A guide book of art, architecture, and historic interests in Pennsylvania
History
A guide book of art, architecture, and historic interests in Pennsylvania
Architecture -- Pennsylvania; Art -- Pennsylvania; Historic buildings -- Pennsylvania; Pennsylvania -- Guidebooks; Pennsylvania -- History
View from north door of church shows, east, Camp Hill; in valley below,
Washington’s headquarters, stone house two and a half stories, one-half
mile east from Camp Hill station, Pennsylvania Railroad, left wing of
army, posted rear of house; here Washington decided to establish
fortified encampment at Valley Forge; December 12, whole army ordered to
march to Valley Forge, via Swedes Ford, Norristown, where they crossed
the Schuylkill on a bridge of wagons, with rails laid over them; “Swedes
Ford,” hotel built, 1723, still standing, at Bridgeport.
North of St. Thomas Church we locate Fort Washington by its flagstaff,
in center of earthwork thrown up by General Anthony Wayne’s men. West,
from Church, Militia Hill, where some of the stones, used as anchors for
tents, are still in position; at foot of hill is Wissahickon Creek, over
which leads the high railroad bridge belonging to the Trenton cut-off of
the Pennsylvania Railroad. Passing Fortside Inn, north, on Bethlehem
Pike, is stone marker, inscription “About 700 feet south of this stone
is an American Redoubt and site of Howe’s threatened attack, December 6,
1777; from here Washington’s army marched to Valley Forge. Erected,
1891, by the Pennsylvania Society, Sons of the Revolution.”
Farther on Bethlehem Pike, over Sandy Run, is the village of FORT
WASHINGTON, now home of the Darby School of Painting, a summer art
school conducted by Hugh H. Breckenridge, member of the faculty of the
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, there science of color is taught
in its fullest significance. On Engertown Road is old Friends meeting
house. Farther, on Limekiln Pike, is Pennsylvania School of Horticulture
for Women, post office, Ambler, founded in 1910, thorough training,
through all seasons, eliminates waste of costly inexperience, and fits a
woman for a life that is healthful, attractive, and remunerative. Near
Sumneytown and Butler Pike is “Three Tuns Inn.” Gwynedd, meeting house,
built, 1700, Welsh Quakers worshiped here.
Down Butler Pike to AMBLER, residence of Dr. R. V. Mattison, built,
1890, Scotch baronial style, wrought iron gates designed in Munich;
opposite is Trinity Memorial Church, Romanesque, noted for its beautiful
windows, designed by F. S. Lamb, original, and adapted from paintings by
world famous artists, of scenes in Christ’s life, made by J. and R.
Lamb; interior paneled in oak, similar to House of Parliament, London;
font, Italian marble, good design. Through Morris Road, over bridge
crossed by Washington’s army, between Morris and Skippack roads, one
mile west of Ambler, is stone residence, built by Abraham Dawes in 1736,
was Washington’s headquarters, October 21, 1777.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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