W. Atlee Burpee (1858-1915)
Doylestown, Bucks County, Pennsylvania
Marker Inscription
Founder at age 18 of the seed company bearing his name. At. Fordhook Farm nearby, he developed Golden Bantam Corn, Bush Lima Beans, Iceberg Lettuce, & other plant varieties. He gave this park to the Borough in honor of his wife Blanche.
Erected by Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission
The Story
At just eighteen, W. Atlee Burpee founded the seed company that still bears his name, and at his nearby Fordhook Farm he turned plant breeding into a national enterprise. There he developed enduring garden staples—Golden Bantam corn, bush lima beans, and Iceberg lettuce among them—that landed in kitchen gardens across the country through his mail-order catalogs. He gave this park to Doylestown in honor of his wife, Blanche.
Why it matters
Burpee helped democratize American gardening and reshaped what grew in the nation's backyards and farm fields, making him a quiet force in the country's agricultural life.
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Related people
- · W. Atlee Burpee
- · Blanche Burpee
Themes & tags
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