Author Archives: Walt Brickman, Editor, The Bricklyn Eagle

Why the Bricklyn Longhouse is Central to Community Life

October 7, 2025

Note from Editor Walt Brickman: for today’s edition of The Bricklyn Eagle we’ve invited the Chief Historian of the Realm of Bricklyn, Winifred Tiler Jackson, to share her understanding of one of the most important buildings in Bricklyn, the Longhouse.

Outland readers who travel to Bricklyn should understand that they cannot visit the Longhouse, as it is located in that portion of the Realm that lies outside the Great Wall of Bricklyn, an area that remains off-limits to Outland visitors. Nevertheless, we hope Jackson’s insights, and the accompanying images, will give you at least some understanding of this special structure.

I also want to note that this article is dedicated to the memory of the late Elaine Cogan, long-time columnist for the Planning Commissioners Journal.

The Bricklyn Longhouse: Its Design, Uses, and Historical Significance
by Winifred Tiler Jackson
Chief Historian of the Realm of Bricklyn and teacher of history at Bricklyn Hight School

A cheerful LEGO character with red braids in a professional outfit stands in an office filled with books, a globe, and a large map on the wall. — *Winifred Tiler Jackson, Chief Historian of the Realm of Brickly, in her classroom at Bricklyn High School. Credit: The Bricklyn Eagle’s Ann Tiler Anderson, with help from Dall E-3 AI.*

In an earlier article published in The Bricklyn Eagle, “Understanding the Great Wall of Bricklyn,”I touched on some of the history of the LEGO peoples who lived where the city of Bricklyn now stands.

Quite a few of today’s Bricklynites are descendants of those late 18th century pioneers, who were called the “Little Vermonters” — a name long since supplanted by the appellation “Bricklynites” (just as the location first known as Little Vermont was, in 1812, renamed Bricklyn).

➤ As is the practice of most contemporary Bricklyn historians, we shall refer to the “Little Vermonters” here as “early Bricklynites,” as these people were never legally considered Vermonters either during the days of the Vermont Republic or after Vermont was admitted as a State in 1791 — this despite the heroic service of many of them with Ethan Allen’s Green Mountain Boys during the Revolutionary War.

A group of LEGO figures dressed in historical attire walking in front of a large, intricately designed gray wall with carvings, surrounded by greenery. — *Visualization of Colonial-era early Bricklynites alongside a section of The Great Wall of Bricklyn. Prepared by Dall E-3 AI. based on informational prompts from Bricklyn Chief Historian W.T. Jackson.*

A sketch of a longhouse with a curved roof, depicting four LEGO-like figures, including a woman in a bonnet and three men in hats, standing in front of the structure.

The original Bricklyn Longhouse was built in 1772 and — quite unfortunately — demolished in 1897.

The only sketch of this longhouse known to remain (and held in the Bricklyn archives) is shown on the right.

This longhouse bore a resemblance in shape to Iroquois / Haudenosaunee📍 longhouses with their curved, barrel shaped roofs. The current Bricklyn Longhouse, built in 1987, has a style which departs from this, in part as it includes a second floor.

📍 What many still refer to as the Iroquois Confederacy is more often now called by its native name, the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, which will be used in this article. The Haudenosaunee call themselves, “The People of the Longhouse” or “the people who are building the longhouse.”

A LEGO scene depicting a meeting at Bricklyn High School, featuring a panel of five LEGO figures seated behind a table, facing an audience of seated LEGO figures. — A Bricklyn Federal Council meeting being held in the Bricklyn High School auditorium, for many years the location for Federal Council meetings. Photo from Bricklyn Eagle archives dated October 5, 1963; with assistance from GPT-4o AI.

As Bricklyn grew in size, it outgrew its longhouse. In 1895, the Annual Town Meeting was shifted to the auditorium of the newly built Bricklyn High School.

As can be seen from this photo, the auditorium is a rather drab space without much character, and with no historical connection to longhouses.

It was not until some ninety years later — following a surge in LEGO migrants from Denmark — that plans were set in motion to build a new public meeting space. More on the resulting “1987 Bricklyn Longhouse” shortly.

➤ So readers are clear, from this point on when I refer to the “Bricklyn Longhouse,” I will be referring to the Longhouse, built in 1987, and in use today.

Why Bricklyn Uses a Longhouse for Public Meetings

One of the cherished traditions followed by early Bricklynites was the use of a longhouse for many of their public meetings. This practice was revived with the opening of Bricklyn’s new longhouse in 1987. Today’s Bricklyn Longhouse has served as a good fit for public meetings, as well as for other functions.

Allow me to make three observations:

First, the Bricklyn Longhouse harkens back to longhouses found in rural Denmark, the place from which many early Bricklynites emigrated. While research indicates that these Viking-era longhouses were typically used for housing, they often included livestock stables; a workspace for weaving; and storage of tools and foodstuffs. Some also served as a social and meeting place for feasts and community decisions. These longhouses remained an important historical and cultural memory for quite a few Bricklynites.

Above: the warm glow of the Bricklyn Longhouse on a Winter night invites people to attend the public meeting inside. More about the importance of the Longhouse’s scenic location later in this article.

Second, the Bricklyn Longhouse honors the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. The Confederacy was well known to early Bricklynites, especially merchants, as it covered a wide swath of central New York State into southern Ontario. Made up of the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca, and Tuscarora nations, the Confederacy (as noted on the Haudenosaunee website) remains to this day “one of the first and longest lasting participatory democracies in the world.”

The design of the Bricklyn Longhouse draws on several features of meetings of the Haudenosaunee Grand Council. More on this in the next section of this article.

Third, the annual meetings of the Realm of Bricklyn held in the Bricklyn Longhouse largely follow the format of New England town meetings.

New England town meetings typically occur annually, with a moderator and members of the Board of Selectmen (the governing body) present, along with the entire community. Decision-making at town meetings is placed in the hands of town residents 18 years and older. The community, at the town meeting, elects both the meeting’s moderator and the members of the town Board of Selectmen; adopts the annual budget; and can act on a range of other matters. These town meeting practices have also been followed in Bricklyn.

The Uses & Design of the Bricklyn Longhouse

A LEGO figure with a beard and styled hair examines a donut on top of architectural blueprints. — Moshi Saftbrick working on his recent “donut tower” project. Credit Office of Moshi Saftbrick, with help from Dall E-3 AI.

The Bricklyn Longhouse, planned by the then young Bricklyn architect Moshi Saftbrick, opened in 1987.

While the Longhouse is the site of the annual Meeting of the Realm, it also hosts quarterly meetings of the Bricklyn Federal Council, as well as monthly meetings of the Bricklyn Planning Commission.

But quite importantly, the Longhouse is also used almost daily for a wide assortment of events, making it a true community hub. These range from hosting meetings of civic organizations such as the Legotary, to Friday night hoedowns, to drawing classes, and much more. In this way, the Bricklyn Longhouse has become a vital part of community life.

➤ Editor’s note: Hoedowns are one more reflection of the popularity of dancing in Bricklyn life. See also “Dancing in the Street — Every Tuesday Night.”

A group of four LEGO figures sitting in a cozy cabin, gathered around a small brick structure resembling a house. — Kids at play, building a LEGO longhouse on the second floor of the Bricklyn longhouse. Photo by Ann Tiler Anderson, with help from GPT-4o AI.

A highly appreciated section of the Bricklyn Longhouse is its second floor playroom, often used by children while parents are attending a meeting on the ground floor of the Longhouse.

Another key feature of the Longhouse is the central fire that remains lit during all Federal Council meetings held there.

According to Saftbrick, this design feature has its roots in the central fire at Haudenosaunee Grand Council meetings: “The [Confederacy] meetings were held around the eternal fire of the Confederacy, which the Onondaga nation was tasked with maintaining. … The enduring flame of the Council fire to this day represents the unbroken spirit and resilience of the Haudenosaunee people.” Moshi Saftbrick, On Designing a Contemporary Public Meeting Space for the Realm of Bricklyn (Bricklyn University Press, 1991), 134. See also William Fenton, The Great Law and the Longhouse: A Political History of the Iroquois Confederacy (University of Oklahoma Press, 1998), 102.

A LEGO scene depicting a Viking-style longhouse, featuring minifigures wearing helmets and enjoying a gathering around a wooden table with mugs and plates, illuminated by a central fire. — A quarterly meeting of the Realm of Bricklyn Federal Council in the longhouse. Note the central fire / eternal flame; the use of a horseshoe shaped table; the provision of donuts and coffee; and the use of ceremonial Viking-style headwear. Explanations of the purpose for each are described below. Photo by Bricklyn Eagle photographer Ann Tiler Anderson, with help of GPT-4o AI.

➤ As a side note, there is a second eternal light in Bricklyn, the “Ner Tamid” (“eternal light” in Hebrew) found in the main sanctuary of Temple Beth-Shalom in front of the Holy Ark. As Rabbi Rachel B. Weinstein explains, “this light symbolizes God’s eternal presence, and is thus never extinguished.”

“Another meeting room detail that is too often given little thought,” says architect Saftbrick, “is the design and placement of the table council or board members are seated at.” Saftbrick, On Designing, 133. On this point, public involvement expert Elaine Cogan, decried the common practice of board members being seated on a raised dais “high above and yards away from anyone who might want to approach them.” See “Welcoming the Public,” in Planning Commissioners Journal #6 (September/October 1992); Saftbrick, On Designing, 135.

The horseshoe shaped table built for the Bricklyn Longhouse also relates to the Haudenosaunee practice of having chiefs of the nations comprising the Confederacy face each other, sometimes across the fire, instead of being seated in a row. See Fenton, The Great Law, 212. As Saftbrick observed “using a horseshoe shaped table also makes face-to-face conversations much easier to have.” On Designing, 136.

Three LEGO figures enjoy coffee and donuts at a meeting, with a tray of assorted donuts in the foreground and a coffee pot nearby. — Donuts & coffee are provided just outside the longhouse’s main meeting room. Photo by Ann Tiler Anderson, with help from Dall E-3 AI.

When public meetings are held In the Longhouse, donuts and coffee are also available, not just to those at the table, but to all members of the public.

As Elaine Cogan noted, the provision of light refreshments can boost attendance at public meetings and provide for a more relaxed environment. See “Enticements Needed to Woo the Public,” in Planning Commissioners Journal #63, Summer 2006.

Illustration of two Veksö helmets from Zealand, Denmark, showcasing intricate designs with horn-like structures and a bird figure on top. — As can be seen the Bricklyn adaptation of this helmet is not as detailed as the Veksø helmet. Illustration above prepared with assistance of GPT-4o AI.

In the Bricklyn Longhouse meeting room photo (scroll back up the page), you can also see that elected officials, when meeting in the Longhouse, don ceremonial Viking-style helmets, loosely modeled after the ancient Veksø helmets unearthed in Denmark. Their use gives another point of connection to the Danish origins of many Bricklynites.

Interestingly, Haudenosaunee chiefs wore deer antlers during Council meetings. “Symbolic antlers of office marked the chiefs … . Chiefs are crowned with antlers, they are dehorned for misconduct.” Fenton, The Great Law, 102.

Also important to the success of the Bricklyn Longhouse is its scenic location in Westside Park, bordering beautiful Lake of the Pines. See photo earlier in this article.

“A building is diminished,” said Longhouse architect Saftbrick,” if it is not located in a compatible environment … the design team received public feedback that many wanted the new structure to be in an area close to nature; a place with a calming spirit.” Saftbrick, On Designing, 33.

In reviewing potential locations, it quickly became apparent that a wooded site in Westside Park by Lake of the Pines would be ideal. What’s more, the site was close to Bricklyn’s bike and pedestrian pathway and to public transit.” Saftbrick, On Designing, 34-36.

An architectural illustration of a traditional longhouse, showcasing its wooden structure and thatched roof, surrounded by architectural blueprints and design schematics. — Schematic rendering of the 1987 Bricklyn Longhouse. The Longhouse at LEGO scale is 60 in. long x 7 in. wide (converting to human scale, that would be 180 ft. long x 20 ft. wide).
Credit: Office of Moshi Saftbrick; with help from GPT-4o AI.

The design of the Bricklyn Longhouse drew inspiration from Haudenosaunee and Danish sources:

“It is important,” Saftbrick wrote, “to honor our past in our design of public meeting spaces, while meeting current and future needs of the community. This does not mean slavishly copying past designs, but instead, designing new public buildings that provide a sense of continuity married to a vision for the future.” Saftbrick, On Designing, 137.

This point is echoed by the authors of A Pattern Language — Towns, Buildings, Construction, who note that: “People cannot maintain their spiritual roots and their connections to the past if the physical world they live in does not also sustain these roots.” Christopher Alexander et al., A Pattern Language. (Oxford University Press, 1997),132.

Wise words for me to close this article on. ✥

A stylized eagle head design made from colorful LEGO pieces, featuring a bright yellow beak, blue eye, and white feathers, set against a blue background with various colored LEGO dots.

We welcome Letters to the Editor. Please email to: bricklynvt@gmail.com

To the Editor: Bravo to Ms. Jackson for her account of longhouses, in particular the 1987 Bricklyn Longhouse. It was fascinating to read how young Moshi Saftbrick came up with the design. I’ve been to many functions at the Longhouse, and it really has a warmth and character rarely found in contemporary buildings. — Alan Freebrick, South Bricklyn, VT

To the Editor: I had Ms. Jackson as my 9th grade history teacher a few years ago. She’s great at explaining things, and got me interested in learning more about the Outland world. I’ve also been to some events at the Longhouse, I especially like the poetry readings they hold there every month. Nice to listen to poems with friends, with the fire blazing away in the front of the main room. — Alice Plater Sorenson, Bricklyn, VT

To the Editor: My Mom said it was OK for me to write to you, and she’s checking what I wrote before I send this to you. I think it’s me in the picture you have of kids playing in the upstairs part of the Longhouse. I like being there with friends. Hope you like the Longhouse LEGO model we were building. It came out just right, and we now have it on display in the Red Brick School. I’m in fourth grad there. — Nellie B. Thompson, Bricklyn Jct., VT.

Reply from the Editor: Thank you so much for your letter Nellie. For readers who might be interested, Nellie is the girl with blonde hair in the photo we published (with permission of all the children’s parents).

To the Editor: While I like the Longhouse, I do question your putting such a positive light on architect Moshi Saftbrick, given his proposal last year for the design of a skyscraper topped with a donut-shaped revolving restaurant, which would have required tearing down an historic building in the heart of downtown Bricklyn Junction. So much for Mr. Saftbrick’s remarks about the value of “historic continuity.” Fortunately the donut skyscraper project was rejected by the Federal Council. Wish Mr. Saftbrick had stuck to designing longhouses, instead of becoming a “starchitect”! — Larry B. Larsen, Bricklyn, VT.

For the Love of Donuts … Great British Bake Off Judges Paul Hollywood & Prue Leith Invited to Visit Bricklyn

September 28, 2025

by Duane Sandville, Outland Affairs correspondent

A promotional image inviting Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith to a donut tour in Bricklyn, Vermont, featuring LEGO characters holding donuts and surrounded by donut-themed graphics.

An Invitation to visit Bricklyn, VT. Above left: Dunk Them Donuts CEO Dave Tiler Broffman. Above right: Saul Hollybrick & Drew Brickeeth, avatars of the real Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith.
Photos by Ann Tiler Anderson, with assistance of GPT-4o AI and Canva..

During the recent airing of Episode 3 of this season’s Great British Bake Off, celebrity baker and Bake Off judge Paul Hollywood acknowledged that his “guilty pleasure” was eating donuts!📍 This admission was followed by the show’s challenge to its contestants to bake a dozen delectably delicious donuts.

📍The Bricklyn Eagle uses standard American spelling of words. We recognize that “donut” is spelled as “doughnut” in Great Britain and most of the English speaking world. We also note that in 1808 New Yorker Washington Irving apparently used the hyphenated spelling “dough-nut.”

Following the airing of the show, Bricklyn donut mogul David Tiler Broffman — a fan of the Great British Bake Off — set in motion a chain of conversations among Bricklyn business leaders. The result: a special invitation to the Bake Off’s two judges, Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith, to visit the Realm of Bricklyn, either in-person or through their Bricklyn avatars (and live-streamed back to the United Kingdom).

A LEGO character with orange hair and a blue shirt holding an ice cream cone. — **Patsy Brickerson of Pastries by Patsy**

A LEGO figure of a man with a mustache, wearing a light blue suit jacket and a pink shirt, stands on a brick street, with a small gray cat figurine peeking from a nearby alley. — **Patsy Brickerson of Pastries by Patsy**

Coordinated by Bricklyn Chamber of Commerce CEO Tom Brickorti, plans are already moving forward for Leith & Hollywood’s hoped for visit, whether in-person or through their avatars. “The LEGO Realm of Bricklyn,” noted Brickorti, “has long been recognized for its ‘donut culture,’ and as the home of Dunk Them Donuts, Bricklyn’s largest employer. We plan to show our guests the innovative ways in which Bricklyn has become the donut capital of the Inland world.”

Inside the new Dunk Them Donuts shop. — **The newest Dunk Them Donuts shop in downtown Bricklyn. Photos by Ann Tiler Anderson, with assitance of Dall-E3 AI.**

Donuts being loaded onto plane for shipment to more distant Inland cities. — **The newest Dunk Them Donuts shop in downtown Bricklyn. Photos by Ann Tiler Anderson, with assitance of Dall-E3 AI.**

A LEGO figure representing a baker in front of a shop called 'Dunk Them Donuts,' with donuts displayed on a table. — Sal Broffman, David Tiler Broffman’s grandfather in front of the original Dunk Them Donuts shop. Photo provided by Dunk Them Donuts, and developed with assistance from Dall E-3 AI and the Prisma filter.

What makes Bricklyn-made donuts so special?

Over ninety percent of donuts eaten in Bricklyn come from Dunk Them Donuts. As its CEO, David Tiler Broffman, told us, “While we offer a wide variety of donuts, all are rooted in a family recipe handed down from my grandparents. For many years, Dunk Them Donuts, were only sold in the family’s Bricklyn Junction store.

“We’ve greatly expanded our donut offerings since then, but we continue to aim for the quality found in our original family recipe.” Broffman added that “soon, with Mr. Hollywood’s permission, we would love to include a line of glazed donuts based on his own special recipe.”

A scene from a LEGO-themed bakery called Pastries by Patsy, showcasing two LEGO characters dancing outside while other characters enjoy desserts inside.

If Hollywood and Leith’s visit takes place, they will be the second set of celebrity donut lovers to land in Bricklyn, following in the footsteps of the famed Simpsons.

Three years ago Bricklyn civic leaders enticed Homer Simpson, along with dozens of his family members and friends, to move from Springfield to Bricklyn, in part because of the promise of providing the Simpson clan with a lifetime, unlimited supply of Dunk Them Donuts. CEO Broffman acknowledges this was “a quite costly pledge, but one that has truly put Bricklyn and Dunk Them Donuts on the World Donut map.”

Others involved in the Bricklyn baking scene have also been contacted about the possible Hollywood and Leith visit, including Bricklyn pastry chef Patsy Brickerson. While her own shop, Pastries by Patsy, focuses on French baked goods, it also offers Patsy’s own take on donuts.

A LEGO figure of a man with gray hair and a beard, wearing an apron that says 'I ❤️ DONUTS', holding a pink frosted donut while standing in a kitchen. — **Now out of the closet with his love of donuts.**
Photo by Ann Tiler Anderson, with help from GPT 4o AI.

As Brickerson told us, “there’s absolutely nothing contradictory about enjoying both French pastries and Bricklyn donuts.”

“I’m glad,” she continued, “that a chef as highly respected as Paul Hollywood can acknowledge a love of donuts, even if he needs to couch it as his ‘guilty pleasure.’ I know that feeling, but am glad we’re both ‘out of the closet’ now when it comes to our love of donuts.” ✥

From the Editor: While not directly related to what you have just read, we thought the following Note by amateur historian Ned Nettles might be of interest to our readers. Mr. Nettles is a lover of both American history and the history of donuts. He earned a B.A. degree in Outland History in 1988 from Bricklyn University, and periodically reports on historic topics of interest on NewsChannel 5. — Walt Brickman, Editor, The Bricklyn Eagle.

Scroll down past this Note to read Letters to the Editor we’ve received.

A Note on Colonial-Era Philadelphia & Donuts
by Ned Nettles, B.A.

Shown below is what is considered to be a reproduction of the original “Map of the Donut World,” circa 1791, attributed to Mathew Carey — who established one of the first American cartographic publishing firms in Philadelphia in 1785. Carey’s likeness as a young man is believed to be captured by the figure in the upper right corner of the map looking towards his wife Elissa in the upper left corner of the map.

An artistic illustration titled 'Map of the Donut World,' featuring vintage-style depictions of people holding donuts and a map showing various locations with donut symbols. — Map of the Donut World (1791) by Matthew Carey, restored with assistance of GPT-4o AI.

Long thought to have been lost, the Map of the Donut World was discovered buried in a thin metal box during excavations earlier this year at the former site of Matthew Carey’s business on Philadelphia’s Chestnut Street near Third.

Carey is believed to have been a regular at what was then known as “Widow Chardin’s Coffee House,” located near the corner of Second & Walnut Streets, not far from his business. Operated by Mary Chardín after her husband’s death, her donuts were said to be the “sweetest of cherished treats.”

Widow Chardin’s Coffee House is also where the practice of dunking donuts into mugs of steaming hot coffee is said to have occurred with special gusto on September 17, 1787, when patrons dunked to the health and welfare of the framers of the United States Constitution — a document adopted by the delegates to the Constitutional Convention earlier that day at the nearby Pennsylvania State House (now called Independence Hall).

A historical illustration depicting Benjamin Franklin being carried in a sedan chair by four men in period clothing, with a historical building in the background. — Franklin in his sedan chair. Illustration by GPT-4o AI with prompts from reporter Duane Sandville.

Some reported at the time that Benjamin Franklin and James Madison, were among those present at Widow Chardin’s Coffee House for this impromptu dunking ceremony.

Others have disputed this account, saying that the ailing 81-year-old Franklin had been carried in his sedan chair back to his residence on nearby Fourth Street, while Madison, complaining of a headache, had returned to his lodgings at Mrs. Mary House’s boarding house on South Fifth Street, a short walk from the Pennsylvania State House. ✥

A colorful LEGO-style graphic featuring an eagle's head with a prominent beak and expressive eye, surrounded by LEGO bricks in various colors.

We welcome Letters to the Editor. Please email to: bricklynvt@gmail.com

To the Editor: This invitation is just one more example of Dunk Them Donut’s CEO’s showmanship. But what Mr. Broffman mistakes is thinking that the British Bake Off judges would care in the least for touring Dunk Them Donuts’ facilities.

Dunk Them Donuts workers in Bricklyn Junction using the donut extruders to insert fillings. Photo by Ann Tiler Anderson, with assistance of Dall E-3 AI.

Broffman’s company, with its mass production of donuts; its aim to dominate the donut marketplace; its belief that with donuts the bigger the better; and its shabby treatment of its workers, is the polar opposite of the kind of craft and human values I hope and believe Mr. Hollywood and Ms. Leith support. It is disappointing that your reporting failed to note these points. — Toby Smallbrick, Bricklyn, VT.

To the Editor: As a worker in Dunk Them Donuts’ manufacturing plant in Bricklyn Junction, I fear the Chamber of Commerce and Mr. Broffman may paint too glowing a picture of Dunk Them Donuts for Hollywood and Leith. Sure, the pay is decent, and we need donuts for the economy. But why can’t we have better working conditions and more rest breaks?

Filling donuts all day can get tiring, and I’ll admit even boring. I’ve never been the complaining type, but I’ve come to think we could use a union here. Don’t know why Mr. Broffman keeps telling us having a union would threaten our jobs and our future. Seems to me it would help secure them both. –– Name Withheld, Bricklyn Jct., VT.

To the Editor: I saw you added a long footnote about donuts in Colonial-era Philadelphia. Yeah, that’s sort of interesting if you’re into history. But what’s really important is that Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith may visit Bricklyn! That would be something! Let’s pull together and make it happen! — Annie B. Cool, South Bricklyn, VT.

To the Editor: I must say that I have my doubts about the “Note from a Lover of American History & Donuts” that you appended to reporter Sandville’s otherwise informative article. You say this Note is written by a Bricklynite with knowledge of American history and culture. But a lot of the “facts” he sets out are more in the nature of “fantasies.” For example, he highlights the role of the so-called “Widow Chardin’s Tavern” or “Coffee House.” But was there really such a place? Here’s what I asked Chat GPT, followed by its reply:

Map of the Donut World from 1791, attributed to Mathew Carey, showing historical significance of donuts in American culture.

But now take a look at what Chat GPT wrote in response to my follow-up question for its source of information about Widow Chardin’s establishment:

A screenshot of a conversation discussing the historical accuracy of 'Widow Chardin's Coffee House' in colonial Philadelphia, with mention of sources like the Philadelphia Encyclopedia.

So it appears there may well have been no such place as Widow Chardin’s Coffee House or Tavern! This is only one of several questionable statements made in Mr. Nettle’s Note, including the claimed existence of a fanciful looking 18th century document titled “Map of the Donut World” … So what are we to believe? Please, no more amateur historians who fail to check their sources! — Ellen B. Sondberg, Bricklyn, VT

Dictionary definition of 'verisimilitude', showing its meaning as the appearance of being true or real.

Reply from Editor Walt Brickman: While I thank Ms. Sondberg for her dedication to historical accuracy, I am afraid she misconstrues the nature of The Bricklyn Eagle and its contents.

I need to re-emphasize the “fact” that while The Bricklyn Eagle draws on real people, places, and events to provide some verisimilitude, it remains a work of fiction. So please double-check any statements you read before passing them along as actual facts.

To the Editor: I was just told by a friend about a comment your newspaper received questioning the accuracy of material you published about colonial-era Philadelphia, including mention of Matthew Carey, who was my 8th-great-grandfather on my mother’s side. There had long been family lore that he published a so-called “donut map,” something your article referenced. In checking with friends here in Philadelphia, I can verify that a Colonial-era map with the title “A Map of the Donut World” was found during excavations this past March at the site of Matthew Carey’s business, and has been donated to the Atwater-Kent collection of Philadelphia-related historic documents housed at Drexel University.

In discussing this further with my cousin Suzanne (our “unofficial” family genealogist), she told me that word was that our 8th-great-grandfather also loved to frequent a nearby tavern that was operated by a widowed woman named Mary.

Hope the above information is helpful to you and your readers. While I never heard before of Bricklyn or of your newspaper, it’s nice to learn that among LEGO people there’s an interest in Philadelphia history. By the way, my two children really enjoy LEGO building — I’m going to tell them about Bricklyn! — Margery Bookbinder, Philadelphia, PA.

Reply from Editor Walt Brickman: I trust our readers saw the second paragraph of my previous reply!

Venice in Bricklyn: The New Canal District Takes Shape

A LEGO replica of a Venetian-style building with gondolas on a canal, featuring minifigure characters in traditional attire. — Illustration provided by Bricklyn Planning Department, prepared with assistance of Dall E-3 AI.

Sept. 10, 2025

by Paul B. Macro, Business Reporter for The Bricklyn Eagle

Bricklyn’s long planned Canal District — referred to by the moniker “Venice in Bricklyn” — is bearing its first fruits with the completion of several Venetian-style palazzi and case alongside a newly constructed canal.

Bricklyn Planning Director Tim Brickedy describes Venice in Bricklyn as “a vision to bring a beautiful part of the world to Bricklyn, while making use of a large former industrial site that, just a few years ago, was being considered for locating a nuclear power plant. … We’re gratified that Phase 1 of the redevelopment project is now underway.”

A LEGO model of two Venetian-style buildings with a small bridge in front, showcasing intricate architectural details and minifigures, representing the Canal District in Bricklyn. — A model of a possible palazzo (on right) and smaller casa (on left) for Venice in Bricklyn. Photo by Tim Brickedy, Bricklyn Planning Department. See Bricklink Venetian Houses.

Brickedy, along with Bricklyn architect Moshi Saftbrick and donut mogul David Tiler Broffman, made the long trek to Venice, Italy, four years ago to learn about Venetian architecture and building techniques, and to evaluate whether a slice of Venice could be replicated in Bricklyn.

A LEGO figure with a mustache and beard holds a decorated donut while examining blueprints on a table. — Moshi Saftbrick

Bricklyn Planning Director Tim Brickedy by Zoning notice sign. — Moshi Saftbrick

Nighttime view of Venice's canals featuring historic buildings lit up, with a purple water taxi navigating the water. — **Palazzi and smaller case line Venice’s Grand Canal. Photos by Wayne Senville.**

View of Venetian-style buildings along a canal, with gondolas docked in the foreground. — **Palazzi and smaller case line Venice’s Grand Canal. Photos by Wayne Senville.**

According to Saftbrick, “the idea was never to copy brick-for-brick Venetian buildings, but to learn whether it might be possible to re-interpret Venice’s styles — which were obviously built at human scale — for our LEGO-scaled Realm.” Saftbrick added that, “it was critical that the design appeal to Bricklyn homebuyers, while at the same time enhancing the community as a whole.”

Architectural illustration of a Venetian-style building with intricate details, positioned by a canal, featuring arched windows and a stepped entrance. — **Schematic of one of the planned palazzi provided by Moshi Saftbrick;**
**with assistance from Dall E-3 AI.**

A detailed LEGO model depicting a picturesque Venetian-style building alongside a canal, featuring colorful balconies, street lamps, and figures recreating daily life in a vibrant, urban setting. — **Models of two of the proposed Venetian-style case above; a palazzo on the right. From Moshi Saftbrick, & Dall E-3 AI.**

A detailed LEGO model of a Venetian-style building alongside a canal, featuring minifigures, lamps, and a gondola. — **Models of two of the proposed Venetian-style case above; a palazzo on the right. From Moshi Saftbrick, & Dall E-3 AI.**

Broffman, who was the erstwhile developer of the unbuilt Dunk Them Donuts tower, noted that, “Moshi and I learned some hard lessons from that project. It made us realize even more than we had previously the importance of working closely with citizen groups and elected officials to have development that reflects peoples’ desires and values. While our new Canal Estates palazzi and case have modern conveniences and contemporary interior features, we wanted to create a harmonious streetscape — or should I say, ‘canal-scape’ — something that the entire community will be proud of.

A detailed map of the Canal District in Bricklyn, featuring colorful sections and waterways, highlighting the layout of the planned Venetian-style neighborhoods. — Map from Bricklyn Plan for Canal District. Prepared by the Bricklyn Planning Department, with assistance of Dall E-3 AI.

Planner Brickedy noted that the canals and bordering walkways would be open to the public and integrated into the existing bike and pedestrian network.

As Brickedy added, “Our Canal District plan and accompanying zoning ensures all development in Venice in Bricklyn will be accessible to the public, and not result in any restricted enclaves.”

Brickedy also noted that “the Federal Council incorporated inclusionary provisions in the Canal District Plan and accompany zoning regulations that will provide for a significant amount of affordable housing which will be integrated into the new Bricklyn in Venice neighborhood.”

A scenic view of a canal in Venice, Italy, showcasing Venetian-style buildings with colorful facades, a boat docked along the canal, and a bell tower in the background under a clear blue sky. — Houses along the Rio di Sant’ Agostino in Venice’s Castello district. While many large palazzi line the Grand Canal, smaller residences (case) border the city’s many smaller waterways. Photo by Wayne Senville.

Brickedy observed that “while much of the focus has understandably been on the beautiful residences being planned, it’s important to realize that Venice in Bricklyn will also include commercial and office space, as well as several campi providing valued open space with areas for children to play and adults to sit and chat with their neighbors.”

A lively square in Venice, featuring people relaxing near trees, a central fountain, and charming Venetian architecture in the background. — Campo Bandiera e Moro in Castello sestieri (district) of Venice could serve as a model for the two campi planned for Bricklyn’s Canal District. See also A Pattern Language, Chapter 61, Small Public Squares. Photo by Wayne Senville.

A Lego figure holding a brochure titled 'BRICKLYN Canal Estates' featuring a black and white illustration of Venetian-style buildings and a canal.

Developer Broffman said he was “quite pleased” with Bricklynites’ initial reaction to his Canal Estates development, and that deposits had already been placed on eight of the planned canal-side residences.

Broffman also reported that a grocer and (perhaps not surprisingly) a Dunk Them Donuts shop have also signed long-term leases.

Within the next three years Phase 1 should result in the completion of 24 case; five palazzi; and six commercial and office sites — all to be built by the development arm of Broffman’s Dunk Them Donuts.

“Developers have not yet been selected for the next two phases of Venice in Bricklyn,” said Planning Director Brickedy, “and it is certainly possible that multiple developers will be involved. Phase 2 is slated to move forward in 2028. Ultimately, we are looking for a maximum neighborhood population of 500, as recommended in the Canal District Plan.” 📍

📍For readers interested in neighborhood planning, the Canal District Plan draws heavily on standards set out by Alexander, Ishikawa, and Silverstein in their invaluable text, A Pattern Language: Towns – Buildings – Construction. See Chapter 14, “Identifiable Neighborhoods.”

A scenic view of a canal in Venice featuring traditional buildings, a bridge, and outdoor dining areas with red awnings. Several boats are moored along the water's edge. — A ristorante bordering the Rio del Greci canal in Venice’s Castello district. The Bricklyn Canal District Plan calls for restaurants and other commercial uses to be mixed with residential buildings.
Photo by Wayne Senville.

It should be noted that the Canal District will not be open to Outland tourists as it is in that part of Bricklyn located outside the Great Wall. This will, however, help avoid “overtourism” that has plagued Venice, Italy, where day-tripping tourists often swarm across the city, especially during Summer months.

LEGO figurine dressed as a police officer speaking to three other LEGO figures in a scenic, Venetian-style backdrop. — Photo of Commissario Bricketti meeting with Tim Brickedy, Moshi Saftbrick, and David Plater Broffman.
credit: The Venice Gazzetino, with assistance of GPT-40 AI.

Detective Bricketti of the Venice Polizia

During their stay in Venice, the three Bricklyn visitors set aside time to meet with renowned Venice police detective Leon Bricketti at the Campo Lorenzo, a few minutes walk from the Questura (police headquarters).

Bricketti spoke of how the Venice police have dealt with youth gangs, an emerging concern in parts of Bricklyn.

➤ Detective Bricketti is sometimes mistaken for a fictional detective also based in Venice. ✥

A colorful LEGO-style illustration featuring a stylized eagle head with bright blue eyes, fluffy white feathers, and a yellow beak, set against a blue background with various colored circular pieces.

We welcome Letters to the Editor. Please email to: bricklynvt@gmail.com

To the Editor: The Bricklyn Chamber of Commerce offers its congratulations to David Tiler Broffman and all the others who have worked so hard to make Venice in Bricklyn a realty. While, as your reporter mentioned, Outlanders will not be able to visit our Venice (at least for now), it will surely draw visitors from other Inland realms. Fortunately, improvements to both Brick Air and Brick Rail services will help make Bricklyn much more accessible. Again, kudos to Team Bricklyn! — Tom Brickorti, CEO, Bricklyn Chamber of Commerce.

To the Editor: While I love Venice, Italy, I have serious reservations about this attempt to recreate Venice here in Bricklyn. The magic that makes the real Venice so special simply cannot be replicated elsewhere, as other efforts to do so have already shown (see, for example, Venice Water City in Dalian, China). Instead we should be improving the design of our existing neighborhoods and filling in empty lots with buildings consistent with Bricklyn’s well-established architectural styles. I’m afraid that the commanding influence of a super wealthy Bricklyn donut mogul has led Bricklyn planners and elected officials to move forward with a copy cat effort that misses the mark. — Lewis Brickford, Bricklyn Jct., VT.

Reply from “Venice in Bricklyn” Architect Moshi Saftbrick: While I appreciate respected writer Brickford’s comments, I must note that, as Mr. Brickford is surely aware, very few Bricklynites can afford a trip to Venice, Italy. By providing them a slice of Venice right here in Bricklyn, they can partake in some of the timeless beauty of Venetian architecture, as well as the pleasures of having in the newly built canal an enjoyable and publicly accessible amenity.

To the Editor: I find it ironic that now that Bricklyn has become part of the French Republic we embark on a project to bring Italian style buildings here. Hope we at least get a good pizzeria! — Marcel B. Maçon, South Bricklyn, VT.

To the Editor: So many naysayers out there who can’t see a great thing when it’s right before their eyes! Venice in Bricklyn is just the shot in the arm our Realm needs, especially during these trying times. Thank you to the talented folks who have worked tirelessly on brining this creative development to Bricklyn. — Polly Plater Popover, Bricklyn, VT.