May 1999 - Historical Society of Trappe

The Ch ron icle
May 1999
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A Publication of The Historical Society of Trappe and the Perkiomen Valley
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Trappe-Collegeville, Pennsylvania 19426
Volume XXVIlI, No. 2
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Flag Day Dinner-­
The American Revolution
in Montgomery County
The President' s Message
The public is cordially invited to attend the
Annual Flag Day Dinner of The Historical
Society ofTrappe-Collegeville on June 14th
The restoration of the Muhlenberg House is now com­
plete. The painting and the window and door maintenance at
the Dewees Museum is also completed
at 7:00pm at Moorehead's Catering Center,
The cost of insurance, utilities, and maintenance is on­
going and we needyour help. The community mailingfor
support will be accomplished in May. May I request a
generous response as our needs continue.
First Avenue, Trappe.
The program will
feature a slide lecture entitled, "From These
Beginnings-The American Revolution in
Montgomery County," by Charles Steitz of
Harleysville.
The Continental Army entered Mont­
gomery County on September 1 9, 1 777,
when the army crossed the Schuylkill River
at Parker Ford and camped from Trappe to
Evansburg. Following the winter at Valley
Forge, when the British abandoned Phila­
delphia, the army left the area for the city.
Mr. Steitz is a native of the Perkiomen
Valley and is retired after 3 8 years of
teaching at public school and college levels.
He has written for various historicaljournals
and publications, including the following
relating to Montgomery County:
•
We have in our possession portraits ofJohn Christopher
Kunze and his wife Margaretta Henrietta Kunze, daughter
and son-in-law ofHenry Melchoir Muhlenberg. These are
being offeredfor our consideration. Anyfinancial help in
purchasing them would be appreciated
In the past several weeks we have taken 4 or 5 groups
through the Muhlenberg House and we have 5 or 6 groups
scheduled to visit us. It is, indeed, gratifying to have visitors
who want to learn and see what we have done.
Sincerely,
f)Al(M �flj)
Ivan W. Hess, MD.
President
Between Brandywine and Valley
Forge. story of the Revolution in
Montgomery County for "The Mili­
tary Collector and Historian."
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Military History of Montgomery
County. The Second Hundred Years.
1 8 80-1 980, for the County's B icen­
tennial.
•
Pennsylvania Country Antiques, by
Albert Gamon-did the photography
for the book, published by Prentice
Hall, NY.
•
Dr. Ivan Hess, President, will
preside at the dinner meeting and
will appoint a Nominating Com­
mittee to report at the Armistice Day
Dinner in November. The program
will also include a discussion of Mr.
200 YearsTlze Perkiomen Bridge
A Community Committee, chaired
by Glen Richardson, Sr., of the
Perkiomen Bridge Hotel, is planning
for the Bicentennial of the Perki­
omen Bridge on Sunday, September
1 9th. Committee members are from
Washington Hood. 500th Graduate of
Collegeville, Trappe, Lower Provi­
dence, Upper Providence, Mont­
West Point published in the Spring
gomery County, and Lower Provi­
1 990 issue of "Pennsylvania Folk
Life."
dence Historical Association.
The Revs. Thomas G. Young and
Mr. Steitz has also worked for many
John C. Shetler represent the Board
years as a photo-journalist for Town and
of Directors on the Committee.
Country newspaper, Pennsburg, now pub­
lished in Red Hill.
Watch the newspapers for further
information.
Visitors from Pfungstadt to Trappe
From The Journals of
Henry Melchior Muhlenberg
1777
Paid 10s. wages to
June 14, Saturday.
Maria Busch, who worked at our house for
eight days. Item 7s. 6d for a brass cam.
Toward evening yesterday, into the night,
and again today heavy cannonading was
heard from the direction of [New] Brunswic
[HD: In Jersey], where the two armies are.
June 15, Third Sunday after Trinity. Went
to Augustus Church. The Lord God granted
On Tuesday, April 27, three Pfungstadt residents visited Trappe, to which
two Pfungstadt families, Kressman and Kleppinger, immigrated in the early
seventeen hundreds.
C. Theodore Kleppinger of Allentown brought Heinrich Kleppinger,
daughter Renate, and granddaughter Lea (niece of Renate) to see the
Kressman room where the genealogical and German items ofJohn Kressman
are on exhibit in the Dewees House. Pfungstadt is in Hesse near Darmstadt
in the Rhineland.
Theodore Kleppinger presented a copy ofDer Regeboge (The Rainbow)
magazine of the Pennsylvania German Society and also the reprint of it,
us a very necessary gentle rain, for want of
which tells the story of how the Kleppinger connection was made in 1 963 .
which the earth has been parched. I preached
These booklets will be in the Kressman Collection.
[HD: in the morning] on the day's pericope,
Luke 15. After the sermon I instructed the
tender youth in the catechism; they delighted
me with their good will, attentiveness, and
simplicity. In the afternoon the English
people came, and I preached to them on
Community Support Mailing
The B oard of Directors has approved a community support mailing to
Matthew 5 :3, "Blessed are the poor in
residents of the Collegeville-Trappe area to assist the Historical Society in
June 1 7, Tuesday. Had a man cut the grass
The gifts from the community mailing will help to continue the restoration
spirit," etc.
and paid him 3s. 9d
[HD: The day's wages
have already increased to 5s. , exclusive of
meals]. Also paid 12s. 6d for meat for the
household-three times as dear as a year
its ongoing work.
ofthe Dewees Tavern building which had been delayed while the restoration
of the Muhlenberg House was in progress. The total estimated cost of
D ewees work is $ 1 7, 500. Additional items include new storm doors and
ago. Item 5s. for a quart of poor brandy
painting of two second floor rooms so they can be opened for exhibit.
who was driving by and asked him to deliver
budget for 1 999 includes utilities (fuel oil, gas, water-sewer, electricity) for
which used to cost 9d Gave a note to a man
it to my son in Philadelphia. Wrote and read
The community gifts will also support the regular upkeep costs. The
the two museums at an amount of$6,000. Insurance is $3,600. Postage for
between times. [HD: Received news that a
The Chronicle and general mailings is $ 1 , 500. Printing for The Chronicle,
part of the American army had reached the
programs, and general mailings is $2,500.
pass at Carrel's Ferry on the Delaware
before the British and had occupied it; also
that large number of courageous militiamen
are moving in Jersey.]
Toward evening Mr. David Schafer, Jr.,
All that the Society does serves to preserve the heritage of our nation,
uphold the principles of the founders of our country, and provide teaching
tools by way ofartifacts that educate people about the foundations of life we
build on today.
who was on his way from Philadelphia to his
brother-in-law's, Friedrich Miihlenberg, in
New Hannover, stopped in. The people who
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have some place to go to in the country are
beginning to flee from Philadelphia again
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because [HD: it is reported that] the British
army is marching on Philadelphia [HD: and
that part of it is to cross the Delaware River
June 6
at Correl's Ferry, some thirty miles from
Providence].
Dr.
Write t" the Editor at:
300 W. Jrd A vemie
Tr"ppe, PA 19-126-2226
June 1 4
Flag Day Dinner
September 1 9
Heritage Sunday
Moorehead's
Both Museums Open
·•
(Refreshments)
1 :30 - 4:00pm
Both Museums Open
Dewees Museum and Muhlenberg House
Sundays, June through August
¥yrt! 8- Knaide, Managing Et)Uor
Printed bj Pro Copy
1 :3 0 - 4:00pm
June 1 3
Joh.n C. Shetler, Editor
fJ-K Computing- SerVices
Dewees Museum
Perkiomen Bridge Exhibit
Borough of Trappe Exhibit
Craft Exhibits
7:00pm
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CE R TIFI C A TE
O F
G I F T
F O R THE D E W E E S BUILDING
SVeet
_Sls
in the name of:
State/Zip
Town
_sso
Clip and mail to:
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_ssoo
Historical Society
P.O. Box 260708
Tel
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of Trappe
Collegeville,
PA
_Other
19426-0708
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Report on Dewees Restoration
All the comments indicate that everyone so far likes the new paint color on
the Dewees building.
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repaired with epoxy, chimney flashing has been tightened, and holes between
$ 10.00
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$2.00
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$ 1 5.00
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$100.00
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Address:: ------
Tel No. ------Mail to: Richard Holcombe
P.O. Box 260806
Third floor window sills have been replaced or
the stone walls and cornices have been closed. New crown molding has
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WE INVITE YOU TO MEMBERSHIP
I
I No. Ponom
1 -Regular @
I
Student
@
Schrack @
Life
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To help repair the Dewees Building, Vwe enclose a check made payable t o the
IDSTORICAL SOCIETY OF TRAPPE,
,
Collegeville, PA 1 9426-0806
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replaced rotted material. Two new storm doors have been installed in rear
Tour Groups
doorways. New glass is yet to be installed in the reconditioned storm doors
in the front doorways. The work was under the charge ofrestoration builder
The B oard of Directors has taken action
Jon Costanza.
to suggest a minimum contribution of
The Chairperson of our Property Committee, Lloyd Ziegler, made the
$2. 00 per person for tour groups that visit
crown molding to match the antique molding on the building and made a
either Dewees Museum or Muhlenberg
contribution of his time and material.
House. This will help to defray the cost
Presently, a doorway is being completed between two second floor front
rooms, with molding matching the 1 9th century molding already in place.
Again, this is being done by Mr. Ziegler.
of the ongoing work of the museums and
the Society.
All tour groups must make reservations
well in advance by calling Dr. Hess,
President (6 1 0-489-7622), or Dr. Shetler,
Three Conservations Completed
Mrs. Cynthia Ziegler of the Gallery at Greenwood has recently contributed
Curator (6 1 0-4 8 9-2624).
There are 10
groups registered for Spring and Summer.
the conservation and framing of an 1 845 sampler and a Civil War
Illuminated Record of Mr. Poley of Trappe.
Mr. Eugene Bechtel ofGreenwood Studio has conserved and reframed the
David Ellinger painting "Meadow at Graterford." We are grateful for the
We Invite Volunteers
generosity of this father and daughter relationship at Greenwood. These
The ongoing everyday work of the
items can be seen at Open House at the Dewees Museum on Sunday, June
Society and the two museums is done by
6th.
volunteers. No one gets paid. Every cent
contributed goes to the care of the
Next Leadership Event
property, the artifacts, and the programs.
Walter E. Daller, ChiefExecutive Officer ofHarleysville National B ank and
All
Trust Company, will lead the next Leadership Round Table in the Fall.
contributions, and provide supplies out of
George Meschter, President ofMeschter Insurance Group of Collegeville,
is the new Chairperson of the Leadership Committee and has conducted his
first meeting. The former Chair, Lucy Ivins, President of the Perkiomen
our
volunteers
pay
dues,
give
their own pockets. It is an honor and a
privilege to pass on the heritage.
We invite you to serve on a committee
Valley Chamber of Commerce, has resigned to move with her family to the
-Property,
State of Nevada in June. A breakfast was held to express appreciation to
Finance-or to be a Guide.
Leadership,
Museum,
Mrs. Ivins.
President, the Curator, or any Officer.
Call the
NON-PROFIT
ORGANIZATION
HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF TRAPPE
P.O. Box 26708
COLLEGEVILLE, PA 1 9426-0708
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
COLLEGEVILLE PA
19426
PERMIT NO. 9
MAY 1 999 NEWSLETTER
Annual Flag Day Dinner
l\fonday, June 14, 1999
Gifts and Remembrances
Prints o(Dewees Tavern, Watercolor by Eugene Bechtel
(J'hese are limited edition prints. Only 250 were made. When
the supply is exhausted, there will not be another printing.)
Signed Print . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $40. 00
Matted Signed Print . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $55.00
Matted Artist 's Proof. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $65. 00
Framed Signed Print . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $125.00
Framed Artist 's Proof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $135.00
Prints ofMuhlenbergHouse. Watercolor by Eugene Bechtel
Signed Print . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $50.00
Signed Artist 's Proof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $75.00
Please, Do Not Delay!
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FLAG DAY DI HHER
June 1 4, 1 999
7 : 00
PM
Charles Steitz
Speaker:
"From Tliese Beginnings-
Tlze American Revolution in Montgomery County"
•!•
Moorehead's Catering
Clip and mail to:
1 st Avenue, Trappe
Richard Holcombe
P.O. Box 260806
Trappe, PA
Models byMarbie Foster: Augustus Lutheran Church,
Dewees Tavern, Muhlenberg House . . . . . . . . . . $50. 00 each
1 9426-0806
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MuhlenbergPlate. by Lester Breininger . . . . . . . . . . $100. 00
Tel:
Notecards, by Julie Longacre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $4.50
Dewees Tavern, Muhlenberg House
Address:
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Street
Sketched Map, 19th CenturyMain Street, Collegeville-Trappe
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Print: $15.00
Framed: $100.00
These are just afew ofthe items that may be obtained at the
Muhlenberg. Visitor 's Center on the last Wednesday ofeach
month, 7:00 lo 8:00pm, or during scheduled Sunday
Openings. You may also call President Hess at (61 0) 4897622.
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Post Office
Please reserve
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places at $ 1 6.00 each for a total of $
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The cost covers the dinner, decorations, and incidental expenses.
B ring
a
Friend!