The C h ronicle A Publication of The Historical Society

June 2001 A.D. of Trappe, Collegeville, Perkiomen Valley, Inc. Volume XXX, No. 2

Valley Forge Architect to Speak June 14th

The recent restoration of the Washington Memorial Arch at Valley Forge National Park wil l be described by the Park Restoration Architect, Timothy Long, at the F lag Day Dinner meeting on Thursday, June 1 4th at 7pm at Moorehead's on First Avenue, Trappe. This is one of the major restorations in the history of the park. You wi l l receive a privileged look into the interior of this magnificent monument as well as learn of the precarious condition that made the restoration necessary.

Mr. Long is known to those who were involved in the early days of the restoration of Muhlenberg House. When Architect John Mi lner was involved in 1 989-90 in the removal of the 1 9th century modernization materials from Muhlenberg House, Mr. Long was one of the University of Pennsylvania graduate students in Mr. Mi lner's class on restoration architecture who worked at Muhlenberg House. We are, indeed, fortunate in having him as our speaker.

Mr. Long wil l also refer to the Muhlenberg Brigade at Valley Forge which was under the command of General Peter Muhlenberg. In his Journal, Pastor Muhlenberg refers to the visits General Peter made to h is Trappe home from Valley Forge. He also records that they could hear canon fire at the camp.

We invite the general public to attend and give a special invitation to members of Masonic Lodges in the area as the Masonic Order gave financial assistance in the restoration of the Arch to honor President and General Washing­ton who was a member of the Order. A small portrait of President Washington in his Masonic regalia, which the Trappe Society owns, wil l be on exhibit at the dinner as wel l as early souvenir booklets and a print from the cen­tennial of the Valley Forge Encampment.

We suggest you use the reservation form on the last page. Bring a guest and invite others to purchase reservations also. •!•

The President's Message

Dear Friends, Many exciting new developments have taken place in

the Society in recent months. We will be hiring an administrative secretary to help

with the growing demands in administration. This is a welcome addition.

Restoration of the shed behind the Muhlenberg House

will commence this spring and summer, with the goal of having a suitable space for historic farm implements.

A community mailing will take place in a few weeks in order to raise funds to help with the ongoing expenses and special projects. Please be generous when you receive your letter asking for support.

We still need volunteers to serve on: Finance Committee Property Committee Docents (Guides)

If you have any interest in these areas, please contact me at the following number: 610-489-9625, Monday through Thursday, 9am until 12 noon.

Thank you for your support-we look forward to an exciting spring and summer.

Sincerely,

� � · Dr. Herbert H Michel, President

Museums Open June 10th The Historical Society will observe its 3 8th year of service to Trappe. Collegeville, and the Perkiomen Valley in the opening of the Dewees Museum and Muhlenberg House on Sunday, June I 0th, from I :30 to 4pm. Limited parking is available at each museum. Parking is also available through the generosity of St. Lukes United Church of Christ at 200 W. Main Street.

For the first time, two rooms on the second floor of Dewees Museum wi ll be open. A mil itary exhibit with items from the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, Spanish American War, World War I, and World War II wil l b on permanent display in the first room at the head of the main stairway.

continued on page 2

From The Journa ls of Henry Melch ior Muhlenberg

1778

June JO, Wednesday. Paid I Os. to Mr. Pennebecker for thirty feet of board for a cellar door. A lso bought fifteen Sheat-Fishes, a kind offish which come up from the sea into the fresh streams in spring and may be caught in the Delaware and the Schulkiel. They are usually salted down and eaten during the winter like herring. It used to be possible to buy them for 6d. apiece; at present they are 2s. apiece, a total of £ 1 1 0s. Messrs. Schafer, Burchhard, and Wills and Colonel Weltner's wife came over from the American camp. The American army is sti l l lying quiet, etc. Today I continued the work of making medicine which I began yesterday.

June 12, Friday. Had day laborers at mowing grass and making hay. The old patriarch, Jacob Merckle, sent us a present of a quarter of veal and two pounds of butter. Visit from Martin Noll, who has been authorized to be executor of the estate of deceased Widow Zimmerman and her deceased son for the latter's surviving widow. Several weeks ago the said man was attacked at night, horribly mistreated, and plundered of everything he had by English troops from Philadelphia under the pretext that he was sheltering and concealing a general of the provincial m i l itia. On that very afternoon one such officer had been in front of his house for fifteen minutes and several Tories riding by had seen him there and probably reported it in the city. Whereupon a party set upon him the same night and abused him in a Cossack-l ike fashion.

A short time ago the German printer, Christoph Sauer, was taken prisoner in Philadelphia and brought to the American camp because his sons in Philadelphia have been treating the Ameri­cans very unreasonably and abusively in the German newspapers. A German general in the camp said a good word for him, which brought about his release after he had sworn the oath of loyalty to the state.

In the evening I paid the grassmower 7s. 6d. for today. A spy was captured here today and taken to the American camp.

A Call to Membership! Renew your membership with The Historical Society-and encourage others to join! See form on page 3. Stay updated on events and learn about the h istory of our area.

Renew your membership at the June 14th Dinner!

Museums Open June l�th continued from page J

This addition to the museum has been made possible through the work of the Museum Committee composed of Robert Meschke, Marie Shetler, John Shetler, Charles Steitz, Thomas G. Young, Esther Ziegler, and Lloyd Ziegler.

Persons desiring to lend or give items to the Mil itary Exhibit may contact Dr. John Shetler, Museum Director/Historian, or Charles Steitz, Curatorofthe Mil itary Exhibit.

The second room to be open is the Kressman Room which contains Kressman/Cressman fami ly items and family genealogical files which are part of a Kressman endowment to the Historical Soc iety. The exhibit includes prints and crests from Pfungstadt, Gennany, from which came some of the first settlers of the Perkiomen Val ley. Mrs. Gem Nelson of Coopersburg and Cressman Fami ly President is the Curator of this Exhibit. •!•

Participate in Heritage Sunday On Sunday, September 1 6th, we shal l celebrate the 224th Anniversary of the Entrance of General Washington and the Army into Trappe and the Perkiomen Valley. We invite all persons who are interested in demonstrating one of their

Do you have artifacts or clothing from

the American Revolution? IV ould yo11

be willing to lend them/or exhibition

al that time? If necessary. they wo11ld

be placed in locked cases.

If you have a number of things and crafts that day to reserve a position now would like to have a display area and by cal I ing Dr. I van W . Hess ( 6 1 0-489- staff it, please call the Historian, 7622) who wil l be in charge of the Dr. Shetler (610-489-2624).

demonstrations. This year we expect to add several farm crafts from past generations. The

storage shed at the Muhlenberg House will begin to house early farm equipment. This will provide an opportunity for both men and women to serve as docents in this area of interest. •!•

To Schedule Tour Groups Both Muhlenberg House and the Dewees Museum welcome tour groups. Such groups need to schedule their dates in advance. A suggested contribution of $2.00 per person per museum is encouraged to help with museum maintenance costs. Of course, larger contributions are welcomed. All our docents, officers, and committee persons are volunteers. All your gifts go directly to the work of the museums.

To make reservations for tour groups, please call the Museum Director/ Historian, Dr. John Shetler (6 1 0-489-2624) . •!•

, - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - --, I C E R T I F I C A T E 0 F G I F T - .

! M A T C H I N G G I FT F O R F I V E - P L A T E S T O V E S

: Enclosed is a check made payable to The Historical Society:

I In the Name o� -��������������������-

I In Memory of: I I I I I I

City

0 $25

State

D $50 0 $100

Street

Zip Tel.

0 $500 0 $1 ,000 D Other

I Clip and mail to: The Historical Society P.O. Box 26708 Collegevil le, PA 19426-0708 _J ! _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

L(fe Members of The Historical Society Mrs Kathryn M Allebach Mr Mark R. Ashton Mr Robert A Ayerle Mr Frank Bartle Ms Suzanne M. Belville Mr Randy Bennen Mrs Jeanne F Berry Mr Richard L Biehl Mrs Hubena F Bishop Ms Sandra L Bonser Mr. Henry B Brown Mr Richard Kmg Brown The Honorable Raymond Bun!, Jr Mrs Nancy Cressman Cashatt Denise L. Clark Mr & Mrs Wilham H Clement Mr Glenn A Clemmer Ms Doms M Cloud Mr David A Comish Mrs Mayland D Crosson l'vlr James G Crouse Mrs Anna M Custer Mr Walter E Daller, Jr Mr & Mrs Kenneth W D.- 1s Mr Matthew Drefler Dr U Berkley Ellis Mrs Chnstina F anaro Mrs Mabelle H Fisher Mr Robert A F 1sher Rev Wilham A Fluck Mr Clinton M Frey Mr Elmer R Funk Mrs Elizabeth J Gable Mr & Mrs Frank H Genieser Mr Robert A Ginther Mrs Linda T. Giovinco Mr Thomas P Glassmoyer Ms Betsy Grater Mrs Thurid Greve Mrs Georgene B Gnflith Mr & Mrs Thomas Z Hanenbauer William F. Heefner, Esquire Mr. Charles R. Hentz Mrs Mary Gnm1son Herric� Mr & Mrs. H Ober Hess, Esquire Dr Ivan W. Hess

Andrea H1ergesell Mrs Elizabeth F Hiester The Honorable Ed'"n G Holl Mrs Caroline M Hufford-Anderson lvlr. & Mrs John Hughes Mr & Mrs Eric Hundenmark Mr Da\ld Johnston Mr James R Kelly Alma W Kendig

Mr John T Keyser Mr Joseph A Kmg Mrs M) m a Knaide Mr Lee E. Knepp Rev & Mrs R David Koch Rev Thomas T Kochenderfer Jr Charles W Koenig, VMD The Re\ erends Ho\\ ard & Martha Knebel Mrs MarJone S Krug Mr & Mrs Melvin E Krug Mr Harold R Kuser Ms. Lorrair.e R Landes Walter F. Larkin, DDS Mrs Beny Leech Mr David S Le1bgnes, J r Mrs Elizabeth K. Levengood lvlr Wilmer W Long Mr & Mrs Joseph A Ludwig Mrs Diana R Macfarland Mrs Deborah N Marsteller Rev Judith A. Meier Ms. Elizabeth M Memll Mrs Dolores J Meschter Rev. Dr Herbert H Michel J Peter Muhlenberg, MD Mr. John A Muhlenberg Mr John C K Muhlenberg Mr Mark C K Muhlenberg Mr James Nolen, III Mr. John E Ohler Mr. Richard A Opperman Mrs Phyllis V Parsons Dr George R. Peckstetn Mr John E Peterson Mrs Constance W Poley

Mr Wayne Rosen Mr Richard J Ross Mrs Louise Sacks Lawrence Sager, Esquire Mr Da' 1d J Sautter Mr Winthrop deV. Schwab Mr George A Sharp, III Dr & Mrs John C Shetler Mrs Dorothy A Cressman Showers Mr Da\ ld L Shrom Rev Judith P Simonson Mrs Cathenne Muhlenberg Smith Mrs Louise M Smtth Mrs Lucinda W Smith Dr Evan S Snyder Mr & Mrs J Linford Sn) der Mr Raymond E Spaid Mrs Margaret B Staiger Dr Roger P Staiger Ms Carol Ann Ste\ enson Mr Fred E Stew an Dr & Mrs Edwin C Tat! Mrs Lydia G Taxis Ms Elizabeth A Vorrnschlag Mrs. JoAnn Waddell Mrs Ethel M Wagner Mr William Muhlenberg Wagner, Jr Mr John P Warren Rev Fredenck B Weiser lvlr James D W1lkmson Mrs Dorothy R W1lhams Dr Charlotte M Wttmer Mrs. Ahce Freddie Workman Rev & Mrs Thomas G Young Mr & Mrs Lloyd L Ziegler Ms Bernice J Z1linski Mrs Cathenne S Zimmerman Mr & Mrs Michael Coine Aard\ ark Florist & Gifts Mr. Donald J Neilson,

Audubon Land Development Corp. Robert L Brant Jr , Esquire,

Brant & Associates Mr Gordon MacElhenney ,

Brook Street Securities Century 21 Alliance

Ms Jamie Noble, Progress Ban� Mr & Mrs Frankltn H Renninger.

F J Renninger & Son Mr. Richard P. Solan Manager, Ftrst Union Gambone Brothers De\elopment Co Gorski Constmct1on Company Mr E Eugene Bechtel, Greem\ood Studio Mr Edward H1ergesell, H-B Instrument Co J. Edmund Mullin, Esquire,

Hamburg, Rubin, Mullin, Max\\ ell, & Lupin Mr. Walter E Daller, Jr , CEO,

Harleysville National Bank Mrs Debra Heldt. Manager,

Harleysville National Bank Mr & Mrs. Richard A Holcombe,

Holcombe Funeral Home, Inc Mr John D Milner, John Milner Architects. Inc Thomas M Keenan, Esquire,

Keenan, Ciccltlo, & Associates Mr Daniel A Lejeune, Leicune Properties Mr & lvlrs. Dre\\ Lewis, L1lhput Foundation Mr Edward R Moore, L1menck Omer Mr George Meschter, Meschter Insurance Group Mr Dante) S D1Mucc1, V1ce-Pres1dent

Pennoni Associates, Inc Ms Marsha M Beard Manager,

Phoenix\ illc Federal Sa\ mgs Mr Gary Ezell, Professional Contract Sen 1cos Realen Charitable Foundation lvlr. Michael M. Staduhs,

Realen Homes Management Corporation Ms Michelle Sabre. Sabre's Ftne Jc\\ eln Mr. Willoughby W Moyer,

Skippack Historical Societ) Mr. Neil B. Sukonik,

Sukonik De\elopment Corporation Mr. Jon Costanza, Sunpo\\er Builders T. & T. Development Com pan} . Inc Mr. Randolph H. R1egner, T R Insurance Group Tint Pro Traffic Planning & Design Trappe Tavern Mr. Merrill S. Moyer Chairman Untvest Corporation Mr. Richard Czop, Wamick Exca\at1on, Inc Mr & Mrs. Charles E. Wismer Jr ,

Wis Acres Dairy Farm Mr R. Ench Hess

Mr & Mrs Roderick B Rees Mrs Beverly A Reichenbach Mr. & Mrs Randolph H R1egner Mr Pierre H Schimek, Continental Services, Inc. Mr. Ralph R. Yocum, Jr., Yocum Glass Compan}

Docents I Guides Docents are the persons who conduct visitors through the museums and interpret or teach them about not only the artifacts and furnishings but also the history of the buildings, the people , and the area.

The orientation sessions conducted by the Historian provide information beyond the printed page distributed to docents. We suggest that all docents keep a notebook to include information distributed from time to time. lfafter the orientation you do not feel comfortable to conduct groups, or if you missed the last orientation, then we can team you with someone who has been a docent for some time until you are ready to take your first group. Please call Mrs. Maureen Ruggiero ( 6 1 0-489-2209) or Dr. John Shetler, Museum Director/ Historian (6 1 0-489-2624). •!•

Five-Plate Stove Design

INVITATION TO MEMBERSHIP: 2001

Regular $ 1 0.00

Student @ $2.00

Schrack @ $ 1 5.00

Life @ $ 1 00.00

Name:

Address: :--------------

Tel No.

Checks Payable to: The Historical Society

Mail to: Richard Holcombe P.O. Box 26806 Col legevi lle, PA 1 9426-0806

I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I

Architect Christina Carter has reported that the 1 8th century stove plates have been located, verified, and are in the process of being assembled. The plates discovered at Muhlenberg House are already at the W. D. Pattern Co. , Fifth Avenue, Trappe. It is expected that the patterns wil l be completed this summer, the casting wil l follow, and the stoves wil l be in place in Muhlenberg House for the December Open House. We invite members and friends who have not yet contributed to use the form on page 2 and have your name l isted in the record of sponsors. If you do not know what a five-plate stove is, visit Muhlenberg House on June 1 0th and see a facsimile model in the wall of the fireplace between the kitchen and the front room. •!• L _ __________ _ __ _J

The Chronicle a publication of

The Historical Society of Trappe, Collegeville, Perkiomen Valley, Inc.

P. O. Box 26708 Collegeville PA 19426-0708 Tel: 6 1 0-489- 7560

Board of Directors Dr. Herbert H. Michel, President

Maureen R. Ruggiero, 1st Vice President

Myrna Knaide, Treasurer

Dr. Charlotte M. Witmer, Secretary

Anna F . Schrack, Corresponding Secretar)'

Dr. John C. Shetler, Museum D1rector!Historian

The Rev. William Fluck, Chap/am

Ivan W. Hess, M.D., Past President

The Rev. Robert E. Home, Chaplain Emeritus

Richard A. Holcombe

Phyllis Parsons

Raymond Spaid

Dr. John C. Shetler, Editor

Myrna Knaide, M an aging Editor M-K Computing Servi ces

Printed by Pro C opy

Write to the Editor at: 300 W. 3 rd Avenue

Trappe, PA 1 9426-2226 6 1 0-489-2624

C · A · L · E · N · D · A · R - 2 0 0 1 A.D.

June 1 0

June 1 4

June 1 7 to August 26

September 2

September 9

September 1 6

September 23 to November 30

November 1 1

December 2

December 9

December 1 6

I : 3 0 - 4:00pm (Sunday) Both Museums Open

7:00pm (Thursday) Flag Day Dinner Moorehead's, Trappe

I :30 - 4:00pm (Sundays) Both Museums Open

Both Museums Closed

Both Museums Open

1 :30 - 4:00pm Heritage Sunday Both Museums Open

Both Museums Open by Appointment

7:00pm (Sunday) Armistice Day Dinner

I :30 - 4:00pm Both Museums Open

I :30 - 4:00pm Muhlenberg House Open 2 :00 - 3 :00pm Pastor Muhlenberg Speaks 3 :00 - 4 :00pm Dewees Museum Open

Museums Open by Appointment until Spring 2002

NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION

U. S. POSTAGE PAI D

COLLEGEVILLE PA 1 9426

PERMIT NO. 9

JUNE 2001 NEWSLETTER Please, Do Not Delay!

FLA G DAY D IN N E R June 14, 2001 7 :00 PM

Moorehead's Catering First Avenue, Trappe

Speaker: Timothy Long

"Restoring the Memorial Arch at Valley Forge"

Clip and mail to: Richard Holcombe P.O. Box 26806 Trappe, PA 1 9426-0806

R es e rv a t i o n F o r m

Name: Tel: -------

Address :

Street

City

Please reserve ___ places at $ 1 7.60 each for a total of $ ____ _