News, Notes & Kernels of Knowledge The Acorn The Quarterly Newsletter of the Historical Society of Montgomery County, PA

Vol. LXXIII No. 2 - Spring 2019

Making Marathon: A History of Early Wyncote Presentation by Thomas Wieckowski Thursday, April 25, 2019, 7:00 pm

Join us for our next presentation in our Making History Greater Series when Thomas Wieckowski presents Making Marathon: A History of Early Wyncote. Facetiously called “Marathon” by a famous author and resident, Wyncote arose in the second half of the nineteenth century as wealthy industrialists and capitalists made it the first Gilded Age suburb. This lecture follows the development of the land from William Penn’s green countryside, through Gilded Age resort, to the village for “the rest of us.” Nationally known bee-keepers, international bankers, entrepreneurial congressmen and dabblers in the novel sport of professional baseball made the community we know as Wyncote today. They flocked to the new village for the clean air, lush landscapes, and picturesque rolling countryside that promised “calm contentment and restful influences of country homes”. Thomas J. Wieckowski is Vice-President of the Old York Road Historical Society and a member of the Cheltenham Township Historical Commission. He received his B.S. at Villanova University and Ph.D. from The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. He is retired from Drexel University in after twenty- seven years where he was Associate Dean of the College of Business and Assistant Professor of Management Information Systems among other positions. He was also Director of the Masters Programs in Business for the LeBow College of Business. In that role, he conceived, developed, and managed one of the first completely online and AACSB accredited MBA programs in the country, MBAOnline, which opened in 2000. He currently devotes his time to his lifelong hobby, historical research and writing, and is the author of Making Marathon, published in 2009 by Infinity Press, and, A Spectacle for Men and Angels, a narrative documentary of Camp William Penn, published in the fall of 2013. The Making History Greater series features scholars, authors, and historians who are currently working on telling new stories about the complexity of our region’s history. Making Marathon: A History of Early Wyncote will take place on Thursday, April 25, 2019. The evening will begin at 6:30 pm with a social gathering and light refreshments. The presentation will begin at 7:00 pm and last for about an hour with time for questions at the end. This program is free and open to the public.

The Historical Society of Montgomery County In This Issue Visit Us Research Library - Archives Historic Montgomery Events...... pg. 2 Books & Gifts - Galleries Cemetery Symbols in the Cemetery...... pg. 3 1654 DeKalb Street Located at the end of Philadelphia Nat. Cemetery...... pg. 4 Norristown, PA 19401 Hartranft Avenue in West Norriton Township, PA From Our Blogs...... pg. 5 Monday and Thursday, 10am - 5pm Genealoy Workshop...... pg. 6 Tuesday and Wednesday, 1pm - 8pm Open from dawn to dusk. First Saturday of Each Month or by International Firefighters Day....pg. 6 Appointment, 10am - 2pm Additions to the Collections...... pg. 7 Contact Us (610)272-0297 | [email protected] | www.hsmcpa.org Upcoming Events Our Mission The Historical Society of Montgomery County engages with the public to collect, preserve, and APRIL interpret the documents, artifacts, and stories that reflect the evolving mosaic that is our county. Thursday, April 25, 2019 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm Making Marathon: A History of Early Wyncote Presented by Thomas Wieckowski

MAY

Saturday May 4, 2019 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM Memorial Day Celebration at International Firefighters Day Walking Tour of Historic Montgomery Historic Montgomery Cemetery Cemetery

Wednesday, May 8, 2019 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm May 25, 2019, 11:00 am to 1:00 pm Exploring Naturalization and Immigration We will be hosting our Annual Memorial Day Records Genealogy Workshop Presented by Sydney Dixon Observance on Saturday, May 25, 2019 at Historic Montgomery Cemetery, One Hartranft Avenue, Thursday, May 16, 2019 West Norriton Township. Come spend the day 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm with our community as we honor our veterans The Story of Philadelphia National and learn about their stories. Cemetery Presented by Edward McLaughlin The observance will begin at 11:00 am Saturday, May 25, 2019 and ends at 1:00 pm. 11:00 am - 1:00 pm Memorial Day Celebration at Historic Montgomery Cemetery

Moday, May 27, 2019 CLOSED Memorial Day Holiday

JUNE Thursday, June 13, 2019 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm Cemetery Tour Symbols in the Cemetery Presented by Tammy Schane

2 Symbols in the Cemetery Walking Tour of Historic Montgomery Cemetery Led by Tammy Schane Thursday, June 13, 2019, 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm

The Historical Society of Montgomery County announces a special combination event on Thursday, June 13, 2019, that looks at the symbolic meanings of tombstones. The event will feature a walking tour of Historic Montgomery Cemetery that begins at 7:00 p.m. with stops that highlights some of the symbolic representations found on the cemetery’s gravestones. This walking tour will be followed by light refreshments inside the Cemetery’s gatehouse with a presentation from 7:45 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The presentation will be provided by historian Tammy Schane who will discuss many of the symbols found on tombstones throughout the region. The early 19th century saw the birth of the rural garden cemetery, which began in Paris and spread to the United States by 1824. Tombstone memorials also experienced great change throughout the 19th century, as Americans thought about death in new, more emotional and evocative ways. Tombstone carvers were tasked with carving symbols that illustrated a softer, aesthetically pleasing, and more hopeful way of viewing death as not an endpoint, but rather a step on the path to a better and glorious afterlife where family would be reunited. Tammy Schane has photographed and studied 19th century tombstone carvings in and surrounding states and will present the meanings behind them. These symbols were a language of sorts in their time and still speak to us today. Tammy E. Schane holds a B.S. from Syracuse University in Journalism and History, and is currently pursuing a M.A. in Public History from LaSalle University. She has worked for Heritage Conservancy in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, as the membership coordinator and lead docent of tours of historic Aldie Mansion. She currently volunteers as a tour guide at Doylestown Cemetery and has researched and written a tour about the site’s 19th-century tombstone symbols and their meanings. She lectures on her research of 18th- and 19th-century cemeteries to historical societies and other groups, and in 2016, she published a book entitled Engraved: The Meanings Behind 19th-Century Tombstone Symbols. With almost 6,000 known burials, Historic Montgomery Cemetery holds the remains of some of the most prominent citizens, veterans and reformers in the county and nation. From five Civil War generals to many captains of industry, it tells the story of the nation through the lives it represents. The entrance to Montgomery Cemetery is at the end of Hartranft Avenue, off of West Main Street, Norristown. Parking during the event will be made available inside the Cemetery gates. Tickets for the event are $15 and include the walking tour, refreshments, and presentation. Tickets are limited; to reserve a seat call 610-272-0297 to reserve your spot.

3 The Story of Philadelphia National Cemetery Presentation by Edward McLaughlin Thursday May 16, 2019 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM Join us for a presentation in our Making History Greater Series when Edward McLaughlin presents Philadelphia National Cemetery.

Philadelphia National Cemetery was one of 14 national cemeteries established in 1862 and was intended to be used to inter the remains of the soldiers who died in one of the many hospitals in the Philadelphia area. Over 11,500 veterans and family members are buried at the cemetery. Philadelphia Na- tional Cemetery was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1997.

Few people realize that over 1,000 black Civil War soldiers and sailors are buried in a segregated section of the cemetery, several hundred of which died in area hospitals while serving at Camp William Penn, Cheltenham Town- ship about a mile from the cemetery. For the most part, the soldiers were commonly called USCT (United States Colored Troops). Philadel- phia National Cemetery has the highest number of black Civil War soldiers and sailors buried in one section of a cemetery per number of total interments than any place in the country. Hundreds of these men were soldiers who died at Camp William Penn, La Mott, Cheltenham, Montgomery County less than a mile from the Cemetery. Camp William Penn trained and sent off to war 11 regiments of USCT.

A 74-year-old Army veteran from Flourtown and retired satellite designer for Lockheed Martin, Edward McLaughlin has been working diligently to research the lives of those buried in the cemetery. A genealogy buff who frequently visited Philadelphia National Cemetery, McLaughlin has been working for the past few years to see that the cemetery and its history receive greater recognition.

The Making History Greater series features scholars, authors, and historians who are currently working on telling new stories about the complexity of our region’s history. Philadelphia National Ceme- tery will take place on Thursday, May 16, 2019. The evening will begin at 6:30 pm with a social gathering and light refreshments. The presentation will begin at 7:00 pm and last for about an hour with time for questions at the end. This program is free and open to the public.

4 1950 Boy Scout Jamboree From Our Blogs By Nancy Sullivan, Archivist

In 1950, boys from around the world came to Valley Forge for the second Boy Scout Jamboree. Today, the Jamboree is held every few years, but they got off to a slow start. The first Jamboree was scheduled to take place in Washington, D. C. in 1935, but had to be cancelled because of a polio outbreak. It was eventually held in 1937. The next one wasn’t held in 1950, due in part to World War II. With such a long hiatus, the 1950 Jamboree was a big deal. It was covered extensively in the Times-Herald and the Philadelphia papers. The papers estimated that 47,000 scouts from around the world came, creating what the Times-Herald called “the largest tent city in [the] nation’s history.” Philadelphia Suburban Water Sup- ply provided 800,000 gallons of water each day. The Jamboree had its own telephone system with three 80 line switchboards. They handled 8,000 calls per day. The Times-Herald also reported that it was expected that the scouts would consume 40,000 eggs, 409,000 gallons of milk, and 5,000 gallons of ice cream. The Mrs. Smith’s Pie Company of Pottstown made 250,000 pies for the event (they were all apple). A camp hospital was manned by the 49th Evacuation Unit, Army Reserve Unit. While they mostly treated blisters, upset stomachs, and heat exhaus- tion, they also performed an emergency appendectomy on a 13 year-old from Jacksonville, FL. President Truman opened the event on the night of June 30, with a speech about international cooperation in the midst of an international crisis. Five days earlier, North Korean troops had crossed the 38th parallel. Truman told the boys, “When you work and live together, and exchange ideas around the campfire, you get to know what the other fellow is like. That is the first step toward settling world problems in a spirit of give and take, instead of fighting about them.” He encouraged the scouts to travel abroad to learn about other counties. On July 4th, General Eisenhower addressed the Jam- boree and set off the fireworks. In his speech, Eisenhower addressed the need to support South Korea “by whatever means are necessary.” Thirty-seven Alaskan scouts were quoted as being in favor of statehood for their home. It also says they were not prepared for the summer heat in the lower 48. The boys from Maine feasted on lobsters sent from home one night while everyone else had “mulligan stew.” A boy from New Mexico tried to swap his pet snake, but got no takers. Horned toads (which are really lizards that look like toads) were popular though. The Philadelphia Zoo took in several because their new owners didn’t know what to feed them. It also received calls from three mothers who were frightened when their children found stray lizards in the backyard (Times-Herald, August 3, 1950) Nineteen nations sent troops as well. The papers reported that the British scouts played cricket and brought 12 pounds of tea. Badrudan Morani of Bombay (now Mum- bai), India traveled the farthest to be there. There was even a contingent of sons of delegates to the United Nations who had their own troop based in Jamaica, Queens, with mem- bers from nine different countries. They flew the UN flag over their tent.

5 Exploring Naturalization and Immigration Records Genealogy Workshop Sydney F. Cruice Dixon Thursday, May 8, 2019 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM The Historical Society of Montgomery County announces a new special topic genealogy class for this spring! We are a country of immigrants– almost everyone’s family immigrated to this country. As a result, it is necessary to understand immigration and naturalization laws and processes in order to find your family in the records. We will discuss passenger lists and naturalization records and we will explore websites that can help you discover the routes your family traveled to come to this country. Sydney F. Cruice Dixon is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists. She has been actively researching family genealogies since 1995. In addition to conducting research and providing ge- nealogical coaching, Dixon currently teaches both beginner and intermediate level genealogy courses. She also lectures regularly throughout the tri-state area. She is also a member of the planning committee for the Main Line Genealogy Club in the Philadelphia area. The program is $10 for members of the Historical Society of Montgomery County and just $20 for non-members. Please contact the historical society at (610) 272-0297 to reserve your spot!

International Firefighters Day Walking Tour of Historic Montgomery Cemetery Saturday May 4, 2019 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM

The Historical Society of Montgomery County announces a special tour on Saturday, May 4, 2019, that looks at the history of the people and organizations involved with firefighting in and around Norristown, PA. The event will feature a walking tour of Historic Montgomery Cemetery that begins at 5:00 p.m. The presentation will be provided by Barry Rauhauser, Executive Director of the Historical Society of Montgomery County. International Firefighters’ Day is observed each year on May 4th. On this date everyone is invited to remember the past firefighters who have died while serving our community or dedicated their lives to protecting the safety of us all. On this day each year, we can all show our support and appreciation to the firefighters worldwide who continue to protect us so well throughout the year. With almost 6,000 known burials, Historic Montgomery Cemetery holds the remains of some of the most prominent citizens, veterans and reformers in the county and nation. From five Civil War generals to many captains of industry, it tells the story of the nation through the lives it represents. The entrance to Montgomery Cemetery is at the end of Hartranft Avenue, off of West Main Street, Norristown. The event is weather dependent. Please check our website for any cancellations. Parking during the event will be made available inside the Cemetery gates. For information on this event or any of the Historical Society of Montgomery County’s programs call 610-272-0297 or email: [email protected].

6 New Additions to Our Collections

Photos and Documents from Rivercrest Preventorium – Gift of George Detwiler Books, Quaker History, Local History, Ellwood Roberts’ Diary – Gift of Ellwood Roberts Deed, Springfield Township 1816 – Gift of Carol Scatarige Listing of Memorials at Holy Trinity Cemetery, Phoenixville, PA – Gift of Joe Evans Framed Poster MontCo. Bar Association in 1922 – Gift of Don Marsella Various Papers and Items related to the Wismer Family – Gift of Anne Draus Knife from F. G. Stritzinger & Co. Norristown, and Wooden seals – Gift of Anne Draus Small Booklet, the Plymouth & Upper Dublin Turnpike Rd., 1855 – Gift of George C. Corson, Jr. Drawings and Maps – Gift of Catherine Cochran Warner Magazines“Plane – Power” from Jacobs Aircraft Co, Pottstown – Gift of Richard Barnett Yearbooks, Bishop McDevitt High School, St. James Church – Gift of Charles Kelly Records of Norristown HARB 2010-2013 – Gift of William F. Ward Police Officer’s Memorial – Gift of Sonny Santangelo Business Card Thermometers – Gift of Garnet Timbario Shop Sign, Star and Eagle Tea Shop, Center Square, PA – Gift of Robert Keim & Matthew Heilman Whiskey Bottle, Radnor Whiskey, John M. Peters, Norristown, PA – Gift of Kathleen Coughey

Trade Sign, Star and Eagle Tea Shop, 1930s Made by Ernest Robert Armstrong Martha and Ernest Robert Armstrong were both born in South Philadelphia. Prior to the Great Depression Ernest was an archi- tect. During the Depression the couple moved to Center Square and opened the Star and Eagle. They grew food on the site and served it in their shop, which was open during the summer months.. After the Depression ended, Ernest got a job with Lovelace and Spillman in Bethlehem, PA and they closed the Star and Eagle.

Gift of Robert Keim & Matthew Heilman

7 The Historical Society of Montgomery County Non-Profit 1654 DeKalb Street Organization Norristown, PA 19401-5415 U.S. Postage Paid Permit No. 698 CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED SEPA-19399

The Historical Society of Montgomery County Founded in 1881