Founded in 1895 by a small, but inspired group of 14 Doylestown ladies, the Village Improvement Association was the first
women’s club in Bucks County. Its first meeting was held April 26, 1895. Mrs. Mary L. DuBois was elected Chairman and
subsequently chaired meetings on May 10th, May 21st and May 28th. The club’s constitution was adopted at the May 21st
meeting and Mrs. Richard Watson was elected President at the May 28th meeting. Since that time the V.I.A. has grown in
size to its current membership of approximately 400. The V.I.A. joined the Federation of Women’s Clubs in 1898 and
participated in both state and general Federation activities for 98 years.
The community is the primary concern of the V.I.A. A wide range of programs have been initiated to support and
enhance the quality of life in Central Bucks County.
The V.I.A. is nationally recognized as the only women’s club to own and operate a community hospital. Doylestown
Hospital opened in 1923 after years of planning and preparation. It has expanded in size and services to encompass 247-
beds in a state-of-the-art acute care facility with a Medical Staff of more than 430 physicians in over 50 medical
specialties. Recent program additions include The Heart Institute, established in 2000; an all-private, clinically advanced
ER which opened in 2010; and The Cancer Institute, which expanded in 2011 and now offers on-site access to radiation
oncology through our membership in the Penn Cancer Network.
In 1992, the V.I.A. acquired Pine Run Community and Health Center, a continuing care retirement community. In 1998 the
V.I.A. purchased a separate assisted-living complex known as Pine Run Lakeview.
women’s club in Bucks County. Its first meeting was held April 26, 1895. Mrs. Mary L. DuBois was elected Chairman and
subsequently chaired meetings on May 10th, May 21st and May 28th. The club’s constitution was adopted at the May 21st
meeting and Mrs. Richard Watson was elected President at the May 28th meeting. Since that time the V.I.A. has grown in
size to its current membership of approximately 400. The V.I.A. joined the Federation of Women’s Clubs in 1898 and
participated in both state and general Federation activities for 98 years.
The community is the primary concern of the V.I.A. A wide range of programs have been initiated to support and
enhance the quality of life in Central Bucks County.
The V.I.A. is nationally recognized as the only women’s club to own and operate a community hospital. Doylestown
Hospital opened in 1923 after years of planning and preparation. It has expanded in size and services to encompass 247-
beds in a state-of-the-art acute care facility with a Medical Staff of more than 430 physicians in over 50 medical
specialties. Recent program additions include The Heart Institute, established in 2000; an all-private, clinically advanced
ER which opened in 2010; and The Cancer Institute, which expanded in 2011 and now offers on-site access to radiation
oncology through our membership in the Penn Cancer Network.
In 1992, the V.I.A. acquired Pine Run Community and Health Center, a continuing care retirement community. In 1998 the
V.I.A. purchased a separate assisted-living complex known as Pine Run Lakeview.
| Village Improvement Association of Doylestown |
A Capsule History of the V.I.A.
The James-Lorah Memorial Home
The handsome Federal building at 132 North Main Street, Doylestown, known as the James-Lorah Memorial Home, was the
home for 85 years of Miss Sarah M. James, a charter member of the Village Improvement Association when it was
founded in 1895. Upon her death in 1954, Miss James bequeathed to the V.I.A. the 17-room residence, its contents and a
trust fund for maintenance.
The north wing was originally a saddler’s shop built in the early 1800s. Abraham Chapman, a lawyer, purchased the shop in
1813 and later gave it to his son, Henry, also a lawyer, who enlarged it for use as a law office. In 1844, Henry Chapman, by
then a judge and widowed for seven years, built for his bride-to-be “the finest house in the borough” joining it to the law
office. A grandson, the noted Henry Chapman Mercer, was born in one of the bedrooms.
home for 85 years of Miss Sarah M. James, a charter member of the Village Improvement Association when it was
founded in 1895. Upon her death in 1954, Miss James bequeathed to the V.I.A. the 17-room residence, its contents and a
trust fund for maintenance.
The north wing was originally a saddler’s shop built in the early 1800s. Abraham Chapman, a lawyer, purchased the shop in
1813 and later gave it to his son, Henry, also a lawyer, who enlarged it for use as a law office. In 1844, Henry Chapman, by
then a judge and widowed for seven years, built for his bride-to-be “the finest house in the borough” joining it to the law
office. A grandson, the noted Henry Chapman Mercer, was born in one of the bedrooms.
| Benefits Doylestown Hospital and the Mission of the Village Improvement Association of Doylestown - a 501 (C) 3 organization |
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