The Chronicle A Publication of The Historical Society December 1999 of Trappe, Collegeville, Perkiomen Valley, Inc. Volume XXVIII, No. 5 Wa shington AnniversaryEx hibit The President's Message The 200th Anniversary of the death of President George Washington in Decem­ In teresting happenings are in progress at the Dewees Tavern ber 1799 will be observed at the Dewees and the Muhlenberg House. We have had a number of tour Museum, 301 W. Main Street, Trappe, groups visit us and a number are scheduled. We welcome them. beginningon Sunday, December 5th. The Our maintenance costs continue so we must ask our visitors exhibit will include prints of personages from the American Revolution who were and supporters fo r contributionsfrom time to time. involved with Washington and the We are gratefulfo r the Century Club support over the past Muhlenbergs. A unique reverse painting nine years, but some have neglected to keep up with their of Wakefield, the birthplace of Washing­ commitment. We plan to send letters of reminder. ton, on loan from the Rev. Robert Home, We would like to purchase two five-plated stoves fo r.the first will be shown. Anantique print ofWash­ floor cooking fireplaces. The cost is $7, 000 apiece. Ifanyo ne ington in his Masonic regalia will be a cares to donate one, or both, or a fraction of one, give me a call part of the exhibit. Muhlenberg House will not be open on December 5th. and we 'I/ negotiate. Furnishing the Muhlenberg House is One of the bicentennial (1932) framed important, but there is no rush to get it done. prints of the unfinished portrait of Wash­ As my termas President comes to an end, I would like to ington which hung in most public schools thank each and everyone who has contributed time, money, or is on loan from The Rev. John C. Shetler. effo rt in our endeavor. Our success depended on many people, Anyone with items related to Washington and we are grateful. and would like to lend them forthe month of December should call Curator Shetler Sincerely, at 610-489-2624. At 2:00pm on December 5th, the ):> Q �# Curator will speak on the death of Wash­ [}A/(Jbf )7�-11-- ington and give an opportunity to those Ivan W Hess, MD. who lend items to speak regarding their President artifacts. Refreshments will be available. TheDewees Museum will also be open on December 12th and 19th . Pastor Muhlenberg Sp eaks at His House In addition to the Washington exhibit, the Dewees Museum will be decorated for Muhlenberg House, 201 W. Main Street, balcony in New York Federal Hall when Christmas. This year a seven-foot tree Trappe, will be open December 12th from Washington was inaugurated. given by Mr. and Mrs. Edward Crehan 1:30 to 4:00pm. Pastor Muhlenberg will The schedule of Pastor Muhlenberg's will be decorated with handmade orna­ be at home and speak to the visitors at conversations is arranged so that either ments by the children of South Elementary 2:00pm and 3:30pm. His conversation before the 3:30 presentation or after the School in Trappe, JoAnn Waddell, Prin­ will recall the experiences his sons, 2:00 conversation the visitors may also cipal. Thehours will be 1:30 to 4:00pm, General Peter and Congressman view the Washington exhibit at Dewees which will make it possible to also visit Frederick, had with General and President Museum, as well as see the Christmas Muhlenberg House. •!• George Washington. The Rev. William tree decorated by the elementary school Fluck will portray Pastor Muhlenberg. children. Refreshments will be available Th ere is no admission fe e fo r these events, General Muhlenberg was in the in the Visitors Center on December 12th. but a contribution will help provide fo r Continental Army from 1776 until the �uhlenberg House Winter maintenance. Ch ildren are invited but must be accompanied by their parents. war ended. Congressman Muhlenberg will also be open on Parking is availab le behind the Dewees was Speaker of the First and Third December 19th from Muse um, the Muhlenberg Ho use, and at St. Congresses. He was present on the 1:30 to 4:00pm. Luke 's Un ited Church of Christ. From The Journals of Giftof Scotchtint Installation Henry Melchior Muhlenberg Mr. Robert Swartley, a resident of Trappe and proprietorof TINT-PRO, hasgiven 1786 a gift to the Muhlenberg House of the installation of Scotchtint film on all the December 5, Tu esday. The snow is continuing windows of the house. Scotchtint blocks 98-99% of all ultraviolet rays from and the stonny northwest wind is making hills entering the h.:mseto deteriorate fabrics, artwork, and furniture finishes. The film and mountains out of the drifting snow. The also acts to prevent cold weather heat loss. TINT-PRO is located at 202 Pacer expedition of the fa mous General Clark of Lane, Collegeville. Virginia against theIndians is reported to have The Board of Directors express their appreciation to Mr. Swartley for his been abortive because his soldiers rebelled, generous giftwhich will be a benefit to the Muhlenberg House and its eighteenth and some subordinate officers were partly to century contents. •:• blame for it. Today I paid 15s. to my English neighbor forthree bushels of Indian com, and 15s. for six bushels of oats. Of this Mr. Cressman Family Association Visits Breyman received one bushel of com and one On Saturday, October 9th, the annual meeting of the Cressman Family Association bushel of oats for the last copying he did for was held at Mooreheads in Trappe. The Curator was invited to speak about the me, namely, the memorandum intended for newly established Cressman Room on the second floor of the Dewees Tavern Ebenezer. Paid 2s. for rice. Museum. The bequest of Dr. John Kressman brought to Trappe the books, December 15, Friday. Fr[iedrich] Aug[ustus], genealogical files, prints, and artifacts related to this and other founding fa milies Esq., showed me an English letter from his brother, Gen[eral] P. M[iihlenberg], dated of Trappe in the 18th century. It is of special interest also to note that some of the Philadelphia, December 1, a.c., in which it is contents of the collection relate Trappe to the Village of Pfungstadt in the Rhine rep orted that Peter, in agreement with his Valley from which several of our families came. brother H[eruy], has set in motion a proposal As a part of their program, the family visited both the Dewees Museum andthe to establish a Gennan high school inthe cityof Muhlenberg House. •:• Lancaster and has petitioned the state assembly which is now in session for acharter for the incorporation of the same. According to the plan there are to be forty trustees, of Deceased Since Last Annual Meeting whom fourteen are forever to be Lutherans, We express our thanks to God forthe confidence inthe Gift ofEternal Life through fourteen Calvinists, and twelve from other Jesus Christ for those persons who died in the past year: Mrs . Virginia Brooke, Christian denominations. The academy is to Mr. Leon C. Schrack, Mrs. VirginiaHome, Judge Alfred L. Taxis, Jr., and Mr. L. be called Franklin. The following men, who Stanford Keck. are trustees, are in favor ofthe proposal: S. T. Inbehalf of the Board of Directors, we express our sympathy to their fami lies Thom' Mifflin, Thom• McKeane, wm and our thanks for their relationship and service in behalf of the heritage of the Bongharn, George Clymer, Hamilton, wm wm Historical Society. Rawte, Doc1• Rush, Helmuth,Weyberg, Pastor Muhlenberg, Dan Hiester, wm Sheaff, Lewis A Muhlenberg Descendent. Mrs. Brooke was a descendent of HenryMelchior Farmer, Pastor Wager, Mr. Croll, Rev. Mr . and Anna Maria Muhlenberg. Dr. and Mrs. Hess and The Rev. J. Shetler visited Schultze, Rev. Ingold, Rev. Buskirk, Rev. with Mrs. Brooke this past summer and had a most pleasant and informative time. Bloomer, Chr. Kucher, Greenwald, Joseph Mr. At age 01 years, she had a good memory, a pleasant outlook, and encouraging Hiester, Rev. H. Muhlenberg, Junr, Re..I I spirit. She was intending with her daughter Nancy Lawson, to make a trip from Handel, J0 Hubley, C. Shaflher, Adam Hubley, Wyomissing to Trappe to see Muhlenberg House. Mr. Huffuagle, Pastor Zanzinger, Mr. Crawford, Rev. N. Kurtz, Mr. Hahn, George In the Line of the Ju dges. Judge Taxis had a special relationship to Frederick Stoke, John Luther, Yates, Chambers, Richard, Muhlenberg. Judge Taxis was a Judge ofthe Montgomery County Orphans Court and the Roman Catholicpriest in Lancaster. If for44 years and was professionally related through a chain of215 years to Judge the undertaking is of God it will come into Frederick Muhlenberg who was the first Judge ofthe Montgomery County Orphans being despite many difficulties. On the other Court at the founding of the County in 1784. Judge Taxis has been a working hand, ifit is only of man it will not succeed, member of the Historical Society since its etc. I paid 7s. 6d. to Valentin Scherer forfour ....--------------, door posts and 3s. 9d. formo /ass[es] and salt. founding by Frederick Grimison in 1964. Correction In the last issue of Th e Ch ronicle, the name of the donor of the portraitofFrede rick A. Muhlenberg Please Send Names. If we have missed any mispelled. The correct name is /r.lym 4 $naf4rt, .Managing edi!.or· was · 'M- K_· compiitin_gServi ce5 names of deceased members, please send the Mrs. Nancy Lawson of Wyomis­ sing, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Printed by Pr o. Copy information to the Curator. Itwill be helpful if you will send biographical material of Mrs.