Identifier: guidebooktohisto01jenk (find matches)
Title: The guide book to historic Germantown
Year: 1902 (1900s)
Authors: Jenkins, Charles Francis, 1865-1951 Site and Relic Society of Germantown (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Subjects:
Publisher: Germantown
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: The Library of Congress

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ga famous astronomer, was elected President of the PhilosophicalSociety in 1791 and served until his death; Treasurer of theState from 1777 to 1789; Director of the Mint from 1792to 1795. He died 1796. William Rittenhouse, the first of the name in America, ar-rived in 1690, and was the first paper maker in the Colonies.The mill was located near this house. It was washed away bya freshet in 1701 and another built ; this in time was succeededby another, and it by a fourth in 1780. The little stream wasMonoshone Creek, but the popular name is Paper Mill Run.William Rittenhouse was an early Mennonite preacher. Hisoldest son was Mathias Rittenhouse, whose youngest son wasNicholas Rittenhouse, and David Rittenhouse was the lattersoldest son. Up to within a few years there was a cluster of housesaround the roads at this point and the settlement was called Rit-tenhouse Town. Returning along Lincoln Drive to Wissahickon Avenue, wecross Paper Mill Run over an old county bridge, and continu- 148
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i49 HISTORIC GERMANTOWN ing northward past Blue Bell Hill, as the settlement on Wissa-hickon Avhnue at Walnut Lane is called, in about three-quartersof a mile a long white house on the west side of the road isreached, called Spring Bank, for many years the summerhome of the Hon. John Welsh. During his life Mr. Welshdonated several acres to the Park, including Molly RunkersRock, almost in the rear of Spring Bank, where later he erectedthe heroic statue of William Penn, which overlooks the Valleyof the Wissahickon. It is marked with the single expressiveword Toleration. Mr. Welsh died April ioth, 1886.The property is now in possession of his daughter, Mrs.Smith. Two hundred yards further on Kitchens Lane is reached.Turning down it at the bottom of the hill is the WissahickonValley and Creek. Here on the east bank of the stream, nearthe summit of a hill and about two hundred yards north of theroad, is the Monastery. It was erected by Joseph Gorgasbetween the years 1746-52 upon the site o

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