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HISTORICAL 50CIETY MONTGOMERY COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA J\Roi^RISTOWN

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BULLETIN joffAe- HISTORICAL 50CIETY MONTGOMERY COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA J\rOI^RISTOWN £omery PUBLISHED BY THE SOCIETY AT IT5 R00M5 IS EAST PENN STREET NORRI5TOWN.PA. OCTOBER, 1939 VOLUME II NUMBER 1 PRICE 50 CENTS Historical Society of Montgomery County OFFICERS Nelson P. Fegley, Esq., President S. Cameron Corson, First Vice-President Mrs. John Faber Miller, Second Vice-President Charles Harper Smith, Third Vice-President Mrs. Rebecca W. Brecht, Recording Secretary Ella Slinglupp, Corresponding Secretary Annie B. Molony, Financial Secretary Lyman a. Kratz, Treasurer Emily K. Preston, Librarian TRUSTEES Franklin A. Stickler, Chairman Mrs. A. Conrad Jones Katharine Preston H. H. Ganser Floyd G. Frederick i David Rittenhouse THE BULLETIN of the Historical Society of Montgomery County Published Semi-Anrvmlly — October and April Volume II October, 1939 Number 1 CONTENTS Dedication of the David Rittenhouse Marker, June 3, 1939 3 David Rittenhouse, LL.D., F.R.S. A Study from ContemporarySources, Milton Rubincam 8 The Lost Planetarium of David Ritten house James K. Helms 31 The Weberville Factory Charles H. Shaw 35 The Organization of Friends Meeting at Norristown Helen E. Richards 39 Map Making and Some Maps of Mont gomery County Chester P. Cook 51 Bible Record (Continued) 57 Reports 65 Publication Committee Dr. W. H. Reed, Chairman Charles R. Barker Hannah Gerhard Chester P. Cook Bertha S. Harry Emily K. Preston, Editor 1 Dedication of the David Rittenhouse Marker June 3, 1939 The picturesque farm of Mr. Herbert T. Ballard, Sr., on Germantown Pike, east of Fairview Village, in East Norriton township, was the scene of a notable gathering, on June 3, 1939, the occasion being the dedication by the Historical So ciety of Montgomery County of the marker commemorating the observation of the transit of Venus by the astronomer, David Rittenhouse, on nearby ground, and on the same month and day, one hundred and seventy years before. No finer spring day could have been wished for, for the ceremonies, which were held at three in the afternoon. The speakers' stand, set up just inside the gateway, under the shade of the trees, overlooking Mr. Ballard's broad, rolling lawn, was draped with the national colors. The sunshine was unfailing. Orioles and "red-wings" whistled from the trees, or fluted from the grassy open spaces. At the corner by the gateway, the Norristown High School Band, resplendent in blue coats and white trousers, with shining brass instruments throwing back the sunlight, made a fine splash of color. Offi cers of the Society, speakers and invited guests occupied the stand; other guests arrived by chartered bus, or came by car, and parked in the meadow at the foot of the lawn. Nelson P. Fegley, Esq., president of the Society, acting as presiding officer, opened the exercises in happy vein, and an nounced the first number, a selection by the Norristown High School Band, led by Mr. Damon D. Holton, Director. This and the following numbers by the band were rendered to the pleasure of the audience assembled, representing at least four counties of the state. Then followed the invocation, by Rev. Nathaniel B. Groton, rector of St. Thomas' P. E. Church, Whitemarsh; and after another selection by the band, S. Cam eron Corson, Esq., chairman of the Marker Committee, was 4 BULLETIN OF HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY announced to make the address presenting the marker to the Society. Mr. Corson said, in part: • "The year 1916 was before we got into the World War. That year saw my introduction to the Marker Committee. "Rev. Thomas R. Beeber was President of the Historical Society of Montgomery County, and he announced his appoint ments to the Marker Committee, and I was the chairman. After the session was adjourned, I asked him what our duties were, and what the Marker Committee was? He said, 'I want you to get in touch with all of the members of the committee, and tell them that they will be expected to select some worth while historical bridge, mill or other place in their vicinity and send to you their selection, with records as historically correct as can be obtained. You are to do the same in and near Norris- town. Then compile a complete list of all these historical places, and present it as your report of the Marker Commit tee at the next regular meeting of the Society.' When I made my report, I said I considered the observatory from which David Rittenhouse observed the transit of Venus on June 3, 1769, to be the outstanding site to mark. "I have no idea at this time who were on the committee and very few who were appointed by other presidents since 1916, other than those who took an active part some eight or ten years ago." Mr. Corson then touched briefly on the difiiculties besetting the path of the committee, and proceeded to outline their work as follows: "With William Montague, Sr., I made several trips to this old Rittenhouse farm, seeking the owner to get his permission for this Society to erect a memorial to David Rittenhouse, but more particularly to commemorate his observation of the tran sit of Venus in 1769. "The first time we came here, we saw the three boxwood bushes, and Mr. Montague said to a man working near them, 'There were four of these bushes. What became of that one (pointing to the eastern corner) ?' The man replied, 'A former gardener, in cleaning out the old garden, burned rubbish too close to that corner bush, and it was destroyed by fire.' : v: Rittenhousb Marker DEDICATION OF THE DAVID RITTENHOXJSE MARKEE 5 "I said to Mr. Montague, *What are these shrubs? Why are they planted as we see them here?' He said, 'When the news of the observation of the transit of Venus reached the Queen of France, to shoWher appreciation of such a wonderful event, she sent over four sweet shrubs to be planted one at each corner of the little cabin. These show that part of the story is true, they are as planted, with the exception of the one on the east corner. The man has just explained why that is missing.' "Then we went on up to the old farmhouse. On a large piece of brown sandstone set in the south corner of the house, and about four and a half feet above the ground, were marks or scratches—initials and dates having to do with the Ritten- house family. But the treasure of these marks was on a larger stone on the right side of the door, on which was roughly sketched a picture of the old log cabin or observatory. As I have said it was very roughly drawn, but nevertheless one could see a resemblance to the building as it appears now on this bronze plaque. We made several other trips to this farm, without result. "We next appealed to the County Commissioners, and they agreed to assist us by giving us permission to construct a concrete slab over the gutter at a point about 150 feet west of the present entrance to the lane. I made a plan of this loca tion, and all the Commissioners signed it. But another snag. The township officers and some citizens said it would be a menace to the public, and it was finally abandoned. The Com missioners had taken a keen interest in this marker, and they suggested purchasing a plot about ten feet square on which to erect the marker. James Cresson, then County Surveyor, was sent there and staked off this ten-foot square plot. This plan also failed, the owner would not sell. The members of the com mittee were at their wits' end. Then a very favorable event occurred. Norris D. Wright purchased this farm, and shortly after that he sold it to HerbertBallard, Sr. I was informed that all was now well. Mr. Ballard would give us permission to erect the marker." After explaining the reasons for the failure of some of the committee's well laid plans, Mr. Corson pointed out that lack g BULLETIN OF HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY of funds also delayed further work on the marker, until the contribution to the Society of the surplus of the fund raised for the celebration of the county's sesqui-centennial offered a means of final accomplishment. He then made the formal pres entation of the marker, which was accepted on behalf of the Society by President Fegley. Mr. Fegley tendered the thanks of the Society to Mr. Bal- lard, owner of the property, who deeded to the Society the plot on which the marker is erected; and to Mr. Rajrmond T. Beltz, who donated the granite boulder to which the bronze tablet is attached, the boulder having been obtained from Spring Moun tain. Mr. Fegley hoped the achievement in this instance would prove an inspiration for the marking of more historic sites. Following another selection by the band, came the address of the day, by Mr. Milton Rubincam, Corresponding Secretary of the National Genealogical Society, Washington, D. G., and a descendant of William Rittenhouse, which was listened to with great interest and excited much favorable comment. [Mr. Rubincam's address in full appears on page 8] Another number by the band then led to the unveiling of the marker. All gathered around, while little blue-clad David Charles Rittenhouse, son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles A. Ritten house, 3rd, of Wilmington, Del., and a direct descendant of Nicholas Rittenhouse, drew aside the flag, revealing the bronze plaque. Then all, accompanied by the band, joined in singing one stanza of "America." The benediction, by Rev.
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