Trappe Chronicle A Publication of the Historical Society of Trappe and the Perkiomen Valley

May 1993 Trappe, Pennsylvania Volume XXII , No. 2

The President's Message

The Philadelphia Historic Preservation Corporation grant of the Pew Foundation money is in place, and we are diligently trying to raise the $50,000 to match the grant. We are well on the way to meet the match, but we need help.

Architect John Milner reports that the specifications will be mailed to contractors by May 28th. Bids should be submitted by June 25th, with the selection of the contractor soon to follow. Our goal is to have the work begin by July l, 1993.

This restoration will include lowering the roof, restoring the windows and doors, and re-pointing the stone walls. This will also include the rebuilding of the front portico and construction of the pent eave.

The archeologist, Mr. Walter Payne, will resume work when the ground dries and conditions are more favorable. We have a special need for helpers for the archeologist.

We need volunteers for m any jobs, including grass mowing and trimming, for general maintenance, and to help to prepare and mail the newsletters. You m ay volunteer by calling me at 489-7622.

Community Mailing Set for Late May

In late May 1993, a community mail­ing will be sent to approximately 6,000 households in Collegeville, Trappe, Perkiomen Township, and Skippack. This is a timely appeal for matching contributions for the Pew

Ivan W. Hess, M.D. President

Challenge Grant Program. The mailing will include a brochure that reports on the progress of the building restoration and leadership program of the Muhlenberg House. The funds raised will allow the Committee to complete exterior restoration in 1993.

Annual Flag Day Dinner The Flag Day Dinner will be held at

Moorehead's Catering service on June 14, 1993. The social hour will begin at 6 P.M., with dinner served at 7 P.M. Dr. Edmund Baldridge will be the speaker discussing "Henry Muhlenberg - Loyalist and Patriot."

The dinner will cost $ 15 and reser­vations may be made by calling Mr. Richard Holcombe at 489-7266 before June 10th .

Museum Opens for the Summer on June 13th

The opening of the Historical Society Museum on Sunday, June 13th, will feature the dedication of the Hagey Clock, made in Trappe by George Hagey. A member of the Society, Mrs. George Poorman of Ivy Land, PA, is a direct descendent of Mr. Hagey. The clock is a gift to the Society by two anonymous donors.

The museum opens at 1 :30. The dedication will be at 2:30 P.M. Refreshments will be provided for a fellowship hour.

Muhlenberg Restoration Artifacts

Artifacts in the form of wood trim, a stove plate, mud-paling from under­neath the first floor, hand wrought nails, as well as the drawings for the restoration will be on view at the Dewees House Museum during the month of June. Later, in July, the exhibit, which was shown at the Berman Museum at Ursinus College, will be reassembled for display at Muhlenberg College, Allentown.

CALENDAR FOR 1993

June 13 MUSEUM OPENS FOR Sunday 11IE SUMMER - 11IE

DEWEES TA VERN Dedication of the Hagey Oock 2:30 P.M.

June 14 Dinner Meeting 7:00 P.M. Monday Mooreheads

1st Avenue, Trappe MUHLENBERG AS LOYALIST AND PATRIOT, Dr. Edmund Baldrige, Professor of History, Muhlenberg College

Sept. 1 1 FLEA MARKET and AUCCTON

Sept. 19 HERITAGE SUNDAY

Nov. 1 1 ANNUAL MEETING

Dec. 5 OPEN HOUSE at the DEWEES MUSEUM, "A HALF CENTURY OF CHRISTMAS GREETINGS"

Flea Market and Auction September 11, 1993

When you clean house, you may give collectibles, books, and small items to the Flea Market (no broken or worn out things, please).

Items of greater value may be given to the Auction.

PLEASE NOTE: Items of his­toric interest to Trappe or the Perkiomen Valley may be with­drawn or reserved for the Museum.

For information call:

Ray Spaid 489-9770 Flea Market

Randy Riegner 489-69 11 Auction

Tributes to Two Muhlenberg Committee Members

Harry J. Haas, one of the original members of the Muhlenberg Commit­tee, died suddenly at home on Saturday, April 17, after having been hospitalized for a spinal operation. Harry's wife Joyce has been a mem­ber of our archeology team.

Harry has been our Publication Chairman for the Muhlenberg Com­mittee and the Historical Society. He has so ably written the many news releases, organized the picture-taking events, developed stationery, posters, and banners. Harry will be greatly missed, not only because of the great amount of work done, but because also he was a good and faithful friend.

When he began as a volunteer, he told the then president, John Shetler, that he had for so long been so in­volved with his managing of Station WFLN, Philadelphia activities, and public relations work that he did not have time to help the community where he lived. He said, "I am so thankful for so many things, now I want to be a volunteer here where I live. I want to help." We shall miss him. We are grateful for Harry.

Jennifer Muhlenberg met Dr. Hess and Dr. Shetler at Muhlenberg House

Jennifer Anne Muhlenberg &ach Haven Tunts, Wrdnosday, April 21, 1993

Jennifer Anne Muhlenberg, 27, died April 9 of natural causes in her home at Harvey Cedars.

She was bom in Princeton and lived in Harvey Cedars, where her maternal grand­parents, Col. and Mrs. Herbert Hartman first arrived in 1937.

She graduated from Redwood High School in California, and attended Temple University and the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. A freelance joumalist, she wrote for The Beachcomber, Marin Independent Joumal, and Bolinas Coastal Post.

Muhlenberg was a direct descendent of Henry Melchior Muhlenberg, a founder and patriarch of the Lutheran Church in

on Thursday, April 1 , 1993, viewed the house, enjoyed a coffee hour together, and shared mutual informa­tion on the Muhlenberg Family. She accepted membership in the Muhlen­berg Committee and agreed to be a contact person with the descendants of Henry Melchior and Anna Maria Muhlenberg. Her enthusiasm and interest were great.

On April 9th, Jennifer Anne Muhlenberg suddenly died of natural causes at 27 years of age. Because of her P,ersonal interest and potential, ' her death has been a great loss to the Muhlenberg Heritage and Leadership Center. A Memorial Fund has been established by the family. Her obitu­ary appears below. We are grateful for Jennifer.

Let the death of these two people inspire others to come forth and help the Historical Society and the Muhlenberg House.

For Newsletter Co"espondence

Write to: P.O. Box 838 Collegeville, PA 19426

America, and Frederick Augustus Muhlenberg, first Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. At the time of her death she was researching family history and working with the Trappe (PA) Historical Society on the restoration of the 1 755 home of He11ry Melchior Muhlenberg.

She was the daughter of the late Anne Mu/zle11berg- Thompson and Philip Du11ham Muhle11berg, and granddaughter of the late Charles and Wilma Thu11 Muhlenberg of Wyomissing, PA. She is survived by her brother, Larry Muhlenberg of Benton, PA, and stepfather, Robert W Thompso11 of Larkspur, CA. A"a11geme11ts were by the Bugbee-Riggs

Funeral Home, Ship Bottom. Donations may be sent to the Historical Society of Trappe, Pe11nsylvania, P.O. Box 828, Collegeville, PA 19426.

=========HISTORICAL ITEMS FOR SALE =========

Prints of Dewees Tavem from a Water Color Map of/tinerary of Washington 's Am1y in Montgomery County

Anny Crosses Schuylkill at Parkerf ord by Mr. Eugene Bechtel (These are limited edition prints. Only 250 were made. When the supply is exhausted, there will not be another printing.)

and Some Units Camp in Trappe $ 3.00

Signed Print Matted Signed Print Matted Artist 's Proof Framed Signed Print Framed Artist 's Proof

$ 40.00 $ 55.00 $ 65.00 $125.00 $135.00

T-Shirts

Some T-shirts are available. Three different logos: Old Style Muhlenberg House, New Style Muhlenberg House, and Emblem of Trappe. Some Large, Medium, and Small sizes. Also some Children's sizes. Prices: $6. 00 and $8. 00

Display a TRAPPE FLAG on our National Holidays

Desk Top Flag with Holder $ 3.00 $48.00 $ 5.00

Tiles with Trappe Emblem $ 2.00

3' X 5' Flag 12" X 18" Flag

Mugs Suitable (or All-Purpose Gifts

Displays the Symbol of Trappe

Bill of Rights (Facsimile)

$ 3.00

Muhlenberg Sunvisors 25¢ each or 5 for $1.00

Postcards/Scenes in Trappe 25¢ each or 5 for $1.00

You may call Ways and Means Chairperson, Dr. Gail Snyder (489-0927).

Contains the Signature of Frederick Muhlenberg $ 1.00 Items may be obtained at the Dewees Tavem on the last Wednesday of each m onth, 7:45 P.M. to 9:30 P.M., when the Muhlenberg Committee meets, and 011 the first Wednesday when the Historical Society Board meets, 7:45 to 9:30 P.M., except during the Lenten season.

Anniversary Book of Trappe

275th - Pictures, Historical Sketches, Businesses 250th - Pictures, Historical Sketches, Businesses

$ 2.00 $ 1.00

IF YOU HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS WHO FORMERLY LIVED IN THE TRAPPE AREA, REMEMBER THEM WITH AN HISTORICAL SOCIETY GIFT.

Curator's Report Folio Bible Accession The most re­cent April accession to the Society museum at Dewees Tavern was a folio Bible presented by Mr. Jacob Bowers. The folio Bible was printed in Lancaster, PA, in 1819 by Johann Bar (Baer). It is Luther's translation with a Bible History, a chronology of Luther's life, and a "Brief Instruction" by Augustus Hermann Franke. It also contains a list of subscribers who made the publication possible from counties in the following states: PA (26), OH (16), MD (5), VA (2), NY (1 ), NC (1 ), and NJ (1 ) .

A folio is a folded sheet making four pages of print and when sewn to­gether creates a book 30 cm in height. The museum collection now contains five different type Bibles.

Parsons Gift Mrs. Phyllis V. Parsons has contributed five boxes of materi­als from the collection of her late husband, Dr. William T. Parsons, Professor of History at Ursinus College. As soon as the items are

catalogued, a listing will be published in the next newsletter. The gift is to the collection of the Muhlenberg Heritage Center to be housed at Muhlenberg House when the restora­tion is completed.

Profiles of Our Schwab Family Mr. Winthrop Dayton de Villiers Schwab presented a copy of Profiles of Our Schwab Family, which he wrote and published in 1989. Mr. Schwab, a resident of Wynnewood, PA, is a

descendent of Henrietta Margaretta Muhlenberg Kunze. He recently visited Muhlenberg House and wishes to become an active part of our work. The family history, written by Mr. Schwab, is a detailed account of the generations and the intermarriages with excellent pictures. President Hess has indicated that this is to be added to the Muhlenberg Collection which will be housed at Muhlenberg House when restoration is completed.

John Shetler, Curator r------------------------------ ----------------------------------------- ,

C E R T I F I C A T E O F G I F T

To help restore the Muhlenberg House, I/we enclose a check made payable to the HISTORICAL SOCIE1Y OF TRAPPE, in the name of

Street Town Slale/Zip

This gift will be applied to the matching amount for the $200,000 grant from the Philadelphia Historic Preservation Corporation through the Pew Foundation.

_$25 _$50

Clip and mail to:

_$100 _$500 _$1,000 _Other

Historical Society of Trappe P.O. Box 828 Collcgcville, PA 19426

·�·� ······-�1•'•·•·· ··� �·� l�lait1 lt;J\T lti1111er

June 14th 7 :00 P.M. Moorehead's Catering Clip and mail to Mr. Norman Holcombe, 21 Main Street, Trappe, PA 19426

-Reservation Form-Please reserve places at $15.00 each for a total of $ . The $15.00 covers thf dinner, decorations, and incidental expenses.

Name Street

Post Office

HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF TRAPPE P. O. BOX 828

COLLEGEVILLE, PA 19426

Address Correction Requested

Zip Telephone

NON-PROFIT

ORGANIZATION

U.S. POSTAGE PAID

COLLEGEVILLE, PA

PERMIT NO. 9