Doylestown VIA Has Long And Proud Tradition Of Getting Things Done

DOYLESTOWN, PA — The women of the Village Improvement Association boast a long and proud tradition of getting things done in Doylestown.

From its beginnings in 1895 to the founding of the Doylestown Hospital in 1923, the members of the VIA have helped build the community into what it is today through their determined, yet genteel manner.

It all began in 1895 when a group of foresighted women gathered out of frustration to discuss what could be done about the dusty streets of town and the impact the dirt was having on their family’s health and their homes.

“They had apparently reached out to the powers that be and were not getting the response they had hoped, so they took it upon themselves to tackle the issue and began raising money to purchase a sprinkler that went down the streets in town to keep down the dust," said Pat Urban, the VIA's marketing coordinator. "It took them a little while to raise the money, but they did it and they were off and running."

Their accomplishment was amazing in more ways than one. In addition to getting the job done, they did it at a time when women had very little say in community affairs.

“When you look at what the times were like, women in general weren’t terribly empowered in 1895. They did not yet have the right to vote," said Urban. "For them to take this on, they were indeed ahead of their times."

The ladies began by cleaning the streets to keep the filth out of their homes and children's lungs, and quickly moved to healthcare, welfare and education.

Healthcare became a focus of the fledgling organization during the pandemic of 1918. They hired a visiting nurse and provided her with a staff and a home base. She made her rounds on a bicycle.

Members of the VIA photographed in 1912. (photo provided by the VIA)

Twenty-eight years after its founding, the VIA realized its proudest accomplishment in 1923 with the founding of the Doylestown Hospital, which is celebrating its Centennial this year as one of the region's premier healthcare institutions.

“Again it was a situation where they saw a need," said Urban. "The closest hospital back at
that time was Abington. And that wasn’t particularly convenient when people were injured. It also wasn’t particularly convenient to maternity care.”

In the beginning, the members did the majority of the non-medical work, including cleaning and cooking.

Today the VIA, boasting a membership of more than 300, continues to take an active role in the hospital with its members serving on the governing boards of the institution. The Doylestown Hospital is the only hospital in the United States to be founded and is still governed by a
non-secular women’s organization.

In addition to its governing role, the VIA raises funds for the hospital through events like its Designer House and Gardens in which the organization invites designers and landscapers to transform a property with the latest design techniques.

“The first house, the women were actually painting the walls inside, ironing and hanging curtains," said Urban. "It was really a homegrown effort. As time went on more of the professional designers stepped up and became involved.”

The original Doylestown Hospital. (VIA photo)

The majority of funds raised by the Designer House are donated to Doylestown Health projects, with the remaining funds supporting other VIA community projects. Through the years, the VIA has donated well in excess of $5 million to the hospital.

To celebrate its accomplishments and to share its long and proud tradition of accomplishments with the community, the VIA is working with the Mercer Museum on an exhibit that will showcase the early women of the VIA.

“Many of the names are still names that exist in Doylestown," said Urban. "They were the movers and shakers of their time and a lot of their families are still known here in the community.”

Research is currently underway at the archives located both at the Mercer Museum and at the James Lorah House in an effort to “bring these women to life” for the exhibit.

The exhibit is slated to take place in October of this year.

One of its members, Joy Nash, has also written a screenplay about the founding of the VIA and the early work of the women involved.

“I read it last week and I can tell you that she has done an absolutely phenomenal job of bringing to light the times and the determination of some of these women," said Urban. "We will be looking for an outlet to perform that this year.”

Plans are also in the works to showcase some of the VIA’s accomplishments in the Doylestown Memorial Day Parade, which the VIA has participated in for many years and is one of Doylestown’s proudest tradition.

The women are also working on plans in 2023 to bring back one of its traditions - the Village Fair - last held in the 1970s. The country fair is tentatively scheduled for June 17 in Central Park to raise money to support homelessness.

Home base for the VIA is the James Lorah House at 132 North Main Street. The building, which was bequeathed to the organization by founding member Sarah James in 1952, houses the organization's headquarters and a museum of Victorian lifestyles and Doylestown history.

To learn more about the Village Improvement Association, click here.