USA > Pennsylvania > Lehigh County > Bethlehem > A history of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, 1741-1892, with some account of its founders and their early activity in America > Part 59
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The official personnel of Bethlehem, during the twenty years embraced in this chapter, did not change very frequently, so far as the most important positions were concerned, but it included a con- siderable number of minor functionaries, particularly in connection with the establishment of the single men, who came and went, serving short terms. Bishop John Ettwein remained at the head of the Amer- ican General Board until old age and infirmity compelled him to retire on November 26, 1801. He died soon after that, January 2, 1802, and on January 5, his remains were laid to rest aside of the
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grave of Bishop Nathanael Seidel. His funeral was attended by a great concourse of people from the surrounding country, including three clergymen of other denominations. The General Board had decided, in February prior to his retirement, to request, when the General Synod of that year should meet, that provisions might be made for the continual residence of two bishops in Pennsylvania, in order that the embarrassments resulting several times before from. the old age and incapacity of the single one resident in this country might not occur again. Under the system existing at that time, one was singled out as "Presiding Bishop," placed by the Unity's Elders' Conference at the head of its Conference of Helpers, the General Board in Pennsylvania.
Ettwein was succeeded in this position by Bishop George Henry Loskiel, who arrived from Europe on July 23, 1802. The Rev. John Andrew Huebner, Head Pastor and President of the Elders' Confer- ence at Bethlehem-Gemeinhelfer-and first Principal of the re-organ- ized boarding-school for girls, was consecrated a bishop on April II, 1790, and in May removed to Lititz, where he was stationed until 1801, when he attended the General Synod in Europe and remained there as a member of the Unity's Elders' Conference. The Rev. John Augustus Klingsohr, a very popular preacher and a zealous, faithful man, before this stationed at Lititz, became his successor at Beth- lehem in May, 1790, continuing in that office until his death, Novem- ber 5, 1798. The head pastorate at Bethlehem, after his death, was filled ad interim by Bishop Ettwein, assisted by the Rev. Christian Frederick Schaaf, until the appointment of the Rev. Jacob Van Vleck to the office by the Unity's Elders' Conference in 1799, after serving since 1790 as Huebner's successor in the principalship of the boarding-school and as regular preacher at Bethlehem. In the spring of 1802, he removed to Nazareth and his successor in 1800, as principal and regular preacher, the Rev. Andrew Benade, became associate Head Pastor, with the Rev. John Gebhard Cunow ad interim, until the arrival of Bishop Loskiel, who had been appointed to this office by the authorities in Europe, along with the presidency of the Board of General Helpers.
In May, 1790, the Rev. John Schropp became Warden of Bethle- hem and filled this office until his death, July 4, 1805, when he was succeeded by the Rev. John Yungberg. Others connected with the pastorate corps during that period were-a short time until his death in 1791-the Rev. John Frederick Peter, Jr., assisting the Rev. Paul
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Muenster, who died October 15, 1792, in special oversight of the married people, along with other duties. Muenster was followed in this position, in 1793, by the Rev. Jeremiah Dencke, formerly war- den, who died, May 28, 1795. After a temporary arrangement until November, 1798, this department of pastoral service, together with various other positions and duties, passed into the charge of the Rev. Christian Frederick Schaaf, who filled the place more than twenty years-the longest consecutive term of service in connection with the Moravian pastorate, in the history of Bethlehem. Others who assisted in the pastorate during the period from 1786 to 1806 were the veteran missionary, the Rev. Bernhard Adam Grube, from May, 1787, to March, 1791, and then, after a brief term of service at Emmaus, where his wife died, from October, 1793, to the end of this period and beyond to his death, March 20, 1808, at the great age of ninety-three years. During his years at Bethlehem he also rendered much service as a secretary of boards and, like Schaaf, Van Vleck, Dencke, Oerter, Immanuel Nitschmann and some others, with his superior musical abilities. Another assistant, 1786 to 1787, was the Rev. Lewis Frederick Boehler, a son of Bishop Peter Boehler.
Jacob Van Vleck, when he was selected to be principal of the boarding-school was succeeded, as chaplain of the Brethren's House and spiritual overseer of the single men, by his assistants, John Mar- tin Beck, Nathanael Brown and John Christian Reich by turns, from 1789 to November, 1791, when this office was filled by the Rev. George Godfrey Mueller until September, 1793, the Rev. John Fred- erick Frueauff until November, 1797, the Rev. John Frederick Stadi- ger until April, 1802, the Rev. John Constantine Mueller to November, 1804, and then the Rev. John Frederick Loeffier to the end of the period under review and beyond; he at the same time performing the duties of warden for the single men during part of his term of service. The wardenship of the Brethren's House, after 1790, was brought into closer relation to the general wardenship of the village, on account of the precarious state of the finances and the growing disposition in the Brethren's House to proceed incautiously and incur debts. The incumbent was no longer such an important and independent functionary, but, shorn of some authority, was rather merely a steward acting under directions. John Gambold was in office until March, 1790-a faithful, conscientious man struggling with great difficulties-assisted, prior to that time, by Samuel Gottlieb Kramsch, who also assisted the chaplain and was school-master of the boys;
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Charles Jacob Dreyspring, and John Christian Reich, who then for a while filled the position alone. After that the chaplain was at the same time the steward, for, as arrangements then were, he had less of actual business to oversee than was formerly the case.
The Rev. John Christian Alexander deSchweinitz, Administrator of the property of the Unity in Pennsylvania from 1771, returned to Europe in 1798 and became a member of the Unity's Elders' Confer- ence. He left Bethlehem with his family on April 10 and sailed, April 22. His assistant, the Rev. John Gebhard Cunow, who arrived from Europe, July 30, 1796, and had therefore been in training for the office nearly two years, became his successor and thus acquired a very prominent and important position at Bethlehem. He was a man who made himself felt, not only in point of ability, but in self-asserting force, a disposition to be arbitrary and dictatorial in the conduct of affairs, and an uncompromising insistence upon every minute regula- tion that had been fixed, no matter what kind of difficulties might be involved in enforcing it. As the nature of his duties brought him into close and constant connection with financial and industrial mat- ters of all kinds and with village affairs generally, these character- istics were decidedly felt by those who had the most to do with its business concerns.
Besides these positions filled by ordained men, some other con- spicuous places and their incumbents may be mentioned. The first postmaster of Bethlehem appointed by the United States Govern- ment was Joseph Horsfield. His commission dated from June 12, 1792. He also filled the office of Justice of the Peace for a while, from 1794. The second postmaster was George Huber, February 13, 1802, and the third was Francis Christian Kampmann, February 20, 1803. He was the incumbent at the close of the period covered by this chapter. The apothecary shop of Bethlehem, in charge of Dr. John Matthew Otto until his death in 1786, had the names of several men connected with it besides Timothy Horsfield, Jr., for a number of years his chief assistant. These were Dr. Christian Fred- erick Kampmann, who had come to Pennsylvania in 1781. He had served as physician at Hope, N. J., some time prior to Dr. Otto's death. Then he came to Bethlehem as physician and apothecary until the appointment of a successor in 1790, when, in September, he again went to Hope and remained until 1808, and then settled finally in Bethlehem. He was assisted for a while after 1786, by the young
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surgeon Matthew Otto, Jr., who, although inheriting his famous father's talents, was not like him in steadiness and reliability of char- acter. He died in May, 1797, at Allentown. Another assistant for some time was James Cruickshank, better known as steward and accountant of the boarding-school for girls, who died in 1805. Yet another was Joseph Dixon, who in August, 1794, went to Emmaus as physician.
One of the regularly educated physicians of the period, Dr. God- frey Henry Thumhardt, was temporarily located at Bethlehem after his arrival from the mission field in the West Indies, until August, 1791, when he went to Lititz and was identified with that place until his death. Dr. John Eberhard Freitag arrived from Europe in 1790, to be the regular physician and apothecary of Bethlehem. His long term of service reached far into the new century. In November, 1795, came Dr. John Frederick Rudolphi, from Europe, who later settled for a while near Lititz and for a longer time at Reading. It is a little surprising to read of such specialties in the healing art being countenanced at Bethlehem in those days as the coming of Dr. Newbury to the place, in 1792, to instruct Joseph Dixon in the mysteries of magnetic healing.
The Sun Inn also changed hands in 1790, when John Christian Ebert, who enjoyed the distinction of entertaining General Wash- ington, retired from the position and, on June I, Abraham Levering, whose wife had the reputation of being a particularly popular hostess, took charge. He was inn-keeper until June, 1799, when he was succeeded by John Lennert, who on June I, 1805, retired in favor of Christian Gottlob Paulus, who was landlord at the time which closes this chapter. The era of regular mail stages, coming and going in the dignity of Government contract, opened during the decade embraced in the connection of Abraham Levering with the famous inn. Before that, the "stage wagon" to Philadelphia was a more humble enterprise of intermittent existence. A more satisfactory service than had existed since the days of George Klein was established in the summer of 1785 by Frederick Beitel, farmer general and former wagon-master, of many adventures in Revolutionary times. He expressly stated, however, that he did not wish to be bound by an advertisement of regular trips. How long he was on the road in this new capacity is not clear. Now, however, the opening of regular post roads brought better system into this important branch of public service and increased its speed and con-
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venience. The stage coach, arriving and departing regularly, became a part of the life of the Sun Inn, and after 1795 the blowing of the stage horn when the vehicle came within hearing distance of the Lehigh, was no longer listened for in the direction of the Irish stone quarry, from which the old Philadelphia road had, since the days when Bethlehem was founded, led to the place, for in that year the road across the mountain, now yet spoken of as "the Philadelphia road," was opened.
In connection with all this, a more conspicuous epoch-making enterprise had been consummated at Bethlehem which terminated the history of the Crown Inn and the need of a house of entertain- ment on the south side, and relegated the ferry to the realm of things that were, by proudly carrying all who sought a tavern at the place quickly and on an unmoving structure across the river to the Sun. This was the building of the first bridge over the Lehigh. Towards the close of 1791, when the construction of a turn-pike from Philadelphia was being agitated by parties in the city and along the road-for road-making in all directions was then a leading enter- prise-Warden Schropp and other men at Bethlehem who were studying the external problems of the time, revived, with more vigor than before, the oft-mooted project of a bridge. In that first bridge scheme the new principal of the boarding-school, Jacob Van Vleck, was interested, for his institution was then the most important estab- lishment in the town, and its patrons probably expressed the wish that conveyance across the stream on a foundation more firm than the ferry might be secured. A committee appointed, January 2, 1792, to deliberate on the matter and report, declared, three days later, in favor of postponing it because of other proposed undertakings. The committee consisted of Bishop Ettwein, Paul Muenster, Francis Thomas, the carpenter; Frederick Beitel, the farmer and wagoner; Valentine Fuehrer, and Massa Warner, connected with the fortunes of the Crown Inn and the ferry. Perhaps the last two were not unbiased members of the committee and supported Bishop Ettwein in reporting adversely. Ettwein stoutly opposed the building of a bridge at that time, for he favored first enlarging the hotel accom- modations, which seemed to him and some others to be the more pressing need. Those who were urging the bridge knew that when his opposition had to be reckoned with; there must be some special effort put forth to win the day. Therefore, the opportunity was seized on January 23, when he was on a visit at Hope, to call a meet-
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ing of the voting men of the village in Gemeinrath or Common Coun- cil, to test the prevailing opinion when the most forceful opponent was not present. The result was a practically unanimous vote in favor of a bridge. When Father Ettwein returned and learned of this sly maneuver he declared that he would have nothing to do with any further meetings about the bridge, and he kept his word. He did not actively oppose it but quietly let things take their course, and the bridge was built. The projectors offered, as conciliatory conditions, that no indebtedness should be incurred by the Congregation treas- ury ; that a sum, each year, equal to the average annual income from the ferry for the preceding ten years, should be guaranteed the treasury from the receipts of the bridge; that the regulations in all respects should be under the control of the village authorities; that the stock-for a stock company was to be formed-should be kept in the hands of citizens of Bethlehem.
The Act of Assembly authorizing it was passed, April 3, 1792, and signed by Thomas Mifflin, the first Governor of the State under the new constitution. Contracts for furnishing material and building the bridge were let in due process of time, and at last, fine hemlock timber cut in the forests along the Panther Creek, began to be floated down and drawn ashore near the ferry. In the spring of 1794 operations were properly started. On May 12, the wood-work was commenced, and on June 25, the first pier was completed. But between difficulties encountered because of inexperience in building a bridge across so wide a stream as the Lehigh, and a set-back through damage done by high water,the work was delayed, so that it was Saturday, September 27, before the announcement could be made, "the bridge is finished." The next day it was opened for free travel and on Monday the taking of toll commenced. The structure cost $7,800. The amount was dis- tributed in shares of $100. This first bridge, like its successor, built in 1816 and opened for travel October 19, was an uncovered one.
The old ferry was abandoned as soon as the bridge was finished, and on October 31, 1794, the Crown Inn was closed as a public house and became a farm house. The last inn-keeper, from May, 1792, to that time, was George Schindler. The need of additional hotel accommodations was met in another way, by considering it in con- nection with the long-felt need of more ample quarters for the vil- lage store. There had been a project in the minds of some to erect a more commodious inn on the south side, but the interjection of the bridge-building plan caused, instead of that, the entire abandon-
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ment of the tavern on that side, as has been seen. On February 13, 1792, the Elders' Conference, finding that there was a determination to build the bridge, referred to the Village Board of Supervision- Aufseher Collegium-a substitute for that tavern plan. This was to erect a new building for the store and then fit up the whole of the old stone building on the Ladengasse or store street-the present Market Street-that is, the part which had been occupied by the store and the adjoining "Horsfield house," later "Van Vleck house"-as an adjunct to the Sun Inn. Further developments preserved this inter- esting connection between store and hotel, for the new store, the site of which was selected February 16, 1792, "next to Joseph Hors- field's house," became Bethlehem's second hotel, the Eagle, which will be referred to again in proper connection.
During that year and the following one, the enterprise dragged heavily. Several times evidences of a "hitch" in the affair appear- whether because of a coolness between Christian Heckewelder, the store-keeper, and the village fathers, or a lack of entire confidence on their part in the ability of the store-keeper to superintendent building operations, or a conflict of authority between Heckewelder and War- den Schropp, is not clear. When the plan of the building was dis- cussed and preliminary approved, on August 2, 1792, the Elders' Con- ference saw fit to record the decision that the warden and not the store-keeper was to superintend its construction. They twice reiter- ated this decree during the following months, the second time adding the remark that there was much unpleasantness connected with the whole matter. The store was moved into the new building before its completion in 1794. On August 30, of that year, it was stated that the entire building was about finished and the assistant, John Christian Reich, moved into it. This new store was finally gotten into proper order and became a more elaborate business than that in the old building, but Christian Heckewelder was transferred to Emmaus to take charge of the little country shop at that place, and then to Hope, N. J., and was succeeded at Bethlehem by Owen Rice. He was a son of the Rev. Owen Rice who came to Pennsylvania with the "First Sea Congregation," had, from 1784 to 1790, been in charge of the inn at Nazareth and then of the store there, and in November, 1792, would have been selected to open the adjunct inn at Bethlehem in the former store-building, if the fathers of the Nazareth Elders' Conference had concurred. His son, Owen Rice the third, had been "store-boy" for Christian Heckewelder for a season, receiving his first mercantile training ; but for some reason, relations were not
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perfectly agreeable between him and his master, for on one occasion Heckewelder, who seems to have been unfortunate in encountering the cross-grained side of various persons, complained of young Rice that he gave him much trouble-perhaps by "insubordination"-and made life grievous for him-"machte ihm das Leben saur"-so that two members of the Elders' Conference had to be deputed to interview the young man and persuade him to desist from causing his master heaviness.
Thus in divers little ways the surface of business life at Beth- lehem was ruffled in connection with Heckewelder's administration, but when Owen Rice, father of the aforesaid youthful Owen, was established in charge of it, things moved more smoothly and prosperously at the new stand; for he was not only a highly capable but a popular and much esteemed citizen and business man. During the early years of his administration there are evidences of gradual but very modest additions to the range of stock carried- things which some, who yet cherished the notions of the Spartan times of Bethlehem, looked upon as ministering to the frivolities of the world; such things as lay in the direction of slight ornamentation in dress. Even such articles as ribbons of divers' colors and glittering beads could be purchased there by parents who wished to brighten the hearts of their little girls, when taking the last stroll about the village with them, before leaving them at the boarding-school to enter upon their first struggle with home-sickness.
This institution was becoming increasingly important to the village in various ways, not only to the inn and the store, but also to other establishments and lines of industry. Already in 1789, it had out- grown its primitive quarters and the question of better accommo- dations had begun to be discussed. August 16, of that year, the Elders' Conference of Bethlehem concluded that a new and larger building was needed and, at a session of the General Conference of Elders on the 22nd, this view was concurred in and three preliminary points were agree to: the new building must be erected on school account and not on account of the Congregation treasury; a stone building would be preferable to a frame one; the two most eligible sites would be in the rear of the old school building-where the Parochial School now stands-or east of the Widows' House where the cow-stable and the old log kitchen of the Sisters' House-"an eye-sore"-stood. The latter site was preferred by some officials, but the superintendent, stewardess and chief women of the Sisters'
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House entered decided objections, because of the ruin that would be wrought to the large and conveniently located garden of that establishment. The subject was discussed in Common Council of the village on September 10. The site back of the old school was selected in deference to the wishes of those who plead for the Sisters' . House garden. The sisters promised to have the unsightly old kitchen removed as soon as possible, and the locality put into more attractive shape. It may be added here that already in 1782, the Widows' House had become so crowded that its chapel was parti- tioned up into dwelling-rooms, and that some years later the plan was entertained of building a separate but communicating wing to afford a new chapel with a refectory in the basement; but in September, 1793, it was decided to extend the main building east- ward and in 1794 this extension, as noted in an earlier chapter, was completed in the direction of the spot first had in mind for the new boarding-school building. Plans for the new school building had been submitted and approved, September II, 1789. It was to be built of stone, one full story high, forty by fifty feet in dimensions, with four large rooms on the main floor, a basement under the entire building for refectory and cellar and an attic for dormitory purposes, to contain several separate apartments sufficient for the accommodation of forty to fifty girls. The only alteration of the plan was that in November it was concluded to have a broken roof so that such long timbers as the original plan called for would not be required, and the dormitories could be more advantageously con- structed. The building committee consisted of Joseph Horsfield, John Christian Hasse, John Heckewelder, then sojourning at Beth- lehem, John Andrew Huebner, then yet principal, with James Cruick- shank, steward and book-keeper of the school as paymaster, and John Schropp, warden, and Paul Muenster, ex-warden of the village, as advisory members. The building was commenced that fall and during the winter building material was collected and prepared, so that in the spring it might proceed rapidly. On Sunday afternoon, May 2, 1790-Jacob Van Vleck being now principal-the corner- stone was laid with appropriate ceremonies. In a leaden box deposited in the stone was placed a document of the customary character, in which were recorded the names of the eighty-eight boarders and day-scholars and all who had entered since 1786; the officials and ten teachers connected with the school and their prede- cessors since 1785; the names of all the men and women belonging
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to the Elders' Conference and the men belonging to the Board of Supervisors-Aufseher Collegium, formerly translated into English by some in the literal enough, but rather pompous and, in view of their functions, inappropriate title "College of Overseers"1-the names of the General Conference of Helpers, conducting the affairs of the Moravian Church in the Northern States for the Unity's Elders' Conference in Europe, and the names of the latter body.
The building, although practically finished the following autumn, was not occupied until the spring of 1791. On April 12, it was formally dedicated and taken possession of. Beds and other furniture
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