History
An excellent source for all historical information is the Germantown Historical Society's website:
www.germantownhistory.org/
Historic Germantown
The following excerpts, including all images, are taken from: "Guide Book To Historic Germantown" (1915 AD) and the excellent book,"Images of America, Germantown, Mount Airy, and Chestnut Hill" (published by Arcadia, 2000 AD).
THE EARLY SETTLERS:
Few towns or cities of our country possess the historical associations of Colonial and Revolutionary times that are attached to Germantown. In 1683, Germantown was first settled by thirteen German families of immigrants, who came from the country of the lower Rhine, (not far from the borders of Holland). Their purchase of land was made through the Frankfort Company, of which Francis Daniel Pastorius was the agent in America as well as the leader of the original settlers. He was a linguist and lawyer. They left Europe for religious freedom and economic opportunity. They are credited with building Germantown from wilderness to the beginings of a strong industrial community.
Chestnut Hill and Mount Airy was considered “within Germantown”, which was considered an independent township from Philadelphia until 1854. In the early times, Germantown Avenue was referred to as the “Great Road”, the “Germantown Road” or “Main Street.” Originally, it was the trail used by the Lenni Lenape Indians, (“original people”) who lived there for thousands of years. William Penn gave the Lenape a sum of money to withdraw from Germantown, allowing the original thirteen settlers to claim their family land plots. These plots were many acres, and as Germantown became more populated, the plots were eventually subdivided into smaller lots. Jackie and Loretta McGann (who presently reside in Chestnut Hill) grew up on one of the last of these orginal farm lots. The following are the names of the thirteen original settlers: Abraham Op den Graeff, Thones Kunders, Herman Op den Graeff, Reynier Tyson, Dirck Op den Graeff, Jan Lucken, Lenart Arets, Johannes Bleikers, Jan Seimens, Peter Keurlis, Willem Streypers, Abraham Tunes, and Jan Lensen.
The settlers were all Friends or Mennonites. Before their departure from Germany, there had been Friends’ Monthly Meetings held at Crefeld, Germany, which was discontinued immediately after their departure, indicating that all or nearly all the full body of members had gone. By 1690, when the village of Germantown had grown to forty-four families, twenty-eight of them were Friends and the other sixteen of other religious faiths. On October 25, 1683, Thomas Fairman, the surveyor of the Province, laid out their land in the township, afterwards called Germantown, and the immigrants met in the cave of Pastorius on the bank of the Delaware and made selection of the plots of land “by lot." They then proceeded at once to clear their land and erect dwellings before the winter should overtake them. Other cave dwellings were built along Germantown Avenue until solid homes of logs and then stone were built. Some products which Germantown was famous for was woolen “Germantown stockings," superior linens, tanning and horse carousels sold around the world by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company.
SOME HISTORICAL "FIRSTS":
The first locomotive, “Old Ironsides," (made by Matthias W. Baldwin, founder of the Baldwin Locomotive Works) made six trips a day to Germantown starting June 6th,1832. It was the Philadelphia, Germantown, and Norristown line. The locomotive was drawn by horses. So eager were the public to invest that for every five shares subscribed three were alloted. Farmers came long distances to see the train at the Ninth and Green Streets terminus. With the railroad, came wealthy businessmen building mansions as primary and vacation homes. Farsighted people, such as Thomas Meehan, horticulturalist and councilman, pushed for green spaces, including Vernon Park.
A Germantown product that was a first is the roller coaster, which was manufactured by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company.
Among the early settlers were four German Quakers who, in 1688, wrote the first protest against slavery in North America. A commemorative marker stands near the site of the signing at Germantown Avenue and Wister Streets. Quakers have influenced many aspects of Germantown life.
In the United States, the manufacture of paper was first begun in Germantown in 1690.
Christopher Saur, of Germantown, is credited with the first printed bible, which was in German. Not until forty years later was the first bible printed in English by Saur.
America's first recorded kidnapping for ransom took place in 1874. Two young children, Charley and Walter Ross, were abducted near their home on West Walnut Lane. Walter was released, but Charley was never seen again.
The Germantown Cricket Club, founded in 1854, was the first cricket club in the United States.
OF HISTORICAL INTEREST:
In 1694, a number of German Pietists arrived in Germantown. These men, led by Johannes Kelpius, took up residence on the Ridge, between the Wissahickon and Schuylkill. They lived a secluded life, engaged in religious devotion, and in the study of astronomy and the occult arts. These men gradually passed away. The Hemitage, in Hemits' Lane, near the Wissahickon, remains one of the few reminders of their existence.
In the Revolutionary War, Germantown was the site of occupation during the 1777 Battle of Germantown. After the defeat of the American army at Brandywine (September, 1777), and the occupation of Philadelphia and Germantown by the British army, the bulk of the British army was posted at Germantown with a view to command the approaches to the city and the surrounding country.
In the 1860's, two Civil War hospitals, Mower General Hospital in Chestnut Hill and Cuyler Hospital (succeeded by the Germantown Hospital), served thousands of wounded soldiers.
Germantown Avenue represents four centuries of architectural styles, and is itself designated a National Historic Landmark. The Wissahickon Valley's stream is designated a National Landmark.
Wayne Junction was considered the southern boundary of Germantown. The Stenton Mansion (by Leeds & Northrup) was erected in 1727-34 by Dr. James Logan, who for many years was William Penn's able and faithful secretary. From the cellar is an underground passageway leading to the stables, and some say, to the family burial ground beyond. Stenton was occupied by General George Washington (who stayed in Germantown frequently) on the evening of August 23, 1777, when the American Army was on its way to oppose Howe at Brandywine. He again stayed at Stenton Mansion when he was attending the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia and at the Deshler-Morris House in 1793 and 1794.
During the winter of British occupation, and order was issued to burn all the mansions between Germantown and Philadelphia and seventeen mansions were consumed at one time. Stenton Mansion is said to have been save by the wit of an old housekeeper left in charge.
Significant people connected with Germantown include: artists Gilbert Stuart and Charles Willson Peale, Charles Wister, Jimmy Kelly, a kid from Wade Street, Louisa may Alcott (born in Germantown) and her parents- Bronson, and educational reformer, and Abigail, and early member of the Female Anti-Slavery Society in Philadelphia, botanist Margaretta Morris, and Bruce Lawless of Wister Street, retired Sgt. of Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Gemantown Academy has a long and interesting history. In 1759, a group met at the Green Tree Tavern to form a new school, and in 1761 opened the Union School (later called Germantown Academy). Classes were conducted seperately for English and German students. In 1810, the German department was dropped, indicating the lessening of German dominance in the township. In 1966, the school moved to Fort Washington.
Many of us celebrated special occassions at the Alden Park Manor built in 1925. It is designed in the Jacobean Revival style, built on 38 acres and is the largest residential property on the National Register of Historic Places.
Some of us remember buying our special "Easter outfits" at George Allen's department store which opened in 1927 at Chelten Avenue and Greene Street. Allen's was a sponsor of a Santa and Christmas parades for the neighborhood, seen here c. 1960.
Those of you who are serving as police officers might be interested in knowing that until 1858, policemen were parttime and not required to wear uniforms. Do you remember the days when policemen used to be a familiar sight walking your neighborhood streets? Things have sure changed.
By 1698, Germantown had its own seal, court, and council. The seal writing means "little seal of the German City." Design was by Francis Daniel Pastorius.
Below is a map of Germantown showing the location of items of interest. The linking keys are below the map.
