Whitpain_Crossroads_in_Time CONTENTS Introduction .......................................................1 Early Whitpain Township History .................................3 Early History of Whitpain Township ..............................4 Pre-European History ........................................4 Geology ....................................................4 The Indians .................................................6 Flora and Fauna of Whitpain Township ...........................11 Common Native Trees and Their Uses ..........................11 Colonial Medicinal Plants .....................................14 Mammals ...................................................17 Birds .......................................................17 Reptiles .....................................................18 Insects .....................................................18 William Penn ...................................................19 Whitpain Township — "What's in a Name?" ......................24 European Settlement of Montgomery County .....................26 Pre-Penn Settlers ............................................26 Post-Penn Settlers ...........................................26 Welsh Settlements ..........................................27 Swedish Settlements ........................................28 German Settlements .........................................28 English Settlements .........................................29 Growth of Colonial and Early Post-Colonial Whitpain ..............31 Whitpain and The Revolution ....................................37 Revolutionary War — Prelude .................................38 The Continental Army in Whitpain Township ...................41 The Continental Army in Whitpain Township and Vicinity ........42 Colonel Walter Stewart .......................................59 Military Organizations and Units in 1777 .......................60 Whitpain People and Anecdotes ...............................62 Sally Wister's Journal ........................................67 Postlude ....................................................75 v Township Services For A Growing Community ...................77 Education — Schools and Libraries ...............................78 Chronology of Whitpain Public Schools .........................78 Teachers and Scholars .......................................91 School Directors .............................................94 School Buildings and School Life ..............................95 Montgomery County Community College, Founded 1964 .........101 Church Schools and Private Schools in Whitpain ................102 Nursery Schools .............................................103 Libraries ....................................................104 The Postal Service ..............................................106 Recent Development of the Township ............................114 Township Administration Building .............................114 Wissahickon Park ............................................116 Sites And Families ................................................119 Churches History of Boehm's Reformed United Church of Christ ............122 St.John's Lutheran Church ......................................132 Union Meeting Church ..........................................143 Mount Pleasant Baptist Church ..................................147 Homes Dawesfield .....................................................153 North Section ..................................................167 Wallace Carlson Property .....................................167 David Greger Property ........................................169 Charles and Mary-Ellen Jensen Property .......................172 Yost Road ...................................................176 Florence and Donald Spacht ..................................182 Bonnie and Charles Taylor ....................................185 Near Custer Station .............................................189 Dr. John and Sibyl Siegfried's House ...........................189 Clifford and Dorothy Tate — Cassel Place .......................190 Walter Cassel Property .......................................192 Going South on DeKalb Pike .....................................193 Two Old Houses in Center Square .............................193 Concerning "DeKalb Farms" ..................................195 vi The Creamery ...............................................196 Normandy Farms ...............................................193 Bernhard — Walker — Greenawalt Farms (Now Montgomery County College) ................................................201 Down Skippack Pike .........................................205 Stories of Smallpox, Yellow Fever Burial Grounds ...............206 What Was Once Cream Ridge .................................206 The Reichels ................................................211 Alex and Emily McNaught ....................................212 Arthur and Kay Rush House — Owned by Peter Strassburger .....214 Vivian and Phillip Bird Estate ..................................215 "Quail Call" ....................................................219 Edward and Gloria West Property ................................220 The Clayton House ............................................221 The South Corner of Penllyn-Blue Bell Pike and Morris Road .......223 The Davis — Greger Property .................................223 The "Cedars" ...............................................225 "Blythewood" ...............................................227 "Charles McCracken House" ..................................228 Former Boehm's Church Parsonage ..............................230 Maggie and Harry Rolin's House .................................231 "Christmas House" ............................................233 "Boxwood Farm" ...............................................234 John Wentz Home .........................................236 The "Gingerbread House" .......................................238 The Zimmerman's of Silver Lake Farm ............................239 Mermaid Swim Club and Golf Club ...............................245 Sperry Univac Land ............................................247 Dr. and Mrs. Barclay Rile Property ...............................251 The Roberts — Miller Tract ......................................253 Caroline Roberts Miller's Notebook ..............................259 vii Observations and Quotations From Arthur Hagen Miller's Book "Fond Memories" ..............................................262 "Tall Oaks" .....................................................263 "Melrose" ......................................................270 Chambers Home (Formerly Black Horse Inn) ......................273 "Barberry Lodge" ...............................................275 "Farview Farm" ................................................277 The Home of Ilga and Herbert Winicov ............................278 "Swallfield" Penllyn-Blue Bell Pike ..............................283 Carpenter Property ..............................................287 Cavanaugh Property, Blue Bell Road, Blue Bell ....................290 Home of Lei Barry and Frank (Tad) Mahan .........................291 Michael and Edna Lalli Home ....................................295 "The Cloot" ....................................................296 "The Cloot Barn" ...............................................300 West End of Penllyn-Blue Bell Pike - William Coulston Property ....301 J. White House ..............................................305 Robert C. Allen House ........................................308 The C. Cressen Wistar House ....................................309 History of "Whitpain Farm" .....................................312 William Reinhart Farm ...........................................319 Cadwalader Property ............................................321 "The Oak Lane Day School" .....................................324 "Quarterpeck Farm" ............................................327 "Febas Farm" ..................................................329 The H. C. Webster Home ........................................331 The Bremier Home ..............................................332 viii Wertsner Corner ................................................324 The Devereux Home .............................................337 The Haas House and "Yost Log Cabin" ...........................340 Chain of Title Log Cabin Property North Side of Yost Road, Whitpain Township ....................344 Home of The Morris Cheston, Jr., Family .........................347 Conversation With Frank A. Pierce ...............................351 "Pleasant Hill" .................................................355 Inns And Taverns "Blue Bell Inn" .................................................350 "The Blue Horse" ...............................................354 The "Broad Axe Tavern" ........................................365 The "Waggon Inn" ..............................................368 "Rising Sun Inn" ...............................................374 Bicentennial Activities 1975 -1977 ..............................377 Summation of Whitpain Township Bicentennial Commission .......................................378 Appendix Early Roads From The Notes of John N. Mears ....................385 Skippack Pike ...................................................387 Morris Road ....................................................388 A Turnpike That Had A Good Reputation .........................389 Road Milestones ................................................390 Land Owners In Whitpain Township In 1734 ......................394 List of Taxables In Whitpain Township — 1785 ....................395 Occupations of 1785 Taxables In Whitpain Township .............397 Census of Whitpain Township ...................................398 Bibliography .......................................................399 ix Whitpain Township Bicentennial Commission Ellen Pittenger Gladeck — Chairman Book Committee Chairman — Malcolm McFarland, Jr. Technical Committee - Malcolm McFarland, Jr. George S. Peck George C. Taylor, Jr. Committee Artist - Becky Huttinger Contributing Artists — Bobby Rhindress Donna J. Stockett Photography — George S. Peck Others Editing - Marjorie H. Gerhart Malcolm McFarland, Jr. Technical Committee Committee Authors — Dorothy S. Conard Elizabeth M. De Vincent Arthur Driedger Marjorie H. Gerhart Ellen Pittenger Gladeck Becky Huttinger Agnes Baker Jefferson Charlotte G. Peck Graham Swift George C. Taylor, Jr. Contributing Authors — Lei Barry John Cadwalader Harry D. Carrozza Patricia A. Knauff David C. Laubach Christy Miller Davenport Plummer Herman J. Prischmann Adele Rhindress Maggie and Harry Rolin Bonnie Schmid Sandra and Robert Trump Blanche P. Zimmerman xi ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Members of the Book Committee of the Whitpain Township Bicentennial Commission are primarily responsible for the planning and completion of this book. Here we wish to thank the following institutions and individuals who assisted our authors by providing technical assistance or who shared their family stories and recollections- Mr & Mrs. R. W. P. Allen, III; Dr. & Mrs. Charles Baker; John Berkheimer; Mr. & Mrs. Irvin Bernhard; Charles Bruno, Jr.; Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Cassidy; Harvey Cole, Sr.; Gale Fields; Edna Drake Fry; Ellen Jensen Gehret; Mrs. George Heilman; Leroy Jones- Warren Mild; Mr. & Mrs. Harold Murphy; Walter Posen; Maurice J. Potter; Dr E Barclay Rile; Mr. & Mrs. Edgar Schmidt; Mildred DeHaven Slough; John D Slough- Mr. & Mrs. Oliver P. Snowden; Mr. & Mrs. Harry Steinbach, Jr.; Mary Sutherland' Mary Yost Thomas; Max Tietjen; Susy Whann; Rev. & Mrs. William Welther; Merrill K. Zimmerman; and many others. We are grateful for the extra assistance and personal involvement provided by the Wissahickon School District Administrators and Staff; Sister Mary Teresa, St. Helena's School; Valley Forge Park Library, Reception Center; Elizabeth Ogg, Public Relations Coordinator, Montgomery County Community College; Wissahickon Valley Public Library; Fort Washington Historical Society; and the Whitpain Township Officials and Staff. Our special thanks go to Mr. & Mrs. Henry Whittock, who have continuously helped us with many genealogical facts and stories; Mrs. William H. Smith and Mrs. James A. Young, Librarians at The Montgomery County Historical Society who greatly extended themselves in order to assist our authors in their quest for accurate material; and Mr. Glenn Taylor, Recorder of Deeds Office, Montgomery County Court House who was always eager to assist us in tracing the old property transfers which are so important to this book. The major portion of the book could not have been written without the open cooperation of the many home owners for which we are so grateful. Above all, we wish to thank Sperry Univac who set the type, prepared the layout and printed the book, and who continuously guided us throughout this endeavor. xiii Introduction The purpose of this book is to bring the past of Whitpain Township closer to the people, especially our neighbors. Our project began on April 13, 1975 during the first official Whitpain Township Bicentennial Commission Meeting. It was decided that a committee would write a book about the history of our township. We envision this, not as a history, but as a combination of historic fact and forgotten tales which will interest not only the historian but also our friends and neighbors. The facts have been gleaned from original Deeds, Church records. Tax records, Philadelphia, and Montgomery County records. The stories, when unsupported by facts, have been indicated as such. Many authors have combined their efforts to complete this book and we have endeavored to allow each author's literary style to remain intact. This accounts for the interesting variation of styles which we feel best expresses the authors original conception of our history. With many authors working on the book, repetition of facts was inevitable. These repetitions remain to permit completeness in each authors work. After reading this book we hope you will feel, as we do, a special insight or kinship with the old houses, taverns, churches, and people scattered throughout our township. Malcolm McFarland Jr. Chairman — Book Committee 1 Early Whitpain Township History The lovely land which was here — its rocks and streams; its plants and animals; its early people, the Indians. The granting of this land by William Penn to Richard Whitpain and the creation of a Township. The life of early settlers in the period up to the Revolution. 3 Early History of Whitpain Township By Graham Swift Photography by George S. Peck Artwork by Becky Huttinger Donna J. Stockett Bobby Rhindress Pre-European History When Europeans first arrived in this part of the "New World," some 150 years after Christopher Columbus discovered America, it was in reality already very old and inhabited by the first Americans, the Indians. The awe-inspiring primeval forest which covered present day Whitpain, and an area far beyond, consisted mainly of oak, hickory and chestnut, but many other varieties of trees were also present. Clearings burned out by the Indians as grazing land were probably noticeable to these early settlers. Before going forward in time through the founding and growth of our township to the present day, which covers only three hundred years, it is worthwhile to reflect on the pre-history of Montgomery County and Eastern Pennsylvania, of which Whitpain is a small part, which spans an enormous time of approximately one billion years. How was this land shaped? Where did the first Pennsylvanians come from? These are fascinating questions to which geology and Indian history provide some interesting answers. Geology Whitpain is in the Eastern part of Montgomery County which is a small area of land in a Piedmont Region, a long strip of land between sea and hills, located between the Appalachian Range and the Atlantic Ocean. Three distinct types of rock underlay the surface of the county, each formed aeons ago giving the soil its peculiar characteristics. 4 According to current scientific theory, Eastern Pennsylvania, from present day Phila- delphia to Altoona, was the floor of a vast inland sea about one billion years ago. The sea bed was under tremendous pressure and became the very hard pre-Cambrian rock now visible in Eastern Montgomery County. The original sea bed slowly sank over a period of time from 600 to 200 million years ago, becoming submerged under layers of sand, mud, gravel, and lime. Then, suddenly, the eastern part of the sea bed rose above sea level throwing up the previously mentioned hard pre-Cambrian rocks in an area of the county bordering on present day Philadelphia, including Upper Dublin and Horsham. It was at this time that the limestone deposits which underlay Whitemarsh, Plymouth, and the eastern part of Whitpain also surfaced. For a few million years following the rising of the land in eastern Pennsylvania, the earth went through geological shrinkage and upheaval known as the Appalachia Revolution, when the Appalachian mountains were formed. This tremendous upheaval of the earth's crust created a deep fold in the earth's surface running in a narrow belt through the eastern section of the North American continent, which included upper Montgomery County. The fold became a narrow sea which gradually accumulated mud and sand which slowly compressed into shale and sandstone. This sea bed later surfaced as a sandstone and shale area and probably includes the Stony Creek section of Whitpain which is rich in sandstone. Clepsisaurus Pennsylvanicus i Once native to the Whitpain area It was during the time of this narrow inland sea that reptiles began to be the dominant life species. The famous "Blue Bell Dinosaur," which was really a giant lizard, is an example of the kind of creature that lived at that time. It was in fact found in a quarry just outside Blue Bell in Worcester Township and given the scientific name "Clepsisaurus Pennsyl- vanicus." Its remains now reside in the Academy of Natural Science in Philadelphia. A great leap forward through millions of years covering the ice age and mammalian evolution during which time the Appalachian Mountains were eroded to their present size and the land contours took on their familiar present day shapes, brings us to the arrival of man, the Indian, in North America. 5 The Indians It is generally agreed that the Americas were populated by Asiatic tribes who crossed the Bering Straits land-bridge sometime during the last 20-50,000 years. Though they retained many Asiatic characteristics, they eventually became a separate race. There is no evidence or legend to indicate that Montgomery County was inhabited by Indians Prior to about l000 AD' or only 600 years prior to the arrival of Europeans in this area. Sometime around 1000 years ago, the Lenni Lenape, also known as Delaware Indians, migrated to this area from the West. Traditional history of the Lenape was inscribed on birchbark plates with red painted, carved figures. This is the only Eastern American Indian record that can be called a book and was called a book and was called the Walum Olum (translated to Red Scroll) by the Lenape. According to this tribal legend, the Lenni Lenape originated in the vast land area west of the Missis- sippi River. For some reason, they left their home land and wandered eastward to the Mississippi, joined with the Iroquois and together they conquered the Alligewi tribe that occupied the Ohio Valley. The Iroquois and the Lenape then parted and went their separate ways. The Lenape splintered into several groups; one half of the tribe continued eastward into the Delaware Valley; one quarter retreated westward from whence they came; and the remainder settled in the Ohio Valley. Those continuing eastward further subdivided into several groups. Two of these, the Nanticokes and the Shawnees, broke away and moved south. It is possible that the Shawnees later traveled across Montgomery County in a northward migration from present-day Maryland to the forks of the Delaware in the 1690's where they re-united with one of the main clans. The Nanticokes wandered for many years and may have crossed Montgomery County in the 1750's in a northern migration. The largest group of the Lenape settled the land between the Susquehanna and the Hudson Rivers, south of the area occupied by. their old allies, the Iroquois. Three clans of the Lenapi were: the Munsie or Wolf Clan which settled the Delaware Valley north of the Lehigh River, the Unalachtigo or Turkey Clan which settled the lower Delaware Bay area, and the Unami or Turtle Clan which settled the land between the others. The Unami tribe controlled Montgomery County, including present-day Whitpain, and they were the only Indians residing here for any long period of time. The Unami were the most important tribe of the Lenapi and by custom the Chief of the Unami was regarded as King of the whole Delaware Nation. The totem symbol of Unami, the turtle or tortoise, reflected this sovereignty in that it had a special religious significance, being regarded as the symbol of life, of the earth, and of the origin of all things. 6 The name Lenni Lenape translates as meaning the real or original people. In tact, most of the Algonquin race of American Indians to which the Lenapi belonged, regarded them as the grandfathers of the race. From their position of leadership and influence over the Lenape and the Algonquins, the Unami tribe was able to maintain peace throughout the whole nation. This tribal legend of being the "original people" had many important ramifications. It developed a feeling of kinship not only with the allied Indian tribes of the East but also a spirit of brotherhood among all mankind. White people were called "brothers," Mexicans were called "uncles" and the negro slaves of the Delaware settlers were referred to as "elder brothers." It was this attitude of respect for all mankind which enabled the first white settlers to live in harmony and peace with the Indians. The ancient allies of the Lenapi, the Iroquois. did not share in this peace, and constantly tried to destroy the power of the Delaware nation. The Lenape decided to break up the Iroquois nation but were thwarted by Iroquois cunning. The confederacy of Iroquois (six nations) sent ambassadors to the Lenape suggesting they become the peacemakers for all the Indian nations of the East. The Lenape accepted this role and gave up their arms to become arbiters among their warlike neighbors. In Indian language, the Lenape were called "women" since this was an honorable title indicating a dignified position of peacemaker. The treacherous Iroquois soon reneged on their agreement with the Lenape and threatened them with invasion unless they become subservient. Hence, when Europeans arrived, the Lenape were vassals of the Iroquois and remained so until at least the middle of the eighteenth century. When Europeans arrived, the American Indians were still in the Stone Age; that is, their tools and implements were made of stone, bone, and wood. To Europeans their manner of life was extremely simple. Men were hunters and women cared for the crops which were chiefly corn, beans, and squash. They lived by a simple but highly moral code of law. 7 Personal property was almost unheard of among the Indians. Fields cleared in the forest were communal projects and farmed jointly by all members of the tribe. As stated earlier, Indians regarded all men as brothers and they shared all their possessions freely, even with strangers. Although capable of strong affection, they rarely showed it in public where they behaved with great dignity and reserve. Early missionaries observed that tribal settlements were rarely bothered by quarrels among the members. Clearly, Indian civilization may have seemed simple and un- developed in comparison to European life, but it was harmonious and friendly. Europeans contacting the Lenape Indians for the first time generally misunderstood their religion. The Lenape believed in a Great Spirit who created the heavens and the earth. Like the Europeans, they saw this Great Spirit as a loving father to all men. However, they also believed in a number of lesser gods who were looked upon as agents lor the Great Spirit who commanded all of nature. The Lenape's act of worship centered around what was called the Big House Ceremony. The Big House represented the whole universe and inside, ceremonial dancers moved in an oval path, the White Path, which represented the movement of all life and the goodness of the Great Spirit's road. When Europeans first came in 1623, it is probable that only about 20,000 Indians occupied the whole of Pennsylvania. Their decline was rapid; by 1700 the numbers dwindled to 12,000 and by the end of the 18th century hardly 1000 remained. When Penn arrived in 1682 to take possession of Pennsylvania, some of the Lenape had already begun their westward retreat. At that time, most of what is now Montgomery County was still in the possession of Indians. Early Swedish, Dutch, and English settlers in the lower Delaware Valley area had purchased that land from the Indians. One such purchase, by Edward Cantwell and Johannes De Hous, signed on February 8, 1673, gave them 700 acres for "I halle ankar of drinke, two match coates, two axes, two barrs of lard, four hands full of powder, two knives and some paint." A bargain for the white man! The chief of the Unami tribe of the Lenape Nation, and hence the "King" of the Algonquins, when Penn Landed, was Tamanend or Tammany. He was one of their greatest chiefs; and the Europeans extolled his wisdom, virtue, prudence, charity, affability, meekness, and hospitality, a noble man in every way. When he died, he was buried in the valley of Neshaminy, the area which he had sold to Penn, whom he called "Miquon"' or "Brother Onas." The burial site is claimed to be near Chalfont in Bucks County. The most important village of the Unami, also the capital of the Lenape nation, was Shackamaxon which was situated on the Delaware in northern Philadelphia. Here, where important meetings were held and treaties made, was where Penn and Tamanend met in June 1683. Penn purchased all the land between the Pennypack and Neshaminy Creeks. 9 In the same year, another treaty gave Penn land along the west side of the Schuylkill, northeast of the Conshohocken Hills south to Chester Creek. Other Indian lands were purchased later; Perkiomen Valley in 1684, and Montgomery County in pieces through the years 1685 to 1697. Probably the most important thing about these treaties was the way Penn dealt with the Indians. Every transaction was built on a firm foundation of mutual understanding and deep respect. This friendly treatment allowed Penn's province to grow for the most part in peace and security, unlike other settlements of the American continent which often were at constant war with the Indians. There is one record of possible discord, however, when Zachariah Whitpain along with Thomas Holmes and a man by the name of Cox, were appointed in about 1686 by the Governor's Council to look into the cause of an Indian disturbance at the house of Nicholas Scull, grandfather of the Surveyor General, near the present village of Whitemarsh. Our Indian heritage is remembered in the name of a creek and the arrowheads that have been found in the past and occasionally may be still turned up in a field. 10 Flora and Fauna of Whitpain Township By Patricia A. Knault Photography by George S. Peck Artwork by Bobby Rhindress Common Native Trees and Their Uses The type of flora and fauna found in a given area depends on that area's geology. Whitpain Township is fortunate to be in a Piedmont Region because it contains some of the most fertile soils. Whitpain soil is loam; it contains largely red shale, diabase, and sandstone. 11 This rich earth brought forth a grand primeval forest, with trees towering more than a hundred feet. The make-up of the forest was mainly deciduous trees. The forest was of an oak-chestnut nature with other commonly seen trees being hickory, black walnut, maples, black cherry, black locust, sycamore, sassafras, tuliptree, cucumbertree, ash. beech, elm, and mulberry. The few conifers seen were white pine, hemlock, and cedars. Birches made an appearance when tracts of land were cleared of the dense stand of trees. Hickory Tree The Indians and settlers made good use of the trees with which they came in contact. The greatest use of the hickory differed between the Indians and the settlers. The white man valued it highly for timber and fuel; its wood made the strongest axe and hammer handles. Feeling that the hicko- ry's greatest value was its delicious nut crop, the Indians believed that the felling of so many of these trees to feed a fire was wasteful. Other uses included bark for dye and tapping sap for sugar. Settlers fol- lowed the Indians in using the black walnut's nutmeats for food and the husks for dye; in addition they va- lued the wood in cabinetmaking. In the colonial period the tuliptree was one of the most valued for its timber. Pioneers and Indians used this wood for their dugout canoes; birch, another canoe material, was also used by the Indians. Twigs and leaves of hemlock made a medicinal tea for cases of scurvy and venereal disease. The Indians brewed roots of hemlock to make root beer. The mulberry trees extended their range through plantings by the Indians, who enjoyed the fruit. Black locust had the greatest resistance to decay; this factor made it the favorite of shipbuilders. Ships were fastened with locust pegs, and settlers used locust wood for corner posts when constructing their homes. Pioneers used sugar maple mainly for its timber; the secondary use being the tapping of sap for sugar. Black cherry wood was in demand by cabinetmakers who appreciated its beauty and knot-free boards. Not only was the ripe fruit relished by pioneers and Indians, but the bears loved it so much that they became quite irritable if disturbed while feasting on the berries. A remedy for malaria called for the use of the bitter tasting bark of the tuliptree, and its leaves were claimed to give relief from headaches. A bitter brew of fruit, bark, and twigs of the cucumbertree plus whiskey, to make the medicine go down easier, was another remedy for malaria. The importance of the red maple was in its value for timber with some used for ink and dye. The sycamore was another source used in canoe construction. Chestnut, once the most prevalent tree, is now nothing more than a lingering ghost as saplings sucker from the stumps of stricken trees. "These trees fell prey to a devastating blight in the early 1900's. Valued highly for its splitting ability and resistance to decay with climatic exposure, it was a popular wood for fence rails and posts. Its bark was considered one of the best for tanning. White oak made excellent barrels, especially when the content was a liquid, and was widely used in shipbuilding. Uses of the chestnut oak were fuel, fence rails, shipbuilding, and tanbark. The mighty elm, another tree our heritage is losing, succumbs today to disease. Toughness and pliability of elm bark made it popular in the weaving ol chair seats. 12 The European demand for sassafras made it a much sought after tree by the settlers. The whites believed it to be a cure for just about any ailment. It was believed to be effective for treatment of malaria, lameness, eye troubles, dropsy, and ailments of the liver, stomach, breast, and head. If this were not enough, it also repelled bedbugs. Virginia exported the roots of sassafras in amounts equal to their tobacco. It was very fashionable in England to drink sassafras tea. The sassafras craze came to an end when word got around that it was primarily a cure for venereal disease *. * Robert Secor, ed., Pennsylvania 1776 (University Park: The Pennsylvania State University Press, 1975), p. 51. 13 Colonial Medicinal Plants The following are some of the plants that were found here and used medicinally by the settlers and Indians. Some of these plants were native while others were introduced very early and readily adapted to their new environment. The introductions came from Europe with people who valued the plants for their medicinal properties; others came unintention- ally by boat in straw packing materials. The plants are listed botanically by their family, genus, and species followed by their most widely common name. This system of identification is the most accurate; it is not unusual to learn that a given plant had a dozen common names or one common name meaning two entirely different kinds of plants. All these plants had many uses, but an effort was made to select only a few of the most prominent for each plant so as not to make the reading of this section laborious. The parentheses indicates that the entity has been introduced. ANARCARDIACEAE: Rhus typhina [Staghorn Sumac] possessed properities that cooled the blood; the Indians and settlers made a drink to reduce fever; also lessened throat irritation AQUIFOLIACEAE: Ilex verticillata [Winterberry] used to induce vomiting ARACEAE: Acorus calamus [Sweet Flag] indigestion remedy Arun triphyllum [Jack-in-the-Pulpit] to bring up accumulated phlegm from the lungs; sweat inducement Symplocarpus foetidus [Skunk Cabbage] treatment of chronic bronchial and asthmatic complaints ARALIACEAE: Aralia nudicaulis [Wild Sarsaparilla] detoxifier of the bloodstream Aralia (spinosa) [Devil's Walking Stick] treatment of toothache ARISTOLOCHIACEAE: Asarum canadense [Wild Ginger] stomach ache BALSAMINACEAE: Impatiens capensis [Jewelweed] to cure poison ivy BERBERIDACEAE: (Berberis vulgaris) [Barberry] treatment of jaundice Podophyllum peltatum [May Apple] to induce vomiting and expel intestinal worms BETULACEAE: Betula (alba) [White Birch] Indians used to remove warts 14 CAMPANULACEAE: Lobelia inflata [Indian Tobacco] venereal disease CAPRIFOLIACEAE: Viburnum prunifolium [Black Haw] to prevent possible miscarriage CARYOPHYLLACEAE: (Saponaria officinalis) [Bouncing Bet] venereal disease CELASTRACEAE: Euonymus atropurpureus [Burning Bush] laxative and hepatic stimulant Euonymus (europaeus) [Louse-Berries] killed head lice in hair of children COMPOSITAE: (Achillea millefolium) [Yarrow] to produce sweating; effective in eruptive disorders of children, like measles; Indians used a decoction extensively in treatment of burns (Arctium minus) [Burdock] blood purifier; Indian medicine men used for memory retention Eupatorium perfoliatum [Boneset] general cure-all including sweat inducement, colds, fevers, bronchial disorders, and influenza; especially valued for its ability to reduce swelling in the immediate area of fractures, thus enabling faster union of the bones (Tanacetum vulgare) [Tansy] expelling intestinal worms CORNACEAE: Cornus florida [Flowering Dogwood] treatment of sore mouth and helped to harden gums EBENACEAE: Diospyros virginiana [Persimmon] remedy for dysentery, diarrhea, and hemorrhage GASTROMYCETES: Calvatia gigantea [Giant Puffball] the powdered substance was snuffed up the nostrils to stop nose bleeding; as a preventive measure against infection, the Indian midwives placed a piece of puffball on the navel after cutting the newborn's umbilical cord GRAMINEAE: (Agropyron repens) [Quack Grass] to aid in eliminating stone and gravel from the kidneys and the bladder HAMAMELIDACEAE: Hamamelis virginiana [Witch Hazel] Indians applied as poultices to tumors and painful swellings LAB1ATAE: (Glechoma hederacea) [Ground Ivy] treatment of scurvy, headaches, and coughs with much phlegm Hedeoma puleogioides [Pennyroyal] to cause abortion 15 Mentha (piperita) [Peppermint] antispasmodic for digestive problems LILIACEAE: Allium (cepa) [Onion] helped to prevent disease; used as a frostbite cure by wrapping boiled leaves around affected part (Convallaria majalis) [Lily-of-the-Valley] cardiac tonic and diuretic Trillium (erectum) [Birthroot] childbirth MORACEAE: Morus rubra [Red Mulberry] to expel intestinal worms MYRICACEAE: Comptonia peregrina [Sweet Fern] used by Indians to cure poison ivy Myrica pensylvanica [Bayberry] astringent PAPAVERACEAE: Sanguinaria canadensis [Bloodroot] to treat fungoid tumors, ringworm, and jaundice PLANTAGINACEAE: Plantago (major) [Plantain] to heal venomous snake bites POLYGONACEAE: Rumex (crispus) [Yellow Dock] Indians not only used this on their sores and swellings but also applied to it their horses to heal saddle sores RHAMNACEAE: Ceanothus americanus [New Jersey Tea] astringent ROSACEAE: Agrimonia gryposepala [Common Agrimony] treatment of jaundice and other liver complaints Fragaria (vesca) [Wild Strawberries] astringent, laxative, diuretic Prunus serotina [Wild Black Cherry] astringent and cough medicine Rubus odoratus [Red Raspberry] childbirth RUBIACEAE: Mitchella repens [Partridge-Berry] childbirth 16 SCROPHULARIACEAE: (Verbascum thapsus) [Mullein] cough syrup ULMACEAE: Ulmus rubra [Slippery Elm] a soothing and healing effect on all with which it comes in contact URT1CACEAE: (Urtica dioica) [Nettle] to relieve pain of rheumatism; stimulated hair growth Mammals Of great value to the early settlers were the mammals inhabiting their new home. Their supplies of domesticated meat were meager and it was necessary to supplement this with native mammals. The mammals served not only as a food source, but the furs could be made into clothing or traded for other necessities. The settlers were intrigued by some of the mammals as a result of their bizarre appear- ance or behavior. These unfamiliar mam- mals had no duplication back in the settler's homeland. They included: raccoon, skunk, porcupine, and opossum. The opossum's way of raising a litter of young opossum in its pouch and their death-faking tricks amused the white man. The settlers found humor in the raccoon's mask and feeding habits. Other oddities were the quills of the porcupine and the pungent spraying habits of the skunk. The number of wolves in the area was enough for William Penn to declare a bounty on them. As the white man greatly reduced the deer and elk-herds in the 1700's, the wolves were forced to turn to domestic livestock for survival. They also received misplaced blame that should have gone to two-legged cattle thieves. After a hundred and fifty years of persecution in Pennsylvania, the wolf was completely exterminated. The mountain lion also went the same route as the wolf because of the settler's overhunting of the predator's prey. Gray foxes were also prevalent in the area until the appearance of the first settlers. As the settlers' presence resulted in a reduction of the gray fox population, it strangely encouraged the northern movement of the red fox from the south. The red fox population was encouraged by the man-made changes as opposed to his brother the gray fox. Birds A well-known bird during the colonial period in Whitpain Township was the wild pigeon. From the latter part of the 1700's to 1840, what is now known as Blue Bell was called Pigeontown. The name was given by Morgan Morgan, an old resident known as a great trapper of pigeons and a well-known gunsmith. Pigeontown was frequented by large flocks of pigeons, who were attracted by the opening up of the land. Washington and his troops cut down large stands of trees in this area to fuel the fires when they made camp during the Revolutionary War. 17 Listed are some of the birds most likely to be seen in colonial times. Those commonly seen were: sparrow Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, sharp-shinned hawk, red-tailed hawk, red-should- ered hawk, screech owl, black-billed cuckoo, downy woodpecker, flicker, barn swallow, night hawk, great-crested flycatcher, small flycatcher, red-eyed flycatcher, warbling fly- catcher, white flycatcher, blue-headed flycatcher, yellow-throated flycatcher, pewee, wood thrush (a favorite songster). Wilson's thrush, hermit thrush, bluebird (a favorite), black and white creeper, Maryland yellow-throat, blue yellow-backed warbler, blue- winged yellow warbler, catbird, brown thrasher, house wren, tufted titmouse, field sparrow, song sparrow, blue jay, and turtle dove. Birds seen abundantly were: chimney swallow, robin, crow, and wild pigeon. Reptiles Of the reptiles, the most widely known and respected in colonial times was the rattlesnake. Reaching lengths of six feet, these venomous snakes diminished with the removal of trees and stones in the cultivation of the soil. Snakes commonly seen were the ribbon, garter, and water snakes. Land tortoise could be spotted in the woods while the streams were home to snapping, mud, musk, painted, and spotted turtles. At nights making their presence known were the tree, bull, green, and spotted frogs. Moist grounds were favorite habitats for toads and spotted salamanders. Insects The locust's unusual appearance and its dramatic large outbreaks were of much interest to the settlers. The Indians relished the taste of the locust. The colonists made a well-known contribution to the native insect population. This contribution was the honeybee, known by the Indians as the "white mans fly." The honeybee earned this name by the Indians because where they appeared the white man wasn't far behind. When the settler's honey- bee escaped confinement, they made their new homes in the sycamore trees. 19 William Penn By Arthur Driedger Photography by George S. Peck Artwork by Becky Huttinger A traveler through the British North American colonies would have noted several unique characteristics when he entered Pennsylvania; among them would have been the great variety of ethnic and religious groups. In New England and the South the majority of settlers were from England, but in Pennsylvania there were Welsh, Scots-Irish, Irish, as well as many people from the continent. Germans, Moravians, Huguenot French, Swiss, and the Dutch from Holland. Moreover he would note that many of the English were unlike those of the Anglican South or those of Puritan New England for they were English Quakers. Our tourist would find that this was a proprietary colony, owned and governed by a private individual or his appointees and descendants, and that it was one of the newest yet most populous and prosperous colonies. It encouraged a variety of ideas and people. These ideas and innovations were reflected in a variety of customs, religions, and architectural styles in houses, barns and churches. Pennsylvania stood as a living example of what could happen when men were left to their freedom and conscience; man was given an opportunity to work and enjoy the fruits of his own labor. This "Holy Experiment", as it was named by its founder, had its roots and background in the nature of William Penn. William Penn was born near the Tower of London on Oct. 14, 1644 of Admiral Penn and his Dutch wife. Lady Penn, a daughter of John Jasper who was a merchant of Rotterdam. The times were turbulent. The ideas of government to which we are accustomed and which the experiences of time have tested and proved, were in their embryonic stage. Conflicts among those with diverse opinions on political and religious subjects, kept the country in constant economic turmoil. Many dissenters who believed in their cause did not confine it to verbal defense, but prepared by force to implement their beliefs or suffer and die as martyrs in their cause. Royalists supported the king who was attempting to extend his power and privileges against the Parliament and the people. 19 The Reformation created a multiplicity of religious ideas. The Church of England broke from the Church of Rome and spawned many other religious ideas; many of these ideas felt that the Reformation had not gone far enough. Out of this nursery came the Puritan sects, Presbyterians, Independents, Congregationalists, Quakers and others seeking a better way to worship and practice their religious beliefs. This religious conflict was compounded in various degrees by some people and several kings who attempted to return to the Church of Rome, often with the aid of foreign enemies of England. Political intrigue, religious reform, corruption in business and government, with little toleration for dissenters, provided the scenery on the stage for the life, times, and role of William Penn. Admiral Penn served his country well during the religious wars of the time, but in so doing had little influence on the life of his son. William Penn went to school at Wanstead and probably studied the regular subjects of that time; Latin, Greek and mathematics. The country around Wanstead was intensely Puritan and this influence modified the roy- alist opinions William received from his fa- ther. The Puritans spent long hours debating religious subjects, much of it rejecting cere- monies and forms and urging a greater reli- ance on individual judgement. Under these influences Penn had a religious experience at eleven which would be difficult to trace to the teachings of the Church of England. On his return from an expedition to Jamaica the Admiral was put in the Tower by Crom- well, Lady Penn and William moved closer to London to be near him. Upon his release the father went to his Irish estates and at the age of sixteen his son was sent to Christ Church College at Oxford which lessened the exposure to his father's influence. His father sent him to Oxford hoping that he would learn the standards and tastes of a gentleman of the aristocracy and that this would enable the father to get William a position in the court. The restoration of the King happened the same year young Penn went to Oxford, and the University, which had been under the control of the Puritans, was now under the control of the royalists. New standards and practices were introduced which were completely counter to the Puritan ethic. Amusements, games, drinking, swearing, wagering, revels and plays were in excess as a reaction to the Puritan codes of conduct. In this atmosphere Penn met and heard the preaching of Thomas Loe who questioned and opposed these activities. Penn adopted Quaker beliefs and actions regarding respect, due authority, and the relationship of the government to the individual. William was expelled from Oxford for some conduct relating to his religious ideas and he returned to his father in London. The Admiral, by persuasion, threats, and blows, attempted to change the boy, but to no avail. William was sent, by his father, to Italy and France in an attempt to expose him to the gay and aristocratic life found in the French court. While there he studied religion and picked up the polish of the cavalier. He became an excellent swordsman and on one occasion was forced to defend himself against a thug in Paris. 20 On William's return to London the Admiral was well pleased with his son's new outlook on life, and while he and the Duke of York went to war against the Dutch, young William was sent to Lincoln Inn to study law. While there he was forced to flee the plague, saw all the problems associated with it and, while in the country, once again the religious and contemplative mood gained the upper hand. His father saw the relapse when he returned so he sent William to his Irish estates to help manage them. Penn did very well in this work, he helped quell a mutiny among the troops and seemed to enjoy this new life. However, he attended a Quaker meeting where his old friend Thomas Loe preached the sermon "There is a faith which overcomes the world and there is a faith which is overcome by the world." Penn was converted. From this day on Penn was an odd combination of cavalier and Quaker. As a cavalier he was rich, wore fine clothes, was educated, engaged in politics, and led the good life. As a Quaker he was one of their leading preachers and writers of pamphlets expressing and clarifying their point of view in religion, and their relationship to the government. 'I his double character enabled him to be effective in the court and to help his people; and at the same time to adopt the standards and values of his chosen faith. For his attendance at the illegal meetings of the Quakers, Penn was put in jail. The judges were willing to let this well dressed cavalier go free on bond, but Penn questioned the legality of the action and remained with his friends. These arrests reached the ear of his father who ordered his son home. After his failure to take his hat off to him or the king, he was ordered out of the house. There followed a period in which William was at home, in jail, and other times travelling in Germany and Holland. Penn wrote numerous pamphlets and preached at many meetings defending his belief in religious freedom and freedom of conscience. After one stint in jail his father paid the fine, and on his return home, the young Penn found his father had only a few more days to live. There was a reconciliation and in one last desperate effort to save his son from probable future imprisonment he wrote his friend, the Duke of York, requesting that he intercede for William with the King when he needed help. This was one of two important acts the father did for his son, for the Duke agreed and this served the young Penn well on many occasions. It also was a point of trouble for Penn since he defended the Duke who became King James the II and later was deposed and exiled to France. The other event that the King appreciated was when the Admiral, in the service of Cromwell, was on his way to the West Indies. The Admiral sent a message to the King in exile and offered him the fleet and the army that accompanied him, if he wished it. The offer was turned down but was always remembered and appreciated by both Charles and James and this helped Penn in his relations with them later. In 1672 Guilielma Pennington and William Penn were married. She and her mother had been Quakers and in Penn she saw the hero who could defend her faith. For a while they lived in wealth and contentment far from the politics and the filth of London. Persecuted fellow Quakers again found Penn using his influence in court for their defense and after traveling in Holland and defending his brethren, he decided the only way to bring freedom to the persecuted was to settle them in a new land. The king owed Admiral Penn 16,000 pounds for services and William asked that this debt be settled with a grant of land. On the 4th of March in 1681 Penn received the charter to Pennsylvania. Since the original grant, the boundaries have been modified, for it included large parts which were claimed by Maryland, New York, Connecticut and Virginia. 21 Penn was in a position similar to that of an English Lord of an English manor. The land was all his, the settlers were to be his tenants and pay him rent. For this privilege he was to pay the King two beaver skins each year and the king was to get one fifth of all the gold and silver mined in the province. As proprietor, Penn was to be Governor and appoint the judges, magistrates, and other officers. The people through the legislature were to make the laws but Penn had a veto over them. Penn made it easy for settlers to purchase land, 100 pounds for 5,000 acres and an annual rent of one shilling per hundred acres. He planned that Pennsylvania should be a refuge for people of all faiths, where the arts, agriculture, and commerce could flourish. He wished to show that government could be maintained without an established church, ministry, cruelty, dogmas, ritual and persecution; that the teachings of Christ as interpreted by each person, through the "inner light," would lead to a prosperous province that would make his and his family's fortune greater than ever. Europeans already living here were to be permitted to keep their lands and Indians were to be paid for theirs. Disputes between Indians and whites were to be settled by a jury of twelve, half of whom were to be Indians. Remembering the diligence and the suffering for their beliefs, he invited the people in Holland and Germany to the province. On Oct. 24th, 1683 he entered the Capes of the Delaware and a few days later he landed at what is Chester. On his arrival in Philadelphia at Dock Creek, where his commissioners had already planned the city, he met with the Indians and delighted them with running and jumping skills. Penn made several treaties with the Indians, the most famous was supposed to have taken place under an elm tree at Kensington in Philadelphia. The spirit engendered by the treatment of William Penn toward the Indians resulted in a peace period of almost seventy years. Not until the French and Indian War in 1755 was there Indian warfare in Pennsyl- vania. Penn wrote extensively about the province, the Indians, the land, the flora and fauna, the climate, soil, and other observa- tions that helped people decide whether to come to Pennsylvania or stay in Europe. In 1684 Penn was forced to return to Eng- land to take care of an ailing wife and to defend his province against the land claims of Lord Baltimore in Maryland. Persecu- tions had started again and he was forced to take the defense against them. Before leaving, he planned and laid out his country home at Pennsbury about 20 miles up the river from Philadelphia. Construction of his mansion continued during his absence and it is from his letters of instruction that we know the exact plan of the manor. Charles II died and his brother, the Duke of York, Penn's friend, now became King. With his influence in court he was able to defend 22 the Quakers against oppression and abuse that once again had overtaken them. However trouble was brew- ing: in the Glorious Revolution of 1688 James 11 had to flee to France for his life. While there he plotted for the recovery of this throne. All his former friends, including Wil- liam Fenn. were suspect by the new rulers, William and Mary. Penn was forced into hiding for several years; his wife died in 1693 and he had lost much money on his colony since he was paying the bills of the govern- ment. For a while the colony was taken from him but it was restored in 1694. In 1696 he married Hannah Callowhill and a few years later in 1699 he returned to Philadelphia. Penn was not prudent in money affairs, he lost heavily on his Irish estates and since he had paid the salaries of government officials and spent a lot of money on his manor, he was deeply in debt. The rent had not been collected efficiently. In 1701 Penn returned to England to defend his colony against a new ruler: his debts were so great he was forced to spend some time in debtors prison. In 1712 he testified that Pennsylvania had cost him 50,000 pounds more than he had received from it and in the following year he tried to sell it to the crown. Before arrangements could be made he had a stroke which left him an invalid until he died in 1718. His wife continued to act as Governor in a very capable fashion until her death in 1727: she being the onlv woman Governor Pennsylvania ever had. Whitpain is just a small part of Pennsylvania and yet, it is an excellent example of the founder's work and purpose. It was purchased from Penn by a land speculator, Richard Whitpain, who sold it to a variety of settlers and farmers who built their own farms and estates, bringing prosperity to the area. On the border to the Southeast, in Whitemarsh. the Anglican English Major Farmar and his son owned the land. To the Southwest in Plymouth were the English Quakers, and on the northwest the Schwenkfelders developed their life and freedom in Worcester township. in the northeast the Welsh Quakers settled Gwynedd. In all these areas German Lutheran and Dutch Reformer ;oined with the inhabitants of Whitpain to worship in our two colonial churches. Boehm's Reformed in Blue Bell and St John's Lutheran in Center Square. The prosseinus farms, developed by all ethnic and religious groups, are a living example of how Penn's desire to allow all to worship according to their conscience, free from government established churches, would lead to a high level of achievement and economic security. We can call Whitpain a successful microcosm of Pennsylvania: William Penn's 'Holy Experiment." 23 Whitpain Township - "What's in a Name?" By Marjorie H Gerhart Whitpain Township received its name from Richard Whitpain, citizen of London, who probably never came to this land. There is no other place in the country with the same appellation - Whitpain, and it is unusual tor any township to bear the name of an individual. Little is known of Richard Whitpain or Whitpaine as his name is spelled on early maps. He is described as a "butcher of London." However, this might have meant only that he belonged to the Butchers Guild that was open for membership to anyone who might have had a butcher in his family's history. He was certainly a land speculator. He purchased more than 4000 acres which became the nucleus of Whitpain Township. The Huline's Map oj Pennsylvania of l68l shows he held about 2500 acres in West Chester County. It is also known from a letter written by Robert Turner, a merchant in Philadelphia, that Whitpain had a house built in Philadelphia: "John Reedman is building one brick house lor Richard Whitpain of sixty foot long and fifty-six foot wide." It can be ascertained that Richard Whitpain overextended his financial resources because following his death in 1689, a year after his fine house was commissioned, his wife Mary had to sell the entire tract in Whitpain to his creditors. I hat same year William Perm wrote in a letter to the governing body in Pennsylvania: "I must recommend to ye government the case of the widows Jeff and Whitpaine in which believe me ye' honour of ye Province is deeply concerned especially the last, because of her husband's creditors whose expectations are much from you there." Zachariah Whitpain, probably Richard's son, did come to Philadelphia and also had some association with Whitpain Township. He evidently occupied the grand house Richard had ordered constructed in the city. An article in the Pennsylvania Magazine reads: "In the early years of the Province the General Assembly had no permanent place for its meetings and met in private houses. Homes of Whitpain, Carpenter, Norris, and Shippen, according to Assembly Minutes, and at Makin's Schoolhouse." The house was described as being "between 7th and 8th street from the Delaware. The Colonial Records of the Pennsylvania Archives mention that on December 24, 1688, Zachariah Whitpaine gave a deposition relative to the abdication of James the Second. In 1691, according to the Pennsylvania Magazine, it seems that Zachariah Whitpaine was nominated and appointed as one of the Twelve Common Councilmen of Philadelphia. 24 After Zachariah died, there is evidence that the Whitpain house was still used as a meeting place of the Assembly. A notation in the Pennsylvania Archives dated March 16. 1693. reads that "the Assembly held at Philadelphia adjourned to the Widow Whitpain's House." Another entry reads: "Whereupon it was moved that three Members should treat with Sarah Whitpain, for to hire her Room to sit in .... met at Sarah Whitpain's House ....." Bean, in his History of Montgomery County, indicated that Zachariah had a plantation in Whitpain Township where he settled tenants. However, it appears he lived most of the time in the city. In 1686, Zachariah had married Sarah Songhurst, daughter ot John Songhurst who came to this land with Penn on the Welcome. I his marriage, the births of their children, and Zachariah's death in 1693 are all recorded in the Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy. He died intestate and Letters of Administration were issued in Philadelphia which can be seen at the Department of Wills in shreds, indiscernible, but by the number of pieces ascertain that he was a man of property. The house in Philadelphia evidently became the home of Joseph Shippen, uncle of Peggy Shippen, who married Benedict Arnold a number of years after Zachariah's death. Zachariah and Sarah had three children; Mary. John. and Zachariah who died in 171) I. In the early 1700's John questioned the disposition that had been made of Richard Whitpain's lands in Whitpain. In 1718 by a new agreement, the entire tract was awarded to John Whitpain, Anthony Morris, and Rees Thomas. John who died in 1719 designated his wife Ann as his executrix. He left two children, Zachariah and Sarah. Detweiler describing a deed for a land transaction in Whitpain Township in 1740 stated: " . . . . was given to Yost by Rees Thomas of Merion; Anthony Morris, Philadelphia brewer; Zachariah Whitpain, Mariner; Stephen Armitt, Phila- delphia. Joiner, and his wife Sarah (latter being only children of John Whitpain, late of said city. gentleman, and Adolph Shambaugh, Whitpain, weaver . . . . " It is not known what became of this third Zachariah Whitpain. The last mention uncovered for the name of Whitpain was for a William Whitpain, midshipman on board the ship Montgomery in 1776 who requested a discharge to go into the Continental Service. He received a discharge from the service of the State of Pennsylvania and evidently became a soldier in the Revolution. John Whitpain's daughter Sarah, according to records of The Institute of American Genealogy, married Stephen Armitt, first cousin of Charles Brockden Brown, first American novelist. Their daughter, Sarah Armitt, married a Samuel Worth of Chester County. In 1881, this line of descendants produced Smedley Darlington Butler who became a distinguished general of the Marine Corps during the First World War. He was awarded two Congressional Medals of Honor and the Distinguished Service Medal. 25 European Settlement of Montgomery County By Graham Swift Artwork by Becky Huttinger Townships do not grow in isolation and Whitpain did not suddenly spring up in the middle of an unpopulated wilderness. In order to get a true perspective of the European settlement of Whitpain, it is necessary to briefly review the early settlements in eastern Pennsylvania, the arrival of Penn, and the settlers in neighboring townships. Then, by narrowing the field of vision, focus can be brought on Whitpain Township and its development in Colonial America until the time of the Revolution. Pre-Penn Settlers Before the arrival of William Penn, what is now known as eastern Pennsylvania was successively in the hands of the Swedes (with the Finns) and the Dutch. The earliest explorers were the Dutch traders who left no permanent settlements. They penetrated the forests along the Schuylkill (which is Dutch for "hidden creek") River and established a lucrative trade in beaver skins, which were available in enormous quantities. The Indian name for the Schuylkill was Manaiung, a name which survives today as Manayunk. The Swedes and Finns were the first permanent settlers in this part of America. In 1643, a year before William Penn was born in England, the Swedes established a foothold along the shores of the Delaware. The Swedish Governor, Johan Printz, started the settlement on Tinicum Island in the mouth of the Schuylkill in 1643. Settlements were also established at Uplands, later changed to Chester by Penn, and Christiana which is present day Wilmington. The most precious monument left by the Swedes is Gloria Dei Church in present day Philadelphia, a few blocks south of Independence Hall. It is of interest that these early Swedes were often convicts deported from their homelands. The Swedes were neither numerous nor well-equipped to maintain control of the Delaware Valley. In 1655, the Dutch came from New York to gain control for nine years until 1664. At that time, the Duke of York (later King James 11 of England) took control of the Delaware Valley, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, and Pennsylvania for the English. Within a few years, English settlers began to arrive in the Delaware Valley. When William Penn came in 1683, the Swedes were the largest group established in the area. It is believed that about 400 of the 1000 Swedes living in the Delaware Valley, lived within the limits of present day Philadelphia. Post-Penn Settlers William Penn, because of a large debt owed by the English crown to his late father, Admiral Sir William Penn, was able to obtain a charter to all the lands of Pennsylvania as a debt settlement. Penn decided to use the land to fulfill a vision he had of a secure and peaceful haven for all the religious out-casts and persecuted of Europe. This was a bold experiment for these early times when freedom of religion and democratic governments were rare. 26 Most of early recorded history after Penn's arrival deals with settlements in Montgomery County in general, though our township, Whitpain. is mentioned as early as 1701. Hence a general immigration pattern in Montgomery County is established here, and later the growth of Whitpain will be taken up separately. Montgomery County has always been close to Philadelphia which was, in the beginning, a trading center, seat of government, and distribution point from which the new province was settled. Towards the end of the seventeenth century, after Penn arrived, the first wave of settlers swept into Montgomery County. These were predominantly English. Irish, Scottish, Welsh and Germans. The English were mostly Quakers, Presbyterians and Baptists, while the Germans were mainly Lutherans and other sects including Mennonites. Brethren (Dunkers) Schwenkfelders and Moravians. For the most part, the different nationalities settled in different areas, each group preserving its language and customs. Generally, these first settlers bought large tracts of land and villages were not established. However, with the building of mills to grind grain and inter-connecting roads, villages and towns gradually grew around these focal points. Welsh Settlements In 1682 when Penn was granted the charter to Pennsylvania, a group of Welsh Quakers met him in London and obtained a verbal agreement to 50,000 acres of land. This informal agreement to a Welsh Barony was never fully realized. Eventually, the Welsh Tract totaled 40,000 acres bordering the southwest bank of the Schuylkill River Just inside present day Philadelphia's city limits. The first group of the Welsh settlers arrived on this continent before Penn in 1682. They landed at Upland (now Chester) under the leadership of Doctor Edward Jones on a ship called the Lyon. The immigrants grouped themselves into companies of about twenty and land grants were made to trustees representing these groups. Members of each company received tracts of 100-300 acres with the members of the first group who arrived on the Lyon with Doctor Jones getting the choice river bank property. The settlement prospered and Doctor Jones left a record of the "splendid timber and rich soil" and noted that the Indians were friendly and readily traded venison. However, the self-governing Barony never developed and, in 1689, the Provincial Council in Phila- delphia split the Welsh settlement: Haverford and Radnor became part of Chester County while Merion Township remained in Philadelphia County. Later, Welsh settlements were widely scattered throughout Montgomery County, e.g., Lower Merion, Bryn Mawr, Bala Cynwyd, Haverford, Narberth. Wynnewood. and Gladwyne. Other Welsh settlements in Montgomery County include Montgomery, Plymouth, Moreland, Limerick (which later became German), Norriton, Towamencin, Upper Dublin, Hatfield, and Jenkintown. The closest settlement to Whitpain was that at Gwynedd (which is Welsh for North Wales). Hugh Roberts, a Quaker from Lower Merion, was responsible for forming this township. 27 Swedish Settlements Swedish settlements in Montgomery County did not remain separate from those of the English and Welsh as did those of the Germans. As mentioned earlier, the Swedes and Finns had settled along the Delaware long before Penn arrived. Their later settlements were in Upper Merion, including what is now Conshohocken and Bridgeport. As early as 1684, Penn granted Peter Yocum (originally Joachim) 500 acres in that area. In the same year, Penn also sold 1000 acres to Lassekok (Cox) and Company, who sold half ol this to another Swede, Gunnar Rambo, in 1701. Lesser Swedish settlements in Montgomery County were in Gulph Creek, King of Prussia. north of Bridgeport, and near Abrams, all of which were established in the eighteenth century. Abrams community was named for the Abrahams family which arrived in Montgomery County from Bucks County shortly after 1700. Matson's Ford, where Conshohocken now stands, was another Swedish settlement. German Settlements Penn's visit to Holland and Germany, in 1677, was probably remembered with enthusiasm by many of the groups that he met there. His dream of a "New World Haven" for the depressed of Europe became a beacon for these people who numbered many. Hence, within a year of Penn's landing in America, the great migration of Germans began. Eventually, more than half of Montgomery County was settled by Germans, the vast majority arriving after 1700. They came for religious freedom, to escape the absolute power of the German princes and to avoid war and heavy taxes prevalent in the Holy Roman Empire. (Germany was not united at that time but separate states in that political unit.) The same year Penn arrived, in 1683, thirteen German families (thirty-three people in all) arrived in Pennsylvania and settled in present day Germantown. Most of the men were unusually ambitious and well-educated. For example, Daniel Pastorius, a Lutheran preacher could read and write in eight languages, and David Rittenhouse built the first paper mill in America. He was the father of the David who became a world renowned mathematician, astronomer and philosopher. This first settlement on one of the branches of the Wissahickon became one of the most cultured in North America. It was here in 1688 that Pastorius voiced the first anti-slavery sentiments heard in this country. Penn granted these German settlers not only self-government, but also additional lands totaling 48,000 acres in Upper Montgomery County, between Bucks County and the Schuylkill River at Pottstown. This tract of land became known as the Frankfurt Land because Penn had originally promised the land to the Germans in the town of Frankturt. Pastorius was the agent in charge of this land. In the early part of the eighteenth century, German immigrants began to arrive in such numbers that the Provincial Government adopted certain restrictions. All males over the age of sixteen arriving in Philadelphia had to pledge allegiance to England and give up their citizenship. 28 The waves of German settlers moving out of Germantown into present day Montgomery County spanned out over the area. The German families arrived in Whitpain Township where some of them stayed while others settled in the Skippack area, the Perkiomen Valley, and the Upper tier townships. George Shoemaker settled in Cheltenham in 1685. Reymer Tyson, one of the founders of the Germantown settlement, resettled his family in 1700 on land that included part of present day Glenside. Springfield became the home of Herman Grolthauser and other Germans followed him there. The Rittenhouses lived in East Norriton Township. Germans moved into Upper Dublin. Dreshertown got its name from George Dresher. Whitemarsh and Whitpain received the influx at about the same time. the Conard family arrived in Whitpain in 1711, the Yost family settled in Centre Square in 1727. The push of the pioneers continued out into Gwynedd Township. Alexander Wilson, an early American student of birds, stopped at the Spring House Tavern and was amazed at the "torrents of Dutch spoken there." English Settlements Before the end of the seventeenth century, the English Quakers began to occupy tracts of land in what is now Abington, Cheltenham, Whitemarsh, Plymouth, and Lower Providence Townships. These early Quaker settlements had a sense of unity, through their religion. Neighbors worked together, cleared trees and built cabins. Much of their lives revolved around their meeting houses. 29 Abington had twenty-two landowners on the map of 1696. The original meeting house was in use by 1700 and meetings have been held there ever since. Cheltenham, founded in 1683, is probably the oldest township in the County. It is claimed that one Toby Leech, a pioneer settler, named the township after his native parish in England. Springfield Township was settled by both English and Germans. Whitemarsh was settled before the end of the seventeenth century. A major landowner was Major Jasper Farmer who never actually lived in the township. His widow lived there with a son, Edward, and built a thriving lime business, shipping lime to Philadelphia as early as 1687. The first Europeans to live in Whitpain were probably English. Other local townships settled by the English include East Norriton, Horsham, Upper Dublin and Pottsgrove. This, then, was the setting for the growth of Colonial Whitpain. The land was part of an English proprietary colony, but the people living in this area were of diverse background, predominantly English, German, Welsh and Swedish. 30 Growth of Colonial and Early Post-Colonial Whitpain By Graham Switt Artwork by Becky Huttinger In 1681, 1682 and 1683. William Penn. the owner, executed leases and releases to Samuel Fox for 1500 acres. Charles Marshall tor 2000 acres, and James Clay pole tor 1000 acres. Subsequently, all the properties came into the possession of John Marshall, presumably a relative of Charles Marshall, who then owned 4500 acres. Richard Whitpain, a London butcher, received this tract of land as a debt-payment. There is no record that Richard Whitpain ever visited his lands in America. However, there is evidence that Richard Whitpain had a fine house built in Philadelphia shortly before his death. He also owned land, as it appears on Scull's map. in what is now Chester County. This property, in present-day Montgomery County, was known as Whitpain's Creek to identity it from his other holdings and was slightly over one hall of the area of present-day Whitpain. Other original landowners in Whitpain as shown on Holme's map of 1681 included: John Basly. Jonas Smith, John and Elizabeth Palmer, William Palmer, Thomas Fitzwater, John Goodson, John Denne, Charles Marshall. Thorn Cox, and Mary Bradwel. Richard Whitpain in his last will and testament on April 27, 1689, willed the payment of his debts and funeral expenses and authorized his wife Mary, his executrix, to sell as much land in the provinces as necessary to pay these debts. Shortly afterwards, he died. Mary Whitpain, by her indenture of July 3, 1689, sold the entire 4500 acres to Mary Davice, John Eldridge, William Ingram, John Blackball, and John Vace, all of whom were creditors. Shortly thereafter, John Blackhall, the sole surviving trustee sold the entire tract to William Aubrey of London. William Aubrey, by his indenture of April 24, 1713, sold the tract of land to Anthony Morris, maltster and brewer of Philadelphia and to Rees Thomas of Merion Township. John Whitpain, a relative of Richard Whitpain, became dissatisfied with the sale by Aubrey and an agreement was entered into, dated May 28, 1718, whereby the entire property came into the hands of Morris, Thomas, and Whitpain. They then requested that the land be resurveyed. The land survey by Nicholas Scull on May 23, 1727, found that the area was 4858 acres rather than the heretofore accepted 4500 acres. John Whitpain's last will dated December 20, 1728, left the property due to him, according to the prior agreement with Thomas and Morris, to his two children, Sarah and Zachariah. His wife, Anne, was executrix. Whitpain is among the oldest townships in Montgomery County. In Holmes'a map of 168] it is called Whitpain's Creek and by 1701 it appeared in public records as Whitpain's township. The first to actually settle in the township was probably Thomas McCarty, a member of Richard Whitpain's family through marriage, described as a butcher and surgeon. The land he acquired was 450 acres located between Skippack Pike and the border of Plymouth Township. 31 Geographically, Whitpain is towards the center of Montgomery County, bordered to the north by Worcester, to the east by Ambler, Upper Dublin and Lower Gwynedd, to the west by Plymouth and Norriton, and to the south by Whitemarsh. It has a regular rectangular shape, approximately four and a half miles by three miles, which is approximately 12.8 square miles or 8640 acres in area. These boundaries have been much the same for 275 years. Geologically, the soil is shale and loam with sandy soil predominating in the southern corner. On most of the farms in the Stony Creek area, good quantities of building sand can be found. A limestone deposit underlies most of the southeastern part of the township. Two watersheds are to be found in the township. The eastern and southern sections of the township are drained by the Wissahickon Creek. (Originally known as Whitpain's Creek. Wissahickon is an Indian name meaning catfish stream or stream of yellow water.) Two branches of the Stony Creek drain in the western and northern portions of Whitpain. According to Bean, in his History of Montgomery County, by 1734 Whitpain Township had twenty-four landowners, as listed below: Philip Boehm (Pastor of Boehm's Reformed Church) 200 acres Peter Indehaven (DeHaven) - 200 acres Cadwalader Morris - 200 acres John Rees - 150 acres William Coulston - 100 acres Humphrey Ellis - 50 acres William Robinson - 150 acres Thomas Fitzwater (later owned Waggon Inn) - 150 acres Henry Levering - 100 acres Alexander Till (Dill) - 100 acres Henry Conard - 200 acres Jacob Yost - 80 acres George Franks - 200 acres William Roberts - 100 acres Daniel Burn - 40 acres John David - 170 acres Isaac Williams - 100 acres George Castner - 200 acres William David (Davis) - 100 acres Peter Hoxworth - 100 acres John Thomas - 100 acres John Mircle (Markley) - 100 acres Jacob Levering - 100 acres Abram Dawes - 350 acres Eight or nine of the above were Welsh, six or eight were German and the remainder were English. The first to settle were the English, followed by the Welsh. 32 According to tax rolls, the growth of the township to the Revolutionary period was steady. In 1741, fifty-six taxpayers were present in the township and 1762 and 1785 the numbers had grown to 80 and 158, respectively. By 1788 there were approximately ninety farms, the largest of these was 350 acres and was owned by James Morris. Population growth continued steadily through the 1800's up until 1950, increasing from 771 persons in 1800 to 3063 persons in 1950. The last few years has shown dramatic population increase, reaching 9,295 persons in 1970. (See Whitpain Township Comprehensive Plan.) Slavery was never very important in the northern states and Whitpain had little history ol slavery. However, in 1763 it was claimed that three slaves resided in the township. Slavery continued through the Revolution as attested to by the notice in the Pennsylvania Packet, September 26. 1777, when David Knox offered "a reward of $20 for the recovery and return of a mulatto wench, twenty-six years old, named Steffany." The last slave in Whitpain was freed by James Morris, before he died in 1795. As already implied, the early settlers in Whitpain were farmers. However, industry came early when Jacob Yost and his son Daniel began a weaving enterprise in a small cabin in Center Square in 1727. In 1732, Jacob purchased the Yost farm and extended his business and eventually changed to the manufacture of farm implements. From 1760 to 1816 hand forged scythes, sickles and edge tools attested to the family's mechanical genius. After the Revolution in 1804, Charles Math- er's mill was built on the Wissahickon. The assessment of 1785 mentions the pre- sence of two tanneries and one oil mill in the township. Other post-Revolutionary industries worthy of note are John Conard's auger business which flourished from 1806 to 1857 when his sons moved it to Fort Washington, and Samuel F. Shaeffs threshing machines made in 1847. The first Justice of the Peace in Whitpain was Abram Dawes who was commissioned on May 25, 1752. One early Justice of the Peace, Andrew Knox, was appointed on June 6, 1777, and held the position through the Revolution until his death in January 1808. The Township had two churches prior to the Revolution. Boehm's Reformed Church founded by John Phillip Boehm was erected in 1740 in its original form as a small stone building. St. John's Lutheran Church was founded west of Center Square in 1773. Both churches served as hospitals after the Battle of Germantown and soldiers who died of wounds or disease were buried in their churchyards. It is of interest to note that Whitpain Township was part of Philadelphia County until Montgomery County was formed on September 10, 1784, and hence early records of Whitpain are in Philadelphia. The township is a composite of several small communities established before and after the Revolution, the major ones being Center Square, Blue Bell, Broad Axe, Custer, Franklinville, Washington Square, and Belfry. The last four are post-revolutionary communities. 33 Center Square was previously known as The Waggon and is located at the intersection of DeKalb Pike formerly known as State or Swedes' Ford Road, and Skippack Pike. Nicholas Scull mentions the Waggon Inn on his map of 1758 and the British, also, called it by that name on their maps of 1777. Thomas Fitzwater was the first recorded inn-keeper of the Waggon Inn; in 1762 he is recorded in the tax register. In 1777, John Porter was the inn-keeper and requested the protection of his premises by soldiers of Washington's army, in order to keep American soldiers from entering. This action by "Tory John Porter" caused resentment by the local population and resulted in the failure of the business. Blue Bell is situated at the intersection of Blue Bell-Penllyn Pike and Skippack Pike. In Scull's map of 1758, the White Horse Inn was located there and was called by that name in the British maps of 1777. This is the present day Blue Bell Inn which was founded in 1743. A "sister inn," the Black Horse, was built in 1774 by James Bartleson as a private home on the west side of Skippack Pike. It was licensed as an inn at the May sessions in 1796. Writing in the book commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of the Center Square Fire Company, Mears noted that Blue Bell could never have been described as a one horse town as its two colonial inns were horses. For many years Blue Bell was known as Pigeontown. The name was supposedly derived from the presence of large flocks of pigeons in the area. Morgan Morgan, a resident of the area, was noted for pigeon trapping and for his gun smithing. Not until 1840 was the name changed to Blue Bell, probably after the Blue Bell Inn. Broad Axe is situated in the eastern end of the township at Skippack and Butler Pikes, immediately adjacent to Whitemarsh Township. The name derives from the Broad Axe Inn established at least as early as 1681 and appearing on Reading Howell's map of 1792 by that name. Mears, former local historian, recorded the inns of Whitpain in the pun: "Broad Axe had the "Broad Axe" to chop the wood of Whitpain Township to fill "The Waggon" of Center Square for the "Black and White Horses" of Pigeontown or Blue Bell to pull." Belfry is located near the Worcester boundary line, dividing that township from Whitpain, and Skippack Pike. It had in 1880, a post office, a steam mill for grinding grain, a flour, feed, coal and lumber yard owned by Theodore Harrar; a blacksmith shop and several houses. The former station of Belfry on the Stony Creek Branch of the Reading Railroad once existed there. Franklinville is situated near the eastern portion of the township at the intersection of Morris Road and DeKalb Pike. In 1880 it contained an Inn, the country estate and model farm of William M. Singerly that is now Normandy Farms, a store operated by W. Corson, a blacksmith shop and five dwellings. Washington Square is partially in East Norriton Township, located at the intersection of Township Line and DeKalb Pike. In 1880, it had one inn (still here), a school house and five dwellings. Prior to the Revolution, two schools appear to have been established in Whitpain. The first school house was located near Skippack and Union Meeting Road and was taught by W. Knox as early as 1766. The other was attached to Boehm's Church and was a parochial school in the tradition of the early German settlers. Nicholas Korndoffer taught the school in 1777. 34 Most of the major roads in the township were started in pre-Revolutionary times. Skippack Pike is one of the country's oldest east-west highways. It was built at the request, dated 1713, of twenty nine German settlers living in Skippack to enable them to have access to Farmer's Mill in Whitemarsh. Several years later, in 1725. the road was extended out beyond Skippack to Swamp Creek. Morris Road was laid by the court order of September 1741 to commence at Garret Clemens' mill in Upper Salford township and end at Samuel Morris' Mill on the Wissahickon in Whitemarsh Township. 'The same Clemens family reside in the area today and own the Clemens Supermarket chain. Butler Pike which forms the south-eastern boundary of Whitpain and is the main street of neighboring Ambler and Conshohocken was constructed about 1739. It connected Matson's Ford (now West Conshohocken) on the Schuylkill River and Butler's Mill in Chalfont. DeKalb Pike, which was formerly called by the names Old Swedes' Ford Road and State Road was laid out in 1730. One railroad ran through the township just one hundred years ago. The Stony Creek Railroad was chartered in 1868. April 14. and opened to traffic January I, 1874. The line commenced at Main Street in Norristown and connected with the Reading Railroad in Lansdale, running across the entire width of the northern part of the township, with a station at Yost Road, named Custer, and one at Belfry. As already mentioned, Whitpain has been an independent township since 1701. However, for a brief period in 1762. Whitpain and Plymouth, by act of the assembly, became one district with two supervisors, one from each township. Their duties were to act jointly in tax levying and road mending. Total dissatisfaction by the populace of both townships dissolved the ill-considered act. in 1763. Whitpain's overall role in the Revolutionary War was minor, but George Washington and many of his generals did spend time in the township and gave the township a place in history. 35 Whitpain and the Revolution By George C. Taylor, Jr. Photography by George C. Taylor, Jr. Artwork by Becky Huttinger George C. Taylor, Jr. This section relates some details of the direct relationship between this township, its people, and the American Revolution as represented by the Continental Army led by General Washington. This relationship was not always smooth and, in fact, was occasionally abrasive. All of the history concerning this period, as well as anecdotes and stories which could be found, have been included. Some of this material may be disputed for accuracy but, since it exists, it has been recorded. To provide proper historic perspective and clarification, brief resumes of war events that occurred preceding, during, and following the period directly related to Whitpain are also included. It is hoped that this section will add an understanding of "the way it was" in Whitpain during the Fall of 1777. The author wishes to acknowledge the help of many interested persons in preparing this material. He especially wants to thank Mr. Arthur R. Driedger, Jr., teacher, historian, and resident of Whitpain, for supplying his material collected over many years of research. 37 Revolutionary War - Prelude After the war started at Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775, the British under General Gage defeated the Americans in a Pyrrhic victory at the Battle of Bunker (Breed's) Hill, June 16, 1775. This led to a stalemate; the Americans occupied Dorchester Heights southwest of the city and the British occupied Boston. On July 12, 1775 George Washington assumed command of the army. When Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold captured Fort Ticonderoga and its cannon on May 10, 1775, Henry Knox undertook to move those much needed artillery pieces to the Boston war theater. His struggle across the mountains with some fifty cannon during the winter of 1775-76, is one of the great marches in the annals of military history. The artillery was finally emplaced on Dorchester Heights by March 5, 1776. The British immediately began evacuating Boston by sea for Nova Scotia. The next major action was the successful British attack from the sea, first on Long Island, then New York City, and finally across New Jersey during November of 1776. The British went into winter quarters on the New Jersey side of the Delaware River. Washington's successful surprise attack on Christmas morning against the Hessians at Trenton and the subsequent British defeat at Princeton, New Jersey, drove the British back to New York while the American army wintered at Morristown, New Jersey. In September of 1777, after a summer of inactivity, the British army left New York by boat, destination unknown to the Americans. They (the British army) finally landed at Elkton, Maryland, drove quickly northward and met Washington's southward moving army near Chadd's Ford on the Chester Road for the Battle of Brandywine. The Americans were outflanked and retreated, first to Chester, then into Philadelphia along the Schuylkill River. A young French Marquis named Lafayette, who had joined the American army during the summer, was wounded in the leg during the Brandywine Battle. 38 When the British began to move northwestward, in a feint that seemed to threaten the American arms suppliers in Lancaster and Berks Counties, the Continental Army went to meet them. The almost disastrous "Battle of the Clouds" on September 16 near Malvern, Pennsylvania, resulted. A torrential rainstorm turned the potential field of battle into a quagmire and wet down the powder of both armies. The Americans escaped another potentially dangerous flanking attack under cover of this storm and retreated to the vicinity of Warwick Furnace, Washington next moved the army eastward, crossing the Schuylkill River at Parker's Ford to camp at what is now Trappe-Collegeville-Evansburg along the Ridge and German- town Pikes. Meanwhile, on September 20 the British launched a surprise night attack on General Wayne's brigade which had been left south of the river to watch the British troop move- ments. The "Paoli Massacre" resulted, with Wayne routed by a vicious bayonet charge by British troops under the command of General Grey. The British under General Howe's command, moved to the vicinity of Valley Forge; Washington moved his men into camp north of Pottstown (Pottsgrove Camp) to again block the British from Berks County. General Howe then crossed to the north side of the Schuylkill River for the first time, overpowering the American militia guarding Gordon's and Fatland's fords; he then moved east to occupy Philadelphia. Washington now began a cautious movement down Skippack pike toward Philadelphia - camping near Pennypack Mill (Schwenksville), then on to the town of Skippack for one day (October 2, 1777), and finally to Methacton Hill in Worcester Township, where he planned the Battle of Germantown with his staff in the Peter Wentz house on October 3rd. That night he launched the attack, sending the Continental Army through Whitpain Township for the first time. 39 The Continental Army in Whitpain Township The Continental Army under the command of General George Washington marched through Whitpain Township six times . . . - First, on the night of October 3, 1777, the army marched down Skippack Pike, through the center of Whitpain, from its camp in Worcester Township (adjoining Whitpain on the northwest) to the ill-starred "Battle of Germantown." - Second, on October 4 the army retreated in disorder back up the Skippack Pike through Whitpain, all the way to its former camp near Schwenksville. - Third, it marched down the Skippack Pike again on October 19 or 20 to "Camp Morris or Witpen" in Whitpain Township. - Fourth, the army broke camp in Whitpain and moved on November 2nd to Whitemarsh and the successful confrontation with Howe's army in what is known as the "Battle of Edge Hill." - Fifth, on December 11, 1777, the Continental Army moved from Whitemarsh to Broad Axe Village on the Skippack Pike, turned southwest along the Whitpain border formed by what is now Butler Pike and proceeded toward Matson's Ford (Conshohocken). The army was forced to move west along the river to Swede's Ford (Norristown) when British forces were encountered opposite Matson's Ford. The army was on its way to camp at Gulph Mills and then on to final winter quarters at Valley Forge. - Sixth, and for the last time, on June 19, 1778, the Continental Army left Valley Forge in pursuit of the British who had evacuated Philadelphia and were moving north across New Jersey toward New York. The army moved across Fatland's Ford and Sullivan's Bridge; it continued north on DeKalb Pike through Whitpain Township, into Bucks County, then to New Jersey and finally, to the "Battle of Monmouth." An interesting sidelight of this period . . . General Wayne, during the winter of 1778, when the troops were suffering so much at Valley Forge, went on a foraging expedition with some of his men into southern New Jersey, near Salem. He found and rounded-up approximately 400 head of cattle and fifty horses which he then drove back to Valley Forge via Trenton, Morristown, Montgomeryville and travelled DeKalb Pike through Whitpain Township. 41 The Continental Army in Whitpain Township and Vicinity The American Army in the Fall of 1777 was not the same army it was to become later in the war. It had suffered a series of near disastrous defeats since its one major victory at Trenton in December of 1776, and as a result was demoralized. The hard core of that army was a relative handful of federal troops from various states numbering, at the most, about 8,000 officers and men. This elite core of the army was augmented by state militia, which ranged from useless to very good, depending on their individual leadership. Finally, there was the local militia, which usually fought only when the theater of war moved into their local areas. These troops were invariably poor, perhaps able to get off one round of musket fire before they turned and ran. However, from the ranks of the state and local militia came the men who were to become federal troops and replace those killed wounded, captured, deserted, or those whose term of service had run out. The equipment of this army was also quite variable, consisting primarily of muskets (often captured British "Brown Besses"), rifles (which Washington disapproved of because they were much slower to load than a musket and, at this time, could not accept a bayonet as a musket could) and artillery (mostly captured from the British). The leather goods that the army received was often virtually rawhide and substitutes were found for it with many items such as belts and straps made of the plentiful woven flax. Washington was particularly concerned about the cartouches (cartridge boxes) which were not sufficiently waterproof. This concern was quite acute after the "Battle of the Clouds" when the downpour of rain made both armies inoperable because their powder was wet. Later in the war these deficiencies were largely overcome by huge infusions of arms and other military necessities from the French. 42 At Pennypack (Penneback) Mill, Schwenksville, where the Continental Army was camped on September 28,1777, it was a pitiful sight with only 5,472 officers and men fit for duty. The Army was also suffering from its chronic lack of supplies and arms, but more importantly, it was suffering from lack of confidence. Fortunately, it was reinforced while there up to a strength of approximately 8,000 officers and men in federal service plus 3,000 militia for a total of about 11,000 men. It was also resupplied and re-equipped by a nervous Continental Congress driven from Philadelphia by the British occupation to York, Pennsylvania, in late September. On the march to Germantown, October 3, General Armstrong's forces (including General Smallwood's and General Foreman's regiments) were to constitute a northern flanking force, moving on Whitemarsh Road to Jenkin's Tavern and then south to Market Square in central Germantown (Bethlehem Pike to Church Road to Limekiln Pike to Jenkintown, down York Road to Washington Lane to School House Lane in Germantown). ' General Sullivan's and General Wayne's divisions under the command of General Conway formed the right or southern wing, moving down the Manatawny Road (Germantown Pike). General McDougal .commanded the center with General Greene's and General Stephen's divisions, moving down the Skippack Pike. General Lord Stirling (Alexander of New Jersey) led the reserves which consisted of General Nash's and General Maxwell's brigades, following McDougal down Skippack Pike. When the troops proceeded down Skippack Pike through Whit- pain Township on the night of October 3, orders were sent ahead that all residents in Whitpain along the route of march were to extinguish all of their candles, and guards with drawn swords were placed at the Waggon Inn (now Reed's Store in Centre Square) owned at that time by John Potter, so that no soldier would stop for food and especially not for drink. Issac McGlattery of Whitpain met the army in what is now Centre Square and acted as a guide for Maxwell's Brigade of 1,100 Maryland and 600 New Jersey militia as they moved to the north through the woods so that they would rendezvous with the main body of troops in Chestnut Hill at 2 A.M. on October 4. He continued as a guide for this unit until it reached the vicinity of Chew House which was the principle focal point of the Battle of Germantown. Adam Lotz (Lutz) who lived near Centre Square reportedly opened his fence to permit the army to march through part of his land so as to avoid a particularly muddy section of Skippack Pike, which might have bogged-down the army's horses. 43 The heavy morning fog of October 4, 1777, which could have aided Washington's attack by providing concealment until the last moment, instead acted against his plan. In clear weather it might have worked, but with troops as undisciplined and inexperienced as his, Washington's plan (a duplicate of what had worked so well at Trenton, but on a much grander and more complex scale) was too difficult to be carried out successfully in the blinding fog. The northern flanking force under General Armstrong became lost (some say because it had a guide who was secretly a Tory sympathizer) and arrived in Germantown just in time to add to the confusion of an already retreating Continental Army. The right flank under General Conway never did become seriously engaged. Finally, Washing- ton made a tactical error which threw away his advantage of surprise. He listened to General Henry Knox's advice and attempted to reduce the fortress-like Chew house where Colonel Musgrave made a determined stand, before proceeding against the main British camp. This enabled the British to organize and execute an effective counter-attack. However, one point should be made, the crack British and Hessian units under Howe had retreated under the initial American assault, proving that they were defeatable. The American retreat unfortunately became a rout, with officers and non-corns unable to control their men as they ran pell-mell up Skippack Pike through Whitpain. The story of an eye-witness account given in "Watson's Annals" page fifty-nine, follows: "The English cavalry pursued the Americans on Skippack road 10 1/2 miles from Philadelphia, into Whitpain township, as far as the Blue Bell. We have heard from an old friend, a witness, now at that place, that our militia was already there when the British cavalry arrived, and wheeled about to make good their retreat and return." 44 "He describes the confusion that existed among the Americans as past the power of description; sadness and consternation was expressed in every countenance. While the dead and dying (which had preceded this halt at the Blue Bell) were before seen moving onward for refuge, there could be seen many anxious women* and children rushing to the scene to learn the fate of their friends, and to meet, it they could, the fathers, brothers or other relatives who had been before sent forward for the engagement. "Again and again the American officers were seen riding or running to the front of the militia with their drawn swords, threatening or persuading them to face about and meet the foe; but all efforts seemed to fail; and officers and men were still seen everywhere borne along on the retreat. They broke down fences and rushed away in confusion, as if determined no longer to hazard the chances of war in another onset." A Major John White, continental officer from Philadelphia, and an aide to General Sullivan, along with a Lieutenant Smith were both wounded in the Battle of Germantown but were able to ride back to Whitpain Township on Skippack Pike to reach the home of Abraham Wentz (Captain of Whitpain Militia) where Major White had been quartered. The account in Watson's Annals continued: "As the alarm of the pursuing army came onward, he undertook to ride six miles further, when he took a fever from his exertions, of which he died. A lady who saw him at the Wentz house, and who is still alive has told me he came there with General Forman, and that the Major was gay and cheerful, and declined either bed or assistance. * Camp followers were always close-by any army at this period in history. They served a useful purpose in aiding morale, in nursing the sick and injured, and in performing camp housekeeping duties; they were always tolerated by the army command. 45 "In the same company there was a very young officer from Virginia, wounded in the shoulder, who also went onward (supposedly Lieutenant Smith)." Both of these officers, along with General Nash and a Colonel Boyd who had also been wounded, died of their wounds and were buried in the Mennonite Cemetery near Kulpsville. On Oil Mill Run (now called Prophecy Creek) at Rex's Bridge where Skippack Pike crosses the creek between Broad Axe and Blue Bell, American cavalry under General Pulaski skirmished briefly with pursuing British dragoons (cavalry) to attempt to halt their advance after the fleeing army. After this skirmish, the British horsemen continued their pursuit until they finally turned-back at "Nolan's Hill" (now where Cathcart Road intersects Skippack Pike). The Continental Army retreated all the way back to their former camp at Pennypacker's Mill in Schwenksville. Prophecy Creek This creek was culled "Oil Mill Run" in 1777, a skirmish took place here on October 4, 1777 between British Dragoons chasing the retreating Continental Army and Pulaski's Cavalry screening the retreat. 46 On October 6, 1777 General Washington, from his headquarters at Pennypacker Mill (Schwenksville), wrote the following note to British General Sir William Howe in Philadelphia: "General Washington's compliments to General Howe. He does himself the pleasure to return to him a dog (reportedly an English bull), which accidently fell into his hands, and by the inscription on the collar, appears to belong to General Howe." Apparently a letter of thanks was returned to Washington from Howe. On October 8, the army moved up Forty-foot road to the vicinity of Kulpsville. On October 12, General Varnum arrived from Peekskill, New York, with five State of Virginia regiments and 1,200 men from Pennsylvania. Four days later, on October 16, the reinforced army moved down Forty-foot road to Skippack Pike, east through the town-of Skippack to its former camp of October 3 on Methacton Hill in Worcester Township, just northwest of the Whitpain Township line. Here the still disheartened troops heard news that boosted their morale - news of the American victory over Burgoyne at Saratoga, New York. A celebration called a "Feu de joie" was held on Washington's order. This standard military celebration of that time consisted of having all the troops line-up along a road and fire their weapons in sequence down the line. On October 20, 1777, Washington moved the army into camp in Whitpain Township at "Camp Morris," with his headquarters at "Dawesfield," the home of James Morris whose father-in-law was Abraham Dawes, Jr. This house is not only still standing but is still owned by descendants of Mr. Dawes who built it (See section in this book on "Dawesfield"). This original, principal campsite consisted of James Morris' 350-400 acre farm, but when reinforcements arrived from General Gates victorious Northern Army an adjacent property, Gregar's farm, of about 300 acres was added. This meant that the camp stretched from what is now the Blue Bell-Penllyn Pike on the northwest to Butler Pike on the southeast, and from Skippack Pike on the southwest to Morris Road and the Wissahickon Creek on the northeast. 48 The following units and commanders were probably in or near Camp Morris: Knox's Regiment of Artillery Webb's Regiment Maryland Militia Regiment Smallwood's Brigade The Second Brigade Wayne's Brigade The Second Pennsylvania Brigade Learned's Brigade Weedon's Brigade Muhlenburg's Brigade Maxwell's Brigade Conway's Brigade Woodford's Brigade Scott's Brigade Huntington's Brigade Varnum's Brigade Sumner's Regiment Major Generals Sullivan and Alexander (Lord Stirling) with their men as well as the Marquis de Lafayette. Morgan's Rifle Corp arrived from the north with only 175 effectives out of an initial force of 500. This Corp was later brought to full strength by taking five men from each infantry musket company and rearming them with rifles. (Some sources say that this corp arrived later, after the army had moved to Whitemarsh.) On October 29, the British estimated that Washington's army then consisted of 8,313 regulars (Continental or state troops), 2,717 militia north of the Schuylkill River, plus Colonel Potter's 500 militia south of the river, for a grand total of 11,530 officers and men. Some of the commanding officers in the First Brigade of General Wayne's Division were First Regiment, Colonel James Chambers commanding; Second Regiment Major Henry Miller; Fourth Regiment, Captain John Patterson; Fifth Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel William Butler; Seventh Regiment, Colonel Fra Johnston; Eighth Regiment, Major Samuel May; Tenth Regiment, Colonel Daniel Brodhead; Eleventh Regiment, Colonel Richard Humpton; and State of Pennsylvania Regiment, Colonel Walter Stewart. (See section later in this chapter about Walter Stewart.) The First Brigade commander was Colonel Thomas Hartley. On November 1, 1777, General Wayne's Division had a total strength of 1,708 officers and men plus fifty-seven prisoners. Pulaski's cavalry consisted of Bland's, Baylor's, Sheldon's and Moylan's dragoon regiments. While at Camp Morris, General McDougal was sent with General Greene's and Colonel Potter's troops from "other areas," a total force of 4,000, to attempt a raid at Gray's Ferry where British supply ships were unloaded by General Cornwallis and 3,000 "redcoats." Unfortunately, the wily Cornwallis did the job at night and the raiding force was too late; however, they did collect a sizeable "booty" in cattle and horses during the operation. 50 At Washington's headquarters in Dawes- field, the Marquis de Lafayette slept in the entrance hallway on the first floor because the wound he had received in the leg at the Battle of Brandywine had not healed suffi- ciently to permit him to climb stairs. Whitpain Township had a reputation for fine horses and the army began appropriating them until the residents complained to Gen- eral Washington. He then issued the follow- ing order on October 24: "Henceforth no horses shall be impressed by any member for the army without an order from the Quarter Master General, one of his deputies or assist- ants, or a special order from the Command- er-in-Chief." At his own request General Anthony Wayne was court-martialed at Dawsfield for his responsibility in the so-called "Paoli Massacre." General Sullivan was the presiding officer with the following officers hearing the evidence . . . Generals, Muhlenburg, Weedon, Conway, and Huntington; Colonels Stephens, Dayton, Stewart, McClennachen, Bradley, Davis, DeHart, and Thackston. The charges against General Wayne were ... "that he had timely notice of the enemy's intention to attack the troops under his command on the night of the 20th (of September, 1777 at the so-called "Paoli Massacre") and notwith- standing that intelligence, neglected making a disposition until it was too late, either to annoy the enemy, or make a retreat without the utmost danger and confusion." The trial required four days with the following result: "The court having fully considered the charge against Brigadier General Wayne and evidence produced to them, are unanimously of the opinion that General Wayne is not guilty of the charge exhibited against him, but that he, on the night of the 20th ultimo (i.e. of Sept. last) did everything that could be expected from an active, brave and vigilant officer under the orders he then had. The court do acquit him with the highest honors. The Commander-in-Chief approves the sentence." 51 Other officers tried at Camp Morris were: - Major General Adam Stephens was charged and found guilty of intoxication and lack of judgement during the Battle of Germantown — he was dismissed from the service and his command was given to the Marquis de Lafayette. (This was Lafayette's first field command with the American Army.) - Lieutenant Nathan Ferris of Colonel Swift's Regiment was charged with being drunk and incapable of doing his duty at Germantown. He was found guilty and cashiered. - Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Fish of Colonel Durkies' Regiment was charged with leaving the regiment and platoon to which he belonged on the march to German- town and also "with being much disguised with liquor." He was acquitted of the first charge, but found guilty of the second. He was sentenced to be reprimanded by the Brigadier in the presence of the other officers of the Brigade. - Lieutenant John Markhan was charged: "lost his head badly at -Chew House' while in command of the 8th Virginia Regiment." He was found guilty of leaving his regiment in time of action and also with delay when ordered to support the advanced guard. He was cashiered from the service. - Captain McCormick of the 13th Virginia Regiment was charged with "laying down in time of action and behaving in a cowardly and unofficer-like manner." He was acquitted with honor. - Lieutenant Thomas Moore was charged with "encouraging his men to breed mutiny and otherwise behaving in a manner unbecoming the character of a gentleman and officer." He was acquitted. - Lieutenant Ambrose Crane of the 5th Virginia Regiment was charged with "disobedience of orders and breaking his arrest." He was acquitted. - General William Maxwell was court-martialed with General Greene presiding. Charged by Lieutenant Colonel Heath, a fellow-officer, as follows: "Maxwell was in liquor while commanding the Light Corp to such an extent as to disqualify him in some measure from doing his duty, and once or twice besides, his spirits were a little elevated by spiritous liquors." He was acquitted. 52 Common soldiers were also tried . . . Thomas Roach, matross (the common soldier of the artillery, a rank no longer in use) in Colonel John Crane's Company of Artillery was charged and found guilty of "desertion and an attempt to go over to the enemy." He was sentenced to death within twenty-four hours, but this was postponed and he was eventually pardoned by Washington and returned to his unit for duty. On October 31, Archer Henley, William Patterson and Judah Gudley were convicted of stealing and, as punishment, were made to run a gauntlet between two rows of mounted cavalrymen (100 on each side) who smote them with the flat of their swords ... at the Artillery Park of Camp Morris. Also at this camp. Brigadier Generals Robert Howe and Alexander McDougal were both pro- moted to the rank of Major General, On October 30, General Wayne wrote to the General Assembly of Pennsylvania requesting that they "do every means in our power to increase recruiting of service in our state." He suggested the institution of drafts for needed manpower and further requested uniforms and blankets for his own troops, as well as the other Pennsylvania troops in the army. On October 21, 1777, a council of war was held at "Dawesfield." General Varnum's Brigade (or at least half of it) had been sent to reinforce Fort Mercer in New Jersey. This council was to decide "if it will be prudent to attempt a general attack to dislodge the enemy from Philadelphia and, if it is and we are unsuccessful, where shall we retreat to?" The council decided that an attack would be unwise, but that the army should place itself in a strong defensive position in order to watch General William Howe in Philadelphia and to harass his outposts and supply lines whenever possible. While at Camp Morris, General Washington was concerned about Fort Mercer at Red Bank, New Jersey, and Fort Mifflin on Mud Island in the Delaware River which were under assault by the British. Washington wrote to General Newcomb of the New Jersey militia telling him of the dispatch of half of General Varnum's Brigade (614 officers and men) to reinforce the Fort Mercer garrison. Hessian Colonel Carl Emil Ulrich Von Donop with his brigade of 1,228 officers and men attempted to take this fort from the land side on October 22, 1777. Von Donop was severely defeated losing at least half of his brigade including most senior officers and Von Donop, himself, who was hit by thirteen musket balls. Colonel Von Wurmb of the Hessian Jaeger Corp became commander of this depleted brigade after this action. Two British warships which came upriver to support this assault with their cannon fire ran aground, were set afire and exploded on October 23. The roar of this explosion is said to have been heard in Germantown many miles away. Despite this impressive American victory, both Fort Mercer and Fort Mifflin eventually fell to the British a month later, clearing the way for unimpeded British shipping to their garrison in Philadelphia. 53 There was apparently some ill-feeling between General Pulaski's Polish officers and the American soldiers while they were at Camp Morris, because a fist fight developed between these two factions. Colonel Thomas Hartley, Commander of the First Pennsylvania Brigade under General Wayne, wrote during this time that "a lethargy seems to prevail among the people and if there was a true spirit of liberty in this state (Pennsylvania), the army under Howe (in Philadelphia) would be in an even more dangerous position than Burgoyne (General Burgoyne, British Commander defeated by the Americans at Saratoga, New York on October 14, 1777) ever was." James Morris' primary interest was in farming his 350-400 acre "plantation" The Revolutionary War partially altered his plans for his chosen vocation. When the Army was camped on his property and General Washington was using his home (Dawesfield) as his headquarters, for two weeks in late October of 1777, it was cold and rainy for most of the time. This imposed a great discomfort on the troops there, particularly since they were not well supplied with boots, warm uniforms, blankets or tents. General Weedon's Virginia troops, used to a somewhat warmer climate, suffered perhaps more than most. They thought also that this camp might become their winter quarters, so they began to cut timber on the Morris property to build huts. Some accounts say that all the trees then on this land, were cut down. However, before Weedon's men could build their huts, the army was moved on to "Whitemarsh" and the cut timber was left behind. James Morris could not let the wood go to waste and used the timber to build a grist mill (which was completed in 1778) on his property. After his death his widow sold this mill, along with about fifteen acres of ground, to Adam Werstner in 1796. The mill was on Morris Road where Prophecy Creek crosses it, and was operated until 1877, just 100 years after Weedon's men had cut its original timbers. Prophecy Creek was called Oil Mill Run in Revolutionary times, undoubtedly because it had an oil mill on its banks. Montgomery County had quite a few oil mills at this time to grind flax seed and produce this useful byproduct of linen making. Flax was grown extensively because it served as the mainstay for cloth, particularly in hot weather Cotton was not imported into the North until about 1850, when it quickly supplanted linen because it was cheap, easy to use, and did not require valuable farmland to produce. The oil mills went out of existence at this same time. On November 2' 1777' the Continental Army moved closer to General Howe in Philadelphia by occupying a strong position in Whitemarsh (Wide Marsh) Township directly northeast of Whit- pain. Washington, while at Camp Morris, had sent his Chief of Engineers, French Chevalier Louis Du Portail, ahead to scout and begin fortifying this position. It consisted of three adjacent hills and a ridge line extending from one of them. The first was Militia Hill with the then wide Wissahickon Creek* at its base; next came Fort Hill and then Camp Hill with Sandy Run at their bases. The ridge line extended northeastward * Rivers, streams, creeks, and marshes at this time contained more water than they do today when industry and a greater number of people divert their waters. There may also have been some climatic changes which have occurred naturally, or as a result of man's excessive building, which have reduced rainfalls. 55 from Camp Hill and paralleled Edge Hill ridge about one mile eastward. This was an extremely strong position which Colonel Du Portail fortified with skill and genius. The Army marched out of Camp Morris and Whitpain on November 2, going down both Skippack and Morris roads into Whitemarsh. The Order of November 1, 1777, stated: "The army to march tomorrow at ten A.M. with all baggage, each division is to open a road into the nearest and best main road leading into the country (Whitemarsh) by which wagons and troops may move with the greatest ease and dispatch." General Sullivan led his division over Morris Road; General Washington led the rest of the Army including General Greene's troops. General Maxwell, General Muhlenberg and his Pennsylvania Germans, and Generals Knox, Scott, Potter, Conway, Smallwood, Varnum, Huntingdon, Woodford, Wayne, Weedon, and Alexander (Lord Stirling) down Skippack Road. More troops joined Washington from the Army which had defeated Burgoyne at Saratoga. The Emlen House along the banks of Sandy Run was chosen as the Army's headquarters (now owned by Mr. Edward Pizek, President of Mrs. Paul's Kitchens). Early in December, intelligence began to reach Washington that Howe was preparing to move against him. The story of Lydia Darragh's courageous trip from Philadelphia to the Rising Sun Tavern in the Northeast, where she repeated the plan she had overheard the British talking about in her home to an American officer who rushed it on to Washington, is probably true. At any rate, Washington was ready when Howe moved on December 5. The British first advanced to St. Thomas' Episcopal Church at the intersection of Skippack Road and Bethlehem Pike. A skirmish on this day, near Church Road, resulted in the death of Pennsylvania General Irvine, who was greatly mourned by the Army. Howe is said to have studied Washington's positions with his spy glass from the steeple of the Church on top of a small hill there, lobbed a few cannon balls toward the Three hills, and withdrawn to Chestnut Hill. The next day he did nothing, but on December 7, Howe moved his army via Washington Lane and York Road to Abington in an attempt to outflank Washington's left. However, this was the ridge line extension from Camp Hill and the Continentals moved into prepared fortifications along this line, then sent their left flanking force consisting of Colonel Gist's Regiment (some accounts indicate that this was, instead. Colonel Potter's unit) of musket-armed infantry and Colonel Daniel Morgan's recently reinforced Corp of Riflemen to the woods on top of the Edge Hill ridge, a mile forward of the main American line. Howe attempted to send his flanking force along Susquehanna Road late in the afternoon, but Morgan's rifles, supported by Gist's muskets and bayonets, soon stopped them and the British retreated to York Road at dusk. The following day, Sunday, December 8, 1777, Howe withdrew to Philadelphia - he was afraid of another Bunker Hill or worse, against such a well-entrenched army of virtually equal strength. The attack on Edge Hill was made by Colonel Von Wurmb, General Grey (of Paoli fame), and General Grant leading the British and Hessian Grenadiers. English intelligence at this time estimated Washington's forces at 11,200 men with 52 guns. 56 The British Army facing Washington at Edge Hill consisted of: British Light Infantry British Grenadiers (assault troops) Hessian Grenadiers Commanded by General Cornwallis Fourth English Brigade Two light twelve pound guns and two howitzers English Guards Brigade Commanded by General Von Knyphausen First English Brigade Seventh and twenty-sixth Regiments Two light twelve pound guns Hessian Lieb Regiment Von Donop's Regiment Commanded by General Grant One officer and twenty horse of the seventeenth Regiment of Dragoons The Rear Guard Third English Brigade Hessian Jaegar Corp Commanded by General Grey Queen's Rangers The Continental Army advanced west to Broad Axe, then turned left toward Matson's Ford on December 11, 1777 as part of their march to Valley Forge. 57 It was obvious to all (and especially the French) observers that Howe had been beaten without a full engagement. Thus, the often overlooked "Battle of Edge Hill" defeat of Howe, coupled with Burgoyne's defeat in New York, undoubtedly contributed greatly to the French decision to ally their nation with the fledgling American Republic. This good news was received by Washington at Valley Forge just two months later in February of 1778. It was obvious, also, that Howe was not going to sally forth again that winter from his snug quarters in Philadelphia and Washington had to decide quickly where his own army was to winter. This decision was still being debated on December 11, 1777 when the army moved from its Whitemarsh fortifications to Skippack Road and on to Broad Axe Village, Whitpain, then along the township's northeastern border on what is now Butler Pike, to Matson's Ford (Conshohocken). In the meantime. Colonel Potter with his Pennsylvania Militia Regiment was astride Gulf Road south of the Schuylkill River when on this same day, the head of a British column under Cornwallis, out on a foraging expedition, appeared on the crest of the next hill. Potter fought an astute and highly successful delaying action as he moved backward from one hill to the next on Gulf Road. But Cornwallis' 3,000 men and cannon were too much for his much smaller unit and eventually, at Ithan Road, the remnants of his gallant force were routed, with Potter barely escaping the pursuing British Dragoons. He learned later, as he got to Matson's Ford, that Sullivan's entire division was across the river and only a few miles distant on Matson's Ford Road when they heard the action and promptly turned-around and recrossed the ford. Potter was most upset at what he considered to be Sullivan's cowardice. It was explained to him that Washington had ordered Sullivan to withdraw immediately if he came upon any opposition so that the army would not be caught divided by the river in the face of a possible strong enemy force. The army then moved further westward to Swede's Ford (Norristown) where they camped for the night, crossing on December 12 and moving to the Gulf Mills Camp. The exact area of the winter camp was still undecided. Finally, the army moved upriver to Valley Forge for the duration of that misera- ble, gallant ordeal from which there emerged a different army. Hardened by adversity and strengthened by the discipline of Baron Von Steuben, they became virtual professionals ... the match of any army extant at that time. Finally, on June 18, 1778, when spring mercifully alleviated their suffering and General Howe left his gay winter partying in Philadelphia to cross into New Jersey, the Continental Army left Valley Forge via Sullivans Bridge (a pontoon bridge of wagons and boards) and Fatland's Ford in pursuit of their foe with new confidence and spirit. They trod again through Whitpain Township for the last time, up the Swede's Ford Road (now Route 202) into Gwynedd, Bucks County and New Jersey for their next encounter at Monmouth. 58 Colonel Walter Stewart A brief history of one of the officers who presided at the court-martial of Anthony Wayne is interesting to relate because a letter he wrote to President Wharton of the Pennsylvania Assembly on October 27, 1777 from "Camp Morris" still exists. Colonel Walter Stewart, Commanding Officer of the Pennsylvania Regiment of Foot, was born in County Derry, Ireland, in 1756. While at Camp Morris, his regiment was attached to Brigadier General George Weedon's Brigade of Virginia Troops which was, in turn, part of Major General Nathaniel Greene's Division. Colonel Stewart's regiment, along with the Tenth Virginia Regiment, had successfully formed the Rear Guard for the Continental Army in their retreat from the Battle of Brandywine to Chester and, the next day, from Chester to Philadelphia, fighting sharp and valiant delaying actions. The letter he wrote to President Wharton reflected his attitude toward his men and officers: "I have been lucky enough to have received a good many recruits, which is the cause of my being able to keep (his regiment) so well up in numbers. Amongst the sick are twenty-two wounded, these I expect will in a short time be again able to join me, as I am informed their wounds are in general but slight. I have been able as yet to engage but two hundred and seventy men to enlist for the War, rather than for the shorter terms of enlistment previously instituted, but expect to have a much larger number by the 1st of January. Indeed, should we get into winter quarters shortly I doubt not but I may engage the greater part, shall use every endeavor in my power to effect it as I must say they are as fine a set of men as in the Army. Am sorry to inform your Excellency, I was necessitated to have a few of the Officers broke for misconduct, the vacancy's, however, should not wish to have filled until winter, when probably I shall be able to get some young gentlemen of family and reputation to join me, as I would much rather go into the field half-officered than take people who were not well known, and whose principles could not be depended upon." At Whitemarsh Camp on November 13, 1977, Stewart's Regiment was transferred from the State of Pennsylvania to the Continental Army and designated as the Thirteenth Pennsylvania Regiment. Despite Stewart's letter quoted above, at Valley Forge, his regiment lost 300 men when their enlistments expired on December 31, 1777. Colonel Stewart was subsequently wounded very severely at the Battle of Monmouth, New Jersey on June 28, 1778, where he was regarded as a hero of this action. He recovered to take command of a combination of understrength Pennsylvania regiments which were then brigaded with Wayne's First Pennsylvania Brigade. He married during the War and afterward settled in Philadelphia where his career was distinguished by various high offices. Unfortunately, he died at the age of 40, leaving a widow and many children. (His first-born son had George Washington as his Godfather.) 59 Military Organizations and Units in 1777 In the American Army, the Table of Organization was constantly undergoing changes during the war. In late 1776 and in 1777, it was basically as follows: - Company - Four officers with a captain as commander, eight non-commissioned officers, and sixty-eight privates for a total of eighty officers and men. - Regiment - There were supposed to be eight companies and one staff unit consisting of six officers, including the colonel or major in command, with four high-ranking non-commissioned officers for a theoretical total of 650 officers and men in each regiment. In January, 1778, the Continental Army organization was changed again to nine companies for each infantry regiment, with eight as regular musket companies plus one light infantry company carrying rifles, but each company's strength was reduced to sixty-four officers and men which with the regimental staff totaled 585 in each regiment. - Brigade - Two or more regiments made up a brigade commanded by a Brigadier General. - Division - Two or more brigades constituted a division commanded by a Major General. - Battalion - The term "battalion" was used interchangeably with "regiment," but it often referred to a unit of less than the standard number of companies. There was no system of replacement so that when regimental strengths became too low due to casualties, sickness, enlistment expirations or desertions, the regiments were combined to form new regiments. A regiment of cavalry was supposed to contain six troops (companies in infantry vernacular) and staff for an approximate total of 270 officers and men. In February, 1778, there were four regiments of dragoons (cavalry) in the American Army for a total of 475 officers and men: - Sheldon's (the Second) with 138 officers and men. - Moylan's (the Fourth) with 108 officers and men. - Bland's (the Fist Virginia) with 118 officers and men. - Baylor's (the Third) with 111 Officers and men. These regiments were always short of horses so that some of the men were invariably on foot. Later these units were formed into "legions" with staff plus four troops mounted and two troops on foot. This was partly due to the lack of good horses as cited previously. General Casimir Pulaski of Poland was the overall commander of the American cavalry. Colonel Henry Knox was the Commander-in-Chief of the American Artillery which consisted of one regiment containing ten companies of approximately five guns per company: There were forty-eight officers, fifty-nine non-commissioned officers, one 60 hundred and nineteen artillery men and two hundred and fifty-seven matrosses for a total of 483 officers and men. The artillery never was used as a unit but fought instead as individual companies in support of various other units. Rifle companies were designated as "light infantry" and formed into corps of about 500 officers and men. After some bad earlier experiences in the war, when rifle units had been overwhelmed by enemy musket units using bayonets which a rifle at this time was not made to accommodate, a musket-bayonet unit was always assigned to fight with a rifle unit so that it could be protected from bayonet assaults. The most famous of these rifle corps was Daniel Morgan's made up of Western Virginians, Pennsylvanians and Marylanders. The "Hessian" soldiers totaling 30,000 officers and men were allied with the British in the American Revolution. They came from the following principalities and districts: - Brunswick - Hesse-Cassel (15,000 men) - Hesse-Hanau - Waldeck - Anspack-Bayreuth - Anhalt-Zerbst 12,000 of these men never returned to their native lands; of these, 5,000 deserted and became American citizens. In action in Pennsylvania during 1777 was Colonel (Count) Carl Emil Ulrich Von Donop and his brigade (1,228 officers and men) consisting of; The Prinz Carl Regiment, The Knyphausen Regiment, and The Landgraves Third Guards. Count Von Donop was killed leading his brigade at the Battle of Red Bank, New Jersey on October 22, 1777. His command passed to Colonel Von Wurmb of the Hessian Jaeger Corp. The overall commander of Hessian troops in this theater was General Philipp Von Heister. In the British Army, a regiment consisted of ten companies — eight line companies with muskets ("Brown Besses") and bayonets, one light infantry company lightly armed and equipped for fast movement to reconnoiter and one grenadier company used as assault or shock troops. The British also used troops of cavalry called "dragoons" and artillery with each division or wing of the army. Both the American and British Armies were deployed in the conventional manner of their times with a center wing, a right wing, a left wing, and a reserve force all supported by cavalry and artillery. The standard method of attack by infantry armed with muskets was to advance en masse to within range and then to discharge all muskets at one time, on signal. If successful, this would be followed-up by a bayonet charge into the enemy lines. The cavalry would scout before battle and chase retreating enemy after battle. The artillery was used before the infantry to break down enemy fortifications with solid or explosive cannon balls or loaded with "grape shot" to fire directly into massed enemy troops. (Firing grape meant loading these smooth bore muzzle-loaders with all kinds of metal pieces and firing them like a modern shotgun with a scattering effect as the range increased.) 61 Whitpain People and Anecdotes The Whitpain Militia A Militia Company was organized in Whitpain Township in 1777. There may have been other men from the Township who fought in the Revolutionary War, but these men were at least available during the time when the Army was in this area and aggregated at least 92 officers and men: - Captain Abraham Wentz (Commanding Officer) - Sergeants - Jonathan Markee (Markle), Jacob Shoemaker and Andrew Dill (Dull or Doll) - Clerk - Jonathan Rushong - Privates - Jonathan Ambler, Peter Bisbing, George Berkheimer, George Bisbing, Abraham Bennett, Michael Bisbing, Adam Boyland, Conrad Boas (Booz), Jacob Boas, Henry Conrad, Philip Corndorfer, Samuel Coulson, Jonathan Da vis, Malachi Davis, Samuel DeHaven, Jesse DeHaven, Moses DeHaven, David DeHaven, Jonathan DeHaven, Jonathan Davis, Benjamin Dickinson, Henry Dawson, Amos Ellis, Isaac Ellis, Jr., George Eldridge (Etris), Peter Fluck, Jonathan Fisher, George Fitzwater, Jonathan Greenawalt, William Hallowell, Joseph Hallowell, Michael Hoofacre, Abel Harmar, Elias Horning, Robert Knox, David Knox, John Lynn, Jonathan Later, James Morris (owner of Dawesfield), Jacob Martin, Isaac Martin, Richard Meigs, Leonard Matz, Morgan Morgan, Isaac McGlathery (guide to Maxwell's Brigade to Germantown), Jonathan Os- borne, James Nettles, Jonathan Porter (owner of the Waggon Inn), Philip Paff (Puff), Jonathan Phipps, Joseph Paul, Ludwig Rhinebolt, Frederick Reemy, Joshua Richardson, Aquilla Roberts, Daniel Roberts, Job Roberts, Nicholas Rile, Edward Roberts, William Robinson, Peter Steringer, Henry Styer, Jonathan Styer, Stephen Styer, Jonathan Shay, Mathias Shoemaker, Jacob Slaughter, Nicholas Sisler, Christian Singer (Saiger), Henry Stitt (Still), Henry Shade, Conrad Stem, William Smith, Jacob Shoemaker, Morris Taylor, Ludwig Terewith, Robert Thomas, Thomas White, Jonathan White, Jacob Walter, William Williams, Jacob Yost, Baltzer Yetter and Christopher Zimmerman. NOTE: From "Penna. Archives." Series six. Vol. i, page 902. Joshua Richardson (Richards) owned what later became the farm of Henry Hoover. He was accused of harboring the refugee gang of Doans. Jonathan Phipps lived in the Stephen Jones house opposite the toll gate at Boehm's Church. Many of the names above are found on the Whitpain landowner's lists of 1734 and the 1785 list of taxables in Whitpain. Some of these surnames are still to be found in Whitpain Township on the roads that bear these names, in the phone directory, and in the old church cemeteries. By 1777 Whitpain was a well established community of farmers and small, home-type industries. The war, when it came to this prosperous and peaceable area, 62 was not very popular. Fences were broken down and used for firewood; horses and cattle were "appropriated" with worthless receipts, "money not worth a continental," given by the Army foragers if they were caught. Food and grains were taken, and in the late fall of 1777 with winter coming, this could be serious for a farm family dependent on their stored food and animal fodder to see them through the cold season. It was undoubtably with a collective sigh of relief that the residents of Whitpain saw the last of this Army in December of '77 (except for one day, June 19, 1778, when it marched North along what is now DeKalb Pike in pursuit of Howe's Army as it crossed New Jersey for New York). Yet despite these hardships, most of the men in the township apparently belonged to this local militia unit, indicating a strong spirit in support of the American cause. Many of these people were from Germany, or their antecedents were, with a strong religious background and a hatred of war which had caused their initial removal to this new continent; and yet, in spite of all this, they seem to have been in general support of the Continental Army, despite its occasional excesses in the countryside. The presence of this Army must have been pretty general throughout this whole area; a reading of Sally Wister's diary, written while she was at the Foulke Mansion, just across the line from Whitpain in Penllyn, indicates that there was a great coming and going of military units almost daily while the Army was in this vicinity. Various parties apparently were sent out all of the time on foraging, scouting, and other missions from the main camp site so that virtually every citizen of the region was affected by the Army's presence. Andrew Knox's Door Andrew Knox, Esq. lived on a farm in Whitpain Township in the southwestern part, just off of what is now Township Line Road, west of Swede Road. His nearest neighbor was Isaac McGlathery (the guide to Maxwell's Brigade at the Battle of German- town). Squire Knox, having served as the Captain of a volunteer company, was select- ed by General Washington to prevent sup- plies from reaching the British Army in Philadelphia. Because of his activities on behalf of the American cause, a reward of 400 pounds was offered by the British for the capture of Captain Knox, dead or alive. On the night of February 14, 1778 (some accounts say this event occurred in late January), Captain Knox successfully defend- ed himself from an attack by five armed Tories who had been ordered to take him prisoner. During this assault, the Tories forced the front door of Squire Knox's house partially open with their bayonets and fired five bullets through the door at the good Squire. 63 The Tories who engaged in this attempt were Enoch Supplee, Robert Jones, John Stuthers, Abisha Wright, and William Thurlow. There had been a light snowfall and Stuthers was wounded. He was tracked to Thomas Livesey's cellar, in Plymouth Township where he was captured. Stuthers identified the other participants and was allowed to go free. Supplee and Jones escaped to the British lines below Barren Hill. Wright and Thurlow were captured by Isaac McGlathery, Henry Houpt, Abraham Weirers and Peter Sterigere. The road from Plymouth to Knox's leads by the Ellis School House (in the "Y" between Swede Road and DeKalb Pike, occupied in 1976 by a small super market. In the front of it was a large Walnut tree where his captors hanged Thurlow when he refused to come along peaceably. Wright went along to the Knox house and was sent by Captain Knox to the Provost Marshal of the Continental Army. After court-martial proceedings, he was hanged from an Oak tree at Penn Square (a shopping center containing Genuardi's Market in 1976). This door, that helped Captain Knox defend himself, so successfully, with its five bullet holes, is on exhibit in the Montgomery County Historical Society. John Laurens, aide de camp to General Washington, wrote to his father from Valley Forge dated February 17, 1778: "My Dear Father: I must not omit informing you of a gallant defense made by a justice of the peace in Philadelphia County (on the other side of the Schuylkill), known by the appellation of Squire Knox. This gentleman's house was surrounded early in the morning some days ago by a party of traitors, lately distinguished by the title of royal refugees; he was in bed in a lower room, and upon their demanding admittance, was going to open to them, when his son, who was above, and perceiving from the window fixed bayonets, called to him to keep his door shut and warned him of danger. The villains in the meantime pressed against the door, the old man armed himself with his cutlass; and his son descended with a gun. The door was at length forced half open by one of the most enterprising; the father kept it in that position with his left hand, and employed his right in defending the passage. After some vigorous strokes, his cutlass broke; the bad condition of the son's fusil had prevented his firing until this moment. He was now prepared to salute the assailants, but the old man thinking all was lost by the failure of this weapon, called to him not to fire; upon farther examination, however, he says he found that by being shortened, it (the cutlass) was only better adapted to close quarters, and renewed the fight. The villains fired seven shots through the door (the door actually shows only five bullet holes), one of which grazed the squire's knee, which was all the damage done. They then threw down their arms and took to their heels; they were pursued by the Knoxes and a party of militia, and one of them who was concealed in a cellar was taken. 64 The besetting of Mr. Knox's house is a matter of civil cognizance, but it appears that the prisoner has held correspondence with the enemy, and supplied them with provisions, and he will probably suffer death for those offences by sentence of court-martial. Your most affectionate, John Laurens." NOTE: Two Knoxes are listed as members of the Whitpain Militia Company of 1777, namely David and Robert, but not Andrew who perhaps belonged to a state or other volunteer company. Andrew Knox is also not on the list of land holders in 1734 but is on the list of taxables in 1785 so he may have moved into the township after 1734. Boehm's Reformed Church, Penllyn-Blue Bell Pike, Blue Bell, the oldest church in the township and St. John's Lutheran Church, Skippack Pike, Belfry, as well as many pri- vate homes along the major township roads served as hospitals for the Continental Ar- my's sick and wounded after the Battle of Germantown and later, when the army was in the area for two weeks of late October, 1777, before proceeding to Whitemarsh. In the nineteenth century, when walks were being laid out in the Boehm's Church ceme- tery adjoining the Church, the remains of Revolutionary War soldiers were found and removed to a common site which was marked with a headstone by the Valley Forge Chapter, D.A.R. on July 4, 1967. An ad in the "Pennsylvania Packet" August 29, 1778 read: "Thirty dollars reward, stolen from Camp Wippin, 20th of October, 1777, a bay horse, fourteen hands high, with a bald face, and is six years old. The reward will be paid by applying to Andrew Porter, Capt. of Artillery, or Stephen Porter, Worcester Township." Skippack Road was opened to traffic in 1712. It was built at the instigation of Pennypacker who owned the mill in Schwenksville and Farmar who owned the mill at Fort Side to connect their mills in as straight a road as possible to accommodate the farmers of the area in bringing their grain to the two mills. This very straight way was used by Washington's Army at least four times during 1777, in both directions. 65 Whitpain Spooks Whitpain Township along the Skippack Road as far west as Center Square had a reputation for spookiness during and after the time of the American Revolution. Much of this tradition probably stemmed from the heavy fogs and mists which shrouded the heavily timbered forests of oak that lined this roadway. Also, during the retreat from the Battle of Germantown, any wounded soldier who died on the march was unceremoniously buried on the spot, by the side of the road. An intersecting road now called Stenton where it begins in Whitpain Township was apparently, at one time, called "Cloot" Road, an archaic reference to a way where the Devil walked. There is a story that an eccentric old man named George Bisbing, a member of the Whitpain Militia of 1777 and listed as a farmer on the Whitpain roll of taxables in 1785, lived in a house at the 18th mile stone in Whitpain on the Skippack Road. He is said to have made a hearth in his house constructed of fifty flat tombstones from an abandoned nearby cemetery (perhaps the original burial ground of Boehm's Church which was on the Rev. Boehm's farm, on the southwest side of Cathcart Road, just north of Skippack Road. The History of Boehm's Church by Jones Ditwieler, mentions that only two gravestones of many were found on this site and that these two stones have subsequently disappeared. The family name on the two stones was Kress). The story goes on that the ghosts of those fifty dead would gather each night at George Bisbing's fireside. The Super Patriot Pastor The Rev. John H. Weikel (Wickle), Pastor (1775-1778) of both Boehm's Reformed Church on Blue Bell Road in Whitpain and Wentz's Reformed Church on Skippack Road in Worcester, was a very militant patriot. He preached fiery sermons against the Crown and British cabinet officials, urging his congregations to immediate action. One Sunday, he led his flock outside to where his horse was tethered, took out his pistol and began firing it close to the horse's ear. "It's time," he cried to his congregation, "that peaceful farm horses are made ready to be used in battle. I cannot waste time when war is here teaching this animal to stand still while I shoot. When we are called upon to fight I hope my horse will be a soldier too!" This tirade and eccentric behavior did not sit well with many of his parishioners; half of them demanded his dismissal. So great was this pressure, that he resigned but continued to live in the parsonage - firing his pistols from the windows near his horse's head from time-to-time. One day, as Gen. Washington passed this parsonage, a fusillade of shots rang out. Fearing an ambush, Washington ordered the place surrounded by his staff and sent his aide to demand the sniper's surrender. Some of Rev. Weikle's loyal parishioners came forward at this time and explained his actions and his zealous loyalty to the American cause. 66 Sally Wister's Journal Sally Wister was a sixteen year old Quaker lass, dispossessed from her home in Germantown to an Aunt's home in Penllyn because of the possible danger to her and the rest of the Wister family due to the British occupation of Philadelphia. The Wisters resided with their relatives, the Foulkes, from Septem- ber, 1777 through June of 1778. During this time. Sally kept a journal intended for her friend Deborah Norris who was still in Philadelphia. Miss Norris later became Mrs. George Logan and did not get to read Sally's journal until about 1830, long after Sally had died, a spinster at the age of 43, in 1804. During the encampment of the Continental Army in Whitpain Township, October 19 through November 2, 1777, Sally's journal recorded events as they affected her just across the Whitpain Township line in what is now Lower Gwynedd Township. Hannah Foulke, Sally's aunt, was a widow of two years; her son Jesse was running the 700 acre Foulke farm and grist mill. Jesse Foulke also had two younger, unmarried sisters, Pricilla, thirty-three, and Lydia, twenty-one who was Sally's special friend. Sally had four younger siblings - Betsy thirteen, Hannah ten, Susanna four, and John one and one-half years old. The Foulke Mansion was quite large and enabled the two families to live in the home, separately. In 1976, this home is still standing in Penllyn, unoccuppied and in a deplorable state of repair; the mill has long since disappeared. Sally used the Quaker designation for days of the week: "First Day" for Sunday, "Second Day", Monday, etc. This has been changed to present usage for clarity. Here follow the accounts given by Sally Wister in her journal during the time of the Whitpain encampment. - Monday, October 19, 1777 "Now for new and uncommon scenes. As I was lying in bed, and ruminating on past and present events, and thinking how happy I shou'd be if I cou'd see you, Liddy came running into the room and said there was the greatest drumming, fifing and rattling of waggons that ever she had heard. What to make of this we were at a loss. We dressed and downstairs in a hurry. Our wonder ceas'd. "The British had left Germantown, and our Army was marching to take possession. It was the general opinion that they wou'd evacuate the Capital. Sister Betsy and myself, and George Ernlen went about half a mile from home, where we cou'd see the army pass (down Morris Road). Thee will stare at my going, but no impropriety in my opine, or I wou'd not have gone. We made no great stay, but return'd with excellent appetite for our breakfast. 67 "Several officers call'd to get some refreshments, but none of consequence till the afternoon. Cousin Prissa and myself were sitting at the door; I in a green skirt, dark short gown, etc. Two genteel men of the military order rode up to the door; 'Your servant, ladies,' etc.; ask'd if they cou'd have quarters for Gen, Smallwood. Aunt Foulke thought she cou'd accomodate them as well as most of her neighbors, said they cou'd. One of the officers dismounted, and wrote •SMALLWOOD'S QUARTERS'over the door, which se- cured us from straggling soldiers. After this he mounted his steed and rode away. "When we were alone our dress and lips were put in order for conquest, and the hopes of adventure gave brightness to each before passive countenance. "Thee must be told of a Dr. Gould (Doctor David Gould of Virginia, Hospital Surgeon in the Continental Army.) who, by accident, had made an acquaintance with my father, - a sensible, conversible man, a Carolinian, - and had come to bid us adieu on his going to that state. Daddy had prevailed upon him to stay a day or two with us. "In the evening his Generalship came with six attendants, which compos'd his family, a large guard of soldiers, a number of horses and baggage-waggons. The yard and house were in confusion, and glitter'd with military equipments. "Gould was intimate with Smallwood, and had gone into Jesse's to see him. While he was there, there was great running up and down stairs, so I had an opportunity of seeing and being seen, the former the most agreeable, to be sure. One person, in particular, attracted my notice. He appear'd cross and reserv'd; but thee shall see how agreeably disappointed I was. "Dr. Gould usher'd the gentlemen into our parlour, and introduced them, Gen'l Smallwood, Capt, Furnwal, Major Stodard, Mr. Prig, Capt. Finley (Captain Ebenezer Finley of the Maryland Artillery), and Mr. Clagan (Horatis Clagett, Ensign of the Third Battalion, Maryland Flying Camp), Col. Wood, and Col. Line. These last two did not come with the Gen'l. They are Virginians, and both indispos'd. The Gen'l. and suite are Marylanders. "Be assur'd I did not stay long with so many men, but secur'd a good retreat, heart safe, so far. Some sup'd with us, others at Jesse's. They retired about ten, in good order. "How new is our situtation. I feel in good spirits, though surrounded by an army, the house full of officers, very peaceable sort of men though. They eat like other folks, talk like them, and behave themselves with elegance; so I will not be afraid of them, that I won't. "Adieu. I am going to my chambers to dream, I suppose, of bayonets and swords, sashes, guns, and epaulets." 68 Wednesday Morn, October 20 "I dare say thee impatient to know my sentiments of the officers; so, while Soninus embraces them, and the house is still, take their characters according to their rank. "The General is tall, portly, well made; a truly martial air, the behaviour and manner of a gentleman, a good understanding, and great humanity of disposition constitute the character of Smallwood. "Col. Wood (James Wood, born 1750, son of Colonel James Wood, Founder of Winchester, Virginia) from what we hear of him and what we see, is one of the most amiable of men; tall and genteel, an agreeable countenance and deportment. These lines will more fully characterize him; How skili'd he is in each obliging art. The wildest manners and the bravest heart. "The cause he is fighting for alone tears him from the society of an amiable wife and engaging daughter; with tears in his eyes he often mentions the sweets ot domestic life. "Col. Line (George Lyne of King and Queen County, Virginia - Virginia Assemblyman in 1775) is not married; so let me not be too warm in his praise, lest you suspect. He is monstrous tall and brown, but has a certain something in his face and conversation very agreeable, he entertains the highest notions of honour, is sensible and humane, and a brave officer; he is only 7 & 20 years old, but, by a long indisposition and constant fatigue, looks vastly older, and almost worn to a skeleton, but very lively and talkative. "Capt. Furnival (Alexander Furnival of Baltimore, Maryland) I need not say more of him than that he has, excepting one or two, the handsomest face I ever saw, a very fine person; fine light hair and a great deal of it, adds to the beauty of his face. "Well, here comes the glory, the Major, so bashful, so famous, etc. He should come before the Captain, but never mind, I at first thought the Major cross and proud, but I was mistaken. He is about 19, nephew to the General, and acts as Major of brigade to him; he cannot be extoli'd for the graces of person, but for those of the mind he may justly be celebrated; he is large in his person, manly, and an engaging countenance and address (William Truman Stoddert, born 1759). "Finley is wretched ugly, but he went away last night so shall not particularize him. "Nothing of any moment today; no acquaintance with the officers. Col. Wood and Line and Gould din'd with us. I was dressed in my chintz, and look'd smarter than night before." Wednesday, October 21st "I just now met the Major very reserv'd; nothing but 'Good morning,' or 'Your servant. Madam;' but Furnival is most agreeable; he chats every opportunity; but luckily has a wife! 69 "I have heard strange things of the Major, Worth a fortune of thirty thousand pounds, independent of anybody; the Major, moreover, is vastly bashful; so much so he can hardly look at the ladies. (Excuse me, good sir; I really thought you were not clever; if tis bashfulness only, we will drive that away)." - Fifth day, sixth day and seventh day "These days pass'd. (Thursday, Friday and Saturday). The Gen'l still here; the Major still bashful. "Prepare to hear amazing things. The Gen'l was invited to dine, was engag'd but Col. Wood and Line, Maj. Stodard, and Dr. Edwards din'd with us. "In the afternoon, Stodard, addressing himself to mamma,' Pray, Ma'am, do you know Miss Nancy Bond?' I told him of the amiable girl's death. This Major had been to Philad' College, (now the University of Pennsylvania). "In the evening, I was diverting Johnny at the table, when he drew his chair to it, and began to play with the child. I ask'd him if he knew N. Bond. 'No, Ma'am but I have seen her very often.' One word brought on another, and we chatted the greatest part of the evening. He said he knew me directly he saw me. Told me exactly where we liv'd. (in Philadelphia). It rains now, so adieu." - Monday Morning, Oct. 26 "A very Rainy morning, so like to prove. The officers in the house all day." - Monday, afternoon. "The General and officers drank tea with us, and stay'd part of the evening. After supper I went into aunt's where sat the Gen'l, Col. Line, and Major Stodard. So Liddy and I seated ourselves at the table in order to read the verse book. "The Major was holding a candle for the Gen'l who was reading a newspaper. He look'd at us, turn'd away his eyes, look'd again, put the candlestick down, up he jump'd out of the door he went. "Well, said I to Liddy, 'he will join us when he comes in. Presently he return'd, and seated himself on the table. Pray, ladies is there any songs in that book? Yes, many. Can't you fav' me with a sight of it? No, Major, tis a horid book. Miss Sally, can't you sing? No. "Thee may be sure I told the truth there. Liddy, saucy girl, told him I cou'd. He Beg'd and I dey'd for my voice is not much better then the voice of a raven. We talk'd and laugh'd for an hour. He is very clever, amiable and polite. He has the softest voice, never pc-onouces the R at all. "I must tell thee, today arrive'd Col. Griest and Major Letherberry; the former smart widower, the latter a lawyer a sensible young fellow, and will never swing for want of tongue. 70 "Dr. Diggs came Second — day; a mightly disagreeable man. We were olbig'd to ask him to tea. He must needs prop himself between the Major and me, for which 1 did not thank him. After I had drunk tea, I jump'd from the table, and seated myself at the fire. The Major followed my example, drew his chair close to mine, and entertain'd me very agreeably. "Oh Debby, I have a thousand things to tell thee. I shall give thee so droll an account of adventures that thee will smile. 'No occasion of that. Sally,' me thinks 1 hear thee say, 'for thee tells me every trifle.' But child, thee is mistaken, for 1 have not told thee half the civil things that are said of us sweet creatures at 'General Smallwood's Quarters.' I think I might have sent the gentlemen to their chambers. I made my adieus, and home I went." • Tuesday, October 27 "A polite 'Good morning' from the M-—, more sociable than ever. No wonder; a stoic could not resist such affable damsels as we are. "We had again the pleasure of the Gen'l and suite at afternoon tea. He (the Gen'1,I mean) is most agreeable; so lively, so free, and chats so gaily, that I have quite an esteem for him. I must steel my heart. Capt. Furnival is gone to Baltimore, the residence of his belov'd wife. "This eve came a person belonging to the Army, he is (how shall I describe him)? near seven foot high, thin and meagre, not a single personal charm, and very few mental ones He fell violently in love with Liddy at first sight; the first discovered conquest that has been made since the arrival of the Gen'l. "Come, shall we chat with Col. Giest? He's very pretty; a charming person; his eyes are exceptional; very stern; and he so rolls them about that mine always fall under them. He bears the character of a brave officer; another admirer of Liddy's, and she is of him. "When will Sally's admirers appear? ah! that indeed. Why, Sally has not charms sufficient to pierce the heart of a soldier. But still I won't despair — Who know what mischief I yet may do?" "Well, Debby, here's Dr. Edwards came again. Now we shall not want clack; for he has perpetual motion in his head, and if he was not so clever as he is, we shou'd get tired." • Wednesday, October 28th "Nothing material engag'd us to-day." • Thursday, October 29th "I walked into aunt's this evening. I met the Major. Well, thee will think I am writing his history; but not so. Pleased with the encounter, Liddy, Betsy, Stodard, and myself seated by the fire, chatted away an hour in lively and agreeable conversation. I can't pretend to write all he said, but he shone in every subject that we talk'd of." 71 Friday, October 30th "Nothing of consequence." Saturday, October 31st "A most charming day. I walk'd to the door and recieved the salutation of the morn from Stodard and other officers. As often as I go to the door, so often have I seen the Major. We chat passingly, as, 'A fine day. Miss Sally.' 'Yes, very fine. Major." Saturday night October 31st "Another charming conversation with the young Marylander. He seem'd possessed of very amiable manners; sensible and agreeable. He has by his unexceptional deportment engag'd my esteem." Sunday morn, November 1st "Liddy, Betsy and a T. L., prisoner of this state, went to the mill. We made very free with some Continental flour. We powder'd white, to be sure. Home we came. "Col. Wood was standing at a conversation with a young officer. He gave him a push forward, as much as to say, 'Observe what fine girls we have here.' For all I do not mention Wood as often as he deserves, it is not that we are not sociable; we are very much so, and he is often at our house, dines or drinks tea with us every day. "Liddy and I had a kind of an adventure with him this morn. We were in his chambers, chatting about our little affairs, and no idea of being interrupted: we were standing up, each an arm on a chest of drawers; the door bang'd open! — Col. Wood was in the room; we started, the colour flew into our faces and crimson'd us over; the tears flew into my eyes. It was very silly; but his coming was so abrupt. He was between us and the door. "Ladies, do not be scar'd I only want something from my port manteau; I beg you not to be disturbed. "We ran by him like two partridges, into mamma's room, threw ourselves into chairs, and reproached each other for being so foolish as to blush and look so silly. I was very much vex'd at myself and so was Liddy. The Col. laughed at us and it blew over. "The Army had orders to march today; the regulars accordingly did. (This was the movement to Whitemarsh.) Gen'l Smallwood had the command of Militia at that time, and they being in the rear, were not to leave their encampment until Second — day. "Observe how militarish I talk. No wonder, when I am surrounded by people of that order. "The Gen'l, Colonels Wood, Line, Giest, Crawford, Majors Stodard and Lether- berry, din'd with us today. After dinner Liddy, Betsy, and the smart journalizer, put on their bonnets determined to take a walk. 72 "We left the house. I naturally look'd back; when behold, the two Majors seem'd debating whether to follow us or not. Liddy said, 'We shall have their attendance,' but I did not think so. They open'd the gate, and came fast after us. They overtook us about ten pole from home, and beg'd leave to attend us. No fear of refusal. "They enquir'd where we were going. To neighbour Roberts's. We will introduce you to his daughters; you us to Gen'l Stevens.' "The affair was concluded, and we shortened the way with lively conversation. Our intention of going to Roberts's was frustrated; the rain that has fallen lately had rais'd Wissahickon too high to attempt crossing it on foot. We alter'd the plan of our ramble, left the road, and walk'd near two miles thro' the woods. "Mr. Letherberry, observing my locket, repeated with the energy of a comedian. "On her white neck a sparkling cross she wore. "That Jews might kiss or infidels adore. "I repli'd my trinket bore no resemblance to a cross. "Tis something better, Ma'am. "Tis nonsense to pretend to recount all that was said; my memory is not so obliging; but it is sufficient that nothing happen'd d-uring our little excursion but what was very agreeable and entirely consistent with the strictest rules of politeness and decorum. "I was vex'd a little at creasing my muslin petticoat. I had on my white whim, quite as nice as a First-day in town. We returned home safe. "Smallwood, Wood, and Stodard drank tea with us, and spent the greatest part of the evening. "I declare this Gen'l is very, very entertaining, so good natur'd, so good humor'd, yet so sensible; I wonder he is not married. Are there not ladies form'd to his taste? "Some people, my dear, think there is no difference between good nature and good humour; but, according to my opinion, they differ widely. Good nature consists in a naturally amiable and even disposition, free from all peevishness and fretting. It is accompanied by a natural gracefulness, — a manner of doing and saying every- thing agreeably; in short, it steals the senses and captivates the heart. Good humour consists in being pleas'd, and who wou'd thank a person for being cheerful, if they had nothing to make them other ways. Good humour is a very agreeable companion for an afternoon; but give me good nature for life. "Adieu." NOTE: Sally Wister's dates here are two days wrong, and as the reader may perceive for himself, are inconsistent with those heretofore given, which were only one day wrong. 73 • Monday morning, November 1st "To-day the Militia marches, and the Gen'l and officers leave us. Heigh Ho! I am very sorry; for when you have been with agreeable people, 'tis impossible not to feel regret when they bid you adieu, perhaps forever. When they leave us we shall be immers'd in solitude. "The Major looks a dull." • Monday noon "About two o'clock the Gen'l and Major come to bid us adieu. With daddy and mommy they shook hands very friendly; to us they bow'd politely. "Our hearts were full. I thought Major was affected. "Good-bye, Miss Sally.' ' Spoken very low, he walk'd hastily and mounted his horse. They promised to visit us soon.' "We stood at the door to take a last look, all of us very sober. "The Major turn'd his horse's head, and rode back, dismounted. "1 have forgot my pistols, pass'd us, and ran upstairs. "He came swiftly back to us, as if wishing, through inclination, to stay; by duty compeli'd to go. He remounted his horse. " 'Farewell, ladies, till I see you again, and canter'd away. "We looked at him till the turn in the road hid him from our sight. 'Amiable Major,' 'Clever fellow,' 'Good young man,' was echo'd from one to the other. 1 wonder whether we shall ever see him again. He has our wishes for his safety. "Well, here's Uncle Miles (Samuel Miles, Colonel in the Continental Army, made prisoner at the Battle of Long Island and later paroled to his farm in Spring Mill, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, married to Sally Wister's aunt). Heartily glad of that am 1. His family are well, and at Reading." • Monday Evening "Jesse, who went with the Gen'l, return'd. I had by him a letter from my dear Polly Fishbourn. She is at George Emlen's. Headquarters is at their house. We had compliments from the Gen'l and Major. They are very well disposed of at Evan Meredith's, six miles from here. I wrote to Polly by Uncle Miles, who waited upon Gen'l Washington next morn." • Tuesday Morning, November 2nd "It seems strange not to see our house as it used to be. We are very still. No rattling of waggons, glittering of musquets. The beating of the distant drum is all we hear. 74 "Cols. Wood, Line, Giest, and M. Letherberry are still here; the last two leave us today. Wood and Line will soon bid us adieu. Amiable Wood; he is esteemed by all that know him! Every body has a good word for him. "Here I skip a week or two, nothing of consequence occurring. Wood & Line are gone. Some time since arriv'd two officers. Lieutenant Lee and Warring, Virgini- ans. I had only the saluations of the morn from them. "Lee is not remarkable one way or the other; Warring an insignificant piece enough. Lee sings prettily, and talks a great deal; how good turkey hash and fry'd hominy is — (a pretty, discourse to entertain the ladies), extols Virginia and execrates Maryland, which by-the-by, I provoked them to; for though I admiire both Virg and Mary, I laugh'd at the former and prais'd the latter. Ridicules their manner of speaking. I took great delight in teasing them. I believe I did it sometimes ill-natur'dly; but I don't care. They were not, I am certain almost, first-rate gentlemen. (How different from our other officers.) But they are gone to Virginia, where they may sing, dance, and eat turkey hash and fry'd hominy all day long, if they choose. "Nothing scarcely lowers a man in my opinion more than talking of eating, what they love and what they hate. Lee and Warring were proficients in this science. Enough of them!" This concluded the entries in Miss Wister's Journal for the period when the Continental Army was in Whitpain Township; in fact, the next entry in her diary was on Saturday, December 5, 1777. It seems a shame that so flirtatious a Miss never married and left no descendants with whom to share the thoughts she so articulately expressed. Postlude After 1778, the action of the Revolutionary War shifted south and continued there until final victory. The residents of Whitpain were probably glad to be out of the mainstream of this action and yet, gradually to become proud of their part in this most important series of events. That pride extends to the present day. This article is dedicated to those men who fought in that greatest of all our nation's struggles, who died as a result of that fight and who lie under the soil of Whitpain Township ... in Boehm's and St. John's Church- yards ... in unmarked graves, that may never be known, along the sides of Skippack and other roads in this township where they fell. Let us never forget what they did and take pride in the fact that the residents of this township, in the Fall of 1777, helped them to accomplish their task. 75 Township Services for a Growing Community The Township grows into a land of farms and estates; then it takes on the air ol suburbia. From six one-room schools, the prestigious Wissahickon School District emerges, combining with Ambler and Lower Gwynedd. A system of sending messages extends from the fleet-footed horse of the post rider to a postal system with a whole fleet of red, white, and blue jeeps. Education — Schools and Libraries Charlotte G. Peck Photography by George S. Peck Artwork by Becky Huttinger Chronology of Whitpain Public Schools Early education in Whitpain took place mainly in the home. Some of the more well-to-do families hired school masters to tutor their children and some oi 'their neighbors' children. Some children were sent to Boehm's Church School or away to private schools. The Boehm's Church School, Blue Bell, was founded in 1760 and was the earliest school of any kind in Whitpain Township. Gradually, groups of supporters of education in various sections of the Township petitioned for school houses to be built. A statement of their educational philosophy was made in a statement by school trustees in 1800. Subscriptions for a new school in Blue Bell urged citizens to perform "the most important and dignified of all parental duties: to fit the child for acting his part wisely and worthily as a man, as a citizen, and as a creature of God." One hundred and sixty-eight years later, in their Ten Year Developmental Plan, the philosophy of the Wissahickon School District was expressed as follows: "To provide an educational program that will enable its students to recognize and accept their rights and responsibilities as participants in a free society." By 1836, when Pennsylvania's Common School System was introduced in Whitpain Township, there were already five schools to include in the System: Blue Bell Area cl766- "The first school house was located along the Skippack Road where th road leading to the Union Meeting-House intersects," Bean's History of Montgomery County tells us. The teacher at this first school was William Knox. Site: where the present school bus garages are located on School Road, north of Skippack Pike. 1800- CENTER SCHOOL erected near the original spot of the first school mentioned above and succeeding it. I his school building was probably torn down in the early 1920's. Washington Square Area 1787- ELLIS SCHOOL - Bean's History of Montgomery County tells us that this was "located in the forks of the Swedesford Road and the Centre Square and Norristown Turnpike Road" (later called DeKalb Pike). It was named Ellis School because it was first built on ground deeded by Isaac Ellis, Andrew Knox and his wife, 78 Isabella, for the sum of 6 shillings. Jones Detweiler, in his handwritten notes, writes that the deed also included "a free and uninterrupted privilege of water at the Spring below said Lot." The school was open to children from Whitpain, Norriton, and Ply- mouth Townships. 1856 - School was rebuilt. 1964 - The building was used as a private home after the consolidation of the schools. It was finally torn down in 1964. Site: approximately where the present 7-11 Store is located at DeKalb Pike and Swedesford Road. 79 Centre Square Area 1825- CENTREVILLE SCHOOL (later called CENTRE SQUARE SCHOOL) — this school was erected on Skippack Pike above DeKalb Pike on ground purchased by Rev. George Wack (Boehm's Church pastor) and Henry Hurst, trustees appointed by the District. 1859 - School was rebuilt. Site: on Skippack Pike above DeKalb Pike, north side of Skip- pack. The school building is still standing and in use as a private home. 80 Lower Part of Township 1796- SANDY HILL SCHOOL — this was built on ground deeded by Joseph Lukens and his wife to Trustees and Members of Plymouth Meeting and Society of Friends. 1859- Rebuilt by School Directors of Whitpain Township. Site: at Five Points (Narcissa Road, Stenton Avenue. Norristown Road, near Wings Field.) This school building still stands and is in use as a private home. cl786- JAMES SCHOOL (later called MOUNT PLEASANT SCHOOL; still later SHADY GROVE SCHOOL) - The earliest mention of a school in this area says that it was located in a room of the spinning house on the property of Dr. James (present site: Dawesfield). Hannah James and her brother Joseph were taught there, with Thomas and Martha Mifflin, by a schoolmaster who taught Latin and Greek. This spinning house was torn down when the course of 82 the lane was changed and moved out, but a school was still maintained. Jones Detweiler notes that from 1820-1825 "Standish Jennings taught school in the house then owned by Elizabeth, wile of Dr. Thomas C. James, at Mount Pleasant." 1837- The JAMES SCHOOL was finally obtained by the School District for public school purposes. Negotiations for this had been going on since 1836 when the Common School System was put into effect, In 1838 the school's name was changed to MOUNT PLEASANT SCHOOL. 1849- It would appear from the School Board minutes that this school again changed its location, but was still called MOUNT PLEAS- ANT SCHOOL. The minutes of June 2, 1849 state: "On motion John Kibblehouse was appointed to contract with Albert Thomas for the use of Mt. Pleasant School house, the house to be put to good clean order, and repaired, also to agree with a teacher lor one month at the wages last mentioned." In April of 1850 the rental was renewed: "Resolved that John Kibblehouse contract with Albert Thomas for the use of Mt. Pleasant School House lor one year." The location of the school during this period, and until 1855, was probably on Mt. Pleasant Avenue near the Mount Pleasant Baptist Church. The 1848 map of the Township shows a school house in that vicinity. Also, a mention is made in the history of Dawesfield and its surrounding properties that "an old school house existed opposite Sunset Hill." Sunset Hill, we believe, was the house name lor the present home of Dr. and Mrs. Caro/./a at Morris Road and Mount Pleasant Avenue, and "an old school house" opposite this would place it on the Albert Thomas property, the northeast corner of this intersection. 1855- SHADY GROVE SCHOOL (former MOUNT PLEASANT SCHOOL) — the Mount Pleasant School on the Albert Thomas property was sold and a new school built on an acre of ground, 1/2 mile from Skippack Pike on Lewis Lane, purchased by the School District from Jacob L. Rex and his wife, Sarah. "From the shaded conditions of the surroundings and being built in the woods, the name Shady Grove was applied to the school." Thus Jones Detweiler explains the choice of the new name. Site: This school was located in the woods on the right-hand side of Lewis Lane behind the existing Shady Grove School. The old building was torn down in 1971. 83 1836 - CENTER SCHOOL, ELLIS SCHOOL, CENTREV1LLE SCHOOL, SANDY HILL SCHOOL and MOUNT PLEASANT — these five schools were the schools existing when it was decided to adopt the new Common School System in May of 1836. This was the beginning of free education in Whitpain Township. The above noted schools had been private, independent schools, and the parents had paid for their children's tuition. An example of this tuition was in Center School. Blue Bell. where the charges from 1808 to 1812 were 3 or 31/2 cents a day per child and 20 cents a year extra for firewood. There were also small additional charges for paper, quills, and ink. On June 9th, 1836 the members of the Committee handling this early jointure were sent to consult with the Trustees of each of the five schools. The Pennsylvania Common School Law, passed in 1834, allowed the school districts the option of acceptance or rejection. On June 13th the Trustees reported back, agreeing to adopt the Common Schools System for a trial period of 6 months. As noted in the School Board minutes, a typical report: "John Styer reports that Ellis School is offered for the use of the common schools if, the directors will do the repairs and make the hours comfortably for the schollars." The following month the committee drew up boundaries for the various schools. After this, at each subsequent election on the public school issue in Whitpain, there was a majority for the schools, although there was also considerable opposition. The opposition came from those who were opposed to new innovations and who preferred to have their children educated in private or church schools. Many of the German residents preferred to have their children attend Boehm's Church School, where the German language and culture were maintained. The last election on the subject was held on March 19, 1841, when 89 votes were given in favor, and 55 against. 1858 - FRANKL1NVILLE SCHOOL - this was built on Morris Road on one acre of land purchased from William and Elizabeth Greger by the Whitpain School Directors. There had been a school operated in Franklinville in a house owned by Joseph W. Shearer for some years before this time. Site: on Morris Road above DeKalb Pike on the Normandy Farm estate. This school building is still standing. 85 1888 CENTRE SQUARE SCHOOL - an additional story was built on this school for $1,296.48. Jones Detweiler records that "a High School opened in this building until it went to the Center School in 1895." 1895 WH1TPA1N HIGH SCHOOL - this building was erected on Skippack Pike at School Road. It was described in one of the Montgomery County Historical Sketches as being "a rather artistic modern school building, having somewhat of a Moorish appear- ance." The Center School was then no longer used for elementary grades and was eventually torn down. The first floor of the High School building was used for the first eight grades; the second floor used for the High School classes. The High School was limited to three years; to eleventh grade. At that point, students in the lower end of the Township went to Ambler High School for twelfth grade; those in the upper part of the Township went to Norristown High School. All high school activities ceased in the Blue Bell complex in 1950 and moved to Ambler High School. This building cost $3,698.54, six stalls cost $239.99; the wall in front and grading cost $231.82; a total of $4,219,85. The School Board cut the salaries of the six teachers in the District from $45.00 to $40.00 per month to defray the great expense. This salary scale apparently was maintained for ten years, indicating that the teachers contributed $2,700 toward the new high school building. The first principal of the new school was William D. Beyer. Site: This building is still standing and at present is used by the Whitpain Branch of the Wissahickon Valley Public Library. "The 1895 building has been used at various times for Township and Police Department purposes. 1916 WHITPAIN TOWNSHIP CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL - this two-story building was built next door to the 1895 building and became the consolidated elementary school for the Township. The six neighborhood schools closed when it came into existence. It had four large rooms; two on each floor. Two classes were held in each room. There was also a basement which contained the Principal's office, a Teachers' room and bathrooms, with indoor-plumbing-of-sorts. 87 1927 Additional rooms, an auditorium, and a cafeteria were added to the back of the 1916 building. With population and school schedule changes, various classes, at times, had to move over from this building back into the 1895 building. Through the 1940's to 1960's, the 1895 building housed, at various times, a sixth grade, a Kindergarten, and a class of mentally retarded pupils. 1952 Renovations were made to the Whitpain Township Consolidated School. By this time, it was referred to as the Blue Bell Elementary School. Site: At present this building stands empty and for sale next to the Whitpain High School Building. 1957 BLUE BELL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL - the new Blue Bell Elementary School was built behind the "1927 Building," with the entrance on Symphony Lane. The elementary grades were now divided; grades Kindergarten through four in the Symphony Lane Building; grades five and six in the 1927 Building. At the present time, this school houses Grades Kindergarten through four. 1959 Renovations were made. 1957 SHADY GROVE JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL - located at Skip- pack Pike and Lewis Lane, this school was constructed and used for grades seven through nine. With the present arrangements of schools, it now houses grades five and six for the entire Wissahick- on School District, and is again called Shady Grove School. 1964 STONY CREEK SCHOOL (Yost Road) - this elementary school was constructed and at first used for a Kindergarten through sixth grade school. It now houses grades Kindergarten through four. 1966 W1SSAHICKON SCHOOL DISTRICT - this district was formed by the reorganization of the existing school districts of Ambler Borough, Lower Gwynedd Township and Whitpain Township. 88 Teachers and Scholars The early minutes of the School Directors show that most of the teachers of the one-room school houses were from local families. The names of Conard, Roberts, Styer, Ellis, Miller, Baker, Thomas, Beyer, Rex, Hoover, Bean, Weidner, Rhoads, Rossiter, Phipps, and others appear frequently in the teacher appointment lists. Few descriptions are available of the very earliest teachers, but descriptions of their jobs can be put together from such excerpts as this one, a School Board resolution on November 11, 1839, "that the teachers of our public schools have the houses opened and fires kindled by eight o'clock in the morning." Occasionally, a teacher would be paid for chopping wood or cleaning the school house in addition to his regular teaching salary. There was In-Service training in the early days, too. Every alternate Saturday was to be devoted to attendance at the Township Institutes, which teachers were required to organize and attend or they were to forfeit their pay for each day of the Institute they missed. There were County Institutes, too, held in Norristown. These were important affairs with occasional outside speakers from Normal Schools, educational magazines, etc. The teachers were kept abreast of new innovations in their field, and took back the information to their school boards. For example, when blackboards were introduced in the 1880's, a resolution was introduced that school directors provide a blackboard for every school room. 91 The Whitpain School Directors also saw to it that their teachers were provided with reading material to enrich their professional educations. In 1858, they subscribed to the Pennsylvania School Journal and ordered five copies; one for each teacher. A random sampling of salaries in the early days of the Township shows that in 1836 the salaries were $20.00 per month; in May 1851 the minutes state: "the wages for the school year of 1852 in no case to be less than $18.00 nor more than $24.00 for Male Teachers. And Females to be $18.00 per month." In 1884 Jones Detweiler reports salaries ranging from $30.00 to $38.00 per month. In this year five out of the six teachers were women. Teacher loads were sometimes heavy. In 1836 Sandy Hill School, which drew pupils from Whitemarsh and Plymouth as well as from Whitpain, had an enrollment of 106 scholars, all taught by Benjamin Conard. The next year they hired Mary Farr as an assistant teacher for Mr. Conard. By the mid-nineteenth century, there was a definite procedure of teacher certification which had to be fulfilled. This was done through examination by the County Superintendent. Before that time, however, certification appears to have been done by the local trustees. In the days before the Common School System, school minutes refer to the teachers as preceptors. The teaching methods would appear to have been centered around the lecture/recitation method. When the Trustees visited the schools to supervise, they usually commented on 92 "order," "cleanliness," and "the exercises performed by the pupils." Indicating the importance placed on "order" are the following rules for discipline drawn up at Center School, Blue Bell. in the early nineteenth century. These rules, incorporated in the School Board minutes, were to be read by the teacher to the scholars on the first school day of every week: ARTICLE 1 - "Every scholar must be at the school house as near the time appointed as may be, decent and clean, free from every infectious disorder. The latter on peril of dismission. ARTICLE 2 - "No discourse shall be admitted of amongst the scholars in school time except when speaking to the master. ARTICLE 3 - "Scholars must not go about the house from place to place, but each one be to their particular seat and attend to their respective business except leave by the master. ARTICLE 4 - "The large scholars must not impose on the smaller, mock nor divide, but on all occasions behave with kindness, civility and respect to each other. ARTICLE 5 - "Profficking, gaming, lying, quarreling, swearing and every kind of saucy and ill language and fighting, must absolutely be avoided on peril of correction. ARTICLE 6 - "At noon time and in going to and coming from school, scholars must avoid all impudent and indecent behavior towards each other, and to every person they meet on their way, but must address each other, and persons they meet in a decent and becoming manners. ARTICLE 7 - "No playing, nor any avoidable noise shall be allowed of in the school house at noon time. ARTICLE 8 - "At noon time, and in going to and from school, scholars must not ramble about. ARTICLE 9 - "In coming to say the lesson, spell or read, in breaking up school at noon and night, let there be no hurry nor noise that can be avoided, but let the whole be done quietly and in regular order by the direction of the master. ARTICLE 10 - "No scholar must leave the school during school hours without leave of the master. The foregoing rules to be binding on every scholar in school of every age and degree, and it any think themselves above correction and do disregard and willfully break them after sufficient admonition, they shall be dismissed from the school by the master, and if such scholar, parent or guardian of such scholar think themselves aggrieved thereby, they shall have a right of appealing to the Trustees, who hearing both parties Judge between them." Before 1836 the usual subjects taught were spelling, reading, writing, and arithmetic. A few scholars studied grammar, mensuration, and surveying. Some of the textbooks used were Comly's Primer and Spelling Book, Pike and Rose's Arithmetic and three geography textbooks. 93 In 1858 some of the textbooks used were Sander's series of Readers, The New Testament, Town's Analysis of the English Language, Burleigh's American Manual, Wilson's series of Histories, Parker's Revised Edition of Philosophy, Webster's School Dictionary, Stod- dard's Mental and Intellectual Arithmetic, Emmersen's Arithmetic, Davy's Algebra, Bonny Castle's Mensuration, and Gummere's Surveying. Apparently, these didn't suit everyone, because in 1860 there was a resolution adopted that Town's Analysis of the English Language, Parker's Philosophy and Warren's Physical Geography were more suited to High Schools and Academies than elementary grades. "The criticism was that "they monopolize too much of the teacher's time and deprive the youth who requires more attention and care that ought of right to be devoted to them." School Directors The story of Whitpain's early schools is the story of its children and the teachers of its children. It is also the story of groups of interested and dedicated men, the School Directors, who administered the school system. These men were the movers and shakers in the early community, not only in the schools, but also in its industries, its churches, its Post Offices, its Library Company and its community life in general. As far as the schools were concerned, they saw to their building, repairing and re-building. They had the power to hire teachers and to fire them. They supervised the teaching process on a regular schedule. They purchased coal, wood and stoves for all the schools. They occasionally took a turn at teaching. They examined and paid all bills, and they raised money for running the schools through taxes. The following mention is made of taxes in the School Board minutes: April 20, 1850 — "a tax of twenty-five cents on the hundred dollars be leveyed for the ensuing school year." July 28, 1856 — "It was then unanimously resolved: that a tax of three mills on the dollar be assessed for the school and two for building purposes, to meet the wants of the School System for the School year ending on the first Monday of June 1857, being the school year 1857." The School Directors took their jobs very seriously. They laid out certain rules for themselves, especially about attendance at meetings. Regular meetings were held on the first Saturday of each month in the early nineteenth century, but special meetings could be held when circumstances required them. If a member missed two succeeding meetings for reason other than illness, he was notified of this in writing and required to attend the next meeting. If he missed this one without a satisfactory excuse, his seat was considered vacant and the vacancy was filled by someone else. The regular meeting place for the School Board meetings in the early days was in various public houses (inns) in Whitpain. From 1836-1854 the official meeting place was the Public House of Peter Acker. At least one School Board meeting during this period was held on Christmas Day. It is recorded in the minutes of December 3, 1838: "Resolved that the next meeting of the Board be held on Christmas Day at 10 A.M. in order to make out the annual report to the superintendent, and that Acker provide a dinner for the members." 94 From 1858-1860 the meeting places were: Gerhard's Inn, Centre Square (now Green Acres Inn); Blue Bell Inn; Beyer's Washington Square Hotel; Shepherd and Berkheimer's Hotel (Franklinville); and the public house of John Whitcomb. In the later nineteenth century the School Directors had a room in the Whitpain High School building where they held their regular monthly meetings. The present public meeting of the School Board of the Wissahickon School District is held on the 4th Tuesday of the month at Wissahickon High School. The members of the first School Board after the Common School System had been organized in 1836 were: John Rile, President; H.C. Evans, Secretary; Abraham Wentz, Treasurer; Charles Greger, Jacob Fisher, Peter C. Evans, John Styer and John Heist. School Buildings and School Life As one visits the three existing old school houses, Franklinville, Centre Square, and Sandy Hill one immediately notices a similarity in design except, of course, for the fact that the Centre Square School building has had a second floor added to it. The recently torn down Shady Grove School also followed pretty much this same pattern. The Centre Square School building originally had the typical belfry tower on top. This was blown off and damaged during a severe windstorm in the early 1920's and not replaced. The damaged belfry was repaired and made into a playhouse for his children by Mr. Charles Baker whose property was across Skippack Pike from the school. The specifications for the rebuilding of Sandy Hill School and Centre Square School in 1859 were decided upon by the School Board and included in their minutes of June 11, 1859. They give a detailed description of how these school buildings were constructed: 95 "Specifications for two School Houses to be built in Whitpain Township, the one on Sandy Hill, and the other on the Skippack Turnpike, near Gerhard's Tavern. "Said Houses to be of Stone, 25 feet side by 32 feet deep or long, with solid foundations, walls (at Sandy Hill 20 inches deep) 24 inches deep and deeper if necessary, 20 inches thick to the laying on of the joice, and from thence up 18 inches, to be built of good stone, on morter having not less than one bushel of lime to every perch of stone wall, and to be not less than ten feet high from the top of the joice to the bottom of the raising plate. The joice to be not nearer to the ground in any place than one foot. The joists to be of hemlock of the best quality 3 by 9, and laid not more than 20 inches from centre to centre, with a partition wall lengthwise of the building for the joice to rest on 20 inches thick. The floor to be of best quality 11/4 inch thick yellow pine boards, and a platform raised the whole width of the North East gable 8 inches high and 6 feet wide. There shall be 8 windows - 3 back and 3 front - equally spaced and 2 in the S.E. gable one each side of the door. Each window shall have 12 lights of 9 by 14 inch hooks with staples, for outside fastenings all made of 1/8 inch wrought iron, and 10 inch shutter bolts and rings for inside. There shall be one door in the South West Gable and said door to be 7 feet high, and 3 wide, and 3 inches thick, hung with 3 good 4 inch butt hinges, with heavy thumb latch, and 8 inch lock with key in good order. Said door to have a substantial marble sill. The roof to be of best pine shingles and raised on 6 inch brackets framed into 6 inch joice put on the inside of the wall, similar to the other new houses already built in the- District." A description of how the interior of Sandy Hill School looked can be found in a handwritten essay by Anna V. Walton (1874-1932), written in beautiful script about 1890 and kept in the archives of the Montgomery County Historical Society, Norristown. Anna 96 was a pupil at Sandy Hill and calls her work "History of the Sandy Hill School." She first describes how the original school, started in 1796, looked. This information would probably have been passed down to her verbally by relatives or friends of a previous generation. She describes a school which sounds quite like the beautiful pictures Marguerite de Angeli has drawn of the Christopher Dock School in her book "Skippack School". Anna's words are: "The room was heated by a large wood stove which stood in the centre; and furnished with long desks, which were placed against the wall all around the building at which, with their faces to the wall, the larger scholars sat on long benches, then there was a row of benches around the stove on which the small scholars sat. "The teacher's desk stood on the southeast side on a small platform about 4 ft. square and was high enough for him to stand up to write." She then continues to talk about the 1859 building, in which she was a student: "This school house (1796) stood until 1859 when it was torn down and the present one erected, about 25 yd. northeast of it, on ground purchased of Jacob and Tacy Berkhimer (then owner of the Lukens property). This is also a one story stone building and stands northeast ^and southwest. In the centre the ceiling for 20 feet is parallel to the floor and stands at an angle at 140 degrees for about 3 ft. on each side. The wall on the northeast end of the room has been painted black to be used as a blackboard, and then there is also a small board which is fastened against the wall. The room-is heated by a coal stove which stands in the centre, the pipe running up to the roof. The room is furnished with eighteen desks, each large enough for two scholars. The Teacher's desk stands on the platform which is in the northeast end, then there are four large class benches. In the west corner of the room is a small closet in which we put our kettles. The grounds are triangular, situated between roads, one heading to the Skippack road and the other to the Broad Axe. Around the school house are twelve large trees which keep the sun from the roof. It would be well if several of them were cut down. A porch at the southwest end would improve the looks of the building." Jones Detweiler helps us fill in our picture of the early Whitpain school interior. He notes that every school had "a bucket, tin cup, splint broom and what was called a 'pass,' a small paddle having the words 'In' and 'Out' written on opposite sides." The larger boys cut wood at noontime and put it under the desks; the larger girls took turns helping with cleaning the school room. At least one school, Shady Grove, had a basement under it for storing coal and wood. Some of the larger pupils could have been "bound" or indentured boys and girls, as old as 18-20 years of age. As indentured servants they got board and clothing from their employers and three months schooling a year in the winter season. 97 School hours in the nineteenth century were long, lasting from 9 A.M. to 4 P.M. There was a lunch hour from Noon to 1 P.M. and a recess in mid-morning and mid-afternoon. There was school every weekday and every other Saturday, and the school year lasted for 6 1/2 to 9 1/2 months. The Saturday sessions ended in the 1860's. Most of the morning session was taken up with arithmetic. Actually, since the pupils were of such varying ages, the teacher spent much time moving about the room and checking each one's work. The graded system wasn't adopted in Whitpain until March 1888. The boys and girls worked out their solutions to problems on slates. When completed, they transferred their work into Cyphering books. There was an opportunity in the one-room school for what today's educators call "cross-age tutoring" since the older students sometimes helped the Master check the work of the younger students. The afternoon was spent in reading and spelling. The last thing in the afternoon was a spelling lesson in which all the students took part. Friday was a special day - Table Day. On this day arithmetic tables were said by everyone. The average pupil's supplies and books cost about one dollar in the early nineteenth century Whitpain school. Students paid for their own books up until 1885 when books were furnished from the school funds. The pupil also had to have his Cyphering Book for sums, six sheets of foolscap (a size of paper typically 16x13 inches) paper stitched together for writing, and a small well of ink ln a broad cork stand and a goose quill. The goose quill pen was used for writing up until around 1850, at which time the steel pen took its place. The Master had charge of sharpening the quills and of making the ink. Ink was made from a material called Ink Powder and kept in a large bottle and dealt out into the pupils' cork ink stands, which had small glass inserts in their centers. The quills were tied together in bunches of 24, 50 or 100, and sold by the Master to the pupils at the price of 2 for a cent. When steel pens were first introduced in Whitpain, they were too stiff and hard. Pupils found them difficult to manage; they tore through the ragged paper in use and blotted and spattered ink easily. The teachers were happy with the new pens, though, because they were relieved of their labors of sharpening quills, a chore that had formerly been attended to during the lunch hour. All was not grim arithmetic tables and blotted ink in the early school. They had their fun times, too, and their celebrations. Anna Walton, in her account of Sandy Hill School, tells of one teacher, Florence Snyder, who put on "2 entertainments, one in 1885 for the purpose of buying a dictionary and the other in 1886 to buy an Encyclopedia. The first entertainment was held in the schoolhouse, and admission of fifteen cents was charged and we realized $21.85. The second entertainment was held in the Creamery Hall (Centre Square), the same admission was charged and this time we made $20.90." The first Commencement of 8th Grade graduates was held in Whitpain Township in 1890. The graduates were: Walter DePrefontaine, Frank Beyer, Katherine A. Miller, Rachel Shoemaker, Annie Steinbright and Ella Tippin. The exercises took place over a 98 horse stable in Washington Square Hall in Washington Square. The Norristown Times Herald carried full coverage of the gala affair. Professor Lloyd's orchestra of Norristown played, Boehm's Church choir sang. The horses in the stable below stomped, and "their fragrance wafted upward in the warm summer evening of Thursday June 5, 1890." There were recitations by Clara Baker, Annie Walton, Frank Beyer and Anna Steinbright; a eulogy on Alexander Hamilton by Walter DePrefontaine; Ella Tippin read her essay "Live's Pivots"; Katie Miller gave the valedictory, "Eminent Women." This same Katie Miller later completed her high school education at Whitpain High School, went on to West Chester Normal School, University of Penn- sylvania and Columbia University. Her first teaching job was at Shady Grove School. She lived in a house, still standing next to Boehm's Church Cemetery, and each morning would walk across the fields from Penllyn Pike down to her school on Lewis Lane. Miss Miller also taught at Franklinville School, at two schools in Cheltenham, and then was principal of the Wyncote School for 36 years. Many of the other graduates from Whitpain's one- room schools went on to become lawyers, doctors and outstanding members of their communities. Quite a few of them are still living in our community. There are also many Whitpain residents who attend- ed the Whitpain High School and the Whitpain Consolidated School, which took the place of the six original schools. These graduates, too, have memo- ries which can give a glimpse of school life in Whitpain at a slightly later time — the early twen- tieth century. Questions asked of a few of these former students have evoked the following memories: Behind the brick Consolidated School and the High School was a play area which extended all the way back to the woods. Of course, the woods have all but disappeared. At recess time these 1920's children played the games of the era: Tag, Hide-and-go-seek, Prisoner's Base, Tiger, I Spy Sheepie, snowball fights. Fox and Geese, jump rope, etc. The High School students had organized sports: volley ball, soft ball, baseball, soccer and basketball. Many of the children walked to school; some rode bicycles. On rainy days parents had mercy on their little ones and picked them up at school. One of our long-time Whitpain residents remembers that on rainy days the front of the school yard would be full of "teams" as parents picked up their children. This same gentleman also relates that on deep-snow days, some children were gathered up in bob sleds or farm sleds and taken to school. School bussing began about 1918. One former student describes the two buses: "one makeshift Ford that rocked and one Reo, slightly better." Another former student further explains the "rocking" of the Ford bus. When too many students sat in the back of the bus, the front wheels left the ground and there had to be a hasty re-distribution of students. 99 Apparel of these rugged country children was sensible and suited to the seasons. In winter, long under-drawers were standard equipment for all the younger children. The boys wore knickers, long brown stockings and high laced shoes; the girls long stockings, dresses and high shoes. The children of present-day Whitpain have favorite gathering places. So, too, did the turn-of-the-century children. Zimmerman's pond, a pond behind Reed's Store, which has been filled in, and Whitpain Farm pond were great places for ice skating. 'The hills on Skippack Pike in Centre Square were ideal for sledding in the days when traffic consisted mainly of horses and wagons. There was an old sand quarry in the woods behind the two Blue Bell schools. One highly respected member of our community remembers that the local boys loved to run down the steep slopes into the quarry and jump out from behind trees to scare each other. A girl student of the same era states that "we were not allowed to go into the woods." As the old adage goes — "boys will be boys." In the 1920's Whitpain High School had a very active Alumni Association. They had an annual Christmas party on the second floor of the High School Building and a Picnic Supper and games on the School grounds in early June. In this way, graduates and families, especially with children, kept in touch. In 1922 a PTA was organized, which took over most of the social life surrounding the school. There is still enough of the "natural" Whitpain left to give joy to today's children. There are still frozen ponds to skate on, hills to sled on, wildflowers to come upon in the small patches of woods that are left and hundreds of small animals and beautiful birds among us to give modern residents a taste of country living. 100 Montgomery County Community College, Founded 1964 Pennsylvania's Community College Act of 1963 authorized the establishment of a Commonwealth system of public two-year colleges. This Act made possible the founding of Montgomery County Community College on December 8, 1964. The newly founded College opened temporary quarters in the former Conshohocken High School in the tall of 1966. In December of 1971 the College moved into its new campus in Blue Bell, and was ready for occupancy for the 1972 spring semester. The College offers a comprehensive two year program, and, at present, has over 6,600 students. The campus is comprised ol tour multi-purpose, environmentally controlled buildings. The historical background of the land on which the College has been built (the Bernhard, Greenawalt and Walker farms) is covered in this book in the article on those farms. 101 Church Schools and Private Schools in Whitpain Boehm's Church School, Founded 1760 As mentioned before, the very first school in Whitpain Township was the church school built by members and officers of its earliest church, Boehm's Church. Once the church was established, its congregation soon felt the need for a school. Land was purchased from Philip Dottera and his wife for 5 shillings on April 16, 1760, and a stone school was erected shortly after that. This school, open to all who chose to comply with its regulations, used the German language in its teaching. The schoolhouse was torn down in 1844 and a sexton's house and Sunday School room was built on the same spot. Site: the center section of Boehm's United Church of Christ, Blue Bell Centre Square Seminary, 1879-1884 This private school for young ladies was housed in what had formerly been a public house or inn. A public house was originally opened here in 1804 and in 1816 it was sold to Henry W. Groff, a fuller from Upper Salford. Henry Groff, a number of years after his purchase tore down the original inn and built a large brick structure which was called the "brick tavern" or the "Big Brik." It was a short distance above Centre Square on the left-hand side of Skippack Pike. This was a huge undertaking for Groff and nearly ruined him financially. In 1834 the property was sold to Philip Gerhart who remained its owner for many years. The brick walls were later plastered. In 1879 the property was sold to Rev. D. Levin Coleman, pastor of St. John's Lutheran Church. Centre Square. Rev. Coleman, together with Rev. J. Sechler, of Boehm's Church, conducted a nourishing private school for young ladies in this school for five years. 'The local nickname for this school was "The Little Ritz." Site: The building still stands on Skippack Pike above DeKalb Pike and is now called The Green Acres Inn. Oak Lane Day School, Founded in Philadelphia, 1916 This school was an independent day school in Philadelphia from 1916 until 1922. At that point, it was taken over by the University of Pennsylvania and later, in 1930, became a Temple University Laboratory School. In 1960 it once more became an independent day school, and in September of 1964 opened in Blue Bell, after building new quarters on the John Cadwalader estate. This school's program includes children from age three up to ninth grade. (For the history of the Cadwalader estate where the school is located, see the Chapter on Houses.) St. Helena's School, Founded 1948 Msgr. Thomas P. Kelly became pastor of St. Helena's Church after the death of its founding father. Father Francis Higgins. It was Msgr. Kelly who started a building program designed to educate the children of the Parish. Three Sisters of Mercy; Sister M. Teresa, Sister Mary Assisium and Sister M. John Aloyse came from the Mother House in Merion and laid the groundwork for the school. On September 1, 1948, St. Helena's School opened in the convent (which was then in a large house across DeKalb Pike from 102 the church). There were forty-four pupils from grades one through four. On September 1, 1949 the new school building adjoining the church was opened and included grades, Kindergarten through six. Seventh and eight grades were added in 1950. Nursery Schools In the past decade several nursery schools have been established in Whitpain for the education of the pre-school child. Libraries Whitpain Library Company The Whitpain Library Company was founded on December 16, 1817 at Blue Bell and was incorporated with thirty-five charter members. In 1884 there were 2,000 volumes. For eighty-four years the book collection was housed in the Blue Bell Store (later the Blue Bell Post Office). After a period of inactivity, the books were transferred to the Whitpain High School building in the early 20th century. In 1922 the last surviving member of the Whitpain Library Company donated the library to the Whitpain High School and Alumni Association. In 1923 the catalog, minutes books and other records of the Library were presented to the Montgomery County Historical Society, Norristown, and in July of 1952, the collection itself was donated to the Society by the Whitpain School Board. The book circulation records of the old Whitpain Library Company were kept in script, a page for each patron, with his name at the top. When a book was taken out, a note was made on the left-hand side of the patron's page, noting the book's accession number, number of volumes, date taken out, and number of days it could be borrowed (usually six or eight). On the right-hand side of the page, it was recorded when the book was returned. Records of fines for overdue books were kept for patrons on a separate page. Each book had the label of the Whitpain Library Company stamped in the front and an accession number written near the label. Certain of the Library Company directors took care of having books repaired and rebound and paying for books purchased. In 1835, Jones Detweiler's notes relate: "Christian Slingluff was appointed Librarian for the current year with the usual salary of ten dollars." The directors of the Library Company in 1838 were: John Fitzgerald, Jesse Spencer, Franklin Foulk, Abraham Wentz, David DeHaven, Jonathan Styer and Henry Rile. They held quarterly meetings. The Library of Whitpain On January 18, 1967 the Woman's Club of Whitpain opened a library on the second floor of the building owned by Dr. Eugene Leoni at Centre Square. At this time, the Library became a station of the Montgomery County-Norristown Public Library. In 1968 this library collection was moved to the 1895 Whitpain High School Building where the second floor was rented to house it. In 1969 the Wissahickon Valley Public Library (Ambler) took over the Library of Whitpain collection. In 1972 a professional librarian was hired for Whitpain, and in September of 1975 the whole Whitpain High School building was rented for the Library. The Library of Whitpain is now operated as a branch of the Wissahickon Valley Public Library, and includes a community outreach program (The Library-Without-Walls) and an Audio-Visual Department. There are, at present, approximately 10,000 volumes in the Whitpain collection and 33,000 volumes a year are circulated. 104 The Postal Service By Becky Huttinger Photography by George S. Peck Artwork by Becky Huttinger Before the white man came to America, there were no ^mailmen." The Indians sent messages either by runners or by smoke signals. It wasn't until our European ancestors came here to stay that there was postal service. What did evolve was very similar to that which already existed in Europe, but with a uniquely American quality. In this area, William Penn took the necessary measures to provide his followers with mail delivery. In 1683 he established limited service between Philadelphia and New Castle, Delaware. New routes were soon added because the old ones, the Indian trails, were narrow, winding and very bumpy. Usually they followed rivers, streams or mountain ridges. Penn ordered notices be displayed which gave the people information regarding arrivals or departures of the mails. These notices were to be found on the Quaker Meetinghouse doors or at public houses along the way. Such publications no doubt appeared at Gwynedd or Plymouth Meeting where the Whitpain members of those congregations could have seen them. William Penn, as Governor of the Province, issued an order in 1683 for establishment of a post office in Bristol and shortly after, two more in Philadelphia and Chester. Colonel Andrew Hamilton was Postmaster General of Pennsylvania for several years. The residents of Whitpain received their mail out of Philadelphia. Either they rode the twenty-some miles into town to get it themselves, friends picked it up for them, or, perhaps a messenger brought it out to them for a commission. The gentry in Whitpain usually got it themselves. Most of the mail in those early days came from, or was sent to, Europe by way of warship and merchant vessel. 106 Because of the unreliability of the service, agents and couriers received payment on delivery, and it was expensive. In time, post roads were built to carry the mail between important cities along the coast. Before this, it was said that they (Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and Charleston) were closer to Europe than to each other. The first such road connected New York to Boston in 1673. By 1717, another post road ran south from New York to Williamsburg, Va. Wherever the rider carrying the mail stopped to rest, it was necessary to have a hitching post for his horse. These posts were placed at regular intervals along the route. Naturally, both man and beast needed to rest and to have sustenance. As a result, in this area as well as in New England or in the South, a network of roads were built. Skippack Road which runs northwest through the center of Whitpain Township was one of these routes. In 1710, William Penn, realizing the need for government regulation of the accommoda- tions available, passed an act stipulating, "that no public house or inn within the province be kept without a license," according to William J. Buck in The History of Montgomery County. He also goes on to say that Queen Anne of England confirmed this legislation in 1713. In the same paragraph, he states that nearly all post offices were originally established in public houses. Since Skippack Road was a major highway the taverns along its way must surely have prospered. According to the official records as noted in the above mentioned book, there were several in Whitpain, including the White House (1734) and the Black Horse (1774) in Pigeon Town, the Waggon Inn (1758) in Centre Square, Wentz Tavern (1764) near Cathcart Road, and the Broad Axe Hotel (1792), although it was known to have been an inn long before that. We know that licenses were granted to John Porter, John Rynear and to Abraham Wentz to be innkeepers in 1779. However, in 1786 only one license was issued but no special man or place is mentioned. The people living in Whitpain in the Colonial Period, and later, were mostly of Welsh, English, or German origin. Many of them were literate folk who saw to it that their children went to school. However, for those who had not learned to read or write, there were clergymen like John Philip Boehm or teachers like Charles Roberts and Henry Conrad to help them read their mail or to write letters for them when necessary. 'The larger settlements had notaries or scribes who would do the same thing for a fee. Benjamin Franklin was appointed Postmaster General of Philadelphia County (which included Montgomery County) in 1737 when he was only thirty-one. At first the colonists resented the system because they saw it as just another form of taxation. However, Franklin and his very capable associate, William Hunter, made a number of worthwhile reforms. One of them permitted free delivery of newspapers and pamphlets to printers. In this way, news and information of general interest to the public was posted or otherwise made available in print shops and at the neighborhood taverns throughout the colony. This had a marked effect toward influencing public opinion. They also set up a more reliable accounting system and a more dependable, faster moving, delivery service. In 1775, the Continental Congress made Benjamin Franklin Postmaster General of the U.S.A. with virtually unlimited authority to reorganize the American Postal System. Sixteen months later he turned the office over to his son-in-law, Richard Bache, who, incidentally did a very good job. By 1812, the Postal System was probably the largest single business in America. Postage rates in 1816 were as follows: one sheet (no envelope then) not over thirty miles cost 6 cents; not over eighty miles cost 10 cents; not over one hundred fifty miles cost 12 cents; and not over four hundred miles cost 25 cents. In 1837, the Postal System was no longer a subdivision of the Treasury Department and its leader was a member of the President's cabinet. 107 The early postmasters usually owned property and were respected members of the community. As a rule, they were innkeepers and storekeepers, or both, and their families lived with them at their places of business. It was almost inevitable that wives and daughters became involved with the innkeeping chores or with tending store as you will see later. In the 1790's women were appointed postmasters for the first time thus setting a precedent and providing perhaps the only professional work open to a respectable woman, according to Arthur E. Summerfield in his book, U.S. Mail, The Story of the U.S. Postal Service. Shortly after the American Revolution (1785), the stage coach practically replaced the express rider (with his double saddle bags) as carrier for the U.S. Mail. The system became so efficient and useful for the next ten years that the number of post offices increased from 75 to 453. Staging, as they called this newer means of transportation, was very popular and colorful. The coaches were often Troys, described as being painted red with ornate gilding, the owners name blazoned on the side panels. Usually, there were four handsome, speedy, but durable horses per coach. To add even more color, the coachmen sometimes announced their expected arrival by blowing their "long horns" a mile away. It isn't hard to imagine the hustling and excitement which prevailed at the Blue Bell Inn, for example, as the hostelers watered and fed the animals, the passengers disembarked briefly for refreshment and the drivers attended to the mail. All of this had to be done with the utmost urgency because the stages had to meet unbelievably exacting schedules. It was possible that a competing line (and there was much competition) was stopping at the Broad Axe down the road or another one at the Waggon Inn up the road in Centre Square. After Swedeford Road was built in 1756, the Washington Square Inn and the Franklinville Inn appeared. In 1799, the stages were able to bring mail to Whitpain from the new Norristown Post Office. This mail was carried to Norristown by river boat or packet along the Schuylkill from Philadelphia. In 1816 another official post office was opened in Whitemarsh on the Bethlehem Road and by 1820, Flourtown had grown into a major stagecoach terminal. One of these stages ran up Skippack Road and, upon prior arrangement, would detour along Lewis Lane to pick up or deposit both passengers and mail at "Dawesfield." Jacob Acuff had a daily mail run in 1828 which sped from the Broad Axe Tavern to Evan's Tavern on Race Street in Philadelphia. Its time each way was three hours. Another stage also ran further up Skippack Road as far as Kutztown. It started in Philadelphia at five o'clock in the morning and returned the following day. The coaches traveled through Nicetown, Germantown, Chestnut Hill, Flourtown, Whitemarsh, Broad Axe, Pigeon- town, Centre Square, Skippack, Zeiglerville, Sumneytown, and Trexler's Furnace. 108 Although the Industrial Revolution had by this time made a strong impact upon its people's lives, Whitpain was still basically a rural and agricultural township. Norristown had grown to be a large town with the advent of river traffic and the railroads. It was also an important staging center. In 1830 Swedeford Road became State Road. The coaches made regular trips three times a week through Whitpain to Montgomeryville and points East. The stagecoach enterprises not only improved mail service but also brought closer communication between the many towns and villages they went through. The stagecoach driver had a very special responsibility and rapport with his passengers and with the people he dealt with along his route. In Whitpain, Worcester, and other settlements in this area it was essential that he be bi-lingual because many residents spoke only German. The coachman delivered much more than people and mail. He also delivered newspapers, parcels, and sometimes personal messages. The villagers benefitted in other ways, too. Where there was stagecoach service, men and women found opportunities for employment away from the farm as hotel keepers, store keepers, maids, grooms, smiths, carriage-mak- ers, drivers and harness-makers. The villages in Whitpain all developed where inns happened to be, and by this time the country store was a necessity, too. Thomas Humphrey who had settled in Centre Square in 1800 bought thirty-eight acres across the Skippack Road from the Waggon Inn. He built a house with a store on the corner. After his death his daughter, Elizabeth Went/, rented the store to James Bush. He became the first postmaster in the township in 1828. Eliza who was a widow and a capable business woman, managed the inn after her husband's death and in 1840 turned the store over to her son, Thomas Went/-. Like his grandfather and his mother, he was an enterprising person. In 1855 he sold the store with the post office to Ephraim Shearer. By 1885 a Mr. Rouff owned the store and was the postmaster. At the turn of the century, F. Clifford Bernhard owned the property and was in charge. Clara, his daughter, and her husband, Norman MacMullan, continued the business and raised their children there. 109 The second official post office in the township was opened in Blue Bell in 1840, the same year the village was renamed. It was located on the corner across Plymouth Road (Blue Bell Road) from the Blue Bell Inn. The property had been a "store stand" since before 1812 and included two dwellings. The smaller house was set back from the corner but was close to Plymouth Road. It was reportedly built in 1740. The other larger house was located closer to Skippack Pike. It was a general store but in addition to that became a community meeting place. In a large room on the second floor, the Whitpain Library Company was formed in 1817. Benjamin Hillan, a New Englander by birth and ex-member of the Legislature, was the owner of the store and the inn and is said to have hung the sign of the Blue Bell in front of his tavern in 1840. The people of the settlement liked the ring of it so well that soon both village and post office had a new name. He was also the postmaster. During the Jackson Administration (1829-1837) an element of lawlessness per- vaded the nation. The establishment of The Horse Company - For the Recovery of Stolen Horses and the Detection of Thieves was certainly indicative of the times. There were chapters of this organization in Whit- pain and one first met at the Blue Bell Post Office in 1841. It should be noted that the Postal System went into a sharp decline and reforms had to be made. Bootleg operators were interfering with the mails and reforms were needed. The laws were repealed to make tampering with the mails punishable by flogging in public for first offenders and capital punishment for second offenders. Franking privileges were curtailed, and in 1847 the first postage stamps were printed. 110 They were for 5 cents and 10 cents and they pictured Ben Franklin and George Washington, respectively. Stamps became a form of currency during the troubled times ahead. In Blue Bell, Levi Miller owned the store in 1848, according to a contemporary map. Shortly after the Civil War, Charles De- Prefontaine took over the business. At first he rented the store but in 1875 he bought the property. He was a prosperous merchant and postmaster for thirty-seven years. He is re- membered with much respect and affection. Next to the market on the corner was a pump and watering place for the horses. There was also a large scale which was designed to weigh produce, grain, etc. Mr. DePrefontaine no doubt bought wholesale from the farmers for the large back room of the store was equipped with many bins to keep all sorts of commodities. The villagers, as the story goes, came to the store every Saturday night to swap yarns and to spend a social evening. They sat on benches in front of the store. The post office was just a small cage-like booth which occupied one corner as one came into the room. Harold Hoover, who was Charles DePrefontaine's son-in-law, succeeded him. He and his family lived in an apartment in back of the store. Mr. Hoover had a difficult time, especially during the 1930's Depression. Oliver Reiner and Alfred Gamp, also tax collector, were in the post office for a while. Business in the store was not very encouraging during the period before World War II and after. In the early 1950's, Mr. and Mrs. Carlin DeHaven ran the post office for several years, even after the grocery business had been phased out. In 1959, Mr. Edward J. Esmond, Jr. became acting postmaster until the old Blue Bell Post Office was closed in 1961. The third post office in Whitpain opened in Broad Axe in 1855, John Cadwallader being the first postmaster. According to the 1877 map, J. Hobensach had the store (with post office). The building they occupied was on the north corner of the crossroads and was a two-story frame building. The Plymouth to Upper Dublin Turnpike became Butler Pike in 1853 and the Reading Railroad came through Ambler in 1856. Traffic increased through the village after that. Jacob G. Dannehower owned the store in 1885. Some of the older residents remember when James Murray, who had come from Conshohocken, ran the grocery store and post office in the 1920's. The Belfry Post Office, the fourth one, came into existence in 18SO. It was located on Skippack Pike near North Wales Road just a short walk from the Belfry Station of the Stony Creek Railway. The old house is still there. At one time, the Jeannes sisters lived there and later, in the 1920's, Henry Annear was postmaster. It is now the home of Mr. and Mrs. David Beers. Perhaps two of the best innovations in modern mail service were Rural Free Delivery (in 1897) and house-to-house delivery shortly thereafter. R.F.D. was largely responsible for the rather extreme decrease in the number of post offices in the U.S. (from 76,945 to 52,641) by 1920. The casualties in this township were Broad Axe and Belfry. 111 For a while, mailmen traveled over country roads by horse and buggy but when the motor car era arrived, the flivver took over. This system created a new link between the isolated people of agricul- tural areas with the more "cultural" advantages of the cities; and "what they got more of were mail order catalogues," among other things. In 1913 the U.S. Parcel Post Service came into being and packages were delivered to the house. In Whitpain the first R.F.D. agent was Charles Preston. It was his responsibility to pick up the mail at the Read- ing Station in Ambler and bring it to the Blue Bell Post Office. He was married to Esther Hoover, daughter of the postmaster. By the late 1950's the Blue Bell Post Office had increased its volume of mail to such an extent that a larger facility had to be built. It was relocated on Skippack Pike at Union Meeting Road. Thomas P. Lowery, III was appointed postmaster in 1961. Today, this is the only post office within Whitpain's boundaries. Broad Axe receives mail service from Ambler and Center Square from Norristown. The Center Square Pharmacy still retains a rural station inherited from the Mac Mullans after they closed their store. Significant of the era, there are gas stations where the post offices once stood in Blue Bell, Broad Axe, and Center Square. Whitpain is today, a part of the suburban sprawl of Philadelphia with many private homes, a few apartment complexes, and a number of businesses including Sperry Univac, Ford, Yarway, and Henkels and McCoy. To ac- commodate this volume of mail, we now have a first-class post office with all of the modern means for handling it, at the agency's disposal. Down through the years much progress has been made for improving the system in spite of periodic difficul- ties . and the mails do go through! 113 Recent Development of the Township By Davenport Plummer Photography by George S. Peck Artwork by Becky Huttinger Township Administration Building After meeting for a number of years in the upstairs meeting room of the Center Square Fire House, with the Township records kept in a desk in the home of the Secretary- Treasurer, the Board of Supervisors decided it was necessary to have a full-time office to accommodate the expanding functions of the Township with its files and paperwork as well as providing a headquarters for the Police Department. Accordingly, the Supervisors in 1958 entered into a lease with the Whitpain Township School Board for the majority of the second floor of the 1895 school building, at the corner of Skippack Pike and School House Road. By 1964 it had become evident that the Township had outgrown the 1895 school building and a new Township building had to be found. From time to time various locations had been examined by the Supervisors with the final selection being the Township Property on Wentz Road, where it was planned to build a proper Township Administration Building. While negotiations for the Township Property were in progress, the Supervisors were informed of the availability of the Cook tract of 62 acres on Yost Road, behind the land of St. Helena's Church. This tract was obviously highly desirable as open space. 114 With the Township's borrowing capacity limited by statute, it was impossible tor the Township to finance and purchase the two properties and at the same time construct the new Administration buildings. Accordingly the Municipal Improvement Authority was brought into the picture. At this time, the Municipal Improvement Authority was reorganized and its charter enlarged. Prior to the reorganization, its only real function had been to develop, own, and operate Wissahickon Park in West Ambler. Under the enlarged charter, its expanded functions included the purchase of Township Property for the Administration Buildings, the purchase of open space land, and the construction of the new Township building. The Township was given an outside figure for the cost of construction. This, added to the cost for the two properties, was the basis for a study of the whole package by the Supervisors and the Municipal Improvement Authority. Based on the existing bond market and projections of increased property assessments in the Township, it was concluded that the whole project could be handled by the Township using the Municipal Improvement Authority as the financing agency. While the financing negotiations were going on, the Township purchased the Wentz Road property, and on July 20, 1966 a ground breaking ceremony was held. The contracts for construction had been signed July 14, 1966 and the building was ready for occupancy June 10, 1967. At that time, a formal ribbon cutting ceremony was held where the Municipal Improvement Authority, as owner of the land and buildings, turned them over to the Township, as tenant< for a rental sufficient to service the bond issue floated to finance the entire operation. The new Administration Buildings housed the Township Administration with the Administrator, the Police Department, the Township Engineer, various inspectors, the Sewer Authority and for a time the District Justice. With the increase in Township functions and the enlargement of the Police Department, the Administration Building became cramped, necessitating an addition. I his was undertaken and, upon its completion in 1976, the physical rearrangement of the Township activities was carried out. The construction of the addition was coordinated with the Municipal Improvement Authority and the trustee for the bond issue. The cost of the addition was financed by the Township without recourse to borrowing. 115 Wissahickon Park Looking at Wissahickon Park in the northeast corner of the Township today, one finds it difficult to remember what it looked like prior to 1961. About the time of World War 1, Keasbey and Mattison Co., then the largest manufacturer in the area, built two rows of small houses on both sides of the block of West Chestnut Street in West Ambler, in Whitpain Township. These houses were built lor their employees and, in common with the times, had few if any of the amenities considered today as essential for decent housing. During the Depression the houses on West Chestnut Street were all sold to an individual, not a resident of the Township, who rented them. Due to the nature of the houses the rent was low, though it was said that the landlord received a gross annual rental equal to the purchase price of the block of houses. Through the years the condition of West Chestnut Street continued to deteriorate. The area had become a police problem, a school problem, and a potential health hazard. This situation was the source of great concern to the Board of Supervisors, but whenever it was considered, any plan for ameliorating the problem broke down on the matter of cost. Matters stood at this point, with much talk and concern but with no real progress, until 1960 when the Chairman of the Planning Commission, uncovered an "anonymous donor" who expressed an interest in helping the Township clean up West Chestnut Street. Numerous meetings were held with the representative of the anonymous donor. It was finally agreed that the donor would purchase the houses on West Chestnut Street and deed them to the Township, provided the Township agreed to spend at least $50,000 over several years to remove the houses and improve the area. A meeting was then held with a representative of the absentee owner. After considerable negotiations, helped by the Township's reminder to the owner that he would be forced to install indoor plumbing and to connect each house to the new sewer system, the owner agreed to sell the houses on both sides of West Chestnut Street for $ 125,000. 116 For many years the area between West Chestnut Street and the Wissahickon Creek had been used as a dump for the slag and waste materials resulting from the manufacture of asbestos products by Keasbey and Mattison Co. This dump was a smaller replica of the "White Alps" dumps on the outskirts of Ambler. After extended negotiations, the Keasbey and Mattison Company agreed to deed the property containing the dump to the Township. Since the demolition of West Chestnut Street, the rehabilitation of the area into a park, and its subsequent operation might divert the efforts of the Board of Supervisors from other operations and problems affecting the Township as a whole, an Authority was created for this purpose. Known as the Whitpain Township Municipal Improvement Authority, it was given the right to own. acquire, and operate park and recreation areas in the Township. The M.I.A., as it was popularly known, received title to the houses on West Chestnut Street and the former Keasbey and Mattison Co. dump and then went to work. The West Chestnut Street residents, with the help of Montgomery County, were all relocated. The houses were then demolished and that part of West Chestnut Street was closed and removed from the Township map. Initially, the removal of the dump was considered but the cost turned out to be prohibitive so it was decided to level the existing slag by spreading it through the area, covering it with a layer of top soil and seeding the plot. Through the years various improvements have been made, including; the open shed, the comfort station, the baseball diamond, the basketball area, all accomplished through the care and attention of the Township employees. Through the generosity of the anonymous donor and the Keasbey and Mattison Co.. plus the thought and hard work of many people in the Township Administration, a dump and a health hazard have been transformed into a decent recreation area known as Wissahickon Park. 117 Sites and Families "Men and women may sometime, after great effort, achieve a creditable lie; but a house cannot say anything save the truth of those who have lived in it." .... Rudyard Kipling A history of any township or nation is the history of its people. Here we have Whitpain's people in their homes, their farms, their industries, and in their places of worship. We see them at work and at leisure. We catch glimpses of some of the happy moments and the sad moments in many generations of Whitpain's families. 119 History of Boehm's Reformed United Church of Christ By George C. Taylor, Jr. Photography by George C. Taylor, Jr The United Church of Christ denomination is a combination of the previous Evangelical and Reformed Church with the Congregational Church. Earlier, the Reformed Church in America united with the Evangelical Church. Boehm's was originally a Reformed Church; first, Dutch Reformed under the auspices of the Classis of Amsterdam, then in 1790, under the German Reformed Synod of America in Philadelphia. The Dutch and German Reformed Churches are virtually identical in doctrine and theology, both following the teachings of the Heidelberg Catechism. The Reformed Church was founded shortly after Martin Luther fathered the Lutheran Church in Germany but, the father of this denomination is generally regarded to be Huldreich Zwingli of Switzerland. In 1740, the Reverend John Philip Boehm lived on his 200 acre farm in Whitpain Township, between what is now Cathcart Road and School House Lane, just northeast of Skippack Pike. One of his sons farmed this land while his father rode circuit and attended to the affairs of various churches which he had founded and serviced as often as he could. As he approached his sixtieth year, the hardships of long rides on horseback in all kinds of weather began to catch up with him, and he was forced to spend more time closer to home. His neighbors petitioned him to hold services for them whenever he was at home on Sunday and he complied, beginning in 1740. Finally, this little congregation grew to the point that a building was necessary and, where the Blue Bell Pike meets Plymouth Road, a 122 one acre plot was purchased from John Lewis for four pounds, ten shillings. The deed, still in the possession of Boehm's Church, is dated February 8, 1747 and is given to Rev. John Philip Boehm, minister; Michael Clime, Arnold Ruttershaw, and Andrew Acker, church wardens. A small stone church building was erected by the congregation, with the Reverend Boehm helping to build the structure with his own hands despite his infirmities. This original church building is described as follows: "The building was one story high, built of stone and mud for mortar, with remarkably heavy walls and a very long steep roof. The church stood with gable-end facing southwest. There was a large double door, opening with a very heavy handle and thumb-latch." Some of the earliest names appearing on the church records along with the dates of their arrival in America are: Yosts, 1729; Engart (Engard), 1728; Clime, 1731; Sheive, 1737; Rumer, 1741; Kurr, 1743; Shearer, Eberhard (Everhart), Etris, and Korndeffer, 1748; Dull, Greger, Lotz (Lutz), Klarr, Houser, Martin and Seltzer, 1749; Shaub, 1750; Schlater, Ernst, Gruber, 1751; and Singer, 1752. From 1740 until 1747, burials were made along what is now Cathcart Road, near Skippack Pike. Beginning in 1747, the one acre plot purchased for the church was also used as a cemetery. Some of the names on the oldest tombstones are: Knorr, Etris, Martin, Greenawalt, DeHaven, Doll, Eberhard, Singer, Sheive, Greger, Yost, Rumer, Schlater, Shearer, Klair, Spitznogle, Engard and Remig. Note the correlation between most of these names and those from old church records listed previously. In 1834, nine additional acres were added to the original one acre at a cost of $364.21, willed by Casper Schlater, second pastor of Boehm's Church. 123 When walks were laid out in 1876, remains of Revolutionary War dead were found in shallow graves; these bones were reinterred in one place near the church and in 1967, the Valley Forge chapter of the N.D.A.R. erected a commemorative stone over this mass grave (see chap- ter on Revolutionary War for photo illustration of this marker). In 1965, there were 1,211 grave markers in this cemetery representing several thousand individual burials here. John Philip Boehm was born in Germany (probably the Palatinate) about 1685. He was supposedly the son of a Reformed Church pastor and was a schoolmaster and fores- inger at a parochial school and church in Worms, Germany. His emigration reportedly occurred because of a disagreement with the Church fathers in Worms. At any rate, he arrived in Philadelphia about 1720 and moved into Whitpain about ten years later, renting the farm which he later purchased in 1736. He had begun to preach much earlier than this and served his first communion at Faulkner Swamp in 1725. In 1727, an ordained minister of the German Reformed faith arrived in Philadelphia and began to preach. This minister, George Michael Weiss, was invited to preach at the Skippack Church, now Wentz' United Church of Christ in Worcester Township, which he did. Learning that this congregation's regular pastor, Mr. Boehm, was not ordained he was scandalized and raised such a hue and cry about this matter that some of Mr. Boehm's parishioners, with his consent, decided to do something about it and petitioned the Classis of Amsterdam, Holland, to have their minister ordained by this classis through their ministers in New York City. John Philip Boehm traveled to New York and was duly ordained there on November 23, 1729. Thus began the association of the many churches founded by Boehm with the Dutch Reformed Church. This tie lasted until it was dissolved, by mutual consent, in 1790 and an independent American Reformed Church was set up. An excerpt from the translation of the hearing of the case of John Philip Boehm before the Classis of Amsterdam, held in New York City in July of 1728 by the Reverend T.W. Chambers, pastor of the Collegiate Protestant Dutch Church, states: "From this document it appears that Mr. Boehm arrived in this country as early as the year 1720. He came from the Palatinate, having been schoolmaster and foresinger in Worms, a city in Germany, for about seven years, he found a demand for his services as reader (Vorlezer) upon his arrival here. The Reformed people around him were destitute of the means of grace, and he became a sort of pastor to them, without receiving any compensation for his services. So well did he perform these services for the destitute Reformed people that they besought him to assume the functions of this ministerial office. This he did in 1725, receiving as compensation only the voluntary contributions of the people." 124 A word about the character of this unusual man; he was probably the best educated person in Whitpain Township when he lived here; his sermons were undoubtedly fiery and he was completely devoted and loyal to the teachings of the Reformed Denomination. He regarded the "sect" religions as heretical, particularly, the teachings of Count Zinzendorf who attempted to organize all German religious denominations in Pennsylvania into one unified body. This effort was not successful, but only led to the formation of one more denomination, the Moravians. The Reverend Boehm is known to have entered the church of a sect denomination, strode down the aisle to the pulpit, and denounced the minister as a heretic and agent of the Devil to the entire congregation. He combined a violent temper with stubbornness but, he was a tireless organizer who always looked out for the welfare of his various flocks. When he died, on April 29, 1749 at his youngest son's house, the only minister available for the funeral service was one Martin Kolb, a Mennonite "Instructor" (minister) who performed this duty. The old man would have been most unhappy at this turn of events, if he had known. The Reverend Michael Schlater, who had been sent to assist Boehm in 1746, made amends after returning from a missionary trip, by preaching a funeral oration for the Reverend Boehm in the Germantown Church. This same Michael Schlater became the second pastor of Boehm's Church. The Reverend Boehm was buried beneath the altar of this original church where his remains still rest under the floor of the present church (although the exact spot of this interment has never been located). He is regarded as the "Father of the Reformed Church in Pennsylvania." The Reverend Schlater (mentioned above) wrote in his journal, "Shortly after my arrival in Philadelphia, I went to visit Mr. Boehm, one of the oldest ministers of the Reformed Church, and the old man, after he heard of my business, felt very glad and promised to assist me in my labors." 125 The Reverend Boehm was present at the organization of the first Reformed Church Synod in Philadelphia, September 29, 1747. He became secretary of this body in 1748; copies of the minutes, in his precise handwriting are still in existence. Unfortunately, Mr. Boehm regarded the church records he kept as his own; after his death, they were put into a single chest which, in 1834, found its way to the attic of a house at Second and Quarry Streets in Philadelphia. Someone, probably cleaning out the attic, burned the entire contents of this chest including any likeness that may have existed of the Rev. Boehm. The best record we have of Mr. Boehm comes from Holland, where his copious correspondence is to be found in the files of the Classis of Amsterdam. The church records under Reverend Schlater did not fare any better; he was taken prisoner by the British during the Revolution and all of his records were burned by them in Chestnut Hill. In fact, there are virtually no records for the first five pastorates, of Boehm's Church. In 1764, the Reverend George Alsentz, pastor of this church from 1762 to 1767, began to keep the first church records that have come down to us and which, in 1976, are on exhibit in the church's museum. The Reverend Alsentz was pastor of both Boehm's and the Germantown Churches. He lists the following as consistorymen at this time: John Marten, Frederick Doll, Jacob Gubler, John Edtarts (Etris) as Elders; Philip Rittersham and Casper Schlater as Deacons; with a total membership at Boehm's of twenty families. In 1760, Boehm's Church congregation purchased land adjoining the church building and erected a school, reputed to have been the first in Montgomery County. This building was torn down and replaced by a Sunday School addition with adjoining Sexton's House in 1844. In 1776, the congregations of Wentz' and Boehm's Churches jointly purchased fifty-five acres of ground in what is now Center Square, from William Zimmerman, for a parsonage, which was built. This property was held by both Churches until 1840. when the Reverend George Wack purchased it for his own use, paying $3,842,93. The Boehm's Church subscribers for the above property are listed in 1778 as John Marten, John Etris, Sr., John Shaub, Valentine Shearer, Adam Lotz (Lutz), Henry Rumer, Frederick Doll, Peter Troxel, Peter Rock, George Kreiger (Greger), George Etrisch, John Etrisch, Jr., John Casper Schlater, John Troxel, Matthias Marten, Daniel Yost, Marten Schwenk, Jacob Schmidt, Sr., George Riley, George Goor, John Shearer, Nicholas Korndoefor, Jacob Schmidt, Jr., Edwardus Huth (Host), Nicholas Seltzer, John Wentz and Lawrentius Shaner. This is probably a full list of the heads of congregation families at that time. In 1857, a parsonage was built northeast of the church property on the Blue Bell-Penllyn Pike. This house was sold in 1890 and is still in use as a private home. A new parsonage was built this same year on two-thirds of an acre on the southeast side at 830 Blue Bell Pike between the church and the village of Blue Bell. In 1969, this building was, in effect, traded for the present (1976) parsonage on Grant Avenue, Center Square, by the Eichler & Moffly Real Estate Company, which has converted it for commercial office space rental. In 1836, sheds were built along Penllyn-Blue Bell Pike to hold twenty-two horses. Twelve more stalls were added in 1854. A tremendous wind storm blew all of these sheds flat in 1878, but they were rebuilt in the same year. Again, in 1899, another terrible storm destroyed the sheds and again they were rebuilt. Time, and the automobile, conspired to eliminate the need for horse sheds and in 1964 all but three of these stalls were removed. 126 The three remaining were repainted and fixed as reminders of the past and were also useful for storage. In 1975 they were burned to the ground, either through carelessness or arson — whoever was responsible was never learned. The original church building was refurbished inside to repair the destruction wrought by the soldiers of the Revolutionary War when they used this building as a hospital. All of the pews had been removed and these were replaced along with other renovating. In 1818, it was decided that a larger building was necessary to accommodate a growing congregation and a new building was erected, in part, on the foundations of the old. The new church faced southeast toward Blue Bell-Pennllyn Pike, in contrast to the one, which faced southwest toward a now extinct road called "Booz Road" (which was an extension of what is now "Boehm's Road" through the present parish house-Sunday School complex). 127 This 1818 building was fifty feet long by forty feet wide, two stories high with two side and one end gallery. The pulpit was of the elevated type, reached by stairs, and was in the northwest end of the sanctuary. In 1853, this building was remodeled with the high pulpit replaced by the modern raised-end platform. In 1870, extensive renovations were made, including the addition of an eighty-foot high spire with bell (the present church bell), two massive chandeliers were hung inside which could be pulled-down for lighting because they were counter-balanced (see counterweight box filled with rocks in the Church Museum). After this alteration, the Church had a seating capacity of 500. This is basically the same building as the present main church building. It has been modified from time to time over the years ... In 1891, central steam heat was installed; in 1903, a new Sunday School room was built and the present brownstone front was added; the high spire was replaced by the present lower one in 1908 when the roof was also rebuilt; electricity was put in during 1913 and the old cabinet organ was replaced by the present pipe organ in 1915. The Sexton's House was converted to a Parish House in 1963 and in 1971, the addition of the Community Hall with its 150-seat auditorium was added, together with the upstairs Museum. A modern kitchen was installed in the Parish House, connected to the Community Hall for ease in serving functions held there. The old basement complex under part of the church, and the Sunday School section were converted for use by the Montessori House School which teaches three- through five-year olds in pre-school skills, until 1977. In 1976, the Reverend Robert E. Pauli left to accept a call at a larger Church in the Upper Darby area of Philadelphia. Boehm's Church was served by various supply pastors until December, 1976 when the Rev. Milton F. Schadegg accepted the call to this pastorate. Some information about various pastors has come down to us in the records, a few samples follow: William Stoy — Rev. Stoy, one of the supply ministers for Boehm's Church in the 1756-1762 period, took up the study and practice of medicine later in his life. He gained special prominence with his cure for hydrophobia. "General Washington's account book shows that he sent to him one of his servants for cure." Dr. Stoy was also noted for his famous drops for hysterics, his salve for itch and his activities with inoculation for smallpox. John Gabriel Gebhard (1772-1774) — The entry of baptism of his eldest son appears on Rev. Gebhard's baptismal records in the Whitpain Congregation. "Jacob, born April 20, 1774, baptized May 7, 1774: May God make out of him an instrument of his own honor." Rev. Gebhard left Boehm's Church for a congregation in New York. He was an ardent patriot during the Revolution, and he preached the righteousness of the cause of the colonies. 130 John W. Ingold (1774-1775) - Rev. Ingold's pastorate at Boehm's was short "doubtless because of his manner of life: for he was given to intemperate habits and his behavior was such that nothing good could be said of him." John H.Wickel (1775-1778) - The charge of Rev. Wickel, too. was short. Difficulties growing out of the Revolutionary War lead to his leaving the congregation. "At the breaking out of the war he preached a sermon from Eccl. IV, 13: 'Better is a poor and wise child, than an old and foolish king who will no more be admonished.' This sermon caused a great excitement and no doubt led to the course referred to." (Also see Chapter on Revolutionary War about this pastor.) John Herman Winckhaus (1784-1789)-"Rev. Winckhaus was pleasant in his manners, quick in his movements and in his speech, cheerful and sprightly in social circles and a man of considerable learning." After leaving Boehm's Rev. Winckhaus had a brief ministry in Philadelphia. A plague of yellow fever broke out in Philadelphia in August 1793. "The Reformed Congregation alone lost 17 members in August, 92 in September and 143 in Oct. 1793. Among the last was the pastor himself." Philip Reinhold Pauli (1789-1793) - Rev. Pauli was known to be an eloquent preacher. "His sermons were generally simple and affecting, especially at funerals, where he seldom preached without weeping, or causing others to shed tears. His church was generally well filled. He devoted Sunday afternoons to teaching the catechism to the young people and required a 2 month period of instruction before of confirmation." George Wack (1802-1834) - Rev. Wack had the longest pastorate in the history of the church. In the early days of his ministry his congregations were unable to give him the necessary financial support. He had to carry on farming and quarrying stone through the week, and on Sundays rode many miles to fill his appointments. He was skillful in mechanical crafts, often manufacturing his own farm implements. He spent many hours following his love of music, and owned a large organ which he had made himself. From 1817-1820 he held the office of Register for Montgomery County. With all his many abilities, he was a modest man and was "ambitious, not to shine as the oracle of wisdom, or as some great one, but simply to be found faithful." Rev. Wack is buried in Boehm's churchyard. Samuel G. Wagner (1855-1868) - Rev. Wagner, in his first sermon at Boehm's Church said: "Insinuations I will never hear; hints I will merely regard, but in the language of another, 'honest, frank and manly dealing will, I trust, meet with honest, frank and manly dealing in return.' This course of action must have been successful, for when the Rev. Wagner gave his parting sermon at the church he was so highly esteemed by congregation and community alike that the church was overfilled, additional chairs brought in, and many had to stand outside." Edward Rutledge Cook (1926-1940) - Rev. Cook was the only pastor in the history of the church to marry a member of the congregation and the only one married in the church. 131 St. John's Lutheran Church By Ellen Pittenger Gladeck Photography by George S. Peck St. John's Lutheran Church stands by the side of Skippack Pike about one mile above Center Square. This, however, has not always been true. In the Seventeen hundreds there were many German Lutheran settlers in Whitpain Township. They found that they must either ride on horseback to Trappe, or down the Skippack road to Germantown to worship in a Lutheran Church. Because the Skippack road made traveling easier, most of the settlers went to Germantown to attend services at St. Michael's. In the year 1769, a congregation was established in Whitpain and included in St. Michael Parish. This first congregation met in private homes or even out of doors to worship. The Reverend Jacob Van Buskirk was the Pastor of St. Michael's and its parish included St. Peter's Barren Hill 1752, "Puffs" Upper Dublin 1752-54. St. John's Center Square 1769, and St. Peter's North Wales 1772-5. Services were held about every two weeks. In 1769 the Reverend Van Buskirk resigned the pastorate of St. Michael's. In April 1769, the Reverend John Frederick Schmidt arrived in America from Halle, Germany to accept the call of the people of St. Michael's. St. John's had no formal church building until 1773. However, in 1771 plans were formulated and excitement ran high in the congregation in anticipation of owning their own building. The deed for the property, containing one acre, was given by George Kastner and wife to Philip Bower and George Berkheimer, of Whitpain; Michael Henkey, George Gos- singer, Adam Fleck, and Peter Young of Gwynedd and George Heyberger of Worces- ter, building committee. After the church was finished, on the 28th of June, 1773, the building committee conveyed the building and grounds to Abm. Dannehower, of Gwy- nedd, Michael Hufacre, Jacob Carr and Philip Shenaberger, of Whitpain and Leon- ard Berkheimer and Philip Hoffman, of 132 Worcester, trustees of the congrega- tion. The Colonies were on the verge of the Revolutionary War and Pastor Schmidt was an outspoken critic of England's attitude. When the British took possession of Philadelphia, he fled with his family to the home of a Jew who had been converted to Christianity and was living in Upper Milford, Bucks County. The British vented their feelings against him by using St. Michael's Church in German- town for their barracks. They, also, defaced the pews, demolished the organ, destroyed his pulpit, plundered the parsonage and stole his furniture. On Oct. 4, 1777, after the battle of Germantown, General Washington's troops made their retreat principally in a direct line into Whitpain and over the Skippack road to Pennebacker's Mill. St. John's church served as a refuge and temporary hospital for the dying and wounded. Those who did not recover were buried in the cemetery adjoining the church. In 1923, the Daughters of the American Revolution dedicated a boulder in commemora- tion of the Revolutionary soldiers buried in St. John's cemetery. Pastor Schmidt faced another crisis in 1793 when the dreaded yellow fever wiped out the greater part of his congregation at St. Mi- chael's, including his wife and seven children. He, too, contracted the disease. However, he recovered and served St. Michael's church and it's parish for thirteen more years. His ministry covered forty-three years, seventeen of which were given to St. John's from 1769 to 1786. The Reverend Anton Hecht became the se- cond Pastor of St. John's — 1787 to 1792. He was succeeded by the Reverend Jacob Van Buskirk who also had charge of "Puffs" Upper Dublin and St. Peter's, North Wales. 133 Van Buskirk was the first native-born preacher to receive ordination in the Lutheran Church in America with the exception of Muhlenberg's sons. In 1763, Van Buskirk made a handwritten copy of the English liturgy by Henry Melchior Muhlenberg in 1748. At the present time there are only three surviving copies. Pastor Buskirk remained at St. John's until he retired in 1797. The Reverend Henry A. Geissenhainer followed Pastor Van Buskirk as minister of the three churches. During his ministry at St. John's, around 1797, the first pipe organ was installed. According to the records of the congregation, the organ had a cost of $525.88 and had been paid for in English money. The keyboard of this organ caused problems for the organist because the natural keys were black and the sharps and flats were white; just the opposite from the normal keyboard. The Reverend Dr. Charles Wildbann followed Pastor Geissenhainer in 1803, but his pastorate was brief. He passed away a few months after his installation and was buried in St. John's Cemetery. After Dr. Wildbann's death, two divinity students, Solomon and David Schaeffer, brothers, served St. John's from 1804 until 1806. In 1806, Reverend J. C. Rebanach took charge of the congregations at Centre Square, North Wales and Upper Dublin. Five years later, in 1811, he was succeeded by the Reverend John Weiand. It was in this year that Upper Dublin separated from North Wales and Center Square. Pastor Weiand resigned in 1826. In 1829 Reverend George Heilig was called. He instituted a drive for a new church. Reluctant approval was given by the congregation and the old structure, which was of similar style as St. Peter's Barren Hill, was torn down. The new building was modeled after St. Michael's in Germantown which had been built in 1819. It is believed that the plans and specifications were borrowed by St. John's since the interior and exterior were very similar, though not as elaborate. The pulpit was placed at the back of the church in an alcove, reached by two straight flights of stairs, one on each side. The chairs used on either side of the altar were the gift of the great-grandmother of the late Reverend George D. Faust, who was Pastor of the North Wales congregation from 1880 to 1890. The chairs are still in use today. The pews were high backed, paneled and painted white. The seats were narrow, unpainted and uncushioned. Every pew had a door. A pew renting system was adopted which divided the congregation into two classes; subscribers and renters. Price of sittings varied according to location. If you could afford to pay $10.00 per year you could become a church politician. Heat was supplied by two large iron stoves with earthen pots neatly whitewashed every fall. The heating system was a "hit or miss" affair and always was too hot or too cold. 134 On rare occasions when services were held at night, the church was lighted by means of oil lamps. There was a large chandelier suspended from the center of the ceiling and it consisted of four lamps, each set in a brass receptacle from which dangled many colored prisms. The floor of the pulpit and center aisle were carpeted, but the rest of the floor was bare. The Communion Service consisting of Flagon, Chalice and two plates for the Communion bread was of pewter. The lettering, although nearly defaced, on the reverse side of one of the plates reads, "Fenchurch Street London, John Townsend and Thomas Giffen" and has their Touch Mark. They were pewtersmiths who worked in England during the mid-seven- teen hundreds. The second plate has the name of B. Barnes, Philadelphia and his Touch Mark. Mr. Barnes was an American pewtersmith who worked in Philadelphia from 1811 to 1815. The Flagon and Chalice have no Touch Marks and therefore, must have been made in this country, because American pewtersmiths were not required by law to have a Touch Mark as were the pewterers in England. The Baptismal bowl was also made in America. 135 This Communion Service was in constant use until 1876 when subscriptions were solicited for the purchase of a new silver service. The offering was "lifted" at this time in little black bags which were attached to long poles. This made it possible to reach from one end of the pew to the other. The bags were later discarded in favor of boxes lined with velvet. One of those little boxes, minus the velvet, is still to be found in the church. This story has been told before, but it is so entertaining that it bears repeating. In 1834 when the new church was being built, the trustees decided to economize on the cost of building by having an old-fashioned "church raising." All of the men in the congregation, as well as all of the men in the neighborhood not members of the church were invited to lend a hand with the heavy work. It goes without saying that a strong incentive to this free contribution of labor was found in the bountiful supply of good things to eat that had been prepared by the women of the church. Now the gentlemen of the "church raising" period were used to quenching their thirst with something more satisfying than water. So, one day during the course of the construction, they sent one of their number for some liquid refreshment. He found it at the "Waggon Inn" down at Center Square. He was in a hurry to get back up to the tired, thirsty men at the church site and he was careless in stowing it for transportation. As he was driving up the hill toward St. John's, the tail board of his wagon slipped its moorings; the barrel of "refreshment" rolled out, broke and the contents ran back down the hill. For a time after that, the hill was known as "Grog Hill." Reverend Heilig tried to overcome the embarrassment to the congregation by having a large sign painted and put up at the bottom of the hill lettered in large letters-CHURCH HILL. This ploy failed and for quite a time the name, "Grog Hill" stuck. During the pastorate of Reverend Heilig, the congregation found itself in extreme financial difficulty due to building the new church. Unable to meet the demands by its creditors, the building was advertised for sale under the Sheriffs hammer. When the struggle to keep the building seemed hopeless, two trustees of the congregation, Mr. John Miller and Mr. Charles Hallman, visited every member the day before the sale and secured pledges from them. These two men gave their personal bonds as security and it was not until 1843 that these men were released from the obligation they had assumed to free the church from debt. It was in this year that Pastor Heilig resigned. Pastor Jacob Medart was called in 1843. He was the first minister unable to preach in the German language and so from that time on services were conducted in the English language. The Reverend John Hassler followed Pastor Medart in 1856. At the beginning of the Civil War he resigned to accept a call to the post of Army Chaplain. During the Civil War period, 1862 to 1868, Reverend P. M. Rightmeyer served the congregation. In 1865 the church purchased a large lot adjoining the church on the West. A house was on the lot built of logs, dating back to pre-revolutionary days. The sexton used it until the present house was built in 1883 and the old one demolished. 137 Reverend E. L. Reed succeeded Pastor Rightmeyer in 1868. During Pastor Reed's pastorate, St. John's, Center Square and St. Peter's, North Wales decided to separate. This took place in 1870. Reverend Reed remained Pastor of St. Peter's and Reverend Dr. H. Bickle of Philadelphia was called to St. John's. During his pastorate the clerical robes and bands were worn for the first time. Also, in 1870 the vestry purchased land and a house adjoining the church on the East, thus supplying the Pastor with a parsonage. The Reverend David Levin Coleman was the next pastor and served St. John's from 1875 to 1881. Following him was the Reverend Harry B. Strodach, who remained for only one year. He later accepted a second call to St. John's in 1884 and remained until 1888. Reverend James C. N. Park succeeded Reverend Coleman in 1889. The congregation had sold the old parsonage and since Reverend Park married soon after his arrival at St. John's the present parsonage was built on the lot adjoining the church. Reverend Park served for five years. In 1894, Reverend Charles C. Snyder came to St. John's and remained ten years until 1904. In June 1904, Reverend Jeremiah Ritter, Bath, Pennsylvania accepted a call to St. John's and remained until June 1911, when he took up work at the Good Shepherd Home in Allentown, Pennsylvania. From 1911 to 1915, the church was served by the Reverend Theodore Hoffmeister and was followed by Reverend Frederick Haworth under whose pastorate extensive changes were made to the interior of the church. The floor of the church was raised in order to make room for church school rooms in the basement. In 1917, the side and singing galleries were removed. St. John's original pipe organ gave up the ghost one Sunday morning during the service in the year 1888. It was taken down, broken apart and its parts sold at auction to the members of the congregation. An organ was purchased from a Roman Catholic church in Bethlehem, Pa. for $250.00. This organ was, at this time, moved from the singing gallery to the alcove back of the pulpit and was later placed at the right side of the pulpit. In 1920, Pastor Haworth resigned and Reverend C. C. Snyder returned to St. John's in 1921. During Pastor Snyder's second pastorate, the individual Communion Service was inaugurated. In 1926, a new organ was purchased for the sum of $5,230.00 from the Mudler-Hunter Co. of Philadelphia. The organ previously purchased from the Roman Catholic Church in 1888 again changed church affiliations when it was given to Bethel Hill Methodist Church. The first recital on the new organ was given by Adam Giebel a blind organist from Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia. 138 Pastor Snyder resigned in February of 1936 due to ill health. In March 1936, Reverend Herbert D. Cressman was ordained and installed as the Pastor of St. John's. During his pastorate the interior as well as the exterior of the church were remodeled and renovated at the cost of over $5,500.00. Choir stalls were built and the organ was moved to face the choir. Colonial design chandeliers replaced those in use and a Vox Humana stop was added to the organ. In April of 1945, Pastor Cressman resigned and in June of 1945, a call went out to the Reverend Ernest E. Miller. He served the congregation until May 1961, having received a call to St. Peter's in New York City. During Pastor Miller's pastorate, a Parish Church School Building was constructed in the year 1955. It was the first time in over one hundred years that the congregation had incurred an indebtedness. The members of the building committee were Mr. Lewis T. Troster, Mr. Charles E. Cassel and Mr. Howard L. Baker. These men gave unstintingly of their time and energy and a great deal of credit should go to these men. In November of 1961, the Reverend William A. Fluck began his ministry at St. John's church. During his pastorate modern church offices were constructed in the basement of the Parish Church School Building. In 1975, it was decided that the 1926 organ should be enlarged and rebuilt. Mr. Brantley A. Duddy, a member of the congregation and, also, an organ builder by profession, volunteered his services for this project and the work was started. Pastor Fluck resigned August 1975 and the call went out for a new minister. The Reverend William P. Welther answered St. John's call and was installed Sunday, March 14, 1976. Pastor Welther had the distinction of being installed in this colonial church during our nation's celebration of the Bicentennial of the American Revolution. During his ministry at St. John's, the work on the organ was continued under the direction of Mr. Duddy with the help of a group of enthusiastic, would be "organ builders." When completed, the organ will contain a new three-manual console, five additional ranks of pipes placed in the gallery above the Narthex of the church and twenty ranks of pipes in the Chancel. Much credit should be given to those members who have devoted many hours of labor toward the completion of this project. 141 As you walk in the well-kept cemetery to the rear of the church, you will see graves, old and new. Perhaps the grave of one Christian Moser will catch your eye. This inscription can be seen on his head stone— "Christian Moser, an American Patriot Sol- dier who periled life and fortune in the eventful struggle of the Revolution to secure the Independence of America. "He personally shared in the sanguinary conflicts at the Paoli Massacre and at the taking of Stony Point-and was also in the Battle of Germantown and several other engagements during the R——War. "After exemplary life of 83 years 10 months & 12 days he was called from this Sublimery sphere December 22, 1838. The names that are to be seen on the grave stones are as familiar on the membership rolls of St. John's now as they were in Colonial times. Most of the inscriptions on the newer stones are short, and to the point, but there is one inscription that brings a chuckle to the lips of all who read it and, therefore, bears repeating here. The grave is that of Albert B. McMullin who died May 1, 1967. The lettering reads thus: "Some Said That He Was Sour And Sullen, While Others Claimed He Was Too Gay, Now It Doesn't Matter Either Way, Pause Smile Pass On But Shed No Tear, It's Just Old Al That's Lying Here." The present active confirmed membership numbers three hundred and forty-six and there are one hundred and thirteen students in the Parish Church School. The budget for the year 1977 is $55,000.00. St. John's Lutheran Church is, at this point in time, two hundred and eight years old. The Bicentennial of the American Revolution was commemorated during Pastor Welther's ministry with two Colonial Services. The liturgy used was prepared in 1748 by Henry Melchoir Muhlenburg and was taken from the three surviving copies that were handwrit- ten by the Reverend Jacob Van Buskirk, a former pastor of St. John's. The colonial pewter Communion Service was used and the members of the congregation attended, suitably attired in colonial dress. 142 To quote from Reverend William A. Fluck, "What does the history of a somewhat small, quiet congregation in Whitpain Township mean? It means that here in this place one thing has remained constant through the shifting tides of human affairs. Here the Gospel has been preached, babies baptized, marriages solemnized, funerals performed—all in the name of the eternal Christ. Yes, here countless Christians through their faithfulness have merited the name of Saint." 143 Union Meeting Church By Elizabeth M. De Vincent Photography by George S. Peck The Union Meeting Church is located on Union Meeting Road below Hoover Road in Blue Bell. The deed conveying the land containing one hundred and twenty-one perches was given on September 4, 1813, by James and Elizabeth Buck to the trustees of the Bethel Methodist Episcopal Church. The next year a stone meeting house was built. The date-stone says "Union Meeting House," built 1814. The pastors of the Bethel Methodist Episcopal Church preached here every two weeks. However, the intent of having a Union Meeting House was to accommodate ministers of all the Christian denominations when not in use by the Methodists. During the excitement and at the time the division among the Friends took place, Edward Hicks frequently preached within its walls. The building was remodeled in 1882 under the direction of the Reverend G. S. Schaffer. The cost was a thousand dollars and the church then had a seating capacity for two hundred and fifty people. For quite a period during its earlier history, it was a flourishing society but later its membership was seriously decimated by deaths, removals, and other causes. The entire membership by 1884 did not exceed twelve people. Shortly thereafter the remaining congregation joined the Bethel Church in Worcester. The graveyard is behind the church and the names most common on the tombstones are those of Zimmerman, Supplee, Brown, Smith, Fitzgerald, Shaeff, Kibblehouse, Roberts and Beck. This church remained vacant for many years, the only activity being a World War 1 military burial in 1918 of a man from Norristown. The cemetery deteriorated and was densely overgrown. The church was desecrated and vandalized to the point that it would have met the same fate as the Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, if it were not for the appointment of five trustees who were called upon to save the structure. Of these five only two are remaining, Mr. Roberts and Mr. Walter Shaeff, Jr. In 1947, the church was rented to the Community Orthodox Presbyterian Church. Extensive work was done to restore the building to useable condition and the cemetery to its former appearance. It is now a building that is an asset to the community. 145 The Community Church came into being on July 12, 1936 at the Norristown home of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Loughin with eleven charter members. Most of these had withdrawn with their pastor from the Port Kennedy Presbyterian Church, because the Reverend Kelly G. Tucker had been asked to resign due to his opposition to "Modernism." The church has met in various places (the Tucker home in Norristown, Norristown's Odd Fellows Hall, 710 Swede Street) before moving to the present location in 1947 under the leadership of Pastor Henry Tavarse. Since that time, the church has been served by several pastors, the most recent being Reverend Ronald Jenkins who left in September of 1976 after an eight-year ministry. Morning and evening worship are held on the Sabbath with Sunday School and a midweek prayer meeting. The church also serves the community through its Vacation Bible School program and its paper "The New Community." 146 Mount Pleasant Baptist Church By Rev. David C. Laubach Photography by George S. Peck On Sunday, April 20, 1834, at the home of Phillip Matthias, with Rev. John S. Jenkins as Chairman and Levi G. Beck as Clerk, eighteen persons united in organizing the Mount Pleasant Baptist Church. Their names were Jacob Conard, Mrs. Conard, Jane De Haven. Mrs. Catherine Greger, Mrs. Elizabeth Jones, Mary Lewis, Philip Mathias, Mrs. Margaret Mathias, Charles Mathias, Benjamin Mathis, Mrs. Hanna Mathis, Jacob Mathis, David Mathis, Eliza Mathis, Catherine Mathis, Mary Mathis, Mrs. Mary McCocl, and Enoch Moyer. The oldest minute book of the church, on its first page says, "Mount Pleasant is an eminence, commanding an extensive prospect of a fertile part of the county in Whitpain Township, Montgomery County, Pa., which the church was constituted and from which it took its name." Prior to 1834, the property had the following history: William Penn executed leases and releases to Messrs. Fox, Marshall, and Claypole representing the land that is now Whitpain Township. Richard Whitpain, citizen of the town of London, obtained a 4500 acre tract. July 30, 1689, Mary Whitpain, wife and widow of Richard, sold the entire tract to creditors. John Blackball, surviving trustee sold the great tract to William Aubrey of the town of London. April 24, 1713, William Aubrey sold the tract to Anthony Morris, maltster and brewer of Philadelphia, and to Rees Thomas of Merion Township. May 28, 1718, John Whitpain, (descendant of Richard), and Anthony Morris and Rees Thomas divided the Whitpain acreage by common agreement. 1734: The census shows Cadwallader Morris to be proprietor of land (200 acres) in the area of Mount Pleasant. 1750: (Approximately) Jonathan Taylor purchased 186 acres from the Cadwallader Morris tract. 1760: Jonathan Taylor is listed as one of the largest landowners in Whitpain Township. He was the father of over eight children. February 19, 1776, Jonathan Taylor's land passed to his sons at his death. Sons Issac and Morris inherited the central part of the homestead comprising 100 acres. 147 As the revolutionary struggle drew on, the sympathies of Isaac Taylor were with the mother country. He proved a Tory, and having the courage of his convictions, he left his home and entered the British Army. Before this, probably went some act such as selling supplies to British troops. He was arrested by American authorities, but released. This warning did not avail. At a meeting of the Supreme Executive Council in Philadelphia, January 28, 1779, "Isaac Taylor was ordered to be arrested for high treason for aiding and assisting the enemies of the State and the United States of America, by having joined their armies within this State." His property was ordered to be confiscated, and that they be sold as the lands of a traitor. This sale, however, did not take place till two years after the strife was over. Fifty acres (his share of the land left to him by his father) was sold to the University of Pennsylvania, September 22, 1785. Isaac Taylor died in 1789 having returned home at the end of the war. August 19, 1789, the University of Pennsylvania (which was authorized to purchase the land by act of assembly) sold its one-half of the Taylor tract to Isaac's brother, Morris, for £ 100. This land was known again as the "Taylor Plantation." March 9, 1803, Morris Taylor, the younger, a yeoman, the sole surviving heir of the deceased Morris Taylor, the elder, sold 103-3/4 acres for £ 1,141, 5 Shillings, current gold and silver lawful money, to Henry Harner (wife, Margaret), a yeoman of Whitpain Township. October 15, 1807, Henry Harner, a miller, sold 9-3/4 acres 75 perches to Miles Abbott of Whitpain for $297.18. September 5, 1808, Miles Abbott (wife, Mary), a yeoman of Whitpain Township, sold a parcel of 9-3/4 acres 25 perches to George Moss, a cooper, of Whitpain Township for $400.00. April 20, 1809, George Moss of Upper Dublin, a cooper, sold the Abbott tract to Edward Morgan, a millwright, for $125.00 cash plus a $300.00 mortgage to be paid in four equal installments. November 27, 1809, Edward Morgan (wife Sarah), of Upper Dublin, sold the same tract to George Ellicott, a school master of Whitpain. November 7, 1815, George Ellicott of Gwynedd sold a portion to Henry Harner, a sawyer, of Whitemarsh for $533.33. This parcel, 1-3/4 acres, 25 perches. November 12, 1817, Henry Harner sold the now small parcel to Dr. Thomas Chalkey James, a Doctor of Medicine from Philadelphia, and five generations removed from Abram Daws, and fewer from James Morris, for $600.00. July 3, 1834, Dr. James conveyed 3/4 acre to Philip Matthias, Benjamin Mattis, and Jacob Conard, Trustees of the Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, to erect a meetinghouse and provide a burying place for the dead "in consideration that the establishment of a place of worship at Mount Pleasant may tend to the increase of safety and morality in the neighborhood." April 17, 1877, Jacob Conard, sole surviving trustee named in the deed of land for Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, sold the 3/4 acre piece of land and building to the newly incorporated Mount Pleasant Baptist Church of Montgomery County for $1.00. 149 The Church on Morris Road, at the foot of Lewis Lane, was built during the summer and fall of 1834 and services were held regularly thereafter. In 1872 the pastor purchased a lot "in the village of Ambler, on which we propose as soon as practicable to erect a mission chapel." The church began to spread out from this time on. Mission schools were established at Ambler and near the Spring House. In 1877, a chapel, 30 X 40 feet, was erected in Ambler upon the eligible plot. Services, Bible School, and Prayer Meetings were held in both churches. It was difficult for members to break away from the earlier Mount Pleasant location, but in May 1884, regular services were permanently transferred from Mount Pleasant to the newer Ambler facility. Annual meetings continued to be held at Mount Pleasant until May 28, 1961 when it became unsafe. More recently the original church had become the target of vandals, and in August 1976, 142 years after its construction, the meetinghouse was torn down. 150 Dawesfield By Marjorie H. Gerhart Photography by George S. Peck Artwork by Becky Huttinger Because it was Washington's Headquarters for a short time during the Revolutionary War, a most important historic house in Whitpain Township that remains from Colonial and Revolutionary times is Dawesfield. The house is situated on Lewis Lane between Skippack Pike and Morris Road about one mile west of Ambler and one and a half miles north of Broad Axe. It was here that Washington had his headquarters, with his troops encamped on the grounds, from October 20 or 21 until November 2, 1777, following the Battle of Germantown. His office was in the north parlor. He occupied the front room on the second floor that still contains his bed. General Le Marquis de Lafayette was quartered in what is now the front hall as a leg wound he had suffered in the Battle of Brandywine a few weeks earlier necessitated his remaining on the ground floor. Other officers and staff slept on the floor of what is the present dining room. In the north parlor, which was a little larger than it now is, several court-martials were held, the most memorable being that of Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, at his own request, to investigate his action at the "massacre at Paoli." He was honorably acquitted by a court presided over by General Sullivan. In the same room on October 29, 1777, a Council of War was held at which time it is believed a decision was made that it was not advisable to attack the British in Philadelphia. Years later Hannah Morris told her daughter, Phoebe James, how she remembered sitting on George Washington's knee when she was about four years old and being kissed by him. In the north parlor today, there is a framed order from Colonel Pickering dated November 18, 1779, commanding that a Hessian soldier, a farmer, be delivered to James Morris: "Sir: You will please deliver one Hessian Prisoner, who is a farmer, to Joseph Morris for his son James Morris at Whitpain to whom the prisoner is to be immediately sent. Mr. Thos. Bradford By order of the Board c of Prisoners Tim Pickering" It is thought that this was to partially repay James Morris for the use of his property. 153 It was believed that several Hessian prisoners who died during the encampment were buried in the northeastern corner of the field just north of the house. Over the years tales of seeing "Headless Hessians" in the nearby woods, known as Camp Woods, grew. None of the neighborhood children wanted to be in that area when it was dark. Today, Dawesfield is a lovely mansion with beautiful iron grillwork on several porches. In 1777 it was the smaller, plainer, but comfortable home of Elizabeth and James Morris. The name Dawesfield came from the last name of its first owners, but the estate was not always known by that name. During the Washington encampment, it was referred to as "James Morris's" or "Camp Wippin (Wippen)." Before the death of Elizabeth Morris, the name Dawesfield was used occasionally. Later it was known as "Montgomery," probably after the name of the county. In 1867, however, Saunders Lewis decided to revive Dawesfield to give the estate a more distinctive title. The first Abraham Dawes was one of three brothers, Abraham, Francis and Edward, who came to this land from Wales about 1702 or 1703. William, thought to be the son or grandson of Francis or Edward, was one of the three patriots in Boston, Paul Revere, Dr. Samuel Prescott, William Dawes, who rode on April 18, 1775, to warn people of Concord and Lexington that "the British are coming." In 1713 Abraham, who sometimes spelled his name Daws or Dawes, purchased 250 acres in the county of Philadelphia, province of Pennsylvania, adjoining the lands of Richard Whitpain, from Jeremiah Hopton. The property was situated near Broad Axe on both sides of the present Butler Pike, which road was not constructed until 1739. In 1728 he 154 purchased 419 acres in Whitpain Township adjoining his other property from Rees Thomas and Anthony Morris for "£ 250, 16 shillings, lawful money." He and his wife, Edith, were Quakers. He was identified as a "Yoeman (farmer) and Maulster of Whitemarsh." He built the original section of the Willow Lake Farmhouse located in Whitemarsh on Butler Pike. There is an inscription stone in the southern wall with "A.E.D. 1715" which stands for Abraham and Edith Dawes. They had seven children according to the records of the Gwynedd Friends Meeting. A son, Abraham, survived two other sons who died without issue. He came into possession of the land upon which Dawesfield was built in 1731, upon the death of his father. In 1734, this second Abraham who always spelled his name "Dawes," was listed as owning 350 acres in Whitpain. It is thought that Abraham, the second, built the original house that would become known as Dawesfield between 1728 and 1736. There is no date on the house, but the springhouse, a short distance south of the residence, has an inscription, "A.M.D. 1736" for Abraham and his wife, Mary. The second Abraham Dawes had married Mary Harry, daughter of David Harry, at Plymouth Meeting on August 20, 1731. They had seven daughters and no sons. After Mary died, Abraham married a woman named Hannah but had no children by this marriage After Abraham died, the name "Dawes" died out in Whitpain township. While he lived, he was a man of importance in his community. In 1752 he was made Justice of the Peace. When he became ill in 1775, he moved to Philadelphia with Hannah and a daughter, Judith. He turned his farm over to his son-in-law, James Morris, who had married his daughter, Elizabeth. 155 The obituary in the Pennsylvania Gazette, dated October 30, 1775, for Abraham Dawes, the second, described his contribu- tion to the province. It reads: "... In the early part of his life he was engaged in the fatigues of improving an uncultivated coun- try, which he encountered with fortitude and seeing his labour blessed, was encouraged to persevere by which means, in the emphatic language of Scripture, he made the wilder- ness to appear like Eden ..." His will gave to his wife his negro "Wench Porthena;" to his daughter, Edith, his young negro girl, Esther; to daughter Mary his negro boy named Jeppo. The inventory filed contained among other things: "£ 2,432, one negro wench named Dinah, 20 years old, and at James Morris's, a variety of farming uten- sils." Although members of the Society of Friends which condemned the ownership of slaves, James Morris and his wife continued to own a few as house servants for a time. It is not known when these slaves were freed, but the Society of Friends made several reports that the slaves were well treated and during the lifetime of James Morris reported that no slaves were any longer held by any members. Gwynedd Friends Meeting recorded the marriage of James Morris and Elizabeth Dawes on October 1, 1772. James Morris, a miller in Upper Dublin Township, was the son of Joseph Morris, a merchant on Front Street in Philadelphia. Their daughter Hannah was probably born in 1773 before the family moved to Dawesfield where their only son, Joseph, was probably born. This was the family when Washington made the home his headquarters and a portion of the American Army was camped in the area. James Morris was thirty-four at the time. James Morris was censured several times for his interest in the American Cause by the Gwynedd Meeting. One entry: "At the Monthly Meeting held 26th of the 3rd mo: 1776, 15 Plymouth Friends acquaint the Meeting that James Morris has acted in the Military way and says he does not think he was wrong in so doing." Case was brought before each Monthly Meeting for the next four months. Entry: "27th, 8th mo: 1776. James Morris appeared in this Meeting and gave a paper wherein he acknowledged that he deviated from his profession in meeting to learn the Military exercise, and condemns the said act which was read in this meeting and received for satisfaction." 156 In the minutes of the Meeting through the end of 1779, there was no mention of James Morris, even during Washington's encamp- ment at Dawesfield. In the Meeting min- utes of February 29, 1781, there was the following statement: "James Morris paying fine in lieu of personal Military Service. Serving the Office of Assessor and Supposed to have taken the Test of Allegiance." The case was brought before the Meeting until on June 27, 1780 it was noted: "Whereas James Morris had a Birthright amongst Friends but for want of taking heed to the dictates of Devine Grace in his own Heart so far devi- ates from our Christian principles as to pay fines in lieu of Military Service, Served the Office of Assessor and is under the imputa- tion of taking the Test, for which misconduct he has been much laboured with, but it hath not had the desired effect. Therefore for the clearing of truth and our Christian profes- sion we do hereby disown the said James Morris from having any right of membership amongst us until by unfeigned Repentance and Amendment of Life he Recommend himself worthy, is what we desire." James Morris continued to hold military and civilian offices. In 1782 and 1783 he was elected to the General Assembly. When Montgomery County was formed, he was commissioned one of the first justices of the peace and a judge of the Common Pleas Court. He was a delegate to the Pennsylvania Convention in 1787 to ratify the Federal Constitution. He was Recorder of Deeds and Registrar of Wills for Montgomery County in 1791. He was a captain of the Montgomery Troop of Light Horse. In 1794, joined by his son Joseph, he took part in an expedition to western Pennsylvania to help put down the Whiskey Insurrection. He died July 10, 1795, at the age of fifty-two and was buried at Plymouth Friends Meeting. The estate was bequeathed to his widow, Elizabeth, and to their two children. The son, Joseph, died a year later at the age of twenty-two, unmarried. The daughter, Hannah, married Dr. Thomas Chalkley James at Plymouth Meeting on June 10, 1802, and it is recalled that friends were "sumptuously entertained at Dawes- field." Dr. James was the son of Abel and Rebecca James. The father was said to have furnished Washington, at one time, with a large sum of money to meet pressing needs. His mother's father, Thomas Chalkley, was an eminent member and preacher in the Society of Friends. Dr. James had graduated in 1787 from the University of Pennsylvania. He had also studied in London and Edinburgh. On the Western Expedition against the Whiskey Insurrection, he had served as a surgeon. In 1810 he became the first Professor of Midwifery at the University of Pennsylvania which position he held for twenty-four years. 157 This was the first specialty recognized in the hospital. He was a Fellow of the College of Physicians in Philadelphia and its president in 1835. He had an extensive medical practice in Philadelphia where he lived with his family. Dawesfield was visited in the summer. Dr. James' visits were usually short as he would drive out of the city in his gig and return the next day. His mother-in-law, Elizabeth Morris, moved to Philadelphia when she was older where she died at the age of eighty, in 1826, and was buried in the Friends' burial ground at 4th and Arch Streets. Hannah inherited the estate. Hannah's husband, Dr. James, died at the age of sixty-nine and was buried at Friends' ground at 16th and Race Streets. He left everything to his wife with the advice to dispose of Dawesfield as she saw fit stating, "It is valuable but not productive." There was a financial depression and it was feared that the estate would have to be sold. It was divided into three parts and advertised for sale. However, this was decided not to be necessary, but a good deal of the furniture was auctioned. After Hannah died, in 1842, her will gave a sixth of the estate to each of her surviving children and a niece, Elizabeth H. James. The will was administered by a son, Thomas James, who received $10,000 as his portion of the estate. Martha James, who was married to William Jackson, died a year after her mother, and her husband accepted $2,000 in return for his interest in the property. In the summer of 1842, Rpbecca and Phoebe James and their cousin, Elizabeth, moved from the city to live at Dawesfield. In October Phoebe married Saunders Lewis in Philadelphia at St. Peter's Episcopal Church. Phoebe had already been disowned by the Society of Friends for attending Episcopal services and Saunders Lewis was disowned at this time. In 1845 there was an amicable agreement among the remaining heirs that gave Phoebe and Saunders Lewis the Dawesfield Farm, which at that time included the residence and a little more than 336 acres. Later, she inherited Westside, another house Dr. James had built on the original property. Since Saunders Lewis practiced law in Philadelphia, the family used Dawesfield mostly as a summer home. They had five children, none of whom was born there. When they were at Dawesfield, the family attended services at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Whitemarsh although they did not become members. Saunders Lewis had a distinguished career in law. He also served in Philadelphia as a member of Common Council from 1845 to 1848 and as a member of the Select Council from 1849 to 1852. For a period from 1854 until 1857, because he suffered poor health, he lived the year round at Dawesfield. However, when he recuperated, the family returned to the city. Phoebe and Saunders Lewis had five children. One daughter, Bessie Lewis, married Colonel George G. Meade when she was about twenty-seven, sometime after the War Between the States was over. Colonel Meade was the son of General George G. Meade who commanded the Northern forces that defeated the forces of Robert E. Lee at the Battle of Gettysburg. It is related that the wife of General Meade and their children spent two summers in a house across the road from Dawesfield. It is not certain that General Meade ever visited at Dawesfield. However, his descendants have lived in Dawesfield and homes nearby. 158 After Abraham Dawes, the home came down through the distaff side. There were male heirs who might have inherited it; but they died, did not want it, or could not afford to keep it up. It has been owned continuously by descendants of Abraham Dawes. It was probably occupied every year since it was built, although sometimes as a summer home. Some of the original furniture is in the house. Some was sold; other pieces were inherited by other members of the family who did agree that the bed George Washington had used should stay in its original place. There is a Peter Stretch clock, built circa 1741, and historical mementos such as a framed original land grant signed by William Penn and a lock of Washington's hair. Uninterrupted possessionary interest in Dawesfield to the present, is as follows: 1728 — 1731 Abraham Dawes and his wife, Edith 1731 — 1775 His son, Abraham Dawes and his wife, Mary 1775 — 1826 His daughter, Elizabeth Dawes and her husband, James Morris 1826 — 1842 Their daughter, Hannah Morris and her husband. Dr. Thomas C. James 1842 — 1901, Their daughter, Phoebe James and her husband, Saunders Lewis 1901 — 1912 Their daughter, Bessie Lewis and her husband. Colonel George G. Meade 1912 — 1937 Their daughter, Elizabeth Lewis Meade and her husband, George J. Cooke 1937 — 1967 Their daughter, Elizabeth L. Cooke and her husband, James Cheston 1967 — James Cheston, now married to Laura J. Wayne Many changes and additions have been made at Dawesfield. Originally, the house was thirty-six feet across the front, which faced south, with a depth of twenty-two feet. There were only two rooms on the first floor. It was two stories high with garrets and dormer windows. The kitchen was added a few years later. The additions can be noted from the different appearance in the stone work. A small one-story wing, which was later used as Washington's office, was built on the north side at an undetermined date. The second story, above this wing, was not added until 1785-86. * The south wing was not built until about 1821. A long pent house (overhang), part of which still remains over the kitchen window, extended across the entire southern side of the house. It widened into a portico over the front door which had seats on each side in the manner of the old-fashioned "Germantown stoop." 159 In a novel. The Quaker Soldier, published anonymously in Philadelphia without a date, but thought to be the work of John Rickter Jones who lived between 1803 and 1863, there is a description thought to have been inspired by Dawesfield: "Colonel Lynneford soon reached the house which he rightly supposed to be 'Head Quarters' and springing from the saddle committed his horse to Tobby. Before he approached the door he paused an instant. It was one of those farm-houses erected by the better class of 'first settlers,' in infinitely better style than the more gaudy edifices of the present rural generation: of stone, mortar pointed; two stories high, a broad cornice, or pent house running all around between the stories, sheltering all the lower windows, and expanding into a portico over the front door; the roof high peaked, with pointed dormer windows. The windows of the second story square, with projecting eaves, the broad pent house diminishing much the apparent height. Such a building, and a few such may still be found — erected only by the first settlers who had the old English manor-houses in their mind's eye, and were not imitated by their American-born descendant . . ." In 1821, the south wing was built, and the front door was changed from the south to the west side of the house, and the building took its present shape. The alterations upset a friend, Mrs. William Meredith, to the extent that she wrote the following note dated August 16, 1821, to Elizabeth Morris: "I pity your state of confusion and I grieve sincerely that the old porch has not been held sacred from the hand of modern improvement. I am so much of an antiquarian that I prefer what belonged to other times to any present convenience. Good chambers are great comforts certainly, but they will never associate in my mind with the heroes of the Revolution, and no feeling of patriotism will revive in my bosom on being in them, for Washington never hallowed them with his presence . . ." In 1867, the veranda was built. The front porch with the lovely Louisiana grillwork was added in 1872. Running water was brought into the house about 1870 from a tank mounted over a well to the north, pumped by a windmill. The plumbing and heating were gradually installed over a seventy year period. After a fire damaged some of the floors in 1938, the front door became the outside door to the coatroom and the front entrance was changed to the north. The size of the north parlor, Washington's office, was reduced by the size of the closet. Also at this time, a partition was built between the hall and the dining room. In 1947, a new shingle roof was put on replacing a slate roof and restoring it as it had been originally. The stone terrace to the east was built in 1954 out of flagstones found in a pig pen and in the bottom of the springhouse. The owners of Dawesfield built a number of buildings on the grounds, some of which have disappeared while others are still standing. As mentioned earlier, the two-story stone springhouse bears the date, 1736. The lower room is into the ground while the upper room is at ground level. It was used for butter making and as a smoke-house. The narrow opening in the west wall was probably for ventilation, but legend tells that it was intended to be used as a loop-hole in case of trouble with Indians. It is also told that a child was born here to a soldier's wife during the Washington encampment. There is a lovely buttonwood tree standing nearby that was planted in 1754 by Elizabeth Dawes. 161 There was a log hut on the northwestern part of the property that served as slave quarters, but that has disappeared. It is said that the soldiers cut down most of the trees on the land to erect huts in preparation for a long encampment. When they departed for Emlen House after a short period, James Morris used the lumber to construct a mill on the southeastern part of the property near Morris Road on Prophecy Creek. This is the mill that was purchased, in 1798, after the death of James Morris by Adam Wertsner and was well-known for the next century as the Wertsner Mill. Adam Wertsner paid 1,000 pounds sterling for the grist mill and fourteen and three quarters acres of land. The deed mentions the dam, mill pond and a mill race 3,432 feet long. Dr. James built several buildings that still stand. A 120 acre section of the farm to the west was divided into a separate tract and called "Westside." A house and barn were built but the barn later burned down. The house, now the home of Mr. and Mrs. Ross L. Campbell, bears the inscription on the original date stone: "T. C. J. 1819." A tenant house was built in 1821 in a southeast section, corner of Lewis Lane and Morris Road. This is now the property of Dr. and Mrs. F. Otto Haas. In 1834, Dr. James and his wife deeded land to the Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church: "That establishment of a place of worship at Mount Pleasant may tend to increase the piety and morality in the neighborhood." The church was demolished in 1976 after standing vacant for a number of years. Saunders Lewis continued building on the Dawesfield property and in the vicinity. Still part of the Dawesfield estate is an attractive tenant house built in 1845 near the stone barn. "Sunset Hill" was built for Mr. Lewis's mother, Rebecca C. Lewis, in 1855 on Morris Road and Thompson Lane on land bought from James Bartleson. It is now owned by Dr. and Mrs. Harry Carrozza. Dawesfield had its beginnings as a working farm. Saunders Lewis recalled that a Squire Schoenberger, an old neighbor dead many years, told him he remembered when he and thirteen others sat down at James Morris' table during harvest time and that James Morris would place a silver quarter of a dollar as the day's wages in front of each plate. At the time of Dr. James' death the property was described as "valuable but not productive." The wall around the place was once much higher but has been reduced to a retaining wall. Flowers have been grown from the earliest days in the box-bushed garden. Indian "Love Apples" were grown here for their ornamental value long before it was considered safe to eat them as tomatoes in the middle of the nineteenth century. There was a vegetable garden next to the flower garden that is now used as a picking garden for small vegetables, grapes, raspberries and flowers. In the early days, vegetables were also grown on the 164 present lawn below the flower garden. At one time the 1786 stone garden house had a wooden addition where the laundress and her family lived. The Italian fountain-head was installed in 1920. In 1952, an old ice house was converted into a greenhouse. There are still many old trees besides the famous buttonwood on the property. Some of the lindens were planted in 1821 and an osage orange tree is one of the largest in the area. As Mr. Cheston, the present owner, has written, "The property in the last century was much larger than at present including lands to the south and west with farm buildings thereon. The deed to the property contains the privilege of cutting ice on the Wissahickon Creek one half mile away. However, the descendants of the Daweses and their families still own about a hundred contiguous acres." Acknowledgement The account of Dawesfield and the Dawes family has been written from material given b) the present owner of Dawesfield, Mr. James Cheston, and from a book in his possession Reminiscences of Dawesfield and Vicinity, by Saunders Lewis, Illustrated and Elaboratec by Morris J. Lewis, M.D., 1896. This book was written after careful research into deed; and wills which are listed in this document. Mrs. Carroll Wetzel, a direct descendent of the Dawes, Morrises, and Meades, also contributed information. 165 North Section By Agnes Baker Jefferson Photography by George S. Peck One cannot visit the north section of Whitpain Township along North Wales Road without coming away with a feeling of having just witnessed another era. So much is left or preserved as it was about one or two hundred years ago. The land and terrain remain unspoiled by modern times, except for a railroad track which carries a train perhaps once a week. Some trains do make a detour over this route; likewise, in the event of an emergency, this line of the Reading Railroad is then used. The Stony Creek flows through three properties. Its source is in a spring house on the other side of the road in the adjoining township. The three major properties make this area—the area deeded from Ann Whitpain to Thomas Cox and Charles Marshall and Rees Thomas-the last area to be settled in the township. Wallace Carlson Property The E. W. Carlson and David Greger lands at one time were one. The earliest settler, Rees Thomas, willed it to sons William and Richard, thence to Owen and Evan Thomas, as early as 1712 to 1720. At some point, when the Owen and Evan Thomas families grew, the farms were divided, for the Carlson barn, house, and outbuildings date from 1712, 1722, and 1730, while the Greger main house is 1734, and the date shown in David Greger's large barn is 1815. Owen Thomas William, probably a grandson who followed the Welsh tradition of putting first names last, left his initials on a stone in the barn—O.T.W. 1815. Upon entering via the Carlson driveway, one is impressed with the low slanted roof of the main house, which was restored to its present condition largely by a former owner, E. A. Wright. The most recent owners, Wallace Carlson (deceased July 4, 1976) and his wife, Emily Haines Carlson, were pleased to show the two corner fireplaces — one in the kitchen and one in the dining room — and four fireplaces in the upstairs low-ceiling bedrooms. The main beam which runs the length of the house is exposed and painted, as is all the woodwork, in a rich Williamsburg blue. The barn and attached garage are all pointed field stone. Mr. Carlson pointed out the stone marked 1722, and then with a puzzled look explained that in the upper corner of the barn are some scratchings which he cannot decipher: "Geo.Ill////Almighty////. . .etc." Since we know that Owen and Evan Thomas were Welsh, we assume that the writing was in their native script. This fact no doubt explains that the Thomas' had no desire to communicate during the Revolution, and hence they were labeled "Tories." 167 The "Little House in the Valley" west of the barn predates the other buildings. It is a spring house with living quarters above it, built with the same native stone and log rafters. The rustic heavy door is still intact. Emily Carlson drew attention to the fact that the stone was quarried in a field on the land. With the stream, the lawn, the shrubbery, and the swimming pool, designed in an appropriate setting, and the well-cultivated fifty acres surrounding it, the Carlson place is a picturesque reminder of a yesteryear. After the division, the indefinite ownership can be picked up about 1890 when a Seidner owned it, and a Hamilton family lived there in the early 1900's. Later, R. B. Strassburger bought it for a Mr. Driver, a tenant farmer in the 1920's. In the 1940's E. A. Wright restored it, and the Carlsons have lived there and owned it since 1954. 168 David Greger Property David Greger's place, adjoining the Carlson's approximately forty-five acres, came to him through his father, Garfield Greger, who was an adopted son of the McCandless family. If it is assumed that the Owen and Evan Thomas families, who built the dwellings and outbuildings, acquired the land from the early Thomas and Jacob Kurz in 1746 (note found elsewhere), then we can also make the assumption that the property was in the hands of Owen and Evan Thomas until July 17, 1776, because that is the date of the first deed in David's possession. First Deed:July 17, 1776 Owen and Evan Thomas to Crosdale and Bell Second Deed:0ctober 7, 1851 Crosdale and Bell to Abram and Isaac Fermer et al John and Jane Jordan Third Deed:April 5, 1859 . John and Jane Jordan to Showaker Fourth Deed: 1859 Samuel Showaker to James Mclntyre Fifth Deed:April 5, 1865 James Mclntyre to David McCandless In St. John's Cemetery, David and Margaret McCandless, of Scotch-Irish descent, apparently had three sons, according to the tombstone. They were David, Isaac and John; David and Isaac were bachelors and took Garfield MacGreger (later Greger) as their charge. John McCandless married Johanna Von Stutterheim, who had three sons, two of whom died in childhood and the third, Isaac II, died at about 26 years of age. (He was this writer's father's best man in a 1910 wedding.) The John McCandless' resided in the house on the McCandless property that extended in a long narrow strip to Skippack Pike. That house was built in the mid-1850's and is in excellent restoration. The Ferguson family now live there. It is evident from the tombstone that the David and Isaac McCandless bachelors lived until about 1930. The writer remembers them farming and marketing their products until their deaths. They willed the property to Garfield Greger. Thus, David Greger, his only son, is now the proud owner of a parcel of land that has had practically only two families who possessed it. 169 David Greger's main house is virtually the same as when it was built; two rooms downstairs with a large open fireplace and two small bedrooms upstairs with a curving staircase. The outside measurements make it seem nearly square. A pitched roof suggests something that came from an English or Welsh countryside. David and his family live in what was the quaint little spring house and butcher shed. He has added a two-story wing on either side, and a second story over the main room which is now the living room. A large chimney corner fireplace dominates this room. 170 A great tall pine tree and many other ancient trees enhance the buildings. David told how his father one day noticed something was disturbing the chickens. Thinking a hawk was lurking in the top of that nearby pine tree, Mr. Greger took aim and shot the nasty bird. To his amazement when it dropped to the ground, he found it to be a bald eagle. Because it was one of the last of its kind in the area, he had it mounted and presented to the school for the children to observe. The legend of the Thomas' being "Tories" in the Revolutionary struggle stimulates the imagination as to what could have happened here while the neighbors were fighting in the War. There are also colorful stories about an Indian hideaway on the grounds. Later, the Stony Creek Railroad produced many interesting occasions when the trains went by so close to the houses. All these events haunt the visitor as he drives out the long lane to the very different present. 171 Charles and Mary-Ellen Jensen Property (Jensen Sod) The third location on North Wales Road presents a unique set of buildings, people and circumstances. On page 448 of the Pennsylvania German Pioneers, there is a list of 132 passengers who arrived in Philadelphia on the ship "Edinburgh" on September 15, 1749. On that list was Bernard Shearer. This man purchased the last unfilled, unclaimed land in the Penn grant that was to become Whitpain Township. He and his family "became the resident owners of 115 acres of ground wherein they lived in a dwelling which measured 60' X 56'." Prior to this time the English land speculators, Anthony and Phoebe Morris, John and Sarah Armite, Rees and William Thomas held the land which had been allotted to them from the Ann Whitpain group in 1712. It was in 1758 that Bernard Shearer, his wife, and large family acquired the land from the above speculators and, because of necessity in maintaining the children, he added some indistinct tracts surrounding it. 172 By 1760, "B. Shearer had cleared fifty acres but had left sixty acres still in forests, with thirteen acres of grain, and owned three horses and five cows." By 1768, Bernard Shearer died leaving six children, the eldest of whom was Lawrence. The five children and their spouses signed the property to Lawrence. The will has a stipulation that a "sizable and ample" house should be built for the mother. It is important to note the names of these heirs because they appear often in the future history of this part of the county. They are: Valentine and Mary Shearer John and Dorothy Shearer Ludwig Shearer Barbara S. and George Renner Regina S. and Adam Renner Lawrence Shearer died in 1783 and left the plantation to John's son Jacob. He, in turn, sold his share to another cousin, John, with himself as a trustee. The farm remained in the hands of the Shearer's for over sixty years when, in 1849, it was sold to Henry Frick. Then in 1895, Ephraim Slough, an attorney, transferred it to William and Ida Frantz. Two years later, John and Elizabeth Heilman owned the main tract. 1909 Harry Summers 1909 Henry Stille and Charles Gotuals 1916 Rebecca Schultz 1925 Adam Workheuser Other tracts and owners confuse the line of succession, but sometime in the 1920's Henrietta Potter James owned six tracts of land, a barn, two houses, and other outbuildings. 173 In September 1943, having lived in the city all their lives, Charles and Mary-Ellen Jens- en decided to try their luck at farming. They purchased the aforementioned property and became the "pioneers of the 40's and 50's." After raising pigs, cows, crops, and restoring all the structures, so that now it can be labeled a show place, the Jensen's now oper- ate it as a Sod Farm. Unique is the word for this spot. First, it is the only sod farm which supplies much of the lawns for houses that have been built here in the 1960's and 1970's. Its gently rolling slopes of closely cut grass with the Stony Creek flowing through it, with mischievous ducks and graceful Canada geese on its banks, make a pastoral setting unequalled any- where. Two very old trees are markers on certain boundaries. These sixteen-foot-trunk trees and many arrowheads found as the soil is cultivated, are reminders of the continuity of some land in Whitpain that is unchanged for at least 200 years. Secondly, the buildings-.all have roofs of a special cut shingle that resembles the rustic hand-hewn shingles which were used in colonial days. Thirdly, the white and green-trimmed barn, which is kept in excellent clean condition has the huge beams that have been cut with great care by some outstanding builder. The main house, probably constructed in two sections, is beautifully restored and furnished. It shows evidence that the Jensen family are lovers of handsome and lovely "colonial things." The "little" house retains its quaint charm and overlooks a well-kept real farm garden. To the north of the main house is a grove of formally planted trees which the Jensens call "the park." To the west of the house is a long cave — the kind used for winter storage and summer cooling. Yes, as one drives out the maple-shaded lane, he feels as though he has visited another era. 175 Yost Road By Agnes Baker Jefferson Photography by George S. Peck As one crosses Skippack Pike, the Northeast Extension of the Pennsylvania Turnpike "slashes" its way and "rushes" across the township from Plymouth to the Poconos. Several hundred feet farther, on North Wales Road going southwest, the Philadelphia Electric Tower Line "marches and struts" its way from Arch Road and the Zimmerman farm up across the Worcester hills and beyond! Nestled under these towers are acres of modernistic steel columns that flash from the Power Plant, suggesting something for a setting for a science-fiction movie. The Stony Creek branch of the Reading Railroad winds its way along this part of the stream called the Stony Creek. Snaking and crawling across all this is the Texas Eastern Gas Line! What Price Progress! All this, where once beautifully rolling farm lands graced the hillsides, where there was no continuous drone of-raucous sounds, no danger of explosion, no ozone and no air pollution. Yet, Yost Road retains some semblance of colonial days. Despite the growth of new housing developments and the two modern schools and a Day-camp, there remain four or five "bits" of the past. Yost Road extends at a right angle from North Wales Road to DeKalb Pike (Rt. 202) and it is believed that at one time the Yost family owned both sides of the road. The houses, barns, shops, and the mill combined, all made up the Yost Plantation. Three visible structures and other small buildings still stand, and concerning them, there are some fascinating stories. 176 As one turns left from North Wales road, the first site on the left is where the William Knoll log cabin, which the Otto Haas' bought and moved to their place on Lewis Lane, formerly stood. Mrs. Jane Burris of the Montgomery County Historical Society re- searched this antiquated cabin in May 1966. The following are her words: "THE LOG CABIN, Early 1700's. Located on Yost Road, off Dekalb Pike (Route 202) at St. Helena's Catholic Church and School, and between North Wales Road, in Whitpain township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. The name on the mail box at the premises reads — William Knoll. The little stream close by is known as Silver Run. "The first settler in the wilderness on the north side of Silver Run was Randall Osborne who bought 200 acres in 1731 of Thomas Anthony Morris and Ann Whitpain. This land extended to the Worcester township line and included in 1895 at least five farms. The map of 1848 by Morris of Montgomery County lists the owner of the property as 'J. Calp,' or correctly John Kalb. John Kalb appears in the 1850 census of Whitpain township, age 32, carpenter; Sarah, his wife 33, and children: — Amanda 5, Elizabeth 3, Joseph 10/12. Real Estate $1800." On the 1871 and 1877 atlases of Montgomery County, Whitpain Township, J. or Jas. Kingkiner is the owner of the location, with 30 acres of land. In 1893, the name listed as owner is — Boyer. It is likely that this property was once a part of the old Yost homestead nearby." The Log Cabin has been the subject of several artists. It is pleasing both in color and other artistic media. The Log Cabin was an attraction on the Whitpain House Tour in 1975 at its new location on the Haas grounds. Yes, most of the land on both sides of the road at one time or another was owned by the prominent Yost family. But then there was the prolific Osborne family also. Both families' occupancy and holdings are so entwined, it is difficult to place them in any kind of order. So much has been written about the Yost family that it seems unnecessary to go into full record and genealogy here. And it goes without saying that the Yosts at the height of their land and industrial power, wielded a tremendous influence on the whole community. To be specific: Bean's History (written by Jones Detwiler) tells about . . . ." the first industry that we have any notice, was that of weaving, carried on near Centre Square by Jacob Yost in 1727. In 1732 he purchased what is known as the Yost farm, and carried on the business more extensively." .... "The Yosts are famed for their sickles, scythes, and edge tools which were made from 1760-1816 at the old homestead. These implements were forged by hand. In 1746, the first grist mill was built along the creek. It was a saw, grist, and chopping mill. It is yet standing." 177 A Yost great-aunt told of manufacturing rifles at the time of the Revolution — some "of which are still in use by the neighbors in the area." This great-aunt also told stories about soldiers having horses shod in the blacksmith shop. When Jacob Yost arrived in this country in 1727 on the ship "William" from Rotterdam, he came with the minister, George Michael Wies. From 1740 to 1900, six generations of this branch of the family owned and operated the farm and mill. The records of family reunions are sources of births, marriages, deaths, and family trees. Among the outstanding ones are Daniel, Abram, Peter, Isaac, Jacob 11, and Joseph Irwin known as J. Irwin. He died in 1923, the last to bear the Yost name. Mary Yost Thomas, his only daughter, still living, now resides in Jeffersonville. It should be noted here that Yost's daughters married into other eminent families, i.e. Jacob Yost's daughter, Maria, married John Philip Boehm, thus increasing the power of the landowners by merely possessing great numbers of acres. This is evidenced by the fact that in 1761 the tax records show that Daniel Yost, called a smith, owned 100 acres ... 50 of which were still in woodland. The Yost farm buildings are located in a valley on a curve in the road near the Silver Run (where the mill once stood). They in- clude the main stone house built in 1814 and now restored. The blacksmith shop, where Washington had his horse shod, and several small other buildings Were built in 1740. One which may have been the first small barn is now a two-story apartment. The massive barn overlooks all of the other stone struc- tures and has a datestone which says: A. Yost—1834. Charles Heinsbaugh farmed the land and ran the mill for the last Mr. Yost for twenty years (1890-1910), and for a while the property fell into disrepair. Toward the end of World War I, the Reverend Father Francis Higgins purchased it, thus adding more ground to the St. Helena Parish. The mill was finally razed in the 1950's, before crumbling and blocking the flow of Silver Run. What happened to this branch of the Yost family, to Jacob, Daniel, Abram, Peter, Jacob II and J. Irwin? The records in the Court House show that properties were sold all over the northwest part of the township from as early as 1787 to as late as 1916. In the Yost Road area, it was sold to Andrew Knox, Randall Osborne, Isaac Detwiler, and John Egbert. In the Centre Square area .... to Jeremiah Frantz, the Creamery Association, Dr. Samuel C. Seiple, Max Trinkle and George Louden. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Bruno and son Charles now own and occupy the "Yost Plantation," having moved here within the last several years from West Conshohocken. They carry on a sort of semi-retired gentleman-farming, stocking it with horses and beef cattle. They are "in love" with the spot and fully realize the richness of the history of it. 179 Before locating places along Yost Road, one must understand the Osborne family. Randall Osborne, in 1731, acquired from the Rees Thomas — A. Aiken — Anthony Morris — Ann Whitpain — group, a tract of "200 acres bounded by Worcester line," midway between Belfry and Custer Station. "Southeast was bounded by the later Yost purchase of 1740. It includes five present farms." When one views the area, it is easy to see a conflict could arise between the Yost's and the Osborne's, for in 1760, 170 acres of this 200 acres was still in forests, and both claimed land on both sides of the path that was called a road. Randall III lived until 1815. However, in 179The sold 14 acres to Daniel Yost. When Randall died, he left a widow and several sons. The part of the land he claimed was divided into three parts. One must have been the Dougherty place (now Bonnie and Charles Taylor — 1722 Yost Road) and the other, the Spacht place (Florence and Donald Spacht — 1819 Yost Road). 180 Florence and Donald Spacht The Spacht's is the next "old house" southeast of the Log Cabin area. It is easier to trace the history of this house backward, because Florence possesses all the original copies of deeds to 1841. Beyond that, one comes upon some surprises that are significant, and some "tie-in" matters which were later uncovered. One should be aware that Florence was born in this house and has lived all her life in it. In 1948, Mrs. Adelaide Knoll deeded the house and property to Florence and Don. Mrs. Knoll, formerly Mrs. John Cole I, had moved there with her first husband and family in 1904, at which time they had purchased it from a Francis and Elizabeth McLaughlin. In 1888, Albert and Caroline Katz, one of the former owners of the "Waggon Inn," must have retired there. The Katz's were the grandparents of Mrs. Otis Fry, Edna Drake, (still living). According to the 1897 map, they owned a considerable amount of ground where the Philadelphia Electric tower line now stands. From 1882 to 1888 — William and Sara Eisenberg owned the property From 1859 to 1882 — Benjamin and Emeline Zearfoss lived there From 1856 to 1859 — Elias and Marian Cooker held it for a short time 182 Then in 1841, confusion begins. Elias Cooker, through a Hestor Krupp in 1839, probably an agent or attorney of some kind, acquired it from a John Osborne. More perplexing is, what happened between 1839 when a George Fisher is named as acclaiming twenty-two acres in 1830. For it was then that a Thomas Osborne tried to reclaim it from Christian Moser. But there is evidence in the Deed, Book 45, page 526, that Christian Moser owned and lived there before and during the Revolution. The name of Christian Moser awakened interest. While the writer was wandering through the old section of St. John's Cemetery, she came upon the tombstones of Christian Moser and his wife, Margaret, with an American flag of the D.A.R. placed in front of Christian's marker. The inscription has been quoted in the St. John's Chapter. Christian Moser died in 1838 and his wife, Margaret, died in 1830. It seems logical to assume that there is much truth to the legends about the events surrounding this place during the War. On the list of Militia-in-reserve from Whitpain, there are residents from this section. Some that are recognizable are: Samuel, Jesse, Moses, David, and Johnathan De Haven, Amos and Issac-Ellis, Robert and David Knox, George Fitzwater, Jonathan Greenawalt, and Jacob and Issac Martin. Close by are: Jonathan Osborne, Jonathan Porter, Jacob Yost, Christopher Zimmerman and Nicholas Rile. Issac McClathery was the guide to the Battle of Germantown. The stories from the Yost and Cole-Knoll families say that Christian Moser's 22-acre farm was called "Camp Hill." Without a doubt, without having it written in history books, one can be convinced that a group of soldiers, probably under Capt. Abram Wentz's command, trained and awaited orders from Washington in Worcester or Valley Forge. The hill was used as a "look-out" under the directorship of Moser and Yost. The mill and blacksmith shop were sources of supplies for the soldiers. The older part of the Spacht house dates between 1750 and 1760. It is placed in such a way as to receive the full benefit of the sun, as was the custom practiced by most builders in those days. The Spacht house, with the newer wing added on the north side at a right angle to the old part, is beautifully restored and furnished. An oil painting of the Log Cabin is prominently placed in the long living room. The setting on a well-kept lawn and garden, among tall old maples and old-fashioned shrubbery, tells that this place has been inhabited for a long time. What a story this house could relate! 183 As mentioned before, Florence had lived here all her life. A poem she wrote sums up her feelings: Reflections How many of our modern folk to-day At the age of fifty will be able to say " Still sleeping in the same room where I was born" Oh no, my friends, from these roots they've been torn. These days are past but mem'ries stay For better or worse, just who can say For progress they call it has set a new pace For an old timer this is hard to face. Our open fields where cows once fed, Have been up-rooted for homes instead. The sound of the bull-dozer crushing the trees So where do they go? — the birds and the bees. "Population Explosion" is the popular term, But all this turmoil just makes me squirm For I know with the coming of these new invaders Life really gets tougher for us old crusaders. With food prices so high and taxes so great, My ulcer gets worse when I think of our fate For each new day, as we grow older The burden gets too great to shoulder You're wondering what prompted this bit of verse Thoughts of a lady who feels that a curse Has come upon our country-side Where we so dearly love to abide. You know if you've read between these lines I've never left home with these changing times But now at the age of fifty-two I must leave all of this and begin anew. There is just one thing that remains the same That's our CREA TOR above in His great "Hall of Fame" So we'll put out faith and trust in Him Life then seems brighter and not so dim! Florence Knoll Spacht Spring, 1976 184 Bonnie and Charles Taylor Down the Yost Road a few hundred feet on the opposite side, across from the present Stony Creek School, and amid a new housing development, stands the "Taylor" house. Bonnie and Charles have only owned it since February 1975, and they are now in the process of restoring it. 185 The house, by method of elimination, is the Randall Osborne house. It is older, more crudely built, and dates almost as far back as the Log Cabin. Instead of all logs, it is constructed with huge logs and beams, and stone and mud plaster. The date is possibly as early as 1720, because it is a matter of record that the Osborne's were here before the Yost's. The list of ownerships backward goes in this order: 1970 — Gambone Brothers bought from Harvey Rodenbaugh 1947 — Rodenhaugh bought from Mary Estock, widow of John Estock 1924 — John Estock bought from George and Joseph Schirmer 1904 — The Schirmer Brothers bought from Priscilla Dougherty widow of John Joseph Dougherty Before 1888 — Daniel Dougherty, supposedly J.J.'s father, shuttled ownership back and forth to a John Coats and Before 1843 — Henry Dotts and several different Osborne names appear Mathews Scrapbook No. 91, on page 170 says; "that the Dougherty farm of 57A. has a very old homestead of unknown age. Randall Osborne, I may have arrived before 1731." But what happened to the Osborne Family? Clara Beck hints that the "Osborne family became so poor that they divided the land, but could not hold it." One reads behind the words that possibly sickness wiped out many members of the line. Apparently, there was enough money left at some time to buy tombstones, for a Randall Osborne and wife lie buried in St. John's Cemetery. There are records of land transactions in 1791 to Daniel Yost, to Isaac Detwiler in 1797, another to Daniel Dougherty in 1843, a sheriff sale in 1825, and another to Peter Yost in 1844. The last Osborne exchange appeared in 1888. The Daniel, John Joseph, and Priscilla Dougherty's were evidently good farmers, having come from Ireland to find new ways of growing food. One of the accomplishments was the innovation of incubating the hatching of baby chicks by "artificial" heat. For a time this was known as the Chicken Farm. The colonial house stands facing the southeast on 3/4 acre, all that is left of the original farm. The Taylors are taking time to repair and retain the dwelling as near as it was in the beginning. One noteworthy feature is the brick oven within the stone fireplace. Bonnie Taylor hopes to bake bread in it someday. Other properties entwined in the Yost area are the John-Ellen Duddy one, and the Detwiler — Gotwals property. The house on the former property was donated to Father Francis Higgins about 1912, and became the St. Helena's Parish Church. 186 On the Detwiler — Gotwals property, the old house was torn down to make way for the building of Whitpain Woods and the upper end of Centre Square Greene. The southwestern part of the Yost farm became the farm of Benjamin and, in turn, Harvey Murphy. Upon the death of Harvey, the Alteman Co. bought and erected the houses now known as Centre Square Greene. Parts of two other farms also make up this development. One is the B. Frank Famous, Sr. — Joseph Burke farm and part of the George and James Chalk farm. The B.F. Gougler farm south of the Taylors — adjoining the creek — flourished in the 1870 to 1900 period. It is now the Sesame Day Camp Ida Gougler and Harvey Murphy married. They had two children; Harold, who lived in the Ellis school house, and Ethel Murphy Walker. It should be credited to the Zoning Board, under the direction of the Reverend Ernest Miller, St. John's pastor in the 1950's, who researched the names, that the streets of the section bear the names of Revolutionary heroes. It is satisfying to hear Lafayette Way, Pulaski Drive, Stirling Drive, Muhlenberg Drive, Daws Lane, and others. It is the hope of the writer that the residents of this area relish this brief account of how the land they live on played a real part in the history of their country. 188 Near Custer Station By Agnes Baker Jefferson Photography by George S. Peck In the northwest corner of the township (North Wales Road and Township Line-West) there grew a little village known as Custer Station. It was Erb's Mill before the railroad made its stop there, but both these labels have a basis for being so-called because of the people that lived there and the events that happened there. The village had two mills, a feed house, and nine or ten dwellings, mostly built after 1875. Dr. John and Sibyl Siegfried's House "Pinecroft" today, borders the railroad tracks and is tucked in on a slope to the Stony Creek. To understand the story of this house one must consider it with Erb's Mill (demolished), now a pumping station next to the Cassel-Tate house. In 1742, Rees Thomas, Zachariah Whitpain, and Stephen Armite, sold 140/2 acres to John Phillips. The land was a long narrow strip 1 % miles long, but only 960 feet wide. By 1746, Phillips had built a water-grist mill, and it is assumed a small house to live in nearby fold part of the Cassel-Tate house). In 1750, Phillips sold to Jesse Morgan, who died in 1757. Jesse's wife remarried in 1762 to a John Robinson. 189 From Mathews, "between 1742 and 1762, ninety acres were sold from the southeast corner to Andrew Knox." On this particular section was built the house of his son Andrew, where occurred a stirring episode of the Revolution, when this patriot was attacked by a force of British and Tories under the leadership of Enoch Supplee's sons. In 1762, Robinson and the former Mrs. Morgan sold to a Mathias Tyson, who quickly sold to Valentine Shearer. (See Jensen.) It was probably V. Shearer who built the first part of the present Siegfried house because the date-stone on that part is marked 1764. Valentine and Mary lived in the house during the Revolution and it is reputed that grain was ground in Shearer's Mill to help feed soldiers at Valley Forge in 1777-1778. The stone barn erected by him in 1776 was still standing and in use in 1895, but has since burned. Today, a garage is built on the foundation. The old house became insufficient for the Shearer's wants and size of the family, so an addition and two stories were added in 1792. In 1895, Phillip B. Custer was the resident owner and farmer, but the mill and other house had become separated. An involved story transpired in those one hundred years concerning the mill and its house. To finish the account of the Siegfrieds; The residents and owners of the Custer house since 1900 are: Kulholz, Marino, Himes, the Samuel and Margaret McCracken family (Charles and Robert) ... all tenants. In 1934, an A. Houseman purchased and restored the lovely old dwelling. ''. After the mill was torn down some of the stones were taken to the Siegfried place and today, these large stones form a rock garden and landscaping around the swimming pool. One huge stone has carved in it — B.F.C. — and an indiscernible date. Clifford and Dorothy Tate — Cassel Place Valentine Shearer died in 1809. His daughter, Mary, became owner of the mill and farm She married the Lutheran pastor, Reverend Henry Geisenhainmer. But after eleven years, Reverend G's financial affairs were in bad shape, and the property was seized by the sheriff and sold at public auction, 68 acres — to Reverend George Wack, a Reformed Minister, for $850.00. It was then known as Wack's Mill until 1850. During this time Rev. Wack sold 46 acres to Herman Custer for $4,700.00. (Became Phillip Custer's place.) The mill and 22 acres were retained and sold to George Erb for $3,500.00. It was Erb's Mill for twenty-five years, but due to financial difficulties again it fluctuated between several owners. The Mill must have been a lucrative business for it seems it was "up for grabs" many times. It went from Erb to Adam Wierman, to Jacob Beideman, to Elias Moyer, to the sheriff, to Congressman Irving Wangert, then back to George Erb again. There are even records of earlier judgments by George Wack on George Erb. It must have been a real struggle for Erb to operate the mill continuously. George Erb died in 1901. His daughter Mary inherited the mill. She married Edward Cassel. Edward and Mary had two sons, Mahlon and B. Frank. Mahlon signed off to Frank in the 1960's. After Frank's and Edna's (his wife) deaths, the Cassel girls, Dorothy and Thelma, became the owners. 190 But the mill is gone! The house is in comfortable well-kept condition, but like all old houses, it is very close to the road — Township Line. Some of the front, door, porch, and windows had to be sacrificed when the road was widened and became a busy thoroughfare. Edward and Frank Cassel sold much of the land from the original acreage. Some went to the Joseph Burke farm. Some went to the Benjamin and Charles Cassel property (formerly the A. Knox land). Nonetheless, the house retains much of its charm, and the girls enjoy their "piece of antiquity". Both girls were born here and both, with the exception of a few years after Dorothy was married, have lived in the house all their lives. 191 Walter Cassel Property The Colonel Andrew Knox story is treated elsewhere in this chronicle. The Knox house, as it was, is no longer in existence, but the foundation is still visible in the meadow of the Cassel farm. In the general area, Walter has some relics found on the land . . . i.e., a stone-mortar and pestle type rock which the Indians could have used to grind corn. Arrowheads found in the soil are in his possession, too. He also has some deeds bearing land from David Knox, the immigrant, to his son, Andrew I or the elder. Bean's History refers to the colonel as "Andrew II who was the respected citizen." This plantation must indeed have been an active place. In reference to more recent times, about the Cassel barn, the writer vaguely remembers in the early 1920's, one spring afternoon, Victor Baker and his grandchildren ob- served a growing darkness. He re- marked that it was not time for an eclipse, but as they looked to the west, a definitely angry, funnel- shaped cloud came whirling in their direction. Yes, it was one of those rare hefty tornadoes. It completely twisted and destroyed the Cassel barn. No other major damage was done in the path of the storm. When viewed the next day, it looked like several of our present-day bull dozers had gone to work on it. An excellent example of community spirit in time of disaster manifested itself. All the farmers in the upper-end of the township pooled their efforts and rebuilt the Cassel barn! 192 Going South on Dekalb Pike By Agnes Baker Jefferson Photography by George S. Peck By 1850, Clara Beck observes that "Centre Square had six houses in the village, beside the inns and two stores." 1. A machine shop 4. A blacksmith shop 2. A wheelwright shop 5. A tannery 3. A saddle shop 6. A lumberyard All these were probably "commenced by the enterprizes of the promoter on the corner — Thomas Fitzwater." Two Old Houses in Center Square After passing the corner going south on Rt. 202, formerly Swedesford Road, two old houses appear immediately on the left. They are the present homes of Florence and Rodman Lentz and Marjorie (Bean) and Richard Strawhacker. On the 1877 map they are listed as being owned by J. Whitcomb and J. Conrad. In separate interviews with Rod and Marge, the writer found that one house was a wheelwright place and the other was a saddle shop. Then, checking the list of taxables in 1785, she found that there was one wheelwright in the township and two saddlers. Isaac Martin was the wheelwright and Joseph DeHaven and Frederick Rodemick the saddlers. It can be left to conjecture which was which house, and which was the saddler who lived here. Later, a Jacob Biedeman, (once an owner of Erb's Mill), owned the Strawhacker house. One of his daughters, Mrs. Bertha Rezer, age 95 — still living with her daughter, Evelyn Geiger — told the Lentz' and Strawhacker's that the houses were built about five years after the first St. John's Church building. If the first church was built in 1773, it would place the date of these two dwellings around 1778. When no date-stone is found, this is a fascinating way of arriving at the origin of old houses. Little more can be said of either one. Rod says there is evidence in the rear kitchen of a huge circular hearth, but it is difficult to say how it was used. Marge and Dick Strawhacker have removed the plaster and pointed the stone between the front section and the kitchen, which lends authenticity to living in this continuously occupied old house. They carry on a "Waggon Antique" business and are decidedly interested in old woodwork and antique furnishings. 193 Concerning "DeKalb Farms' One Thomas Fitzwater was the owner of "The Waggon Inn" at Centre Square between the years 1705 and 1761. Thomas Fitzwater's sister, a widow, named Rose Fitzwater Karn, owned the land adjoining her brother's, there being no road at the time to divide the properties. This area became known later as the H. Dannehower farm in the 1859 to 1900 era, and then the McKelvey land and homestead after 1920. "Rose Karn achieved fame for herself by introducing the farmerette idea in America. She accomplished the astonishing feat of clearing all her land, except one acre, which she lett as woodland. She put the fields under cultivation, tradition charging her with 'fearlessly, recklessly, and extravagantly buying seed wheat enough to plant seven acres of winter grain'." The Harry Dannehower family, in addition to being farmers, was prominent in the legal, financial, and educational affairs of both the township and county for many years. Harvey Dannehower, an early graduate of Ursinus College, was principal of the Elsenhower High School in Norristown for the greater part of his life. Laura Dannehower, widow of Harry and mother of Harvey, sold the farm to the John McKelvey family. They, in turn, sold the property in the early 1950's to developers who named the area from Wentz Road to DeKalb and Cherry Lane — "DeKalb Farms." The streets of this section are named for Civil War Generals and Presidents. For example: Jackson, Grant, Lee, Cleveland, etc., which are good reminders of how the township planners are trying to keep alive the "best of the past." The barn and out-buildings have been gone for a number of years — but the house, in sad gutted condition, was torn down in the latter half of 1976. 195 The Creamery By Agnes Baker Jefferson Photography by George S. Peck In Bean's "History . . ." page 1170, under Villages; Centre Square, it states that "the Creamery is located here and does a flourshing business." In the Recorder of Deeds office, a transaction states that land and building (indeterminate age) were acquired by the Creamery Association from Joseph Irwin Yost in 1881, the year indicated in the Creamery Ledger that the business was begun. The actual Creamery Ledger, with Victor H. Baker as Secretary-Treasurer, is shown in the accompanying picture. It is now the property of Dr. Charles Baker, Victor Baker's grandson. The Ledger is distinguished in that, it presents a simplified lesson in economics, i.e., how stock companies are formed and operated. It would make an excellent device to explain investing money to an elementary business class. Secondly, it contains the names of 92 members. These stockholders were locally prominent people who purchased stock at $5.00 per share. The capital stock was $3,800.00. The list of people gives an insight as to who lived and worked here approximately 100 years ago. Some names are of people who are descendants of old families from 100 years before that (1780) and some are the names of the ancestors of some of OJnr families still living here in 1976. Not all stockholders were farmers. The local physician. Dr. Samuel E. Seiple, bought 25 shares. William Singerly, the owner of the old Philadelphia Record and former owner of what is now Normandy Farms, purchased 200 shares. Albert Katz, innkeeper, possessed 20 shares and the former Reverend D. Levin Coleman owned 12 shares. 196 Robert McKelvey, the present owner and resident of the refurbished building, told the writer that cheese, butter, and other related dairy products were made and sold here. The white-shingled structure is located along the Silver Run that flows through the village. The water from the stream was utilized in the cooling process. The central location was an ideal place for an infant industry to flourish with the source of supply — milk from large and improved dairy herds nearby — and a ready market in Norristown and neighboring villages. The cooperative efforts of this group of men had a favorable influence in the community and deserves attention here. Robert and Betsy McKelvey live on one side of the two-dwelling arrangement, while the sister-in-law and niece, Marion and Joyce McKelvey, reside on the south side. Bob and Betsy take great pride in their continuous blooming of flowers — from crocuses, daffodils, tulips, petunias, begonias, right through the seasons to chrysanthemums. Bob likes to relate the story of his birth. His parents emigrated from Ireland and his brother John was born here. When his parents returned to Ireland for a visit, Bob was born there and came to the United States as an infant. Much to his dismay, when it became time for him to vote, at age 21, he had to take out citizenship papers and become a naturalized citizen. His loyalties show he is a good one! This pleasant home is the only really old building remaining along DeKalb Pike on the west between Reed's Country Store and St. Helena's Church. 197 Normandy Farms By Agnes Baker Jefferson In Bean's History on pp. 1175—ff., there is a lengthy biographical sketch of William Singeriy and a full page picture. In a flowery stilted discourse, the author extols the activities, achievements and accomplishments of how the sickly business man from Philadelphia came to the country to improve his health and made this his summer and weekend home. Briefly, he brought a new kind of cultivation of crops called "soiling" and innovated a system of "dry" feeding of animals. He stocked and perfected the breed of Holstein-Fre- sian cattle and Cotswold and Southdown sheep. He bred horses for both working and racing, some of which came from the finest stock in Kentucky. 198 President Grover Cleveland was once a guest at the Singerly home. Singerly called the extensive holdings "Record Farms" after the Philadelphia Record, the newspaper which he controlled and published. The date of his occupancy is 1873 to probably early 1920. The full-page picture shows how the grounds looked at the height of his activities, before the next owner, Ralph Beaver Strassburger, took over the manorial enterprise and built the present high white wall. However, before Singerly, Edward Mathews gives hints of early history in this area: The property dates to 1730, when Jacob Levering bought 100 acres of Rees Thomas and Anthony Morris. This acreage extended southwest along the State road. Henry Levering, Jacob's brother, owned the continuous tract all the way to Centre Square. Some of this was sold to Adam Lutz in 1760. (Adam Lutz allowed the Continental Army to detour over his land on the way to the Battle of Germantown.) The first named tract remained in the family of Daniel Levering until 1776. Issac Martin, the wheelwright, was his son-in-law. An involved account indicates that the descendants of the Levering family, through Catherine Levering Heist (married John Heist), created a stone house which was operated as the Franklinville Tavern in about 1834. John Hiest was a Justice-of-Peace and their sons, John and Dr. D/ Levering Heist, each attained prominence in his field. The Tavern remained such until Mr. Singerly came to Whitpain in the early 1870's. As mentioned before, Ralph Beaver Strassburger arrived on the scene as early as 1913, adding farms to the domain until 1929. Much has been written elsewhere of Mr. Strassburger. It is the purpose here to only point out that at present, there remain about fifteen houses, plus the school house, which at one time were individually owned. Attention is called to the fact that the corner or manor house, as stated before, was once the Franklinville Inn. It had several owners beside the Heists. The small stone house within the entrance-to-the barns lane was the birthplace of Mr. Strassburger, having been moved here from Worcester near Skippack. The west corner main farm house and barn were once the home and lands of Charles Kreible. His son, Hiram Krieble, was the maternal grandparent of Edward and Merrill Zimmerman. The next farm, southwest facing DeKalb, was once the Samuel Brinton property and then Eugene Whittock's, Henry Whittock's father. Going west on Morris Road, there are a group of buildings which were once the holdings of Reuben Rodebaugh, the very able and prosperous butcher. The houses on Township Line Road-East, which are painted red and white, the Normandy Farm colors, are of later vintage, and little of their history is known by this writer. 199 Bernhard — Walker — Greenawalt Farms (Now Montgomery County College) By Agnes Baker Jefferson Photography by George S. Peck On the Montgomery County College Campus, there are three houses which date to before the Revolution. From Edward Mathews Scrapbook No. 92 p. 42, it is difficult to determine whether they are Bernhard, Walker, or Greenawalt houses when comparing them with the different maps, and the knowledge of how all three families were interrelated. Besides this, there are several branches of the Bernhard clan and it is a puzzle to put them in their proper places. Marriage within and among the three families further complicate the quest for whose house belonged to whom. It began in this particular area in 1685, with the Penn grant to Richard Whitpain. In a series of transfers, not necessary to recite here, Rees Thomas and Anthony Morris came into possession of 300 acres in 1713 which covered this northeast section of the township. William and Richard Thomas, sons of Rees, sold to Jacob Kurr in 1746. This same Jacob Kurr, the farmer, but more importantly a builder, also bought land south and east from John Phillip Boehm. Jacob Kurr had a house-plan which he used for other people. Unfortunately, he never put a date-stone on any that he is reputed to have erected. The pattern and appearance of many early dwellings which were researched, when viewed through pictures, are clues that say he can be credited with designing and building many that are still in existence. The next owners are not on record, but before the Revolution, Jacob Ulrich became the owner and then the property changed hands many times: 1777 — George Wright bought from Ulrick 1777 _ Paul Bower bought from Wright (Bower was the trustee of St. John's Lutheran Church when the land was received from George and Elizabeth Kastner) 1778 — Edward Laskey 17g3 _ Henry Dawson (At this date it was a messuage plantation—paid 1,000 pounds in Continental currency) 1786 — Zebulon Potts (Went bankrupt and property was seized and sold to Abraham K-nitzing 1797 — Mordecai Jones invested in it 1798 — Henry Greenawalt bought Henry was the son of a Jonathan Greenawalt who lived "1/2 mile south of Franklinville" and is listed as a soldier in the Revolution Army. 201 At the same time, in 1798, one Andere Bernhard migrated from Switzerland and operated a tavern in Hatfield until 1821. In 1823, he and his son, George Adam Bernhard, purchased a farm in this vicinity. Again, it is difficult to pinpoint which one. Their offspring, Anthony Bernhard, married the daughter of Henry Greenawalt and thus inherited the homestead. Descendants from this union (gathered from 1877 map) are Jacob C. Bernhard, George Bernhard, and William R. Bernhard. Others of this generation are James Bernhard and David Bernhard. Two of the last remaining descendants are Irwin Bernhard, son of David, and Henry Whittock whose mother was Annie Bernhard Whittock. When and how Jacob Walker entered the picture is not known. His name first appears about 1850. Boehm's Cemetery lists three Jacob Walkers: 1773-1859, 1815-1864, and one that was still living beyond 1897. Somehow the house and farm buildings on the west corner of Morris and Cathcart (Wood) Roads became the fertile and prosperous farm of about 72 acres. In a Montgomery County Farm Report about 1860, Jacob Walker, with 68 acres of land and 5 acres of woodland, had an income of approximately $1,132.00 from the sale of products he raised on his farm near Franklinville. The Jacob Walker in question here is the one who deeded the aforesaid ownerhship to his son-in-law, David Bernhard, in 1897. The writer knows that-this Jacob Walker and his wife, Rebecca (nee Smith), had eight children: three boys and five girls. Two of the men resided in Philadelphia and the other bought a farm in Bucks County. Two girls also moved to the city, and the three others married and stayed in Whitpain Township. It is significant here to enumerate: Annie R. Walker married James Bernhard, a Greenawalt descendant. Hannah Walker married David Bernhard and continued in the old homestead. Phoebe Walker married Edward Phipps (once the owner of "Tall Oaks") and had three daughters, Edith, Clara and Letitia. It was from the first union, Annie and James Bernhard (the maternal grandparents of the writer), that three boys and two girls were born and reared. The one male heir was the well known postmaster and storekeeper, F. Clifford Bernhard. One of the girls, Rebecca W., married Howard L. Baker in December, 1910. Somehow, the Frantz' and the Riles enter the scene and intermarried with this clan. During the time 1910 to 1940, the Greenawalt Reunion was held each summer and the participants encompassed the descendants of Greenawalt, Bernhard, Walker, Rile and Frantz, but nobody could recite how they were all related. Irwin Bernhard reminds that the back part of the small house on Morris Road, Vz mile from DeKalb, which the College has not razed, is part of a log cabin. (This could be Jonathan Greenawalt's place.) The mansard roof on the former Jacob Walker home belies its age. Part of this structure probably dates to 1790.The main house facing DeKalb Pike was possibly built by Jacob Kurr and dates, circa 1760. 202 This was the farmstead of Annie and Jame Bernhard from 1880 to 1910. James was a blacksmith, in addition to a farmer, and a man given to mechanical ways of of improving agricutural practices. He was one of the first residents of the township to own an automobile. His future son-in-law chalenged him to a race to Rebecca's graduation in 1908. Needless to say, by the time the sputtering , jerking vehicle started, Howard Baker had already won the race with his spirited, white horse, and well-polished black carriage. There is a legend about the strange pear tree on the Walker land: The stump of a great oak or maple tree was left standing above ground. Some ingenious person grafted a pear branch to it and it eventually bore exceptionally large and* delicious fruit. As a connoisseur of exceptional fruit, George Washington is reputed to have plucked a pear from this tree while he was riding in the area. He enjoyed eating the luscious pear and commended the owner for having such a tree. The remarkable part was that the tree stump was calculated to have been about 120 years old at that time. In 1910, James and Annie Bernhard sold their farm to a Mr. and Mrs. 0. Brown, who improved the land and kept the buildings in good condition. About the same time, in the early 1930's when Mr. Strassburger was buying up the land on the northwest side of DeKalb Pike, a Mr. Alexander D. Thayer (having married Mrs. Strassburger's sister, nee Bourne) started buying up land on the southeast side. All these farms became Gwynllan Farms, and were operated under that name until Montgomery County purchased it for the purpose of building the County College in 1969-1970. It is gratifying to realize that on this beautiful productive land there now exists a seat of learning. It is a comfortable thought that once again Whitpain Township was chosen as the center of the county and still remains a crossroads . . . from many directions. 203 Down Skippack Pike By Agnes Baker Jefferson Photography by George S. Peck Entering Whitpain from Worcester, eastward on Rt 73, on the southwest corner there once stood a lovely old house and the remnants of a once prosperous farm. This was the Bush Tavern and later the Jacob Baker farmstead. The house was completely demolished to make way for the Northeast Extension of the Pennsylvania Turnpike overpass. Only a little stone springhouse remains to mark the spot. This land was first acquired in 1754 (86 A.) from the Anthony Morris — Davis — Osborne — George Kastner group. Metz was the owner during the Revolution. Tyson operated it as a tavern from 1833-1857, and then sold to Jacob Baker who cleared most of the land and farmed it. The Crop Records in the County Newspaper report, in 1860, show that Jacob Baker owned 63 acres of land — 58 in crops and 5 in woodlands. From the sale of products raised and gathered, he realized approximately $938.00 on this farm. The house next to the railroad was built for Jacob Baker's daughter Emma, and son-in-law, Theodore Harrar. Here was established the coal, feed, flour and lumberyard business of 1882. Across the road, the little house was once a general store and post office. Five or six other houses along with the Railroad Station made Belfry a thriving little village. The Ferguson house has already been mentioned in the McCandless account. The sexton's house, on St. John's Church property, was labelled "a good and comfortable house" in Bean's History, page 1169, and was possibly built about the same time as the church. (Circa 1773.) The parsonage used by the early pastors, if they lived here, was the rear part of what is today Robert Meehan's place. It was rented by the Church for many years. The present "Victorian" parsonage was erected during the pastorates of D. Levin Coleman and Reverend Parks. The attic is entirely "finished" to make room for the large number of children which the pastors had. The top of the hill was known as "Grog Hill" because of the legend about a group of roistering bullies who would terrify the residents along this road with their drunken marching up and down the hill. They could carry jugs of grog on a stick, each end of which was anchored on the shoulders of two so-called "Grog-Bruisers." Their activities culminated and were eventually curbed by a large law-abiding man named Daniel Rossiter in a final brawl. The force and cry of the public opinion finally put an end to the group, but the name "Grog Hill" remained for a while. 205 Stories of Smallpox, Yellow Fever Burial Grounds A story surrounding the burial grounds of the highly contagious small-pox and yellow-fever victims during and after the Revolution has two interpretations. The first one was that to keep the remains separate, there were a number of bodies placed in graves on a lot across the road from St. John's Church. The graves are no longer marked, if ever. This story comes down through the church records of 1793. The other version is that the victims were buried much farther away on the top of the hill in back of what is now Belfry Meadows, where the Greger and Jensen properties meet the community. This account was told by Mr. Garfield Greger to Mr. Stan Smullen, shortly after the houses in Belfry Meadows were built. It is the writer's opinion that both stories could be correct. There was not just one epidemic. One reads of whole families being wiped out by dread yellow and typhoid fevers and small-pox. One of the curses and causes of death for many years in these early days, was the lack of medical knowledge and doctors. It is well to keep in mind that the "good old days" were full of heart-breaking, tragic sicknesses. What Was Once Cream Ridge All records show that Samuel Castner's relative, George, was a land operator in the early 1700's. He received land in Whitpain on speculation deals from the original Ann Whitpain McCarty-Anthony Morris-Rees Thomas speculator group. George (K or C) Kastner at one time lived on "Whitpain Farms," but at the same time he owned most of the land on both sides of the Skippack Pike from Centre Square to Belfry. Not much is known of his personal life, but it is known, from church deeds and records, that in 1769 he and his wife donated two acres of land to St. John's Lutheran Congregation. They are listed as members and are buried in the cemetery. The deed book in Montgomery County Court House carries at least twenty transactions on the sale of property to people who lived along this route, between 1740 and 1800. George Kastner was called the Grantor. It is fairly safe to say that of any property along this road, when traced as far back as George Kastner, the origin of the ownership can then be traced to the Penn Land Grant. The history of what was once Cream Ridge, now Whitpain Hills, began on record in 1776 with George Kastner. "...... a house of considerable size and a small barn were built" and there appears to be "38 acres of cleared land and 5 acres of woodland." The purchase price was $2,610.00. Phillip and Joshua Richardson's names are on the tax list of 1785 and both are on the list of privates in the militia in 1777. From 1790 to 1807, John and Mary Slingluff apparently owned it, but the next transfer shows that, in 1813, the Richardson's transferred it to William, the father, George, Henry, and John Hurst. The father and brothers signed off to George, whose wife was Elizabeth Dannehower. Between 1813 and 1830, George and Elizabeth Hurst and family probably lived on the farm and made a reasonable living on it, developing it to the extent that life was comfortable in that era. Their daughter Sarah inherited the entire holdings when she married Jonathan Baker. 206 Where Jonathan Baker, born in 1811, came from is open to two theories: 1. The writer's sister found in the Bucks County Historical Society, a Jonathan Baker shipped over on the "Patsy Rutledge" in 1785 . . . from Hamburg, Germany. His wife's name was Anna Maria and they had a son, at that date named Jonathan B. This man could be the father of the Jonathan in this concern. The ship docked in northern New Jersey. In the same book, "Pennsylvania German Pioneers," is found other familar names that are perinent to this account. John Hurst, in 1749, sailed via Yorkshire, with sons Lucas, William, and Henry. Abraham Dannehower, Benjamin Baker, and Colonel John Baker are also on the list. 2. The writer's theory is; Jonathan's father may have been a deserting Hessian soldier from the Battle of Trenton, who "dispersed himself along with other unwanted prisioners-of-war into the hills of Pennsylvania." Jonathan Beaker's school arithmetic books and account books are in the possession of his great-grandson, Dr. Charles Baker. But to give an idea of how well he farmed, here is an excerpt from a newspaper show- ing the products he reported. (Ap- proximate date, 1845.) Upon the death of Jonathan, in 1874, and his wife, in 1890, the farm was left to three children, Emma, Ida, and Victor Hurst Baker. Victor married Sarah Jane Hamil- ton in 1869. (Approximately, unable to find any trace of Sarah's ances- try.) It was the tragic death of their eleven year old son Frank, in July 1886, that brought about the con- tinuation of the Baker name, for in September of 1887, Howard Levin Baker was born. (Named for Reverend D. Levin Coleman.) This writer's father, Howard Baker, married Rebecca Walker Bernhard (see Bernhard- Walker-Greenswalt story) in 1910. From that union six children were born — 3 sons, James, Howard, Jr., and Charles, and 3 daughters, Agnes, Rhoda, and SaraAnn. The fifth generation has thirteen children and the sixth generation, to date, has fifteen children. To these six generations — Jonathan to the present — this spot on the side of the hill has been know as the Baker Farm or Cream Ridge The Cream Ridge name came from John Schirmer, an 1880 German immigrant (and his family of eight children), who was an agriculture specialist in a rich valley in Germany. He said the soil on the top of this hill and the well-watered, well-drained valley was "cream rich." 207 Howard Baker assumed ownership of the farm in 1910. By 1918, he had added the forty acres of the Schirmer farm, built a large barn, silos, stables, and renovated the house. He then added twenty more acres "across the road," thus making a productive farm of one hundred acres. The Bakers, beginning with Victor, then Howard and Rebecca and all six children, farmed, ran a dairy, raised poultry, pigs, and horses, and produced food for forty-six years. It was during the Depression of the thirties, when Howard could help feed some needy families, that gave him great satisfaction. But, of all the crops he grew and harvested, and all the animals and stock he produced, he was "proudest of all. . . of his six children!" However, it is Victor Baker who deserves a word here. "Versatile" is the word for him. Born in 1842, somehow, he was not called in the draft of the Civil War, no doubt because he was a farmer and the support of two sisters and ailing mother and father. He was a carpenter by trade, having worked with his uncles, the Hurst's. But he was first, last, and always a farmer. Besides these two full-time occupations, he conducted a music and singing school at Centre Square School on his own time. In addition to all this he was a business man and was versed in law. He was Secretary-Treasurer of the Creamery Association and Justice-of-the-Peace for many years. On reading any Whitpain deed, will, or document in the period 1890-1910, one finds the name and seal of VICTOR H. BAKER. He was active in St. John's Lutheran Church, serving on the church council, leading the music, and building and repairing church property. Shortly after his marriage to Sarah Hamilton, he used his architectural skill, and designed and built a house for his bride. It is the white stucco house, No. 1696 Skippack Pike. It is the first variation in design of the houses built up to that time. It looks like it did when it was built except for the gingerbread that has been removed from the front porch. 209 Apparently Victor Baker was a modest, rather private kind of man when it came to displaying his accomplishments. Nowhere can one find in the historical records anything about his public life, yet church records show how active he was. It is legend that he settled many family quarrels and aided many neighbors to write wills, pay mortgages, and generally help in financial matters. The only recognition that is found was in the Norristown Times Herald Yesteryear column on November 21, 1972 under 100 Years Ago: (slightly paraphrased). "Taking advantage of the early snow, Victor Baker, of this place, hitched his team to his sleigh and carried his grain to Yosts Mill to be ground for his animals. This made quite a lovely scene and cheerful sound as they drove through the village." To bring to date Cream Ridge Farm: In 1956, Howard and Rebecca Baker, after selling ground for the Philadelphia Electric tower line, the Pennsylvania Turnpike, and giving two acres to St. John's Cemetery, sold the remaining fifty-five acres on the southwest side of the road to J. Franklin Meehan & Sons. The Frank Meehan's lived in the main house and the Robert Meehan's occupied the Schirmer house. Both houses were extensively renovated. The front field contained nursery plantings and a shop called Meehans Garden Center. In 1973, the Meehan's and J. DiSanto Developers built the townhouse community called Whitpain Hills. The old house and barn were demolished in early 1976! ******* Before discussing the houses down "Grog Hill," let this be quoted from Clara Beck's observation in 1926: "By 1876, practically all the log cabins that dotted the roadside of one hundred years ago have been removed." From this, one can gather that they either fell down, were torn down or were replaced by more modern building materials. In some cases, an addition enlarged the living space. In other cases, as was the style of the day, a dwelling was enhanced and finished off with a French Style roof. This is the type that makes up most of those in the present village of Center Square. 210 The Reichels It is a real delight to "discover" the Wayne and Helen Reichel house. First of all, it stands among a cluster of large old trees and shrubbery and can hardly be seen from the road, although it is only a few feet from the present concrete curb. Secondly, upon studying the deeds and dates of sale, it was found that Peter Wentz, of Worcester and Washington's Headquarters fame, was the second owner and resident of the attractive old house. The Reichels were fortunate enough to have the former owner, Horace Shabacher, look up the history of the owners, which he gave to them. As mentioned before, if George K-astner's name appears, then that is about the third transaction from the original Penn Grant. The list includes: 1776 — George Kastner to William West 1784 — W. West to Peter Wentz 1786 — Peter Wentz died and left the property to his wife and six children 1795 — Mordecia Jones, an agent for the widow and children, sold to Elias Hurst 1814 — Elias H_urst will to John, Elizabeth, Charles and Adam Hurst 1862 — Adam Murst conveyed to Charles Hurst 1870 — Part sold by Elizabeth and John Hurst to George Cressman 1878 — G. Cressman to ? Smith 1894 — Smith to Thomas Wunder 1901 — T. Wunder to Rev. Robert Hetherington 1907 — Richard and Theresa Andrews et al and Emerson Conrad 1907 — Rev. William and Nancy Galloway 1926 — William and Amelia Schwendt (house was occupied by tenants, one of which ran a 'tea room') 1941 — William and Helen Camp 1947 — Horace and Ethel Shabacher 1969 — Wayne and Helen Reichel The original old stone part of the house contained two rooms down and two above. The kitchen room has the large walk-in size chimney fireplace, and corner circular stairs. The front room or parlor has a more formal fireplace. This part has remained almost intact. A frame kitchen and dining area was added about one hundred years ago, and the Reichels have added a modern family room, which extends the house in a southerly direction, thus taking advantage of the sun's path and continuing the position of the original house. On June 5, 1976, when the Peter Wentz Farmstead of Worcester was opened, the speaker who gave the history said that, in 1784, Peter Wentz retired to a farm in Whitpain. At that time it was evidently not known where. To come upon such information and put it 'together' reveals some of the pleasure in researching these fine old dwellings. 211 Three houses on the northeast side of Skippack Pike present a real problem. Records on all three are available, but difficult to unscramble. Clara Beck is of the opinion that the period, 1711 to 1760, was considered "a quiet time, being a place of bridle paths through forest type of existance." Even if the records in Philadelphia convey anything, it is still not easy to keep up with the-trading of land, doweries of daughters, church-owned properties versus minister-owned properties, and wills of fathers leaving possessions to wives and seven or eight children apiece, or maybe ten children and their spouses. One also reaches a snag in records from approximately 1838 to 1855. A suggested reason for this is that the writer came upon the fact that Philadelphia County and City government was so "crime-infested, inefficient, and inadequate that records, even if found, were not dependable." The records in Montgomery County suggest the same. One comes across deeds were the deed book numbers and page numbers are left blank. It is because of these garbled records that one has to guess what may have happened, especially if there is no record in the sheriffs office. Sometimes we find the same family owning and occupying two houses at the same time within a mile of each other. It is confusing to find an owner disappeared, and then pick up that somebody "assumed ownership and dwelt therein." Alex and Emily McNaught The first of these old houses is located opposite the entrance to Whitpain Hills. One glance tells any observer that it is an "old house" — but how old? and who built it? If there was a farm in the beginning with sizable acreage, it has now been chopped off, leaving only about five acres adjacient to the house. Going backwards in time, the ownership-date-list goes in this order: 1954 — The McNaughts purchased from Harry and Anna Miller 1920 — Harry Miller bought from L. Hollingsworth 1920 — Clayton L. Brown, Realtor 1912 — Hollingsworth bought from Gottlieb Holgewachs et ux 212 1910 — Jonathan Rawbottam 1893 — Richard Roynan name appears about the same time that Richard Roynan's name is on a deed on the house 1 / 4 mile down the road 1893 — Levi Laybold — and heirs — a number of daughters 1857 — John Laybold willed it to his son Levi 1805 — Charles Hurst transferred to John Laybold 1799 — William Hurst had conveyed it to his son Charles William Hurst, cabinet-maker, carpenter and builder appears on the tax list. George, Charles, Henry, and John were all carpenters as well as farmers. As stated elsewhere, Elias Hurst conveyed some other property to John, Charles, and Adam. One bit of evidence that the inhabitants of these houses were ingenious is the fact that both this house and the one down the road are similar in design and both have windows with four large window-panes. While the McNaught house seems to date earlier (Rush house 1801) like a Betsy Ross plan, nevertheless, both have noticably large panes. Explanation? It was in 1798-99 that the window pane tax was in effect, i.e., the place was taxed according to the number of panes of glass in the entire house. It is the writers opinion in this case, that some taxpayers, for example, the Hurst's, if they were adept and fast enough could outwit the tax assessor or collector by quickly changing or installing four large panes where eight or twelve once were used. William Hurst, according to Clara Beck, "in 1804 lived on the Roynan farm and helped to rebuild and renovate the 'Waggon' Inn." 213 Arthur and Kay Rush House — owned by Peter Strassburger This has undoubtedly been a most popular house and location. Many families have lived in it and owned it, and many more would like to buy it! One reason for its popularity would be that it is the first real farm house west of the village. Secondly, it is ideally located back from the road and has a stream nearby. Thirdly, it is well-designed and built and has weathered some adversity. In late 1975, after having been vandalized and then completely gutted by fire, the Arthur Rush's, Jr. and Sr., with the permission of Mr. Strassburger undertook to restore the dwelling. Today the Rush's are enjoying the spaciousness of the large farm kitchen and the atmosphere of the main part of the house with its old woodwork and refinished floors. It has been decorated in a colonial motif. The crowning feature is the unusual masonry of the entrance surrounding the front door. But best of all, the workmen found the date-stone while renovating — 1801! The record of deeds is herewith presented-going backwards: 1939 — Strassburger purchase — Several tennant farmers and their families occupied it 1927 — Dr. John Nevergole 1926 — Charles and Elizabeth MacMullan 1920 — Paul Zenone 1920 — George and Helen Woodward 1920 — Joseph Termine (agent) 1916 — Richard Roynan 1905 — William Knoll sold to Charles Heimsbaugh (last of the Yost farm managers) 1903 — John Knoll, the father willed a great area of land to William (Log-cabin dweller on Yost Rd.), George and Thomas 214 1898 — John Knoll Farm (on map) 1877 — John Knoll Farm (on map) The name of John Haag appears here. But John Haag (from personal recollection) was married to one of the Knoll daughters. (Verified in St. John's Cemetery) St. John's Cemetery is full of tombstones with markers of a host of Hursts as well as Knoll's. When or how the property was transferred from the Hurst to the Knoll family is not exactly known. One guess would be that the elder John Knoll married one of the Hurst daughters. That would take time and research to verify. It would also take time and effort to decipher the next puzzle because part of the land was chopped off to make another farm. It was first labeled the Tyson farm, then the Charles Wood Farm. From the writer's recollections, the next farm to the Rush place was owned by Horace Wood (second generation) and Earl Wood, his son. In the late 1920's, the Ellsworth Ritter family purchased from the Wood's. Amy Ritter Smith was the co-owner who sold the property, in the 1960's, to the developers who built Belfry Meadows. Vivian and Phillip Bird Estate The boarded-up, deserted house near old Centre Square School is involved and tied up among the McNaught-Wood-Strassburger properties. Here, by elimination, not by actual research, is an interesting story. When reading any o₯ the deeds of the above mentioned holdings, one comes to the boundary description of "the lands formerly owned by the Reformed Church." From the Montgomery County Historical Society it was learned that Judith Meier, of East Norriton, last year did a study of "Patriotic German Reformed Pastors." In her report she has a chapter on the Reverend John H. Weikel. This rather flambuoyant man was called to serve both Wentz's and Boehm's churches, after John Phillip Boehm retired. It was in 215 1775 that Weikel persuaded the two congregations to own a house and farm to accommodate the minister. It appears as though the land between the Hurst's and the Hurst's was acquired and a house was built to fulfill that purpose. It is guess work, but fairly reasonable, that a first house was situated farther back from the road; or it could be this same house and the road bed was different or seemed farther away. Nonetheless, this is the property that nearly fits the description as indicated on many deeds, and Mrs. Meier's findings. Rev. Weikel was a controversial man, some saying he was a fanatic and crazy, others saying he was fired with patriotic zeal. One account reports him, on July 23, 1775, as coming home and before he put his horse in the enclosure, he shot a pistol over the animal's head, in an effort to train him, should he be needed in the war. When the strange man was dismissed, he did not move out of the parsonage. The new minister had to find quarters elswhere. He dropped out of sight in 1781 and was never heard from again. Mrs. Meier tells an enlightening sidelight: "In the early 1840's when the parsonage, known as the John Knoll Farm, had fallen into disrepair, the Rev. George Wack purchased the property at public sale (as.he did in the case of Erb's Mill), for $3042,90." He lived here in semi-retirement while he operated the Mill on Township Line Road near Custer Station. In the period around 1915 to 1930 (personal recollection — not verified), a Quaker family by the name of Sylvester and Eleanor Sharpies from the West Chester area, owned and operated a goat farm. Upon their death, their daughter, Vivan Bird, inherited it. Recently, upon her husband's death, their son, Glenn, inherited it. Glenn now lives in California and the property is for sale. At this writing, the possible sale depends on zoning regulations. Who knows what this once fine place will be used for! If the story of the houses down Skippack Pike is inconclusive, so be it! It is a confusing mixture of interchange, intermarriage, complications, neighborliness, plots and schemes. It is just possible that they were rugged individualists or ordinary people who lived and struggled to keep abreast of the times in the best way they all knew how. 216 Quail Call By Mr. and Mrs. Robert T. Trump "Quail Call" is the charming home situated on the southern corner at the intersection of Morris and Cathcart Roads. The original house was built in 1812 or early 1813. It consisted of one room on the first floor and two on the second with an attic above and a half cellar under the first floor. The original "one room" house appears to have always been stuccoed and whitewashed over native brownstone. According to county tax records, it was built by Barnabas Gearhart who was the son of Nicholas Gearhart. Barnabas was described as a "cordwainer" (today a shoemaker) in the original sheepskin deed. Tax records of 1819 show Barnabas crossed off as probably deceased and "Neavel, Henry 2- A & Dwg-100" is shown. In 1812, the tax rate doubled to $200 indicating extensive building. This suggests that the second section of the house (two stories and matching the first in outline but with a full cellar) would have been then added to the west side. Henry Neavel was listed as a weaver by trade in 1820, 21, and 22 and the tax listed as $200. But in 1823, 24, and 25 it is listed at $180. Henry must have contested his new assessment. Over the years, different owners have "modernized" the home until the George Milling- tons, in 1926, began to restore the house. The Trumps have been living in the house since mid-1976 and have extensively restored the home, including exact details as they would have been in the early 19th century. The place was originally named "Quail Call" in 1926 when the Millingtons found a quail cock was living in their rear meadow, but although they even purchased quail hens and attempted to keep these fowl on the place, these birds have long since left with their melodic cry of "Bob White," a once common sound around Franklinville. 219 Edward & Gloria West Property By Agnes Baker Jefferson The ownership of this farm, located on Morris Rd.just below Ginkgo Rd., dates to at least 1796. The present house is not colonial but no allowance has ever been made for a fire destroying an original house in our study of old houses. The present dwelling appears to be "Victorian." It is conspicuous by the lack of fireplaces or remnants of such. Only chimneys for pot bellied stoves were in evidence when the last renovations were made. What could have happened, if imagination takes over, is that the first house was destroyed by fire because of the misuse of the fireplaces and when rebuilding the owner vowed not to have such a fire hazard again. This was once the parcel of land that extended from Gwyhedd into Whitpain that was owned by Nicholas (Raile) Rile. It is important because it helps to place the boundaries of the Robert Trump land and establishes guide lines for the Clayton ground. Nicholas Rile was the patriarch of the Rile family in Whitpain and took an active part in the Revolution! 1796 George Syfert — (fought in Revolution) 1796 Henry Styer 1806 ? Dilworth 1817 Stephen Styer 1825 Stephen Styer bought more land 1868 John Styer 1900 Albert Rile 1910 S. Rile, Greger, Henderson, Bernhard, Williamson 1915-? Stuart Heist 1940-? Alexander D. Thayer 1962 Edward and Gloria West 220 The Clayton House By Agnes Baker Jefferson Photographyby George S. Peck Where Plymouth Road comes from Gwynedd and crosses Morris Road on the west corner there stands a charming old house which is the home of Mrs. Russell Clayton and her daughter, Mrs. Barbara Rambo. It is worthy of special recognition because of the way it is "put together," i.e., the original house, then a space which is now the kitchen, which connects the old smokehouse and thus becomes a continuous, comfortable, livable space. 221 The list of ownership going backward goes in this order: 1959 Mr. and Mrs. Russell Clayton bought from Wilbur and Edith Schmidt 1944 Schmidt bought from Harry Asquith 1925 Asquith bought from Charles Hackett 1900 (circa) Hackett acquired from Mrs. Catherine Clair 1859 Mrs. Clair bought from Samuel Shive 1839 Shive bought from Hugh and Elizabeth Lukens 1832 Lukens bought from William Rhoades, Agent 1831 Rhoades acquired from Abraham Lutz 1813 Abraham Lutz bought from Jesse Wentz 1802-1805 Jesse Wentz acquired from Mordecai Jones (land agent) M. Jones received land from Jacob Walter 1795 Jacob Walter came by property from Septimus Wood The next deed discusses the will of Septimus Wood written in 1750. Here it is difficult to fit together the relationship because of the nature of what is incorporated in a deed, will, release, etc., Septimus Wood names Samuel Lenderman as a recipient of something resembling this corner. Then alas! Sam Lenderman's daughter, Mary, was the wife of Samuel Castner. When one reaches Castner (K or C), that is as far as one needs to go, for Samual Kastner was either father or brother of George Kastner and they were landowners. (George donated the land for St. John's Church) There is a close relationship probably through marriage, to the Morris and Whitpain families. It would seen that the K-astners were the second generation landowners after the Whitpain, McCarty, Morris, Palmer group. Hence, it would be logical to conclude that the Clayton property was cut off and buildings erected in the 1750 to 1795 period. Mrs. Clayton describes what she has learned in these words: "According to the late Ross Rile, whose family dated far back in Blue Bell history, the Clayton house on the corner of Morris and Schoolhouse Roads was built soon after Whitpain Township was incorporated in 1794. It is believed that the builder of the Blue Bell Inn built this house. "What is now the living room of the three-story stuccoed fieldstone house was used as a kitchen. About fifty years ago the owner built a kitchen joining the original house and the smokehouse behind it. A view through the trapdoor in the ceiling of the smokehouse shows wooden pegs holding the roof timbers together. This is also true of the view from the trapdoor of the porch ceiling. "On the second and third floors the eighteen-inch deep window enclosures are rounded plaster rather than the more modern conventional wood." With so many families making changes over a period of 200 years, it is a delightful hodge-podge of how taste and utility can blend to make a convenient and appealing home. 222 The South Corner of Penllyn-Blue Bell Pike and Morris Road By Elizabeth M. De Vincent Photography by George S. Peck The Davis — Greger Property William Davis, a Welsh Quaker, was among the first settlers of Whitpain Township. He purchased two hundred acres of land on Skippack Pike across from what is now the Shady Grove Middle School. Since there is no record or deed it is assumed that he bought the property from John Palmer about 1701. In 1729 he acquired 116 acres of the great Whitpain tract from Rees Thomas, Anthony Morris and Ann Whitpain. This farm was situated on the south corner of Penllyn-Blue Bell Pike and Morris Road, extending from the vicinity of Boehm's Reformed Church to Morris Road, along a slope draining to the Wissahickon Creek. A portion of the property extended over the northwest side of Penllyn-Blue Bell Pike. It is this property of William Davis that this article is about. It is presumed that William Davis made the first clearing and built some kind of dwelling. In his will dated 1735, he left sixteen acres to his wife Deborah, all his other properties were to be sold. He was survived by five children: David, Thomas, John, James and Margret who were all under sixteen years of age. Deborah sold the property in 1737 to William Martin. In 1751 James Brown became the owner. He gained complete title to the property in 1759 only after the sons of William Davis had all reached their majority. The farm was sold for twelve dollars an acre in 1770 to Israel Pemberton who conveyed title to the property in the same year to George Greger. 223 George Greger or Krieger as the name was originally spelled came from Blenheim, Germany in 1748. According to the Biographical Annals of Montgomery County, he was a certified flax weaver. He paid £480 for the 116 acre farm. George Greger belonged to the Reformed faith and was an elder in Boehm's Reformed Church at various times from 1790 to 1816. He died at the age of ninety-one on October 4,1818, and his wife, Catherine, died eight days later. They are buried in Boehm's Reformed Church Cemetery. According to his will his son Abraham, was given the Whitpain homestead and his son George, was bequeathed a farm in Plymouth. The daughters: Margaret, Elizabeth, Barbara and Mary got legacies of money. During the Revolutionary War, Brigadier-General Weeden's regiment of Virginia troops were encamped here from October 19 through November 2, 1777. During their stay the season was very inclement and they met with many discomforts. George Greger lived in a two-story stone farmhouse that was situated in the center of the property near a spring and meadow. According to the tax records it was built prior to 1785; the exact date can only be assumed. In 1793 George Greger built an addition to the house and according to the tax records built the stone barn when this was completed. It is presumed that the spring house in front of the house was built at the same time. This house is as beautiful today as when it was built, maybe even more so, as pride and quality of workmanship such as this is not to be found in houses today. The first floor of the original house with white plastered walls and ceiling is the living room. The fireplace is the original and in excellent condition as is the handsome floor-to-ceiling wood corner cabinet and the door leading to the front porch. The first floor of the addition contains the dining room and kitchen and above are bedrooms. Between the house and the barn is an overgrown thoroughfare that is believed to have been the original Morris Road. This road can be traced to the other side of Penllyn-Blue Bell Pike. It was during the ownership of Abraham Greger that the great Whig mass meeting of August 2, 1844 was held on his premises. The speakers stand and the crowds that cheered for Clay and Frelinghuysen were mostly congregated on a grove near the Pike. Abraham held possession of this property for nearly forty years. He lived here with his wife, Mary, and children: George, Jacob, Charles, Elizabeth, David, Catherine, Abraham and Meridith. Two more houses were built on the farm during this time. David lived on the family homestead until 1856. All his children were born here. Abraham and Mary died in 1854 and were buried with others of the family in Boehm's Cemetery. The "Cedars" After Abraham Greger's death the farm was sold several times in quick succession and in 1857 it was bought by Mrs. Harriet Coleman for $7,375.00. She proceeded to buiid as her summer home the stately stone mansion with the huge porch on Morris Road. The rear wing of this dwelling was a farmhouse assumed to have been built by a Greger. 225 After the death of Mrs. Coleman the farm became the property of her sons Robert and Dawson and her daughter Harriet wife of William Hayward Drayton. The two brothers conveyed their interest to their sister and Mrs. Drayton became the sole owner. In 1868, she sold the northwest side of the farm comprising forty-seven acres to Thomas A. Biddle of Philadelphia for $26,500.00. Henry E. Drayton built a house on his parents' property. It faced Penllyn-Blue Bell Pike near Morris Road. Upon the death of his parents, Henry sold his house and moved to the mansion on Morris Road where his parents had lived. His executors sold the farm in 1939 to Leonard T. Beale. The present owners of the farm are Mr. and Mrs. James S, Armentrout Jr. The grounds attached to this comprise the larger section of the former Greger farm containing seventy-seven acres of its southeast side. A rare treasure, a beautiful old icehouse completely restored by Mr. Armentrout, can be found behind the mansion. The houses and buildings on this property contain much historic interest and architectural beauty and Mr. and Mrs. Armentrout are preserving these land-marks of our colonial days. "Blythewood" In 1868 Mrs. Drayton conveyed the northwest side of the farm comprising forty-seven acres to Thomas A. Biddle for $26,500.00. Mr. Biddle built a beautiful summer house on this property, he called it "Blythewood." A picture of the original house is in Bean's History of Montgomery County. The Biddle heirs sold the farm in 1925 to Thomas Raeburn White. Mr. White added extensively to the house so much so that Mr. Biddle's summer home had now become a mansion. The farm was sold at auction in 1961. Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Ederer bought the mansion and some acreage for $29,000.00. Mr. and Mrs. Charles McCracken bought seven and some odd acres containing a house, barn, carriage house, chicken coup and corn crib. The rest of the farm was sold in lots. 227 Clarence Ederer, a former State Representative, and his wife, Margaret, did extensive repairs to the mansion. It took workmen six months to remove the paint from all the doors and restore them to their former condition. Mr. Ederer was an avid hunter and traveled all over the world. Many of the animals that he caught were mounted and stuffed and hung on the walls of the library or displayed on tables. His sense of humor knew no bounds; placed strategically on the walls of the powder room were two huge coiled rattlesnakes. The Ederer's built a new house on the two front acres of the property and sold the mansion to Mr. and Mrs. William L. Scott. Mr. Ederer was buried on the day they were to move into the new house. Mrs. Ederer lived there for a short time and then moved to Virginia. "Charles McCracken House" The home of Mr. and Mrs. Charles McCracken on the former Biddle estate is believed to have built by a Greger about 1823. The house is a typical Pennsylvania farmhouse of the early nineteenth century. It is a three-story farm house of plaster over field stone. The drawing by Laurie Youtz illustrates the additions to the house since 1823. The original house had two rooms on each floor and a fireplace in the initial kitchen that is still in use. The former porch is now the kitchen and all the kitchen cabinets were made by Mr. McCracken with siding from the interior of the barn. 228 Former Boehm's Church Parsonage By Elizabeth M. DeVincent Photography by George S. Peck Adjacent to the cemetery of the Boehm's Reformed Church on Blue Bell Pike, is the home of the Robert Krum's. This white stuccoed house, built in 1859, is situated on sixty-one perches of land. It was used as the parsonage for the church from 1859 to 1890. The following paragraph is from the "History of Boehm's Evangelical and Reformed Church 1740 to 1890." "On January 13, 1859, the congregation agreed to build a parsonage along the Penllyn turnpike and appointed John Jones, George Geatrell, John Fitzgerald Sr., Joseph W. Shearer and Jacob Hoover a committee. The building was done by contract at a cost of $2,039.55. Carpenter work was done by George F. Sheaff. Mason work by John F. Rumer. The congregation raised by subscription $603.50; the balance being taken the funds of the church." It was decided at a meeting of the congregation held on March 3, 1890 to sell the house. The parsonage was sold at public sale to Donald Miller for $1,500.00. The congregation then proceeded to build a new manse on ground bought from Charles Deprefontaine. This house is now the offices of Eichler and Moffly Co. on Skippack Pike in Blue Bell. During the ensuing years the property changed hands a number of times. The K.rum Family has lived there since 1967. 230 Maggie and Harry Rolin's House By Maggie and Harry Rolin Artwork by Becky Huttinger A towering buttonwood tree, about one hundred and fifty years old, and a spring house make a perfect setting for this fieldstone house, set back from Penllyn Pike across from Boehm's Church. Apparently, it was built in the late part of the 18th century, then added to in 1802, and must have housed two families. Two front doors, and two sets of stairs, all the way to a big attic indicate this. Low ceilings — some of them with old beams — several fireplaces, one of which is huge, and wide floor- boards all add to its charm. We added, in 1952, a wing of closely matched stone, obtained from a nearby quarry, giving us sufficient room in which to raise a modern family. 231 "Christmas House" By Dorothy S. Conard Photography by George S. Peck This property, located on the corner of Skippack Pike and Cathcart Road, owned by Peter Cross, was named after Mr. Cross' great, great uncle. Clement C. Moore, who wrote "The Night Before Christmas." _.^ _^.^ In the early days Abraham Wentz, who owned and operated the red brick inn across Cathcart Road, also owned this property and used it for the "overflow" of overnight travelers to the inn. In 1871, the executors of the estate of Abraham Wentz, who died in 1870, sold the home and eleven acres to William H. Seeley for $,2,400. Caroline S. Hangstorfer came here as an eighteen-year-old bride in 1884 and the home remained in the possession of the Hangstorf- er family until 1965. Fred Hangstorfer, son of Caroline, was known for disposing of dead animals for the farmers in this area. Cathcart Road was at one time called Hangstorfer Road. Peter Cross, who purchased the property in 1965, stated that he has seen an original deed of this property dated 1755. Part of this house was a toll house during the time of the Skippack Turnpike Company which was dissolved in 190 I.Mr. Cross made additions to the original house and remodeled the barn; old bricks from walkways around the outside have been used in the present kitchen floor and many old window panes remain in the "old part" of the house. 233 "Boxwood Farm" By Bonnie Schmid Photography by George S. Peck "Boxwood Farm," a charming 18th century farmhouse, is located on the southwest side of Skippack Pike at its junction with Cathcart Road. It was purchased in 1945 by Charles and Margaret Olson and has been extensively renovated by them. Over the last thirty years they have made a pleasant home for today's living while preserving a fine example of an early Whitpain farm. The property consists of nearly 50 acres of land, a house, barn and several smaller buildings. Extensive plantings of boxwood adjacent to the main house have given the property its present name. When the Olsons purchased the property, it was much in need of repair. They lived on the third floor as the restoration of the main part of the house was accomplished. From their study of the house during its restora- tion, they discovered that it had probably been built in three sections. What is now the kitchen, is thought to be the original farm- house. Built about 1730, it consisted of one large room with a spiral staircase leading to a cellar and a built-in ladder leading to a loft above. Remains of both the staircase and the ladder are still visible. The next section, a three-story addition was built towards Skippack Pike. Later another three-story section was added bringing the house closer to Skippack. The newest section has two lovely fireplaces, one in the living room and the other in a second floor bed- room. From the type of construction and style of mantel, the fireplaces appear to be 200 years old. Although the property changed hands at least a dozen times between 1864 and 1945, the acreage and the buildings on the land stayed pretty much the same. The owner, in 1901, gave the Inland Traction Company the right-of-way to place poles on the land along Skippack Pike. These were to be used by a trolley line that was to run from St. John's Church in Centre Square to The Fort Side Inn. There is no indication that these rights were ever used. Prior to the 1864 sale to Nathaniel Longabow, the property belonged to the Wood family for many generations. The Wood name appears on property deeds recorded at the Montgomery County Court House in the mid-1700's. The Wood family was one of the original families in the township. At one time, the Wood family owned land on both sides of Skippack Pike. Cathcart Road appears as Wood Road on some deeds. 234 A portion of the present property, about 20 acres, was purchased from various owners by Israel Robinson between 1786 and 1802. He willed this land to his granddaughter Janette Robinson who married William Wood. This parcel of land then became part of the Wood property. It appears that members of the Wood family built the original house and the additions, although no specific documents or wills have been found to verify this. One Charles S. Wood is said to have been born in a house at this location in 1748. We may never know the precise early history but records do show that the Woods settled on this property before we were a nation. Today, we can enjoy their legacy to our township thanks to the care taken by the Olson's in restoring and maintaining this lovely home. 235 John Wentz Home By Dorothy S. Conard Photography by George S. Peck John Wentz, son of the innkeeper Abraham Wentz, was married on the 14th of April 1785 to Hannah Nanna, daughter of Abraham Nanna of Gwynedd. Between 1790 and 1800 he built a stone house, 1150 Skippack Pike, opposite the red brick inn. He continued to run the inn as his son, Abraham, did after him. On May 28, 1798, John was commissioned Justice of The Peace and held the office until his death in 1818. He was widely and favorably known as a justice who transacted much legal business and was a trusted man ot affairs around the region. He served as County Treasurer; and during the closing days of the war of 1812, he collected internal revenue for the United States Government. His death took place March 11, 1818, at the age of sixty-eight. John's son, Abraham Wentz, became owner of the residence and fifty-one acres of land, and in 1872 Abraham's son, Abram, purchased the entire property. In 1888, Abram Wentz sold to Reuben C. Beyer. Beyer remained owner of the stone house until 1915 when he sold to Tamzen E. Shelley, wife of Emanuel F. Shelley, who sold one year later in 1916 to William Jackson. From this time the land was gradually sold; and when Stanley and Helen Posen purchased the property in 1966, it contained a little more than four acres and the stone house. Mr. and Mrs. Posen's daughter Mary Beth Marsh and her husband, Richard, presently occupy the home with their two sons, Ryan Richard and Jason Christopher. 236 There is a huge magnolia growing on the property which is rare in this area, since it is the type that grows in the south. Mr. Jackson, who is now a resident of Florida, related that they used to call it a "cucumber tree" because of the cucumber type growths. When a tree was taken down to enclose the front porch, they found a metal box full of old coins which is now in the possession of Mr. Jackson. The remains of an old stone barn that was blown down by a tornado are still in evidence. This is a lovely old home. 237 The "Gingerbread House" By Dorothy S. Conard Photography by George S. Peck This lovely old home at 1030 Skippack Pike was purchased by Robert and Patricia Florig in 1966 from Dr. Edward Ocelus. The first mass of St. Helena's Church was held in the living room when Father Ganley first arrived and before St. Helena's Church was built. During the Depression years, this home was known as the "Gingerbread House" because the occupants at that time sold home-made baked items in front of the house on Skippack Pike. 238 The Zimmerman's of Silver Lake Farm By Blanche P. Zimmerman Photography by George S. Peck The Zimmerman family on Wentz Road is one of the few families in Whitpain Township if not the only one, which still lives on and from the land which was acquired by their ancestors before the Revolution. The farm, known as "Silver Lake Farm," has the further distinction of having been operated under the same family name all this time, since the inheritance went in each generation to a son. Silver Lake Farm is part of an original grant, which document the Zimmermans have in their possession, of 5,000 acres given by William Penn to George Palmer in 1682. In 1685, George Palmer gave 500 acres of this grant to his son, William. Since the property passed through several other hands before the Zimmerman's bought it in 1775, this piece deals only with the Zimmerman's. John Jacob Zimmerman, father of the Zimmerman's who emigrated to America in the seventeenth century, was born in the Duchy of Wurtenburg, Germany. He was a brilliant mathematician, astronomer and scientist, and was the author of many works on theology and astronomy. He was a Lutheran minister for many years but was dismissed because of his leanings toward mysticism. Following his years in the ministry, he was a professor of mathematics at Heidelberg University but his outspoken viewpoints about religion caused him to be expelled from Germany. With his wife, Maria Margaretha, and their four children, Phillip Christian, Matthaus, Jacob Christopher, who was baptized in 1683, and a daughter, Maria Margaretha John Jacob left his homeland to start to America. They went by way of Amsterdam where John Jacob fell sick and died. His family, with the help of the Quakers, continued on to America and arrived in Pennsylvania on June 23, 1694, then moved on out to Germantown. The widow Zimmerman managed to acquire several pieces of property in Germantown before her death in 1723. In her will, which was witnessed by Christoper Witt, the noted botanist, she left property to her two older sons and gave money to the other two children. Since Jacob Christopher didn't inherit any land, he left the area and went north where he bought land in Von Bebber Township. This was in 1708 when he was twenty-five years old. In 1734, he was assessed as a landowner in Worcester Township, a new township which was a part of Von Bebber. 239 We have no date of Jacob Christopher's death nor do we have a record of whom he married. We know that he was married and that he had a son, Christopher, who was born in 1735 in Worcester Township. Christopher Zimmerman married Deborah, daughter of Hance Supplee who was a well-to-do land owner in Worcester Township. It was this Christopher who bought the "plantation" in Whitpain Township from the estate of Charles Jolly, Esq., in 1775. Charles Jolly, a man of means, had accumulated about 800 acres of land before his death in 1774. He was a man of influence in the township and traveled around quite a bit. To make it easier to get to the main roads, he had a road put through his whole property extending from what is now DeKalb Pike to Germantown Pike. This road still bears his name. After Jolly's death, his widow sold the land at auction and Christopher Zimmerman bought 212 acres of it. Christopher didn't live to enjoy his "plantation" very long, since he died in 1782 leaving his wife and eight children. Deborah and her children lived on at the homestead (now the Mermaid Lake Swim Club) and Deborah, being a good business woman, continued to add to her holdings. At the time of her death in 1832 she owned around 300 acres. 240 William Zimmerman, born in 1781, was the third son of Christopher and Deborah Zimmerman. As in the previous generation, the third son received money as his inheritance instead of land. William took his money and went into the lumber business in Philadelphia where he did quite well. His older brother, Isaac, never married and continued to live at home. His brother, Jacob, married Mary White and they lived and produced a family where the present family now lives. Jacob's sons didn't stay on the farm. Old deeds show that William bought the land from his nephews, Isaac and Jacob, and apparently inherited his brother Isaac's share since Isaac never married and William was next in line. William Zimmerman married the former Esther Butler of Whitpain Township. They settled down on the farm which William had bought from his nephews and he began to buy back the property which his brothers had sold. At the time of his death in 1862, he had title to 293 acres consisting of the present Silver Lake Farm, what is now Mermaid Lake and the acreage between Silver Lake Farm and Union Meeting Road. This land joined the property of the old Union Meeting House, which was donated by the Zimmerman family. The Zimmerman's were very active in the little church and several family members are buried there. Three sons and a daughter were born to William and Esther: Sylvester, Franklin, Lorenzo and Cecelia. In his will, William divided the real estate equally between his sons and established a dowry for his daughter. Lorenzo was not happy with the piece he got for it was known to be the poorest of the lot. It is interesting that it is the only piece still in the family. Lorenzo Dow Zimmerman was born in 1872. He married the former Anna Maria Dager of Springfield Township and to them were born two sons, William and George Streeper. Lorenzo didn't live out his life in the country. He had a nice brick house built for himself and his wife, at 1300 DeKalb Street in Norristown, and they lived there in retirement for a good many years before his death in 1918. William Zimmerman, as his grandfather of the same name had done, left the farm at an early age and sought his fortune in banking. He had a very successful career in his chosen field as did his only child, Frederic Zimmerman. Fred Zimmerman, at 94, is the oldest living member of this line of Zimmerman's. He was, for many years, president of the Montgomery National Bank of Norristown and after that bank merged with the Philadelphia National Bank, was one of its vice-presidents. George Streeper Zimmerman, grandfather of the present Zimmerman's, was born in 1857. He married Mary Hoover, daughter of a well-known Whitpain family. Hoover Road in the township was named for her family. When his father, Lorenzo, moved to Norristown, George and Mary bought the farm and continually sought to modernize and improve it. It was during their lifetime that electricity was brought to the farm and they were quick to take advantage of all the benefits that ensued. Clarence Hoover Zimmerman, only child of George and Mary, was born in 1885. He married Edna Meschter Krieble, daughter of Hiram Krieble whose farm is now part of the Normandy Farms on DeK.alb Street at Morris Road. Clarence and Edna continued to be progressive farmers and were among the first in the area to mechanize farming. Two sons were born to them, Clarence Edward in 1910 and Merrill Krieble in 1913. 241 Edward and Merrill successfully carried on the tradition of farming set by their forebears. For many years they operated a dairy farm with an outstanding herd of registered Guernseys and won numerous awards for their cows and dairy products. At the same time, they were using and developing better methods of crop and grass farming and had a full line of modern farm machinery. In 1960, along with their wives, Blanche Perkins from Texas and Louise Everitt from Pennsylvania, they received the coveted Pennsylvania Master Farmer award. This award is given for excellency in farming combined with community service. Edward and Blanche had three children. Their daughter, Mary Edna, was the first girl born into the family in over a hundred years. She lives with her husband, Richard Ott, and three children: Mark, Kimberly and Eric on Wentz Road. Their son, Paul Edward, is the last male to bear the Zimmerman name in this particular line. He is married to the former Deborah Tyson and is the father of two girls. Heidi and Heather. Mark Lorenzo, Edward's younger son was born in 1947 and died in 1969. Merrill and Louise also had three children, all girls. Suzanne, married to Lee Powell, has three children, Steven, Gary and Kristin. Joan and her husband. Ronald Amey live on Wentz Road with their three girls, Jennifer, Patricia and Leigh. The only member of her generation to follow the family tradition of farming is Merrill's youngest daughter, Rebecca. She and her husband, Kenneth Schoenberg, are dairy farmers in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. They have two daughters, Kerrie and Gretchen. The original part of the house in which Edward and Merrill five was built in 1752. presumably by Richard J. Morris, and still stands although the house was gutted by tire in 1931. The house had been added to several times over the years and two or three genera- tions had lived in it at the same time, but after the fire it was rebuilt into a modern two-family dwelling. This allowed both Ed- ward and Merrill ample room to live there with their families. The large stone barn, built in 1804 by Wil- liam Zimmerman with the help of his broth- ers, Jacob and Isaac, still stands. This is very old for a barn tor barns so otten catch lire, especially when they are used for storing hay. The old parchment deed which William Penn gave to George Palmer has been mentioned. The Zimmerman's also have in their possession several old sheepskin and parchment deeds and indentures covering various transactions through the years. A copy of a letter written on April 25, 1682, and sent from William Penn to the "Emperor of Canada" raises some interesting questions. Who was the Emperor of Canada? Could he have been an Indian Chief? In the collection, there is a copy of the rather lengthy charter given by Charles the second of England to William Penn, son of Sir William Penn for the "Province of Pennsylvania" dated 1682. 243 Along with several old account books which the Zimmerman's have is a "Cipher Book" which William Zimmerman used in 1795, at the age of fourteen to learn all the rudiments of mathematics. It was also where he did his writing lessons. A mathematical problem runs: "A younger brother received 158 S which was just 7/12 of his elder brother's fortune and 5-3/8 times the elders money was 2/3 as much as the father was worth. Pray what was the estate valued at?" The following poem was one of the writing exercises: "I am constrained to plant a grove To entertain the girl I love. This ample grove I must compose Of nineteen trees in nine straight roes And in each roe 5 trees must place Or never expect to see her face. Ye men of art send me your aid . To satisfy this curious maid." 244 Mermaid Swim and Golf Club By Blanche P. Zimmerman Photography by George S. Peck The history of what is now the Mermaid Swim and Golf Club down to the time when it was inherited by Sylvester Zimmerman at the death of his father, William Zimmerman, in 1862 is told in the pi^ce about the Zimmerman family printed elsewhere in this book. When William Zimmerman divided his property into three parcels for his sons, Sylvester, Franklin, and Lorenzo, he designated the homestead as Sylvester's lot. The others were envious for it had the nicest house and the best ground — or so they thought. Sylvester was very happy with his inheritance and set out to beautify it so that during his time there it was considered quite a show place. It is believed that the house which now stands on the property was the house which was there when Christopher and Deborah Zimmerman bought it from the widow of Charles Jolly in 1775. A smaller house, which was destroyed by fire in 1959, was a tenant or farmer's house. The old carriage sheds, currently used as a garage, also still stands, as does the stone barn which William Zimmerman built in 1800 with the help of his brothers, Jacob and Isaac. After Sylvester's death, his son Harry Zimmerman lived there. Harry was not a farmer and eventually sold the farm and moved into Norristown where he was engaged in the real estate business. His two sons and daughter also went in other directions. About 1927, John and Louise Crowell bought the property. They saw the potential of the little stream which ran across their land, fed also by the big spring which was nearby, and so the idea of Mermaid Lake was born. By 1930, a dam had been constructed across the stream, bath houses built and a refreshment stand put up. They were in business. Mermaid Lake proved to be a very popular "watering place" for many years. It was open to the public for a fee, but John Crowell scanned the cars as they pulled up to the admissions gate. 245 In 1945, Roland Randal bought Mermaid Lake from the Crowell's. He continued to run it in much the same way as it had been, but he also began to look at the larger potential of the property. He made improvements to the area. He turned what had been pastures into lawns, put picnic tables around and built tennis courts and a small golf course. In 1958 the big, sturdy empty barn was turned into a recreation center. It was separated from the swimming pool built adjacent to it. This has been a very busy area. In the summertime from Memorial Day to after Labor Day, the "Barn" is a center of activity, rain or shine, with the picnics and outings held by many large organizations. Meantime, Whitpain Township was growing and the crowds at Mermaid Lake got bigger and bigger. It became apparent that some form of regulation would have to be found, so in 1961 the Mermaid Swim and Golf Club was organized. At this time, a huge pool was constructed within the lake which made for more pleasant swimming. It continues to operate as a private club. 246 Sperry Univac Land By Dorothy S. Conard Photography by George S. Peck In 1682, a patent covering five thousand acres was granted to George Palmer who lived in England, never seeing his American land. On April 9th of the same year, he bequeathed by will a share of same to his son, William Palmer. In 1702, a patent of exact boundaries conveying eight hundred and twenty-three acres was received by him from William Penn's Commissioners of Property. This tract was three-fourths of a mile wide by one and a half miles long, extending irom Skippack Road to Plymouth Line. In 1703, the land was conveyed to Philip Price, a Welshman of Upper Merion, who evidently bought it for speculation. The same year he sold the upper half to William Thomas, another Welshman from Radnor. This contained the later Zimmerman, Alfred and Augustis Styer properties. In 1706, Price conveyed to Richard Morris the remaining lower half of the eight hundred and twenty-three acres. This covered the farms that later belonged to the Conrad, Roberts, Detwiler, McCann, Shoemaker, Indehaven and Hoover families. The Conrad farm covered a portion of one hundred and thirty-two acres sold by Richard Morris to John Rees, a Welsh Quaker, about 1733. In 1734 Rees. who previously lived in Plymouth Township, was assessed for this many acres and possibly built the first home on this property for his family. In 1767, his ownership ceased by sale to Henry Markhall (Markley) who was owner for seven years just prior to the Revolution. In 1774, Henry Markhall sold to John Zimmerman and Zabulon Potts who evidently bought the land for speculative purposes. In 1777, a Church Corporation, titled "The Society of the Relief of Widows and Children of Clergymen in the Communion of the Protestant Episcopal Church of America," bought of Zimmerman and Potts the main tract of one hundred and thirty-two acres and a dwelling. In 1795, the property was sold to Henry Conrad who had married Anne Osborn. He was a descendent of Thomas Kunders (Dennis Conrad) ofGermantown who came there in 1683, soon after the arrival of William Penn. Henry, son of John Conrad, was born at the family homestead which is now the Jeffersonville Inn on DeKalb Pike. His sister, Sarah, married Enoch Supplee, a Tory, who with her brother, Robert, fled the country because of Tory activities. Henry's son, Benjamin, was quite a local celebrity, having taught school at "North Star" and "Five Points." He died, never having married, in 247 1843 at age forty-six. Henry died at his home December 2, 1838, at age seventy-six. His wife continued to live at the old homestead with her son, Nathan, until she died in 1852. Henry's estate amounted to eleven thousand dollars. Nathan continued to live on the farm until his death in 1872. Nathan married Martha Meredith, had seven children, only two of whom survived him. He made extensive improvements on the home. In 1872, the farm where Nathan was born in 1808, was willed to John Meredith Conrad who had married Elma Garrigues. They had five children. His son. Lee Garrigues Conrad, born in 1881, met a terrible fate, losing his life at the burning of The Park Hotel, New York City, February 22, 1902, where he had gone with his relative. Henry C. Conrad. His charred remains were interred in Plymouth Friends' burying ground. The last occupant of the farm prior to the sale to the Sperry Rand Corporation was Ida C. Conrad who became Mrs. Abel K. Harris after the death of her first husband. Harry W. Myers. Thus, the land passed out of the Conrad family who had lived on the land since 1795. At the time of the ground breaking, expanding the Sperry Univac facility in 1964, Ida Conrad Harris recalled many memories of her life on the farm for an article in the Norristown Times Herald. She related that several big barns were located on the property and one or more was set aside for the circus people who brought horses to be stabled for the winter months. A fire swept through one of the barns one night in the year 1910, which created a lot of excitement and work in bringing it under control. All the cows were lost in the fire and the barn itself'was completely destroyed, but a.11 the farm horses and riding horses were rescued. " 248 Mrs. Harris spoke about a coal vein on the farm in the hill area. It was of no commercial value and was considered mainly as a curiousity. It did on occasion, provide coal for family needs. The big farm wagons were well remembered by Mrs. Harris. The hay loads, she said, were hauled to the paper mills of Manayunk for the feeding of the horses of the mill's wagon teams. A special customer was the old Nixon Paper Mill. On return trips from the mills, the Conrad wagons brought fertilizer and manure for cultivation of the farmland. Along with farming, Mrs. Harris took special interest in Grange affairs and it is said that she was quite an actress with a most beautiful voice, and was known as the "Sarah Bernhart" of the Whitpain area. She was a past president and a founding member of the Cold Point Home Economics Club, a past master of the Cold Point Grange and for thirty-two years, secretary of the Pomona Grange. Earlier in her career she campaigned for women's suffrage as leader of the Women's Rights Movement in Whitpain Township. Mrs. Harris was selected as the first woman juror from Whitpain Township about 1922. She was a Republican in politics, and a Friend by faith, a birthright member of Plymouth Meeting and attended Plymouth Meeting Friends School as a young girl. The old farm house on the property was torn down in 1973; however, certain artifacts were preserved and given to The Historical Society of Montgomery County. Ida Conrad Myers Harris recalled bob-sledding and sleigh rides over the farmlands. On winter nights, when snow is on the ground, neighborhood children still have fun with sleds and toboggans on the slope in front of the main building of this great industrial complex which has become the World Headquarters ofSperry Univac. 249 Dr. and Mrs. Barclay Rile Property By Dorothy S. Conard Photography by George S. Peck This property has been the home of a medical doctor, a pastor and two veterinarians. This six acre parcel, with message (building), located on Skippack Pike across from the Post Office, was part of a larger tract of land deeded to Jacob K.urr on September 3, 1766. In 1798, William and Barbara Still, paying two hundred pounds and one shilling, were the highest bidders for this property at a public sale. It is interesting that the dimensions of this land, six acres, remained the same throughout the years. In 1810, Barbara Still, now a widow, turned the property over to her son, Henry Still, and his wife Elizabeth. Dr. Anthony Steinberger, a medical doctor, and his wife Susanna were owners and occupants until 1830, when the estate was purchased by Cornelius Tysonand his wife, Hannah, and Abraham Wentz and his wife. Charlotte. In 1838, the property was sold to Leonard St'ver whose ownership was brief since he sold to George Worl in 1839 for two thousand, one hundred dollars. In 1842, the administrators for the estate of George Worl sold the property to Reverend Samuel Helffenstein and his wife. Reverend Helffenstein was pastor at Boehm's Reformed Church and was one .of the most eminent ministers of the Reformed Church in America. The property, in 1867, came into the ownership of Henry Dull, and in 1874 it was sold to Thomas Jefferson Rile. From the year 1874 it has remained in the Rile family. Four generations have occupied the home as it passed from father to son. Dr. Edward A. Rile, who was born here in 1885, bought the property from his father in 1909 and operated a well-known veterinarian business throughout a very large area of Montgomery County and surrounding Counties until his retirement in 1952. He and his wife, Alice Conard Rile, are presently residents of a Nursing Home in Sellersville, Pennsylvania. 251 Dr. Edward Rile has a wealth of stories to tell about the area, residents, and his experiences. One of the stories is about a man calling from the driveway of his home to the second floor, about three o'clock in the morning. When Dr. Rile opened the window, he recognized the person and asked, after the gentleman had requested that he come to see his sick wife, why he didn't call a medical doctor. The man replied that he had, but couldn't get the doctor to his home. After some contemplation Dr. Rile, dressed, got out his horse and sleigh, and accompanied the man to his home. Upon arriving, he found the wife had had teeth extracted, was unconscious and bleeding profusely, and had practically no pulse beat. Dr. Rile's thoughts naturally were what the consequences would be if the woman should die, and he, a veterinarian, was treating her. He used an old fashioned wooden match, wrapped a piece of cotton on the end, dipped it into chloroform, and held it into the socket where a tooth had been removed. He continued this in each socket until he came to the middle of her mouth, when she opened her eyes and said, "Doc, you're a vet. What are you doing here?" Doctor Edward Rile has always been Hank Conard's favorite Uncle, and he well remembers frequently being taken to the corner drugstore at Butler and Main Streets in Ambler and being treated to an ice-cream soda. In 1952, Dr. E. Barclay Rile, son of Edward and Alice, and his wife Grace Arn Rile purchased the home and^re the present occupants. 252 The Roberts - Miller Tract By Becky Huttinger Photography by George S. Peck The early history of this property, like all of the land in this area, may be traced through old deeds to original grants of William Penn. It was part of the five thousand acres presented to George Palmer of England in 1682 by the Proprietor. Palmer's son, William, inherited the land and in 1703 one year after acquiring it, sold it to Philip Price. Price then sold it to Richard Morris who, in 1707, apparently deeded 100 acres of it to Edward Endehave for forty pounds. The old deed reads as follows: — "Beginning corner post being corner of William Thomas's land from thense by a line of trees marked dividing it from other land of Edward Endehave SE one hundred perches to another post being corner of Charles Molen's land being a corner post of Charles Molen's land from thense SW by a line of marked trees and the same land 111 perches to another post being a corner of other land of said Richard Morris from thense by a line of marked trees NW 144 perches to another corner stake set in a line of the said Wm. Thomas's land from thense by said line of marked trees NE 111 perches through the place of the beginning". For the next fifty-seven years ownership is obscure. It probably passed from father to sons within the Endehave family. . 253 In 1764, Edward Roberts bought forty-eight acres. Because the land he purchased was in two parcels, he had to get two separate deeds. The same year, he was married to Ellin Lewis in the Gwynedd Friends Meeting-House. His father was Robert Roberts, son of Hugh Roberts who had come from Merion (on the other side of the Schuylkill River) in 1697 to establish a new community of Friends. He was one of a group of about 100 who bought collectively 7,820 acres which later was to become Gwynedd. Like William Penn, these p'eople had originally come from Wales. During the American Revolution, somewhere along the northern boundary of the farm (now Union Meeting Road) about 400 yards from Skippack Road, a number of Continental Soldiers are supposed to be buried. They probably died in the winter of 1777 after being wounded in the Battle of Germantown. Clara Beck, in her History of Whitpain Township comments, "Tradition says that at one time a tannery was in operation here, and that huge vats were placed east of the house and between it and the turnpike; and that these vats still exist though sealed with heavy planks and covered with earth." Edward Roberts, who was esteemed as a gentleman, made a most interesting legal agreement with his son, Amos, in 1811. He gave his farm with messuage (improvements) to his son, "with right of premises, to occupy the back room in each stories of the house plus kitchen privileges." li was further agreed that he would receive, "together with sufficient board, washing and mending at the expense of the said Amos Roberts and sufficiency of Apples for his use, likewise back stable in the barn, the small stock yard and the Barrack therein, pasture for a horse, also lot of plowland containing two and one half acres adjoining woods, further the Meadow adjoining, Mathias Wentz's with exception of small shop and small piece of garden." Amos also agreed to give his father $4.00 yearly. This document was witnessed by Thomas Lewis and John Lewis. Whether this house and messuage was located on Skippack Pike opposite School Lane or down the lane (later Union Meeting Road) is a matter of speculation. Amos Roberts had two sons, Levi and Charles. According to Clara Beck in her History of Whitpain Township, "when he reached middle age, he decided to divide his plantation into two equal shares, giving one part to Levi and the other to Charles." The 1848 map of Whitpain indicates that Levi lived on Skippack Road and that Charles lived on Union Meeting Road very near the Union Meeting House. Charles M. Roberts was a teacher as well as a farmer. An old document exists which was written in 1828. It reads as follows: — "Whereas Charles M. Roberts has an intention of teaching a School and has applied to us the Subscribers hereto for a recommendation this is to certify that he is in our opinion a suitable person to conduct a school and well qualified to Perform the duties thereto appertaining his Education consisting of a Knowledge of Reading, Writing, Arithmetic, Mensuration (conduct), Surveying, Naviga- tion, Algebra, and Book Keeping by single and double entry." Signed, Alan M. Corson, Benjamin Conrade, and Joseph Foulke. (See photograph of same in section about Schools.) 254 Levi Roberts, according to an old deed, sold his property in 1859 to John Roberts for $1,000. The tract in this document is described as being bounded by Skippack Turnpike, by Joseph Conard's land, thense to corner and thense by land of Charles M. Roberts (passing through milkhouse) south and thense to public road to land of William Kibblehouse (deceased) to stone corner of Howard Cadwallader and thense to Joseph Conards. There were thirty-eight acres and ninety-nine perches, "it being all and the same Messuage and Tenement." Charles Roberts and his wife, Keziah Comly Roberts, had one surviving child, a daughter named Caroline. She was born on her parent's farm in 1S38 and grew up in Blue Bell. She and William George Miller were married in 1859. Caroline inherited her lather's properly after his death. Some years later her husband, William, purchased what had been Levi Roberts' farm. Thus the plantation became of one piece again. For over one hundred and fifty years and for five generations, the Roberts' owned this land. William George Miller was born near Penns- burg. Pa. in 1832. He was the son of John and Henrietta Faber Miller. Henrietta's par- ents were Rev. John Theobold Faber. Jr. and Marie Arndt. R