Pennsylvania. Having iron furnaces of his own at Hawkhurst, England, he
was interested to encourage the industry here. Thomas Rutter, Bailiff of
Germantown from 1705-06, after Pastorius, moved up the Schuylkill on
patent of land from William Penn, deed still in the family, and
established in 1717, the “Pool Forge,” on Manatawny Creek, three miles
above Pottstown; he was first in Pennsylvania to manufacture iron; ore
is still being mined from the same beds. Among the great names in our
early iron industry, Rutter and Potts stand pre-eminent; the list of
forges and furnaces on the Manatawny and its branches, owned by their
intermarried families, before the Revolution, include Mount Pleasant
furnace and forge; Spring forge; Colebrookdale furnace and forge; Amity
forge; Rutter’s forge; Pool forges; Pine forge and Little Pine forge.
Near Boyertown is Ringing Rocks, a natural curiosity; they make a
complete octave. Michael Schlatter preached at Manatawny in 1748, also
in the Reformed Church, built in 1743. McCalls, or Glasgow Forge, on
Manatawny Creek, still in operation, was erected in 1725, on land
conveyed by William Penn to his son, John, in 1701; 14,600 acres; sold
to George McCall of Glasgow, Scotland, in 1735; who also had interest in
Colebrookdale furnace managed by Thomas Potts, Jr., which supplied
McCall’s forge with pig iron. Green Lane Forge, on Perkiomen Creek,
notable for its excellent blooms, was built in 1733 by Thomas Mayberry;
earliest settler in Marlborough township, who bought 1210 acres,
supplied with pig iron from Durham Furnace, Bucks County; equipment,
water wheel, huge bellows, tuyere pipe, open hearth forge, melting pots,
and conelike charcoal kilns.
MONTGOMERY COUNTY AUTOMOBILE TRIP TO VALLEY FORGE
(Return by Schuylkill River Drive to Philadelphia)
From Thirty-second and Market Streets, Philadelphia, out Lancaster
Avenue, first turnpike in United States, completed in 1794, pattern for
all subsequent roadbeds; main highway to Pittsburgh, once thronged with
teams, coaches, and Conestoga wagons with six horses, making twenty
miles a day; trip from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh and return, 333 miles,
in six weeks; wayside inns were located a mile apart. Originally part of
Indian trail; later King’s Highway; Lancaster Pike; Main Line; now
Lincoln Highway, made free of tolls July 15, 1917. OVERBROOK, Roman
Catholic Theological Seminary, St. Charles Borromeo, contains painting,
“Crucifixion,” by the late Thomas Eakens. The Pennsylvania Institution
for the Instruction of the Blind, designed by E. A. Allen, Spanish
Renaissance, 1898, architects, Cope & Stewardson, considered finest
residential school for blind in the world, particularly well-equipped
for the purpose. Montgomery County, near NARBERTH station, old Merion
meeting house, built, 1695, stone, sharp roof, curious pointed gables
over doors, peg is still shown where William Penn hung his hat when he
rose to preach; beyond is site of Penn cottage, built, 1695. MERION, Dr.
Barnes’ Art Museum, built of imported French limestone; modern art.
ARDMORE, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church and burial ground, log church,
built, 1769, present church, 1873. Red Lion Inn, still standing.
HAVERFORD, Haverford College for boys, founded in 1833 by Society of
Orthodox Friends, life is focused inward, neither sight nor sound of the
outer world reaches the campus of 225 acres, on which are farm and
woodland, cricket and football fields, tennis courts, a running track
and skating pond; the arrangement of buildings, chiefly modern colonial,
from 1833-1912, shows the result that comes only by slow growth and
care; architects, W. S. Vaux; Cope & Stewardson; W. F. Price; Baily &
Bassett. Library contains over four hundred Babylonian clay tablets,
from 2500 B.C.; Harris collection of Oriental manuscripts; seven hundred
reproductions in fictile ivory, of ancient and medieval carved ivories
in British Museum, from second to eighteenth centuries; Roberts
autographs, more than 11,000 items, covering period from late fifteenth
century to present day; some portraits of Haverford alumni. Old
Haverford meeting house, near Cobb’s Creek, stone, built, 1696, has
horse block used by William Penn in dismounting; chimney had curious
openings in outside wall, through which fire wood was introduced to the
hearth, their position is still traceable. The Buck Tavern, built, 1732,
now Haverford House.
BRYN MAWR, 415 feet above sea level (Welsh, great hill). Bryn Mawr
College, founded by Dr. Joseph W. Taylor, of Burlington, New Jersey, in
1880, to establish “An institute for advanced learning, for women to
have equal advantages with men.” The college has continued a high
standard of academic work, and maintains graduate school for women doing
research work in all branches. Buildings, chiefly varieties of Gothic
architecture, stone, date from 1882-1913, architects, Addison Hutton,
Cope & Stewardson, C. Francis Osborne, Lockwood de Forest, and Winsor
Soule; the Library, Jacobean Gothic, period, 1630, incloses cloister
garden with center fountain, bosses of cloister arches are carved by
hand, sculptor, Alec Miller from England. Memorial brasses, set in wall,
were designed by Lockwood de Forest. Reading room contains portraits of
President M. Carey Thomas, by John S. Sargent, and ex-President James
E. Rhoads, by William M. Chase.
ROSEMONT, residence, Alba Johnson, Esq., late Tudor, is typical of Main
Line residences, many of them Norman or English; grounds in woodland and
best traditions of English landscape gardening; marble statue of Eve,
made 1855, by Bartholomew, Rome; lead statuary, Neptune and horses
fountain, from Bronze Grove Guild, Worcester, England, Walter Gilbert,
sculptor; the grounds may sometimes be seen by writing to owner for
permission. VILLA NOVA, Roman Catholic College and monastery. Bernard
Corr Memorial Hall, old English Gothic, built, 1912-14; architects,
Durang & Son.
RADNOR, Delaware County, Friends meeting house, built, 1718, used as
hospital for Morgan’s riflemen and Potter’s brigade in 1778; St. David’s
Church, built, 1715, by the congregation, named for patron Saint of
Wales; native stone, used as hospital in Revolutionary War, leaden sash,
melted for bullets; Swedish missionary at Wicaco held first services
here; General Anthony Wayne, vestryman, is buried in church grounds; his
monument was erected by Pennsylvania Society of the Cincinnati in 1809;
Judge William Moore and wife, buried under the door-step; their daughter
was the wife of the first Provost, William Smith, U. of P. Communion
service given by Queen Anne. WAYNE, General Wayne Inn, hotel since 1707,
Wayne’s encampment near in 1792, before his western campaign against
Indians. Chester County, Lincoln Highway to Strafford, Township Line
Road to VALLEY FORGE, see page 253.
Return, Montgomery County, Valley Forge road to “King of Prussia” Inn,
built, 1749; continue on Gulph Road to Gulph Mills, stone, built, 1747,
Boulder Monument, inscription, “Gulph mills, the main Continental Army
commanded by General George Washington, encamped in this vicinity
December 13 to December 19, 1777, on way to Valley Forge, erected by the
Pennsylvania Society, Sons of the Revolution, 1892.” Over Gulph Creek
near Gulph station, Philadelphia & Western Railroad, is stone bridge,
inscription “Montgomery County, Upper Merian (Merion) Township, 1787; In
the second year of the Foederal (Federal) Union.” WEST CONSHOHOCKEN.
Matson’s Ford, over which Lafayette retreated from the British in 1778,
continue along Schuylkill River drive to Belmont Avenue, through
Fairmount Park to Philadelphia.
MONTGOMERY COUNTY AUTOMOBILE TRIP ON OLD YORK ROAD, TO DOYLESTOWN, BUCKS
COUNTY, LEADING TO CENTER BRIDGE
Old York Road, original stage route to New York, laid out in 1711, from
city line to Center Bridge. ELKINS PARK station. Residence of the late
P. A. B. Widener, “Lynnewood Hall,” notable for one of the finest art
collections in the United States; near by, residence of William L.
Elkins has notable art gallery, both galleries may sometimes be seen by
writing to owners for cards of admission. South of Chelten Avenue, stone
bridge, two arches, date, 1793; opposite is only milestone of old series
south of the Neshaminy, it is the seventh milestone mentioned in
Washington’s orders for the attack on Germantown. West, is residence of
the late Lucretia Mott, Oak Farm, near La Mott, now Latham Park. OGONTZ,
residence of the late Jay Cooke, financier of the Civil War; named for
an Indian chief whom he had met. Over Tacony Creek is stone bridge,
inscription, “Cheltenham bridge, 1798, 7½ miles to Phila.” Church Road,
near Myers Mill, Cheltenham, site, country residence of William Penn; on
part of this land is country residence of the late John Wanamaker. At
Washington Lane, southeast boundary of Jenkintown, is large oak tree
where Washington rested his white horse.
A quarter of a mile east of Jenkintown is Abington Friends meeting
house, organized, 1682, built, 1697 by William Jenkins from Wales;
stone; long piazza; old shutters with strap hinges and iron hooks, door
latch and knobs; all in keeping with its period of construction, fine
old trees in grounds are well cared for. One mile north, RYDAL station,
Ogontz School for Girls, lately in Jay Cooke mansion, organized about
1850, by Misses Bonney & Dillaye: Collegiate Gothic, built, 1917;
architects, Cope & Stewardson, has Art Department. Through Meadowbrook,
one mile east to BETHAYRES, residence, Henry McCarter, artist.
One mile north, BRYN ATHYN, name means “Hill of Cohesiveness,” a
Swedenborgian educational community. Library contains the most valuable
collection of Swedenborg’s writings in the world. Here is being erected
a cathedral; architect, Ralph Adams Cram, gift of John Pitcairn; like
the cathedrals of old, all work is prepared on the grounds; wood-carving
and stonecutting by hand; glass manufactured, models made; the workmen
in consultation with the donor and the architect to obtain the best
results. Return to York Road. ABINGTON, library, originally Jenkintown
Lyceum, built, 1830, lately remodeled, modern colonial, contains
valuable collection of books bequeathed by John Lambert, artist, who
also left $50,000 in trust for purchasing paintings by young artists at
annual exhibitions in Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.
Presbyterian Church built, 1714, is said to be third in this country; in
1740 George Whitefield preached here to three thousand persons in one
day.
WILLOW GROVE PARK; pleasure resort; fine concerts given throughout the
summer season, by _Sousa_ and others. North on Doylestown Pike, HORSHAM,
Graeme Park, colonial, stone house, hipped roof, residence, Sir William
Keith, from Scotland, Baronet of Ludquhairn, Aberdeenshire, Lieutenant
Governor of Pennsylvania, 1717-26; he laid foundation of the military
system, encouraged putting out paper currency, and inaugurated a
military display at Penn’s death; property later owned by Dr. Thomas
Graeme, his son-in-law; Governor Keith’s coat of arms is on a large iron
plate in the fireplace; in the yard is an antique slave bell and stone
strength tester. Quaker meeting house, built, 1803. Approaching HATBORO,
stone bridge leads York Road over Pennypack Creek, inscription
“Hatborough, 1780, 16 M. to P.” It is said this bridge was built in
1824, stone taken from an older bridge. Battle of “Crooked Billet,” name
of near-by tavern, fought in 1778, a small company of Americans under
Colonel John Lacy were attacked by British under Lieutenant Colonel
Abercrombie, and nearly all killed; white marble monument was erected
here in 1861. Continued in Bucks County.
MONTGOMERY COUNTY AUTOMOBILE TRIP FROM CHESTNUT HILL TO CAMP HILL AND
FORT WASHINGTON
(Return by Norristown to Philadelphia)
At Chestnut Hill, on Bethlehem Pike, we enter Whitemarsh Valley
(Umbilicamince), named from mists of Wissahickon Creek; near by is
ERDENHEIM, Carson College, on one hundred acres of ground, richly
endowed by Robert N. Carson, for orphan girls, that they may have the
same benefits which Girard College has accorded to orphan boys; the
architect, Albert Kelsey, has planned his design to be an allegorical
vision of woman’s life, combining beauty, utility, and sympathy; he
eliminates the usual large central buildings, the administration and
classrooms being in the nature of a college settlement which make up in
beauty what they lack in size, and may be expanded as occasion demands.
Passing the Wheel Pump and Black Horse, famous early hotels. Colonial
houses; Presbyterian and Lutheran churches with their burial grounds; to
junction with Skippack Road.
St. Thomas Protestant Episcopal Church, contains Communion service given
by Queen Anne, first log chapel built by Edward Farmer, 1690; stone
church built, 1710, on first site; during the Revolutionary War, church
was occupied by various military forces, used as fort by British with
guns in windows; the gravestones, long, flat pieces of slate on four
columns, used as cooking stoves, with fires lighted underneath, upright
stones were marks for target practice, bullet holes may still be seen in
them. American forces camped here November 22, 1777; being warned by
Lydia Darragh of a British attack, when the enemy made their appearance,
General Wayne opened fire from Fort Washington, the British retreating
with a loss of one hundred men. Whitemarsh church is repeatedly
mentioned in Washington’s diary as a center of operations; present
church, near first site, consecrated, 1881. Gothic, native stone,
interesting interior, with high pointed roof and narrow lancet memorial
windows, all made abroad but one, “Angel of the Resurrection,” by
Tiffany; high on west wall is a rose window; three small lights in the
George and Anna Catherine Sheaff window are said to have been painted by
Albrecht Durer; reredos, “Christ Breaking the Bread,” painted in Italy;
altar, Indiana limestone with carved angels kneeling; the rood screen
with loft, English quartered oak, is exquisitely carved. Encircling a
window is mural decoration by Marianna Sloan. In the burial ground is an
Iona Cross, marking last resting place of Henry Howard Houston, for
whose memorial Houston Hall was given to the University of Pennsylvania.
View from north door of church shows, east, Camp Hill; in valley below,
Washington’s headquarters, stone house two and a half stories, one-half
mile east from Camp Hill station, Pennsylvania Railroad, left wing of
army, posted rear of house; here Washington decided to establish
fortified encampment at Valley Forge; December 12, whole army ordered to
march to Valley Forge, via Swedes Ford, Norristown, where they crossed
the Schuylkill on a bridge of wagons, with rails laid over them; “Swedes
Ford,” hotel built, 1723, still standing, at Bridgeport.
North of St. Thomas Church we locate Fort Washington by its flagstaff,
in center of earthwork thrown up by General Anthony Wayne’s men. West,
from Church, Militia Hill, where some of the stones, used as anchors for
tents, are still in position; at foot of hill is Wissahickon Creek, over
which leads the high railroad bridge belonging to the Trenton cut-off of
the Pennsylvania Railroad. Passing Fortside Inn, north, on Bethlehem
Pike, is stone marker, inscription “About 700 feet south of this stone
is an American Redoubt and site of Howe’s threatened attack, December 6,
1777; from here Washington’s army marched to Valley Forge. Erected,
1891, by the Pennsylvania Society, Sons of the Revolution.”
Farther on Bethlehem Pike, over Sandy Run, is the village of FORT
WASHINGTON, now home of the Darby School of Painting, a summer art
school conducted by Hugh H. Breckenridge, member of the faculty of the
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, there science of color is taught
in its fullest significance. On Engertown Road is old Friends meeting
house. Farther, on Limekiln Pike, is Pennsylvania School of Horticulture
for Women, post office, Ambler, founded in 1910, thorough training,
through all seasons, eliminates waste of costly inexperience, and fits a
woman for a life that is healthful, attractive, and remunerative. Near
Sumneytown and Butler Pike is “Three Tuns Inn.” Gwynedd, meeting house,
built, 1700, Welsh Quakers worshiped here.
Down Butler Pike to AMBLER, residence of Dr. R. V. Mattison, built,
1890, Scotch baronial style, wrought iron gates designed in Munich;
opposite is Trinity Memorial Church, Romanesque, noted for its beautiful
windows, designed by F. S. Lamb, original, and adapted from paintings by
world famous artists, of scenes in Christ’s life, made by J. and R.
Lamb; interior paneled in oak, similar to House of Parliament, London;
font, Italian marble, good design. Through Morris Road, over bridge
crossed by Washington’s army, between Morris and Skippack roads, one
mile west of Ambler, is stone residence, built by Abraham Dawes in 1736,
was Washington’s headquarters, October 21, 1777.
Out Skippack Road, on road from Center Square to HEEBNERVILLE,
Washington’s headquarters, October 16; residence of Peter Wentz, still
standing, two story, stone, built, 1758. Out Township line to
KULPSVILLE, on Sumneytown Road, Baptist or Mennonite meeting house, here
are buried General Francis Nash of North Carolina, and other officers
who died of wounds received in the Battle of Germantown. Northwest, one
mile, HARLEYSVILLE, residence of Henry Funk, Bishop of Mennonite Church,
who with the Dunkards of Ephrata, made translation, in 1748, from the
German, of Tielman Jan van Braght’s great historical book of the
Mennonites, termed the noblest specimen of American colonial
bibliography; Henry Funk’s mill, still standing, known as Musselman’s
Mill, contains a parchment deed, date, 1733, with great seal of the
province and signature of Thomas Penn.
Return to Skippack Road, to Pennypacker’s Mills, SCHWENKSVILLE,
residence of the late Governor Samuel Pennypacker, two story, stone
house, Washington’s headquarters before and after Battle of Germantown;
army marched down Skippack Road, 7.00 P.M., October 3, to attack the
enemy; here October 7, Washington received a committee of Friends,
appointed by the Yearly Meeting, against war; Schwenksville was settled
by Schwenkfelders from Silesia in 1734; Casper Schwenkfeld preached, in
1523, doctrines accepted by George Fox in 1648, were forerunners of
Quakers. Perkiomen Seminary, at Pennsburg, originated in a school
founded by Schwenkfelders, 1764. Down Perkiomen Creek road, over finest
old stone bridge in state, five arches, built, 1799, architect, George
Lewis, carries Ridge Road over Perkiomen Creek at COLLEGEVILLE, Ursinus
College; Co-ed Lutheran, portraits by Albert Rosenthal. And old
Providence meeting house.
One mile west, at TRAPPE, Augustus Church, oldest Lutheran church in
United States; built, 1743; unaltered; used as hospital for American
soldiers during Revolutionary war; Henry Melchior Muhlenberg was sent
from Halle, Germany, in 1742, to organize this church in Pennsylvania;
first regularly ordained preacher, reports he sent to Halle supply much
early, original information. His sons, born here, were General Peter
Muhlenberg, pastor of church in Shenandoah Valley, who called on his
congregation to enlist in the Revolutionary War, and Frederich Augustus,
speaker, First National Congress, 1789. EVANSBURG, St. James Protestant
Episcopal Church and schoolhouse, built about 1700, contains Bible,
prayer book, and old walnut Communion table, sent over by the English
Society in 1723, to its foreign mission. Revolutionary soldiers are
buried in the church yard. Here is an eight arch stone bridge, date
1792.
NORRISTOWN, county seat, settled, 1784, population 32,319. Courthouse
built, 1791, native white marble; on grounds is Rittenhouse monument,
granite shaft, dedicated 1876, marks the meridian. Jail, built, 1851,
red sandstone, castellated Norman, architect for courthouse and jail, N.
LeBrun. Historical Society of Montgomery County has local historical
collections. St. John’s Protestant Episcopal Church, Gothic, dedicated,
1815, Revolutionary soldiers are buried in its grounds. Montgomery Trust
Company, Greek, Ionic, Westerly granite and Indiana limestone, facing
public square, on site of first hotel in Norristown. In Montgomery
Cemetery are buried Charles Heber Clark (Max Adler), and General
Winfield Scott Hancock.
PLYMOUTH MEETING, old Friends meeting house, built, 1715, stone, used as
hospital during Revolutionary War, Thomas Hovenden, artist, buried in
grounds; residence of Mrs. Thomas Hovenden (Helen Corson), was a noted
underground railway station for refugee slaves. Stone bridge over
Plymouth Creek, date, 1796; stone bridge carrying Germantown and Reading
Railroad over Plymouth Creek, date, 1802. BARREN HILL, Lafayette and
detachment of army attacked here by British, May 18, 1778. ROXBOROUGH,
Philadelphia, St. Timothy’s Protestant Episcopal Church has frieze,
procession of angels. Through Ridge Avenue to Wissahickon Drive,
Fairmount Park, to Philadelphia.
XVI
DAUPHIN COUNTY
Seat of state capital; formed March 4, 1785; named for title of the
Dauphin of France, then Louis XVI, in recognition of aid rendered to the
colonies in Revolutionary War. Chief industries iron and steel; in the
north, anthracite coal. High mountain ranges, with valleys of rich
rolling farm lands, intersected with many streams, show much scenic
beauty.
HARRISBURG, county seat; laid out in 1785; population 75,917. The state
capitol’s best approach is from Third and South Streets, the massive
pile looms up in exquisite proportion, one is impressed with the
inherent dignity of the façade, controlled by a well-proportioned dome;
dedicated in 1906; architect, Joseph W. Huston; Roman and Italian
Renaissance, with influence of Greek Corinthian; dome suggests St.
Peter’s in Rome; bronze doors, designed by J. W. Huston, were modeled by
Otto Jansen; superb groups of statuary on either side of the main
entrance typify, “The Joy, and Burden of Life,” sculptor, George Gray
Barnard; within the rotunda is the splendid collection of battle flags,
378, owned by the state; one of the most interesting of the kind.
Mural decorations, the Rotunda; Economic “Triumphs of the State,”
artist, Sir Edwin A. Abbey; from large lunettes show the “Spirits of
Commerce, Oil (Light), Coal, Steel”; four pendentives contain single
[Illustration: DAUPHIN COUNTY]
allegorical figures, Religion, Art, Literature, Science; governor’s
reception room; frieze, artist, Violet Oakley, “Foundations of the State
of Liberty Spiritual.” Lunettes, artists, John W. Alexander and W. B.
Van Ingen, “Growth and Expansion of the State of Liberty Spiritual,” by
the establishment of various religious bodies that came to the new
colony. House of Representatives; wainscoting of marble from the French
Pyrenees; above the large windows are stained glass by W. B. Van Ingen;
paintings by Abbey, “The Apotheosis of Pennsylvania,” with figures that
stand as portraits, “Penn’s Treaty with the Indians,” and “The Reading
of the Declaration of Independence,” planned by Abbey and finished in
his studio after his death; the dome contains his exquisitely painted
decoration, symbolical of the “Passage of the Hours”; only one of
Abbey’s paintings for the senate room was finished, his “Valley Forge,”
it has been placed with his others in the House of Representatives; Miss
Oakley’s paintings were unveiled there in February, 1917; she will also
decorate the Supreme Court Room.