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INSIDE
Heritage Headlines
Spring 2016
Volume 19, Issue 1
PENN DRY GOODS MARKET
at the
Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center
Page 2 and 3:
Ongoing Exhibits
Gemeindehaus
Page 4 and 5:
Educational
Programs
Page 6 and 7:
Summer Programs
Penn Market
Textile Lectures
Page 8:
Researcher Spotlight
Volunteer news
Page 9:
Archive and Library
Additions
New Discovery!
Page 10:
Brown Bag Lunches
Friends Program
Page 11:
Spring Programs and
Exhibits
Page 12:
Annual Fund

105 Seminary Street
Pennsburg, PA 18073-1898
Phone: 215.679.3103
Fax: 215.679.8175

info@schwenkfelder.com
www.schwenkfelder.com
Friday, May 13, 2016, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Saturday, May 14, 2016, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
General Admission $6.00
The Antiques Show and Sale
We are delighted to welcome back many dealers who
have been with us the past three years. Dealers new to us
this year are marked with an *.
2016 Penn Dry Goods Market Dealers:
Ani DiFazio Antiques*, Silver Spring, MD
Antique-A-Day Plus, Nazareth, PA
Ayscough Antiques, Chadds Ford, PA
Chestnut Hall Fine Antiques, Asbury, NJ
Country Things, Bowie, MD
David Tuttle*, Oley, PA
Edna Moran Textiles*, Little Silver, NJ
Gene Bertolet Antiques, Oley, PA
Henry Cochran Antiques*, Upper Black Eddy, PA
Julie Silber Quilts/Labors of Love*, Berkeley, CA
Nailor Antiques, Shiremanstown, PA
Neverbird Antiques, Surry, VA
Old Farm Antiques, Reading, PA
Randi Ona, Wayne, NJ
Rose B. Berry, Richmond, VA
RSG Antiques, Hanover Township, PA
Sandy Elliot Country Antiques*, Brentwood, NH
Serapi Antiques*, Huntingdon Valley, PA
Small Wonder Antiques*, Westminster, MD
Tex Johnson & Son Antiques, Adamstown, PA
The Cat Lady Antiques, Bangor, and
Anderson-Breish Antiques, Fort Washington, PA
The Gatchellville Store, New Park, PA
The Norwoods’ Spirit of America, Timonium, MD
Van Tassel Baumann American Antiques, Malvern, PA
An Antiques
Show and Sale
Featuring
Antique
and Vintage
Needlework,
Quilts,
Buttons,
Linens,
Clothing,
and Americana
More Penn Dry Goods Market information on page 7
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Heritage Headlines
www.schwenkfelder.com
Volume 19, Issue 1
Warm and Bright: Artifacts for Warmth and
Light from the Heritage Center Collection
Through March 31
Fraktur Gallery
In the chill and darkness of the Pennsylvania
winter, our thoughts turn to bundling up at home and
outdoors. Today we might
adjust the thermostat or
flip a light switch. Yesterday’s options were a bit
more challenging. The
Heritage Center has a
wonderful collection of
objects that were used to
chase the chill and light
the darkness in the 19th
Late 19th century buggy or sleigh robe
century. From printed from the Heritage Center Collection
buggy robes and wool
quilts to an array of lamps and lanterns for the parlor
and the barn, this exhibit explores the options available
to rural Pennsylvania families for keeping warm and bright
in their homes (and vehicles) in the cold winter months.
Wild and Mild – Christmas Putz
Through March 15
Local History Gallery
An important component of the Heritage Center’s
putz is always the huge collection of animals we have to
draw upon for the display – so this year we’re going to
feature them! The theme is “Wild and Mild” to showcase this amazing collection of wild and domestic miniature animals from pre-World War II Germany,
Austria, and England. Bring the children for a fun
“I Spy” challenge that we’ll have available to play.
The Art of Walter E. Baum – Pennsylvania
Painter and Schwenkfelder Descendant
Extended through April 25
Meeting Room
Visit the Heritage Center over the winter months
and enjoy this special opportunity to view the Heritage
Center’s collection of Walter Emerson Baum paintings.
Baum was a wonderful friend to the Schwenkfelder
Library and enabled library officials to acquire an
excellent collection of his work during his lifetime.
Thanks to generous donors, we’ve been able to add to
the collection over the intervening years. We are delighted
to present this retrospective of his work to our guests.
Within and Without: The Art of the Book
April 13 – September 30
Fraktur Gallery
Books take us to different times and places with
the stories held within their pages, through beautiful prose
and inspiring ideas. The books themselves, as well, can
be things of great beauty that can be appreciated as objects
as much as for their content. Visit the Heritage Center this
spring and summer for a glimpse of some of the extraordinary holdings in our library collection – from the exquisite
gems of fraktur bookplates to carefully tooled book
bindings and meticulously engraved illustrations, and
much more. It will be a feast for the eyes of every bibliophile!
New Acquisitions on Exhibit
Through May 3
First Floor Galleries
For the next few months we’ll be giving visitors
an opportunity to see some of the wonderful acquisitions
we’ve received over the last year. We have some
marvelous quilts to show you, plus some fraktur and
other intriguing objects. Don’t miss this pop-up exhibit!
www.schwenkfelder.com
Volume 19, Issue 1
THINGS ARE MOVING AHEAD IN
BERTHELSDORF
This article appeared in the December 2015 edition of
Schlesischer Gottesfreund, translated by Allen Viehmeyer.
Heritage Headlines
3
reach this goal, the land around the house was lowered
and the house was placed on a foundation base that had
never existed previously. During a guided tour at the end
of the report, the participants could imagine for themselves how the work had gone ahead.
After a short coffee break Dr. Heinz-Peter
Mielke, an expert on the history of the Schwenkfelders,
made a presentation on Upper Lusatia and the life and
times of Bartholomäus Scultetus, the significant 17th
century Görlitz mayor and scholar.
On October 17, 2015, the members and friends of
the “Schwenckfelder House Association in Berthelsdorf”
met in the former Schwenkfelder meeting room in the
house at 10 Upper Main Street, Berthelsdorf. The dwelling (next door) belonging to the house (to the left on the
photo) has been nearly finished in the meantime. But the
first mentioned building (to the right on the photo) has
been well secured down to the final roofing layer and the
formation of the outside walls.
Engineer Eberhard Winter from Görlitz, who led
the restoration work from the beginning, reported on the
long and often difficult path to reach that point. It was by
no means an ordinary restoration – in past years the
Gottesfreund reported regularly about the progress of
the undertaking. In addition to preservation of construction components that were still viable and the cautious
replacement of those parts that could not be saved, the
building had to be made as flood resistant as possible. To
Looking for Artifacts for upcoming Upper
Hanover Township Exhibit
The Heritage Center is developing
an exhibit to celebrate Upper Hanover
Township’s 275th anniversary, scheduled to open on
June 5. We are looking for loans of objects for the
exhibit – anything that was used or made in the township from the time of the founding to the near present.
Photographs are welcome also! Contact Candace Perry
at 215-679-3103.
The symbolic presentation of a check for funds
from various sources, secured especially with the help of
Mrs. Margrit Kempgen, made possible the significant
progress in the restoration work, including the donation
by the Savings Bank of Upper Lusatia and Lower Silesia.
The closing annual meeting dealt with the usual business as
well as plans for the coming year 2016 in regard to the
restoration of the roof and finishing the interior and exterior
walls of the second dwelling that still remains unfinished.
Penn Dry Goods Market Building Closures
Please note that there our building will be closed
for visits of all kinds, including research, as we prepare
for and hold the Penn Dry Goods Market.
The last day the building will be open it’s
normal hours will be Sunday, May 8. The building
will be closed to the public Tuesday – Thursday, May
10, 11, and 12. Only galleries will be open during
Penn Dry Goods Market, Friday and Saturday, May 13
and 14. (Market entry fee applies for these two days).
The building will also be closed on Sunday, May 15.
We will re-open to the public as usual on Tuesday,
May 17. Thank you for your cooperation!
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Heritage Headlines
www.schwenkfelder.com
Volume 19, Issue 1
CHILDREN’S WORKSHOPS
AMERICAN GIRL® TEA AND HISTORY
We welcome children either on their own or accompanied by an adult. The cost is $5 per child.
At each of our teas we’ll learn
about a featured character from American
Girl®, what life was like for children in her
time, and talk about a famous woman of
the era. We’ll also do a craft and share
snacks of the time period. We welcome boys and girls
to this fun, free way for all children to learn our past.
Please note that we will alternate, month to month,
between Thursday and Sunday afternoons for our teas.
We hope this makes it easier for families’ schedules.
Hope to see some new faces and our old friends!
The Pennsylvania Dutch Egg Tree
Tuesday, March 8, 1:30 – 3:00 pm, and
Saturday, March 19, 1:00 – 2:30 pm
Easter is just around the corner! Let’s
get ready with this fun craft in the Pennsylvania
Dutch tradition. We’ll learn a little history
and some interesting facts about this
tradition, read an old favorite children’s book
about it, and then we’ll try making our own tree!
Book Artistry
Tuesday, April 19, 1:30 – 3:00 pm, and
Saturday, April 30, 1:00 – 2:30 pm
Let’s take a look at our new
exhibit, “Within and Without: The Art
of the Book,” talk about the history of
bookmaking, and make our own books.
Customize yours to suit your personality!
Spring has Sprung
Tuesday, May 3, 1:30 – 3:00 pm, and
Saturday, May 7, 1:00 – 2:30 pm
Hooray! Let’s learn a bit of science while we
talk about the seasons. While we’re talking about
growing, we’ll check out some of the
old farm equipment here in our museum
collection, and learn about how our area
has been tied to the land and the seasons.
Then we’ll play in the dirt for a bit, and
pot up some spring flowers!
Local History Day
Saturday, June 4, 1:00 – 2:30 pm, and
Tuesday, June 7, 1:30 – 3:00 pm
Join us for an exploration of the Upper Perkiomen
area, with a focus on our new exhibit highlighting the
275th anniversary of Upper Hanover Township. Then
we’ll move on to the future, and make a model of a house
we think will exist 275 years from now.
For more information, please contact Museum
Educator Maggie Buckwalter, 215-679-3103 or by email
maggie@schwenkfelder.com.
THURSDAY, March 31, 4:30 – 5:30 pm
Another place in the U.S., same time period as
the tea in February. How was life different for Kirsten,
growing up on the prairie in 1854? Come join us to see!
SUNDAY, April 23, 2:00 – 3:00 pm
Meet Mary Ellen Larkin, from
Daytona Beach, Florida, and the year 1954.
THURSDAY, May 19, 4:30 – 5:30 pm
Let’s learn about the year 1944, and
Molly from Jefferson, Illinois, and what life was
like for kids on the homefront during WWII.
SUNDAY, June 5, 2:00 – 3:00 pm
Featuring AG GIRL OF THE YEAR, Lea
Clark, Brazil adventurer of today! With a World Wildlife Fund focus!
For more information, please contact Museum
Educator Maggie Buckwalter, 215-679-3103 or email
maggie@schwenkfelder.com.
www.schwenkfelder.com
Heritage Headlines
Volume 19, Issue 1
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CHILDREN’S BOOK CLUB
GERMAN AND LATIN LESSONS 2016
At each book club meeting,
children will share insights into
the story, learn some history, share
snacks and do a craft of the era.
These books are an easy, and
approachable way to learn history. There is a one-time
joining fee of $2 for this program, which includes a
journal for note taking while reading.
Beginning, Intermediate, and Advanced German
and Latin classes are continuing through June for
homeschoolers between 8 and 16 years old. These
lessons emphasize vocabulary acquisition and use in
listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Latin students
learn reading and writing. Students learn through
activities such as crossword puzzles, search-a-word
puzzles, scrabble, other games, music, and art projects.
Intermediate and advanced students use textbooks as
well. These classes are group lessons with some
individual attention.
Sunday, March 20, 2:00 – 3:00 pm
In tandem with our American Girl character of
the month, read about a child living on the prairie.
We’ll talk about westward expansion with the Scholastic
Book for younger readers, from the “My America”
series, Meg’s Prairie Diaries, Book 1: A s Far as I Can
See, 1856, by Kate McMullan. We’ll have some pioneer
food, talk about the book, and share some of our
families’ stories about how and where they settled in
America. Before we meet, ask your grandparents about
their grandparents!
Sunday, April 24, 2:00 – 3:00 pm
We’re going to read from the new series from
American Girl about our character of the month,
Maryellen Larkin. The book will be the first in the
series, The One and Only, by Valerie Tripp. This is a
book that can be read with children as young as early
elementary and older will enjoy learning about all the
new “space aged” things of the 50s.
Sunday, May 22, 2:00 – 3:00 pm
My Secret War: The World War II Diary of
Madeline Beck, Long Island, NY, 1941, by Mary Pope
Osborne, (Scholastic). This book is aimed toward 4th8th graders, but all are welcome upon parental review.
What was life like for children in the time of rationing,
victory gardens, and fears of Nazis landing on our
shores? Read this exciting book and find out!
Sunday, June 12, 2:00 – 3:00 pm
Let’s learn about Lea Clark, the AG Girl of the
Year! The first book in this new series is Lea Dives In,
by Lisa Yee. How does Lea overcome her fears to start
her new life as a rainforest explorer? Adventure awaits
Lea and our readers!
For more information, please contact Museum
Educator Maggie Buckwalter, 215-679-3103 or email
maggie@schwenkfelder.com.
Classes are held on Wednesdays and Fridays
from 10:00 to 11:30 am and from 1:30 to 3:00 pm.
Students may attend from 1 to 4 classes per week. The
cost of each class (1½ hours) is $7. Monthly rates are
available. For additional information and registration,
contact Allen Viehmeyer 215-679-3103 or email
allen@schwenkfelder.com.
March/April: 2, 4, 9, 11, 16, 18, 30, 1
(8 lessons $50/child)
April:
6, 8, 13, 15, 20, 22, 27, 29
(8 lessons $50/child)
May/June:
4, 6, 18, 20, 25, 27, 1, 3
(8 lessons $50/child)
Monthly Rates – Cost of Lessons per Child per Month:
1=$7; 4=$25 ($28); 8=$50 ($56); 12=$80 ($84);
16=$100 ($112) (Full price shown in parentheses)
Saturday lessons for public school children are
available. These students have one lesson (1½ hours)
each Saturday up to 4 lessons per month.
March
April
May/June
5, 12, 19, 26 (4 lessons $25)
2, 9, 16, 23 (4 lessons $25)
7, 21, 28, 4 (4 lessons $25)
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Heritage Headlines
www.schwenkfelder.com
Volume 19, Issue 1
Summer Enrichment Camps at the
Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center
Summer is the time to head to the museum and learn
about history, culture, language, and music! These camps
will be co-taught by Maggie Buckwalter, museum educator,
and Dr. Allen Viehmeyer, Associate Director of Research.
For more information or to register, please contact Maggie
at 215-679-3103 or email maggie@schwenkfelder.com.
Mini Music Session
June 22, 23, 24; Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, 10:00 – 11:00 am
$15 for the three sessions/child
Musicians between the age of 9 and 15 who read music and have played an instrument for at least one school
year are wanted for three days 10:00 – 11:00 am to play traditional children’s music as a group for fun. All instruments welcome; we have percussion instruments for anyone try. Bring your music stand! Music such as Y ankee
Doodle; O Tannenbaum; Reide, Reide Geili will be provided at no charge. For more information contact Allen
Viehmeyer at 215-679-3103 or email allen@schwenkfelder.com.
Simple Machines/Roman History and Culture
Session I: Tuesday through Friday, July 12 – 15, 9:30 am – noon
Session II: (same content) Tuesday, August 23 through Friday, August 26, 9:30 am – noon
$20 per child for the session
Using a very popular childrens’ building toy, we’ll explore some of
the basics of physics and take a closer look at levers, gears, pulleys and more! After we build our
own models and understand the mechanics, we’ll check out examples of these machines in our
museum collection. Later, we’ll take a walk far back in time to learn a little Latin, explore the art
and culture of ancient Rome, and tie it together by seeing how Romans used those simple
machines! We’ll even make our own catapult to take home! Snack will be provided.
Early Pennsylvania and the Birth of the U.S.A./American Folk Music
Session I: Tuesday through Friday, July 26 – 29, 9:30 am – noon
Session II: (same content) Tuesday through Friday, August 16 – 19, 9:30 am – noon
$20 per child for the session
How did our country get started? We’ll explore some of the history of our state, look at
some of the early inhabitants of our area, immigrant groups, and talk about the birth of the
nation. Let’s take a closer look at our museum collections and the important role our area played
in Pennsylvania’s founding. Then all are welcome to
play along in our American folk song “ensemble.” If
you’ve played an instrument for a year or more, please
bring it along, with a stand if you have it. Simple sheet
music will be provided for some great children’s
favorites. If you don’t play your own instrument, we
have lots of fun percussion instruments to try! All are
welcome to play along! Snack will be provided.
*** A coordinated field trip to historic sites in Philadelphia is in the works! Stay tuned for more information! ***
www.schwenkfelder.com
Volume 19, Issue 1
Heritage Headlines
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Sponsorship Opportunities Abound!
Join our growing list of sponsors for the May 13 – 14, 2016 Penn Dry Goods Market and enjoy the special
promotional opportunities and benefits of this unique event!
We thank and recognize the following sponsors for this year’s Penn Dry Goods Market received at press time:
SLHC Board of Directors: Friday Reception Sponsor
First Niagara Bank: Program Book Sponsor
Harleysville Savings Bank: Textile History Lecture Sponsor
Corinne H. Machmer: Textile History Lecture Sponsor
Lois McClintock: Textile History Lecture Sponsor
Variable Star Quilters: Raffle Sponsor
We and our readers look forward to seeing your name in our next newsletter among our sponsors!
The sponsorship deadline is March 31, 2016.
Don’t delay – call 215-679-3103 or contact rachel@schwenkfelder.com today!
A Wonderful Variety of Lectures on Textile History
The Penn Dry Goods Market presents the most noted textile experts in the country together with some of our
local historians offering a lecture program of great breadth and diversity. Each lecture is $25.00 ($30.00 at the door) and
fill quickly! Pre-register for your choices by sending an email to joanne@schwenkfelder.com or call Joanne Jalowy at
215-679-3103. Registration is also available at any time online at www.schwenkfelder.com.
FRIDAY, MAY 13, 2016
“In Pursuit of Lady-Like Arts:” Needlework from the Early South, Kimberly Smith Ivey, Curator, Textiles
and Historic Interiors, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
The History of Rughooking from an Artist's Frame, Susan Feller, Author, Instructor and Patternmaker
Grace Kelly: Icon of Style, Kristina Haugland, Curator of Costume and Textiles, Philadelphia Museum of Art
“This Work Of Mine The World May View,” Dan & Marty Campanelli, Authors and Textile Curators
Over 200 Years of the History of American Embroidery, Sheryl De Jong, Author and Volunteer Curator,
Smithsonian Institution
Old New England Quilts, Pamela Weeks, Binney Family Curator of the New England Quilt Museum
SATURDAY, MAY 14, 2016
Embroidered Evidence: Samplers in the Revolutionary War Pension Files at the National Archives, Kathy
Staples, Independent Scholar
“I shall soon have them done:” Four Decades of Needlework by Martha Washington, Susan P.
Schoelwer, Ph.D., Robert H. Smith Senior Curator, George Washington’s Mount Vernon
Patchwork Fever, Deborah Kraak, Independent Museum Professional
Woolwork Samplers of the Lehigh Valley, Kathy Lesieur, Independent Researcher
The Apple Pie Ridge Star, Mary Robare, Independent Researcher
For our Penn Dry Goods Market textile fans, we’ll also be featuring our Schwenkfelder
Townscape wool-embroidered pictures in the ground floor galleries, accompanied by artifacts
that are depicted in the Townscapes. It’s “I Spy” on a grand scale!
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Heritage Headlines
EXPLORING PLACE, TIME, AND MEMORY
By Joyce C. Munro
I am researching a place that no longer exists on
maps, trying to discover how much impact it had in the
past. Branchville, a community along the East Branch of
the Perkiomen Creek and the Sumneytown and Spring
House Turnpike, had an omnibus stagecoach line in the
19th century that ran from Sumneytown to North Wales.
It even had a commercial area. Later called Bergey, that
name lives now only in the memory of a few.
For my research – I hope to complete a book about
this place by the end of the year – the Schwenkfelder
Library & Heritage Center has a wonderful collection of
primary sources. I have been using account books and
early local 19th century newspapers including Der Bauern
Freund of Sumneytown and Der Neutralist und Allgemein
Neuigkeits-Bote of Skippack. I found a store account book
of the Smith brothers, one of whom went on to establish
commercial sites in Branchville. The Heritage Center has
an amazing set of Der Bauern Freund. All these provide
invaluable information and context for my essays, which
are place explorations of time and memory.
www.schwenkfelder.com
Volume 19, Issue 1
to appreciate that it has carefully collected scholarly
works that span the gamut of study of early America, in
particular Pennsylvania, and its theological and cultural
roots. I am thankful to be able to use the many volumes
and notebooks here that I have not found elsewhere.
Hunt
Schenkel
and
Allen
Viehmeyer,
Schwenkfelder library archivist and researcher, are
immensely helpful. Everything is in such good order!
Also wonderful experiences for me are day conferences
and exhibits under the direction of curator Candace Perry.
I have enjoyed the quality of expertise at these events and
with these people at the Heritage Center. I am glad to
support it with my gift.
I am grateful to the Schwenkfelder library for its
careful preservation of these primary sources. I continue
VOLUNTEERS: WATCH YOUR MAILBOXES!
CONGRATULATIONS JOE AND KAY!
Each year the Heritage Center recognizes our wonderfully
faithful volunteers for all their hard work and dedication. This year,
we are holding our brunch on Saturday, April 16, at 10:00 am.
We congratulate Joe and Kay Bachkai for
the recognition they received from the Boyertown
Area Historical Society. This
article was in the society’s
most recent newsletter:
Invitations will be sent in March and we’ll be waiting for
your RSVP shortly thereafter to reserve your seat!
Be on the lookout for your invitation so you don’t miss
our fun time of good food, fellowship, and wonderful music.
“At the December 2,
2015
program meeting,
President Brian Quigley
presented a plate to members
Joe and Kay Bachkai. This
plate was to recognize the
many years of service they have given to the
Belsnickel Craft Show. Their hard work over the
years for the craft show has been vital to the
success of the event. Thank you both Joe and Kay
for your continued efforts for the Belsnickel and
your continued support for our organization!”
In addition to their active participation in
Boyertown, Joe and Kay are long-time volunteers
here at the Heritage Center.
www.schwenkfelder.com
Heritage Headlines
Volume 19, Issue 1
9
NEW ADDITIONS TO THE ARCHIVES AND LIBRARY, SPRING 2016
New to the Library
Genealogical Record of the Pfatteicher, Spaeth,
Jacoby, Linaka families, written and donated by Philip
H. Pfatteicher.
Sladami Fedora Sommera=Auf den Spuren von
Fedor Sommer, edited and donated by Josef Zaprucki.
300 Years of Faith and Fellowship: The Story of
The West Swamp Mennonite Church by Maynard M.
Shelly and Lee James Irwin, donated by West Swamp
Mennonite Church.
Jacob Detweiler (1690-1768) Family History.
Donated by Frances Witte.
Books donated by Nancy Roan:
American Quilts and Coverlets: A History of a
Charming Native Art, Together with a Manual of
Instruction for Beginners by Florence Peto.
For the Joy of it: Appliqué Quilts from the Judy
Roche Collection, Brandywine River Museum.
How Sweet it is (and was): The History of
Candy by Ruth Freeman Swain
New to the Archives:
Keely family bible, donated by Ralph Walters
Memorial fraktur, sustaining member, Mr. and
Mrs. Robert W. Scheid, of the Century Club of Perkiomen
School, June 30, 1980, donated by Margaret Scheid
Addition to family papers, donated by Mary Beyer
Krupp family photographs, donated by Jack Kratz
Minnie Kriebel Bobb’s 1903 Worcester,
Montgomery County, public school diploma, donated
by Connie Barnes
Some Berks County photographs of Lewis N.
Rohrbach, ca. early 20th, donated by Kenneth R. Feichtl
Hasson family papers and documents, donated
by Nancy Roan
DISCOVERY!
After nearly a century of fruitless searching,
copies of some of the Schwenkfelder petitions for
tolerance presented to the Emperor Charles VI in the
1720s have been found!
Almost immediately after the Jesuit missionaries
appeared in Harpersdorf at the close of 1719, Christopher
Hoffmann, his son Balthasar, and
Balthasar Hoffrichter traveled to Vienna
Austria to plead for tolerance and the
right to worship according to their
consciences. According to Balthasar
Hoffmann’s memoir-like account of his
travels to the Imperial Court in Vienna
(Tumultuous Years, pp. 38–47) the
Schwenkfelder delegation presented the
Emperor seventeen petitions for patience
and tolerance in the course of five
years. Finally, the Emperor firmly
refused any further petitions. When it
was clear that no relief would be
coming from the Emperor, the Schwenkfelders gradually
abandoned their homes and animals in Harpersdorf to
take up residence on the estates of Count Nicolaus
Ludwig von Zinzendorf.
With the vast number of eighteenth century
documents that have survived there has long been a
question about what happened to the petitions presented
at the Imperial Court in Vienna, since no trace of them
has ever been found despite searches in Vienna and
Silesia. While working with Professor Dr. Weigelt on
his new book on the Schwenkfelders, he
sent me an email with a request to find
George Weiss’ “Kurtzer Entwurff” and
send him a copy. While looking through
an old manuscript volume of miscellaneous documents for the one by Weiss,
my eye caught sight of the large words
“An Ihr Römische Kaÿl …” at the top
of a page. I wondered what document
was being addressed to the Kaiser
(Emperor).
After quickly surveying
the page I decided this document had to
be a petition for tolerance. But there
was not a copy of just one, but rather
four petitions. What a find after all these years! – Not in
Vienna, but right here in the Schwenkfelder Library &
Heritage Center.
– Allen Viehmeyer
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Heritage Headlines
www.schwenkfelder.com
Volume 19, Issue 1
SPRING LECTURE SERIES
As is our custom, we are offering a variety of lectures in various formats. The popular Brown
Bag (BB) lunches are held on the second Wednesday of each month at noon. Bring your lunch –
beverages provided – and enjoy a free lecture while you eat. These programs are free and open to the public.
Wednesday, March 9, noon
Highlights of Mennonite Fraktur in the Schwenkfelder
Library & Heritage Center Collection
Presented by Forrest Moyer
Forrest Moyer, archivist at the
Mennonite Heritage Center, Harleysville,
recently spent six months cataloging
Mennonite-related fraktur in the collection
of the SLHC and the MHC, under a grant
from the Clemens Family Corporation.
His work uncovered interesting new
details about some pieces in the SLHC
collection and explored the relationship between Mennonite
and Schwenkfelder fraktur art, particularly in the SkippackWorcester community.
Wednesday, April 13, noon
How the Pretzel Survived Prohibition,
and other Twisted Tales
Presented by Candace Perry
One of the most significant contributions of the Pennsylvania Germans to the
American food is the pretzel. But when “zwei lager und
ein pretzel” (two beers and a pretzel) were outlawed, the
fate of the pretzel may have been doomed. SLHC curator
Candace Perry will discuss how the pretzel survived
prohibition and became one of America’s favorite snack
foods, plus a brief history of pretzel making in Pennsylvania
and more in this illustrated lecture.
***NOTE: No May BB Lecture due to Penn Market***
Wednesday, June 8, noon
David Schultz:
Recently Discovered Diaries for 1743 and 1744
Presented by Allen Viehmeyer
Since Andy Berky published the
Journals and Papers of David Shultze
in 1952 and 1953, diaries for 1743 and
1744 were discovered at the American
Antiquarian Society in Worcester,
Massachusetts, in 1989. This presentation
summarizes what Schultz wrote about
his farming activities as well as his
records of Schwenkfelders and events near and far in
these two unpublished diaries.
ANNUAL MEETING OF THE
FRIENDS OF THE SCHWENKFELDER
LIBRARY & HERITAGE CENTER
Sunday, April 3, 2016, 2:00 pm
BRUNNER’S BAKERY AND
HOME DELIVERY
BACK PORCH SEMINAR
Sunday, April 3, 2016
2:30 pm – Immediately after the Annual meeting
The retail route salesman, those skilled sellers
or hucksters, brought dairy products, baked goods,
meats, and other items directly to your door. The
regular visit of the home delivery driver-salesman
provided one with the ease of shopping at home while
spending a few minutes with a friend. It was an
opportunity to share local items of interest, gossip, or
hold solid debate on just about any issue.
Many folks remember the Metros, Divcos, and
other unique looking vehicles that made up the fleets
of the local businesses. The
milkman made his delivery
in the early hours. The
baker brought fresh bread
and sweet treats that were
guaranteed to enhance
kitchen tables (and waistlines). The butcher couldn’t
bring his products into your
home for display, so he used his peculiar sounding
horn to summon you to his vehicle.
One of the local businesses that gave us home
delivery was Brunner’s Bakery. Located at 246-248 Main
Street in East Greenville, it was operated by Christian,
John, and Joseph Brunner, Jr. for forty-two years.
According to a newspaper account, they came
to East Greenville in 1927 when the bakery was
purchased from Robert G. Mohr. They took it from a
horse-drawn wagon business in 1927 to a thriving
enterprise that employed over 100 area residents in the
1960s. The bakery ceased operations in 1969 and was
sold a year later to a Philadelphia-based wholesale
baking business.
Continued on page 11
www.schwenkfelder.com
Volume 19, Issue 1
Heritage Headlines
11
Spring 2016 Programs and Events
Mar 8 – 1:30 pm and Mar 19 – 1:00 pm
Children’s Workshop: The PA Dutch Egg Tree
May 13, 14
Penn Dry Goods Market
Mar 9 – noon
BB Lecture: Mennonite Fraktur
in the SLHC Collection
May 19 – 4:30 pm
American Girl Tea and History
Mar 20 – 2:00 pm
Children’s Book Club
Mar 31 – 4:30 pm
American Girl Tea and History
Apr 3 – 2:30 pm
Friends Back Porch Seminar: Brunner’s Bakery
Apr 13 – noon
BB Lecture: How the Pretzel Survived Prohibition
Apr 19 – 1:30 pm and Apr 30 – 1:00 pm
Children’s Workshop: Book Artistry
Apr 23 – 2:00 pm
American Girl Tea and History
Apr 24 – 2:00 pm
Children’s Book Club
May 3 – 1:30 pm and May 7 – 1:00 pm
Children’s Workshop: Spring has Sprung
May 10, 11, 12, 15
BUILDING CLOSED TO PUBLIC
May 22 – 2:00 pm
Children’s Book Club
June 4 – 1:00 pm and June 7 – 1:30 pm
Children’s Workshop: Local History Day
June 5 – 2:00 pm
American Girl Tea and History
June 8 – noon
BB Lecture: David Schultz: New Diaries
June 12 – 2:00 pm
Children’s Book Club
June 22, 23, 24 – 10:00 am
Mini Music Summer Camp
July 12 – 15 and Aug 23 – 26, 9:30 am
Simple Machines/Roman History Camp
July 17 – 2:00 pm
Donor Appreciation Reception
July 26 – 29 and Aug 16 – 19, 9:30 am
Summer Camp
BRUNNER’S BAKERY AND HOME DELIVERY
Continued from page 10
This “Back Porch Seminar” will present an opportunity
to hear from a panel of people who served the community with
home deliveries. Hear about the challenges and adventures they
faced as they made their deliveries, and some of the amusing
stories that they accumulated during their years of service.
The panel will be moderated by Larry Roeder, who
worked as a driver’s helper in the early 1960s. The panel will
include Joe Brunner, who worked as a driver-salesmen and
was a son of one of the original co-owners, Joseph Brunner. In
addition, Neil Brunner, driver-salesman and baker who is the
son of another of the original co-owners, John Brunner.
Also on the panel will be men who worked as drivers
and drivers helpers: Harold Schultz, a helper in the 1940s; Robert Christman, a helper from 1949 through 1952; and Arlen
Christman, who worked as a driver from 1960 through 1964.
This seminar promises to be a nostalgic and fun-filled trek
into the past. The public is invited and refreshments will be served.
Spring 2016 Exhibits
Through March 15
Wild and Mild – Christmas Putz
Local History Gallery
Through March 31
Warm and Bright: Artifacts for Warmth and
Light from the Heritage Center Collection
Fraktur Gallery
Through April 25
The Art of Walter E. Baum
Meeting Room
Through May 3
New Acquisitions on Exhibit
First Floor Galleries
April 13 – September 30
Within and Without: The Art of the Book
Fraktur Gallery
non profit org.
us postage
paid
permit no. 42
Boyertown, PA
Phone: 215.679.3103 fax: 215.679.8175
www.schwenkfelder.com email: info@schwenkfelder.com
105 Seminary Street Pennsburg, PA 18073-1898
Hours
Mon
Tues
Wed
Thurs
Fri
Sat
Sun
12
CLOSED
9-4
9-4
9-8
9-4
10 - 3
1-4
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
www.schwenkfelder.com
Volume 19, Issue 1
 YOUR GIFT CAN HELP US MEET OUR $15,000
ANNUAL FUND CHALLENGE
This is a great time to make your gift to
the Heritage Center! Our 2015/2016 Annual
Fund campaign is in its final weeks. A generous
donor has challenged us with a $15,000 match to
help us meet and exceed our goal. This is where
you come in! Please use the enclosed gift form
and envelope to make your gift today.
Remember, your gift can be given in
honor or memory of a loved one or special
occasion. You can also find the form and a link
to PayPal on our website, if that’s more
convenient for you. Corporate matching gifts are
a welcome addition!
Scherenschnitte from
SLHC collection
We  gifts received by March 31, 2016,
when the Annual Fund campaign concludes! We
rely upon the support of generous friends and
donors like you to preserve and present our
unique collection, provide ongoing education,
and keep the welcoming doors of the Heritage
Center open free for all our visitors!
2016 Grundsau Lodge for Children