Northcentral Conservancy

Muncy Farms Set as Site for Spring Event

In May 2010 the Northcentral Pennsylvania Conservancy held a Spring outing at Lochabar. Ted and Judee Lyon opened their property along Antes Creek to NPC for a fun Sunday afternoon, filled with geology, wild flowers, local history, music and great food. And, since one great event encourages another, a NPC committee is already at work on 2011’s event. This year, siblings Malcolm Barlow and Sheila Barlow O’Brien will be hosting NPC JL members at Muncy Farms, their the house survived the raids and burnings 800-acre farm along the West Branch Susquehanna at during the “Great Runaway” in 1778 (settlers to the Hall’s Station. region withdrew to Sunbury and points south while The Muncy Farms property has a long war parties came through burning and unique history. The property was crops and buildings). warranted to John Jarvis, Jr. and By the late 1780s Wallis owned known as the “Jarvis tracts” before more than five square miles of being owned by Samuel Wallis. Wallis land. After the Revolutionary War, came to the area as a surveyor in 1768, Wallis worked as a land agent for and in 1769 he built a stone house on the Holland Land Company. The Muncy Farms. This house is still standing, Company, a group of capitalists in and is the oldest house in Lycoming Conserving working farms the United Netherlands, provided County. Since it was built from stone, and forests funds to Robert Morris (financier of the Revolution), and was re-paid with large tracts of land in western and Pennsylvania. Wallis’s financial affairs became complicated and he over-extended himself. He died from yellow fever on October 14, 1798. John Meginness’s 1892 History of Lycoming County , details that Wallis’s land holdings were heavily encumbered and forced to be sold at sheriff’s sale in Williamsport on May 3 and 4, 1802. Although Wallis’s sons had worked to settle with creditors, they

(Continued on next page) REPORT TO THE MEMBERSHIP VOLUME 21 • ISSUE 1 • WINTER 2011 Spring Fundraiser... an ambulance during World War I, prior to the entering the War. Once the United States entered (Continued from front page) the War, he transferred to the Army and became a liaison officer. He returned to working in his family’s banks until 1923. He married Margaret Burgwin on June 30, 1926 and moved to Muncy Farms. The last ownership change, from Brock to Barlow, began during the London Blitz in World War II. Malcolm and Sheila, with their twin siblings Brian and Susan, were part of an evacuation of children from the United Kingdom. The British government worked with the United States Committee for Care of European Children to remove children to the United States. In the summer of 1940 Mr. and Mrs. Henry Brock agreed to host a family of up to five evacuated children were unsuccessful. The 5,766 acres sold over the two at Muncy Farms. Mr. Brock died on October 9, 1940, but day period raised $19,188.67 (about $3.33 per acre). Mrs. Brock continued with her plans to host a family, The tract with the main house was bought by and the Barlow children arrived at the farm on Thomas Grant on behalf of Henry Drinker. On November 3, 1940. During the war, the children’s November 18, 1805 Drinker sold the tract to Robert widowed mother allowed Mrs. Brock, Aunt Peg, to begin Coleman who gave the property as a gift to his the adoption process of the children. daughter, Elizabeth, when she wed Charles Hall, a Sunbury attorney. In 1820 construction on the house’s east wing began. Owners Charles and Elizabeth Hall hired the contractor who was doing the state capitol in Harrisburg. However, Charles died in 1821, prior to the work being completed. Four years later, Elizabeth and her younger children moved to Lancaster. She left her son, Robert Coleman Hall, to manage Muncy Farms. Robert Coleman Hall married Sarah Ann Watts. The couple had six children. Their daughter Julia Watts Hall, eventually married John Penn Brock. The house itself is just as interesting as its John Penn Brock’s ownership history. A south wing was added in the descendent, Col. 1880s, but removed during a major renovation in 1926. Robert Coleman All that remains of this wing is the “mother-in-law door.” Hall Brock and his The second floor door had connected the 1820 wing to wife, Alice, had a the Victorian wing; now the mother-in-law door opens son, Henry Gibson to the empty space above a patio. Brock. During the 1926 renovation, a west wing was Henry Gibson added. Partitions in the 1769 portion of the home were Brock graduated removed to create a great room. This room contains from the University American chestnut beams hewn before the blight of Pennsylvania decimated the species. During the 1936 and 1972 before traveling to floods, three feet of water came into the first floor. The JL France and driving (Continued on next page) 2 Spring Fundraiser... (Continued from page 2) oak floors in the great room were warped so much that several of the boards split and had to be replaced.

The property has had a role in shaping and building the greater Williamsport region Michael Ross arrived at Muncy Farms in 1772. He served Samuel Wallis as an indentured servant until 1779, learning farming and surveying skills during those nine years. At the end of his service, Wallis presented locate and contract for making canals, locks, and other him with 109 acres, an uncommon practice in that day. works necessary” for a canal from Northumberland, up Ross went on to own land on both sides of the West the West Branch Susquehanna to Bald Eagle. The canal Branch Susquehanna River. He laid out the of passed through Muncy Farms, paralleling the River for Williamsport and sold the first lots on July 4, 1796. the length of the property. The canal bed and towpaths During the Revolutionary War, Samuel Wallis was a are still visible and maintained on the property. captain of the Sixth Company of the Second Battalion of The railroading era quickly followed the canals. the Northumberland County Associated Militia, serving Rail lines were laid alongside the canals and the canals with his neighbors for the protection of the frontier. went almost entirely out of use. The property is at the James Potter was the Colonel of this colonial militia. junction of what had been the Williamsport and North However, at the same time, Wallis was known to the Branch Railroad and the Philadelphia and Reading British as “the Gentleman from Philadelphia” and Railroad. An active rail line still runs through the worked with Benedict Arnold to provide the British property paralleling Old Route 220, and the driveway generals with intelligence. This espionage was hidden for Muncy Farms crosses the tracks using a bridge. The until 1946 when documents were uncovered in England bridge across the railroad line is the third oldest (1847) upon the opening of the British archives of the cast iron truss bridge in the United States. Engineering American Revolution thus providing details of Wallis’s and bridge societies frequently request permission to double dealings. visit the bridge during conferences and workshops. On March 24, 1828 the State Legislature passed a bill authorizing a board of canal commissioners “to Join NPC at Muncy Farms!

In order to capture the property’s gardens at their height, Sunday, June 12 has been set as the date.

For more information, or to be added to the event mailing list, please contact the office at 570-323-6222.

The main house was included in the Junior League of Williamsport's 1968 publication Homes and Heritage of the West Banch Valley . The accompanying photos with a “ JL ” on them are from that publication and used with the Junior League's permission.

3 Thank You To Everyone Who Helped NPC Map Its Future

The 2010 Year End Appeal was a success! Thank you to everyone who received that “topo-lope” and responded. Below is a list of all the donors to the Appeal. If you have any questions, please call the office (570-323-6222). 2010 YEAR END APPEAL

Donna Amer-Poust Mr. & Mrs. Law Groner Patricia A. Reeder Dennis & Linda Ault John M. Hallgren Andrew Bamford Bonita E. Hannis Steve & Beth Bason Nathan E. Harvey Bastian Tire & Auto Centers Robert & Margaret Hershey Dr. Colson Blakeslee Toner & Kathy Hollick George L. & Penny H. Bower Donald G. Holtzman Daniel Brennan Louis & Wanda E. Irion Gerald Bride JBH3 Architects Alfred W. Buck Ronald Johnson Stephen & Stephanie Budman Susan Joshi Evelyn Reeder Bill & Eileen Burdett Frances Kuntz Ed & Tink Reish Dr. John & Jean Burks Larson Design Group George & Barbara Rizzo Alvin C. & Betty Bush Wayne Laubscher Michael & Camille Salvatori Ron Butler Josephine Lewis Harold D. Sausser Jonathan & Sally Butterfield Marc & Diane Lewis Charlie & Helen Schwarz Blair & Mary Carbaugh Mel & Susan Lewis Mr. & Mrs. John Sciortino Reneé Carey Herman & Molly Logue Wayne H. & Carol Scott Sr. Dr. Robert & Loretta Coltrane Ms. Idell Ludwig Sam Shaheen R. Lowell Coolidge Dr. Donald R. Lundy Jr. Cathy & Tom Shannon William & Ruth Correll Charles & Hallie Luppert Mark Shuman Frederick S. Crafts Raymond M. Lyon J. Nolan & Jane Hays Smith Matthew & Lisa Cramer Lewis A. & Myla Magent Linda Stein Robert "Butch" Davey John & Wendy Marshalek David & Louise Stone Andra DeHart-Robbins Gilbert L. Maton Diane & John Sweeney Michael & Mary Ditchfield Patrick McCollum Carolee & Dick Thatcher Thomas Duck Bob & Pat McKernan Rich & Alice Trowbridge Elizabeth Brown Dugan Charlotte Mengel William & Kimberly Van Campen Larry & Maggie Emery John & Cynthia Metzger Chalmer & Ruth Ann Van Horn Dave & Lisa Engle Laurence F. Miller Jerry & Joy Walls Romey & Heather Fagnano Terry & Dorian Myers Mr. & Mrs. Harry E. Webster III Nicole Faraguna Raymond Nelson & Family Jason & Chandra Weigle Ted Fenno Candace S. Nevel & Ellice Tomlinson Paul O. & Patricia Wentzler Dr. Werner & Anna Martha Fetter Stuart & Judy Olinsky Wheeland Lumber Co. Inc. Jeffrey Finke Dick Penfield Mr. & Mrs. H.W. Wieder Michael R. & Teri H. Fisher Mr. & Mrs. Henry Perciballi Jane B. Williams Joanne Fisher John Jr. & Charlotte Person George Windolph Bernette & George Fitzgerald Mr. & Mrs. Charles M. Plankenhorn Linda & Dan Wolfe Veryl & Linda Frye Mr. & Mrs. Chester Pribble Bill & Pam Worobec David K. Gilpin Honorable Thomas C. Raup Dorothy Yannaccone Joan C. Gingrich James & Cheryl Redmond Dr. Mel & Gail Zimmerman

4 MEMBERSHIP ACTIVITY • November 1, 2010 to December 31, 2010

CORPORATE MEMBERS RED OAK SUGAR MAPLE Many thanks to our corporate members for their support of ($50- $99) ( Continued ) NPC's mission. Please take note of those businesses which Ted & Tracey Barbour Stephen & Diane Groff have shown they care about the future of our communities Patty L. Bowman Esq. Ken W. & Kathy A. Hakes with their corporate memberships and show YOUR support Carson V. Brown II DDS Douglas Loffredo to them. Small Business ($100- $499) Bruce & Betty Buckle Mark Newruck Ralph S. Alberts Co., Inc. Stephen & Michael & Jeanne Rapp Stephanie Budman Bastian Tire & Auto Center Sandy Rife Jeffrey B. Burnham Beiter's Inc. Heidi Schwarz-Hosler Mary Cosgrove Cromaglass Corp. First Keystone Community Bank Glenn Davis WHITE PINE William & Joyce Davis ($25- $34) GENERAL MEMBERS BLACK CHERRY Mary R. Engel Jon Carlson (Continued ) Bernette & George David & Carol Durrwachter Fitzgerald BLACK BEAR Len & Jean Collins Nick & Debra Goff Daniel Glunk & ($500- $999) William & Ruth Correll Gordon & Mary Hiller Margrit Shoemaker J. Robert & Nancy Bower Merrill Dodge Elinor Kantz Hardy Hansen Charles & Jane Darrow Doug & Frani Doherty Dr. & Mrs. Mohamed Kathie L. Hunter Khalequzzaman Dr. Kim Herrman Veryl & Linda Frye Mr. & Mrs. Ken Johnson Armine Wodehouse Gordon & Margie Shaw Timothy & Deborah Greene Ed Lawrence & Catherine Richard & Kim Wykoff Dr. & Mrs. Michael A. Gross McLaughlin W. Holmes & Enid Yealy WHITE-TAILED DEER Stephen E. Jaquith Kenneth & Ann Lundy ($250- $499) Mr. & Mrs. Seth Keller John & Wendy Marshalek HONORIARIUM James W. & Cynthia Mengel Rod & Sue Keller William & Susan Martens Bower Oscar W. Knade Jr. Ralph Strouse Kathleen O'Brien by Edith Muthler Paul & Sucheta Dembowski Marc & Diane Lewis Suzann & Bill Parsons Dr. Werner & Charles & Fay Lindrooth Nancy Paulhamus Anna Martha Fetter George & Shirley Watershed Linda Prior Durrwachter's Russ Kimura & Association 50th Anniversary Denise Hamby Dixie Reber Laurence F. Miller by Donald & Ann Alsted The George I. Rodgers Family Patricia A. Reeder Virginia F. Nicholas by Charles “Skip” & Robert & Jean Teufel Jack & Joann Rishel Gloria Greevy James C. Rogers Blair & Alice Schuster John & Judy Ryder BLACK CHERRY Thomas T. Taber Peter & Linda Schultz ($100- $249) & Family Terry Wild Stock Rich & Sandy Adams Slate Run Sportsmen SUGAR MAPLE Carl & Marti Barlett Herbert O.Stratton ($35- $49) Marguerite Bierman Albert & Judith Styrcula Patricia W. Booth D. Richard & Shirley Wenner Ned Coates & Gayle Peters-Coates Dr. & Mrs. Michael W. Bowser Paul O. & Patricia Wentzler Patrick Gallagher Dr. & Mrs. Bruce Burns Louis S. Winner Jr. DDS PA

Thank You...to all those who continue to support the work of the Northcentral Pennsylvania Conservancy

5 Northcentral Pennsylvania Conservancy NON-PROFIT ORG. PO Box 2083 U.S. POSTAGE Williamsport PA 17703 PAID 570-323-6222 http://www.npcweb.org/ PERMIT NO. 201 WILLIAMSPORT, PA Return Service Requested

Stream Projects Will Focus Peter Herdic House To Host On Impaired Streams In 2011 Celebrity

Looking for an excuse to “play” in a stream this Waiter Night summer? NPC received a grant from the Pennsylvania Local “celebrities” are Department of Environmental Protection’s Growing dusting off their black Greener Grant Program to continue stream restoration ties, and practicing their work in the northcentral region. tray balancing skills! The new grant will focus projects on streams that That’s right, it’s time for are impaired and listed on the 303d list. The EPA the Peter Herdic House explains the 303d list as being, “the list of impaired Restaurant’s Celebrity Waiter waters (stream segments, lakes) that the Clean Water Night to benefit the Northcentral Act requires all states to submit for EPA approval every Pennsylvania Conservancy!! two years (even-numbered years). The states identify all This year’s confirmed Waiters waters where required pollution controls are not include: sufficient to attain or maintain applicable water quality • Jerry Allen, Lycoming College standards and rank the waters taking into account the uses of the water and severity of the pollution • Rosanne Casale Bolsar, Fish Real Estate problem.” NPC staff will begin working with our partners, • Rick Mason, PennDOT Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, • Tony Nardi, Fish Real Estate and Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission to • Judge Tom Raup, Attorney implement • Amy Shotwell, Verizon the grant • Mark Shuman, Clear Channel Communications this summer. If you’re • Jerry Walls, Community Planning Consultant interested in • Greg Zeitler, Sit Happens & Special Olympics Coach volunteering by helping Make your dinner reservations for Friday, March 11, “in stream” 2011 by calling the Peter Herdic House at 570-322-0165. contact the office.