BULLETIN HI^TORICAL50C1ETY MONTGOMERY COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA JVONmSTOWAT S2MERY PUBLISHED BY THE SOCIETY AT 1T5 BUILDING )65<^ DEKALB STRBET NORRISTOWN.PA. APRIL, 1955 VOL. IX NUMBER 4 PRICE ONE DOLLAR Historical Society of Montgomery County OFFICERS Donald A. Gallageb, Esq., President George K. Beecht, Esq., Vice-Presidmt Poster C. Hillegass, Vice-Presid&nt David B. Groshens, Esq., Vice-President Eva G. Davis, Recording Secretary Helen E. Richards, Corresponding Secretwry Mrs. LeRoy Bu^s, Financial Secretary and Librarian Lyman a. Kratz, Treasurer TRUSTEES Kirke Bryan, Esq. Harry L. Christman Mrs. H. H. Prancine Donald A. Gallager, Esq. Herbert H. Ganser Kenneth H. Hallman George M. Harding Nancy P, Highley Foster C. Hillegass Mrs. a. Conrad Jones Hon. Harold G. Knight Lyman A. Kratz Franklin A. Stickler Mrs. Franklin B. Wildman, Jr. Norris D. Wright 4 THE FOUNDERS OF A STATE, by Thomas Hovenden THE BULLETIN of the Historical Society of Montgomery County Published Semi-Annually — October and Ap7i.l Volume IX April, 1955 Number 4 CONTENTS The New Indexes ."251 From Our Exhibits — The Last Painting of Thomas Hovenden 252 Jane Keplinger Burris The Turnpikes of Pennsylvania .-.Frederick C. Sweinhart 254 Deaths in the Skippack Region (Compiled) 263 The "Old Dutch Church" in Lower Merion 281 Charles R. Barker Reports 347 PUBLICATION COMMITTEE Mrs. Leroy Burris Mrs. H. Donald Moll Charu;s R. Barker, Chaii'man 249 The New Indexes As few persons who consult an index take the precaution to ex amine the head of the index, for possible explanatory notes, this notice is placed where it is not likely to be overlooked. The index to our Volume IX, now current, will represent a radical change in our indexing methods, inasmuch as reference will be made to su/mames only, instead of to complete personal names, as heretofore. A glance at the index to Volume VIII, which covers nearly 60 pages, doublecolumn, shows that the task of indexing has become monu mental. Because of the wealth of genealogical detail contained in several of the papers, almost a score of index references to the same page for one family has often become necessary! where one reference should suffice. According to a long-established practice of the Society, the number of the Bulletin which appears concurrently with the index to the preceding volume, is made a "short number," the object being, that the total of the two shall not exceed the 96 pages to which a single number is limited. But as a result of this rule, the Bulletin for October, 1953, was practically only a half-size number! Thus, space that could well be devoted to historical material is sacri ficed to the needs of a too-meticulous index; and as the 8-point type of the index is more expensive than the 10-point used elsewhere, retrench ment in labor and expense is plainly called for. While those doing research will thus find it a little more time- consuming, it will be a satisfaction to them to know that they are thus "doing their bit" towards getting out the Bulletin and its index. Such a contribution, small though it be, is much appreciated where labor is voluntary. Proper names other than surnames will now be found in a separate index. The Publication Committee 251 Prom Our Exhibits The Last Painting of Thomas Hovenden* On the north wall of the auditorium hangs the large oil painting The Founders Of A State. This handsomely framed picture captures the admiration and attention of all who behold it in its new location. It was the last work of Thomas Hovenden, famed artist of Plymouth Meeting, and was unfinished at the time of his death in X895. As its history is not generally known, it will be appropriate to relate the facts concerning it in this form. No attempt is made here to tell the whole story of Thomas Hovenden. The painting came to the Society after the death, in 1941, of Miss Martha Maulsby Hovenden, a sculptress of note, and daughter of the artist. It had hung in the Corson-Hovenden studio at Plymouth Meet ing from 1895 down to the time of its presentation to the Society, and had been unavoidably subjected to dampness and some consequent dam age. Several months before our moving to the new building, the condi tion of the Hovenden painting became a question of great concern to the Trustees. Although its condition had not worsened materially since being in the Society's custody, it was feared that moving it would be extremely hazardous, and likely to result in irreparable loss. Fortunately the blistering and peeling of the paint-film was confined to the fore ground, with the subject figures of the painting remaining intact. Upon the counsel and recommendation of George M. Harding, a Trustee of the Society, and painter of the historic murals in the Court House of Montgomery County, an arrangement of conservation and restoration was planned. The work was done by Theodor Siegl, Conservator and Technical Advisor of the Pennsylvania Academy of The Fine Arts, Philadelphia, and Napoleon Gorski, artist, of Montgomery County. Both young artists had studied under Mr. Harding, and were recommended by him to do the work. Thomas Hovenden is termed an historical and genre painter, and this classification is apt of The Founders Of A State, depicting, as is does, the covered-wagon train and the opening of the West. Today, beyond the Rocky Mountain region of our country, this painting would be acclaimed a valuable example of Americana. Its being unfinished, in the light of time—changes in style and opinion, has not proved to be a detriment. It tells its story without the detail that the artist, judging from his finished works, had in mind for its completion. *See frontispiece. 252 FROM OUR EXHIBITS 253 Helen Corson Hovenden, wife of Thomas Hovenden, was also a painter of great merit and talent in her own right. Several of her por traits, those of Dr. Louis Wernwag Read and Dr. William Corson, are among the Society's collection. Readers wishing to leam more about Thomas Hovenden are referred to The Historical Society of Montgomery County, SKETCHES, Volume IV, 1910, wherein appear three separate articles: one by his wife, Helen Corson Hovenden, one by Rev. E. P. Pfatteicher, and the other by Harrison S. Morris. Also see The Historical Society of Montgomery County Bulmjtin, October, 1942, Volume III, No. 3, in which appears a paper prepared and read before our Society by Walter A. Knerr. The Dictionary of American Biography also contoains a good synopsis. In addition tiie Society expects to publish in the Bulletin another paper on Thomas Hovenden in the near future. The results of the process of conservation have been most happy, and it is a great satisfaction to know that this fine painting has been preserved for the pleasure of other generations. Today, as one looks at The Pounders Of A State, its colors are as fresh and lovely as on that fateful day, August 14, 1895, when Thomas Hovenden laid down his paints and palette to go out and meet his untimely death. JANE KEPLINGER BURRIS The Turnpikes of Pennsylvania; Precursors of Good Roads in America Frederick G. Sweinhart* At the time of the Revolutionary War, Lancaster, Pennsyl vania, was the largest inland town in America. The road from Philadelphia to Lancaster, the Lancaster Turnpike, was the first stone road in America. The builder of this road was the first turnpike company in America. The company was organ ized in 1792. Construction began in the Autumn of 1792, starting from Market Street and the Schuylkill River and was finished two years later in 1794. The total cost was $465,000, averaging $7,500 per mile. The road was praised as a "masterpiece of its kind, paved -with stone the whole way and overlaid with gravel so that it was never obstructed during the most severe sea sons." The total length was 62^ miles (now U. S. #30). Up until the close of the 18th Century this was the only stone road in America. In 1794 a company was chartered to build a road from Lancaster to the Susquehanna at Wrights Ferry, now Columbia —eight miles. They had financial difficulty—^the road was not started until 1801, was completed in 1803. This was the second turnpike in Pennsylvania. In 1796 two turnpike companies were chartered: the Lan caster, Middletown and Harrisburg, and the Gap, Newport and Wilmington. The former was divided into two companies, Lancaster-Elizabethtown and Middletown-Harrisburg. These Iroads were built in 1805 and 1815, respectively. They carried the turnpike to Harrisburg and again to the Susquehanna River (now U. S. #230); distance, 35 miles. At the present time, September 1954, it appears that but one milestone has survived. * Read before the Society, November 20, 1954. For explanation of the milestones, see end of paper. 254 A770 -LJ7IJ \ THE TUKNPIKES OF PEtmSYLVANIA 255 The Gap, Newport and Wilmington Turnpike was depen dent on a similar act in Delaware. This was not forthcoming, and the company was 'rechartered as the Gap and Newport, which in 1809 began the construction of the road from Gap Tavern (now Gap) on Lancaster Pike to the Delaware line (now Penna. #41). In 1798 the Germantown and Reading Turnpike Company was incorporated to build a road from Philadelphia through Germantown, by the route of Chestnut Hill, to Reading. Work was not begun until 1801 when a rechartered company, the Germantown and Perkiomen, undertook the building of a stone surfaced road from 3rd and Vine Streets in Philadelphia, through Germantown to the Ten Mile Stone in Chestnut Hill, and then to the stone bridge over Perkiomen Creek in Mont gomery County,a distance of 25 miles.