Volume 23, Number 2 Winter 2009/2010 The Papermaker

HISTORIC RITTENHOUSETOWN 206 Lincoln Drive ▪ Philadelphia, PA 19144 ▪ 215-438-5711 ▪ www.rittenhousetown.org ▪ [email protected] Executive Director: Chris Owens ▪ Director of Education & Program Development: Ariel Wilson

INSIDE THIS ISSUE RittenhouseTown Celebrates the Life of David Rittenhouse and the Anniversary of Historic RittenhouseTown, Inc. at the American Philosophical Society Thank You to Our Volunteers 2 Over 125 guests joined together at the American Education Program 2 Philosophical Society’s Franklin Hall on October 29th to Receives Grants celebrate the 25th anniversary of Historic Rittenhouse- Historic RittenhouseTown’s Town Inc. and the life of David Rittenhouse (1732- Board of Directors 2 1796). Hugh Hanson founded Friends of Historic Ritten- houseTown in 1984 to preserve and protect the 1690 A Taste of History Airs on PBS 2 site of British North America’s first paper mill. Through our education program and ever-growing list of special Compass Collector’s Association 2 events and workshops, we continue to pursue his vision. Visits RittenhouseTown David Rittenhouse was the great grandson of the first An Evening in Celebration of 3 papermaker in British North America, William David Rittenhouse cont. Rittenhouse and his wife Gertrude. He was born in Programs & Events 4 RittenhouseTown’s original 1707 Homestead and later grew to be a respected figure among Philadelphia’s Rittenhouse Descendent Shares 18th century elite. Throughout his life he mastered 5 Fond Memories of Blue Bell Hill many skills and professions and held some of the nation’s highest offices. David was an astronomer, Youthworks Students Provide 5 clockmaker, mathematician, patriot, public servant and Summer Assistance surveyor. He served as Pennsylvania Assemblyman, Commonwealth Treasurer, Second President of the Roxborough Garden Club 5 American Philosophical Society, First Director of the Decorates for the Holidays United States Mint and an elected member of the Royal David Rittenhouse (1791), by Charles Willson Peale (1741-1827) Fine Arts Society. Rittenhouse Square in Center City Philadelphia In Memory 5 Collection, American Philosophical Society was named in honor of David in 1824. We are lucky enough to have a 1759 David Rittenhouse clock displayed in the Visitor Center at Rittenhouse- Fairmount Park Historic Preservation Trust Makes 5 Town, which was so generously donated by Mrs. Evelyn Rittenhouse of Timonium, Maryland. Temporary Home at Franklin Hall was the perfect space for our event due to David’s connection to the American RittenhouseTown Philosophical Society. We are grateful to Pat McPherson and Annie Westcott of the APS for their David Rittenhouse Clock is generosity and assistance in making the event a great success. Continued on page 3. 250 Years Old 6 2010 Calendar 6 Message from the executive director Membership This past summer was unusually wet. No sooner had the grass been mowed than it was ankle deep again. Invasive plants and trees grew and grew threatening native species. Painted surfaces Become a member of Ritten- needed cleaning and paint touch-ups. Since early summer, over 500 volunteers have contributed houseTown or renew your their time, expertise and energy helping us keep Historic RittenhouseTown looking its best. You will membership today by visiting see photos of many of these groups and organizations in this issue of the Papermaker. Volunteers www.rittenhousetown.org. are a vital resource for Historic RittenhouseTown and the work they perform critical to our success Your membership dues help to as a small non-profit organization with limited financial resources. Our volunteer program is an support our education program important part of our commitment to building bridges with the community in which we all live and and preservation efforts. As a work. Our volunteers leave Historic RittenhouseTown having invested a bit of themselves in the member you are entitled to free future of our site and pride in what they have accomplished. We benefit from their generosity and tours of the site and discounts on good will. Thank you to all who have given the most important gift any of us has to give – time. most of our programs as well as in our gift shop. Chris Owens Executive Director Thank you to our Volunteers Over fifty student-volunteers from the Fairmount Park Historic Philadelphia University’s School of Preservation Trust spent many Architecture and Design worked summer weekends scraping and with the Fairmount Park Historic painting the Visitor Center’s porch Preservation Trust to scrape, paint railing. and scrub many of our shutters, Since the summer we have also doors and fences on the University’s welcomed volunteer groups from September 17th Day or Service. The students provided hours of manual Greater Philadelphia Cares, Scraping the shutters at 208 labor that would have otherwise Summerbridge, Episcopal Academy, taken weeks. An additional group of Penn Charter, Green Street Friends and Friends Select. 25 students worked with Fairmount Park’s Volunteer Coordinator, David Thank you to the Fairmount Park Bower, to weed our twenty-five Historic Preservation Trust, David acres. Bower and all of our volunteers for their countless hours or work and Prior to the Day of Service, Nathan assistance. Algie, an independent volunteer with Cleaning the Homestead shutters Weeding the barn fence

Education Program Historic A Taste Receives RittenhouseTown of History grants Board of Directors airs on PBS

Between June and July of 2009 President Chef Walter Staib’s cooking show, A RittenhouseTown’s education Edward W. Duffy Taste of History, began airing on

program received multiple grants. Vice President PBS in November. Many episodes Both the Ludwick Foundation and were filmed at RittenhouseTown Frederic W. Clark, Esq. Skilling Foundation have once again and feature our original Bake supported our fall Sponsor-A-School Treasurer House. An episode dedicated solely program, an initiative that Charlotte H. Biddle to RittenhouseTown is slated to air

eliminates all program fees and Secretary in early 2010. transportation costs for Philadelphia J. M. Duffin The production team for A Taste of public schools. Thanks to their Directors support, we were able to maintain History is currently conducting Gerry L. Davis the recent increase in public school research on David Rittenhouse to Jerry Flatland students served annually. be included in new episodes Ellen L. Goodwin scheduled to film next year. For While the costs to administer the David C. Hamme more information about the show general education program continue Leigh Hassler visit www.atasteofhistory.org. to rise, we strive to maintain the Anne B. Hagele program’s financial accessibility by James Nelson Kise DVDs of the episodes that have actively seeking grant support. The David R. Knapton already aired are now available in Barra Foundation has continued to Stephen L. Kurtz our gift shop. We also carry Chef help us maintain our low $5-$10 Monica Letzring Staib’s most recent cookbook, admission fee by approving our Elizabeth T. Lukens Recipes from the Birthplace of grant request for general education Louise B. McCabe American Cuisine along with an older book of 18th century dessert funds. Mary Rittenhouse-Schwartzentruber Paul Rittenhouse, Sr. recipes. You may purchase these Thank you to these foundations for Joseph W. Rogers, Jr. items by visiting RittenhouseTown their continued support of our Philip Scott or through our website’s online gift education program. Mark S. Stewart, Esq. shop.

Compass collector’s association visits rittenhousetown

On June 19, the Compass are believed to have been used in Collector’s Association of America some of the 18th century’s most along with special guests from the important surveying projects. American Philosophical Society and David Rittenhouse was born in Atwater Kent Museum visited RittenhouseTown’s 1707 Home- RittenhouseTown to view our 1760 stead and was considered one of Benjamin Rittenhouse compass, its the most important surveyors of coupler and accompanying wooden Jeff Lock examines the Benjamin The Association and other guests stand 18th century America. Rittenhouse compass in front of the Rittenhouse Homestead staff. Both pieces are very rare and

Page 2 An Evening in celebration of david rittenhouse

Continued from page 1 Professor Delbourgo is the author of A Most Amazing Scene of Wonders: The menu for the event was designed by Electricity and Enlightenment in Early our friend Chef Walter Staib of City America (Harvard, 2006), and co-editor Tavern and catered by Feast Your Eyes of both Science and Empire in the Catering. The food was served in an 18th Atlantic World (Routledge, 2008), and -century, family-style manner similar to The Brokered World: Go-Betweens and what David may have experienced when Global Intelligence, 1770-1820 (Science dining at City Tavern. Items served History Publications, 2009). He has included Thomas Jefferson’s sweet written several articles on early modern potato pecan biscuits and West indies science, colonial history and the curried lamb pie. Yards Brewing Enlightenment. Company generously donated their Ales of Revolution and City Tavern donated This event would not have been possible Students from the Curtis Institute of Music entertain guests during the cocktail hour. Special thanks to Urban the wine and champagne. Students from without the support of our guests and Engineers for their support of the music. the Curtis Institute provided the music planning committee. We look forward to which was underwritten by a generous another 25 years of preserving and donation from Urban Engineers. protecting our National Historic Landmark District. James Delbourgo, Associate Professor of American History at Rutgers University Please save the date for our next and our keynote speaker, discussed fundraiser on June 3, 2010, the focus of David Rittenhouse and his contributions which will be the circa 1811 Jacob to the American Enlightenment. Rittenhouse Home at RittenhouseTown.

Planning Committee James Nelson Kise , Chair* Elizabeth T. Lukens* Jeremy J. Alvarez Martha Hamilton Morris Charlotte H. Biddle* Sarah D. Price Guests enjoy an 18th century menu served in a David B. Brownlee Paul M. Rittenhouse, Sr*. traditional family-style manner Edward M. D’Alba PE Robert J. Rittenhouse Michael DiBerardinis Wendy H. Rosen Edward W. Duffy* Kim Sajet Oliver St. Clair Franklin OBE, HM Hon. Consul Mary Rittenhouse Schwartzentruber* Nancy Goldenberg Anne Standish Ellen L. Goodwin Micki Stolker Barbara L. Greenfield Anna Coxe Toogood* * HRT board member

Menu Champagne Shrub Potato Cakes Ales of the Revolution—Yards Brewery Tri Colored Cole Slaw Selection of Wines & Madeira String Bean Salad Cheddar Cheese Coins Corn Relish Field Greens with Bib, Radicchio & Flowers Sally Lunn & Adadama Breads Chicken Madeira Th. Jefferson’s Sweet Potato Pecan Biscuits Professor James Delbourgo discusses David Rittenhouse Salmon Corn Cakes with Herbed Remoulade Gingerbread with Apple Sautee and the American Enlightenment West Indies Curried Lamb Pie Martha Washington’s Chocolate Cake

Thank you to our sponsors & supporters

Anonymous

Page 3 Recent events/programs Visit www.rittenhousetown.org for our 2010 calendar

paper arts workshops Camp

Over eighty guests participated in this Our 2nd annual summer camp went year’s Summer Paper Arts Workshop off without a hitch as we welcomed Series. Almost every class was full an enthusiastic group of campers to and the barn was bustling. the week-long program.

The 2009 Summer Paper Arts Each summer we aim to teach Workshop Series included: campers about the history and importance of Historic Rittenhouse- Open Vats Papermaking Town through hands-on crafts and Japanese Collage activities. This year’s schedule Colonial Printing & Papermaking included papermaking, bookbinding, Turkish Marbling printing and cooking. We walked the Momigami/Paste Painting Turkish Marbling Colonial Printing Wissahickon, made date stones, Japanese Papermaking played water games and learned Papermaking from Invasive Plants about archaeology.

We plan to offer the occasional We look forward to offering camp winter workshop in order to serve our again next year. Contact Ariel Wilson newest paper enthusiasts. Please for more information or a sample continue to check our website for schedule. Discounts available when upcoming classes. Japanese Papermaking Making Date Stones registering two or more campers.

20th Annual Paper Spirits of the Mill run 5K Race Wissahickon

The 20th Annual Paper Mill Run 5K Despite torrential downpours, 50 Race was held on September 12. guests attended Spirits of the Over 120 runners participated in this Wissahickon on October 24. important fundraising event. This Interpreters acting as the ‘spirits’ of year’s top winners in finishing order the Rittenhouse family performed were: Stuart Calderwood, Thomas traditional 18th century domestic Kolimago and Brian Wolff and workplace tasks to demonstrate

And they're off... Thank you to our sponsors: 18th century life in Rittenhouse- Writing with quill and ink City Tavern Town’s authentic landscape. The Beneficial Bank ‘spirits’ were stationed in the McCoubrey-Overholser Rittenhouse Homestead and Bake Samuel’s Seafood House. They included a cook, Killian’s Hardware medicine maker, harpist, sweet bag Daddy’s Lemonade maker and teacher.

Weaver’s Way The Visitor Center was open for tours. Penn Maid, Warm cider and cookies were served. Prize ceremony Gtown Radio Learning about 18th century medicine

Holiday Open House Community Festivals and Craft Fair

In addition to our own in-house On December 5 we hosted our events, we frequently participate in annual Holiday Open House and craft community festivals. This year, like fair. Over 75 guests joined us to many before, we attended both the make paper, decorate gingerbread Revolutionary Germantown Festival cookies, drink warm cider, watch a at Cliveden of the National Trust and colonial cooking demonstration and Chestnut Hill Fall for the Arts on browse our handmade crafts. Special Germantown Avenue. Using our tent, items included handmade paper paper making supplies and gift shop books, cards and stationary as well items, we set up a make shift as potholders and pillows quilted by RittenhouseTown. Events such as Mennonite crafters. The weather for these allows us to reach audiences the event was questionable and we that may be unfamiliar with Ritten- Making Paper at the Revolutionary Gingerbread Decorating thank our guests for braving the first houseTown. Germantown Festival snow of the season.

Page 4 Rittenhouse Descendent shares fond memories of Blue Bell Hill

Once RittenhouseTown covered over by the time 3rd generation William the Blue Bell Hill Civic Association for a 200 acres. By the time William divided his land six decades later. Betty number of years. Betty Jane and Burt (d.1772), great grandson of William and Jane traces her line through that very donated deeds for 6040 and other Gertrude Rittenhouse, began to divide William back to the first William and his artifacts to Historic RittenhouseTown in the land among his descendants, the wife, Gertrude. Betty Jane’s parents, 2000. They are now part of our original 20 acre tract had grown to Sarah Emma Everman Shank and permanent exhibit, The Blue Bell Hill Oral include several Rittenhouse homes, George Myers Shank moved into 6040 History Project. large barns, many outbuildings, in 1921 sharing the space with Sarah’s orchards, vineyards, land for animals parents who had built the home. We welcome visits from Rittenhouse and crops, and, of course, the mills. To Growing up Betty Jane remembers family members and others with the north of RittenhouseTown a celebrating May Day as a student at the memories of our village and the community would develop on Ritten- nearby Crease School: neighborhoods surrounding it. Their house land and come to be known as stories enrich our understanding of what Blue Bell Hill – for the blue flowers that . . all the students would walk life was like for generations of folks who down Wissahickon Avenue to lived and worked along the Paper Mill populated the steep hill that rises behind Long’s Lane which is now the Run. the Rittenhouse homes nestled along entrance to RittenhouseTown to our village road. Many of the streets in the hill behind the home of Cap- Blue Bell Hill – Daniel, Bridget and tain Long, now the Rittenhouse- Naomi for example – are named after Town Visitor Center. The hill was Rittenhouse family members who lived completely blue with violets. All there. Numerous ancestors of current morning long the students sat on Blue Bell Hill residents worked in the the hill picking violets, returning to mills at RittenhouseTown in the 19th the school in the afternoon to fill century. Members of the Rittenhouse beautifully decorated paper cups family continued to live on the ‘Hill’ until Sarah Emma Everman Shank and George with bunches of fragrant violets to just a few years ago. Myers in the yard at 6040 Wissahickon Avenue be delivered to patients in nearby During a recent visit from Betty Jane and hospitals. Burt Church, Betty Jane, an 11th Until the Crease School was built, the generation Rittenhouse descendant, children in and around RittenhouseTown shared stories of growing up at 6040 Wissahickon Avenue near the modern attended Rittenhouse Academy which entrance to Historic RittenhouseTown in stood on a ridge at the lower end of the village road at RittenhouseTown. what is now Blue Bell Hill. While 6040 was not part of the original 20 acres the Betty Jane and her family moved from Rittenhouse family acquired from 6040 when she was ten years old but Samuel Carpenter in the early 18th remained residents of Blue Bell Hill until Betty Jane Church at 6040 century, it was part of RittenhouseTown the 1960’s. Her father was President of Wissahickon Avenue in 1939.

Youthworks students Roxborough Garden provide summer Club Decorates for assistance the Holidays

We were once again lucky enough to have students from the On December 2, The Roxborough Garden Pennsylvania School for the Deaf’s Youthworks program work Club decorated the visitor center, Home- with us this past summer. The Youthworks program places stead and Bake House for the holidays. hearing-impaired PSD high school students in hearing work Along with their time, the club donated environments. The two students helped us with both program garland, bows and pine branches. The and fundraising mailings as well as inventory. Thank you to the RGC also actively maintains our colonial- students and Youthworks leaders for thinking of us. We look style herb garden next to the Bake House. Decorating the forward to next year. Visitor Center

In Memory Fairmount Park historic Preservation Long time member and supporter of trust makes a RittenhouseTown, Merlyn ‘Bert’ Schwartz, temporary home at passed away on September 2. Bert is RittenhouseTown seen in the adjacent photo sitting in the Blue Bell Hill oral history project display The offices of the Fairmount Park Historic

room at RittenhouseTown. We extend our Preservation Trust have temporarily relocated sympathies to his family and friends. to the second floor of our barn/papermaking Merlyn Schwartz studio We are glad to have them.

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been on display in our Visitor Visitor our in display on been

David Rittenhouse clock at RittenhouseTown RittenhouseTown at clock Rittenhouse David

Historic RittenhouseTown. It has has It RittenhouseTown. Historic

December 4: Holiday Open House House Open Holiday 4: December Rittenhouse gave the clock to to clock the gave Rittenhouse

wife, Evelyn, in 1995. Mrs. Mrs. 1995. in Evelyn, wife,

October 23: Spirits of the Wissahickon Wissahickon the of Spirits 23: October late David G. Rittenhouse and his his and Rittenhouse G. David late

who, in turn, sold the clock to the the to clock the sold turn, in who,

October TBA: Fall fundraiser fundraiser Fall TBA: October Leutkemayer, Sr of Baltimore Baltimore of Sr Leutkemayer,

H. Barnhart who sold it to John A. A. John to it sold who Barnhart H.

October 2: Revolutionary Germantown Fest/German American Day Day American Fest/German Germantown Revolutionary 2: October 1950’s the clock passed to Jane Jane to passed clock the 1950’s

Norristown area. In the early early the In area. Norristown

September 11: 21st Annual Paper Mill Run 5K Race Race 5K Run Mill Paper Annual 21st 11: September who continued to live in the the in live to continued who

with the descendants of Assheton Assheton of descendants the with

July 26-30: Summer Camp Camp Summer 26-30: July hundred years the clock stayed stayed clock the years hundred

For nearly all of the next two two next the of all nearly For

June-September: Paper Arts Workshop Series Series Workshop Arts Paper June-September: lived in nearby Norristown, PA. PA. Norristown, nearby in lived

Assheton, MD (1735-1773), who who (1735-1773), MD Assheton,

June-September: Weekend Summer Tours Tours Summer Weekend June-September: was first acquired by Ralph Ralph by acquired first was

David was 27 years old, our clock clock our old, years 27 was David

June 3: Spring Fundraiser Fundraiser Spring 3: June house clock. Built in 1759 when when 1759 in Built clock. house

anniversary of our David Ritten- David our of anniversary

April 21: Members’ Meeting Meeting Members’ 21: April

commemorating the 250 the commemorating th

RittenhouseTown, we also are are also we RittenhouseTown, collection! collection!

March 27: Annual Egg Hunt Hunt Egg Annual 27: March founding of Friends of Historic Historic of Friends of founding Rittenhouse clock in our our in clock Rittenhouse

Anniversary of the the of Anniversary the 25 the

this wonderful example of a David David a of example wonderful this th

the same time we are celebrating celebrating are we time same the for the most up-to-date event listing listing event up-to-date most the for We are proud to say that we have have we that say to proud are We

This is a year of celebrations! At At celebrations! of year a is This Continue to check www.rittenhousetown.org www.rittenhousetown.org check to Continue Center since November 2006. 2006. November since Center

of Events Events of clock 250 years old old years 250 clock

2010 Calendar Calendar 2010 David Rittenhouse Rittenhouse David

The Papermaker

Historic RittenhouseTown 206 Lincoln Drive Philadelphia, PA 19144

215-438-5711 ▪ [email protected]

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