The King of Prussia Gazette Preserving Upper Merion's Past to Enliven its Future Volume IV, Number One Spring 2015 A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT by Michael Morrison Why Are We Here? I often wonder why we do this. I am speaking of the on- going challenge of preserving our rich local history, so that future generations can better decide where they are going by seeing where they have been. I have been IN MEMORIUM wondering if people are actually reading our publication, or taking away valuable information from our meetings It is with great sadness that we announce the passing and actually thinking about how we are all impacted by of Ed Dybicz on February 18, 2015. Ed was known as our past. Yet we continue to paint the picture in hope "Mr. Upper Merion History" for the local history articles that someone someday will benefit. he wrote when he worked at the Times Herald as a reporter. Recently there has been a hint of affirmation; enough Ed also co-authored "Montgomery County - The Sec- that I am briefly placated, because that someday seems ond Hundred Years". He was extremely insistent on to be today! Let me explain. truth and accuracy when recalling history, and was a good friend, a great supporter, and a member emeri- Last year the Historical Society of Pennsylvania contacted tus of the Society. us to ask if we would participate in their “Hidden Collec- He will be missed very much. tions initiative for PA Small Archival Repositories”, or (HCI -PSAR). Our collection was subsequently reviewed and by October it went online with other collections from other societies in PA. It was not long after that we were contact- ed by a doctoral student from Columbia University, working on her dissertation relating to the history of organized youth football. She was particularly interested in our collection from the King of Prussia Indians Football Association. She visited us in January, and we rolled out the red carpet for her. A report will be included in our summer issue. A “Business Meeting” rarely draws a big crowd, but our By-Laws make it a necessary rule of our tax-exempt status, so we hold it in January. I was pleased to see a nice group of regulars, and a spirited discussion ensued. After the meet- ing we were approached by a gentleman who had found out about us online, and drove from New Jersey to attend the meeting. After some time we learned that he was a direct descendent of Jon- INSIDE THIS ISSUE athan Roberts, and had brought his family genealogy as proof. And if that were not all, he also expressed an interest in someday being buried in the A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT …..….1 family cemetery on U.S. 202! Marianne Hooper Furman was kind enough to SOCIETY INFORMATION ……...…...……..…2 take him to Valley Forge Memorial Gardens, the home of the Roberts family, “NO ONE SENT THEM. …” ……..……...…...3 once called “Swamp Vrass”. We will surely see him again, and will have a ACTIVIST AND LEADER …………….….……….4 nice copy of the Roberts family tree for our Archive and Special Collections. DESIGNER OF WINDOWS …………………...6 (Continued on page 8.) MOUNT PLEASANT REVISITED …….….…...7 Page 2 The King of Prussia Gazette The Town Crier—- MISSION STATEMENT updates from the Society… The mission of the King of Prussia Historical Society is to preserve and interpret the history of Upper Meri- on Township as relevant to its various neighborhoods OUR 2015 CHARTER MEMBERS We acknowledge our Charter Members for of Gulph Mills, Gypsy Hills, Croton Woods, King of 2015 and thank them for their support: Prussia, Valley Forge, Abrams, Belmont, Town Cen- Emma Carson, Dave and Marianne Fur- ter, Swedesburg/King Manor, Henderson, and man, John and Shirley Funkhouser, Mi- Swedeland, as well as the areas of Rebel Hill, Port chael Morrison, Frank Luther. Kennedy, and Hughes Park. The Society's goal is to stimulate public interest and to support the town- The Society is also pleased to honor Ed ship's heritage through educational programs and Dybicz (1923-2015) as an honorary member for his many public events focusing on preserving the past and contributions to the Society and for his untiring efforts to shaping the future. preserve the history of Upper Merion. INTERESTED IN WRITING? OUT OF WAR, A NEW NATION The Society welcomes articles prepared by its members. To mark the 150th anniversary of the end of the Civil Contact Frank Luther if you might be interested in writing War, The King of Prussia Historical Society is sponsor- and sharing an article for our publication. ing an event on Saturday, April 25, 2015 at Christ Church (Old Swedes) in Swedesburg. The theme for SPECIAL EVENTS this celebration is Out of War, A New Nation. We plan Check the back page for the listing of our upcoming meet- to have re-enactors, presentations, and exhibits, many ing dates and our special programs. with an emphasis on local history and the citizens of Upper Merion who were so supportive of Lincoln and INFO ABOUT UPPER MERION the War. Is there a question you have about some aspect of the township’s history? You can submit your question to us at OUR ANNUAL FIELD TRIP [email protected] and we will provide an answer in a Our Annual Field Trip is scheduled for Saturday, June future issue. 13 to St. David’s Church on 763 South Valley Forge Road in Wayne. We will meet at the church at 2:00. Check out the King of Prussia Historical Society website at This year marks the 300th anniversary of the church. www.kophistory.org. And find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/kophisory Driving directions from the Upper Merion Township Building: Depart PA-23 / W Valley Forge Rd toward MEMBERSHIP North Henderson Road to DeKalb Pike to drive onto Our membership campaign for 2015 is now underway! 202 South. Take the ramp right for East Swedesford New memberships and renewals will be accepted at this Road toward Valley Forge Road. Turn left onto PA- time. Looking for a unique gift? Why not present a family 252 / Valley Forge Road. Keep straight onto North Val- member or friend with an annual membership for the King ley Forge Road. You will bear right onto Devon State of Prussia Historical Society! We supply a gift card for you Road. Turn left onto Old Lancaster Road, and then to present to the recipient. immediately turn right onto North Waterloo Road; Student/Senior (65+): $35.00 Individual: $40.00 please note that the road name changes to South Wa- Family Household $50.00 Patron: $125.00 terloo Road. Turn left onto South Devon Avenue. Turn Charter: $250.00 right onto Dorset Road; road name changes to South Valley Forge Road. Arrive at 763 South Valley Forge OUR MAILING ADDRESS Rd, Wayne, PA 19333. The last intersection is Maple- Please note that our new mailing address is King of Prussia His- wood Avenue. If you reach Church Rd, you've gone torical Society, PO Box 60716, King of Prussia, PA 19406-0716 too far. The driving distance is 8.9 miles with 18 minutes of A commitment driving---23 minutes with traffic. to Preservation The King of Prussia Gazette Page 3 “NO ONE SENT THEM. THEY VOLUNTEERED TO GO…” The National Women's History Project has announced “Weaving the Stories of Women’s Lives” as the theme for National Women’s History Month 2015. This theme presents the opportunity to weave women’s stories---individually and collec- tively---into the essential fabric our nation’s history. Accounts of the lives of individual women are critically important because they reveal exceptionally strong role models who share a more expansive vision of what a woman can do. The stories of women's lives, and the choices they made, encourage girls and young women to think larger and bolder, and give boys and men a fuller understanding of the fe- male experience. Knowing women's achievements challenges stereotypes and upends social assumptions about who women are and what women can accomplish today. There is a real power in hearing women's stories, both personally and in a larger context. Remembering and recounting tales of our ancestors' talents, sacrifices, and commitments inspires today's generations and opens the way to the fu- ture. In the history of Upper Merion Township, many women Brigitta Holstein was still living in 1754 when she was played important roles. Not every woman who had an listed in the census of nine Swedish families that formed impact on the history of the township lived in Upper the beginning of Christ Church. The census showed Merion, but their contributions influenced our history. In that Brigitta, her sons and their families still spoke and this spring issue of THE KING OF PRUSSIA GAZETTE, we read the Swedish language as well as English. Brigitta recognize women’s achievements and their impact on died by 1758 when her estate was administered. the township. According to Oneida oral tradition, an Oneida woman We might begin with the women of the Lenni Lenape named Polly Cooper walked several hundred miles from tribes that occupied the land that is today’s Upper Meri- her home in Central New York to Valley Forge in the on. With their matriarchal society, the women played cruel winter of 1777 -78 to help feed Gen. George an important role and made the critical decisions affect- Washington’s starving troops. She had stayed with the ing the tribe. troops and taught the soldiers how to cook the white corn, taking them through the preparation process and The early Swedish settlers in Upper Merion certainly the lengthy cooking time.