November 1998 - Historical Society of Trappe

The Ch ron icle
A Publication of The Historical Society of Trappe and the Perkiomen Valley
Trappe-Collegeville, Pennsylvania 1 9426
November 1 998
Walter Daller to Receive
Muh lenberg Award
Walter E. Daller, Jr., President and Chief
Executive Officer of Harleysville
National Bank, has been elected to
receive the Muhlenberg Award of the
Historical Society of Trappe, College­
ville, and the Perkiomen Valley, as
announced by President Ivan W. Hess,
M.D. The Muhlenberg Leadership
Medal recognizes persons for out­
standing leadership qualities of Vision,
Integrity, Faith, and Service.
Mr. Daller began working for
Harleysville National Bank as a teller
and has risen to his present position. His
vision has led the bank through a steady
period of expansion and imaginative
service, notably to senior citizens and
children. Under his direction, the bank
has been supportive to community
organizations, enabling them to serve
more effectively in behalf of citizens of
the Perkiomen Valley.
His distinguished credentials include
service on the Board of Directors for the
Independent Bankers Association of
America (IBAA), the IBAA Nominating
Committee, and the National VISA
Merchant Bank Services Board. He also
served on the Governing Council of the
Pennsylvania Bankers Association.
(Continued on page 2)
Walter E. Daller, Jr.
Volume XXVII, No. 4
The President's Message
The Open House, Dedication, and Heritage Day cele­
brating the completion of the restoration ofthe Muhlenberg
House have been completed success.fully, with many people
attending.
We thank all who have contributed in one way or another
-all are important. We are especially grateful to our archi­
tect, John Milner, who contributed the carpetfor the Visitor's
Center. It adds a nice touch and helps acoustically.
It is interesting how we are receiving requests for tours of
the Muhlenberg House. A t the present time we have three
groups scheduled to visit us. We have no set admission fee,
but we do expect a donation.
As time passes andfunds are available, we will.famish
the house. Appropriate .furniture of the 1 8th Century is
scarce and expensive, but it is our goal to do it in the proper
manner. We will take our time.
Sincerely,
C
., i)(Jitt
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/J{,/
/:/ F'IJ"
11
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Ivan W. Hess, MD.
President
Dr. John Frantz ofPenn State at Annual Meeting
An opportunity to understand the ethnic
background of the people who settled
Trappe (Providence) in the 1 8th Century
will be given at the Annual Meeting on
November 1 1 th, when Dr. John Frantz,
Professor of History at Pennsylvania
State University, will give an illustrated
lecture on "The Pennsylvania Germans
-A Persistent Minority." President Ivan
W. Hess, M.D., will preside.
Dr. Frantz lectures widely across the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and is
well known in this area. He is the son of
Mrs. Ruth Frantz and the late Rev. Dr.
John B. Frantz, former Pastor of Trinity
United Church of Christ, Pottstown. He
is a member of the Evangelical anc
Reformed Historical Society and autho1
of books and articles in historical
magazines. Dr. Frantz is sponsored b)
the Pennsylvania Humanities Council,
the state affiliate of the National
Endowment for the Humanities .
The public i s invited t o the Historical
Society Dinner Meeting on Wednesday,
November 1 1 th at 7:00 p . m . at Moore­
head Catering. The cost is $ 1 6. 00 per
person, which includes the decorations,
program, and incidentals of the meeting.
Please mail the reservation form on
page 4 to Norman D . Holcombe, or call
Richard Holcombe at (6 1 0) 489-7266
Muhlenberg Award
From The Journals of
Mr. Daller serves nationally as a member of th e Federal Advisory Council of
Henry Melchior Muhlenberg
the Board of Governors (Washington), representing Pennsylvania, New Jersey,
1742
April 11.
In the afternoon I journeyed from
Amsterdam on the Rotterdam canal-boat,
passed through Leyden, and arrived safely at
Rotterdam on the twelfth about ten o'clock. In
and Delaware. The twelve-member Board of Governors, chaired by Alan
Greenspan, oversees the Federal Reserve System which serves
as the nation's central bank. In this capacity, Mr. Daller
advises the Board regular-ly on pertinent banking,
Rotterdam I at once made myself known to
business, and economic issues.
friendliness and kindness because of the
boards and committees. He and Mrs. Daller
Mr. Hering, who received me with great
are members of St. Luke's United Church
to have a meal with him and afterwards he
of Trappe. They reside on Clayhor Road in
had me taken to a comfortable lodging. Mr.
Hering came to me at the lodging and went
Collegeville.
Previous recipients of this prestigious award
out with me, showing me several noteworthy
include Andrew L. "Drew" Lewis, Jr., William G.
things in the city.
Warden, III, Richard P . Richter, and Dr. Marilyn
We traveled to Hellevootsluis,
_....-::::===�:::;,...
(
Mr. Daller has served on many local service
recommendation from Amsterdam. I first had
April 14.
(Continuedfrom page I )
Steinbright.
stayed there for several hours and boarded the
The Muhlenberg Medal will be presented in a public ceremony of recognition
English packet boat about two o'clock in the
in the Main Gallery of the Berman Museum of Art at Ursinus College on
afternoon. Here we also found a Hannoverian
Tuesday, November 1 7th at 4:00 p . m . Lucy Ivins, Chairperson of the
courier. All of us wanted to show our courage
against seasickness and so remained on deck.
But it lasted no longer than in the harbor.
Muhlenberg Leadership Committee, has announced that the public is invited.
Please mark your calendar and plan to attend.
When we entered the North Sea we all
becan1e sick, one after another. I wanted to
hold out longer, but grew the more cold and
sick. The Hungarian officer had already
traveled by water and he therefore remained
Mark Your Calendars for December 6th and 13th
Eugene Bechtel will speak about Art Conservation on December 6th at 2:00 p.m.
imaginable way.
at the Dewees Museum. This day begins the Advent Opening for the Museums
\
On exhibit will be a Charles Hoffman painting of 1 874, recently conserved by
Because we had contrary winds, we voyaged
Mr. Bechtel, as well as prints from the 1 9th century, also conserved by him.
the strongest and cared for me in every
from the fourteenth to the sixteenth of April
On December 1 3th, Father Muhlenberg, portrayed by the Rev. William Fluck,
and arrived at Harwich, the first English city,
will talk about Christmas in the 1 8th century in Trappe and the Perkiomen
on the sixteenth, about ten o'clock. During the
Valley. This event will be in the Muhlenberg House at 2 :00 p.m. On this day the
whole time on the ship I could not lift my
Dewees Museum will be closed.
head, but at Harwich I had to get out, which
Plan to attend both events, for each is informative and important.
was very hard for me. The faithful God helped
Refreshments will be served. Both museums will be open on December 20th for
me, however, so that I was able to have my
conversation with museum personnel .
effects inspected and taken care of in the
custom house.
Then the passengers
ate
together, took post horses, and about twelve
o'clock rode away en currier to London.
C · A · L · E · N · D · A · R
April 16. About two o'clock in the afternoon,
went from Harwich overland to Colchester,
arriving about six o'clock in lodgings where I
November 1 1
"The Pennsylvania Germans - A Persistent Minority"
had to get along as best I could with the
English language. From Colchester to London
November 1 7
Muhlenberg Award - 4:00 pm
Berman Musewn, Ursinus College
there were still fifty English miles.
December 6
Dr. John C. Sh etler, Editor
Myrna Knaide, Managing Editor
M-K Computing Services
December 1 3
Printed by Pro Copy
December 20
Write to the Editor at:
300 W. 3rd A ven u e
Trappe, PA 19426-2226
Annual Meeting and Dinner - Moorehead's, 7:00 pm
Advent Open House , Dewees Musewn - I :30 - 4:00 pm
Eugene Bechtel, "Art Conservation"
Open House - Muhlenberg House - 1 :30 - 4:00 pm
Father Muhlenberg - Cluistmas in Trappe
Both Museums Open
- I :30 - 4:00 pm
Decorated for Cluistmas, Coffee and Conversation
January - May
Musewns Open by Appointment
(
Recent A ccessions
l.
Das Neue Testament,
Martin Luther,
Kunsthandlung,
J.
G.
Library Hours
Ritter,
To make an appointment to v1s1t our
Philadelphia. Given by James Stewart in Memory of Jolm Stewart.
(
library, please call the Curator.
2 . Antique and Craft Auction Poster, Historical Society of Trappe, May 1 4,
Con­
tribution expected for research.
1 976, for restoration of Dewees Tavern. Given by Charles Wismer, former
President.
3 . Additional box of books, certificates, and booklets from the Jolm Cressman
Estate.
Museum Gifts
4. Two Green Glass Fruit Jars, one 1 9th Century. Given by Mrs. Esther Ziegler.
5 . Two Fiber Kiosks of the U. S. Constitution B icentennial.
If you have a family treasure of historic
Given by John
note, you may wish to donate it to the
Heffuer of Topton, PA, who participated in the Heritage Weekend dressed in
Historical Society of Trappe for display.
costume as Squire Habeas Corpus.
Contact the Curator to discuss how your
6. Framed numbered artist proof of Old Trappe Church, Augustus Lutheran
valued possession may help others to learn
Church, by Eugene Bechtel. Given by the Vestry of Augustus Church.
and enjoy the history of our area.
7. 1 8th Century Candle Stand, c. 1 790, chestnut wood, Pennsylvania Country
Furniture.
Given by the Rev. Dr. Herbert H. Michel, Pastor of Augustus
Dr. John Shetler, Curator
(610) 489-2624
Lutheran Church. Purchased Philadelphia.
8 . Term Paper, Penn State University, Main Campus, Henry Muhlenberg,
9.
Most Illustrious Citizen of Trappe, by Katie Shankel .
Glaubens Lehre, Early 1 9th Century, by Christopher Schultz.
The
Given by Dr.
Ray Schultz. This is a Schwenkfelder piece of spiritual reading.
10.
BriefHistory ofthe Methodist Episcopal Church ofSpring City, containing
Report on Dewees Restoration
a brief history of Spring City and Chester County from the days of Penn by
The last major work done on the Dewees
J. K. Jones. Given by Glen Richardson, owner of Perkiomen Bridge Hotel.
building was at the Bicentennial of the Nation .
1 1 . Continental Dollar, signed by James Wilson, Act of Congress, January 1 4,
in
1 97 6, when 90% of the plaster was
1 779. This dollar was in use at the time the Muhlenberg Family was living
removed from the house and the interior floor
in Trappe. Given by Mrs. Phyllis V. Parsons.
joists were stabilized.
In 1 99 8 it became apparent that, as this
quarter century closes, the building once again
Be a Guide in
needs considerable maintenance. The kitchen
1999
An Orientation for 1 999 for all guides, present and future, will be held at the
Dewees Museum, 3 0 1 W. Main Street, Trappe, on Sunday, November 8th at
2 :00 p.m. This will be a time to say "Thank you" to all who served as guides
in 1 998, as well as to prepare for the 1 999 season.
All persons who would like to serve as guides in the Dewees Museum and the
Muhlenberg House are invited to attend. Refreshments will be served. The
session will be conducted by Charlotte Witmer, Guide Chairperson, and Jolm C.
Shetler, Curator-Historian. New historical material will be available.
O F
G I F T
:
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To help repair the Dewees House, I/we enclose a check made payable to the
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IIlSTORICAL SOCIETY OF TRAPPE, in the name of:
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Strttt
Town
State/Zip
Tel.
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_525
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_5100
5soo
_51,000
_Other
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Historical Society of Trappe
Clip and mail lo:
P.O. Box 26708
CollegcyilJe, PA
1 9-'26-0708 I
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FOR REPAIR O F D EW E E S T A V E RN B U I L D I N G
(_I
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cleaned and pointed, needs to be done to
prevent leaking and holes closed to prevent
entrance of birds and squirrels . Pointing
around window frames on the main portion of
the building needs to be repaired.
Rotted
wood in cornices and window frames needs to
be repaired.
Finally, the woodwork needs to be painted.
. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ·
C E R T I FI C A T E
on the northwest end, which had never been
A
leaning
and
unused
chimney
in the
northwest kitchen needs to be removed and the
roof repaired. The front door and the 1 8th
century lock need to be restored.
All this, after possible volunteer work is
done, is estimated to cost $ 1 8,567. The
income thus far that can be used joward this
expense is $7,260, which includes a grant of
$5,000 from the Decker Endowment of St.
Luke's United Church of Christ. St. Luke's
Church owns the building and for $ 1 . 00
granted a 99-year lease to the Historical
Society at the Bicentennial.
The work will proceed when the money is
in hand. You will remember the policy is to
create no debts that require interest. A
Certificate of Gift is included at left.
NON-PROFIT
ORGANIZATION
H1sTORICAL Soc1ETY OF TRAPPE
P. O. Box 26 708
COLLEGEVILLE, PA 19426-0708
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
COLLEGEVILLE PA
1 9426
PERMIT NO. 9
Muhlenberg Award
Hovember 17. 1998
NOVEMBER 1998 NEWSLETTER
Please, Do Not Delay!
Veterans Day Dinner
RESERVATION
F O RM
Clip and Mail to: Norman D . Holcombe
VfTfl!ANS 04Y DINN[I!
Wednesday, Novem ber 1 1 , 1 9 98
2 1 Main Street
Trappe, PA
7 :00
1 9426
P.�.
�oorehead Catering
Please reserve
40 first A.venue, Trappe
place(s) for
me at $ 1 6. 00 per person for November 1 1 th.
Total Enclosed:
$
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Ci uest Speaker:
Dr. John fra ntz
Professor of History at Pennsylvania State University
Name:
------
Address:
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will present an illustrated lecture on . . .
The Pen nsylva nia Ciermans
-
Telephone No.
A Persistent �inority
Dr. Frantz is sponsored by the Pennsylvania Humanities Council,
State Affiliate ofthe National Endowmentfor the Humanities