USA > Pennsylvania > Montgomery County > Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, a history, Volume I > Part 13
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pete in rates. But the canal is kept in good repair, and is owned or leased by the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad Company. It is worth more to furnish water for power to manufacturing plants and for gen- erating electricity than as a freight carrier.
In order that the canal boatmen of a century ago might be well posted as to how to navigate the "Raging Canal," a booklet was printed by the company in 1827 and given to each one connected with the man- agement of canal boats and locks along the line. It contained warnings to boatmen as to what obstructions were in their way en route. Its preface page said, "The Schuylkill Canal is considered very difficult to navigate without much experience. Those running boats must have good judgment, especially on the lower section from Reading to Phil- adelphia, occasioned by points, rocks and sand bars."
Stage Lines-A not-long-ago "Daily Times," of Norristown, among its "One Hndred Years Ago To-day" items had the following :
The Norristown stage has commenced running daily. It leaves Nor- ristown every morning at 7 o'clock and arrives at the Green Tree, North Fourth street, Philadelphia, at 12 o'clock. Returning, leaves Philadel- phia at 2 o'clock, arriving in Norristown at 7 o'clock in the evening. Lewis Schrack is in charge of the stage.
This generation knows nothing of stage coach lines-husky, good- natured drivers directing the rapid movement of their four horses over hill and dale in Montgomery county. But these means of conveyance had many interesting features and many discomfortures. This work can only briefly touch on these things of the past. The first stage line passing through this county is supposed to have been by George Klein between Bethlehem and Philadelphia, on what was known as the King's Highway, but later the old Bethlehem road. His first trip was made in September, 1763, in what was then called a "stage-wagon." He started out regularly every Monday morning from the Sun Tavern in Bethlehem, and returned from the city every Thursday evening, thus consuming a full week in his round trip. This stage started from the "King of Prussia," a noted tavern on Race street, and the charge through was ten shillings. Beyond doubt this was the first stage line entering the city from either the north or west. The post office at Bethlehem was not established until 1792, but the stage coach for conveying passengers started in 1763, away ahead of the mail coaches. After mail was car- ried, the time was reduced to two days to Philadelphia, and in 1798 was reduced to one day's drive with the real "mail-coach."
About 1781, William Coleman, an energetic business man, estab- lished a stage line from Philadelphia to Reading, of which he was pro- prietor and drove himself for twenty-seven successive years. He was awarded the mail carrying contract in 1804. This line passed through Norristown, Trappe, and Pottsgrove (now Pottstown). In 1808 Mr.
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Coleman opened an inn in Reading for the accommodation of his pas- sengers, his stages arriving and departing in every point of the compass. He then added another special line from Pottstown to Philadelphia, and this is the last heard of the pioneer stage owner Coleman, who an- nounced at that time that after about thirty years' service he was to quit, and said in both German and English print that he would pro- vide "a sober and careful set of drivers who will attend the stages, so that passengers may' travel with safety and pleasure." "The Gentle- man's Pocket Almanac," published in 1769, thus gives the distances from Philadelphia over the Reading line and to Pottstown: To Robin Hood, four miles; to Plymouth Meeting, fourteen miles; to Bartlestall's, eighteen miles; to Perkiomen Church, twenty-four miles; to Shracks, twenty-six miles ; to Widow Lloyd's, thirty miles; to Potts', thirty-eight miles.
The completion of the canal in 1825 changed all these stage lines materially, but many ran until the final trumph of the railroad in the month of December, 1839, when it was finished to Reading, and then it was "let us take the train to the city," and no longer "must be up early for the stage leaves at daylight." The railroad was opened from Norris- town in August, 1835, and on the opposite side of the river through to Pottsville, in 1842. Yet with all these improvements, so seated was the old habit of travel by stage coach that as late as 1860 the owners of some of these Pennsylvania lines did a fair passenger business in and out from Norristown. Many of the inland places needed these stage lines as much as ever and hence they continued many years longer than the advent of the railroad. County Historian Bean in his article on stage- coaches in this county, in his excellent work published in 1884, gives the following :
It was customary along these routes for the stage-driver, when within a mile of the place at which the stage usually stopped for breakfast, to blow a horn, the sweet and mellow tones of which would announce his approach, that breakfast might be in readiness on his arrival. No sooner there than he would drop his lines, aid the passengers out of the coach, and proceed to the awaiting meal ; in the meantime the horses would be changed, when the seats would be again occupied, and the journey resumed. In some cases fifteen miles having been made over the rugged road, it may be well supposed that an appetite had been awakened to be here appeased. At every post office, generally about four or five miles apart, a brief stop would be made to have the mail changed and the horses watered. They were what was generally termed Troy coaches, painted red, with a profusion of gilding, having the proprietors' names blazoned on the panels. Four horses were always driven to each coach, who were generally selected for beauty, speed, and powers of endurance, in the proper care of which the hostlers appeared to take a delight.
The business of staging, directly and indirectly, gave employment and support to a number of persons in Montgomery county, among whom could be enumerated the proprietors, the drivers, groomsmen, inn-keepers, smiths, and coach-makers, besides the toll arising therefrom
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for the turnpike companies amounted to considerable. It made, too, no inconsiderable home market to the farmer for oats, corn, hay, and straw, besides the provisions required for the passengers. The arrival of the stage always made a bustle in the quiet country villages and hamlets. It not only brought strangers, but acquaintances, relatives, and friends, who, having been long absent, thus returned to visit familiar scenes once more. To the post office it brought letters and newspapers, and, as a substitute for the express, the driver was an important personage, from the amount of errands imposed on him in the delivery of his messages and parcels.
Railroads-The advent of the steam railroad system to Montgomery county marked a new era in its history. It was August 14, 1835, that the first railroad was finished to Norristown-the "Philadelphia, Ger- mantown & Norristown Railroad," which road had completed its line from Philadelphia out as far as Manayunk, October 22, 1834, and pub- lished its first time table. The fare was twelve and one-half cents each way and trains ran every two hours.
The first locomotive was built by Matthias W. Baldwin, known as "Old Ironsides," and made its first trip October 20, 1832, on the German- town branch of this pioneer railroad. Reader, now let your mind rest for a moment on the gigantic Baldwin Locomotive Works of Phila- delphia.
The Philadelphia & Reading railroad was formally opened in the winter of 1842, but parts of the road had been operated as early as 1839. It is not usually known that the Reading road was not built from Phil- adelphia out, but from Reading into Philadelphia. It was operated for some time between Pottstown and Reading before any other place. For quite a period of time passengers from the city for Reading would come in the cars to Norristown, then stage it to Pottstown, where they would take the cars again to Reading; or a little later, when the road was finished to Bridgeport, passengers would be carried by omnibus from the Norristown depot to Bridgeport, and there take the cars for Reading. The first engine run over the Reading line was called the "Neversink," brought from Pottstown on wagons and unloaded there and put together on the track. Those days it was customary to give every locomotive a name. The first trip of the one just named was to Reading for a load of iron to lay the tracks between Pottstown and San- atoga. However, before this time the "Delaware" engine was landed at Reading in a canal boat, and it was proposed to make a grand excursion to Pottstown with her. It was discovered that her cylinder heads were too low to clear the coping on the bridges, so she could not pass until the bridges had all been changed. The excursion had been advertised and it must come off, so the managers of the road secured a number of plain, flat-bottomed four-wheeled trucks such as iron was hauled on, and these were fitted up with seats and a horse or two hitched to each car. In this "train" came the railroad officials and prominent citizens
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of Reading, bankers, lawyers, merchants, etc., of that place to Pottstown. As the horses could not walk over the trestles en route, they had to be unhitched and led around, while the passengers pushed the "cars" over the bridges. They persisted, and reached Pottstown before noon and all partook of a well planned feast. Other engines were named "Planet," "Rocket," "Comet," "Spitfire," and "Firefly." The Reading road from Philadelphia to Pottsville is ninety-eight miles and originally cost $19,262,720.
The Chester Valley railroad connected the Philadelphia & Reading road with itself at Bridgeport ; is twenty-one miles long, connecting with the Pennsylvania lines at Downingtown, in Chester county. The first train run over this road was September 12, 1853.
The North Pennsylvania railroad was chartered October, 1852, and extended from Philadelphia to Bethlehem. It was opened in July, 1857, and was leased by the "Reading" for a term of ninety-nine years. In Montgomery county, this road passes through Jenkintown, Ft. Wash- ington, Ambler, North Wales, Lansdale, Telford, and Souderton. The Colebrookdale railroad was chartered March 23, 1865, and completed in 1869. It extends from Pottstown to Barto Station, in Berks county. It has always been operated by the Reading system. The Northeast Pennsylvania railroad extends from Abington station, Montgomery county, to Hartsville, in Bucks county. It was opened in December, 1872. Stony Creek railroad was chartered in April, 1868. It commenced at Main street, Norristown, extended to Lansdale, there connected with the North Pennsylvania line; also with a branch to Doylestown. The Perkiomen railroad was finished in 1868, extending from the Perkiomen Junction to Palm Station, a distance of twenty-six miles through Mont- gomery county, finally connecting with the East Pennsylvania line with a distance of thirty-eight miles in length. This road has stations at Collegeville, Schwenksville, Green Lane, Pennsburg, and East Green- ville. The Plymouth railroad extends from the borough of Conshohocken to Oreland, connecting with the North Pennsylvania line. It is only nine and a quarter miles in length.
The Pennsylvania Schuylkill Valley railroad is an important railroad. It crosses the boundary line of this county on the eastern shore of the Schuylkill near Manayunk, passing through Conshohocken and Norris- town, following the line of the river until it reaches Phoenixville, and on to Pottstown. This road went into operation in 1884 and is now a part of the great Pennsylvania railroad system. It is a full double-tracked line.
These constitute the steam railroad lines within this county. The only other railway here to-day is the Philadelphia & Western, an elec- tric line constructed about 1917, which runs from Philadelphia to Nor- ristown as a "third-rail" line, and which is a very successful passenger thoroughfare and has trains less than half an hour apart through the
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day and frequently during the night. Besides the main line, there are trolley lines gridironing the county in all directions; nearly all the ham- lets and boroughs of importance have a car line at their very doorway. Of these modern improvements the histories of the various boroughs will make local mention.
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HOME OF THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
CHAPTER X. CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.
September 9th to 12th, both inclusive, 1884, were given over to the celebration of the first centennial of the county's establishment, its his- tory as a separate county dating from September, 1784. The president of the association was Joseph Fornance ; recording secretary, F. G. Hob- son; corresponding secretary, Muscoe M. Gibson.
Order of Exercises-At the opening exercises, prayer was offered by Rev. J. H. A. Bomberger, D. D. An address was given by J. P. Hale Jenkins ; a second address by president Joseph Fornance. The next was the dedication of the Rittenhouse Meridian Stone, near the court house ; report of the Memorial Committee; address by Hon. B. Markley Boyer ; benediction by Rev. Isaac Gibson. This ended the first day of the cele- bration's exercises. On the second day-Memorial exercises ; prayer by Rev. H. S. Rodenbough ; address by President Joseph Fornance ; histor- ical oration by William J. Buck ; poem by Hon. George N. Corson ; ora- tion by Rev. C. Z. Weiser, D. D. Third day-The parade ; first division ; second division; third division; fourth division; the Indian children ; remarks by Colonel Theo. W. Bean. Fourth day-The Antiquarian Ex- position ; list of exhibitors ; list of exhibits; Indian relics ; antique relics ; antiques of the first settlers and early purchasers; relics of records of the Colonial period ; relics of the Revolutionary War, and 1812; relics of the Mexican War; relics of the Civil War (1861-65) ; implements of early husbandry ; implements and articles of household use in early times ; kitchen furniture and pewter-plate ware; antique furniture and clocks; many home-made articles; old silver, silver-plated ware, glass and China ware; antique wearing apparel and jewelry; antique handi- work of our own times; school books, old and new; books, papers and manuscripts; maps, oil paintings and engravings ; views of schools and churches ; Rittenhouse clocks and scientific instruments ; arms and equip- ments ; coins and paper money ; fauna and flora of the county ; miscel- laneous articles ; minerals and fossils ; action of court and grand jury ; financial exhibit. The reader will now understand the scope of the cele- bration, after having read of the various exhibits presented to the view of the visitors present during those interesting four days.
This was a well and long beforehand planned celebration. At the regular meeting of the Montgomery County Historical Society, held May 25, 1882, the project of a suitable celebration of the county's organ- ization in 1884 was discussed at length, and a committee was appointed to meet with the county board to properly observe the event then only two years ahead. The committee on the part of the Historical Society was F. G. Hobson, Hon. Jones Detwiler and A. K. Thomas. A commit-
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tee on the part of the county officials met with the committee just named, and a general committee was selected and the names of its members made public. Nothing further was enacted until September 10, 1883, when the call was made for the meeting of the general commit- tee, which soon met at the rooms of the Historical Society in the court house. The next meeting was held November 15, 1883. The memorial committee was instructed to have prepared and erected a granite mon- olith to the memory of David Rittenhouse, the astronomer, to be placed in front of the court house, as one sees it to-day. It was to also mark the meridian line, as well as to do honor to Mr. Rittenhouse. It bears appropriate inscriptions on its several faces. Meetings of the general committee now became a common thing. The time was fast approach- ing for speedy, practical action on the part of various sub-committees. The financial part was important. The committee in charge of that feature of the great local enterprise had their minds active and finally succeeded in a businesslike manner in raising the necessary funds to finance the celebration, then close at hand. Each election district was furnished with ample tickets to dispose of. Each district was asked to subscribe $100 toward the fund. The railroad opened up its generosity and agreed to return free of charge all articles expressed over their line to be exhibited at the celebration.
The persons in charge, known as the building committee, had space one hundred feet square floored on the court house grounds, and there four large tents were erected. The court room was floored over the tops of the seats, and glass cases arranged around the side of the room and upon three large tables running the entire length of the room. The grand jury room was converted into the Art Room, or gallery. All departments were taken care of after the above fashion and all demanded an immense amount of real work, but the people hesitated not-this was only once in their lifetime certainly, and they freely gave time and money.
After the immense parades, the showing of thousands of articles of exhibits, the last notes from the numerous bands of music, the echo of the last orations, etc., had all become things of the past, an accounting was had and it shows in record form that the total number of exhibitors at this Antiquarian Exposition was twelve hundred and forty. It is said that at the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition in 1876, there were fifty countries represented, and that all put together exhibited only 31,000 articles. So it will be seen that Montgomery county had just reason to be proud of what it accomplished at her 1884 Centennial of the county. The total receipts of the enterprise at Norristown was $6,216.93 ; total expenditures, $4,825.43; balance on hand, $1,391.50. This latter snug sum of profit arising from the enterprise was wisely given over to the Montgomery County Historical Society, in trust, to be invested in good real estate security, the principal sum to remain intact, and the
DAVID RITTENHOUSE
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interest only to be used for the purposes of the Society. The treasurer of this enterprise was Lewis Styer, of Norristown, who made an item- ized statement balancing to a cent, and pleasing the masses whose money he had handled.
The only sad feature of all such anniversaries is the fact that no per- son who took part in this the county's first centennial will ever be per- mitted to attend a second one, when times shall have changed, no doubt nearly, if not quite as much, as they did from 1784 to 1884.
.
Elchich by Mar Rosenthal
HENRY MELCHIOR MUHLENBERG
CHAPTER XI. RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS.
For nearly a hundred years after the settlement of Montgomery county began, emigrants of all nationalities were religious refugees or pilgrims seeking the right of free worship for themselves and their pos- terity. Thus we observe the sterling qualities found in our pioneers. One can easily imagine how different would the condition have been to-day in our country had the foreign-born settlers who came here then been of the same type as many from the same countries who are now coming to our shores. The large majority of our immigrants for scores of years have not come here on account of religion, but to obtain wealth easier than they could hope to in their own native land.
Taking the various denominations now within Montgomery county, the writer will treat their history in the order in which they were organ- ized, as near as possible. The first that claims the attention of the reader are the "Quakers."
The Society of Friends-For the most part these people came with the proprietary, William Penn, and very soon several "meetings" were established in the eastern borders of the county. In fact, the bulk of the first settlers in the southeastern portion of Montgomery county were of this religious faith. During the colonial period, there were eight houses of worship of the society within the borders of the county, and it should be said that after more than two centuries the number has not increased to more than a score of churches in the county up to this time. They seldom draw converts from other denominations, but depend upon the rising generations of their own families for what increase they have. Through their patient sufferings and kind precepts they have killed the more radical Calvinistic ideas of much that was harsh and unchristian, hence have been a great religious blessing to the communities in which they located. In all that has been uplifting, the Friends of this county have been identified, including the great questions of slavery, temper- ance, and general moral reforms.
The order in which their early societies or "Meetings" were formed in this county was as follows: At Merion a building was erected in 1695; Abington was built in 1697; Gwynedd, in 1700; Plymouth, 1712: Horsham in 1724; Upper Providence, in 1743; Pottstown, in 1753; Upper Dublin, 1814; and Norristown in 1852.
Returning to the Friends' Meeting-house in Lower Merion, the oldest of all, it should be said that the building stands on the old Lancaster road, a little more than a mile from the Philadelphia city line of to-day. The first settlers here were Welsh people, and a majority, if not all, were Friends in their faith and practice. It is known by their records that
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they held services at the house of Hugh Roberts as early as the fourth month, 1684. One record says at first they worshipped in a small wooden building erected 1695, which served until 1713, when a good stone meet- ing-house was provided. William Penn spoke in the last-mentioned building in 1701, when it is related that many of the congregation could not understand him on account of his speaking in correct English. For a period of eighty-six years this was the only church building within the township of Lower Merion.
Abington Meeting-house was the home of one of the first Friends congregations in Pennsylvania, dating its meetings back of the coming of William Penn. Although Benjamin Lay, who belonged to this meet- ing, had written and circulated a book against slavery in this country as early as 1737, yet he was not first in that line, for the German Friends had long preceded him in a protest dated Germantown, 18th of second month, 1688. A majority of the people, however, were so conservative that nothing was accomplished in the matter until the dawn of the Revolution, when the Stamp Act brought out the rights of mankind prominently. While in those days the Friends held slaves, it was not long before they expelled a member for owning or selling his slaves- they must be set free. At the two hundredth anniversary of this meet- ing at Abington, there were over five hundred persons present. An address was read on "William Penn and His Holy Experiment." With the passing years the Friends society in this place has not grown as one might naturally expect it would.
Friends Meeting-house at Gwynedd, according to the church records, show that meetings commenced here in 1714. The young settlement had some English and more Welsh people, and joint meetings were held for a time, but soon the Friends organized themselves into a "meeting." What seems a well founded tradition, runs that William Penn and daughter Letitia and a servant came out on horseback to visit the settle- ment soon after the church was built, and he preached for them, remain- ing over night at the house of his friend, Thomas Evans, the first set- tler, who resided nearby. The first meeting-house here was of logs; the second was built about 1712, and was a stone structure in use until 1823, when another building (two stories high) forty by seventy-five feet in dimensions, was built. For seventy-five years this was the only church building within the township of Gwynedd. Many hallowed asso- ciations cluster around the spot, and it is but to be regretted that times have so changed the religious bent of the community that no longer is it a place of religious interest for Friends, if indeed by any denominations.
In Plymouth and Whitemarsh townships the Friends were doubtless the first to settle. William Penn had conceived of a plan for a town to be laid out here a mile square, which is the site of the present Friends church. In the summer of 1686 the township was purchased and set- tled by James Fox, Francis Rawle, Richard Gove, and other Friends,
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