The Chronic le A Publication of The Historical Society 2004 of Trappe, Collegeville, Perkiomen Valley, Inc. December Volume XXXIII No. 5 �·- -� �-"'--�--�·'------�- Pastor Muhlenberg to he Present B ble Dedication From th e President ... at i While we are still digesting the reality of Dr. Jo hn Shetler retiring as The recently purchased Muhlenberg Bible will be dedi­ Director of Mus eums, we realize that we must turn to our membership cated on Sunday, December 5th, at 2:00pm in the Henry to fillthe many voids that will be created going into 2005. He will Muhlenberg House. Our Chaplain, Rev. William A. surely receive many congratulatory words on his retirementfrom this Fluck, has informed us that Pastor Henry Melchior position. Fortunately, his leadership will continue as he will remain Muhlenberg will be present to read in German a passage on the Board and as Historian. forAdvent from the Bible, and then also for those who Th ose attending our Ve terans Day Dinner at the Berman Mus eum do not understand German, he will read it in English. offered ve1y fa vorable fe edback the the dinner, and the The Bible, a translation by Dr. Martin Luther, was on location, sp eaker. It was a beautifuleveni ng and enjoyed by all. published in 1778 in Basel. It was fi rst owned by John I want to remind you that you now have the opportunity to have Ruth of New Hanover, the site of Pastor Muhlenberg's your 18th or 19th century home or building designated an historic as New Hanover congregation. We learn of John Ruth's are f structure. Historic Plaques now available or purchase pending area of residence, as Henry Muhlenberg records in his verification and documentation of the year they were constructed. Journal on February 2, 1779, that John Ruth was a Such documentation will become part of the archives of the Society, witness for the wedding of William Hauckins on that and this designation will establish its place in hist01y. day. We appreciate the generosity of all who have joined in sharing the It is recorded in the Bible that on April 9, 1770, John cost of the Muhlenberg Bible. This important acquisition is in keeping Ruth and Catharine Hiester, sister of Joseph Hiester, with our goal to fu rnish the Hemy Muhlenberg Ho use with Muhlen­ were married. After Catharine Ruth's death, the Bible berg fa mily possessions. We lookforward to seeing you at our Op en passed to her brother, Joseph Hiester. Ho use on December 5th, when the Bible will be dedicated (s ee calen­ The Rev. Henry Augustus Philip Muhlenberg of dar on page 3) . Reading married Mary Elizabeth Hiester, daughter of Th e Finance Committee recently met to de velop the budget/or Joseph Hiester. Mary Elizabeth Muhlenberg died in 2005. We fa ce expenses beyond the scope of our ongoing costs to childbirth. Her surviving child was a daughter. The maintain our two historic sites, such as painting the Hemy Mu hlen­ fam ily named her after her mother, Mary Elizabeth berg House and air conditioning the Dewees Museum. In 2005, we will need to rely more than ever on the generosity of our members a Hiester Muhlenberg . Joseph Hiester records in the Bible, in "This 28th day of September AD 1831 I make a present variety of ways-to support our programs and events, to volunteer valuable time and experience, and to assist with.financialnecessities. of it [the Bible] to my granddaughter Mary Elizabeth Our common interest in hist01y, and especially local history, should Hiester Muhlenberg." Mary Elizabeth was the grand­ inspire more than ever to work toward the growth and daughter of Henry Ernst Muhlenberg, pastor of Trinity us conservation of our heritage. Lutheran Church, Lancaster, and great granddaughter of As always, invite your thoughts and ideas and look fo rward to Henry Melchior Muhlenberg and Anna Maria Weiser I hearingfi·omyou ... Muhlenberg. She is a bloodline descendant. The Henry Muhlenberg House will be open on My rna Knaide December 5th from I :30pm to 4:30pm. Refreshments 610-489-921 I [email protected] will be available in the Visitors Center by Hospitality Chairperson, Beverly Spaid and her assistants. The Dewees Museum will be open to visitors from Museu1n Director Retires 3:00pm to 4:30pm, following the Bib le dedication. Park­ At the October meeting of the Board of Directors, The Rev . John C. ing is av ailable on the Main Street portion of St. Luke's Shetler read his retirement letter as Director ofMuseums, to be effective Church parking lot. December 31, 2004. Dr. and Mrs. Shetler have been members of the Both Museums will be decorated in the Muhlenberg Society since November 1964. Dr. Shetler became President of the tradition of simple natural greens and fruit, as may have Society in November 1988 until 1992. During this time the Henry been available in the 1 8th century. Dr. and Mrs. Ivan W. Muhlenberg House was purchased. During the restoration he became Hess will arrange the decorations. Docents wi ll be Curator and Historian. In the Presidency of The Rev. Dr. Herbert H. available in both museums. Michel, he became Director of Museums. 2) •:• (c ontinued on page Museum Director Retires ... (c ontinuedfrom page I) From The Journals of During the period of Dr. Shetler's being Curator, the Museum Committee was Henry Melchior Muhlenberg established to assist in the work of the museum in all of its areas. He pays tribute 1779 to The Rev. Robert A. Meschke, Marie Shetler, The Rev. Thomas Young (deceased), Esther Ziegler, and Lloyd Ziegler. They all did physical work­ January 31, Sunday. Clear weather. It was cleaning, sewing, record keeping, exhibit assembly, serving as docents, preparing Pastor Voigt's tum to hold divine service here. refreshments, and in the case of Lloyd Ziegler, doing restoration of disp lay He was unable to ford the Schulkiel, but he cupboards, artifacts, and an 18th century door. They provided much material at was taken across in a canoe and came the rest their own expense. It is true they paid to work. Dr. Shetler expressed appreciation of the way on foot to conduct the service. to his wife,Marie, who waited forhi m many hours, was supportive in all that he Visit from Mr. Sw[aine] from Philadelphia. has attempted, and has worked beside hm in many tasks. February 2, Tuesday. In the evening Dr. Shetler expresses thanks to officers, Board members, generous donors, married William Ha uckins and Ha nna Ruth of docents, office secretaries, and all who have made the work of the museums Ne whannover To wnship by License. Bonds­ successful. men were Michael Hinderleiter and William During this past year and a half, the Museum Committee analyzed the work of Hauckins, residents of New Hannover Town­ the museums and prepared a job description that can be used to provide a staff ship. Witness: John Ruth, brother of the bride. person or persons for the future. In this past year, two additional volunteers have February 3, Wednesday. Read and wrote. I been added to the Museum Committee and the Board: The Rev. Judith A. Meier expected Mr. Sw[aine] to come back that I forgenealogy and Dona McDermott formuseum administration. might give him the correspondence to take to Dr. Shetler continues to work in the elected position of Historian and looks Philadelphia, but he did not come. forward to seeing old and new friends. •:• February 4, Thursday. The news is that in December, a. pr. , the English troops, about Behind-th e-Scenes Vo lunteers 5,000 strong with thirty-seven ships captured Did you ever wonder how Th e Chronicle actually winds up in your mailbox? Each the capital city of Savanna and the entire issue, Dr. John Shetler afterarran ging forthe printing, picks up the newsletters and province [of Georgia] . What will happen to delivers them to Rich Holcombe, who ultimately takes them to the post office. the poor people of Eben-Ezer? Visit from Year afteryear, ·issue after issue,vol unteers appear to prepare them forma iling Mr. Kugler who was recently in Philadelphia. under the supervision of Rich and his secretary, Sandy Musselman. Four couples It is rumored that His Excellency General have generously given their time toward this effort: Ivan and Thelma Hess, Ray Howe is returning with great reenforcements, either to reduce the North American provinces and Beverly Spaid, Richard and Virginia Weicheld, and Joseph and Muriel to obedience or to destroy them completely. Ludwig. Our thanks to them forth eir wonderful dedication and the many hours they have spent over the years to bring to our members. Moreover, famine is at the door; a bushel of The Chronicle •:• wheat already costs £5 5s. and is hard to get. Mr. Sw[aine] rode to the city by the back road, Ye ar-End Co ntributions so I must wait for some other means of As you consider your tax exemptions for 2004, you may want to consider a sending the letters. contribution to the endowment for the purchase of antiques that come on the February Saturday. Read and wrote. market that have in the past belonged to someone in the Muhlenberg family. 6, Please use the form below, and talk to the President or the Historian if you have February 7, Sunday. Rain and snow. Family any questions. worship. Visit from Valentin Scherer. He said When appropriate artifacts become available, it is then too late to assemble the that his son was going to Philadelphia next money to purchase the family heirloom.