Beyond Red Dragons O

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ProQuest Information and Learning 300 North Zeeb Road. Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 USA 800-521-0600 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. NOTE TO USERS This reproduction is the best copy available. UMT Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. BEYOND RED DRAGONS ON STREET SIGNS: CULTURAL EXPRESSION AMONG THE WELSH IN THE NINETEENTH-CENTURY SLATE QUARRY COMMUNITY OF DELTA, PENNSYLVANIA by Margaret L. Vetare A thesis submitted to the Faculty of the University o f Delaware in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts with a major in Early American Culture Winter 2003 Copyright 2003 Margaret L- Vetare Alt flights Reserved Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. UMI Number: 1412295 __ ___ ® UMI UMI Microform 1412295 Copyright 2003 by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. ProQuest Information and Learning Company 300 North Zeeb Road P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. BEYOND RED DRAGONS ON STREET SIGNS: CULTURAL EXPRESSION AMONG THE WELSH IN THE NINETEENTH-CENTURY SLATE QUARRY COMMUNITY OF DELTA, PENNSYLVANIA by Margaret L. Vetare Approved: Bernard L. Herman, PftrD. Professor in charge o f thesis on behalf of the Advisory Committee Approved: 0 . JamesOurtis, PhiX Director of the Winterthur Program in Early American Culture Approved: Mark W. Huddleston, PhJD. Dean of the College of Arts and Science Approved: 3 Conrado M. Gempesaw IT, PhJX Vice Provost for Academic Programs and Planning Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Many people and institutions have contributed to this work. A Lois F. McNeil fellowship, as well as the support o f my family, made possible my studies in the Winterthur Program in Early American Culture. At Winterthur, librarian Neville Thompson took an active interest in my work and directed me to important source material, while Program Director James C. Curtis provided encouragement for my topic. My colleagues Judy Giuriceo and Ann Kirschner shared their clarity of thought and gave generously of their time and scholarship throughout the research and writing process. In Delta, Pennsylvania, Don and Ruth Ann Robinson made the holdings of the Old Line Museum available for study, and guided me with their comprehensive knowledge of local history. Their unflagging dedication to preserving Delta’s heritage is an inspiration. In Cardiff, Maryland, the Heaps family kindly gave me access to the interior of their building, once row housing for quarry workers. Tom Schaeffer of Penn State shared his deep knowledge o f the quarry area with me. I would like to acknowledge the graciousness o f all of the residents of the hamlet of Coulsontown; the architectural interest of their homes has brought many curious guests to their quiet neighborhood. In Llanberis, Wales, Gordon Hartshorn escorted me through old quarry sites, arranged a visit to the Welsh Slate Museum during the off-season, and introduced me to iii Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. several former quarry workers. Roger Davis o f the Inigo Jones Slate Works, Groeslon, took special care to explain the tools and techniques for working slate. In Caernarvon, Bobby and Margaret Haines hosted me in their home and took me to many churchyards and to the villages whence Peach Bottom’s quarriers emigrated. Tegwyn Jones reviewed my translations and offered helpful alternatives when I had erred. A grant from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission Scholars-in- Residence program supported my research and enabled me to draw on a body of oral histories at the State Archives in Harrisburg, where Brent Glass and Linda Shopes were particularly helpful. During that time, John and Fiona Patterson took me into their home and provided a nurturing environment in which to work. Mimi Fitzhugh drew the map of quarry regions in North America and North Wales, and also assisted with photography and graphics issues. Allen Williams of the Chester Granite Quarry in Massachusetts was my teacher in a week-long class on ornamental stonecutting. Mr. Williams accommodated both my rudimentary skill level and my special interest in slate. Bill Ochs provided editorial and graphics assistance, as well as the support I needed to bring this effort to completion. Finally, my thanks go to Bernard L. Herman, who introduced me to Delta and entrusted me with its cultural riches. Professor Herman’s guidance was marked by phenomenal depth of knowledge, humor, creativity, and patience. He let me wander in directions I found compelling, but never let me get lost in the woods. To him I say dtolch ytt faw n . iv Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES ........................................................................................................... vi ABSTRACT........................................................................................................................xi Chapter 1 RED DRAGONS, RAMPANT...............................................................................1 2 MANSARD ROOFS AND CORNER CUPBOARDS......................................... LO 3 “THE ROCK DOES NOT UNDERSTAND ENGLISH” ................................... 26 4 POETRY IN STONE..............................................................................................47 5 SUBSTANCE AND STYLE................................................................................. 86 6 CONCLUSION................................................................................................... 145 APPENDIX: SAMPLE INVENTORIES AND VENDUE LISTS..............................149 REFERENCES ............................................................................................................... 155 BIBLIOGRAPHY............................................................................................................167 v Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. LIST OF FIGURES Figure I Slate quarries in North Wales and North America ....................................8 Figure 2 Peach Bottom Township and Slate Ridge .................................................. 9 Figure 3 Main Street residence, Peach Bottom Township ..................................... 17 Figure 4 Main Street residence, Peach Bottom Township ..................................... 18 Figure 5 Quarryworker’s cottage, Coulsontown ..................................................... 19 Figure 6 Coulsontown, showing three quarryworkers’ cottages ............................20 Figure 7 Quarryworker’s house, Gwynedd, W ales .................................................21 Figure 8 View o f Delta, Pennsylvania, 1888 ........................................................... 22 Figure 9 Frame house with slate shingle siding, West Bangor ..............................23 Figure 10 Former quarryworkers’ row housing, Cardiff, Maryland ....................... 24 Figure 11 Nineteenth-century quarryworkers’ row housing, Gwynedd, Wales 25 Figure 12 Farm buildings with slate roofs near Delta ...............................................39 Figure 13 Main Street residence with patterned slate roof, Delta ........................... .40 Figure 14 Slate plaque for Bethesda Church, signed by R. E. Evans ..................41 Figure 15 Carved slate gateposts, Main Street, Peach Bottom Township ---------- .42 Figure 16 Slate fencing, Caernarvonshire, W ales ......................................................43 Figure 17 Slate clock made by Humphrey Pritchard ------------------------------------.44 Figure 18 Miniature slate clock and bureau, Museum of Welsh Life — ................45 vi Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Figure 19 Wooden, fretwork clock ..............................................................................46

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