The Republican party as it is known today achieved status in Bucks County in 1860, when the first successful Republican candidate, Abraham Lincoln, was elected President of the United States. Bucks could then bask in the reflected glory of Pennsylvania's key role in Lincoln's victory. Its pivotal support was an important factor in the election of the tall lawyer from Illinois.

Both the headquarters and the voice of the county Republican organization were in the offices of a newspaper, the Bucks County Intelligencer, published in Doylestown. The party's most effective spokesman was its owner and publisher, Henry T. Darlington. He was succeeded by Benjamin Franklin Gilkeson, a prominent Bucks County Republican and chairman of the State Republican Com-mittee. The newspaper was later purchased by Bucks County's nationally known Republican leader and late U.S. Senator, Joseph R. Grundy.

The County organization was represented by clubs in most towns throughout Bucks but it had no real headquarters until 1955, when it set up an office in the basement of a building at 50 East Court Street, Doylestown.

Now, at last, the dream of many years for a permanent headquarters has come true. It is a large stone house, built around 1850, located at 115 North Broad Street, across from the Bucks County Administration Building and Courthouse. Restored and modernized, it will furnish a revitalized and dynamic Republican organization with spacious and attractive offices, conference rooms, production quarters for printing, mailing and storage facilities and a moderate sized auditorium.

The Bucks Republican Party brings a notable record of public service and accomplishment into its new headquarters. For many years it retained its political leadership in the county. It is now increasing the registration lead that it held for more than three-quarters of a century.

The county gave early recognition to the great ability and power of its women workers. County Republicans elected the first woman to serve in the legislature from Bucks County. Representative Margarette Kooker of Quakertown served six terms and retired with honors for a job well done.

The new headquarters stands in an area of exciting historical and political events. Sara Maynard Clark tells us that the Continental Army encamped nearby in June 1778, as it marched from Valley Forge to intercept the British Army on its flight to New York. Doylestown's Broad Street was opened in 1811 when the county seat moved from Newtown to Doylestown and many famous inns came into existence in the area. 

From this fine headquarters, the Bucks County Republican organization will continue the farsighted and sound leadership which has led Bucks County to its present key position in the Keystone State of Pennsylvania.

- Written by Ann Hawkes Hutton in 1968