religious groups extended towards minorities as well. Meg describes her family teachings in regard to race as,

We were always taught to treat people different than us like normal people. I wasn’t introduced to race per se’. Rich people concentrate on their cliques while those in the service industry are looked down upon regardless of race. Since there are so few minorities, a lot of the lower end of the class scale is made up of white people: it’s unfortunate. (Howard, 2006).

Megan spoke about both of us in that statement: she and I may be separated by race, yet we both work at the bottom of the service industry. Socioeconomically, we are in the same troubled boat. Her advantage in life still stands in the fact that she is unscathed by any brash comments about race that may be present in her community. When I asked Megan if she saw the importance in understanding the cultures of others, especially in the field of acting, her response, “Yes, I understand other cultures because it helps you play a character,”. When asked if characteristics of race filter into the roles that she has played her response was, “Most shows here are geared towards white people.” Her attitude resembled the ambience of the town throughout the interview: quaint, soft spoken, cheery and focused on money more than she understood race and racial issues. When asked, “If you could do one thing to increase tolerance in Doylestown, what would it be?” she responded sarcastically, “hit people with a stick,” (Howard, 2004). She went on to say that she would lead by example, yet people’s opinions are their own. Having had no first-hand experience with racial prejudice, she would be justified in believing that she can make no change on her own. She remains simply ignorant to the great amount of difference that standing up for someone different than you can make.

In conclusion, Doylestown is a beautifully designed town that hosts a number of attractions that would be popular to visitors including our famous County Theatre’; the location where independent films are still played and made famous, the Fountain House that stands as the very center of town with its cobblestone parking area, and a number of vast, open, green parks. Historically, Doylestown has been racially separated from everything but whites. Cudjo the freed slave could have changed this had he not been surrounded by whites eager to steal his land. Unfortunately one black man with a gun does not win against fifty white men with guns. In terms of personal experience, I’ve found Doylestown to be tolerant outside of the realm of the school district. A few outstanding teachers and students make a great deal of difference here, yet the majority of indifference does not tip the balance in favor of those precious few when it comes to the opinions of the chastised. If more people were outwardly intolerant of unfair discrimination, perhaps Doylestown would have been friendlier for my friends and me.