The taps are off at the Rising Sun Inn, the 18th century tavern on Allentown Road in Franconia Township that local lore says once hid the Liberty Bell. Owners Donna Paci and Fred Duerr have closed the restaurant and are under contract to sell the property to the township as they head into retirement. The deal includes the historic barn and the tavern’s liquor license, and township officials say the goal is to preserve the buildings and line up a future use that fits the site, not to clear it for redevelopment.
Franconia Township manager Jon Hammer confirmed the pending $1.25 million sale and told PhillyVoice the township expects to close at the end of June. The outlet reports that in a Facebook post, the owners pointed to retirement and the "changing economic landscape and ongoing challenges facing small, locally owned businesses" as reasons for the decision.
Colonial past and local lore
The property’s story stretches back to 1739, when settler Peter Gerhart built what was first known as Gerhart's Tavern. CBS Philadelphia notes that the site is believed to have quartered soldiers and briefly sheltered the State House (Liberty) Bell during its 1777 convoy to Allentown. Local lore also links the basement to the Underground Railroad, and in later years the building picked up a reputation as a Prohibition era speakeasy.
Township steps in to preserve
Hammer told PhillyVoice, "We are interested in the preservation of the structures. That's really what we care about." He said the township will complete its due diligence before deciding whether to seek another restaurant operator or a similar tenant to take over the site.
Local reaction and next steps
Locals are treating the closure as more than just another restaurant going dark. Community responses have been largely appreciative: the Franconia Township police department called Rising Sun "woven into the story of a town," Patch reports. In recent years the barn has doubled as a wedding venue, and township officials say that once the sale is final they will evaluate preservation needs and explore potential funding sources.
The sale is expected to close at the end of June, after which Franconia Township plans to begin formal preservation planning and outreach to possible future operators. For now, the tavern remains closed, and residents will be watching township announcements and local coverage for clues about what comes next for the historic corner staple.
