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Historic schoolhouse rededicated
By: Evelyn Short 09/22/2008From The Reporter Online
Window to the past
By: MELISSA BROOKS, Times Herald Staff
09/21/2008
A charming rededication ceremony was held Sunday inside the only remaining one-room schoolhouse in Whitpain Township.
Neighboring Normandy Farm on Morris Road, the Franklinville School House, owned and maintained by the Historical Society of Whitpain, celebrates its 150th anniversary as the unofficial site where public education began in Whitpain.
Historical Society President Herman Ehret took visitors back to 1858, the year the school opened, when the building was surrounded by farmland, horse and wagon traffic and cattle and sheep.
"There were six public schools in Whitpain at the time; this is the last standing," he said.
Attending were Whitpain Township Supervisor Adam Zucker, Montgomery County Commissioner Bruce L. Castor Jr. and State Rep. Kate Harper, R-61st Dist. Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz, D-13th Dist., acknowledged "the great work of the historical society," which got its start making efforts to save the abandoned school house in 1983.
Montgomery County Community College Choir performed songs of the era as visitors gathered in what Marie Goldkamp, past president of the historical society, called a "window to the past."
Franklinville School House served as a public school until 1908, and was resurrected as a private school in the 1920s for Peter Strassburger, son of Ralph Beaver Strassburger (former owner and publisher of The Times Herald), and children of employees at Strassburger's 15-acre estate, Normandy Farm.
According to the historical society, when Strassburger's son grew older, the school was unused for many years.
In 1997 Gambone Development Company donated the school to the historical society. At the time Franklinville was falling apart. Since then the society has made major restorations.
During a floor replacement in 2001, the society conducted an "archeological dig" on the property. Artifacts including pottery, ink wells, slate pencils, bottles and an 1876 Liberty Head quarter from the United States Centennial were found.
The historical society has additional excavations in sight, as well as restoration plans like replacing window shutters with replicas and conducting interior wall and roof repairs with historical accuracy in mind.
Expanding upon the schoolhouse's role as a destination for local elementary groups and the greater community to learn about early education in Pennsylvania, the historical society plans to hold classes about the history of early American education at Franklinville.
Inside the school are exact replicas of students' desks from the time the school house was used, a teacher's desk and an original potbelly stove given to the historical society by Mr. Ron's Restaurant.
A picture of George Washington, a replica of an American flag circa 1858, chalkboards and an old geography book on display gave visitors an authentic feel for what the room would have looked like more than 100 years ago.
Historical society members even dressed the part in long, dark skirts and white blouses, similar to how teachers would have dressed in that time period.
The celebration extended outside the schoolhouse, where there were period craft demonstrations and Center Square Fire Company's restored antique fire truck.
Throughout the day there were public tours of the schoolhouse and talks given
by Dr. Wayne Huss, history professor at Gwynedd Mercy College, and local
historian Art Driedger.
©The Times Herald 2008
Whitpain Historical Society celebrates 150 years
By: AMANDA RITTENHOUSE,For The Times Herald 09/19/2008
WHITPAIN - The Whitpain Historical Society will celebrate its 150th anniversary and rededication of the Franklinville School House on Sept. 21. The Franklinville School House is located at 1701 Morris Road in Blue Bell and the free event will take place from 1 to 4 p.m.
The one-room Franklinville School House was open as a public school from 1858 to 1916 and reopened as a private school in the 1920s. The Historical Society of Whitpain took over the building in 1983 and currently the schoolhouse is open as the Museum of Early American Education.
President of the Whitpain Historical Society Herman Ehre[t] said the anniversary celebration is an opportunity to see the completed restoration on the one-room schoolhouse. So far restoration on the roof, bell tower, flooring, inside plaster walls, and windows has been completed. The historical society hopes to eventually secure funding for grounds improvement, replacement of a brick patio and the installation of running water.
"It's very special because it's the only one-room schoolhouse in the area that is open to public. What we hope to eventually do is set up regular visits by fourth-graders in local schools and provide lessons concerning early American education in Pennsylvania," Ehre[t] said.
Ehre[t] said Pennsylvania history is a requirement in the fourth grade. The Franklinville School House will be rededicated to the schoolchildren of the community, he said.
The anniversary event will feature a dedication ceremony featuring choral music performed by the Montgomery County Community College music department choir and spirituals sung by Ambler soloist William Ridenhour at 1 p.m. Tours of the schoolhouse, entertainment, light refreshments, historical craft demonstrations and 19th century games for children will also be provided. The Centre Square Fire Co. will also display an antique 1919 firetruck.
A shuttle bus will run from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. between the schoolhouse and an offsite parking site at the Morris Road entrance of lot 1 at Montgomery County Community College. Also on Sept. 21, the Evans-Mumbower Mill located near the schoolhouse on Swedesford Road off of Township Line Road in Lower Gwynedd will hold an Old Fashioned Mill Festival from noon to 4 p.m.
The Whitpain Historical Society meets monthly from March to November on Tuesday evenings in an 18th century Boxwood farmhouse located at the intersection of Skippack Pike and Cathcart Road in Blue Bell. Ehre[t] said the society is always accepting new members and looking for volunteers or financial contributions.
For information on volunteering or donating to the Whitpain Historical Society call 215-646-7315 or email hermoni@verizon.net.
©The Times Herald 2008