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administrative history 

VALLEY FORGE 

NATIONAL HISTORICAl PARK/ PENNSYLVANIA 

ON MICROFilM 

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ADMINISTRATIVE HISTORY 

VALLEY FORGE NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK 

PENNSYLVANIA 

by 

• HARLAN D. UNRAU 

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U.S. Department of the Interior 

National Park Service 

Northeast Team 

Branch of Cultural Resources 

Denver ServJCe Center 
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TABLE OF CONTENTS 

Page No. 

PREFACE 

CHAPTER ONE 

A Br1ef Account of the Valley Forge Encampment Area from 

1778 to 1876 

CHAPTER TWO 

Preservation Efforts of the Centennial and Memorial Association 

of Valley Forge: 1878-1911 

APPENDIXES 

A. Act of Incorporation of the Centennial and Memorial 

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Assodation of Valley Forge 55 

B. Reminiscences of trip to Valley Forge by S. Gordon Smyth 

in late 1880s or early 1890s 57 

CHAPTER THREE 

Establishment of Valley Forge State Park: 1893 

APPENDIX 

A An Act Providing for the acquisition by the State 

of certam ground at Valley Forge for a public park, 

and making an appropriation therefor. May 30, 

1893 . 

CHAPTER FOUR 

Valley Forge State Park 

Commonwealth Agency: 

A. Introduction 

8. Early Work of 

1893-1900 

Administered as an Independent 

1893-1923 

the Valley Forge Park Commission: 

C. Calls for Federal Involvement in Valley Forge Land Acquisition 

and Preservation: 1896-1902 

D. Dedication of Daughers of the Revolution Monument 

E. Developments of Valley Forge State Park: 1901-1902 

F. Increasing Development of Valley Forge State Park Under 

Governor Samuel W. Pennypacker: 1903-1907. 

G. Operation and Development of Valley Forge State Park During 

the Pre-World War I Period: 1908-1914 . 

H. Improvements in Valley Forge State Park under Governor 

Martin G. Brumbaugh: 1915-1919 

I. Erection and Dedication of National Memorial Arch: 1908-1917 

J. Operation and Development of Valley Forge State Park During 

the Post-World War I Years: 1919-1923 . 

APPENDIXES 

A. Boundary Description of Valley Forge State P.>rk: 1894 

B. Labor Contract of Ellis R. Hampton: 1900 

iii 

63 

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77 

77 

89 

" 98

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11, 

139 

158 

163 

189 

191 
C. Law Authorizing Commonwealth to Accept Gifts of Money or 

Land and to Permit the United States or Any St;lte Government • 

to Erect Memorials in Valley Forge State Park: 1895 192 

D. Law Providing for Additional Land to Valley Forge State Park 

and Authorizing Park Commission to Deputize Police Officers 

with Authority to Make Arrests: 1903 193 

E. Boundilry Description of Extension of Valley Forge State Park: 

1904 . 195 

F. Law Providing for Acquisition of Additional Land for 

Valley Forge State Park: 1905 197 

G. Boundary Description of Valley Forge State Park: 1906 198 

H. By-Laws of the Valley Forge Park Commission: 1906 202 

I. Excerpts from Burk, Guide I 1906 206 

J. Policy of Valley Forge Park to Memorials: 

Ci!. 1905 208 

CHAPTER FIVE 

Valley Forge State Park Administered Under the Pennsylvania Department 

of Forests and Waters: 1923-1971 209 

A. Introduction 211 

B. The Years 1923-1925 213 

C. The Years 1925-1927 216 

D. The Years 1927-1929 224 

E. The Years 1929-1931 238 

F. The Years 1931-1935 240 

G. The Years 1935-1939 251 

H. The Years 1939-1943 275 

I. The Years 1943-1947 285 

J. The Years 1947-1951 298 

K. The Years 1951-1955 313 

L. The Years 1955-1959 319 

M. The Years 1959-1963 334 

N. The Years 1963-1967 347 

0. The Years 1967-1971 358 

APPENDIXES 

A. Digest of Laws Relating to the Organization, Powers and Duties 

of the Valley Forge Commission: An Act Providing for and 

Reorganizing the Conduct of the Executive and Administrative 

Work of the Commonwealth, Etc., Approved April 9, 1929 381 

B. Cost of Operating Valley Forge State Park: 1923 386 

C. Valley Forge State Park Brochure: June 10, 1926. 390 

D. Excerpts from "Preliminary Report on Pilrk Extensions at 

Valley Forge. . June 1928," by RichardS. Burns 394 

E. Excerpts from Burk, Valley Forge, 1928, pp. 4-9 399 

F. SpecifJcations for Log Hut at Valley Forge, April 29, 1935 403 

G. "Report on General Restoration of Valley Forge Park. . 

October 1936" 407 

H. Resolution, Valley Forge Park Commission: May 26, 1937 414 

I. National Park Service Restoration Policies: May 19, 1937 421 

J. Rules, Regulations and General Instructions for Patrolmen, 

Guards, Officers and Caretakers of Valley Forge State Park: 

February 1, 1936 426 

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Valley Forge State Park Traffic Regulations for Dogwood 

Display Sundays: 1936 

Valley Forge Dogwood Information: 1938 

Agreement Between Valley Forge Park Commission and Ehret 

Magnesia M;mufacturing Company: 1939 

Valley Forge Park Commission Restoration Proposals: 

November 1942 

Regulations, Valley Forge State Park: March 1944 

Regulations for Standard, "Betsy Ross," and "Commander-inChief" Flags: March 1944 

List of Park Buildings and Their Utilization: May 1946. 

List of Valley Forge State Park Employees: March 1947 

Valley Forge Park Commission Proposals: October 1950. 

Prospectus, Standard Qualifications for Park Superintendent 

II: 1957 

no 

433 

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448 

4;4 

4;6 

4;8 

461 

<64 

U. Regulations for Use of Park Area Known as "Boy Scout Camp:" 

March 1966 466 

V. Biographical Sketch of E. Clyde Plye 468 

W. Biographical Sketch of Wilford P. Moll 472 

CHAPTER SIX 

Valley Forge State Park Administered by the Pennsylvania Historical and 

Museum Commission: 1971-1976 

A. Transfer of Valley Forge State Park to Pennsylvania Historical 

B. 

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and Museum Commission 

Valley Forge Park Commission 

Financial Scandals 

Horace willcox Named as New Park Superintendent. 

Park Interpretive Program 

Park Research Program 

Park Archeological Program 

Mount Joy Observation Tower 

Changes in Park Regulations and Procedures 

Changes in Park Utilization Patterns 

Park Improvements 

Park Concessions 

Park Commission Reaction to Developments Near Park Perimeter 

Development of Chesterbrook 

<75 

477 

478 

479 

480 

481 

484 

48; 

487 

488 

492 

494 

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Valley Forge Involvement in National Bicentennial Celebration and 

Park Bicentennial Construction Program 501 

APPENDIXES 

A. By-Laws, Valley Forge State Park Commission, Approved 

June 28, 1971 519 

B. Valley Forge Park Commission, Committee Job Descriptions: 

1972 521 

c. 

D. 

Rules and Regulations Applicable to Valley Forge State Park: 

1974 

Valley Forge State Park Guidelines for Public Use of Park 

and Facilities: November 1973 

Special Park Rules and Regulations for BICentennial: 

May 1976 . 

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525 
CHAPTER SEVEN 

Legislative History of Public L<~w 94-337 Creating Valley Farge N<~tianal 

Historical Park . 527 

A. Movement Toward Transfer of Valley Forge State Park to 

National Park System 529 

B. Dep<~rtment of the Interior and National Park Service Response 

to Governor Shapp Tr<~nsfer Proposal 537 

C. Legislative History of Public Law 94-337 539 

APPENDIXES 

A. National Park Service Summary of Chesterbrook ProJeCt Status: 

July 27, 1972 575 

B. N<~tional Park Service Briefing Statement, Valley Forge: 

May 24, 1974 578 

C. Initial National Park Service Draft Response to Governor 

Shapp's Proposal to Transfer St<~te Parks: 1974 579 

D. H.R. 2257: January 28, 1975. 580 

E. Act No. 53: July 30, 1975 582 

F. Department of the Interior Position on H.R. 2257: 

September 27, 1975 584 

G. Statement by the Department of the Interior Before the 

Subcommittee on National P<1rks and Recreation, House 

Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, on 

H.R. 2257 .... 1975 587 

H. Valley Forge National Historical Park, Attributable Personnel 

Services and Supporting Costs, FY 1976 <~nd Tr<~nsition Period: 

M<1rCh 16, 1976 594 

I. Proposed Valley Forge N<~tional Historical Park Staffing and 

Equipment Justifications: March 29, 1976 596 

J. Land Use Control Possibilities, Proposed Valley Forge National 

Historical Park: March 25, 1976 600 

K. Public Law 94-337 603 

CHAPTER EIGHT 

Administr<~tion of Valley Forge N<~tional Historical Park by the National 

Park Service: 1977-1982. 

A. Initial National Park Service Administr<~tive Efforts at Valley 

Forge During 1976-1977 Transition . 

B. National Park, Service Research Program 

1. History 

2. Archeology 

3. Historic Architecture 

C. Valley Forge Bicentenntal Celebration Activities 

D. Preparation Of National Park Service M<1nagement <~nd Planning 

Documents 

1. St<~tement for Man<~gement 

2. General Management Plan 

3. Resources Man<~gement Plan 

4. InterpretiVe Prospectus 

E. L<~nd Acquisition and Protection Progr<~m 

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637 

638 

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F. Significant Issues and Activities Related to Park Administration: 

1977-1979 652 

1. Building Security 652 

2. Contracts and Special Use Permits 653 

3. Staffing 653 

4. Valley Forge Park Interpretive Association 654 

5. Young Adult Conservation Corps Program 656 

6. Volunteer in the Parks Program 657 

7. Acquisition of Neum<~nn Collection 657 

8. Historical Encampments Policy . 658 

9. Demolition of Structures . 659 

10. Scope of Colle<::tions Statement. 663 

11. Mount Joy Observation Tower 664 

G. Significant Issues and Activities Related to Park Administration: 

1979-1982 666 

1. Administr<ltion Division 666 

2. Resource Management and Visitor Protedion Division 669 

3. Maintenance Division 675 

4. Interpretation and Visitor Services Division 680 

H. Formal Establishment of Valley Forge National Historical Park 690 

APPENDIXES 

A. Transitional Duties of Division Heads and Research Historian 

at Valley Forge National Historical Park: October 1976. 695 

B. Interim Agreement and Lease for Valley Forge National 

Historical Park: March 1977 701 

C. Briefing Statement, Plans for Valley Forge National Historical 

Park: March 1977 712 

D. National Park Service Press Release on Valley Forge: 

February 1977 715 

E. MASCA Archeological Research Findings 716 

F. Summilry of General Management Plan 720 

G. Valley Forge National Historical Pilrk Draft Resources 

Management Plan: November 1981 723 

H. Legislative Package in Support of Proposed Bill to Enlarge 

Valley Forge National Historical Park 726 

I. Questions and Answers Relative to National Park Service 

Testimony on H.R. 5926 and S. 2299 Before Senate Subcommittee 

on Parks, Recreation and Renewable Resources: 

March 12, 1980. 731 

J. Public Law 96-287 737 

K. MARO Position Paper on Valley Forge Personnel Cutbacks: 

June 1977 738 

RECOMMENDATIONS 

REPOSITORIES VISITED DURING RESEARCH 

REPOSITORIES CONSULTED DURING RESEARCH 

ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY 

vii 

739 

740 

742 
PREFACE 

This administrative history has been prepared to satisfy 1n part the • 

research needs as stated in the task directive (approved by Mid-Atlantic 

Regional Director James W. Coleman, Jr., in a memorandum dated March 

15, 1984) concerning Valley Forge National Historical Park, Administrative 

History under Package No. 333. The purpose of this study is the 

collection, presentation, and evaluation of historical research data 

pertaining to the conception, establishment, and operation of Valley Forge 

both as a Pennsylvania state park (1893-1976) and a national historical 

park under the auspices of the National Park Service (1976-present). It 

is intended that this study will provide a knowledge of the problems faced 

and actions taken by past park managers, thus providing present and 

future park administrators with a more informed background about the 

successes, failures, and ongoing or recurring issues of the past and 

greater awareness for management decision-making. 

A number of persons have assisted in the preparation of this report. 

Edwin C. Bearss, Chief Historian, and Barry Mackintosh, Bureau 

Historian, both of the National Park Service's Washington Office (WASO) 

provided direction for the project and made available to me WASO files on 

the park. Special thanks are due to Mid-Atlantic Regional Office (MARO) 

Director James W. Coleman, Jr., and members of his staff (John W, 

Bond, Associate Regional Director, Cultural Resource Management, 

Clifford Tobias, Regional Historian); and retired Deputy Regional Director 

George A. Palmer, for sharing their ideas on the nature of research 

required for the project and making available to me the regional office 

files for research purposes. My appreciation also extends to 

Superintendent Wallace B. Elms, Assistant Superintendent Martin R. 

Conway, Chief of Interpretation and Cultural Resources Management John 

Tyler, Historian Joan Marshaii-Dutcher, and Secretary Barbara Fox of 

Valley Forge National Historical Park for helping me to understand the 

park administrative research needs and expectations for this report, 

making available the extensive park archives and files for research 

purposes, conducting me on several guided tours of the park, and 

providing the names of local people to interview and the repositories to 

consult for research data. 

In addit1on, my thanks go to the staffs of the various repositories I 

visited: Chester County Historical Society, West Chester, Pennsylvania; 

Historical Society of Montgomery County, Norristown, Pennsylvania; 

Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia; Library of Congress; 

Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Harrisburg; Pennsylvania 

State Library, Harrisburg; U.S. Department of the Interior, Natural 

Resources Library, Washington, D.C., and Valley Forge Historical 

Society. 

One of the unexpected benefits of undertaking this study has been the 

opportunity to contact a number of persons who have been involved in 

the administration of Valley Forge both as a state park and as a unit of 

the National Park System. I am indebted to all those who allowed me lo 

interv1ew them either in person or by telephone. I also wish to thank 

former Pennsylvania Senator Hugh D. Scotl, Jr., for corresponding with 

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rne relative to his efforts to have Valley Forge established as a national 

historical park . 

Gerald Patten, Assistant Manager; Nan V. Rickey, Chief, Branch of 

Cultural Resources; and Ronald W. Johnson, Chief, History Research 

Section, Northeast Team, Denver Service Center provided encouragement 

for the project. Helen Athearn handled the paper work associilted with 

the study, and Debbie Drew and Beverly Ritchey typed the manuscript. 

It should be noted that over the years the route numbers of the 

Pennsylvania state highways in the Valley Forge area h<llle changed. 

Thus, one should check the milps scattered throughout this report for the 

location of the various routes at specific dates. 

It should also be noted that over the years various buildings in the 

Valley Forge area were acquired and or restored by the Commonwealth of 

Pennsylvania or other private groups because it was understood at the 

time that these structures were associated with encampment period events 

or personalities. Later research has often changed these associations and 

the names by which these buildings are known today. Thus, one should 

check the maps throughout the report for the location and designation of 

the various structures at specific dates. 

Harlan D. Unrau 

September 1984 
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CHAPTER ONE 

A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF THE VALLEY FORGE ENCAMPMENT AREA 

FROM 1778 TO 1876 

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When the Continental Army left the Valley Forge encampment area on 

June 19, 1778, it left behind a scene of devastation. According to one 

account, the once productive farms in the vicinity were "destitute of 

vegetation" and "lay uncultivated and without enclosure." Cattle and 

horses on area farms had been requisitioned by the army. The trees in 

the nearby forests had been cut down and nothing but the stumps 

remained. The timber and farm fences had been used to construct the 

huts and pickets for the army and to furnish fuel for the soldiers. 

Moreover, the once busy forge on Valley Creek had been burned by the 

British several months before the arrival of the Americans on December 

19, 1777. 

The first recorded description of the encampment area after the 

Continental Army left Valley Forge is that of Captain Thomas Anbury, a 

prisoner of MaJor General John Burgoyne's army, in December 1778. The 

account of his stay at Valley Forge overnight while on a march to Virginia 

under escort includes the following description of the area: 

Our troops slept in the huts at Valley Forge, which had been 

constructed by the Americans, and we remained till late the 

next day for the delivery of provisions before we marched. I 

had a full opportunity to reconnoiter the whole camp. On the 

east and south sides were entrenchments, with a ditch six feet 

wide and three deep, the mound not four feet high, very 

narrow, and easily to have been beat down with a cannon; two 

redoubts were also begun, but not completed. The Schuylkill 

was on the left, and, as I before observed, with a bridge 

across it; the rear was mostly covered by an impossible 

precipice formed by Valley Creek, having only a narrow 

passage near the river. This camp was by no means difficult 

of access, for the right was attainable, and in one part of the 

front the ascent was scarcely to be perceived. The defenses 

were exceedingly weak, and this is the only instance I ever saw 

of the Americans having such slight works, these being such 

that a six-pounder could easily have battered down. The 

ditches were not more than three feet deep, and so narrow that 

a drummer-boy might with ease leap over. 

A Loyalist, at whose house I was quartered, at Valley Forge, 

and who resided here at the time Washington's army was 

encamped, told me that when General Washington chose that 

spot for his winter-quarters his men were obliged to build their 

huts with round logs and suffered exceedingly from the 

inclemency of the season. The greater part of them were in a 

manner naked at that severe season of the year, many without 

shoes and stockings, and very few, except the Virginia troops, 

with the necessary clothing. His army was wasting away with 

sickness, that raged with extreme mortality in all his different 

hospitals, which were no less than eleven. His army was 

likewise so diminished by constant desertions in companies, from 

ten to fifteen at a time, that at one per10d it was reduced to 

four thousand, and those with propriety could not be called 

effective . 

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The hor~es, from being constantly exposed to showers of rains 

and falls of snow, both day and night, were ir> such a condition 

that many of them died, and the rest were so emaciated as to 

be unfit for labor; had he been attacked or repulsed he must 

have left behind all his artillery, for want of horses to convey 

it. In addition to all those distresses, Washington had not in 

camp at any one time a week's provisions for man and hor~e, 

and sometime~ he was totally destitute. The Loyalists greatly 

censure General [William] Howe 1n suffering Washington to 

continue in this weak and dangerous state from December till 

May, and equally astonished what could be the motive he dld 

not attack, surround or take by siege the whole army when the 

severity of the weather was gone. They expected that in the 

month of March, April and May they should hear of the camp 

being stormed or besieged. But it seems that General Howe 

was exactly in the same situation as General Burgoyne 

respecting intelligence, obtain"1ng none he could place a perfect 

reliance on. (1) 

The comments of Anbury were echoed by Lieutenant Enos Reeves of the 

Pennsylvania Line who passed through Valley Forge in September 1781. 

According to an extract from Reeves' letter book, he observed: 

On Monday Lt. McLean and set off for the City of 

Philadelphia. Came rourld by the Sprir1ts, lost our way by 

going the back road and found ourselves near the Bull Tavern 

at the Valley Forge. we dined near Moor (sic] Hall, came thro' 

our old Encampment, or rather first huts of the whole army. 

Some of the officers' hut~ are inhabited, but the greater part 

are decayed, some are split up into rails, and a number of fire 

fields are to be seer1 0r1 the level ground that was cleared, but 

in places where they have let the shoots grow, it is already 

like a half grown young wood.(2) 

Despite the devastation in the vicinity of the Valley Forge encampment 

most local residents soon moved back to their homes ar1d farms and began 

the process of rebuildir1g. Fer1ces were rebuilt using rails left in the 

pickets, the huts were dismantled with their timbers being used for fuel 

and railings, and a new grist mill was cor1structed near Washington's 

Headquarters. Several years later a slittir1g and rolling mill was 

constructed on the Chester County side of the creek. These structures 

were the property of Isaac Potts and Compar1y, Isaac resuming residence 

1n the house that Washington had used as h1s headquarters, and the 

1. Quoted in Theodore W. Bear1, ed., History of Montgomery Cour1ty, 

Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, 1884), 1, 124. 

2. "Extracts from the Letter-Books of Lieutenant Enos Reeves, of the 

Pennsylvania Line (Letter 202)," Pennsylvania Magazine of History and 

Biography, XXI (1897), 235-36. 

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"Company" referring to David Potts and his son James, who marketed the 

iron from the forge and mill in Philadelphia.(3) 

The restoration of the farming operations in the area was a 

slow process fraught with many difficulties. In ,,;,e,:f' 

Forge Henry Woodman (much of his inFormation was 

others' personal reminiscences and subsequent research has some 

of his data to be inaccurate) observed: 

The greater part of the country particularly that part 

lying on the Great Valley, was laid waste, and but little 

exertion was made by most of the owners of it to improve it 

until after the conclusion of the war. They then commenced 

the restoration of their farms. The hand of industry soon 

caused the face of the country to assume a different aspect, 

but it was for many years after before some of it was restored. 

In commencing this work they encountered many difficulties. 

Continental money died on their hands. The government was 

for many years after in a very unsettled state. The foreign 

trade was crippled by the war. And many other discouraging 

circumstances had to be surmounted by persevering industry 

and patient registration. In the few years these were 

overcome; their lands were enclosed; where lately nothing was 

beheld but desolation could be seen the fruitful fields crowned 

with abundance of grain of every description, for the 

sustenance of man and beast, and in summer clad with verdant 

grass, on which flocks and herds were quietly feeding and the 

whole face of the country bearing witness of the blessings of 

peace in contrast with the evils of war ... (4) 

Farm operations had clearly been reestablished in the Valley Forge area 

by the summer of 1787, when Washington made a surprise visit to the old 

encampment during a ten-day break in the Constitutional Convention to 

perm>t its Committee on Details to prepare a draft of the document. On 

July 30 and 31 Washington recorded the following comments in hi5 diary: 

Monday, 30th. In company with Mr. Govr. Morris and his 

Phaeton with my horses, went up to one, Jane Moore's (in 

whose house we lodged) in the vicinity of Valley Forge to get 

Trout. 

Tuesday, 31st. Whilst Mr. Morris was fishing, I rid over the 

(whole) old Canwnment of the American (Army) of the Winter, 

3. Henry Woodman, The , Pennsylvania, 

1922), 91-137, end Linda Iron Industry in 

the Schuylkill Valley" (oc:~'~':';''''', dissertation, Pennsylvania State 

University, 1974), pp. In his book Woodman provides a brief 

history of each of the farms in the encampment are~ up to 1850 . 

4. Woodman, History of Valley Forge, pp. 125-26. 

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1777 and 8, 

lncampments 

cultivated. 

vhited all the Works, wch. were ·on 

in woods where the grounds 

Ruins; and the 

had not been 

On my return back to Mrs. Moore's, observing some Farmers at 

Work, and entering into Conversation with them, I rece"•ved the 

following information with respect to the mode of cultivating 

Buck Wheat, and the application of the grain, viz. The usual 

time of sowing, is from the 10th to 20th of July, on two 

pJowings and as many harrowings at least--the grain to be 

harrowed in. That it is considered as an uncert01in Crop, 

being subject to injury by a hot sun whilst it is in blossom and 

quickly destroyed by frost, in Autumn, and that 25 bushl. is 

estimated as an average Crop to the Acre. That it is 

considered as an excellent food for horses, to puff <1nd give 

them their first fat, Milch c01ttle, Sheep, and Hogs, and also 

for fatting Beeves. To do which, 2 quarts of Buck Wheat Meal, 

half a peck of Irish Potatoes at the commencemt. (to be reduced 

as the appetite of the beasts decrease or in other words as 

they encrease in flesh) mixed and given 3 times a d<1Y is fully 

competent. That Buck Wheat Meal made into a wash is most 

excellent to lay on fat upon hogs, but it must be hardened by 

feeding them some time ilfterwards with Corn. And thilt this 

Meal and Potatoes mixed IS very good for Colts that are 

weaning. About 3 pecks of seed is the usual allowcmce for an 

acre. 

On my Return to Mrs. Moore's I found Mr. Aobt. Morris and 

his lady there. (Spent the day there fishing & ca and lodged 

at the same place).(S) 

While at Valley Forge Washington had a conversation with Edward 

Woodman, the father of the author of the aforementio"";':;':,iJ'!';iii~,;;l,~~ Forge. According to Woodman's recollections of his : 

of the occasion, the casual visit was described as follows: 

In the latter part of the summer of 1796 (1787), he w~s 

engaged 1n ploughing in a field near the Front Line Hill. It 

was 1n the ~fternoon of the day, and observed an elderly 

person of a very dignified appearance, dressed in a plain suit 

of black, on horseback, accompanied by a black waiter, ride to 

a place in the road opposite to h"1m, where he al"lghted from his 

horse and came into the field to him, and shaking hands 

5. John C. FitZpatrick, ed., The Diaries of George Washington: 

1748-1799 (4 vols., Boston, 1925), 1-,-,-230-31. In 1787 Jane Moore owned 

and occupied 275 acres that had formed " portion of the V<~lley Forge 

encampment area. Also see William S. Bilker, "Washington After the 

Revolution, 1784-1799," Pennsylvania Maga<:ine of History and Biography, 

XIX (July, 1895), 186-87. 

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cordially with him, told him he had called to make some inquiry 

of him, concerning the owners and occupants of the different 

places about there, and also in regard to the system of farming 

practised in that part of the country, the kinds of grain and 

vegetables raised, the time of sowing and planting, the best 

method of till1ng the ground, the quantity raised, and numerous 

other things relative to farming and agriculture, and asking 

after some families in the neighborhood. As answers were 

given he noted them down in a memorandum book. 

My father informed him that he was unable to give as correct 

information <tS he could wish, as he had not been brought up to 

the farming business, and was not a native of that part of the 

country, having settled there since the war, that he came from 

North Carolina, where he resided previous to the Revolution, 

that he had been in the army and was one of the number 

encamped there during the war. This gave a new turn to the 

conversation. The stranger informed him that he had also been 

in the army and encamped there, and was expecting in a few 

months to leave the city of Philadelphia, with no prospect of 

ever returning. He had taken a journey to visit the place, view 

the old encampment ground, which had been the scene of so 

much suffering and distress, and see how far the inhabitants 

were recovering from the disasters they had experienced, and 

the losses they had sustained from that event, adding that his 

name was George Washington . 

Upon receiving this information, my father told him that his 

costume and appearance were so altered that he did not 

recognize him, or he would have paid more respect to his old 

Commander and the Chief Magistrate of the Union. He replied 

that to see the people happy and satisfied, and the desolate 

fields recovering from the disasters they had experienced, and 

particularly to meet with any old companion of his in arms and 

suffering now peacefully engaged in the most useful of all 

employments, afforded him more real satisfaction than all the 

servile homage that could be paid to his person or station. He 

then asked his name, noted it in his memorandum book, and 

said that pressing engagements rendered it necessary for him to 

return to the city that night, or he would visit some of his 

former friends at their houses. Then taking him by the hand 

bade him an affectionate farewell. (6) 

During the next four decades the former encampment area once again 

became a thriving agricultural community aided by a number of industrial 

developments along Valley Creek. In 1814 the forge and mill were sold to 

John Rogers and Joshua Malin, the latter rebuilding and enlarging the 

rolling and slitting mill to some thirty feet in width and eighty feet in 

6. Woodman, History of Valley Forge, pp. 126-27 . 

7 
length. There was a "tilt-mill" in one end, and between the main 

building and the dam a small foundry. A three-story stone building was 

also commenced for the manufacture of hardware. In 1816, after Malin 

suffered financial reverses, James Wood became a partner of Rogers, 

managing the works and completing the three-story structure which he 

converted primarily into a saw factory. Using iron obtained from the 

Laurel, Coventry, and Springton forges, Wood also operated the rolling 

mill, producing boiler plate and brand iron. 

Some time after 1818 a large stack was erected between the rolling mill 

and the smith shop with six furnaces built around it. Here cast steel 

was produced for saws. Some sixty barrels of clay for crucibles were 

brought from Perth Amboy, New Jersey. Early in 1821 Brooke Evans of 

Sheffield, England, leased the property from Rogers, enlarged the mill 

and converted the saw factory and mill into a gun factory. Reportedly, 

he produced 20,000 muskets before the mill was destroyed by a freshet. 

Thereafter, the building on the Montgomery side, after being vacated as 

a gun factory, was converted to a cotton and woolen factory.(7) 

''''""''"'' ,;,:;::;~•':": and private dwellings were well-known historian, in his A 

published in 1832. According to 

village at the confluence of Valley 

containing 

about 30 houses, a cotton manufactory, having 2000 spindles, a 

rolling mill, a gun manufactory extensively carried on, a 

merchant grist mill, and 1 tavern and 2 stores. The place 

derives its name from a forge which formerly stood here. The 

tavern, gun factory, and about 10 dwellings are in Chester 

Co.; the creek being the line.(8) 

An interesting sidelight in the history of the area was the attempt in 

1825-26 of the Friendly Association for Mutual Interest, a congregation of 

thirty families from the Philadelphia and Wilmington areas, to form a 

utopian community at Valley Forge based on the principles of Robert 

Owen, The group purchased the structure that had served as 

Washington's Headquarters and surrounding property, but within a year 

the project had failed with James Jones, a wealthy member of the group, 

acquiring the property. After assuming ownership of the property, Jones 

7. Smith Futhey and Gilberr Cope, History of Chest"r County, 

With Genealogical and Biographical Sketches (Philadelphia, 

8. Thomas F. Gordon, A Gazetteer of the State of Pennsylvania (1832) 

(Reprint "d., N"w Orleans, 1975), P: 461. Also see "J. F. Watson's 

Visit to Chester in 1827, to Valley Forge in 1828, (and) to Canal D"laware 

and Ches. Canal 1829,'' Mar1uscripts D"partment, Historical Society of 

Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. 

8 

• 

j 

• 

• 
' ' 

• 

• 

• 

located "free stone of an excellent quality," shipping l~rge quantities by 

boat to Philadelphia for construction purposes.(9) 

The earliest recorded anniversary ceremonies commemorating the 

encampment at Valley Forge took place at the semicentennial celebration in 

1828. The celebration purported to be a combined commemoration of the 

evacuation of Valley Forge and the Fourth of July, but because the 

farmers in Montgomery, Chester, and Delaware counties were busy with 

harvesting in early July the celebration, referred to as "Harvest Home," 

was held on July 26. The committee of arrangement for the occasion, 

attended by more than 4 1 000 persons, consisted of David Townsend, 

Nathaniel Brooke, Maurice Richardson, Townsend Haines, David Wilson, 

Jr., Daniel Abrahams, Mathew Roberts, Abraham Brower, Philip Kendall, 

and Thomas Reed. In a pamphlet prepared shortly after the occasion, it 

was noted that the large assemblage met "at Valley Forge--the ground 

rendered sacred by the sufferings of the American army under 

Washington--with a v1ew to celebrate their great festivals, and strengthen 

each other in the love of their country." The pamphlet continued: 

The ground on which they assembled is covered with wood; but 

still bears traces of having been a military position. The 

remains of a breastwork are to be seen running along the brow 

of the hill towards the river, --thrown up in the severity of the 

winter half a century ago, as a protection against sudden 

attack, and raised by the labour of a patriotic band of freemen, 

of whom very few now survrve .... 

The Valley Forge encampment ground now commands a prospect 

in every direction of a prosperous, fertile, healthy, and 

plentiful country--but it once witnessed a far different scene, 

and echoed with far different sounds from those which are 

heard at a mirthful HARVEST HOME. 

The program for the day was characterized as "a cheering spectacle, a 

proper tribute to the memorres of our fathers, and of all the 'great and 

glorious day' established by their vtrtue and confirmed by their blood." 

On the stage erected for the occasion were Continental Army veterans 

who had been at Valley Forge fifty years before. The morning was 

"ushered in by the firing of cannon," and at noon the Declaration of 

Independence was read by Dr. William Harris. When the reading was 

completed, a national air was struck up by a 25-member volunteer band 

from Bethlehem "amid the thundering of cannon." The principal address 

was given by Col. John G. Watmough, who as a lieutenant of artillery had 

9. Louis H. Arky, 

Formation of the 

"The Mechanics' Union of Trade Associations and the 

"";''''''''''' Workingmen's LXXVI (April, ~:',:''7::~;.(" ~"'' 

9 

Harry E. Wildes, 

8estor, Jr., 

Communi tar ian 

202-03; and 
been severely wounded in the defense of Fort Erie against the British on 

August 15, 1814. The oration centered on the theme of "the preeminence 

of civil virtue, and how its principles had constituted the Very living • 

principle of our existence as a nation, from the first landing of the 

pilgrim fathers, through the whole of our revolution, and up to the 

present crisis in our national affairs." 

After the address a l<wge number of people participated in a beef and 

ham dinner in "the shades of the adjoining woods" prepared by Abisha T. 

Woodman. Thirteen tables "had been laid, 167 feet long ei!ch, containing. 

1620 plates, and all radiating from the outer ring of a small circle, within 

which was the band." The majority of the crowd dined elsewhere or 

partook of refreshments offered by numerous settlers "in the woods." 

Following the meal a "succession of apt and patriotic sentiments, in the 

form of toasts, were proclaimed and met the universal approbation of the 

meeting, testified by loud and repeated cheers." Jonathan Roberts, 

former U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania and a resident of Upper Merion 

Township, and a number of prominent local citizens presided over the 

thirteen formal toasts, and the corresponding responses which took on a 

political flavor in support of the reelection of John Quincy Adams as 

President of the United States: 

First--The Fourth of July, 1776. 

Second--The President of the United States, John Quincy Adams. 

Third--The administration of the National Government. 

Fourth--The Union of the States. 

Fifth--George Washington. 

Sixth--Henry Clay. 

Seventh--Agriculture, Manufactures, and Commerce. 

Eighth--Internal Improvement. 

Ninth--Richard Rush (Secretary of the Treasury, National 

Republican candidate for Vice President on the Adams ticket, 

and son of Benjamin Rush, signer of the Declaration). 

Tenth--The Tariff Bill. 

Eleventh--The People of Pennsylvania. 

Twelfth--The Governor of Pennsylvania. 

Thirteenth--The Minority of the Pennsylvania Delegation in the 20th 

Congress (the majority being Jacksonian Democrats). 

In addition to these regular toasts, forty-three impromptu toasts were 

offered by various individuals. The principal ones, which were followed 

;o 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

by lengthy responses, were to: John Sergeant, a congressman from 

Philadelphia; civil magistrates; Colonel John G. Wiltmough, a future 

congressman from Philadelphia; and Peter S. Duponceau, who had come 

from France with Baron von Steuben and served as his aide at Valley 

Forge with the rank of captain. After the round of informal toasts, the 

meeting, according to the pamphlet, "broke up at an early hour and 

separated without one single accident or unpleasant occurrence to mar the 

general satisfaction."( 10) 

The first monument to be erected in commemoration of the Valley Forge 

encampment was a "little red sandstone marker" on the left bank of the 

Schuylkill River at the site of SulliVan's Bridge over which the 

Continental Army had passed when it left the area in June 1778. 

Available documentation does not indicate the date of the marker or the 

party responsible for its erection. However, in 1840 canal boatmen 

operating on the Schuylkill Navigation Company and Union Canal works 

determined to place "in addition to the small sandstone marker, a larger 

and appropriate marble marker on the Valley Forge side of the river." 

The boatmen formed an association and started a subscription list 

providing for donations from one cent to one dollar. According to the 

reminiscences of one of the boatmen the dimensions of the new stone were 

nine feet high twelve inches wide and nine inches thick. It was 

procured from the quarries near Conshohocken, and it was 

designed and cut to the above dimensions, and then taken to 

Norristown an a Union boat to have the lettering done. When 

completed it was again loaded on a Union boat and delivered to 

its destination, where it was planted near the tow-path on the 

The Village Record (West Chester) commented on the celebration on 

August 6: 

Pennsylvania has at last roused herself and is determined to 

continue true to her own interests and the real welfare of her 

sister states. Let the brave and hardy som of Kentucky and 

the West hear her voice, and be rallied by it around the 

standard of national union, of virtue and civil liberty. 

The celebration of the anniversary of American Independence by 

the friends of the General Administration, on the grounds of 

the old entrenched camp, at Valley Forge on the 26th instant 

has been attended with the most brilliant and entire success. 

The day, Saturday the 26th, was though warm, beautifully 

clear and tranquil .. 4,000 persons att .. nded. 

Quoted 1n Margaret D. Roshong, "75th Anniversary of Valley Forge State 

Park," Picket Post, July, 1968, 21. 
right bank of the river, about three feet in the ground and 

nearly six feet exposed. The reason the Union boats were used 

for conveying the stone was because they were constructed as 

freight craft. (11) 

The Whigs held another rally at Valley Forge dur">ng the presidential 

campaign on 1840 on support of the party's nominees, William Henry 

Harrison and John Tyler. Some 4,000 persons were present for the 

festivities on October 1. Woman from Chester Valley presented a banner 

and from Radnor came a l<>g cabin composed of blooming dahlias. The 

presiding officer for the occasion was General Issac Wayne, son of 

General Major Anthony Wayne. On the platf<>rm sat several veterans of 

the RevolutiDnary War, wearing hats inscribed "76ers." The speakers 

included f<>rmer U.S. Senator Jonathan Roberts and Edward Joy Morris, a 

celebrated Philadelphia orator.(12) 

The first concerted efforts to preserve and memorialize the Valley Forge 

encampment site as a historic shrine were commenced by Dr. Isaac A. 

Pennypacker, a medical doctor in Phoenixville, during 1842-45. 

Pennypacker was the grands<>n of lieutenant Issac Anderson, who carried 

dispatches from the encampment for Washington. Born 1n Schuylkill 

Township in 1812, Pennypacker graduated from the medical department of 

the University of Pennsylvania m 1835. He established his medical 

practice in Phoenixville the following year and continued there until 1854 

when he became Professor of the Theory and Pr<rctice of Medicine in the 

Philadelphia College of Medicine. During his residence in Phoenixville he 

was a town burgess for three years, actively planning for the 

improvement and incorporation of the town, a frequent lecturer on a 

variety of "literary and scientific subjects," and the author of a history 

of Schuylkill Township and Phoenixville.(13) 

Pennypacker began his 

article published in the 

1842. In the article 

constructed on Mount Joy in 

to preserve Valley Forge by having an 

at West Chester on September 6, 

a commemorative monument be 

encampment area. He stated further: 

11. quoted in Benjamin Bertolet, "The Boatman's Marker at Sullivan's 

Bridge, Valley Forge, and Early of the Schuylkill," Historical 

Sketches: A Collection of Papers the Historical Society of 

Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, 41-44. After a freshet 

destroyed this marker in 1850, Dr. ~::'',:;',:::':~::'';1 red 

stone marker on his land on the banks 

bridge. "The Sullivan's Bridge Monument," 

Collection of Papers Prepared for the 

County, Pennsylvania, IV (1910), 31. 

12. Edward W. Hocker, "Politicians Once Were Alert to Seek Advantage 

in the Patriotic Background of the Valley Forge Encampment Site," Picket 

Post, October, 1947, 8. 

13. Futhey and Cope, History of Chester County, p. 683. 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

Of such a place--of this place, it is almost infamy to do 

irreverence. It should have been preserved unch<mged, 

unmolested by foot or hand--it should have been undisturbed as 

the army abandoned it, and been handed on to posterity 1n the 

garb of 1777 and '78. 

What now remains should be consecrated to liberty. Let the 

relics yet there, altered as time and interest m<1y have effected, 

with the forest trees springing from am•d the soldier's hearth 

stones, with the entrenchments worn <!Way by time, with the 

moldering logs of the huts, and the crumbling dust of the 

remains of the departed votaries of Liberty who were there 

buried--we S<IY still let an effort be made to procure and 

preserve the land, or a portion of it containing the best relics, 

and hand it on with purpose to the coming generations. It 

should be associated with a correct history of the place, 

containing the events of the Revolution. 

A deed of sacredness should accompany the history, then, when 

generations yet unknown, descendents, perhaps of ours, shall 

be the inhabitants of this land, they may there assemble, and 

by the glorious example of the Fathers of our Independence, be 

actuated the more firmly to adhere to our Republican 

Institutions, or the more determinedly to persevere in the 

perpetuation of the imperishable principles upon which this 

Republic now stands.(14) 

Later Pennypacker wrote to the Pottstown Tariffite on December 4, 1843: 

Let us show to our children that we loved and admired our 

honored ancestry. We hope, we trust that we may. Can we 

not--cannot Philadelphia and the eastern end of Pennsylvania, 

upon Mount Joy, at Valley Forge, exhibit our gratitude by the 

erection of a monument of taste and beauty? If we will, we can. 

Our children's children and the sons of this fair land would 

about it assemble, and, gazing toward its summit in motionless 

attitude, would resolve to sustain the principles of the 

Government. It would instill the principles of virtue, of 

gratitude and of patriotism. Patnotism has prompted the 

execution of monuments in various quarters of the country, and 

one is required to exhibit our gratitude and patriotism at that 

memorable encampment at Valley Forge.(15) 

14. Village Record (west Chester), September 6, 1842, in "Valley Forge 

Camp Ground," Washington Chapel Chronicle, Ill (August 15, 1910), 3. 

15. Pottstown Tariffite, December 4, 1843, in "Valley Forge Camp 

Ground," 3 . 

n 
Pennypacker continued his efforts to preserve Valley Forge in 1844-45. 

On April 2 he wrote to John F. Watson, the noted annalist, asking for • 

help in publicizing the campaign: 

Knowing that you have ever felt and continue to feel a most 

lively and generous regard for the preservation of and general 

notice of the events of our glorious country 1 I therefor have 

ventured to address you upon the propriety of ende<1voring to 

secure the relics, or a portion of them, at Valley Forge from 

the hand of destruction. I feel that a monument of taste and 

eloquence should be procured of the place . 

. When I think of the epoch of that gloomy winter and know 

the importance of that period in the Contest for Liberty, I 

cannot but feel that Valley Forge has been most shamefully 

neglected. 

Pennypacker concluded that there was "considerable stir in our attempt to 

do something to commemorate the Place."(16) 

Pennypacker and other local Whig leaders arranged for Daniel Webster, 

the prominent Whig orator and U.S. Senator from Massachusetts, to speak 

at Valley Forge on October 3, 1844, during a presidential campaign tour 

for Henry Clay, then running against James K. Polk, the Democratic 

standard-bearer. After delivering a speech in Philadelphia on October 1, 

Webster was invited to address a general convention of the Whigs of 

Montgomery and Chester Counties two days later at Valley Forge--"a spot 

for ever famous in the annals of the Revolution, and still preserving the • 

most intere<:.ting memorials of the dreadful winter of 1777-78." According 

to The Works of Daniel Webster (11th ed., Boston, 1858) the 

information that Mr. Webster was expected to address the 

meeting had circulated widely throughout the neighboring 

townships, few of whose inhabitants had ever had an 

opportunity of hearing him. They accordingly assembled 1n 

great numbers, and of both sexes. The village was filled, at an 

early hour, by the multitude, which poured in from every 

quarter. Processions were formed, with banners, wreaths, and 

emblems appropriate to the Revolutionary associations of the 

place, and significant of the principles and feelings which 

belonged to the present occasion. A strong mounted escort was 

1n attendance at the railway station; and at nine o'clock, A. 

M., the train arrived from Philadelphia, with Mr. Webster and a 

large number of political friends from that city. 

16. Pennypacker to Watson, April 2, 1844, in John 

Supplement to Watson's Annals, Manuscripts Department, 

of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. 

14 

Fanning Watson, 

Historical Society 

• 
• 

• 

After a short time passed 1n a survey of the interesting 

localities of the spot, especially the house in which General 

Washington's quarters were established during the winter of 

1777-78, the convention was organized by the appointment of 

Han. Jonathan Roberts as President. 

After a "forcible address" by Roberts, Webster delivered his camp<1ign 

speech, the thrust of which was to enhar~ce the candidacy of Clay. 

Nevertheless, he devoted the early part of his speech to the historic 

importance and symbolic meaning of the Valley Forge encampment area: 

n. 

11th 

There is a mighty power in local association. All acknowledge 

11, and all feel it! Those places naturally inspire us with 

emotion, which, in the course of human history, have been 

connected with great and interesting events; and this power 

over all ingenuous minds never ceases, until frequent visits 

familiarize the mind to the scenes. 

There are in this vast multitude many who, like myself, never 

before stood on the spot where the Whig army of the 

Revolution, under the immediate command of their immortal 

leader, went through the privations, the sufferings, and the 

distress, of the winter of 1777 and 1778. The mention of 

Washington, the standing on the ground of his encampment, the 

act of looking around on the scenes which he and his officers 

and soldiers then beheld, cannot but carry us back, also, to 

the Revolution, and to one of its most distressing and darkest 

periods. . 

And now, Gentlemen, I could not depict, I could not describe, 

I could not trust my own feelings in attempting to describe, the 

horrible sufferings of that Whig army. Destitute of clothing, 

destitute of provisions, destitute of every thing but their trust 

in God, and faith in their immortal leader, they went through 

that winter. The grounds now around us, particularly the 

grounds contiguous to the hospital, are rich in Revolutionary 

dust. Every excavation, as often as the season returns, 

brings to the surface the bones of Revolutionary officers and 

soldiers, who perished by disease, brought on by want of food, 

want of clothing, want of every thing but that boundless 

sympathy and commiseration for sufferings which he could not 

alleviate, that filled the bleeding heart of their illustrious 

leader. Long after peace returned, General Washington 

declared, at his own table, that it was no exaggeration, it was 

the literal truth, that the march of the army from Whitemarsh, 

to take up their quarters at this place, could be tracked by the 

blood on the snow from the unshod feet of the soldiers.(17) 

"Convention at Valley 

ed., Boston, 1858), 

Forge," The Works of Daniel 

11, 277-'19":"" Also see John 

Webster (6 vols., 

F. Reed, "Daniel 
Pennypacker continued his campaign to have Valley Forge memorialized, 

corresponding with Henry Clay, among others, on the subject. On July 

9, 1845, Pennypacker again wrote to the Village Record: 

The scenes which were here occurred can scarcely find a 

parallel in history. It was the crisis on which hung the fate of 

the country. Such it was considered by the men of that dayA nation's gratitude should esteem the place sacred, and a 

suitable testimonial should be commanded to rise upon Mount Joy 

to commemorate the events connected with the history of our 

country.(18) 

Several sources provide a glimpse of the Valley Forge 

and surrounding vicinity during the 1840s and 1850s. 

Day published his Historical Collections of the State _ 

which included engravings of many of the sites he visited 

data for the book. Concerning Valley Forge Day included an engrav1ng 

of Washington's Headquarters (then occup1ed by Mr. Jones) "as seen from 

the Reading railroad, near whtch 1t stands, just below the mouth of the 

creek." The wing was a "modern structure, but it occupies the site of a 

smaller wing that was erected for the accommodation of Mrs. Washington." 

According to Day the forge "was near where the cotton factory is; and on 

the corner, diagonally opposite the cotton factory, was the old army 

bake-house." Day also included an engraving showing "Valley Forge, as 

seen from the west." In this view "the hill above the general's headquarters is seen nearly in the centre, beyond the valley of the 

• 

creek--the Schuylkill is seen to the left of it, and the roads lead1ng • 

towards the position of the main army on the right, beyond the cotton 

factory, which is on the creek." Day commented that immediately 

opposite Washington's Headquarters "there are still the ruins of an 

ancient flour-mill, which was in operation until a few months since."(19) 

17. (Cont.) Webster at Valley Forge," Picket Post, April, 1970, 16-18. 

Other prominent Whigs to visit Valley Forge at this time were William H. 

Seward and Neal Dow. 

18. Village Record (West Chester), July g, 1845, in "Valley Forge Camp 

Ground," 3. 

19. Sherman 

seen on 

by Mrs. Hannah 

of the State of Pennsylvania 

engravings referred to may be 

flour mill was described later 

It stood near the railroad, and was much larger than the mill 

my father built higher up the race the next year, now (1868) 

used as a paper-mill. The old mill had very massive timbers 

used in its building, which were unharmed by time, and I 

heard say the burrs were the best in the country; they were 

all destroyed by the fire ... If the house (the headquarters) 

is as old as the mill, it has stood the storms of over a century 

well. There are the same doors and window-shutters (as well as 

sash) as when the house was built. • 
• 

Gen. Washington's Head-Quarters at Valley Forge . 

• 

! 

Valley Forge, as seen from the west. 

• Day, Historical Collections, 1843, pp. 496-97. 

n 
In his History of Valley Forge Woodman 

of the Valley Forge area ~s of 1850. 

following: 

included ~n extenstve description 

Included Fn his narrative is the 

The V~lley Forge is situated on the western side of the River 

Schuylkill, about twenty-two miles from the city of Philadelphia, 

in the counties of Chester and Montgomery. The village 

bearing the name of Valley Forge contains (1850) about forty 

houses, with a large cotton factory, a grist mill, and numerous 

other buildings; these lie on a stream of water called the Valley 

Creek, which forms the dividing line between the two counties, 

that part lying on the eastern side being in Montgomery, and 

that on the western in Chester county. The water power for 

driving the machinery is probably not excelled by any other in 

Pennsylvania, as the stream passes between two abrupt hills 

from the fertile regions of the great valley, a distance of more 

than a mile to the village, near which place these hills, or as 

they are more familiarly called, Mount Joy and Mount Misery, 

have their northern termination, at which place a large d~m of 

more than twenty feet in height, has been constructed, which 

affords, in the driest seasons, a sufficiency of water to 

continue the m~nufacturing business in full operation. A public 

road from the city of Philadelphia to this place, called the Gulf 

road, originally terminated here. Another road from 

Phoenixville, Yellow Springs, Morgantown, Reading, and many 

other places, commences at the termination of the Gulf road, at 

the county line, and called Nutt's road, taking its name from a 

certain Samuel Nutt, who owned extensively at Phoenixville, in 

Chester county, more than a hundred years ago. Another has 

within a few years been laid out from the place to the Lancaster 

turnpike, following the course of the dam through the county of 

Montgomery, but as I have never travelled it, I cannot say 

where it terminates. About half a mile east of the Village, the 

Gulf road is intersected by a road originally leading to the old 

Lancaster road, by w~y of the Valley Baptist Meeting House, 

and has been called the Baptist road, or Valley road. One 

thing a little remarkable is, that, though in a public place, 

with the Reading railroad passing through a part of the 

property, there has never been a hotel or tavern •n the 

village. 

As we approach the place on the eastern side by the Gulf road, 

as we ascend the top of the hill, a little north of the 

intersection of the Baptist road, the beautiful river Schuylkill 

bursts full upon the view, and in a line between the observer 

and the river, is seen the original mansion where General 

Washington had his headquarters during the encampment in the 

19. (Cont.) Quoted in Howard M. Jenkins, "The Old Iron Forge--' Valley 

Forge'," Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, XVII (1893), 

443. 

18 

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• 

• 

winter of 1777 and 78. After descending by a somewhat 

meandering road, we arrive at the Valley Forge, or rather the 

village bearing that name, the purpose of its original 

construction has long since been abandoned, not having been 

used for the manufacturing of bar iron from pigs for more than 

sixty years. 

According to Woodman's account, the Valley Forge encampment 

attracted considerable numbers of visitors. He commented: 

The ground occupied by the army encamped there, has always 

been an object of attraction, and, as such, has often been 

visited by various persons. Many a venerable patriot, who 

composed a part of that Spartan Band encamped there, has in 

his old days travelled miles to again behold it, and to review 

the scenes of that suffering period. I have seen some of them 

thus engaged in visiting the place, and marked the emotion 

visible in their venerable countenances, and seen the tears 

trickle down their aged and withered cheeks, when on the 

verge of the grave, they have looked upon it, and these things 

have again been called to their rememberance; and remarked the 

joy that was also manifest when contrasting the happy and 

prosperous situation, not only of that portion of the country, 

but the nation at large, with the gloomy state of things they 

had there witnessed. These have in all probability all gone 

down to the grave . 

In order that the recollections of that period may not be 

forgotten, associations of various kinds have been held upon 

the ground; such as military parades, celebratoons and political 

meetings, and most of the latter during several presidential 

campaigns within the last twenty-five years. I can say but 

little concerning any of these meetings--nothing from actual 

observation, though the most of them have occurred since my 

time; but having never been in the practice of attending any 

meetings, either political or military (except to exercise my 

right of suffrage for civil officers), I shall say but little 

concerning them. The political meetings were always of a party 

kind; and on such times care was taken as far as practicable, 

to collect surviving officers and soldiers of the Revolution to 

attend. The military parades were generally volunteer 

companies, who met to drill on what 1s called the old 

ground. 

area 

Not only was Valley Forge an attraction for ''pilgrimages and gatherings," 

but it also attracted "relic hunters" and visitors who wished to see 

Washington's Headquarters or remains of the fortifications. Excerpts from 

woodman's account describe some of these aspects: 

It was a very common thing, since my recollection, to find on 

the ground some memento of that period. I have often, in 

company with my elder brothers and other boys, sometimes with 

grown persons, generally strangers, who when in the 
neighborhood, had a curiosity to visit the place, and sometimes 

alone have I spent hours in traversing the ground in search of 

these relics of the Revolution--not that they were of any great 

value, but possess them as curiosities to remind us of the 

period. There is even at the present day, sometimes an occasional rene of that day turned up by the ploughshare .. 

A f<'W years since the old mill, erected prior to the Revolution, 

and which had escaped the ravages of that period, was 

destroyed by fire, communicated by sparks from the locomotive 

on the Reading Railroad, that passes near it. The mans"ton is 

still standing, having undergone very little alteration. It has 

been often visited by strangers and others, on account of its 

connection with the Revolution, some of whom I have conducted 

there; and I have often pointed out the place to travelers who 

have been passing on the public road. There are yet some 

things remaining about the building to remind visitors of that 

interesting period, par-ticularly the secret doors that were 

planned for the Commander-in-Chief to effect an escape "tn case 

of an emergency. . . . 

• 

Woodman also noted that Charles Rogers was living on the former Potts 

estate. As a man of "great wealth, and disposed to improve the property, 

it is now in a fair way of improving in appearance and prosperity." 

Among the "new and substantial buildings" that he had erected was "an 

observatory, furnished with a large telescope" located "on a very elevated 

point on the Rear Line Hill"--a prominence generally referred to as Mount 

Joy. The observatory provided • 

an extended view of the surrounding country, in every 

direction. affording to the observer a very beautiful and 

diversified prospect of the most lovely and interesting scenery 

in its native grandeur, highly cultivated farms, splendid 

mansions and commodious farm houses, neat cottages and 

handsome villages, the navigable river, and railroad thronged 

with cars, beautiful streams, hills and dales, "fountains and 

fresh shades" in abundance, till observation is satisfied tn 

passing. 

Woodman also described the growth and development of Port Kennedy, 

where a variety of industrial operations had been established near the 

Schuylkill River to the northeast of the encampment area during the 1820s 

and 1830s. Alexander Kennedy had purchased property in the area in 

1303 and started farming the land in 1305. Shortly before his death in 

1324 Kennedy had opened a lime quarry on the farm and established kilns 

to burn lime. Upon his death two of his four sons, John and David R. 

Kennedy, built homes on the farm and went into the lime business on a 

more extensive basis. The business prospered and the village of Port 

Kennedy, first known as Kennedy's Hollow, developed on the site of the 

old Kennedy farm. In 1850 the vill<~ge had 

more than fifty houses, sixty lime kilns in constant operation, 

employing more than four hundred men; a large hotel, three 

stories high and forty feet square; four stores, two blacksmith 

20 

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• 

• 

• 

shops and wheelright shops; and numerous other manufacturing 

trades carried on at the place; and two lumber yards and 

several coal yards, doing an extensive busmess. 

This place is called Port Kennedy, and is celebrated tor the 

great quantity of lime that is burnt, and shipped in canal boats 

annually from there to various parts of the states of 

Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland. The amount 

sent from this place during last year, I was informed by two of 

the proprietors was more than one million, two hundred and 

fifty thousand bushels. 

The Reading Railroad passes through the property, and last 

year [1849] a bridge W<IS constructed across the river, which 

more intimately connects the business on both sides of the 

river; and while it is of mutual benefit, it will have a tendency 

to still enhance the value of real estate 1n the immediate 

vicinity; though it is now to be regretted that recent injuries 

done to it by freshets have rendered it at present unfit for 

crossing with vehicles of any kind. It 1s now being 

repaired. 

The greater part of the business of the place is done through 

the medium of the canal. Coal and lumber are brought in this 

way, the former from the mines in the county of Schuylkill, the 

latter generally from the Susquehanna by way of the Union 

Canal. Little business is done here, or at any other place on 

the river by the Reading Railroad, when the navigation is 

open, except that the mail is transported by the locomotive 

train of cars, and a passenger train stops daily at this place. 

There is a post office also established here, called Port 

Kennedy Postoffice. The Reading Railroad is chiefly employed 

in conveying coal from Pottsville to Richmond on the Delaware, 

having enough to do in that line.(20) 

On October 28, 1852, the Whigs again held a political rally at Valley 

Forge 1n support of their presidential nominee, Lieutenant General 

Winfield Scott. As part of the festivities an ox was roasted in one of the 

Revolutionary fortifications known as the "Cocked Hat Redoubt." Between 

speeches and singing the participants ate beef sandwiches. 

Some 20,000 persons attended the rally, as many as 4,000 com1ng by train 

from Philadelphia and other large delegations arriving on horseback or in 

20. Woodman, History of Valley Forge, pp. 27-28, 91, 100-01, 104, 111, 

130-32, 137, 145-46, and Sayen To His Excellency, William C. Sproul, 

Governor of Pennsylvania, (December, 1919), Minutes, Valley Forge Park 

Commission. The Minutes of the Valley Forge Park Commission are 

contained in nine rolls of microfilm on file at the Pennsylvania State 

Archives in Harrisburg and Valley Forge National Historical Park. Also 

see "Valley Forge Park," Bulletin of the Hi~torical Soe~ety of Montgomery 

County Pennsylvania, XXXI (Fall, f97g-r;-205-37. 
wagons from the rural districts of southeastern Pennsylv;~nia. The 

Wetherill Club, named for Dr. William Wetherill, whose country home w;~s • 

at Fatland across the Schuylkill from Valley Forge, made the trip from 

Philadelphia in an omnibus. The first item of the program in the morning 

was the raising of the tall flagstaff, the trunk of an ash tree, with 

accompany"mg cannon salutes under the d"•rection of Major Casper M. 

Berry. 

At noon the meeting was opened with Major David Zook, a resident of 

Port Kennedy, presiding. After singing by the Chippewa Glee Club of 

Philadelphia, Morton McMichael of Philadelphia gave an address. 

Resolutions, among them a tribute to Daniel Webster who hild died two 

years before, were proposed by Dr. Isaac A. Pennypacker of 

Phoenixville, who then spoke about the history of the region and his 

plans for the memorialization of Valley Forge.(21) 

.Every inch of ground about Valley Forge is sacred to the 

cause of the liberty and patriotic suffering. There is not a 

heart in America--there is not a lover of liberal institutions 

anywhere--that will not swell with mingled awe and admiration, 

as he contemplates the scenes and incidents with which this 

region •s identified. Here was concentrated, in the darkest 

hour of the Revolution, the sole reliance of freedom against 

oppression; here were centered our hopes and our fears--here 

were quartered, amid the snows and blasts of a severe winter, 

without clothing, and almost without food, sick, famished, 

barefooted and dying, Washington and his army .. 

According to the article, "several extensive redoubts and breast-works" 

were still "distinctly visible" on the southeast side of Mount Joy. The 

redoubts now were located "in a deep forest, but their outlines, as well 

as the former sites of the miserable huts of the soldiers" were "still 

distinctly visible." The headquarters of Washington "were in a small 

stone house which stands near the railroad, and from which a good view 

of it is afforded." A slight addition had "recently been made to the back 

buildings, which originally consisted only of a small kitchen erected by 

Washington himself."(22) 

Meanwhile, changes were occurring in the vicinity of Port Kennedy, thus 

presaging the momentous industrial growth that would develop in the area 

21. Hocker, "Politicians Once Were Alert," 9-10. 

22. "Valley Forge," Gleason's Pictor•al 

1854, 281, in John F. Reed Collection, 

National Historical Park Archives. Hereinafter, 

Historical Park Archives will be referred to as the VAFO 

22 

May 6, 

Forge 

I 

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• 

• 

during the twentieth century. By 1858 John KMnedy hi!d fourteen kilns 

in operation, some of the largest contaming as much as 2,500 bushels, 

and employing some seventy men. In 1856 Abraham S. Patterson and his 

associates established the Montgomery Iron Works.(23) 

In his History of Montgomery County {1859), William J. Buck described 

the Village of Valley Forge as well as the remains of the encampment area 

that could still be seen. His description included: 

The village of Valley Forge is situated on the south bank of the 

SchuylKill, at the mouth of the East Valley creek. It is distant 

twenty-three and a half miles from Philadelphia and six <1bove 

Norristown. That portion of it comprised within the limits of 

Upper Merion contains Charles H. Rogers' cotton factory, a 

grist mill, store, hotel and ten houses. On the Chester county 

side is Thropp's cotton factory, a store, post office and fifteen 

houses. The Reading railroad, which has a station here, 

crosses the creek, near its mouth, by a bridge some thirty feet 

above the water, and from which a beautiful view is offered by 

looking up the c:reek. Among the interesting objects seen are 

the falls of the dams belonging to the grist mill and c:otton 

factory, a short distance above each other, and of the 

venerable stone bridge crossing it a hundred yards above. 

These, with the deep gorge of the stream and the high and 

rugged hills rising on either side, which hem in the village 

near by, form an interesting sight--a picture, we might add, to 

be properly appreciated should be seen. Description cannot do 

it justic:e. Stolid, indeed, must the person be who has the 

recollections of the past stirring within him that can gaze on 

such a scene unmoved. 

The c:otton factory belonging to Mr. Rogers is a large and 

extensive establishment and employs nearly one hundred hands. 

Near by he has a splendid residence surrounded by fine lawns 

and shrubbery. Isaiah Thropp's factory of Kentucky jean also 

gives employment to a number of hands. Through the liberality 

of Mr. Rogers an observatory was erected on his lands, on the 

hill, about two hundred yards southeast of the village. It is 

not situated quite on the most elevated part of the hill, but 

still a splendid view is offered of the surrounding country. It 

is approached by a path through the fields, and its site points 

out the spot where Washington's milrquee was planted on the 

day of his arrival here. The observatory is of an octagonal 

form and about forty feet high, and is ascended by a spiral 

staircase. From the open gallery, on its top, can be seen 

Norristown, Phoenixville, Pawling's Bridge, Edge Hill, Barren 

23. Sayen To His Exc:ellency, William C. Sproul, Governor of 

Pennsylvanoa, (December, 1919), Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission. 

Kennedy's house has recently been restored by the National Park Service 

and been nominated to the National Register of Historic Places . 

23 
Hill, Methacton Hill, and a number of other places. We were 

here on the 17th of August, 1858. The day was beautiful but 

warm. We observed that the highest and steepest hill here is 

on the Chester county side, and are sat1sfied, from its peculiar 

appearance, that it can be seen from an elevation near the 

Willow Grove, twenty-four miles distant. The hills, on both 

sides of Valley creek, are generally steep, rugged and wooded 

to their summits, and present an unusually wild appearance, 

more so than one might expect from the populousness of the 

surrounding country .. 

The house occupied by washington as his head-quarters is still 

standing, having undergone but little alteration since that time. 

It w<ts owned in the revolution by Isaac Potts. It is a two 

story stone building, situated near the Reading r<tilro<td. The 

main portion of it has a front of <tbout twenty-four feet and 

thirty-three in depth. The outside front is of dressed stone, 

pointed. The interior wood worK is still in a good state of 

preservation, and with care this building may be m<tde to last 

for centuries, as its walls <tppear to be as dur<tble as when 

first built. No one f<tmiliar with our revolutionary history can 

enter the room which served the great chief for nearly h<1lf <I 

year, both <IS <1 reception room and bed chamber, <tnd where he 

wrote many importomt despatches, without feelings of the 

deepest emotions. In the sill of the east window of this room, 

and out of which can be seen a considerable portion of the 

camping ground, IS still pointed out a small rough box, as 

having contained his papers and writing material. We gazed at 

this depository and other objects around with considerable 

interest, hallowed as they are by so many associations of the 

times that "tried men's souls." Adjoining is a wing one and 

a-half stories· high and about twenty-four feet in length, which 

has been built since the war, but it occupies the site of a 

smaller structure that was erected for the accommodation of 

Mrs. Washington. This property is at present owned by 

Hannah Ogden. 

There are various remains of the encampment still visible. On 

the road to Port Kennedy is a portion of ground unenclosed, 

belonging to William Henry, Esq. On this tract the foundations 

of the hut occupied by Baron Steuben are still visible, and the 

ground undisturbed where he used to drill his soldiers. 

Several extensive redoubts and breastworks on the 

south-eastern side of the hill are still pointed out. These 

consist of large embankments of earth, arranged one after the 

other along the slope of the hill. The redoubts now lie in the 

depths of the forest, and their outlines as well as the 

foundations of many of the huts are still easily recognized. On 

the property now owned by Jacob Massey is a fort in a good 

state of preservation. rts outlines are those of an equalateral 

[sic) triangle, forty yards in length and about five feet high. 

As most of the land on which the encampement [sic) was is still 

in a state of nature and has therefore generally rema1ned 

unmolested, it has been the means of preserving the greater 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

part of the remains to this day, though upwards of eighty 

years have rolled away since that eventful period . 

Relics are still occasionally found by persons living in the 

vicinity. William Henry, Jr., has a number, found on his 

father's farm, which he recently exh<biled to us. Among them 

were several pewter buttons, with the figures 7, 8 and 10 on 

them; no doubt intending to show the regiment or brigade to 

which they belonged. Also, spoons, bayonets and fragments of 

musket locks, looking considerably time-worn, besides a variety 

of musket balls, some of which were of a large size. William R. 

Kennedy, in the spring of 1857, turned up with the plow, on 

his farm, several twelve and sixteen pound balls and several 

hatchets. The latter were about the usual size, but shaped 

precisely like a chopping axe.(24) 

On April 17, 1861, shortly after the beginning of the Civil War, a 

patriotic rally was held at Valley Forge in support of President Abraham 

Lincoln's April 15 call for 75,000 volunteers to suppress the Confederacy. 

Citizens formed a parade and marched to the encampment area, where a 

flag was raised and a salute of 34 guns fired. Then the crowd proceeded 

to the Mansion House, a hotel on the Phoenixville Road west of Valley 

Creek, where a meeting was organized with Samuel L. Ogden presiding. 

The principal speaker was Isaiah Thropp, Jr., son of the village 

storekeeper, who later enlisted in the Union army.(25) 

The Philadelphia Press of August 18,1864, printed 

written by an anonymous visitor to Valley Forge. 

part; 

a letter to the editor 

The letter stated in 

Day before yesterday we started, my friend and I, from the 

Reading Railroad depot . . on our long-talked-of trip to 

Valley Forge. In an hour's time we reached the village, and 

the first house we saw, on arriving there, was that occupied 

by Washington and his lady during the winter of 1777 and '78. 

It is a single two story stone house, in perfect keeping, shaded 

by poplars, and, thanks to the patriotic spirit of its present 

owners, remains precisely as Washington left it; even to the 

box in which he kept his private papers, ingeniously contrived 

to appear as the seat of one of the recessed windows in the 

back parlor. The step in front of the entrance door consists of 

a large, flat, oblong stone, Which a committee of gentlemen 

modestly requested for the Washington monument. On 

leaving the "Washington House" we went to an eminence 

commanding a view of the village, and we found it really 

24. William J. Buck, History of Montgomery County Within the Schuylkill 

Valley (Norristown, 1959), pp. 48, 60-61. 

25. Hocker, "Politicians Once Were Alert," 10 . 
beautiful, with its two rows of white houses, and little front 

gardens running northwards, parallel with e<>ch other, down to • 

the Schuylkill; the road and factory-bordered stream dividing 

them behind the eastern row of houses, and extending beyond 

them, rises Mt. Hope, its mighty side marked off into 

many-colored fields, like a vast inclined chequer-board, its 

tree-crowned, undulating summit scalloping the sky. Halfway 

up the village an open stone bridge, with its real arch above, 

and shadowy one below, spans the d1viding waters. We 

had letters of introduction to Isaiah Thropp, Esq., and were 

hospitably enterta·~ned at his beautiful "Wayside" home. Th.IS 

gentleman is the oldest inhabitant of Valley Forge, ilnd during 

our visit he showed us the remains of a couple of the soldiers 

of the Revolution, disinterred by the Reading Railroad Company 

when cutting through a portion of his property, and carefully 

preserved by him as precious relics of the Revolution. After 

dinner we were conducted by some of the younger members of 

his family over the hills to "The Old Redoubt," which we traced 

a mile or two around "The Encampment Crowd," till we came to 

the ruins of "The Old Fort.". We reached the 

observatory on Mount Hope •n time to see the sun go down 

behind the hills of Reading. .(26) 

The changing Character of the Schuylkill Valley and Valley Forge in 

particular was portrayed in several works published at the time of the 

nation's Centennial observances in 1876. In a pamphlet printed by the 

Philadelphia and Reading Railroad, in which the company promoted its • 

excursion routes to summer resorts, the Valley Forge area was described: 

We now reach Valley Forge, so memorable for the sufferings of 

the patriot-army under Washington during the winter of 1777-8. 

The country throughout this section 1s filled with historical 

recollections, and many a Revolutionary story, handed down 

from generation to generation, can be told to a ready listener. 

Just above this point the Perkiomen creek empties into the 

river. The valley through wh1ch this creek flows is noted for 

its unusually beautiful scenery, and its mineral and agricultural 

resources. It was the abode for many years of Aubudon, the 

great naturalist, in whose works reference is made to many of 

the rare birds seeking rest and shelter there.(27) 

'"""' (>876), 

transformed 

Ago ~ the 

commented on 

the Schuylkill Valley into a 

26. Philadelphia Press, August 18, 1864. A copy of this article was 

provided to the author by MARO Historian Tobias. 

27. Philadelphi<~ and Reading 

Resorts (Philadelphia, 1876), pp. 

Railroad, 

7-8. 

26 

Excursion Routes to Summer 

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• 

• 

• 

bustling 

century. 

center of farming 

He observed; 

and industrial operations during the previous 

A hundred years ago, thiS bro<1d field, commencing at Trenton, 

on the east, from Delaware to the Srandywine on the south, 

seemed to the naked eye, an endless forest. Common country 

roads, running parallel with these rivers, at great intervals, 

and converging at Philadelphia, intersected by plantation lanes 

and byways, constituted the only avenues by which the 

comparatively few settlers who located on the "Penn Grants," 

north-west of the Quaker City, could reach tide water, and 

barter their rude products for the necessities of life. The wild 

and lovely valleys of the Perkiomen, the Schuylkill, and the 

great Chester or Brandywine, supplemented by "clearings" on 

the rolling hills that border them, was about all the arable land 

under cultivation at that time. These parallel highways were 

the Bethlehem, Lime Kiln, SKippack, Germantown, Ridge, Gulf 

and Lancaster roads, all of which were made memorable by the 

marching and countermarching of the Continental armies, in the 

campaign that closed by the cantonment of the patriot army at 

Valley Forge. If the visitor of '76 be fortunate in the selection 

of a point for observation, he will now see, at almost any hour 

of the day, the racing trains upon three great converging 

railroads, viz; the North Pennsylvania, the Reading, and the 

Pennsylvania Central, intersected, within sight and sound, by 

the Chester Valley, PicKering, PerKiomen, Stoney CreeK and 

Plymouth branches. As far as the eye can reach, until vision 

is lost in the horizon of the sea, it falls upon a succession of 

towns, villages, farms, churches, colleges, furnaces, factories, 

mills, worKshops and school house<>, forming il picture of river, 

valley, plain, mountain and city, rarely equalled, ilnd nowhere 

surpassed on the continent. 

Turning to a description of Valley Forge Bean noted that of "the long 

lines of redoubts and rifle pits behind which the patriot of a hundred 

years since marched his weary rounds, but little remains." Yet, 

"sufficient indication of the intrenchments can be discovered, and the 

general bearings of the camp located." 

Bean also offered his observations on the leading citizens 

some of whom would soon participate in the first efforts 

preserve Washington's Headquarters as an historic 

included: 

of Valley Forge, 

to purchase and 

shrine. These 

Isaac W. Smith, at whose woolen factory a large number of 

hands are employed stands foremost on the file. 

In this connection we will mention Mrs. Sarah A. Shaw, sister 

of Mr. Smith, a lady who owns considerable property in the 

village and neighborhood, and who is now living retired upon 

her property . 

27 
Charles H. Rogers, is a large landed proprietor, owning 200 

acres in the vicinity. 

Stanley L. Ogden is landlord of the Valley Forge Mansion Hotel, 

located a short distance up the hill from Washington's 

headquarters. (Ogden operated the "Mansion House" probably 

during 1875-79. His name does not appear on the title. It is 

likelY he leased it from the Hays. The "Mansion House" is the 

building known today as the Steuben Memorial Information 

Center or site of the Adjutant General's Quarters.) 

This noted building, the Pott's Mansion [Washington's 

Headquarters] is the property of a widow lady, Mrs. Hannah 

Ogden, who keeps the premises in good condition, everything 

being precisely as when occupied by the General-in-chief. 

Visitors to the Valley will not fail to visit this glorious old 

historic mansion. 

Isaiah Knaur, runs a paper mill in the village, which industry 

is in a prosperous condition under the management of Mr. W. 

Thomas. 

Nathan H. Jones, a retired farmer, is a prominent citizen, as 

are Messrs. J. R. Mulvaney and John H. Rowan, merchants of 

the locality, nor ought we neglect honorable mention of Mr. 

Daniel Webster, the courteous agent of the Reading Railroad 

Company, staf1oned at the Forge.(28) 

28. Theodore W. Bean, Washington at Valley Forge One Hundred Ye<1rs 

Ago or 1b!_ Foot-Prints of the Revolution (Norristown, 1876), pp. 54-55, 

60-61--:-

28 

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CHAPTER TWO 

PRESERVATION EFFORTS OF THE CENTENNIAL 

AND MEMORIAL ASSOCIATION OF VALLEY FORGE: 

1878-1911 
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• 

In the decade that followed the Civil War a new influence spread 

throughout the field of historic preservation work in the United States . 

It was the enthusiasm generated by the Centennial commemoration in 

Philadelphia. In the 1870s, as the country i!pproached the Centennial, 

there was growing local interest in the part Valley Forge should play in 

the festivities. The Daily Local ~' a Chester County newspaper, 

printed an editorial on July~1B73, stating, "Valley Forge, which is 

second to no place in America as to Revolutionary fame, should be made a 

grand objective point in the Centennial Celebration of 1876."(1) 

The Centennial aroused incre<~sing interest both in the American 

Revolution and in the sites and buildings associated with that period of 

our history. National periodicals, such as Harper's weeklY, showed 

increas•ng interest in the treatment of Revolutionary War sites.(2) 

Comments at the annual convention of the American Institute of Architects 

in 1877 indicate that people who had traveled to Philadelphia discovered 

they had "a past worthy of study."(3) Some observers were fascinated 

by the Revolutionary relics that they saw and went home with a deeper 

interest in the war itself, while others indicated that they had gained a 

desire to learn more of the heroic deeds of the Continental Army and 

would take steps "to preserve such deeds from oblivion." One writer of 

the period observed: 

The desire to learn more of the great events of the last century 

began with the celebration of our one hundredth anniversary of 

our Nation at Philadelphia, No better spot could be chosen for 

this commemoration than "the birthplace of the Nation." People 

gathered here from all parts of the United States, and North 

and South, East and West were brought into closer relationship. 

From this Exposition people returned home impressed with a 

sense of the greatness of their country and of the importance 

of its history. Many relics, hitherto deemed ugly and useless 

and kept only for the sentiment attached to them, now made a 

rapid descent from garret to parlor. 

The curiosity of their owners as to the original possessors of 

these relics stimulated a desire to learn more about their 

ancestors, and people began eagerly to investigate old records 

2. "Valley Forge," Harper's 

Reed Collection, RG 10, VAFO 

3. R. S. 

Institute of 

Peabody, 

Architects, 

Proceedings 

1877, p. 17. 

XXI (January 27, 1877), 67, in 

of the 11th Convention, American 
and documents. Happy were those who could trace their 

lineage to the Pilgrim Fathers, or even back of them, to the 

nobility of Holland, France and England. 

Interest in the patriots of the Revolution led to interest in their 

heroic deeds, and it was felt that steps must be taken to 

preserve such deeds from oblivion. For this purpose many 

societies have been recently established .... (4) 

Following the Centennial celebration at Philadelphia a group of persons in 

valley Forge organized the Centennial Association of Valley Forge to 

commemorate the one hundredth anniversary of the departure of 

Washington's army from that winter encampment.($) The initial 

organizational meeting was held on December 18, 1877, at the home of 

Isaac W. Smith, owner of the carpet yarn factory at Valley Forge, with 

Smith, Colonel Theodore W. Bean, Dr. N. A. Pennypacker, General 8. F. 

Fisher, Major R. R. Corson, Charles Ramey, Major B. F. Bean, John w. 

Eckman, I. Heston Todd, Charles Mercer, John W. Rowan, Daniel 

Webster, and John Robb in attendance. At the first meeting Smith was 

selected to preside, Robb was chosen secretary, and Eckman treasurer. 

A subsequent meeting was held to appoint several committees to make the 

necessary preparations for the anniversary ceremonies to be held on June 

19, 1878. Five committees were established: field and organization; 

historical paper, poem, and oration; memorial design and erection; music 

and entertainment; and finance.(6) 

• 

Subsequent meetings were held to organize the activities. Through the 

various committees' efforts and publication of an address to "The • 

Industrial Interests of the Schuylkill Valley" a "general suspension of 

business was declared" 1n the surrounding area for the day the 

ceremonies were to be held.(7) 

Interest in our Colonial and Revolutionary Past," 

XIII (August, 1898), 126-27. Also see James 

Monthly Magazine, VII (December, 1895), 

5. Numerous documents pertinent to the history of this organization may 

be found in the Centennial and Memorial Association Collection, Record 

Group 1, VAFO Archives. 

pp. 

biographical sketches may be 

~Memorial Association, pp. 

short 

Centennial 

7. Proceedings on the Occasion of the Centennial Celebration, p. 3 . 

32 

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• 

• 

At the meeting on February 22, 1878, the committee on memor1<11 design 

and erection made a report recommending the purchase of Washington's 

Headquarters. It was also suggested that "the 'matter be placed in the 

hands of the ladies, the executive officer to be appointed by the 

Association to be called the "lady regent."(8) 

At the next meetmg Anna M. Holstein, the wife of Major William H. 

Holstein and resident of Bridgeport, Pennsylvani<l, was selected as "lady 

regent." During the Civil War Mrs. Holstein had served as an army nurse 

with the Army of the Potomac at Falmouth and Potomac Creek, Virginia, 

and after the Battle of Gettysburg she had charge of Camp Letterman, 

caring for 3,000 wounded men. She had also been <~Clive in the campaign 

to purchase Washington's Mount Vernon home before the war, serving as 

lady manager of Montgomery County during the campaign to collect funds 

throughout the nation.(9) 

Mrs. Holstein, in turn, selected a number of other patriotic ladies from 

Montgomery and Chester counties to assost in forming a national 

organi~ation patterned after the Mount Vernon Ladies Association. These 

women were: Mrs. Helen C. Hooven, Mrs. Rebecca Mel nnes, who had 

been an associate of Holstein durmg the Civil War, Mrs. Isaac Holstein, 

Miss Emily Amies, Mrs. Mercer, Mrs. Preston, Mrs. Isaac Walker, Mrs. 

Cadwallader Evans, Mrs. B. F. Fisher, and Mrs. George W. Holstein. 

They quickly entered into negotiations for the purchase of Washington's 

Headquarters. In March the terms of purchase were agreed upon by a 

committee, consisting of Major and Mrs. William H. Holstein and Mrs . 

Rebecca Mcinnes, and Mrs. Hannah Ogden, the owner. The price of the 

purchase was set at $6,000, and the first payment was advanced by Isaac 

W. Smith.(10) 

On May 27, 1878, a meeting of the Montgomery and Chester county ladies 

was held at Washington's Headquarters to assist the men m the 

arrangement for the ceremonies on June 19. The meeting was organi~ed 

with Anna M. Holstein as regent, Mrs. James Hooven, treasurer, and 

Mrs. Rebecca Mcinnes, secretary. During the ensuing weeks "money and 

large quantities of provisions" were gathered by the ladies, and on June 

19 they sold photographs, maps, fruit, crackers, lemonade, and other 

articles at the headquarters and surrounding grounds. They also 

sponsored a "good country dinner" in a tent on the grounds of the 

headquarters and "a lunch for thousands on the hill." Through these 

8. Stager, History of the Centennial and Memorial Association, p. 82. 

9. Ibid., pp. 18, 82. 

10. Stager, History of fhe ,. 82, 

ocd Charles B. Hosmer, Jr. ' of the 

Preservation Movement ,, <he -(New 

1965), 83. - -- York, '· 

33 
l 

efforts the women raised the first $500 to repay the money advanced by • 

Smith to secure the headqu<>rters.(11) 

Two days 

Philadelphia 

ceremonies. 

before the centennial celebration at 

Ledger reported on the preparations 

The newspaper observed: 

Valley Forge 

being made for 

On Wednesday comes the centennial of the evacuation of Valley 

Forge, the commemoration of the close of that dreadful season 

of suffering and sacrifice that marked the winter of 1778. What 

a change of scene will be witnessed among the beautiful hills 

and valleys along the Schuylkill on that day. Cultivation 

succeeding desolation, prosperity in place of penury, a 

numerous and happy population doing honor to their progenitors 

who suffered so long that their de5cendant5 might have the free 

and peaceful homes they now enjoy! 

Everything i5 in a forward state for a grand demonstration. 

The people of Montgomery, and especially those within short 

reach of Norristown, are 5ure they will make the occasion 

memorable in the catalogue of historical centennials .... (12) 

The centennial celebration at Valley Forge on June 19 was attended by 

some 50,000 people, some 30,000 of which were brought to the site by the 

Philadelphia and Reading Railroad. The day began with the firing of the • 

morning gun, followed at sunrise by a federal salute by the Griffin 

Battery of Phoeni><ville. A memorial service was held at nine o'clock on 

the "grounds in Valley Forge" with Rev. Job F. Halsey, presiding. At 

10:30 o'clock the procession of military and civic societies was formed 

under the command of Major General David Mc.M. Gregg, chief marshal for 

the day, and proceeded to 1. Heston Todd's field (the historic. Grand 

Parade) where the grand review by Major General Winfield 5. Hancock, 

U.S. Army, Pennsylvania Governor John F. Hartranft, and other 

prominent officials was held. The number of men marching in line was 

estimated to be at least 5,000. The logistics and crowd control difficulties associated with the grand review were described as follows: 

With great difficulty the Washington Troop of Paoli managed to 

keep the swelling mass of humanity from pressing beyond the 

imaginary line, marked by the grass having been mown off, 

until eleven o'clock, when the barouche containing the 

reviewing officers took its position near Washington's oak. The 

line and the people who followed hid the road for more than a 

mile, and with great difficulty, and after the line had been 

12. The Philadelphia Ledger, June 17, 1878, Reed Collection, RG 10, 

VAFO Archives. • 
• 

• 

• 

twice broken by the surging mass from the other direction, 

finally succeeded in marching around the large fifteen-acre 

field, the van touching the rear. The review was a magnificent 

spectacle. 

Following the national salute of 38 guns by the Griffin Battery at noon, 

the "services of the d<~y" were held in a large tent secured from Boston, 

Massachusetts, accommodatir.g some 10,000 persons with Governor 

Hartranft presiding. The governor began the mass meeting by referring 

to the significance and symboli-;m of Valley Forge that was being 

commemorated: 

FELLOW-CITIZENS,--We have come to commemorate the darkest 

hours of the Revolution. Yet they were the hours of triumph 

also, and it was at Valley Forge that American independence 

was won. In the rude huts of the dreary encampment were 

born the unconquerable will, the courage never to submit or 

yield, that proved to England and the world that, although the 

country might be overrun, the people could not be subdued. 

And during those weary months the Continental army received 

the training and discipline which afterwards enabled it to meet 

the soldiers and mercenaries of Great Britain in equal fight, 

without ever suffering a defeat. Therefore, on this spot, 

hallowed by hunger and cold, disease and destitution, we meet 

in gladness to commemorate a fortitude in camp superior to 

courage in battle, a steadfastness more powerful than 

enthusiasm, and a devotion to a cause and chieftain utterly 

forgetful to self. And if it be possible to draw from the past a 

lesson for the present, or seek in war an example for peace, 

we can find it in the loyalty and devotion that preserved the 

sacred fires of freedom amid the frosts and snows of the winter 

encampment at Valley Forge. 

The service included a band prelude, singing of hymns, prayers, musical 

selections by a chorus, reading of poems, including the widely heralded 

"Valley Forge Centennial Poem" written by Mary E. Thropp Cone, 

presentation of a historical paper, and a speech by Henry Armitt Brown, 

a noted orator of Philadelphia.(13) 

The success of the centennial celebration was a strong incentive to 

continue the campaign to raise the remaining $5,500 for the purchase of 

Proceedings on the 

further information 

June 
Washington's Headquarters. To take title to the property the association 

was chartered on July 6, 1878, under the laws of Pennsylvania as the • 

Centennial and Memorial Association of Valley Forge.(14) 

The association thereafter initiated ots fund-raising drive in earnest. The 

by-laws of the association, patterned after those of the Mount Vernon 

Ladies' Association, provided that "any citizen of the United Stotes of 

America may become a member of this Association upon the payment of one 

dollar, whkh will entitle such person to a certificate of stock, and upon 

the payment of the further sum of fifty cents "on or before the annual 

meeting" shall be entitled to vote at all meetings of the Association for 

the ensuing year." Various entertainments--"lectures, musicals, rec1tals, 

parlor readings, and fetes"--were held in Norristown, West Chester, 

Reading, Pottsville, Pittsburgh, and Bridgeport to help raise funds for 

the purchase of the headquarters. (15) 

The fund-raising effort succeeded in collecting $3,000 by May 1, 1879, 

and with the payment of this sum, amounting to one half of the purchase 

price, Washington's Headquarters, along with two acres and 31 perches of 

land, was transferred by deed from Hannah Odgen to William H. Holstein. 

That same day Holstein conveyed the building and property by deed of 

trust to the association.(16) 

Plans quickly got underway for the dedic<ltion of the building. The 

association named a committee of three men, Colonel N. M. Ellis, A. S. 

Hallman, and J. P. Hale Jenkins, to confer with Michael Nesbit, Grand 

Master of Free and Accepted Mascms of the Commonwealth of 

Pennsylvania, to procure that organization's services in laying the • 

cornerstone at the ceremonies. 

The dedication ceremonies were held on June 19, 1879, attended by an 

estimated crowd of some 12,000 people. The Sixth Regiment National 

Guard patrol volunteered its services for guard duty for the occasion. 

At sunrise a section of the Griffin Battery delivered its "morning-gun." 

At ten o'clock the Grand Master of the Free and Accepted Masons of the 

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania arrived via a special train from Philadelphia 

to conduct the ceremony of laying the cornerstone. The ceremony 

included a salute by the Griffin Battery and mUSIC provided by the 

Ringgold Cornet Band of Reading and the Valley Forge Chorus on the 

14. Stager, HIStory of 

A copy of the "Act 

Association of Valley 

description of the by-laws 

in ibid., pp. 83-84. 

and Memorial Association, p. 83. 

Oi' the Centennial and Memorial 

may be seen in Appendix A. A brief 

constitution of the association may be seen 

15. Stager, History of the Centennial 

84-85, and Hosmer, Presence of the Past, 

16. Stager, History of the Centennial and Memorial Association, p. 16 . 

36 

• 
• 

• 

• 

nearby picni<; grounds. Judge John Smith Futhey, a Chester County 

magistrate and local historian, chaired the public meeting, including in 

his opening remarks the oratory which reve<lls to us much of the spirit 

with which patriotic campaigns were conducted in the early d<!yS of tho> 

preservation movement: 

Yonder building, the habitation of Washington during those 

months of trial, has, in the providence of God, amidst the 

changes wrought by time, which have obliterated so many of 

the landmarks of the Revolution, been permitted to stand, and 

has to·day, after the lapse of over a century, been dedicated 

with appropriate ceremonies, a monument to the loyalty and 

devotion of the brave band of patriots who here, in cold and 

hunger, watched for the coming of the dawn of a better day, 

Let us indulge the hope that it may long remain,--a fountain to 

which the people of our beloved land may ever turn and drink 

inspiration from the memories with which it is associated, and 

which cluster around and about it. 

James Pollock, ex-governor of Pennsylvania, filled in for Senator James 

F. Bayard of Delaware who had been selected to give the principal speech 

of the day. In his oration Pollock continued in the vein of thought 

expressed by Futhey: 

How prec1ous are the old memories in our own homes and 

households! The ring worn by a beloved mother now in her 

grave, how we cherish the holy thing!. As with home, so 

with country. Patriotism is not merely a sentiment; it is a 

principle born in our nature and part of our humanity. 

Therefore we reJoice in the present, and honor those who in 

other years labored and died to make our nation great. Home 

and country! alike in heart's best affections; present enjoyment 

and happy memory increase our devotion to both and intensify 

our patriotism. We are here to-day to illustrate history and 

perpetuate these memories. The ladies of this "Association" by 

and through its organization, desire to accomplish this. May 

they be successful; and by your generous help they will. 

When patriotism ceases to be a virtue, and liberty be known 

only as a name, then and not till then, will Valley Forge, with 

its romantic and heroic memories, be forgotten. 

In the afternoon the ladies held a reception and open house at 

Washington's Headquarters, the building "handsomely decorated with the 

national emblems." Our1ng the afternoon six state rifle teams competed for 

the gold medal offered by the Centennial and Memorial Association, and 

the Pennsylvania team from Philadelphia won the contest. At sunset the 

retiring guns of the Griffin Battery ended the day's activites.(17) 

17. Proceedings on the Occasion of the Centennial Celebration, pp. 

96-120 . 
At the dedication Pollock predicted that Valley Forge would become an 

"American Mecca." But how many meccas would the American people be 

willing to visit or support financially soon became a question with which 

the preservation movement had to cope. Valley Forge and Morristown 

were only two of the best-known Washington's headquarters to 

attention during the post-Centennial years. The 

History in February 1879 prepared a list of the 

including the conditions and owners of each "''~"'.'''• additions from interested subscribers. This periodical was the first of 

several that began to publish articles on historic structures in the 1880s 

and 1890s, thus providing publicity for a wide variety of possible projects 

for the emerging preservation movement. Such publicity contributed to 

the growing rei!li<:ation that most preservation efforts would have to be 

done on the state and local levels.(18) 

This realization soon became clear to the persons attempting to preserve 

Washington's Headquarters at Valley Forge. Anna Holstein and her 

assistants continued their fund-raising efforts to complete purchase of the 

structure through "personal solicitation, by correspondence, [and] by 

appeals to Congress." They encountered great difficulty in trying to 

form a national organization patterned after the Mount Vernon Ladies' 

Association. According to Hosmer in of the Past the problem 

lay "to some extent, in the area of the selection of historic 

houses for preservation." The 

building at Vi!lley Forge had been Washington's headquarters 

for a winter. . . . It had some historic and architectural 

interest, but it was not the home of George Washington. 

Thus, the building could not obtain the same ~upport that the home and 

burial place of George Washington had gained. The Centennial and 

Memorial Association could not get people to volunteer to serve as 

chairmen in distant states and "appeals to the nation at large met with 

scant response." (19) 

The problems caused by the lack of a national organization for the 

preservation of Washington's Headquarters at Valley Forge were 

compounded by a "period of general financial depression" during the early 

1880s, causing local contributions to cease. Meanwhile, the headquarters 

and property had been leased to a tenant, but because of declining 

contributions, the association was unable to meet the interest payments on 

the mortgage and keep the property in repair. It was feared that the 

mortgage would have to be foreclosed and the property lost. (20) 

18. "Washington's Headquarters During the 

American History, Ill (February, 1879), 15760, 

the Past, p. 131. 

Revolution, 

and Hosmer, 

Magazine of 

Presence of 

19. 

'"' 

Hosmer, 

Centennial 

Presence of the Past, pp. 58, 60, 

and Memorial Ass;;c;ation, p. 85. 

and Stager, History of 

20 Stager, History of the Centennial and Memorial Association, pp. 85. 

101. 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

Meanwhile, Valley Forge was receiving publicity both for its scenery and 

historic points of i In Joel Cook wrote a series of letters for 

publication in describing the highlights of various 

short railroad of Philadelphia. One of the letters 

described the the route of the Reading Railroad 

in the I il 

'" Bean 

When it rece•ves the Perkiomen, its most important 

tributary, the Schuylkill makes a sharp bend southward, and 

the railroad curves around with it; then both curve again to 

the eastward, for thus we wind through the hills among which 

we are again running. The latter bend is almost a right angle 

at Valley Forge, from which there is a splendid view both 

ways, showing that our forefathers had an eye for beauty when 

they selected the ground for their famous Revolutionary camp, 

on the hills bordering the deep, rugged hollow at the mouth of 

Valley Creel<..(21) 

published in 1884, 

i of the encampment 

Theodore W. 

stnl visible." 

On the road to Port was a portion of 

land uninclosed, where the foundations of the hut occupied by 

Baron Steuben are still visible, and the ground is undisturbed 

on Which he drilled his soldiers. At the distance of half a mile 

from the headquarters a line of entrenchments crosses the road, 

beginning neilr the Schuylkill, and extending southwards fully a 

mile, terminating near the Chester County line. On the farm of 

William Stephens, a few yards north of this road is a redoubt, 

not quite a quarter of a mile from the Schuylkill, placed there 

to command Sullivan's bridge, which was just below Catfish 

Island, in case of an attempt being made to enter the 

encampment from the north side of the river. This redoubt is 

about a mile from the headquarters. On the south side of the 

road, and in front of these entrenchments, is a redoubt called 

Fort Hamilton (this probably refers to Fort Huntington since 

this is the only mention of a Fort Hamilton), and anOther called 

Fort Washington nearly a mile south and close to the Chester 

County line. These are not the most important. As most of 

the encampment-ground is still in a state of nature, it has 

therefore generally remained undisturbed to this day, though 

more than a century has passed away since that eventful 

period. 

According to Bean relics 

in that vicinity." A 

were "still occasionally found by persons living 

considerable display of artifacts "having been 
obtained in and around" the encampment area had been exhibited at the 

Montgomery County Centennial at Norristown in September 1884.(22) 

Meanwhile, the Valley Forge Monument Association, a Chester County 

group that would rival the Montgomery County based Centennial and 

Memorial Association, had been formed on December 18, 1882, through the 

efforts of Mary E. Thropp Cone, author of the "Valley Forge Centennial 

Poem," and her sister Amelia, both of whom were natives of Valley Forge. 

A public meet•ng was held at Valley Forge electing Cone as president, 

Amelia Thropp as secretary, and Anthony J. Drexel of Philadelphia as 

treasurer. The purpose of the organization was stated in a resolution 

adopted at the meeting: 

Whereas, Valley 

historic places of 

Forge stands forth preeminent 

American Revolutionary fame; and 

Whereas, During the stay of the Continental Army 

Washington, 1777-78, scores of patriots gave 

willingly for the cause in which they were enlisted; 

among <he 

there under 

their lives 

'"' 

Whereas, No monument, public or private, has been erected in 

memory of their suffering and death; and 

Whereas, Congress has, in its liberality, appropriated various 

sums at different times for the building of monuments on 

Revolutionary battle fields, and celebrating prominent events of 

that great struggle; therefore, be it 

Resolved, That it is the sense of this meeting that Valley Forge 

should have a monument to perpetuate the memories of the 

Continental heroes who suffered here, the names of the 

commands and the states they were from, and to that end is 

entitled to Congressional recognition. 

The new organization began holding public meetings, enlisting support of 

prominent persons, and directing appeals to Congress for funds to erect 

a "substantial granite shaft" at Valley Forge "upon which might be 

chiselled in outline the story of the encampment." The association worked 

to raise $5,000 by private subscription and laid the groundwork for the 

introduction of a bill in the United States Senate requesting an 

appropriation of an additional $5,000. 

While the Centennial and Memorial Association and the Valley Forge 

Monument Association competed for funds, the federal government was 

brought into the picture when Senator David Wolsey Vorhees of Indiana 

in.troduced into the United States Senate a resolution to acquire Valley 

Forge for a national military park "in ju<;t recognition by the Government 

of the United States of the sufferings, the patriotism and the unfailing 

22. Bean, ed., History of Montgomery County, 1,124-25. 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

courage there displayed in the cause of constitutional liberty." The bill 

was defeated, but in 1884 a bill that encouraged societies to erect 

monuments on the Important battlefields of the Revolutionary War was 

presented to the House of Representatives. One section of the bill 

specifically extended the matching provisions to the Valley Forge 

organizations seeking to preserve W;:~shington's Headquarters and erect a 

monument there. The bill received support from the press and historical 

societies, but it failed to gam a majority of votes. 

Samuel 5. Cox, a congressman from New York City, introduced "a bill for 

the erection of monuments on sites made memorable by the struggle for 

independence." The bill was reported favorably by the House Committee 

on the Library on July 2, 188;,: 

Two societies have in charge at present the work to be 

accomplished at Valley Forge, one designed more especially to 

preserve the headquarters of Washington there, and the other 

to build a monument on the height of land where the 

encampment was situated; also to secure some of the land and 

preserve the Intrenchments intact for all time behind which the 

army of Washington passed the memorable winter of privation 

and suffering, the touching story of which is familiar to every 

school boy in the country. Mrs. Mary E. Thropp Cone, of 

Philadelphia, a native of Valley Forge, is at the head of this 

latter organization. Mr. A. J. Drexel, Jr., of Philadelphia, is 

its treasurer, and Mr. George w. Childs, a charter member. 

The American army <It Valley Forge was composed of soldiers 

from New England, from the Middle States, and from the South. 

All sections of the country were enshrouded in that 'midnight of 

despair.' No event of the Revolution was more n<~tional in its 

character, no victory of arms more conducive to the final 

result. To preserve d few acres of the encampment of the army 

there, and actu<~lly to keep the very intrenchments behind 

which they lay and suffered from being leveled to the ground, 

is surely a work in which the nation can well take a part. By 

an affidavit from Mrs. Anna M. Holstein, of Montgomery county, 

Pa., the Lady Regent of the other Valley Forge organization, 

and from other sources, the committee le<~rn that the 

headquarters buildings and grounds are in the possession of 

this body, and with a clear title; and th<~t there is now due on 

the purchase about $3,000, <1nd that the receipts of the society 

do not permit this sum of increase, the interest being regularly 

paid. Under the oper<~tion of this bill this organization feels 

they can easily raise the money ~t once to pay off this debt by 

private subscription. In fact, the money for this purpose has 

been substantially guaranteed to them should the bill become <1 

law. The Headquarters will then be free from the mortgage 

now incumbering it, and a sum equal to its whole cost will then 

be avail<1ble as the nucleus of a monument fund for the other 

organization as may be formed after the bill shall have become a 

law. Both these organizations, your committee are informed, are 

cognizant of the section relating to Valley Forge, and 

contemplate the passage of the bill with pleasure . 

41 
The bill, as well as a similar piece of legislation introduced in 1886, failed 

to pass, however, and little else is known about the activities of the 

Valley Forge Monument Association.(23) • 

In 1885 the Centennial and Memorial Association appealed to the Patriotic 

Order Sons of America, Camp 114, Pennsylvania at Norristown, for 

financial aid in liquidating the debt and interest, amounting to some 

$3,400, still resting on the property. The Norristown camp leaders in 

turn brought the matter to the State Camp officials of the organization. 

The state executive committee, led by president Henry J. Stager who also 

published the order's Camp News, endorsed the project and began 

soliciting contdbutions from its"Camps throughout Pennsylvania and 

memben of the order throughout the United States. Publicity was given 

to the campaign through the Camp News and publication of Theodore W. 

Bean's Footprints of the Revolution. Within six months the sum of 

$3,370.98 was collected as a result of the fund-raising campaign.(24) 

At its annual convention in Altoona in August 1886 the Pennsylvania State 

Camp appointed a thirteen-member trustee committee, headed by Stager, 

to manage and dispose of the collected funds. In meetings held on 

November 9 the trustee committee and the Centennial and Memorial 

Association agreed that title to Washington's Headquarters would remain in 

the name of the association, that the mortgage and interest debt would be 

paid by the trustee committee, and that the order would accept stock in 

the association. The old organization of the association was revamped, 

Anna Holstein being selected as regent and Stager and Mrs. Helen C. 

Hooven as VICe regents, and a thirteen-member board of directors was 

elected with representatives from both the association and the order. In 

subsequent business on November g an order was drawn for payment of 

the remaining $3,000 mortgage principal and $478.91 in interest and back 

taxes. Thus, full title to the property was conveyed by deed to the 

Centennial and Memorial Association on that date. Further discussions led 

to the appointment of committees to petition the state legislature for an 

appropriation and confer with the Historical Society of Pennsylvania 

relative to the purchase of additional ground for the headquartars 

property.(25) 

23. James W. Riddle, 

1910), pp. 123-24; w. 

and Future," Historical 

the Historical Society 

240-42; "The Saving 

Reed Collection, RG 10, 

"The Most Celebrated Encampment: 

1777-1983" (unpublished Ph.D dissertation, 

70-75. 

University, '" 

24. Stager, History of the Centennial and Memorial Association, pp. 

99-102. 

25. "Valley Forge Memorial 

Headquarters (Philadelphia, 

VAFO Archives. 

Association," in Valley 

1908), pp. 27-32, Reed 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

The year 1887 marked numerous ch<mges at Washington's Headquarters at 

Valley Forge. The Pennsylvania state legislature granted an 

appropriation of $5,000 through the help of House member William D. 

Heelner, a number of don<~led artifacts were accepted for display at the 

headquarters, a new 100-foot flagstaff was insti!lled, an architect was 

employed to draw up plans for "renewing the building" and "improving 

the grounds," and a janitor was hired to live in the annex building and 

attic rooms of the ma1n house. The improvements to the structure, 

including "a complete rehabihtation," the erection of a log cabin in place 

of the stone annex, and "vaulting" of a subterranean passageway that 

reportedly had once led from the house to the river, were carried out by 

R. T. S. Hallow,.ll, a member of the bo<1rd of directors <1nd a carpenter. 

Construction was <~ISO begun on a warden's lodge ''in the left-hand 

corner" of the property "facing the creek," <1nd the grounds were 

"gener<1lly beautified and <!darned." The improvements were her<~lded <1t 

the 10!lth anniversary celebration of the evacuation of Valley Forge led by 

officials of the Patriotic Order Sons of America on June 19, 1887.(26) 

In April 1888 Peter M. Emery of Norristown became warden/janitor at " 

salary of $25 per month plus free rent in the new lodge. His duties 

included: mainten<1nce of the headquarters building and property; 

handling of visitors; and collection of registration fees. In April a 

circular was printed for distribution, c<~lling attention to the "rejuvenated 

Headqu<~rters, and a Revolutionary Relic dep<~rtment therein, for which we 

soliCit contributions of antique furniture and articles of the Colonial 

period."(27) 

In early 1888 the Centenni<~l <~nd Memorial Association petitioned Congress 

"to appropriate $25,000 for the Washington He<!dquarters project, having 

in view the extension of its property line to include other historic plots 

of the Revolutionary C<~mpground, as yet uncared for by either State or 

Nation<~l government." By April <1 bill "in <1id of the Centennial and 

Memorial Association of Valley Forge <1nd to secure the Washington 

headqu<~rters, mansion, and grounds occupied by the Continent<ll Army of 

26. Dora Harvey Develin, 

1927), p. 122, and Stager, 

Association, pp. 103, 111-16. 

old structure that was removed way for the 

for "gavels, sleeve buttons, etc., and placed on sale 

Headquarters." Ibid., p. 123. Also see W. H. Richardson, "Valley 

Forge," New Engiarid""Magazine, XXIII (February, 1901), 607-08. 

27. Stager, History of the 

116-19. The list of articles iil!he 

of June 1891 may be seen in Washington's Headquarters--Valley 

Forge- Woth Map of Roads, Forts and Entrenchments, As They Now 

Appear, June 1891-(Philadelphia, 1891), pp. 10 12, in Reed Collection, 

RG 10, VAFO Archives. The restored headquarters was rented for 

weddings, the first recorded ceremony occurring on November 21, 1888, 

when Rev. James M. Guthrie of Pottstown married Ingram P. Bloom, a 

Civil War veteran, and Miss Leizzie Watkinson, both of Berwyn. 
1777" had passed the Senate, but 

its Committee on the Library the 

Similar bills were introduced in 

pass.(28) 

despite a favorable recommendation 

House of Representatives rejected 

1889 and 1890, but both failed 

by 

it. 

" 

The Washington Headquarters structure h'i!S insured for $3,000 with the 

Montgomery Mutual Fire Insurance Company 1n late 1888 or early 1889. 

During the following summer the lodge was insured lor $1,000. Soon 

thereafter the insurance policies were transferred to the Pennsylvania 

Fire Insurance Company of Philadelphia.(29) 

During 1890 the association considered a plan proposed by Theodore W. 

Bean to purchase the entire encampment ground at Valley Forge at an 

estimated cost of $100,000. According to the proposal the necessary 

funds would be raised by a bond subscription of $150,000 at three 

percent interest, subscriptions to be limited to the Patriotic Order Sons 

of America. Although this somewhat grandiose scheme was never 

implemented (228 shares were subscribed in 1891 and 25 in 1892) it does 

indicate that the association had a larger vision for the Valley Forge 

encampment area than simply the preservation of Washington's 

Headquarters. While the scheme was under consideration, the association 

succeeded in purchasing from Nathiln Jones for $1,200 an adjacent 1\:i-acre 

parcel on the south end of its property on which the Wi!shington spring 

was located. The new lot was "gri!ded to conform with the origini!l 

holding, the fence extended <~round it, and fifty-two trees planted, all to 

correspond with the main tract."(30) 

• 

At its annual meeting in June 1890 the association adopted new by-laws • 

which remained 1n effect until Jts dissolution in 1910. The board of 

directors was expanded to eighteen members from whom the officers were 

to be elected. The officers were constituted as an executive committee, 

having direct management and supervision of the headquarters and 

grounds.(31) 

By 1890 Valley Forge was being frequented by large groups of 

picnickers. One such excursion by a group of young people from W<~yne 

in August of that year was chaperoned by Kate Longstreth Sayen. 

According to the rem•niscences of one of the participants more than sixty 

years later, Mrs. Sayen 

28. 

and U. 

Memorial 

H. Rept. 

of the Centennial and --- House, 

of Valley 

Committee On 

Forge, Etc. 

Memorial 

the Library, 

50th Cong., 

29. Stager, History of the Centennial and Memorial Association, pp. 120, 

122. 

30. Ibid., 

Ibid. 

pp. 125-26. 

44 

• 
• 

• 

• 

invited enough young people to fill two hay wagons. I was 

camera man with old style glass plates and a tripod. After 

climbing the old wooden observation tower and visiting 

Washington's headquarters, which had a small relic room in the 

rear as a museum, we all seated ourselves on the slope of Mt. 

Joy and opened the food and drink for supper. There was 

then (ln August, 1890) no State Park and only a few scattered 

ancient houses which had not been destroyed in the 1777 raid 

of Colonel Grey's British Cavalry, burning the iron forge of 

Dewees and Potts. (32) 

Valley Forge was also becoming the summer camp site of various 

Pennsylvania militia regiments by the early 1890s. One such encampment 

was remembered later by the militiamen for its onerous "policing" work. 

Several hours of every morning were devoted to "carrying loose stones 

off the company streets and the parade~ground." Stones seemed to 

"grow" there. According to the militiamen, as "fast as one borrow-load 

was taken away, as many more appeared, being either detached from the 

loose soil or washed down the hillside. "(33) 

Ellis R. Hampton became warden of the association's property on April 1, 

1891, remaining in that position until 1910. The registered admissions to 

the headquarters for 1891 totaled 2, 714, each visitor paying a fee of ten 

cents to provide a fund with which to maintain the structure and 

property. The total number of visitors to the property during the year 

was estimated at 10,000. A stone was placed on the west bank of the 

Schuylkill to mark the site where the Continental Army crossed the river 

in June 1778. An organization seal was adopted, including upon its face 

a picture of the heildquarters with the words below, "Chartered July 15, 

1878, Penna.," and the name "Centennial and Memorial Association of 

Valley Forge" in a circle around its outer edge.(34) 

In June 1891 Anna Holstein prepared a pamphlet on Valley Forge, one 

thousand copies of which were printed and placed on sale at the 

headquarters. The pamphlet provided q brief history of the Valley Forge 

encampment area as well as a guide to the still-visible historic points of 

interest in the vicinity of the headquarters. Regarding the headquarters 

she wrote: 

32. "Picnic qt Valley Forge--1890," Picket Post, October, 1954, 40. One 

visitor to Washington's Headquarters and the-;iUrrounding area during the 

late 1BBOs or early 1B90s was S. Gordon Smyth whose reminiscences may 

be seen in Appendix B. 

33. Edward w. Hocker, "Valley Forge As A National Park," Outlook, 

LXVII (April 6, 1901), 789-90. 

34. Stager, History of the Centennial and Memorial Association, pp . 128-30. 

45 
The Headquarters House, from cellar to attic, •s in good 

preservation, and appears to-day almost precisely as it did 

when Washington was domiciled within it. The doors, with bolts 

and locks, are the very same his hands have moved; the floors, 

e:><cept a portion of the one in the office-room, are those over 

which the great chieftain has walked in many weary hours; the 

window glass and sash are unchanged since the days when 

anxious eyes looked through them ilt the soldiers' huts upon the 

hirrs.(3S) 

During 1892 there were 3,270 registered visitors to the headquarters, and 

thirteen permits were granted for picnic parties. One such party was a 

"large number of gentlemen" associated with the Historical Society of 

Pennsylvania who "passed a field-day at Valley Forge" on June 18. 

Arriving by special train, the men inspected the headquarters and then 

held an informal meeting on the front lilwn. After a lunch that was 

served in a tent on the lawn in the rear of the headquarters, carriages 

were taken to visit the headquarters of Marquis de Lafayette ilnd Henry 

Knox, Forts Washington and Huntington, the site of the cantonment, and 

the entrenchments on Mount Joy.(36) 

• 

The number of registered visitors to the headquarters rose to 41 329 in 

1893. Ten picnic parties were permitted to use the grounds, and a 

visiting Post of the Grand Army of the Republic from Marblehead, 

Massachusetts, was granted free admission to the headquarters. A Valley 

Forge souvenir spoon was designed for sale, and the Navy donated a • 

large cannon for public display. One hundred shade trees were planted in 

the rear lawn area of the headquarters property.(37) 

When the state legislature established Valley Forge State Park under the 

administration of a park commission on May 30, 1893, the act expressly 

excluded "the property known as Washington's headquarters and now 

owned by the Centennial and Memorial Association of Valley Forge." 

Accordingly, the association informed the new commission that it could use 

the headquarters "for meeting purposes whenever necessary, "(38) 

35. Anna Morris Holstein, "Valley Forge, 177778," in A Brief Review of 

Valley Forge and~ Environments (Philadelphia, 1901), pp-:1'=6. 

36, "Notes and Queries," Pennsylvania 

Biography, XVI (July, 1892). 250, and Stager, 

and Memorial Association, pp. 130-31. 

of History and 

of the Centennial 

37. Stager, History of the Centennial and Memorial Association, pp. 

134-36. 

38. "An Act Providing for the acquisition by the State of certain ground 

at Valley Forge for a public park, and making an~~~::!~~~~ therefor 

May 1893, in By-Laws of the Valley Forge 

of Laws Relating to the Commission 

46 

• 
• 

• 

• 

Despite the apparent initial cooperation between the <!SSOciation and the 

new park commission, there was obvious dissension by June 1894. At a 

meeting of the association's board of directors that month, the issues of 

the battle between the two organizations during the next fifteen years 

were discussed. The minutes of the meeting stated: 

At this meeting the subject of the new Park Commission recently 

created by the State for the purchase of the Valley Forge camp 

ground and its improvement as a public park was considered. 

It was stated that an object of the Commissioners was the 

annexing of the Headquarters property to their control. This 

the Board of Directors prepared to dispute. They resolved to 

maintain the control of the Headquarters and to resist the Park 

Commission from securing any legislation by the State looking to 

the condemnation of the same. Messrs. Hobson, Koch, Wolfe, 

Bertolette and Losch were appointed a committee to petition the 

State Legislature for a special appropriation of $5,000.00.(39) 

Despite the growing friction (or perhaps because of it) with the park 

commission, the associi!tion continued to acquire additional property, 

accept donations of "relics," improve and interpret its historic buildings 

and grounds, and engage in efforts to attract growing numbers of 

visitors. In January 1894 an adjacent 1\-acre parcel, including a stone 

house and stone barn that the association believed had been used as a 

hospital by the Continental Army was acquired from the Crawford family 

for $3,000 and thereafter leased to a tenant. Storms during the spring 

and early summer of 1896 destroyed the flag pole near the headquarters 

and damaged the building on the former Crawford property, necessitating 

a new flag pole provided by the Patriotic Order Sons of America and 

repairs to the structures. A model schoolhouse, used on a float in the 

Philadelphia Peace Jubilee Parade of 1898 by the Patriotic Order Sons of 

America, was re-erected in the rear of the warden's house, remaining 

there until 1905 when it was torn down. During the summer of 1898 the 

governors of each of the thirteen original States wer€ requested to 

contribute a tree to represent their states, the trees to be planted in a 

circle on the headquarters grounds on Arbor Day. In 1900 the Valley 

Forge Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, were given 

permission to furnish with colonial furniture one of the second-story rooms 

of the headquarters building, which had presumably been Washington's 

bedroom.(40) 

Criticism of the operation and maintenance of Washington's Headquarters 

by the association was voiced in the state legislature tn 1900. 

Accordingly, the association authorized Stager to prepare a pamphlet 

containing "a historical sketch, setting forth the facts attending the care 

of the Headquarters" for publication and distribution. After reviewing 

the history of the association Stager concluded the pamphlet with a 

39. Stager, History of the Centennial and Memorial Association, p. 138. 

40. Ibid., pp. 136, 141, 143, 146-47, 150, 
defense of its maintenance and preservation operations and a stirring, 

patriotic appeal for increased support of those efforts. He observed: 

The Centennial and Memorial Association of Valley Forge has 

spent about $14,000, which is represented by the property as it 

now stands. There is a small indebtedness due upon the last 

purchase. 

The business of the Association is conducted by a Board of 

twenty-one, officers and directors. An annual meeting is held 

each year, proper supervision made, and officers provided for. 

Ouring the interim a house executive committee has supervision 

of the property affairs. A warden is employed at a salary of 

$360 per annum, with free house-rent and privileges of ground. 

Absolutely no return is made for service except to one party, 

the warden; all others attend to their duties and attend the 

meetings at their own expense. The present source of revenue 

is a ten-cent admission to view the property and some profits 

that come from the sale of pictures and mementoes. The 

visitors at present reach over seven thousand in the course of 

a year. The warden attends to the visitors and has the care of 

the property and grounds. The Headquarters is in most 

excellent state of preservation, is in thorough repair, and is 

kept in the best possible condition .... 

In view of these facts the Centennial and Memorial Association 

does not meet with that recognition it should at the hands of 

those interested in a similar movement to purchase the entire 

camp grounds adjoining that they have a right to demand. 

There is plenty to do, a wide field and national celebrity to be 

gained by purchasing, occupying and restoring the 

Headquarters of the other Generals known to Revolutionary 

fame, in which this neighborhood so richly abounds, and 

protecting the Earthworks and other places of interest 

memorable of the days of our country's struggle for 

independence; and instead of ignoring the excellent results 

already obtained or trying to wrest the honors from those to 

whom they properly belong, by reason of lawful purchase and 

incorporation under our State laws, or by misrepresentations of 

the condition of the Headquarters, it were less piratical and 

more courteous, by reason of the object and the name under 

which such organizations hold forth, if they would cooperate 

and give public recognition to those whose primary efforts have 

the right of precedence. The Headquarters are not for sale; 

but should the Nation or State ever desire to absorb them to 

use as a national memorial it could be readily accomplished. We 

believe the Association and the Order most interested could by 

a suitable recognition be induced to be sufficiently liber<1l to 

make concessions that were not <1ccorded to either of them in 

their appeals to a public which has not be"n too charitable in 

its dealings, or diffusive in its patriotism. No matter to whose 

hands it may ultimately descend, it is hoped and planned to 

have the rugged old walls of the Headquarters stand as a grand 

and solemn reminder of the days when our country was yet in 

48 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

its primitive condition and glad to avajf itself of its friendly 

shelter for the royal head of the "Father of his Country."(41) 

During the next several years two additional rooms in the headquarters 

were furnished under similar arrangements to that with the Valley Forge 

Chapter, Daughters of the Americon Revolution. In 1902-03 a 

second-floor room was assigned to and furnished by the Chester County 

Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution. Later in 1903-04 a 

third-floor or attic room, known as the "round window" room, was 

assigned to and furnished by the Merion Chapter, Daughters of the 

American Revolution. The "rules" followed by the latter organization in 

furnishing its room were: 

The room must be furnished in strict Colonial style. Every 

piece of furniture or bric-a-brac must be authentic, a genuine 

relic of the Colonial and Revolutionary period, with a known 

history. Every article must be in good conditon.(42) 

The furnishing of these rooms, together with vanous other property 

improvements, brought increasing numbers of visitors to the 

headquarters. One such visitor was William C. Ewing of Yonkers, New 

York, who published a pamphlet describing his visit to Valley Forge State 

Park and the headquarters. Relative to the latter he observed: 

The central point of interest is Washington's headquarters, the 

Isaac Potts home, the main building of which is pretty much as 

Washington found it and left it, a two-story house of dressed 

stone, pointed, 24 x 33 feet. A frame addotion was built for 

Washington's use, one story and a half high. This is now 

replaced by stone, uniform with the original building; and a log 

cabin, which covers a stairway leading to an underground 

vault, from which originally a tunnel led to the river bank. 

The interior wood work is in a fine state of preservation. 

There are many curios, Indian relics, a Washington hatchet, the 

flintlock musket of the guide that led the night march on 

Germantown, a British Royal George cannon, a small brass 

hovvitzer, charts of the ground and photographs. Two of the 

rooms are furnished in colonial style, one with furniture that 

Washington might have had at Mount Vernon, but certainly did 

41. H. J. 

Forge," in 

7-15. A 

Congress . 

Stager, 

A Brief 

copyQr 

Memorial Association of Valley 

and Its Environments, pp. 

found at the library of 
not have at Valley Forge, the other having the plain country 

furniture of the northern farm house, a truer picture of 

Washington's actual degree of comfort during the encampment. 

The walls are hung with portraits of Washington's generals and 

with a fine collection of various engravings of 

Washington. . . . ( 43) 

The following year, 1905, brought 12,187 registered visitors to the headquarters, nearly double the total of five years before.(44) 

Meanwhile, the Valley Forge Park Commission, without the apparent 

knowledge of the Centennial and Memorial Association, had taken action to 

obtain the power to condemn the association's property and have it added 

to Valley Forge State Park. Section 1 of the Act of May 30, 1893, was 

amended on April 7, 1905, striking out the clause exempting the 

association's property from being condemned and added to the state park. 

Despite various association efforts to contest the condemnation procedures 

that were instituted at once by the park commission, a jury of view was 

appo"rnted during the summer of 1905 and awarded the association $18,000 

in damages. The association reluctantly accepted the award on August 8 

upon condition that it "be permitted to place a tablet in Washington's 

Headquarters, commemorating the part taken by this Association in the 

preservation of said Headquarters." In November the park commission 

took possession of the building, denying further use of the structure to 

the association for meeting purposes. ( 45) 

Three issues remained to be settled between the association and the park 

• 

commission as the former made preparations to dissolve. After • 

considerable bickering between the two organizations, a tablet was erected 

on the grounds of the headquarters on February 22, 1909. It read: 

THIS TABLET COMMEMORATES 

THE PATRIOTIC SERVICE RENDERED BY 

THE CENTENNIAL AND MEMORIAL ASSOCIATION 

OF VALLEY FORGE 

GENEROUSLY AIDED BY THE 

PATRIOTIC ORDER SONS OF AMERICA 

IN ACQUIRING RESTORING AND PRESERVING 

THESE HEADQUARTERS 

43. William C. Ewing;;'"'~ 1904), pp. 11-12. A 

of Congress. 

1878-1906 

(Yonkers, New York, 

be found at the Library 

44. Stager, History of the Centennial and Memorial Association, p. 158. 

45. ~-' pp. 160-65. 

50 

• 

_
• 

• 

• 

After further negotiations the association accepted final payment m April 

1910 from the park commission for personill property left at the 

headquarters. In June of that ye<>r the Montgomery County courts 

decreed the formal dissolution of the Centennial and Memorial Association. 

William F. Dannehower, an attorney 1n Norristo"·n, was appointed auditor 

of the association's remaining funds. On June 5, 1911, he ordered that 

all funds remaining in the association's coffers be awarded to the Valley 

Forge Park Commission, thus overrulmg the association's contention that 

it distribute the funds among its members or stockholders. The decision 

was appealed by attorneys for the association, but it was upheld by the 

Common Pleas Court of Montgomery County on October 31 and the 

Supreme Court of Pennsylvania on February 26, 1912.(46) 

46. Ibid., pp. 184-85, 190-95, 217-42. The association finally agreed to 

the transfer of funds without further litigation on the condition that the 

funds were to be used solely for the continuing maintenance of the headquarters buildirlg. John F. Reed, ed., "Minutes of the Centennial and 

Memorial Association of Valley Forge," Valley Forge Journal, I (June, 

1982), 49 . 

51 
• 

APPENDIXES 

• 

• 
ss 

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><: )ou ::c''!' '"·""I' '"'·''' Jeol ·"!l [!'10 '"''1101• l""'"'"'ll P"P""'I 

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<<OIU>Uq "'""fJUO '" 

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"·'"l:O;i ,\I\11VA 

" r-.:OI!.VIJO~S\1 "l\l!l\01~711~ a NV 1Vl.~.'>l71.t'{I\J :;IHJ, 

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w,n,,,, 11. llnhLc"' 

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.1\"""'"wn, l'.o. 

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foe ""I'"'""'· Wollo>m ]-;, J-1"1"""'· Tl codm< IV IJ"'' >n<l J, 

]' li,>k Trnkom •hoo·o ,,,mo<l, wlw, "' "'"],,,oil,"'· o<b>o~·l· 

o·d.t<l tl>< <•hm·e an<l ,!me "'"""' ""'"'m"n In< Lhc· pmpo'" 

'" wo<l"" "'«tl. 

Wotnm 

A. D. 1~)8. 

(<>.AL) 

IH)" h.,od '110 ,.,1 of o!T"' ''"' "~"'" ol.<y of Jun<, 

)<HlN \V, ~<'H.,,l, 

N "'""" 

All <I <•OW 1n wH: july \1h, '"'" 'i'bc !""""'"" ''''·''"'>lOOH 

h.""'" h«n "''''"'"I 10th< lloroo,hlc lime)' i' Ho," 'law 

ju<l~c· '"'I 1'<<•"1"" )<«igo of ti" C'"'" "; Co"""'"• "'"" ol 

Mont~""""'' ''""">' (\;,. '"""'Y "' """" tl" lm'""" of tilt 

'"'""'""""., '" I>O '"""cl<•l), """"I'·""''• lw "'""' nl ;mhlo-

""o" o( 11" notice of ''"I >i•rhc,.ion, ""'I"" 5"d )"dec b.wm~ 

1'""'"1 ""' "'""""<! tlw loreoo'"" ""'""'""'· ·""' fot•nol II" 

""'' '" ho· "' 1J,c P'"l"'' fnnn '"" wo•l•m tto< I"" I"''" """"''I'" 

"" ""' cl."' "" ,,,..,; "' tl« -<<"mn•l "'""" •I ·"' oi<L "'''tk•l: 

"~n A" lo "'"''""in< tite •n<orL"""'"" >nd "~"'·"'o'' .,( <«· 

.,;, C"'P"'·'""'".'' opr<m·": the '"'h "'" of ~""'· -~ D. tf\74. 

>nd >PI"·"'"~ ''" f•" ,.,,,; ""' inJ""""' to ti" '"'"""'"'''· do 

ord<r """I ckcr<e "'''' lh< "") <hut<r " -•ooroml, "'"I ,:,;t """" 

tho n•roHIHl" of !Joe""'] <h'"" anu ,..,; wier'"'' <Ieee<<, tl.o 

•ubO<nOct> '"""I cll><Le< •holl br > '"''""'"''"" (,., "" L't""""' 

,.,J upon II>< '"'"" (itc«m ''''""· >ml lmTI tl><n«ionlt tl>< po<· 

•on• "''"'"I tl""'" '"'' '"h"''""'" ,;., '•'""· ,,., ''"" """''""' 

•n•l '"""-"'"• •1"11 bo • coq>nr>loon Oy tht non'< nl "Tit< Con· 

z,·nmal ami M•monal A"ocoatton ol Valicy Fo<g<," » p<ovo<iod 

by low. 

l\y tho Cml'l, 

(SEAL) 

H'""- P Ro". 

l'mod<•l J.dg<, 

Cuttlic<i from the i>«orJ> ot '"'" (""" at .\""""'"'"• 

July Slh, tB78 i'n;ue Q;;"'-"'-'• 

('"AJ,.) Proll•o•olary, 

,'olo"'~""'")' Co"'''·'·" 

Rt<o.-dcJ in oho olli<t loc Rooor0<01g DecJ,, ,.,,. m ,.,.; ;o, 

,.,J <QU1'\y,"' "'""';loo•ou• B<:>Ok :<o t9. p~ 1]\0. "'· 

W''""' my Oan<i •nd "'I ol ol!ioc, July lith, 1S;& 

l"u) J•~" Dn«>, D. il. 

Stager, History of the Centennial and Memorial Association, pp. 11-13. 

56 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

APPENDIX B 

REMINISCENCES OF TRIP TO VALLEY FORGE 

BY S. GORDON SMYTH IN LATE 1880s OR EARLY 1890s 

Sorn~ dt<tance be}·ond this the roa<\ 

crosses the Gulph creek as it cu,.,.·e< hack to the hill< anct ftows 

toward the Schuylkill. The bridge "bel> "''nt' tho r<>o•l 0Hr 

thi' stream i> curious in its "ay, and I note it hecau<e it has 

stood ,;nee the infancy of the 1/.epublic It i< Luilt of stone 

and bears this inscription:-

"E.-..:ted by Montgomery County 1789 

In The 2nd Year of the Foederol Unton." 

A mile or so beyond this place we enter the C[Je<ler Valley 

-long known a< a farming J<stnct of exceeding fertility, and of 

lime buT!lers, and marble quarries "lterc creaking clerrich and 

gashes in the face of the earth reve;~l the progre>s of a modern 

industry. A shon ride brings one to the little eros.-roads village 

called "The King of Prussia," and a time h<>Mred inn ol the 

&arne name from which '"ings the sign of '"Frederick tile 

Great/" is w callod from the !act tllat here Baron Steuben was 

wont to call for l>i• liquirl refreshments; b\lt the ta,·em is sUp· 

posed to date from 17&;:> and was well patronized by roysterer. 

o! tho camp near by. 1'.: ear at hand is the old Great Valley :Meet. 

mg. and from thence a couple of milts farther. brings one to the 

Letitia Penn •cllool huu<e at the base of the Valley Forge Hill. 

About us are the old dwellings onee in""' by the staff office« 

of Washington while the army""' in camp there. There is the 

Abijah Stephens farm house where Gen. Huntingdon wa, 

quartort:d with h>> division. There are the old quarters of 

Generals Varnum and PeKalb, and close at hand the section 

where the soldier• rear«! their huts on the sunny slopes which 

,helterrd thtm from tlu: bleak and chilling north-w<st winds. 

Turning ID the left one rides down Washington Lane!<'-

ward Valley creek but stopping for a few mome-nts at the 
th~rket-Rn>W" J-on \\aoilln);[on and tbongh uvct~ro"n with 

nmler!(Tm\th and timb" it >ttl] prc,cr,.., ;he iorm "' l'>hich it 

wa, leit m cr a century ago. .-1. ruHgh road leads one around the 

"'"" of the hill to the worm, sheltered ta1ine thmugh which 

fiow< the \'alley creek T"n comfortable looking stone dwellin~;; ncar-by and now occupied by ~leo. ~!orr Jones and Richard 

Pet\'"0!1, were once the domocile> oi Gencrol Kno>: and Gen. 

laFayette <e<penivel.v. An ancient coverc<l bridge""""' the 

creek at thi• point <1ncl the road lead> along the creek coursing 

between the towering hill3 l\ ho>c "iiJ scenery and impiring· 

hca\l!_l- rival t!1e \\"i<sahickon- Pre<ently a >ign appears on tho' 

rood.<Jde indicating tl•at here was the loe<tlion of the origma]; 

for;:c tbt wa• tr<ete<l in '7>1 and""' de•lroYed by the Engli'h\ 

early in Jj]i: rebuilt in 1779, ~nd eventually disaprearW by the 

d~mming up of tile creek \\hen mills were ere<ted in the ,-i\lage 

below_ The iron u•ed at this forge is said to have been brollght 

from Warwick furnace. on the 'OLtth brandt of the F•en<h 

creek, se~-etal miles awa). From thi• place an old woodland road 

lead; up to\\ard the >tommit of the hills am\ the line of Intrenchments, or sudt of tltetn '" <til\ cemain to be seen, and 

from thi' elevated po>ition a fine ,·iew is had of the sttrrotmdi<~g country_ The two higher peaks here arc. acrording to the 

ltgemlt;· of the ncighbodtood-named \lcmnt Joy and Mount 

~lisery: the latter m called by the soldiers i>e<ause of thdr 

wretched '""clition while in camp, but the other name was that 

of tile manor of :\!t. _loy-the style """"' by L"titia Penn in ..,_ 

leering to hec patrimon}. Skining th~ e<!ge of the mill,pond 

in a fe~ moments one enter; the \"JIIage of Valley Forge whieh 

ts scatt<red about the cross road, Two or three mills lay along 

the >!ream bl1t they have c<a;;ed to operate and the hamlO't seems 

lifele.<S thereLy. A few rods tlown the qt>iet thoroughfare one 

draws rein befoce the old <tone hea<lquarter. of the immor· 

talized Wasl1ington and in a moment receives a pl....,.ant weirome from Ellis lbmpton, the custodi311 of the plate. Following him into the grounds one finds not a half-neglected spot as 

one is led to suppose from current report, hut a well-cared-for 

premi,.s. In the process of its restoration the dwelling has 

hem repaired along on~inal lines and has a pleasing freshness 

58 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

and cleanline..s that harmoroiZC> ·' itb the spir:t ot ~be o1d (.iuakcr 

owner of it m Rev~lutionar) <lay>. 

When the old mansion posseJ into> the hands oi tne Cllemorial Asso<iation it came from a family who had been Ht ptJ.S· 

>es<ion of it since 1759. though not 111 direct de;cen\. _-\! the 

time of my visit to it the property con>ioted of l\\0 or nwrc 

acre> of land laid down in lawn and well shadeJ by fruit and 

forest trees, with the home sto>Hling well forward to"•ard t::e 

-;tree!. Unfortunatel), howe>·er, the custodian's residence was 

built in an angle of the la'ln do<e to the highway which partially ol!>cures a view of the headquarter- when approached 

from the main corner< of the , illag-e. Thou~il the cottage i< 

P"'ttHy designed and comfortable looking:, it i> of the "Eastlake" 

t;.·pr. and l"or;· much at variance with 1!1c •in1ple colonial <losign 

of the man.,ion. The latter i. built of flat ston, oi uniform 

thiolrness and neatly [>Ointcd. It is two and a half stories, squan 

in form with high pitched roof and a wtde projecting cornice 

that ntcnds all the way around the ho<lSe. The buildi;>g is not 

larJ:l', having b01t four apartments, d1vided on the firSt floor hy 

a main hal! e~tending !rum front to the rear. On one stde of the 

dwelling is a kitchen addition "'paroled from the mam building . 

by an arched roofed areawa)'. At the time of \\'aehington·, occl!pancy ami t!1e number of attendants .1nd offocoro <hat had 

b1"ine" with him it was found to be insufficier.t in size. >O that 

a log structure was adde<l to the kitchen wtng thus lortmng an 

·'L"' arrangemollt in the groond plan. The oa,h and tl:c glass in 

th..m; the d•lU'> ami their frame>; the fireplaces a·.,d other details remain p•etty much the same as when Wa.:Lington lived 

there. Rut it;, odd, that, at this day, one meets with the peeuliar 

halved-doors that were so common in the eariJer clap. They 

are the "Dutch" doors nf the past centuri<'. The main cntrante 

door and the curl<>Ll> hooderl c•nopy over it arc reminlScent of 

the Genn11n10\\n tYpe and where they are 'lOW mo>tlr found. 

Your gLlide takes you first into the east room which is 

practically the museum. Thi> was the office of the great cmn· 

mand<r- His t~blc ,tood by the window which had a secret recess, and where the General kept_ hi> pri\-:tte pap<"- It was in 

this room thot \11. e<•hLngtoLl planned hi> cnrning c.Lr;lpaign. con59 
I erred wnh his officers, and ba.[ >cere! >csswoh ,-.hen octdsion 

•~'l""ed_ In one corn~r -tanJ< d tine grand fat he's dvtk faothfnlly hoking away the hours a; it Jid in tole "time_, that tucd 

men's souls." The same rorner cupboard> an<l the o:\antel; ore 

there: and the walls arc oo,we<l ,., llh a miscdlaneou; as<onment of picture anri eng<al ingo illu<tr>tivc of other lnstoric ddy> 

an•l places. Heirlooms of local fannlies, and the trea>ure-trove 

of rdi« and bric-a-brac garnish the shelves wherever IOOgment 

cc.n be found for them-s~<·o.-<1<, batt!e axe>. cannon-balls, 

rowJer horns, tomahawks, pewter, china., Sheffield plate and 

househvi<J stuff, and fnrmture of our forefather> from old 

England, Wales, Sweden and Holland. Th.se all help"' to the 

rea]lZotion nf the charntter of the people of the early "nlemenu 

hereabout In another room i, a collection of engravings, 

>!ud•es of Washington by a ,-ariety of artists omong whom are 

found tho'e of Trnmbcll, Stl!art, and other notables who 

sketche<l him at the different periods of his career_ Thero wero 

J~ of th~nt covering almost all the walls of the room anJ repre· 

senti~g the great chieftain from the year 1772 to 1798. There 

are copies by the Peales, Werthmuller, Brehan, Gulagher and 

one by Lieut. Parker of the Guards-which pictures Washing--

ton as an invalid with bandaged throat, and is s3icl to bear a 

dose resemblance to the original. In every room of the house 

there is som<-thing interesting to be found, and to enumerate 

would occupy too much time and spaoe, but all more or less associate~ with the story of the ocoupancy of the old headquarters 

by Washington. The collection of portraits and engraving-s, I 

understand, was the gift of Julius 1'. Sache, the well-known 

writer and &ntiquary 

Pa.,ing into !be log-cobin one i< to!J <>f the myster!ou< 

tunnel, ta.ve or dung~n. or whatever it may be-that lies beneath it. Lights are brought and the guirle pilots the way down 

a <lark, damp stairway into a diomal subternnean chamb<T OOQie 

thirty odd feet below tbe surface, and tell u, of the local tTadi· 

tion which asser<s that from it a secret passage lead to lhc 

Sdmolkill river and offered a means of escape in an emergency. 

To me the ,·~ult apreueJ to have been used as a millr room 

suoh a> m:m} of the farmers have on their pr._.,;,., to cool the 

60 

• 

• 

• 
" 

~unoq~ s.>ouq pu~ '"'l'"H ·uOJ)lpuoJ PI!"' ~ "! >1 >JEJ<> J>l-lEJ 

O<[l JO ~)\lj~ '0\-,h,>Jtl)OLJ pu• ~U!OU~l)U.> ,(.l.A <! .(l)LonOO :hu 

-puno.uns >q1 J" l! lllOJJ MO)A >ql pw 'pA>J ~"" >Aoq• p>J oct' 

100q• JO Opnl<ll" U~ s~q .\of 'lj~ JO l)WWM 0\j,L UO!l"JlJ!:JA 

pu• .lO<jU;t) <JmO> lj)L\1 U.\\OJJh>AO tpnW lj1lL1041 pJMOUOJ A[l~ 

'"" .{Ot[l pun '•p•mdd• 'l.""" .{J[[",\ >ql 01 l\!'l >ljl JO Odoj< "-' 

·""" "'II puno•• .\pmu> pu>1x0 <>U<[ >L[~ ·o:'lpu >ql ]•' l!wwn 

>ql UO [JUEU>OO.n Ol[l Ul >'!J0,\1-Ijllr<l Ol[l uodn >WO>--P>I\e 

£jjO>Oj '! •w]>U! '"II ""-li'H '•""'"-) iic<~j>U>><• ~uc 'aO<I"·U> 

-J.I OLjl ;p;mq 'P!'l"' p•OH l[d[n~ jJ]O 041 jO h.v.. .\q <>UlOl[ p>tUnl' 

·OJ j >pUM.l~-dtu.o pjO "'ll 01 1!>!-' .:w P·'l'"i'""' :lu!·'"l! 

·AI!l"""l "'ll lU oon~J\lj '"""'"-' 

·UO> >WOS 01 yo PJlJ.O ltj 4>!4" <II""! uouu•> JO >UOI ]•.l~.;>S 

-!""' '! 1! 'do J>l[l~~ >t[ l! ••>P 01 u~:>q puTI 'puno.r:l dweo 

>41 jO UO!J>Od S!l[ jO UOJ>S>«Od ~00) <000[ S>lll<[ U>4:\\ 

··;;~ql•P' J 4'P!r\ -'"4 

,iq AJ)Unoo '!4l 01 )ljliL1oJq >'>-" '"4' J>)<>»O.\\ [•.(Ol{ puo ~.ITIM 

UOjqUQ JO ou>wo.o.ds JU~ JWC>S U.\\04< 0>[0 SOA\ J ·,(o1q11y ~\)\) 

·")-JO)'!' pu< '.I<>lj)OW >J>ql lllO.IJ UO~O.I <Jlll W pn<[ JO S)Je.I) 

100-'~ J![l ]'JJU>l[UI Ol[" uu<>.J P'"'l'!ll pu• setuoq~ ruO.IJ sp»p 

om pJ."OliS >qc; "SUO!)OPOll <I! JO >m<<;; pu• >W!l 0) >tll<l WOJj 

"I)Ol ill SOl!u"ljO Ol[l 01 l!U!J<I<>1 ''"1"-'!i--!Od OW "·'"~ .(lsnO->>U>ll 

OljS .,,(.1> ~UOl'l4 dSOljl OO!U> <UOd oe•s[ WO>) JJj'llOJ) ~ _{q 

.\jJOdOJd '-'"J'"nbpeJ\j Oljl JO "Ol)JOJ e )0 po,>O>Sa<l OWUJ"'\ ''4-" 

><>llO[ ''""" f J 0 J>1![~nep[!urJl! U "S,\\01( '"ll"H 'S-'J\ JO dWOl] "41 

<; .\q '""X -'""'""o'""' "'I' ~u!mP l~l'd'"'l u '" uo\Su<4S"I!A\ 

.(lj pO>Il <o" ~UlPJ\nq >lljl : ~ll!ll"·"l' >~l ;~ >1qrmp se -'1~"! 

-WO>> poe >llO)< JU O·J• '! '!ll_l '>O>'lUOJd SilO.{ Olj) 01 pO~UOJ 

·>q .([l""';'!uo 4"''-1·" u.oq j>]O >ql spur:<-UU!l"·'-''"'' >41 JO 

)Jed opew 1m• pomtbo~ .([JU»>J .(uodO.ld eutumrpu >ql ua<l.l 

-~ oeJOO~ .lllU ,\q U->~U) J0.\1 JO >>lqdOJ) Oql OJ>.\\ ><>q) .(j)ll<> ... l' 

-d'\' 'jiJ <>~JOOC) )D j>CI:lJS jdOJ >qJt)l\ll p>qJ>O>UiljOro liOUU.!. 

0.\\) OJ~UUJ)UO UOelU dljl O)tsoo:ldo 'lUOJ) ll! U.l\UI Oljl llQ ' 

·dn P'll"'' 

l! o) OJUel)\l> Ol]l pue P"'""'"P '"" ollu><"d Ol[l .(llodoJd "''' 

qlinOJlll A~.I'·)O-lq~l1 '1! Jn> pUOJ]lUJ "'ll ""'1-" mq ·op<>H.\\J 

01[1 oo ,\\Oj>UOlU >Ill ll! ttnJdS r Ol pe01 >·' eq o; 1!1"· ·! \0']\ o3e«ffi 

u 01 ·'"''"""'" P·'""" ""'"·"·"'"I' . .,,_,""'1 >uo '"I' ''I wru 

• 

• 

• 
Gordon 

' 

. LL\(1 getting mer ot " 'en diiticBlt l he redoubt' are wll ,.,.;ble 

ami may ~a,ly be iound. lu a portio" r,f !he lowlanrls, now 

abandoneJ f.eld•-liocrc are ;aio.l lv k noany grave' of tho 

soldiers who peri;hed from e~posare or died from their wounds, 

or Collld not recover !rom the desperate .osults of the preceding 

eampaogn. Of the'e onl; d few mou:l<h ha\e ben found, as 

many were hastily buried and no 1 race IS no"· left oi the place of 

their interment. Fort Huntnogdon lie> t1e>r the Port Kennedy 

road, it> slopes and breast-work> are well pre,.,-veJ, but it tno, 

i,; 1nll hidden b) forest growth. The Star Redoubt n easily 

><en !com the road;Ede .1nd seems to )Jaye stoifercd Ice< from the 

processes oi nature than the other nHI,nr:• iorm• uf defense. 

Here anJ there Otl the somh >h>p<,; may be >ccn an occasional 

rit where once the sol<lie"' hms had •tood. 

From tlw hetghts al>o1c one loob down npon a ;pot where 

the _-\merican "amlanl p•oudly float, onr the quaint old home 

ne<thng in tbe ""'!llcstered nle. I linger awhile to commune 

witll a ;;pirit "-hicll tells oi a J<Stin;- ior it 1\ hiclt a nation will 

b'llard, Jefeml ami iwnor sudt as no othcc >111'ine in c\merica will 

rece"·e- A <lay wben its precious memories ''ill be tt''"'ed and 

commcmurated thrcughontthe land-for here man~· a vetotan 

snffcced ~n<l famished ond then turne<l out on Ins last review, 

and >OillC to lie there ioo alltunc~a lmman ;aerifi<e to freedom, 

and foe libccty for the oppre'Sed ui every land. 'fhi< i; the 

legaq he ~--r-eaths to p05terit)·-that these beatniful ground• 

may !Je hd<1 in remembrance of them and become an object uf 

lo1·e in e.en- patri~(ic llear-r, that those who ace living today may 

defend and enjoy the hle-,illg> for which they fought a11d \Jied 

am! Ji~d-th<;e con>eccate<lhcroe, of \'aile,- Fme;e. 

Smyth, 

o> 

"The Valley 

Prepared 

v (1925), 

Forge Reservation," 

For the Historical 

3 7 6 - 8"i"":'" 

62 

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CHAPTER THREE 

ESTABLISHMENT OF VALLEY FORGE STATE PARK: 1893 

• 

• 

63 
• 

• 

• 

During the 1880s and early 1890s various efforts were undertaken to have 

the Valley Forge encampment area established as a public park. S . 

Gordon Smyth, in a paper presented to the Historical Society of 

Montgomery County in 1925, stated: 

From time to time, as public sentiment urged the matter, 

appeals to the people of the State and to the country at 

large--were made toward obtaming legislative, or such 

Congressional action as would make Valley Forge a public 

charge and place it above a mere hand-to-mouth existence. 

Public opin1on clearly demonstrated the necessity beyond the 

question of doubt that it not only should be, but that it 

was--the duty of the State to take under its protection these 

honored grounds, and not the little old house only--but the 

entire site of the encampment--some hundreds of acres, which 

would include the earthworks, entrenchments, forts and other 

points of historic interest in the local1ty .... (1) 

After a number of unsuccessful attempts to have the encampment area 

protected and preserved as a public park, Francis Mark Brooke, an 

aggressive state legislator and House committee chairman from 

Philadelphia, began a successful campaign to have Valley Forge 

established as a state park. Aided by "the public press of the city and 

State, and by the arguments of influential citizens," Brooke succeeded in 

getting a bill through the legislature and signed by Governor Robert E. 

Pattison on May 30, 1893, creating Valley Forge State Park, the first 

such entity in Pennsylvania.(2 ) 

The law, entitled "An Act Providing for the acquisition by the State of 

certain ground at Valley Forge for a public park, and making an appropriation therefor," had several key provisions. Section 1 stated: 

That for the purpose of perpetuating and preserving the site 

on which the Continental Army under which General George 

Washington was encamped in winter quarters at Valley Forge 

during the winter, one thousand seven hundred and seventyseven and one thousand seven hundred and seventy-eight, the 

title to and ownership in the ground cover1ng said site, 

including Forts Washington and Huntingd[t]on, and the 

entrenchments adjacent thereto, and the adjoining grounds, in 

1. Smyth, "The Valley Forge Reservation," 371. 

2. Ibid., 371-72, and Beatrice Ward Nelson, State Recreation: Parks, 

Forests and Game Preserves (Washington, 192~ p. 224. In March 

Brooke had a map of a portion of the Valley Forge encampment area 

prepared as part of his effort to secure passage of the legislation. A 

copy of this map may be seen on the following page. For more data on 

the establishment and development of the park during its early years one 

should refer to the excellent Newspaper Clippings File, Valley Forge 

Park, at the Chester County Historical Soc1ety, West Chester, 

Pennsylvania. 

66 
.. 

PLAN 

PORTION ~· 

OFTHE -\ 

/?erolul"ionar:r .... .-.CamPGround 

•• r 

· 1!4/.LEY FOJ«i£ · 

.YI'OWTNli TN£ 

En/n?nchmcnfs. 

K'edoubls.&c.Hlvcvn. 

March 1893 

__ , _ 

• 

66 

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·--

• ••• 

• 

• •• 

c 0 

•" ... ~·~ 

• 

< 

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• 

all not exceeding two hundred and fifty acres, but not 

including therein the property known as Washington's 

headquarters and now owned by the Centennial and Memorial 

Association of Valley Forge, the location and boundaries thereof 

to be fixed by the Commissioners hereafter mentioned, shall be 

vested in the State of Pennsylvania, to be laid out, preserved 

and maintained, forever, as a public place or park by the name 

of Valley Forge, so that the same and the fortifications thereon 

may be maintained as nearly as possible in their original 

condition as a military camp, and may be preserved for the 

enjoyment of the people of said State. 

Section 2 provided for the appointment of a ten-person commission to be 

appointed by the governor to administer the park. The commissioners 

were to serve five-year terms without compensatiOn. The commissioners 

were to organize annually in June, electing a president and a secretary 

each year. 

The remain1ng sections contained provisions for the acquisition of park 

lands by purchase or condemnation and an appropriation of $25,000 for 

such acquisition "and making the said forts and entrenchments accessible 

to the public." After securing possession of the grounds, the 

commissioners were to "adopt plans for the improvement, preservation and 

maintenance" of the property. While the commissioners were given the 

power to execute these plans and had supervisory authority over all 

funds spent in improving and operating the park, no contracts for 

improvements could be made "unless an appropriation therefor shall have 

been first made by the Legislature." Once the grounds were secured by 

the state, they could be used at any time "as a camping ground for the 

National Guard of Pennsylvania." When directed by the governor, acting 

as commander-in-chief, the commissioners were "to make all necessary 

arrangements for such camps, to provide for sufficient water supply and 

drainage, and during such camps to relinquish to the commanding officer, 

for the time being, all police control over and through the said park and 

grounds."(J) 

Governor Pattison appointed the members of the Valley Forge commission 

on June 8. The list included: 

Joel J. Bailey, Philadelphia 

John Cadwallader, Philadelphia 

Charles C. Harrison, Philadelphia 

3. "An Act for the acquisition by the State of certain ground 

at , and appropriation therefor," 

Park l9D6, pp. 6-8. The 

seen A. Pennsylvania had 

no enabling act for the purchase state park land. Thus, this 

bdl served as the prototype for the creation of subsequent state parks, 

each established by a separate act of the state legislature. Nelson, State 

Recreation, p. 224 . 
Samuel Hartranft, Fort Washington 

Frederick D. Stone, Philadelphia 

Dan1el W. Howard, West Chester 

Henry A. Muhlenburg, Reading 

1. Heston Todd, Port Kennedy 

William Wayne, Paoli 

Francis M. Brooke, Philadelphia 

The commissioners met for organi<:atlonal purposes at the commission office 

1n the headquarters of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania in 

Philadelphia on June 17, electing Brooke as president and Stone as 

secretary. Thereafter, they made the following appointments: 

William C. Hannis, general counsel 

Henry Freed ley and Edward F. Kane, associate counsels for 

Montgomery County 

William M. Hayes, associate counsel for Chester County 

L. M. Houpt, englneer(4) 

4. "Report of the Valley Forge Commission, 1894," in 

of Valley Forge Park Commission for the Years 

(Harrisburg, 1907), p. 5. Brooke and Stone were 

respective positions in June 1894. Also seeS. K. Stevens, "Pennsylvania 

History--Past, Present and Future," Pennsylvania History, XVII (April, 

1950), 95-96. Until 1911 the commission secretary served 1n the dual 

capacity as park superintendent. See the following page for a list of the 

Valley Forge State Park superintendents. 

68 

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• 
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• 

LIST OF VALLEY FORGE STATE PARK SUPERINTENDENTS 

1883-95 

1895-98 

1898-1903 

1903-11 

1911-21 

1921-24 

1925-35 

1935-38 

1938-40 

1940-41 

1941-53 

1953-55 

1955-57 

1957-58 

1958-66 

1966-69 

1969-71 

1971-76 

69 

Frederu;;k D. Stone 

Holstein DeHaven 

Charles c. Adams 

A. H. Bowen 

Col. S. S. Hartranft 

John S. Kennedy 

Jerome J. Sheas 

Gilbert S. Jones 

Joseph E. Stott 

E. F. Brouse 

L. Ralph Phillips 

Paul E. Felton 

George F. Kenworthy 

Wilford P. Moll 

E. C. Pyle 

Wilford P. Moll 

Charles C. Frost, Jr. 

Horace Willcox 
• 

APPENDIX 

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71 
• 

• 

• 

APPENDIX A 

.\::<! .\("!' 

Provl~ln~ lor the ooqto,.Uioo h> the Stoto or cortaln Rl'oun" Bl Vnll•> l'o•·•• 

lor a pul•lk 1•n•·k. nnol nonk1n~ "" ""'""'"'"llon tl"''"'"''-

l:k•"tlonl. Uc• It <'uat!nd, <«·., 'l'h:ll r,,. llw ]JUl'l"'"" ot l"'"l"'tuatillg 

nmll'l'O'<'t'l'ing tlo~ situ'"' whido the• C'nllthu·ulal .hill)' l1Uilcl' whicl! 

Oen<·1-nl Cl<•<a·gc W:L>hiu;;tm• "''" ''"'"''"'1"''1 iu ~~-i<tl•·•· 'I'""''"'" al 

\';Lih·y ]•'"'"!;~ ,ILu·iiJ~ ll~t• wiul<•o·, om• !110U"""' ~··Vull lnnulL<•tl a1ul 

oev~nty-<<'H'll au<! ""'' llonu><oonl ,,.,.,.,. lnuuln•d allll """''"()' t•i~:ht, 

1 he ll\l" to mod "" m•L·~hij• ill lh~ g<·umul t·on•dug snit! •ite, indtulilll( 

Fol'l• Wnshingtou and Hnntingdon, ftll<l the <'UIJ'L'UdnuPnt• atljllCent 

thereto, nn<l th<• adjoinil•).[ gt·mnnls, iu all not ~xcce~in:; two hun· 

dred nud nrty ,,..,.,.,, hnl not indnolin:; tlwL·o·in tlw I"'"I""''IJ know 

us \Vu~hlugl.,n"• lu•ad<ltlaL'klo L\Ll<l n<LW U\\LIL"OI L)" 1\t<" Co•ILIL•llnial 

IIILtl Mconol"lal.\•""''ialiuu ur \'alk.< J•"u<;.:••, llw h"'aliLJu and Louml· 

nl'i~a th~o·eo! to he H,,.,] I>J the Oouuui~,i•LL""''" ],.,.,.arlo-•· LLL<·LLiiOLL•"•l, 

•h:tll Ill• ,., ·•I, •ol i 11 llw .'<Ia lo• uf 1'<"1111",\'1 1 '"1i:L, I u k !.1 icl on I, Vl"<""''<"Vml 

nod umiotuine<~ f<Wt""''"• n~ 11 pul!li<· phu·c m· pm·k by the Lmouc ol 

Valley Foq;\", oo that the BLlHLO nu<l fht> fodi!l..;1tions thN·con ""'Y b<· 

mninlaiu<•ol "" tn•ou·ly "" l"'·'•il•l•· in thl"i•· oo·i~:iual <·ondition na a 

militu<'y t·amp, nn<l may be VL"L'"'"n'c<l fUl' the enjjoyLucut of the pcu· 

ph· <>f snit] Rtote . 

Li;<•<·tiOLL 2. 'J'\mt leu ti\i,PII" nf !lie ::!tale IJU appoilll<"d \Jy the tlOV· 

,.,.,01" f,.,. U11• t,.,., .. .,r n,.. ·''"'"""• \\'II<> :n·,.\a•L"<'by c·ou•tiluto<l oonnnls· 

sione•·• of sni<lpad<. Ao ofl<•\\ ""a vacaLLcy Mc\\ra, cithec· by exph·a· 

litOI< <>f l<'J'ILl UL' u]IL<•L'\\i"'•• ill<' (1<>\'<"L"IIIW lll:t)' fill Ntio\1'1\l":tli<',Y, PilhPL" 

fuo• nnoth<'l' t<•L"\11 <>t liL"" yt•n•·• Ol" fut· llw cXJ<h•ed tl'L'ILL n• thu m<•u 

IU•<J' !oo•. 'I'lL!" >ail] t'IOLL<IHix~i<>H<'I"" 'hHII "1')\"a<li,<", <lliiLLJ:Lily, 011 (\Ll' 

flo•st Mou<lay of Juuc, loy the ek•"llo11 of 1\ Jll'l'~idcut <LH<l !leCl"e!I\L'j' to 

S!"l'\'t" (Lil' '""" .n•no•, hut llu•y •lo:oll o·c•r·.,ive no POILljl<'ll'ntinLL fm• thl"it' 

aeo·>·it·<· "" conunisstouet•s 

i'io·o·liuu ::. 'l'l"'llh<' ""'""'"" .,f Ito<• '>Lioli(L'HlLLLtl b) tlw llo·~t ••·clioll 

of thb ad "I'Jli'O]>L"i:<lt•<l foo· pnhlie pHI'JlO•t•s, shall lm puitl fot· the 

""""'loy lht• I'Halt• u/ l't•<Lu~.<·]\·alli:L act·u•·<lilLI( to llw valuu wlLich •hall 

lw aa•·ell;tin<·<l h)' a jLL•·.v of <li•iutPL'<""l<•cl fn·<•hohi~L·s to be appoint<-~ 

Ly Ute t'OLn·L (I( 'L'""'I<•L· ~~~•ioLL" nf U«• <"O!lLJ!y in which •aiel ~,.,.LJLLtl• 

li<·, "I'"" lilt• pdilinLL or lht• ""i<l ''"'""'i""i""'"'·~; :tLL<l if till' "niol]Wii· 

liOILl't"S ~]"']I delay ]'l'lilio>lliUI(, LO> ;ofm·p•;oi<i, fot' !ht• Jll't'iUJ Of .i.dy 

<Ia)" "flt•o· lwli<·•• ;, ;:in•LL nf thril· taldu~ po.<•<"~"ion of •aitl);L'OU!LLl, 

tlwu sui<l juo•y •ltall ~e nppoin(<"<l upou thP [<l'tiliou of L\11.)' pcl'SOU 

""""'" 1"."1""'"1,1' •lo:<ll h .. "" lal<t•n: l'o·uvitlo•tl hol\'<"l('l", 'l'h:ol iu uny 

cnst• tho "''hi <·omLLLi""loLLPl'" may '""ll"liutc nud u~;o·ct• with tlw o<vnet·a 

of <Lit,•· pa< I ur ,_,,;,] g<·uu<l<l• "" I<> lh•• po·h·P lht'L"t"Of, :lllll •nitl jHicu 

•hUll bP l"t'JlLlL'!N\ to t•OUL'I or <]LLJL!"It•J' ••·••IOLLR, 1\Lili lr ILJ>!'l"OVC<) 11\ld 

t•<•Hii!"JIL<'t] h,l" "LLitl ('lJLLI·(, •halll<t• hioaliut: Ull "oLio] ~ILL It·: JLLLLl]H'tJVltlt•~ 

fm·th<•1·, 'J"hnl wlocn<•n•t· it shall be nP<·<·H•ao•y to huvu L"t•coon·••• to 11 

jm·y lu "'*''"' ll<t•thLL<WI(<'" rou· ""J J""Jl'"L"IY tu l.oc l;ok,·n, "" <Lfu•·•·•aid, 

73 
By-Laws 

tln• ~:dol jnr.> _,].,ll n•ll•i~l of """h 11\lllobel·, 11!1~ •ltallJfl•Oocetl, lln~ 

lh<·io· a\l"'ll'd •hall liP,.,,,;,.,,,,] anol enfoo'l'c<l iu lit<• .:L1llC onanlll'l' "~ 

nO\\ JH'o>·ilh•olloy lnw ih 1111· lnl<inr; of lnml Cot• the opening of •·ond~ 

ilL s"hl ''"""'·'• an(\ Jlw Slllll of lwr•nty·l\vt• lhOlL"''"<i <lollao·,, ot· so 

llLIH'h !IO<'l'<"Uf "' llLO) h" lll'l'l''"·ll")', '" ht•l"cl>y H[ll'l'iJI1·.11Jy .1\IJlL'O[H'iait•d 

for lht• I""'' Ito."• of <'OittlPmllnlion mon<·_y of •ni<l Inn<\" nml mal; in;: 

the sai,l ful'lo ant! <'lllo·t·ll•-h«LI'"I" at'l''""ildc to the pnUiic \Jy """IL 

ll\1'0111S ,,S 1\lol,\' bt• o]CI'lll~c1 ltl'CI'SMl")-', nnll fol' the IIC<'l''""'')-' CXJWfisCS 

in.-ioh•,l lh(•,·l'lo. 

,.;,.,.I iuto ·1. TI"L l I Itt• ''"'"'" ;,~;., ,,., ~ "f llw •a ill park, "f(,.,. IIL<•y ><hall 

hal'c .,., . .,,.,.,] I"'""~""Bion or tht• ""i<l fl•·onn•l", •hall aclopt I' I""" rot· 

the inopt·o··~nwnt, pt'<'&on-nlion Ltntl ""ti"l"""""'' lh,.,-,.or, l\11<\ shnH 

hm-c J!O\H'l' lo em·o·y tlte snuw into <'-'<'t"utiou, nne! nil mom·y• ~xpcu•h·cl ~\Hill I><• nml~t' tlwil' ""1"'\'l'i"iou; but no eontrnct~ 1<hnll b~ 

l\ln<lc fol' "'till illl]ll'llYCmt•nt lll<lt•" an '<J>Jll"YIII'i.oliun lblll~·l<n· •l•nTI 

hn<"C bPI'll flt·"t tllndo by thP J.o•gisl~tut·c. 

t;,.cliou ~- Artc1· lh<' suitiJ!l'UOtliscB •l•ulllmvc, a• n!m·cs"hl, P""""ol 

inln tltP l'"'~""'i"n .,r tk l'<>lllll<PUWo·;tl[il, th,.y ""'Y nl any liHLc <>I' 

times het·cufler ~c LIHCd ns a C;liL!J>ill): )!;L'Ound fot· the ;o-latimonl Gn""d 

of l't'llll"J'll'nH[a. \VIII•"c'l'\'l' the UU\c\'IL0\'1 adi111: n• lJULl\Lil<LUJ<·I'·illCltit•f sltall oi,",~·t'l ""icl t•ommi'"iollc·o·" tn opt•n lhc gt·omul~ nu<lp;u·k 

h"' ' llw at·o-ull\LIIU<hLli<>JJ of lh<" blli<l ~-:na<·J, ot' nny ~oo•liou thct·cal, It 

sltall he the 1Jnty or t h<1 ""'"'" i"io,,.,., to Ill HI«· "ll ,,.,.,."~"''Y m·o·a ~~~~·· 

"""''" r~•- 0111·11 -awp~, lo l"'"''ili<• fm •nlll<·il'llt walt•!' ""l'I'IY nud 

<\L-aiJLHf(l', L\ILII ,]tu·irLfl ~11.-l< 1'""'1'" to l'l'iill<lllisll to llll• ''-'"""'""liu~; 

olli<"<'l-, (ut· lite Ji"'" L,.j,.~, ntl polk<· o·unto·ol Ol't•o• nnd tiLt'Ollg:l< th~ 

snid put'i; nn<l g:o·ouo"l". 

'J'hc •• ,;~ nppt•npdnthnt to be l'nill on the Wl\l"<'Ulll of tlw Au~ilO!· 

G<'ll~ral o11 a •~llh·lllt'lll tnn<lo• by hill< ll!Jd tlw Statu 'l't·c•a••u·ot•, hiLt 

no WHl'L':tnl shall Ill' tlo·awn "" "'·lll<·liH•lLI llllllh• unlit n,.. ''"'"'";,. 

~iotu•t·~ of •ai<ljH\1-l: H)HLII hal'" L11n<ll', \1\\1\t-l' OLI!h to till' o\U~Jtm· UUU· 

cml, u repo1·t coutuini11g a spr·<·iftcally it~miocd stnt,•nwut of tlte 

cn•t Of •aid !;TOUJHJ ~Ill\ il1lj!l'O\'I•L\lo•llls, nud the M\UC ls tl)JjiL'O\'Col by 

him Ond tlw Si;tl!' 1.'t·~ns\\l'<'l", lHl\' until th~ 1't•t•no>tt'N' •ltn\1 luwc 

sullidc•llt u<OII<')' iu lhc· 'L'J·t•a""''i uul othc•t•wis" Rlliii'U~I'iutc~, to 

pny the nutount •l"e sai~ commi•"ionm·s und<•o· this "''t; a111l '"lC"· 

pcu~··<l halam·~• 11 f "'""'' "l'l"·opl'iatod lot· •vceiHc J!U<"lJOS<'S shull 

110 t be"""'\ fm• oll!!'r ptli'J'O"~"• whrth~t· •1wclflc oo• g<•u<"l'Rl, noHl ohnl\ 

I'UYI'J't to:> the ~tut" 'l'l'l"lijUl'J ut the c:lose of the ll•cnl yono·•· 

ApJ"·oved-The :JUth olny of May, .\. D. 189~. 

UOII'l'. E. 1'.\T'l'l>iO:>J. 

of the --- Valley Forge Park Commission, 1906, pp. 68. 

• 

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• 
• 

• 

• 

CHAPTER FOUR 

VALLEY FORGE STATE PARK ADMINISTERED AS AN INDEPENDENT 

COMMONWEALTH AGENCY: 1893-1923 
• 

• 

• 

A, INTRODUCTION 

From its creation by the Pennsylvania state legislature by the Act of May 

30, 1893, to November 3, 1923, Valley Forge State Park was administered 

by an independent commonwealth agency known officially as the 

Commissioners of Valley Forge Park. During this 30-year period the 

presiding officer of the commissioners was the "president," and the 

commission received its appropriated funds directly from the General 

Assembly. These funds were deposited in a banking institution of the 

commission's selection and payments were disbursed through its own 

voucher system, subject to audit by the Auditor General.(1) 

B. EARLY WORK OF THE VALLEY FORGE PARK COMMISSION: 

1893-1900 

The first order of business for the commission was the determination of 

the boundaries of the park. Thus, L.M. Houpt, the commission's 

engineer, made "a careful topographical survey (a copy of which may be 

seen on the following page) of all of the ground between the Schuylkill 

river, the Valley Creek, and a line extending from the former to the 

latter along the Washington Lane, showing ten feet contours, with 

property lines, owners, names, &c." to provide "full knowledge of the 

location and surroundings of the entrenchments and redoubts." Using 

this map, together with repeated visits to Valley Forge, the commission 

established the boundaries (amounting to 217.582 acres) for the park, a 

description of the courses and distances of which may be seen in 

Appendix A. 

Once the boundaries of the park were determined, the Valley Forge 

commissioners began the task of land acquisition. According to the 

"Report of Valley Forge Commission, 1894" the land acquisition process 

was lengthy and complicated, primarily because the local landowners 

attempted to sell their property at prices in excess of the estimated 

values. The commissioners noted: 

Having served formal notice upon the several owners of the 

lands taken, the Commission "endeavored to negotiate and agree 

with the owners as to the price thereof," as provided by the 

Act, but falled to do so because the prices asked were in 

excess of the values that were foxed by those who, in the 

opinion of the Commissioners, were competent to estimate their 

values. Except in the case of the tract owned by Edwin Moore, 

which was purchased at eighty dollars per acre, and the 

purchase having been approved by the court, title was taken 

for the State. 

Thereafter, 

other lands, 

commission "proceeded 

jurors duly appointed 

to ascertain the values of the 

for the purpose, in accordance 

of the Valley Forge Park Commission, Commonwealth of 

1921 1927, p. 4. 

n 
To>o;ropnlroll'!JI• 

~ ...... R[lf0Wli(INAI1Y lAMP GRllU~OS ., ,_., VALLEY fORGE 

Pm>~~"'"' 

-· """ ~·"""' = .,. '-~··· ... •· tit norrm:! 

\ 

* 

• 

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• 

78 
• 

• 

• 

with the further provision of the Act." The report of the Chester 

County jury on lands was submitted on March 27, 1894, and that for 

Montgomery County on October 12, 1894. The totals for the land taken 

were: 

Area Awards Per Acre 

Chester County 5. 913 acres $ 1,000 $ 169. 

Montgomery County 211.669 acres $28 578 $ 135 . " 01 

Total 217.582 acres $29' 578 $ 135.94 

Although the awards were "in excess of the values 

for the State, 11 the commissioners hastened to 

averaged "much less than halt those asked by 

testified to by their witnesses before the jurors." 

land acquisition transactions for the 217.582 acres 

for three cases in which the landowners had 

awards.(2) 

fixed by the witnesses 

point out that they 

the land owners and 

By December 1894 all 

were completed except 

appealed their jury 

In their annual report in December 1894 the Valley Forge commissioners 

proposed the extension of the park boundaries and the "making of such 

roads and paths as would make the entrenchments and redoubts 

accessible." They recommended that an additional 20.0 acres "lying 

between the Valley Creek, the Washington Lane and the Reading Railroad, 

except the property known as Washington's Headquarters" be taken by 

the state at an estimated cost of $50,000. The commissioners also urged 

the construction of "a broad avenue or drive way along the whole outer 

line, which extended from near the Valley Creek, a few hundred yards 

south of the Washington redoubt, in a southeasterly direction to the 

Schuylkill river near Port Kennedy." Along this line "nine of the 

fourteen brigades" at Valley Forge had been encamped. Such an avenue 

would "effectually mark the outer line and also afford an opportunity for 

the Colonial States to permanently mark the camps of their several 

troops." The estimated cost of this road, together with the cost of 

maintaining it and the roads already within the boundaries of the park, 

was set at $10,000. The commissioners concluded: 

'· of 

Tii. 

ocd m,,;j, rg:,::;~~~;:~~: ~";,,;; while the land juries were 

the Valley Forge Park Commission, 

Valley Forge State Park Records, VAFO 

land acquisition program may be found in the 

the Valley Forge Park CommiSSIOn, April 5, 

December 6, 1894, ibid . 

79 

Report of the of 

1, 1894, Record Group 2, 

i Other details of the 

Reports of the President of 

June 4, November 1, and 
That with the boundaries enlarged as above suggested, there 

will be neither difficulty or delay in securing the interest and 

effective attention of the States and of the Nation through their 

several constituted authorities, to this historic spot. That the 

Colonial States will permanently mark with appropriate memorials 

the camps of their several brigades, and the Nation will erect 

on the summit of Mount Joy which is w1thin the inner or second 

line of entrenchments, a high, rugged, battlemented tower, 

surmounted with a colossal bronze figure of a private soldier oF 

the Revolutionary Army. Such a tower will afford an 

opportunity to see the whole camp ground and its surroundings 

and at the same time, be a land mark, visible in every direction 

for many miles.(3) 

In October 1894 the Valley Forge commissioners, aided by the Historical 

Society of Pennsylvania, beg<m a national effort to acquire historical 

materials relating to Valley Forge. The materials they were especially 

interested 1n obtaining included "unpublished original documents" or 

"copies" of "orderly-books, diaries, letters, and maps, for preservation 

and for the further elucidation" of the history of the encampment.(4) 

To protect the interests of the state Ellis R. H<~mpton, a stew<~rd of the 

Centennial and Memorial Association, W<ls appointed <IS park watchman in 

November 1894. His duties included guarding state property, preventing 

local landowners from cutting trees on lands within the authorized state 

boundaries, watching for and putting out grass fires on and near park 

lands, and clearing "underbrush from along the front of the 

entrenchments so as to make them conveniently accessible."(5) 

Little in the way of development occurred at Valley Forge during 1895 and 

1896, primarily because the Valley Forge Park Commission was hindered 

by inadequate funding. On July 3, 1895, the state legislature passed a 

bill appropriating $10,000 to pay for the purchase of the lands already 

taken by the state and authorizing the commissioners to accept for the 

state "gifts of money or land and to permit the United States of America 

3. "Report of the Valley Forge 

of Valley 

Also see 

Biography, 

4. "Notes and 

Biography, XVIII 

Queries," 

(October, 

Magazine of History "' 

5. Reports of the President of the Valley Forge Park Commission, 

February 1, November 1, and December 6, 1894, RG 2, VAFO Archives. 

A copy of the "articles of agreement" for Hampton's employment, dated 

May 21, 1900, were found in Correspondence, Record Group 46, Records 

of the Valley Forge Park CommisSion, Division of Archives and 

Manuscripts, Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC), 

Harrisburg, and may be seen in Appendi)( B. 

80 

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• 

• 

• 

or any of the States thereof to erect monuments or other memorials on the 

grounds acquired for said Park."(6) Despite this appropriation, the 

excess in the cost of the awards for land over the original appropriation 

of $25,000, the increase of the verdicts over the awards in the property 

cases that were appe<!led, and the expenses of the court litigation nearly 

exhausted the appropriation. Available funds for Valley Forge State Park 

were so sparse that Ellis R. Hampton, the park watchman, was sometimes 

forced to carry out his duties without PiiY. 

No additional appropriation was forthcoming in 1896, except for some 

minimal funding to cover incurred obligations. Thus, the commissioners 

observed in December 1896 that "no substantial progress has been made 

during the last two years." They noted some of the most urgent 

problems resulting from the lack of state financial support: 

. This cessation of the work undertaken by the State and 

approved by the people of the whole country as an indication 

that Pennsylvilni<! recognizes the obligation imposed upon her by 

the possession of such historic grounds as those of Valley 

Forge and Gettysburg, is much to be regretted. The 

organization throughout the United States everywhere of 

Coloniill ilnd Revolutionary Societies is an evidence that the 

people are taking il deep interest tn the scenes of those 

eventful periods. . It is of the greatest Importance !hilt 

the whole of the ground included within the encampment should 

be acquired by the Stilte so that some general plan mily b" 

devised, just alike to a!!, the truth of history be maintained, 

and the marking of the localities be not left to the chance of 

disconnected efforts. 

The effect of renewed gener<!l interest in this historic camp, 

fo!!owed by efforts upon the p<!rt of states and perhaps 

individuals to secure possess1on of portions of the grounds, 

must be to er~hance the value of them, and this furrlishes 

arJother reason why Pennsylvania would be wise to act now and 

not await the uncertainties of the future. 

Vil!ley Forge is one of the very few camps where some of the 

entrenchments thrown up by the sold1ers of the Revolution have 

been preserved substantially as they were originally. E<1ch 

year, however, brings a largely increased number of interested 

visitors, and it has become the custom not only of piltriotic but 

sociill and other orgilnizations to make pilgrimages to Valley 

Forge. The Commission is unable to make roads for want of 

means, ilnd therefore these people we<!r p<~ths and walks over 

the entrenchments themselves. With the best of motives they 

work an lrrep<~r<~ble injury. 

6. A copy of this bill may be seen in Appendix C . 
It is hoped that in memory of the deeds of Wayne and Mifflin 

and Muhlenberg, and the many brave men who followed them, 

and for the credit of our State, which is Charged with a duty 

because of her great achievements in the past, requires that 

this Commission be supplied with the necessary funds .... 

The commissioners repeated their earlier recommendations to expand the 

state park boundaries and construct roads and paths to make the historic 

remains of the encampment more accessible to the public. They also 

added a proposal urging state acquisition of "such Redoubts, Picket 

Posts, Burial Places, &c., within the lines of historic interest as may be 

desirable to preserve. "(7) 

Although little money was available for development of the park, the 

historic sites in the encampment area were attracting increasing attention 

from the public during the late 1890s. The condition and significance of 

the historic fortifications and earthworks associated with the Valley Forge 

encampment were described by Ellwood Roberts, a local historian, in a 

paper presented to the Historical Society of Montgomery County on 

September 16, 1896. He observed: 

Nothing strikes the visitor to Valley Forge more forcibly than 

the excellent preservation of the forts and earthworks. Fort 

Washington and Fort Huntington and the breastworks in their 

vicinity are in as good condition as one would expect to find 

them after the lapse of twenty-five or thirty years. Nearly a 

century and a quarter has intervened since their construction, 

and their outlines are still distinctly marked, so that it needs 

no great stretch of the imagination to see the work in progress. 

What vast labor it must have been to those who undertook it in 

the most inclement season of the year, and a notably hard 

winter at that! Lower down the slope the fortifications which 

once existed have been leveled by the plough, but enough 

remain to demonstrate the unconquerable spirit that animated 

the officers and soldiers of the American army, which 

guaranteed from the beginning the ultimate success of the cause 

in whose behalf they wrought. 

7. "Report of the Valley Forge Commission, 1896," in Repr1nt of Reports 

of Valley Forge Park Commission For the Years 1894, 1896, 1900, pp. 

16-18. For more data on Hampton's activities in the park during 1895-96 

see Hampton to Brooke, November 19, 25, December 2, 1895, January 1, 

6, March 9, April 6, December 21, 1896, Francis Brooke Collection, 

Record Group 12, VAFO Archives. Data relative to Brooke's activities 

during late 1894 and early 1895 may be found in Reports of the President 

of the Valley Forge Park Commission, December 13, 1894, February 20, 

March 22, May 27, 1895, RG 2, VAFO Archives. 

8Z 

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• 

• 

• 

Roberts went on to describe what the vis1tor to Valley Forge could 

anticipate: 

Looking over the old campground at Valley Forge in the golden 

sunshine of a lovely summer day, it is extremely difficult to 

realize the condition of the American army during the 

encampment. Standing on the highest part of the eminence on 

the slope of which Fort Huntington stands, there is an excellent 

VIew, not only of the old campground, but of the country for 

miles around. All is bright with the varied hues of the season. 

Close at hand prominent objects of interest are the fort itself, 

the earthworks nearly as clear cut and distinct as ever at this 

distance; the old Stephens residence, still owned by the family, 

where General Varnum had his headquarters; the drill ground 

where Steuben instructed the soldiers; the hillside grave of 

Waterman; the woods where Wayne's troops were enc;~mped and 

in which hut holes ;~nd the rem;~ins of the oven in use for 

b<~king bread for the soldiers when ;~ny flour could be h;~d, m;~y 

yet be distinctly seen. On the next slope are the remains of 

Fort W;~shington, less distinct than those of its twin 

fortification, Huntington, but still cle;~rly to be tr;~ced. A long 

line of e;~rthworks through the woods back of them is still 

found 1n good condition. Below are orchards and waving 

cornfields, beneath whose soil lie the rem;~ins of the army of 

unknown dead who succumbed to famine, or wounds, or 

disease, while their more fortunate brethren survived to 

continue the contest and, perhaps, to share in the exult;~tion of 

the whole l;~nd at the triumphs won at Yorktown and elsewhere. 

The tract of woodland on the Todd farm on the river side of 

the road from Port Kennedy at Valley Forge, though not of 

very gre;~t extent, is worthy of a careful examination. It is 1n 

the woods th;~t the hut holes are to be found in their greatest 

perfection, because here the disturbing influence of the plough 

has not been felt. 

The v1ew from this' point, although not to be compared, 

perhaps, w1th that from the summit of Mount Joy, and from 

other heights in the vicinity, is magnificent. It takes in all or 

nearly all the ground covered by the fortifications and the 

encampment, and much more. The hut holes are distinctly 

marked and can be readily counted. They are probably 

twenty-five in number, and are very much like those in the 

ground occupied by Wayne's troops of the Pennsylvania line. (8) 

83 
CommissiOn President Brooke continued to prod the state legislature to 

pass appropriation measures for the development and expansion of Valley 

Forge State Park. As part of his effort he had a map printed in 

December 1896, showing the park holdings superimposed on an area layout 

of the encampment (a copy of this map may be seen on the following 

page). 

In February 1897 Brooke addressed a pamphlet to "the Senators and 

Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in General 

Assembly" in support of a bill authorizing a $60,000 appropriation for 

Valley Forge that had been drafted by the commission. The text of the 

draft bill read: 

A further supplement to an act, entitled 'An Act' providing for 

the acquisition by the State of certain ground at Valley Forge 

for a public park, and making an appropriation therefor, 

approved the Thirtieth day of May, 1893, making additional 

appropriations, and providing for the acquisition of additional 

ground." "SECTION 1. Be it enacted, etc., that the sum of 

$60,000 is hereby appropriated to preserve and maintain the 

redoubts and entrenchments on the lands taken by the State for 

the public park, known as 'VALLEY FORGE,' under the act to 

which this is a further supplement and to build roads and paths 

so as to make the same accessible to the public, and to maintain 

the same, and also to maintain such other roads as may not 

exist within or along the said ground; and also to be ilpplied to 

the purchase or condemnation money of such other lands as the 

Commissioners may deem expedient to enlarge the boundaries of 

the said Park called by the name of 'VALLEY FORGE' not 

exceeding in all three hundred acres in addition to lands 

already taken, and for the necessary expenses incident thereto, 

which said additional lands the said Commissioners are hereby 

authorized and empowered to acquire in accordance with the 

provisions of the Act to which this is a further 

supplement. 

Brooke used the case of Rhode Island as an example of what could be 

done with Valley Forge if the state legislature would approve the draft 

bill. In 1895 Rhode Island had 

passed an Act appropriating $2,000, and appointed a Commission 

to erect a memorial at the grave of Lieutenant John 

Waterman--the only identified grave within the lines of the 

Camp, but being unable to acquire the necessary site on 

satisfactory terms and appreciating the greater importance of 

erecting a comprehensive memorial, which could be done on the 

site of the Star Redoubt, their Commission made a report 

accordingly, asking that the $2,000 with $8,000 additional be 

appropriated for this purpose. 

The site of the Star Redoubt is on the summit between the 

valley that extends between the lines of defences and the 

Schuylkill river. It commanded the Spencer Sullivan bridge 

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• 

• 

• 

Map of the Revolutionary Camp Ground at Valley Forge 

occupi~d by W~SIIItiUTOtl and his Army hom Decemb•r 19\h, 1777 until June Ujllh, 1178; 

taken from "Sporks' Wuhington," bwl w far Qi.lffoJ as to show (m color) that portion acquired 

by the St•t~ of Pennsylvania and the defen,;es as they now exM on said portion ; •nd also 

the states from whiCh the several brigades came, as shown on the "Armstrong" M.ap now 

owned by Cornell Univet$ily. 

NOTES :-Some of the roads shown on the plan haw bun 1>/!udmwd, 4'1Jd all till Mlleri 

,.,.. ,,.-, or ltss cha"{td. The county line should show on the state ground between the 

entrenchment and Woodford's Brigade . 

• 

.·.··· • • -

85 
across the Schuylkill and doubtless was defended by the Rhode 

Island brigade, commanded by General Varnum. This brigade 

was encamped, immediately adjoining it on the east. Varnum's 

Headquarters still standing were very near-by, across the 

road, not far away is the supposed burial place of the dead of 

the surrounding brigade camps and in full view is the John 

Waterman grave. 

Governor Lippitt earnestly endorsed this recommendation in his 

message of the 26th ult., and on the 5th in st., it finally passed 

the Rhode Island Legislature, and is now a law. Our 

Commission believes it is the duty of Pennsylvania to afford 

their sister states the opportunity of erecting their several 

memorials without being at the expense of acquiring the 

ilppropriate sites, and it is hoped that the supplement will be 

promptly available for Rhode Island's needs, that the other 

states would promptly follow Rhode Island's (unsolicited) 

example, there can be no reasonable doubt, and that the Nation 

w•ll also do its duty is equally certain. 

The commission president concluded 

public funds used to Preserve and 

compared to Revolutionary War sites. 

his pamphlet with a comparison of 

commemorate Civil War battlefields 

He noted: 

Too little has been done by our Country whether by the 

Nation, the States or the People in affording to posterity the 

benefit of enduring memorials of the days of the Revolution. 

The National Government has properly spent many millions of 

dollars on the battle f1elds of the Rebellion and this work is not 

yet done. Our own State Legislature has appropriated over a 

half million of dollars to Gettysburg alone, besides what it has 

spent elsewhere for like purposes. Yet the battles of the 

Rebellion bravely fought to a successful issue, were only fought 

to preserve the Union, established through the unexampled 

suffering of the soldiers at Valley Forge.(9) 

At the same time as Brooke was writing the <Jforementioned tract, the 

Valley Forge commissioners had Samuel M. Garrigues, a civil engineer 

from Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, prepare a map in 5Upport of the draft bill 

pending before the st<Jte legislature. The map, which was published in 

April 1897, displayed an area layout of the encampment as well as the 

property boundaries and owners of the I<Jnd at the time of the 

encampment and the present time. The map was based on original land 

Senators and Representatives of the 

.!!:! General Assembly~- .. Fr<Jncis M. 

Commission, February 22, 1897, Brooke 

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• 
• 

• 

• 

surveys and the land records of Montgomery and Chester counties. A 

copy of this map may be seen on the following page.(lO) 

The proposed bill failed to pass the state legislature in 1897, and no 

further appropriations were forthcoming during the next three ye<>rs. 

The lack of adequate funding, and the consequent neglect of the park, 

continued to frustrate the commissioners. The death of Brooke in 

November 1898 further clouded the future development of the park since 

he had been the president of the commission since June 1893 and its most 

influential member in state political circles. The plight of the Valley 

Forge commission, in the wake of Brooke's death, was graphically 

described by Holstein DeHaven on March 6, 1899: 

I feel it my duty to call your attention to the present status of 

the Valley Forge Commission. In the pamphlet I send you the 

names of the original Commission as reappointed by Governor 

Hastings but not confirmed by the Senate will appear. Mr. 

Brooke has since died and Mr. [John W.] Woodside has been 

appointed by Governor Stone in his place and he has also 

appointed a Mr. [Charles C.] Adams in the place of Wm. J. 

Latta resigned, both being confirmed by the present Senate, 

and he also withdrew the names of the whole Commission from 

the Senate before they confirmed the appointments as made by 

Governor Hastings. Therefore, at present I consider the Valley 

Forge Commission does not exist, there being only two members 

and no officers to carry on the work. We did not receive 

any appropriation in 1897, in consequence thereof some awards 

have not been paid and the Commission has not had any money 

even to pay the necessary running expenses,--our late 

President, Mr. Brooke, myself, and in fact every member of the 

Commission, each bearing personally certain expenses. The 

watchman at Valley Forge who receives the salary of three 

dollars per week, has not been paid for several years, although 

he faithfully, to the present time, inspects the grounds every 

other day and prevents acts of vandalism and looks after things 

generally.(11) 

10. In early December 1897 Hampton "whjje walking over the hills" 

discovered a line of entrenchments, the existence of which had not been 

known up to that time. According to his report, the entrenchments lay 

"in the tract of Mahon Ambler on the southeast side of the hill, three 

hundred (300) feet east of the long line of entrenchments. One hundred 

two (102) feet of the line runs south toward Fort Washington. It then 

makes a turn and extends one hundred two (102) feet toward the long 

line of entrenchments. The average height is eight (8) feet." Hampton 

to Brooke, December 6, 1897, Brooke Collection, RG 12, VAFO Archives. 

11. DeHaven to Senator, March 6, 1899, Correspondence, RG 46, PHMC. 

Also see Report of the President of the Valley Forge Park Commission, 

December 9, 1897, RG 2, VAFO Archives, and New York Times, June 19, 

1904. 

87 
I J 

,·---

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Prinr<.d an.d P .. blmb<d (at Prinu Ezp<n><J in tbt lntuat of tb< Suppl&mmt to tll& VAlLEY FORGE Act now (Apoill8'17l bdorc th< Uf;.Jatur<-

• • • 
• 

• 

• 

In December 1900 the commiss1on, headed by Woodside, reported on the 

financial problems facing them as they attempted to administer the park . 

They observed that upon entering "the active discharge of their duties" 

on October 14, 1899, they had "found an empty treasury, and unpaid 

bills awaiting payment to the amount of $3,500." After careful analysis 

they had concluded that an i!ppropriation of $73,200 was needed to pay 

"debts already incurred, and to provide means for the care and 

maintenance of the grounds for the next ten years." The estimate was 

broken down into six categories: 

First. For the payment of debts alr1.ady incurred, 

Second. For the completion of purchases upon the 

condemnation proceedings of land already taken by 

the State and the necessary expenses attendant 

$ 1 ,700 

thereto,. 3,500 

Third. For the laying out of new roads and paths within 

and along said Park, so as to make the s<Jme accessible 

to the public, and in the mainten<Jnce of such ro<Jds as 

now exist, 7,500 

Fourth. For the watching, Cilre, preserv<Jtion and maintenance of the redoubts, embankments and land illready taken, and yet to be purchased or taken by the 

State for the purpose of said Park, 1' 000 

Fifth. For incidental and necessary expenses of said 

Commission in thew performance of their official duties, 500 

Sixth. For the purchase or condemnation of lands, in 

addition to land already taken contiguous to the present 

Park not to exceed 300 acres and to cost not over 60,000 (12) 

C. CALLS FOR 

ACQUISITION AND 

FEDERAL INVOLVEMENT IN 

PRESERVATION: 1896-1902 

VALLEY FORGE LAND 

As early as 1896 there were calls by local historical groups for federal 

government participation in the acquisition of land and preservation of 

historic remains of the Valley Forge encampment area. In his 

aforementioned paper presented to the Historical Society of Montgomery 

County in September 1896, Roberts observed: 

Standing on the slope of Mount Joy or rambling over the old 

campground and gazing on the remains of the rude huts erected 

by Washington's soldiers, the thought will arise in the mind of 

12. "Report of 

Reports of Valley 

pp. 21 22 . 

the Valley 

Forge Park 

Forge Commission, 

CommiSSion For the 

89 

1900," In 

Years 1894 
everyone who feels a patriotic interest in the destiny of the 

grandest republic the world has ever known, that the whole 

country should have the sense of ownership 1n this soil, 

beneath which are graves of a multitude of heroes who died 

that the immortal Declaration of Independence might become a 

living reality. It seems selfish to restrict such a possession to 

a single state. 

Pennsylvania has done well in acquiring the land on which are 

the more prominent fortifications that still exist. There ought 

to be no hesitation in making the necessary appropriation to put 

on proper condition for public use and enjoyment every acre 

that has been purchased. This need not interfere with the 

undertaking that belongs to the whole nation--the acquisition of 

the ground covered by the brigades commanded by Wayne, 

Varnum, Huntington and others, marked as it is by hut holes, 

the remains of the outer line of bre<tstworks, the graves of 

W<tterman <tnd hundreds more whose last resting place is 

unmarked. The soil where these rest is none the less s<tcred to 

liberty, patriotism and national union. 

Valley Forge campground is hallowed by the suffering and death 

of patriots who sacrificed all for their country. It should 

become the property of the state, or preferably, perhaps, of 

the general government, which owes it to future generations to 

preserve intact, as far as may be, the relics that remain of the 

occupation by Washington's army. Dwellings then in use, like 

the original portion of the residence of William Stephens, should 

be carefully guarded as memorials of Revolutionary times. In 

any other country such action would have been taken years 

ago, and it ought not to be postponed any longer. 

Washington's Headquarters is the property of the Centennial 

and Memorial Association, which will take care that it remains 

substantially as it now is for ages to come. The museum of 

Revolutionary relics is of much value, and should be made as 

complete as possible. The Valley Forge Commission has secured 

about 250 acres of land including most of the fortifications 

which remain in good condition. An appropriiltion to make 

needed improvements on this tract should be forthcoming from 

the Legislature. Without this, the money already expended 

would be practically thrown away. The ground covered by the 

encampment should be secured by the United States government 

and set apart forever for public use as a memorial of heroic 

endurance and self-sacrificing patriotism. The three 

proprietors need not clash. Each would have its own sphere of 

action and all would be working for a common purpose--to 

preserve as an inalienilble inheritance of future ages the ground 

Silnctified by the deeds of heroes done in the c<tuse of their 

country.(13) 

13. Roberts, "Valley Forge Cilmpground," 349-51. 

90 

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• 

• 

In 1897 the Daughters of the Revolution, meeting in Philadelphia, adopted 

a resolution urging that Valley Forge become a feder<>l reservation, A 

committee was appointed to petition Congress for passage of legislation to 

that end, but with the heightening tensions that would ultimately lead to 

the Spanish-American War the effort was delayed temporarily.{14) 

The movement to make Valley Forge a federal "military reservation" or 

"national park" gained new impetus with the formation of the Valley Forge 

National P<>rk Association at Independence Hall in Philadelphia on 

December 19, 1900--the 123rd anniversary of the entry of the Continental 

Army into winter quarters at Valley Forge. In attendance were 

representatives of seventeen historical and patriotic societies of 

Pennsylvania. The new organi~ation elected John Cadwalader as 

president, S. Weir Mitchell as vice president, and Edwin Fairfax Naulty 

as secretary, and established its headquarters at 112 South Fourth Street 

in Philadelphia. Among the resolutions adopted at the meeting were those 

supporting federal legislation to establish Valley Forge as a "national 

park" and the proposition "to make Field Day (June 19[18]) at Valley 

Forge a national celebration."(15) 

During this time period Senator Boies Penrose and Representative William 

McAleer of Philadelphia introduced bills in Congress, providing for an 

appropriation of $200,000 to purchase 1,200 acres of "historic ground" at 

Valley Forge to which would be added the state park land and 

Washington's Headquarters (still owned by the Centennial and Memorial 

Association) and maintain the entire acreage as a federal military park 

and government reservation under the jurisdiction of the War Department. 

The park lands would be developed so that the "historic points" would be 

easily accessible to the public. It was even suggested that the federal 

government should consider building "a great monumental tower" on the 

summit of Mount Joy, from which the plan of the encampment "could be 

comprehended." It was 11oted that these efforts were being carried 

forward because of the growing realization by interested groups that 

nature "has been more generous than the state in preserving the grounds 

for the free enjoyment of all generations, in that she has admirably 

provided against their obliteration by putting forth a fine growth of 

trees."(16) 

On January 7, 1901, a party of forty persons from the Philadelphia area 

appeared before the Senate and House Committees on Military Affairs in 

; 5. 

XCV 

Julius Moritzen, 

(June 22, 1901), 

"Valley 

628. 

Forge and the Nation," Harper's weekly, 

16. Ill. H. Richardson, "Valley Forge," New England Magazine, XXIII 

(February, 1901), 608 . 
support of the Penrose and McAleer bills. 

addressed the committees: 

From this group the following 

Mayor Ashbridge, Johrt Cadwalader, president of the Valley 

Forge National Park Association; Edwin F. Naulty, of 

Philadelphia, the secretary; Mrs. George McClellan, president of 

the Philadelphia Chapter of the Colonial Dames; Miss BliSS, of 

the Pennsylvania Society of Colonial Dames; Mrs. George W. 

Kendrick, of the Quaker City Chapter, Daughters of the 

American Revolution; Mrs. Nathaniel S. Keay, of Philadelphia, 

first vice president; and Mrs. J. L. Chapman, second vice 

president of the Daughters of the Revolution. 

Although the Senate committee gave the delegation "a brief hearing,'' the 

House committe<; was more accommodating. Secretary Naulty explained 

that the Valley Forge Nat1onal Park Association was asking the federal 

government to purchase nearly 1,200 acres which he estimated would not 

average more than $125 per acre. Since the site "was almost in the same 

condition as when Washington's army camped" at Valley Forge, it "would 

require very little outlay to restore its original features." The 

association was anxious to have the McAleer bill amended so that the 

members of the commission which would be appointed to define the park's 

boundaries would serve without compensation. Other persons in the 

delegation urged passage of the bill because such land acquisition would 

be a good investment and establishment of the park as a federal 

reservation was the best chance for its preservation and appropriate 

monumentation. 

Following the hearings the delegation met with Secretary of War Elihu 

Root and President William McKinley. Root "promised to do all in his 

power to make it a success." McKinley indicated that he would give the 

matter "careful consideration" and stated to the group: 

;] 

am in thorough sympathy with this movement. I hope that 

the Congressional Committees feel as I do towards it and that 

you made a good impression upon them to-day. If the bill is 

passed by Congress you will have no troule when it reaches 

me.(17) 

ocd 

90-91 . 

written: 

"President McKinley 

I 1916), 

cod 

. r1ch as is our country in fields hallowed by the blood of 

heroes, none is dearer to our hearts than Valley Forge, where 

with untold sufferings durrng the long winter lay the little army 

of heroes upon whom rested the success of our struggle for 

liberty and mdependence. the preservatiOn of historic 

ground 111 our country, which has been made dear to us by 

patriotic memor1es, will keep forever betore us the lessons 

92 

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• 

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• 

Soon after the hearings 

a fund-raising drive . 

general distribution, 

organization: 

the Valley Forge National Park Association began 

On April 8, 1901, a circular was prepared for 

indicating the purpose and needs of the 

If you are interested in the preservation of the historic camping 

ground of the Continental Army at V<!lley Forge and its 

preservation by the United States Government as a niltional 

park, the work of this Association must appeal to you. If your 

patriotic interest 1s aroused and you wish to aid, you can do so 

in a very acceptable way by sending us a check to help pay 

the expenses incurred and to be incurred. Our only source of 

income 1s voluntary contributions. Our mass meeting and 

convention of last December, the great number of circular 

letters sent out and other administrative work have placed this 

Association under heavy expenses which we ask you to help us 

meet. 

Every effort was made to pass a bill through the last Congress 

providing for the acquisition of this historic Pennsylvania field 

by the Government. We were not successful, but we shall 

again present our cause to the incoming Congress and this time 

we are confident of success. Meantime there is much to be 

done to arouse and keep alive public sentiment. 

It is our purpose to hold a great Field Day at Valley Forge on 

June 18, the anniversary of evacuation, and to do this even in 

a modest way, we will need funds. Patriotic Philadelphians 

have already aided us and we are sure that you will add your 

contribution to our fund, which at its minimum must reach 

$2,000 to carry out our plans.(18) 

In April 1901 the 1 an article, entitled "Valley Forge as a 

National Park," the neglect of Valley Forge by the 

Pennsylvania state and the movement to establish a "national 

park" on the site of former encampment area. It noted the problems 

associated with Pennsylvania's administration of Valley Forge State Park 

and the need for federal involvement in the preservation of the 

encampment area: 

17. (Cont. ) 

taught by the scene there enacted--lessons of endurance, of 

loyalty, and sacrifice. 

Quoted in Moritzen, "Valley Forge and the Nation," 628. 

18. Valley Forge National Park Association, 

Clippings File, Valley Forge Park, Chester 

93 

April 8, 1901, Newspaper 

County Historical Society. 
Proposals that Congress shall establish a National Park at Valley 

Forge are timely, 1n v1ew of the failure of the State of 

Pennsylvania to carry out 1ts plans to convert this historic spot 

into a State Park. To-day the condition of neglect apparent on 

the hills and fields ot Valley Forge recalls one marked feature 

of the patriot army's dark winter of 1777-78. For when 

Washington and his 11,000 ragged, sick, and starving followers 

were here, their hardships were intensified by the 

unsympathetic attitude of some of the people of 

Pennsylvania. 

And now, a century and a quarter later, when visitors from 

distant parts of the Nat1on come to Valley Forge, they marvel at 

Pennsylvania's indifference towards these historic scenes. 

Although innumerable relics of the encampment exist, all are 

practically inaccessible, with the exception of Washington's 

headquarters. Brambles, dense thickets and woods cover the 

forts and breastworks, and only the hunter and the 

woodchopper penetrate them. A single marked grave remains, 

but it is in the middle of a cultivated farm. Cellars of the 

soldiers' huts are to be found in the recesses of the woods, but 

there is no path to them. Nor is there a marker or a monument 

anywhere to indicate the lines of fortifications or the site of the 

camp grounds of the various brigades. 

Without a guide a visit to Valley Forge is fruitless. Moreover, 

even the effort to hire a guide fails almost invariably, for the 

natives seem to regard with ama<:ement the interest that impels 

any one to climb these hills, and none has yet attempted to put 

in operation any of the schemes usual in historic places to 

induce the visitor to part with his cash. 

Every succeeding Legislature [since 1895] having refused to 

make further appropriations, the Park Commission became 

dormant, and the land that had been acquired was neglected, 

so that many a nook about which clustered glorious associations 

was lost to sight, while formerly it had been preserved through 

the pride of private owners. The State Park site, therefore, is 

now a region as wild as it was when the Continental soldiers 

built their huts there.(19) 

Despite the support shown by members of the McKinley administration, 

the Penrose and McAleer bills fa1led to pass Congress in 1901_ This 

failure was the result of a decision by the House Committee on Military 

Affairs during the spring not to report any more bills for the 

establishment of national parks.(20) 

19. "Valley Forge as a National Park," 787-88. 

20. Moritzen, "Valley Forge and the Nation," 628_ 

• 

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• 

• 

In early 1902 Senator Penrose reintroduced his bill to h<>ve Valley Forge 

established as a national military park. The bill (S. 614) read: 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 

the United States of America 1n Congress assembled, That upon 

the State of Pennsylvania ceding to the United States the lomd 

held by it, being part of the camp ground of General 

Washington at Valley Forge, and jurisdiction thereover as well 

as over such other land as may be acquired pursuant to the 

provisions of this act, the President is hereby authorized to 

appoint ten commissioners, to be known as commissioners of the 

Valley Forge National Military Park, to locate definitely and by 

metes and bounds, the territory occupied by George Washington 

as a camping ground at Valley Forge, in the State of 

Pennsylvania; the said commissioners shall have their office in 

Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, and while on duty 

shall be paid such compensation out of the appropriation 

provided 1n this act as the Secretary of War shall dBem 

reasonable and just. 

SEC. 2. That there is hereby appropriated the sum of two 

hundred thousand dollars, out of any money in the Treasury 

not otherwise appropriated, or so much thereof as may be 

necessary, to be expended in acquiring for thB United States, 

by purchase or condemnation, the territory so located by said 

commissioners, and for the improvement of sa1d territory, and 

the said territory so acquired shall be designated and known as 

the Valley Forge National Military Park. 

Hearings on the bill were held by the Senate Committee on Military Affairs 

on Janaury 29, attended by delegations representing the Valley Forge 

National Park Association, Daughters of the Revolution, General Society, 

Maryland Local Society, Colorado Local Society, and Sons of the 

Revolution. Those giving the principal testimony were John Cadwalader, 

president of the Valley Forge National Park Association, Mrs. Nathaniel 

Seaver Keay, first vice-president-general, Daughters of the Revolution, 

and Mrs. Thomas Hill, regent of the Maryland Society, Daughters of the 

Revolution. Cadwalader, president of the Valley Forge National Park 

Association, urged that the federal government acquire approximately 

1,200 acres on which the main body of the encampment had been located. 

He went on to state: 

It was more to preserve the fortifications and redoubts 

that the State has purchased what it did. Those being 1n 

excellent preservation were secured first, and it was hoped that 

this would be extended; but the matter is perhaps too large 1n 

its scope for the State, and 1t is felt that this is a matter of 

more general interest to the country at large, and that it ought 

not to be monopolized by any State. That is the feeling. 

Now, owing to 

that they are 

encampment of 

important that 

the fact that these land values are ascertained, 

moderate, that this land can be used for any 

troops at any time for the Army, we deem it 

this should be acquired by the National 

95 
Government. Those look1ng to the remote future, who might 

anticipate trouble in possible wars with foreign powers, will 

readily see that the location of Valley Forge, as selected by 

Gen. Anthony Wayne and recommended by him to George 

Washington, would again become a very important point of 

defense and position. The landing of troops which took place 

then might occur again, and this point is a very important one 

because of the power of concentration which is offered by the 

location, both by ma1n roadways and by railways of the 

country, in massing troops for the protection of Philadelphia. 

It is within two hours of New York, two hours from Baltimore, 

and three hours from Washington, and is also accessible 

through the plains of New Jersey, as well as from Pennsylvania 

and New York. 

Now, the appropriation suggested is $200,000. Those who are 

residents there and who know the values feel satisfied that that 

will acquire this entire tract. There can scarcely be a question 

of its value as an acquisition in any view that is taken of it, 

not only the sentimental one, which is extremely great, but the 

practical one. 

Other speakers urged that the government obtain the property while it 

could still be acqu1red at reasonable prices. While Valley Forge should 

not be "a place of many monuments," the various supporting groups for 

the national reservation idea hoped that the government would discover 

that it was "a most favorable place for some commemoration of the past." 

The beauty of the area, its proximity to Philadelphia, and talk of "trolley 

lines and better railroad facilities" had led the groups to fear that the 

Valley Forge vicinity would soon "be taken up for fine summer 

residences" if the government did not act quickly. (21) 

Congress failed to take action on the bill, and 

Valley Forge as a federal reservation dissipated. 

the Valley Forge Park Commission reported: 

the effort to establish 

In December 1902 the 

It is possibly well to note that all efforts made by patriotic 

citizens of the United States to secure an appropriation from 

Congress, to acquire grounds at Valley Forge, have proved 

futile, and there being no probability of Congress taking any 

action on this matter, it remains with Pennsylvania to continue 

the work, which she has so patriotically commenced, until these 

historic grounds shall be purchased and preserved for the 

people of the whole world to enjoy as the turning point in the 

struggle for American liberty and independence.(22) 

21. National 

Committee on 

Park at 

Affairs, 

Valley Forge, Pa.: Hearing Before The 

January 29, 1902 pp. 7-8, 11-12. 

22. "Report of the Valley Forge Commission, December 16, 1902," in 

Reports of the Valley Forge Park Commissions For the Years 1902, 1904, 

and 1906~p-:-5. 

96 

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• 

D. DEDICATION OF DAUGHTERS OF THE REVOLUTION MONUMENT 

During the legislative effort to have Valley Forge established as a federal 

reservation, the Daughters of the Revolution dedicated a monument "to 

the Soldiers of W<>shington's Army Who Sleep In Valley Forge 1777-1778" 

on October 19, 1901. With the exception of the markers placed by 

various people during the mid-nineteenth century to record the site of 

Sullivan's bridge, th1s monument was the first to be erected at the 

encampment site. It overlooked a large area where numerous graves were 

still visible, marked with stones but unidentified. The dedication 

ceremonies featured addresses by William A. Stone, Governor of 

Pennsylvania, senator Boies Penrose, and Adaline Wheelock Sterling, 

president-gener<~l of the Daughters of the Revolution. The monument was 

a 50-foot-high gr<~nite shilft, the obelisk resting upon a base ten feet 

square r<~ised upon a plinth with three grildiltions. Set in the base was a 

large bas-relief 1n bronze representing the V<~lley Forge encampment. 

The monument stood on a piece of ground thirty by thirty-three feet 

square with an approach from the road ten feet wide and 361 feet 

long.(23) 

The memorial has been misrepresented as the John Waterman Monument 

over the years. The erroneous assocition with Watermiln, who had served 

as civilian quartermaster and <~ssistant commissary in General V<~rnum's 

Brigade, is traceable. Some years earlier a stone near the monument site 

bearing the letters "J.W." and the date "1778" had been identified as the 

grave marker of Waterman--the only known gr<~ve to be milrked in the 

enc<~mpment area. In 1895 the State of Rhode Island h<1d appropriated 

$2,000 to erect il monument to the men of Rhode Island and Waterman . 

The state began negotiations with I. Heston Todd to purchase the gr<~ve 

site and the land necessary for the monument. Todd, however, hild 

become embittered because, after serving on the park commission for two 

years, he had been removed from office as the result of a "politlc<ol 

reorganization." He protected the grave marker with <1 "substantial wire 

cage" to keep vandals aw<oy and offered to give Rhode Island title to the 

grave site, provided the state would <~gree th<~t Pennsylvania "should 

never obtain control of the tract." Rhode Island refused to agree to 

these terms and attempted insteild to purchase the site. Todd, in turn, 

refused to sell the property, and Rhode Island abandoned its pl~ns for 

the proposed monument. 

Subsequently, the D<1ughters of the Revolution resolved to erect ~ 

monument to the memory of those who hild died while serving <ot the 

enc<1mpment. In 1897 Todd conveyed the land for the monument to the 

patriotic organiz<1tion under the same conditions that he had demanded of 

Rhode Island. The W<~termiln gr<~ve site was <~lso purchilsed as p<1rt of 

this trans<1cUon and a fl<~gstaff set up beside it. 

The first report of the park commission regarding the raising of the 

monument did not associate it with Waterman, except by locating it as 

being " on a plol of ground along the Port Kennedy Road <~nd 

23. Burk, Guide to Valley Forge, 1906, p. 23. 
close to the grave of John Waterman." Over the next several decades, 

however, the monument came to be erroneously referred to as the "John 

Waterman Monument--"a designation that took on increased meaning in 

1939. In that year when the Waterman gravestone was removed to the 

park museum by the Daughters of the Revolution it was likely that the 

present lettering was incised on the south face of the base: "Near this 

Spot Lies Lieutenant John Waterman, Died April 23, 1778, Whose Grave 

Alone Of All His Comrades Was Marked."(24) 

E. DEVELOPMENTS IN VALLEY FORGE STATE PARK: 1901-1902 

While the effort to establish a federal reservation at Valley Forge was 

underway, the state legislature and Governor William A. Stone were 

locked in a budget battle that had repercussions for Valley Forge State 

Park expansion and development. The legislature passed a bill 

appropriating $13,200 for the pdrk during fiscal year 1901 and fiscal year 

1902. However, on July 18, 1901, Stone, citing "insufficient state 

revenue," approved only $2,000 for "laying out and maintenance of roads" 

and $200 for "incidental and necessary expenses."(2S) 

In their biennial report submitted to Governor Stone on December Hi, 

1902, the commissioners led by President Woodside, commented in tones of 

guarded optimism. They noted: 

Since the re-organization of the Commission under your 

administration, we have every reason to congratulate ourselves 

on the progress made in opening up the old Camp Grounds, in 

such a manner as to enable the patriotic visitor to see the 

entrenchments, which have marvelously withstood the ravages of 

time, and which are a mute admonition to the youth of the 

present day, to emulate the fortitude of our Revolutionary 

ancestors in the most trying of the "times which tried men's 

souls." 

When re-organized, the Commission had no funds with which to 

complete the work so auspiciously begun, and were obliged to 

provide funds to pay the debt incurred by the previous 

Commission, and therefore simply secured the proper figures 

with which to appeal to the Legislature of 1901, for such an 

appropriation as would liquidate the indebtedness, provide for 

the construction of a pathway, leading from the station of the 

2S. "A Further 

Commission, 1906, 

Supplement," 

pp. 9-10. 

By-Laws 

98 

of Valley Forge Park 

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• 

• 

• 

Philadelphia and Reading R<>ilway to the entrenchments, and for 

that of a macadami~ed road or roads along these entrenchments, 

to enable the vis1tors to see in what remarkably good condition 

they still remain one hundred and twenty-five years after the 

evacuation. Unfortunately the amount appropriated, itself too 

small, was cut down by your Excellency in the belief that the 

total appropriations made, were far in excess of the revenues of 

the State, and the Commission therefore simply laid out the 

road the distance of about four-fifths of a mile. No attempt was 

made to macadamize the road, and in fact the road contemplated 

was not laid out its full distance, the Jack of funds be"ong the 

reason. This work should be finished; the road laid out along 

these silent, historic ditches to Fort Washington, and the road 

when laid out, should be macadamized and thus made a delight 

to the visitors and a tribute to the patriotic impulse of the 

State. 

All indebtedness incurred by the previous commission had been paid 

"except that incurred under the proceeding to acquire the 'Star 

redoubt."' This case had been tried "before a petit jury upon an appeal 

taken by William W. Stephens, the owner, wherein he secured a verdict 

of $2,100." No new indebtedness had been incurred by the new 

commiSSIOn "for any item that was not specially provided for by an 

appropriation by the Legislature of 1901."(26) 

The members of the commission reported that they 

"accomplished all that was possible, with the meagre 

disposal." To carry out its legislative mandate, however, 

requested four line item appropriations. These were: 

(1) Acquisition of outer line of entrenchments 

felt they had 

funds at their 

the commission 

In order to properly consider the propriety of acquiring the 

outer line of entrenchments, the Commission recently visited the 

Hills upon which they were constructed. To secure this line 

will require the acquisition of about on" hundred and 

twenty-five acres of ground. In contemplating this measure it 

was concluded not to acqu1re any of the farm-houses or 

out-buildings, but simply the ground upon which these 

entrenchments were constructed, with the idea of doing as little 

damage as possible to private property, and not requiring the 

Commission to care for any buildings. The purpose ·,s to have 

a strip of land contiguous with the present Park, along which a 

road may be constructed. This will give a delightful view of the 

surrounding country, and will demonstrate to the visitor the 

good judgment of General Washington in selecting this site for 

26. The land boundaries for the "Star Redoubt" tract are described in 

"Report of the valley Forge Commission, December 16, 1902,' 1 in Reports 

of the Valley Forge Park Commissions For the Years 1902, ~' and 1906, 

P- 8 . 

99 
the encampment, for the strength of the position from a military 

point of view is most advantageous. Along this line were 

encamped the Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts, 

New Hampshire and Vermont Troops, and it has been suggested 

that along this line, and at points appropriate by reason of 

these encampments, the several Colonial States and Vermont 

might very properly erect suitable monuments. 

(2) Acquisition of land near Star Redoubt 

. On the other side of the Port Kennedy Road the Rhode 

Island Troops were encamped, close to the "Star Redoubt." 

The Commission also propose to acquire the land between that 

now owned by the State, and known as the "Star Redoubt," 

and the property of Mrs. S. S. Zulick, about fifteen acres. It 

will be contiguous with the "Star Redoubt," easy of access, and 

is most desirable to acquire as the excavations made for 

forty-one of the huts used by the Rhode Island Troops are stlll 

plainly visible. 

(3) Beautification and fencing of park grounds 

No effort has been, nor will any effort be made to beautify or 

adorn the grounds, with the exception of that in front of Fort 

Huntington, where there is an excellent site for a lawn upon 

which the people of the State can assemble at times of 

anniversaries, and similar occasions. It is the present purpose 

to keep the grounds in the condition in which they were found 

by the Commission, excepting the removal of the underbrush, 

and the contemplated fencing in of the grounds. 

(4) Maintenance/police surveillance of park 

The purpose of the present Commission has been to keep the 

Park free of all objectionable features. . The labor of your 

Commission has been to so conduct the Park that this purpose 

may be carried out, and all to be made to understand that the 

Park is the State's, its enjoyment, for the people of the State. 

The Commission have had in their employ an attendant to keep 

the hands of the vandal from destroying any of the old land 

marks, and has required him to clean out the underbrush, to 

construct paths and have general police supervision of the 

Park. A competent man has been secured, and an 

appropriation to continue this police surveillance IS most 

desirable, yes, absolutely indespensable.(27) 

27. "Report of the Valley Forge Commission, December 16, 1902, 11 in 

Reports of the Valley Forge Park Commissions For the Years 1902, 1904, 

and 1906, pp. 3 8. 

; oo 

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• 

F. INCREASING DEVELOPMENT OF VALLEY FORGE STATE PARK UNDER 

GOVERNOR SAMUEL W. PENNYPACKER: 1903-1907 

With the inaugur<1tion of Samuel W. Pennypacker as governor in 1903 the 

fortunes of Valley Forge State Park improved considerably. The son of 

Isaac A. Pennypacker who had urged the preservation of Valley Forge 

during the 1840s, Samuel had long shown interest in Valley Forge himself. 

In 1897 he had secured from some historical collections in Amsterdam a set 

of original drafts and plans of the Revolution<~ry period, among them maps 

pertaining to the Valley Forge encampment area.(28) 

The new governor gave evidence of his sympathy for the preservation of 

histori<; shrines in his inaugural by stating that no people 

are ever really great who <~re neglectful of their shrines and 

have no pride in their achievements. The history of the world 

ohows that a correct sentiment is a more lasting and potent 

force than either accumulated money or concentrated authority. 

around Philadelphia, •n Eastern Pennsylvania, the real 

struggle of the Revolutionary War occurred. The good example 

set by Philadelphia in its care of Independence Hall and 

Congress Hall should be followed by the state. The fields of 

Fort Necessity, where Washington first became known; of Bushy 

Run, where Bouquet won his important vlctory, and the camp 

ground of Valley Forge should be tenderly cared for and 

preserved. (29) 

Under the prodding of Governor Pennypacker the state legislature passed 

two significant acts on behalf of Valley Forge State Park in 1903. On 

March 19 an act was passed providing for the acquisition of 250 acres of 

additional land and giving authority to the commissioners "to deputi.:e 

officers to maintain police regulation, giving authority to said officers to 

make said arrests."(30) 

28. Richardson, "Valley Forge," 605. 

29. Hampton Samuel Whitaker 

Pennypacker," Bio!ijraphy, XLI 

(1917), 41-42. in 1843, Samuel 

served as a private F, Emergency Regiment 

at Gettysburg in A graduate of law department at the 

University of Pennsylvania (1866), he served as President Judge of the 

Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas No. 2 and trustee of his alma mater 

before becoming governor. He also served as an officer or member of the 

Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania German Society, 

Netherlands Society of Philadelphia, SocietY of Colonial Wars, 

Pennsylvania Society Sons of the Revolution, and Society of the War of 

1812. The Descent of Samuel Whitaker Pennypacker (Philadelphia, 1898), 

pp. 19-20 . 

30. A copy of this act may be seen in Appendix D. A map of the park 

prepared in 1903 may be seen on the following page. 

101 
~···~, ......... if!! 

Pa1k 

.. , ___ .. .._.._ ..... _ .. __ --·-:· .. -· .. --· 

• • • 
• 

• 

• 

On May 15 the legislature passed the largest 

Valley Forge State Park--a sum of $74,500. 

divided into six categories: 

appropriation act to date for 

The total appropriation was 

(1) Purchase or condemnation of lands lying along the outer line of 

entrenchments--$61,000 

(2) Laying out, building, and maintenance of roads--$5,500 

(3) Fencing lands--$2,500 

(4) Payment of balance due upon judgment 

litigation 

the commonwealth 

in land condemnation Star Redoubt 

property--$1, 500 

(5) Future care, preservation, and m<1intenance of redoubts and 

land alreildy acquired and yet to be purchased--$3,500 

(6) Expenses of commissioners performance official 

duties--$500 (31) 

The Valley Forge Park Commission immediately set to work using these 

funds to achieve some of its long-proposed goals for the expansion and 

development of the park. Thus, by December 20, 1904, the commission 

was able to report "that much has been accomplished during the past two 

years." Additional property along the outer line of entrenchments, 

amounting to nearly 164 acres, was acquired both by purchase and 

condemnation at an average cost of some $2S2 per acre. The 

newly-acquired land was contiguous to the existing park and brought the 

total acreage of state lands at Valley Forge to 391.499. The commission 

indicated its int.,rest in acquiring additional lands upon which 

Pennsylvania, Virginia, Massachusetts, N"w York, and New Hampshire 

troops had camped. It also not"d its feeling "that with the exception of 

about twenty acres this is all the land in this immediate vicinity that is at 

present desirable to acquir", except the Headquarters of Washington and 

his Commanding Generals, which have not been acquired by the State." 

Accordingly, the commission suggested that "a sufficient appropriation be 

made for the acquiring of additional ground, without specifying what is 

intended to be acquired."(32) 

The commission recommended that the Washington Headquarters property 

owned by the centennial and Memorial Association be secured for the 

state. The rationale for this proposed transfer was: 

31. "Report of the Valley Forge Park Commission, December 20, 1904," 

in Reports of the Valley Forge Park Commissions For the Years 1902, 

1904, and 1906, p. 8. 

32. Ibid. pp. 3-4, 10-12. The boundary description for 

acquired land (not including the Star Redoubt property 

referred to) may be seen in Appendix E. 

<03 

the newly 

previously 
The grounds appurtenant have been converted into a lawn and 

the place is a mecca for the many strangers who visit the Park. 

In order to maintain it a small admission fee is charged, so that 

all may upon payment of this toll examine the quaint old house 

and its surroundings. Should this be? Is it not rather 

humiliating to require the payment of a small sum of a visitor, 

when we realize that all of the Headquarters of Washington 

throughout the country, which are preserved and open, are 

free to the visitors?(33) 

The 1903 appropriation allowed the commission to complete the "road or 

drive-way" along the inner line of entrenchments to Fort Washington. The 

"construction of the driveway" had 

added much to the pleasure of these historic grounds. An 

opportunity is now afforded to exam1ne the well preserved 

conditions of the entrenchments, along which this road has been 

built. For a distance of two and one-half miles the visitor may 

now see the entrenchments, thrown up during the long and 

dismal winter that the Continental troops occupied these 

grounds, whereas before, this was impossible, because of the 

underbrush which had grown up, making futile all efforts to 

inspect the place hallowed by the sufferings of the patriot army 

under Washington. 

The acquisition of the land adjacent to the outer line of entrenchments led 

to the commission's proposal for a three-mile extension of the drive from 

Fort Washington to the Port Kennedy Road. This would "make a 

continuous, though circuitous roadway of about six miles along the inner 

and outer lines of entrenchments." 

Improvements to the existing drive and its proposed extension were also 

needed. The entire length of the roadway should be macadamized to 

prevent washings. The commission noted: 

It should be remembered that the entrenchments are constructed 

along the sides of the hills and in many instances almost at 

their summits. To construct this ro~d in close proximity to them 

therefore requires that it be winding in order to prevent a 

grade impossible for use, and the probability of washings 

occurring must be app~rent to any casual observer. The side 

gutters should in many instances be paved to prevent this 

happening and this item should not be lost sight of in making 

an appropriation. 

Once the entire six-mile drive was completed the commiSSIOn urged that 

"each one of the Colonial States and Vermont" be invited "to erect 

monuments along the line and at appropriate places with reference to the 

33. Ibid., p. 4. 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

location of the troops, marking the temporary quarters of their sons 

during the Encampment." This monumentation would "make a visit to the 

Park educational <IS well as patriotic." The 1903 appropriation also 

provided the necessary funds for completion "of fences along the lines of 

the Park" and clearing away "much of the underbrush which marred the 

beauty of the surroundings."(34) 

The progress made enabled the commission to do some long-range planning 

for development and preservation of the park for the first time. The 

most urgent needs for the effective administration, maintenance, and 

preservation of the park were: 

The law should provide for the appointment of a superintendent 

to care for the grounds and have charge of the workmen and 

watchmen. In order to have proper police protection, at least 

three guards should be employed, and in addition to these 

three guards at least three workmen could with advantage be 

employed to labor upon the roads and clear the grounds. The 

superintendent should have charge of this work and be held 

responsible to the Commission and the Legislature for the 

faithful performance of his duties. The grounds around Fort 

Huntington have been improved by the removal of all rubbish 

and a lawn now invites the visitor to a redoubt which time and 

the elements have failed to destroy. One of the most 

troublesome things which the Commission have to contend with 

is the propensity of many of the visitors to take with them some 

memento of the place. The appropriation to employ guards will 

in a large degree prevent these acts of vandalism. 

On the property first acquired there was located a house which 

the Commission have repaired and which is used to store tools, 

etc. The house is small but 1s well adapted for this purpose. 

The Commission recently acquired an additiOnal house and this, 

although small, is out of order. It should be repaired and an 

appropriation is required for the purpose. 

There is no water in the Park. The only ground acquired by 

the State is on the top of the hills, where the entrenchments 

are locat.,d. The acquisition of these grounds by the State 

has increased the number of visitors, and during a season many 

Sunday school and private picnics utilize this historiC State 

Park. Many thousands in the last two years have visited the 

grounds. Water is necessary for their proper enjoyment, but 

none is supplied by nature and up to the wr1ting of this report 

the state has withheld its assent to this great necessity. 

Ao 

" 

observatory 

selected. 

34. Ibid., pp. 3-5 . 

should be erected. 

This observatory 

A most eligible site 

is very des1rable. 

could 

A" 
battlefields and historical parks have one or more--all but 

Valley Forge. 

It would unduly lengthen this report to dwell upon the minor 

items necessary for the work of the Commission. The work of 

restoring the entrenchments and redoubts, purchase of 

fertili.:ers, mowing machines, grass seeds, the planting of trees 

and securing old cannon, all are referred to in the item of 

maintenance. For this item a much larger sum should be 

appropriated than heretofore.(35) 

While the improvements under the 1903 appropriation were being carried 

out, another effort was mounted in Congress to have Valley Forge 

established as a federal reservation. Moving quickly to head off this 

effort, Governor Pennypacker wrote a letter to Senator Penrose that 

proved to be effective in ending congressional consideration of the 

matter; 

Our State Commission has secured the lines there [Valley 

Forge], has laid out avenues and is doing its work well. We 

want to do everything we can to help them and to prevent the 

interference which comes from persons outside the State and 

certain well-meaning but ill-advised women within it. 

Pennsylvania is rich enough and capable enough to take care of 

Independence Hall, Valley Forge, and her battlefields, and make 

them tell their lesson to the nation. After she had expended 

large sums of money in marking and erecting monuments at 

Gettysburg, it was transferred to the United States Government 

and the result was that after Grover Cleveland had been elected 

President the bronze New York monument was put in the 

cemetery in the very center of the field, which was in every 

aspect of it a Pennsylvania battle. I do not propose, if I can 

help it, to have this course repeated as to Valley Forge, and 

should the matter come up in Congress, I rely upon you to help 

me. Should a bill be presented, you can probably kill it easily 

by having added to it that the Government also take Bunker 

Hill from Massachusetts and Stony Point from New York.(36) 

The commission 

biennial report. 

echoed the governor's sentiments in its December 1904 

The report stated: 

Since the last report another effort to secure an appropriation 

from Congress was made by those who feel that the State has 

not in the past been progressive and liberal enough. whilst it 

is evident that no such action will be taken by the National 

Government, consideration should be given as to whether, as 

35. Ibid., pp. S-6. 

36. Quoted 1n Carson, "Life and Services of Samuel Whitaker 

Pennypacker," 42. 

; 06 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

Pennsylvanians, we should look upon the effort with 

approbation. This spot IS ours; fate settled that question 

when, after the defeat of Germantown, some haven had to be 

selected by the Father of His Country. Th1s spot was chosen, 

advantageous from a military point of v1ew, and within the 

confines of our Commonwealth. It is a sacred heritage which we 

should cherish and preserve for the people of the niltion, as 

they wntemplate the great fortitude of the men who in a 

mei!sure secured to us "life, liberty, and the pursuit of 

happiness." The State having entered upon this work should 

not now turn back. It has a patriotic duty to perform.(37) 

Two major events were held at Valley Forge drawing national attention to 

the park while the improvements under the 1903 appropriation were being 

completed. One was the 125th anniversary celebration of the evacuation 

of the encampment area on June 19, 1903, under the management of the 

Valley Forge Anniversary Association organized in Philadelphia the 

previous December. The officers of the association were General B. F. 

Fisher of Valley Forge, president; J. P. Hale Jenkins of Norristown, 

vice-president; George N. Malsberg of Pottstown, treasurer; and John 0. 

K. Robarts of Pheonixville, secretary. The exercises were presided over 

by Governor Pennypacker and consisted of a milit<try s<tlute, music, under 

the direction of Robarts, patriotic addresses, the reading of Mary E. 

Thropp Cone's poem, "The Sentinel of V<tlley Forge," and "other 

interesting features. 11 (38) 

The following year on June 19, 1904, President Theodore Roosevelt 

became the first president to visit V<llley Forge while in office. A guest 

of Philander C. Knox, his attorney general who had a home ne<tr V<tlley 

Forge, Roosevelt honored the heroes of Valley Forge with an evacuation 

day anniversary address given at the barn-board chapel, then serving as 

the tempor<try quarters of the W<tshington Memorial Chapel.(39) 

of the V<tlley Forge P<trk Commission, December 20, 1904," 

of the Valley Forge Park Commissions For the Years 1902, 1904 

p-;- 6-.-

were the park for 

Washington i I Chapel. For more data on the interaction of the 

Washington Memorial Chapel and its later closely-affiliated Valley Forge 

Historical Society .,.,th Valley Forge State Park one should consult Powell, 

"The Most Celebrated Encampment: Valley Forge in American Culture, 

1777-1983." 

39. Theodore Roosevelt, "The Valley Forge Speech," Independent, LVII 

(July 7, 1904), 19-21, and Burk, Valley Forge and the Presidents of the 

United States of America, n.p . 

;07 
The improvements in Valley Forge State Park drew increasing numbers of 

visitors during the mid-1900s. One such visitor in 1904 was William C. • 

Ewing, of Yonkers, New York. The descendent of George Ewing, who 

served in Maxwell's Brigade 1n the Valley Forge encampment, Ewing 

published a pamphlet describing his visit to the park. Among his 

observations were the following: 

There will be some disappointment in attempting to read history 

on the ground, at least until the historical societies have much 

more fully marked the spots already identified and have thus 

given a basis for conjecture as to the location of the points still 

unsettled. Valley Forge's historical discovery came too late to 

rescue the log huts of the soldiers, the marquee of the 

commander and the headquarters of the various brigades and 

the quarters of other general officers. The very existence of 

the redoubts and pickets on the north bank of Valley Creek is 

hardly admitted on the ground; or, to speak more correctly, is 

generally stoutly denied. The lines of intrenchment on the 

south side are not quite intact, though the outer line is still 

partly visible and the Inner one is fairly well preserved, 

especially the part in the woodland portion of the camp 

grounds. The forge is no more, except as a matter of hot 

dispute. Later dams have almost obliterated the memory of the 

most ancient one, which has slight traditional evidence of its 

location. . . . 

Fort Washington, near the head of the intrenchments, has still 

the embrasure of its battery, and pits mark the location of 

magazine and huts. Fort Huntington has a pretty grove of 

trees telling its age and the star redoubt is still found near the 

river bank .. 

I found on the north bank of Valley Creek, in the woods 

beyond the first run, the ruins of a building having the 

dimensions of the huts, as far as the ground plan would show. 

The charred fragments of the staves were all that remained of 

the building ... 

. There was also a bake-house near Fort Washington and it 

still is in some sort of existence. 

According to the pamphlet Valley Forge State Park had 

handsome drives and walks leading to the principal points 

of interest. The fields lately under cultivation, or in meadows, 

have a light iron fence around them and are bright with spring 

beauties, buttercups and other flowers of the season. The hills 

have a varied growth of timber, mostly deciduous, with a 

sprinkling of pines and cedars, and rising to the older woods 

of the summit. Bright azaleas lighten the brushy margin of the 

woods. Horse-chestnut blooms are found here and there and 

weeping willows mark some of the camps, while cherry trees are 

found that far exceed their usual girth and take on in their old 

age the rougher habit of the oak. A fine drive is making along 

108 

• 

• 
• 

• 

the outer intrenchment, which has but lately been bought by 

the state. Unfortunately, the roads and drives have long s1nce 

cut off Fort Washington from its unmarked outworks, possibly 

not even included in the reservation and likely to be overlooked 

by the historical student. A military engineer is needed to 

trace out the lines which only a practiced eye can find or a 

martial training appreciate. 

The next step should be the marking of the various commands, 

as nearly as may be determmed; especially the locating of the 

redoubts and pickets on the north side of the creek, which are 

now altogether forgotten .... (40) 

The Valley Forge Park Commission issued its first public<1tion in 1905. 

Written by Frank H. Taylor, the booklet was errMied I 

Chronicle of American Heroism, It was designed as a 

and souvenir guide for the use of visitors as they 

In May 1905 a replica log hut was constructed by the Daughters of the 

Revolution, Colonial Chapter of Philadelphia, on land donated by I. 

Heston Todd just west of the Washington Memorial Chapel property. It 

was built on the site of an "original hut" belonging to the 4th Connecticut 

Regiment "as proven by the buttons found in the hut hole." The hut 

was built according to the specification for standard twelve-man huts as 

issued by Washington. While the reconstructed hut was not on park 

land, it nevertheless stimulated visitation to the park and surrounding 

historical sites, particularly after its dedication on June 24, 1905, by 

Rev. W. Herbert Burk.(42) 

The state legislature, with Governor Pennypacker's support, responded to 

the stated needs of the commission in the 1905 session. On April 7 an 

act was passed authorizing the commission to acquire up to 1,000 acres in 

carrying out its original mandate to establish a park "for the enjoyment of 

the people," It is interesting to note that this act dropped the wording 

prohibiting the state's takeover of the washington Headquarter's 

property, thus calling into question the later assertion of the Centennial 

and Memorial Association that it was unaware of changes in the legislation 

excluding its property from the state's park lands.(43) 

The general assembly, with Governor Pennypacker's support, responded 

to the stated needs of the Valley Forge Park Commission and appropriated 

40. Ewing, Valley Forge Revisited, pp. 2, 4-6, 8, 10-11. 

41. Frank H. Taylor, Valley Forge: 

(Philadelphia, 1905). A copy of this 

Library of Congress. 

A Chronicle of 

publication may 

42. "Daughters of the Revolution Repair Hut," Picket Post (October, 

1968), 22-23. 

e 43. A copy of th1S act may be seen in Appendix F. 
$115,815 for expansion and development of the park on May 11, 1905. 

The act provided for the following categorie:;: 

(1) Purchase or condemnation money for land acquisition-- $40,000 

(2) Laying out and improvement of road:; -- $45,250 

(3) Painting and construction of fences -- $3,500 

(4) Securing water supply-- $1,000 

(5) Purchase and erection of marker:; for identification of troop 

positions -- $3,000 

(6) Erection and construction of observatory -- $5,000 

( 7) Maintenance of redoubts and entrenchments and future care of 

lands and employment of superintendent -- $13,615 

(8) Erection and construction of stable -- $500 

(9) Purchasing old cannon $500 

(10) Planting trees -- $500 

(11) Purchase of fertilizer and lawn works-- $1,200 

(12) Erection of three guard houses -- $750 

(13) Expenses of commissioners-- $1,000 

On the same date the legislature appropriated $30,000 "for the erection of 

an equestrian statue of General Anthony Wayne, on the Revolutionary 

Camp Grounds of Valley Forge"--the first state-sponsored monument in 

the park. ( 44) 

The sizable appropriation permitted the park commis:;ion to expand the 

park boundaries both by purchase and condemnation, bringing the total 

acreage of the park to 467.1169 by December 1906. The property 

acquired included the Washington Headquarter's tract. After the 

commission took charge of the property the admission fee charged by the 

Centennial and Memorial Association ceased. The registered visitors to 

the headquarters between May 1 and November 1, 1906, numbered 19,100, 

the highest number to visit the site to date. Other property acquired 

with the appropriation included the lands on which the New Jersey and 

44. "An Act Making an Appropriation to the Commissioners of Valley 

Forge Park," May 11, 1905, and "An Act To Provide for the Erection of 

an Equestrian Statue of General Anthony Wayne, on the Revolutionary 

Camp Grounds of Valley Forge and Making an Appropriation therefor," 

• 

• 

May 11, 1905, in By-Laws of the Valley Forge Park Commission, 1906, pp. • 

14-16. --

110 
• 

• 

• 

Pennsylvania troops and Washington's life guard had encamped and 

various parcels for the purpose of straightening the park boundary lines . 

Despite the acquisition of this new property the commission reported in 

December 1906 that it was necessary to secure additional land. The 

park, according to the commissioners, was "now segregated" <Ond "should 

be contiguous." If it were the purpose of the legislature to authorize the 

commission "to secure the different headquarters of the division 

commanders during the encampment," an appropriation "must be made of 

sufficient amount for this purpose." 

However, since the price of the property was "liable to materially increase 

if an idea is obtained from the owners that the Commission is desirous of 

securing it," the commissioners felt it unwise "to indicate what portions 

are contemplated." The price of land in the vicinity of Valley Forge had 

"very materially increased" since 1893; hence "it is the part of wisdom to 

make such appropriation for the acquisition of land that all land deemed 

necessary for the purposes of the Pilrk may be acquired at the earliest 

moment." 

To underline the importance of obtaining additional land for the park, the 

commissioners described the historic importance of sites located on several 

of the recently-acquired parcels. On the Kendall property the "holes of 

about forty huts used by the men under Wayne" and "the remains of the 

two bake ovens" had been located. An "old school house built before the 

RevolutiOn and which was used at the time of its acquisition by the State 

as a stable or hen house" was located on the McMenamin property. The 

commission intended to restore this building "to its original 

condition."(45) 

The 1905 appropriation also allowed the commission to make other park 

improvements during 1905-06. A 75-foot-high observatory tower was 

erected on Mount Joy, providing "a very fine view of the surrounding 

country and demonstrating "the wisdom of General Washington in securing 

this strategic point for the encampment." On the observatory were "fixed 

tablets" marking "the directions of all the battle fields and camps and 

military localities connected with the 1777-78 campaign." The 

fortifications at Forts Huntington and Washington were restored, being 

"covered with sod and protected" by enclosures "to prevent the 

encampments of visitors." However, permanent observation platforms had 

been built so that the public could view them. Paths were laid out to 

some of the better preserved entrenchments on Mount Joy, and a portion 

of the earthworks near Fort Huntington was reconstructed. In front of 

Fort Huntington the commission buried the body of a soldier that had 

been discovered on a neighboring farm. It was thought that this might 

45. "Report of the Valley Forge Park Commission, December 28 1 1906," 

in Reports of the Valley Forge Park Commissions For The Years 1902, 

1904 and 1906, pp. 3-4. For a boundary description of the 470-acre park 

:5ee Appendix G. Subsequent research has led National Park Service 

historians and historical architects to conclude that the school house was 

built ca. 1790-1810. 

m 
have been the soldier shot by a farmer during the encampment after 

Wayne had told the farmer to shoot the next soldier he found stealing • 

from him. 

Water "pumps" were made available for public usage at Forts Huntington 

and Was!lington. Near the boulevard on t!le hillside where Huntington's 

brigade !lad encamped the commission placed tables and benc!les under the 

trees for t!le use of picnickers. Thereafter, the grounds of Washington's 

Headquarters would not be available for picnic parties. 

The park drives were completed and were to be opened to the traveling 

public during the spring of 1907. The commission anticipated that from 

"that time forward" the roads would "doubtless be one of the most 

attractive features of the Park." Altogether there were some five miles of 

macadam road "from the station of the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad 

by a circuitous route, but along the line of the entrenchment and near 

Forts Washington and Huntington, to the road leading from Port Kennedy 

to the King of Prussia." Four guard houses were built for the use of 

park guards, two of them being reproductions of the huts used by the 

encampment soldiers. One stone guard house was located near Fort 

Huntington. 

The commission (with Lieutenant Colonel John P. Nicholson as chairman) 

appointed by the legislature in 1905 to erect a monument in honor of 

General Anthony Wayne selected a site for the statue on a crest close to 

the park road. The site for the monument overlooked "the famous 

Chester Valley" on the "line of the outer entrenchments at the place that 

his Pennsylvania line were encamped." It was hoped that the erection of 

this monument, being made by Henry K. Bush-Brown, would "stimulate 

the sentiment for the erectior> of others by the Colonial States."(46) 

In 1906 Governor Pennypacker e><pressed his views on the park to the 

legislature. He stated that a "great work has been accomplished by the 

State at Valley Forge." The state "ought to maintain it forever as one of 

her most cherished possessions and ought never to forget that her 

important relations to that war impose upon her the duty of making it an 

object of inspiration and incentive to the people of the entire nation." 

Every "American and especially every Pennsylvanian ought to visit Valley 

Forge as the saints of Mohammed went to Mecca."(47) 

The park commissioners echoed those sentiments late in the year. They 

observed: 

46. Ibid., PP- 4-6, 14, and Burk, Guide to Valley Forge, 1906, pp. 

59-60~-70. The "Valley Forge Picnic Grounds" were located across 

from the Washington Inn on private property. 

of the Valley Forge Park Commission, December 28, 1906," 

of the Valley Forge Park Commissions For the Years 1902, 1904 

p. 14. 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

The conception of the Park as evidenced by the Act of 1893, 

was a happy one and if the purposes for which the Park was 

created can be subserved (and your Commission are 

conscientiously endeavoring to do so) Valley Forge Park will be 

a monument. The Park visitors, not including those to the 

Headquarters, from May 1 to November 1 of this year, reached 

the astounding number of 40,000, estimating three persons to 

each vehicle, and demonstrates that the interest in the Park is 

increasing annually and that it is destined to be the Mecca for 

patriotic Americans. {48) 

The interest of Governor Pennypacker, substantial appropriations by the 

legislature, and expansion and development of the park appears to have 

had an effect on the organization and work of the Valley Forge Park 

Commi~sion. In December 1906 the commission reported that it was meeting 

monthly. All the members were "taking a very keen interest in the work 

committed to them by the Legislature." The harmony existing on the 

commission was "an earnest of intelligent supervision which in time will 

make Valley Forge one of the most historical on the Western 

Continent."(49) As a sign of its new energy the commission published its 

recently-adopted by-laws in 1906--the first comprehensive body of 

organizational rules to govern the work and ~tructure of the 

commission, (SO) 

In 1906 1\1. Herbert Burk, minister of the Washington Memorial chapel, 

published the first edition of his Historical and Topograph'1cal Gu'1de to 

Valley Forge. The guide, which would go through a number of rev1sed 

editions until 1932, contained tourist information on how to reach and see 

Valley Forge State Park and the historic significance and traditions of the 

encampment period (his sections on "How to Reach Valley Forge" and 

"How to See Valley Forge" may be seen in Appendix I). More 

importantly, the guide provided data on the sightseeing opportunities in 

the park and the surrounding vicinity as well as the historical 

background of the sites and buildings to be visited. The guide described 

the course of the "right line boulevard" and the "front line boulevard" in 

the park and the location and significance of the various brigades, 

headquarters, markers, earthworks, fortifications, and redoubts. 

Considerable attention was g1ven to the construction and activities of the 

Washington Memorial Chapei.(S1) 

48. Ibid., p. 6. 

49. Ibid., p. 3. 

50. By-Laws of the 

the by-laws may be 

revised in 1916. A copy of the 

Biennial Report 

• 1916, pp. 18-20. 

' revised 

of the 

Commission, pp. 36. A copy of 

H. The by-laws were minimally 

by-laws may be seen in Appendix 

Valley Forge Park Commiss1on, 

51. Burk, Guide to Valley Forge, pp. 1-90 . 
Legislation was approved by the governor on May 28, 1907, giving power 

to the pari< commission "to grant to railroad companies the right to • 

connect their termini by tunnel, beneath the park." The bill stated that 

the commission had the power 

to grant to any railroad company, incorporated under a charter 

heretofore granted by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the 

right to construct its railroad under the surfilce of the land 

included within the said Park, intervening between the places 

named in the charter of such company from and to which such 

railroad is to be constructed, m<~intained, and operated: 

Provided, That no part of the route of the said railroad, nor 

the construction, maintenance or operation thereof, shall in any 

manner encroach upon or interfere with the surface of the said 

Park.(52) 

G. OPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF 

DURING THE PRE-WORLD WAR I PERIOD: 

VALLEY FORGE STATE PARK 

1908-1914 

After Governor Pennypacker left office in 1907 the appropriations for 

Valley Forge State Park approved by the state legislature were not as 

generous. Yet the commitment by the state to upgrade the development of 

the park during the Pennypacker years resulted 1n continuing 

appropri<Jtions for maintenance and small-scale improvements. In 1907, 

for example, the legislature appropriated $28,500 for the park rn 

1907-08--a sum that included $20,000 for road and path maintenance, $500 

for construction of fences and painting, and $9,000 for the erection of 

markers showing the location of the Pennsylvania Brigade.(S3) 

During the years 1907-08 the Valley Forge Park Commission carried out a 

number of development projects in the park (a copy of a map of the park 

prepared in 1908 may be seen on the following page), using these 

appropriated monies as well as the unexpended balance of the 1905 

appropriations. The old mill site between the Washington Headquarter's 

property and Valley Creek was acquired, the ruins of the mill removed, 

and preparations taken for planting a lawn. Improvements to the 

headquarters building and property, accordinQ to park superintendent 

A. H. Bowen who was also serving as secretary of the commission, 

included: 

. Have had Washington Spring remodelled and have had a 

stone basin bu1lt which takes overflow from the Spring for 

purpose of watering horses etc. Have had bank at rear sodded 

52. Quoted in Bender to Shannon, December 19, 1935, Correspondence, 

RG 46, PHMC. 

53. Stager, History of the Centennial and Memorial Association, p. 220 . 

• 

• 
• 

SCALE 

l• // 

' 

• 

VAUEY FORGE PARK 

AND 

VICINITY 

""'"'" F,.-9<' P"'" "....,,,... """ •X~"" .rr >w'"""'"'"""" 1908 

.~ .. , ... -.. .. ~ c,._,~. 
and 1t presents a very pretty appearance besides being an 

accommodation to the Public. . New floor has been placed [in] 

the room used as kitchen at Washington Hdq. Have used 

concrete foundations and oak joists this being completed will 

last for 50 years. Will also have ventilators along side of room 

to allow air to pass under. The old floor and joists were all 

rotted away, they having been placed in the earth. Have also 

ordered a ventilator placed in dry closet, the smell in same 

having been offensive.(54) 

A road was constructed 

pedestrian path was 

Observatory." 

"from the 

also laid 

driveway to the Observatory." A 

from the "dr1veway to the 

• 

The old school house on the McMenamin property was restored. During 

the restoration work "dates" were reportedly "disco•;ered upon the walls, 

one 1714 and one 1716, and from records obtained by a member of the 

Commission" it was "ascertained that it was built in 1705 by L.rtitia 

Aubrey, a daughter of William Penn" (subsequent research, as 

aforementioned, indicates that this structure was built ca. 1790-1810). 

Opened to the public on May 15, 1908, the building had "desks and 

benches around the walls" with the "Master's desk erected upon the 

platform, as in 'ye olden style.'" Thus, the "young of the present" were 

provided with "an object lesson as to the manner with which the 

inculcation of the youth with the rudiments of education were Imparted in 

earlier days." • 

Granite markers with bronze tablets were built "on the several camp 

Sites." "Extraordinary care" was taken "to have these erected at such 

points and the inscriptions placed thereon to be historically correct."(55) 

A number of other improvements were carried out to improve the 

"historic" values of the park. Three log huts, based on the Continental 

Army specifications prepared by Washington, were constructed. After 

Congress authorized the Secretary of War to furnish brass cannon field 

54. Bowen to Sayen, November 4, 1908, Correspondence, RG 46, PHMC. 

Ss. Report of the pp. 3-4, 9. On 

December 15;-1908, that 

"Valley Forge Park 

markers on the sites brigades." The markers 

information as is now avaflable," and space was left on the tablets so that 

Other information" could be added. One such marker was "placed on the 

slope of the Star Redoubt" for Varnum's Brigade. "State Markers," • 

Washington Chapel Chronicle, 1 (December 15, 1908), 2-3. 

'" 
• 

• 

• 

p1eces to the Valley Forge Park Commission, the commissioners purchased 

four gun carriages to mount the cannon.(SS) 

On October 17, 1907, the State of Maine dedicated and presented to the 

Valley Forge Park Commission "a marker at the point where the men of 

Maine who served in Massachusetts regiments were quartered." The 

granite marker--the first state memorial in the park--had been erected 

with a $500 appropriation by the Maine legislature upon the 

recommendation of the Maine Society of the Sons of the American 

Revolution. The ceremonies included addresses by Augustus F. Moulton, 

a civic leader from Portland, Maine, ex-Pennsylvania Governor Samuel W. 

Pennypacker, and Colonel Seth C. Gordon, a medical doctor from 

Portland. William T. Cobb, Governor of Maine, formally presented the 

marker to Colonel William H. Sayen, president of the Valley Forge Park 

Commission, stating: 

A definite motive inspired the great Commonwealth upon whose 

soil we stand today, and whose guests in a sense we are, to 

set aside, to care for and to consecrate forever to a reverent 

patriotism this hallowed and historic ground. A definite motive 

prompted Maine to heed the request of the Society of the Sons 

of the American Revolution of that State, and to cause to be 

erected here a monument to commemorate the faithfulness and 

valor of the men who, living then in what is now Maine, left 

their homes and bore their share of the hardships of that 

memorable winter at Valley Forge. The motive in each case was 

the same and is a thankful appreciation of the sacrifices made 

for the country and for liberty. So long as it exists and finds 

its sincere expression in acts and ways like these, so long will 

the fires of patriotism illumine the path to true national 

grandeur and the permanency of our institutions be 

assured .... (57) 

Loaning Certain Brass Cannon to Valley 

Cong., 2d sess., 1907, H. Rept. 8160, pp. 

Forge Park Commission, 1908, pp. 21-22. 

In Historical Society of Montgomery County 

erected a new ' rock face granite boulder" on the Wetherill estate at 

the site of li Bridge on the Schuylkill on October 7, 1907. While 

the park boundaries did not include the bridge site, this marker added 

further to the "historical interpretation" of the Valley Forge encampment 

Forge, 

opened to 

Hand-Book, 

Sullivan's Monument," Historical Sketches: A 

Historical Sodety of Montgomery 

Also see, W. H. Reed, "Sullivan 

and Joseph Formance, "Acceptance of 

!'>"!··, 37-40. A reproduction of the Old 

west of the Washington Inn, was also 

, 1907. Riddle, Valley Forge Guide and 

57. Ma1ne At Valley Forge: Proceedings at 

Marker, October 17, 1907 (Augusta, 1910), pp . 

the park commission regarding memorials may 

117 
The following year, on June 20, 1908, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 

dedicated the Anthony Wayne Monument which had been sculpted by 

Henry K. Bush-Brown of Newburgh, New York. The bronze equestrian 

monument, which was set on a pedestal of red Missouri granite built by 

William R. Hodges of St. Louis, Missouri, was cast by Bureau Brothers of 

Philadelphia. Situated on a commanding site in the park overlooking the 

Chester Valley, the monument was in view of the heildquarters which, 

according to tradition, Wayne occupied during the encampment. The 

principal address for the dedication ceremonies was given by former 

Governor Pennypacker, who prepared his speech by studying the letters 

of Wayne and other Continental Army generals at the Historical Society of 

Pennsylvania. (58) 

A force of men under Superintendent A. H. Bowen was at work 

throughout much of 1907-08 "clearing out the underbrush, planting trees 

on the denuded slopes, and improving the grounds." Bowen reported on 

these activities to commission president W. H. Silyen on November 4, 

1908: 

.. we have planted linden trees between Fort Washington and 

Kendall point and elm trees on both sides of outer line to Port 

Kennedy road and will have a number [of] oak, chestnut, 

hickory and locust. . Have also planted laurel all along the 

observatory road to hide water ditch and around exposed points 

at observatory and entrance from Port Kennedy on Inner Line. 

Nuts such as chestnut, hickory oak and walnuts have been 

planted in our nursery. Dogwood trees have been planted 

along the edge of woods on outer line. Markers for toilet rooms 

[two new toilet closets and one dry earth closet], roads, to 

observatory, and Wayne Monument and bridle paths have been 

erected. Tarvia has been placed at all turns in our roads, and 

road from Ft. Washington on Outer Line to Gulf Road has been 

repaired and covered. Bridle paths have been opened .... 

All the refuse that comes from trimming trees and our laurel 

bed and different points has been hauled away and burned. We 

are now grubbing out woods along Inner line road where it 

enters Park and the refuse will be burned during the 

winter. . . Our men have been kept busy raking the leaves 

and burning them from our roads. Am having some plowing 

done in large field along Outer line where part of same has 

become overgrown with sorrel grass. Will seed same in the 

118 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

Spring. 

coating 

Several of our paths have been repaired and a good 

of stone screen•ngs have been placed on same.(59) 

The park improvements during 1907-08 made Valley Forge increasingly 

attractive to the visit1ng public. During 1908 visitation to the park 

numbered 108,000 of which number some 30,000 toured Washington's 

Headquarters. Yet despite this increase in park VIsitors there still were 

no park guides. When a man mquired about bringing a group of boys to 

the park, Bowen intormed him: 

If you will call .3! my store 112 South 2nd St. Phi Ia., Pa., on 

Fr1day I will give you some cop1es of our last report also maps 

of the Camp ground at Valley Forge. Our workmen and Guards 

can explain all points of interest to you as we have no guide 

for this purpose. In regards to boys coming up you or the 

person who has them in charge will have to keep them under 

his control and make them observe the rules in regards to not 

pulling any wild flowers, walking on the entrenchments nor not 

molesting any of the buildings, etc.(60) 

The removal of underbrush in the park not only made Valley Forge more 

attractive to the public but also led to the discovery of important sites. 

On the former Kendall and Evans properties hut holes were uncovered 

and the ruins of bake ovens unearthed. Unknown graves were also 

"discovered along the River Road'' and "along the line of Park near what 

is known as the Hallman line."(61) 

59. Bowen to S;,yen, November 4, 1908, Correspondence, RG 46, PHMC. 

Trees for the pl;,nting project were obt;,ined by contract from Henry F. 

Mitchell of Philadelphia in March 1908 and William H. Doyle of Berwyn in 

April 1908. MJtchell supplied 1350 seedlings, and Doyle provided an 

unspecified number of trees, ranging in size from four feet to ten feet in 

height. Doyle's contract called for furnishing "plant finish by mulch1ng 

with manure" and replacing "any trees which might die within One year 

after being planted, free of cost to the Commission." Among the types of 

trees provided by Doyle were: pine oak, white oak, red oak, tulip 

poplar, hemlock spruce, excelsior white pme, Norway spruce, locust 

(black or sweet), white dogwood, sugar maple, red mi!ple, chestnut 

(American), red dogwood, Babylonian willow, cherry (red and black), 

linden, elm, Jud<~s, swamp white oak, wh1!e birch, sweet gum, and 

hickory. Agreement executed between Henry F. Mitchell Co. and Valley 

Forge Park Comm1ssion, March 12, 1908, and Agreement executed between 

W. H. Doyle and Valley Forge Park CommiSSion, April 29, 1908, RG 2, 

VAFO Archives. 

60. Sec. i!nd Supt. to Wilson, May 12, 1908, Correspondence, RG 

PHMC. Also see "Valley Forge Park," Washington Ch<~pel 

(April 15, 1908), 2, and Report of the Valley Forge Park 

1908, pp. 4, 10. 

61. Report of the Valley Forge Park Commission, 1908, p. 9 . 
Despite the increase in appropriations for Valley Forge St<1te Park the 

commissioners continued to f<1Ce financial problems in operating the reser- • 

vation. For example, the commission was notified in March 1909 that its 

1908 biennial report could not be printed because there was no 

appropriation for that purpose. Unknown to the commissioners the earlier 

commission reports had been printed under the direct orders of then 

Governor Pennypacker. Only after a delegation appealed to Governor 

Edwin S. Stuart and an item was inserted in the 1909 appropri<1tion was 

the 1S08 report printed.(62) 

By early 1909 the Pennsylvania general assembly had appropriated a total 

of $313,215 for the acquisition and improvement of the land and buildings 

in Valley Forge State Park. According to a report by the House 

Committee on the Library in February 1909 the following improvements had 

been realized in the park using those funds: 

Out of the balance of the state appropriations of $313,215 there 

was erected an observatory upon the summit of Mount Joy, from 

Which there is a vista of widely extended scenery of diversified 

character and beauty; between 5 and 6 miles of macadam roads 

and paths have been laid; Forts Washington and Huntingd[t]on 

and other intrenchments have been restored; trees and shrubs, 

including rhododendron, have been treated and planted, and 

much seeding has been done. More than 10 miles of iron fence 

has been built, and the spring house at the Washington 

Headquarters has been rebuilt; 2 stone guardhouses and 5 log 

huts (used by park guards), the latter a reproduction of those 

used during the encampment, have been erected. Also 15 large 

granite markers to locate position of brigades and many iron 

signboards and tables and benches as well as hitching rails 

have been provided. 

The old schoolhouse built by Letitia Aubrey in 1705, stones of 

which are marked 1714 and 1716, which was used as a hospital 

during the encampment, has been restored. Two wells have 

been dug to secure water on the outer line of intrenchments; 

and 2 nurseries planted, in order that trees may be at hand for 

planting in suitable locations. The underbrush in a large part 

of the woods has been cleared. Six of the 20 brass cannon 

donated by the United States Government have been mounted 

upon carriages of the type used during the Revolutionary war, 

according to design furnished by the Br1tish war office. The 

main purpose has been to restore and to preserve the 

encampment grounds as nearly as practicable in the condition 

they are supposed to have been at the time of the encampment, 

and so as to make pr<Jcticable the fullest enjoyment of them by 

the people as a public park.(63) 

62. Bowen to Sayen, March 3, 1909, Correspondence, RG 46, PMHC. 

63. U.S. Congress, House, Committee on 

Memorial Arches At Valley Forge, Pa., 60th 

Rept. 2225, pp. 2-3. 

;zo 

the Library, 

Cong., 2d 

of 

" 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

During the sprir1g of 1909 the park commission was busily engaged 1n 

projects designed to get the park ready for the heavy visitation season 

wh1ch generally extended from May 1 to November 1. Among other 

projects a lar·ge pavilion was constructed at the picnic grounds. On April 

7 Superintendent Bowen informed commission president Sayen: 

Since our last meeting we m<1de considerable progress in 

cleanmg out underbrush and decayed or dead timber. Have 

seeded banks from Fort Wash•ngton to Gulf Road each foot of 

same has to be packed down after seed and bone dust have 

been applied. . Enough paint has been bought to repaint 

our fences and we will begin painting some day next week. 

The balance (5) of the cannon or six pound bronze guns have 

been received from U.S. Government and stored away until 

such time as we may secure an appropriation to erect carriages 

for same. Pure bone, and grass seed has been bought and will 

begin seeding the 22 acres after April 12th. Bridle path has 

been finished from Inner Line drive where path goes to Ft. 

Washington spring <>round through woods to north of 

observatory coming out on main drive <>t Knox's point. The 

laurels which were planted adjoining river road were nearly all 

destroyed by fire last Fall. Have had this portion of woods 

cleaned up thoroughly so there will not be so much old materi<>l 

for fwe to feed upon. The remainder of laurels and 

rhododendrums [sic] are on good condition. Contractor is 

erecting Hospital Hut on the original foundatoons of one which 

was in use in 1777-78 in Kendalls' woods below Wayne 

Monument. .(64) 

On May 28 the Valley Forge Park Commission let a contract to W. J. 

McCone of Devon, Pennsylvania, to build four huts in the park. The 

contract stated that the huts were to be "10' x 12'" and were to be the 

"same kind as built previously (and in same manner under the supervision 

of Supt. Bowen who is to be the judge as to whether they are acceptable 

to Commission)." The commission would provide the stone and logs for 

the work and pay the contractor $165 for each huL(65) 

The improvements at Valley Forge continued to draw large crowds to the 

park. The visitation and mode of conveyances used by visitors to the 

park in fiscal year 1909 (which ended on May 31, 1909) were: 

64. Bowen to Sayen, April 7, 1909, Correspondence, RG 46, PHMC. 

65. Agreement entered into May 28th, 1909, between w. J. McCone of 

Devon, Pa., as party of first part and the Valley Forge Park Commission 

of second part, RG 2, VAFO Archives . 
8700 automobiles 5 to auto 

1503 double teams 4 to team 

4335 single teams 2 to team 

151SB pedestrians 

643 bicycles 

500 on horseback 

14300 occupy1ng picnic grounds 

25750 visiting Hdq. 

The following week on 

commission concerning the 

June 7 Superintendent 

spring rush of visitors: 

43,500 

6,012 

8,670 

15,198 

643 

500 

14,300 

25 750 

114,573 (66) 

Bowen informed 

Picnics are frequent both public schools and Sunday Schools 

and private picnics. All seem to be pleased with their visits. 

Large number of visitors come daily some Saturdays and 

Sundays as high as 1500 to 1600 persons paying their visit to 

the State Park. The wild laurel is in full-bloom and is 

greatly admired. . (67) 

'" 

The flood of visitors was aided by Valley Forge excursion trips from 

Philadelphia promoted by the Philadelphia and Reading Railway. For 

instance, on Saturday, June 12, a special train transported a 500-person 

Sunday School excursion. On Sunday the 13th three trains carried a 

2000-person entourage associated with patriotic services sponsored by the 

• 

Knights of Columbus at which former Governor Pennypacker spoke. The • 

National Association of Credit Men had a 1000-person excursion on 

Thursday, June 17.(68) 

Although the Vdlley Forge Park Commission requested appropriations 

totaling $111,600 in 1909, the state legislature granted the sum of 

$51,100.(69) With these funds and the balance of unexpended funds from 

the 1907 appropriation various improvements were carried out under the 

direction of Superintendent Bowen during the summer and fall of 1909. 

Bowen's monthly reports during this period are illustrative of the type of 

maintenance activities and park improvements carried out by the park 

commission during the pre-World War I years. In July Bowen reported: 

66. Bowen to Sayen, [June, 1909], Correspondence, RG 46, PHMC. 

67. Bowen to Valley Forge Park Commission, June 7, 1909, 

Correspondence, RG 46, PHMC. 

68. Weeks to Bowen, June 7, 1909, Correspondence, RG 46, PHMC. 

69. Report of 

Stager, History 

p. 15, and 

220. • 
• 

• 

• 

The Ft. Moultr•e Revolutionary carriage with cannon has been 

purchased from Geo. W. Schultz for $100, and same is in 

Washington Hdq. Contract for 19 more Revolutionary carriages 

for guns loaned by U.S. Government has been awarded to 

Calvin Gilbert of Gettysburg Pa. who made the former carriages 

which were delivered last year (for the nett [sic] sum of $115 

each) part of these carriages have already been delivered. 

Have sold nearly $300 worth of grass during present season. 

Contractor has finished contract for building road in front of 

Wi!shington Hdq. along the whole length of Hey property now 

owned by the State [new widened roadway permitted two-way 

traffic]. Messrs. Windrim, Jenkins and Bowen of Executive 

Committee have visited Washington Hdq. and have decided to 

build the stone fence for which there has already been a 

contract entered into with W. H. Doyle for the nett [sic] sum 

of $!70. Have begun to build path entering off Centreville 

road west of Ft. Washington and continueing [sic] below our 

driving road around Knox's point until it meets the present 

path which terminates on Inner line road near path to 

Washington Spring. . Both the guards and our laboring men 

are kept busy keeping banks and gutters in condition about 12 

miles of same to be attended to.(70) 

In August 

construction 

Bowen reported on 

activities underway in 

a wide variety of 

the park. He noted: 

maintenance 

The old tree opposite Hdq. has been cemented and tarred 

to try ami save life of same. Stone fence in front of Hdq. has 

been finished as per contract also path has been widened to 8 

ft. at entrance and filled in with small stone and dust at sides 

and around corners. Paths for horsebackers and pedestrians 

have been built through the woods near Ft. Washington Redoubt 

and around near Senator Knox's property around Mt. Joy down 

to Knox bridge. Part of this work has been done through a 

part of the Park which was not accessible to the people 

before. Path from observatory to Washington Spring has 

been rebuilt and same well protected by logs placed in bottom 

of path to prevent water from washing away road or path bed. 

Repairs to our roads have gone forward but are not finished as 

yet. Mostly tarvia and small stone and dust have been applied 

where roads are worn out or where they have become slippery. 

This work is all done by the day as it is almost an impossibility 

to do it by contract and it is fairest to all concerned to have it 

done by 'force work'. Dirt roads have been cleaned up and 

gutters placed 1n better condition. Hospital hut has been 

finished and furnished with bedding etc. and attracts many 

visitors. . Have kept our paths cleaned out and fields mowed 

to rid them of weeds etc. We have lost a number of trees this 

70. Bowen to Sayen, July 9, 1909, Correspondence, RG 46, PHMC . 
season, some old and some planted two years and some planted 

last Spring. Have applied nitrate of soda to the roots trying to 

save them which appear to be blighted. . .(71) 

The park improvements and maintenance activities continued during the 

summer and fall. On October 5 Bowen informed Sayen; 

Since our last meeting five (5) batteries of four (4) guns each 

and carriages have been placed in position. There are three 

(3) more carriages yet to be delivered when they also will be 

placed. The water has for some time [been] washing out our 

grounds through the laurel garden at the reverse turn and we 

have placed a gutter 296 ft long by 3 ft wide so as to connect 

water direct with inlet and stop the washing out. This was done 

by contract. Have repaired outer Line road where needed also 

road around observatory and where the observatory road meets 

our Inner Line drive-way, Banks along the Camp road have 

been graded, stumps removed and seeded the surplus from this 

embankment also the surplus dirt from Camp road have been 

hauled to Gulph road between our Inner line driveway and camp 

school house, 54ft of 12" T. C. pipe has been bought and 

placed in position so as to carry off water from upper side of 

Camp road and western side of Gulph road. The Gulph road has 

been placed in first class condition by using surplus dirt and 

dirt taken from gutters along road, makes a good drive-way 

and is travelled by automobiles and teams. Stone gutters 

placed along the road where our gateway is located opposite 

camp road. The river driveway as well as hill around and 

above reverse turn to observatory road also for a distance 

around Knox's point and Ft. Washington were in very bad 

condition. There portions of the road have been rebuilt with 

1\ in. deep of 3/4" Birdsboro 3/4" stone. All this has to be 

swept off clean before beginning to work. The 3/4" stone was 

well rolled before applying tarvia and after the tarvia and 

screenings were applied was rolled and then sprinkled and 

rolled again with steam roller. The tarvia was all heated by 

steam before applying. Think it will make a good road which 

will last for some time. More surface treatment with tarvia does 

not last. The stone and tarvia were bought and work 

performed as force work the only way this work could be 

performed satisfactorily to your Supt. . . . Path has been 

built from near Wayne Monument to the Hospital hut. This hut 

has attracted a large number of visitors, as high as 225 in one 

day. A large number of trees have died during the summer, 

though no fault of the Contractor but owing to the extreme hot 

and dry weather.(72) 

71. Bowen to Executive Committee, August 10, 1909, Correspondence, 

RG 46, PHMC. 

72 Bowen to Sayen, October 5, 1909, Correspondence, RG 46, PHMC . 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

Later on November 1, Bowen wrote to Say en: 

Since our last meeting the tenant of the mill property advised 

me we could have what soil we required at no cost to the 

Commission. Embraced his offer and have had a number of 

loads hauled and placed along road bank so we can use same in 

Spring when work begins. The owner Mr. Cutler formerly 

charged the Contractor 15cts cubic yard for same. Have had 

new grass sowed on site of the basin now covered with manure 

to protect it during the winter. Bank along camp road and 

east end of banks at Ft Huntington should have same treatment 

if opportunity offers. We have long felt the need of a large 

water sprinkler in the Park when wanted have been comp.,Jied 

to send long distance for same. H<we had bids from three 

different parties and have made contract with H. F. Michell Co 

for $322. SO which will include a force pump and hose so we can 

pump from the creeks at Valley Forge or at Port Kennedy. 

Posts have all been painted with creosete [sic]. Am cleaning 

out part of thicket below Wayne brigade. Bake ovens have 

both been restored and graves marked. Large number of 

visitors still continue to visit the Park. Men are kept busy 

raking and burning leaves. A fire occurred along the Railroad 

bank but was discovered in time and prevented from doing 

much damage. Weeds in fields have all been mowed off. 

Repairs to roads for this season have all been finished which 

are equalled by none elsewhere. An accident occurred to an 

automobile on Sunday last between New York point ;md Gulph 

roads machine was damaged and lady injured. Was not near 

Guard house but viewing same from Gulph road and following 

tracts of machine looks as if struck cap stone. 

The rest of the cannon have arrived. 

of 4 cannon each and 2 batteries of 

placed one gun on the lunette.(73) 

We now have S batteries 

2 cannon each and have 

Aside from the vanous maintenance and pqrk improvement progrqms 

carried out during the summer and fall of 1909, the columns marking the 

location of the Pennsylvania troops during the encqmpment were erected 

during the summer of 1909 by contractor Henry K. Bush-Brown. 

However, they were left unfinished because of lack of funds. In 

December 1910 the commission asked the legislature for an authorization to 

complete the columns, rem'1nding the legislators that the columns required 

"a bronze bas-relief of Pennsylvania officers on each of the pedestals 

supporting the columns, with appropriate inscriptions, and that 

surmounting each column an eagle with outstretched wings should be 

placed to produce a proper and finished ilrtistic effect."{74) 

73. Ibid., November 1, 1909, Correspondence, RG 46, PHMC. 

74. Report of the Valley Forge Park Commission, 1910, pp. 10-11 . 
In its biennial report issued in December 1910 the commission noted its 

accomplishments and asked for substantial appropriations with which to • 

carry out necessary park improvements. The lodge erected by the 

Centennial and Memorial Association in front of Washington's Headquarters 

detracted "from the surroundings" and needed to "be removed from its 

present site." Shelter-houses were necessary for the protection of 

"visitors during storms or inclement weather." The most critical problem 

facing the park, however, was the acquisition of historically-significant 

land adjacent to the park. The commission observed: 

There was no appropriation made by the last Legislature for the 

purchase of lands, hence it is that none have since been 

acquired. The Commission cannot too strongly urge upon the 

Legislature and the Governor the necessity of appropriating 

liberally for this purpose. Land that could have been acquired 

ten years ago for one hundred dollars per acre will cost the 

State now at least two hundred and fifty dollars per acre, and 

as the years go by, and the Park becomes more universally 

used as a pleasure-ground for the people, the Prices of the 

adjacent lands will naturally increase. It would be, therefore, 

the part of wisdom of the Legislature to appropriate liberally to 

the Commission at this session for this purpose. There are 

several tracts of land adjacent to the Camp Ground that are 

rich in historic association, and should be acquired by the 

Commonwealth .. 

Despite these needs the commission was highly complimentary of the 

support that Valley Forge State Park had received over the years from • 

the Pennsylvania executive and legislative branches of government. The 

commissioners observed: 

When the Act of 1893, creating this Commission, was passed, 

the wildest dreams of its friends did not realize that the 

improvements since made could be possible, nor could they 

picture the transformation since made upon these historLC hills. 

Before that time Valley Forge seemed a sort of myth and, like 

many traditions of old, a place created by the imagination 

rather than a reality, but today, owing to the liberality of the 

Legislature of Pennsylvania and the frLendship of its Governors, 

Valley Forge has become the Mecca of all loyal Americans who in 

numbers almost innumerable annually visit it. The inspiration 

which the young of the land obtain quickens the patriotic 

impulses of the people and makes the maintenance of the Park a 

solemn duty, which all who are charged with public affa1rs 

naturally feel desirous of performing. (75) 

The sentiments of the commission were echoed by James W. Riddle, a 

member of the Historical SOCiety of Pennsylvania and the Philadelphia 

Baptist Ministers Conference, in his Valley Forge Guide and Hand-Book, 

75. Report of the Valley Forge Park Commission, 1910, pp. 5-12. 

126 

• 
• 

• 

• 

published that same year. Describing Valley Forge as "The Nation's 

Shrine," Riddle described its location as "picturesquely situated near the 

mouth of Valley Creek, where the latter, after coursing for more than a 

mile amid wooded hills and through deep ravines, loses itself in the 

waters of the Schuylkill river." The park could be reached by road and 

rail and would soon be accessible by trolley. According to Riddle: 

To Valley Forge from Phili!delphia the distance by road is about 

21 miles; by rail it is 24, the railway following the windings of 

the Schuylkill river. The route for pedestri;ms, and persons 

going by private conveyance, is by way of the Lancaster pike 

through Overbrook, Bryn Mawr and Gulph Mills. The route by 

rail is over the Phil~delphia & Reading road from the Reading 

Term1nal. 

The regular fare, single trip, is 58 cents, but excursion tickets 

at a less rate are obtainable during the summer season. 

From Norristown the 

Phoenixville, which lies 

miles. 

distance is about 

beyond Valley Forge, 

8 miles. From 

the distance is 5 

A trolley company, named the "Phoenixville, Valley Forge, 

(Bridgeport) & Strafford Electric Railway Co." (the name 

indicating its route), is just completing its line as far as Valley 

Forge, and expects in the near future to have cars running 

over 1ts entire route. When this is accomplished Valley forge 

will be made easily accessible from all parts of the surrounding 

territory. 

The trolley route from Philadelphia will 

Market Streets, Str<lfford, and King 

Chestnut Hill, Norristown, Bridgeport, 

then be via 69th and 

of Prussia; or, via 

and King of Prussia. 

Valley Forge State Park was "situated chiefly 

eastern, or Montgomery side of Valley Creek." 

on the highlands 

It comprised 

on the 

about 500 acres, taking in the old forts, entrenchments, etc., 

and contains about 15 or 20 miles of fine roadway and 

boulevard, which through winding and diversified route directs 

the course of the visitor to the various points and objects of 

interest, treating him the while to a magnificent panorama of 

landscape view and vista which it were impossible adequately to 

describe. The polite park guard, also in grey uniform, may be 

found at every turn in the way to give direction or information 

to pedestrian or other visitor. 

Entrance to the park could be made "either by way of the boulevard 

leading directly up the hill e<Jstward from the railway station" or "by 

going westward a square, which brings the visitor to Washington's 

Headquarters and Valley Green, thence southward a square to Washington 

Inn and the Old Forge in the heart of the Village, thence up the hill 

eastward by way of the Gulph Road, the route of the trolley." Coaches 

were always at the station during the summer months waiting for 

127 
the arrival of trains; but should the visitor prefer, a coach for 

the present may be dispensed with, until a great deal has been 

taken in which can be easily ilnd more satisfactorily seen on 

foot. A carriage if desired may then be procured for the trip 

through the Park, obtainable at the station or the Washington 

Inn. 

The liitter course is especially recommended to visitors who wish 

to see the most, and obtain a satisfactory idea of the place in a 

limited time. 

Within the park, according to Riddle, markers were "conspicuously placed 

throughout the grounds to direct the visitor to the various points and 

objects of interest." The most important things to see in the park were: 

The Entrenchments 

Fort Washington 

Fort Huntington 

Star Redoubt 

Waterman Monument 

Wayne Monument 

Camp School House 

Soldier Huts (Reproduced) 

Varnum's and Knox's Headquarters 

Hospital Hut 

Bake Ovens 

Soldier's Graves(76) 

As the operation and development of Valley Forge State Park increased in 

complexity, the commission found that its duties and powers required 

further legal clarification. This was especially true in three areas: 

acceptance and administration of trusts created for the benefit of the 

• 

park; improvement and regulation of township roads within the boundaries • 

of the park; and regulation of street railways and railroads in the park. 

Accordingly, the legislature, at the request of the commission, passed an 

act on March 30, 1911, authori.:ing the commission to 

76. 

accept in trust any fund heretofore or hereafter created for the 

benefit or improvement of Valley Forge Park, or any part 

thereof, by deed, bequest, devise, grant, decree or 

otherwise .. 

enter into agreements with township supervisors or other 

officials charged with the duty of constructing and maintaining 

public roads or highways, providing for the location or 

relocation of any public road or highway within the limits of 

Valley Forge Park, and for grading, widening, narrowing, 

elevating or depressing the same, to such extent as may, in the 

opinion of the said commissioners, render them suitable for park 

roads or highways; and the said commissioners are further 

author•zed to make reasonable rules and regulations for policing 

the said roads or highways, and for regulating the travel and 

traffic thereon and the use thereof within the said park: 

Also see 

(February 15, 1i9'io:1: 

13-14, 

Chapel 

28-29, 39-52. 

Chronicle, II 

• 
• 

• 

• 

Provided, That no moneys shall be expended for such purposes 

by the said Commissioners except1ng out of the appropriations 

made from time to time by the General Assembly for the 

construction and maintenance of roads and avenues within the 

park limits: And provided further: That the duty of 

constructing and maint<>ining such public roads or highways 

shall remain with the township supervisors, or other officials, 

charged with the said duty by law as heretofore. 

consent to the location, relocation, construction, reconstruction, 

widening, narrowing, elevating, depressing, grading, 

ornamenting, or improving of any street railway, electric 

railway, elevated railway, subway, tunnel, railroad, or other 

means of travel or transportation, within the limits of Valley 

Forge Park, upon such terms and conditions as the said 

Commissioners may impose for the advantage of the said park, 

with the approval of the Governor.(77) 

As the management of the park became more standardized, the Valley 

Forge Park Commission appointed two of its members to a tree committee 

to have general responsibility for adoption and implementation of a 

forestry policy for the park. The committee, consisting of Richmond C. 

Jones and A. H. Bowen, was created during fiscal year 1911 but remained 

inactive, "owing to the uncertainty of its powers and duties, which were 

not defined in the resolution creating it nor established by practice or 

custom during the term of its existence." At the end of the fiscal year, 

on May 31, Jones and Bowen, nevertheless, reported on the tree policies 

that they felt should be adopted by the park: 

The Commonwealth has appropriated money for the purchase and 

planting of trees, and trees have been purchased but planted 

haphazard by the workmen in the wrong places, where they will 

obstruct the view of the landscape or fill up gaps or bays in 

the artificial plow line of the forest which ought to be broken 

and not preserved. 

The forest which covers the hills about Valley Forge has been 

cropped several times, since the great encampment, to supply 

the neighboring forges and furnaces with charcoal, and the 

present growth of sprouts or scrub trees answers the purpose 

of covering the hills with verdure and that alone. That of 

course is a most important consideration, which nature supplies, 

but forestry is an art and a science to supplement nature, and 

77. Report of Special Committee, Concerning the Supplemental Act of 

Assembly, Approved March 30, 1911, further defining the powers and 

duties of the Commissioners of Valley Forge, RG 2, VAFO Archives. Data 

on subsequent consideratiOn of street railway lines in the park may be 

seen 1n Railway Committee, First Report to Commissioners of Valley Forge 

Park, June 5, 1916, RG 2, VAFO Archives . 

129 
it is the duty of the Commissioners to observe the canons of 

that art and of that good taste which is the supreme and higher 

law of all art. 

No more planting need be done except along the Avenues and to 

replace fallen or inferior trees, but the worthy and promising 

trees of the forest should be carefully and judiciously selected 

and given a chance for their development into great trees 

unhindered by a struggle for existence With hoop poles or 

scrub saplings, which serve no other purpose than to give the 

forest an unkempt and slovenly appeilrance. 

The plow in the prac;tice of farming draws a straight line along 

the wood, which is justified by convenience, but in that line 

there is no beauty. Nature never draws straight lines and Art 

abhors them. The lawn ought to run into the forest and the 

forest into the lawn so as to give effects of light and shadow. 

The whole field should consist of big trees and extended lawns, 

and shrubbery should be excluded as inconsistent with the 

grandeur of the landscape and the history of the field. 

Among other things, Jones and Bowen recommended that the tree 

committee be renamed the forestry committee, that it have full charge of 

the forest and all trees in the park, and that it be authorized to employ 

a forester to advise on adoption of a comprehensive forestry policy for 

the park, including clearing, removal, transplanting, and planting of 

trees. (78) 

Two new memorial markers were dedicated and presented to the park 

commission during 1911. The first was a granite boulder with bronze 

plaque dedicated "In Memory of Unknown Soldiers Buried at Valley Forge 

1777-1778," erected by the Valley Forge Chapter, Daughters of the 

American Revolution, and accepted by the commission during special 

Evacuation Day ceremonies on June 19. The ten-foot-high marker was 

located just west of the Wayne Monument. Featured speakers for the 

occasion were former governor Pennypacker, Dr. Charles H. Rorer, 

pastor of the nearby First Methodist Church, and Mrs. Joseph Formance, 

regent of the Valley Forge Chapter.(79) 

A second monument, the Massachusetts Military Monument, was erected on 

the site of the Massachusetts troops during the encampment. It was 

dedicated and presented to the park commission on November 18. As 

78. Jones and Bowen to the Commissioners of Valley Forge Park, May 31, 

1911, RG 2, VAFO Archives. 

79. at Valley Forge Park," 

1911), 27-31, and "Unknown 

Autumn, 1972, 28. Thereafter, the regent 

a wreath at the marker each June 19. 

130 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

early as 1906 the Massachusetts state legislature had authorized the 

governor and council to investigate the matter of erecting a monument at 

Valley Forge. Jn 1910 the legislature had authorized expenditure of 

$5,000 for a memorial to be erected by a three-person commission. Thus, 

on November 18 a large delegation, headed by 13rigadier General Philip 

Reade, a ret1red army officer who was chairman of the Valley Forge 

Military Monument Commission, traveled to Valley Forge to dedicate the 

Vermont gran1te monument and present it to the commission. After the 

principal address by Reade, William H. Sayen, president of the park 

commission, accepted the monument with words of patriotic fervor: 

I feel in addressing you almost as though I were addressing the 

minute men of '76, as you are all the descendants of that noble 

b;md of patriots, who, at Concord and Lexington, began the 

fight for liberty which culminated in success at Valley Forge. 

As at Gettysburg the charge of Pickett's Brigade culminated the 

success of the war for the Union, so at Valley Forge the 

conversion of a body of raw and untrained militia into a drilled 

body of veterans by the skill of 13aron Steuben, culminated the 

success of the war for Liberty, as Washington never lost a 

battle with these troops, after he left Valley Forge. You have 

chosen to commemorate your heroes of the Revolution with a 

monument of imperishable stone. Where now lie buried the 

countless warriors of Assyria? Who knows? Where are buried 

the legions of Caesar? Who knows? To-day the savants of the 

world are striving to decipher on monuments of stone the names 

and deeds of a few hundred heroes who lived 3,000 or 4,000 

years ago. Who knows but that in 3,000 or 4,000 years hence a 

new nation, a new people perhaps will be striving to decipher 

on this very stone the names of the patriots you have caused to 

be placed thereon?(80) 

By the fall of 1911 chestnut tree blight had become a major problem 

affecting the forests In Valley Forge State Park as well as throughout 

Pennsylvania. The park commission cooperated with the state Chestnut 

Tree Bl1ght Commission created to deal with and control the infestation. 

It was found that from 60 to 75 percent ot the chestnut trees in the park 

were affected by the blight, and there was concern that the 

entrenchments would suffer from the destruction of the trees that covered 

them. Accordingly, the comm•ss1on arranged for the removal of the 

infected trees by contractors who were "sensitive" to the historic 

Massachusetts 

1911), 67-71, and IV 

131 
resources in the park and for treating the bark of salvageable trees with 

"formula. "(81) 

During the spring of 1912 the park commission was confirmed as trustee 

of the corporation funds in the possession of the Centennial and Memorial 

Association of Valley Forge at its dissolution. While the association 

desired to have these funds distributed among its members, the Court of 

Common Pleas of Montgomery County and the Pennsylvania Supreme Court 

both ruled that the association was a non-profit corporation and that the 

fund, amounting to $1S,000 after payment of taxes, was "for a patriotic 

and charitable use in that it relieved the public from a charge" and thus 

"could not be diverted from its original purpose." Henceforth, the 

commission drew up rules on April 3, 1912, for the investment and use of 

the fund, which by court order was to be used for "keeping in proper 

order and repair the Headquarters property, and property immediately 

adjacent thereto." Richmond L. Jones, a park commissioner, was elected 

officer of the trust fund.(82) 

Soon thereafter the park commission's museum committee, headed by 

Jones, drew up resolutions for the interior restoration of Washington's 

Headquarters using the trust fund. The resolutions, which were adopted 

by the commissioners in December 1912, read: 

1 - That the Headquarters be furnished in the prevailing style of 

the period of the Revolutionary war, and in a manner suited to the 

size and uses of the rooms and the character of the bulding. 

• 

2 - That the house furnishings be reproduced, as nearly as may • 

be, under the direction of an expert decorator and the supervision 

81 . 

1o 

of the committee. 

3 - That, for the purposes aforesaid, the Committee be authorized 

to borrow the sum of $1,000., or so much thereof as may be 

necessary, to be repaid out of the income of the Centennial and 

Memorial Fund of Valley Forge, beginning July 1, 1913, and that the 

said income be pledged for the repayment of the money borrowed as 

aforesaid. (83) 

of the 

Tree 

A map 

Commission, 1912, p. 1S, and Wllson 

i , November 1~1911, RG 2, VAFO 

prepared in 1911 may be seen on the 

II page. 

82. Report of the Valley Forge Park Commission, 1912, pp. 11, 15, and 

Rules Adopted at a meeting of the Commissioners of Valley Forge, April 

3, 1912, concerning the Centennial and Memorial Fund of Valley Forge, 

RG 2, VAFO Archives. 

83. Jones to Commissioners of Valley Forge Park. Trustee, May 1, 1912, 

and Jones to Commissioners of Valley Forge, December 4, 1912, RG 2, 

VAFO Archives. 

132 

• 
• 

SCALE 

vo 

• l // 

' 

I 

II 

• 

VALLEY FOl~C2 PPu{;\ A~Ll 

·vTC:\11'/ 

No>• 

~- >o0<0o '"'M ""'' """" ·~ <~ '"'''>X "''' """'~'""" "-'0""~ .. ~-' """" ~ • • .,., Ce~ -o>of"<-"0'~' O•'f'"" .._ 

,...,._,w,_,,~,.. "=''·~" 
The general assembly appropriated funds totaling $71,500 for the • 

development and maintenance ot the park in 1911-12, but Governor John 

K. Tener reduced this amount by $20,000 "because of insufficient State 

revenue."(64) Among the projects carried out in the park during those 

years were (1) removal of the lodge or keeper's house which had been 

built "to the left of and partly in front of the Headquarters Building" at 

the rear of the headquarters property; (2) design of bronze tablets, with 

"bas relief heads" of Generals St. Cl<1ir, Mifflin, Armstrong, Cadwalader, 

Muhlenberg, Read, Harmer, and Irvine, and eagles for Pennsylvania 

markers by Henry K. Bush-Brown; (3) construction of a road around the 

wayne Monument; and (4) installation of public water facilities "through 

the Park and at the Headquarters." 

Arrangements were also concluded with the Philadelphia and Reading 

Railroad for "material improvements" ·m the vicinity of the Valley Forge 

train station. In consideration of the commission's permission to allow the 

railway "to lay a second double track across a narrow strip of ground 

belonging to the State, the railroad agreed to build with its own funds "a 

new statJon at a cost of not less than $10,000.00, to erect covered 

platforms for protection of visitors in case of storm, to build a steamboat 

landing, to construct a tunnel under their tracks, to take away the coal 

shutes, and tg keep the banks in green and shrubbery." The new 

station was to be of colonial design, "using the same material and 

harmoni~1ng with the headquarters" near which it was located.(85) 

Not only did the park commission make provision for development of 

Valley Forge, but it also took steps to protect the esthetic values of the • 

park. During the fall ot 1912 the Counties Gas and Electric Company 

attempted to erect power line poles on park property along the side of a 

public road. The commission immediately filed a bill of equity with the 

consent of the attorney general to restrain such activity. Thereafter an 

arrangement was made, with the approval of Governor Tener, to protect 

the park from the "indiscrominate installation of the unsightly poles."(86) 

The continuing development of the park contributed to the growing 

number of visitors. In December 1912 the commission reported that the 

"Camp Grounds for the past year have been used as an encampment for 

Boy Scouts and the Cadets from the Pennsylvania Military College at 

Chester." Numerous Sunday Schools and patriotic societies also visited 

the grounds.(87) 

84. No. 766, An Act Making an Appropriation to the Commissioners of 

Valley Forge Park, June 14, 1911, Correspondence, RG 46, PHMC. 

85. Eleventh Biennial 

December 30, 1916, pp. 

Report 

15-16. 

of The Valley Forge 

Report of The Valley 

19, 23. 

Forge Park Commission, 

87. ~·· p. 15. 

Park Commission, 

pp. 3, 7, 11, 

• 
• 

• 

• 

Another state monument was formally presented to the park commission on 

June 18, 1913, when the State of New Jersey dedicated a granite 

monument surmounted by a Continental soldier in bronze on the camp site 

of the New Jersey Brigade commanded by General William M<lxwell. Under 

om act passed by the New Jersey legislature in January 1912 providing 

$5,000 for a state memorial at Valley Forge, then Governor Woodrow 

Wilson appointed a five-member Valley Forge Revolutionary Enc<1mpment 

Commission, with John Henry Fort of Camden as chairman and James L. 

Pennypacker as secretary, to oversee the project. The proposal of the 

0. J. Hammell Company of Pleasantville, New Jersey, was accepted for an 

elaborate Vermont granite monument surmounted by a soldier in bronze 

sculpted by John Horrigan of Quincy, Massachusetts, and featuring 

bronze inscription tablets. On November 12, 1912, the Camden Lodge of 

Elks conducted the cornerstone-laying ceremony, and on June 18, 1913, 

the dedication ceremonies were held with Dr. W. H. 5. Demarest, 

president of Rutgers College, presenting the principal address and Miss 

Margaret Wilson unveiling the monument in the absence of her father, 

President Woodrow Wilson, who was unable to ilttend.(88) 

The following year, on October 31, 1914, the State of Delaware dedicated 

a memorial marker, cut from Br<tndywine granite, on the River Road 

overlooking the Schuylkill Valley and "within eilsy walking distance of 

Washington's headquarters." Charles R. Miller, Governor of Delilware, 

presided over the ceremonies for the occilsion. Henry C. Conrad, 

Associate Justice of the Delawilre Supreme Court ilnd chairman of the 

state monument commission, presented the memoriill to the park commission 

so "that they who come here from year to year mily see and know that 

Delaware has not been unmindful of the debt she owes to her 

Revolutionary sires."(89) 

Two other memorials or markers were added to the growing list of 

commemorative monuments in the park in 1913-14. One was a granite 

memorial with a bronze tablet erected along River Road by Pennsylvaniil 

to Major General John Armstrong and the Pennsylvania militia who 

defended the approaches to the camp east of the Schuylkill. The other 

was a bronze tablet placed by the Patriotic Society Sons of America at the 

elm tree close to Wi!shington's Headquarters. The tree had grown from " 

slip cut by one of the society members at Mount Vernon on 1888.(90) 

Improvements to Washington's Headqu<~rters 

development activity of the commission during 

comprised the 

1913-14. After 

The V<~lley 

New Jersey 

be found 

'" 111' 

Encampment 

pp. 1-57. A 

promary 

the Stille 

History and Biography, XXXIX 

90. Report of The V<~lley Forge Park Commission, 1914, pp. 5, 9. 
took over the headquarters property in 1905, the structure "remained 

unfurnished" until the commissioners' decision to restore it "to the • 

semblance of a habitable dwelling" in 1912. The interior and the exterior 

of the structure were painted and restored, and the interior refurnishing 

of the structure was commenced with acquisition of household furnishings 

"of the Revolutionary epoch." The interior restoration and refurnishing 

were supervised by Dr. Alfred Lewis Ward, a well-known architect and 

decorator. The water station and toilet facility on the grounds was 

equipped, affording "safety and comfort to visitors." Thirteen white oak 

trees were planted "upon the west side of the Street opposite to the 

Headquarters and extending from Nutts Road to a pomt near the flag 

pole. "(91) 

The vicinity of the headquarters was further improved in 1914 by the 

construction of "Telford Parking and Storage Spaces at the shed near the 

structure." According to specifications for the work drawn up by J. 0. 

Clarke, engineer for the Valley Forge Park Commission, the work was 

described as follows: 

The Parking Space will be 72 feet wide by 80 feet long of water 

bound trap rock on telford bottom and the same construction is 

to be carried under the Shed which is 15 feet wide and 57 feet 

long inside. The Storage Space at the rear of the shed, about 

19 feet wide by 29 feet long, and the entrance to the Parking 

Space from the private lane will be of the same construction. 

The entrance will have curbing of Wyoming Valley Bluestone cut 

to the proper radius and the parking space will have straight 

curbing of the same stone. Adjoining the curbs on the east 

and west sides of the parking space, paved gutters three feet 

wide are to be laid. The inlets are to be built of brick and to 

have grate tops and the drains are to be terra cotta pipe, 

except under the entrance where cast iron pipe is to be laid. 

The b<1nks and slopes <~round the parking and storage spaces 

are to be sodded and other ground disturbed or filled is to be 

seeded. Macadam paths will be required to provide Qccess to 

the spaces and the shed. The cellar walls shown are to be 

torn down before the cellar is filled and the stone Obtained may 

be used for telford paving. 

A contract for this work was let to William H. Doyle of Berwyn, 

Pennsylvania, on JuneS, 1914.(92) 

92. Roadwork, Valley Forge Park, Contract No. 11, Agreement, June 5, 

1914, Specifications, May 18, 1914, Correspondence, RG 46, PHMC. 

ns 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

Visitation to Valley Forge Park continued to increa5e, encouraged in part 

by completion of the Phoenixville, Valley Forge and Strafford R<1ilway 

during the summer of 1913. A new bridge across Valley Creek was 

constructed enabling trolley cars to cross the creek to the park, and 

later connections were made with the Philadelphia and Western at 

Bridgeport.(93) In December 1914 the commission reported on the 

visitation statistics for 1913-14: 

1913 1914 (11 months.) 

Increase Decrease 

A< Headquarters 150,500 205,750 55,250 

Automobiles 38,273 59,584 21,311 

Riders 153,092 238,336 85,244 

Carriages 4,594 4,450 

Riders 13,782 13,350 "' 

Horseback Riders '" '" 692 268 

Pedestrians 36,131 33,382 2, 749 

Motorcycles 3,568 5' 071 1 ,503 

Bicycles 1 '908 2,286 m 

The net increase of visitors for the 11 months of 1914 over the 12 

months of 1913, is 139,462. 

During those years Boy Scouts (1913 marked the beginning of a long-held 

tradition--Boy Scouts camping in the park over Washington's Birthday), 

cadets of the Pennsylvania Military Acadamy at Chester, and National 

Guard companies used the park for extended camping purposes, and more 

and more Sunday Schools and patriotic and fraternal societies were 

holding annual picnics there. The "almost universal use of automobiles 

by visitors," according to the commission, had "increased the cost of 

maintenance to such an extent that the appropriations" had been 

insufficient "to cover requirements."(94) 

The increasing use of Valley Forge State Park was enhanced by glowing 

descriptions of the park's historic features and attractions that appeared 

in numerous publocations. Representative of such descriptions was that 

found 1n the Report of The Valley Forge Revolutionary Encampment 

Commission of The State of New Jersey. The report stated: 

The Encampment has been restored to its Revolutionary 

condition and the Valley Forge Park Commission of Pennsylvania 

has placed protections around old historic spots and made them 

accessible by drives and transformed the Encampment into a 

93. "The 

(August 15, 

Valley 

1913), 

Forge 

3> 

Trolley," Washington Chapel Chronicle, 

94. Ibid., pp. 9, 13. Also see "The Boy Scouts at Valley Forge," 

washington Chapel Chronicle, VII (March 15, 1916), 89-90 . 
beautiful park. Washington's Headquarters, the artificers' camp 

and the various headquarters are all in good condition and easy 

of access. Fort Washington, Fort Huntington, the Star 

redoubt, the lines of earthworks, the old Letitia Penn schoolhouse, the old bake-ovens, and the unknown soldiers' graves 

have all been sacredly taken care of, An observatory has been 

erected at Mount Joy that affords a view of the entire 

Encampment, and log huts have been erected in facsimile of the 

old huts and hospital used by the Revolutionary Army. 

The Valley Forge Park. Commission of Pennsylvania has brought 

the old Camp ground up to a beautiful condition and, while 

preserving all of the Revolutionary features, made it a park 

that is not only the Shrine of American patriotism but also a 

place of recreation as well as a Revolutionary historical resort. 

Beautiful drives and walks place every feature of the old 

Encampment within easy access of the visitor, and the 

Commission maintains a Park Guard who guide the visitors and 

protect all objects of interest from desecration. Picnic grounds 

have been established and suitable camping facilities, and 

thousands of school children, accompanied by their teachers, 

frequently visit there, and nearly 300,000 people annually visit 

this historic spot. .. 

The whole Encampment has a park-like appearance; the grass is 

kept cut like a lawn, the groves are kept clear of briars, while 

wild flowers grow in profusion, and growths of laurel dot the 

hills and roadsides, and hundreds of birds warble and sing 

their anthems in the groves to the Nation's Shrine in Summer, 

while the soughing of the trees and the howling Winter winds 

render a requiem to the unknown dead.{95) 

Despite the generally favorable response of most visitors to their 

experiences at Valley Forge, some had unpleasant encounters during their 

visits. Two persons who expressed their disagreeable experiences in the 

park were Mr. and Mrs. W. S. Cassatt, owners of Chesterbrook Farm to 

the south of the reservation. The Cassatts, who rode their horses 

through the park nearly every day, were irritated by their encounters 

with park guards. According to Mr. Cassatt they were frequently 

annoyed by being ordered by certain of the guards off certain 

portions where there were no signs to indicate bridle paths or 

not, and where I could see no possible re~son why we should 

be ordered off. 

I can see no reason why equestrians should not be allowed in 

all parts of the park where pedestrians are allowed except upon 

Report 

State of ---

of the Valley Forge 

New Jersey, pp. 6, 

Encampment Commission of 

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• 

graves and intrenchments, upon those portions of the grass 

which ts kept close trimmed and upon the walks and paths 

expecially set aside for pedestrians. Only 692 equestrians used 

the park in the first eleven months of 1914 and this number 

and a gre<1t many more could use the park as I suggest without 

doing the least harm. 

If the above is considered too much to ask, would it not be 

possible to give us the use of those rides. . and to have 

them plainly marked so as to avoid our being ordered about by 

some ignorant and unduly authoritative guard.(96) 

H. IMPROVEMENTS IN VALLEY FORGE STATE PARK UNDER GOVERNOR 

MARTIN G. BRUMBAUGH: 1915-1919 

With the inauguration of Martin G. Brumbaugh as governor in 1915 Valley 

Forge State P<1rk g<~ined an ardent supporter in the st<1te chief 

executive's office--a turn of events th<lt hi!d not been the case since 

1903-07 when S<~muel W. Pennypacker served as governor. As " result of 

Brumbaugh's support, the st<~te legisl<~ture passed <In appropriation 

measure on June 18, 1915, providing $153,650 for l<~nd acquisition <1nd 

development, maintenance, and restoriltion work in the park. The three 

major areas for which the funds were allocated were: purchase or 

condemnation of lands ($75,000); future care, preservation, and 

maintenance of l<~nds <1nd resources ($40,000); and ro<1d <1nd pi!th 

construction and maintenance ($23,650).(97) 

The $75,000 <!ppropriation for land acquisition W<IS especially welcome to 

the V<~lley Forge Park Commission. In 1914 the commissioners had 

indicated their frustrations in not being able to extend the park in their 

biennial report: 

We have every confidence in the belief that the appropriation 

for which we <~sk, for acquiring more lands, will be he<~rtily 

approved by the people of the Commonwe<~lth; in fact, all the 

lands which comprise the c<~mp should eventually be secured. 

Only about 472 acres have been acquired in twenty-one years, 

either by purchase or condemnation, through appropri<~tions 

specifically made for the purpose. No appropriations for this 

object have been made since the year 1907. 

96. Cassatt to P<~tton, September 29, 1915, Correspondence, RG 46, 

PHMC. 

97. "No. 718: An Act Making <~n appropriation to 

Valley Forge Park". ., June 18, 1915, in I 

the Valley Forge Park Commission, December 

the CommissJOners of 

Biennial Report of 

' pp. 34 35 . 
In this connection it may be stated that the lands upon which the camps 

of the division of General Stirling, the brigades of General Varnum, • 

Huntington and Woodford, the Artificers, and sections of the camps of 

Generals Mcintosh, Patterson, Weedon, Muhlenberg, the Artillery Park 

and other corps, are not owned by the Commonwealth; and the land 

between the Star Redoubt and the Memorial Chapel, on which are 

entrenchments and excavations for huts, is now being offered for sale for 

cheap building lots.(98) 

With the appropriated funds the park commissioners set to work 

establishing a land acquisition program under the supervision of the 

commissioners' real estate committee, headed by Richmond L. Jones. J_ 

P. Hale Jenkins, who had done previous land acquisition legal work for 

the commission, WiiS appointed iiS special counsel for the progrilm, <1nd J. 

0. Clarke was commissioned "to make surveys and property m<~ps of such 

trilcts as in the opinion of the Committee, required first attention." The 

properties of primary importance to the committee were pilrcels lying <~long 

the eilst and west banks of Valley Creek.(99) 

By December 1916 some 275 acres had been added to the p<~rk both by 

purchase and condemnation, enlarging its total acreage to approximiltely 

766. The new acre<~ge consisted of ten properties lying along both banks 

of Valley Creek--100 acres on the west side ilnd 175.686 <~cres on the east 

side. One of the properties on the west side of the creek, a 51-acre 

parcel owned by Phil<~nder C. Knox, contained some rather unique leg<~l 

stipuliltions. As described by the commissioners, the transaction 

involving this property included; 

In the case of the Hon. Philander C. Knox property, no part of 

the appropriation has been expended. Mr. Knox, while 

ret<~ining the leg<~l title in himself and his heirs, has entered 

into a convenant with the Commonwealth to preserve the 

character of the land as woodl<~nd, and not to permit any trees 

to be cut or removed for commercial purposes, to the end !hilt 

the beauty of the landscape shall never be impaired. In 

consideration of this covenant, which runs with the land, the 

Commonwealth consents, by accepting the gift, to the 

stipulation that it shall keep the forest clean and renew it from 

time to time as mily be necess<~ry. The quantity of land 

covered by this coven<~nt is estimated by the engineer to be 

about fifty-one acres, which is not exact, ilS the quantity is in 

general terms described as extending from the Fisher tract to 

the Knox bridge along the county line of Chester and 

Montgomery and thence extending and inclining in a westerly 

direction to the summits or sky line of the hills in Schuylkill 

Township, Chester County, covering the landscape in view from 

the Public road on the east side of the V<~lley Creek, which is 

98. Report of The Valley Forge Park Commission, 1914, p. 13. 

99. Real 

October 6, 

Estilte Committee to Commissioners 

1915, RG 2, VAFO Archives. 

>40 

,, V<~lley Forge Park, 

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variable and uncertain, but the best description to cover all of 

the landscape. ( 1 00) 

Meanwhile, the interior restoration of Washington's Headquarters was 

completed during 1915-16 under the supervision of the park commission's 

museum committee, headed by commissioner Richmond L. Jones, in 

cooperation with the Daughters of the American Revolution. Many or the 

furnishings for the restoration were purchased from John Wanamaker and 

Alfred Lewis Ward, and the refurnishing project, financed by the 

Centennial and Memorial Trust Fund, was carried out under the direction 

of Wanamaker's decorators and Ward.(101) 

Once the restoration program was completed the commissioners 1n 

December 1916 related the extent of their work and other improvements to 

the area in the vicinity of the headquarters. They observed: 

The furnishing is a restoration, as nearly as possible, in the 

style of the period, and is intended to correspond with the 

exterior of the Mansion, which was theretofore and thereafter 

the home of the owners and managers of the Valley Forge, who 

blended the competence of ironmasters w1th the simplicity of the 

Society of Friends to which they belonged. That is the only 

guide we had. None of the original furniture remains on the 

premises or can be traced--all of it having been scattered and 

lost during the period of indifference to things of the past 

wh1ch preceded our Centennial Exposition of 1876, the 

renaissance oF American Art, and the beginning of reverence 

for our historic places. 

On the lawn, immediately about the Headquarters, the 

Commission has planted thirteen American White Oaks, to 

represent the thirteen states of the Union existing at the time 

of the encampment. As these long-lived trees grow up, they 

will gradually displace the ephemeral varieties now shading the 

lawn, and lend to the surroundings a greater dignity and 

significance. 

The Commonwealth having now acquired all of the meadow of 

Valley Creek, the thicket has been cleared out of it, and the 

headquarters lawn extended to and including the western bluff, 

100. Eleventh Biennial Report of The Valley Forge Park Commission, 

December 30, 1916, pp. 6, 9-10. 

101. Report, Museum and Forestry Committees, April 5, 1916; Report of 

Museum Committee: In The Matter of Furnishing Washington's 

Headquarters, June 5, 1916; Second Report of Museum Committee: In 

The Matter of Furnishing Washington's Headquarters, November 1, 1916; 

and Third Report of Museum Comm•Uee: In The Matter of Heating 

Washington's Headquarters, December 6, 1916, RG 2, VAFO Archives . 

141 
which, with its tall and handsome trees, forms a beautiful 

background and is a most charming and attractive improvement. 

On this bluff, covered in the land acquired this year, was 

stationed a battery of artillery, so this acquisition is historic as 

well as picturesque.(102) 

Other improvements were carried out in the park during 1915-16 with the 

generous state appropriations. One such project was the reconstruction 

of the "Camp Road," one of the oldest and most familiar features of the 

encampment directly connecting "the Washington and Huntington 

Redoubts." On this road, according to the commission, were "stationed 

the commands of Brigadier-General Maxwell, Major-General Lord Stirling, 

and Brigadier-General Huntington, composed of troops from New Jersey, 

Pennsylvania, and Connecticut." The commission also stated that along 

this road "was pitched the Marquee of General Washington upon his 

arrival at Valley Forge, and near by is the stump of a tree where 

tradition says Washington silently offered a prayer for the success of the 

Patriot cause." The road restoration, which cost $10,000, was described 

as "a great addition to the park drives."(103) 

Restoration work was also conducted on the Valley Forge fortifications, 

particularly on the Washington and Star redoubts, during 1915-16. 

Considerable research and consultation with military engineers was carried 

out by the park commissioners during the restoration activities. In 

December 1916 the commissioners reported: 

In prosecuting the work, we followed as nearly as practicable a 

drawing of a typical redoubt for field guns of the period of the 

Revolutionary war kindly furnished to us by Col. Geo. A. 

Zinn, Corps of Engineers, U.S.A., in charge of the government 

work in the Delaware River, which we found to be of 

inestimable service. 

Last summer the work was completed, but Col. Zinn had then 

been ordered to the Mexican border and the result could not be 

submitted to him as we desired. 

Under these circumstances we applied to Major Oscar T. 

Crosby, formerly of the Corps of Engineers, U.S.A., who 

requested Col. John Biddle, Corps of Engineers and 

Superintendent of the U. S. Military Acadamy at West Point, to 

aid us in this interesting historical undertaking. Whereupon 

Col. Biddle kindly gave us such information as the West Point 

102. Eleventh Biennial Report of The Valley Forge Park Commission, 

December 30, 1916, pp. 13-14. 

103. Ibid., pp. 5-6. In early 1916 S. S. Hartranft was the first park 

superintendent to move into what became known as the "Superintendent's 

House" near Washington's Headquarters. 

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Library afforded, and upon our sending him a photograph of 

the Washington Redoubt restored and equipped with field guns, 

he referred the matter for examination and report to Col. G. J. 

Febeger, Professor of Civil and Military Engineering, and 

forwarded to us a copy of the report as follows: 

"I have examined the photograph and have no criticism to 

offer. It is probable that the interior slope was revetted 

and the area between the gun banks was at a lower level 

to give more cover to infantry that manned the parapets 

between the guns. These details are, however, not 

essential as the revetments which were probably of 

gab ions, fascines, etc., would soon decay." 

In answer to this very satisfactory approval of our work, by 

the highest military authorities in the country, after thanking 

Col. Biddle for his interest and for the trouble he had taken ln 

the matter, we said it was not the purpose of the Commission to 

restore any perishable part of this work, which as he 

suggested was not essential, but to restore the earthworks as 

monuments, and to equip them with guns to complete their 

likeness and similitude to the defensive structures as they 

existed at the time of the encampment at Valley Forge. 

The work of restoring the "Star Redoubt" has also been 

completed. There were difficulties attending the restoration of 

this redoubt to its original condition which were not 

encountered at Fort Washington, inasmuch as this structure, 

berng down in the arable land, had yielded to the plow, and no 

positive traces of its form remained upon the ground. We 

have, however, the isolated mound on which the "Star Redoubt" 

was erected, and the form of a six-pointed star indicated and 

located on Duportail's contemporary map which afforded a 

perfect guide. As to the manner of construction and 

equipment, we followed Washington Redoubt as an approved 

model. 

Unexpended funds from the appropriation were still available for the 

restoration of the Huntington Redoubt, "upon which little expenditures" 

would be required.(104) 

As part of the restoration of the fortifications, more guns were added at 

those locations, as well as other sites in the park, for exhibit purposes. 

By December 1916 there were 52 guns of various types scattered at sites 

throughout the park. The location, number, and type of these guns 

were: 

104. Ibid., pp. 10, 13 . 
Location Number Kind of Guns 

Fort Washington 

Star Fort . ' 6 

3-3/4-inch Bronze 

Gulph Road and lnnerline Road 

Picnic Grounds 

Outerline Road, 500 yds. from eastern 

' ' 

entrance to the Park 4 

Outerline Driveway, 200 yds. trom eastern 

" 

3-3/4 " " 

3-3/4 " " 

3-3/4 " " 

entrance of the Park 4 2-3/4 " iron 

300 yds. east of Wayne Statue . . . . 4 

100 yds. west of Wayne Statue . 2 

100 ft. above Fort Washington on the 

hillside . . . . . 2 

Along the line of Washington Lane, 400 

yds. apart . . . . 12 

At flag pole in front of Washington's 

Headquarters 1 

Old Camp School House l 

Total Number of Guns 

25 3-3/4-inch Bronze guns 

24 2-3/4-inch iron guns 

2 4-3/4-inch iron guns 

1 large siege gun (105) 

2-3/4 " " 

2-3/4 " 

2-3/4 " 

3-2/4 " " 

4-3/4 " " 

larger siege goo 

The larger appropriation also permitted the park commission to devote 

increasing attention to forestry issues in 1915-16. Of the 766 acres in 

the park at that time some 250 were forest, composed "largely of chestnut 

trees which for more than a century furnished successrve crops of 

charcoal to forges and furnaces in the neighborhood." The primary 

forestry problems faced by the commission were the twin problems posed 

by the chestnut blight and the consequent need for forest renewal and 

preservation. According to the commissioners: 

After each cropping at intervals of 25 years numerous sprouts 

grew up from the live stumps, each crop worse than the last, 

until the forest, weakened by this violation of nature's law of 

reproduction by seeding, became easy prey for the devastating 

chestnut blight which, like a pestilence, smote the trees least 

capable of offering resistance. About four thousand trees were 

killed, but the e><perts of the "Blight Commission" informed us 

that the forest would be improved by their loss, if the dead 

105. Ibid, p. 38. 

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• 

trees were promptly removed, inasmuch as they were not forest 

trees, for the most part, but overgrown bushes or sprouts 

smothering each other. The Valley Forge Park 

Commissioners have constantly sought the advice and aid of the 

Forestry Commission 1n planning for the conservation and 

preservation of the forest that covers our be<>utiful hills, 

which, although damaged by the blight, is still an attractive 

forest with a charming variety of trees: oak, tulip-poplar, 

sycamore, ash, hickory, hemlock, pine, etc., all 1n fine 

condition, but marred and scarred by the dead and dying 

timber Stoll standing and breathing poison into the wholesome 

trees that remain. We have cleared the forest of many of these 

blighted trees and are still prosecuting the work .... 

The commission also devoted attention to selective tree-cutting for the 

purpose of enhancing the "esthetic" and "scenic" vistas in the park. The 

commissioners noted: 

It sometimes happens that trees are out of place and serving no 

purpose but to obscure an extended landscape view or some 

notable work of art or historic interest that lies beyond, and in 

such cases it is an esthetic duty to displace them and to open 

such artistic vistas as may be necessary to improve the picture. 

The vista, cut some years ago, along the inner line drive, 

discloses the most charming view of the Valley Creek, and 

serves as a sample or example of the effect that may thus be 

produced in this hilly country. Such an occasmn presented 

itself this ye~r, and the Commission avililed itself of the 

opportun1ty before the leaves fell, as the form and extent of a 

vista can be better determined while the trees are in leaf. On 

the ridge beyond the plain which Fort Washington overlooks, 

stands the splendid equestrian statue of General Anthony 

Wayne, scanning the open country to the south and east in the 

direction of Philadelphia, and in full view for miles from that 

direction; but no glimpse of this great work of art could be had 

from the north, because of a curtain of poor trees drawn 

behind it. It is true that clearing out the dead chestnuts from 

the ridge, had let the daylight through, but there was still a 

sparkling of obstructing branches which obscured the statue, 

and a narrow vista was accordingly opened through this strip 

of wood on a direct line from Fort Washington, which brmgs the 

statue into full view, silhouetted on the sky, from Fort 

Wilshington and the Park Drive, circling about it, and also from 

several points in the drive over the plain below.(106) 

106. Ibid., pp. 14-15. Also see Second Report of Forestry Committee to 

the Commissioners of Valley Forge Park, November 1, 1916, RG 2, VAFO 

Archives . 
While the extensive restoration programs were underway in 1915-16 a 

bronze statue of Baron von Steuben was unveiled in the park by the 

German-American Alliance. The statue, a replica of that dedicated at • 

Utic<t, New York, on August 13, 1915, was formally presented to the park 

on October 9, 1915. Sculpted by J. Otto Schwizer, the statue was located 

on "the Outer Line Boulevard between the marker of General Scott's 

brigade and the massive monument erected by the Valley Forge Chapter, 

D. A. R., to the Unknown Dead of Valley Forge." The statue fittingly 

stood upon a granite base on which there was "a bas-relief depicting a 

squad of soldiers drilling before the stern commander."(107) 

During the spring of 1917 the recommdndations of the pari< commission's 

forestry committee of opening vistas "where the trees obscured a 

landscape or some structure of art or historic interest" were carried out. 

By mid-May four vistas had been "cut through obstructing trees." These 

included: 

1 - On the ridge crowned by the statue of General Anthony Wayne, 

where his brigade was encamped. This vista practically duplicates 

his artistic equestrian statue, by withdrawing the curtain of sprout 

trees,- thus opening an impressive view of the statue from the 

North. 

2 - On the eastern declivity of Mount Joy, adjoining Washington 

Redoubt, and revealing Huntington Redoubt in the distance. Col. 

Zinn on the occasion of his inspection, pointed out that these 

defenses were associated and ought to be in full view of each other. 

The removal of the obstructions justified his criticism and discloses • 

at a glance the intelligent plan of defending the inner line, which 

107. 

has commended itself to all modern military observers. 

3 - On the summit of Mount Joy, from which no v•ew of the 

surrounding country could be had without climbing the tower, an 

undertaking not agreeable to many visitors, two vistas have been 

cut, one to the Southwest and the other to the Northwest, disclosing 

enchanting extended views of Chester and Montgomery Counties. 

Two years ago a forest fire almost denuded the mountain forming the 

Eastern border of the Valley Creek, and the removal of the burnt 

trees has been confused, by some casual observers, with the 

opening of the Southwest vista, which thus appears to be 

unnecessarily wide. The burnt area will be replanted with suitable 

trees, and then nature, with her inimitable art, will proceed to heal 

the wounds and hide the scars with generous verdure, until a new 

face, more beautiful than the old shall be presented.(108) 

"Statue of Baron von Steuben 

Chronicle, VII (December 15, 

Day was celebrated each 

with a wreath-laying ceremony 

at Valley Forge," Wash1nQton 

1915), 69-70. Thereafter, von 

September 17 (von Steuben's 

at the statue. 

108. Third Report of Forestry 

Forge Park, May 16, 1917, 

committee also recommended that 

Committee to the Commissioners of Valley 

RG 2, VAFO Archives. The forestry 

a vista be opened from the Wayne 

'" 

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• 

• 

After the interior restoration and refurn•shing of Washington's 

Headquarters was completed in 1916, plans were discussed to provide 

moderate heat in the building during the winter months, "not only for the 

comfort of visitors, who now come at all seasons of the year, but to 

prevent injury to the walls from dampness."(109) The commissioners, 

eager to eliminate all danger of fire, studied the heating systems at Mount 

Vernon and Independence Hall and determined upon "a system of hot 

water heating to flow underground [through 3-inch flow and return 

pipes] from the office building about two hundred feet away, where a 

single fire would be maintained to heat both the office and headquarters 

buildings. Accordingly, a contract was let in late fall 1917 to the Wayne 

Plumbing and Heating Company to install the heating system that 

consisted of 

concealed stacks emitting a flow of warm air through registers 

in the fireplaces of the rooms of the first and second stories, 

back of the andirons where they will be unobserved.(110) 

Land acquisition became the paramount activity of the Valley Forge Park 

Commission during 1917-18 after the state legislature passed an act on 

June 23, 1917, increasing the authorJzed land acquisition ceiling for the 

park to 1,500 acres (maps of the park prepared in 1917 and 1918 may be 

seen on the following pages). Thereafter, the commission confined its 

efforts 

to the condemnation of contiguous tracts of land on which are 

situated the main 1nner lines of entrenchments, with the 

supporting redoubts Washington and Huntington, the Star fort 

commanding the approaches to Sullivan's bridge, the rifle pits, 

some well preserved; the sites of most of the brigade and 

regimental camps with the remains of hut holes and bake-ovens; 

108. (Cont.) Monument northeastward in the direction of the Star 

Redoubt. Both the statue and redoubt were 

on elevations overlooking the intervening land, and the view is 

only obstructed by a few unimportant trees on the statue ridge. 

Such a vista would not only reveal the star Redoubt, but it 

would render the Wayne Statue plainly vis1ble from the Port 

Kennedy Road, the thoroughfare of the Park, and this, in the 

opinion of the Committee, would be most desirable. 

109. Third Report of Museum Committee: In the Matter of Heating 

Washington's Headquarters, December 6, 1916, RG 2, VAFO Archives. 

During the restoration work the "apparatuses, formerly used for 

heating," were removed. 

110. Headquarters Committee; Fourth Report to Commissioners of 

Forge Park, September 3, 1917, and Headquarters Committee: 

Report to Commissioners of Valley Forge Park, December 5, 1917, 

VAFO Archives. 

Valley 

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RG 2, 
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the Life Guard Camp; the Artillery Park; the Provost, the main 

graveyard; and the headquarters of Generals Washington and 

Varnum, original buildings.(111) 

The commission's land acquisition efforts soon led to the realization that 

appropriations "for the purchase of condemnation of this land" was "insufficient to pay for the full quantity of land whose acquisition" was desired 

by the commission. Accordingly, in August 1918, the commissioners 

requested a formal legal op"1nion from the state attorney general as to 

"whether the amount of land that can be acquired at any time is limited 

by the amount of specific appropriations, or, whether the Act 

contemplates an acquisition of the full fifteen hundred acres, or any part 

thereof, in anticipation of appropriations to compensate owners of the land 

taken." In response to this inquiry, the attorney general wrote to the 

commission on September 4, 1918: 

I am of the opinion that the Act contemplates an acquisition of 

any amount of land not exceeding fifteen hundred acres at any 

time deemed exped1ent by the Commissioners and without regard 

to the available amount of moneys specifically appropriated for 

this purpose. 

This statute does not confer upon the Commissioners of Valley 

Forge Park the right to condemn land, but the State itself 

appropriates the property directly and by virtue of the express 

terms of the statute. The power of the Commissioners is limited 

to designating and marking the boundaries of the land deemed 

expedient by them to be acquired and as soon as this is done, 

the title is immediately vested in the State .. 

The intention of the Legislature being clear and not restrained 

1n its operation by the Constitution, you are therefore now 

advised that the Act of 1893, as amended, operates to 

appropriate land whose bound<wies are marked out and 

designated by the Commission notwithstanding the fact that 

there are no moneys available from specific appropriations, to 

compensate the owners of the land, so acquired.(11Z) 

Armed with this legal opinion, the park commisston escalated its land 

acquisition program during the next sbo; months. Thus, by March 1, 

1919, the commissioners could report that the total acreage of the park 

"at the present time is about 1,430," although "in many cases petitions 

111. Twelfth Biennial Report of the Valley Forge Park Commission, March]_, 

1919, p. S. 

112. Brown to Jenkins, September 4, 1918, in ibid., pp. 29-32. 

150 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

have not been presented." This ambitious two-year land acquisition 

program had thus nearly doubled the si:ze of the park.(113) 

The commission's land acquisition efforts aroused the fears and resentment 

of local property owners in the vicinity of the park. These persons, 

anxious that they might lose their homes, found a champion in W. Herbert 

Burk, rector of the Washington Memorial Chapel, who beg<>n publicizing 

theJr fears. Quoting lines from "Evangeline" in a sermon given at the 

chapel on December 22, 1918, Burk summarized the intense feeling of 

some local residents. Burk, however, was happy to announce in the same 

sermon that the park commission had recently informed him 

that no home need be surrendered, for the Valley Forge Park 

Commission has no intention to drive out any citizen, or to 

deprive any family of its home. If a house be for sale the 

state will purchase it, but it will not compel anyone to sell. He 

explains that the notices now being served are only to prevent 

sales to other parties. 

This is the good tidings bring to you to-day, my fellow 

citizens, to free your minds from fear and to fill your hearts 

with gladness. For one, I am deeply grateful to the Commission 

for what I believe is the first message ever sent by it to this 

community. I rejoice in the news not only because I consider it 

just to the people whose homes are here, but because I 

consider the ruthless destruction of a home a stn against 

society and treason to the state. Sometimes progress demands 

the destruction of a home, as when it stands in the way of 

some development necessary for the public good. Even then 

the hapless people are martyrs whose sufferings are beyond the 

paltry measure of gold .. 

Now you can understand why rejoice in Mr. Scott's message, 

after I had watched the surveyors at work and read the notices 

served by the Commission. To destroy a few houses to add a 

few acres to the Valley Forge Park would be a social crime, 

especially as no historic purpose could be gained by the 

devastation. For as a matter of fact it is folly to talk about 

"restoring Valley Forge." That Valley Forge of Washington is 

gone forever. 

I doubt if any one ever found more pure delight in the 

Valley Forge Park than I have. No one could value it more 

highly for its historic associations or for its aesthetic 

influences. One of the great pleasures of my life is to point 

out to others its scenic splendors and its sacred spots. If it 

must be extended to fifteen hundred acres or even to two 

thousand acres, the extension can be made without !he sacrifice 

or a single home, and my hope IS that it will be so developed 

113. Twelfth 

March 1, 1919, 

24, 1924, RG 2, 

Biennial Report of The Valley Forge Park Commission, 

pp. 6 8. Also see Attorney General to Stuart, January 

VAFO Archives. 
by the sound judgment of the Valley Forge Park Commission, 

whose members are real home-lovers.(114) 

The increase in the size of the park during 1917-18 attracted increasing 

numbers of visitors, created the need for expansion of the park road 

system, and led to planned restoration of recently-acquired historic 

structures. Some 500,000 to 600,000 tourists were now coming to the park 

on an annual basis, aided in part by reduced one-day excursion fares 

offered on weekends by the Philadelphia and Reading Railway (a copy of 

such a railway advertisement may be seen on the folloy.,·ing page). As to 

the park roads, the commissioners reported in March 1919; 

The construction of macadam roads and keeping them in repair 

demanded our continual consideration and attention. The noy.,· 

universal use of automobiles had necessarily increased the cost 

of their maintenance. The development of roads in the newly 

acquired sections of the camp for the convenience of visitors to 

the entrenchments, redoubts and the stations of picket guard 

and provost, are now being worked out. A section of the 

historic Gulph Road, between the Camp road and Washington 

Lane, over which the army marched, has been ma~;:adamized, 

and other roads widened, drained and changes in grade and 

turnouts made. 

• 

According to the commission's biennial report in 1919 the acquisition of 

Varnum's Quarters and the site of his brigade camp was viewed as "one 

of the most important made by the Commission." The original building 

was standing and its restoration under consideration. The Philadelphia • 

Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, requested that the 

building "be turned over to their care," offering to "renovate and 

preserve it, subject to the approval of the Commission, and install a 

caretaker, without any expense to the Commonwealth."(115) 

115. Twelfth Biennial Report of The Valley Forge Park Commission, 

March 1, 1919, pp. 6, 8-9. The visitor stati5tics for Valley Farge Park 

during -1917-18 were: 

At Headquarters 

Automobiles 

Riders 

Carriages . 

Riders 

Horseback Riders 

Pedestrians 

Motorcycles 

Bicycles 

152 

1917 

299,500 

74,875 

262,066 

1 '392 

4' 176 

7<0 

43,845 

2,957 

1 ,047 

1918 

221 '250 

55,312 

193,592 

1 '044 

3,132 

581 

32,864 

1 '009 

781 

• 
• 

• 

• 

Philade!Rhia and 

Reading R;lilway UJ 

C, ONE DAY 

EXCURSIONS 

TO 

ALLEY URGE 

and Sundays 

28th, l9l7, 

INCLUSIVE. 

Independence Day, July 4th; 

Labor Day, Sept. 3rd, l9l7 . 

SPECIAL RATES FOR ORGANIZATIONS 

'53 
Park visitation WilS encouraged by increasing <~ttention to the reservation • 

in national periodic<~ls during the war. One example of this national 

exposure Wi!S an article, entitled "The Vi!lley Forge Memorial Park," that 

i!ppeared 1n Outlook on April 11, 1917: 

Over most of the ro<~ds leading to Valley Forge to-dily the 

d1al of the speedometer registers some twenty-one miles. 

Despite many admonitions by the way to observe a sober 

eighteen-mile pace, Valley Forge is generally counted less than 

an hour distance from Philadelphia. Of the quarter of " million 

annu<~l visitors, however, half alight ill the elabor<~te station, 

carried out with reasonable fidelity in the colonial manner. The 

site of the encampment lies in the form of an irregular 

crescent, some two miles in length, with the principal entrilnces 

for the motorists and the r<~ilway-trippers at either end. 

Within the boundaries of the park will be found the sites of the 

famous huts, the forts, and the double lines of intrenchments 

which surround the camp, the familiar Washington 

Headquarters, and other buildings of the period, with many 

arches, statues, and memorials of the past. Several of the 

<~ncient lanes, n<~rrow and stony, over which the Continental 

soldiers once toiled, are still preserved; but the visitor to-day 

may reach every point of interest by excellent modern roilds, of 

which there <~re some twenty miles. The study of history is 

robbed of all its drudgery, and the memorials pass as quickly 

as one would turn the pages of a book. 

No picture of the suffering <~t Valley Forge, probably, m<~kes so 

strong an appeal as the familiar inter1or of the log hut, l•lith 

washington •n the doorway and the soldiers <~bout the Pitiful 

little fire struggling to the1r feet to Sillute him. The sites of 

many of these huts may be clearly traced to-day by the slight 

hollows in the ground which indic<~te their regular grouping. 

From the old dri!wings still preserved a typical hut has been 

reproduced (none remain to be restored) which gives a complete 

picture of these famous shelters. In all about one thous<~nd 

huts were built, much of the dreary winter being pi!ssed in the 

work, and, since their utmost Cilp<~city was but twelve men, the 

s1ze of the army may be definitely counted. 

Few buildings in the country are so familiar as Washington's 

Headquarters, and one greets it as an old friend. It is 

wonderfully "''ell preser·ved throughout, even the woodwork, the 

windows, doors, <~nd locks being orig1nals. 

A qu<~int h<~lved doorway opens directly into the narrow hall, 

which runs the length of but two small rooms. The front 

room, where Washington held his councils of wilr, has been 

furnished 1n the traditional manner made familiar by many 

illustrations. A facsimile of the or1ginal map of the encampment 

hangs above the mantel. The old firepl<~ces, which were the 

only deiense ilg<~inst the cold of the Valley Forge winter, 

15' 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

naturally 

restoration 

past seems 

attract speci<>l 

ilre throughout 

very real. 

attention . The details of the 

so complete that in every room the 

Perhaps the most touching relic of the past at Valley Forge are 

the ragged trenche'> which once encircled the camp. The 

underbrush has been cut away in many places, leaving them 

clearly defined. Originally the trenches measured six feet in 

height and three in depth, with a mound of four feet. In some 

places stakes or pikes extended outward from the mound, with 

an abatis of brush or stumps, at a distance of extreme musket 

range. Many trees have sprouted from their sides and grown 

undisturbed to stately proportions. Close beside the 

level road which skirts the inner line of fortifications, tempting 

the motorists to a quickened pace, a stgn cautions the visitor to 

"slow down to 12 miles." But the pathetic little hillocks should 

be approached reverently, even afoot, and twelve miles seems a 

profanation. 

On scores of memorials to the past history is so legibly written 

that he who runs may read. Every State which sent troops to 

Valley Forge seems to have celebrated the honor by some 

monument, statue, or marker in stone or bronze. The valley to 

the eastward is dominated by a graceful arch erected at a cost 

of $100,000 by the Federal Government. Several buildings of 

the period other than Washington's Headquarters remain, 

notably the Mansion House, the Steuben Headquarters, and the 

Varnum Headquarters. The quaint school-house built in 1705, 

which served as a soldiers' hospital during the encampment, has 

been restored with a faithfulness to detail which even includes 

the dunce's cap. The camp should be viewed from the 

observatory, some seventy-five feet in height, at the summit of 

Mount Hope. The climb of one hundred and twenty steps to 

the top well repays the visitor, who finds the site of the 

encampment unrolled at his feet.(116) 

Throughout the year 1918 the park commission debated attention to 

forestry concerns in the park. On March 6 the commissioners d•rected 

the forestry committee "to provide for a systematic and artistic planting 

of small Hemlock Trees on both slopes of Valley Creek Gorge, to 

gradually replace and supercede the present growth of chestnut sprouts 

and other inferior timber growing there." Thus, a contract was let to 

William H. Doyle, a landscape gardener in Berwyn, 

to furnish and plant on both sides of the Valley Creek in Valley 

Forge Park, Twelve hundred hemlock trees, (1200) from 3 to 4 

ft. in height. These trees to be planted on both sides of 

the Gorge fifty feet apart or nearly so, and to be planted as 

116. F. 

(April 11, 

A. Collins, 

1917), 655, 

"The 

657. 

Valley Forge Memorial Park," Outlook, CXV 
far up 

road. 

the hill 

.(117) 

the sky line is visible from the public 

In the fall of 1918 forest-related issues in the park were studied "with a 

view to the reforestation of such portions as were devastated by the 

Chestnut blight in its terrible visitation of the past few years." On 

November 7 the forestry committee reported on the findings of its study 

and its efforts toward reforestation and landscape redevelopment: 

In renewing the forest, the Committee is impressed with the 

desirability of growing a better class of timber, and the 

American oak, in its various forms of White, Red and Scarlet, 

being indigenous to our soil and climate, and in groups 

presenting a very Imposing and majestic appearance, is 

considered with great favor. 

The Committee therefore purchased five bushels of acorns, 

gathered largely from the lofty oaks in St. David's Church 

yard, and had them planted by a score of boys from the 

neighborhood, as if strewn broadcast, after nature's plan, with 

the aid of a little covering to facilitate and accelerate the 

process of resurrection. 

The Committee also found that the Chestnut blight had smitten 

so many trees in some isolated patches, as to make the others 

look like "no man's land", and agreed that the landscape in 

general would be greatly improved by clearing away the 

unsightly remainder. 

The same general rule of treating the landscape as a whole, and 

subordinating all details to general effect, is being applied to 

fence rows and other like disfigurements.(113) 

The earliest payroll lists to be found for Valley Forge Park are those 

covering the period from December 1, 1917, to December 31, 1918. The 

payroll list for the first two-week period in December 1917 shows that 

fifteen full-time and part-time employees were on the staff. It read: 

117. Doyle to Jones, 

Commissioners of Valley 

Archives. 

March 

Forge 

19, 1918, and 

Park, April 4, 

Forestry 

1918, 

Committee to 

RG 2, VAFO 

118. Forestry Committee Report to Commissioners of Valley Forge Park, 

November 7, 1913, RG 2, VAFO Archives. 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

PAY ROLL - December 1st to December 15th 1917: 

Supt. 0. , Hartranft $ 75.00 

Clerk Wilfred Jordan 25.00 

Foreman George W. Shenk 39.20 

Teamster James Jamison 33.75 

Ch. Gudrd Ward Nichols 32.50 

Caretaker Jerome Sheas 35.00 

Labor George Lauer 32.50 

" Aaron Jaffe 22.50 

" John Brittian 21.25 

" John T. Watson 10.00 

" Latham M. Wolff 31.25 

" George Rowan 16.25 

" Clarence Lau"r 28.75 

" A. M. McGrady 19.20 

Janitor Jerome Sheas 2.50 

TOTAL $424.65 

In January and February 1918 three to five additional janitors were paid 

part-time wages, undoubtedly to ready the park for the spring and 

summer rush of visitors. The largest payroll period for 1918 was that 

covering August 1-15, when there were twenty-seven full-time and 

part-time employees, including eight guards, ten laborers, two foremen, 

and two caretakers in the park. These extra workers were obviously 

seasonal employees who were hired to carry out the guard and 

maintenance activities in the park during the spring, summer, and early 

fall visitation season.(119) 

The increasing maintenance and development costs for Valley Forge State 

Park required increasing amounts of money for park operations. Hence 

the park commission was happy to announce the first bequests of private 

funds for the maintenance of the park during World War I. The 

bequests, which were given by Selden Twitchell in his will and were to 

become operative upon the death of his widow, included $10,000 for the 

"maintenance of the camp site" and $2,500 for the "care of Washington's 

headquarters. "(120) 

119. Pay Roll, December 1, 1917, to December 31, 1918, Correspondence, 

RG 46, PHMC. 

120. Twelfth Biennial Report of The Valley Forge Park Commission, 

March !, 1919, p. 9 . 
1. ERECTION AND DEDICATION OF NATIONAL MEMORIAL ARCH: 

1908-1917 

The widely-heralded National Memorial Arch, the largest monument to be 

erected in Valley Forge State Park, was completed in December 1916 and 

dedicated and transferred to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania during 

special ceremonieS on June 19, 1917. The ceremonies were the culmination 

of nearly a decade of efforts to have the federal government erect a 

memorial in the park. 

The effort began in 1908 when a bill (H. R. 17986) was introduced in the 

House of Representatives providing for appropriations of $50,000 for two 

memorial arches (to be called the Washington Arch and the Von Steuben 

Arch) at Valley Forge Park--one at each of the principal entrances. The 

bill provided that the location, plans, specifications, and designs for the 

arches would be approved by the Secretary of War before the 

appropriation was expended. It also provided: 

That when such arches are erected the responsibility for the 

care and keeping of the same shall be with the said Valley 

Forge Park Commission, or as may otherwise be provided by the 

State of Pennsylvania, and without expense to the United 

States. 

The bill soon gained widespread publicity, endorsements coming from such 

organizations as the General Society Sons of the Revolution. The bill's 

principal sponsor, Congressman Irving P. Wanger of Norristown, arranged 

for an automobile tour of the park by Speaker of the House Joseph 

Cannon and other congressmen on May 28, 1909. Soon thereafter 

hearings were held by the House Committee on the Library with Wanger 

providing the principal testimony in favor of the bill. Among his remarks 

were: 

In view of the action taken by Congress in building monuments, 

as was done at Yorktown, or m contributing toward the 

erection of other monuments, as has been done at several places 

prominent in Revolutionary history, where like amounts were 

contributed by States or associations, it is respectfully 

submitted that the appropriation of $50,000 asked for the 

erection of two memorial arches, one to be erected at the 

western terminus of the boulevard through the park and the 

other at the eastern terminus, is reasonable, and may with the 

utmost propriety be granted. 

To grant the appropriation will be to encourage the splendid 

work of Pennsylvania and her people. .Participation by the 

National Government will be an incentive to Pennsylvania to 

continue her grand undertaking and to the other original States 

to participate, to make truly national in scope and sp1rit this 

sacred and all important Revolutionary camp ground. 

158 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

Thereafter, the committee recommended passage of the bill, but Congress 

took no further action on the measure.(121) 

In Janu<1ry 1910 Wanger reintroduced an identical bill (H. R. 55) in the 

House.(122) After passage 1n the House the Senate Committee of the 

Library, to which the bill was referred, proposed various changes: 

On careful consideration your committee is convinced that the 

<~mount authorized in the bill of the House of Representatives, 

$50,000, is not sufficient for the purpose named, i. e., the 

erection of two arches spanning the prLncLpal entrance at the 

opposite ends of the Valley Forge Park. Your committee is also 

strongly of the opinion that a memorial of the n<1tion would be 

better expressed 1n a single structure of befitting proportions 

and digmty. To this end the appropriation of $100,000 is 

recommended for the erection of one memorial arch. 

The amended bill, which 

Forge Park Commission, 

follows: 

had the wholehearted endorsement of the Valley 

was approved on June 25, 1910, and read as 

121 . 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 

the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the 

expenditure of the sum of one hundred thousand dollars, or so 

much thereof as may be necessary, be, and the same is hereby, 

authorized for the erection upon the site of the encampment 

during the winter of seventeen hundred and seventy-seven to 

seventeen hundred and seventy-eight of the American army at 

Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, of a memorial arch within the 

Valley Forge Park, in commemoration of the patriotism displayed 

and the suffering endured by General George Washington, his 

officers, and men during said winter: Provided, That the 

money authorized to be expended as aforesaid shall be expended 

by the Valley Forge Park Commission under the d1rection of the 

Secretary of war, and that the location, plans, specifications, 

and designs for the said arch shall be approved by the 

Secret.ary of War: Provided further, That when the said arch 

is erected the responsibility for the care and keeping of the 

same shall be with the said Valley Forge Park Commission or as 

may otherwise be provided by the State of Pennsylvania and 

without expense to the United States.(123) 

H. Rept. 2225, pp. 1-7. 

123. U.S. Congress, Senate, Committee on the 

at Valley Forge, Pa., 61st Cong., 2d sess., 1910, S. 

arid P.L. 61-272,36 Stat. S22 . 
After passage of the bill the park commission responded by stating that 

the "United States has liberally responded to the appeal made to erect a • 

suitable arch, thus indicating the interest that the Nation at large has in 

this historic camp.'' The commissioners were certain that the completion 

of the arch would "doubtless be an impetus for the several states to 

recognize, by the erection of appropriate markers, the intense suffering 

of their patriotic sons on these hills."(124) 

The Valley Forge Park Commission advertised for design proposals and of 

those received selected that of Professor Paul Philippe Cret of the 

University of Pennsylvania. The design of the granite memorial was 

described as being "somewhat similar to the Arch of Titus, in Rome, the 

embellishments referring to American history." The Commission of Fine 

Arts reviewed and approved Cret's design.(125) 

In January 1911 Congress was requested to provide 

appropriation for the arch. In the letter submitted to the 

the Treasury for transmittal to Congress, Secretary of 

Dickinson noted: 

a $100,000 

Secretary of 

War J. M. 

The plans and designs for the arch have now been submitted 

by the Valley Forge Park Commission, as required by the act, 

after which it becomes imperatively necessary that an 

appropriation should be made before any further steps can be 

taken to carry into effect the provisions of the act, which 

authorized the expenditure of $100,000 for the erection of the 

arch, but made no appropriation therefor. The estimate 

submitted provides that the appropriation shall be immediately 

available in order to avoid unnecessary delay. 

It was impracticable to include an estimate for this work in the 

regular annual estimates of the War Department for the fiscal 

year 1912, as the matter was not presented to the department 

until after the regular estimates had been submitted to 

Congress, through the Treasury Department, as required by 

law. (126) 

124. Report of The Valley Forge Park Commission, 1910, p. 7. 

Senate, Committee on the Library, Report of The 

62d Cong., 2d sess., 1911, 5. Doc. 192, p. 9, 

of The II Park Commission, March 

- -- ensued over the location of 

commission intersection of Gulph Road 

and Outer Line Drive. 

126. U.S. Congress, 

at Valley Forge, Pa.: 

House, Committee on Appropriations, Memorial Arch 

Letter ~ The Secretary of The Treasury, 61st 

H. Doc. 131, pp. 1 2. In the estimate attached 

H. Bixby, Chief of Engineers, noted: 

Cong., 3d sess., 1911, 

to Dickinson's letter, W. 

060 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

The appropriation was passed in April 1911, and 

was awarded to Henry L. Brown to construct 

government retaining Cret as architect. Ground 

December 1912 the park commission reported 

"doubtless be dedicated in the near future." 

in March 1912 a contract 

the Memorial Arch, the 

was broken in May. In 

that the arch would 

Two years later, in December 1914, the commissioners reported that the 

arch was "approaching completion." Because of the lack of a 

congressional appropriation, it had "not yet been transferred to the 

Commonwealth." The commissioners noted, however, that its completion 

would necessitate 

some expensive topographical changes; the abandonment of the 

present and construction of a new road to directly approach 

and run on two sides of it, and terminate at the Gulph road. 

The architectural beauty of this imposing Arch (it has no equal 

on this continent), with its historic embellishments and 

inscriptions, requ1res that its approaches and surroundings 

should be in keeping with it. Its commanding location at the 

Gulph road, along which Washington with his army marched to 

their camp and to the rear of the outer line of defenses, is a 

prominent and attractive landmark for the Schuylkill and 

Chester Valleys.(127) 

Progress on the arch continued to lag in 

latter year the park commissioners observed 

1915-16. In December of the 

that the arch was 

still unfinished, 

accepted by the 

and until the work is completed cannot be 

Commission on behalf of the Commonwealth. 

This great work of art, with all its fitting and appropriate 

inscriptions, was described in the last Biennial Report of the 

Commission, and believing it would be finished this year, the 

Legislature of 1915 appropriated $5000 for the ceremonies 

incident to its dedication. A bill was introduced into the last 

session of Congress for an additional appropriation of $35,000 to 

complete the work, but it was not reached and goes over to the 

short session of this year, when the Library Committee, having 

126. (Cont.) 

The act provided that the money should be expended by the 

Valley Forge Park Commission, under the direction of the 

Secretary of War, but 1n order to permit the satisfactory 

supervision of the work by the Secretary of War as 

contemplated by the act it is desirable that, in accordance with 

the usual custom in such cases, the expenditure of the funds 

be assigned to an off1cer under his direction. 

127. 

Ibid., 

The Valley Forge Park Commission, 1912, p. 7, and 

9, 13. 
charge of the bill, has assured the President of the Commission 

that it w1ll pass.(128) 

Finally on June 19, 1917, ceremonies were held at Valley Forge, formally 

dedicating and transferring the National Memorial Arch from the United 

States to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania with park commission 

president William H. Sayen, presiding. In attendance at the ceremonies 

were seven U.S. Senators, including tuture President Warren G. Harding, 

and 87 members of the U.S. House of Representatives led by Speaker 

Champ Clark. Music for the occasion was provided by the Philadelphia 

Plaz:a Band, and the gun salute was provided by Battery C of the 

Pennsylvania National Guard. Speaker Clark gave the principal address, 

formally presenting the arch to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania with 

these concluding words: 

And now, Governor Brumbaugh, on behalf of the Government of 

the United States, I present through you as the chief 

magistrate of Pennsylvania to the old Keystone State this 

spendid memorial arch in honor of washington and the men who 

made Valley Forge another shrine for freedom. May it, defying 

the corroding tooth of time, stand as a sign and token of our 

love and gratitude so long as the Schuylkill seeks the sea. 

Governor Brumbaugh responded with words of equally patriotic fervor: 

128. 

In accepting for our great Commonwealth this National Memorial, 

now formally transferred to our care and keeping by an 

eloquent and distinguished representative of our National 

Government, it is fitting that we should for a few moments 

consider the meaning of the action now taken and the 

significance of the purpose that has called us here. 

This enduring arch is not as enduring as the spirit of Valley 

Forge, but while it lasts, under the care and keeping of this 

great Commonwealth, we shall Cherish it, guard it, honor it, as 

fitting emblem of this vastly more enduring arch of human 

liberty whose foundations are set in the soil of suffering at 

Valley Forge, and whose summit crowns the hills of Valley 

Forge. 

This is Pennsylvania. She has ever led in all that national 

enterprise commands, and she today, accepts this memorial as a 

new pledge of national fealty and worldwide democracy. Where 

5tand Valley Forge and Pennsylvania, there stand the hopes, 

the aspirations, the glories of the human kind.(129) 

of The --- Report Valley Forge Park Commission, p. 16. 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

J. OPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF 

DURING THE POST WORLD WAR I YEARS: 

VALLEY FORGE 

1919-1923 

STATE PARK 

With the large increase of park acreage during 1917-18, the commission 

devoted much of its efforts during 1919-20 to improving and developing 

the newly-acquired land. On Janu<Jry 1, 1921, the commissmners 

reported: 

The land taken was but the initial step necessary to carry out 

the general plan for the development of the Park, as conceived 

years ago. That the Park should cons1st of the ground occupied 

by General Washington, during the winter when officers and 

men were subjected to the privations which under ordinary 

circumstances would not be endured by any sold•ery, is the 

opinion of the Commission. It was the cause of Independence in 

which they were engaged, and the extraordinary faith in their 

commander which kept the Continental Army together. 

Every foot of this ground 1s sacred ground, and should be 

secured for the pleasure and recreation of the cit1<:ens of thiS 

State and the other States, for the citi<:ens of all, recognize 

this to be the Mecca of American patriotism. 

The development is, however, not a matter of today, but from 

time to time as occasion requires, and funds are supplied, will 

improvements in the roads and approaches be made, until this 

Park will become the one in which our great Commonwealth will 

be justly proud. 

In a matter of such great 

definite and comprehensive 

Otherwise what has been 

development may have to be 

importance it is essential that a 

plan be adopted and followed. 

done with reference to future 

undone. 

One of the actions taken by the commission to develop the park was the 

leasing of Varnum's Quarters to the Daughters of the American Revolution 

for restoration and maintenance purposes. The commissioners noted that 

the headquarters were already in the care of that organization, and "we 

desire to acknowledge the obligation of the Commonwealth for this 

patriotic movement on the part of these estimable ladies."(130) 

The most notable project 1n the development of Valley Forge during 

1919-20 was the restoration of the gorge through which Valley Forge 

Creek flowed. The commissioners observed 1n January 1921: 

130. 

The war of 1812, about thirty years after the Revolution, was 

fraught with the incidents of profiteering, common to all public 

disasters, and tempted the cupidity of man to the diversion of 

Report 

n. p . 

163 

,, Toe Valley Forge Park 
Valley Creek From its natural province as 

mountain stream, to the homely uses of trade, 

factory were accordingly erected. 

a picturesque 

and a dam and 

But the war ended soon thereafter, and the dam, though 

spasmodically enlarged from time to time, served the main 

purpose of a depository for the silt and mud washed down from 

the Chester Valley, until the picturesque stream which had 

charmed and lightened the hearts of Washington's soldiers, was 

transformed into a sluggish and slimy pond. (131) 

Accordingly, a contract was let to William H. Doyle of Berwyn to restore 

the gorge "as nearly as possible to its condition at the time of the great 

encampment." Using money from the Centennial and Memorial Fund the 

restoration work included removal of the dam and all "artificial 

obstruction," redirecting Valley Creek to its original channel, and sloping 

the banks toward the creek "so as to improve the appearance of the 

meadow and prevent the cutting of new channels in time of freshets or 

floods in the stream."(132) 

• 

In a related issue the Valley Forge Park Commission, together with the 

Patriotic Order Sons of America which dedicated its new headquarters 

building on the west bank of Valley Creek on November 28, 1920,(133) 

began efforts to have the Upper Merion township road straddling the east 

bani< made a state highway. It was the only road in the pari< that 

"avoided the hills," and was "therefore a thoroughfare from Knox's bridge 

(named for Philander Knox who owned the adjacent property) to the State 

road leading to Phoenixville." The road was "out of repair" and needed • 

"to be widened and reconstructed for the general traffic convenience of 

the public." Furthermore, the township had "no funds with which to 

reconstruct it or to properly maintain it as a Commonwealth road ought to 

be." Hence efforts were begun to have the road become a state highway, 

thus "connecting the Phoenixville and the Devon roads, both belonging to 

the State Highway system, and, to provide for the construction and 

131. Ibid., n. p. 

132. Ibid., 

Commissioners 

Archives. 

and Headquarters 

of Valley Forge Park, 

Committee, 

December 2, 

Sixth 

1920' 

Report to 

RG 2, VAFO 

133. Earlier the park had taken the old hall of the Patriotic Sons of 

America. The order used the award of damages from the state to make 

alterations and addit1ons to the former Riddle mansion, adapting it for 

their use as well as that of the public. The most noteworthy of the 

additions to the structure was the Mt. Vernon portico. Headquarters 

Committee, Ninth Report to Commissioners of Valley Forge Park, 

September 1, 1921, and Jones to Nicholson, November 14, 1921, 

Correspondence, RG 46, PHMC. 

'" • 
• 

• 

• 

maintenance of a highway 

Commonwe<olth through whose 

worthy 

historic 

of the pride and dignity 

park it passes."(134) 

of the 

The growth and development of Valley Forge State Park stirred up a 

controversy in 1919 between area residents, led by E. B. Cassatt of the 

nearby Chesterbrook Farm who feared the state was dismissing "aesthetic 

Values" in its plans, and the park commissioners who understood their 

mission "to restore the historic field to the condition in which it was at 

the time of the great encampment" according "to the rules of military 

science." Explaining the ration<tle behind the commission's efforts, 

commissioner Jon"s observed on June 4 that the original legislation 

establishing the park had imposed on the commission the duty "to restore 

this historic field"--a duty that "necessarily deferred and subordinated" 

all "aesthetic conditions." He went on to indicate: 

We therefore in the restoration of the forts and the area 

intended to be controled [sic] by them, chose military experts 

instead of landscape gardners [sic]. 

We invited Col. Zinn, then located in Philadelphia as the United 

States ArmY Engineer to clear the channel of the Delaware 

river, who advised that the field must be cleared of trees to an 

extent within the range of the guns then in use, and to bring 

the several redoubts within plain view of each other. The 

plans were prepared in his office and submitted to the expert 

engineers at West Point, who approved them without criticism 

except as to some perishable structures which it was not 

intended to restore . 

Our friendly critics do not stop to consider the difference 

between Fairmount Park in Philadelphia, for example, which is 

purely aesthetic, and the field of Valley Forge which is purely 

military and historic.(135) 

After Jones' views were conveyed to Cassatt the Chester County farmer 

responded with a lengthy list of his and other neighboring property 

owners' complaints concerning park development policies. Among other 

things, he argued "that a middle ground should and could under the law 

be found whereby the natural beauties of Valley Forge could be preserved 

while at the same time the military features could be retained 'as nearly 

as possible' or at least indicated sufficiently to carry their historical 

lesson to the people." In his letter Cassatt observed: 

I permit myself to dissent from Mr. Jones' views, which seem to 

be that the legislative mandate for the restoration of Valley 

135. Jones to Beale, June 4, 1919, Correspondence, RG 46, PHMC. 
Forge as nearly as possible to it's original condition as a 

military camp requires the deferring and subordinating of all 

aesthetic conditions to the rules of military science. Mr. Jones 

has not quoted m full the section of the Act of March 19, 1893 

which <;reates the Commission, Which section, in addLtion to the 

portion quoted, says, "so that the same and the fortifications 

thereon may be maintained as nearly as Ln 

original condition as a military camp, and may be 

the enjoyment of the people of the said 

underlining is my own. 

refuse to admit that "the enjoyment of the people of 

Pennsylvania" is enhanced by discarding all condition of beauty 

and aestheticism. However, assuming what do not adm1t, 

namely that the Commission is for<::ed by law to be guided by 

purely military and historic consideration, the Commission has 

certainly exceeded it's powers in many respects:-

The planting of a row of young shade trees on either side of 

the road from the memorial arch to Port Kennedy was surely 

done with an aesthetic condition in view for these trees were 

certainly not required for military reasons. 

The most unnecessarily wide vistas on the observatory hill have 

absolutely no military value and unless they were out to allow 

aesthetic enjoyment of the view through them, I cannot 

understand why they were cut at all. 

The beautiful dog wood trees, either planted or spared in 

clearing, near the intersection of Gulf Road and the main new 

road are a detriment from the soldiers point of view and there 

must have been some thought of pleasing the eye when they 

were put or left there. 

The steel tower or observatory was certainly not built for any 

other reason than that the people m1ght obtain v1sual pleasure 

from it's top - more aesthetics. 

The cutting of the grass on either side of the roads seems to 

me to have been done solely with an eye to beauty. 

Furthermore the Commission, probably at the behest of Mr. 

Jones, has violated military principles in several cases:-

To be technically correct the guns at Fort Washington should 

not be 12 pounder brass Napoleons since these guns, unless my 

memory is greatly at fault, were not used until some fifty years 

after the Revolution. These guns are arranged to fire over the 

parapet instead of through embrasures. 

The small battery 

Indeed there was 

evidently intended 

to the North west of Fort Washington, if 

any such battery in Washington's time, 1s 

to sweep the slopes of Fort Washington, 

066 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

protected as these are from the fwe of the Fort's guns; inste<1d 

of this they are placed as as [sic] to make it impossible to 

sweep these slopes. 

The slopes, scarp, ditch and countersc<WP <1nd approaches to 

Fort Washington are beautifully sodded (more aesthetics) the 

latter should be covered with abattis made from the branches of 

the trees cut from thereabouts and with other obstructions. 

The above cases of evident attempts at beauty on the one hand 

and on the other hand of disregard of military rules lead me to 

suspect that it was not the intention ot the Commissioners, as 

set forth by Mr. Jones, to exclude aesthetics and to be guided 

solely by military princJples.(136) 

While the restoration of Valley Creek gorge was underway, some minor 

new roadwork, as well as pavement maintenance operations in other parts 

of the park, was carried out. A part of the Gulph Road, leading from 

"the main driveway to the Port Kennedy Road" was constructed. As this 

was the road over which washington's troops marched into winter 

quarters, it was, according to the park commission, "historic and should 

be maintained as it existed at that time."(137) 

Moreover, extensive plans were established in 1919 for the development of 

avenues and roadways throughout the enlarged park. Legislotion passed 

on May 1, 1919, appropriated $45,000 for the construction of park roads 

and provided the park commission with additional powers on roadbuilding: 

That whenever a public road or highway within a park or 

public ground, title to which park or public grounds is vested 

in the State of Pennsylvania, is laid out, located, relocated, 

altered, or vacated, in such manner that a public road or 

highway, approachong, landing into, or cont•guous to such park 

or public grounds, shall become either useless, inconvenient, or 

burdensome, such public road or highway, approaching, leading 

into, or contiguous to such park or public grounds, may be 

altered, relocoted, or vacated, by the township supervisors or 

other officials charged woth the duty of maintaining such roads 

or highways, in whole or in part, for the purpose of making it 

convenient and suitable as an approach to the roads and 

highways within said park or public grounds, upon the consent 

and agreement of: (a) the commissioners or officials charged 

with the care and management of soid park or public grounds; 

(b) the township supervisors or other officials charged with the 

duty of maintaining said roads or highways, approaching, 

leading into, or contiguous to said park or public grounds; and 

(c) the property owners ownmg the maJOrity of the frontage of 

136. Cassatt to Beale, June 17, 1919, Correspondence, RG 46, PHMC. 

137 . 

January 

Biennial Report of The Valley Forge Park Commission, 

n. p. 

"' 
land abutting upon 

highway, approaching, 

or public grounds. 

the relocated 

leading into 

portion of the 

or contiguous to 

roads or 

said park 

To determine "the final pl<m of avenues <1nd ro<~dways" in "the recently 

<~cquired property" the commission hired J<~cob 0. Clarke, a civil engineer 

"who had laid out the present boulev<~rds." In planning the new roads 

Cl<~rke, according to the park commission, kept 

the United St<~tes Memorial Arch as the focal point <1nd had 

located the roads in such a manner <IS to bring within view of 

the same the old camp ro<~ds, the Parade Grounds, the burial 

ground of the Rhode lsl<1nd soldiers, the Varnum Headquarters, 

the W<~term<~n Monument, with easy <~Ccess from the Memorial 

Arch to the Washington Memorial Chapel established by the 

contributions of patriotic citizens of the various states. From 

the Memorial Chapel, the road follows the old c<~mp road to Port 

Kennedy, where the spring shown on the Duportail Map is 

located. The plan also shows the relocation of the bed <1nd the 

changes in the grade of the road leading across the bridge from 

Port Kennedy to Betzwood, so that it passes by the spring and 

conveniently joins the road beyond the Park. 

Mr. Clarke has endeavored to follow the lines of the old camp 

road as closely <IS engineering requirements and the grade of 

the ground permit. The basis of the study was the plan of the 

enc<~mpment as reconstructed in conformity with the Duportail 

Map, upon the topographic<ll map prepared for the Commission 

in 1903-4. The contemporary roads and the tines of 

communication established for camp purposes form a natural and 

logical scheme of development for the Park, since the sites of 

the v<~rious c<~mps, the defences, burial grounds and other 

places of interest will require means of circulation along lines 

very similar to those necessary during the encampment. 

The roads indicated for construction, re-opening or reloc<~tion 

will provide adequately for the Park traffic when full 

development has been attained and after they have been laid 

down upon a large scale map, with such modifications as studies 

in detail may dictate, the roadwork can be undertaken 

system<~tically and progressively as successive appropriations 

permit. The completion of a system of avenues as designated 

on the proposed pl<~n will undoubtedly add much to the beauty 

of the Park and will bring within easy access to the visitor all 

the points of historic interest in the Encampment.(138) 

138. Sayen To His Excellency, William C. Sproul, Governor of 

Pennsylvania (December 1919), Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission. 

A copy of a map by Clarke showing approaches to the Memorial Arch may 

be seen on the following page. 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

-- A;::>;::>~OACt-!~5 TO MEMO><!:AL ,t.,koCt-: --

VALLEY FORGE 

0 

-C'l- ..,.,,;_;pPE "''"'' 

"'""'"'""'C~ 

PROPOOEO RO.O I .. ORo>!ul~' ••0~~0 UN•T<O ;•u., ~< .. CRI>c ••c• 

vocc<Y m""' •••• 
During the summer of 1919 the park commission commenced a new program 

of pasturing sheep in the park. According to Superintendent Sayen the • 

primary purpose of this project was "keeping the grass down on about 

one thousand acres of the fifteen hundred which the park comprises." 

By mid-September the park flock consisted of 115 sheep. A barn with 

high stone wall enclosure was set aside for the care of up to 300 sheep. 

It was anticLpated, however, that the sheep would be allowed to graze 

freely over much of the park under the direction of a shepherd with the 

aid of "a dog or two." The shepherd's quarters were in a "very good 

house" situated "on the main road through the Park about two hundred 

yards from the Washington Chapel Episcopalian Church."(139) 

In mid·1919 the park commission became concerned after rumors circulated 

that the Ehret Magnesia Company, which had been organized about 1900 

and constructed a magnesia plant on a tract of ground adjoining the old 

Keene quarry, was planning "to erect upon the tract of ground adjacent 

to its works, improvements and houses that would necessitate an outlay of 

at least $100,000." The questions and problems raised by the company's 

plans were ably described by the park commission to Governor Sproul in 

December 1919: 

The land in question, upon which such building was proposed, 

lays in the midst of the Park and the CommLssion realized that 

this tract undoubtedly would have to be acquired by the State 

at some future time as the same is situate in the very heart of 

the encampment of the Continental Army and comprises part of 

the tract contemplated by the Act of Assembly of 1893 and its 

supplements. The Commission had heretofore refrained from the 

formal designation of this tract of ground in order to avoid as 

far as possible any immediate interference with the Ehret 

Magnesia Company and the operation of its plant. However, the 

necessity of the formal acquisition of this tract by the State at 

no great distant time was recognized. 

The rumor that the Ehret Magnesia Company was contemplating 

such a vast expenditure for improvements upon the tract 

adjoining its works was of serious concern to the 

Commission. 

Under the circumstances any improvements which a property 

owner would make upon his land previous to the formal 

designation by the Commission of that land as being within the 

limits of the Park, are proper damages to be recovered by him 

when the Commission so designates such land. 

The Commission realized that if the Ehret Magnesia Company 

were to erect an additional $100,000.00 worth of improvements 

139. Superintendent 

Correspondence, RG 46, 

to Mitchell, 

PHMC. 

September 1919' 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

upon the ground adjacent to its works and which ground would 

be required by the State at no great distant t1me, the State 

would be compelled to pay this additional $100,000.00 for the 

property when 1t formally acquired it and this large sum of 

money would represent improvements which were of absolutely 

no value to the State and for which the State would obtain no 

return. 

Under the circumstances the duty of the Commission in the 

premises was clear. The Ehret Magnesia Company was 

requested, through its attorney, to inform the Commission 

whether or not it was its purpose to erect these improvements 

upon the land adjacent to its works. In reply to this request 

the Company informed the Commission that it did not purpose to 

give the Commission any information of any kind whatsoever. 

In order to protect the Commonwealth, the Commission felt that 

it was necessary to immediately designate the portion of the 

tract adJacent to the Magnesia works as having been 

appropriated by the State so that the amount of damages which 

the Commonwealth would have to pay for said tract would be 

fixed as of that time and the Ehret Magnesia Company would not 

be in position to recover from the State the values of any 

improvements which it subsequently placed upon the land. The 

Commission hild a survey made of this trilCt of land belonging to 

the Ehret Magnesiil Company, excluding however from the 

survey that portion of the ground comprising 17.253 acres, on 

which were sitUilte the mill and the quarry and the lilnd 

actually used m the operation of the works. At the same time 

the Commission formally designated the portion of the trust 

surveyed as having been appropriated. 

The contention of the Ehret Magnesia Company that it is being 

harrassed in the operation of its work by the Valley Forge Park 

Commission is not tenable. It is true that the Commission has 

taken steps necessary to protect public interest, which were 

objected to by the compilny, but the Commission feels that the 

interests of the public are paramount to the interests of this 

Company. 

If the Ehret Magnesia Company desires to build homes to house 

its employees, it can and should select land that is not w1thin 

the limits of the Park ilnd which the Company well realizes will 

be required by the State. Such other land is easily available. 

The Commission understands that a Company composed of the 

residents of Port Kennedy has purchased a farm, hilS divided 

the farm into building lots and in order to encourage building 

1s disposing of the lots at cost. The Commission 1s also 

informed that this same Company has conveyed some of this 

ground to ilnother industrial operation in that neighborhood on 

wh1ch that Company purposes to erect homes for its employees . 
There is much land around and outside the boundaries of the 

Park whereon the Magnesia Company could build properties at 

no greater expense than upon the land withiii the boundaries of 

the Park. .(140) 

Despite the complaints of the company, the efforts of the commission were 

successful in preventing the construction of the houses. 

The year 1921 marked the passing of two men who had played major roles 

in the development of Valley Forge State Park. In January Colonel S. S. 

Hartranft, Who had first been appointed to the park commission in 1893 

and had subsequently served as treasurer and later as park 

superintendent for more than a decade, died. Later in June, William H. 

Sayen, who had served as president of the commission for some sixteen 

years, also passed away. Hartranft was succeeded by John S. Kennedy 

as superintendent in February, aided by Jerome J. Sheas, who had joined 

the park staff as a maintenance employee in 1909, as assistant 

superintendent. Lieutenant Colonel John P. Nicholson, a Civil War 

veteran who had played a leading role in the preservation of the 

Gettysburg battlefield as chairman of the Gettysburg National Park 

Commission since 189S, succeeded Sayen as commission president. On 

April 26, 1921, the commission was increased from ten to thirteen members 

by act of the general assembly.(141) 

In 1921 the legislature appropriated $101 1 000 for maintenance of Valley 

Forge State Park during the 1921-23 biennium. No funds were allocated 

• 

for land acquisition. Accordingly, the principal maintenance projects and • 

park improvements to be carried out during the 1921-23 period were: 

(1) After the commonwealth took over Valley Creek Road between Gulph 

and Baptist roads (along Valley Creek and around the base of Mount Joy) 

in 1921, the road and the berm were resurfaced, improved, and placed in 

the state highway system. 

(2) During 1921 the sites occupied during the encampment by 

Washington's life guard along River Drive were located and identified with 

markers. 

(3) Tractors with gasoline-powered engines were first used in the park 

for mowing purposes in July 1922. The "efficiency and economy" 

demonstrated by one Fordson Tractor (it could perform four times as 

140. Sayen 

Pennsylvania 

To His 

(December, 

Excellency, William C. 

1919), Minutes, Valley 

Sproul, Governor of 

Forge Park Commission. 

Forge Park Commission, Commonwealth of 

S-6. For more information on Sheas' long 

• park, see Jerome J. Sheas' Diary, 1913-

, RG 2, VAFO Archives, and Margaret D. Roshong, "Sheas' Family 

Association With Valley Forge, 1890-1966," Picket Post, July, 1967, 

34-36. • 
• 

• 

• 

much work as one two-horse mower) led to the purchase of a second one, 

The tractors cut 72-inch swaths, operated on \ gasoline and ':!; kerosene 

at a working speed of about four miles per hour, and had wheels 

protected by wide steel bands to prevent cutting up the grass lands and 

P<lth roods, 

(4) The restoration of Valley Creek to its original course through the 

meadow in front of Washington's Headquarters was completed in 1921. 

The slopes to the meadow were graded to bring "the creek in full view 

from Mill Road." Iron spans of the Phoenixville bridge over the creek at 

Nutts Road were removed, and the stone arch of the highway bridge, 

washed out by a freshet in 1869, was restored by Montgomery and 

Chester county road crews. The meadows south of the bridge were also 

graded. 

(5) During the fall of 1921 new roadway and pedestrian walls and 

approaches to the Memorial Arch were constructed. Under plans prepared 

by Paul P. Cret, architect, and Jacob 0. Clarke, engineer, Gulph Road 

and approaches were "re-graded and re-shaped, and the construction of 

the concourse with curbing completed." The work was done under 

contract by R. H. Johnson at a cost of $21,342.(142) 

During the grading work along Valley Creek south of Nutts Road in 

November 1921, Superintendent Kennedy, who was directing the 

operations, reported that "positive evidence was uncovered of the remains 

of the second or Lower Forge built by Col. William Dewees and Isaac Potts 

in the spring of 1778." This forge was determined to be the one built 

after destruction of the "original or Upper Forge" by the British in 

September 1777. In its biennial report of 1923 the park commission 

noted: 

The Lower Forge was found to have been operated 

approximately where tradition had placed it, near the breast of 

the old dam. The excavation uncovered remains of a circular 

hearth about six feet in diameter, and brick decomposed by 

heat. Also, a lot of iron ore partly reduced and impregnated 

by charcoal, pieces of charcoal and charcoal dust, pieces of 

soap stone showing the action of heat, some scrap iron and 

parts of heavy flooring of hewn chestnut logs. The earth 

showed evidences of forge fires. 

The discovery revealed remains of an old masonry wall about 60 

feet long and 2 feet wide, of irregular and rough construction. 

It did not seem to have any corners and was thought to be the 

142. Reports of the Valley Park Commission, 1921-1927, pp. 7-8.; 

Jones to Kennedy, April 11, -correspondence, RG 46, PHMC; and 

Headquarters Committee, Eighth Report to Commissioners of Valley Forge 

Park, Apr•l 7, 1921, and Headquarters Committee, Ninth Report to 

Commjssioners of Valley Forge Park, September 1, 1921, RG 2, VAFO 

Archives . 
remains of a building probably changed by the erection of a 

textile mill after abandonment of the forge. 

The Second or Lower Forge evidently was operated by a mill 

race leadrng from the dam nearer to the Upper Forge and such 

a race is shown on the Duportail map. This Lower Forge was 

abandoned in 1816 and the textile mill built in 1820 used part of 

the forge buildings. 

It seems evident that the dam near the Nutts Road bridge was 

not in existence at that time. The eastern wmg of the textile 

mill extended nearly to Valley Creek Road, which then was 

known as "Crux Road." An iron marker was erected at the site 

of this Second or Lower Forge.(143) 

A major tragedy occurred at the park on April 5, 1923, when a cyclone 

struck the area. Some 300 trees were destroyed, and damage was caused 

to the von Steuben statue, the Pennsylvania columns, a barn, and a 

stone guard hut. Repairs totaled $3,000.(144) 

The monthly reports of Superintendent Kennedy provide considerable 

insight into the day-to-day operations involved with the administration 

and maintenance of the park in 1921-22. On April 4 Kennedy reported on 

some of his recent activities: 

The force consisted of Jerome Sheas, a foreman, farmer, 

shepherd and one guard at Headquarters and six laborers. 

Owing to the early spring and the opportunities for doing farm 

work and repairs, this force has been gradually increased until 

today it consists of Jerome Sheas as Assistant Superintendent 

and caretaker, one foreman, farmer, shepherd, two guards 

(one at Headquarters and one at the Schoolhouse) and thirteen 

laborers. 

On the farm we have seeded forty-one acres in oats and are 

preparing about forty-five acres for corn; hauling out manure, 

plowing and other work. During the month we burned a 

number of grass fields which seems to be their annual custom 

here. 

143. Reports of the Valley Forge Park Commission, 1921-1927, pp. 6-7, 

and Superintendent to Jones, November 15, 1921, and Jones to Kennedy, 

November 17, 1921, Correspondence, RG 46, PHMC. 

144. Reports of The Valley Forge Park Commission, 1921-27, p. 8. 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

The shepherd reports on March 31st, 

87 Ewes 

55 Lambs (one year) 

2 Rams 

26 Ewe Lambs 

26 Wethers 

Total 196 

This makes fifty-two lambs so far and we should have a number 

more before the middle of May. 

The V<1lley Creek Road received some attention about March 

31st, some holes being filled, measurements taken and a number 

of truck loads of crushed stone delivered along the road about 

two weeks ago. I reported to Richmond L. Jones, Esquire, 

yesterday that a force of fourteen men had st<1rted work on this 

road under supervision of the State Highway Commission and I 

hope this work will be pushed vigorously and that this road will 

soon be in good shape which will relieve our Park roads of 

considerable heavy traffic. 

I was ordered to tear down the old stone house, known as the 

Riddle House across the bridge which was done the next day at 

the expense of $16.00 and I have sold $10.00 worth of stone so 

far and expect to get $15.00 or $20.00 more soon from the same 

party. This is a cash sale . 

In the Park the terraces at Fort Washington were in bad shape, 

as there was one sink hole and the bank was washed away in 

several places. I have had this sink hole filled up and some of 

the worst bare spots sodded, but the bank5 at the Forge are 

not in good condition and the grass has not come up well and it 

will be necessary to sod some of these banks at Fort Washington 

as there does not seem to be sufficient soil for the grass seed 

to start. The men have been engaged in cutting down some 

dead trees, raking and burning brush, sowmg grass seed, 

applying bone meal and tamping the banks. This has required 

considerable work. The Park roads have been swept at times 

during the month and the roads are in good condition, with the 

exception of the two places on the road to Knox's Point. This 

road needs repairing badly at several places, as does the exit 

drive from the Tower Circle and the interline drive at Valley 

Creek Vista. We have on hand three barrels of Tarvia Cold 

Patch and some crushed stone and I have directed these repairs 

to be made as soon as we have warmer weather. 

The iron fence on the reverse curve leading to Knox's Point 

was badly rusted and I have had the same scraped and painted. 

Several of the huts need repairs and there is a hole in the roof 

of the hospital and I will have this work looked after. 

found the pump 

dangerous condition. 

floor at 

I had 

Headquarters rotten and m very 

a new floor laid to make this safe 

175 
and personally 1nspected the pump platforms in the Park and 

find them in good condition. 

The Contractor started work at the Memorial Arch about ten 

days ago and has been doing some grading and placing the 

material on the Gulph Road for the new grade. The hut at the 

Memorial Arch will be in the way and I have directed it to be 

taken down and erected at a point near the Arch facing the 

Gulph Road at a location where it will not be in the way of 

future work. 

had necessary repairs made to the hand lawn mowers and 

started these lawn mowers at work around Headquarters and on 

some of the banks during the last few days in March. I have 

also had the necessary repairs made to our one-horse mower 

and am repairing the gasoline mower so as to make it 

serviceable for use thiS summer. 

A little work has 

Washington Lane. 

work on this road 

been done on the Township 

The Township has started 

today. 

Road, 

doing 

known as 

additional 

The elm trees were sprayed on the interline drive and I was 

obliged to hire one horse and wagon to do this work as I could 

not afford to split one of our teams. 

Around Headquarters I had some of the ground regraded and 

sodded where it was necessary. A good weed killer compound 

on the Park roads will be used about the end of this month or 

the first of May. we have sufficient compound for this work. 

The Contractor made some repairs in the Headquarters, and 

also patched the ceiling of the Superintendent's house. There 

are some repairs to woodwork which are necessary at 

Headquarters and at the office building. 

have to report a slight fire at the house occupied by David 

Hartenstine which was caused by a defective chimney. This 

damage will be repaired by our own men and will not cost over 

$10.00. 

It will be necessary to repair some tables and benches at the 

picnic grounds which have been broken in use. 

In taking charge here, found that our farm machinery was 

inadequate and much run down and badly in need of repair, or 

in some cases, beyond repair. I took this matter up with Mr. 

Edward Beale, Cha1rman of the Farm Committee and the 

committee has authorized me to purchase one hay rake, 

two two-horse mowers 

one wagon and hay flat 

one combination grain drill 

one corn planter 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

two horses 

one set double harness and a 

small outfit of forks, shovels and tools. 

together on these different articles and am 

afternoon to look at a pair of horses 

trial.(145) 

have gotten prices 

going to Norristown this 

which we will take on 

In May Kennedy reported on the law enforcement problems in the park. 

He observed; 

Two lambs were stolen from the sheepfold at night, a plow was 

stolen at night from the field; signs have been taken from the 

Park and Guard's huts have been broken into <tnd some times 

articles removed. As we have no fences or gates, it is easy 

for any one at night to pass from one part of the property to 

another. As we have no guards nor patrol at night, there is 

no watch kept in the Park after the guards leave, a few 

minutes after five o'clock every evening. We should have 

better protection day and night. We have had several reports 

that the Park IS used at night as a resort for immoral 

purposes. It is reported that men bring out women and put 

out the lights on their cars and camp in the unfrequented parts 

of the Park. It may be advisable to put on a night patrol man, 

preferably a bicycle policeman if one could be found to patrol 

the roads from five o'clock until 3 A. M. What we should have 

rs the protection of the State Constabulary which we have not 

as yet been able to secure. 

We have over twelve miles of roads in the Park and over 1500 

acres in its area. This is too much for us to pollee with our 

own force and many of the visitors here do not pay much 

attention to our guards. We have a force of seven guards on 

duty at Headquarters and throughout the Park but we need 

more help and we should have a night patrol. There has been 

considerable stealing, willful damage to property over the Park 

and to some of our flowers and shrubbery which is now in 

bloom. 

We will have about 90,000 automobiles and over 300,000 visitors 

this year as the number is increasing every year. There is an 

increasing amount of travel in the Park at night and there is 

much immorality and drinking in regard to which I get reports, 

but are unable, with our small force to take any steps to 

suppress these conditions. The situation is become worse with 

the advent of warmer weather and we are afraid it will become 

intolerable. 

145. Kennedy 

Correspondence, 

to Valley Forge 

RG 46, PHMC. 

Park 

177 

Commission, April 4, 1921' 
Accordingly, he consulted with the state highw<~Y commissioner pnd constabulary commander, attempting to have state police assigned to the • 

park. In response to his request, Kennedy was Informed that no state 

police could be spared for the park and that it would be "more practical" 

to increase the number of park policemen.(146) 

Dur1ng the late spring and summer months the pace of maintenance, 

protection, ond visitor-related activities in the park increased. In late 

May Kennedy reported: 

Our wool clipped weighed 1257 lbs. which I have sold to James 

5. Lees & Sons, Bridgeport, Pa. at 20¢ per lb. on their truck 

here. This wps a Cash Sale. This was the best price that I 

could secure and I believe it is a very good price. I have 

arranged to have a certain number of the sheep brought down 

[to] the land around Headquarters and will start this on 

Tuesday next. .. 

The Memorial Arch has been g1v1ng us much anxiety due to the 

fact that water has been finding its way down through the 

arch, and some of the joints in the stone work have been 

opened and we are afraid of serious damage from freezing, 

which would be very injurious to the arch. I have had our 

Engineer, Mr. Clarke, and the Architect, Mr. Cret, make an 

inspection and Mr. Ash, who is Mr. Cret's assistant, has also 

been with me twice looking into this matter. I had Hassler the 

Steeple Jack of Philadelphia, put up a series of ladders against 

the arch which are necessary for inspection and to make 

repairs. I also have had a roofing man, Mr. Neiman, of 

Norristown, who has been highly recommended to us, and his 

foreman go over the arch with Mr. Ash. I have instructed Mr. 

Neiman to go ahead at once on the work of repairing this arch 

and do the same under the inspection of Mr. Ash. The 

conditions there are serious and it is necessary to have this 

work done as soon as possible, especially as we are having so 

many rains and the water is finding its way through the 

arch. 

Under competitive bids, have purchased an "Indian" 

Motorcycle for $427.50, and the bid of the Harley-Davis 

Company for an equivalent cycle was $466.00. These prices 

delivered here. have carefully looked over three or four 

young men for the position of night motorcycle guard here. I 

have selected a young man named Wismer who has the advantage 

of living here, and who is well recommended and had a good 

146. Superintendent to Valley Forge Park Commission, May 4, 1921, 

Correspondence, RG 46, PHMC. 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

Army reputation Over Seas. have St<trted him 

work. .(147) 

During the month of June hay cutting 

days. According to Kennedy the 

operations were conducted for 23 

hay crop has been very poor, the grass is short due to the 

dry weather and much of it full of weeds owing to its not being 

properly cut last year. We have a few good fields of timothy 

and some yellow clover and a little alfalfa, all of which we are 

putting in the barn for the horses. We have sufficient rough 

hay for the sheep. I estimate we will have 65 to 70 tons in all. 

The worst of the h<>y I have sold for what I can get for it, 

weeds <1nd all, rather than burn any thing on the farm. 

Other duties during June included road repairs and the sale and removal 

of dead chestnut trees from the park. Kennedy reported that a young 

male visitor had drowned in the park, and that he had forbidden camping 

in the park "for sanitary reasons and the danger of fires." Two park 

fires had been "caused by careless visitors after the guards left."(148) 

The report submitted by Kennedy in September 

insights it provides with respect to cooperation 

groups, road maintenance, farm operations, and 

noted: 

is interesting for the 

with outside interest 

payroll policies. He 

The matter of the removal of the fence around the Waterman 

monument is still undecided. After some correspondence I met 

on August 24th by appointment at the monument Mrs. Keay and 

Mrs. Perry of the Daughters of the Revolution and discussed 

the subject with them. They say that they do not object to the 

removal of the fence if we could keep the grass neatly trimmed 

along the walks and keep the grounds clean from weeds. I 

replied that we would keep the grounds in good order if the 

fence was removed. They asked if I could have the weeds 

removed if they would pay for the labor and I replied I would 

attend to this promptly. The Annual meeting of this society is 

147. Ibid., May 28, 1921, Correspondence, RG 46, PHMC. In this 

report Kennedy described his efforts to move a "stand" established by D. 

Midgley, Valley Forge agent of both the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad 

and the Union News Company. According to Kennedy, the stand was 

"located directly on the curve opposite Headquarters and as our traffic is 

very much congested here, the location of this stand complicates all our 

difficulties in handling the large number of automobiles which assemble 

here on busy days." 

148. Superintendent to Valley Forge Park Commiss1on, July 6, 1921, 

Correspondence, FIG 46, PHMC . 

179 
the l<>st week in October <>nd I should he<>r from the society 

then. These l<>dies said they thought the decision would be 

favorable they did not think the fence was ornament<>l. 

The State Highway commission are still improving the Valley 

Creek Ro<>d m<>king it wider 1n places and erecting their 

standard highway fence where necessary. I have prevailed on 

them to give a uniform line to the berm bank of the road and 

also to slope the banks which would improve the appearance of 

this road. I estimate that our sheep will prove self supporting. 

It has been customary to begin selling our lambs in August and 

we are now getting 12~ per pound live weight for cash sales. I 

have sold so far 18 lambs for an average price of $10.22 per 

head and expect to have a local market for 120 to 125 at from 

$9.00 to $10.00 per head before December 31st. This sum with 

cash $251.40 from the sale of our wool at 20¢. per pound will 

more than pay the wages of the shepherd and his helper and 

extra labor when shearing and I think it is fair to assume the 

sheep are worth the small amount of feed in winter in 

consideration of the benefit we derive from their keeping down 

weeds and grass and the manure we get. 

In regard to the farm work we have a poor crop of hay and 

oats but the corn crop will be good. We suffered from a long 

dry spell which hurt our hay and oats seriously. We h<>ve put 

in our barn so far about 90 tons of hay and have made cash 

sales of about $75.00. We have threshed out 632 bushels of 

oats and have 10 tons of baled oats straw. In regard to the 

oats I am convinced that it is not to our advantage to do any 

grain farming in the park. When we pay for all the labor, the 

reaping and binding and the cost of threshing we are losing 

money and can buy oats cheaper than we can raise them. 

Besides this our Park is a grass proposition and harvesting 

comes at such a time <1> to complicate our hay making. We have 

over 700 acres of grass land <>nd lawns to keep cut and mowed. 

It is not necessary to raise grain in order to keep in good 

grass. We can go from grass to grass or if we have any rough 

and weedy land to put in grass we have men here who can 

cultivate a crop of corn and we will go to grass. In this 

connection I wish to say that the man we employ as our farmer 

1s very unsatisfactory and I wish to dispence [sic] with his 

services and if we raise no grain we will not need a farmer and 

can save his wages and do all the work with our own 

men. 

Our roads need attention urgently. We have over 12 miles of 

roads in the park some of which have not had any repairs 

during the last four to seven years. These roads are going 

down and must have repairs made this fall. The Barrett 

Company will supply us with their grade B. road oil <>I 16¢ per 

gallon delivered 1n their sprinkling tanks here. They will 

supply the driver and do the work under our direction for this 

price and also detail one of their roads experts to go over this 

180 

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• 

work without expense to us. We have made repairs to our 

tarvia roads and h<1ve sufficent fresh stone ~nd screening on 

hand for the necessary repairs. 

As instructed by the Exutive [sic] Committee at their meeting 

on August 4th I notified our employees that the expected 

reduction in wages would begin August 16th. This reduces our 

regular park labor from $4.00 to $3.25 per diem, the guards go 

b<1ck to their old rat1ng of $67.50 per month instead ot $75.00 

and the farmer is reduced from $75.00 to $67.00 per month. 

Our park foreman Davis is reduced from $4.50 to $3.75 per 

diem. The force will be gradually reduced beginning September 

1st, and the park guards will be laid off about the middle of 

October as is our custom. These changes will make a 

considerable reduction in our monthly pay roll. (149) 

In December Kennedy reported that sm~ll cracks in the Memorial Arch, 

the Pennsylvania line marker, the New Jersey memorial, and the Wayne 

statue had been pointed with cement. The roof of the arch was "now 

water tight." Hunters had been kept out of the park with one arrest 

made. As it was "generally known that the Park is policed," authorities 

were "not now having any trouble with trespassers."(150) 

Superintendent Kennedy reported in January 1922 that his men had 

"hauled out and spread 140 loads of manure on our grass fields and on 

the banks and terraces of Fort Washington." The other forts and 

grassfields would be treated 1n similar fashion during the winter. A 

number of dead chestnut trees and stumps were removed and cut into 

cordwood for sale to improve the appearance of the park. Large stumps 

"which have for years disfigured the Park at the Picnic Grounds and 

along the drives" were to be removed and burned during the winter and 

"the ground smoothed over_" Relative to park wages and expenses, 

Kennedy commented: 

. When I took charge last February, I found the laborers 

were paid $4.00 daily and all received the same rate, which was 

wrong. I was authorized to reduce wages giving our best men 

$3.25, others $3.00 and $2.75. I reduced the guards from $75 

to $67.50 per month, the Park foreman from $4.50 to $3.75 and 

the Shepherd from $90.00 to $80.00 per month. Our force today 

consists, Mr. Jerome Sheas and myself; of the shepherd, 

foreman, caretaker and seven laborers. I reduced the pay of 

the foreman and laborers 25~ daily on January 1st. This gives 

us a small organization for the Winter months of trained Park 

men who have been with us for years. These men are good with 

horses; are good axemen; can do any farm work; put cold 

patches in Tarvia roads, and know the Park and the work and 

149. Ibid., September 1, 1921, Correspondence, RG 46, PHMC. 

150. Ibid. December 1, 1921, Correspondence, RG 46, PHMC . 

;81 
it is advisable for us to keep this small organization. During 

the three winter months our men will not average over eighteen 

days per month and $3.00 per diem is not too high under the 

<;:ircumstances and some of our men come from two to three miles 

to work and one lives 1n Norristown. 

The great difficulty IS that unsual expenditures have been 

<lUthorized which were not contemplated in the original 

appropriation for Park purposes. Of the $55,000 appropriated 

we have available $51,160 for two years for all park charges, or 

$2,131 per month. This is not sufficient for the upkeep of the 

Park and to bring the Park up to the standard we have decided 

on. During the past year we were obliged to spend $750 in 

repairs to the top of the Memorial Arch, $615 grading the lower 

meadow and $2,900 grading the upper meadow.(151) 

In April and May Kennedy reported that the woodwork in Washington's 

Headquarters and its adjacent barn were painted--a project that had not 

been done for nine years. Relative to the farm work he stated; 

In farm work we have done some plowing, spread manure, 

picked stones and rolled some of our grass land. The field 

along the outer drive which was in corn last year will be 

seeded in grass. We have some good timothy coming along 

which will supply us with hay and the remaining grass lands 

will be kept short. I have had a man for several days g01ng 

over and putting in thorough order our mowers and farm 

machinery. 

J. Eisenberg has taken out a number of Chestnut poles during 

the last two weeks and will probably have at least two more 

months work which will bring us considerable revenue. 

Several fires had occurred in the park, one of which was dangerous, but 

no serious damage was done to the park. The Bailey house in Port 

Kennedy was demolished without expense to the park. Grass-cutting and 

mowing operations along the drives were in full-swing.(152) 

During the late spring and summer months of 1922 Kennedy reported on a 

variety of park maintenance and improvement projects. These included 

repa•rs to the tables and benches at the picnic grounds, park toilets, 

huts, and stairway to the attic at Washington's Headquarters. Forty tons 

of hay were mowed and pi<Lced in the park barn in July. Other summer 

activities included weed-cutting along Valley Creek and the drives, 

cutting corn, and repairing roads. After a long summer of farm work, 

Kennedy observed on September 1; 

151. Ibid. January 2, March 1, 1922, Correspondence, RG 46, PHMC. 

152. Ibid. April 6, May 3, 1922, Correspondence, RG 46, PHMC. 

l 

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• 

The cost of hay will be over rather than under the estimate as 

hay is fed at times during the whole year. We have to feed the 

sheep well during the early spring to keep the ewes in good 

condition. The quest1on is does the grass cutting the sheep do 

and the momure we get give a profit. It 1S my judgement that 

the sheep are not any advantage to us. They are an additional 

complication and the time and labor spent in summer making and 

putting in hay for the sheep would be much better spent in 

keeping the grass cut short and put In Park shape ... (153) 

The fall months of 1922 were devoted 

operations on the 8;~iley property in 

Excerpts from Kennedy's November 

describe these activities in some detail: 

primarily to road repairs, cleanup 

Port Kennedy, and fighting fires. 

and December monthly reports 

Our men have been occupied in husking and hauling in corn, 

trimming trees, raking and burning leaves, cleaning up brush 

and branches and cleaning out gutters along the roads. We 

also have smoothed over a rough portion of the Gulf Road 

leading from the inner line drive and the Memorial Arch by 

covering it with earth and making it passible which is a 

temporary expediency. We have also commenced work on 

repairs to the River Drive from the Reading Station to the top 

of the hill, filling the holes with Tarvia Cold Patch. There is a 

stretch of road on the inner line drive on Lafayette Avenue, 

beginning at the intersection of the Gulf road and running to 

its junct1on with the Observatory road which is in very bad 

shape and this road is running down rapidly. The history of 

this section of road is that it was macamidized [sic] in 1906 

with field stones as the sub-base and 3" of macadam added. At 

various times a skin coat of screenings was spread over it and 

1n 1916 it was water bound with chips and screenings and 

rolled. Last year we gave it a treatment of Tarvia road oil in 

the endeavor to hold it but the trouble is that there is no bond 

or penetration between the skin coat and the base and the road 

is getting full of holes. We shall fill up these holes this Fall 

but this section of road should be re-built next year. This 

work will call for scarification lowering the crown of the road 

which is too high, relaying with 3" of 11." hard stone, with 

sufficient 3/4" stone to fill the voids with penetration with at 

least 1-3/4" gals. of Tarvia X per square yd. This to be well 

rolled with a ten ton roller. Then follow with a seal coat of 1." 

chips with \ to 3/4 gals. of Tarvia X well rolled. The dirt 

removed in lowering the crown to be deposited as directed on 

the camp road. 

153. Ibid., June 1, 

Correspondence, RG 46, 

August 

PHMC . 

2, September ; ' October 1922, 
The unprecented [sic] dry weather has given us much trouble 

from fires. We have had ~ succession of forest fires which 

started on Wednesday afternoon November 22nd from 

c~relessness of the employees of the State Highway Department 

in burning leaves along the Valley Creek Road and their neglect 

to co-ordinate with our men to the best advantage. This was 

reported by me to Harrisburg and is not being investigated by 

the Fire Prevention and the Forestry Departments. Our men 

worked on this fire until eleven oclock Wednesday night and I 

called on the Phoenixville fire department for help and Fire 

Marshall J. B. McGown brought out the West End Hose company 

with apparatus and gave us good help. The fire broke out 

again about eleven o'clock Thursday morning and by five 

o'clock we were called out again by the worst fire I have ever 

seen in the Park. This time I not only called out the hose 

company from Phoenixville but also Fire Wardens Clotheir, Page 

and Mr. Tindle, who all responded promptly and brought a 

force of men. Including our own men we had 44 men fighting 

this fire until about ten thirty when we had it under control 

and have had no trouble from it since. The rain and snow 

have now made us safe until next March. Of our own force our 

Mr. Sheas and five of our men worked until eleven o'clock 

Wednesday night and all Thursday and Thursday night making 

a 36 hour turn. We also have been troubled with incendiary 

fires at our grass fields which have been set on fire at times 

by boys living in the Ehret tenements adjoining the Park. We 

have not yet been able to identify any of these boys.(154) 

During the 1921-23 period the Valley Forge Park Commission responded to 

a variety of issues stemming from outside pressures on the park. In 1921 

the commissioners "were instrumental" in defeating legislation which would 

have provided an area in the park for "a cemetery for soldiers, sailors 

and marines of World War I," basing their stand on the fact that such use 

"would be opposed to the act creating Valley Forge Park." On April 6, 

1922, the commission, under pressure from the Pennsylvania Society of 

the Colonial Dames of America, reversed an earlier decision to allow 

Tredyffrin Township in Chester County to change the location of a 

portion of the historic Gulph Road (over which the Continental Army 

entered Valley Forge). The commission declined to meet with 

representatives of the Fairmount Park Commission relative to a propos<>l to 

construct a highway from Fairmount Park to Valley Forge, taking the 

position that it had no power "to make any bargains or contracts" with 

such a commission. 

In June 1923 the Pennsylvania general assembly passed an act authorizing 

the park commission to convey to the Valley Forge Historical Society a 

tract of 27.59 acres of park land adjacent to the washington Memorial 

154. Ibid. 

PHMC-.-

November 6, December 1, 1922, Correspondence, RG 46, 

184 

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• 

• 

Chapel. W. Herbert Burk, founder and president of the society which 

had been chartered in 1918, certified to the commission that the society 

was prepared to purchase the tract at a price that would reimburse the 

commonwealth for the original purchase price, plus interest and costs. 

The tract was intended for use as the site of a "Victory Hall" to house 

the society's museum. Since the legislation authorized the sale but did 

not make it mandatory, the commission, not approving of the sale of park 

land, did not adopt a mot1on providing for such sale. 

In August 1923 the commission agreed to permit the Phoenixville, Valley 

Forge, and Strafford Railway Company to construct an electric railway 

Within the limits of Valley Forge Park, thus establishing rail service 

between the park and Norristown and connecting with an electric railway 

operating between Norristown and Philadelphia. This agreement was the 

result of nearly three years of negotiations between the commission and 

the railway company. In November 1920 the commission had determined to 

remove the piers, trestles, embankments, and tracts of the company's 

railway in the bed and on the east side of Valley Creek as part of the 

project to restore the creek to its original course. In return, the 

commission permitted the railway to build a station and shelter on the 

west side of Valley Creek.(155) 

The park. commission also felt the impact of increasing postwar visitation 

to the park during 1921-23. The visitor statist1cs for 1921, for e>\ample, 

were: 

During the calendar year 1921 Park records reveal that persons 

visit<Od this site from every state in the Union, Alaska, D.C., 

Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Philippines, Canal Zone and 47 foreign 

countries. The statistics for 1921 compiled by Checking during 

daylight hours are as follows: 

Total visitors 

Washington Headquarters (69,450 registered) 

Automobiles 

Motorcycles 

Bicycles 

Carriages . 

Equestrians 

Visitors at Camp School 

304' 083 

180,000 

60,304 

8'5 

603 

275 '" 

17,866 

The largest crowd 

President Warren G. 

Memorial Chapel. 

of the year (15,000) occurred on June 5 when 

Harding visited the park and spoke at Washington 

155. Reports of The Valley Forge Park Commission, 1921 27, pp. 8-9. 

For more data on the electrk railway issue see First Report of the Spec1al 

Electric Railway Commottee to Commissioners of Valley Forge Park, October 

6, 1921, and Second Report of the Special Electric Rail.,.·ay Committee to 

Commissioners of Valley Forge Park, December 1, 1921, RG 2, VAFO 

Archives. 
VIsitation increased 1n 1922, the total number of visitors to the park 

reoc:hing 4SO,OOO. The number of those passing through Washington's • 

Headquarters wa:> 217,332, and the number of automobiles entering the 

park was 58,487. On Memorial Day 1922 more than 24,000 persons were 

1n the park, with 4,667 touring Washington's Headquarters and some 2,2()0 

automobiles parked at the p1cnic grounds <1nd along the roadways leading 

to it.(156) 

The growing outside pressures affecting developments Within Valley Forge 

State Park, as well as the growing number of '-'isitors, led some of the 

park commiSSioners to call for "a general plan of development of Valley 

Forge Park." Richmond L. Jones, vlce president of the commission, 

spoke for this group when he observed 1n November 1921: 

It would be desirable to have a plan for reference and 

suggestion, made without consideration of any outside 

conditions, for the Commissioners cannot escape the 

responsibility of the of restoring the field, as nearly 

as possible, to its ~ ~ military camp, and regarding 

Valley Forge as field, not to be embellished with 

modern devices or to serve as a memorial of the past 

and as being the heritage of those who suffered there for a 

patriotic cause.(157) 

157. Jones to Nicholson, November 14, 1921, Correspondence, RG 46, 

PHMC. 

<86 

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APPENDIXES 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

APPENDIX A 

BOUNDARY DESCRIPTION OF VALLEY FORGE STATE PARK: 

'l'be Park io sitnatc-.1 printij>llll:C in t:ppoi'r l1erion Towullip, ~ontlf"WPry con.ty, and portly in Tr.·dyll'rin to,.·uhip, Clln&o<r connty. 

n... lin..,. are as loll<>"~' 

Ocginni~g at" voint at the ~"' rlt-<'ast cm·net· of Inud of the Ct>nteuninl and lltlUOti~l-b•ociaHon of Y:lll<•) Fm·~"- (km.o•·n as \\'"shington's HcaW,uart<-rs) and a l'O!'!l•·r of l,m<lo of tlw •••tote of "Xatl""' 

,)()P<'S, d<••·•·n,.;J, ;onLI nt a dis<"ne<> of 2f,..!,l8 f~N from tbe ..-utr~ lin~ 

"f the l'biludoo . .t llt•a<ling Rnill'";ld. and ;tl t·i:;ht angl<'> th~rf'IO, 

then<'<' "lome rht• lin~<)! tlO<• "'' id a><o6uhon "X. Of; tl<•e. :)1) min. :l~ se<·. 

W.-IR~ f,•pt 111 a poiuL, '"""""'of lnnd belonging to f.olti•· H. ilf'~. 

tl<c!IC" hy butt! of ,,,;d llex. ::;, 1.1 •lo•g. :!'J min. 2:; ""''· E~l:!J ft·o-1 tn 

an<>l!wr ,.,,,.,,.,or tl«' sn1ue, the!«·•· ~- H d~g. 110 ntin. :'lit"'"'· W.~.Jil 

feet to a ]<Oint in tlu• lH;Udh• of a [(\ad l~ading to \'all~y t"or~" >'Ia· 

lion, and a eor~<~r of propt•t·t,l now l>t•longing to Ih•• l'l1ila<b . .1< ](~ad 

ing Ila•h·nad Con1pany, thent~ nl<•ng the line of the s.1id <."Otnpnny'; 

loud llOtth. I do·g. 51 mill. 15 '""· w .. ;t, 6~ fe~r moa• ot·)t.,., ro a ;niut 

oo tht• ""mherl~· lii,. of !It<• d:;lH ,,f wny of thQ <aid Rnilrrntd Lnll· 

I""'·' . bo.•ito~ ;t:J h~·l tli~t.mt a1 ,nb·gt·ode from the c·entn· lin•· tll<·t <·<>{, 

thell<·e along lht• Mntbt•tly ~ide ot !ht• -.1id tight of w;oy of !I"' "lid 

t•niltoad, Jln<1tlld with tlw o..-lltlt' iine of sn<d t·ailt"ntl anti ;J.1 fo·t•t 

distant nt snb-~ade t],,.,.,.f,·otn. f,t n distnnec of :?H~.G6 fo<'l 10 n 

paint at i1s inr~roecti"'. with th<- w<"sktly line of lnnd b.lt>nging 

to ilu>allna 3L Job1<son and m th<· ·listnn<'<.' of H.J;l fe..r at >nh·glad~ 

from the c~·all-e lin<" of ;.,id ;,\ilt•o;H!. "''""""'''·(]ainu~ rllt' "'Lid'"""!· 

••rn line, then.,• along tk 1\n.· u! h1:al bdnnJ;ing '''the said .John•on 

8. J9 dt•g. H min. ~tl ""''· \\'.-1ntu7 h·t to a point. !lwn ... still bJ 

the "''"'"• i'. 29 d~g. 12 min. fill ;ec. E.-\~JG.J~ leer to n point. tl1<·ne~ 

still by the same, fl.. Hl dq;. H miu. ~0 sec. \Y.-100 k<·t loa J!Uint 

in tlw middle of lhe f'o>l'! !\utnt·<h Road, lhenee nlong tbo- tni<ldle 

uf thl' 1111id l'O;td fl.~~ deg. ll~ tHin. •Ill s~t·. E.-l!lj'tl,S~ Itt! t<J a poiut 

at il" into'l"""rion 1\ith til<' n·nt"· line of Washington Lnno• anti ill 

lloe Iillo• <>f l;~n<l of \Ylll. )[. >'t~ph-ns. <hen<·e nlung tl•~ .,•n!t•e lint· 

d said lane and b~· tlw <,old >'teplo-ns land >'. n <lt·g. ~:; min. 00 ><'<'. 

\1'.-'iGO feet t<> a point. a '"'"''' of btnd of Chad••• J. Jolm<Ol>. 

thenc-e nlong the lim• of 'aiol .John>-on"• land aH<l Lmd of Rritlg<"t ][e. 

11ennmin fl. 56 Mg. W min. ~0 """· Y.~ITDUI.1 f<'~t to a point in Uw 

<entre of !he Gulf Road, a cornet· of land of Btidget l!dleoami~ 

""d D, R. KPnn<·dy tb~nee nlong tbe Camp Road by !nod o! the •aid 

li~nl<e.dy, the following rom.,e& ond distance•. to .,.;t: a 8 Mg. 23 

min. ,Ill sec. W.--385.2 fl'<'t, 8. 30 dPg. 18 min. 00 sec. E.-7"0Jii.ll8 feet 

"' 

1894 
and a 18 do!g. ;19 min. 25 """· E.----439..!1 f~t to a •tone. a oorner uf 

said Kenn.,dy and of John Sweeney, th~nce along the lU>d of .,.;d 

Sweeney the f<>llowing cum·..,s ond distances to l<it: S. til deg. 3'J 

min. :!:i sec. E.-lllf.~ fe<>t, S. 27 deg. 54 min. 13 sec. E.-215.:! feer, 

<!. 11 deg. 48 min. 50 sec. F..----:l:IS.S feet,». J d~g. 26 min. ~5 ...,c. E.-

:liill.L> feet nod R 1 d~g. JO min. 00 sec. E.~U4.0 fe.!'t r~ u point in 

the centre of the •nid Washington Lane a corne~ of "<lid Sweeney"s 

land no<J in line or lnnd belonging tu Cyl'Ol$ .l'. Da~i•. thence by the 

""Ill~ and b~ land <>f Hubt·rt T. Robinoon aud along !be said Wash· 

ingtun Lane u·t"'"iug the line dh-iding the Count~; of :llonlgnmt•l'.' 

ll·om the Conoly of Cloc.,.ter, S. H dcg. IH min. 30 """· W.--:l5S.3~ 

fc..,t w n point, u co11ter of lnnd of •aid R.,binson, thenc~ by the snid 

Uobit'"""." Jan~ an~ stm aloug the• sai~ L~•w, B. 31 11<'1:· .}9 miu. 11.; 

set. \Y.-!I'J.6 feet to n [>Oint, a corD<'I' of said llobin>on's lnml. 

tlwnte b)- the ~ume and b:- land of )[;ory II' .. Jm<<'S, S. II Jeg. :!! win. 

lU ""''· \\'.-----;!2U~.:~:; ft·et to a ]Jnint in the l'allPy Vrc•ck. Xo1tb of tb~ 

rom\ b1·idge actc~s the sam<' nud in th~ line of l,oml~ of snid -lon<·> 

;on<l .faoe 1'. )fcSeel) and otht•rs. th~nc1: down the AAi<l c,-.,,.k mul 

t.y laud of said J"ne T. ~lcSc•(']y and others,)\_ lO d~g. ~;;ruin . .1.; 

s••e. E.-\2i;_T4 ft·H to,, point iu the linr· of lund eslnte ,.f .J. B. Cnrt••r. Mill on ll"' line di1·iding tlw c·nunty of Cla••ter from rhe cuunt,<-

nf _lloutgnmet·y, t]u,nr·•• <llong tht• ~nm<•, and by lands M •ai<l Carl<•!'"~ c•atnte, :X. 71 <leg. tl min. HI,..,,._ E.-:~2.0 feet to n r·oint in tb,. 

middle of the Y"H~y Creek ro<ul, n cornet" of land of s.lid Carter'• 

''"tat~, thence b.' llH· 'a"'~ an<l followin~ tbe sam" ro.1d, th~ following cou!'W's au<l •li•tnuccs, to wit: :X. { deg. 53 min . .111 •~··· \\'.-

3H.:l feet. K S <lr·g. 3-J min. 2~ sec. E.-I3nB.7 fect, X 1'i <leg. 0~ min. 

30 se~. E. 3(l.1.H feet. S. 32 deg.-53 min.,::; see. E.-:!~6.~1 f•~·t and 

·s. !~ <l•·g- 3;; n<iu. 20 se~. E.-23~.96 feer to a corner of the same. 

thence leal'ing the !'ODd ond still by the •ame lands !". SI d~g. 13 

min_ 30 """· E.-254.-.-:l feet to a corneo·. thenc-e still b.~ <he same~-

8 deg. 46 min. 30 •~c. E.-1S27.:l f~et to a point in the mi<ldle of the· 

afor<•said Gulf llond .lnd a tornn of land of ~arah A. Shnw, Th~ac,. 

by the •nme, K 39 <leg. 39 lllin. 10 occ. E.-1510.3 feet to a whit,. 

oak standing in the eenh·e of the afore<nid I'ort Kenu•·d~- Road. 

nnd a r<>t"llCL' of lands of s"id Shaw and nforesaid estat~ of :Xalhan 

Jones, dec•.,•cd. th~nc~ h.~ the land of said .Jon~~· ~~tate. ::<1'. ll de~. 

'>6 111in. ~0 sec. W.-29{.15 fe~t to a point. a corm•r of <he •nid ~state. thence by tb~ ""'"~· ~- ~Mg. 0.1 no in_ lO "''"· \\'.-1-~6.5 fr-<•t t~ 

the plnCI' of b<oginninl' Cout,inin~ ~11.5~~ ncrP8. 

"Report of the Valley Forge Commission, 1894 1 " in 

Valley Forge Park. Commission For the Years 1894 1 

190 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

APPENDIX 6 

LABOR CONTRACT OF ELLIS R. HAMPTON; 1900 

AR1'ICl~S OP AOlUiillMFlNT made a.nct conclluQed tl1is t'll'lllltt tirat day 

of' K&T, l'ii00 1 betweon the OO~Iisl!ioners ot Valley P'ortse l'a.rll: 1 or theo 

State or I'enneylvan.ta1 or ono part 1 ami Ellis R. HNr~Pton, or Va.lley 

~r•• in oa.1d State, or the other part 1 Witnesseth! 

l'irs'C' - Bfl.id pll.rty or the first pm·c doe11 hereb;( hire, ene<\e;c Md 

tmplo~· tho servi(los or t:ta~ Raid party ot th.:~ aeoond pa.rt, as watohman1 

at saicl Vo.lley lJ'ore;e J?ark 1 the duties of which position shall be 1 to 

protect ~nd prBuerve all portions of said :property from depredations an<J 

:l.njur;r by \Ull\llthorir.ed pen1ona or g,therw1se 1 1mcl to prevent tru;pa&s1ne: 

thereon. ln perf'omtne; eaid duties, sni!l P<'.rty or the second part 

•creo11 that he will, &t lea11t onoo each week 1 mflke a f11ll ~ OOliiJllete 

o:~:NIIin"tion of all l>a.rts of saiil property, and at once report to eaid 

party or the r.trst part, a:JY Mttere requirine; or neeilin~ their attenUQll 

Seooml. ~ Said employment of aaicl party of the seoon!l p&l"' 1h&l.J. 

bec;in 11.11 of ll&ay l~Jt 1 l'i100 1 and shall coDtinno until notice or fl.n inten• 

t1on to ilatemine thirJ nc;ree111ant is given, by either party to the other, 

wh ioh mn:r be done fl.t any time, SP1d party ot tha f1r11t part further 

au~eo to tlAke parm.ent to auid party CJ:f' the second pa:r~ of the liiUDI of 

One Dollar per week, durinl!: the continuunoe ot th.ill aueemen~, IUbJoot 

however at all t1mes to the r!:!ceipt by 1t 1 frOlll the Stfl.tl! ot l'ennsrlv&n~a 

or otherwise, or i'.n appropriation tor 1moh purpoae~, 

Third ... Saitl party t)f the second 11ar~ hereby ae;re" to aoco~t the 

tiiiPlo~ut as above me:ntioned 1 undel' the torm11 ami oondit:LOnl t:~:Prtoot4 

• Atreka. 

191 
APPENDIX C 

LAW AUTHORIZING COMMONWEALTH TO ACCEPT GIFTS OF MONEY 

OR LAND AND TO PERMIT THE UNITED STATES OR ANY STATE 

GOVERNMENT TO ERECT MEMORIALS IN VALLEY FORGE STATE PARK: 1895 

.~ •.•. ,,,." ,_ ,;,. ,, ''"•" ,.-,1. ,1,, .. 1'11.11 II«• "'"' ol 1<•11 lhuu•au<l !lui· 

hn·•, o1· oo "'"''" th~•·••of "" mu,\ lw nett>ooary, b~ mnl th<· a<luu• is 

het-.,l!y •P<'eillt·ull)· "l'l"'"l"'iaktlto tlw t;o111mi•sioum·o of the Yull~y 

l•'orge l'urk fo•· tb~ lwo ftoonl yc•m·• b~ginning .June Jlrot, ou<' tlJOUannd ei~ht hundred find uinety-!lv,., to eomplete the pm•ehno~ 01' condemnation mouey fo1· lauds nh'Pinly taken by the State lot• "-pub· 

lie pm·k, known ao Vulley Forgt', modt'l' th<• ll<'l to whid1 thio io u 

oupplt•nwul: 1'1'0\'ith•d hOW<'V<'l", 'L'hal uo fnrlht•l' t•oudemuntiou pl"O· 

co•t•<liugs shnll be bPgtm or lm11l~ jiiH"<"hnoeol, unolt•o· lid• U<'l m· !lJ<• ud 

to which tloio io u •npplement, withlu two yeuro. 

Tlo" oni~ nwo·orn·iutiou to I!<" pni~ Oil tlw wno·o·nut of tlw An~il<>l' 

ll<moJ·HI oil u •cHI<•muut uoml" l<y lollu Ulltl llw o,!(u!c 'l'l't•n••u·eo·, l>ul 

"" wou·o·n11t shnll be th·nwn on o<'ttl~mrnt mnd•• nntil the CoomaisoioiJe•·• ol ouid jJUl"k •hull h o·e ma~e, uudel' OIL lh, tu Uw Aud<IOl' tlenet·o!l, 

n <'<'pt.ll"l •·ontninin~ n OjlNift<'all.Y it•·•ni"<·•l •tutcllw<lt of tlw I'O<'o•ipto 

!'!'Om ull som·eeo uud expense• of ouid Commiosimu·•·•, log-<llheo· with 

'I 'l"'l'iilo-<~lly ilo·llli""'l "l"f<•llil'!<l of ilil' o·o•l of ••li<l I'Ul<]l"h" tail)<"<" 

the <'Outl~mnaliou ]li'<><"C<'~iug•, Um·iug- tlw ]>rnioll~ <]lllll'i<·<-, with 

the• ,-a•h lllolnll<·•• au ha<L<L an<l II"'"'""";,. "1'1""'"'''1 J,y him mnl <II•• 

1:\tn\<' 't'o•ea~IU"<'I', llOI' Ulllil lhe TJ·ca•m·,•o· shnlllHJ\'o' Slllllt·it•Hl moue,\' 

in th<' 'l'n•~tsm·y, uot otlH•o·wi•e ;opprop•·inle<l, to l'"Y tlw qnno·tco·ly 

lnotollments dm• a;lid Couunio~io11ers; HrH] tlw UJ!<'Xpcmk~ l!uluuc~s 

of smuo "J!P''"I""iult•o\ foo- "I'PI"itio 1""'1'""''" •hnll nut b,. ""'''' foo· othN 

l"""J'O"''"· who!IH•<" apo.-iftt• m· J;'""''''"'· nm\ ohnll ,.,.,-,.,., lo I he Sture 

'l'o•t•!LOl\1',\' <1l lht• clOOL' of Uw two Jlsc•J ye<U'O, 

S<·dion ~. 'l'hnt the Cnomni•siuuero of the p11bli<" pnrk kowwn ns 

Vnllc•y l•'m-g-o·, lw "'"I ,.,.,, lwt't•h)· <Jnllw<'i•••tl to '"'"''i'L '"' 11••111111 ~~ 

tlu• ~Into, mL)' ~ill 01' )IIIIo nf mono,v 0\' of lnn<l• eouti~owno 01' ntl· 

jnn•ut to II!<' h111<l• htk<'ll "'' (o l"' tnk<'ll fO!' til<' oul~ pnblh· ]J!Ll'l<, mod 

to be hid nn<l uo~<l loo• til<• pno·poll<'s thro·ool. 

Sc•diou ~~. 'l'hnt !IO<• •ai~ CommiosiOH<"I'' ""' ht'l"t•hy anthtwizt•ol to 

1•ro•mlt th<' lluitt•<II'Hatr•o of .\uwt·k;t M an.v of tlH• FliHh'" tht•vt·nf. to 

<' ,., ·r-t <110 u u Ill ' • u t • o o· n II "''" < u c Ulll o· in ] & o u II w g"l'O n u tl• u oW OJ· 111'1"<' a rt<'l' 

to lu• :H-otnit·ot\ fOI' "nitlj"ll"1, "I""' snl'l1 t•'1'111" unol <·mt<litinno "" mny. 

hL fht• •li••·<·<"timo or onl<l f'ommi•olnn, h<· ,],.,.,.,..,] •nirnhl<" m•d 1"'0-

pel'. 

Ap]>roved-Th~ :!~ olu.t· of ,Jnl)', .\. ll. 1~!1,-,_ 

DA NIF.T. H. H.\STnms. 

By-Laws of the Valley Forge Park Commission, 1906, pp. 8-9. 

192 

• 

• 

• 
r 

I 

• 

• 

• 

APPENDIX 0 

LAW PROVIDING FOR ADDITIONAL LAND TO VALLEY FORGE 

STATE 

POLICE 

PARK AND AUTHORIZING PARK COMMISSION TO DEPUTIZE 

OFFICERS WITH AUTHORITY TO MAKE ARRESTS: 1903 

>'o·<llllll I. BP io o•Wh'h'ol. ,~, TI"Ll >l't'liull Otl~ of oLH :0!'1, o•tHiliPtl 

''_\., ,,, J"<niolill~ t'"l' tiH· : .. -,,i,lli"IL b,o I IlL' ,.;j,o\t· uf !'vt•(,lill J.:l'Uo\ll!\ 

;II \",111•·.• 1•\Jl"g<' f"L' '< pul<il<' 1"11·1; .. Olld liHII<IILJ.: o!U appt"OjH'tl\UOU 

Lhcl eloo-,'' "I' I" "' Pd I he thi L' Lielh Uuy of .lla,'t, .\HHO ]JoHtilll uue thuu-

"·""1 o·i~hl huudt·•·ol :HHl """'l,l' ih"'" 1\'loidt l't'tl<b "" fulh!ll<' 

··That [Ol' Lbt• puqJo;c· of )H'L')Witwlitl~ and ]!L'eou·1ing lite r.Jl<' on 

n ido·lo tlw t '""' ;,,..Jllal .I,.,,_,. '""''"" u,.,,.,.,ll I:, ... ,-~,- II aoh111gluu "·'" 

o•uo-;HHJH·ol "' \\JIIlt't' qllal[c•t·, dmitog Hoc• "'"""'' '""' llocHNtuol "'''"" 

l101011h<·d .tad ,t "'"'·' -"'"'" .oll•l ,...,. 111"11·"""1 "'''''" ILtiHolo·o•ol :n11l 

~c·•···"i.'·t'i4hl. tlw lollv In ol1111 1>\1'11\'l"'lliJ• iu lit<• gt!liL1111 ,.,.,..,.;.,~ "ai<l 

""'• iu.-IHdia~ 1,.",.,, \\;,.·ho"g'"" "'"lllt11tluo~do11, aaol lht•<·Hlll·otd<-

""'"1-' :l<)j,II'PHI tii<·J'.-10, HtHI Ill{• ;~oljllillillg ~l'"lill•l', ill <til ttul I'Ht't'tl 

(I'.U Jntlloli<·oi .<ad JiiJJ acj't''• i.H( 11<11 i111ilidt<t\: lil<·tTill li"'I'L'UIWI'lY 

l,u0\111 tl> \\''l•hill~t"ll'" h<"lhiljll;lt'it'l'" ;LHtl IIIII\' <11\'riPollJy (II!• Ct•ui<•IILII,ti ,.,.,; .\(. 'lt<>t·i;ll .hoo.-ialioll lll' \'all~)' l•'m·ge, the lucaliull ami 

)"lll'll)llt•lt·• I ltt·l'o•uf IL1 lo1• ll"·o( ll,\' LIIO' ('<lllltiii•<IUB<'I'" ht•L•t•llfh•t· uL<•tiIIHII<d. >llltli II<' ••·Slo·ol ill I itt• )-ltal:· ol I'<'IIII"J'l\<ttd.t, 10 (Jl' lttiol Ottt, 

i'"'"'''"'d ""'I 111aiut,1ill<'•' i'<H<'H'I', '" ,1 puhlio· ;ol.o•·•· .,,. 1""'1< LIJ liLt• 

HaHio· "' \',1llt·,t Fo L')(l', '" I hal li1e '>Hltl' am] I hP I ut· I iliea I iolto il«•t't un 

"'"-' lw '""illlllitll'<i ·'-' .,,,,.,.;_, '" l·'"'ilolt• i11 111!'11' ,,.;~;,,;~! l'<lildili<>ll 

'" ,, tllilit.LL'' c·a11>]J. aH<l lii,L)' loe l"'''"'l'\'<·•ltnt· ilL<• <•1\JOJHII'Lit o!' lilt' 

l"""['lt· ttl 1i1<· "tid "'"It·," lw ""'I I ill">·'""' i; il<·t·,•lt,t :IIIH'Itdt•<ilu o·o•,ltl 

a; i'ulluw;. 

'I'IL,LL (<>I tho l•llll"'"'' .-!' I"''I"'Lilllll•<~ IIIHI I"'''"'! I ill~ ill<' ,jlo- Ul< 

11hit-h Tilt' !'HlLliiH'HI,Ii .\ILJL,), '!<LO]eJ· (it'Ht•iaJ (:I'Cll'gl' 1\'a>hillgi<lll 

""·' t'\lo,tii•J"''IIJL I',IILI•'I' tJt"II(.-J•; ;~J \'"II<') F•Jt::••,oitll'illl( Jho· \\'lltl!'l' 

<II OIW ihOH.;clJtd ·""'~'" itlllltln•tl lltHI >~1-<'Llt,Y·,.·I't'll .nLLI Oil!' lituU>:lltd 

.'1'11'11 hn11d"•tl "'"I-"'"''"' ,·;.,Jtl, 1110' I ill<· I" ;IJ!:i oO\'<II'I''hiJI ito tho• 

~t-ull<tti ,,.,.,.;,;:''lid , 1;,· iu<"!LI<h<l;< 1-'111'\'. Wll>ltiii~L\111 IHI<I IILIIIIii!~· 

oluH, .tmlll"' ''"''-''"' 11<11<'111" aolj;ll <'Ill (in••·etu, :I lid adjuiuitLil ~··outHI~, 

ill all Ito I 0'-"'t"<'l)iH~ Iii<' hoiiL<Itc•d .ll I'<''· hlll Ll!ll iLIO'IHtlill)l ih<'t'l'lll lhe 

]Wnp•J·L,l I<H\l\1 11 "" 11-'ll•hinlll\l\1°• IH'<IIil]lllll lt•l'"• <IIIII IIUW OWILl•<) loy 

11:<- (\•Hi<·Jiuhli n11ll M~H\Ol'iltl .I>,O<·intioll u/ Vallo·~- Fut·g••, !he• locn· 

1iml Hll\1 bO,HI<l\lli<'• IIIPI't•M II\ ht• ilxdl by tho• l'<>IIIILLi""i<IIL<'l'O h<•L'<'-

a [It •t' HI ·HI 1 um•tl, ,;,,L II In· L (•,11•.1 i IJ llw >' 1.11<" uf l'PLlLl'~· \1 H Hi a, (0 ~C' 

laiol "'"· )'1'\·'·'"''11•<1 '""I lllolill(;lill<'tl !oil'\''' a;" JHI!Jiit· pl,l<'l' <II' 1""'1<, 

lo,L Llwllallll' ,J \'alh•.t Flll-~o·, '"thai ,;,.,,,\1111' <llld I ill' J'm·lili<·ntiutL~ 

lhdo'\>,\ 1]1,\) Jn• H\:lil\11\IILI'O], ,1, IH',LI'i,l "' l"'~;iitk. ;, Li11•il• Ul'i~ih\11 

<'UIIdili"ll '" ;t HLL(ilaJ·) <'<llll)', allti lllol) IJ~ ]1\'I'>L'I'VI'II fOI' lilt' ('lljOy· 

1111 -ul or 11,.. 1"'"1'1<' oi' !111• >.lid i'Hatt•. 

,_,.,.,;," ~- 'i'h 11 t "'<·1iu11 futll· or •-li•l al'i, 11lli•·h "''"l' ·'" fullt~ll'o: 

•·'('(1\LI oJ,. ('"'"'"'""inLl<·t·• of lit!- ""i<l pad;, aflo·r iii<'J •hall ltm•o 

«·<·<tt•·•li""''''"'"" ol tit·: ••ti<IJl'L'tJHHd;. ,j,,)] .t.lupLplatL•I'ot·thc iu•· 

1"""'11"''"· 1,,.,., .. ,.nlli<lll nn<l Hlaiulc•lll'"''" ilwt·t•of, aml •llllll htl\'t' 

i"'"'' I" .... -t\ '"'' ,,,,,. """ '""'t'Lilltlll; ""d .dl """"'.'" '''1"'"'"''1 

,],_ ~11, <llt•i•·l 1111'11 """''''""'"·I"""" ,.,,,t-;ht>,lt:LIIlw m,l<h• (01' 

,~,. <,,,; ''"' ,,,.,.,11, lit lllll•·"' "" "i'l"'"l""i.llivll tl•••n•f<IL' <11'111 ;,.,.,, 

,93 
By-Laws 

'"'''"Iii''' Hlado· In lho• l.o·;.:.-lal•ll•·' l•v Hlld LIH• "''"" j, loo•o-..1•! 

Hllll'lllh-d llo L'I'IL!I '" ]',.llu\\" 

l'lo'IL oiL•· ''""''"'"'"'"'·' "' ''"' "''" l''"t. all•••· ,,,._,- "''"''' ''''''' 

""'·"n•clj><JOot•ssiou of lin• saiJ gL<HLIL!l>, >hall aduj•l pi.IIL> fm· ll1•· iull'''""-""'"'• l"''""l'lllliooll a1HI IH,LUII•·HHHo·o· ilwl<'ol'. :11101 ,lo.oll h,.,,. 

I'""''"'' I<> o•an·_,- the""""" into o•Xp<·ntiou; ,ond <hall""" loa,-,. l""'ll'l' 

(u olo·plLLi'·'' ""'' ,,.. IHOH'<' ]"''"'"".to 'i"'l"ial '""'"Lalok> '" "'""'L.oiu 

onlt·L' \\ilhlio ,_ai<lj•:Ll"i,, ]!1"111•·•·1 tho· j>l'OjH'I'i,\" fl"lliLL olo•<IL'Il<'liou, ;W<I 

ao;oi.o•;LO'I'l'hb fo>l' o·iol• Ill' illo·g.ol "'''·'I'•"'"''" I alni ,oil HLI>l>L')' <"·'l""IL<le<l 

•hall IH• mHlo•1· I liP ""1""'''-;,;,.,, ,.j' llu• l'ouowi••i""'''-"· hut"" t'C\U· 

,,.,,.'" oh.oll l•l' 11wl<· r.,· oaid '"'!"'"'''"'"'"' HHit·o~ "" "l't•n•j!l'i,lliuu 

th~J'o•h>~·r Sllnlll<:n<• l><'<'ll lh·•l "'"'"' bv ibo> f.o•gi•lntom' . 

. lpt"'"""'l-'flu· 1~11 1 ''''·' "' .1!,,., 1, .. I. u. nou:l. 

>'.llltTI':L II'. 1'!';'\:'I:Yl'.\1 !>1-:Jl. 

of the --- Valley Forge Park Commission, 1906, pp. 10-12. 

19' 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

BOUNDARY 

APPENDIX E 

DESCRIPTION 

STATE 

OF EXTENSION 

PARK: 1904 

OF VALLEY 

The dese~iption of the e~tension of the Park along the outer line of 

defenees, partly in Cpper )!eciou to«<IIIhip, }ioutgomery county and 

pardy in Trerlyffrin to1<11ohip, Ch.-;ter oowt!y, is as follows, 

Beginning at a 'tone at the inte~on of Camp Road •ml Wa•hington Lane in Cpper Jlerion towruhi(>, )!ontgomery e<>nnty. a co,-. 

iler of the lan<l formerly ae<]nireJ for the Park; thence south 22° n• ~0" eust, by the land of )Jary E. S. Evan;;, 99.97 feet to a swne in 

the line <]i,·tding the counti"" of Che>lcr an<! }!onll,~lmcry, thence 

north 67' :j~' 20" eaot, along th said count~· line and 'til! by land 

~f the said Jlary E. S. Enos, 16;- 57 feet to a stone_ thence sonth ~j" 

=~6' ea>t, leanng the oouoty line ~-,t still by land of }[ary- £. S. E,·ans 

in Ch"'ter county, 1,094.73 f""t ''' a >tone; thence nurth o;o 01' .)()" 

""'t. >till by the ""me land. L~"L9 ft•C't to a stone in "lloth•r line 

'aid to dinde the counties, th<L''" nnr1.h ~1' 3~' """!. by the r.ame 

lalld and along the said count.'- iin<. ~MJI6 feet to a <lone: thence 

::torth -H' 01' 20" cast, lea,·ing the .aid county line nn<l by land of 

.fo>eph }luliell in Jlontgomery c .. unty, l"i0A5 feet to a stone in the 

llticldle of Gulf road; thence som't 5-I' 2S' ,10" ca.t, along the ml<ldlo 

••l Gulf road a:ml by the ;;ame :and, 136.24 feet to "- stone; then<:<: 

north 6i' 31' 10" cast, leaving Gulf road an<l by laud of -JOS<'ph )luiten am! land now ot· lat~ of Yiolctr.l )J. Kennedy, 1,310.93 feet to a >\One; 

thence south 20" 10' lD"' ca>t, alo~g the w.st side of ~lullcns farm road 

one perth wide, '!51.34 f""t to a otone; thcnte north 6"i" 'i7' 30" 

east, by land of ''""Ph )Jullen a::td land of J!othias P_ W•lker, 2,02S.-!3 

teet to a stone; thence north 6C' 2:l' 30'' east, by l•n<l of the said 

\Yalker, 466.29 feet to a .tone; t':ence north 6j' 59' 20" o•ast, by land 

of the Phoeni:< Iron Company, 61•).12 fC€t to a stoneo thence north '!1° 

.18' HY' l\"CSt, still by the s;orue ;and, 1,019.88 feet to a >tone: thence 

north 68' 19' JO" east. otill by the sume, 1-)1.83 feet to a >tune, thence 

north 1_12° 14' ~0" east, still by tae same, 1,!-39.3 feet Ut a stone in the 

middle of the road leaJing from Port KeJlnedy to thP King of Prn,.,ia 

known as the King road; thence ;;ontb 21" !2' 40" e•st, alollg the said 

road and near the middle thereof by lond of the heir; of Edwin -:~rooro, 

06L31 feet to a 'tone; thence S<)utb 67' 51' 50" '~est, lea,·ing the King 

"<Jod and b,y lantl of tho .. rate .-.I Robert W. Pochin, deeeased. 1,0<5.3 

feet to a •tune. theue< >Onlh 2~- ~~· 21Y' "'e;t. by the ••1d land. 3!5.41 

f••t to a st.ono; tbeoce south !7' 17' 20" ""'t, •till by tbe ;arue, 257.9! 

FORGE 
fed. to a .tone; tha>ce ...,lh 79" 1:2' 30" wf'St, mu by t!ie !JIUil.e, -<~5.6-3 

fed. tD a st<we; thenoo ..,..lh 66" 38' 5(Y' w...t, by IBIId of the said Peehin 

Estate and !8.IId of }fathi .. P. Walker, 1,700 feet to a stone; then.., ,.,nth 

69' 41' 50'' ,.-est, by JBDd of me ..,.;d Walker and land of -Joseph ~l•:llen. 

L.J.~O feet to a stone; thence oonth 80' 4ii' W' west, by land of th, said 

:llullm, 576.95 f.,t to a .tone in the bed of Gulf roacl: thence ~Juth 

OT' 50' 50" west, by the same land, 12-!.31 feet to a stone ; thence 'mth 

2Z' 31' eaot, by land of the said )!nllen and land of HannahS. W~lker 

crosSing th.e line dividing th..,., t..-o pl'<lperties (said \~ be the e•:•:m~:>· 

iine) into Chester oounty at 738.-li:i f..,t, a toto! distHnoe of 1.157.4~ fe<t 

to a stone; thence south 67' ~9' weot. by land of the said Hanne.h S. 

\Yalker, :l.J.6.95 fee~, to a stone; thence south 73' ~7' 30" we;;t, by !and 

of )Jary E. S. Enn., 1.0!8.9 feet to a .tone; thence sotlth 0-F -10" 50" 

wes1., by land of the estate of Evans .KendaU, de<:ensed. t.:nS.l4 feel to 

,, >tone in the middle of the road l~ading to Centre"<ille: th("!lee ~->rth 

~r 09' ~0" west, aloog the said ro>ul. 50 feet to n stone: thence :c>l"lh 

~0' -!5" 00" ~-C>rt, along the same, 561.6 ie<>t to a stone at <he point <1er< 

a mad leads '"'st to 'alle;· "'"""k; thence along the said Centr.,-il!e O)lld. 

here coiled \Yashinzton Lane. the fiw fo,Uowin~ ""'"""'''and dist.o~C·'>. 

,;,., no.-ch 19' 36' 50" west. 658.06 feet ton stone: "'"'1h ~' 11" 30"" 

east, ~~-12 feet IG n stone: nonh '!i' ~0' ~0" east. H4.~~ feet to a -C(Ill" 

~corner of the land fonnerly acqnired for the Park_ DNth 25' h- 20"' 

eaot, along the Park line afotE'Silid, 99.6 feet to a stone and notth -!:C: • 15' 

:;()" ,a~t, still along the Park line and crossing the wunty li:" in 

,lontgomery 00\Ulty, 358.32 feet to the place of heginoi~~- Cont>.'~in~ 

1<2.17± ocres of lond be the some more or less. De«'rlbecl in aeoor ·.lnoe 

with a sllr<le~· mode hy J. 0. Clllrl<e, en,Pneer for the CommiS>ion. -:ateo:l 

C\ovember 2, 1!1();3_ The otoneo mentioned are of blne marh\e l~:c•re-1 

~-- F. P. on top and ,.t \cilh tbe "V" comer to the nort~-

"Report of the Valley 

Reports of the Valley 

~ 1906, pp. 10-11. 

Forge Park Commission, December 20, 1904, in 

Forge Park Commission For the Years 1902 1904 -- ---- ~· --

196 

• 

• 

• 
L6C 

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~ XION3ddli 

• 

• 

• 
APPENDIX G 

BOUNDARY DESCRIPTION Of VALLEY FORGE STATE PARK; 

Tbe Park is .trualed po.rt\J' in t;"pl"'r )ierion TOlrn.ohip, )l:--·:>\!!<JIIl· 

ery Cooney. an<l partly in T~ To..-n&hip, Cheoter Coon7, aDd 

the lines are as follDws: 

BeginniD~ in )Jontgomery County at a point in the middle of the 

public roacO leading to \"alley Forge Station at the distance of 33 

feet, measu:-«1 at right angle~, South of the cent.>r line oi th> Philadelpbia and Reading Raih<ay; thence parallel with the center line of 

the oaid rai:road and -H feet south thereof the throe tollowing courses 

and dil;ta:Je .,, namely: Xorth 7-!0 21' 30" Eart, 1,002_1$ feet to a point 

of cune_ tl,·nce cun~ng to the Korth with a radius oi 3852.8-1 :'eel for 

a dis!ane~ ei 812.5-l feet to a point of tangency and thence :-;,,,th 6:!' 

16' 31)'' E~;c, 290.33 feet to 11 point; thence So1nh 15' -3l' 3~" '1\".,;;t. 

learing tlle •aid railma<l an<l along lan<l of Susanna )l. Jol:nsoc_ ,000.66 

feet to a >Fle; thence South 3~' 49' Ea•t, st1ll r.'""~ th<• ;am.- 196.-57 

feet to a >Fle: thence South 15' U' 'i\'eot. still al<>I'; the <;am.- ;JQI)_Q~ 

f<et to a I' ·int in tho center line of the Fm·t Ken~·dy ,-ua<lo theuce 

South S5' 5 ,• En•t, along the said center line. lOOtl.~? 1eet w a ':oue at 

Ute point oi :ute~·seetion of the snid tine 1vith the cent,-c line ,,f \:-•shin'l'-

tou taneo tOenoe tonnng the Park linP and in the bed of t'.e POrt 

Kennedy lW<I the throe following con'""'s and dtslance<, r.,:mel:--, South 

85' 50' Ea". 519.-10 feet to a point, :\orth 55" ~"i' East. H1.3£ Ceet to a 

point and S>ulh $1' o~· :lU'' };ast, 169.~7 feet ton >)ike'" tl.- oenter 

line of the ;,lid road set for n corner of Star Redoubt !,,,_ thc:>ee a' >:lf:: th•' 

said lot rhe lour following ("{)Ul"SeS and di.tonees, D8ll:.>ly, X on:: ~' 50' 

31)'' East. aC·>Ug land now or late of Wm. CIL St.ephen;, ~->D fc•t to,, rorner. 

Sottlh 81 ° • ,~, 3D" Ea•t. still along the same 200 feet iO a curne ·- South 

go 57' 3W' \Y""t. still along the same, 2.00 f""t to auo,!~er s;1ike ''t for a 

comer in tie e<Olter line of the Port Kennedy road. and ;heno, Xorth 

Sl" 02' 30" West. along said center line, 200 feet to the sp;•,e at :he first 

mentioned C•)rner of the SU!r Redoubt lot, thence l"<tracic.g tl:, conrse 

in the bed •.\f th~ Port Kenne<ly road, North SP fr:l' 3D" We;;,_ 169.90 

feet to a p·>int. South 55" 37' West -l-12.36 f,..t to,_ pot~! an·l Xorth 

B5" 5W w.,;;t 519.3D fi'<'t to the before mentioned >tone in r:oe Park 

boundary at the point of intero<:ctinn with the center Ene of WP.>!lingtor. 

lane, thence along the center line of V\'oshingWn lane the fi~e f>ilo\"Cing 

courSeS and distances, namely: Sonth 6' 1-J( West. pa;;sing o\·er a stone 

at 760 f...t. 1lOH6 "feet to a point, South 7a 12' ;JO'" We.t. B-F.il f....._ 

t-0 n point. South 9" ll' 40" West, 7D9.50 feet to a p~:nt at the :~Le,..,.e198 

1906 • 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

tim> w:ith Gulf road, South;;' 13' 50" Weot, U5UO feet to,. pOiat mol 

Sontlo. 3•j' !3' 50" West, 156.65 feet to a stone ot lhe imenecti"" ot 11!1 

..nd W o.lting-ron lane vilb Cam;> road nea~ W ll!ihington red<:>ubt, lhenee 

South~~' 27' ~0" l:ast, leaving Wasbin~n lane aod along lorul nf 

~fary E. S. E,-a~s. 9@.9T t.d to n stone in the line dhidin5 the cotlllties 

of llonrfomery a~d Chester. the~ce ~orth 6F 32' 20" East along the 

said "'"~'Y line and br the same land, 16i.5i feet to a stone, thence 

South 2;' 36' Eart, leRlin1 the co1mty line but .till b;· land of the 

said]], E. S. E,-c.ns in Chc,ter County, 109~-·~ fl'<tl to a stone, thenoo 

C\orth 6~' 01' JO" U.t. sti~l by the 5ll.mc land, 1951.9 f<'ft to a stone in 

anot!u.r :ine ;,.11d to di,·ide rhc '''·" c01onties; the""" Xorth 21" 3!' WS 

e.long t"e said co•mty lme <'lld >Cill by the same land. 2~2.06 feet to a 

stone: t:. ·nee :..:u,·th -H' or ~0" East, lea,-ing the county !me 'md along 

land of -J~"'-'rh ~h;llen in }!.mt~"-·mcry Count.'-- l'i0A5 foor to a stone in 

the mi;1 :1~ r•i Gnlf road' tltenc- South 5P ~~· 40" £;at, ahmg th.. 

ttliddle .. ; Gnlf rtoad ami ot:!l h_,- the'""'" land. 136.~-1. fr···l to a .-tone; 

thc·nre :.:-Jl"th •37' ->I' 5<r" Eht. le.wing- Gnlf ru"d anJ by 'and of ,foseph 

)fnl!rn •"Hl l<>ml "~" or In:> of Yioletta )[_ Kennedy. I:ll•J.~J3 feet to a 

'tone: r::one•: Sonth 2 .. - lr_.' l<Y" Ea•t. alone: the""'! si<l• of Jfullen's 

fnnn Inc.·. o, .. pe~oh "iM_ ~;1,:;~ f<•et to a otone, thence :O:orlh 6i' 5i' 

.';1)" Ea•c. h;· land, of .fo'Y ~·h )i·lllon and ~J3thi.'l!l P. \Y,U;er, 20E!3 

f0<1.1o a ,fane; th-nCI' :\on'' 6S ~3' :)0" East_ a!OOJ! the .oid Walker's 

land, -lJl-3.~9 feet to a >tone' thel!.'O :\<>rth 6i' 57 ~" "-"'t, by land nf 

the P1to"oix !1-on Compony. ~10.1~ feet to a stone; thence :\orth 21° 38' 

10" We;: still by t~ _o,ame. IOF' SB feet to a :;tone; thence Xorth 68" 

1D' 50" East. still ~- the 'atlle 131.83 fe<'l to a st<>ne- 'hence Xorth 

S2' U' ~I)" :£ru;t. stiU by tho SflJ<!C, H39.3 feet I" a otone i~ the middle 

of the :r.:n_~ rn•<l: thenoe South 21' 42' 40" Eost. along the ;~~id road and 

nen~ the mid-lie thereof. 66l.ll feel to a stone, tbfnoe 67" :a' 50" Wesl, 

lea,·imt the i~in<; road and alonz land lately of the estate of Robert W. 

Pechin. deoeo•e<l. 1075.1 f.,., to a stone; thence South 24° 3i' ~0" "-M, 

L.'- the "<1id o<•ate_ :J~AI feer to a stone; thence Sonth 47' 17' 20" \Yes!., 

still by the '"""'- :!57.94 feet to n stone; thence South 79° 12' 30" 

"'est,"'!! be- the >arue. !95.U3 fed to a stone: tbence South 66' 38' 50"' 

\Yes!, sill! be· the .ame and hy bnd of ~I"th~as 1'. Walker. 1700 feet to 

a stone tlwnce South 69° Jl' .),)'' \\ . ..,t, by J"wls of the sni<l Walker 

and Jo<·-ph _\;nl!en, 1420 feet to" stone; thenoc Smrth 80' 45' 50" '\\est, 

by tho ;eid ;~; dle•1 "s L'l •ld, -'i~£i.9.) f<'Ot to a stone in the be<l of Gulf road; 

them"' ~nuth 67' 5i' 51)" \'.-est, ;Ill! by the same, I24_:n feet I.<J a stone; 

thenee South 22' :)1' E'"t. Oy buW, of the said ][ullcn in dlon~mery 

County and Ilonnah S. '':alker in Chester CoWJ!y, 1157.!8 feet to a 

stone; lhcnee South 6i' 20' West, by lhe S8id Ilannah S. \Volker'~ 

1nd. 3~6.95 feet to a stone: thence South 73' t7' 30" '\\ M, by land 

199 
of l£Aly E. 8. EvaW!, 18i!t90 feet tG a stoue; thence &mlh M' i3' 50" 

West, by Lud of the ..tate of ETOn• Kend.IIU, deeeeiiOI, 127S.ll f""t 

"'a. otone in the llliddle of the road leadin~ lo CPnlre;ille; thenee Xonh 

2~' 09' 40" West, along s•id road, 50 feet to a .roue; thence Xonh 

20' 45' <W" West, still olong the """'"· 56i.60 fe<1. to a stone at the 

imersect.ion with the road leading west to Valley Cnck; then~e along 

Washington lane the three foUo..-ing courses and di;;tanc;>S, n"-"!dr< 

.\"Ol'th 19' 36' 50" W..t, 658.05 feet to a ,U,ne: Xorth 9' 11' SO" East, 

S±.12 feet to a stone lllld Xorth 20' 45' :20" E..t, -J.H.97 feet to a stone: 

thence South 6F 46' We..t, leaving Wa:dllng\On Lane 1111d along a line 

par!!l.lel "ith and 110 feet suulh of the line di<idillg the coUIIties of 

Ch"""er and Jlontgomery·, 2299.27 feet to a point in Yal!ey Creek north 

of the bridge on the "'"d to Diamond Rack; thence :\"orth 6" 4-0' 30" 

E"·'t, do'= the said creek, 1:25.il feet to the sfore>aid county line: 

tlknce :\orth 67° -!li' :Eaot alQllg the county line, 32 feet to a st"ne in 

th~ middle of the V"alky C1·eek t"Oa<L thence m ~Io,,gomery C.>un~· 

nl·•:Jg the Ialley Cree~ road IDe fiw following course> aucl distanc.,_ 

''"'mely: :\orth S' 32' 3V" ~est, 3H.96 fc~t to a stone. :\o11i1 !' 5~' 30"' 

£a>t, 13D6.S~ f""t ton ;tone; :\orth IT ~S' £ast. 36l.!l f,·,·t to a stone: 

\:<•rth ~go I;;' East N~.~~ feet to a >lone •m<l :\mth "· .);' 30" Easr. 

:'.~:J.~"j feet to a stone nc"flr the east side of sm<l roa<l; :'1enc~ Somn ~~· 

.J.j/ 30" Eost, lea<"ing the Y•lley Creek road and along ;an<l forrnedy of 

the Cart..r eotate, ~5-1..13 feet to a .tone ; thence :\orth :; ' OY 30" East. 

>till along the same land, and pas;;ing- o,·er sewral line sto:ws, E:'.1.3t) 

feet to a point in Gull roatl: thence :\orth 3~' .);>' Enst, le"'iu~ Gulf 

road and passing over se;er•l .tones nlong the line -:-f k1d of .f. F. 

Hallman, I~l0.30 le<>t to a "White oak t..., in the Pol"< Kennedy ''""t' 

thenoe South 62' 25' 20'' West. ne•< the center ~:' the said road. 

1526.34 f"'-'t to a COI'Ile<' thence :\orth 7\P 0-3' 20" ~est. leanug the 

Pon; Kennedy roac\ ond along other \an<l of .J. F. Hallman, -3H.3! 

fee-t to a stone; thence ~orth P "d6' ~0" East. along l.,rrtl of Hnrriet J. 

){"'"'""• ~87.6.3 feet to a corner; thence Xorth ~0' 13" 50" West. stlll 

along the same, 135.20 feet to a corner; thence South ~l' 4G' 10" West. 

still ~long the same, 106.20 feet to a point in the bed oi a pri,·ate !nne: 

tbcnee Xorth 77" 37' 50" Wert, by a line formerly clescribed '" the 

•i<le of a pri..-ate lane but now in the bed of the lane neor the north 

side therl'Of, ~00.2~ feet to a corner: thence South 11' 15' ""est. S.i\1 

feet to a corner; thence South 77' 59' 50" East. near the center <'f the 

said private lllne as now physically opened, 80.93 feet Ill a "'rnc1·: 

thence Sonlh 10" 53' 10" ~es~ lea>ing- Sllid lane and along land Qf the 

said H. J. "Mew.,, I69.60 £= to the Xorth-east corner of a stone barn; 

then"" Xol'!h 79" 03' "!0'' "West, along other land of J. F. Ii.lllillJl.n, 

S2.00 feet to a tomer: thence Korth 79° 21' 10" ~o>t, still aloug the 

200 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

""""'· 23Z.5~ i""t t~ an ~ld O<Jmer stDneon th~- side of a publie ro~~d 

leading to >e.lley Fo.,e Station: then.., No<tb 10' 53' 10" Eaot, along 

th.e .,.;,\ >ide of the rood, 37S.9~ i...t. to a point W. the <l!nter the«><>f at 

the bend near the railroad: thence Xorth B-1' 23' 40" East, •long the 

center line of the ,ai<lwad. '2U.±7 f""t loa point; thence South ll" U' 

Wert. l7.Z4 ieet to a point on tho ,;outh side of tl>e road: thence Xorth 

S-l' 23' 40" East, alon~ the 'out!; >ide of the road, 24-3.03 feet to a point 

awl thence :'\ortlt ,y :H' =l•l" "\;.,;t, in the middle llf !he said road, 

BJ 61 feet to 'he place ·•f h•·'<inni~g. 

Contemin~ four lm~dred an1l sirty-sawn aad sixty-eight one-h•mdredtl"- ( 4G7 68-ltlO) ''"'"' by t:>e resurre;· of the entire Park. Br the 

,-at·un" con' , . anc-;s an-J oonckmoation< tbe area was +67.1169 ""res. 

Descr,bed =~ aceorcktce ·.•:ith che rc'Surw)- of the lin"' euclo>mg tile 

int.•ri"r line •>f defenc-> fr•'m tk- orifl'inol not•'> and t-.fe!•encecl to :he 

.\r.o~u..t.-' >leC~dlan es:abl,.!te<l r-., the ont•r li:tc su,...-.,)-, aocordin~ to 

tl<e pl"n clot,._\ Xowruber ~<1. 190:) 

"Report of the Valley 

Reports of the Valley 

and 1906;-pp:-9-12 . 

Forge Park Commission, December 28, 1906," in 

Forge Park Commissions For the Years 1902, 1904 

201 
APPENDIX H 

BY-LAWS OF THE VALLEY FORGE PARK COMMISSION; 1906 

K<"dlnn 1. Til" \'nl~·r lloo'l-~' l~"·k •lonll lw """'' 

uw<·<l ~;· the ~ooumi•oiu""''"• "~ l""ovitieti !ur nude<' 

.ld or tlu· l.••~<l•holno·•• of l'''""~.vlvnulu, "l'l""'"''d 

Mn)" :10, 1~0:1, ••J'l'OVI~h•!l !Ul' the 1\Cl)Ui•ltlml ~y thu 

0\11<1<' ol' ,.,.,·tnin ~'''''""' n\ V>1ll<'Y J<mw· foo·" ]nl~lir 

P"l"i; aml mukm!l ,,u app1·oprholiou lh<•o·t•lo•·,'' omJ the 

•nil•<"<llh'Ui HllH•Hl]lH<'ll\" j("'l'('\U. 

8ection ·• 'l"hc umnbt'l' of Commi••'m"'''" •hnlt be 

tt•n (10.) 

1-lt•clinn :1. 'l'he COJ<ILili••imu·t'K •l•all, lLBlh'l' !ljlpoinlJ\lt'llt ~y tl•~ !lovro"llOl", "''''''" fm· n tenn nf Uvc (li) 

)'<·a•·•· 

l"(oetinn 4. All vMnHrio•o in til<' Bnm•d olnlll bt• tlllr<l 

to;· •IJ>]'Oinl<n<"nl ,r !In· t:uvvn<uo·. 

Meetlon 5. The Cmmniooionc•·• aha II hnw !nil J•owm 

too ad awl adupl all IILC''""''''" whit·h llwy •hall tlt•cUJ 

be•t !or th<' lm]Jl'"''"'"''Ht, w•·~•·J•v,LIImo '""1 n•nlut<'· 

unn<·e of th<' l'm-1;, au<) all '"'"'ic• ''"l"'"<i<'<l >!hull ~c 

un<l~o· lll!'il snpvrvi~ion, lnll no t•onll•n!'t" s\tn\1 bo> 

made fol' •nid lmpl'ovemeula u<lleao an np]ll'OJH'intioll 

therefot• shllll ],nv~ b~vn llrot mnde by the• Legiolattn'<'. 

flo•dinn G. 'l'he Oonunl•siow·•·• •hull Ol')L;:tul•.e annually on tile 1\rat Hominy In JLme by the election of 

n l'J"t•sltlcnt, Vice !'resident, B<'<·rel!u·y nut! 'l'l'<'""'""'''• 

to •~rv~ for one yenr, or until tl1~lr •ncre&OO!'a •hall 

202 

"'""'"~"'"' "' ,..,,.,_ 

Numb'"' or Co'"• 

"'""""'"'· 

FUU•g ol ,..,.,_ ,,_._ 

Aul""d" ,,. ... '" c,,,.,..,., .... 

01\ko<> """ ,,. 

...... '""'· 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

""'"'" 

., .......... _ 

IHI\P )wPtl Ph•oiP<i. Th,. "IHI<'o(out•o•Lilll(" ur tho• l'uUI· 

uli••iunt•l·• •hull L~ h~!<i ou tlw tltil•li 'l'ut·ow.l~y of eudo 

lll<llllll,l\'lllo II"' l'.\n pli.o11 ui',Jul)'aud .lll~u•l,al '""'h 

!iillt' HII\J pilll'l' "" Ulll,l" lH· <h·•i~UHI<•tl IJ)' l11<• I'L'P•it!Plll, 

''l"'''ial ""'''iirL>:~ "'·,I Ia· <·all.•d bJ Ll1<· I'L<·~i•h•ul u1· 

npHH tlw \\'l'iiten r<''l"""l nt 111·e mt•tub•••·•-

~<-• ltuu 7. >'LI (!i) ""'"''"''-" ohall ''"""diuh• " <(II"· 

•·mu f<w lh,•to·:u'""''liuu n/ Ln•im•••-

"""' .. , ........... . ,.;,., I""',;, '1'11<· .,,,,,.,. <>f hu•i'"'"" u1 •iat•·J ""'"liug" 

11[ IIH· l'ut"'"j"il>ll<'i'" .<("'(( lw "" fn((UWO: 

l. lhaliuq,:c uf uduule•. 

:!. H<•(ll•l·l Of fl'I'H"'U'I'i'. 

;l, JkjiU\( <>f SlljH'I'iHIL'Illi(•uj. 

J. J!<'(HH'( uf I'UUlluiLil'l';, 

~- rnnllif<IH·li lm•i•.<·••-

li. ;.;,.,. ~..,.;.., •••. 

<. • \ciJom·nuH•n t. 

.\HTH-'Lf; II. 

1-i•·•liua 1. '1'1«· l''''''"h'HL ,],.11 l"'''";u, .. tl allun•t•lings ol rhf' COHHnio'liOII<'L'S, pt·oserve O<·d~r, uppoiot 

t'<JHLHlilh·•·• mod •i;:li "I( m·d•·•·• ""the 'l't't•aam"<il'. He 

•hall mol«• ouch <'<']HH'!" lO the Govet'OO<' uud the l..ogl•inltH'<' ''" may ~,. ''"'l";,.,.d ~Y lnw. 

:;,.<'lion 2. In the ab""'"''' or di•nhlllty of the Preoidt•l!t !lit• Yiec i't'<'Sitktot •lmll pt•e•ide, 'lnd In tUe Llb-

•••m·t· of beth olllct•t'" th•· Cmnmiaaionet•• mny elect n 

l~mpot·no·.v !'ltninnnn. 

A!l'l'IIJf,Ji: Ul. 

\'"" l'l't·~al~ut. 

Bec·tiou 1. 'l'he ViN· Prc•idcnt shull p<!rlorm all lbe 

dntieo of tlw PJ•t•sitlful wlll·n the latteL' is absent. 

An'l'ICI.E IV. 

Trenout•et•. 

l'l<•t•lion 1. 'L'hc Treuoltl'et· shnll be the custodiun of 

all fnn~• bclougin" I<> the Comuti•sion. Ilc sb~ll 

kc~p u r~~onl of nil ,.,.,.,,ipt• ntttl di•burocmcnt•, no<l 

liLUke U iUDn\h\y l'<'jJUl'l or !he ""-Hit• \0 tllc otlltCd lllet'l· 

lu~o of the Cnuun!uiou~ra., no well no ouch otheL' re· 

203 
)JUL'l" "" uouy IJL• L'C<)Uin•<l 1>.1 luw. lk ~hll k<·e~ the 

IIIUBit'H ll<'iOUJ';iB):" IO tlw llOniULiH><io>lii'I'H ill 01\!'lo Mpo•i· 

tm•y OH UlU)' l:m U[J[JL'O\'etll>y tht• t:omtui••ion, au<l lliYe 

a b<1111l, iu >u•·h """' "" '"".1' ),. <l•·"i~uaiP<l. f,,.. !ht• 

fui(Jofu\ )JCL'fOl'IIHIIt<'C of \oi• t\U[)'. \I<• Hhu\\ UJI]>I'On' 

au<i r"nvtm] lu lho· .:J.ok •r,-,.a><tll'o•l' loll' I"'·' ""'"I 11il 

l!illH, IIIIo o·ot·t•eclue•• of WILit'h hoo Lt'<'ll ePI"Iilletl to 

hJ iho• 1""1""' ullio·••o· uf lh•• l'mOlLHi"h•u. ,Ill uL'<I<'I'>< 

roo-'"""''-" •h·;owu upou \lw 'f"c""'"'"'' ,r lhi• euuuula-

•iull, ,.,. "!"'" II<<' Klalc• T•·c•a.,.ll't•L·, ""'"' II!' Kit:'"''' liy 

tlw l'o•t•oillomt ond e<mnteL·signed by tlw S•cretaL'Y· 

.-l.llTIOI.E V. 

KP<'I'<'i JLI')'· 

t;eetiou 1. The t;ec•J'e!PL'Y shoJI keep 11 o·ccOI'ti nl the 

pt•oceediugs of ullmeeting~ inn ldinnte-Dook pt•ovidcd 

lot· tit~ l'lll'll08l'. Ht• ahnll i••n•• n uoti"'' ul all •htto•d 

oo· BJK'dUl H!l'<'li,gs ul tlw ('mnmia•iouN·a, o·oud<wt th« 

corn•o;!O!tdeuet• und "'"'"fully !"'"""''''" nll t'Olltl·ncto 

und n·•·m·d• belonging to !lw Commisolot><•t•o. H~ 

oltutl, wit~ !be l't·~oideut, aiKll aU m·dt•t•o dt•nwu upou 

tlw 'l't'"""'"''''· 

.\ll'l'iCJ.B \'J. 

Ku !'' • o· i u I "tult• u t . 

t;o•t·!imo 1. 'flte Couuni•oiout•t·o •hnll elet•t 0 t>upt•t·int.•udt•U( of lht• l'nt·k, who mny ben nn•mbt•t• of tl"' Com· 

miooiou nlld who •hull b~ puid •ncb •ahll'.f na tlw Com· 

uti••iutu•o·• ""'Y uulhu.-i~t·. 'J'Iw KoqwduiPmh•ul •luotl 

ltttvl' ~~~net•ul eloor)l<> of the l'm·k l'I'OJll't'ly, llw t'Oil· 

oll•uetlou mod ouulutcuuuco of ull ronda nnd utllut· ltn· 

IJI'OVPllll'HIO, 1\lt(\ l"'l'fllt'UI Olldl t\uiJ~O ll• Ullly II'Olll 

litHe I<> linw ~<· no•illll<'tl (o \oil!l- lh' •lutll l'''''"""t u 

tuollthl,r o·t•pm·t, ln w•·ltilll(, to tltP sto!Ptl. nwt•tinM• of 

llw COIIOilli••iou<'!'"• •howilll( jii'OgO'<·•• of llw work 

llU<l<'l' hio ""''"· H~ shull hm·p <·hnt'l:<' of nil ••mployeo 

ot tbe Put•k, und shull uppt'Ol'<' lor V"Y""'"t ull ~ill• 

fot· luloor mod mut<·l'iu\a. 

Alt'i'JULE \'II. 

Couunitt<'""· 

Section 1. 'l'lll• I'•~·•id~lll ohull "l'l'<>iut an F.x•••·u- _.,,.~ 

tlv<• ('<>uHnilh•<' <'onol•tln" ol th·" ""'llllo<•ro, ol whit·)• 

204 

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• 

"'"""'-

• 

By-Laws of the ---

• 

ht• ~ltall ~ .. an <'x-<>llieiu UtC<llh<'1'0 (u "''l'Vl' dul'ing the 

_y~m·. 'l'hi• t'OHnuiiiP<' ~hull pP.-fonu "'"''' tlulio·~ a• 

HWJ' L><· a>•igm·<llu i!. 

f!p('liou 2. Tlo<· l'•••·><i<)<"lll ><h'lll •li•<> apJmiul au .\u· 

tliliHK l'<lltttllitlet· uf tht·t•t• lllembet•a, '" c~nud"'• Ill<' 

lW<'<lliHi>< ol' IIJo· 'J',-,··I""'''' .11 lin· t·lu''' <>!" t•Hdl li•t·al 

.)CUI", UJ;~ at ~U('iL [)jh!'L' Lillt<'" "" (ht• l:OUH"i"i01l('l'" 

ma,l oli t'l'<' L. \\ h it·h , . .,,,,.; II<·•· oh.tll I'C(M' I I ht• l'!'>llli of 

thdt· <'XlllHiuati""" lo lht• l:onnoi••iolwt•;, 

~,-,.1;..,, ::.'I'll<· l't't·,ioh·nl "''"II uppui11l ;til cutnmil· 

tees nnthm•i.,·d h.< tlw Comu•i••iou~t·o, nml thc•h· ,.,._ 

JWd• •IHLII he liHI((<' ill wdlill)j ,nt\1 •Jll'<'tUJ llJIOll Ill" 

)!iuut<•o wbc•n oa Ot'<iet·<'<l. 

.\Jrl'llJf,E \'1!1. 

'l'lle•e b;·-Jnws "'"Y be nm~n<l<•<l!.y n lwo-thit·tl~ ,·oi~ 

o[ nil I he l'ouomi"'iom•o-• nt nuy <'<')!Ulm· ll<<'diu~ Ul' ut 

n •ru•<·inl mo·<·tiu1( o•nllPol IOL' th<' fHll"po••·- wvilku 

Holioo· or l"""l'""''d o•ho"~'' I"" iug ~··en ~iH'IL ut IPa•t 

tldO'Io' olo,o•.• pl"ioo• to •udo llH'<'liH~. 

Valley Forge Park Commission, 1906, pp. 3-6. 

205 
APPENDIX I 

EXCERPTS FROM BURK, GUIDE TO VALLEY FORGE, 1906 

HOW n l flEACH V AU.EY FOR(;E 

,.Uey l'orge _,on,,., a..ao1tng m~lolon or tb< Pbllod<lphla 

.. -IIMdlog Rau•-•Y- j' o mtloo fro~n PbUadeLpboa_ Tho,.. ""' 

O<MOI train• .,,, •.• , .. ·:•oLy rhe ''"~'• fa;• Lo '05 ano1 '~" 

- trou '-"'- Th• leo trlu ticket ~~- fur port\"") lo 1>1.2~-

flo• !b>~Quanc-, •nd I he entrance to th• Plrk Ort """' 

... ""''""-

Volley >"urge '"" al•n be """"•d h> the Penn•ylnnl~ 

-d. from Broad S<r<el Sto!lnn, ....,_,,..oo4 I• the ota,on 

.... State Pork. 1< '' i\.7 mil'" '""" l'hl>•dolpblo. no 

-faro I• l.l<, the round trip$ ~•- """ <he !-«> ttlp !<UG 

- for parll"l. The Right t.luo Boulevord on<ramo<! lo o 

lila"'"' o tta\1-mlle lro"' Bo.,wood S'"tlon Th< lloo~ 

_.. o<e two anu • ho!Hnll .. ''""' B4!<.1"'"""-

lll: _.-~ bo oo'MI'1'<1 fl'<l<tl l<o'fiOlo..u •~• ot.ot1oa ro "" 

-lntuaootbn 

"''omob!le <rlpo are "'~• to Vali<Y l"or•• w .. klr throuBI>-

..., oumm<r. The ""tomoblle• l<av• 1227 lofor)et """'' 

~<lplrlo.. every Soto•da1 a!ternoon ot mce o'olock. T~e 

- u .. throo<l:c OverbrooO. Woroe, etc. R•ato ohouM '-"' 

~ In '"''aoce. Fore for the rouod trip Jt 5(l_ 

HOTELS 

l1'bo WO>hlo~ton ]Dh' "'"' tb• HeodquartONI, 

li:tho 111~""'"" H"""' lo V.ll•y Pot<• 

... Port KPuo...ty len_" &t Po" Kono.•IY 6t.otloo. 

206 

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• 

HOW TO SEE VALLEY FORGE 

Tho"" -..no ha'" ""'-' ~ l'mi<•<J time •houl<l """ tl>< tnlre<whruen<>. F'"' Huol<ogt<m, tho St•" 1\e<louht. Varnum'• 

llcadqu,.,te,;_ tho SolO""' HnL, <he Waterman M<Ouumeo". (toe 

Wa>hLD"'"" .'1cruorlal "'"''"'and Washlogwn·o Hea""""'''' ,, 

Th" <on l>e done hurcJe,J•; In two hou"-

l'ho•e who can """"' mnce tLme should tnm hoc!< afte~ 

"''"'''"tor·" li>e '"'""•'- gn ""' ttle "'""'""' nn )!t. Jn• 

In Port W""hlngton, mum to the Gulph ruad. ;urn tn ~oe let 

'"" "''"'''"" lu the Wa.tur.""'" Inn, tUtn to the dghL and ,.,,, 

the Hoadquatte,._ 

Thl• bouk dPO<etbes the tour uf the entlro enc•momen. 

ooo • vo•Jt tu r.atayettc'' Headquarto" Tblo " all that '"" 

he Oooe "' nne day, •• tb•· uthec beadquart<f8 IJe tun !Or afteld 

The W'll<C bao lo or.p., .. llon a -k which WLII '""' ao a 

sulde to the'"""' remote plac .. ol into"'"· 

CARRIACIES, 

Ao there are fi., '"""' of boulevard and thr .. mHeo O• 

10 ol other roado over "''"'" one mu>t oooo W '" oil lite 

wlnto ol Jn<ore" in the eccampment, moot oeoot• wlll pro'" 

to m••• tho tour in com"geo. TOe .. may be ol'<lered thro<4<h 

thr, botel• or from 8lot>leo In NorrMowo, Ph .. ntn!tte, or 

poloto aD tOo ""'" l..loe Wltb a ddver o oorcla<e /0< rotl 

will O<Hot '"""three to looo dolloto for tbo moroln1 or after· 

OOOD, &<cOn;loog to the tlm• aod dlol&a<:E, 

207 
POLICY O> 

APPENDIX J 

VALLEY FORGE PARK 

MEMORIALS: CA. 

COMMISSION 

1S05 

RELATIVE 

(d All J"iw<> lot mooum<nll mu>t Rm bo •ubmitl<d to <h< Comm,>ion lot •p· 

provo!. 

(•) It io h<t<bl' modo tbo fiud l"'li<y o4 tho Vall<y Fotg< I'><'< Commi,.ioo. ond 

it io otd,.,d, tbot no mtom<Ot ot hot obo!i bo io><<ibod upon ooy ,., • ., tobl«. or 

momo<i•l. ••<l ploud ot or<cl<d witMn tb< limit1 o/ oho Comp g~nd until oft« 

wtitton ot ptintod <itotiOn> of tbo outhotiti" u.- '"'hi<h it io bO>od hov< bo"' filod 

with tho Commi,.ioo ood •PP"""od by oh<"'-

(J) l'o >too<. tobl<t ot p«mon<nt m<mc<iol to bo pl"od ot <t<t1od >Oithin tho 

limi" of tho Comp ground >holl "'"""'" tho "'""" of lh.., ;.,.,.,,od io ;., IO<"ion 

ot o=<ion, O< oho nom" of ••f oth<t p«OOM. ohon oh.,. "i>ting dudng oho p«iod 

of tb• Wa• of tho .... voluoion. 

TO 

Forge Revolutionary Enc<~mprnent Commission of the 

p. 27. 

206 

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• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

CHAPTER FIVE 

VALLEY FORGE STATE PARK ADMINISTERED UNDER THE PENNSYLVANIA 

DEPARTMENT OF FORESTS AND WATERS: 1923-1971 

209 
• 

• 

• 

A. INTRODUCTION 

Under the prodding of Governor Gifford Pinchot, who had become 

governor of Pennsylvania in 1923, a new i!dmlnistrative code Wi!S enacted 

to direct the operation of the commonwealth government. The code, 

enacted on June 15, 1923, consolidated departments and centralized 

control, thus increasing the governor's power. One aspect of the code 

provided for the merger of the reorgani~ed Department of Forestry and 

the Water Supply Commission of Pennsylvania into the Department of 

Forests and Waters. The state parks and forests were placed for 

purposes of administration and f•scal conduct under the new department. 

The code had a significant impact on the administration of Valley Forge 

State Park. Section 202 established the Valley Forge Park Commission as 

a departmental administrative commission, consisting of the Secretary of 

Forests and Waters as an ex~officio member (the secretary headed the 

Department of Forests and Waters and his deputy served as the state 

forester) and thirteen other persons (to be appointed by the governor 

and confirmed by the Senate). The commission was to elect a chairman 

and secretary annually, and seven members were to constitute a quorum. 

The park commission was to continue acting as an independent body with 

the exception of its responsibility to the Department of Forests and 

Waters in budgetary and fiscal affairs. Sections 503, 606, 1606, and 1613 

of the code del1mited the powers of the commission and its relationship to 

the department: 

Section 503. Departmental Administrative Boards and 

Commissions.--Except as otherwise provided in this act, 

departmental administrative bodies, boards, and commissions 

within the several administrative departments shall exercise 

their powers and perform their duties independently of the 

heads or any other officers of the respective administrative 

departments with which they are connected; but in all matters 

involving the expenditure of money all such departmental 

administrative boards and commissions shall be subject and 

responsible to the departments with which they are respectively 

connected. 

Whenever the head of a department is by this act made 

ex-officio a member of a departmental administrative board or 

commission, such department head shall have the privilege of 

attending meetings and participating in the deliberations of such 

board or commission, but shall not have the right to vote upon 

any matter coming before such board or commission. 

Section 606. Departmental Administrative Bodies, Boards, and 

Commissions.--lt shall be the duty of each departmental 

administrative body, board, and commission promptly to furnish 

to the head of the department of which it is a part such 

information as may be requested by the head of the department 

for the departmental budget estimates or the periodical estimates 

of the current expenditures of the department. 

zn 
Section 1606. The Department of Forests and Waters shall have 

the power, and its duty shall be: 

(A) To supervis~, maintain, .mprove, regulate, police, 

and preserve all parks belonging to the Commonwealth, 

except the Pennsylvania State Park at Erie, Washington 

Crossing Park, and Valley Forge Park. 

Sect1on 1613. Valley Forge Park Commission.--Subject to any 

inconsistent provisions in this act contained, the V<!lley Forge 

P<1rk CommisSion shall contmue to exerc1se the powers and 

perform the duties by law vested in and imposed upon the 

Commissioners of Valley Forge Park. 

Thus, <IS <1 

henceforth 

department, 

in planning, 

result of this reorganization the V<~lley Forge Park Commission 

was required to request <!ppropriations through the 

the technic<~l staff of which provided the park with <~ssistance 

development, and improvement. (1) 

Later on April 9, 1929, the legislature, under the prodding of Governor 

John Fisher, passed an act known as "The Administrative Code of 1929," 

amplifying the 1923 code with amended and more complete provisions for 

consolidation and centraliZation of the state government under the 

governor's control. Excerpts from this law, that were relevant to the 

Valley Forge Park Commission may be seen in Appendix A. Under the 

provisions of the Administrative Code of 1929 the park was operated and 

• 

maintained under the supervision of the park superintendent subject to • 

administr<1tive procedures and policies of the Department of Forests and 

Waters and to directives of the Valley Forge Park Commission. 

The park commission was less than enthusiastic about the bureaucr<1t1c 

reforms provided in "The Administrative Code of 1929," which would be 

the basic legislation governing the powers of the commission as it 

adminiStered the park until 1971. That same year the commissioners 

reported that they were 

subordinate to several state departments with the unpractical 

result that even matters of minor significance which should be 

decided promptly are subjected to delay. The gradual control 

of the park assumed at the state capitol was in its origin 

doubtless <In effort to prevent the state from becoming involved 

in expenditures by the action of park boards, but it was also a 

reflection upon the nature of the appointments to such boards. 

Certainly no man who has never been known to attend a 

meeting of a park board should be continued in such a position. 

The code which became a law in 1929 1S a further step toward 

limiting the action of park commissioners. But that step clearly 

m 

' 1921-1927, pp. 12-13, 

. Torrey, Slate Parks 

United States (Washington, • 
• 

• 

• 

e. 

poi'l\5 the ""\ to the cr·eation of a State counc1l on Parks such 

as already "''sts in several leading states, it being obvious 

that the e'<isting depanments at the State Cap•tol having the 

over·sight aver forests and waters and prope.-t1es and supplies 

cannot give to state par·k pr•oblems the attention required. For 

some l1me past that attention has been confined mostly to 1ncome 

and expend1tures which are only a part of the questions 

aris1ng. That a department should be required to pass on the 

details ot the sale of fir·ewood from a few dead trees 1n a p<>rk 

is a useless and wasteful expenditure of energ;· and time. A 

non-pol·ltical State Counc'•l on Parks, serving Without pay whose 

public authority should be confined exclusively to the st<>te 

oarks, and "' small local park commission such as govern a 

number of towns more efficiently than is done by town councils 

or \\ith the state park managed by a pa1d superintendent 1n a 

way similar to the direction of the City of Cincinnati by a city 

manager, would seem to be the inev1table outcome of the 

preliminary steps already taken by past and present laws of the 

state. (2} 

THE YEARS 1923-1925 

On November 3, 1923, the new Valley Forge Park Commission was 

organi;:ed under provision of the administrative code at a meeting in 

Philadelphia. Because of "economies which generally affected all 

departments of the State government," the appropriation for the 

maintenance of the park ,,as only $35,000 for the 1923-25 biennium.(3} 

The new commission reported that this amount was so small that it was 

"extremely difficult to protect the interests committed to its care, and 

impossible to engage in any new developments."(4} 

Only two month!;· reports by Jerome J. Sheas, the park assistant 

superintendent, are extant from this period. Both reports submitted in 

February and March 1925, indicate the reduced level of maintenance 

operations and progr<>m of park improvements. In February the assistant 

superintendent reported: 

2. Heport of The 

Penns:,-lvania, August 

Valley Forge Park CommiSSIOn, Commonwealth 

30, 1927 to June J., 1929, pp. 9-10. 

3. On May 25, 1923, the park comm1ssoon forwarded a report to 

Governor Pinchot detail1ng the min1mum costs, est•mated at $21,000 per 

year, for operat1ng and maintaining the park. Scott to P1nchot, May 25, 

1923, Correspondence, RG 46, PHMC. A copy of this letter may be seen 

1n AppendiX B. 

4. Repor!s of T'>e Valley Forge Park Commiss1on, 1921-27 p. 14 . 
Our entire force consist of nine men, including a guard at 

Headquarters, on account of the very heavy snowfall the men 

were chiefly engaged in opening drives, paths, etc., especial 

attention was paid to gutters to releave [sic] the roads of any 

accumulation of water as quickly as possible. 

We also started to clean out traces of woodlands, where a 

contractor previously had taken out chestnut poles and posts, 

and in consequence thereof left tops, branches, etc. behind. 

These tracts prove to be a great menace in spring and fall, 

when conditions are ripe for forest fires we often find it nearly 

impossible to combat fires in them, first on account of their 

location, and second in not having the proper fire fighting 

equipments. Our intentions are to keep up the work until 

warmer weather sets in, when we have to go b<!ck to the 

regular road and work again. 

As to repairs of the different buildings and structures, may I 

call your attention to 

Washingtons Headquarters: 

Where chimneys, kitchen floor and loft ought to repaired, and 

also the pavement leading up to and around the quarters needs 

improving. I believe it would prove to be good policy to have 

a responsible person inspect the building as to its condition and 

safety, because in the last season over 200,000 visitors passed 

through the house, even the past month with its inclement 

weather brought 488 callers. 

Picnic Grove: 

Where, besides making repairs to the different buildings, and 

water hydrants, we need several hundred feet of tables and 

benches, as there has no replacement been made in the last 

three seasons. The ever increasing numbers of visitors demand 

these accommodations. 

Observatory: 

This structure has not received any attention for nearly five 

years where on former days it was customary to have it 

inspected and painted every other season. 

Roads: 

We also need a liberal supply of Tarvia K.P. and Chips to 

repair our different bituminous roads as soon as the conditions 

of the same warrants such work.(5) 

5. Assistant Superintendent, Valley Forge Park to Commissioners of 

Valley Forge Park, February 13, 1925, Correspondence, RG 46, PHMC . 

"' 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

The following month he reported: 

Work completed 

Favorilble weather condiUons assisted us 1n cleaning up several 

tracts of woodland near Ft. Washington and the Tower, which 

are now tree of storm torn and dead timber. Badly diseased, 

therefore dangerous trees along the drives were removed. The 

different orchards received some attention also. 

Work contemplated 

Trimming the trees in the Picnoc Grove, hauling firewood to the 

storage place at the Toolhouse, starting to clean inlets and 

gutters and to patch roads, picking the mowing fields clear of 

stones, branches, bottles, etc., also overhead our divers 

mowing equipments. 

Roads 

Our roads while in fair condition at the present time, will not 

last long to be so, when warm and dry weather starts to 

disintegrate the surface. 

Even now we must patrol the re-constructed, but not finished 

Gulph Road, every day to stop her from unravellmg . 

Motorist quickly perceiving the ideal roadbed, are using it as a 

more direct route to gain the Main Line, often at a fiendish rate 

of speed. 

Guards 

Therefore I urgently request, if it is possible to do so, the 

calling to Duty of at least two guards to suppress reckless 

drivmg especially on Gulph Road and Outer Line Drive.{&) 

Despite the paucity of the park appropriation officials continued to 

<::Ontend with large numbers of visitors. In 1924 some 387,500 persons 

visited the park, with 210,500 registering at Washington's Headquarters. 

The largest crowd to visit the park that year occurred on September 26 

when more than 4,000 persons attended exerc1ses at the Waterman grave 

under the auspices of The Carpenter Company of Philadelphia. 

Early m fiscal year 1923 the general assembly appropriated to the 

Department of Forests and Waters for the exclusive use of the Valley 

Forge Park Commission a fund of $500,000, allocated for payment of land 

rudgments with interest and costs, covering awar·ds to various Iarmer 

owners for lands previously acquired by condemnatJOn for the par-k. 

Durmg the 1923-25 biennium the commission completed the land 

settlements, clearing up all judgment balances for land acquisitron to date 

6 I bid. , March 9, 1925, Correspondence, RG 46, PHMC. 
at a total cost of $469,367.01. Buildings on lands acquired were ordered 

demolished and contractors, under agreement, were not allowed to sell the 

structural materials remaining for use 1n construction of any building • 

within three miles of the park.(7) 

C. THE YEARS 1925-1927 

By 1925 the state's finances had improved considerably, and the state 

legislature, spurred by the appro<1ching celebration in nearby Philadelphia 

of the 150th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and the 

certainty of an •ncrease in the number of visitors to Valley Forge, 

responded with increased <lppropriations for the park. 

The appropriations for the 1925-27 biennium included $150,000 for 

maintenance and payment of interest on land purchases, pending final 

settlements with former owners of ground added to the park by 

condemnation proceedings, and $100,000 for the improvement and repair of 

roads, which, according to the park commission, "had fallen into neglect, 

occaslon1ng the most unfavorable remarks."(8) 

The park commission immediately set to work, upgrading the maintenance, 

interpretive, forestry, and preservation programs, as well as the recreational facilities, in the park. The road improvements, necessitated by the 

rising motor traffic to the park, were executed under the direction of the 

State Highway Department to insure that they "might be competently 

executed." Concurrently, the Montgomery County authorities improved 

the Port Kennedy Road through the park. By 1927 it was reported that • 

the park roads were in "an unexceptionable state of repair." 

Seepage through the masonry of the Memorial Arch continued to pose 

problems to park officials. Accordingly, in November 1925 a contract was 

let to the Presbrey-Leland Company of New York City to recover the 

"exposed verticle joints occurring in the cap stones" and provide for 

preservation of the monument.{9) 

New interpretive signs, based on research by the commission's historical 

committee, were placed throughout the park to emphasize the "historical 

significance" of the var1ous points of interest associated with the encampment. The appointment of Dr. Ellis Paxson Oberholtzer, author of A 

History of The United States Since The Civil War, as an aSSIStant to the 

historical committee reportedly "put knowledge of the Revolution and of 

7._ Reports of The Valley Forge Park Commission, 1921-27, pp. 10, 

22-23. 

8. Isaac R. 

(March, 1926), 

Pennypacker, 

343. 

"Valley Forge," 

9. Contract, 

Correspondence, 

Presbrey-Leland 

RG 46, PHMC. 

Company, 

American Mercury, v" 

November n, 1925, 

• 
• 

• 

• 

Amer-ican Histor1- gener-~11> at t11e disposal of the Commissro11." In late 

1926 tlw commissroners r·epor·ted: 

We have mar-ked and "'plarned site~ by many nev. signs. 

The signs already rn place had been mtroduced at a time when 

the Par·k had but a small acreage_ It had come by successive 

acquisrtrons to comprrse 1,425 acn!s. The need was at hand, 

therefore, tor a complete study ot new requrrements in l11is 

regard. Br-igade positions, headquarters houses, roads, the 

srte of Sulliv;,n's bridge, fortifications, etc_, were to be 

marked. At the same time a number of signs were er·ected 

giving directions to visrlors as to the boundaries of the Park, 

county lrnes, and the use of automobiles. Nearly 150 of these 

markers, frn1shed In conformity with those earlier in pos•tion, 

have been erected. 

A study of Washington's Headquarters l>'as conducted by Horace Wells 

Sellers, chairman of the Committee on Historical Monuments of the 

Philadelphia Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, result1ng in 

the conclusion "that in a number of respects it had been spoiled by ill 

adv1sed restoration." Accordingly, changes were made in the kitchen, 

areaway between the house <>nd the kJtchen, and steps leading down from 

the house to the are<Jway "in the interest of historical accuracy." Advice 

was also sought concern1ng room furnJshmgs m the structure with various 

unspecified changes being made. Hoods were removed from the chimneys, 

colonial-type roof shingles were substituted for the former tiles on the 

roof of the pent over the entrance, and trellises for old-fashioned roses 

were built against the south '-''all. A contract was let to remove "the 

modern cement pointing with which the walls were at some former time 

disfigured." 

In 1926 d building on the lawn just south of the headquarters, reportedly 

first used as a stable for Washmgton's army horses and later as an 

encampment hospital, was converted into the Valley Forge Park Museum. 

The 500 relics on display included "ammunitiOn, bayonets, scabbards, and 

other war material, uncovered at different times by excavation in the 

camp ground, household utensils, tools, co1ns and souven1rs of 

Washington, Wayne and other commanders." This was the f1rst time that 

all the commission's pictures and relics were "brought together in one 

place for the instruction and enjoyment of visitors." The walls featured 

"photographs of washington portraits, chronologically arranged," wh1ch 

had been presented to the Comm1ssion years before by Julius F. Sachse, 

and a "collection of portraits of Washington and his generals and a1des," 

together "w1th maps of the camp, pictures of the Washington Headquarters 

building, etc.," presented by Freder1ck D. Stone. All pictures belonging 

to the commission were cleaned and reframed "as much for their 

preservation as for their exhibition to the public." With the opening of 

the museum, the exhibition and souvenir sales room in the camp school 

house, WhJCh had been operated by John V. Franc1s of Oaks, 
Pennsylvania, since 1912, was closed. Thereafter, it was "open to view 

as the restoration of an old school room."(10) 

The changes to the headquarters and museum buildings led to the 

development of plans for the entire area 1n their vicinity. The area was 

lighted "by electricity in front of reflectors set in the ground" which 

were to be masked, thus avoiding "posts and gloves out of the spirit of 

the place." Plans were developed to restore the fences and gardens 

around the headquarters, and the "small house with a recent Mansard 

roof, south of the stable, used for some years as the office of the 

Commission, and as a residence for the Superintendent," was "altered to 

appearance in keeping with its surroundings." The barn in the rear of 

the headquarters area was renovated for office and storage space and a 

large public comfort station, the "unsightly sheds" then serving as 

comfort stations being demolished. The removal of the sheds opened the 

way "for an entire rearrangement of walks and drives around the 

Headquarters building." Space ne<1r the barn was converted for use as a 

parking area, and thereafter parking was dis<1llowed along the road in 

front of the building. Planting was undertaken "to effect a return of the 

entire <~rea around the Headquarters to an appearance suggestive of that 

which it wore when Washington lived here." The renov<~tions to the 

he<~dquarters, superintendent's house, and stable building furnished the 

visitor "with a pleasant picture of Colonial and Revolutionary times" along 

the Valley Road. 

Facilities were developed in other parts of the park during 1925-27 to 

accommodate the growing numbers of pari<. visitors. A large parking area 

was constructed "at the foot of the observatory on the summit of Mount 

Joy." New comfort stations were built near that parking area and at the 

picnic grove near Fort Huntington. In April 1926 the Philadelphia 

Suburban W<1ter Company installed "single p1pe line of thirty inch, 

twenty-four inch, and twenty inch water pipes" across the park. 

Originally the pipe line was to be laid along the Gulph Road right-of-w<ly. 

Rather than submit to the destruction of the new surface of this road the 

commission consented, "under conditions and restrictions, to the 

excavation of a trench by the most direct route from " point at the 

entrance of the Park east of the Phoenixville road to a point on the south 

boundary, beyond the National Memorial Arch on the way to Bryn Mawr, 

the objective of the line." In return for this privilege, branch service 

lines were laid to the house on the Huntington Quarters site and Mount 

Joy. Telephones were also installed in "<1 number of l<.ey positions" in the 

p<~rk. 

Planting of trees and shrubbery <~round the Memorial Arch was 

commenced, and in "a comparatively short time" the commission expected 

"that the nakedness of the knoll" on which the monument stood would "be 

10. After 1928 no one was permitted to sell souvenirs on the park 

except for veterans who sold poppies on "Poppy Day." Daily 

November 12, 1935, Newspaper Clippings File, Valley Forge 

County Historical Soc1ety. 

218 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

lost in verdure_" At the request of th<> c;overr>or· of MassaLhu;ells, the 

commission agreed to relocate the Massachusells mernor~al "to a more 

appropnate i!djacent position" in "pursuit ol an ~rrongement of walks and 

vistas <tgreeable to the eye." Additional plant,ng was also <:arrJed out 

around the Wayne Statue. 

The commission drew up comprehensive plans "for 1ts own guidance and 

as a suggestion to future commissions" for the landscape development of 

the park. The plans were prepared largely under the direction of Rochard 

5. Burns, a landscape architect. The plans were designed to meet the 

need "of a comprehenSive polrcy for the arrangement of all new features 

within the Park, the readjustment ol existrng features that are 

incongruous and the preservation of all desirable possessmns with a view 

to restoring the ground as a natural rural area to somewhat the same 

form and condition in which it was when it was occupied as a camp." 

A park brochure in June 1926 was prepared for free d1str1bution to the 

public by the guards. The brochure included a "succinct statement of 

the historical significance of Valley Forge" and a map showing the roads 

and principal places of interest.'' (A copy of this brochure may be seen 

in Appendix C.) 

Wh1le the acquisition of condemned land proceeded slowly during 1925-27, 

the commission developed plans for the eventuality when "the site of the 

old Bapt•st Road to the old Fatland Ford on the Schuylkill" became 

available. It was proposed that the path of this road, "over which the 

Revolutionary commands which were stationed here constantly passed," be 

cleared of undergrowth, thus opening to pedestrians and horse riders "a 

way to the ruins of an old picket hut which IS one of the valued relics of 

the Revolution. 11 According to the commission, nothing "of more historical 

value in the Park" remained "undeveloped." 

The commission also reported in 1926 that a "number of useless buildings 

without historical significance acquired upon settlement of land claims" 

needed to be razed. Other structures, wh1ch were not obstructions and 

promised to be serviceable for administrative purposes, required extensive 

repairs. Two old houses west of Valley Creek and south of the 

Phoenixville Road were "remodelled and restored 1n the Colon1al spirit." 

The number of 

567,518 in 1926. 

visitors to the park increased to 478,921 

In the latter year the commission noted: 

in 1925 and 

It is of interest to note the number of persons 

Park. Even 1n winter time, when it •s seen 

advantage, it is the objective of many people. 

1913, there were only 54 visitors at Washington's 

In 1924 and 1925 there were never less than 

during a winter month. 

who visit the 

to the least 

In December, 

Headquarters. 

2,500 visitors 

In the calender year 1925 our guards counted approximately 

225,000 visitors at Headquarters, with a very much larger 

number in the Park. In the summer of 1926 the Headquarters 

was visited on a Sunday by 4,500 persons. F1ve times this 

number of persons came to the Park, since many do not attempt 
to enter the building, because of the crowds surrounding the 

doors, or prefer simply to drive over the roads to look at the 

entrenchments and survey the extern<~ I scene. ( 11) 

During this period of incre<~sing park development and Isaac 

R. Pennypacker, who would become chairman of the 

Commission in fiscal year 1927, published a scathing article in 

Mercury discussing the relative merits of state and federal 1 1 

of parks by comparing the operation of Valley Forge and Gettysburg 

respectively. He observed: 

' 

Across three Pennsylvania counties from the old campground 

lies the battle-field of Gettysburg. Valley Forge is a State 

park; Gettysburg is a nat1onal park. In acquiring <1nd caring 

for the former, an area of 1,428 acres, Pennsylvania has so far 

appropriated $1,998,150. Toward the Gettysburg park of forty 

square miles Congress, between 1895 and 1924, appropriated 

$1,847,522. 50. Before Gettysburg C<lme under national control 

the Memorial Association spent a little over $100,000 upon the 

battle-field, at a cost of only $10,000 for salaries and other 

administrative expenses. One million tourists visited 

Gettysburg in 1924, and 800,000 go to Valley Forge yearly; 

they come from many foreign countries and from most of the 

States of the union. 

A consideration of the two parks together, 

the other State, may throw some light 

wriggling of Americans between state 

the one national <lnd 

upon the persistent 

and national control. 

The Valley Forge Pi!rk Commission, 1921-27 1 pp. 14-22. 

~1925-26 were: 

Total Visitors .... 

Washington Headquarters 

1925 

4781921 

230' 650 

These visitors came by var1ous methods of transportation 

including 9S,395 autos, 4,214 busses, 495 motorcycles, 589 

bicycles and 10 carriages. Also 353 equestrians were checked 

in the Park. 

Total Visitors .... 

Washington Hei!dquarters 

1926 

Vehicles checked by guards mcluded 121,973 autos, 

427 motarcycles <tnd 410 bicycles. 

567,518 

282,521 

867 busses, 

Also see "Report To Accompany the General Sketch Plan For The Further 

• 

• 

Development Of The Revolutionary Camp Ground At Valley Forge, • 

Pennsylvania," by J'ljchard S. Burns, 1926, RG 2, VAFO Archives. 

220 
• 

• 

• 

Here it will be shown, as it has been in so many other matters, 

that the measure of defect and of merit is about the same in 

State and nation, that good or bad results spring from sensible 

or faulty administration, and that the best results, State or 

national, come from administrations which are confmed simply to 

keeping the machinery running. Administrators like Roosevelt, 

Woodrow Wilson and, in Pennsylvaniil, Governor Pinchot, who 

strive to be supermen, only put spokes in the governmental 

wheels, as Gettysburg and Valley Forge both demonstrate. For 

a considerable period lfl recent years both of these parks 

became caves of Adullam for all Americans who possessed any 

historical sense. But that most persons, cultured or otherwise, 

are without that sense, just as many persons are color-blind 

and others tone-deaf, found ample substantiation at both 

places. 

After describing the development of Gettysburg, Pennypacker turned to 

the politics and intrusions affecting the operation of Valley Forge. In a 

somewhat cryptic manner, he commented: 

History bulked so large in the marking of the Gettysburg field 

that in many, if not most, of the memorials art had slight 

consideration, so that it cannot be said there was any contest 

between the two. At Valley Forge, however, there has been a 

clash--not between history and art, but between the church 

and persons barren of the historical sense on the one side, and 

history and the State on the other. This contest has, in the 

main, gone unnoted. The newspapers have had none of it. An 

occasional vo1ce of protest has been raised only to subside 

before public inertia. It has thus not been an open clash, but 

it has been a contest nevertheless. 

Subsequent to the year 1903, when it became possible to set 

about seriously the establishment of a State park at Valley 

Forge, Pennsylvania was fortunate in having several governors 

who were especially interested in American history, and who 

saw that sufficient appropriations were made to acquire and 

preserve the old camp-ground. But when Gifford Pmchot 

became governor with the support of many women voters, he at 

once set about a policy of economy, temporarily much vaunted 

but soon discovered to include the cutting down of necessary 

work and the non-payment of bills due by the State under 

contract. 

The effect of this "economy" at Valley Forge was disastrous. 

The roads went unrepaired and quickly disintegrated. The 

park guards and other employees' were unpaid for five months. 

When the park comprised but 480 acres there were nine guards. 

Now, when it includes 1,428 acres, there are but seven. This 

small force finds it impossible to prevent the destructive 

American tourist, who brings to Valley Forge his exaggerated 

idea of personal liberty from committing vandalism. Frequently 

221 
the Soy Scouts, limiting sentiment to their regalia, emulate with 

their little hatchets George Washington's mythical feat upon a 

cherry-tree. Again a body of pupils frorn a Philadelphia 

public-school strove to show how they have profited by the 

exarnple of the ancient Huns. After a Summer Sunday there is 

left on the campground all the usual ntter of the slovenly 

American crowd. On Memorial Day in May, its character long 

since lost, and on Labor Day in September the deposit of such 

litter reaches its peak. 

But, after all, the conduct of these new Americans is less 

harmful than certain plans that have been attempted and even 

carried out by older Americans who ought to know better. The 

State of Rhode Island, for instance, provided a sum of money 

for the erection of a memorial at Valley Forge. The State's 

governor and members of the Rhode Island Commission visited 

the grounds and were much taken with the prominence of the 

site of the Star redoubt, an earthwork overlooking the 

Schuylkill river, erected by Washington's engineers. At once 

they proposed to place the Rhode Island memorial on this 

redoubt--a naive suggestion, of whose impropriety they seemed 

totally unconscious. The Park Commission, then composed of 

competent men, decided that no memorial to Rhode Island troops 

or any other troops should be erected on the earthwork, but 

granted permission to Rhode Island to erect a memorial within 

twenty feet of it. The sovereign State thereupon refused to 

erect any memorial at all, a decision perhaps befitting the small 

boy of the Union and the last to adopt the national 

Constitution. 

The contest to prevent similar unseemly intrusions has been 

constant. A suburban gas and electric company tried to run its 

"poles through the park without asking for permission. The 

protection of the courts had to be sought. Then a trolley 

company undertook to lay its tracks through the park, and that 

misguided and selfish effort was also frustrated. Americans 

from miles around opposed the removal from Valley Creek of a 

dam which was not there when Washington's army was. World 

War survivors have wanted to erect a World War memorial on the 

camp-ground. One group after another comes forward to utilize 

the memories of the place for promotion of this or that purpose 

on no way related to it. And the church group has come near 

effecting what Howe and Clinton, in possession of Philadelphia, 

did not even attempt--the capture of Valley Forge. 

While the equestrian statue of Anthony Wcyne by Bush-Brown, 

and the National Arch by Paul Cret are both commendable, it is 

perhaps fortunate that there 1S as yet not much of statuary or 

architecture on the camp-ground. Here and there is to be seen 

a piece of sculpture which shows that the Park Commission is 

not an authority in art matters. It would be well of a body like 

the Washington Fine Arts Commission or the Philadelphia Art 

Jury, to be composed of men of high standing, such as Charles 

Grafly, head of the schools of sculpture 1n Philadelphia and 

m 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

were created 

A competent 

and, as such 

Boston, 

memorials. 

submitted, 

the better. 

and given control over proposed 

body would reject most of the designs 

things go, the more thilt are rejected 

The movement of the church toward the capture of Valley Forge 

has been led by an energetic clergyman of the Protestant 

Episcopal sect, and has taken the concrete form of what is 

popularly called a "cathedral," regardless of the facts that it is 

not the principal church of the diocese nor the bishop's church 

and that the bishop's seat being elsewhere, if he has a seat, it 

contains no proper bishop's throne. This "cathedral" stands 

just over the edge of the State park. Viewed historically, it is 

an intrusion, since there was no church or need of a church in 

the vicinity during the Revolutionary period. 

lt5 proximity to Valley Forge Park, although the two are 

entirely distinct, has made it possible for the rector, with a 

Valley Forge appeal, to gather from differerJt States a collection 

of relics of the RevolutiorJary period, amorJg them IVashingtorJ's 

tent, contributed by the Lee family of Virginia. Other person5 

including the Maryland descendant of a favorite side of 

Washington, who have been asked to give to this museum have 

declined because of grave doubts of the propriety of an 

enterprise which has the appearance of building in an unrelated 

way upon the fame of the camp-ground, and is without State 

supervision and in a peculiar sense an individual effort. .. 

The r"ctor of the "cathedral" is one of the most recent 

appointees to th" Valley Forge Commission. He signalized his 

appearance on the board by advocating the sale of 450 acres of 

the camp-ground and the erection in a conspicuous place of a 

museum to hou5e the "cathedral" collection. As is often the 

case, his desire to attain an end caused him to overlook the 

illegality of the proposal. The State lodged no power to sell 

land in the commission. The purpose of the State has been to 

conserve Valley Forge, not to go into the real estate business. 

Full of enthusiasm for the "cathedral," persons more interested 

in it than in the camp-ground have been known to suggest to 

the park guards that they direct tourists to it. In magazines 

and other periodicals articles laudatory of the beauty of its 

windows and its architecture have been silent as to the work of 

many years in the preservation and interpretation of the campground. Here, then, is a contest between the church on one 

side and history and the State on the other--a rivalry begun 

by the church unnecessarily, and unfortunate for the church at 

large. . .(12) 

12. Pennypacker, "Valley Forge," 341-45 . 

m 
D. THE YEARS 1927-1929 

A movement to have Valley Forge made a national reservation was again 

promoted by var1ous groups in 1927. Hoping to head off this movement 

in its early stages, the commission adopted a resolution, drafted by 

chairman Isaac R. Pennypacker, for distribution to the press. The 

resolution read in part: 

The exercise of national control over the Gettysburg battle-field 

park is a warning of the danger to Valley Forge involved in the 

transfer of such control to the nation. Without due regard for 

the Gettysburg park and without proper foresight as to the 

probably [sic] consequences, during the administrations of 

President Roosevelt and Wilson, the Marines, War College 

students, tank units and other military bodies, were encamped 

in the park. Many memorials erected by the loyal states and a 

number of markers were mutilated, trees and shrubbery were 

injured or destroyed, and much wanton destruction was done by 

the thoughtless and irreverent element in the soldiery. 

It should be a matter of pride to all Pennsylvanians that 

whereas in Virginia mules and cows were turned loose to 

pasture upon and trample down the earthworks where Cornwallis 

surrendered to Washington, at the same time when Virginians 

were petitioning the national government to preserve them, the 

State of Pennsylvania unaided by the nation, preserved the 

Valley Forge camp ground, cared for it and furnished the 

information by which was determined the location of 

Washington's troops from the several states. 

To relinquish the care of this "holy ground," and place it in 

the uncertain custody. of Washington officialdom, which for many 

years, in the Congress, in the War Department, 1n the 

Interstate Commerce Commission and often in the Presidential 

office, has shown much indifference to the interests of 

Pennsylvania, would be to imperil the work thus far so well 

advanced. 

It would subject the camp ground to pressure from other states 

to erect unfit memorials in improper places, and experience 

shows that Pennsylvania protests would fall upon deaf ears. 

Abdicat1on usually follows a lost cause. For Pennsylvania to 

abdicate her authority over Valley Forge, long exercised with 

high mtelligence, patriotism and liberality, and with the 

approval of all her people except the representatives of special 

interests that look with greedy eye for the flight of the spirit 

of Valley Forge, would be to turn her back upon the honorable 

examples set by her sons in every state and national crisis. If 

such abandonment of privilege, pride, duty and authority 

should occur, the Gettysburg precedent points clearly to the 

dilapidation reasonably certain to ensue at Valley Forge and to 

224 

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• 

the prospect that the burden of repairing the damage will be 

thrown back upon Pennsylvania.(13) 

The Valley Forge Park Commission devoted much of its energy during the 

1927-29 bienn1um to promoting the expansion of the park boundaries. In 

1927 a bill was introduced in the State Senate by James S. Boyd of 

Norristown to appropriate $250,000 for maintenance and extension of the 

park area from 1,500 to 5,000 acres. The bill was enthusiastically 

endorsed by the commission because of its desire to prevent "unsightly 

commercial building operations or industrial or other undesirable 

development" near the fringes of the historic encampment area. Hearings 

were held on the bill <>nd a number of prominent citizens testified in favor 

of its passage. These witnesses included: Rt. Rev. Thomas J. Garland, 

Bishop of the Pennsylvania Diocese of the Protestant Episcopal Church; 

Dr. John B. Stoudt, president of the Huguenot Society; Or. J. Horace 

McFarland of Harrisburg; William Wayne, president of the Pennsylvania 

Society of the Cincinnati; H. W. Kriebel of Pennsburg; Henry N. 

Woolman, trustee of the University of Pennsylvania; Wallace E. Chadwick, 

chairman of the Valley Forge Committee of the General Alumni Society of 

the University of Pennsylvania, and Norris S. Barratt, Jr., secretary of 

the Pennsylvania Society, Sons of the Revolution. Other citizens sent 

messages in support of the bill. These included; Horace Wells Sellers, 

former president of the Philadelphia Chapter of the American Institute of 

Architects; Col. Samuel Price Wetherill, president of the Philadelphia 

District of the Tri-State Planning Federation; John F. Lewis, president of 

the Academy of the Fine Arts; Eli K. Price, president of the City Parks 

Association; and Frank E. Leitch, field secretary of the Chester County 

Recreational Centres Association. (14) 

Despite the general enthusiasm of the park commission for the bill, one of 

its members W. Herbert Burk, rector of the Washington Memorial Chapel, 

was outspoken 1n his opposition to the bill. Burk, who had opposed 

previous proposals to extend the park boundaries, explained his position 

on the b1ll to the press in February 1928: 

Until exhaustive research has been 

National and State historians we 

whatever should be done to change 

Park. 

made by a committee of 

are appointing, nothing 

or enlarge Valley Forge 

The mere addition of surrounding ground would tend 

overshadow <he campmg ground itself, eod would have 

historic importance. " ;; "" ' suitable thing " create 

00 " 

• 

playground 00 <he fringes of this hallowed spot. ' have 

strived " keep <he spiritual values of <he historic ground 

fhe front, '"d " " unalterably opposed " what seems " be 

picnicking plans. 

13. Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, October 12, 1927. 

14. Report of The Valley Forge Park Commission, 1927-29, pp. 4-5 . 

225 
Noting that Burk was the only commission member to oppose the bill, Dr. 

Ellis P. Oberholtzer, assistant se<:retary of the commission, responded • 

cryptically; 

never heard of any such committee being appointed. 

If there's such a committee, it's a creation of his own mind. 

He isn't a historian, and doesn't know what he's talking about. 

For ten years he's been saying sufficient data is not available 

about the park, and he'll probably keep on saying it for ten 

years more. He is the only member of the Commission of 

fourteen who doesn't approve of the present plans for the 

park.(15) 

During 1928 the park commission's land committee directed Richard S. 

Burns, the resident park landscape architect, to estimate "the 

approximate amount of acreage adjoining the reservation" that was 

"desirable for acquisition" to provide "for a broader historical and 

recreational service and the preservation of present park values." After 

carrying out a study "of the potentialities of surrounding areas," Burns 

prepared a "Preliminary Report on Park Extensions at Valley Forge" in 

June 1928. Burns prefaced his recommendations for park extensions by 

describing the conceptual framework from which such extensions were to 

be justified. He observed: 

Since Valley Forge Park is primarily a Historical Park, 

preserved for public enjoyment as a shrine where one of the 

most significant and appealing historic events in the history of 

the nation took place, any extension to the present 1428 acres 

that comprise the main encampment area of Washington's Army 

should further protect and advance its far-reaching and unique 

purpose and influer~ce as such. Hence the primary 

consideration in selecting adjoining lands is their relative cost 

and present use as compared with their existing and potential 

proportionate value for in some way or another furthering this 

purpose. Upon first thought and purely from a historical 

viewpoint the ideal in extension is to acquire, restore, and 

preserve all sites and structures that were connected with the 

old encampment. Upon further study it is noted that these 

features are scattered over thousands of acres of highly valued 

and economically useful land in various directions, that most of 

them have been greatly altered and semblance and knowledge of 

their original appearance has disappeared, and that many are so 

situated that their exploitation under private ownership will not 

seriously impair the appearance or value of the main 

encampment area that embraces the existing 1428 acres of Valley 

Forge Park. With those considerations in mind this latter area 

15. Coatesville Record, February 13, 1928, Newspaper Clippings File, 

Valley Forge Park, Chester County Historical Society. 

226 

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properly preserved and protected, m<1y in the future, as 1t has 

in the past, ilmply fulfill the basic purpose of the reservation 

without the enormous expenditure required for a complete 

inclusion of all historical sites. 

Accepting the present park therefore as a nucleus about which 

a protective web of adjoining land is needed in every direction, 

the surrounding territory is divided into areas on the pl<m for 

convenience, the extent of such are<! away from the nucleus 

depending upon the ilmount of acreage required to offer border 

protection, to preserve historic or scenic assets within its 

natural boundaries <1gainst misuse, or to tie harmoniously with 

other forecasted commendable land and highway projects in the 

vicinity. While it is possible that all such forecasted projects 

may not be ultimately realized, our recognition of them will be 

of material help in bringing them about and no great injury to 

the extensions as drawn will result from having recognized 

them. If Valley Forge Park is to be an important link in a 

unified Park and Parkway system, and the utmost influence and 

enjoyment of the reservation as a historical shrine is to be 

realized, cooperation with forward looking public proposals such 

as those made by the Regional Planning Federation of the 

Philadelphia Tri-State District will be necessary. 

Accordingly, Burns recommended the acquisition of nine generally-defined 

areas, totaling 3,480 acres, for addition to the park. The areas 

receiv1ng highest priority were a 1,400-acre tract on Mount Misery, 570 

acres on the north bank of the Schuylkill, and 145 acres on the river's 

south bank. Also recommended for purchase were the 35-acre Ehret 

Magnesia Manufacturing Company holdings, considered to be "undeniably 

objectionable" and 01 "detriment to park values and enjoyment," and the 

Washington Inn with its "modern additions which distinctly detract from 

the desired historical aspect of the locality."(16) 

When the Burns' report was presented to the commission, Burk, who at 

the time was proposing to build a $10,000,000 National Washington 

Memorial Church near his chapel, and two other members of the 13-person 

park commission voted against it. So disturbed by the report was Burk 

that he published a pamphlet, entitled "What Shall we Do With Valley 

Forge," to publicize his opposition. Labeling the report as "unhistorical 

and unsocial," he described the document as 

a land-grabbing scheme, unworthy 

good citizens and staunch patriots. 

of serious consideration by 

Valley Forge is vastly more 

16. "Preliminary Report 

to the Valley Forge 

Supplemented December, 

Architect, Valley Forge 

See Appendix D for a 

on P;wk Extensions at Valley Forge, Submitted 

Park Commission, June 1928 (Revised and 

1928)," Richard S. Burns, Resident Landscape 

Park, Penna., Correspondence, RG 46, PHMC. 

copy of relevant excerpts from Burns' report. 

227 
than an excuse for devastating 

raid upon the State Treasury. 

exlstence.(17) 

a countryside, or for making a 

It is the reason for a Nation's 

Burns revised his preliminary report with a supplement in December 1928, 

in part to adjust the commission's land acquisition plans to political 

realities. The earlier report, according to Burns, provided for "a 

comprehensive plan for extension that forwards the primary purpose of 

the Park" by: 

Protecting it against injurious neighboring 

Preserving historical and natural assets that are 

boundaries. 

Planning its future so that it will merge 

with other commendable public projects proposed 

'';"':~'{{;:;:(i't:~:;:A•;':''~v:iating any necessity for its overcrowding and with recreation features or public utilities 

and i designed to meet the needs of more visitors 

than can be accommodated with propriety. 

Since few of the recommended land parcels would ever be lower in cost 

than at present, "economy as well as the best development and 

management" would be promoted "by immediate acquisition of the total 

acreage." However, it was becoming clear that "appropriations for such 

• 

simultaneous and complete annexation" would "be deferred in the interests • 

of minimizing the present cost and spreading the land purchases over a 

term of years so as to follow the pace of surrounding regional and other 

developments." Thus he developed a priority list for land acquisition. 

Some 1,800 acres were categorized as "imperative extensions." These 

lands were "for the most part over comparatively little used lands" which 

were "natural asseh to the locality and adaptable for public use without 

the addition of expensive improvement." The extensions were 

"particularly imperative for public preservation before private 

exploitation" reduced "their natural or historical attractiveness and 

consequent value as additions to the Park." The imperative extensions 

were: 

1. 145 acres along the south bank of the Schuylkill 

2. 30 acres north of Valley Creek Road 

3. 400 acres of forest area on Mount Misery 

4. 300 acres along the north bank of the Schuylkill 

S. 40 acres near Port Kennedy entrance to park 

6. 60 acres along Schuylkill just west of Washington's Headquarters 

7. 825 acres of forest area extending from Mount Misery to Jug 

Hollow 

17. W. Herbert Burk, 

1'328), n.p. A copy of 

Congress. 

"What Shall We Do With Valley Forge?" (N.P., 

this publication may be found at the Library of 

228 • 
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• 

Some 850 acres were listed as "less imperative extensions." This acreage 

was less desirable, "being already exploited or usefully employed either 

as farms, homes, estates, or commercially and hence involving a 

comparatively high expenditure for their purchase and incorporation into 

Park land." These proposed extensions included: 

2. 

e. 

4 

5. 

6. 

30 acres at eastern end of Valley Forge Village near park 

entrance 

145 acres along Out"'r Line Drive extending to Trout Run 

200 acres near Port Kennedy extending to Trout Run 

215 acres extending to Trout Run outlet 

30 acres including Ehret Magnesia Company, Washington Inn, 

and row of houses in Port Kennedy 

230 acres along Valley Creek 

Four areas, 

extensions." tot<~ling some 865 acres, were listed as "least imperative These included: 

1. 420 acres along Perkiomen Creek 

2. 260 acres north of the Schuylkill 

3. 65 acres north of the Schuylkill 

4. 120 acres including portions of Valley Forge Village, Perkiornen 

Junction, Stirling's quarters, protectory grounds, Mauch horne, 

Morgan's quarters, and Muhlenberg's quarters.(18) 

On January 11 1 1929, the park commission held a special meeting with 

several men prominent m the field of state and local parks and 

recreation. These men, who endorsed the extension plans of the 

commission, included L. H. Weir, a consultant and camp specialist to 

national, state, and municipal parks from New York and field secretary of 

the American Association on Recreational Centres, JudgeS. F. Northrup 

of the Playground and Recreation Association of America, and Frank E. 

Sutch, executive secretary of the Chester County Recreational Board. 

After touring the park Weir addressed the commission: 

For the preservation of Washington's Camp Ground, the people 

of the Nation owe the State of Pennsylvania an everlasting debt 

of gratitude. But as a result of my visit today it seems to me 

that much more remains to be done. As the boundaries are 

drawn now, certain historical Sites are not included. These fall 

within the natural and logical limits of the Park. Furthermore 

there are lands which topographically are ind-Icated as desirable 

additions to the reservation, such as the extensive forested 

ridge lying to the west of Valley Creek, running up its slopes 

and over the crest called Mount Misery, the adjoining banks of 

the Schuylkill and portions of the banks of the Perkiomen. 

18. Ibid. A copy of a map of the park prepared in 1928 may be seen on 

the following page . 

229 
' w 

0 

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fiRAHO 

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• 

I feel very strongly that this ground should be secured, not 

only because of its historical interest, but by reason of the 

absolute need of creating a surrounding belt for the protection 

of a Ni!tional shrine, such as this one has become. Only in 

this way can the integrity of the main encampment area be 

preserved and made inviolate against undesirable developments 

in the adjacent territory. While guarding the campground, this 

belt can be put to recreational uses not consonant with the 

campground itself. Space rn this belt can be found for picnic 

grounds, tourists camps, an airport perhaps, and for other 

objects as ttle need comes. 

It seems to me that you have been very conserviltive in your 

plans for extension when Valley Forge is compared, for 

example, with the Harrim<1n section of the Palis<1des Interstate 

P<1rk of nearly 56,000 acres and the Allegheny State Park of 

nearly 60,000 acres, <~nd many others th<1t might be named. 

You have been very modest in proposing that your park sh<1ll 

be extended to 5,000 acres. My own feeling is that bec<1use of 

the lack of any large state P<~rk created and existing for the 

enjoyment of the people in this region, you could go farther 

and ask for <~n extension of your jurisdiction over a still 

greater are<!. So while I <!pprove of your pl<1ns <1nd hope that 

they will be endorsed by your Legisl<~ture, I am hopeful th<lt in 

no long time <lnd before suburban values <1dvance to such a 

point as to make it difficult, if not prohibitive, you will re<1ch 

out <1nd bring more l<1nd into the reservation entrusted to your 

c<~re.(19) 

In mid-March 1929 he<lrings were again held in Harrisburg before the 

Senate Appropriations Committee on a revised bill for the extension of the 

park. Armed with the Burns' report, commission ch<~irman Isaac R. 

Pennypacker <~ddressed the legisl<~tors: 

After c<~reful consideration from both the historic<!! and practical 

view the Valley Forge Park Commission <~dvocates the extension 

of the Park <~rea from 1500 <~cres to about 4500 acres and an 

appropriation by the Legislature of $500,000 to acquire adjacent 

land and also amounts for maintenance <~nd for certain 

restorative work such as the construction within the present 

park <~rea of the colonial dam and raceway on the Valley Creek, 

the <~cquiring of a colonial forge and putting it in place where 

stood the forge burned by the British during the Revolution<~ry 

War. 

From the pr<~ctical view it is obvious that the present p<!rk is 

menaced by the overflow of population from Philadelphi<l and the 

i!d]acent territory. In consider<~ble p<!rt the present park has 

19. Report of The Valley Forge Park Commission, 1927-29, pp. 5-6 . 

231 
no more of a natural frontier than existed between Prussia and 

Russia. As through generation after generation Prussian 

mothers were in daily fear that the Russians were coming, there 

exists at Valley Forge the daily danger that real estate 

speculators and builders of unattractive rows of houses will 

acqu1re lands adjacent to the present park, destroy with 

commonplace houses the natural and beautiful surroundings and 

make forever impossible the preservation of whilt can now be 

preserved. 

The people of Philadelphia are moving out that way by the 

thousands. The large estates are already being cut up and built 

upon, often with the sole object of getting the last dollar out of 

the operation. 

In the Valley Forge camp ground is a state possession of such 

extraordinary interest that people are drawn to it from the ends 

of the earth. It is for state executive and legislature to SilY 

whether in the future Americans, Europeans, Australians or 

New Zei!landers shall leave Vi!lley Forge with a feeling of 

regret, when the menace of bungalows or other unsightly 

structures has become a reality and a just cause for another 

generi!tion looking back to our time to excli!im, 'An opportunity 

lost. '(20) 

Pennypacker's testimony was i!bly supported by John R. K. Scott, 

chairman of the commission's land committee, Bishop Garland of the 

Pnltestant Episcopal Church, and J. Horace McFarland, a national park 

authority. Commission member Burk again spoke against the bill, stating 

that he was opposed to 

burying Washington's camp ground in a pleasure park. The 

whole country around Valley Forge really is a park now and the 

fine estates make it an attractive 5pot. 

The proposal outlined in Senator Boyd's bill is not based upon 

historical knowledge and in reality nothing should be done at 

Valley Forge until it is known definitely what should be done. 

The proposed park would cast between $10,000,000 and 

$15,000,000. Park experts felt that what we need is not so 

much a larger park but more uses for the park which we have 

now. 

The Boyd bill is a v1cious measure because it is not for the 

purchase of land but for the "designation" of land. This means 

that any property to be designated is a worthless tract on 

which no improvements can be made and which no owner can 

20. Ibid., pp. 6-8, and New York Times, March 17, 1929. 

232 

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• 
• 

• 

• 

sell. It Js placing the 

There's no time limit placed 

countryside under 

on this designation . ' dead hand. 

The bill is also objectionable because it follows the line of the 

Valley Forge Park Commission in many years, that pojjcy being 

to take what are called the cheap bungalows or homes of those 

in moderate means, but not touch the estates of the wealthy 

owners. That is an unsocial thing, condemning the poor man's 

home and leaving the rich. And it is further objectionable 

because it is a backyard development and contains no provision 

for the development of the p<1rk entrance along Gulph Road. (21) 

While the park commission was attempting to press for pdssage of the 

park extension bill, two issues Involving technical historical expertise 

were studied--placement of cannon in the park redoubts and style of the 

flag raised over Washington's Headquarters in 1777-78. In November 1928 

the question was raised "whether cannon had been properly placed in the 

small redoubts by a former Commission." Accordingly, Colonel John W. 

Wright, known as the leading authority in the United States Army on the 

use of artillery during the Revolutionary period, was consulted as "to the 

probable positions of the American artillery in the Valley Forge lines, 

especially the question as to whether or not any artillery was placed in 

the small redoubts." Writing in response to the inquiry from Fort 

Williams, Maine, on November 15, 1928, Wright confirmed "the position of 

the cannon as placed in the redoubts." While he admittedly had "no 

special knowledge of the American dispositions at Valley Forge," he did 

offer the following conclusions based on his research of Revolutionary 

period artillery emplacement and tactics: 

The eastern portion of the American first line behind which was 

placed the troops of Glover, Learned, Paterson, Weedon, 

Muhlenberg, consists of the redan trace, the redans being 

about 600 yards apart. Now these redans were for the purpose 

of delivering flank fire along the front and as the musket could 

cover only about 100 yards, evidently this front was not 

flanked by this weapon; it must have been flanked by artillery 

placed in these redans, the guns of each redan covering half of 

the total 600 or 300 yards, which they could do with grape most 

effectively. The western portion could be flanked by 

musketry, though, no doubt, there was some artillery here. 

The second line, undoubtedly, has a certain number of the 

heaviest guns in posHion, but the guns of the park could be 

retired to this position in sufficient time for defense. I should 

say that the extreme eastern redoubt of the front line had 

artillery as it covers the left flank along a road and appears to 

occupy an important position. Also the redoubt near the 

position of the train of Knox, which covers the right of the 

21. Report of The Valley Forge Park Commission, 1927-29, p. 8, and 

New York Tjmes, March 17, 1929 . 

233 
American advance Line. The redoubt in the center of the 

position, a star redoubt near the position of Varnum, probably 

had one or two long range guns, as it covered lhe bridge.(22) 

While the matter of cannon emplacement was being explored, the question 

"as to the style of flag raised at Washington's headquarters during the 

encampment period" was studied by Horace W. Sellers and Captain Byron 

McCandless of the United States Navy. Based on a report submitted by 

Sellers on December 3, 1928, the commission "directed that the flag of 

Washington's Life Guard be adopted for use at Washington Headquarters 

and a flag of that design was ordered to be made according to Mr. 

Sellers' drawings. "(23) 

During the 1927-29 biennium a "systematic" program of reforestation, 

planting, pruning, and spraying was initiated under Landscape Architect 

Burns. The reforestation program, according to Burns, was "started 

with a view to restoring, as nearly as our knowledge of the appearance of 

the woodlands in Revolutionary days will permit us to, the woodlands that 

existed in Colonial days throughout the encampment area, and also to 

start young trees in already wooded sections to replace older ones now 

fast dying off." Large numbers of trees were dying on Mount Joy, and 

thus reforestation was especially needed there. The reforestation 

program, according to Burns, was "restorative in purpose and carried out 

with native trees" especially "well adapted to our soil, situation, and 

climate." The quantities and varieties of trees, which were obtained 

primarily from the stocks of the Department of Forests and Waters, used 

in the program were: 1,000 pin oak, red oak, American elm, and sugar 

• 

maple in 6-12 foot sizes; 5,500 two-year red oak; 3,500 two-year white • 

pine; 50 2-3 foot white pine; 225 2-3 foot Canadian hemlock; 2,500 

one-year American elm; and 21 500 two-year white ash. The principal 

areas of the park where reforestation was initiated were on Mount Misery, 

the barren knoll to the rear of the Wayne Statue along Outer Line Drive, 

on the slope several hundred feet to the rear of Washington's 

Headquarters, along the slope by the Reading Railroad, and in the Valley 

Creek ravine. The benefits of this work would not be evident for many 

years until the striplings evolved 

into impressive forests, assuming that mean-while they will be 

nursed along through drought, fires, and the temptation to mow 

and 'clean up' the planted areas before the trees have attained 

sufficient size to be seen and mowed around. 

Since the integrity of the Park depends to a large extent on its 

appearance with relat1on to the event memorialized, the wooded 

areas, rural fields, and old buildings and barns compose the 

Park scene 1n which the general public benefits. Hence the 

22. Report of The Valley Forge Park Commission, 1927-29, pp. 12-13. 

23. Ibid., PP- 14-17. 

23< • 
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• 

value of reforestation cannot be overestimated when we realize 

that with the loss of virgin trees on our hills, with a still 

further cutting of the second growth, and with the added 

ravages of forest fires, the ground fertility is so depleted that 

few desirable and long-lived tree varieties remain. Less 

desirable and short-IJved species are encroaching on the 

reservation to the detriment of the general desired appearance 

of the Park. 

While the reforestation progr<tm was being carried out Burns and his crew 

also devoted attention to other planting in the park. Many plants that 

grew "in large quantities" on the reservation "in a wild state were 

collected and distributed throughout the Park." Several hundred plants, 

including the native flowering dogwoods, rhododendron, laurel, azalea, 

huckleberry, and ferns, were transplanted. Some established shrub beds 

were thinned out, and plants "that succumbed soon after planting were 

replaced." Establishment of "native shrub groups along Valley Creek and 

in other places where such planting advances the desired natural aspect 

of the Park" was started with native osiers, shadbush, redbud, New 

Jersey team, white fringe, and honeysuckle. 

A pruning and spraying program was also commenced during 1927-29 

under Burns. According to his assessment: 

Two of the Park laborers have been instructed in the proper 

methods of pruning and a large percentage of the individual 

trees 1n the park fields and along the drives have been 

attended to. Our pruning is done with a thought to retaining 

the natural shape of the trees, removing the excess wood in 

order to increase their vigor and create a framework that will 

not only give a sturdier appearance to the tree but that will 

also withstand ice and wind storms without breakage. Dead, 

diseased, weak, and crowded limbs are removed, and scars 

carefully treated, and the tree left in its natural, typical shape 

and condition. 

Spraying has been carried on the new power sprayer to a 

certain extent, the pit-making scale on Oaks being the principal 

pest at this time. 

Many of the mutilated, dangerously weak, and unsightly trees 

have been removed from the reservation and replaced by others 

of good character and more lasting qualities.(24) 

During the 1927-29 biennium the park commission took actual possession of 

a number of houses and other properties in the Port Kennedy area to 

which the state had acquired title some years earlier. Although the state 

24. Ibid., pp. 25-27 . 
had paid for the properties, former owners were still occupying the 

buildings, in several instances renting them and retaining the rental 

revenue. The commission removed 44 families from such buildings, one • 

family being ejected by the Sheriff of Montgomery County at the order at 

the state attorney general. The material of 30 houses was sold by the 

Department of Property and Supplies and the structures razed by the 

purchasers. Under the direction of Acting Superintendent Sheas the 

sites of the razed buildings and eight acres of adjoining land were graded 

and sown with grass seed. Eighteen lime kilns "were also wrecked and 

the sites graded." Fourteen stone houses were kept intact, nine of them 

being occupied by park employees. In six of these electric lighting was 

installed, {25) 

Regular maintenance and forest work was carried out during the 1927-29 

biennium by the park labor force, consisting of one carpent .. r, on" shop 

man, three machine operators, one teamster, and ten laborers. The 

maintenance work accomplished during 1928, which is representative of 

the period, included: 

Repair of nine miles of improved roads, one mile of dirt road, two 

miles of paths, and twenty-five miles of road bank and terraces, 

the latter· "clipped with scythes" 

Mowing with two tractor mowers, supplemented by two horse-drawn 

field mowers, of some 900 acres of grassland (mowed four times) 

Five houses painted 

Observatory and Washington's Headquarters painted under contract 

Cleaning out of fence rows in lately-acquired fields 

Addition of 500 feet of benches and tables at picnic grove 

The forest work carried out in 1928 included: 

Clean up of some 500 acres of woodland by gathering and burning 

fallen limbs and branches 

Cutting of all diseased, dead, and stunted trees from fourteen acres 

of forest land 

Removal of 84 dead trees from open fields(26) 

Park employees also began to keep the enclosed approach to and around 

the Waterman grave "clear of weeds and its luxurious growth of poison 

ivy." The site, owned by the Daughters of the Revolution, had not been 

maintained for some time. The commission considered the iron fence to be 

25. Ibid., pp. 27-28. The houses converted for use as park housrng 

included the Erwin double house, four Quigg cinderbank houses, the 

Douglass and Mullen houses, two double Balmer houses, three Balmer 

triple houses, and an old house in the rear of Balmer's store. Minutes, 

Valley Forge Park Commission, August 30, December 14, 1927. 

26. Valley Forge Park Commi5sion to Isaac R. Pennypacker, January 23, 

1929, Correspondence, RG 46, PHMC. 

236 

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• 

• 

both "unsightly and inappropri<~te" and urged its acquisition by the 

state. (27) 

During the summer of 1928 R. H. Pastorius, an experienced police 

officer, was hired to supervise the park guards. A training program wds 

begun for the park guards, and regulations, similar to those of Fairmount 

Park and the state constabulary, were adopted. For the first time a 

night watchman was stationed at Washington's Headquarters at a salary of 

$80 per month. A small building near the Washington Inn was remodelled 

to serve as headquarters for the guards. 

The first organized camping area on the park was opened during the 

1927-29 biennium. The camp was located some 300 yards south of the 

Wash•ngton Inn on an elevation east of Valley creek. A road leading to 

the area was improved, and a water supply system furnished. 

Additional parking facilities were provided in the park during 1927~29 as 

the result of a commission study. The general parking survey was 

prompted by problems resulting from visitors to Washington Memorial 

Chapel parking automobiles within that portion of the park where tradition 

said "that Continental soldiers were buried." This long~standing practice 

had destroyed the grass across from the chapel and cut the ground "into 

gullies rapidly deepened by rainfall." As a result of the study additional 

parking facilities were provided at the picnic grounds, Mount Joy 

observatory, Wayne Statue, and Memorial Arch. A barrier With "no 

parking" signs was erected and a park guard wils stationed across from 

the chapel. The "disfigured" ground was graded and seeded, and Burk 

WilS induced to build a new parking lot for automobiles on the chapel 

grounds. 

Several gifts were donated to the park during 1927~29. In the spring of 

1928 sixteen Hungarian quail "were set free in the park." A part of a 

cannon, which had been cast at Warwick furnace during the Revolution, 

was given to the park by Sarah E. Wynn of Chester County. In 1929 

Barbara Bayne presented several horse chestnuts from the Friendship 

Tree at Bath, Pennsylvania, which had reportedly come from saplings 

given by Washington to General Robert Brown of Bath.(28) 

The number of visitors to Valley Forge increased greatly during the 

1927~29 biennium, rising from some 702,000 in 1927 to nearly 1,200,000 in 

1928. Formerly there had been few visitors to the park in February, but 

on Wilshington's Birthday (February 22) in 1928 some 6,000 visitors were 

counted at the park. Prominent persons from other countries were also 

coming to the park. For example, on January 28, 1928, William Cosgrave, 

president of the Executive Council of the Irish Free State and Desmond 

Fitzgerald, Irish Minister of Defense, together with members of the 

27. Report of Valley Forge Park Commission, 1927-29, p. 30. 

28. Ibid., pp. 28~31 . 
Society of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick of Philadelphia, visited the 

park.(29) 

Two sesquicentennial observances were celebrated at Valley Forge in 

1927-28. On Oecember 19, 1927, the 150th anniversary of the Continental 

Army's occupation was observed with special ceremonies and a formal 

address by George Nox McCaon, a prominent Montgomery County 

newspaperman and author.(30) The 150th anniversary of the celebration 

by Washington's army of the French Alliance was observed on May 6, 

1928, with the drama presentation of "Cato" by Addison in the area 

adjacent to Varnum's Quarters. This play, directed by Dr. Ellis P. 

Oberholtzer, had been given by the soldiers during the encampment on 

May 11, 1778. The anniversary event also included a "picturesque 

military pageant" and addresses by Rev. Dr. Joseph Fort Newton of the 

Protestant Episcopal Church, Overbrook, Pennsylvania, Rene Weiller, 

French consul at Philadelphia, and Robert von Moschzisker, Chief Justice 

of Pennsylvania, who was the presiding official for the occasion. The 

event was financed by contributions collected by Mrs. John C. Martin, 

head of the Ladies Auxiliary Committee, and individual contributions by 

the park commission. Prior to the occasion the swamp near the Varnum 

house "was drained with tiles," and it was determined to post a park 

guard at the structure and, by agreement with the Daughters of the 

American Revolution, it was arranged to open the house to the public 

between May and November. 

E. THE YEARS 1929-1931 

Data relative tlJ the administration of Valley Forge State Park for the 

1929-31 biennium is sketchy since budget problems did not allow the park 

commission to publish a biennial report for that period. The principal 

activity in the park during those years, which marked the beginning of 

the Great Depression, was the discovery and excavation in October l929 

of the "original forge" which had been left in burned ruins by the British 

after their raid through the valley and hills in September 1777. 

29. Ibid., p. 25. Also see John T. Faris, Old Trails and Roads in 

Penn'STand (Port Washington, Long Island, New York, 1927),pp. 135-38 

for further data on tourism at Valley Forge. Burk included park tourist 

information in his Valley Forge: What .!_! ~' I ~' and What To 

See There (North Wales, Pennsylvania, 1928), of which may be 

seen in Appendix E. 

Picket Post, 

238 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

The forge was located about one-half mile above Washington's 

Headquarters along Valley Creek after excavations were begun by 

Superintendent Sheas using recently-found documents written by 

Lieutenant Isaac Anderson in the early 1800s. The forge remains were 

found under some nine feet of silt deposited in the creek. Unearthed 

remains included the foundation walls, board flooring, a large water wheel 

with the blades intact, a smaller water wheel, the dam and sluiceway, an 

anvil box, tool box, bars of pig iron and other pieces of metill such as 

handmade ni!ils and "true forge cinder." It was noted that the "top 

stones of the foundation walls, the woodwork and the metal contents all 

showed unmistakable signs of having been through a hot fire. "(31) 

Since discovery of the forge rema1ns received considerable publicity, park 

visitors began making inquiry as to its original appearance and operation. 

Thus, in 1930 the park commission determined to locate, purchase, and 

reconstruct a forge at the original site. George W. Schultz, a resident of 

Reading and a recognized expert on Pennsylvania forges, furnaces, and 

iron operations, was employed to locate such a forge. After some months 

he found a forge building, consisting of a water wheel, tilt hammer, open 

hearth, and other appurtenances intact, at Hay Creek, three miles from 

Birdsboro in Berks County. Schultz advanced the $2,500 necessary to 

purchase the forge, and Horace W. Sellers was hired to "supervise the 

knocking down of the building, the proper identification and resetting of 

it and all its apparatus on the Valley Creek within the park. "{32) 

The park continued to attract large numbers of visitors during 1929-31, 

thus giving the park police increasing law enforcement responsibilities. In 

March 1930, for instance, Sergeant R. H. Pastorius reported on the 

operations of his staff during the previous month: 

Patrolmen Miller, Eigleson, Hart and Wagner covered 3555 miles on 

Motor Cycles and Ford roadster, patrolling the Park. 

83 Park Regulations and 50 Motor Law Regulations were corrected 

during the month. 

One accident happened in which two vehicles were badly damaged, 

but without injury to occupants 

Five arrests were made, two defendants were released with a 

reprimand, the other three parties were turned over to the Penna. 

State Motor Patrol for prosecution. 

31. New York Times, November 30, 1930. Also see 

Commission----ol'the Commonwealth of Pennsylv<onia, 

"Valley Forge Park 

of the Chairman 

of The Historical Committee The 

Valley Creek In 1777-78," June 1, RG ." .•• 

Sheas, "The Forges at Valley 

Forge Was Nation's Crucible 

Original Iron Forge Plant," Picket Post, 

E. Montgomery, Recreation In The State 

Pennsylvania (Harrisburg, 1935), pp. 9-10 . 

Jerome J. 

3; "Valley 

;;;ii:i"~";;;~, Over the 

16-19; and William 

State Forests of 

32. Report of The Valley Forge Park Commission, 1927-29, pp. 10·11. 

239 
6,715 Visitors passed through Head-Quarters, (1,927 on Washington's 

Birthday) • 

8,120 Automobiles, 

31 Auto-Buses, 

293 Motor Cycles, 

155 Bicycles, were counted on the Park Drives 

304 Horseback Riders were observed in fields and paths. 

35 to 40,000 People passed through the Park in February.(33) 

F. THE YEARS 1931-1935 

Gifford Pinchot, a Progressive Republiciln who had served as governor of 

Pennsylvania during 1923-27, was again elected to that office for the 

1931-35 term. Soon after his election for a second term in 1930, Pinchot 

set out to purge many of the appointees put in office during 1927-31 by 

Governor John Fisher, head of the conservative Republican faction in the 

commonwealth. Pinchot Cilrried out this purge by requiring all state 

employees and appointees, whether serving with or without pay, to a 

pledge of loyalty to his 1930 platform. The legal battle over Pinchot's 

right to extract the pledge was carried to the State Supreme Court, but 

the justices "refused to enjoin the Governor from administering the 

pledge" in late 1931. The political infighting between the two Republican 

factions had dire implications for the Valley Forge Park Commission. On 

January 22, 1932, the Coatesville Record stated; 

It is understood that for the last year the members of the 

commission, who are in charge of the bei!utiful park, which was 

the site of the Continental Army's winter enci!mpment, have 

been "marking time." 

They have not made their biennial report or undertaken new 

work in connection with the park, because they expected to be 

"fired" by the Governor. As one member of the commission 

intimated, they saw no sense in preparing their report on two 

years of activity if in the midst of the work the Governor would 

see fit to supersede them. 

That same month it was announced that the commission ""auld be 

reorganized "based on the refusal of most of the present members to sign 

the Governor's 'loyalty pledge."' Pinchot sent letters to members of the 

new commission, asking them to serve for 1932, but at the same time 

demanding that they append their signatures to the pledge: 

33. "Summary Report or the Police Department, as furnished by Mr. R. 

H. Pastorius, Sergeant m Charge," March 12, 1930, RG 2, VAFO 

Archives. A copy of a map of the park prepared in February 1930 may 

be seen on the following page. More data on Pennsylvania forges and 

research relating to the operation of forges along Valley creek may be 

seen in the George Schultz Collection in the VAFO Archives. 

240 

• 

• 
• • • 

VALLEY FORGE PARK 

AND 

\!lCINilY 

- T><LV'<~LY fo .. Lp..w_ (oVAu.LY l\:ltoo JIJI. 

--····-.. $1.of·--·- .. " ......... ·- _._ ·--
I will loyally support the policies approved by the people of the 

Commonwealth in the last election for Governor.(34) 

Thus, a newly-organized Valley Forge Park Commission was appointed in 

March 1932 and began functioning in a formal sense in May with Frederick 

F. Hallowell of Wayne presiding as chairman.(35) 

Park commission chairman Isaac R. Pennypacker was one of those dropped 

by Pinchot. After being "fired," Pennypacker delivered an address 

before the Main Line Kiwanis Club at Merion Cricket Club, describing how 

the work of the commission had been '"disrupted by Governor Pinchot"' 

by "'numerous changes in the commission's personnel due to political 

reasons.'" He observed: 

The modest position of membership on the Valley Forge Park 

Commi5sion, like other modest but U5eful work, does not ilttrilct 

newspaper ilttention as do the bandits and movmg picture 

actors of the day. Some of you, therefore may not be aware 

thilt Governor Pinchot la5t summer disrupted the Park 

Commission which had been in exi5tence for nearly five years. 

The members of thilt commis5iOn did il greilt deal of work for 

which there is no pay, but which involved some person<~ I 

expense in the way of individual contributions for this or thilt 

object for which the Stilte has made no appropriation. 

Incidentally, I may be excused for saying thilt as Chairman of 

that Commission, found it necessary ilt certain periods, to 

write twenty~five letters in a day, about the work of the 

Commission or in answer to letters of inquiry, or letters giv•ng 

desired information received from many parts of the United 

States. . 

Governor Pinchot displaced 

best informed ilnd most 

Commission. . . (36) 

a number of the 

diligent of the 

most interested, 

members of the 

While Pinchot was conducting his purge of stilte officials Valley Forge 

State Park was visited by President Herbert Hoover on May 30, 1931, for 

the purpose of giving a Memoriill Day address ill the invitation of the 

park commission. The state legislature appropriated $5,000 for the 

occasion, ilnd il site at the east end of the Parade Grounds near the site 

of Huntington's Quarters was selected for the address. The house was 

renovated for the occasion, and, through loans of furniture by Isaac H. 

34. Coatesville Record, January 22, 1932, Newspaper Clippings File, 

Valley Forge Park, Chester County Historical Society. 

of The Valley Forge Park Commission, Commonwealth of 

' 1931 1935, p. 3. 

• 

• 

36. Unidentified newspaper clipping, 1932, Newspaper Clipping File, • 

Valley Forge Park, Chester County Historical Society. 

242 
• 

• 

• 

Clothier, Jr., was "appropriately fitted" for the president's visit. 

Nearby a large pli!tform for the speakers and invited guests was erected 

with amplifiers, radio apparatus giving the stand two national "hook-ups," 

and telegraph Wires to accommodate a large number of newspaper 

reporters and correspondents. 

On the appointed day President and Mrs. Hoover arrived at the Betzwood 

station over the Pennsylvania Railroad and were taken to the park by 

automobile, escorted by the "City Troop" of Philadelphia. As the 

president reached the platform a twenty-one gun salute was fired by 

Battery C of the 107th Field Artillery. The crowd of some 40,000 persons 

included a number of survivors of the Civil War, members of the Grand 

Army of the Republic ~-o·ho were seated in front of the platform. After an 

introduction by Chairman Isaac R. Pennypacker, who was still in office, 

Hoover presented his address, comparing the trials faced by the 

Continental Army at Valley Forge with the economic stresses facing the 

American people during the depression. Hoover ended his speech by 

alluding to the symbolism of V<JIIey Forge in Americ<Jn life: 

Valley Forge has come indeed to be a symbol in American l1fe. 

It is more than the name for a place, more than the scene of a 

military episode, more than just a critical event in history. 

Freedom was won here by fortitude, not by the flash of the 

sword. Valley Forge is our American synonym for the trial of 

human ch<Jracter through privation <Jnd suffering, and it is the 

symbol of the triumph of the American soul. If those few 

thousand men endured that long winter of privation and 

suffering, humiliated by the despa1r of their country men, and 

deprived of support save their own indomitable will, yet held 

their countrymen to the faith, and by that holding held fast the 

freedom of America, what right have we to be of little faith? 

God grant that we may prove worthy of George Washington and 

his men of Valley Forge. 

Following the president's oration, an acclamation of thanks was given by 

Dr. Frank Aydelotte, president of Swarthmore College, to conclude the 

festivities. President and Mrs. Hoover were driven through the park "in 

an open car" and shown Washington's Headquarters and other points of 

interest on the way back to the Betzwood railway st<Jtion.(37) 

The new commission quickly began a program of park development and 

improvement. An equipment building was constructed in 1932-33 on a 

"completely concealed" site "near the quarry holes in the neighborhood of 

the magnesia tactory." The building housed a fully-equipped machine 

shop, blacksmith's shop, space for storage and repair of automotive 

243 
equipment, tools, and materials. Construction of this building "did away 

with the necessity of m<tintaining other storage houses in more prominent • 

places in the Park, as on the slope near the Huntington Heaquarters site, 

and especially in wooden buildings near the school house" whi<;:h were 

subsequently demolished and the sites landscaped. 

The Washington Headquarters structure was refurnished and partially 

reconstructed in 1933-34. In February 1934 the Philadelphia Bulletin 

reported on the new interior furnishings: 

The little green-and-white-shuttered house at Valley Forge, the 

most interesting of all of Washington's temporary headquarters, 

has been refurnished. 

A stimulus to 

Cook Myers, 

time. 

the project 

llsting the 

was an inventory found by Albert 

furniture 1n the house at the 

The furniture now in the house, placed there by the Valley 

Forge Park Commission, consists entirely of old pieces of the 

period, and as like those used by Washington--using the 

inventory as a guide--as possible. 

Indeed, some of the dishes and other objects marked with a "W" 

are thought possibly to have belonged to Wash1ngton, though 

this has not been proven .. 

One of the chief charms of the little house is its air of being 

lived m. Through the open closet doors of the front 

ground-floor room, you can see a black Washington tricorn, 

black cape and sabre. 

Upstairs in Washington's bedroom, on a table next to the 

4-posted bed, are a pair of rather cumbersome eye glasses that 

might well have been his. There are also a Sheffield snuffer 

and tray, a pewter shaving box and blue bowl on another 

table. 

In Martha Washington's room, too, there are such intimate 

objects as a quaint needlework cap hanging on the back of a 

ladderback chair, a wooden hat box, a bed warmer, and a Toile 

de Jouy tufted spread on the big 4-poster. On the 

Chippendale lowboy there are a Leeds floor vase, an oil lamp, 

and a few other small objects. 

In the back room on the ground floor, which he used first as a 

dining room and later as an office, washington conferred with 

his aides and his generals. 

On the walls there are maps 

Province of Pennsylvania 1n 

Philadelphia--a facsimile. For 

and English books dated 1742. 

of "The Improved P<!rt of the 

Americ<l" <lnd a map of early 

atmosphere there are old deeds 

There is a seal, a fe<lther quHI 

244 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

pen and wooden 

candlesticks and oil 

inkwell initialed "W." There 

lamps and brass fire tools . 

The cupboards are filled with dishes--Lowestoft, 

pieces. There are also, of course, any number of 

chairs and Heppelwhite and Chippendale tables.(38) 

are lovely 

and Nankin 

ladder-back 

In 1934 reconstruction work was carried out on the kitchen wing of 

Washington's He<tdquarters by Superintendent Jerome J. Sheas. The work 

was based on drawings developed during structural investigations several 

years before by Horace W, Sellers, then chairman of the Committee on the 

Preservation of Historic Monuments of the Phili!delphia Chapter of the 

American Institute of Architects. The work involved raising "the entire 

building, the enlargement of the kitchen, the construction of a stairway 

to a reconstructed second-story room, the revision of the flreplace and 

the addition of a bake oven." Following the work the kitchen wing was 

refurnished. (39) 

Wh1le the kitchen wing was being reconstructed, Varnum's Quarters, the 

"only house within the Park boundaries occupied by a general of the 

Revolution at the time of the encampment," was "restored under direction 

of the Committee of Architects after Mr. Sellers' death, under the 

chairmanship of Mr. Carl Zeigler." The work was commenced after the 

agreement with the Philadelphia Chapter of the Daughters of the American 

Revolution, which had been occupying the structure for some years, was 

terminated.(40) The work included removal of a coating of stucco, the 

third story, and the tin roof . 

Hand-split shingles were placed on the roof, and "hand-hewn joists and 

naked rafters" were exposed, Commenting on the structure in 1935, the 

commission reported: 

39. 

late 

February 19, 1934, Newspaper Clippings File, 

County Historical Society. Later on 

Coatesville Record stated that some rooms in 

Headquarters were "screened at the doors, allowing 

but not entrance" to protect "the historic shrine from 

" 

5. In 

Their poor 1 was "to the action of the warm a1r 

circulating in but not passong thru chimney--because they are capped 

with flagstones." Sheas to Oberholtzer, November 26, 1934, 

Correspondence, RG 46, PHMC. More data on the renovation of 

Washington's Headquarters may be found in the Horace W. Sellers Papers, 

Record Group 13, VAFO Archives. 

40. During 1932-35 one of the park commission's emphases was obtaining 

"possession of all buildongs belonging to the Commonwealth in the Park." 

Superintendent, Valley Forge Park to Bartenstine, January 10, 1935, 

Correspondence, RG 46, PHMC. 

2<5 
. So far as knowledge can be obtained, the reconstruction 

is historically faithful, barring perhaps the fireplace in the 

second story which the architects wished to save, because it is 

the only considerable part of old woodwork in the house. The 

house 1s not yet furnished. The pieces now there are 

unsuotable and are the property of the Philadelphia Chapter of 

the Daughters of the Revolution. In accord with the policy of 

ridding the Park and its buildings of borrowed articles and 

articles held in storage, it is desir<>ble that they should be 

removed, and that they should be replaced by correct period 

pieces belonging to the Commonwealth. 

After the restoration was completed the structure was opened to the 

public from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on a daily basis.(41) 

After the foundations of the bridge over Valley Creek on Nutts Road gave 

way during the early 1930s, Jacob 0. Clarke, the park engineer, with 

the support of the State Art Commission determined "upon the 

reproduction of a bridge of Colonial pattern" rather than "an ugly modern 

bridge of <;oncrete type." A bridge crossing the Wissahic.kon in Fairmount 

Park was sele<;!ed as a model. Although the highway department, 

according to the commission, "foreshortened the structure, and cut off 

the approaches to mar its beauty, the arch effeds and the general lines 

of the structure" were "worthy." 

During the spring of 1935 litigation with the Stephens family (this family 

• 

owned Varnum's Quarters and were descendents of Varnum's hosts during • 

the encampment) "for the possession of unsightly frame buildings in the 

center of the Park, and a 'hot dog stand,' profitable to them on a corner 

of the property beside the Port Kennedy Road" reached the United States 

Supreme Court. In 1928 the Stephens homestead (located at the 

intersection of Port Kennedy and Baptist roads adjacent to the Star 

Redoubt) had been condemned by the state, but after receiving a portion 

of the $113,500 award money the family refused to leave the premises. 

When the court ruled in favor of the commission, the buildings were 

ra.<:ed, although landscaping was not completed for some time.(42) 

During 1934-35 a Revolutionary soldier's hut was built on the exact "site 

of a hut on the ground occupied by General Wayne near the Wayne 

Statue." It was built with park labor under the direction of 

Superintendent Sheas, using Washington's specifications to guarantee "its 

41. Ibid., 

Newspaper 

Society. 

pp. S-6, and Coatesville 

Clippings File, Valley Forge 

Record, September 

Park, Chester County 

7, 1934, 

Historical 

il 17, 1935, Newspaper Clippings File, Valley 

Historical Society. 

'" • 
• 

• 

• 

histor1cal accuracy in point of s1ze, construction and appearance." 

Research for the project was conducted by D. Knickerbocker Boyd, an 

architect and member of the Pennsylvania Society, Sons of the Revolution. 

The original floor of the hut was packed clay, two feet below the surface 

of the ground. Inside the log, stone, and plaster hut were eight slab 

bunks, four below and four above, arranged along the two sides of the 

hut, leaving a wide passage way the length of the building. The rower 

bunks each held two persons, while the upper bunks sheltered only one 

each. A narrow stone fireplace was at the end of the hut where charcoal 

had been found. Funds for the project were provided by the 

Pennsylvania Society, Sons of the Revolution, and the hut was dedicated 

in June 1935. The significance of the hut, according to the commission, 

was its historical authenticity, "except possibly for a detail in the ceiling 

made necessary in the view of the architect 1n the interest of 

watertightness and permanency."(43) 

Lengthy negotiations were carried out with the Daughters of the 

Revolution for the state's acquisition of the Waterman Grave and 

approach. It was noted 1n 1935 that the grave and monument were 

surrounded "by an 'imperishable fence,' which is an ugly and broken 

walk." The grave itself was "covered with poison ivy, except when the 

Superintendent of the Park had entered it to clear it of this and other 

obtruding vegetation." The commission threatened to commence 

condemnation proceedings, but the "lapse of an appropriation" prevented 

such action. Thereafter, the park commission and the ladies' organization 

agreed to "improvement of the lot," "reconstruction of the walk," and 

"removal of the fence and the cannon of the 1812 period stored there." 

Using funds provided by the Daughters the work was performed in 1936. 

The commission removed from the park Civil War period cannon that had 

been placed there by an Act of Congress some twenty years before. The 

cannon were placed in storage, preparatory to their return to the Rock 

Island Arsenal. Reproductions of Revolutionary cannon "standing in forts 

and on slopes" were "proposed to be put in the artillery park where 

similar guns stood while the army was at Valley Forge." 

Despite the urgent need for restoration of the hydraulic system along 

Valley Creek, Pinchot had terminated the project by allocating the fund 

appropriated to a different use. The immediate need as of late 1935, 

according to the commission, was "for a shaping of the banks of the new 

dam (constructed in 1929), and removal of silt above the dam where the 

work was stopped; also opening of the race from the dam to the sJte of 

the old forge near Nutts Road and the construction there of the old 

diversion dam." Such work would furnish "a body of water which could 

be seen from the road." 

43. Jones to Kahler, January 9, 1940, Files, Associate Regional Director, 

Cultural Resource Management, Mid-Atlantic Regional Office. Hereinafter, 

these files wJII be referred to as CRM-MARO Files. The "Specifications 

for Log Hut at Valley Forge," dated April 29, 1935, may be seen in 

AppendiX F. 
During the early 1!330s a new lease was made with the Patriotic Order 

Sons of America who used a hall in the park. In return for their 

occupancy the organization's officers agreed "to the removal of a large 

tablet bearing their name in a too prominent place in Washington's 

Headquarters and the substitution of another of a different pattern and 

the removal from the hall of a glaring electric sign.(44) 

During the 1931-3S period forestry issues continued to receive attention 

by the park staff. In January 193S the unidentifed head of a forestry 

crew in the park reported: 

We have twenty-two (22) trees at various points thruout the 

Park on which all the trimming, cabling and cavity work has 

been completed and all of these trees had from one to eight 

cavities in them. We have completed the pruning of the one 

hundred and twenty-two (122) elm trees on Outer Line Drive 

and fifteen (15) have been cabled--all which will be necessary 

in these elms, I believe. At various locations there are twelve 

(12) additional trees on which we are now doing cavity work. 

These are larger cavities than those already completed and will 

require much more material. 

We have pruned approximately nine hundred (900) trees large 

and small--a good many are the smaller trees because at the 

beginning of the project these were the only ones the men I 

then had could work on. Not being competent climbers I did 

not dare send them up the big trees. 

With the laboring gang we have opened up two vistas from the 

Observatory Tower and one from the drive thereto. We have 

cleared approximately eighty-two (82) acres of stumps thruout 

the woodland, which means that a tremendous amount of 

undesirable brush has had to be hauled away and many 

hundred stumps disposed of. Mr. Sheas had given us his usual 

wonderful cooperation and let us have a caterpillar and fordson 

tractor to pull stumps, a truck to haul brush and lately either 

a big truck or a hay-wagon to haul the stumps away.(4S) 

During the early 1930s Japanese beetles invaded the park, causing 

extensive damage to cherry and apple trees and the clover crop. 

Accordingly, a motorized 800-gallon spraying machine was used during the 

summer of 1935 to conduct an extensive spraying program in the park. 

The machine enabled park personnel to spray "arsenic of lead at a pace 

of 24 gallons a minute."(46) 

44. Report of The Valley Forge Park Commission, 1931-1935, pp. 7-9. 

" to Montgomery, January 9, 1935, Correspondence, RG 

46, PHMC. 

• 

• 

46. ~ Republican, July 20, 1935, Newspaper Clippings File, Valley • 

Forge Park, Chester County Historical Society. 

248 
• 

• 

• 

Av~ilable data on the labor force during the 1931~35 period provides some 

interesting insights into the operation of the park. Superintendent Sheas 

reported in July 1935: 

Mr. Sheas' Secretary receives approximately $70.00 monthly. 

Is not paid on a salary basis but a per diem rate. 

Number of employes formerly:~ 

22 Laborers 

1 Carpenter 

1 Janitress 

3 Patrolmen 

4 Foot Guards 

1 Caretaker 

1 Night Watchman 

Number of employes now:-

17 Laborers 

1 Carpenter 

1 Janitress 

2 Patrolmen 

3 Foot Guards 

1 Caretaker 

1 Night Watchman 

Laborers are paid '" average rate of " "' hour 

Carpenter .85 " " 

Janitress 30 " " 

Patrolmen $125. DO "' month 

Foot Guards 80.00 " " 

Caretaker S5.00 " " 

Night Watchman 95.00 " " 

Of the 26 current employees six lived in park-owned houses in Port 

Kennedy and three in park housing in the Village of Valley Forge. The 

other seventeen employees lived in the following towns: Bridgeport (2); 

Audubon (1); Port Providence (1); Royersford (1); Port Kennedy (1); 

Valley Forge (9); and Phoenixville (2). In terms of longevity on the 

labor force the number of years served was: 

26 years--1 

14 years--1 

13 years--1 

11 years--1 

9 years--2 

8 years--4 

7 years--1 

6 years- -5 

5 years--5 

4 years--4 

Less than 1 year--1 

Undetermined- -1 ( 47) 

V1sitation statistics for the 1931-35 period indicate that 1,733,449 persons 

visited the park in 1931 but that thereafter the totals fell off drastically 

to 982,656 m 1932; 780,239 in 1933, and 969,250 m 1934. Separate 

statistics were kept for the following categories: 

47. Superintendent, Valley Forge Park to Altemus, July 3, 1935, 

Correspondence, RG 46, PHMC. 
Washington's Out-of-Stcte Tourist 

Headquarters Automobiles Camp 

1931 194,585 80' 652 

1932 186,584 48,300 563 from 26 states 

1933 155,614 47' 058 834 from " states 

1934 159,815 45,690 976 from 28 states(48) 

Among the visiting groups to use the park was the Ku Klux Klan which 

conducted a Thanksgiving celebration on November 30, 1933. Prominent 

foreign visitors also toured the park, among them being Chinese General 

Tsai Ting Kai, the defender of Shanghai and Chinese vice consul to the 

United States, in December 1934.(48) 

During the summer of 1935 the National Park Service began a somewhat 

subtle effort to have Valley Forge established as a national historical park 

and transferred to its jurisdication. In August Roy E. Appleman, 

Emergency Conservation Work historian in Richmond, visited Valley Forge 

and was taken for a tour of the park by Superintendent Sheas. 

Following his visit Appleman prepared a study entitled "Historical Report 

on Valley Forge Proposed National Park Area," which he submitted to 

Melvin B. Borgenson, regional officer of State Park Emergency 

Conservation Work at Bronxville, New York. Among his conclusions 

were: 

Valley Forge undoubtled [sic] has the calibre required for a 

National Park area. Of all the sites in Pennsylvania which have 

come to my attention, it is best adapted and SUitable for a 

national park area. The State of Pennsylvania now owns Valley 

Forge, with an acreage of 1506 acres. Many desirable bits of 

acreage are still privately owned, and for the proper 

development of the area as a national park, they should be 

purchased by the government. The Valley Forge State Park 

has been only slightly developed due to a lack of funds. The 

site is very beautiful and at the present time is Unspoiled by 

too many markers and a general cluttering up of the old 

historic site. I strongly recommend that an attempt be made to 

have this site transferred from the Stote government of 

Pennsylvania to the National government. 

There is only one Valley Forge in the United 

cannot be compared in terms of equality, for 

with any other area in the United States. 

States. 

similar purposes, " 

48. Report of The pp. 9-10; 

"Report of Visitors 

RG 46, PHMC; and .~•ymom~ 

Park's Past," March Valley Forge Historical p;,:,i,fir::~:;;: Record Group 3, VAFO 

• 

• 

• 
• Valley Forge forms an important unit in any attempt to preserve 

histor1c sites relating to the Revolutionary era. Nearby is 

Brandywine and Germ<1ntown. Not far away are Trenton, 

Princeton, the Delaware Crossing and many other famous spots 

of military fame •. 

The appropriation made by the State of Pennsylvania for the 

upkeep of the park is $25,000 annually. Th1s is not sufficient 

to undertake any extended work, and little more than provides 

for the cutting of grass and general maintenance of the park. 

The Park has not been ruined, but on the contrary, is very 

lovely indeed. In my opinion, it compares to its own advantage 

with Gettysburg. In recent years or1e million people have 

annually visited Valley Forge .... 

An extended development in the park might be the building, on 

the old sites, of a soldier's village with the well marked 

streets, the huts to be patterned after the one which was 

recently erected. The park needs markers and 

descriptive legends very badly. Foot trails could be made to 

advantage along certain historic parts of the old camp 

ground.(49) 

• G. THE YEARS 1935-1939 

• 

The New Deal and division 1n the Republican Party brought victory to the 

Democrats of Pennsylvania in 1934 for the third time since the Civil War 

as they elected George H. Earle as governor. Thus, the new Valley 

Forge Park Commission, which was organized in October 1935 after 

considerable political maneuvering, contained a number of new faces who 

were rewarded for aiding Earle's election campaign. Major General 

Edward C. Shannon, a resident of Columbia and formerly 

lieutenant-governor of the state, was elected as chairman of the park 

commission. Superintendent Sheas, who had begun work at the park as a 

foreman in 1910, resigned as a result of the new political complexion of 

the commission. Bessie Dobson Altemus, one of the commission members 

"fired" by Earle, charged that the governor had "plunged the staff of the 

park into petty politics." According to her charges two patrolmen, a 

night watchman, and a guard at Washington's Headquarters were relieved 

49. "Historical Report on Valley Forge Proposed National Park Area," by 

Roy E. Appleman, August 1935, Appleman to Borgenson, August 15, 

1935, and United States Deparetment of the Interior, National Park 

Service, Branch of Planning, Extension Division, Proposed National Parks 

and Monuments, "Valley Forge National Historkal Park," 1935, CRM-MARO 

Files. 

'" 
of their duties "after giving years of service" because "they failed to • 

vote right on Election Day. "(50) 

Park operations during the 1935-39 period were hampered by inadequate 

appropriations from the general assembly. Dunng 1935-37 the total appropriation for the park was $50,000. When it was made clear to Department 

of Forests and Waters officials that this sum was "wholly inadequate for 

the most economicol maintenance" of the park, an additional $7,000 was 

made available to the park comm•ss10n. The commission submitted a 

budget request for $97,000 for the 1937-39 biennium, but the legislature 

reduced the request to $71,750. In comparing the average yearly 

maintenance appropriations for the park, the commission found that the 

totals were $60,375 during 1931-35, $28,500 during 1935-37 and $35,875 

during 1937-39. Hence the commission reported in 1939 that there "does 

not seem to be any satisfactory e;><planation for disregarding the proven 

financial need of this Commonwealth unit."(51) 

The most significant accomplishments of the pari< commission during 

1935-38 were the acquisition of 72.61 acres of land within the original 

encampment area, designation or condemnation of 546.81 additional acres, 

and adoption of a comprehensive plan for park land appropriation and 

development. The thrust for these activities began on July 19, 1935, 

when Governor Earle signed into law a bill, sponsored by State Senator 

William H. Clark of West Chester, increasing the authorized acreage of the 

park from 1,500 to 5,000.(52) 

program began the park commission had Markley 

architect, compile a "Report on Land Acquisition 

report, submitted to the commission in October 

revised and updated version of the Richard S. 

The Stevenson report included a statement on the 

from which the current land acquisition program 

As the land acquisition 

Stevenson, a landscape 

at Valley Forge." The 

1936, was essentially a 

Burns report of 1928. 

conceptual framework 

should be made; 

That the area occupied by the Continental Army at Valley Forge 

during the winter of 1777-78 should be acquired by the 

Commonwealth and preserved as an historic monument, is 

probably not open to question. It is however equally desirable 

that sufficient land bordering the encampment area should be 

50. ~ Republican, March 23, 

Newspaper Clippings File, "''''''" 

Society, and Report of the 

of Pennsylvania, October 24, 

October 

Forge 

Forge 

to January 

10, 25, December 4, 1935, 

Chester County Historical 

Commonwealth 

2 4 

51. Report of The Valley Forge Park Commission, 1935-39, pp. 6-7 

52. Bender to Shannon, 

PHMC; Daily 

Valley Forge 

Valley Forge Park 

December 19, 1935, Correspondence, RG 46, 

July 23, 30, 1935, Newspaper Clippings File, 

County Hostorical Society; and Report of The 

1935-39, p. 5. 

252 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

acquired in order that the natural landscape character of the 

entire area may be preserved and to establish a protective belt 

against encroachments which might be offensive not only to 

good taste, but to the senses of sight, hearing and smell and 

thus decrease or entirely destroy many of the values for which 

the area has been preserved. 

That the encampment area proper should not be used for other 

than the simplest forms of recreation such as walking, riding 

and perhaps very restricted picnicking is also probably not 

open to question. However, with the acquisition of additional 

land to the north and west of the present boundaries, it would 

be possible to provide facilities for many types of outdoor 

recreation and thus, this enlarged area, might serve both as an 

historic monument and as a park, without injury to either major 

purpose. 

The study recommended acquisition of 1,170 <'lcres, including the Ehret 

Magnesia Manufacturing Company's holdings and the Washington Inn, to 

"insure the protection of the encampment area and to assist in preserving 

its value as an historic monument." In addition, 2,120 acres were recommended for acquisition to "provide areas for the development of greatly 

needed recreational facilities and very desirable additional protection of 

the encampment area." The report also recommended that: expansion of 

the park be coordinated with the Philadelphia Regional Plan as 

implemented by the Regional Planning Federation of the Philadelphia 

Tri-State District; all roads within the park boundaries be designated as 

park roads with responsibility for their location, design, construction, 

and maintenance under park authorities; all through traffic be by-passed 

around the park area; land along both banks of the Schuylkill be 

considered high priority for land acquisition; efforts be undertaken to 

make structures and operations of the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad 

Company as unobjectionable as possible to park values; zoning restrictions 

be used to preserve landscape and historic sites and guide and control 

undesirable encroachment of industrial and commercial development within 

a reasonable radius of the park; and agreements be entered into with 

owners of residences (in such cases where such residences were not 

detrimental to park values) within proposed park boundaries providing for 

acquisition, either by gift or purchase, by the commonwealth upon the 

death or removal of the present residents.(S3) 

After the commission gave its approval to the general provisions of the 

Stevenson report 1n December 1936 Gilbert S. Jones, the new park 

superintendent, prepared documentation and detailed maps to aid the 

commission "in undertaking acquisition of the Encampment Grounds, and 

S3. "Report on Land Acquisition at Valley Forge, Submitted to Valley 

Forge Park Commission, October 1936," compiled by Markley Stevenson, 

Landscape Architect, Correspondence, RG 46, PHMC . 

253 
the restriction and preservation of adjoining lands by covenants or 

otherwise." According to Jones, authority for determining the 

encampment boundaries was "definitely and authentiCally established" by 

"two authentic contemporary maps"--one by Brigadier General Duportqil, a 

French officer serv•ng under Washington at Valley Forge as chief 

engineer, and the other known as the Dutch Milp found in Holland by the 

late Samuel W. Pennypacker in 1897. The Cornell University Library also 

had a map, believed to have been drawn a short time after the 

encampment, which had beer> obtair>ed from the Jared Sparks Collection in 

1872. By checking these three maps against maps prepared for the 

commission by L. M. Haupt (1893), Samuel M. Garrigues (1897), and 

Jacob 0. Clarke (1904), it had been determined that the entire 

encqmpment grounds (not including buildings that quartered some rankmg 

officers outside the immediate encampment grounds) totaled 2,097.56 

acres. Of this land the state currently owned 1,445.59 ilCres, leaving 

651.97 acres of the encampment grounds in the hilnds of fifteen private 

ir>terests. Other acreage in the vicinity of the park included the 51-acre 

tract covered by a covenant between the commonwealth and the late 

Philander C. Knox; 1,700 acres of lands adjacent to the park or scattered 

nearby "having historical association with the encampment through 

locations thereon of buildings still standing which were occupied as 

quarters by Washington's Generals or containing sites of these officers' 

quarters;" 1,350 acres of "various lands adjoining the actual park 

property which may not have historical associations similar to other tracts 

but which are open to private and commercial exploitat1on likely to disturb 

the integrity of the encampment grounds;" 800 acres of tracts ~djoining 

the p~rk west of V~lley Creek "desirable for recreational and water 

control projects;" and the 95-acre Village of Valley Forge. All totaled, 

the various categories of land for park acquisition or preservation by 

covenants was 6,093.56.(54) 

While Stevenson was compiling the aforementioned report on land 

acquisition policy, Eric von Hausswolff, chief of the division of pilrks in 

the Department of Forests ilnd Waters, compiled a "Report on General 

Restoriltlon of Valley Forge Park," which he submitted to the Valley Forge 

Park Commission in October 1936. Using various ideas and concepts from 

a "comprehensive plan" drawn up by the 1932-35 pilrk commission, von 

Hausswolff prepared what could be termed the first "general development 

plan" for the park. In his introductory statement he observed; 

Of the duties necessary for the restoration of the park, the 

first should be to outline or design a comprehensive plan to be 

adopted for the purpose of developing the park in an intelligent 

and systematic manner. The execution of the above plan in 

detail will require the survey of newly qcquired lands and the 

preparation of plans for their development including the location 

of trees, grades, roads, trails, and the design of shelters, 

restrooms, etc. The survey of existing and partially restored 

54. Jones to 

Correspondence, 

Villley 

RG 46, 

Forge 

PHMC. 

Park Commission, January 

254 

1937' 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

land subject 

planting plans 

to landscape development and 

and the execution of the same. 

design of 

There is undoubtedly a need for a comprehensive policy for the 

arrangement of new features within the reservation, for the 

preservation of all desirable possessions with a v1ew to 

restoring the ground as a natural rural area to somewhat the 

same form and condition in which it was when occupied as a 

military camp ... 

Sections of the von Hausswolff report concerned long-range planning 

recommendations for the: {1) restoration of the Valley Creek area; (2) 

renovation and razmg of houses in the Port Kennedy vicinity; (3) 

maintenance and restoration of woodland areas; (4) restoration of the 

original contour of land in the central portion of the park where former 

quarry enterprises and current Ehret Magnesia Company operations had 

scarred the landscape; (5) improvement of the park road and bridle path 

system; (6) relocation of the park picnic grounds directly across Inner 

Line Drive from the Huntington redoubt; (7) reconstruction of 

entrenchments along Outer Line Drive and soldiers' huts in the vicinity of 

the Wayne Statue and Washington Memorial Chapel; (8) continued restraint 

tn terms of park monumentation and ornamentation; (9) placement 

underground of telephone poles and wires; (10) installation of 

"inconspicuous" and "uniform" signs and guard rails; and (11) tree 

planting policies designed to aid park values. In conclusion von 

Hausswolff observed: 

The foregoing suggestions are made without consideration to 

desirable and probably future additions to the reservation, but 

is an attempt to tie landscape values closely to the event 

memorialized with the present acreage. The same general 

policies will prevail in formulating plans for further extension to 

the pi!rk. With certain desirable grounds privately owned 

within the bounds of the reservation a complete and successful 

restoration is hampered. It may also be realized that certain 

desirable lands bordering the park are still open for private 

exploitotion and consequent possible injury to the park and to 

the final beneftcial service that it is possible for the park to 

render to the public tn the future. The piece of ground 

between the Reoding railroad and the river is an example of 

such ground.(SS) 

55. "Report on General Restorotron of Valley Forge Park, Submitted to 

Valley Forge Park Commission, October 1936," by Eric von Hausswolff, 

Record Group 6, Records of the Department of Forests and Waters, 

Pennsylvani<1 Historical and Museum Commission. The main body of this 

report containing long-range planning recommendations for the park may 

be seen in Appendix G. 

255 
Meanwhile the commiss1on had appointed a five-member park extension and 

development committee with "power to act" relative to "the question of 

extending the present boundaries of the Reservation." After studies by 

this committee the commission on May 26, 1937, resolved to condemn 28 

tracts of land having "great historical value to the Park," under 

authority conferred by "the Act of 1935, Pamphlet Laws 1362." Certified 

copies of the resolution were submitted to the Secretary of Forests and 

Waters and the state attorney general, with the request that the latter 

"take immediate steps to effectuate the same." The commission secretary 

was directed to notify the 28 property owners of this action in 

writing.(56) 

The park commission was embroiled in a "hot dog stand" controversy 

during 1935-36. Just prior to leaving office in 1935 the Pinchot-appointed 

commissioners had adopted a resolution In September to permit 

construction of two permanent refreshment and souvenir buildings at the 

picnic grounds and the Mount Joy Observation Tower. The resolution 

was passed as a result of pressure placed on the commissioners by 

representatives of the Department of Forests and Waters appointed by 

Governor Earle. These stands were to be under the direction of the 

commission and not be operated by private concession. The Earle 

administration promoted this proposal on the basis that the existing 

refreshment facilities for the p<>rk were housed in the priv<>tely-owned 

W<>shington Inn where "because of a monopoly, exorbitant prices are 

charged." After state efforts to purchase the inn were met with dem<>nds 

of up to $150,000, the department proposed construction of its own 

refreshment stands: 

1.--To provide the public with the articles dispensed by Washington 

Inn at<> re<>son<>ble price. 

2.--Since the area is already commerci<>lized by private interests, to 

endeavor to divert some of the revenue from those interests to the 

Commission with a possibility of reducing the appropri<>tion, a direct 

benefit to thE! taxpayers of Pennsylvania. 

3.--To at least partially pay for, 

scattering of refreshment refuse over 

and control the 

the park <>re<>.(57) 

promiscuous 

The refreshment st<>nd proposal soon raised a furore th<>t <>pproached 

statewide dimensions. Under a headline "Hot-Dog Plan Stirs Patriots," 

the New York Times reported on November 24, 1935: 

56. Minutes, Valley Forge Park Comm1ssion, M<>y 26, 1937. A copy of 

this resolution may be seen in Appendix H. 

57. Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, September 24, 1935; 

I Record, October 11, 1935, <>nd Daily Republican, October 29, 

12, 14, 15, 16, 19, 26, 29, 1935, Ne..,·spaper Clippings 

File, Valley Forge Park, Chester County Historical Sodety; and Report of 

The Valley Forge Park Commission, 1935-39, p. 16. 

256 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

The prosp!lct of having hot dogs and soda pop sold in Valley 

Forge Park has set Pennsylvania patriotic societies agog. Many 

of their spokesmen profess to see in it a "Democratic plot" to 

"desecrate" a historic shrine with a "political money-raising 

scheme." 

Since opponents of the concession plan made the commission's 

act1on public, expressions of indignation have become 

widespread. Scores of veterans' posts, patriotic organizations, 

civic and social clubs, as well as public officials and leading 

Citizens, have denounced the proposal. Some of the former 

members of the Park Commission have warned that the 

concessions will be taken up by "Political appointees."(58) 

The intensity of the controversy was further exacerbated by report5 

"that beer and liquor may be sold ct the historic shrine if the Earle 

program for refreshment stands is accepted."(59) The "hot-dog stand" 

controversy continued into early 1936, but despite per5onal appeals by 

Governor Earle and endorsement by the Penn5ylvania Federation of 

Historical Societies, the park commission finally decided to drop the 

matter in May, largely as a result of the widespread protests.(60) 

Numerous improvements were made in Valley Forge Park during 1935-38. 

These included: 

1. All cannon of the Civil War period were removed from the park and 

were transferred to the commonwealth for decorative use at the 

Indiantown Gap Military Reservation. After study of the original 

Duportail Map and consultction with U.S. Army War College artillery 

experts, all Revolutionary-type replica cannon in the park, except tho5e 

at redans and lunettes, were placed at the 5ite of General Henry Knox's 

Artillery Park. 

2. The park museum was improved with the assistance of Joseph P. 

Sims, a Philadelphi<l architect. Exhibit space was enlarged, cases <Jdded, 

and identific<ltion markings improved. 

3. A "commercial restaurant stand" operated by interests related to the 

Philadelphia and Reading Railroad for years at the junction of River Drive 

and State Route 23, less than 100 feet from Washington's Headquarters, 

was eliminated in July 1937. The "inappropriate location" of the stand 

58. New York Times, November 24, 1935. 

59. Daily Republican, December 

Valley Forge Park, Chester County 

17, 1935, Newspaper 

Historical Society. 

Clippings File, 

60. ~ Republlc~n, December 17, 1935, January 17, 18, 23, 25, May 

28, 1936, Newspaper Clippings File, Valley Forge Park, Chester County 

Historical Society. 

257 
hod been fh' subject of 0 17-ye~r controversy- Finolly, after 

considerable prodding, f. w. Scheer, president of fh• railroad, 

cooperated m fh' "effort fo preserve fho integrity of fho headquarters 

shrine against commercial exploitation. " 

4. A gu1de service was established and operated by 

under the commission's jurisdicition. Remuneration 

established by the park commission. 

regulatory license 

came from fees 

5. The spare bedroom in Washington's Headquarters was furnished and 

made available for public viewing. The period furnishings were donated 

by Mrs. Joseph B. Hutchinson, a member of the commission. 

6. A sm<lll monument 

Revolutionary Soldiers' 

of the Revolution. 

7. At the request of 

relocated State Route 

bridge to the Port 

dangerous "S" curve. 

park land. 

with bronle marker was installed at the "Restored 

Hut," p~id for by the Pennsylvania Society, Sons 

the commission the State Department of Highways 

353 from the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad 

Kennedy park entrance, thereby eliminating a 

The old highway was abandoned and merged into 

8. Additional picnic areas were provided by establishment of a new one 

at the former Stephens' property site near the Star Redoubt, "by 

equipping the meadow along Valley Creek, and a section of the Wayne 

woods." Facilities "at the main picnic grove and at Artillery Park" were 

improved "by the provision of water at the lower grove, installation of 

five cooking fire places and additional tables and benches." 

9. Granite posts at the Memorial Arch regarded as hazardous to motor 

traffic were removed. 

10. The 

sufficient 

equipment 

machinery 

building 

to give 

was provided with electric current and 

the park a fully-equipped machine shop. 

11. The historic Washington Spring was "restored and enlarged." 

12. Uniform bronze markers bearing insignia designating Revolutionary 

War soldiers were placed on all known grave sites, replacing old markers 

having a variety of war dates and emblems. The new markers were 

furnished by the Veterans Graves RegistratiOn Division of the Works 

Progress Administration (WPA). 

13. At the recommendation of the park commission the O<Jughters ol the 

Revolution constructed "an enduring flagstone walk and brick coping" at 

the Waterman Grave, using plans designed by Thomas \",'. Sears, a 

landscape architect. The improvements included removal of the "unsightly 

•ron fence" and broken concrete walk. 

14. Negotiations with the 

resulted 1n the removal of 

through the park from Port 

replacement by underground 

Bell Telephone Company of Pennsylvania 

all telephone poles along State Route 23 

Kennedy to the park guard barracks with 

cable. With this improvement all public 

258 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

utility poles were removed from the park roadways except for a few 

carrying electric current from Port Kennedy to the Washington Memorial 

Chapel. 

15. Attention was given to the preserviltion of all dogwoods and the main 

display grove was enlarged and improved by the planting of 125 large 

white and red dogwoods. Thirty-five red bud (Judas) trees were planted 

in the woods skirting the grove. 

16. Leased coin-operated binoculars were installed on the Mount Joy 

Observatory, the net receipts from these machines being sent to the 

Department of Forests and Waters. 

17. Some 15,000 seedlings were planted throughout the park, including 

hemlocks, red pines, and white p1nes. Specimen trees were placed at 

prominent locations such as Varnum's Quarters, the new picnic grounds 

near the intersection of Port Kennedy and Baptist roads, the camp 

school, Artillery Park, Fort Washington, and the Port Kennedy park 

entrance. Some 25 large hemlock and white pines were placed on the 

lawn in the rear of Washington's Headquarters, thus "softening the 

bareness of the deciduous trees in Winter." Tree and shrubbery 

preservation was pursued through spraying, the "application of modern 

tree surgery," and other "modern methods" designed to contain the 

damage caused by borers and locust infestation. Individual "trees in 

fields, along drives and at buildings" were pruned . 

18. Through funds 1n the State Highway Department's appropriation 

allocated to the state highway unit of Montgomery County the commission 

completed the following roadway improvements: 

a new roadway connecting State Route No. 23 with Inner Line 

Drive, grading and permanent surfacing of roadway to and 

around the Equipment Building, a retaining wall at that same 

building, sidewalk approaches to Valley Creek bridge, 

installation of large culvert and drain at intersection of Gulph 

and County Line Roads, riprap driveways into Artillery Park, 

construct a number of new inlets and change others, surface 

treat all park roads, and repair various gutters and curbs. 

The Chester County unit of the State Highway Department constructed a 

retaining wall at the base of Mount Joy along Valley Creek Road with new 

Inlets and widened Baptist road with stone gutters placed along its sides. 

19. The temporary bridge to the forge ruins along Valley Creek was 

strenthened, because there was always danger that flood waters might 

destroy the historic forge. 

20. Decayed tree stumps, dead trees in the fields and wooded tracts, 

and wind breaks and infested plant life were cleared away and removed 

from the park "in an effort to eliminate contagion of plant disease and to 
make the wooded tracts more attractive." 

and constant watch was maintained to reduce 

Fire lanes were constructed 

fire hazards.(61) 

New Deal programs had an impact on Valley Forge State Park operations 

and improvements in 1936. In February the park secured a Ford truck 

from the Emergency Conservation Work camp at Fort Mifflin.(62) During 

the summer two men were employed in the park as recreation leaders and 

nature guides under the direction of the WPA recreation department of 

the Pennsylvania Department of Public Instruction. (63) The summer and 

fall months witnessed considerable WPA activities in the park by 52 

workmen under the direction of Andrew MacNaughton of Lansdale, 

Pennsylvania, a WPA foreman. One of the major WPA projects was 

removal "of all artillery from sections of the park to Artillery Park, where 

the artillery guns were supposed to be placed during the encampment of 

Washington's Army." There were 27 guns, and all were "permanently 

placed on concrete bases." Other WPA projects included; 

removal of ruins of Stephens and Quigg homes, building of tool 

house, grading of 250,000 square yards of land around 

Stephens and Quigg properties and blending it into the park 

area; scraping and painting of the tower with aluminum paint, 

20,000 square feet; removal of all stones and debris from the 

park; removQI of cabin from one section of the park to Artillery 

park; planting of 15,000 pine and hemlock trees; tree surgery 

work; remodeled building for additional storage space; increased 

nursery to double its present size; drained swampy areas in 

Artillery Park; placed toilets near P.O. of S. A. Hall; seeded 

section near machine shop; erection of roadway into Stephens 

area.(64) 

In late November 1936 Governor Earle announced ambitious plans for a 

"Valley Forge Park more than three times its present acreage" and his 

intention to secure a Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camp in the park 

to restore the reservation "to Washington's time." After the meeting with 

the park commission the Governor told the press that he would ask the 

state legislature in January to appropriate $350,000 immediately for the 

condemnation of additional land near the park and over a three-year 

period $1,050,000 "for enlargement of the park to conform with the plan 

of the Commission adopted in 1928." It was anticipated that the additional 

land would be acquired at an average cost of $300 per acre. He also 

61. Report 

14-18, and 

Forge Park, 

62. Jones to Bogardus, April 10, 1936, Correspondence, RG 46, PHMC. 

63. ~ RepubiJCan, July 3, 1936, Newspaper Clippings F1le, Valley 

Forge Park, Chester County Historical Society. 

64. Ibid., September 1, October 19, 1936, Newspaper Clippings File, 

Valley Forge Park, Chester County Historical Society. 

260 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

announced that he would "use what little influence have" with the 

federal government to have a CCC camp established at Valley Forge." 

Using "excellent maps showing fortifications, camping sites, streets and 

huts as of Washir.gton's time," the CCC would "restore the park without 

cost to the State." It was expected that 1~ miles of company streets, 

hundreds of huts, and several miles of entrenchments would be 

reconstructed along the lines of the development at Williamsburg.(65) 

With1n twenty-four hours the Earle plan was being assailed as 

"unhistorical" by Dr. Ellis P. Oberholtzer, historian and former member 

of the park commission for ten years under Republican administrations. 

Calling the proposal "impractical" and unworthy "of serious 

consideration," he observed, according to the New York Times: 

To touch the inner line of entrenchments, as they stand, would 

be a crime, as it was a crime twenty years or more ago on the 

part of some vandal band to tamper with the relics of three old 

forts there. 

The outer 

hut sites, 

located. 

line entrenchment can not be accurately located; the 

except in a compilratively few cases, cannot be 

The huts, which would be erected in durable materials, would 

not closely resemble the improvised originals. About them, 

anyhow, there is a scanty knowledge . 

The whole thing would be unhistoricill. More than this, a 

chaste, single landscape, the ideal which we have had before us 

for years, would be marred by ugly structures. Valley Forge 

would be an exposition instead of a beneficial natural place of 

Pennsylvania countryside. 

Every historical and patriotic association in the State should 

rise up to protect against such a desecratiOn of an American 

shrine .. 

The entire terrain in the last few years 

studied by historians and engoneers. 

sources, maps from British collections made 

camp, excavations, have resulted in a body of 

about the park. 

has been closely 

All documentary 

by spies in the 

useful knowledge 

The extension of the park has been approved by the number of 

recent commissions to prevent undesirable encroachments. No 

one objects to that except on the ground of its laying new 

65. Ibid., November 28, 1936, and Daily Local News, November 28, 1>136, 

Newspaper Clippings File, Valley Farge Park, Chester County Historical 

Society; New York Times, November 28, 1936; and S. K. Stevens, "News 

and Comment,•...-pffinsyfVania H1stary, IV (April, 1937), 128. 
burdens on 

restoration is 

already overburdened 

often an abomination. ( 66) 

taxpayers. So-called 

Several days later 

Philadelphia Evening 

on December 2 Oberholtzer 

Bulletin as saying: 

quoted '" 

Putting up a lot of ugly shacks is s1mply desecration. . It 

is a crime to lay unholy hands on this sacred shrine. 

Restoration usually turns out to be simply vandclism. 

For years Valley Forge has barely had enough money to police 

the park, mow the grass and make a few repairs. There has 

been an insufficient force for the simplest work and for road 

repair. 

Then why this sudden grandiose scheme? 

it. (67) 

I can't understilnd 

Dr. Albert C. Myers, formerly chilirm<~n of the park 

historicill committee for thirteen years under previous 

administriltions, supported Oberholtzer by stating: 

commission's 

Republican 

The data is insufficient to do as the Governor proposes. It 

would be much better to leave such restoration <~lone. 

Let them devote themselves to greater essentials. Let them 

protect and preserve what they already have. . . (68) 

Lawrence Hickman, president of the Sons of the American Revolution, 

observed that he was completely bewildered with "Governor Earle first 

wanting to turn Valley Forge into a hot dog picnic ground and now 

suddenly sw•nging to the other extreme." He observed further: 

The two plans are so incongruous that it makes you wonder 

what is going to happen next. 

There are a lot of things the CCC boys can do without 

upsetting the honest work of former commissions. But I don't 

think the plan will amount to anything anyway. 

Even if they had sufficient data .... 

reconstruction could be done with thousands 

don't see how the 

of dollars' worth of 

66. New York Times, November 29, 1936. 

67. 

6!L lb•d. 

File, Valley 

December 2, 

Chester County 

1936, Newspaper 

Historical Society. 

and ~ Republ•can, December 1, 1!336, Newspaper 

Forge Park, Chester County Historical Society. 

Clippings 

262 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

monuments and the Wasington memorial arch already standing. 

How could they do it' It would certainly be incongruous to put 

up huts around the modern monuments. Or would they tear 

down these expensive markers put up by various States and 

organizations? ( 6S) 

At the same time Carl Ziegler, who had directed the restoration of the 

kitchen at Washington's Headquarters and Varnum's Quarters, responded 

favorably to Earle's proposal. He observed: 

I don't think the restoration of Valley Forge should be quashed 

by historians or anyone else. For the last 15 years I have 

worked on restorations at Valley Forge and I don't think there 

is anyth1ng ridiculous about the present attempt to restore the 

encampment. There are some records <1nd <1 few sketches to go 

by ilnd we should never give up hope of finding more. 

The idea is good. The whole question is how intelligently will 

it be hi!ndled? If <1 careful survey is first made by historians 

and <1rchitects <1 greilt deal can be done. At le<1st Governor 

E<1rle wants the restor<~tion to be in keeping with Revolutionary 

times. 

This has not always been true. Look <It that Roman triumphal 

arch! Whi!t has thi!t got to do with Valley Forge"? Why it is 

absolutely foreign to the spirit of the camping ground. A 

triumphal Rom<1n arch has a specific meaning. (70) 

On the heels of this criticism came word from the Nation<~! Park Service 

(NPS), which supervised CCC work in the national and state parks, that 

the Earle restoration plan was "doomed to failure" since there was "little 

hope of establishing <1 Civili<1n Conserv<~tion Corps camp at Valley Forge 

under the present setup." Current regulations forbade the opening of 

additional CCC c<~mps or the transfer of existing camps. Thus, there was 

"only the hope that when, <~nd if, the C.C.C. is reorganized after 

April 1, 1937, a Ci!mp may be established at V<~lley Forge. "(71) In <1 

letter to Earle, Robert Fechner, Emergency Conservation Work Director, 

stated: 

69. 

II 

70. 

7L 

If we 

; . 

Ibid. 

are in a position to take on new projects after April 

. I will be glad to give sympathetic consideration to <~ny 

December 2, 

Chester County 

1936, Newspaper 

Historic<~! Society. 

3, 1936, 

Historic<~! 

Newsp<~per 

Society. 

Clippings 

263 
plans that may jointly be developed by the State of 

Pennsylvania and the National Park Service for restoration and 

preservation of Valley Forge Park.(72) 

Although the question of future National Park Service involvement at 

Valley Forge through the CCC program was still questionable, various 

Park Service professionals soon provided consultation services on the 

proposed restoration scheme. Elbert Cox, superintendent of Morristown 

National Historical Park, was instructed to visit the offices of the Works 

Progress Administration in Philadelphia on December 9. Subsequent to 

the meeting, in which Cox was accompanied by ECW assistant historian 

Melvin J. Weig of the Bronxville office, Cox wrote on December 16 to NPS 

Director Arno B. Cammerer, reporting on the discussions he had held 

with D. Knickerbocker Boyd, Charles C. Keyser, Col. Clarence P. 

Franklin, and Samuel S. Ellis: 

The gentlemen above listed are endeavoring to prepare a project 

to restore the Valley Forge Encampment, including 

approximately a mile and a half of outer entrenchments and the 

barrack huts which may have been used by the Pennsylvania 

Brigade. At the present time they are assimilating information 

from which such a project can be prepared. Mr. Weig and I 

explained to them the work of the Nation<~! Park Service, with 

special emphasis on the difficulties of a complete restoration, 

outlining the policy of sample restoration and describing specific 

examples in which the policy has been followed. It is doubtful 

if the W.P.A. officers were sufficiently impressed with our 

explanation because their interest is primarily in writing 

projects to provide work for W.P.A. 

The one specific question asked us--What method would have 

been used in building the trenches of the outer encampment, 

whether the dirt from the ditch would have been thrown 

outward or inward--1 could not answer, but suggested sources 

to which they might turn for information on this point. 

On the basis of instructions in Service Letter of December 2 I 

did not consider it wise to express a definite objection on the 

part of the Park Service to the type of project which they are 

proposing_ The established procedure for the approval of 

W.P.A. projects on historical areas was explained to them. 

After the project is prepared by the W.P.A. it will be 

submitted to the Valley Forge Park Commission whose approval 

it will have to receive before it is submitted to the National 

Park Service. I am not familiar with the membership of this 

Committee and therefore am unable to predict what reception the 

proposed project will get from them. 

72. Ibid., December 8, 1936, 

Park,Cilester County Historical 

Newspaper 

Society. 

'" 

Clippings File, Valley Forge 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

I presume that the National Park Service will take no further 

action in the matter until the project is formally submitted for 

approval. It seems to me, however, that it might be possible, if 

the Serv1ce thinks it wise, to write to Mr. Boyd on the basis of 

my report <tnd letter to him, emphasizing the policy of the 

Service and inviting the W.P.A. officials to visit the work 

which the National Park Sevice has done in certain areas such 

as Morristown, Fredericksburg, and Yorktown, which of course 

would lend further emphasis to the policy of s<1mple 

restoration. . . . (73) 

That same day Cox also sent a letter to Boyd, a member of the 

Pennsylvania Society, Sons of the Revolution who had participated in the 

reconstruction of the soldier's hut at Valley Forge during 1934-35, 

providing additional insights into National Park Service policies and 

procedures in historical areas that discouraged full-scale restoration 

projects. He wrote: 

In accordance with your request of last Wednesday am 

enclosing a few photographs which are representative of the 

work being done by the National Park Service in Morristown 

National Historical Park. They illustrate the idea of sample 

restoration which, as I explained to you, is the policy followed 

by the National Park Service in its restoration program for 

historical areas. I would like to renew my invitation to you and 

Mr. Keyser to visit some of the areas in which the National 

Park Service has been working to view at first hand some of 

the projects which have been completed. The preference for 

the policy of sample restorations is based on several years of 

experience, which indic<ttes rather conclusively that a complete 

restoration is not only more expensive in the initial construction 

but also burdensome to maintain <tnd of no greater value for 

education<tl purposes. I might also mention the importance and 

value of a thorough archeological investigation of <1 site before 

even a sample restoration 1s begun. This method has proved 

one of the most fruitful •n our efforts to secure information 

about an area on which we planned restoration projects.(74) 

While WPA officials continued to correspond with Park Service officials and 

Valley Forge State Park and Morristown National Historical Park personnel 

exchanged visits and correspondence.(75) On January 5, 1937, a clerk 

73. Cox to The Director, National Park Service, December 15, 1936, 

CRM-MARO Files. After August 1936 all WPA programs that involved 

historical areas had to have the approval of the regional offices of the 

National Park Service. 

74. Cox to Boyd, December 16, 1936, and Jones to Kahler, January 9, 

1940, CRM-MARO Files . 

75. Ellis to Cox, December 28, 1936, and Cox to The Director, National 

Park Service, December 30, 1936, CRM-MARO Files. 

265 
commented as follows on ECW historian Roy E. Appleman's August 1!335 • 

field report: 

Valley Forge undoubtedly has the calibre required for a 

National Park area. He strongly recommends that an attempt be 

made to have this site transferred from the State to the 

National Government (Mr. Richard Beamish, Secretary of the 

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, indicated that the State might 

be willing to turn Valley Forge over to the United States).(76) 

In March 1937, the month before the CCC was to undergo reorganization, 

the Advisory Board on National Parks, Historic Sites, Buildings, and 

Monuments formally adopted three restoration policies--a generill 

restoration policy, battlefield area restoration policy, and a sample 

restoration policy. The policies represented the first codification of a 

national historic preservation policy, and each was designed to meet a 

g1ven set of problems and issues in historical areas. These policies, 

which would have a significant 1mpact on the Park Service's negative 

attitude toward Governor Earle's restoration plan, were the product of 

several years of discussions concerning establishment of a "proper 

restoration policy" for historical areas involving the NPS Branch of 

Historic Sites and Buildings, in consultation with technicians from other 

Park Service branches and the Advisory Board on National Parks, 

Historic Sites, Buildings, and Monuments. Following approval of the 

policies by the Advisory Board on March 2S-26, Director Cammerer issued 

a memorandum detailing the three specific policies which would take effect 

on May 19. (77) 

Largely as a result of the dichotomy between Governor Earle's restoration 

plan and the newly-adopted NPS restoration policies, a CCC camp was 

never established in Valley Forge State Park. Hence New Deal funds 

expended in the park were limited to five WPA projects of which three 

were completed and two were nearing completion by late 1938: 

Completed W.P.A. Project No. 8393 cleared and appropriately 

parked the former Patterson sit.e, the former Stephen's site, 

including a roadway, painted the observatory tower on Mt. Joy 

76. NPS Field Report, "Valley Forge National Historical Park," January 

6, 1937, CRM-MARO Files. 

,, 

G. 

a complete 

policy •ssue. Copies of the three policies may be seen 

Also see Charles B. Hosmer, Jr., Preservation 

The National Trust 1926-1949 {2 

' 1,038-39. 

266 

restoration 

in Appendix I. 

Of Age: From 

Charlottesvi lie, 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

(aluminum), constructed an addition to thE> Superintendent's 

residence and heater house and re-planted a number of 

important sites. Federal contribution 7,813,25. Sponsor's 

contribution $1 ,734.45. 

Completed W.P.A. Project No. 11780, planted large trees 

designed to screen <tn industrial plant long an eyesore on the 

park landscape, established a desirable planting of trees around 

the National Memorial Arch, placed 125 white and red dogwood 

trees in the main dogwood grove, replacements for dying trees 

and enlarged Artillery Grove, furnished two additional material 

storage sheds near Equipment Building, a new guard house at 

Artillery Park and other items. Federal contribution 

$47,902.50. Sponsor's contribution $9,621.00. 

Completed W.P.A. Project No. 18041, cleorred and merged into 

the park and newly acquired former Biddle tract, including 

salv<rging and stormg for future park use steel, stone, bricks, 

etc. Cle<rred and reforested l<trge portion of Mt. Joy, opened 

vistas from the Tower, transplanted 200 lorrge trees donated by 

Mr. H. N. Woolman and constructed bridl" p<rths. Federal 

contribution, $19,327.25. Sponsor's contribution, $5,469. 75. 

W.P.A. Project No. 14744, ne<rnng completion. Topographic 

and boundary survey includ.lng the making of a detailed master 

map of the entire park to date. Federal contribution 

$22,782.00. Sponsor's contribution, $4,010.00. 

W.P.A. Project No. 15392-18560. Copying orll minutes, records, 

deeds, etc., to be filed in the St<rte archives at Harrisburg, 

thus providing ag<rinst ha<:<rrd of loss by fire or otherwise the 

permanent records of this reserv<rtion <rs kept now at the park 

office. Federal contribution, $3,277.54. Sponsor's 

contribution, $1,091.00.{78) 

The park commission devoted considerable attention to law enforcement 

concerns at Valley Forge during 1935-39. By 1936 p<rrk p<rtrols were 

carrying out their duties on motorcycles. In Februorry 1936 new "Rules, 

Regulations and Gener<rl Instructions For Patrolmen, Guards, Officers and 

Caret<rkers" were implemented, <rnd new lists of duties were prepared for 

each employee. (79) During th<rt same period "foot guards" were assigned 

11-12. 

'" 

79. Jones to Bog<rrdus, February 8, 1936, Correspondence, RG 46, 

PHMC. In J<rnu<rry f1rst aid classes were begun for all uniformed 

employees through the courtesy of the Red Cross and the Keystone Auto 

Club. A copy of these regulations may be seen in Appendix J . 

267 
to specific areas of the park including: Wayne Foot Guard--hospital hut, 

Wayne and von Steuben statues, soldier's hut, and Pennsylvania Columns; 

Artillery Park Foot Guard--Artillery Park area, camp school, and Memorial 

Arch; Tower Foot Guard--tower area, bridle path from Knox Point to 

Brass Key hut, and Fort Washington; Night Watchman--patrol 

Washington's Headquarters area to police barracks every hour and two 

rounds through park per night in state car; and P1cnic Grove Foot 

Guard--picnic grove area, Fort Huntington, and dogwood grove.(80) 

The first comprehensive set of "Park Regulations" (sometimes referred to 

as "Personal Regulations") of which there are extant records was issued 

by the commission in February 1936. The regulations read: 

1. No person shall 

entrances provided for 

enter or leave 

that purpose. 

Park except by 

2. No person shall stand or lie on benches or tables in the Park. 

3. No person shall enter a retiring house set apart for the use of 

the opposite sex. 

4. No intoxicating liquors shall be sold or distributed free within 

the Park. 

5. No gaming or any obscene or indecent act shall be allowed in 

the Park. 

6. No abusive, indecent or threatening language or any conduct 

that may annoy others shall be allowed in the Park. 

7. No person shall solicit alms or subscriptions in the Park. 

8. No person shall go in bathing within the ParK. 

9. No 

take the 

person shall solicit permission to photograph visitors, or 

photograph of any person or persons without their consent. 

10. No person shall sell or expose for sale any tickets of any kind 

1n the Park. 

11. No person shall sell or expose any article for sale within the 

Park without a license approved by the Commission. 

12. No person shall discharge any fireworks in the Park without the 

previous license of the Commission. 

80. Lists of duties for Wayne Foot Guard; Artillery Park Foot Guard; 

Tower Foot Guard; Night watchman; and Picnic Grove Foot Guard; 

[January 1936], Correspondence, RG 46, PHMC. 

268 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

13. No person shall park an automobile or other vehicle in any 

roadway or section of ground except in spaces definitely allocated 

for parking purposes. 

14. No person shall 1n anywise injure or foul any fountain or spring 

within the Park. 

15. No person shall carry firearms or shoot birds in the Park, or 

within fifty (SO) yards thereof, or throw stones or other missiles 

therein. 

16. No person shall throw any dead animal or offensive matter or 

substance of any kind into the river Schuylkill or other waters 

within the boundaries of the Park. 

17. No person shall scatter, drop or leave in any portion of the 

Park, except in the receptacles provided for the purpose, any piece 

of paper, rag, garbage, dei!d flower or other rubbish. 

18. No person shall injure, deface or destroy any notices, rules or 

regulations for the government of the Park posted or in any other 

manner permanently fixed within the limits of the same. 

19. No placard, advertisement, public notice or 

except Park notices, rules end regulations, shall 

posted or affixed in any manner in the Park . 

20. No person shall annoy, strike, injure, maim or 

either running at large or confined in a close, in the 

personal card, 

be distributed, 

kill any animal, 

Park. 

21. No person shall dJsturb the fish or water fowl in streams, pools 

or ponds--or birds, nests or eggs in any part of the Park. All 

fishing shall be in accordance with State Laws. 

22. No person shall remove, disturb, interfere with or take any of 

the blossoms or fruit growing upon any tree, shrub or bush in the 

Park. 

23. No person shall cl1mb any tree or break, cut down, trample 

upon or remove or in any manner mjure or deface any statue, 

ornament, tree, plant, shrub, fern, flower, flower-bed, turf or any 

of the buildings, fences, bridges or other constructions within the 

Park; nor shall any person write on any building, structure, fence, 

rock or stone w1thin the Park, or pick or c<Jrry away any fern or 

flower, except violets, buttercups, daisies or dandelions. 

24. No person shall light or permit a fire to burn in the Park, and 

any one who discovers a fire in the Park is requested to notify the 

nearest Guard, Patrolmen or other Park employee promptly. 

2S. No persDn shall conduct musical, theatrical or other 

entertainment therein without the license of the Commission . 

269 
26. No gathering or meeting of any kind, assembled thru • 

advertisement, shall be permitted in the Park without the previous 

permission of the Commission or Superintendent. Meetings or 

gatherings for political purposes are not permitted. 

27. No person shall enter the Observatory Tower on Mount Joy 

when the gate thereto is locked, and no person is allowed within the 

enclosure at Washington's Headquarters when the gates thereto are 

locked. This rule against trespass will be strictly enforced. The 

Tower is open to the public from 8 A.M. to 8 P.M. during the 

summer months and from 8 A.M. to 3 P.M. during the winter 

months. Washington's Headquarters is open to the public from 8 

A.M. to 5 P.M. all the ye<1r. 

28. No commercial trucks are permitted to use State Highway No. 23 

passing through the Park. Signs are posted at each end of this 

route designating the proper route for truck traffic. This rule LS 

made for the safety of truck drivers and enables such vehicles to 

avoid dangerous hills.(81) 

That same month "Traffic Regulations for Dogwood Display Sundays" were 

prepared for the 1g35 "Valley Forge Annual Dogwood Show," a copy of 

which may be seen in Appendix K. By the mid-1g30s the park's display 

of flowering dogwood had "assumed the proportions of a National event." 

For instance, the New York Times reported on May 2, 1937: 

With 10,000 dogwood trees in blossom, Valley Forge Memorial 

Park once more raises the curtain on its annual nature 

show. . . Again this year thousands are expected to visit the 

Pennsylvania shrine. where blossoms, shading from creamy 

white through variegated pinks to deep blush rose, cover the 

green fortressed slopes with clouds of moving color ... 

Outlining the green hills, covering 1,440 cultivated acres, 

gathered in knots of opaque pink and white and rose in the 

valleys, spilling their blossoms over the winding drives, the 

dogwood presents an impressive pageant.(82) 

As a result of this extensive publicity crowds coming to Valley Forge to 

view the dogwoods more than doubled during the late 1930s, increasing 

from 315,704 in 1935 to 750,860 in 1938. At various times traffic control 

units were detailed to the park from the Pennsylvania Motor Police, 

Battery C, 107th Field Artillery, Pennsylvania National Guard, and the 

Keystone Automobile Club's Motor Patrol to help park authorities handle 

the large crowds.(83) 

81. RG 2, VAFO Archives. 

82. New York Times, May 2, 1937. 

83. 

New 

270 

14, and 

dogwoods 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

In late 1938 the park commission was highly laudatory in its praise for 

the law enforcement and labor forces in the park. The commrssmners 

noted: 

It is gratifying that throughout this Commission's admrnrstration 

highly satisfactory relations have been maintained among the 

park patrolmen, foot guards, and labor force. The force is 

composed of effrcient serious-minded workmen who have given 

the Commonwealth full value in each day's work. Practkally all 

the labor and foot guard force, rncluding the efficient chief 

clerk of the park office, has been in the employ of the pilrk for 

many years and their loyalty and devotion to economy and 

thoroughness has contributed much to the solution of some of 

the problems due to inadequate funds. This observation seems 

noteworthy because the labor, patrol and guard forces are 

smaller than they were at any time during the eight years prior 

to the custodianship of this Commission. Appropriate policing 

rules and park regulations for the public have been in force 

and commendatory letters frequently come from visitors attesting 

the courtesy and helpfulness of park employees.{84) 

Valley Forge State Park was the scene for a number of special events 

during 1935-39. These included: 

1. The Boy Scout councils of Montgomery and Delaware counties held 

<lnnual jamborees in the P<lrk on February 22 (Washington's Birthday) of 

each year. More than 4,000 scouts participated in the events.(85) 

2. On Armistice Day, November 11, 1935, the National Educational 

Association {NEA) Broadcasters celebrated American Education Week with 

a special broadcast from the "orderly room" in washington's Headquarters 

at Valley Forge. The broadcast was part of the organization's regular 

Wednesday evening program entitled "Our American Schools." Harry W. 

Colmery, national commander of the American Legion, was the principal 

speaker, and park supermtendent Gilbert S. Jones also spoke. Eight 

members of a NEA delegation also presented a dramatic sketch of the 

historic and symbolic importance of Valley Forge.(86) 

3. The 

celebrated 

160th anniversary of the evacuation of Valley Forge 

on June 19, 1938, by exercises featuring Pennsylvania 

83. (Cont.) may be found in a letter sent by Superintendent Jones to 

Mrs. M. D. Robinson on March 30, 1938. A copy of this Jetter appears 

in Appendix L. 

84. The Valley Forge Park Commission, -- --- Report of 1935-39, 19-20. 

85. Jones to Bogardus, March 11, 1936, Correspondence, RG 46, PHMC . 

86. 12, 1936, Newspaper 

Historical Society. 

271 

Clippings File, 
Governor Earle <tnd Georgia Governor E. L. Rivers as guest speakers. • 

The event, which attracted some 10,000 persons, was held near the 

Huntington Quarters' site on the Grand Parade. The affair was held 

under the auspices of the Pennsylvania Constitution Commemoration 

Committee, in cooperation with the park commission, in connection with 

the commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the United States 

Constitution. Judge Frank Smith of Philadelphia presided, and the 

principal address was given by Major Frank W. Melvin, chairman of the 

Pennsylvania Historical Commission and a member of the Valley Forge Park 

Commission. Present for the occasion were two persons who attended the 

100th anniversary of Evacuation Day in 1878--George W, Hensel, Jr., a 

member of the park commission, and Hannah Sanderson of Chadds Ford, 

Pennsylvania. (87) 

4. One of the more unusual events to be held in the 

years was a memorial service for George- Washington 

American Communist Party on February 22, 1939.(88) 

park during these 

sponsored by the 

Visitation statistics for 1935-38 reflected increasing interest and use of 

Valley Forge State Park as the number of visitors was the largest in the 

park's history to date. Surveys of automobile licenses indicated that 

persons from all 48 states and 15 foreign countries and Canadian 

provinces visited the park during a calendar year. Licenses from as 

many as 42 different states were observed on a given day. The tourist 

camp became increasingly popular for trailer guests and campers, whose 

visits were limited to two weeks. 

Statistics '" "' 1935-38 period showed yearly increases '" visitation. 

These included: 

1935 1936 1937 1938 

Park 971,546 1,112,535 1,257,284 1,395,038 

Washington's 

Headquarters 166,840 210,175 279' 052 273,676 

Revolutionary 

soldier's hut 14,605 16,225 13,900 17' 961 

Museum 129,896 170,521 170,297 

Observatory 108,964 177,448 232,929 

Tourist camp 656 708 750 

It was noted that this "large number of persons were served, apparently 

satisfactorily, without flagrant disregard of the Commonwealth's 

regulations or serious complaint by the public." Only a few minor 

87. Report of The Valley Forge Park Commission, 1935-39, pp. 12-13 . 

88. Morris, "Great Moments," RG 2, VAFO ArchiVes. 

272 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

accidents occurred during those ye<>rs, and or1ly two arrests were 

m<>de.(89) 

Durmg the summer of 1937 the trustees of the University of Pennsylvania 

approved a program for development of an <ouxiliary undergraduate school 

and supplementary campus ot Valley Forge, thus presenting the Valley 

Forge Park Commission with potential development just to the south of the 

park. In 1931 Henry N. Woolman, an alumnus of the University of 

Pennsylvania, had donated the 178-acre Cressbrook Farm to h1s alma 

mater for the purpose of establishing the undergraduate campus. 

Woolman had purchased the property in 1926 from Thomas M. Royal who 

had acquired it earlier from Lawrence McCormick, owner of the Bellevue 

Stratford Hotel. The property included the house occupied by Duportail 

during the winter encampment in 1777-78. In bestowing the gift to the 

university Woolman noted: 

The tract of 178 acres at Valley Forge. . [is] a nucleus of a 

campus that ultimately should be of sufficient area to contain 

within itself all those imporant factors of student life involved 

in work, study and play. . Valley Forge. . standing alone 

above the Nation's Shrines, symbolizing self-sacrifice and faith 

and devotion to the cause of democracy, .. instantly grips 

the imagination as a place preeminent in situation for growth in 

spiritual as well as intellectual matters on the part of young 

American manhood Pennsylvania has an honored 

birthright at Valley Forge . Cressbrook Farm, the Valley 

Forge site, in the shadow of the great encampment, brings our 

University face to face with one of the most momentous 

decisions in our history.(90) 

The V<llley Forge development plans called for $600,000 of the $12,500,000 

which the committee planned to raise for physical improvements and 

endowment purposes in anticipation of the two hundredth anniversary of 

the university in 1940. The educational facilities at Valley Forge would 

be limited at first to a freshman class of fifty students meeting special 

requirements of scholarship and character and studying a curriculum 

emphasizing American history, government, and English. The suburban 

89. Report of The Valley Forge .~e!:!,"f!; 

Jones to Division of Parks, January 

PHMC. Among the visitors 1n 1936 was a 

Democratic National Convention, including a 

one of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's sons. 

' p. 

congressmen and 

90. Kite, "General Duportail at Valley Forge," 346. Woolman also 

spearheaded a drive in 1935 to organize the Horse-Shoe Trail Club which 

began laying out the Horse-Shoe Trail from the park over a 116-mile 

course to Manada Gap 1n the Blue Mountains where it intersected with the 

Appalachian Trail. "Horseshoe Trail Begins Course At Historic Valley 

Forge Park," P1cket Post, January, 1946, 67-68, and "Horse-Shoe Trail 

Plan Adds Areas for Parks," Picket Post, January, 1948, 37. 

273 
campus was also intended for social and recreational use of the ent1re • 

male student body oF the university, as well as for seminars, special 

lectures, and an annual forum for upper classmen and alumni. 

Along .,_,ith these plans it was proposed to acquire the adjoining Wilson 

farm, site of Lafayette's Quarters which would provide the university with 

a 300-acre tract. Providing a modest beginning, the Cressbrook 

buildings would 

w1th necessary adaptation and an additional residential building, 

meet the immediote educatronal requirements, while the Wilson 

farm buildings will be converted to recreational, seminar and 

sociol uses. Plans call for reconstruction of the barn on 

Cressbrook Farm for an assembly hall, commons room with 

kitchen, gymn~sium, locker rooms and semmar quarters; 

construction of dormitory facilities, adaptation of the OuPortail 

House for faculty residence and ~dministrative purposes, 

construction of playing fields, landscaping of the tract and 

installation of road&, water supply, electricity, sanitation and 

similar services. (91) 

Later in October 1939 the university trustees acquired the 148-acre Wilson 

farm from Woolman, providing the university with a 323-acre campus. 

Soon thereafter it was announced that the university would "now be able 

to establish the undergraduate college of American culture that it has 

been hopefully planning for several years."(92) 

During the fall of 1937 operations of the Ehret Magnesia Manufacturing 

Company began creating serious waste and pollution problems on park 

property adjacent to the firm. The principal problems resulted from 

dumping of carbonate of lime waste, faulty construction of a waste ditch, 

thus blocking normal drainage from the Grand Parade through a natural 

waterway, and destruction of trees and plant life. Accordingly, the 

executive committee of the park commission drafted a resolution on 

November 3 (later unanimously ratified by the commission on November 

24), requesting "the Department of Forests and Waters, the Attorney 

General and the Water and Power Resource& Board immediately to 

institute such action" against the company "a& Shall be regarded 

necessary to protect the interests of the Commonwealth of 

Pennsylvania."( 93) 

Examination of the terrain was made by engineers of the Water and Power 

Resources Board and by representatives of the Department of Forests and 

91. "The Valley Forge College of the University of Pennsylvania," School 

and Society, XLVI (July 31, 1937), 137-38. 

92. New York Times, October 14, 1939. 

93. Minutes, Executive Committee, 

November 3, 1937, Correspondence, RG 

274 

Valley Forge 

46, PHMC. 

Park Commission, 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

Waters, confirming the claims of the commission. 

Justice prepared a bill m equity designed to secure 

by the commission <1nd filed the bill against Ehret in 

Court.(94) 

The Department of 

the rel•ef requested 

the Dauphin County 

After extens1ve negotiations during early 1939 between the park 

commission and the Ehret Magnesia Manufacturing Company an agreement 

was executed on May 15, "designed to correct abuses which have, and 

are causing damage to p<>rk property." Five days later the suit on the 

Bill of Equ1ty before the Dauphin County Court was withdrawn by the 

Department of Justice, after the company agreed to pay <til costs in the 

suit.(95) 

H. THE YEARS 1939-1943 

In 1938 the Republicans regained the governorship 1n Pennsylvania, 

electing Arthur H. James to that post. Thus, the Valley Forge Park 

Comm1ssion was again reorganized to reflect the new governor's political 

policies. Despite the almost total turnover 1n commissioners, Major 

General Edward C. Shannon, chairman of the commission from 1935-38, 

remained in that position and Dr. Thomas S. Gates, another holdover 

from the 1935-38 commission, was elected as vice chairman of the new 

commission. (96) 

During 1939-43 the Valley Forge Park Commission faced a variety of 

issues emanating from the land acquisition program commenced by the 

previous commission. That commission had designated certain land tracts 

within the anginal encampment area and adjacent to the park boundaries 

for condemnatwn and addition to the park. Smce 1893 the procedure in 

Valley Forge State Park land condemnations had been to condemn and 

through open court action ascertain awards. After final court 

adjudocat1on establishing the actual amount of damage, an appropriation 

was then made by the state legislature to provide for settlement. In June 

1939, however, Governor James and the state attorney general, opposed 

to the authorized tripling of the size of the park by Democrats under the 

Earle administration, resolved that lands for addition to the park should 

not be condemned until funds for payment had been provided by 

appropriation. At the request of Governor James the new park 

commission on June 28, 1939, rescinded "all that portion of a resolution of 

May 1937 that had not been legally effectuated" and attempted "to 

abandon the condemnation of lands" on 24 properties (only four 

94. There is considerable documentation on th1s case in Correspondence, 

RG 46, PHMC. Also see Report of The Valley Forge Park Commission, 

1935·39, pp. 14-15. 

95. Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, March 22, April 26, and May 

24, 1939. A copy of the agreement may be seen in Appendix M. 

96. Report of The 

Per1nsylvania, July 26, 

Forge Park 

to January 2, 

275 
condemnations had been completed) "for the primary purpose of economy 

and conservation of Commonwealth funds." At the same time Governor 

James prevailed upon the state legislature to sc<>le b<>ck the ceiling for 

the authorized acreage of the p<>rk from 5,000 to 3,000.(97) 

The owners of lands designated under the May 26, 1937, resolution 

brought suit to oppose the rescinding resolution implemented by the James 

administration. In Montgomery County attorney John R. K. Scott and his 

wife Nellie Hardie Scott, owners of a 27.62-acre tract, and in Chester 

County Fred Lyle and Philip Zuiderhoek, owners of a 2-<>cre parcel, took 

the issue to court, charging that they h<>d been "put to a lot of trouble 

and expense" by the commission's action in ordering them to vacate their 

properties. "(98) 

Both county courts ruled in favor of the plaintiffs and refused to allow 

the commission to withdr<>W from the condemnation proceedings in 

decisions announced at Norristown on October 31, 1939, and West Chester 

on January 2, 1940. The decisions established that title to the 

designated lands had rested in the commonwealth from the date of the 

designation (May 26, 1937}. The state decided not to appeal the 

decisions, and the Department of Justice held that the commonwealth 

"should not initiate petitions for juries of view to assess damages but 

should be the defendant in these cases."(99) 

Hence land owners filed petitions and awards were made throughout the 

• 

1939-43 period, the state legislature passing special appropriations bills of • 

$87,500 in 1939 and $85,000 in 1941 far such purposes. By early 1943 

final awards had been made on 22 of the 28 designated tracts, and the 

park commission was requesting an appropriation of $210,000 to pay these 

judgments. 

These condemn<>tions added 416.888 acres to Valley Forge State Park, 

providing for a total acreage of 1,990.338, including 1,559.368 Jn 

Montgomery County and 430.97 in Chester County. The land acquisitions 

97. Minutes, 

The Valley Forge 

"People's Mandate 

Commissioners," Picket 

June 28, 1939; Report of 

p. 5;. and Gilbert 5. Jones, 

Enc<>mpment Urged by P01rk 

6-06. 

98. In July 1937 the commission served certified capJes of its May 26, 

1937, resolution upon owners of the 28 tracts designated for 

condemnation. On December 28, 1938, the commission adopted a further 

resolution directing the property owners whose lands had been designated 

to vacate, and on January 13, 1938, and subsequent thereto notice was 

served on the property owners. The property owners, however, failed to 

vacate the properties as ordered. ~ Republican, August 10, 

November 3, 16, 25, December 1, 1939, Newspaper Clippings File, Valley 

Farge Park, Chester County Historical Society. 

99. Report of The Valley Forge P<>rk Commission, 1939-43, pp. 5-6. • 
• 

• 

• 

added valuable historic areas to the park <1nd added buffer areas to 

protect the park from suburban development. The commission noted 1n 

January 1943 that 

by these acquisitions the park has acquired all lands abuttmg 

the Schuylkill River on the north bank from Betzwood to the 

Pawling bridge, thereby protecting for all time the integrity of 

the park and safeguarding the Encampment Grounds from 

commercial encroachment on the northerly and westerly sides, 

as well as providing a large acreage for development as a 

recreational park area.(100) 

In addition to the land acquisition program the park commission entered 

into various zoning agreements, insuring protection of adjacent areas to 

the park against "commercial exploitation." Zoning agreements were 

negotiated with the Lower Merion, Tredyffrm, and Schuylkill 

townships. (101) 

During the years 1939-43 the general assembly appropriated funds for the 

park that were "not sufficient to provide any substantial improvement 

projects beyond maintenance." For 1939-41 the appropriation was 

$71,750, compared with the commission's request for $91,750. The 

1941-43 appropriation was $83,085, although the commission had requested 

$91,320. lack of adequate funds continued to be a major concern of the 

commission during these two bienniums "by reason of the increased park 

area while funds and the number of employees" remained substantially 

unchanged.(102) 

The problems associated with inadequate appropriations were further 

exacerbated by frustrations experienced by the commission in obtaining 

approval from Harrisburg for various repair and demolition projects and 

purchase of equ1pment. In February 1942 it was noted that needed 

repairs on the Mount Joy Observatory To..,·er, tor Instance, had not been 

carried out with the 1939-41 legislative appropriation, because the 

Department of Property and Supplies "failed to make the required 

inspections, draw up specifications and request bids for this work, in 

time for the cost thereof to be Included under legal payments of said 

appropriation." Hence an appropriation during the following bienn1um 

would have to pass the legislature before the work could be carried out. 

Approval by various agenc1es Fn Harr.sburg also held up commission 

efforts to acqu~re an autocar truck and new mowers, replacement of 

unserviceable park vehicles, sale, demolition, and disposal of old 

structures, abandoned machinery, and scrap, and del1very of timber· for 

restoration work. ( 103) 

100. lbrd., " 6-8. 

101 . Ibid. ' 23. 

102. Ibid. "· 16-17, n 

103. Stewart to Jones, February "· 1942. RG 6, PHMC. 
Members of a subcommittee of the Senate Committee on Appropriations 

visited the park on April 18, 1941, expressing their approval of the 

"apparent requirements of the park administration." This approval, 

however, did not result in higher appropnations. Rather, the visit led 

to introduction and passage in the Senate of a resolution providing: 

That the forthcoming issue of "The Pennsylvania Manual" for 

1941-1943 biennium shall contain, inter alia, a chapter devoted 

to the description of the Valley Forge Park, its several shrines 

and the elaborate plans for the expansion of its grounds as 

evolved by the Valley Farge Park Commission; and be it further 

Resolved, That the Senate of the General Assembly of 

Pennsylvania call upon the citizenry of Pennsylvania to join at 

Valley Forge Park on Saturday, May 10, 1941, in the ceremonies 

dedicating the Dogwoods of Valley Forge to George Washington 

and his Army.{104) 

The ceremonies for the dedication of the dogwoods to the memory of 

Washington and the Continental Army were held during the afternoon of 

May 10 1 1941, with representatives from all of the original states and 

several thousand visitors in attendance "in the natural amphitheatre about 

General Samuel Huntington's headquarters." The program, which was 

broadcast over a local radio station, featured patriotic music by the 108th 

Field Artillery Band from Indiantown Gap and the Valley Forge Military 

Academy band and two speakers: Pennsylvania Governor Arthur H. 

James, and Theodore L. Bean, former state senator and trustee of the 

Valley Forge Park Commission, with responses by the governors of each 

of the original states. The theme of the speeches compared the struggle 

for liberty waged by the Continental Army with the struggle then 

confronting the world between democracy and totalitarianism. The day 

ended with an evening parade by the corps of cadets of Valley Forge 

Military Academy on the Grand Parade.{105) 

The dedication ceremony contributed to the publicity given to the annual 

dogwood display m the park. An organization of citizens in the five 

counties adjacent to the park, incorporated as the Valley Forge Dogwood 

104. Stiefel to Shannon, May 6, 1941; Shannon to Stiefel, May 6, 1941; 

Jones to Publisher, Pennsylvan1e Manual, June 6, 1941; and Senate 

Resolution, Serial No. 45, "Dedication of Dogwoods of Valley Forge Park 

to George Washington and His Army," Adopted, April 30, 1941; 

Correspondence, RG 46, PHMC. 

105. John Robbins Hart, Valley Forge During World War II (New York, 

1944), pp. 7-8, and Brochure, "Valley Forge Dogwood Celebration, Valley 

Forge Park, Pennsylvania, Saturday, May 10, 1941," and "Map of Valley 

Forge, Parking & Traffic Regulations, Dogwood Celebration, May 10, 

1941," Reed Collection, RG 10, VAFO Archives. A copy of the latter map 

may be seen on the fallowmg page. 

• 

• 

• 
...... , .. ;::::::.r"""l ~"'" f'lltlm£ I!SM 

f'l!k bou~dlf'j 

.... ~ ........... . 

M•p of 

VALLEY FORGE: 

ohowlng 

Traffic Reg\llationo & '''""•"'-

'" 
Association, was formed to cooperate with the State Department of •. 

Commerce and the park commission to increase national interest and 

awareness of the dogwoods. For its part the commission had several 

hundred specimen dogwoods planted at important sites in the park and 

established "a nursery for propagation of the attractive red 

dogwoods.(106) 

Despite the inadequate appropriations for the effective maintenance and 

operation of the park during 1939-43, park officials carried out a number 

of physical improvements. These included: 

1. Attention was given to plans to improve the entrances to the park. 

In 1941 the former Bean dwelling, a 2\-story unoccupied frame house 

located on Nutts Road west of the! bridge across Valley Creek in 

Schuylkill Township, was demolished and a road bank lowered, providing 

"a better view at the Valley Creek bridge westerly entrance." The Port 

Kennedy "northeasterly entrance" was landscaped, and the acquisition of 

several acres provided protection to the Gulph Road "easterly approach." 

State Highway Department plans for widening the road at the Betzwood 

park "northerly entrance" were approved by the commission, but work 

was held up for the duration of the war. 

2. Considerable improvements were made to Washington's Headquarters. 

Portions of the "original flooring" had been "in use over 175 years" and 

required replacement. Lumber for these repairs was obtained from an old 

inn located on Egypt Road near Norristown, which "building stood when • 

the Continental Army passed that way after evacuation of Valley Forge." 

The flagstone walk around the headquarters and park museum was 

widened for the convenience of visitors. Concealed electric lighting was 

installed in the headquarters, and war risk insurance was placed on the 

building and its contents. By early 1943 all furniture in the 

headquarters had been brought under the possession of the park for the 

first time. 

3. The Memorial Arch and the Anthony Wayne Statue were repaired 

through cooperation of the Department of Property and Supplies and 

payment made from the commonwealth's monument fund. 

4. Modern latrines were installed at Artillery Park, a site being used 

frequently as an auxiliary picnic area. A 1,200 gallon septic tank and 

400 feet of field tile were used there. Also, a 2,250-gallon septic tank 

with 800 feet of field tile was placed at the administration building and 

public restrooms. 

5. The exteriors of all park buildings were painted. 

106. RePort of The Park 

Visitors viewing the from , 

1940 but then declined, undoubtedly because of 

297,723 in 1941 and 240,000 in 1942. 

280 

1939-43, p. 21. 

1939 to 478,205 in 

wartime restrictions, to • 
• 

• 

• 

6. New parking areas and road improvements were made. Additional 

parking space was constructed along Camp Road for convenience of 

visitors to the dogwood groves. Planning was done to use a part of the 

acreage adjacent to Washington Memorial Chapel for automobile parking to 

eliminate traffic ha.:ards on State Route 363. Quarry Road, an important 

link between Port Kennedy and County Line roads, was maci!damized. A 

spur of McGettig<tn Road was widened <tnd surfaced, and Camp Road 

gutters were improved through cooperation of the State Highwi!y 

Department. 

7. Preliminary plans were prepared for the restoration of the "historic 

commissary headquarters," located on property acquired by the park in 

1939. Although restoration work was not carried out during 1939-43, a 

number of farm buildings near the commissary along State Route 653 in 

Upper Merion Township were demolished. These included a stone barn 

and horse stable, frame cow shed, frame chicken house, and two-story 

frame servants dwelling.(107) 

The outbreak of World War II in 1939 and American entry into the 

hostilities in December 1941 had a major impact on park operations. The 

park commission endeavored to aid the war effort in a variety of ways. 

It offered 38 iron replicas of Knox's cannon and cannon balls to the scrap 

salvage drive of the commonwealth. More than sixty tons of other scrap 

metal were provided to the drive for war iron. A Reserve Officers 

Training Corps Camp and rifle range were provided for cadets training at 

Valley Forge Military Academy. The commission cooperdted with residents 

of Valley Forge and Port Kennedy in the dedication of roster boards 

memorializing the men from those villages serving in the United States 

armed forces. Evergreens from the park nursery were used at those two 

park entrances.(108) 

During the 1939-43 period the park commission gave attention to the 

deteriorating Mount Joy Observation Tower, preservation of the Waterman 

Grave stone marker, and plans for exhibiting a Houdon statue of 

Washington. Following examination of the Mount Joy tower by an engineer 

from the Department of Forests and Waters use of the structure was 

limited to thirty persons on the upper platform at one time. Funds were 

not available, however, for the restoration of the 110-foot steel structure, 

one of the most popular tourist sites in the park. Between January 1, 

1939, and January 1, 1943, a total of 799,381 visitors ascended the tower. 

The original native stone marker at the Waterman Grave was removed from 

the grave and placed in the park museum by the Daughters of the 

Revolution. Ceremonies marked the occasion, highlighted by an address 

by Theodore L. Bean, trustee of the park commission and local historian. 

107. Ibid., pp. 

Correspondence, 

19-20, and 

RG 45, PHMC. 

Jones Rowland, June 1 941 ' 

p. 21, and 

File, Valley 
With acquisition of a 7, 74-<Jcre tract of land from the Washington Memorial • 

Chapel under the aforementioned 1937 condemnation, Valley Forge State 

Park came into possession of a bronze statue of Washington standing on 

the property. It had been cast from molds of the original sculpture by 

Houdon in the Viginia State Capitol. Since the statue, located on the 

grounds adjacent to the chapel, was designed for interior exhibit, the 

commission immediately began consideration for exhibiting it in a park 

building.(109) 

In 1942 Gilbert S. Jones, former superintendent of Valley Forge State 

Park and then serving as secretary of the park commiss•on and 

secretary-tr.,asurer of the Valley Forge Historical Society, wrote a longneeded hi~torical guide and handbook for the park. Since state, 

hi~torical, and patriotic group~ refused to fund the booklet's publication, 

the commission accepted the offer of Karl A. Scheidt, president of the 

Adam Scheidt Brewing Company of Norristown, to finance the guide book 

provided "there should be no advertising, and that it was to be compiled 

by somebody who would pre~ent the commission's point of view." 

The 48-page booklet, of which 100,000 copies were printed in 

Philadelphia, was to be distributed free of charge to park visitors as well 

as by the brewing company. It included maps, illustrations, and 

photographs, and presented a short history of the forge, the significance 

of Valley Forge in American history, and the improvements to the park's 

historic resources and recreational features made by the commonwealth. 

Jones concluded the booklet with a ringing statement alluding to the • 

historic significance and patriotic symbolism of Valley Forge in American 

culture: 

All who tour the Encampment at Valley Forge feel not only 

human, personal, individual and practical regeneration, but a 

spiritual uplift. These hills made a subtle appeal to the best in 

man, and the visitor goes away pledged to a nobler effort in 

life. Valley Forge affects one as does no other place in the 

land. 

On this ground the common man constituting the soul of a 

nation of free human beings fought out the spiritual battle of 

his career, endured and triumphed in the majestic name of 

Duty. But symbolizing the place, supplying the clear 

atmosphere through which each incident of the time is seen, 

clothing the visions of each hut and hospital, each frozen foot 

and disease-ravaged body, each hunger-stricken yeoman, rn 

every exhibition of character here exemplified, stands the 

crowning glory of Valley Forge--George Washington.(110) 

109. Report of The Valley Forge Park Commission, 1939-43, pp. 18, 

21-23. 

Jones, comp., 

(Philadelphia, 

!...!.· p. 26. 

282 

Forge Park; 

p. 48, and • 
• 

• 

• 

No sooner was the publication released than it created considerable 

controversy. Governor James ordered the commission to rescind its 

approval of the booklet and stop its distribution and requested the 

brewing company to stop distribution. The governor took this action 

because he was "strenuously opposed to the commission's action in 

approving a booklet sponsored by a brewing company, or any private 

organization." Financing of such a project by a brewing company was not 

"in keeping with the dignity of Valley Forge." While the booklet 

contained no advertising, the name of the brewing company appeared 

"once, at the bottom of Page 2 in small type." After the immediate 

controversy had calmed, an agreement was reached whereby "suitable 

vignettes" or "illustrated stickers" were to be affixed over the credit line 

to the brewing company before distribution was resumed.(111) 

Despite the lack of adequate funding during 1939-43 the park commission 

undertook a number of restoration projects and began long-range planning 

for restoration of the park once the war was over. Limited 

reconstruction and restoration of historic sites was carried out in the 

park. In the fall the restoration of Fort Mordecai Moore at the north end 

of the outer line of entrenchments was completed. Two redans in the 

outer defenses and placements of the replicas of the Knox artillery were 

made at the Stirling redoubt and redans. According to the Daily 

on October 31, 1942, "additional units of military works" would 

to be completed. These included some 500 feet of 

abattis--secondary barrier in front of the huts of Conway, 

Huntington and Maxwell's troops--two redans flanking Fort 

Washington, one redan West of Fort Huntington, unearthing the 

markings of Sullivan's Bridge on the South bank of the 

Schuylkill opening of the old Fatland Ford Road and repair of a 

lunette with about 200 feet of the visible Outer Line 

entrenchments at General Scott's position. .(112) 

The park commission developed detailed plans for the restoration of the 

park "as nearly as possible in its original condition as a military camp." 

The plans were prepared because the commission felt "that the original 

mandate of the General Assembly in establishing Valley Forge State Park 

should be carried out." Hence the commission unanimously adopted a 

resolution on November 25, 1942, recommending "to the Governor and the 

General Assembly restoration, preservation and improvements of Valley 

July 7, 8, 9, 

Forge Park, 

10, 16, 

Chester 

22, 30, 

County 

112. Daily Republican, October 31, 1942, Newspaper Clippings File, V•!!'> 

Forge Park, Chester County Historical Society. Also see Hart, 

Forge During World War .!.I.• p. 28, and "Activities of 

Neighbors," Picket Post, April, 1943, n.p. The restored abattis was 

located "between and parallel to Baptist Road and Camp Road in front of 

the Stirling Redoubt." "A Restoration at Valley Forge," Picket Post, 

January, 1944, 13. 

283 
Forge Park" as "soon as the general condLtions permit" at an estimated 

cost of $500,000. The plan was submitted to Governor Edward Martin in 

January 1943 as soon as he announced his plans for postwar work. (113) 

A total of 3,411,631 persons visited Valley Forge Park between January 1, 

1939 and January 1, 1943. Despite the limitation placed on travel during 

1942 by rationing of gasoline and rubber tires as war emergency 

measures, license plates from every st<1te in the union were observed with 

36 separate state licenses being noted in the park on a single day. 

Visitation totals for the period were: 

1939 

Park 1,139,833 

Washington's 

Headquarters 256,295 

Museum 141 '743 

Revolutionary 

soldier's hut 16,918 

Observatory 

tower 257,767 

Tourist camp 1,238 

1940 

1,077,412 

250,813 

154,533 

24,061 

244,989 

592 

1941 

792' 071 

240,934 

169,821 

20,042 

181,010 

528 

1942 

402,315 

96,403 

80,395 

8,330 

115,615 

246 

A number of war-related ceremonies were held in Valley Forge State Park 

during 1939-43. American Legion commanders from different cities visited 

the park each year to place a wreath at the memorial to unknown 

soldiers. On August 25, 1940, the Veterans of Foreign Wars in 

Pennsylvania held Re-Dedication Day exercises on the Grand Parade and 

were addressed by Major General Edward C. Shannon, chairman of the 

park commission. (114) 

During the war years the Boy Scouts continued their thirty-year tradition 

of camping in Valley Forge State Park and visiting Washington Memorial 

Chapel on Washington's Birthday or the Saturday nearest that day. An 

average of 4,000 to 5,000 scouts from Delaware and Montgomery counties 

were involved in these "pilgrimages." The Boy Pals of Germantown began 

another annual Boy Scout Day at Valley Forge on Memorial Day, with 

special ceremonies at the Waterman Grave. A mammoth annual "camporee" 

was also commenced by Delaware and Montgomery county scouts on the 

Artillery Park grounds during the month of May.(115) 

113. Resolution, Valley Forge Park Commission, November 25, 1942, RG 2, 

VAFO Archives. The complete text of the resolut1on may be seen in 

Appendix N. Also see Report of The Valley Forge Park Commission, 

1939-43, pp. 9-16. 

114. Report of Valley Forge Park Commission, 1939-43, pp. 23-25. 

115. Hart, Valley Forge During World War II, ------ p. 5. 

284 

l 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

I. THE YEARS 1943-1947 

The Republicans retained the governorship m Pennsylvania in 1942, 

electing Major General Edward Martin to that post. Hence the Valley 

Forge Park Commission, which oversaw administration of the park during 

the two bienniums from 1943 to 1947, continued to operate largely with 

the same personnel as for the 1939-43 period. With the exception of 

three members who resigned and one death, all members of the previous 

commission were reappointed by Martin. Shannon, who had served as 

commission chairman since October 1935, remained as chairman, serving in 

that capacity until his death in May 1946.(116) That same month 

Governor Martin appointed Norris D. Wright of Norristown, a prominent 

Montgomery County financier and historian and a member of the 

commission since February 1g41, to succeed Shannon. During his five 

years on the commission Wright had served as a trustee of the 

commission's trust fund and as chairman of the land and development 

committee. ( 117) 

During 1943-47 fmal court adjudication damage awards were established 

and funds required for settlements were determined for the properties 

that had been condemned in May 1937. Court award was made for the 

last parcel--a 42-acre tract on the north bank of the Schuylkill directly 

opposite Washington's Headquarters--during the early fall of 1944. Hence 

the state legislature appropriated $243,800 in 1943 and $72,500 in 1945 for 

land awards and interest, thus providing funds for settlement of all 

pending land cases. Thereafter, at the insistence of Governor Martin the 

commission unanimously approved h1s recommendation that "no further 

condemnation of land be made unless such condemnation has Executive 

approval in advance." 

As a result of the completion of the land acquisition program the acreage 

of Valley Forge State Park totaled 2,033 by January 1947. Of this total 

approximately 1,600 acres were in Montgomery County and 433 acres in 

Chester County. (118) 

Legislative appropriations for the two bienniums, 1943-45 and 1945-47, 

were increased somewhat over previous levels because of the enlarged 

acreage of the park. The appropriation for 1943-45 was $94,000 and that 

116. "Major General Edward C. Shannon Chairman of the Park Commission 

Dies After Illustrious Career," Picket Post, July, 1946, 30-32. 

118. Report of the Valley Forge Park Commission, 1943-47, p. 7, and 

"Park Takes Last Land on North Sank of River," Picket Post, October, 

1944, 21. A copy of a map of the park prepared in 1947 may be seen on 

the following page. 
•'"""'.,.. 

·~ 

--- • 

I 

I 

•• 

. •; 

--

\ru__LEY FORGE PARK 

PENNSYLVANIA 

1947 

PREPAR.D !Y 1H£ 

VA.IJ.LY HIRC£; PARK COMMISSION 

PORT 

• 
• 

• 

• 

for 1945-47 was $107,000. Despite these Increases, however, the 

appropriations were barely adequate for proper maintenance and operation 

of the park. In Janu<1ry 1947 the park commission observed that its 

maintenance operations included "the upkeep of about 40 buildings, 

restored military works, 1200 acres of grassland, 800 acres of woodland 

and 12 miles of bridle paths--or the care of an historic reservation visited 

annually by more than half a million persons from all over the 

world."(l19) 

A number of 

1943-47. These 

physical 

included: 

improvements were made '" '" park during 

1. The second replica of a soldier's hut was erected at the intersectjon 

of Gulph and Baptist roads by park labor. The hut was a duplicate of 

the one erected in the 1930s by the Pennsylvania Society, Sons of the 

Revolution along Outer Line Drive in the Wayne Woods section of the 

park. The specification issued by Washington on December 18, 1777, was 

used in the reconstruction project. 

2. In cooperation with the Montgomery County Highway Department some 

800 feet of curbing along Port Kennedy Road opposite Washington Memorial 

Chapel were re-set. This work was designed to prevent automobiles from 

parking on the soldier's burial site in the Waterman Grave area. 

3. The nineteenth-century structure on the site of Huntington's 

Quarters, adjacent to the Grand Parade, was renovated and refurbished 

in 1943-44 for use as the regular meeting place of the park commission. 

The bronze replica of Houdon's Washington statue was removed from its 

limestone base and temporarily housed in the bay window room of the 

structure where park visitors could view it. Various rooms were fitted 

up for the board's use and display of engravings of many of Washington's 

generals and other reproductions.(120) 

4. During the summer of 1944 the site of Washington's Marquee, for 

many years marked by an "inconspicuous iron sign," was permanently 

marked by a granite monolith. The marker was "set on the points of the 

compass facing due south" and "engraved with a directional arrow, 

circled, and revealing the Commander-in-Chief's initials 'G.W.' traced 

from one of his original surveyor's drawings."(121) 

5. As a preliminary step in the park commission's program to restore 

the old forge along Valley Creek a stone retaining wall was erected on the 

119. Report of The Valley Forge Park CommJssion, 1943 47, p. 8. 

120. Ibid., p. 10, and "Huntington's Quarters Now Used By Commission," 

Picket Post, April 1944, 21 . 

121 . 

"To 

287 

1943-47, p. 10, and 
Mount Misery side of the creek. 

bemg deposited 1n the forge 

constructed as a means of easy 

The wall was built to prevent silt from 

rums. A temporary bridge was also 

access to the east bank of the creek. 

6. The front approach to Washington's Headquarters was improved by 

planting a boxwood hedge. The walk was commonly referred to as "The 

Walk of The Governors" since eleven of the governors of the thirteen 

original states participated in the expense of purchasing and plantir1g the 

eighty boxwood plants.(122) 

7. General maintenance activities during 1943-47 included repair and 

painting of the Mount Joy Observation Tower, painting of the exterior 

and interior of all buildings in the Washington Headquarters area, 

installation of a new heater in the main heating plant for that area, and 

placing of new roofs on a number of buildings in the park.(123) 

Valley Forge State Park continued to make considerable contributions to 

the war effort during 1943-45. The park was designated Ln the 

non-essential "''ark classification category. Nine employees resigned from 

the park labor force to enter essential war industries, and three were 

inducted into the armed forces. Six employees devoted time regularly as 

post air wardens, airplane observers, Red Cross and community war 

volunteers, and promoters of war bond drives. The park made available 

to war industry some 54 tons of scrap material, 260 pounds of rubber, 

220 tons of hay, and 100 acres of ground for agricultural cultivation. 

Dead trees were made available as fuel to nearby families. 

Salvaged lumber was provided for housing Post 39A of the 3d District, 

U.S. Army Intercepter Command. The Mount Joy Observation Tower and 

immediate vicinity was used from July through December 1943 as an 

observation post (a guard house was built near the tower) by the 601st 

Anti-Aircraft, U.S. Coast Artillery. Four Revolutionary-era cannon were 

loaned to the Philadelphia Ordnance District, United States Army, for its 

"Ordnance for Victory" exhibit held 1n the Wanamaker Store 1n 

Philadelphia from July 16 to October 16, 1943. 

Portions of the park were used as training grounds, rifle and machine 

gun ranges, and maneuvers by variou& United States Army units. These 

included the 102d Artillery Brigade, 59th Hospital Unit, Army Air Cadets 

from Valley Forge Military Academy, and 3d Service Command Military 

Police Corps. 

The park also 

display on the 

18, 1945. The 

ruins of the 

122. Report of The Valley Forge Park Commission, 1943-47, p. 10. 

123. Ibid., p. 17. 

288 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

Knox's artillery found on the encampment grounds--were mounted on an 

oak plaque in the ward room of the aircraft carrier.(124) 

The park commission gave increasing attention to the research capability 

of the park staff and to the historic preservation of the park's resources 

dur1ng 1943-47. On April 1943 the park commission, realizing "the need 

for detailed research in the interest of authenticity" for "future 

restoration projects,'' approved the establishment of a library to be 

housed in the park's administration building. The commission's historical 

committee was appointed to undertake the project of acquiring books, 

manuscripts, i!nd papers "through purchase or by donation" to augment a 

few volumes that had been donated to the park previously. By January 

1947 the library had more 900 books and periodicals. All books in 

the library by Harry R. Till, an artist, 

and printed by the for use in showing ownership 

and donors. Book built with wood from park 

walnut trees by George in the park for some eighteen 

years. 

The park commission also began an archives as part of its reference 

library holdings. By early 1947 the park archives included photostatic 

copies of oaths of allegiance taken by Continental Army officers during 

the 1777-78 encampment, the originals of which were in the National 

Archives in Washington, D.C. Other reproductions in the park archives 

included the "Saw Mill" order issued at Gulph Mills by Washington on 

December 15, 1777, providing for boards to be used in building huts at 

Valley Forge. 

In cooperation with the National Archives copies of the muster rolls 

covering service of 21,307 soldiers who were encamped at Valley Forge 

were compiled and placed on file in th.:. park archives by January 1947. 

These records were prepared by Frank J. Metcalf, a professional 

researcher and former employee of the National Archives. The compilation 

was temporarily discontinued because of Metcalf's death, but the 

commission planned to resume the project and complete the records "in 

printed form so that they may be made available for future reference and 

research by the Commission and the publlc."(125) 

124. "Valley Forge Area in the S.:.cond World War," Post, April, 

1944, 12, 20; Steffen to Phillips, June 10, 22, Headquarters 

Antiaircraft Artillery Command, Eastern Defense Command, Trespass Right 

Agreement, June 2, 1943, and War Department, Headquarters, AAA 

Command, EOC, Record of Survey, June 4, 1943, Correspondence, RG 

46, PHMC; and Report of The Valley Forge Park Commission, 1943-47, 

pp. 12-13. 

125. Report of 

Minutes, Valley 

Books," Picket 

Park's Library, 

muster roll 

Washington, 

289 

1943-47, p. 9; 

"Park Commission w,,,,,oi Cases for the 

16. By Janaury 1951 the 

by Milton Rubincam of 

names to the 21,307 furnished by 
Another important histori.;:al project carried out by the commission was 

completion of a title search for ''all ot the original houses occupied as 

headquarters by American ... ranking officers" from December 1777 to 

June 1778 located in the vicinity of the encampment. The research data 

and "framed photographs" were placed in the "permanent record files" for 

"future useful reference. "(126) 

The park library and commission archives were pli!ced under the 

supervision of Margaret D. Roshong, who had been associ<~ted with the 

commission and park administration in various capacities since 1929. Her 

other duties in the p<~rk included thilt of acting secret<~ry to the 

commission after the resignation of Gilbert S. Jones i!S executive 

secretary 1n December 1945 and first assistant to the park 

superintendent. ( 127) 

As early i!S Mily 1944 the Pennsylvania Post W<~r Planning Commission gave 

consideration to the park commission's recommendations for a large-scale 

restoration program at Valley Forge once the war was over. Governor 

Martin WilS an e<~rly supporter of such a plan.(128) In July 1944 Gilbert 

5. Jones, executive secretary of the park commission, wrote an article in 

the Picket Post, the Valley Forge Historicill Society's periodical that he 

edited, explaining the rationale behind the commission's urgency to 

complete restoration of the encampment grounds. According to Jones: 

From time to time since 1893, as restricted appropriations 

permitted, the Commissioners of Valley Forge Park accomplished 

portions of the restoration of the original encilmpment, but in 

large measure the full restoration as directed by the General 

Assembly IS far from complete. And unless the sovereign 

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania does not restore this historic 

site, as has been done by private capital at Virginia's famous 

Williamsburg, it may we(( be that a Federal government will 

reach out for our greatest shrine as it did for our Gettysburg. 

In days when centralization of Federal power IS decried, the 

administrators of Valley Forge do not propose to give any 

excuse for a termination of Pennsylvania's guardianship of the 

spot where American Independence was won.(129) 

125. (Cont.) 

Commonwealth 

Metcalf. Report of The Valley Forge Park Commission, 

of Pennsylvania, January 1947 to January 1951, pp. 10-11. 

126. Report of The Valley Forge Park Commission, 1943-47, p. 17. 

127. Biennial Report, Valley Forge Park. Commission, August 23, 1948, RG 

6, PHMC. 

128. "Valley Forge Post War Plans," Picket Post, April, 1944, 21. 

129. Gilbert S. Jones, "Commissioners Urge Restoration of Valley Forge 

Encampment," Picket Post, July, 1944, 11. 

290 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

On May 6, 1946, a specii!l meeting of the park commission was held in 

Huntington's Quarters w1th Governor Martin and Secretary of Forests and 

Waters James A. Kell in attendance. The purpose of the meeting was to 

d1scuss the park's restor·ation program. At the meeting acting Chairman 

Norris D. Wright argued against "restoration of the old valley forge." 

According to the minutes of the meeting, he 

expressed the thought that funds may be applied to greater 

advantage elsewhere rn the Camp Grounds, and for greater 

public interest. Expressing himself in detail on this subject he 

explained that he fully realized it was a delicate one since it 

has been near the hearts of previous commissions for several 

years. The Chairman's reason for taking this position was due 

to the fact that the old forge has no relation to the Camp 

Grounds, it having been destroyed by the British in September 

1777, three months before Washington came into camp and never 

rebuilt. When the new forge was built it was near what we now 

know as Nutts Road. Being not unmindful of the fact that such 

restoration would be of great historic interest, he did not 

suggest that the project be abandoned but rather that the 

matter be properly presented to the National Institute of Iron 

and Steel Manufacturers in an endeavor to have them provide a 

fund, say $100,000.00, to rebuild the forge--not that it 

represents the first forge in our country but certainly the best 

known . 

The governor expressed approval of this action, suggesting he would be 

glad to meet w1th members of the institute to further the project. 

Other restoration projects totaling some $135,000 were discussed with the 

governor who suggested that they be submitted to him in writing for his 

formal approval. These projects were: 

1. Stone Observatory Tower with rotating beacon light, such as 

will be approved by the U.S. Aeronautic Society. The Mt. Joy 

elevation is 426ft. above sea level and it is planned to bu1ld an 

approximate 110 ft. tower with easy stairways and window 

openings at several platforms. 

Estimated cost, on today's market $50,000.00 

2. The restoration of eight (8) Company Streets, ten (10) huts 

each at seven (7) Brigade Sites as follows: 

Life Guard, River Drive in rear of Headquarters 

Maxwell's New Jersey Brigade, Gulph & Camp Roads 

Varnum's Rhode Island Brigade, Port Kennedy Road 

adjacent to Star Redoubt 

Woodford's Virginia Brigade, Baptist & Devon Roads 

Poor's New Hampshire and New York Brigade, Outer Line 

Drive between Arch and New York Point 

Muhlenberg's Virginia Brigade and German Battalion, 

Outer Line Drive south of King of Prussia Road 

Learned's Brigade, Outer Line Drive near Maine Marker 

291 

10 ' 

10 

10 

10 

10 

10 
3. 

4. 

Wayne's Pennsylvania 1st & 2nd Line, Wayne Woods along 

Outer Line Drive, to complete the street at present 

restored Officers' Hut 10 

H 

These huts should be constructed similar in type to the two (2) 

already restored according to specific<ltions in Washington's 

orders. Estimated cost $75,000.00 

Restore Fort John Moore and Knox's 

Estimated cost 

Artillery Shop, 

$10,000.00 

Rebuild two (2) field ovens in Wayne Woods. 

(wet masonry) covered with earth in circular 

sheets available in Park Office. 

Estimated cost 

Ovens to be stone 

mounds. Work 

$1,200.00(130) 

On July 3, 1945, the governor approved the restoration program and 

made funds available to begin work. G. Edwin Brumbaugh, an architect 

from Gwynedd Valley, Pennsylvania, was appointed to confer with the 

commission, prepare plans, and supervise the project.(131) 

Governor Martin also approved a project designed to have each of the 

thirteen original states erect markers to indicate the sites on which their 

respective troops were encamped in 1777-78. A state markers committee 

was appointed by the commission and given authority to proceed With 

preliminary plans for presenting the project to the governors of those 

states "whose dead are not now honored by a suitable memorial to 

perpetuate their memory." States to be contacted were Virginia, North 

130. Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, May 6, 1946. Also see 

Gilbert S. Jones, "People's Mandate To Restore The Valley Forge 

Encampment Urged By Park Commissioners," Picket ~' April, 1946, 

6-16. 

131. Brumbaugh, a fellow of the American Institute of Architects and an 

authority on colonial architecture, had directed restoration efforts 

throughout southeastern Pennsylvania. His projects included: Daniel 

Boone homestead, Berks County; Cloisters, Ephrata; Pottsgrove Mansion, 

Pottstown; "Grumblethorpe," John Wister Home, Germantown; Gloria Dei 

(Old Swedes' Church), Philadelphia; David James Dove House, 

Germantown; and Thompsen-Seely House, Washlngtan Crossing State Park. 

His father, the late Governor Martin G. Brumbaugh, had also served as a 

member of the Valley Forge Park Commission. Gilbert S. Jones, "Valley 

Forge Park Commission To Start work On Restoration of Some Historic 

Camp Units," Picket Post, April, 1947, 26, and "Camp 'Hutts' Again Are 

Rising on Historic Winter Encampment As Restoration Work Goes On," 

Picket Post, July, 1947, 28. 

292 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

Carolina, Connecticut, Georgia, Rhode Island, Maryland, and New 

Hampshire. ( 132) 

Little attention was given to forestry issues in the park during 1943-47. 

The principal activity in th1s field was the preservation and extension of 

the main dogwood grove. Some thirty wh1te dogwoods were planted in the 

area. During the spring of 1944 a memorial planting of dogwood, red bud, 

native oak, hawthorn, and shadbush was C<!rried out in honor of the late 

Adolf Muller, a former park commissioner, at the intersection of Port 

Kennedy and Baptist roads. The memorial planting was sponsored by the 

Valley Forge Dogwood Association, an organi<:<ltion formed to promoh• 

public interest in the park dogwood display. The memorial grove adjoined 

the Star Redoubt and occupied an area extending some 400 feet along the 

state highway. 

On July 6, 1944, the century-old dogwood tree along Baptist Road, 

reportedly the oldest of its kind in the park, was removed. The wood 

was salvaged and stored for future use. A gavel was made from the 

wood for use by the presiding officer of the park commission and several 

other gavels were made for presentation to historic and civic 

organizations. An etching of the tree, drawn by Rose Muller of 

Norristown, was framed and placed on display in the park museum. 

Wild flowers were planted along trails and bridle paths in Wayne Woods 

and along Valley Creek opposite Washington's Headquarters. It was 

anticipated that the flowers would prove an added attraction for 

nature-loving visitors and complement the spring displays of native 

rhododendron, mountain laurel, and wild azalea on the slopes of Mount 

Joy and Mount Misery.(133) 

Efforts were undertaken to increase various kinds of wildlife in the park. 

During the summer of 1943 the Pennsylvania Game Commission attempted 

to replenish the stock of pheasants and quail in the park. Hence two 

"covey of quail" and "100 ringnecked pheasants" were liberated.(134) 

Field fires continued to be a problem for the park administration, 

particularly during the summer and fall of dry years. Some of the fires 

were believed to have originated from sparks cast off by passing railroad 

engines. The commission attempted to provide fire protection to the park 

Commonwealth 132. Report of of The Pennsylvania, valley Forge i~f;'i~~0!;~r. Supplies, 11, and 

Agreement for Architectural Services Gwynedd 

Valley, Pennsylvania, For Improvements to Historic and Roads 

at Valley Forge Park, Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, January 9, 1947, RG 

2, VAFO Archives. 

133. Report of The Valley 

and "Adolf Muller Memorial," 

134. Report of The Valley Forge Park Commission, 1'343-47, p. 17. 

293 
) 

by purchasing a fire truck and making agreements for joint cooperation • 

with two nearby volunteer fire companies.(135) 

During the summer of 1944 the park commission began making plans for "a 

constructive program for tree replacements throughout the Winter 

Encampment" and initiated efforts to stem the spread of Dutch Elm 

diseilse. All planting would be limited to species of trees native to the 

ilrea including several kinds of oaks, white and red pines, elms, maples, 

hemlocks, hawthorn, hackberry, ash, and junipers. Spread of the Dutch 

Elm disease reached the park in the early 1940s and, as a result of 

examinations by foresters from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, some 

twenty trees suspected of the disease were cut down and burned by July 

1944.(136) 

New park regulations governing the public, as well as rules of ~;:onduct 

and procedures for park patrolmen and guards, were approved by the 

park commission and made effective in March 1944. Copies of these two 

sets of regulations may be seen in Appendix 0.(137) 

That same month the park commission determined that the park rated a 

"Garrison" flag on certain days, and adopted regulations controlling the 

display of the standard "Betsy Ross" and "Commander-in-Chief" flags. A 

copy of these regulations may be seen in Appendix P.(138) 

In September 1944 the park commission came under pressure from local 

fox-hunting groups to rescind the new regulations banning that sport in 

the park. The sport had been conduned by small informally-organized 

"gentleman's groups of neighbors and hunting ~;:tubs" for years, and these 

groups mounted a local letter-writing campaign to reverse the new rules. 

Accordingly, on September 29, the commissioners "suspended enforcement 

135. Jones to Thompson, October 4, 1943, Correspondence, RG 46, 

PHMC. At times visitors in the park were put to work fighting fires 

during an emergen~;:y. For instance, Boy Scout campers m September 1943 

aided park personnel and the local volunteer companies in extinguishing a 

three-acre blaze. 

136. "Park Reforestation and Elm Tree Disease," Post, July, 1944, 

24. In 1944 "tree specialists" determined tree5 in the park 

dated from the encampment period. These an American white 

ash at the intersection of Gulph and Mill roads directly opposite the 

former Washington Inn; an American white elm along Baptist Road some 

500 feet north of the camp school; and a hackberry standing near a 

springhouse about one-fourth mile southwest of the railroad depot at Port 

Kennedy. "Three Trees in Park Lived There in 1777-78," Picket Post, 

July, 1944, 24. --

137. Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, March 22, 1944. 

138. Executive 

Correspondence, 

Secretary to 

RG 46, PHMC. 

Superintendent, March 

294 

27, 1944' 

• 

• 
• 

• 

of Rules -1111 and -1113, Valley Forge Park Regulations, insofar as they may 

relate to fo~-hunting in the Park," provided certain conditions were met. 

The hounds were to be "under control of the riders" and were not to be 

"roaming the P<1rk unaccompanied by riders." Riders were not to "cause 

damage to Park property" and were to "observe all other regulations made 

for the conduct of equestrians in Valley Forge Park."(139) 

Following the war the park commission initiated plans to repossess var1ous 

dwellings in the park for use as employee housing and use unoccupied 

structures for "compatible p<1rk undertakings." By June 1946 four 

particular houses in the park had been singled out for repossession and 

conversion to employee housing: 

House on Cinderbank Road, Port Kennedy, occupied by Mr. William 

Shainline 

House on Cinderbank Road, 

Elizabeth Dettra--widow of 

House on Port Kennedy hill 

Diamond 

House across 

Joseph V. 

Schuylkill 

Asbert. 

River 

Port Kennedy, occupied by Mrs. 

a former employee who died •n 1941 

occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Frank 

Pawlings Bridge, occupied oy 

The Department of Forests and Waters set aside $5,000 from its "Post War 

Appropriation" to place these structures in "habitable condition." 

Discussions were commenced relative to proposed utilization of the 

Washington Inn, Mansion House, and several other structures thilt were 

unoccupied. (140) 

Several celebrations held in Valley Forge State Park during 1943-47 are 

deserving of mention. Annual Flag Day services at the Waterman Grave 

in the park became increasingly significant during the war. On June 11, 

1944, for instance, the service was sponsored by the Philildelphia Flag 

Day Association and featured Judge Leopold C. Glass as speaker. The 

ceremonies were followed by vesper services at Washington Memorial 

Chape1.(141) The following year Flag Day observances were held on June 

14 during which William E. Hilrpel, Norristown American Leg1on 

commander, placed a wreilth on the Wilterman Grave, followed by a prayer 

given by Dr. John Robbins Hart and a gun salute and taps performed by 

World War II veterans.(142) 

139. Warnock to Wright, September 18, 1944; Warnock to Jones, 

September 18, 30, 1944; Clark to Baker, September 25, 1944; Jones to 

Phillips, September 29, 1944; Correspondence, RG 46, PHMC. 

140. Phillips to Wright, May 27, 1946; Wright to Price, June 4, 1946; and 

Kell to Wright, November 14, 18, 1946; Correspondence, RG 46, PHMC. 

A copy of a list of park buildings and their existing utilization, drawn up 

on May 26, 1946, may be seen in Appendix Q. 

- 141. "Flag Oily Prelude at Valley Forge," Picket Post, July, 1944, p. 21. 

142. "Flag Day Honored ill Waterman Site," Picket Post, July, 1945, p. 29. 

295 
The 166th <lnniversary of the evacuation of the winter encampment was • 

observed on June 18, 1944. The entire program, including an address by 

Governor Martin, was broadcast over KYW and its affiliated stations from 

the orderly room of Washington's Headquarters.(143) 

On February 24, 1945, more than 4,000 members of the Valley Forge 

Council, Boy Scouts of America, m<~de a pilgrimage to Valley Forge--the 

first Boy Scout visit to the park in four years. Some 1,000 scouts were 

invested at Huntington's Quarters, and a "four-year scout ceremony" was 

conducted at Varnum's Quarters. The scouts marched in review in front 

of Washington Memorial Chapel after which ceremonies were held on the 

grounds of the chapel. Park personnel helped to construct the reviewing 

stand and provided for trilffic control with the aid of the Pennsylvania 

Stilte Police.(144) 

The Legion of Valor of the U.S. Army and Navy made a pilgrimage to the 

pi!rk on November 11, 1945. The program included <~n assembly ilt 

Washington's Headquarters, a radio broadcilst from the building by 

Governor Martin, and a memorial service at Washington Memorial Chapel in 

honor of 28 Legion of Vi!IOr members who died during 1944-45.(145) 

Visitor st<~tistics for 1943-47 show that the number of park visitors were 

hindered by w<~r economy meilsures, such as Qi!SOiine ilnd tire rationing, 

in 1943-45 but th<~t visitation more than doubled during 1946. Train 

service, although subject to various wartime restrictions, provided 

regul<~r but limited tr<~nsport<~tion to the park from Philadelphia during 

the war, with only one train per week day and two on weekends. All 

told, 1,231,751 persons visited the park between January 1, 1943, and 

January 1, 1947. Visitor statistics for the period were: 

P<~rk 

Washington's 

Headquarters 

Museum 

Revolutionary 

soldiers' hut 

Observ<~tory 

tower 

Picnic facilities 

Tourist camp 

1943 

103,467 

52,952 

37,173 

32,654 

2,040 

638 

1944 

206,533 

91 '01f! 

48,387 

41 '890 

6,669 

4;0 

1945 

262,646 

142,547 

80' 986 

95,485 

19,466 

99 

"Valley Forge--Our First Trilining 

XV {May-June, 1944), 41-42, 

1946 

659,105 

256,882 

169,353 

21' 629 

248,195 

73,496 

m 

Camp," 

in Reed 

144. "4000 Boy Scouts in Pilgrimage to Valley Forge's Sacred Shrine," 

Picket Post, April, 1945, 15-16. For d<~ta on the February 1946 Boy Scout 

pilgrimage to Valley Forge see "Boy Scouts in Annual Pilgrimage to 

Historic Valley Forge Shrine," Picket Post, April, 1946, 20. 

296 

• 
• 

• 

• 

Among the visitors were some prominent persons. These included a 

number of state senators and representatives and U.S. Congressmen, as 

well as other officials prominent m state and national patriotic 

organi<:ations. Perhaps the most well-known foreign vis•tor was General 

Fulgencio Batista, past and future dictator of Cuba.(146) 

The annual dogwood display also showed a resurgence in attracting 

vis1tors in the postwar period. The display brought 38,447 visitors to 

the park in 1943 1 125,000 in 1944, and 102,000 in 1945. However, in 1946 

some 335,000 visitors viewed the blossoms--more than half who passed 

through the dogwood grove in 1938, the park's peak year for such 

visitation, when 750,860 persons were counted, Details from the 

Pennsylvania Motor Police and the Lansdale Motor Corps aided in traffic 

control as needed for the dogwood shows.(147) 

A variety of publicity programs were begun following the war to 

encourage park visitation, especially in view of the decline in tourism 

during the war. The information editors of the Department of Forests 

and Waters began a concerted effort to provide newspapers and magazines 

with news items about Valley Forge State Park plans, programs, and 

accomplishments. A department photographer visited the park, obtaining 

motion picture coverage of the park for distribution to schools, historical 

societies, and other public and private groups. The Valley Forge 

Historical Society also contributed to the park publicity efforts, covering 

past and present events in the Valley Forge area in its periodical Picket 

Post.(148) 

In anticipation of the return of visitation to its prewar levels, the 

commission reestablished the park guide service which had been 

discontinued during the war. A small cottage on Nutts Road at the park 

entrance was equipped as an information and guide center, and a guide 

stationed there on a daily basis. It was anticipated that similar centers 

would be established at the Port Kennedy entrance and in the center of 

the park in 1947 as labor became available. 

To facilitate local transportation to the park the commission arranged for 

bus service from Norristown and Phoenixville in 1946. Beginning in April 

service between the park and Norristown via King Manor, King of 

Prussia, and Port Kennedy was provided by the Schuylkill Valley Lines. 

Three round-trip buses were scheduled for weekdays with five on 

Saturday and SIX on Sunday. Bus service between the park and 

146. 

Man at 

147. Report of The Valley Forge Park Commission, 1943 47, pp. 13-14 . 

148. Ibid., pp. 11-12. 

297 
Phoenixville was arranged several months later by the Werner Bus • 

Company.(149) 

The promise of increasing visitation in the postwar period also contributed 

to proposals for new traffic arteries between Philadelphia and Valley 

Forge. One such proposal was made by Walter E. Rosengarten, township 

engineer of Lower Merion townsip in Montgomery County, in 1945. His 

plan called for construction of a Valley Forge Parkway following the west 

bank of the Schuylkill that would connect Independence Hall with Valley 

Forge State Park. (150) 

J. THE YEARS 1947-1951 

In 1946 the RepUblicans retained the Pennsylvania governorship for a 

third consecutive term, electing James H. Duff as the state's chief 

executive. The new governor retained the entire Vglley Forge Park 

Commission appointed by former Governor Mgrtin, thus providing 

continuity th<>t augured well for long-range planning of the development 

and restoration programs in the park. As the continuing commission 

chairman Norris D. Wright would play a leading role in the implementation 

of those programs. ( 151) 

Valley Forge State Park, as of March 20, 1947, was administered and 

operated by a park staff consisting of Superintendent L. Ralph Phillips, 

who had been appointed to this position in February 1941, four other • 

salaried employees, and twenty-five w<>ge payroll employees. Most of the 

staff worked 44-hour weeks, unless emergencies arose. The job 

classifications included: 

Wage Payroll Employees 

Carpenter--1 

Forem<>n--1 

Tractor operator--3 

Assistant foreman--1 

Stenographer--2 

Shop mechanic--1 

Museum guard--1 

Laborer--S 

Guard--S 

Information clerk and guide--1 

149. Ibid., p. 17, 

Service is Started," 

and "Valley Forge Gets Back 

Picket Post, July, 1946, 28. 

on M<>p as Good Bus 

150. Walter E. Rosengarten, "Historical and Scenic Importance in Proposed e 

Valley Forge Parkway," Picket Post, October, 1945, 54-55. 

151. Report of The Valley Forge Park Commission, 1947-51, pp. 2-4. 

298 
• 

• 

• 

The annual pay of the salaried employees ranged between $3,192 (for 

superintendent) and $1,764 (for patrolman). The hourly rate for the 

wage payroll employees ranged between 60 cents and $1.05.(152) 

By January 1951 the park was administered, operated, and maintained by 

a superintendent and 34 permanent employees. The park staff mcluded 

two clerks in the superintendent's office, a twelve-member guard and 

police force, one full-time guide, and a 19-member maintenance force. 

According to the comm1ss•on the staff was "barely adequate for the 

routine operation of the reservation" and "inadequate to provide for the 

requirements of peak periods of the tourist season and restoration 

projects." Under such circumstances the staff was "augmented from local 

sources insofar as the situation permits." Wages and salaries prevailing 

in the park vicinity were "so much higher than those authorized for Park 

employees that the employment situation, perman<:!nl as well as temporary 

employees" was "becoming increasingly difficult." This was particularly 

true for the guard and police force "which, in the interests of good 

public relations, demands the highest standards of qualification and 

performance."( 153) 

The guard and police force consisted of one sergeant, one corporal, and 

one patrolman on a Sillary basis, as well as nine patrolmen and guards on 

a per diem basis. It provided 24-hour protection for park installations 

and patrols for fifteen miles of drives and roads. In addition to their 

normal duties the members of the force served as trained guides and were 

required to pass an examination on the history of the locality "so as to be 

of maximum assistance to visitors." 

The effectiveness of the force was increased during the winters by 

attendance at a special police school conducted by the Federal Bureau of 

Investigation in cooperation with the Pennsylvania Police Chiefs 

Association and Pennsylvania State Police Attendants. The sessions took 

place during off-duty hours at no expense to the commonwealth. The 

force was supplemented by the state police and auxiliary police from local 

communities during peak periods such as the spring dogwood season. 

Two-way radio equipment was obtained in 1946-48, further contributing to 

the efficiency of the force.(154) 

The maintenance force consisted of skilled, semi-skilled, and unskilled 

labor. The force performed minor repairs and routine maintenance, 

including mowing of 1,200 acres of grassland during the summer, winter 

cleanup of 800 acres of woodland, and clearance of debris and snow from 

152. Phillips to Bratton, March 20, 1947, 

employee list for the park as ot March 20, 

<. 

RG 6, PHMC. A 

1947, may be seen 

copy of the 

in Appendix 

153. Report of The Valley Forge Park Commission, 1947-51, p. 11 . 

154. Biennial Report, Valley Forge Park Commission, August 23, 1948, RG 

6, PHMC. 

299 
fiFteen miles of roads and drives. Other maintenance duties included • 

janitor service at the park office, historic buildings, public restrooms, 

and picnic areas, as well as wood cutt1ng for public firepl<~ces. Small 

special projects, such as construction of one log guard-shelter during 

1948-50, were carried out by the m<lintenance force. More extensive 

projects were accomplished under contract. (155) 

Maintenance appropriations for operation of the park were increased 

during 1947-51, amounting to $150,000 for 1947-49 and $182,000 for 

1949-51. The latter appropriation included $12,000 specifically earmarked 

for repairs to the Memorial Arch and its circular drive, both projects 

being completed under contr~ct. General Count Casimir Pulaski's name 

was also added to the list of officers on the arch. (156) 

During the 1947-51 period an extensive restoration and development 

program, described by the park commission as the "greatest single stride 

in historical restoration and Park development undertaken during the 

h1story of Valley Forge Park," was completed. In November 1946 

Governor Martin had allocated $140,000 for the program, and subsequently 

$271,500 was made available from the postwar appropriations act by 

Governor Duff. Using these funds several major projects were completed 

under the supervision of G. Edwin Brumbaugh who prepared plans and 

specifications for the work. The rising costs of materials and labor made 

it necessary to abandon the project for erection of a stone observation 

tower on Mount Joy and curtail that for construction of eighty soldiers' 

huts, both of which projects had been initially ~pproved under Governor 

Martin in 1946.(157) 

The outstanding accomplishment of the restoration and park development 

program, according to the commission, was restoration of the colonial 

structure formerly known as the Washington Inn and redesignated by the 

commission as the Bake House. The restoration work was largely 

completed by June 1950, except for interior painting of the kitchen wing 

and some landscaping, under the direction of Brumbaugh at a cost of 

$86,158. In January 1950 he published an article the 

providing a history of the structure and the I 

restoration work that had been undertaken. 

article, which was actually a report to the on 

restoration work, with the following data: 

155. 

'"' 

of The ValleY 

Report, Valley 

Report, Valley Forge 

pp. 11-12; 

, 1948, and 

RG 6, PHMC. 

156. Report of ~ ValleY Forge Park Commission, 1947-51, p. 12, and 

Biennial Report, Valley Forge Park Commossion, 1948-50, RG 6, PHMC. A 

copy of a map of the park prepared in 1950 may be seen on the following 

page. 

• 

157. Biennial Report, Valley Forge Park Commission, 1948-50, RG 6, • 

PHMC. 
• ,.,.., , . .,..._-;;';) ~~~-·"<<~~~~ 

, ........... ,..,_.~o;l 

'"' 

• 

.~ .... '·•, 

• 

VALLEY FORGE PARK 

P!IIIIISTI..YMI"-

KENNEDY 

' I 

II 

' J 

I' 
The house, as restored, 1s doubtless very close to its 

appearance after post-Revolutionary repairs and alterations 

fitted it again for family use. [Actually the house 1s 

considerably larger than it was during the encampment.] Every 

door and window is an exact reproduction. Satisfactory 

evidence authenticated the design of cornices, porches, and 

exterior features. Partitions and floor levels are all correct, as 

the indications were unmistakable. Likewise, interior details 

such as chair rails, baseboards, window and door finish all 

follow traces left on plaster, etc., in the various rooms. The 

panelled chimneybreasts on the first floor are restorations based 

on clear marks in floor boards. These mantels, of necessity, 

have been restored in harmony with local precedent. Mantels in 

the first and second floor west rooms are antiques purchased 

and installed, because of their appropriate detail. Rather 

complete evidence supports all restored detail in the north 

wing. 

A few changes have been made in the building to render it 

more easy of administration and practical as Commission and 

Park Headquarters. The basement has been enlarged to provide 

a boiler room, fireproof vault, and small wash rooms, an 

opening has been added between the west room and rear wing 

on the second floor, and an interesting false window in the 

second floor west room (in the gable) has been opened to 

provide more light in this room. Also a necessary bookcase is 

being constructed in the west room, first floor, which will 

serve as the Commission library. 

While the restoration is consciously directed toward the 

post-Revolutionary aspect of the house, its appearance must 

have been but slightly different during the encampment. The 

essential architectural character of the building was not 

changed in any important way after its use as the army 

"Bake-House". On the other hand, the interesting and 

characteristic details which were added after its war experience 

have been preserved, and serve to emphasize the sacrifices 

made by the owners of the property to the cause of 

liberty. (158) 

In January 1951 the park commission provided a glowing description of 

the Bake House restoration, which was being used as ths park's 

administrative headquarters and library. The commissioners noted: 

Previously an eyesore, it 

architecture faithfully and 

1s now a masterpiece of Colonial 

authsntically restored as it existed 

158. G. Edwin Brumbaugh, "Report to The 

on The Colonel William Dewees Mansion, 

January, 1950, 11-18. 

302 

Valley 

Valley 

Forge Park Commission 

Forge," Picket Post, 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

during the Revolutionary War. This long anticipated 

accomplishment constitutes a major development in the 

Commission's plan to enhance the dignity and beauty of the 

Washington Headquarters Area, the focal point of the Park as it 

was of the Encampment. It has been redesignated and 

identified with an appropriate marker as The Bake-House, the 

name by which it was designated in Washington's General 

Orders issued at Valley Forge and as it was identified on 

contemporary sketches. Brickwork unearthed 1n the 

basement during the restoration appears to be the remains of 

those ovens and is being preserved for further research and 

study. Although it hils been necessary to use the major portion 

of the building for administrative purposes, until adequate 

accommodations for these purposes can be provided elsewhere, 

the Commission is pursuing a detailed research of all 

contemporary evidence to determine accurately its use and 

furnishings during the Encampment with a view to making the 

entire building a point of historic interest available to the 

visiting public. (159) 

A second component of the restoration program was the erection of "thirty 

replicas of the original huts, constructed by Washington's army during 

the Encampment." Under the direction of Brumbaugh, four skilled 

carpenters, with John J. Rogers as general foreman, were in charge of 

the hut reconstruction program. A complete workshop was established in 

the former large dining room of the Bake House to erect the first hut "as 

a preliminary step on teaching workmen the art of hut construction." 

Thereafter, a number of huts were erected in the Bake House where they 

were perfected before being dismissed, transported to their permanent 

sites, and "re-fabricated." Logs for the huts were cut from trees in the 

park, and then immersed in a "preservative to insure protection from 

insect infestatron and funguous deterioration." The first four huts were 

completed during the summer of 1947.(160) 

In January 1%1 the commission reported on this phase of the restoration 

work. It was noted that the huts had been 

reproduced faithfully and precisely according to the 

specifications prescribed by the Commander-in-Chief on his 

General Orders of December 18, 1777, at Gulph Mills and in 

subsequent instruction issued at Valley Forge. They are 

located and arranged on original streets shown on the 

contemporary sketch, known as the Ouportail Map, which was 

prepared by or under the direction of Brigadier General Louis 

OuPortail, Washington's Chief Engineer. As it has been 

159. Report of The Valley Forge Park Commission, 1947-51, pp. 4-5. 

160. "Camp 'Hutts' Again Are Rising on Historic Winter Encampment As 

Restoration Work Goes On,'' 28-30. 

303 
determined that this map was drawn to scale and is unusually 

accurate for a sketch made under the most adverse conditions, 

its value to the Commisston in this and future restorations of 

military works has been materially enhanced. As a result it is 

now possible to accomplish those restorations with a reasonable 

degree of accuracy. Unable to erect all of the huts as 

originally planned, the Commtssion distributed them throughout 

the Park so as to memorialize, insofar as practicable, troop 

contingents from each Colony actually identified to date as 

having been encamped here during the Winter of 1777-1778. As 

other troop contingents are so identified and when that portion 

of the Encampment west of Valley Creek is restored, it is the 

earnest desire of the Commission that they be memorialized in a 

similar manner. At the present time a token-number of 

soldiers' huts are located on the site of original streets as 

follows: 

Washington's Life Guard ....... . 

Muhlenberg's Virginia & Pennsylvania Brigade 

Glover's Massachusetts Brigade 

Poor's New Hampshire & New York Brigade 

Wayne's 1st Pennsylvania Brigade 

Woodford's Vtrginia Brigade 

Maxwell's New Jersey Brigade 

Huntington's Connecticut Brigade 

Varnum's Connecticut & Rhode Island Brigade 

Mcintosh's North Carolina Brigade 

Total Huts erected 

4 

" 2 

2 

2 

2 

2 

2 

2 

2 

30 

Each of these groups have been appropriately identified with a 

marker similar in destgn to those of brigade markers previously 

erected. In erecting the ten huts on the Muhlenberg site the 

Commission was motivated by the hope that eventually it might 

be possible to develop a regimental or brtgade hutment at the 

northern entrance to the Park complete with soldiers' huts, 

officers' huts, hospital hut and shop. Only one officers' hut 

exists at the present time--that at the site of Wayne's 1st 

Pennsylvania Brigade which was erected on 1935 by The 

Pennsylvania Society of Sons of the Revolution. The 

year-around interest displayed in the huts appears to justify 

amply the cost of their construction. More than any other 

point of interest in the Park they symbolize to the average 

visitor, according to public reactton, the self-effacing sacrifice 

and the suffering of the American cihzen-soldiers who occupied 

them which, in final analysis, is considered the essence of the 

epic of Valley Forge. On this basis, a television producer 

subsequently used the Muhlenberg huts as the principle [sic] 

setting for a film which ts to be used for educational purposes 

throughout the country.(161) 

161. Report of The Valley Forge Park Commission, 1947-51, pp. 4-7, 10. 

304 

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• 

• 

A third facet of the restoration program was the reconstruction of Fort 

John Moore on its original site at the eastern end of Outer Line Drive 

near the Muhlenberg huts. According to "well established tradition," 

there were two redoubts at the northern end of the outer line defenses 

known to local inhab•tanto as Fort Mordecai Moore and Fort John Moore 

because of the farms on which they were located. Both had been plowed 

under for agricultural purposes subsequent to the encampment. The 

former was located from the Duportail map and restored in 1941, but no 

documentary or physical evidence was available for the latter prior to May 

1948. In that month the United States Air Force flew a photographiC 

mission over Valley Forge State Park as part of a training exercise and 

located "definite" traces of the fortification. 

During the followmg summer archeological excavation and testing was 

carried out by a volunteer research team under the general supervision of 

Major J. Duncan Campbell of Colonial Park, Pennsylvania, and the on-site 

direction of J. Alden Mason, Curator, American Section, University 

Museum, Philadelphia, and Donald A. Cadzow, executive director, 

Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Harrisburg. The 

conclusions of this archeological study, submitted on September 29, 1948, 

were: 

It has been definitely determined that the redoubt was in the 

form of a trape2ium as described by Henry Woodman--the 

northeast and southwest sides being parallel . 

The original moat surrounding the works on all four sides was 

and is 12' wide and from 4' to 6' deep depending on the depth 

of the soil over the shale rock. 

The exact site, form and horizontal dimensions having thus 

been established it is now possible to proceE<d with the accurate 

and authentic dE<sign and reconstruction of the works as 

dE<sCribed by Woodman in 1850, as borne out by contemporary 

texts in military engineering and as illustrated by contemporary 

remains at Fort TicondE<roga. (162) 

BasE<d on data from the U.S. Air Force aerial photography, evidence 

obtained from thE< archeological excavation, and documentation and 

contemporary remains of sim1lar works found at Fort Ticonderoga, Fort 

John Moore was restored under the direction of Brumbaugh. During the 

restoration work evidenCE< mdicated that Fort Mordecai Moore was a twin 

redoubt and that, in order to be authentic, its restoration required 

"remodeling." The methods utili2ed in this restoration set the pattern for 

the relocation and restoration of thE< OutE<r Line trenches . 

162. Randolph to Chairman and Members, Valley Forge Park Commission, 

September 29, 1948, RG 2, VAFO Archives. 

305 
Restoration of the Forts was completed by the fall of 1g4g and on • 

September 28 the commission redesignated the redoubts 1n honor of 

general officers closely associated with them. As there was no evidence 

concerning "their actual designation by the Continental Army," the forts 

had been referred to by local inhabitants under the names of the farmers 

on whose land they were erected. Fort Mordecai Moore was renamed Fort 

Muhlenberg in honor of Brigadier General J. Peter G. Muhlenberg whose 

brigade, being encamped closest to the forts, "undoubtedly participated 

in their construction and probably was designated to provide their 

garrison in case of attack." Fort John Moore was renamed Fort Greene in 

honor of Major General Nathaniel [sic] Greene, the commander of the left 

wing of the army who "probably directed construction of the forts."(163) 

A fourth "restoration" project was the reconstruction of a log structure 

referred to historically both as the artillery shop and the blacksmith shop 

of Knox's Artillery Brigade. The structure, located on the traditional 

site of the original along Camp Road adjacent to Artillery Park northeast 

of Fort Washington, was built to contribute "to the educational value of 

the Park." It was "designed and equipped in keeping with blacksmith 

and wheelwright shops of the period, utilizing the same type of log 

construction specified for the huts." Research for the restoration was 

carried out in part by George W. Schultz, a well-known authority on 

Pennsylvania forges and mills. The shop was furnished with 

Revolutionary-era relics donated by Stephen H. P. Pell, director of the 

Fort Ticonderoga Museum in New York.(164) 

Several other major development 

during 1947-51. These included: 

projects were carried out in the park 

1. A stone dwelling on the north bank of the Schuylkill River, known 

as the Baughman House, was remodeled to provide quarters for two park 

employees and additional protection for that section of the p<1rk. 

163. of The Valley Forge Park C~("! 

"Lost Redoubt is Found..:: 

194g' 

RG 6, 

Clippings File, Valley 

"Land Acquisition and 

Cre<~tion, Development and 

General Norman Randolph, U.S. Army, Retired, 

" 

1g47-51, p. 8; Norman 

Forge," Picket Post, 

Park Commission, 

1g49, Newspaper 

Society; and 

II Park; Its 

Brigadier 

of 

the Valley Forge Park Commission to the Wyncote Men's 

Parrish House, All Hollows Episcopal Church, Wyncote, 

Monday, December 6, 1g48," RG 2, VAFO Archives. 

Pennsylvania, 

164. George W. Schultz, "An Expert Suggests the Details for Valley Forge 

Restoration," Picket Post, April, 1g47, 34-35. 

306 

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• 

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2. A 150-car parking lot adjoining, to the east, the old parking lot in 

the Washington's Headquarters area was completed by the Pennsylvania 

Highway Department in 1951 at a cost of $28,500. 

3. A stone building, designed to harmonize with the colonial buildings 

in the area, was commenced on the north side of the new parking lot to 

house a restaurant, refreshment stand, and comfort station, repl;~cing the 

"unsightly stand" then detracting from the "Bake-House restoration." The 

building was completed in May 1952 at a cost of $121,000 <md leased as a 

food, refreshment, and souvenir concession to Beresin and Loeb which 

opened for business on Memorial D<ty 1952.(11:;5) 

The original program for complete restoration and development of Valley 

Forge State Park, adopted by the park commission on November 25, 1942, 

was revised by the commissioners on October 25, 1950, in light of their 

experiences during the restoration and development work carried out to 

date. Accordingly, the commission adopted a revised program which was 

"designed to provide for future Commissions and Administrations a 

flexible, long-range program which reflects not only the accomplishments 

of the preceding Commission but the benefits derived from the invaluable 

experience acquired by the present Commission." The revised plan called 

for nine specifoc projects to be accomplished during 1951-53 at an 

estimated cost of some $172,000. In addition 25 other high-priority 

projects were listed with the stipulation that their estimated costs and 

biennium projected dat<O would be supplied as advance pl<>nning 

developed. (166) 

The d<>nger of fires in the park continued to be a periodic problem to 

park officials during the 1947-51 period, especially during dry spells. In 

late October 1947, for instance, the park, along with <>II game lands, 

preserves, <Ond forest areas in the state, were closed for more than a 

week "because of the highly infi<Ommable condition of the State's 

woodlands. "(167) In April 1949 a 150-acre bl<>ze on the western slope of 

165. Ibid., pp. 8-9; Bienni<>l Report, Valley Forge Park Commission, 

1948-50;"""" RG 6, PHMC; Report of the V<OIIey Forge Park Commission for 

the period June 1, 1950 to May 31, 1952, Submitted August 15, 1952, in 

Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commis5ion; and Minutes, V<OIIey Forge P<>rk 

Commission, May 28, 1852. In 1947 the 5tructure formerly known as the 

M<>nsion House, at the western edge of the Village of Valley Forge, was 

"conditioned for occupancy by fove G. I. f<Omilies." The apartments, 

designed to accommod<>te eighteen persons, were prepared as "a 

contribution to the relief of the pressing housing problem in the area." 

Jones, "Valley Forge P<>rk Commission To Start Work on Restoration," 27. 

166. Report 

A copy of 

progr<>m may be seen 1n Appendix S . 

167. D<>ily Republic<>n, November 

Valley Forge Park, Chester County 

1, 1947, 

Historic<>! 

Newspaper 

Society. 

Clippings File, 
Mount Misery threatened the park, before being contained by fire 

companies from Phoenixville, Berwyn, Radnor, and Eagleville WLth the 

help of twelve park employees. To fight the fire, backfires and 75-pound 

portable water tanks were used, water for the latter being drawn from 

tank trucks that were refilled from nearby Valley Creek.(168) 

Dutch Elm disease was also becoming a serious problem in Valley Forge 

State Park during the late 1940s. It was noted by the Pennsylvania 

Forestry Association that the park was one of the areas where "lifeless 

trees" stood, a "scourge for those still alive." While there was no known 

remedy for the problem, local interest groups, including the Valley Forge 

Historical Society, began to urge the park commissioners "to sponsor some 

active clinical attention to the problem."(169) 

• 

In June 1947 Wilfred P. Moll, district forester in the Department of 

Forests and Waters Valley Forge Forest District office in Norristown, 

proposed a "timber stand improvement operation aimed to rebuild the 

forest [in the park] toward the encampment picture." In his studoes of 

the park's forested areas, he had "found many trees that for the good of 

the forest should be removed." This was particularly true for the "large 

areas of rock oak sprout clumps, practically all of which are poor at the 

ground line." Not only were the sprout clumps virtually absent from the 

virgin woods, but they were also subject to heart rot. These trees, as 

well as those not desired, should be removed and used as saw logs, cabin 

logs, or picnic area fLrewood. A pilot project was initiated on Mount Joy 

where 22 rock oak were cut for use in reconstructing one soldiers' cabin. • 

After the commission approved the plan for park-wide implementation, 

Reginald D. Forbes, a consulting forester from Ambler, Pennsylvania, was 

employed to assist Moll in cutting some 1,500 trees of cabin-log size. The 

program was designed to rid the park of sprout clumps as welt as an 

overabundance of red maples, black gums, and sweet birches.(170) 

Arrangements were made with the Central District, Valley Forge Council, 

Boy Scouts of America, for a joint five-year park reforestation program 

beginning April 23, 1949. During the tirst eighteen months of the 

program some 10,000 seedlings, including dogwoods and transplants, were 

set out by the scouts in collaboratLon with park employees and district 

168. Ibid., April 30, 1949, Newspaper Clippings File, Valley Forge Park, 

Chester-county Historical Society. 

169. "Save Our Elm Trees," Picket Post, January, 1947, 5. 

170. Moll to Valley Forge Park Commission, June 18, 1947, and Forbes to 

Valley Forge Park Commission, [June 19471, RG 6, PHMC. For a 

biographical sketch of Moll, who later became superintendent of the park, 

see "Wilfred P. Moll Is New Superintendent Valley Forge Park," Picket 

Post, April, 1967, 10. 

308 

• 
• 

• 

• 

forester Moll "according to a prearranged plan for maintaining forests" in 

the park.(171) 

The postwar years witnessed an upsurge in visitation to Valley Forge 

State Park. A total of 2,989,598 persons visited the park between 

January 1, 1947, and December 31, 1950, with visitors from as many as 

24 countries touring the park in a single year. The yearly statistics 

were: 

1947 1948 1949 1950 

Park 696,746 662,697 594,141 1,036,014 

Washington's 

Headquarters 254' 892 264,592 251,424 245' 348 

Museum 171,491 180,082 166,743 177,486 

Revolutionary 

soldiers' huts 115,388 90,568 93,541 88,655 

Observatory 

tower 282,620 257,325 349' 924 333,863 

Picnic 

facilities 128,947 84' 401 157,369 116,764 

Tourist camp 426 409 612 577 

The annual spring dogwood displi!y also attracted larger crowds during 

1947-50. The statistics and display dates for this event were: 

1947 {May 1-15) -- 375,000 

1948 (April 25-May 12) -- 383,852 

1949 (April 24-May 8) -- 264,925 

1950 (May 1-14) -- 195,230 

The decrease in "dogwood" visitors in 1950 was due in part to lack of 

newspaper publicity and preparatory work underway in the park for the 

upcoming National Boy Scout Jamboree.(172) 

171. Report of 

Biennial Report, 

and Daily Republican, 

Forge Park, Chester County 

p' 12; 

, PHMC; 

File, Valley 

172. The resurgence of interest in the Valley Forge dogwoods during the 

postwar era appears to have injected new life into the Valley Forge 

Dogwood Association. In November 1946 the association urged that the 

site west of Valley Creek, extending along the ridge of Mount M1sery to 

Black Rock Road, be used as the headquarters of the United Nations. 

Two months later it recommended designation of State Route 202 between 

Valley Forge and Washington's Crossing as "The Dogwood Trail," with 

emphasis on the promotion of dogwoods and Revolutionary sites along the 

route in Montgomery and Bucks counties. Ann G. Shoemaker, "History 

and Beauty Hand in Hand on Dogwood Trail in Two Counties," Picket 

Post, January, 1947, 16-1!3, and "Dogwood Association Urged Site in Valley 

Forge Area for the U.N.," Picket Post, January, 1947, 39. 

309 
A number of distinguished persons visited the park during 1947-51 . 

These included: General of the Army Dwight D. Eisenhower, then 

serving as president of Columbia University, on November 21, 1949; 

delegates from the National Republican Convention in Philadeiphiil on June 

20, 1948; and delegates from the National Democratic Convention in 

Philadelphia on July 11, 1948. On the occasion of Eisenhower's visit, the 

park commission presented him with a musket ball excavated from the 

officers' line of Varnum's Brigade. Other prominent visitors to the park 

were Eamon de Valera, Prime Minister of the Irish Republic, and thirteen 

Chinese army officers.(173) 

The largest and most momentous celebration held at Valley Forge in the 

history of the park to date took place between June 30 and July 6, 1950, 

when the Boy Scouts of America, as guests of the commonwealth, held 

their Second National Jamboree, the first having been held in Washington, 

D.C., in 1937. In all, 47,163 scouts and leaders from every state and 

territory in the United States and from twenty foreign countries camped 

in the park, celebrating the scouts' fortieth anniversary crusade under 

the theme "Strengthen the Arm of Liberty." Some 100 trains were 

specially scheduled to carry the scouts to the jamboree via the Valley 

Forge, Port Kennedy, and Betzwood stations. In addition, more than 

500,000 visitors, including President Harry S Truman i!nd General 

Eisenhower, came to observe or participate in the Ceremonies, pageants, 

and tableaux on the Grand Parade, depicting the historic events which 

transpired at Valley Forge and their relation to America's heritage of 

freedom and liberty. 

The opening night cereroonies featured a dramatic pageant telling the 

story of Valley Forge and an address by President Truman before 75,000 

persons on the Grand Parilde. Against the backdrop of the Korean 

Conflict, Truman urged his listeners to express their faith in "the 

fellowship of human beings, •n the poss•bLIIty of cooperative human 

action, and •n peace based on mutual understanding." He observed that 

we must show the Communist world "that fellowship is possible between 

men of different nations, different colors and different creeds." 

Three other jamboree events on the Grand Parade are worthy of note. 

During the evening of July 2 the scouts each lit a candle to symbolize the 

enlightenment of a dark world by the "freedom of worship" as part of a 

13-14; 

PHMC; 

Keys State 

Forge Mecca 

1949, 9; Ronald E. Heaton, 

1950), pp. 19-25; and 

, April, 1947, 33. One 

park occurred in April 

when the Harry Cooey family landed their small monoplane near the 

Muhlenberg huts, toured the park, and then made a successful take-off . 

Morris, "Great Moments In Valley Forge Park's Past," p. 13. 

JW 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

common dedication to ''Duty to God." On the evening of July 4 General 

Eisenhower spoke on the meaning and symbolism of Valley Forge and drew 

inspiration from the historic events that occurred there in encouraging 

the crowd to support Amencan efforts in fighting tyranny and Communism 

on the Korean peninsula. The evening's events included a fireworks 

display and a pageant depicting the winning and development of the 

United States. Closing ceremonies spotlighted scouts from other countries 

under the theme "World Relationships--The Brotherhood of Scouting." 

Under the direction of the park commission the physical layout of the 

jamboree camp site covered some 625 <>cres of the park, bounded by Port 

Kennedy Road on the north, the north-turning fork of State Route 23 on 

the east, Camp and Devon roads on the west, and by southern limits of 

the park itself on the south. The operational general headquarters for 

the jamboree were located just west of the Star Redoubt on the north side 

of Port Kennedy Road. The camp was divided into 35 sectional camps, 

each of which embraced 34 troop camp units (90 feet x 90 feet) consisting 

of 33 scouts and three adult leaders. Each sectional camp had a servlce 

tent for the service troop of older scouts, a post office, and a health 

lodge. The camp had its own telephone system and its own branch bank, 

established by the Norristown-Penn Trust Company. Using some 

$2,000,000 worth of equipment loaned by the Department of Defense the 

camp consisted of more than 20,000 tents, five trading posts housing 

snack bars and photo, commissary, laundry, and postal services, 4,400 

patrol kitchens, 500 showers, 1,200 latrines, 61., miles of specially-laid 

underground water piping tapped in from a reservoir 

of the Philadelphi<1 Suburban Water Comp<~ny to provide 800,000 gallons of 

Springfield water per day, and 4 miles of temporary sewer lines. Thirty· 

one miles of overhead wire were strung on poles erected to bring in 

350,000 watts of power. Food for the scouts was cooked over charcoal 

fires. It was estimated that the cost of building <~nd demolishing the 

camp was $500,000, and the cost of rehabilitating the park after the 

jamboree was $60,000, of which the Boy Scouts donated the major portion. 

The d<~mage to subsurface archeological resources, however, was many 

times more costly.(174) 

Two souvenirs 

commonwealth. 

I 

to each the jamboree by the 

jamboree edition of 

Book and a p<1ckage 

developments of the 

down with ivy poisoning. 

174. Prior to the jamboree the commission considered two requests by the 

Boy Scouts of Americ<~: (1) to level the middle section of the Grand 

Parade by filling a small wash, and (2) to install two sections of culvert, 

estimated at sixteen feet m length each, over the water course through 

Varnum Woods and place soil over it to accommodate vehicular traffic in 

connection with pageant programs. The commission opposed the former, 

but permitted the latter. Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, 

November 30, 1949. 
---------------------~--

In appreciation for the hospitality of the commonwealth, the Boy Scouts of • 

America donated the major portion of the funds required to restore the 

park to its "original condition prior to the Jamboree." As a permanent 

memorial the organization presented the park commission With an oil 

painting copy of Washington's portrait by Charles Wilson Peale, which was 

hung in the Bake House. (175) 

of public relations by <<h:'',~:::;', commission during the Ch'"'"''h distribution 4 booklet, entitled Valley 

The 

~~r::~~:;.~;:~~h:~~ 1 aook. The booklet, was provided to park 

and I , libraries, historical 

societies, and i ' By January 1951 Karl F. 

Scheidt of Norristown funds for three editions, totaling 

344,000 copies. The third edition was the National Jamboree Edition of 

which 100,000 were presented to the Boy Scouts of America for 

distribution and 44,000 were turned over to the park commission. In 

January 1951 the commission observed; 

. Its broad distribution through the Boy Scout Jamboree 

and national conventions making pilgrimages to the Park 

Wgether with normal distribution to visitors who come from all 

parts of the world has conveyed the history of Valley Forge 

and its traditions to every community in the nation and 

practically every civililed country in the world--including those 

now in the grip of Communism. Probably no other booklet of 

such educational value has been so widely distributed nor 

exercised such a strong stimulus to the dedication and rededication to the principles and traditions of historic Valley 

Forge. The Commission naturally entertains a deep sense of 

pride <!Od satisfaction in the privilege of participating with Mr. 

Scheidt in this public service particularly at il time when it can 

contribute most to the preserv<Jtion of the freedom secured here 

at Valley Forge. In view of its established reputation as a 

medium of education and the increasing demand for it, it is 

hoped that the Commonwealth and future Commissions will give 

175. Data on the 

the author by 

Center, a scout 

John M. II 

5-7, and 

also 

jamboree was extracted from three booklets provided to 

Harold LaFleur, Historical Architect, Denver Service 

participant in the The three booklets were: 

Reported !D. The Philadelphia 

Boy Scouts of America, 8 S A 

.P., and Valley 

pp. Also see 

Forge to July 6," 

Statistics," Picket Post, '·;co-" 

on the jamboree"""Til"the V.M'O 

For Boy 

April, 

There 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

careful consideration to its periodic revision and continued 

publication. Not only hao; it proven itself as the best medium 

of public relations at the P<trk but it tends to reduce demands 

on the guide service which otherwise would have to be 

maintained on a larger scale than present circumstances 

permit. (176) 

THE YEARS 1951-1955 

In the 1950 election the Republican Party again won the governorship, 

electing John S. Fine as the state's chief executive. This augured well 

for continuity on the park commission as the new governor reappointed 

the entore commission with only one exception. Thus, the commission 

continued to function with Norris D. Wright of Norristown as chairman 

and Colonel William I. Forbes of Philadelphia as vice chairman.(177) 

Once the restoration projects begun in the late 1940s were completed, 

funding for many of the restoration and development projects that the 

park comm•ss•on wished to carry out was not forthcoming. Park 

commission budget requests faced increasing scrutiny in Harrisburg as 

the result of a state budget austerity program under Governor Fine. In 

1951, for instance, the state legislature disapproved all commission budget 

requests for restoration and development projects in the park during the 

1951-53 biennium . 

The budget situation loosened somewhat with the 1953-55 biennium, and 

several restoration and development projects were funded during those 

years. The primary project involved restoration work on Washington's 

Headquarters. Mrs. Frances G. Brumbaugh was hired to do preliminary 

research to determine the original color of interior paint on the walls and 

woodwork in the structure. Subsequent to her research and 

the deccision on paint colors a contract was let by the Department of 

Forests and Waters to William R. Hartman of New Berlinville, 

Pennsylvania, for execution of the work at a cost of $1,373. Painting 

commenced in January 1953, but the condition of the plaster in the 

structure necessitated replastering of ceilings in the front and rear rooms 

on both the first and second floors, the guest room on the second floor, 

and the hallways on the first, second, and third floors. Ralph McCoy of 

Norristown was engaged to perform the plaster work. The structure was 

closed to the public from January 26 to April 4, "during which time not 

176. Report of The Valley Forge Park Commission, 1S47-51, pp. 16-17. 

177. Report of The Valley Forge Park Commission for the period June 1, 

1%0 to May 31, 1952, August 15, 1%2, in Minutes, Valley Forge Park 

Commission, and ~ Republican, February 29, August 6, 1952, 

Newspaper Clippings File, Valley Forge Park, Chester County Historical 

Society. 

313 
only the painting, but pl<~stering, re-finishing of floors and a thorough 

cleaning of the entire building was completed."(178) • 

The "unsightly old stand," which had been operated under a lease from 

the park by Blanche V. Brown at the intersection of State Routes 23 and 

83, was taken over by the commonwealth on May 31, 1952, and 

subsequently demolished. The yard area at the site was graded, seeded, 

and planted, thus partially restoring "The Bake-House area in condition 

to conform with appearance during period of the encampment." While 

Mrs. Brown cooperated with the park authorities in vacating her stand, 

she requested permission to operate "a high-type Gift and Novelty Shop" 

in the kitchen wing of the Bake-House--a request rejected by the 

commission. ( 179) 

The Montgomery County Highway Department resurfaced the drive at the 

police barracks and installed three permanent parking turnouts. The new 

parking areas, designed for the convenience of visitors who wished to 

stop and examine points of interest, were located near the Star Redoubt, 

Muhlenberg huts, and "New York Point." Curbing of the parking lot 

adjacent to the concession building was also accomplished by the highway 

department. ( 1 BO) 

After receiving reports that the thirty recently-reconstructed soldiers' 

huts were deteriorating, the commission asked G. Edwin Brumbaugh and 

Superintendent Phillips to study the structures' condition in late 1951. 

Following their inspection Brumbaugh reported to the commission on 

corrective measures to eliminate further deterioration of the logs. The • 

report read in part: 

Last December, after our inspection of certain huts, I checked 

every hut in the park carefully, with Mr. Phillips. I was 

shocked and surprised at the extent of the decay in certain 

locations. It is most unfortunate that this was not detected 

earlier, because it could have been checked easily. However, 

in justification, it is fair to say that the condition was not 

readily observable. Where bark was loose, or peeled away, the 

condition of the logs below was sound, but a few inches away, 

under the bark, the sap-wood was rotted to a depth of 

three-quarters of an inch. A routine inspection would not have 

indicated the presence of rot. 

178. Report of Valley Forge Park Commission for period June 1, 1952 to 

May 31, 1954, July 16, 1954, Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, and 

Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, December 18, 1952. 

179. Minutes, Valley Forge Park Comm1ssion, May 28, 1952. 

180. Report of Valley Forge Park Commission for period June 1 1 1952 to 

May 31, 1954, in Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission. • 
• 

• 

• 

As you know, a sincere effort was made, when the huts were 

designed to consult authorities as to the effect of leaving bark 

on the logs, and regarding the most economical and efficient' 

method of treating them. These questions were fully discussed 

with the Commission, and all possible information was considered 

before the decision to retain the bark was agreed upon, 

Mr. Phillips has taken the first important step towards 

preservation by removing all bark from logs where decay exists 

beneath, and scraping away the softened sapwood. About 

one-third of the logs will not require such removal, and I 

suggest leaving bark where possible, but watching the condition 

by punching an awl through the bark at least once a month for 

a while, to determine if rot is setting in. 

The next steps are more complex. It would be simple to 

re-Paint the exterior after the logs have been scr~ped to 

remove rotted wood. But, curiously enough, the rot has 

extended across the intersections of logs at the corners, where 

the bark was carefully removed in framing the huts. It may be 

advisable to jack up the corners progressively and remove this 

rot now. The result would be ~ slight lowering of the huts, 

but only a matter of inches. On the other hand this m3y not 

be necessary, as the interiors, 1n spite of dampness, are 

completely sound, and the pointing there could remain if the 

corners could be wedged only, and re-pointed.(181) 

While no new restoration and development projects were initiated during 

the 1951-53 biennium, a variety of maintenance activities were performed 

by the 20-person maintenance force. In addition to the seasonal work, 

the following projects were completed: 

Repairs to property damaged by souvenir seekers. General 

repa1rs and repainting of all buildings. Repairing and 

repainting signs and guard rails throughout the reservation. 

Installing fire extinguishers at Bake-House and grading lawn 

around this building. 

Repairs to forge bridge and fence around forge ruins. Also 

repairing damage to banks of Valley Creek caused by heavy 

rain and wind storm in November 1950. 

Installed post and guard 

Washington Headquarters 

headquarters' area. 

chain around cannon in front of 

and laid permanent walks in the 

181. Brumbaugh to Randolph, April 22, 1952, in Minutes, Valley Forge 

Park Commission, April 23, 1952. 
Erected an additional storage shed at Park shop. 

Repaired and overhauled motor equipment. 

Painted woth wood preservation the restored Soldiers' Huts buolt 

under contract in 1949.(182) 

One of the key maintenance activities in the park during the early 1950s 

was repair of the Mount Joy Observation Tower. The structure was 

closed to the public on May 28, 1952, when the commission determined 

that it was unsafe for livs loads in excsss of 3,000 pounds and 

recommended its immediate demolition and early replacement. The 

commission's decision was based on an inspection by W. H. Kearney, 

district supervosor of the Bureau of Engineering and Construction, 

Department of Property and Supplies. Thereafter, the tower was 

inspected by engineers responsible for the state's forest fire towers and 

the Bethlehem Steel Corporation, Findings from these inspections 

established that the tower was "in a reasonably good state of repair," 

requiring only some minor repairs to platform and angle ties at the base 

prior to a scraping and painting job. These repairs, including 

replacement of the low"r platform with concrete and construction of 

concrete steps from grade to the first platform, were completed by park 

labor, and the tower was reopened to the public on June 13, 1953.(183) 

A number of other maintenance projects were carried out in the park 

• 

during fiscal years 1952-54. A guard shelter, or hut, was erected by • 

park labor at the intersection of State Routes 23 and 83 for the us" of 

the guard on duty at that point. Park labor placed new wood shingle 

roofs on the springhouse buildings, public restrooms, and police barracks 

near Washington's Headquarters, Varnum's and Huntington's Quarters, 

Mount Joy Observation Tower restrooms, the "Bird" House in Port 

Kennedy, and on an employee garage. A new tin roof was placed on the 

front porch at Huntington's Quarters by L. Earl Frederick of Norristown 

in December 1954. Concrete steps were placed at the northeast corner of 

the dogwood grove near the parking area for the convenience and safety 

of visitors who wished to cross the roadway for the purpose of taking 

photographs in the grove. (184) 

182. Report of The Valley Forge Park Commission for the period June 1, 

1950 to May 31, 1952, in Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission. 

183. Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, February 18, 1953, Later in 

November 1954 a contract was let to the Reiter Engmeering Company of 

Philadelphia to scrape and paint the tower. Minutes, Valley Forge Park 

Commission, November 18, 1954. 

184. Report of Valley Forge Park Commission for penod June 1, 1952 to 

May 31, 1954, July 16, 1954, in Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission. e 

316 
• 

• 

• 

Vi!ndalism was becoming a serious problem in the park by the early 1950s. 

Ac<;ordingly, park maintenance included considerable work in repair and 

replacement of signs damaged and removed by souvenir seekers. Cannon 

ball <1nd ammunition boxes taken by visitors were replaced and welded in 

an effort to prevent their removal.(185) 

L<~rger water mains were required for the growing communities 

surrounding Valley Forge State Park by the early 1950s. In 1952-54 the 

park commission negotiated a right-of-way ilgreement with the Philadelphia 

Suburban Water Company covering the installation of two transmission 

mains through the park. A new 36-~nch main generally paralleled the 

30-inch line existing under the mutual agreement of April 1926, and a new 

42-inch main was installed across the "eastern extremity of the 

Park."(186) 

Under the commission's continuing reforestation program 200 native red 

oak trees were purchased at a cost of $6,600. These were specimen 

trees, 12 to 18 feet in height, and were planted along both sides of State 

Route 363 from Valley Forge to Port Kennedy and Inner Line Drive. 

The fove-year forestry program on cooperation with local Boy Scout 

organizations also continued. In April 1953 and April 1954 some 4,000 

seedling pone and 5,000 hemlock were planted respectively in the 

park.(187) 

By mid-1952 the staff of Valley Forge Park had grown slightly to include 

thirty-six employees under the immediate supervision of the 

superintendent. The staff was divided into three divisions: 

administrative (2); guard and police (14, including one uniformed guide); 

and maintenance (20). A plan was implemented in December 1952 whereby 

an annual merit increase was prov1ded to obtain and keep salaried police 

personnel. Between June 1950 and June 1952 the guard and police force 

corrected 17,047 park and 2,865 motor code violations, assisted 1,679 

visitors in distress, rendered 88 first-aid treatments, apprehended 17 

escapees from institutions, and investigated numerous traffic accidents. 

Law enforcement activities from June 1952 to June 1954 included correction 

of 17,596 park and 2,951 motor code violations, 153 arrests, assistance at 

58 accidents, and aid to 2,632 visitors.(188) 

185. Ibid. 

186. Ibid. 

187. Ibid. 

188. Report of The Valley Forge Park Commission for the period June 1, 

1950 to May 31, 1952, August 16, 1962, and Report of Valley Forge Park 

Commission for period June 1, 1952 to May 31, 1954, July 16, 1954, 

Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission. 

317 
Visitation to the park during 1951-54 continued to increase at a 

tremendous rate, the numbers generally doubling those of the late 1940s. • 

For instance, from June 1, 1952, to May 31, 1954, some 5,453,769 persons 

visited the park, an increase of some 2,000,000 over the previous 

biennium. The opening of the Pennsylvania Turnpike to King of Prussia 

1n October 1950, increasing national publicity, and the mushrooming 

population of Philadelphia's suburbs around the perimeter of the park 

contributed to the rise in visitation.{189) 

During the 1951-54 period ilfl average of 46 states were represented in 

the park each month, and visitors from twenty to thirty foreign countries 

toured the park each year. Available visitation statistics for the period 

include: 

Jan. 1-May 31 

1951 1952 1953 1954 

Park 1,615,677 1,624,924 2,320,618 1,182,347 

Tower 265,212 265,046 267,516 80' 396 

Picnic facilities 103,398 97 I 309 113,728 34' 663 

Tourist camp 971 956 955 78 

Automobiles 777' 455 754,087 1,169,661 505,195 

Buses 1' 175 1,446 1' 679 752(190) 

Dining room service was commenced 1n the Bake House early in 1953 as an 

added concession operation for the convenience of visitors. After one 

year, however, the dining service was closed because of limited • 

patronage, and the dining room was converted for use as a "high-classed" 

gift shop.(191) 

189. Examples of such publicity were 

and descriptions of park features 

1954. These articles were: Howell 

Valley Forge," National Geographic 

202, and Leonard Falkner, "We 

America Magazine, Cl VIII (December, 

articles with color photographs 

in national periodicals in 

"Washington Lives Again at 

CV (February, 1954), 187-

Miracle of Valley Forge," 

1954), 98-102. 

190. Report of the Valley for the period June 1, 

1950 to May 31, 1952, August of Valley Forge Park 

Commission for period June 1, in Minutes, Valley 

Forge Park Commission, and June 23, 1952, and 

Washington Star, March 16, ''''"''File, Valley Forge 

Park, Chester County Historical S<od>.Cy · ~::;",;1ec:: prominent visitors to 

the park during this period were _F Richard M. Nixon on 

February 22, 1953, and a large delegation from the United Nations on 

October 24, 1954. 

191. Report of Valley Forge Park Commission for period June 1, 1952 to 

May 31, 1954, in Minutes, Valley Forge Park Comm1ssion. 

318 

• 
• 

• 

• 

Growing demands for recreational space in Valley Forge State Park led to 

the commission's consideration during the fall of 1954 of new park 

development projects for additional recreational facilities. Especially 

needed was additional space for picnicking, parking, and skiing and 

tobogganing in winter. Tentatively a 23-acre section of the park at 

Wayne Woods was considered for such purposes, because it was "not in 

the immediate vicinity of the historical area of the Parle" The site was 

attractive because it contained three acres of woodland for picnic tables, 

ten acres on the west side of the woods for parking and a driveway, and 

ten acres southeast of the woods thct were ideal for recreation. Although 

a long narrow strip of land adjacent to the proposed area was currently 

owned by the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, it was "believed 

probable that the land" would be transferred to park custody. 

Accordingly, long-range plans and detailed surveys were ordered, 

preparatory to formulation of cost estimates for the new recreation area 

proposal. ( 192) 

L. THE YEARS 1955-1959 

In the statewide elections in 1954 the Democratic Party recaptured the 

governorship for the first time in sixteen years by electing George M. 

Leader. The change of parties triggered a large turnover in membership 

on the Valley Forge Park Commission, and ushered in considerable 

political infighting between Leader and the Republican-controlled 

legislature in Harrisburg, particularly over the issue of his proposed 

austerity economic program. The infighting had repercussions on the 

operations of Valley Forge State Park since passage of appropriations 

measures for the 1955-57 biennium were held up until mid-1956. Hence the 

commission, which had requested $263,000 for 1955-57 1 was forced to 

"limp" along for more than a year spending money only on "necessary" 

projects under the implicit assumption that the 1955-57 appropriation when 

passed would at least equal the total expenditures ($226,000) for the 

prev1ous biennium. Monies were provided for park maintenance and 

earmarked as deductible from the eventual appropriation.(193) 

192. Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, 

Biennial Report of the Department of Forests 

June 1, 1952 to May 31, 1954, p. 47. 

September 

and Waters 

23, 1954, and 

for the period 

193. The $263,000 appropriation request was broken down into the 

following categories: 

S<>laries 

wages 

Printing, Stationery, etc. 

Material & Supplies 

Travel Expense 

Motor Vehicle Repairs 

Freight, Express, etc. 

Postage 

$ 40,000.00 

150,000.00 

300. oo 

18,000.00 

114.00 

8,000.00 

30.00 

200.00 

319 
The death on June 30, 1955, of L. Ralph Phillips, park superintendent 

since February 1941, provided the Democrats with an opportunity to place 

George F. Kenworthy, a life-long Montgomery County operative living in 

East Norriton, as administrative head of the park. Appointed upon the 

recommendation of Democratic County Committee Chairman Daniel T. 

Costello, Kenworthy had been active in Democratic political circles in 

Norristown and East Norriton for some 25 years. As a youth he attended 

St. Patrick's Parochial School in Norristown, and thereafter learned the 

trades of painter and paper hanger under Theodore Lightenberger, a 

former Norristown councilman. After managing an auto supply shop for a 

time, he resumed his trade as a painting contractor. He was Democratic 

committeeman in the First ward, First District of Norristown for sixteen 

years, and during the administration of Governor George Earle he held a 

position in the state agriculture department under J. Hansell French, a 

fellow Montgomery County operative. His wife, the former Mary Ruth 

Henning, had served as Democratic committee woman for East Norriton for 

some five years.(194) 

Norris D. Wright, a member of the park commiss1on since 1941 and 

chairman since 1946, resigned in September 1955, probably as a result of 

political pressure and frustration. At the same meeting in which he 

announced his resignation to take effect immediately, he reminded Maurice 

K. Goddard, Secretary of Forests and Waters, of "some of the important 

restoration and development projects on which surveys had been made, 

specifications prepared (in some instances) and contacts made with 

possible sponsors:" 

Restoration of old forge--American Iron & Steel Institute 

Restoration of von Steuben headquarters--National von Steuben 

Society 

Development of new picnic area on north bank of the Schuylkill 

and/or Wayne Woods 

Illumination of Memorial Arch and Wayne Statue to attract turnpike 

travellers 

193. (Cont.) 

Telephone & Telegraph 

Light, Heat, Water, Etc. 

Contracted Repairs 

Rent of Real Estate 

Rent of Equipment 

Insurance 

Other Maintenance 

Equipment & Machinery 

2,500.00 

6,000.00 

7,000.00 

6.00 

210.00 

Contracted Bldg. & Construction $2'0,~ 

Minutes, Valley Forge P~rk Commission, November 29, 1955, and January 

24, April 24, 1956. 

194. "George F. 

Post, November, 

Kenworthy--Valley 

1955, 12. 

Forge Park Superintendent," Picket 

320 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

Relocation of Washington Statue by Houdon to a more appropriate site 

for the benefit of the public.(195) 

One of the first items of business to be addressed by the new commission 

chairman, Robert R. Titus of Villanova, who had served on the 

commission since May 1954, was reorganizat 1on of the committee structure 

of the park commission, consolidating its eleven committees into four. 

These were: 

New Committees 

Executive 

Land & Building 

Museum 

Public Welfare 

Includes Former 

Executive 

Fiscal 

Buildings 

Land & Development 

Landscape 

Concession 

Military works 

Library, Museum, and Archives 

Police & safety 

Public Relations(196) 

Political infighting in Harrisburg continued well into the summer of 1956. 

The state legislature, dominated by Republicans, failed to confirm Titus 

and Russell £. Crawford as members of the commiss'1on before 

adjournment, thus terminating their service as of July 2. Titus, in turn, 

was replaced by Walter F. Moses, as chairman.(197) 

Administration of Valley Forge State Park continued to be unstable during 

1957-58. Kenworthy remained as superintendent until February 13, 1957, 

when he was terminated because of "unsettled personnel conditions." For 

the next year the park was managed by two acting superintendents: 

Wilford P. Moll, Chief of Recreation, Department of Forests and Waters, 

and Paul M. Felton, the agency's district forester for the Valley Forge 

area. Finally, m March 1958 E. Clyde Pyle, who had been district 

forester of the Poconos district for 25 years, was appointed as 

superintendent. A graduate of the Pennsylvania Forestry School at Mont 

Alto in Franklin County, he had been an employee of the department 

since 1926. (198) 

195. Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, September 27, 1955. 

196. Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, November 29, 1955. 

197. Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, July 24, 1956. 

198. Moses to Goddard, January 25, 1957, and Roshong to Moll, March 7, 

1957, RG 6, PHMC, and"£. Clyde Pyle New Park Superintendent," Picket 

Post, May, 1958, 11. A prospectus (1957) containing the standard 

qualifications of a Park Superintendent II for a state park such as Valley 

Forge may be seen in Appendix T. Valuable 1ns1ghts into park 

administrative and development issues during the late 1950s and 1960s 
Although little land acquisition was possible because of the political 

turmoil in the state, the park commissoon proceeded to obtain several • 

adjacent properties for park purposes during 1955-59. In July 1956 the 

park commission initiated condemnation proceedings on three tracts of land 

totaling fourteen acres on Mount Misery and the west bank of Valley 

Creek. Justification for such action, according to the commission, was 

based on the location of the tracts "with relation to other Park land" and 

to "preclude encroachment on restoration and development to be 

undertakefl at a future date."(199) The tracts were subsequently 

acquired by purchase for $11,825 in 1957, thus bringing the total acreage 

of the park to 2,048.(200) 

Little in the way of restoration and development was undertaken during 

the 1955-59 period. Several minor projects, however, were carried out, 

involving only small e;.<penditures. In January 1955 the commission 

approved a plan to furnish the third floor room of Washington's 

He<Jdquarters, using the Colonel Cox bed (no further data could be found 

relative to the background or identity of this bed) then on display in the 

park museum and several chairs until "appropriate items could be 

purchased." It was determined that the room would be interpreted "as 

quarters for Washington''> aides." The work was completed in the fall of 

1955 and opened to the public.(201) 

By the spring of 1956 the soldiers' huts erected in the park during the 

late 1940s had deteriorated considerably. Brumbaugh, who had overseen 

their reconstruction, was brought to the park for consultation, but it was 

observed that he "had no plan to offer covering the repair of huts in a • 

practical manner with a reasonable outlay of money." Hollenbach, who 

built the huts, also surveyed their condition, establishing "that the 

repair would be practically a hopeless task." Instead, he recommended 

thilt the huts be "torn down and rebuilt, salvaging some of the present 

roof slabs, at a cost of $2,500 per hut." Since there was no money for 

such work the superintendent was instructed "to maintain the huts in the 

best possible condition and at the same time protect the public by the 

erection of an enclosure. "(202) 

198. (Cont.) were gained by the author of this study during personal 

interviews with Wilford P. Moll at his home in Norristown on April 11, 

1974, and E. Clyde Pyle at Valley Forge National Historical Park on April 

12, 1984. 

199. Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, July 24, 19S6. 

200. Report of Valley Forge Park Commission for period June 1, 1956 to 

May 31, 1958, m Minutes, Valley Forge Pilrk Commission. 

201. Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, Janu<Jry 27, October 25, 

1955. 

202. Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, May 22, 1956. • 
• 

• 

• 

The recasted W<1shington Statue by Houdon was removed from 

Huntington's Quarters and erected on the lawn area between Washington's 

Headquarters and the park museum in 1956-57. The plan followed for the 

relocation was that prepared by Paul P. Cret and Sydney Martin soon 

after the statue was acquired in 1943. The plan had been approved by 

the Art Commission of the Department of Property and Supplies but had 

never been implemented because of lack of funds. The work was 

accomplished under contract by William F. Schimmal of Mountain Top, 

Pennsylvania, at a cost of $7,796.(203) 

Other permanent improvements were made in the park during 1956-58. A 

complete recaulking job was performed on the Memorial Arch under 

contract by the Ev-Air-Tight Caulking Company of Philadelphia at a cost 

of $3,500. Lead roof joints in the structure were found to be in poor 

condition, thus permitting seepilge of water through the face and sides 

of the structure. 

Two new guard huts were budt by park lilbor, one near the Bake House 

at the intersection of State Routes 23 and 83 and the other at the picnic 

grove along State Route 363. While the huts were built primarily for use 

of park police and guards as shelters, they were constructed according to 

the specifications drawn up by Washington used in erect1on of the 

soldiers' huts and thus fit into the park's restoration program. 

After consultation with the State Art Commission the interior of the park 

museum was renovated and painted. The displays were rearranged under 

the direction of commission personnel. 

An example of how park improvements were hamstrung in the park by the 

lack of an appropriation in 1955-56 was the proposed heating system for 

the park museum. Since the museum was heated with a coal stove that 

was considered inadequate, unsightly, and dangerous, it was determined 

to heat the building from the heating system in the basement of the 

nearby superintendent's house. A contractor submitted an estimate of 

$1,000 "for laying of pipe, installing a 2,000-gallon oil tank, furnishing 

radiation and all equipment." The commission approved the proposal with 

the proviso, however, that "the execution of the project shall proceed in 

proper channels as and when maintenance funds become available." The 

project was finally performed during the summer of 1956 at a cost of 

nearly $1, 100.(204) 

In June 1956 the Philadelphia Suburban Water Company installed water 

supply servoce to the Commissary Quarters and an adjacent employee 

203. Mmutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, January 

Report of Valley Forge Park Commission for per1od June 

31, 1958, in Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission. 

24, 1956, 

1, 1956 to 

204. Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, November 29, 1955, July 24, 

1956, and Report of Valley Forge Park Commission for per1od June 1, 1956 

to May 31, 1958, in Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission. 

323 
dwelling. Previously, one well had provided the "inadequate and 

unsatisfactory source of supply" for both structures. During this period 

the Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company was permitted to lay a 

36-inch pipeline through park property near the desilting basins on the 

north bank of the Schuylkill River under a right-of-way agreement on a 

yearly rental basis. 

Improved lighting facilities replaced the inadequate concealed lighting 

system installed in the Bake House when the structure was restored. A 

dilapidated barn, having "no historical significance," along State Route 

363 near Port Kennedy was removed and the area graded and seeded. 

An Agreement of Understanding was executed between the Department of 

Forests and Waters and the park commission on June 13, 1956, granting 

use of the Commissary Quarters to the Valley Forge District Forester and 

the Schuylkill River Project Superintendent for office purposes. The 

agreement, effective for ten years, provided for rent-free occupancy and 

that the department would keep the building in good repair. Prior to 

occupancy park labor had repaired and renovated the structure. 

The park commission, by resolution of April 24, 1956, filed a complaint 

with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission relative to the dangerous 

bridge span crossing the Pennsylvania Railroad tracks at Betzwood. The 

bridge, which served as the northeastern approach to the park, was too 

narrow and overcrowded for the safety of park visitors. Upholding the 

commission's complaint the utility commission ordered the railroad to make 

repairs to the structure by December 31, 1959. ( 205) 

Although not within the boundaries of the park at the time, the 

restoration of Lafayette's Quarters by the University of Pennsylvania in 

1956-57 is significant for park administrative purposes today. After 

newspapers and television brought attention to the crumbling "ruin 

through the unchecked action of the elements and the rapacity of 

squatters and vandals," the university's trustees voted funds for its 

restoration. The restoration was performed under contract by Lowell 

Gable of Paoli with William Kugler, a Malvern artisan who had worked for 

many years under architect R. Brognard Okie on such reconstruction 

projects as Pennsbury Manor, as master carpenter. When completed the 

structure was to be occupied by Jack R. Howard, business manager of 

the university's Valley Forge holdings.(206) 

In early 1957 the park commission began efforts to resurrect the long 

moribund project of restoring the forge along Valley Creek. Plans were 

made to contact George w. Schultz of Wayne, a known authority on forges 

and early iron production in Pennsylvania. Within weeks Schultz died, 

205. Report of Valley Forge Park Commission for period June 1, 1956 to 

May 31, 1958, in Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission. 

• 

• 

206. "University· Restores Lafayette Headquarters," Picket Post, July, • 

1957' 30. 

32, 
• 

• 

• 

but his daughter, Mrs. Robert W. A. Wood, donated her father's life·long 

compilation of research materiols on forges to the park. Thereafter, the 

Northeast Regional Office of the National Park Service agreed to the 

commission's request to provide technical advisory assistance in the forge 

restoration, provided that no Park Service funds would be used. On 

April 9 three Park Service representatives, George A. Palmer, Assistant 

Regional Director, Murry H. Nelligan, Chief of Interpretation, and George 

H. Thompson, Park Planner, inspected the forge ruins and examined park 

research materials. The three men prepared a report, including 

recommendations "as to type of restoration," which was submitted to the 

park comm1ss•on on May 23, 1957, by National Park Service Regional 

Director Daniel J. Tobin. Because of the lack of funds, however, the 

park commission was forced to postpone restoration plans for the 

forge. (207) 

Maintenance activities 1n the park were undertaken only on an "as 

needed" basis during 1955 and early 1956. The clouded park 

appropriations picture encouraged the commission to look for new ways to 

maintain park structures in presentable condition and prevent vandalism. 

In May 1955, for instance, a dwelling in Valley Forge Manor north of the 

Schuylkill, formerly occupied by a park employee, was rented to David 

Neeson for $10 per month "as is, Neeson to make all repairs required to 

make it liveable." The structure, which had become referred to as von 

Steuben Quarters in Valley Forge, was unoccupied and in deplorable 

condition because of vandalism. It was repaired several months later 

"until such time as some o1·gan1Zation may want to overhaul the place 

generally and restore it, or until the Park Commission has funds 1n 

addit1on to those which are necessary for more important projects." 

Accordingly, the roof was repaired and the doors and windows nailed 

securely 1n order to prevent further deterioration and destruction. 

Meanwhile, the commission began efforts to interest the National Steuben 

Society in restoring the structure.(208) 

By December 1955 the unten~nted Huntington's Qu~rters building was 

showing Signs of severe deterioration. That month Superintendent 

Kenworthy was ordered to inspect and repair the electric and heating 

systems of the structure, after which the building was to be "heated, 

painted, and placed in presentable condition." A new roof <lnd water 

service were included in the maintenance activlties.(209) 

207. Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, February 26, April 23, May 

28, 1957. 

208. Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, May 24, July 26, 1955. 

209. Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, December 19, 1955. At the 

same time the commission ordered the "Alderfer" house at Betzwood to be 

vacilted by the employee tenant and that the building be securely closed 

until such time as a decision could be reached as to a final action on the 

structure. 

325 
Other buildings in the park also required repairs and preservation 

treatment. An example was the camp school which had been leased to the 

Valley forge Improvement Association. Under pressure from the park 

commission that organization carried out necessary repairs on the 

structure in late 1955 and early 1956. 

Despite budget restrictions park maintenance crews continued to carry out 

routine operations during the 1955-58 period. Public restrooms in the 

Washington Headquarters area, for instance, were replastered, painted, 

and varnished, and showers were installed in the tourist camp restrooms 

during the winter of 1955-56. Other routine work during the 1956-59 

period included: 

the seasonal mowing of 1,400 acres of grassland and cleanup of 

650 acres of woodland to keep same in presentable condition; 

repair and painting of 28 buildings and more than 100 picnic 

tables and benches, collection and disposal of waste paper and 

garbage left by picnickers (137,217 in 1956 and 136,049 in 

1957). Vistas on Mt. Joy were cut to permit visitors to get a 

partial panoramic view of the reservation. Forty (40) Sycamore 

trees which were in an unsightly and dangerous condition were 

removed from along Route 23. A treatment of creosote was 

applied to wood roo1 structures on all buildings in the 

Washington Headquarters area; and new shingle roofs were 

placed on Camp Schoolhouse, Picnic Grove Restrooms and the 

Hospital Hut. 

The park superintendent's house, museum, and a wall along the west 

front yard of the Bake House were repainted. The Mount Joy 

Observation Tower was cleaned, scraped, and painted under contract by 

John W. Snyder of Norristown. The von Steuben Statue was overhauled 

with new anchor pins placed inside as it had come loose from its 

pedestal.(210) 

Reforestation continued to be a major program of the Valley Forge Park 

Commission during 1955-59. The project was carried out under the 

direction of District Forester Paul Felton with the aid of local Boy Scout 

troops. In April 1955 some 2,000 pine and 1,000 hemlock seedlings were 

planted along the north bank of the Pennsylvania and Reading Railroad in 

Betz,.,·ood to screen a "trailer camp" at that site and along Valley Creel<, in 

Valley Forge.(211) 

The following year, on 

Bridgeport participated in 

April 21, Boy Scouts from Norristown and 

the continuing park reforestry project. Some 

210. Minutes, Valley Forge Park CommissLon, January 

Report of Valley Forge Park Commission for period June 

31, 1958, in Minutes, Valley Forge Park CommLssion. 

211. MLnutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, May 24, 1955. 

326 

24, 1956, 

1, 1956 to 

.cd 

Moy 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

2,300 seedling trees were planted--1,000 locust, 500 white oak, 500 white 

pme, 200 hemlock, and 100 dogwood.(212) 

In October 1956 a new area of the park was prepared as a nursery and 

planted with 3,000 dogwood seedlings (one-year pink variety) obtained 

from the state nursery at Center Hall. The seedlings were to be used 

for replacements in the dogwood grove and as specimen trees along 

drives. Some 250 white dogwoods were transplanted from wooded sections 

of the park as replacements in the dogwood grove and at other prominent 

sites. During 1957-58 some 2,500 forest trees were planted in denuded 

areas. 

Two heavy windstorms in June 1957 and an unusually heavy snowstorm in 

March 1958 caused extensive damage to trees along drives and in the 

dogwood grove. More than 500 severely-damaged trees were pruned and 

treated in an effort to save them.(213) 

The 1955-59 period witnessed changes in commonwealth employment policies 

that affected Valley Forge State Park employees. A new Pay Roll Wage 

System for commonwealth employees became effective on January 17, 1957, 

providing for classificiltion of all state workers and payment of a standard 

wage rate according to duties performed. The system included 

inauguration of a 40-hour work week schedule. 

Lease agreements covering monthly rental for houses occupied by park 

employees were also revamped. Henceforth the monthly rental charge for 

each dwelling would be $20, the rent to be deposited in the General 

Fund. In order to equalize the wage structure additional funds were to 

be allocated from commission funds for maintenance to reimburse employees 

adversely affected by the new procedures for rent collection. Previous to 

this time employees' wages were determined by whether or not they 

occupied park housing.(214) 

Because of rising vandalism in the park during the mid-1950s the police 

init•ated new policies to protect park property. In December 1955 police 

schedules were reorganized so that a man was on duty at the barracks at 

all times after the park office closed. A buzzer system was installed 

whereby the night patrolman could be called in emergencies when he was 

off-duty.(215) 

212. Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, May 22, 1956. 

213. Report of Valley Forge Park Commission for period June 1, 1956 to 

May 31, 1958, in Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission. 

214. Report of Valley forge Park Commission for period June 1, 1956, to 

May 31, 1958, in Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, and Minutes, 

Valley Forge Park Commission, July 26, 1955 . 

215. Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, December 19, 1955. 

327 
To aid the park police the Montgomery County Highway Department in 

January 1955 installed improved directional signs along State Route 23 • 

through the park covering restriction of 1ts use by trucks and tractor 

trailers. It was noted that these signs had proved beneficial since no 

truck violations were cited during the four-day period after their 

placement. (216) 

The park police faced in<;:reasing workloads during the late 1950s. During 

1956-58, for instance, they issued citations for 15,866 park and 2,519 

motor code intractions, made 61 arrests, assisted at 87 accidents, and 

aided 3, 731 visitors. (217) 

At the recommend<~tion of Superintendent Kenworthy the commission 

requested the Department of Forests and Waters to replace two park 

police motorcycles with automobiles in May 1S56. Use of the motorcycles 

was restricted by weather and road conditions, especially during the 

winter months, and it was impossible to equip the cycles with two-way 

radios. Police automobiles equipped with such radios would provide "for 

better policing of the reservation."(218) 

Theft was becoming an increasing problem in the park during the late 

1950s. The most notorious theft in the park during this period was that 

of a 300-pound cannon that was removed from its concrete base on New 

Year's Eve 1956.(219) 

During 1956 several proposals were made by outside groups for use of • 

Valley Forge State Park that the commission found incompatible with the 

purpose of the reservation. In the spring of 1956 efforts were begun to 

initiate excursion boat service on the Schuylkill between the municipal 

pier at Haws Avenue in Norristown and a landing at Valley Forge State 

Park by Donald L. Beideman, Robert Derfler, and George Kenworthy, the 

park superintendent. It was intended that the 40-passenger 

stern-wheeler with awning deck, known as the Dynalloy Selle would make 

nightly excursion trips with additional afternoon "matinee" trips on 

weekends during the summer. After it was found that the water level at 

the landing in the park, originally built by the PhiladelphLa and Reading 

Railroad, was "eight feet below the top of the former concrete pier" and 

that the river channel in the vicinity of the pier would have to be 

dredged, the park commission determined that the landing could "not be 

used at the present time." These circumstances relieved the commission 

of makLng a decision in the matter since it was unenthusiastic about 

supporting a private undertaking in which the park superintendent had a 

216. Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, January 24, 1955. 

217. Report of Valley Forge Park Commission for period June 1, 1956 to 

May 31, 195B, in Minutes, Valley Forge Park CommLssion. 

218. Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, May 22, 1956. 

219. New York Times, January 1, 1957. 

328 

• 
• 

• 

• 

business interest. Thereafter, the excursion boat route was ch<mged to 

cover round trip service between Norristown and Port lndian.(220) 

In early 1956 the newly-formed King of Prussia Historical Society began 

efforts to preserve historic buildings in that rapidly-developing suburban 

area, Buildings that were in immediate danger of demolition were the 

Crockett House at the intersection of State Routes 23 <tnd 202, as well as 

the nearby Paymaster General's Headquarters and Holstein House. When 

it appeared that these structures would be r<Jzed to make way for 

commercial and housing developments, the historical society requested that 

the Valley Forge Park Commission make available "sufficient ground to 

permit the moving of these old buildings," provided the society "could 

obtain sufficient funds from one of the foundations to foot the cost of 

moving." Although commission chairman Titus considered the proposal as 

"impractical," he agreed to present it to the commission on February 28, 

1956. After discussion, the commission concluded that its mandate to 

preserve and restore the encampment site at Valley Forge would not 

permit the location of extraneous historic buildings in the park. (221) 

In early 1956 veterans' groups proposed that a national cemetery be 

established 1n Valley Forge State Park. J. 0. Montgomery, a 

representative of a Philadelphia veteran's group, observed that "the State 

of Pennsylvania certainly is big enough to have its own Nat1onal Cemetery 

and the Veterans of the State should not have to be shifted to New 

Jersey or elsewhere for burial." The commission's files showed that a 

similar proposal had been surveyed several times in previous years, the 

most recent being that of J. AI Thackrah of the Henry H. Houston 2nd 

Post No. 3, Philadelphia, in 1952. After noting that the commission had 

then taken the position that it was "emphatically opposed to any 

encroachment on Park property for a project of this nature since there is 

no land available of sufficient size," the commission agam went on record 

as "being opposed to the use of Valley Forge Park as a National 

Cemetery. " ( 222) 

At the invitation of Governor Leader the Fourth 

Jamboree was celebrated in Valley Forge State Park 

Some 53,000 scouts and leaders participated in this 

ever be held 1n the park. The focus of the jamboree 

National Boy Scout 

on July 12-18, 1957. 

the largest event to 

was the Valley Forge 

220. Titus to Beideman, March 21, April 2, May 24, 1956; Roshong to 

Moll, April 5, 1955; Titus to Reading Railroad Company, May 24, 1956; 

Gangewere to Titus, July 2, 1956; Roshong to Gangewere, July 3, 1956; 

and unidentified newspaper clippings, dated June 1955 and June 1957, RG 

6, PHMC. 

221. May to Nelson, January 16, 1956; May to Titus, January 28, 1956; 

Titus to May, February 1, 19, 17, March 3, 1956; and Titus to Roshong, 

February 10, 1956; Correspondence, RG 46, PHMC; and Minutes, Valley 

Forge Park Commission, February 28, 1956 . 

222. Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, February 28, 1956. 

329 
story, the opening night featuring a living reenactment of the encampment • 

followed by an address by Vice President Richard M. Nixon. The 

commonwealth sponsored conservation exhibits in the park during the 

jamboree. As in 1950 the Boy Scouts were responsible for preparing the 

area and providing temporary telephone, electric, water, and toilet 

services in the park. 

The scouts developed, wjth the aid of army engineers, a natural 

amphitheater north of the intersection of County Line Road and State 

Route 23 to serve as focal point for the mass gatherings. Filling, 

grading, and tree trimming were required to lay out the outdoor arena 

with a seating c<~pacity of upwards of 65,000. An act of Congress, 

passed on July 21 1956, authorized the Defense Department to lend the 

scouts "such tents, cots, blankets, comm1ssary equipment, flags, 

refrigerators, and other equipment and services as may be necessary or 

usefu I. 11 A contract was let to the Asplundh Tree Expert Company of 

Jenkintown, Pennsylvania, to spray all areas of the park for poison ivy 

in anticipation of the event. 

Following the jamboree the scouts were responsible for removing their 

equipment and temporary utility services. They provided the park 

commission with $25,500 for rehabilitation of the camp area, a sum used 

for "grading and seeding, to restore the ground to its original Park 

condition." The outdoor arena was left to the park in "appreciation of 

the Commonwealth's hospitality."( 223) 

The annual Boy Scout pilgrimages to Valley Forge in celebration of • 

Washington's birthday grew larger during the mid-1950s. For instance, 

in February 1955 some 6,000 Boy Scouts attended the Washington Birthday 

pilgrimage with 900 camping overnight in the park adjacent to W<!shington 

Memorial Chapel. (224) 

The number of Boy Scout pilgrimages to Valley Forge increased to the 

point that by March 1956 the commission set aside a designated scout 

campsite in the park and adopted regulations for use of the site. That 

month scout troops from New Jersey, New York, Delaware, and 

Pennsylvania had requested permission to camp overnight in the park. 

Accordingly, an area between County Line and Quarry roads near the 

park maintenance shop was designated as the "Boy Scout Camp." The 

site could accommodate up to sixty scouts and, according to 

Superintendent Kenworthy, was "located so that the tents will not be too 

noticeable as to call forth comments from other visitors and yet w;~ter and 

toilet facilities are within reason<1ble distance." A set of "Regulations for 

223. Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, May 22, July 24, 1956; 

Report of Valley Forge Park Commission for period June 1, 1956 to May 

31, 1958, in Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission; and U.S. Statutes at 

Large, LXX, 1957. 

224. Minutes, Valley Forge Park CommiSSion, March 24, 1955, and Report 

of Valley Forge Park Commission for period June 1, 1956 to May 31, 1958, 

in Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission. 

330 

• 
• 

• 

• 

Use of Park Area Known as 'Boy Scout Camp"' was adopted by the 

commission to govern th1s area.(225) One year's operation of this camp, 

however, established that the water and toilet Facilities were inadequate 

and use of the site was discontinued.(226) 

The largest Washington's Birthday scout pilgrimage to date occurred in 

Feburary 1957 when some 7,000 scouts participated in the festivites. 

More than 1,500 scouts camped on the southeast slope of Fort Huntington 

along then State Route 363. Approximately 7,000 participated 1n the 

parade, headed by the Valley Forge Military Academy band, that wound 

through the park. A pageant in the vicinity of the site of Huntington's 

Quarters highlighted the occasion. Park police were aided by 

Pennsylvania State Police officers during the event, and the Paoli, 

Berwyn, and Radnor fire departments provided fire protection as well as 

ambulance services.(227) 

A variety of other special activites were permitted in Valley Forge State 

Park during the late 1950s. Among the principal events that took place 

in the park during 1958, for instance, were: 

1. Cross country races by public institutions. 

2. Valley Forge Military Academy training. 

3. Afternoon religious exercises in connection with the national 

convention of the Order of Eastern Star at Philadelphia. 

4. School field trips. 

5. Covered wagon tourist display at tourist camp.(228) 

During the summer of 1958 the park commission granted temporary 

permission to Battery C, 311th Field Artillery Battalion, 79th Infantry 

Division, U.S. Army Reserve, based in Norristown, to conduct military 

training exercises in Valley Forge State Park on one Sunday each month. 

The areas to be used were the fields north of state Route 23 and east of 

Washington Memorial Chapel, provided there would be no discharge of 

firearms and that the park land would be kept in good condition. The 

training exercises, which began on August 24, involved emplacement of 

105 mm field artillery pieces, establishment of a motor park, erection of a 

225. Minutes, Valley Forge Park CommJssion, March 27, 19S6. A copy of 

the regulations may be seen in Appendix U. 

226. Report of Valley Forge Park CommissJon for period June 1, 1956 to 

May 31, 1958, in Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission. 

227. Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, February 26, 1957 . 

228. Pyle to Secretary, Forests and Waters, November 20, 1958, RG 6, 

PHMC. 

331 
kitchen, 

operation, 

and classes on weapons servicing, fire direction center 

specialist training, and forward observer post operation.(229) 

At the recommendation of its public welfare committee the park 

commission, on September 23, 1958, approved changes and additions to 

the regulations governing the display of flags in the park adopted on 

March 27, 1944. The revisions Included: 

SPECIAL DATES FOR GARRISON FLAG 

Every Sunday 

January '" New Years Day 

January Inauguration Day 

February 12th Lincoln's Birthday 

" 22nd Washington's Birthday 

April ''" Army Day 

April 19th Battle of Le:><ington 

"'' "h French Alliance 

"'' 30th Memorial Day (Half Mast to noon) 

June 14th Flag Day 

June 17th Battle of Bunker Hill 

June 19th Evacuation D<v 

July 4<h Independence Day 

September Labor Day 

" 17th Constitution Day 

October 12th Columbus Day 

" 17th Battle of Saratoga 

" 19th Surrender of Yorktown 

" 27th Navy Day 

November 11th Armistice Day 

" Thanksgiving Day 

December 19th Encampment Day 

" 25th Christmas Day 

The American Flag with State Flag and the 

Commander-in-Chief's flag shall be displayed every day from 

their designated poles at Washington's Headquarters, under care 

of Headquarters' Caretaker. 

Use 8'x12' American Flag except on the designated Special dates 

when the substitute (Garrison) Flag 10'x19' (10'x15') shall be 

used. In inclement weather a 5'x8' flag shall be used. 

Thirteen Star Flags (Betsy Ross Flag) 5'x8' shall be displayed 

at Fort Huntington, Fort Washington, Fort Greene, Fort 

Muhlenburg, Star Redoubt, Soldiers Hut, Grand Parade and 

School House, under care of the Park Police. 

• 

• 

229. Knarr to Superintendent, Valley Forge Park, June 11, 1958; Moses • 

to Knarr, June 12, 26, 1958; Bush-Brown to Roshong, August 4, 1958; 

Roshong to Knarr, August 6, 1958; Knarr to Pyle, August 18, 1958; 

Correspondence, RG 46, PHMC. 

332 
• 

• 

• 

The Ameri<;an Flag S'x8' with State Flag shall be displayed 

every day at Administr<~tion and Barracks IDeation on Bake 

House Lawn, under care of the Park Police. .(230) 

Dunng the mid-19S0s Valley Forge received increasing nationwide 

television and radio exposure. On January 22, 1956, the National 

Broadcasting Company featured the history of the "Winter Encampment" on 

its program entitled, "This Wide, Wide World." The program was telecast 

from one of the life guard soldiers' huts in the rear of Washington's 

Headquarters.(231) Historic materials and floor plans of Washington's 

Headquarters was furnished to Walt Disney Productions for production of 

a Revolutionary War film featuring considerable action in the building. 

Publicity for the park was also secured through slide and photograph 

collections which were made available to schools, clubs, newspapers, and 

periodicals. A selection of thirty-six 35 mm slides was packaged for use 

in preparing programs and illustrating speeches, and an extensive 

collection of 8"x10" glossy prints was organized to meet requests from the 

printed media. 

After leaving office as park commission chairman in July 1956, Robert R. 

Titus donated funds for 50,000 small booklets, entitled "Valley Forge in a 

Day," to be made available for distribution to park visitors. The 

booklet, compiled by Ronald Heaton, was to supplement literature 

provided by the commission. A park brochure, entitled "The Story of 

Valley Forge," was also updated and reprinted in 1957.(232) 

Valley Forge State Park also received publicity in May 1955 when several 

sites--Washington's Headquarters and the Bake House--were included in 

the Pennsylvania House and Garden Tour for the first time. The tour, 

entitled "Historic Mansions Near Valley Forge," was sponsored by the 

Women's Auxiliary of the Washington Memorial Museum of the Valley Forge 

Historical Society.(233) 

Visitation to Valley Forge State Park remained at a high level during the 

1955-58 period, the peak year being 1957 when 1,921,677 persons entered 

the park. Of that number 291,177 visited Washington's Headquarters, 

230. Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, September 23, 1958. 

231. Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, January 27, 1956. 

232. Report of Valley Forge Park Commission for period June 1, 1956 to 

May 31, 1958, in Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission; "The Story of 

Valley Forge," Valley Forge State Park, Pennsylvania, 1957, RG 2, VAFO 

Archives; and Ronald E. Heaton, Valley Forge !.!::! A Day (Norristown, 

1956) . 

233. "The 1955 House and Garden Tour," Picket Post, February, 1955, 

26-28. 

333 
273,974 the museum, 83,109 the soldiers' huts, 258,121 the Mount Joy 

Observ<~tion Tower, 136,409 used the picnic facilities, and 2,244 were • 

overnight guests in the tourist camp. Among the prominent visitors to the 

park during 1955-58 were Count Lafayette of France, a direct descendent 

of the Marquis de Lafayette, General Douglas MacArthur on July 23, 1956, 

J. Edgar Hoover, Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, on 

February 1957, the Superintendent of London Police, London, England, in 

May 1958, and a delegation of Indonesian parliamentary members in July 

1957. (234) 

M. THE YEARS 1959-1963 

The Democrats held on to the governorship in Pennsylvania in the 1958 

elections, electing David L. Lawrence as chief executive. Hence there 

was no large turnover in the membership of the Valley Forge Park 

Commission, and Walter Moses continued to function as its chairman. In 

July 1962, toward the end of his term as governor, Lawrence appointed 

five new members to the thirteen~member commission, one of whom would 

play a conspicuous role in leading the commission in the 1970s--Annamarie 

Malloy of Paoli.(235) 

The economic austerity program begun by Governor Leader was continued 

by Lawrence. Thus the appropriation for the park during fiscal years 

1958-60 was approximately $246,500. This total, however, was reduced 

by nearly $12,000 because of restrictions placed on purchases and 

employment of personnel. The economic picture brightened somewhat • 

during the early 1960s, thus providing the park with an appropriation of 

$291,009 for fiscal years 1960-62. Considerable funds were also made 

available for capital improvement projects on a scale similar to the 

immediate postwar era.(236) 

The continuing austerity program of the Lawrence administration limited 

the number and scope of park improvement projects during 1959-60. The 

projects that were accomplished included: 

1. The kitchen in the Bake House was furnished with period articles, 

purchased with trust fund income. 

234. Report of Valley Forge Park Commission for period June 1, 1956 to 

May 31, 1958, in Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission. 

235. "New 

and Q!lly_ 

Clippings 

Valley Forge Park Commissioners," 

Local News, February 26, March 

f~Valley Forge Park, Chester 

Picket Post, July, 1962, 7, 

17, 2z;--'i962, Newspaper 

County Historical Society. 

236. Report of Valley Forge Park Commission for period June 1, 1958 to 

May 31, 1960, and Report of Valley Forge State Park Commission, Period 

June 1, 1860 to May 31, 1962, in Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission. • 

A map of the park prepared in 1962 may be seen on the following page. 

33' 
• 

___ .,... =·~-• =-;;..·· ---i" • . ""'""'' SOOLE 

.=b:. 

., 

:1 

" 

'/ALLEY FORGE STATE PARK 
2. The flagpole, formerly in the police barracks yard, was relocated on • 

the Bake House lawn, making it rmre readily visible to the public and 

permitting its extension in height so that the commonwealth flag could be 

displayed along with the natiOnal flag. 

3. Through the interest and effort of the Georgia State Historicill 

Commission a marker was placed in the park where North Carolina and 

Georgia troops were encamped during the winter of 1777-78. The 

memorial, of native Georgia granite, was known as the General Lachlan 

Mcintosh marker. Funds for the project were provlded by the Georgia 

organization. 

4. A new four-acre picnic grove was established at Betzwood on the 

north bank of the Schuylkill River, designed to satisfy increasing public 

demands and remove some of the recreational activity from the "historical" 

portion of the park. The area featured a 30-car gravel parking lot, 

water and toilet facilities, and tables, benches and a "few outdoor 

fireplaces." By June 1960 some 264,842 persons had used this area. 

5. A 7-car gravel parking area was installed at Artillery Park.(237) 

With the advent of fiscal year 1960, the Lawrence administration reversed 

the commonwealth's austerity program. As a result, increased 

appropriations, on a scale that had not been available for nearly a 

decade, were ITI<Ide available for the development and restoration of Valley 

Forge State Park. These funds, according to park superintendent Moll, • 

marked a "definite change In administrative responsibility" for 

improvement of the park. 

The park improvement projects during 1S60-62 were divided into two 

categories--improvement projects funded by the park's legislative 

appropriation and capital projects, amounting to some $123,000, provided 

for under the commonwealth's general fund. These improvements 

included: 

1. Since 1918 when the commonwealth acquired and restored Varnum's 

Quarters, the building had been furnished by the Philadelphia Chapter, 

Daughters of American Revolution. In January 1961 that organization 

donated all furniture in the structure to the commission for permanent 

display. With this transfer all furnishings and display 1tems in the 

park's historic buildings were owned and maintained by the commission. 

2. Varnum's Quarters was improved with installation of gas heating, 

painting of the interior, and "a complete refurbishing." A guard was 

placed on duty in the building. 

237. Report of Valley Forge Park Commission for period June 1, 1958 to 

May 31, 1960, in Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commis5ion. 

336 

• 
• 

• 

• 

3. Two paintings, 

bust of Washington, 

in the park museum. 

"Washington Crossing the Delaware" and Stuart's 

were restored "by a reputable painter" and rehung 

4_ A new land fill dump and driveway was established at the order of 

the Board of Health. By June 1962 the dump was proving to be "quite 

superior to the former manner of gi!rbage and rubbish disposal." 

5. Some 14,000 feet of property line (in the Betzwood area) on the 

north bank of the Schuylkill and along the park boundary adjacent to the 

Reading railroad in Port Kennedy were cleared, surveyed, and marked 

with 29 corner markers. 

6. Under mutual agreement a section of the Horseshoe Trail on Mount 

Misery was transferred from the Binns' Valley Forge Mountain tract to 

park property, for an extension of the trail to join that which was 

already on park land. 

7. The blacksmith shop m Artillery Park was restored and twenty 

replica soldiers' huts erected at state troop sites to replace a token 

number of the thirty which had to be torn down. The new 

reconstructions were built with logs salvaged by park labor during park 

woodland clearing operations. 

8. The middle dam in Valley Creek wes repaired and renovated . 

9. Various parking lots and drives throughout 

black-topped. These areas included: schoolhouse lot; 

of Artillery Perk picnic area; five small lots in vicinity 

huts. 

the park were 

center and drive 

of monuments and 

The increase in park improvement and development funds revitalized 

interest in long-range planning for the park. Such planning had been a 

moribund 1ssue since the early 1950s when funding cutbacks and 

straightened state finances curtailed implementation of the plans developed 

during the 1940s. Hence by June 1%2 the commission had established a 

comprehensive 15-point plan, totaling some $1,500,000, for the future 

development of the park: 

1. Model Plan (Redevelopment Survey & Plan) 

2. Auditorium and General Service Building 

3. Outer Line Drive Reconstruction 

3a. Refreshment Concession Building (Betzwood) 

4. Rehabilitate Camp Hospital (Plans under 

1961-63 GSA) 

5. Reconstruct Von Steuben Quarters 

6. Recreation Area, north bank of river (From 

1961-63 Requests) 

7. Rehabilitate Old Forge 

8. Stone Observation Tower 

9. Ornamental Trees 

10. Purchase Old Reading Station 

11. Fin1sh Furnishmg of Bake-House (From 

1961-1963) 

337 

$ 35,000 

385,000 

97' 000 

15,000 

85,000 

45' 000 

128,000 

78,000 

195,000 

3,000 

25,000 

9,675 
Relocate Markers and Remodel Fort 

Muhlenberg 

Parking Lots, additions (From 1961-1963) 

Renovate Huntington Quarters 

Land Acquisition 

6,000 

49,500 

6,450 

350' 000(238) 

Aside from the "routine maintenance and cleanup required" to keep the 

park attractive and functioning--a task Superintendent Moll described as 

"momentous"-- a number of spec1al maintenance projects were carried out 

by park labor during 1959-63. In August 1960 Moll reported on the 

special projects that had been accomplished during 1959-60: 

At Washington Headquarters it was necessary to replace stair 

treads and floor boards in front hallway. Native white pine, 

rough, was obtained from State Forest, prepared and installed 

by Park workmen. Hallway walls were also painted. 

Interior of Park Museum was painted white, showcases 

varnished, new descriptive display cards printed and covered 

with plastic, with exhibits in both the showcases and the 

building more attractively rearranged to improve the appearance 

of the entire building. 

Von Steuben Statue was cleaned and treated with an application 

of clear liquid envelope to improve •ts appearance as well as 

preserve same. 

Entire rehabilitation of the Police Barracks was accomplished by 

painting exterior and interior walls, also floors of the building. 

All cannon in the Park are being securely anchored to carr•ages 

as a protective measure since we have had several cases of 

vandalism of these replica pieces. 

Approximately thirty-five feet (35') of retaining \"o."all at Fort 

Washington had to be rebuilt and a flagstone walk was placed at 

front approach to Washington Statue which is located on lawn 

area near Washington Headquarters. A wire ins\<lllation was 

placed around top platform of Observation Tower as an extra 

safety measure and in an attempt to prevent children from 

crawling through the railings to catwalk along lodge of 

platform. 

State Highway Department resurfaced seven (7) miles of Park 

drives--Quarry, Baptist, Camp and River Roads, Outer Line 

238. Report of Valley Forge State Park Commission, period June 1, 1960 

to May 31, 1%2, in Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission. 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

Drive and Lover's Lane. 

Wayne parking lots.(239) 

Also resurfaced Star Redoubt and 

In July 1962 Moll observed that the following special maintenance projects 

had been completed during the previous two fiscal years: 

New floor was laid in Park Museum and additional showcases 

were constructed and placed in building for display of 

Revolutionary relics being excavated on the encampment area 

and without expense to the Commission by interested 

archeologists- Mr. and Mrs. John Smith of Upper Darby. 

New sign was constructed and placed in Washington 

Headquarters making clear to the public that the building is 

owned and maintained by the Commonwealth. Halls and stairway 

railings were pointed and new white pine floor installed in 

hallways and on stairstops. 

Pedestrian walks from parking lot to Concession building and to 

Police Barracks were resurfaced with bituminous concrete, as 

was also parking area and walks to restrooms at TOY..'er site. 

New door of authentic 

Varnum Quarters and 

building, was rebuilt . 

type and style 

the stone wall 

was placed on 

around yard, 

rear of 

east of 

New copper water pipe line was installed from water main to 

Park buildings in Headquarters area and in the village of Vdlley 

Forge. Such improvement not only reduces water consumption 

but eliminates maintenance on the line. 

Cannon carriages at Knox Artillery Pilrk were reset and put in 

proper alignment, g1vong an improved appearance to this 

interesting exhibit. 

Banks of Fort Huntington were repaired, 

temporarily fenced. 

reseeded and 

Exter1or painting 

accomplished and 

of all dwellings and other buildings was 

roof structures repaired as required.(240) 

Maintenance of the park's 600 acres of woodland continued to be one of 

the staff's major concerns during the late 1950s and early 1960s. Because 

of their "national significance" dogwood plantings were an annual project, 

239. Report of Valley Forge Park Commission for period June 1, 1958 to 

May 31, 1960, in Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission . 

240. Report of Valley Forge State Park Commission, period June 1, 1960 

to May 31, 1962, in Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission. 

339 
especially "in the dogwood grove proper," where storms caused periodic 

damage and "insect infestation and disease" were "an ever present 

problem." In the wake of storm-related damage in 1958 seven large 

dogwood trees were made available by Washington Crossing State Park for 

planting near the park's concession building and 100 dogwoods were 

received from Logan Park for planting throughout the reservation. 

Dogwoods were also donated and planted by Brownie Scout Troop No. 183 

of Spring City and a fifth grade class from Lower Moreland Elementary 

School in Huntington Valley. During 1960-62, 100 dogwoods were planted 

in the dogwood grove and 100 were planted at four other locations along 

Camp Road and Betzwood Picnic Area, all of the trees being obtained from 

Logan Park. 

Maintenance efforts during 1960-62 included cleanup and repair operations 

in the wake of a structural fire and Hurricane Donna. The old Mansion 

House barn, which the park deemed to be of "no historic value," burned 

down on March 24, 1962. Hurricane Donna severely damaged the bridge 

and protective fence around the old forge on Valley Creek, requiring 

reconstruction of the bridge, removal of the fence, and placement of a 

new protective installation around the ruins. 

Considerable roadwork was also accomplished during 1960-62 by the State 

Department of Highways. All drives in the park, including the 

headquarters upper and lower parking lot drives and the lane to the 

tourist camp, were resurfaced, and the circle around the maintenance 

building was constructed as a hand-surfaced driveway. Shoulders were 

rebuilt along then State Routes 23 and 363, and the roadbed surfaces 

treated twice. A new highway bridge over the Pennsylvania Railroad at 

Betzwood necessitated construction of new ramps and approaches to the 

park's picnic area as well as a park dwelling at that site. 

According to Superintendent Moll, retention of the reservation's beauty 

required planting of "shade and specimen trees, especially in picnic 

groves, along driveways, around buildings and on lawn areas." Thus 

during 1959-60 some 38,000 seedling trees and shrubs, including white 

ash, red bud, red oak, sugar maple, and American holly, were obtained 

from the state nursery and planted throughout the park. In 1960-62 

approximately 1,000 tulip poplar, 500 spruce, and 200 chestnut 5eedlings 

were planted on the "Quigg" tract, and 500 multiflora roses were planted 

around the quarries. An additional 18,000 seedling trees were planted 

"in remote field areas to reduce mowing costs."(241) 

Two archeological research efforts were initiated in the park during 

1959-62. In March 1959 John J. Smith of Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, was 

"given permission to do some soundings in the Park 1n search of 

Revolutionary rel>cs, historical features, etc.'' According to District 

Forester Moll, Smith "unearthed qu1te a quantity of authentic and valuable 

• 

• 

241. Report of Valley Forge Park CommissiOn for period June 1, 1958 to • 

May 31, 1960, and Report of Valley Forge State Park Commission, period 

June 1, 1960 to May 31, 1962, in Mmutes, Valley Forge Park Commission. 
• 

• 

• 

items, such as uniform buttons and buckles, bayonet and ramrod 

sections, sword scabbard, pewter c<1nteens and cups, musket and cannon 

balls, etc." All articles found were "inspected and approved by 

representatives from the Historical and Museum Commission" and prepared 

for display in the park museum. 

During 1960-62 archeologists from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum 

Commission unearthed five hut sites in the New Jersey Brigade areil and 

the vicinity around the site of Washington's Marquee. Some Revolutionary 

relics were uncovered and placed on display in the park museum and the 

William Penn Museum in Harrisburg. 

In July and August 1962 the "first project covering formal excavation of 

any American Campsite" in lhe park was initiated, according to 

Superintendent Moll, under the direction of Dr. John Witthoft, a state 

archeologist with the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. 

The site selected was that of the New Jersey Brigade where five original 

hut floors and foundations had been uncovered earlier. Recovered items 

were identified, marked, and distributed between the park commission and 

the museum commission. (242) 

Although not in Valley Forge State Park at the time the story of the 

restoration of the Knox Covered Bridge, carrying Yellow Springs Road 

over Valley Creek, is important to this administrative study as the 

structure later became part of the park. The 50-foot span bridge of 

Burr truss design had been built by Robert Russell in 1865, replacing 

the original county bridge which had been constructed in 1852 and was 

washed away by a flood. The bridge, which had been named in honor of 

Philander Knox who had lived nearby, was damaged by fire in June 1958, 

the efforts of the Valley Forge State Park police and neighboring fire 

departments saving it from total destruction. The landmarks and 

memorials committee of the Pennsylvania Society, Sons of the Revolution 

spearheaded the movement for restoration, and on May 3, 1959, the 

Theodore Burr Covered Bridge Society of Pennsylvania was organized to 

promote interest in the preservation of Pennsylvania's covered bridges. 

The Knox Covered Bridge was the first restoration project to receive its 

support. Under the direction of the State Department of Highways the 

work of reinforcing the bridge with steel and replacement of the damaged 

wooden sections was completed by February 1960. The restored bridge 

was formally dedicated on June 18, 1960, under the auspices of the Valley 

Forge Historical Society and the Theodore Burr Covered Bridge Society of 

Pennsylvania, the dedicatory address being presented by S. K. Stevens, 

242. Report of Valley Forge Park Commission for period June 1, 1958 to 

May 31, 1960; Report of Valley Forge State Park Commission, period June 

l, 1960 to May 31, 1962; and Report of Valley Forge State Park 

Commission, Period June 1, 1962 to June 30, 1964. in Minutes, Valley 

Forge Park Commission. 
executive director o< '" Pennsylvania Historical Museum 

Commission. (243) 

The two quarries in which the Ehret Magnesia Company was dumping its 

waste materials (under <>greement) were covered with top soil in the early 

1960s. This action, accomplished under joint agreement between the park 

and the company, "improved the appearance of the area" and prevented 

"dust cloud deposits from covering the adjacent area and buildings with 

lime."(244) 

By an act of the state legislature, which took effect on September 14, 

1961, the State Department of Property and Supplies, with approval of 

the Secretary of Forests and W<>ters, was authorized to le<>se certain land 

in Valley Forge State Park to the United States Post Office Department 

for construction of a post office in the Village of Valley Forge. The lease 

contained provisions for a reversionary title and possess•on of 

improvements "after certain extended terms." The post office was 

dedicated on July 18, 1964, with Superintendent Pyle participating in the 

ceremonies. (245) 

The question of registered national historic landmark status for Valley 

Forge State Park created considerable discussion in the park commission's 

meetings in 1951-62 after the park r.·as designated as such in November 

1961. In April 1962 the commission considered "the wisdom of giving 

official approval to the U.S. Department of Interior" (which had 

• 

designated Valley Forge <>s a National Historic Landmark on January 20, • 

1961) to list the park as a registered landmark. It was feared that the 

dual historic/recreational use of the park might create complications if 

federal preservation policies were enforced, thus interfering with the 

state's management and development of the reservation. The consensus of 

the commission was that "this reservation owned, preserved and 

maintained by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania since 1893, had alre<>dy 

established itself as an historical shrone of national significance." Thus, 

there "could be no special advantage in or need for certification of this 

fact by the National Park Service." The commissoon informed the Natoonal 

Park Service, through Joseph A. Blatt, Director of State Parks, that "to 

comply woth Federal rulongs covering registration of historic landmarks 

might not be in keeping with the creative Mandate of May 30, 1893 which 

established the area as a public park for the enjoyment of the people." 

The views of the park commission were referred for comment to S. K.. 

Stevens, executive director the Historical and Museum Commission, who 

243. Elizabeth B. Wildman, "Dedication of General Knox Covered Bridge," 

Picket Post, November, 1960, 16-18. Many references erroneously refer 

to the bridge havong been named in honor of General Henry Knox. 

244. Report of Valley Forge State Park Commission, period June 1, 1960 

to May 3"1, 1962, in Monutes, Valley Forge Park Commission. 

245. Ibid. • 
• 

• 

• 

found them to be "ridiculous." On June 12 he wrote a formal response to 

Walter F. Moses, park commission chairman, stating: 

May respectfully present my opinion that this is a very 

shortsighted action on the part of the Valley Forge Park 

Commission. I happen to be a member of the Advisory 

Committee of the Ngtional Pilrk Service which is engaged in 

reviewing all historic sites and buildings in all of the fifty 

states. The ultimate objective of this review is to prepare for 

the first time in the history of the country an authenticated 

record of those sites which are looked upon as of outstanding 

importance in the history of the American nation. 

In connection with this rev•ew, the National Park Service is 

willing to issue a certificate for each of these place5 which will 

designate it as a regi5tered national historical landmark. The 

Department of the Interior will also furni5h a plaque which may 

be placed upon a building or in a museum or other suitable 

location which testifies to the fact that this building IS a 

landmark of out5tanding national significance. May I say that 

the published list of landmark5 will be made quite independently 

of any acceptance of plaques on the part of the administrator or 

owner of the historic site or building . 

The fact that Valley Forge is already recognized as a shrine of 

national historical significance is entirely beside the point 

because quite naturally this is one of the criteria which leads to 

the designation of a particular place as one to be included in 

the published catalogue of such landmarks. I am unable to see 

that any federal interference in the administration of any 

property would be involved in this program. As a matter of 

fact, the designation may ultimately provide a foundation for 

some federal support for the development of some of these 

places which has not been forthcoming from State or private 

funds. 

The park commission discussed this letter on June 26. The commissioners 

agreed that "Stevens' letter, with its detailed information, clarified the 

entire subject" and "that with such information on record [the] chairman 

[should] prepare and submit request for the certification, inserting in the 

application the park's Act of May 30, 1893." There was still distrust of 

federal interference in park administration, however, as evidenced by the 

recommendation of Superintendent Moll that "care should be taken to use 

the title Valley Forge State Park. on application forms." 

Despite the continuing fears of the park commission, Chairman Moses on 

June 29 filed a formal application for a certificate designating Valley 

Forge State Park, a "historic Commonwealth owned and maintained 

property," as a registered National Historic Landmark. After reviewing 

the establishing legislation for the park, Moses listed the three National 

Park Service conditions that the commission was agreeing to in filing its 

request: 
1. Fully conscious of the high responsibility to the Nation 

that goes with the owr>ership and care of a property classified 

as having exceptional value and worthy of Register"d National 

Historic Landmark status we agree to preserve, so far as 

practicable and to the best of our ability, the historical 

integrity of this important part of the national cultural 

heritage. 

2. Toward this end, we agree to continue to use the property 

only for purposes compatible with its historical character. 

3. We also agree to permit an annual visit to the property by 

a representative of the National Park Service, as a basis for 

continuing Landmark status. 

The request was approved soon thereafter.(246) 

By the fall of 1962 a system of seven trails covering more than ten miles 

had been laid out in the park under the direction of E. Clyde Pyle, who 

had become park superintendent in 1958. There were seven distinct 

trails and several short connecting trails primarily in the wooded sections 

of the reservation. The trails were identified by a color blaze 

combination and could be found using a sketch map brochure: 

Red Trail--for horses, from Sake House to Fort Washington 

• 

Blue Trail--for horses, along River Drive by way of Washington • 

Memorial Chapel to Port Kennedy railroad station 

Red and White Trail--for pedestrians, from Fort Huntington picnic 

grove at Inner Line Drive to State Route 23 at dogwood grove 

Red-White-Blue Trail--for horses, along Valley Creek bridge at State 

Route 23 to Knox covered bridge 

Yellow Trail--for pedestrians, part of Horseshoe Trail, State Route 

23 to Mt. Misery 

Gold Trail--for horses, Outer Line Drive at von Steuben Statue to 

Pennsylvania Columns via General Wayne statue 

Orange Trail--for horses, covering Boundary Trail from State Route 

23 at Thomas Road to Truck Route 23 at Trout Creek. 

''White" trails connected the seven trails. 

The Red and Red-White-Blue trails were developed as nature tra•ls. 

Trees and shrubs were identified by a metal tag giving the specimen's 

common name and a numbered tag for reference against a check list 

available at the park office. On the Red Trail 34 different trees and 

shrubs were identified by common name and 33 different species were 

246. Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, April 24, June 26, 1962; and 

Steven~ to Blatt, May 24, 1962; Blatt to Stevens, May 28, 1962; Stevens • 

to Moses, June 12, July 12, 1962; and Moses to Blatt, June 29, 1962; RG 

2, VAFO Archives. 
• 

• 

• 

tagged by index number. The Red-White-Blue Trail had 38 different tree 

and shrub species indicated by common name and 41 identified by index 

number. (247) 

The P<~rk commission continued its efforts to increase public awareness 

and encourage visitation and "creative utilio::ation" of Valley Forge State 

Park during 1959-63. In 1959 the General Outdoor Advertising Company, 

without charge, placed 300 billbo<1rd signs along Pennsylvania highways 

urging people to visit the historic shrine. The signs displayed a view of 

the park's dogwood, a replica cannon, and a soldiers' hut. 

The park was used by the Pennsylvania National Guard on two occasions 

during 1959-60. Tactical exercises of the 111th Infantry Regiment were 

filmed for use on the U.S. Army's television program entitled "The Big 

Picture." The national guard unit also used the park when ceremonies 

were held to announce transfer of Nike missile units from the army to 

their custody. 

A French Alliance Day celebration was held in the park in cooperation 

with the Valley Forge Hi:;torical Society on May 6, 1959, with Pierre G. 

Gabard, French consul in Philadelphia, as speaker. The service was well 

attended and was the first in what was planned as an annual event. 

Subsequent speakers for the annual celebration were Count Rene de 

Chambrun, a direct descendent of Marquis de Lafayette, in 1960, M . 

Gerard de Ia Villesbrunne, a French embassy official in 1961, and M. 

Jacques Dupont, secretary of the French Embassy, in 1962. 

The annual "dogwood blossom show" continued to be an event that 

attracted large crowds and provided the park with opportunities to seek 

publicity. The 1962 season proved to be the most spectacular in a decade 

as more than 250,000 persons visited the park for the display.(248) 

The Valley Forge Council, Boy Scouts of America, continued its 

traditional annual Washington Birthday pilgrimages to Valley Forge, 

averaging between S,OOO and 7,500 participants during 1959-63. In 

addition the council held a Fourth of July celebration in the park on July 

4, 1960, and an encampment, attended by 2,000 scouts and leaders, on 

July 22-24, 1960, commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Boy Scouts 

of America. Other councils also used the park for activities, among them 

September 25, 1962, and Daily Local News, 

;;,_,;, Clippings File, Valley Forge Park, Chester 

County i 1 Society. Also see "Key to Tree Tags, Red-White-Blue 

Trail, Found In Cove Type Forest, Valley Creek Trail, Valley Forge, 

Pa.," and "Red Trail, Key to Tree Tags," in possession of E. Clyde 

Pyle, Wayne, Pennsylvania. 

248. Report of Valley Forge Park Commission for period June 1, 19S8 to 

May 31, 1960, in Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission; Aimee MacNeil, 

"Celebration of the French Alliance," Picket Post, May, 1959, 4; and 

Press Releases, "Valley Forge Dogwood In Bloom-;n-May 10, 1961, and May 

2, 1962, Correspondence, RG 46, PHMC. 

345 
the Philadelphia Council for its "historical trek" which brought 500 scouts 

to the park on June 6-7, 1959.(249) 

Valley Forge State Park continued to receive favorable publicity in books 

and periodicals in the early 1960s. One of the most prominent writers to 

give attention to the park during this period was Freeman Tilden in his 

The State Parks: Their Meaning in American Life (1962). In this work 

Tilden observed: 

Of that dowry, 2,048 acres 

most beautiful parks, 

historically. 

now comprise 

and the 

one of the nation's 

most significant 

The country has many treasured shrines. There is something 

about Valley Forge, however, which makes it entirely different 

from all the rest. This was no triumph of arms; this, no 

spectacular conflict of armies, no winning of glory at the 

cannon's mouth. This is the story of the greatest valor--that 

of emerging from defeat into victory through self-discipline, 

and of a fortitude in misery almost without parallel. ... 

Though Valley Forge is primarily a historical and military park, 

it offers much also for the visitor who seeks the relaxation and 

enjoyment of nature. The state has provided ample p1cn1c areas, 

a good tourist camp where upwards of 800 persons with tents or 

trailers can register and stay for as long as two weeks in the 

summer season. On the slopes near the Wayne equestrian 

statue there is usually good skiing and tobogganing in 

Winter.(250) 

Visitation to Valley Forge State Park remained at a high level during 

1959-63. The number of visitors averaged some 1, 600,000 per year. 

Although individual statistics for the various attractions in the park are 

given in the biennial reports of the superintendent, the disparity between 

the reports when compared on a year-by-year basis makes them suspect 

and leads to the conclusion that visitation counts were not performed on a 

systematic and uniform basis. Among the most prominent park visitors 

-during this period were former President Eisenhower on December 11, 

1961, and three wounded "freedom fighters" from the ill-fated Bay of Pigs 

invasion on July 21, 1962. 

Concession operations continued to be a major concern of the park 

commission in an effort to provide quality services for park visitors. A 

249. Report of Valley Forge Park Commission for period June 1, 1958 to 

May 31, 1960, and Report of Valley Forge State Park Commission, period 

June 1, 1958 to May 31, 1962, in Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission . 

250. Freeman Tilden, The State Parks: Their Meaning in American Life 

(New York, 1962), pp.--:r4""0, 144. 

346 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

new contrilct covering the p<trk concession for the period May 1, 1962 to 

December 31, 1967, was aw<1rded to Nilan Brothers of Chester, 

Pennsylvania, at an annual rental of $31,666.66.(251) 

N. THE YEARS 1963-1967 

The Republican Party recaptured the governorship of Pennsylvania in 

1962 after two consecutive losing campaigns in 1954 and 1958 by electing 

Willii!m Scranton as the state's chief executive. Thus, wholesale changes 

were made in the membership of the park commission with Robert R. Titus 

returning as chairman.(252) Appropriations for the park under the 

Scranton administration remained generally low, averaging approximately 

$177,000 per year.(253) 

In May 1966 Superintenent Pyle advised the park commission and the 

Department of Forests and Waters of his intention to retire. After Pyle 

resigned on October 26, he wa5 replaced by Wilford P. Moll. Near the 

end of his eight-year tenure as superintendent, Pyle prepared a paper, 

ent1tled "Valley Forge Yesterday and Today," in which he traced the 

history of the park and discussed the present-day utilization and features 

of the park as well as the principal problems facing park management. 

According to the paper four major problems faced park management: 

L 

2. 

3. 

'· 

Allocation of sufficient funds for proper development and 

restoration. 

Employment of competent personnel. 

Coping with vandalism. 

Policy formation. This i5 due to the fact that there are two 

schools of thought by the public: 

a. Administering the re5ervation entirely as an historic site; 

b. Permit its use as a general recreationill site. 

Over the years, according to Pyle, the commissioners had endeavored "to 

maintain a happy medium" on the policy formation issue--"making 

i!Vilililble only essential and limited recreiltionill facilities which do not 

greatly interfere with or damilge its historic value." 

The emphilsis placed by pilrk milnagement 

historic preserviltion and recreatiOnill 

on the "happy 

use of the 

med1um" between 

park is somewhat 

251. Report of Valley Forge Park Commission for period June 1, 1958 to 

Mily 31, 1950, ilnd Report of Villley Forge State Pilrk Commission, period 

June 1, 1960 to May 31, 1962, in Minutes, Villley Forge Park Commission. 

252. Dilily Local News, November 

Valley Forge Park, Chester County 

8, 1963, Newspaper 

Historical Society. 

Clippings File, 

253. Report of Valley 

to June 30, 1964, and 

1, 1964 to June 30, 

Forge State Pilrk Commission, Period June 1, 1962 

Report of Villley Forge State Park Commission, July 

1966, in Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission. 
questionable, however, when compared with the list of park uses as listed • 

by Pyle. His paper contained a list of fourteen items in answer to the 

question, "How is the park used today?"; 

1. Historical 

million visitors 

education 

annually. 

by young and old. About one and one-half 

2. Over 1,800 busses a year--three fourths bringing school 

children and the others from the U.N., New York and Philadelphia 

Navy Yard. Historic and educational tours from all over the United 

States. 

3. Picnicking, boating, kite and model plane flying. 

4. Horseback riding and hiking. 

5. Special historic and religious services. 

6. Celebrations--Washington's Birthday, French Alliance Day, von 

Steuben Birthday. 

7. Army and National Guard exercises and maneuvers. 

8. Valley Forge Military Academy Exercises. 

9 District Boy Scout Jamporees. 

;o. National Boy Scout Jamborees--on occasions. 

11. Dogwood Blossom Show--May 1st to May 10th. 

12. Sledding and skiing on natural slopes. 

13. Nature Study Trails. 

14. Lover's trysting place.(254) 

The last major additions to the acreage of Valley Forge State Park were 

made durmg 1963-66. Two tracts, totaling some 35 acres, were acquired 

during 1963-64--turnpike land on the southeastern border and the Goff 

tract on the east. Under Project 70 the Knox-Tindle holdongs (known as 

Valley Forge Farm) were acquired on July 14, 1965, increasing the 

reservotion by 170.234 acres at an approximate cost of $3,950 per acre. 

This entire tract comprised 221.234 acres, but 51 acres (actual figure as 

• 

254. "Valley forge Yesterday and Today," by E. Clyde Pyle, 

Superintendent, Valley Forge (Historic) State Park," October 22, 1966, 

RG 2, VAFO Archives. Also see Pyle to Commissioners, October 22, 1966, 

and Pyle To Whom It May Concern, November 1, 1966 (documents in • 

possessio" of Pyle). 
• 

• 

• 

determined at time of purchase was 46.21 acres) had been under a 

covenant agreement with the Philander Knox estate since 1916 (Philander 

Knox lived in the house traditionally referred to as Maxwell's Quarters 

and owned the house traditionally referred to as Knox's Quarters). With 

the inclusion of the Tindle holdings two historic buildings came into park 

ownership--structures traditionally known as Knox's and Maxwell's 

Quarters. Hence the park now contained the structures which by 

tradition were associated with the quarters of six of Washington's officers 

during the encampment. State Highway Department road construction 

changes contiguous to the east end of the park during the mid-1960s 

required that 16.785 acres be made available for that purpose. The road 

work, which was completed in the spring of 1967, involved construction of 

the County Line Expressway giving motorists direct access to the park 

from three main highways--the Pennsylvania Turnpike, the Schuylkill 

Expressway, and U.S. 202. Thus, as of July 1, 1966, the total acreage 

of the park was 2,255.289.(255) 

One of the long-range goals of the park commission since the 

establishment of Valley Forge State Park wao to have each state erect a 

memorial at the site where its troops had encamped during the winter of 

1777-78. During the 1963-64 per1od three states--Maryland, New 

Hampshire, and Rhode Island--erected memorials, bringing to eight the 

number that had responded.(256) 

When the park commission acquired the Hires tract in Chester County in 

1940, tradition indicated that one of the small otone otructures on the 

property, known as Slab Tavern, was used as quarters by Baron von 

Steuben during the encampment. The tradition was used as an argument 

by the Steuben Society of America to induce the park commission to 

restore the structure and designate it as von Steuben's Quarters. 

Accordingly, an allocation of $3,500 was made available during 1961-63 

(capital project funds) for research on the structure, deeds, and historic 

records to establish the authenticity of the tradition.(257) John F. Hey!, 

restoration architect for the commonwealth at Graeme Park, Ephrata 

Cloister, Cornwall Furnace, and Landis Valley Farm, was engaged to 

255. Report of Valley Forge State Park Commission, Period June 1, 1962 

to June 30, 1964, and Report of Valley Forge Slate Park Commission, July 

1, 1964 to June 30, 1966, in Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission; "A 

Trip to Valley Forge," Picket Post, January, 1966, 34; and New York 

T1mes, October 2, 1966. -- -- --- ---

256. Report of Valley Forge State Park Commission, Period June 1, 1962 

to June 30, 1964, in Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission. 

257. In May 1961 John F. Reed, a local h1storian and writer who 

produced a number of works on Valley Forge, submitted an informal 

analysis of the tradition. His conclusion was !hal no documentary proof 

existed to substantiate the tradition. Reed to Valley Forge Park 

Commission, May 23, 1961, Reed Collection, RG 10, VAFO Arch1ves. 

349 
perform the research. After a lengthy study he confirmed an earlier 

study by G. Edwin Brumbaugh that the Slab Tavern buildings were "not 

of the Revolutionary Period" but \>'ere erected about 1850. Accordingly 

the ''unsightly" buildings were demolished 1n 1964 "in the interest of 

safety to the public."(258) 

During 1963-64 a number of park improvement proJects were completed. 

These included: 

1. Construction 

recasted statue 

Headquarters 

of flagstone walk 

of Washington, 

to front approach 

located near 

to Houdon's 

Washington's 

2. Erection of colonial style, stone park entrance sign at western 

approach to park along State Route 23 

3. Planting of 18-foot black spruce on park land near 

newly-constructed Valley Forge Post Office as a community project in 

cooperation with Valley Forge Improvement Association--the tree to 

be the foca.l point of annual Christmas festivities 

4. Installation and anchoring of concrete slabs for a permanent 

boat ramp at the Betzwood picnic are<~ 

5. Construction of new storage building near park maintenance 

shop 

6. Installation of new electrical cable system to new office quarters 

In addition to the aforementioned Slab Tavern research and demolition 

project, two other capital projects, provided from the General Fund, were 

completed during 1963-64. These included: 

1. Installation of an automatic fire alarm system in Washington's 

Headquarters and nearby stable--system having direct contact with 

firehouse in Village of Valley Forge as well as a bell al<~rm inside and 

outside the headquarters 

2. lnst<~llation 

improvements to 

of new plumbing, 

public restrooms in 

sewage, and electric<~l 

headquarters are" 

systems 

P<~rk improvements were also accomplished <~t Valley Forge in 1963-64 with 

appropriations from the General State Authority Fund. These prowcts 

included: 

258. Report of Valley Forge State Park Commission, Period June 1, 1962 

to June 30, 1964, in Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, and John F. 

Heyl, "Report to the Members of the V<~lley Forge State Park Commission 

m Answer to Mr. Edward Pinkowski's 'Open Letter' of 5 February 1963," 

February 22, 1963, Reed Collection, RG 10, VAFO Archives. 

350 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

1. Construction of new office facilities on second floor of building 

adjoining the Bake House 

Rehabilitation ,, stable-carriage shed '" Washington's 

Headquarters area 

3. Restoration of bake ovens in Bake House 

4. Construction of parking areas including an 30-car, 19-bus Jot on 

the Huntington Picnic Grove and three small pull-off areas at 

monuments 

5. Construction of automobile workshop addition and installation of 

new heating system on park maintenance shop 

Considerable funds were available during 1964-66 for park improvements. 

The following projects were carried out with general appropri<1tions or 

trust funds for the park: 

1. After the rehabilitation of the stable-carriage shed was completed 

durir1g 1962-64 park labor remodelled the structure. This work involved 

lowering of the ceiling, using logs and rough boards, and reconstruction 

of horse stalls and mangers with old materials. When the remodelling was 

completed a replica of Washington's coach, on longterm loan from the 

Valley Forge Historical Society, and portions of old harnesses made 

available by Robert Tindle were' displayed in the structure. 

2. Following the aforementioned improvements to the Bake House the 

iron doors placed on the bake ovens were removed and replaced with a 

more authentic type. 

3. The Mount Joy Observation Tower was painted under contract by 

Ace Painting & Repairing Company of Philadelphia. 

4. The interior walls and woodwork of Washington's Headquarters were 

pai11ted Ul"lder contract by Harry J. Gillin of Bala Cynwyd. 

5. A number of signs were erected in the park, mcluding a11 entrance 

sign near the intersection of State Routes 363 and 202, 25 rustic 

direction<tl signs at intersections of state highways and park drives within 

park boundaries, and a large s1gn containing historical narration in 

Artillery Park. 

6. Some 1,200 square yards of earth were filled in <tlong Mill Creek 

Road in front of Wash~ngto11's Headquarters. A 6-foot wide path was 

constructed along the entire 600-foot parking area. 

7. Twenty new benches were made and placed at different locations 

throughout the park.(259) 

259. Report of Valley Forge State Park Commission, Period June 1, 1962 

to June 30, 1964, in Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission. 
The most important improvement project in the park during 1964-66 was 

restoration, under General State Authority with an allocation of $83,710, 

of the structure that came to be known as the von Steuben Quarters. 

Originally, the building, upon restoration, was to have been equipped as 

a camp field hospital since there was some evidence that it may have been 

put to that use during the encampment. Prior to the rehabilitation work 

Ehrlich and Levinson, an architectural firm 1n Philadelphia, prepared 

design plans after detailed research and analysis of the structure. 

Known variously as the Mansion House and the Workizer House, the 

building was believed to be the home of an 18th century gentleman farmer 

constructed by the same builder as that of Washington's 

Headquarters. (260) 

While plans for the restoration of the structure were moving forward in 

early 1966, research by the von Steuben Society of Pennsylvania at the 

Historical Society of Delaware brought to light a journal written by 

Colonel Pierre S. Duponceau, aide-de-camp to Baron von Steuben, 

purportedly indicating that for a short period in April 1778 the building 

was used as quarters by von Steuben. The park commission and the State 

Historical and Museum Commission studied the contentions of the 

supporters of the former Mansion House as von Steuben's Quarters and 

concluded that not enough evidence had been presented to establish the 

case--a conclusion based in part on two possible interpretations and 

translations of the entries in the journal which had been written in 

French. The von Steuben Society, however, had desired to have a 

building in the park designated as von Steuben's Quarters since 1954 and 

thus pressed the matter through the state legislature. After some debate 

the legislature tabled the resolution to declare the building von Steuben's 

Quarters, considering that the decision lay in the province of the park 

commission. Thereafter, the commission decided as a compromise position 

to dedicate the building to the memory of von Steuben, though with the 

intention of exnibiting the building as a field hospital as originally 

planned.(261) 

2S9. (Cont.) During July and August 1966 an archeological "dig" was 

conducted 1n the Wayne Woods area of the park by students from the 

University of Pennsylvania under the direction of Dr. John L. Cotter. 

The project, part of an American Civilization class, produced a number of 

artifacts that were made available to the park for museum display 

purposes. 

Biennial Report of Valley Forge Park Commission, July 1, 1966 to June 

30, 1958, in Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission. 

260. New York Times, May 27, 1964, and "Valley Forge Building To Be 

Restored," Picket Post, October, 1964, 21. 

261. John F. Reed, "The Steuben Controversy," 

Collection, RG 10, VAFO Archives, and Pezak to Titus 

August 4, 196S, Correspondence, RG 46, PHMC. 

352 

\1%6], •n Reed 

(and enclosures), 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

After restoration of the structure--the work was performed under 

contract by the Mulford Construction Company of Ardmore at a cost of 

$59,950--it was dedicated in special ceremonies held on April 23, 1966. 

Speakers during the program included Vice Consul Rudolf Keltenborn, 

who extended greetings on behalf of the Federal Republic of Germany, 

Ward Lange, national chairman of the Steuben Society of America, and 

Karl Schumacher, chairman of the Pastorius Unit 38, Steuben Society of 

America, Philadelphia and of the Committee for the Furnishing of General 

von Steuben's Quarters, composed of members of the Pastorius Unit and 

the German American SOCieties of Philadelphia. Maurice K. Goddard, 

Secretary of the Department of Forests and Waters, gave the principal 

address. (262) 

The first major contribution to the furnishing of the von Steuben 

Quarters was a collection of 33 historical field hospital instruments of the 

kind used by army surgeons from 1750 to 1800. Donated by the Jetter 

and Scheerer Corporation, Aesculap Works in Germany and taken from its 

Historical Instrument Museum, the collection was to be displayed in the 

camp hospital room. (263) 

Considerable progress was made in furnishing the Bake House during 

1964-66. A downstairs room was furnished through the generosity of the 

Pennsylvania Society, Sons of the Revolution and designated the 

Courts-Martial Room. The furnishings were provided on a long-term loan 

through mutual agreement between the commission and the society . 

The Sons of the American Revolution allocated $4,000 for purchase of 

items to furnJsh a back bedroom, the articles to be acquired by the 

commission's historical furnishings committee with the approval of the 

organization. The dining room and two second-floor bedrooms were 

furnished with additional monies. As of July 1, 

1966, when the structure was opened to the public, one room in the 

building was used to display museum items and five other rooms were 

completely furnished with period articles.(264) 

In September 1966 Superintendent Moll remarked that "with a limited 

maintenance force it is in itself a real task to perform all the detailed 

duties connected with the maintenance of this 2,255 acre encampment." 

Seasonal work continued to consist of mowing 1,600 acres of grassland, 

clearing and conditioning of 600 acres of woodland, spraying for 

eradication of poison ivy, snow removal, collection and disposal of leaves, 

262. "Steuben Memorial at Valley Forge Dedicated," Picket Post, July, 

1966, 18-23, 39-42. The dedication received national attention o;:;-April 19 

when New York Congressman Joseph P. Addabbo, a descendent of von 

Steuben, read into the I the story of the Prussian 

drillmaster and of his Congressional Record, 

CXII (No. 65), 89th Cong., Zd sess. 

263. "Steuben Memorial at Valley Forge Dedicated," 22 . 

264. Report of Valley Forge State Park Commission, July 1, 1964 to June 

30, 1966, in Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission. 

353 
and garbage o:ollection. The maintenan<;e force had responsibility for six • 

historic public buildings, fortifications and other historic features, three 

picnic areas, five public restrooms, and fourteen employee dwellings. 

In addition to these routine maintenance activities, a number of special 

projects were carried out during 1963-67. Spec1al maintenance activities 

during 1963-64 included: 

1 . 

area 

Exterior painting of Bake House, Washington's Headquarters 

restrooms, Varnum's Quarters, and police barracks. 

2. Interior painting of hallway walls at Washington's Headquarters 

and park museum. 

3. Laying of second-hand floor in park museum and repairing roof 

of structure. 

4. Replacement of main stairw<ly treads and 

Washington's Hei!dqu<lrters, where such areas 

dangerous condition. 

pli!tform bo<1rds in 

were worn and in 

5. Resurfacing of all walks 

path from parking lot to 

concrete. 

in Washington's Headquarters area <1nd 

Varnum's Qu<~rters with bituminous 

6. Demolition of employee dwelling adjacent to Betzwood picnic area 

and partial removal and reconstruction of another building in area 

for use of picnickers. 

7. Improvement of restroom facility at 

by pl<~cement "of stone pier corner 

unsightly log structure." 

Artillery 

posts to 

Park picnic grove 

elimin<~te original 

8. Erection of a bulletin board <~nd location map outside park 

administration building. 

9. Planting of flower bed at Memorial Arch--a spring tulip displ<~y 

followed with annual summer <~nd fall plantings of red, white, and 

blue flowers. 

10. Reduction of several high roadside banks to provide "a more 

mowable slope for use of motor equipment rather than hand tools, 

<1lso to eliminate the possibility of snow drifting on highways." 

11. Re-roofing of restroom at tourist camp and filling and grading 

of are<~ to provide additional space for overnight camping. 

Significant maintenance projects performed by park labor during 1965-66 

included considerable work in the Washington's Headquarters area. Walks 

were repaved and widened, curbing of the parking lot island and along 

• 

sidewalks at the concession building were reset; wire grills were installed • 

on the doors in the B<~ke House; and a new 3/4-inch copper water line 

was inst<~lled between the Bake House and police barracks. 

354 
• 

• 

• 

Park labor also performed other "unusual" mainter1ance projects during 

1965-66. These included: 

1. Repair of old and construction of new tables and benches for 

picnic groves. 

2. Installation of new water line ar1d meter pit in Huntington picnic 

grove. 

3. Repaving of parking lots. 

4. Remov01l of high banks at hazardous highw<ty intersection and 

drives. 

5. Replacement of 30-year-old heating pipes between supenntendent's residence and park office. 

6. Installation of 450-foot underground electric cable line between 

site of Huntington's Quarters and equipment building. 

7. Erection of new storage shed near maintenance shop to replace 

building which had formerly been located on the camp hospital 

tract and wa~ de~troyed by fire. 

8. Construction of five new surface drainage ~luiceways in the 

Huntington picnic area parking lot. 

The State Highway Department, Montgomery County Division, performed 

road repairs in the park during 1963-64. Baptist and Camp roads were 

oiled and chipped as was Mill Road in front of Washington's 

Headquarters. (265) 

A Neighborhood Youth Corps Program was initiated in the park in June 

1965 under approval by Governor Scranton. Thirty boys participated in 

the program under direct supervision of Superintendent Pyle. These 

boys were assigned "to plantation and trail clearing work" and were 

employed for ten weeks. Fifteen boys were employed in the program 

during the summer of 1966.(266) 

The primary forestry project undertaken in the 

that of "tree replacement." Some 35,000 

throughout the woodlands and back field areas. 

park during 1963-67 was 

seedlings were planted 

Plantings also included: 

500 hybrid poplar trees along Scott property line where it adjoined 

park land to serve as a screen 

500 hemlock seedlings in transplant rows for future use 

Ornamental trees around parK entrance sign oppos1te the Bake House 

500 white pine as "reinforcement of Camp Hospital plantation" 

85 linden and oak trees around parking lot and buildings at camp 

hospital 

265. Report of Valley 

to June 30, 1964, and 

1, 1964 to June 30, 

Forge State Park CommiSSIOn, Period June 1, 1962 

Report of Valley Forge State Park Commission, July 

1966, in Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commisison. 

266. Report of Valley Forge State Park Commission, July 1, 1964 to June 

30, 1966, 1n Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission. 

355 
500 hybrid poplar along County Line Road. (267) 

During 1963-64 the park commission undertook a survey of their "interior 

holdings" around the Baldwin-Ehret-Hill plant, formerly the Ehret 

Magnesia Company. The holdings were marked on the ground and 

concrete corners planted and mapped. Three objectives lay behind the 

survey: 

1. Establishment of boundaries lost after original survey 

2. Delineation of park areas from plant property in preparation for 

the Sixth National Boy Scout Jamboree, since the scouts 

proposed to use some of the company's land 

3. Facilitation of exchange or purchase of property no longer used 

by company, especially since one of its buildings extended on 

to park property.(268) 

The Sixtn National Jamboree of the National Council of Boy Scouts of 

America was held in Valley Forge State Park on July 17-23, 1964--the 

third time the park had been selected for the celebration. Some 53,124 

scouts and leaders were in attendance at the event that featured 

President Lyndon B. Johnson as the speaker at the closing night's 

festivities. As was the case with the previous jamborees Congress 

authori<:ed the Secretary of Defense to loan tents, cots, blankets, 

commissary equipment, flags, and refrigerators to the scouts. The 

secretary was also authorized to provide services, specialized equipment, 

• 

personnel, and administrative support in the fields of communications, • 

medicine, engineering, security, and logistics.(269) 

The large-scale planning involved for the jamboree was illustrated in an 

article appearing in the New York Times on July 5, 1g64. According to 

the article "elaborate preparations for handling a record 250,000 tourists" 

was underway at the park: 

Civilian and Army ""'orkmen, along with Boy Scout officials, are 

transforming the quiet Revolutionary War shrine into a bustling 

267. Ibid. 

268. Report of Valley Forge State Park Commission, Period June 1, 1962 

to June 30, 1964, September 15, 1964, in Minutes, Valley Forge Park 

Commission. 

269. Report of Valley State Park Commission, July 1, 1964 to June 

30, 1966, in Minutes, II Forge Park Commission; U.S. congress, 

House, Committee on Armed i to The 

Sixth National Jamboree of The Boy State 

Park, Pa., 88th Cong., 1st sess., ci'~~E~:.~.' U.S. Congress, Senate, Committee on Armed 

Support to The Sixth National Jamboree of 

Valley Forge State Park, Pa., 88th Cong. ,1st sess., • 

pp. 1 3. 

'56 
• 

• 

• 

commun1ty. Thousands ot 

area, where Washington's 

through the bitter winter of 

tents now dot the hallowed camp 

tiny Continental Army suffered 

1777-78. 

In all, the self-sufficient, 1,900-acre encampmomt will have 

30,000 tents for 52,000 Boy Scouts and leaders from all 50 

states, as well as for 800 scouts and leaders from about 50 

other nations. 

Already installed are 10.5 miles of water p1pes, a telephone 

exchange, outdoDr worship areas and a full field hospital. Also 

completed are a trout stream, a rifle range with 125 firing 

positions and several obstacle courses. 

Pageants and shows will be presented in a huge, multilevel 

stage in a 60,000-seat arena that utilizes the natural hill terrain 

at the site. In front of ~nd flanking a 40-by-55-foot motion 

picture screen in the amphitheater are four levels of staging on 

which pageants will be presented under starlight and floodlight. 

During its one-week stand, the city of tents will be open to the 

public from 10 A. M. to 10 P. M. Visitors will have to leave 

their cars at two public parking lots. One is at the junction of 

Devon Road and State Route 363, and the other is on State 

Route 23, opposite Outer Line Drive. From these, bus service 

will be provided through the campsite .... (270) 

As was the case prior to the Fifth National Jamobree a polson 1vy 

eradication program was initiated by the park commission. Some twenty 

bushels of dogwood seed were collected, treated, and packaged for 

distribution to the scouts. A pamphlet, entitled "The Terrible Winter at 

Forge," was prepared by Howard Van Dyke, managing editor of 

way, official organ of the Humble Oil & Refining Company, and 

copies printed for distribution to the scouts as a courtesy of the 

company.(271) 

Visitation to the park during the 1963-67 period ranged between 1,650,000 

and 1,930,000, the highest total being re~ched in 1964 when the Boy 

Scout Jamboree brought higher-than-normal crowds to the park. Average 

annual attendance figures for particular sites 1n the park were: 

Washington's Headquarters (373,000); park musuem (260,000); prcnrc 

facilities (179,000); tour1st camp (9,000); and dogwood show 

(125,000).(272) 

270. New York Times, July S, 1964. 

271. Report of Valley Forge State 

to June 30, 1964, September 1S, 

Commission . 

Park Commission, Period June 1, 

1964, in Minutes, Valley Forge 

1962 

Park 

272. Report of Valley 

to June 30, 1964, and 

1, 1964 to June 30, 

Forge State Par·k Cornmission, Period June 1, 1962 

Report of Valley Forge State Park Commission, July 

1966, 1n Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission. 

357 
0. THE YEARS 1967-1971 

The Republican Party retained the governorship in 1966 by electing 

Raymond P. Shafer as chief executive. Thus, there were few changes in 

the membership of the Valley Forge Park Commission after the election, 

except for those resulting from retirement or death. In June 1967 

Brigadier General A. 5. Janeway retired after serving on the commission 

for fourteen years. That same month park commission chairman Titus 

died and was replaced by Charles E. Mather II, a resident of Wayne, 

Pennsylvania, and president of Mather & Company, a Philadelphia 

insurance brokerage firm.(273) 

One of the most important events in Valley Forge State Park during the 

1967-71 period was the dedication of a new reception center complex on 

May 29, 1968. The complex had been initiated as a capital funds project 

during the 1964-66 biennium with an allocation of $590 1 162. The complex 

was designed by John T. Brugger, an architect in Philadelphia, and 

constructed by the Irvine Construction Co., Inc., of Narberth. The 

dedication ceremonies featured Maurice K. Goddard, Secretary of Forests 

and Waters, as speaker. Robert L. Kunzig, executive director, General 

State Authority, presented a key to the buildings to commission chairman 

Mather, formally conveying custody of the structures to the 

commonwealth. The dedication event was significant in that it also marked 

the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the park. 

The new reception center provided much-needed space for the 

accommodation of park visitors. It included a reception lobby with 

information desk and guide service, restrooms, a small museum, a library, 

and an auditorium where visitors would be given orientation lectures and 

view a film depicting the history of Valley Forge. The center also 

provided room for administrative use--park commission meeting room, 

general offices, and park superintendent's office. A parking lot adjacent 

to the complex provided space for 100 cars and 12 buses. 

The complex was, in appearance, an 18th-century rural Pennsylvania 

stone farm house with adjacent stone and wood barn, thus producing "a 

slmple, reverent atmosphere in keeping with Valley Forge." The two 

units were connected by a covered passageway for the convenience of the 

public. The "house" contained the visitors' reception lobby, museum, 

library, and administration offices. The "barn" housed a 250-seat 

auditorium with its adjacent lobby and projection room. The complex was 

fully air conditioned and heated electrically.(274) 

273. Biennial Report of Valley Forge Park Commission, July 1, 1966 to 

June 30, 1968, 1n Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, and "Valley 

Forge Park News," Picket Post, October, 1968, 17. 

• 

• 

274. Biennial Report of Valley Forge Park Commission, July 1, 1966 to • 

June 30, 1968, in Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, and Aimee J. 

MacNeill, "Valley Forge--Today and Yesterday," Ptcket Post, January, 

1967, 12. 
• 

• 

• 

During construction of the reception center the park began efforts to 

have an orientation film made for v1sitors' viewing. Film Enterprises, 

Inc., of New York City was one of the firms that began preliminary work 

to prepare such a f1lm during the spnng of 1967. The Grundy 

Foundation contributed $5,000 for the project, the money deposited in a 

"restricted fund" to be disbursed when a film was selected by the 

commission. The fjjm produced by Film Enterprises was rejected, 

however, and a rlilrrated slide show was commenced in the recreation 

center in October 1968. (275) 

In September 1968 Superintendent Moll transferred the park police 

headquarters from the barracks near the Bake House to the basement of 

the reception center, thus le<~ving the bilrrilcks VilCilnt. Since park 

records indicated that the barracks hild been built in 1850, the park 

commission approved " pliln to raze the structure since it Wils "of no 

revolution<~ry Villue." Suitilble milteri<~ls were siliVilged for future use in 

the park.(276) 

In June 1969 the park commission, in cooperation with the Montgomery 

County Tourist Bureau, stationed two college girls in the reception center 

to act as guides ilnd provide park and county inform<~tion to visitors. 

The girls, dressed in colonial garb, worked seven days a week, their 

salaries being paid by the tourist bureau. Placement of the girls relieved 

park personnel for duty elsewhere in the park. (277) 

On September 24, 1969, Wilford P. Moll retired as park superintendent 

after a 45-year Cilreer as a state parks official and forester. After his 

retirement Ch<~rles C. Frost, Jr., who had been serving as assistant 

superintendent, was named as acting superintendent. Frost a native of 

Roxborough, Pennsylvania. and a graduate of the Pennsylvania State 

University School of Forestry in 1951, had been a ranger with the U.S. 

Forest Service in Arkansas and Arizona during 1951-52. Between 1952 

and 1964 he did landscape work, after which he went into business. In 

January 1968 he was hired as a designer draftsman by the park.(278) 

During the summer of 1970 several new improvements were made to the 

interpretive program at the reception center. The slide-lecture 

presentation was revised, and the museum room was opened for the first 

time. Paul Sanborn, a Springfield high school history teacher from 

Delaware County, gave lectures in the breezeway between the reception 

275. Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, September 23, 1968. 

276. Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, September 23, 1968. 

277. Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, June 23, 1969. 

Forge Park News," Picket Post, January, 1970, 22, and Daily 

September 19, 1969, Newspaper Clippings File, Valley Forge 

County Historical Society. 
center and the auditorium following 

dressed as a colonial soldier and 

musket. (279) 

the slide presentations. 

ended his lectures by 

He was 

firing a 

A number of other park improvements were carried out during 1967-71. 

These Projects included; 

1. Installation of automatic fire alarm system in 

March 1967 under contract by Evergard Fire 

Philadelphia. 

Varnum's Quarters in 

Alarm Company of 

2. Installation of new copper water line to former Valley Forge Form 

area, serving five dwellings including that of Superintendent Moll and two 

park staffers (Moll was the first superintendent to reside in structure 

traditionally referred to as Knox's Quarters). 

3. Resurfacing of parking lots: 

Headquarters, Wayne Woods, and Mount 

contract by Asphalt Paving Company. 

upper lot at 

Joy Observation 

Washington's 

Tower, under 

4. Installation of new service line to Valley Forge Farm area by 

Philadelphia Electric Company and extension of service to five dwellings 

by park electrician--overhead pole line removed and replaced by 

underground lines. 

5. Installation of restroom facilities for employees in park concession 

building; interior and exterior painting of building; replacement of 

screens on windows and doors of building; and installation of new ceiling 

and light fixtures in snack-bar section.(280) 

Considerable work was done on parking lots in the park during 1970. 

The Mancini Construction Company of Malvern, Pennsylvania, was awarded 

a contract in May for $23,940 to resurface the lot near Washington 

279. "Valley Forge Park News," Picket Post, October, 1970, 26. 

280. Bienn1al Report of Valley Forge Park Concession, July 1, 1966 to 

June 30, 1968, in Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission. 

A stream improvement plan m Valley Creek was initiated by the 

Pennsylvania Fish Commission in December 1969. The project included 

lo1>·ering the channel bottom by one foot or more to 1ncrease the flow on 

the upstream side of the foot bridge in the park. A mud sill was 

mstalled for one hundred feet in length where the bank was undercut by 

water. Stone deflectors were placed on the opposite bank to d1rect water 

• 

• 

under the mud Sill installation. A Ch<mnel block was constructed with • 

gambion baskets. Superintendent's Report, January 13, 1970, RG 2, 

VAFO Archives. 

360 
• 

• 

• 

Memorial Chapel, enlarge and resurface those at the dogwood grove and 

Wayne Monument, and construct a new one at Artillery Park.(281) 

One park improvement project begun by the staff in the spring of 1970 

was a "beautification" program, entitled "Operation Signs," calling for 

elimination of all unnecessary signs and installation of additional single 

signboards at strategic locations to combine the information of a number 

of individual signs in those areas. The all-inclusive signs were similar to 

ones placed in the park in recent years--wooden with carved letters to 

present a more rustic effect than the earlier metal markers. The new 

signs were made in the park maintenance shop under the direction of 

George Reynolds, park foreman. By using existing park manpower at 

slack times it was anticipated that the project would take two years to 

complete. More than 200 signs were expected to be eliminated in addition 

to many temporary "no parking" markers which had been placed along 

roadways to keep vehicles off the grass. It was proposed that a single 

sign be erected at each park entrance informing visitors that parking 

would only be permitted in paved or designated parking areas. The 

commonwealth was asked to establlsh a set speed limit for all park roads, 

with the exception of danger areas, the legal speed to be posted on signs 

at the erttrances. The commonwealth also agreed to replace the post and 

cable guard rail along State Route 252 bordering Valley Creek with a 

rustic wooden rail and stone boulder guard which would be more in 

keeping with the park scene.(282) 

During the 1967-71 period considerable attention was given to park 

cultural resource projects. One example was the reconstruction work on 

the outer line entrenchments begun by weekend volunteers from the 103rd 

Army Engineers of Philadelphia in September 1970 and later completed by 

park labor. From park commission records the work appears to have 

consisted primarily of general excavation work. (283) 

As part of the park's continuing efforts to have each state erect a marker 

where its troops had encamped during the 1777-78 period, the New York 

State marker was dedicated on November 7, 1970. The marker was 

located in the vicinity of New York Point.(284) 

The park commission engaged in efforts to obtain a "suitable life size 

horse for display" in the park stable near Washington's Headquarters in 

1970. In November arrangements were made through an anonymous donor 

to have on display a "fiberglass" horse dapple grey in color.(285) 

281. Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, May 18, 1970. 

282. "Valley Forge Park News, " Picket Post, April, 1970' 33-34. 

283 . Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, September 28, 1970. 

284. Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, September 28, 1970. 

285. Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, November 23, 1970. 

"' 
After completion of the restoration of the historic building designated as • 

the Camp Hospital and von Steuben Quarters in 1966 the von Steuben 

Society of Pennsylvaniil allocated funds for furnishings in the structure. 

At the request of the society park commissioners Mrs. John K. Ewing Ill 

of Berwyn and Mrs. James H. Garbey of Chester assisted in locating and 

purchasing colonial era furniture and utensils. The "furnishings" 

included "an exact reproduction of Steuben's uniform and accoutrements." 

To focus attention on the belief that the building had been used as <1 

camp hospital during the encampment, one room was devoted to a display 

of Revolutionary period surgical instruments. These items were provided 

to the park by L. C. Eichner Instruments of Clifton, New Jersey, and 

the Jetter and Scheerer Corporation, Aesculap Works, Surgical Instrument 

Factory, in Tuttlingen, Baden-Wuerttemberg, West Germany. 

The von Steuben Society of America sponsored dedication ceremonies for 

the interior furnishings of the building on June 8, 1968. The master of 

ceremomes for the occasion was Karl Schumacher, chairman of the 

Philadelphia Chapter of the von Steuben Society of America, and the 

principal address was given by State Sen;~tor Marvin 8. Keller, Tenth 

District, Bucks County. (286) 

Despite the dedication of the structure, it remained closed to the public 

except for special appointment tours until the summer of 1969. The 

reason for restricted access was lack of funds to employ a custodial guide 

and installation of 1ron grills on the doorways. Such funds became • 

available in July 1969, and the building was opened to the public on a 

daily basis during the summer months.(287) 

On November 9, 1968, the Maryland Society of Pennsylvania dedicated the 

Maryland Memorial Hut and presented it to the park commission. The hut 

was located in the park on State Route 23 near the von Steuben Quarters 

where the society had erected a marker in 1963. The ceremonies for the 

hut dedication were led by C. Irwin Galbreath, Jr., president of the 

society, and the pr1ncipal address was given by Theodore R. McKeldin, 

former mayor of Baltimore and governor of Maryland. (288) 

One restoration project that did not materialize was that of the old iron 

forge in Valley Creek. During 1962-64 the state legislature approved the 

park commission's request for $5S,000 from General State Authority funds 

for restoration of the old forge. Plans for the project, which had been 

discussed for several decades, were to restore the site "as a ruined forge 

286. W. P. Moll, 

October, 1968, 

Commission, July 

Commission. 

"Dedication By The Von Steuben Society," Picket Post, 

12-15, and Biennial Report of Valley Forge Park 

1, 1966 to June 30, 1968, in Minutes, Valley Forge Park 

287- Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, May 26, 1969. 

288. "Maryland Society Presents Hut," Picket Post, January, 1969, 17-18, 

42, and "Memorial Hut and Marker,'' Picket Post, April, 1969, 28-29. 

362 

• 
• 

• 

• 

with mill race, bridge and parking lot.'' A full-scale model of the forge 

was to be placed on di,;play in the park. Architect John T. Brugger was 

awarded a contract to prepare and submit a design plan For the work. 

While the preliminary investigation of the old forge area was underway in 

1966-68, it was necessary to remove about six inches of an accumulation 

of silt and thus again lay bare the substructure. The relics uncovered 

were photographed and then covered with polyetheline plastic and six 

inches of soil to preserve the remaining underground structure. 

After review of Brugger's plans it was found that the origmal funding 

request did not include the provision for restroom facilities, drinking 

fountains, and a parking lot, and thus the $55,000 allocation made 

available was insufficient for accomplishment. A new proposal, covering 

inclusion of the designated facilities, was prepared 1n May 1967 by 

Brugger, the new plan being estimated at a cost of $257,000. In June 

1968 Superintendent Moll reported that a recent f1ve-inch rain storm had 

flooded Valley Creek to highway level and would have completely 

destroyed any iron forge restoration which might have been accomplished. 

He recommended "that this fact be written into Park records for 

deliberation in any future restoration plans."(289) 

The Department of Forests and Waters was unreceptive to the new request 

for funds. In addition, there was serious question as to whether the 

facilities would not be flooded in the future in case of high water. Hence 

the entire project was cancelled in November 1969. (290) 

Another proposed park improvement project that was not implemented was 

construction of a new observation tower on Mount Joy. During 1969-70 

the park commission had under consideration the construction of a new 

and higher observation tower. The existing 60-year-old tower was 

considered to be unsafe, and it was felt that it would not be economically 

feasible to restore or repair it. The view from the existing 75-foot tower 

was blocked on three sides by trees that had grown around it. 

Accordingly, the architectural firm of Mansell, Lewis and Fugate of 

Wynnewood, Pennsylvania, was hired to develop plans for a new tower to 

rise 110 to 120 feet in height. The proposed tower would have an 

elevator, outside staircase, and lookout vantage points--both enclosed and 

open--at two top levels. After debating the merits of a steel and/or 

stone tower, it was determined by the commission that a steel tower 

should be built. The cost of such a project, estimated to cost $284,000, 

was not approved by the Department of Forests and Waters, however, and 

the venture never materialized.(291) 

289. Biennial Report of Valley Forge Park Commission, July 1, 1966 to 

June 30, 1968, in Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission. 

290. Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, April 28, November 17, 

1969 . 

291. "Valley Forge Park News," Picket Post, January, 1970, 22. 

363 
The park commission continued to implement various forestry programs in • 

the park during 1967-71. For instance, boy scout volunteers, under the 

supervision of state foresters, planted approximately 2,000 hemlock 

seedlings during the spring of 1969. The Valley Forge Chapter of the 

American Rhododendron Society provided more than 50 azalea and 

rhododendron plants for landscaping around the reception center that 

same year.(292) 

During the summer of 1970 some thirty elm trees in the park were lost as 

a result of Dutch Elm disease. Since the state government banned the 

use of DDT spraying (park staff had used DDT extensively in previous 

years) on its l<mds, park authorities feared the loss of all of the more 

than 300 elm trees in the park. After further prodding, the State Forest 

Advisory Services finally permitted park labor crews to spray with 

methoxychlor. (293) 

The park commission placed increasing emphasis on master planning and 

long-range park planning during the late 1960s. In September 1966 the 

state le9ilature allocated $25,000 in capital funds for preparation of a 

park master plan. Fahringer, McCarty, Grey and Associates, a firm 

speciali<:ing in landscape architecture and engineering in Monroeville, 

Pennsylvania, which had recently been selected to prepare a statewide 

long-range master plan, agreed to prepare a preliminary plan for Valley 

Forge by January 1967. When the firm submitted a preliminary plan in 

January, it recommended that a topographical "survey be made to include 

land acquisition to date, buildings, markers, hut sites, easements, etc." • 

A contract was awarded to Aero Service Corporation of Philadelphia for 

$17,700 to accomplish the air-flight survey before spring foliage appeared 

and conduct ground surveys for the topographical maps. In May 1967 a 

contract was let to Fahringer and Associates to prepare a master plan for 

the park. In April 1968 Fahringer and Associates presented preliminary 

base maps for the master plan project to the commission.(294) 

The preliminary plan proposed a series of changes in the park road and 

trail systems as well as land use changes. Proposed modifications in the 

road system were designed ''to discourage fast, through traffic and at the 

same time create a system of loop roads as main circulation routes within 

the park proper." The inholdings of the Baldwin-Ehret Hill Company 

were to be acquired for park purposes, the old quarries to be backfilled, 

seeded to lawn, and developed as future picnic and day-use areas. Land 

between the Reading Railroad and the Schuylkill River was to be acquired 

for development as a picnic area. Overnight camping facilities were to be 

292. Ibid., 23. 

293. "Valley Forge Park News," Picket Post, October, 1970, 26. 

294. Biennial Report of Valley Forge Park Commission, July 1, 1966 to • 

June 30, 1963, in Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission. 
• 

• 

• 

developed in the northeastern corner of the park, and boating fac1l1ties 

were to be built along the Schuylkill at the western and eastern edges of 

the park. (295) 

As an outgrowth of the master plan long-range plar1s for the development 

of the park were studied. In response to a request from the governor's 

office the Valley Forge Park Commission in January 1969 prepared a list 

of proposed capital improvements that were to be carried out in the park 

between 1969-74. The list contained 26 projects totaling some $4,500,000. 

The list, with an accompanying explanation, read (projects listed in order 

of priority): 

1. Reconstruct Outer Line Drive--from Reception Center to 

National Memorial Arch. 

2 Parking 

Memorial 

Lot construction--Chapel, 

Arch. 

Wayne Statue, National 

3. Construct two double Restrooms--Wayne Woods and Camp 

Hospital. 

4. Widen Roads (1 Mile each year)--Park Drives only. 

5. Resurface Parking areas--as needed--To keep in repair and to 

expand . 

6. Purchase Baldwin, Ehret-Hill land--To remove factory in center 

of Park. 

7. Master Plan of Park--To coordinate future development, changes 

and Park usage. 

8. Valley Forge Farm Restoration--To restore quarters of Gen'l 

Knox and Maxwell. 

9. Construct new Obersvation Tower--Replace old tower with 

higher, modern tower. 

10. Extend Betzwood Picnic Area--One mile further west with small 

bridge. 

11. Acquire Fanelli-Scott Property--At south-east corner of Park. 

12. Remodel Concession Building--To comply with Department of 

Health standards. 

13. Build Picnic Area at Port Kennedy--From Port Kennedy R.R. 

Station to Chapel between river and railroad . 

295. Grey to Goddard, July 23, 1968, September 17, 1968, 1n Minutes, 

Valley Forge Park Commission. 

365 
Acquire 

Opposite 

Port Kennedy Houses--First 

Reception Center. ' houses 00 Route 23 

15. Acquire John DiG1allorenzo property--To block construction of 

Motel at Port Kennedy 

16. Construct Picnic Grove Restrooms--Two in Port Kennedy, one in 

Betzwood extension. 

17. Restore Colonial Springs--Source of pure water on hill above 

P.O.S. of A. Building. 

18. Cleanup Baldwin Ehret Hill Property--To remove eyesore and 

make it safe. 

19. Stone Arch Bridge Construction--Over Gulph road at Inner Line 

Drive. 

20. Restore Entrenchments--To proper height along Inner Line 

Drive & River Road. 

21. Restore Huntington's Quarters--Return it to original condition. 

22. Restore Commissary Quarters--(Forestry Office) To original 

condition. 

23. Picnic area--Perkiomen Junction--From west end of Park on 

North side of River. 

24. Field Oven Construction--In realistic areas but more accessible. 

25. Purchase Reading R.R. Station- -Valley Forge--Opposite 

Washington Headquarters. 

26. Construction of low water bridge--On site of Sullivan's Bridge 

to connect Picnic Areas.(296) 

Despite limited response by Harrisburg authorities to this list the park 

commission continued to submit requests for capital improvement funds. 

In October 1970 the list of "capital improvements needed" submitted by 

the park commission to state budget officers included: 

296. Mather to 

Correspondence, 

Goddard, January 

RG 46, PHMC. 

366 

' 5' 1969 (and enclosures), 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

1971-72- CONSTRUCT NEW OBSERVATION TOWER 

1974-75 - ROAD CONSTRUCTION 

ACQUIRE KEENE CORP'N. (BALDWIN-EHRET-HILL) 

PROPERTY 

ACQUIRE JOHN DIGIALORENZO PROPERTY 

ACQUIRE PORT KENNEDY PROPERTIES {4) 

CONSTRUCT ADDITIONAL REPLICA SOLDIER HUTS 

( 10) 

CONSTRUCT STONE ARCH BRIDGE 

CONSTRUCT LOW WATER BRIDGE (AT SITE OF 

SULLIVAN'S CROSSING) 

$ 287,000 

150,000 

2,500,000 

85,000 

125,000 

80,000 

105,000 

236,000(297) 

By the late 1960s the rapid expansion of suburban Philadelphia was 

reaching the King of Prussia area. Population pressures and industrial 

development were beginning to close in on the perimeters of the park. 

Particularly threatening to those persons and groups that wished to 

preserve the rural atmosphere of the park was the establishment of King 

of Prussia Industrial Park, the boundaries of which extended [0 less than 

a quarter mile from the park's perimeter, by Cabot, Cabot and 

Forbes. (298) 

Such concerns led to the development of long-range plans by concerned 

citizens' groups to protect the park from encroaching urbanization. In 

1967 a nine-member committee, based 1n North Wales, Pennsylvania, 

published a plan for a Valley Forge Permanent Continental Exposition 

Memorial in a pamphlet, entitled "Valley Forge Crisis." The committee, 

consisting of Joseph Perron, Louis J. Marks, Richard D. Alderfer, 

Clarence H. Godshall, Earl Jameson, Raymond C. Lukens, Sr., Raymond 

C. Lukens, Jr., Earl W. Seltzer, and William A. Rose, all of suburban 

Philadelphia, proposed a ten-year plan to preserve Valley Forge State 

Park against the threat of encirclement by the "booming urban buildup" 

taking place in the King of Prussia area. The pamphlet quoted one 

businessman and community leader as he described the crisis facing the 

park: 

My feeling of pride for Valley Forge Park was strongly 

affected. I felt a sadness within me. I tried to determine why 

I felt this way. Then I realized - the picnic grounds were 

shabby. From a high point I could see a large mobile trailer 

park . . . on the south side of the park a quarry and an 

old-fashioned factory stood out. To the east - the park 

entrance was a disgrace! Part of the south side, thank 

goodness for the Pennsylvania Turnpike, is protected from 

commercialization. I walked up to the Valley Forge train 

station, to find it abandoned - weeds growing through cracks 

297. Minutes, Va!ley Forge Park Commission, October 26, 1970. 

298. John F. Reed, "What Is To Be Done?," Picket Post, October, 1967, 

17-18. 

'" 
in the concrete. This is a forlorn sight! Down by the river, 

under the stone br1dge, ..,·hatever water complex it had been, is 

now in ruin. A precarious sight to impress VISitors with the 

greatness of our Valley Forge. Visitors come and find 

themselves 1n a luncheonette having a hot dog mstead of 

realizing the true value of the site. In a quiet whisper I heard 

myself say, 'Mr. & Mrs. Visitor--you have seen the great Valley 

Forge--so sadly shown to you by Pennsylvania, your host.' I 

was compelled to do something about this situation. 

In order to preserve the park, the plan proposed that the entire 

reservation be encompassed by a buffer circle that would be divided into 

fifty parcels of land to be allocated to each of the fifty states. On each 

designated tract each state would erect a building of eighteenth century 

Georgian architecture. The buildings would be used to house students 

from their respective states for two-to three-week seminars and provide 

in-depth orientation for vacationers and travelers. 

The plan provided for creating a colonial atmosphere in the park. No 

private vehicles would be allowed in the reservation. Horse-drawn 

carriages, coaches, and wagons on a special monorail would carry tourists 

and students around the park. Park cuards, attendants, guides, and 

instructors would be dressed in colonial costumes to give the park "an 

unusual nostalgic feeling of yester-year." Funds to implement the plan 

were to be raised from busmesses, private sources, patriotic groups, and 

• 

veterans' organizations. (299) • 

Park visitation remained high during the 1967-71 period, averaging some 

1,900,000 per year. Average annual visitation statistics for various sites 

in the park included: Washington's Headquarters, 400,000; park museum, 

250,000; picnic facilities, 220,000; and overnight guests at tourist camp, 

3,600. Prominent visitors included a special delegation from Tel Aviv, 

Israel, on May 8, 1967; and Imelda Marcos, first lady of the Philippine 

Islands, accompanied by her brother, Leyte Governor Benjamin Romalde;z:, 

and her three children on May 18, 1968. 

In 1968 a new visitation program, known as the "Green Grass Project," 

was initiated. In cooperation with the Philadelphia school board, which 

provided buses and drivers, groups were transported to the Huntington 

picnic grove from which walking tours were conducted to Washington's 

Headquarters, Washington Memorial Chapel, and the Mount Joy 

Observation Tower. The groups were brought from Fellowship House in 

an effort to acquaint them with nearby shrines and afford out-of-doors 

experiences to inner city residents. 

Recreation activities continued to draw increasing 

the park as portrayed by park statistics for 1968. 

numbers of visitors to 

Approximately 15,000 

299. "Valley Forge Crisis 1967,' Reed Collection, RG 10, VAFO Archives. e 
• 

• 

• 

persons, for instance, used the ski and sledding slopes in the Wayne 

Woods area in January. Some 500 fishermen were in the park for the 

first day of trout fishing in April. Cross country championship contests, 

sponsored by the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association, 

Distr1ct I, that drew 1,000 participants and visitors to the park were held 

in 0ctober.(300) 

Park visitation continued to be heavy in 1969-70. During the summer 

months of 1969 more than 500,000 visitors passed through the park, the 

highest total coming in August when nearly 183,000 persons were 

counted. More than 2,000,000 visitors passed through the park in 

1970. (301) 

In 1970 the park commission composed a tape for use in narrated, 

self-guided tours of the park. The narration by Philadelphia talevision 

station KYW newscastar Vince Leonard was presented in the first person 

depicting the year 1777 and was accompanied by background sounds and 

music. Compiled by George Walters and edited by Margaret D. Roshong, 

the tape and player were rented to visitors at a cost of $4.50 for the 

first two hours, 50 cents for each additional hour, or a maximum of $5.00 

per day. The tape informed motorists about the routes to take and the 

historical points of interest along the way. Valley Forge Tours, Inc., of 

King of Prussia was awarded the contract to produce the tape and operate 

the tape tour concession in July 1970. The terms of the contract 

provided that the concessionaire would pay the commonwealth twenty 

percent of the adjusted gross annual income less any includable taxes for 

the first year, the arrangements to be renewed annually at the mutual 

option of the lessor and lessee for four additional years.(302) 

The Valley Forge Council, Boy Scouts of America continued to use Valley 

Forge Stille Park for major camping activities during 1967-71. Some 

11,000 scouts participated in a camping weekend on February 16-18, 1968, 

celebrating their 55th celebration in the park. 

300. V<!lley Forge St<lte P<>rk Police, Police ACtivities, Janu<>ry, April, 

October, 1968, Correspondence, RG 46, PHMC, and Biennial Report of 

V<!lley Forge Park Commission, July 1, 1966 to June 30, 1968, in Minutes, 

Valley Forge Park Commission. 

Effective January 1, 1967, <> new lease agreement covering operation of 

the park, food, refreshment, and souvenir concession w<>s executed with 

the ABC Consolidated Corpor<>tion of Phli<Jdelphia. The five-year lease 

provided for an annu<ll rental fee of $68,000 to be paid to the 

commonwealth. Biennial Report of Valley Forge P<>rk Commission, July 1, 

1966 to June 30, 1968, in Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission. 

301. "Valley Forge Park News," Picket Post, 

"Valley Forge P<>rk News," Picket Post, October, 

January, 

1970, 26 . 

302. Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, June 22, 1970. 

1970, 23, 
Nearly 11,000 scouts from Montgomery and Delaware counties again camped • 

in the park on May 24-26, 1968, marking the opening of the 1968 Scouting 

Trails in Action presented by the Valley Forge Council. Some 8,000 Cub 

Scouts joined the camping event for part of the weekend, which featured 

a "mile long midway of Scouting games, skills and crafts" open to the 

general public. In addition other features of the encampment included 

demonstration of the fundamentals of conservation in the "Conservorama 

area," speciality performances held in the amphitheater in the "Actorama," 

a "show and do" area called the "Skilloram<>," and a demonstr<1tion area 

for physical fitness designated the "Fitness Rodeo." A large camp fire 

was held on the Grand Parade. (303) 

By the late 1960s the Feu de Joie Pageants, sponsored by the park 

commission and the Valley Forge Historical Society, were becoming 

increasingly elaborate events. The pageants, commemorating the 

announcement <>t Valley Forge of the sign<ng of the French Alliance on 

May 6, 1778, were held on the Grand Parade across the road from the 

Washington Memorial Chapel. On May 11, 1968, for instance, more than 

2,000 persons gathered to witness some 700 Continental-uniformed infantry 

of the Brigade of the American Revolution, the Company of Fifers and 

Drummers, and the First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry perform a 

two-hour reenactment of the original feu de joie ceremonies. Count 

Reginald de Warren, French Consul General at Philadelphia, addressed the 

crowd.(304) 

Increasing use of the park for sledding, tobogganing, and snowmobiling • 

during the winter of 1969-70 led to a series of accidents, the most serious 

of which occurred near the Wayne Monument. Accordingly 1 new 

regulations for these activities were drawn up in January 1970. Under 

the new rules sledding was restricted to three areas: Wayne Monument, 

south side of State Route 23 across from Washington Memorial Chapel, and 

Artillery Park. Snowmobiles were only permitted in the area west of 

State Route 252 along the turnpike, a tract encompassing some 100 acres 

of rolling land. A roadway installed for the World Archery Championship 

in August 1969 was opened to permit loading and unloading of snowmobiles 

from trailers.{305) 

303. Biennial Report of V<JIIey Forge Park Commission, July 1, 1966 to 

June 30, 1968, in Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, and Marian S. 

Wallace, "Boy Scout Events at Valley Forge," Picket Post, July, 1968, 31. 

304. "Re-enactment of the Feu 

"French Alliance Ceremonies," 

"Feu de Joie 1968," Picket 

Count Reginald de Warren," 

305. "Valley Forge Park News," P<cket Post, January, 1970, 22-23. 

During the winter of 1970-71 a small guard hut located near the 

Pennsylvania Columns was moved to the Wayne Monument area in order for • 

the officer on duty during the sledding season to have access to a 

telephone. Night gates were also placed along Outer Line Drive at the 

sledding area to prevent evening use. 

370 
• 

• 

• 

During the late 1960s the park commission was confronted with •ncreasmg 

numbers of requests from organizatiOns to use the park for various 

activities. In cooperation with Clayton B. Shenk, secretary of the 

Pennsylvania Archery Association, the Department of Forests and Waters 

established an archery range in the park in 1968-69 at a cost of $15,000. 

An area, measuring some 2,000 feet by 450 feet, was "carved" in the 

meadowland near the intersection of Baptist Road and the turnpike under 

the general direction of Thomas K. Ober, project engineer. A total of 

1,200 cub1c yards of dirt was excavated, and more than 8,000 yards of 

fill were used to level off the site. An embankment at the curve of 

Baptist and Valley Forge roads was removed as a traffic-safety measure. 

Field parking in the area was set aside for 1,000 cars. 

The range was created for the 25th World Archery Championship, August 

12-20, 1969. This was the first time that the 48-member nation 

International Archery Federation held its world championship event in the 

United States. More than 1,000 persons attended the opening ceremonies 

as Lieutenant Governor Raymond Broderick addressed some 200 

contestants representing 28 nations. All told more than 5,000 spectators 

attended the week-long event.(306) 

The large number of requests for permits to use the park continued in 

1970. In January and February the First U.S. Army Headquarters, Ft. 

George G. Meade, Maryland, was permitted to use the park for R.O.T.C. 

cadet training exercises. American Youth Hostels, Inc., requested 

permission to provide, furnish, staff, and maintain hostel facilities in the 

park--a request that the commission refused because such "a facility was 

not in keeping with the Park." In April the park commission rejected a 

request by the Delaware Valley Afghan Club to hold an organized Afghan 

Hound Running Meet in the park. That same month the park commission 

agreed to support a plan whereby the General State Authority 

would erect a museum building adjacent to the reception center on state 

land to be leased at $1.00 per year to the Valley Forge Historical Society, 

provided the society would not charge for admission or "charge for items 

they now sell." This latter decision was overturned the following month 

after the Department of Forests and Waters opposed "the use of 

Commonwealth funds to finance construction of facilities for agencies not 

under the control of the Commonwealth.' 1(307) 

306. Ernest P. Raum, "Valley Forge P~rk " 

1969, 19, 42; "World Archery Contest at Valley 

October, 1969, 34-38; and Superintendent's Report, 

RG 2, VAFO Archives. The archery range was again 

championships during the summer of 1970. 

307. Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, January 19, February 23, 

April 27, May 18, 1970. Despite the latter decision there were continuing 

discussions until 1976 between state and park officials and historical 

society leaders relative to construction of such a building. See Minutes, 

Valley Forge Historical Soc1ety, December 13, 1971, December 9, 1972, 

May 18, September 8, 1973, September 27, 1975, and J~nuary 31, 1976, at 

Valley Forge Historical Society, Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. Also see 
Efforts continued to be made during 1967-71 to upgrade the quality of law • 

enforcement services in Valley Forge State Park. Several officers on the 

park staff attended the FBI Sex Crime Criteria training sessions at 

Pocono Manor in March 1S67 and several attended the Delaware Valley 

Fugitive Sdfety Program at the Philadelphia Police Academy. 

The quality of law enforcement services was becoming more important to 

park administrators during the late 1960s as they sought to grapple with 

urban problems. Vandalism of historic properties just outside the park 

was increasing, the deserted houses that had served as quarters for 

Generals Nathanael Greene, Charles Lee, and Thomas Bradford having 

been looted and damaged during the spring and summer of 1957. Two 

escapees from Pennhurst State School were captured in the park during 

the fall of 1968, and two runaway girls were apprehended and returned to 

their parents. One stolen automobile was recovered in the rear of von 

Steuben's Quarters, stripped of its tires, wheels, and seats. Park 

authorities also cooperated in providing police protection for Washington 

Memorial Chapel after a number of historic firearms were stolen from the 

Valley Forge Historical Society in October 1968.(308) 

Publicity by Philadelphia-area newspapers and letters of complaint by local 

citizens and radio stations in 1969 brought attention to law enforcement 

problems in the park. It was reported that there were widespread 

violations of park rules and regulations by visitors. Thus, a survey of 

law enforcement activities in the park by the commission in April indicated • 

that the park employed only three full-time patrolmen on weekends. Two 

additional men were hired during the peak visitor season for weekend 

duty at the rate of $2.10 per hour. Two police cars and one for the 

use of the superintenderlt were the only available vehicles for law 

enforcement in the park. It was noted that ter1 men were needed to 

police the park, but low pay rates made it difficult to obtain such 

personr1el. Accordingly, it was determined to call upon neighboring 

township police departments and local volunteer fire comparly personnel to 

help police the park. In addition, the Downington State Police unit was 

requested to "buu" the park periodically with its helicopter.(309) 

307. (Corlt.) "Preliminary Conceptual Prospectus for The Museum Display 

and Care of the Collection of the Valley Forge Historical Society, Valley 

Forge, Pa.," John L. Cotter, {1976], CRM-MARO Files, and Minutes, 

Valley Forge Park Commission, May 24, 1971, for further data on this 

issue. 

308. "Tredyffrin's Landmarks Wrecked By Vandals," Picket Post, October 

1967, 12-15; Valley Forge State Park Police, Police-Activ>ties, 

October-December 1968, Correspondence, RG 46, PHMC; and Biennial 

Report of Valley Forge Park Commission, July 1, 1966 to June 30, 1968, 

in Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission. 

309. Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, April 28, 1969. • 
• 

• 

• 

A special committee, consisting of park commissioners Ernest P. Raum and 

Colonel Eugene Muller, WiiS also established in April to investigate the 

alleged infractions. Dubbed the "Subcommittee on Sex, Hippies and 

Whiskey Swillers," Raum and Muller reported on May 26 that they found 

no evidence of such widespread violations of park regulations. However, 

they found "some areas, items and things in this connection which should 

be of concern to the Commission." The two commissioners noted: 

Initially--and briefly--many visitors are not familiar with park 

regulations and our police force is not adequate in number to 

accomplish a complete enforcement of the rules on busy 

weekends. There are scattered whiskey and beer swillers; 

there are he~ted love scenes being enacted on blankets here 

~nd there in vi.:.w of the moving traffic, and there are groups 

of hippie-like char~cters who c~n be observed doing their 

"thing" (mostly sitting around in circles.) 

The basis of the complaints seems to be centered on the fact 

that visitors park vehicles on the grass and picnic or cavort in 

any area of the park they choose. 

Another area of concern is the r<"ported published statement in 

a hippie periodical calling for a national gathering of flower 

people over the July 4th holiday in the Park . 

In view of these concerns, Raum 

improve the quality of law 

recommendations were: 

1. Update 

haven't been 

and enforce 

altered in 25 

language needs modernizing. 

and Muller made nine recommendations to 

enforcement in the park. These 

all park regulations. The rules 

years. Some are outmoded or the 

2. Keep and enforce a general no-parking ban in all areas 

except authorized park1ng lots. This will undoubtedly be a 

hardship to some family picnic groups, but it will end 

willy-nilly parking throughout the fields of the Park. 

It should be noted here that the hippie problem which was 

starting to get out-of-hand adjacent to Maxwell's Quarters was 

eliminated when "no parking" signs were placed on Yellow 

Springs and Wilson roads for the Historical Society's May 4th 

event. The signs have remained in place since that time 

(despite the authorization for that weekend only) and there 

have been no hippie visitors since. 

3. Install "No Stopping Except 1n Official P<lrking Areas" 

signs at each entrance to the Park. 

4. Post the rules in p1cn1c areas, Reception Center, parking 

areas, etc., on permanent s1gns . 

5. Print copies of the rules for distribution to the public at 

the Reception Center. Such a publication should say in effect: 
"Welcome to 

your stay. 

Valley Forge State Park. . We hope you enjoy 

Please obey the follol'ling rules:." 

6. Seek an increase in our police force and equipment. 

In this connection, an effort is being made by Col. Muller to 

secure Reserve Army M1l1tary police to assist the park police in 

directing traffic or busy weekends ... 

In regards to equipment improvement, Col. Muller has met with 

our police chief and Police Chief Donald Seacraft, of Upper 

Merion, on a plan to utilize the Upper Merion police radio 

network. A tie-in there 1'/0uld give the park a SO-man force to 

call on in event of emergencoes. 

The Upper Merion radio is a new modarn setup which employs a 

high frequency leval where traffic is minimized and reception 

excellent. Our present system ties in with Montgomery County, 

a low frequency system which is heavily over-loaded .. 

It is suggested that both police cars be equipped with the new 

radios and that four walkie-talkies which would operate on the 

same frequency, be purchased. Tl1e car radios are $1,600 eacl1 

or $3,000 tot<ol. The walkie-t<olkies are $750 each or $3,000 

total. The overall cost therefore would be $6,000. 

7. Instruct our police on a system of procedure. It has been 

recommended that a fair w<~rning be given to people who are in 

direct violation of the normal code of conduct expected in 

public. If the warning is not heeded, then an arrest should be 

m<tde. 

8. Pursue efforts at state level to obtain the monies to fully 

develop picnic sites along both sides of the Schuylkill River 

and improve present picnic areas so that the public does have 

adequate recreation lands in the park without a wholesale 

infringement on the historical areas. 

9. Coordinate all these efforts with a public relations 

campaign. Tell the public--through the news media--the 

reasons for taking these steps and sell our story to the state 

and the legislators so that additional improvements can be 

made.(310) 

Subsequent to this report the park commission determined to take steps to 

obtain higher park appropriations. Budget requests had been sliced to 

the previous year's level because the commission had failed to get its side 

of the story across to the legislators. Thus, park commissioner Mrs. 

James M. Gorbey was designated to serve as commission liaison "·ith the 

310. Report ot Subcommittee on Sex, Hippies and Whiskey Swillers, May 

26, 1969, in Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, May 26, 1969. 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

Secretary of 

understanding 

Forests and Waters to obtain more fiscal aid and 

of the job the commission was trying to achieve.(311) 

more 

Throughout 1969-70 there were numerous reports of historic ttems missing 

from various buildings in the park as a result of burglary or pilfering. 

Locks were changed, new burglar alarm systems installed, and the park's 

entire historic collections appraised ilnd inventorted by Neville Lewis of 

Strafford, Pennsylvaniil, for insurance coverage under Commonwealth 

Special Antique Insurance. It was also determtned to keep ortginal items 

1n park museum cases and purchase repHcao; for display in historic 

buildings as funds became available and in the interim to tnstall outstde 

flood lights. Vandalism in the park also increased during this period, 

eighteen signs in the park being stolen during March 1970 alone.(312) 

Use of marijuana and narcotics in the park was becoming a serious 

problem during the late 1960s and early 1970s. In May 1970 thirty 

arrests, nearly half the total of park arrests for the month, were for 

narcotics violations. December H. Cathay, chief of the park 

police, observed in I "We have been infested with 

drugs smce last "migrating" to the park, 

according to Cathay, New York, and all over the 

country because it is a tourist " He went on to note, "We've been 

having two to three cases a month all winter and in the summer it will be 

worse."{313) 

Tensions arising from the Vietnam War had an impact on the park in 1970. 

In May the Veterans of Foreign wars, Royersford, Pennsylvania, 

requested permission to hold a patriotic rally in the park on Flag Day, 

June 14, 1970. After discussion of the issue the park commission 

reaffirmed an earlier resolution that 

Valley Forge State Park is for the use of the people of these 

United States of America and there is no reason, whatsoever for 

this Commission to either grant or with-hold permission. That 

extensive publicity be curtailed in order to avoid any possible 

confrontation with alien groups and that all Park Rules and 

Regulations posted throughout the Park be carried out.{314) 

The park commiss1on, however, was divided over a request by the 

Vietnam Veterans Against the War to stage a rally in the park on Labor 

Day, September 7, 1970. After considerable discussion, it was determined 

to allow the group to use a portion of the Grand Parade subject to six 

conditions: 

311. Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, May 26, 1969. 

312. Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, March 23, October 26, 1970. 

313. Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, June 

'!i'~'~'l Inquirer, December 19, 1970, Newspaper 

I II Park, Chester County Historical Society. 

22, 1970, 

Clippmgs 

314. Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, May 18, 1970. 

""' File, 
1. Insurance must be secured by Vietnam Veterans in amount of • 

$500,000 for property damage. 

2. Furnish at its own expense sufficient number of portable 

toilets. 

3. Supply at its own expense parking guards properly identified to 

work under direction of Park Police. 

4. Observe and enforce Park Rules and Regulations. 

5. Must assemble and remain in designated area. 

6. Procure and provide this Commission with Charter, By Laws of 

organization, names, addresses and titles of all officers, directors 

and legal counsel. 

Since the park police were normally overtaxed by park crowds on Labor 

Day, Charles E. Dickens, park police chief, made arrangements for 

assistance from the state police, neighboring township police, F. 8. I., 

West Norr1ton ambulance service, Lansdale Medical Corps, area volunteer 

fire companies, and state police helicopter service.(31S) 

During the week before thO> Labor Day Rally the park received a number 

of phone ca11s threatening to bomb Washington's Headquarters and other • 

historic buildings if the Vietnam Veterans were allowed to use the park. 

Thus, the park police were issued shotguns and placed on extra duty. 

These precautions led to a shooting incident in the park on the Saturday 

evE>ning before Labor Day. An automobile bearing New York license 

plates and being driven "in a suspicious manner" in the vicinity of 

Washington's Headquarters refused to stop on orders from a park security 

officer. After giving the order thre~> times the officer fired his shotgun 

once over the auto and twice into it. The auto proceeded tn the park 

concession building where it was met by Schuylkill Township and 

Phoenixville police. It was learned that the dr1ver was a Jewish r~bbi, 

recently transferred to Phoenixville from New York, who had become lost 

on his way to King of Prussia. Both the rabbi and his wife, the only 

other passenger, were injured from shotgun pellets. The officer was 

immediately suspended pending investigation by Montgomery County 

D1strict Attorney Milton 0. Moss.(316) 

315. Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, August 31, 1970. The list 

of six provisions later became a standard that had to be met by all 

organizations requesting use of the park for spec1al events. 

316. Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, September 28, 1970. After 

reviewing the case Moss reported there were no grounds on which to • 

lodge crimonal charges against the park officer and thus he was reinstated 

in November. 
• 

• 

• 

Desp1te fears of violence and rioting the Labor Day event was quiet and 

orderly. Some 150 Vietnam veterans m01rched from Morristown, New 

Jersey, to Valley Forge where they were met by approximately 1,000 

sympathizers in protest against the war in Southeast Asia.(317) 

317. Superintendent's Report, September 21, 1970, RG 2, VAFO Archives. 

377 
• 

APPENDIXES 

• 

• 

379 
• 

• 

• 

APPENDIX A 

'l!Gi::OT 1)1' Lt'"~ 

RELATI"G TO T:!f Of~!-I!Z:_TliJ;·_ PCI''T:T>S tl:J :'!!!TIES CIY TTT 

t"l ACT 

Providing for ~nd reorganizing the conduct of t~~ ~~~cutivc 

and adnin!str~tiv~ Hork nf c>,c C'Jn1'ton;:e~lth. etc. 

-\I':TICLE I 

~~ction 1. Shcrt Title. Be it ~n<!ctLd, -:-'·.nt this ~c:t sh;~ll be kn~~.,, 11nd 01ay 

be cited, -.~ The !d:"linistr('.tiv~ C<XIe of 1929 

.tl;T!CLE 11 

<0:"!.~:~~~-;,:":,:,;:rttl.,nt consisting of t'>"o'f'~~;;i:~C·C· ~~";;'{;;£ G~vorn'Jt 

Attorney Gcn~r~l 

Auditor Gcncr;! 

St~c" !r,:,,sur;;,r 

~***** by t!H:: 

''***** Ex~cutiv• ::c~rd 

****** 

by th3 foll~•:inr ad!"'inistrntivc d~p::rtrn.>r.ts. 

!kp~n,_.:nt <ef F"r·-sts ~nd WntLn U~«MS ~CTIOl: 2-~2 . 'l-. f•"rtr..:.r:t:' 1 '.dmi n b t rat i v•. --CO!'"r.dsr.i"l1t, . 

pcrfomcd by 

Th~ follc•:in~ r"nr1is~irm~. 1r i•crc~y pl:Jc.,d "nd ...,,'dL d 'O"-rtO'.cnt~l ad!'linistr"-tivc 

Cc""".b~icn~, in th" ~~spc,~tiv<- .~dri~istr"tiv~ <!.·p-rtncnto ,.,~nticn~d in the 

?T~Ccclin~ Se-ction''~ foll<'''~· 

''**""•* 

Ir. thll 'i"l'llrtm.:nt nf F<'r-st~ .-.r.d ''~t..,rs 

****** \'~ll~y F0re. I~rk c~-. . ..,J.ssicn 

"***"* 

t.l1 of t!'::> fcr~;:cjng n~n~rtt"ant.:l ~dl!'!nistr;,tivo ro""1iSsion(; ~h-Jl b~ org"niz~~ ~r 

rcorg3nitud '" ~re>viclt<' in thic ~ct. 

38; 
E~c.> -ul"icistr~tivc depllttmcnt sh~ll h,;:ve ct its 

, ~erson:>lly, by deouty, or 1'-y the duly ."!uthorized 

3gent ,-.r '""PlOY'-' r>f t'le 1cp-:~tt!l'ent, ".nd subjcct ~t .·11 tir:-.ec to the provi~ie>ns of 

this .•ct, CY~rcisco th~ pow~rs ond pcrfon: tln duti~s by 1 . ., •. , vcst~d in ~nd iDpcscd 

·~·~······~· • 

(•) T'o~ f~uo,.in?, nffic~rs "h•ll b .. - t''- !"·"ds <:'f the. :.d"JinlStr'"-tive dLpe\ttm<.:nts 

foll,.,i,.,~ t'•~ir r .socnivc titl~3 

Sccrctnry nf Forests :md 'IM~r~, d t:,., D'-P'-ttro,·nt ~f F~r- ... Hs C'-nd ''ct:.ors 

~U~*f< 

'nlc Gc•,~rnor Sh>ll ~-"''i~ct-.; :.nd, '->y -~nd ••ith t!T~ 

d "'ll th~ "'~nbGrs of the s~n.'t.;,, ~!'~oint-

(b) Th~ 1"-~"'bc'rs n£ 'lll d~p-,n,..,cnt.•l '!d.-,inistrPtiv~ -- C"=hsionc. 

SECTIOII 203. T.;,rc.s of Cfficc. The t'-'IT'S of c>fftc ... ~f the pcrsnne ~ppcint~d by 

t1tc Gcvc.r,-,or u'ld.Cr th._ pr~c ... dinJJ sccticn sh~ll be •s follm!o 

****** (c) '!':-:_, ,.;,.,bero of ----d__,part~.;nt.~l 'ldl>inistr'ltive--c~=iss!nns--·, sh~ll hold 

·.lfficc for ter~r_s <'f four yenr-., frcm tlw third Tuu:d'ly :-f J~nu'lry next follrMing 

the election cf ,._Governor, tlnd until their succe~sors sh.,ll !T!!v<> been 'lppointed 

~nd qu2lified--. 

~~~~ppoint aru:l 

!lSSiSt'llltG, '15 l!'ny be 

rnent.'ll .~duanistr.'ltiv.:; 

!'lCnts. 

".xcept "" otherwise 

dep;,rtmcnts 

stunogr,pherr. 'lnd other 

re<Juired for the proper con.:!uct of the ;.•ork of :my de?~rt­

··-,eo~dssions,-- esc1blishad in their respective dep:~rtThe nu10ber f'nd crmpcno.,_tion of :o.ll cm>loycs "!'POinted under this section sh".ll b<! 

subj<!ct to ·"PPtC.vc.l '~Y th<' Gov~rnor ~nd ~ft~r th~ Fx<'C•~tiv<! llo•rd shn.'.l h"'-VG fiY.cd 

th" st~...d.crd corpens-:tion fer •ny kind, gr-,dc, or cl•ss of scrvic<! or mnployn~nt 

the c""'~~nSCltio~- ,£ -,.11. person~ in th~t kind, zr~<lc <>r cL•ss, ~ppninted her,under, ~ 

sh•ll be fi)':~<! in "ccord."nc~ ;.•itl'. such st~nC:.-,.rd. 

Sf:Ct!O'T 216. :-xp<!n2es. Sutjcct t~ the rnl~~ en~ rcgulaticns of t'>c E:r.ccutiv" 

Eo~-r<l, _-_- t~ z-:~.ccco·,crc o-• <!cp-, rtn~nt ~1 ,•<!:-.1ni3 t!" t ;_ ve--c rw.niss icnc. and n 11 per ~'lnS 

etrployed und•'r t!-·<- ~r<'visicns cof tC,i~ -,ct, s!nll ':c <!ntitl<'d to rccciv<! their 

trav<!ling •n<! ot:1·.r neces~'!tY ""'"""s"'~' cctu-:lly ir.currcd in t 1l<! p"rfom"ncc c_.f 

their public <luti.,s, upon r·cduisition of tiw "c~d of t:oc .'Jppropri.•tc dcp3rt...,nt, 

but in the c~nc <Of d~!>-•rtncnt~l -~~.inistr~ttv,--c~""'ission~. such requisitions 

shDll bc subj:,c~ t<l th<! •pprov.-,1 of th~ ~~r-·~tr2nt~ with which such·-comrr.issi<:>M "e tCSJ><>Ctivdy c~nncctd. 

SECTIO!: 217. QU_'LlFI~.'.TIO:.IS_ • .'_ll dinc~<Jrs, .oup•crint~n~<!nt5 ~n~ oth,:,r <!npl<>ycs, 

sh::ll be pcrr,ons cspcci.•lly ~u--Hficod f<>r thc.ir ~c~itions ty tPining .-md 

~xpcrJcnc~ J.n tO.,G p,rticul.cr kind 0f u~r~ •,•\oich tl1cir cfficL;l dutico ui!l rcq·>itc 

then to perforn. 

• 

SSC'IIO': 21S. D•th ~-f l'lfficr· • .'11 p·:or~c;r.~ •pn'lint~d by the G<>vcrncr und~r th<! e prcv!si~ns of t:,fc c.ct, sh•ll before ~~t,•rtn" ·~~"~ the dl.'tft•s d thdr offfc~s, 

t~.\-_.;c 'lll<i su~scri':>~ ti'~ constitution~l c~t~ Gf ~-fficc. ••hich sl.nll b<! fil~d in the 

~ffic~ ~f th~ ~ccr-,l.•ry cf tl:c Cnr--"""''~'lti•. 

382 
• 

• 

• 

Sir::ile~r br,nds. il' such p~n~-1 ~""" -~s s~~ll h~ ~jx,d l'y th.c F.x~cutivc ::<'ord sC!~ll 

b" exJcut~d 11:>-d filed "1th th'-' St'tc Tr.::•sur.::r by 

****** 

(c) ~uch "ffic~r~ ~ncl c:;-pl<'y~s cf d~p<1rtr.I~nt~l e.d:-:inistr~tivc--ccrt"lissi,ns as 

the dcpartr::cnts witCJ <~hich such ··- cor.nissions "re c"nnectc>d shC~ll, <lith the 

cctpprov"l of tl-o ~x~cutivc Bo3rc:!, pr.,scrit.~. 

:~~ncLE I" 

CO!~!SSION." 

Section 436. \';-ll .. y Forge P~r!c C('....-,is~ion. The Volley P<'rg~ P~r'< r:~Ul"liss. 

s'loll c~nsist "f tho s..,cr~t-.ry cf F~r<:st~ ""d W"-t.::rs, ex officioJ ~nd thirteen 

otlLcr P'-'tS<'ns. D~ C<:>nr:ission sh-~11 ·.:mu::~lly "lcct • c>,:11rn1n ::nd ~ sccrct.,ry. 

S"v"n c.a;,bcrs shall ""nstitut., " quorun. 

ARTICLE V 

Except cs otherwise 

~n ;;~ct. coi'IPissil'ns "ithin the scvcr~.l 

d~in1Hr·~iv~ d"part::>~nt~, skLl.i. .ox.,rctsc t:1cir pcll'ers <' -,·~ r.- t~ !t 'utics 

~-- ~- ·-t;· ~.f t~-- :.~·~1·· ,..r ~.~:: otlc<!r offic.:ors of the respective ndmbistrative 

d<>pl!rtc~,t~ t:it:': ,.,:,tc~> t;,ey ~rc connected, but, in nll =tt~rs involving the 

expcndhurc of ~:~on~y. all such d~p<'!rtmentnl <'dministro.tive -- coomdssions shall be 

subj~ct ~n<l r~sponsiblc to the departments ·~ith 1;hich they ::o.ro respectively 

connect<cd. Such 2e!':!l:"t!"ents shall, in .o.ll c'\SCs, hav~ the right to rnal<.c such 

e>:'lt:1ir.ction~ of the hooks, recC>rd3 11nd accC>unts of their respective dcpt!rtl!'.ar.t~l 

1d,.,ini;tr.otiv~ -- c=..-.i,sions, ~s ""Y !oc nec"ssnry to cnc'-'lc the"' to pass uncn 

t!lo ncc..,ssity -":1.d proopricty of any ""?Cn<!iturc or r>ropos~d "'><panditurc. 

$ts.-ro:· 5':·~. C'CPTrtl"~nt~l ~cpor_g;. T::c bead of ~-1ch 1\lt"inistr~tiv-:. depart!>lent 

r.hell, r.C"t l~~cor tk!n <.'ctoober _<irst <'f c~ch "vcn-nu:'\~crc~ yc~r, rcport in Pricing 

to th~ Gcver:1.c:- cr.nc2rnin?. t'-Jc ccnditi~c. ,.,r.,~gcr:-.crrt _,,.~ fin"-nCial tr<lnscctions 

of th~ d~p~rtro~,t, sue!', tC!'~ru s~~ll cxceot :·h~re i<"pnctic~ble, be for the 

t·~o-yc<tr pc.r'-"~ cn-Hns "••y thirty·first of ~he y~~r in "hich t~.cy are "'~de, Each 

d~p.ntC':nt.o! ~d.,inist:o.~ti\1~ ·-- c,...rission. sh.11l, not ll\ter th~n Scpt'-'r1bor first 

,.f c,;oc~ ~v,_, .. nu,.,O~r~"- y>.>~r. report in '·'l"~ting to tho l>~.od "f the depart,.,ent of 

·-'hie!, rue'-, --- corrissi.~n is n ?-H't . .'11 sue!, r~port~ shall be "-ttnchui l'lS 

;o,x:,ibit~ ~" th~ r~pcrt ,.~doo by t~1c he1'.d of the d~pan;cnt to the< Gov<Ornor. 

f><~·'P~ ~r- ,.,u,~r·.•;_s~ in t"is ~ct $p~cific.;lly prcNid;;:d, th.~ n·port~ r~Guircd by this 

~·cet'c" s!>~Jl L>c in lieu of "ll ~th"r l'<:Ports hcrctof~r- required by la" to C.o 

,.,-e-, '>y t:;., ~~vcr~l ;dr-.inistl:'ntiv~ d~P:'ll:'tl:'<.nts ""d C<>!"!''iso•cn5, cith"r to tho 

r.<'vcr.,~r <r tc the G"o~nl r.,s,r':ly . 

';;'~i;)J;'jc~-";C~, bch -~,..inistr,tiv" deportrent, sh ;lJ, :ond 1ny 

~. co=issinn "'"Y· ·ldc~t ~n~ usc ~n nffici:ll ~eel. .1. 

c··;-oy ~f "P'I P'>P'-r ,-,- d'Jcuc·~nt "" fil~ dth ''lY such cc~ortm<nt. •r c~.·;:,is~lC~ .• 

•.ut\_rt~c'td ~y >r.y ouch S· '1, ol.'ll ·_c ovid.·nc~ o~u"-lly tend in li':c ~.,r.n~r .os the 

''-'i•i>'·•'-
+~;;"::'''~ h.::."Js af oll o;!:-•inictrativ~ ~"P"Tt'1cnto, 

' ·· · cc•Tis.,i~n:>. ~r~ !>~rcby •-'rP"""r~d tcprescrib~ rulG,; .1nd •eaul-1tions, J'.Ct incon31St.1nt •·ith lsw, for the govcr!ll!lent ,f 

their rcspactivc dcpartmmts, or connissions, the c<:'nduct of th~ir e!:!pl<'yes and 

clerks, the distribution •.nd pe10forr-1nc~ cf their ~·usincss "n~ the custody, usc 

:md prcscrv~ti<'n nf th" rcc~r.Os, books. dPcu~rmt~ .1m! property pcrt,lining thereto. 

It sh.11l 1:-c unln<-.ful fr<r ~ny administr'ltivc dep,.rt!:'cnt, 

of Prnrcrty ~.nd fuoplics, O"<" for M'Y dcpnrtl'!Cnt1ll 

.~d1'linistr.1t1v:c """·"'"-ssion, t~ Pure"-~-"" or contr.•.ct fe-r t!le purch?.s" of nny 

stJ.tinn..Jry, P"P"'• nrinting, lcindtng, ruling, lith~g.--1:>hinf', "r-!Jr"ving, ~nvelopcs, 

or othci" <ri~.ting: vr ~indir:g surpli<Js, or ,•ny fur.l, supplies, fur.,iturc, furnishings or C<tUi;>m~nt, ~xc..:pt---. 

ln ~11 <'ti,~r C.""! ..:~, such kp"lrt!"" . ..:nts, ~r cnr.r-:!.s~ion:J ah~ll ~.-1:~ purch<>SCS thr.,ugh 

the I!..:p~niT".~nt 0{ PrrpErtJ' :.n<! Surpli~s, c.a purchasing ag~ncy :o.nd all purcho.s.os 

,.,,.de by the t~p""!rt,..,...,nt of ?l:O}'<.rty ~nd Sup?lios, c:s purc;,,~ing Clg.;ncy h<lrcuncler, 

shall cconfcm to th<J sch.oclulGs ~f the d<!p~rt,...~nt. 

SECTI~OI SO<I. Er ... cti~~.qoair·, ~r .~lt.,r•~i~M d -n~ hdditions t<' ~uildings. 

(c:) -NC.-.Jdr.-ini5trntiv.o dcp"ri:"'"nt, Ol<C'-'P~ the -D..:prtl:'.cnt of Prcperty and Supplies, 

;nd no ~drinistr.,tiv" -- ccr:u;oission .. ~!·.~11. o.xc~pt •s in this ""t otherwise 

sp~cific"-llY !'revi-le<', erect~ c-~---t .,,t, C·~ ccn·r'<:~ fm: tl-.e .orcction ~nd 

constr<Jcticn 3f, "-"Y n~w bu!1~~r·,:_ ~·.c.:·;~ <'l- cout~-;ct f<>r f:':c\<ing. nny altcro.tions 

or ~d<!itions to ::n ~xistin;; buil:!ins inv~lvi~-3 "-" c.xpen~iturc r>f ll'O.r<- thiln ten 

t~l'>US"-nd C,-,11"-rs (110, 00~), sn:!, ir, "-"Y cP.SC in whid·. <1ny other depare-.~nt -- ccml!lissicn is by this .""let <Out.~orhcd tc ~rect or c~nstruct buildings, or =kc 

.,ltcr~ticns -or ;,d<.litions, such cr~ction or construction shll be uncl<lr the gfoneral 

supctvisiol" d th~ ::o~p.'\rtr··.cnt -:>f Pr.,perty ~.nd ~uppUcs, 

(b) fll rc~"irs t(. cxistin~; buildings of the C='On»C<:lth sho.ll be subject to 

inc.~cction by '"~ the 1.\~"~r~.! superv1si0n "f, the D~pPrt"lent of Property end 

Su-pplies .1nd ~ll plcns nn<'- s:-ccificaticns for r~p~_irs tc buildings, uncl<>r th~ 

contr0l ,,f ~~ .. ~rtf:'cnt-1 .~Cc-inistrr.ttv~ --- c=issicns, shall be suhject tc ~fprovnl 

by th~ dcp::rt"~nts O!ith w;,tch sue', -- cc!7issions .1rc raspectfully conne>ctcd. 

(c) l:.ll pl-.n~ ~~c spac:!.fi~-ticns f<'r n'-v '>ui14ings ~-nd for '\lt.,rr:tions "'' 

~dJiticns cxistine 1-uil~in~<:, s;,.~n b~ subj;:-.ct to t'lc .~pprrv.~l of the d.op,~rtn~nt, 

o.- c~""'is~i<'n using nr int..,n<lin~ to usL' th~' builJing being arcctecl .-.- C<'\lStructcd, 

or tr whic" ""- •_lt,""·-ti<:n rr ~"-~!tir·n is bcin~ "'-~-~"' ~_n-J, in the c~s" of buil.-\ings 

used by ·. r fr.r t.·~ us~ ~f d~p,rt!:'~nt.cl adr.inistrO"tivc -- ccn.,issions, the pbns 

,.,nd ~:-~cific-~ti..,n~ ,:,"11 •lsr, be ~ppr,vc~ by the ~Lp.".rt.,~nt l·•ith ,_,.,_ic"l thc cnmr.issi-n is cnr.n~ct<:c'.. 

r;, -d,.,inistntivc ~~~artl!l<.mt, flr .:~parn.cntd 

c,.,ntr~ct f"r ~r.y bond~ "r in~ur~ncc .:>f 1ny 

Un:! C·r <'~· c~i~-=>r.n, ~xc<:pt tC!rQcgb t~~ !'<.-p~rtro.>nt nf Ptcperty an<l Supplies, ::s 

purc"~:ic1: ~~:-~.~. 

~(~f:I~~~IT~0~~~~!·;·j or ~p~r"ti'ln •,'!'.cJ."vcr or any •·hen co..,.ission ~ny l.:,p,~l shell difficulty rnouirc or 

iG cr.:,'f.<'-n:c•! cr w b~ """'ncncc~ in vhich ~-nY 

C'Or.riscl'~- is ,, it s'L"_ll 0;:. t~~ ~uty cf ~uch crrmicsi;:-n t~ rofer the 

c.-r._ tc t~-~ ~''P"rt'"-'"ct '·f Ju£t1c:~. 

1t sb,•ll ~l· tC . .c ·'uty cf '.ny c:oc:nisdon. l:.ovin€ r~~"~~t<.<'_ "n<'• rccehcd l~e.•l 1rlvicc 

fcc '"~ -~-r-;·t:-.~~-t ~f Ju~tic" rs .. ·r~ing tl-.~ dfJdnl ~uty ~f such-- c.-.nrissicn 

I .\1-•· t '" s.c.-• • .,r.·' "~~r. O:'l}' ~ffic.r s~.~lJ f,-.llcT th<.- orlvic~ ~ivc•n hi,.-_ by th~ 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

It shall be unl.wful ft'r :my Cl'=is<>icn of 

~o rcpr~sont such c~rnisd<'n ia "'' · ~.ut.· 

cf such C<'I'T.issi~:~ tdtt"'ut t;,'- .-;o-,~- •l __ ,, 

~~C!! .. C!~51~~~c··c: c.,£~_~!- __ :- "~"~ ~-~~~ , .. h;,-r_ i~ · ". -- '1':'- ·-

,,l'i "-''~pt 

~·hie:: .•r ,:,~ 

;::<C~Ft · o 

:~r.y gi> 

' - ,. ' " 

-' ,, ' 

the <:'or::"~'li-'<-:Jlth t" cn~:tg~ :my ~ttcrn~y 

~,. l~L~· r,·1.-r:!ng F tf.~ pt•~·llc busin~ss 

1'~'.-:iP:~ f l~'CO ,'_tt'Jn·_:y C ~l'C!""l. 

.·-····t·.L 

-, -''-"~' 

',----•. ·, -i~.., 

..:s~c""• 1 Hh 

c.h.~J.! r><'t '"r"pt 

~; ccH >c ~.uthority 

• 

tc the Cc!C!!'.on-

"calth, o~ ;:-;_;·-c <'.ny «au,r:·pt-_ ,;~,):- c!- :c:>or int~rcst ~v;,r "'in such 

rc:~l ~st.":t··, •JL;Lollt sp,;c· .. - ""-' • '-' ( ·_.,t :1 C<'<ri3sion "'-~)', Hith 

"PP!"'""·"l c. t-:: G->vcrncr, :"- '•·.- --·· ._hlic S'-:·--i.,,, C<'tpor~~i-r. t<> 

pl:u:~ u~cn,~:-, cr ever, L._ .---:··, __ ,,_.·, 'ny publi~ s~rvic~ u.,.,, if 

such lin" i~ n~c~ss~ry forth' ~cr,~c~ ,t pu·,,_·n~ living "~j~_cent tc the C~l:m!On­

'"'·'lth's L'n'' uron, in, cr nvcr lfllich it is pr~p.-,se<'l tn run the lin"-

<;fCTifll: jig. 1 ··--·Ur.Rs "lf Cc=issicons. I:vcry d~p~.rtrnQnt-11 .~dministr<'tivc -- C'-""--

,(ssi~n sh.~ll ~-~ :t U!''>n the cnll ~f t~-" Ch~in-.~n thcr--,~f, 1t such tir'es end plecea 

'S t".~ ch~in-~n ~h~ll rl~sign~tc ."ln~ such ti:-~~s nnd plP.ces '"-S the -- t<'mission may 

by rul--' <ksisn~t~. 

'~ttf~';j'i~c:~;2c !''J cc!"lC'.issicn sh<'.ll ;>ubl1sh "I distributB <'ny ~ ,...,,.. tG th<. public, C'XC<-!'t thrcugh the_ f}~pP.rtncnt d 

hAr-crty -,n~· ~uc,-L,.-,, 'lr,l~SS t!",c D<:.f"lrtr-~nt cf Prcn~rty ~n~ Su:>plics shnll h~ve 

cr-nc-<nt--~ C'. c;•_ ir~ct ru~lic~ti·r. 'r ~isnibuti•n rf sue'> "ublic~ti--m, :->~r, c~ 

~~ccncnt '>Y ~uc', cr;-~bsi·n 

385 
APPENDIX B • 

COST OF OPERATING VALLEY FORGE STATE PARK: 1923 

____ ___, _______ _ ' 'J". ' l;l.cn~ Giffot<l ___ _ 

Oovenwc, I ' L·.-'':<--";:-\ ~J)Vi/" j ~~~u;~~~~~~:~ ;lli'Z"~ '<'~nnT~ ~~t~,~ t·,,-- -_-_~ 1 IJ 

I,,. ·-· -- ··1·- .. ..:·: . 

lJy cl..o-~.:: \l-oV<:!J.'llo::have~l ::~~~-:~·ir~~~~:!o;<,~~~Jiv,~j_ley .v'orGe ~cll'lt Colllllli~~ion t<J t.~uO •. oit :.J yul..l ,t' '""·'"·'"'cui .:ll' •''~•'<td lly t<le .,u.,erintendeni :J.S -..o t:Hl m nim·..iJI co.t::; lJOw~iblcaj'r'ol' tiw cm.•ryine; on 

of u,<t .,,orl~ .,_ncL 1;Jl.9 .., ·ohal tioa ol' ~~I<J_ Jt~'"•' .~·ty of l'a.J.l~Y Jl'ol'.,.,. 

'.L'ai» .,·t.;~ttl.alilnt to .:.)r.::_v.l:i'@d .u'ttlr 1.'1ere •I"~ oecn '" •·utiuooion oi: 

I'oroes, o:,n --:.J)tUloiooneu;. of 'WIC ci ';J ol'l'i.;~s, -~ll<O l't!<.lUCtion "1' t"c 

ol'fi~e ~·orau to ona 1.111.n a.nd the ooc,i;o.>ioll ol' ,,n,.-,y "="'·'"''·-HOb l'o:~:· 

th" JJal~in.:; ·.wld ll;ee..-int. UJ.' or' t,,._, .Ji"''"'":r~ ~J<d roc'LU.:J i11 t:w l':~.rk. 

'i'he vuv~ri;,-co;mLeJH ~UOi<lit.-c0d to tJ"Le Go.,".li.osion 

a st.>te~~:cnt "" fol1o~m:. 

"![ !L:;v" o:l:.l.de Ob; fo11o'.';inu fi,;uree s,;o,,in:; i.!le ~vrJ' .J.0\1<:'-lt e:;-t:i.o."Lo!te ol' t:w minio~w>l ewn 

.Jece,;>O:uy i'Ol' ·~.1e u~,;;:ee_ll ''nd :Jre,;erv"';;iou of 

"he l':.J.rlc. 'r'his ~sti"l:J.te i" Occr.;ed on i.-tl.e 

c;u,,po:;i tion tr1"-t Wl'-' J.'hi1'"-d'-'1 .• ·•ti::J. of•'icc 

\'till LJ() '-'1ht.J.'n·,. . .-Jl .Ul•'· l..;:J.t ~;~Jw <~.~,oen..;ivc 

rSJ,J:J.il',; llt;C~JU<U"Y fur UUl' l'Oil.U!:i 1'/iJ.l be 

umLe;·t;:.J.e!J by tt<t;: hi.,;1J,f;J.Y i.l'-')'-'-l'1-Hl<'l1'Co ..,;sti"''-'-t'' "81' cnv y~.u·:-

J or o.,);O Jlle ''-.S , ,.,:.; -. i '-' -, _,11.. ..; U.J uri u ""' nde n t 

C;>,~·e t.':itel"• .:1.,;;~·-,,o_::o·v.- ~. 1.: "'0\\i.''" ell. 

1500.-JO 

'/;<,QO- 85<lo0U 

1 1~'.\C'.l'U ~;<. CJ\:H-.Jlll ,,()""'"'' 'I .,,Oilt:'S :.;. 'il.l,JQ 

·'l ._;:LoU"«:.; i . .: ·'-'<· .·Jr '/ ··~·nc.J:; :1\. '/U.0J 

i) lC!.bo:>J'<OL'~ :tl. ::_..,~.j .''-'•' ,,H) .. ,, 8Q,,~Q, ~ ,'.0~JC .• 5 

;,oo.oo 

l>I0J.\)\) 

-'-~''-'•··'~~, V\J c•;s. vu 

" ·' " " .j ·.'~c·luc ,,,,Jc:;JL'- ;d .. J.'Y 

.,,_J.i,Jl..oJ:_,Ji<;<.!, o.;Cl..'.'J.i..:., I.V~l.;, 

386 

.:> " " ,12i.IG.OO 

<l<JOIJ.0'J 

• 

• 
[8£ 

'!'"1'!~11,:"'"" ,!T~"'' .(T~T ~" 

'.;>nrr"' ._,~r.f' ,._, 11~·1"''~("1"-'" 81-~ .T~ ;_r:'•A··· :'\('"- 11~ 'ltl·.: f'~,T!::JW 

-n::;uf'IJ-,_T:l'l "t;c;;Jl l'"t"::;'\1'1.1 AT'·nop;<-i "Jo:.:t· ~..,_-;--;;" ~"' ;c:'\t('.;:··· 

H"t'"T"''Cl;j -~",'. ".'T-~r.~f "-'~"""·,,~-""" ·"'" •(' ,-~-- -''''1- TTOt'l' 

:;·,; ·'"t:t'J.]:.T!' "[':C:':'f.'L''!-'j:'' G'l ''1. 1:1.r~ 'l!O.n.:mJ:-,· "~nT .T" 

1li1""-T; , . .,-- '1!11- ,-,"ITT'--"" .!:T1T.:"'T-'Cl1'-r• ~fe,TI[ -~~ 1)•::•;;n·.-•. 

•'Hl k1~"1:':.~1"l'':.l1t' -1f'"W1. r.ut' 8"1'<>''"-"' "t'"·'C) 1-'5 1JOJ:0'1-~<'-t 

tl":l" "A·.-.1! n,t01:PT''~ Pc•~,, .. ,.,,,. -~" r·n r:AIO.ll'" "·'"-'1 •m·o 

'.!,-PW \JtJ':' ,nnr:rr l'~N' '"1~'='''"'C·l'(O).l~'-'" a:•,r. 

'''P·~'"'l'D J~.t"'0 

8"1. .'~ unq_nc-•'t'C nu·.: "'p~r-.tt'n~ 2J:tn!JBJ: 1{01:F'\ '"SU'li';:X? 

1-'"'·''l ::1.1: p-~':.""·'1'•Uol' r•c-rvn ,,_-,_ -'" f,~.,__.,.,_~, r.iNJ1.tT.t:,', 

r·~~'r"r.ro ~l,"l- i" ,.,,~,-c;r· "-'''"'·'""- T!tt<: r-':J,Jwwr.tto"' .Hl',''l-rl 

o:;nC'l~.n·t- p1m ':J.Uat•mnr·" t<8nn"""' TIDJ, "'·:"!. '').ttcnnuo•·t Tl.rtt•rAar. 

1<'.IPu;;:;: 01:'1- 'k.tOltiA.l;->Gll.{\ V',''). Cl"'1T: S'l 8.TDtf_", 8~~'1\" 8t'·_~- O'l. 

8CT1<'Jr1X::! '1-tHJ.T'l J:.T8A .,, 1l" nr;t~ G.!Ori!A'l1- J',rt'11;1>J'' 'l,,H>(1};;-> JO 

80lfl'l'1;!\:;i flll'l .T<>pttn P8'1-~l:.t'."1Trll' ''J:Cll\ t!i'llf:\-TtO~ 'Dr'.101>1P.I 8.T'Il 

t{r>pm ''1-onopP.:r: .•XC'l<' r>tr~ ':J.onon<>,t UO'J- 1.:'):'1-UTI}~ OF"!. •:;qnopa.r 

UOl~t!T\trl'FI' >'ltl"!. Jr.I'C,-f nT:'l tiT ~1t1t'':l l.lrll/ 8.!~11',t 

""!. 11'1-!Pr" TTTI·l 

"~' '\'["'' c't •r.n-,r '"" C,--,,~ ..,, ... r)(),J:0' 11;nrr· 

'I-TIC· O'l <>trnc PO TT'):I\ T•C'l-,~''1t11~}10f'l 9"J~ 

8(),1:0.T 1'<-'t!l 

t'- LA~'--'11lT''trr 

•.rtr•:·1r :l'):lc>l1(' Prt .•r "011""''1~' ,,.,_ "< '1.,1·'1 '-'Cl 01 

nA"'~ TTTl\ »p.n:n" :'11'1- .'0 ''"" _rc-. ?;r:"C:" f'"~- .r:np1rn n.tt. 1-t:T"l 

cpuno.:r:"' orr::o]:<~ m·.-r: • ~]: 1'-"" '1 r: st' -r::n-:->~t)•: Jllt'r:i ne-p.ct:n"' 

.<:t.:tati'o.tcc 81 'IC <n;cott'n v,n·,r rnro "'t•]:t'JTI.t ~.!O'l'):~~f. ot:'1- -"cl "~a;.r 

-s-::~p"p·,r <JTT:j. 0'1. '6'~T!B(~:<' ~--:;;>,!"' :1 1.'; Jt,"•'r~ >'llf'l. UT p()O'Ct(j' 

U<'IGQ BAte-- '!Tll''l 'r:•,r:tot'- Pt'1 ')_:l::JrqnG T-fl.\ ~'1{1-t,;O;" .l:r-'C"1'llr. 

au'l- )'!Lt'):.tnn r.;->.r::·A<'lt\'0~ :;1;1- 1'-'~.tJ P"-p.t•.-n" ;-,v1- _co 1t:J.Ctue.r 

!':']:tf,T, • R,tH'lf't:.T'nfC! tt'.Hl11e''T .TO~ rrr'I.OAZ<n'P'C.t n 1 T mr 1" ;lf)t' 

ro::e>U"l10J'l-Ufl~T": '1.''S1-l"·T1Utf _!0 1t'Dt' ,_-,,.~~ c 0"!. >'.H'.-' ~r~ 

:).O"'~~t\1': ttfl.\ <lP.t,_:n" :r:o .!r>~11rnrr >'ll'~ .ro UOT-'1-"TI"~'-' M~ <r~t\'OC 

1-]:1.\ lfo-pfl.\ J.'r;ttOT:• JO '.Ul10'''1' !l<':'l~_Tl:>.l '::}P,T, 

:!-'j:!'<,tf\(~ 1''1-'l-'• B:OCO.tO_~ .I'):81'1-

S'C nrr1PlliOO r<on!l nr :or.-t,,~ ,-,,-~, cc Clt'T''~;:;~: m.~~ ur .r»:'t"l'H: 

GV'I. trt1l~- .tCI(l~<rnU .li''[1~·:·:r; 1" U'): rm"t"U<' :lC1 TTTJ.I !l.t:oo.Toq1:1 Ot['l 

.t··;,'; '"'1 .ro ~1-".UO'!l .t0'!'l~ a''··· •:l~'!='-T1lUC<: .<"<TO.tr~ n> ·.~'11,-1' ~tt+ 

Ce"~· 0:). ~!'1i.l" o:u-p~n:- r't>::101"c''T~t'~Q ,T;:>01!l"-:tr'll,- ,TO pU<> Gl''). 

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_r :•:::C'\ <'l" ,-.:::,:.-,C,f>-1 T1:TII 'l! • s.·A~.r-.;nlnn:"ll-! c 1 U"1 '7L'1:~sv· 

-~.T'CT,:C r1 -~"'t!10 e>"1 co:I·-- 1:00"nc- (--:--:J JllO Gt'l !).Tf'Tl'- O':J, ~llQ 

- Oi:,o 11T:1'1 T<>~NY\t' J::Ol'ii~;r:" nP :'11 Tl'>.~"1rl<>.T ll(1 01. O!A'<1ll 11TI-\ 

r:-r.r·.:n" -•.',T_ '11":·.-::,...c: -crt·. ,.,.;,;u_~c-x,l "" 01 ,~'lucr·r _ro ~unou::c 

,.,,.~ rl' n.r-r;:·:mr :-~._, ,. ''' ~.t0.7'C~-:cc urr"-"T'"''' r;~ ;ou·,- u' ''''"'·'o,,, 

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J:'.-r:T'"''"O~Tt Ll'' T111.'· ~! •o:U'"l'~''JT;·~-1"11!' r.;ro .•o ~""TA.F''' -n~ 

T.t1 Tl-'. ~"tlrH-~''T"' ~'- u~:>;n-11'""0') f>1r'~ :-:o.~ kt1'>'fT'l09U oo 1T'J:ti, t> 

"-Ul•1'T"'T""'' .11" An U~J.Tn ;-.r 'T~" ---··o ''''riO'"'" :'"1 ~T ~~·-~ .U: ··-:~troT'' " orrnl- r.-.::-1-•:-v·-,Y"-xr·,,._. ·''' .r.-:crc.r - (1~,,~11'- rc.n .,_-n·\ r or;·1: .. 'rrc''•·;·" ,., .:-v r,-,..-, .. . •r· .,.,,.,-., "~ ~,,,, "' ''"' :c·-~·,-

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sse 

·or.'9C611·\" JO ltm~x•·:- Tto·pwfl-1<1 ·,. ?unrn:• 

'lp\.,T ""1. ').OnnL•no WI. .r.:01\ l'O-·-~ 0C">C;GO~!~ <lOft;"\ -,-,_~1\ ').]: o:.:::c1 

r<>l·!O(i~.r !'.\,1\ <>1! ,_,~,,_ 1-::n~-~-' ;-.no_ 1'11 ~10,-n.~ n"(1- tt~ ll"Dl.:N'::<,o 

OC o~. f.&U01" 1-ll"B ''!rf1"t'1.' CTT n w.~1',l'" ;,lT'!. CO f'n.1nl tl1tr:Jt1X<> ~l''l 

<'!U0(1 t..r.~A Nn 01- III\01_) ~"~ M 'llf~'(l'l.~').tiT.FJf'l'~i ,,,.,_ p:·1~\1.!Cl"UT Gl.\ 

'f..rnc.or;~.'.T. r.,a~·''-" 'll''! n; /:ou:>]:~ccorn 1'J~tr''"1-> "tr't ''1-1"1', ,.,~_r.u 

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5'lt:TI\Ot1)1 TlU" f;'lTJ'P" .1t\O t;T '>1.0'•'.T Ar.-?1.''1. 1'1:"' l;11'' 

•)',!!'.~ AF'\ ~t::e•;T 

n.te-pr.r "'!1 1.0 '!."ll""o" Plf1- 01- o1.. "[l1J''~"-t:" on oo -.rt;~ 

J(OOl ~.p:n:;n)' <ll('\ l'!C:T!) pu<: UOTlTTJUOO poo:'l UT :+G,,;; fl:IIi'l\ STI1-.::C: 

O"[pT.::<1 PlHJI''L 11CT11. Ul'"!l ,-.,:c:/,l'[t; C'CC' llO'p>tf;<n"O:'; r.lf7, '~t'T'I 

l!}\'T' mr1 tto ~yoonor' C"l!IJ:l'T·T ""1- r•o.cJ G<O!htcltJ o:urrp· ntooctoo ~tq:P.t'l'OC' T'C::>O"[ 01.'Q T"Q,c_r '0<'-~Tl'<-1 :'!un0A F.q '-""'11 A"[~T;···n·,:;,p 

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1-"' .t~·Tn---;1'" n1rnt·, <T.~r. nuc em;:.·• ~-o" n.n' Fo:'F1 "Ut· .c·:,r .co~m" 

.n:'{tt.!'Orf ::!1:'!. Of .1o]:.H' S:il't:':tF;>J. !.ll'"t.•p->'10,101' .lCJ p~'-:'l!l,qr.uo::> 

f-"[1Ttf1:~-,.·~ ~J;J,O'. O'[l.''O:,A"CTit"\0 ,, .. ,... •)T,T':,; Gl'~ tq S'J.T"· lll'll:\'00_ <l:{'1. 

__,t",~\' ~;>T~!'C'"t"\OTI'" •n ;"'C'T1'''"'""' 'i C'.T''" ~~'11'<'1-' .rc·~lltl.\ ,_,,·~ ~0 

1:1~ ~\T'f.'l"' 'l""TT"T ,.. .... '" ·.·-~·· ··-- :-- "''" '';q.:"~ 
• 

• 

• 

In rer·erence ,;o t:l•l roade in ti~e hu-lc. ~~<e :<'<~.rk 

Corlllllieeion direotad ita cieorat:u·y -.;o ;prepare ~>. bil.l. to aubrait 

to the Le,.;iGlaturo ,;;ivin.; the iU~t11r::ty Depo:rtmant the r.tc;:ht to 

tOll!:<:! over t;hes<l boulevaro.e Md ,reep tnem in oondit~on D.rli.! to 

construct lHIOh n .. w roads ami boulevul·da as tne Commission 

and the 1Ii,;.hwcy Department rni(l"ht lletc.rmine. Xb.ia Bi:Ll was 

introduced at"t<lr a conftJrence wi t.l1 ,.\tto.~:·ney Snader n.nd the 

Bill ie now in t:1e Senn.te, ;oossibly to tha fir~t or sacond 

re,din.,;, u.~ we ho~ . .., will be .);J.U:.:<•d by the Jenuto .:..wl. riou:;u 

~nd submi·.,ted to your lllxct!llcr,c~' for si{,;rw.ture. This wonld rer.i~ve ttw Comnriseion f1·om ou.r"iU<a·;cule ex,tJcnue au<:< wi ~11 

tl1.ia thout;ht in wind we dil·eoted the .3upl0lrintendent tw 

eliminate from the eetilll>\te the ooJOtt~ of mainten~oo oi' 

the roc:ds. 

I li:;:.ve f(j~·w.',J:(LC'L O()~,j_e,; of thi~ lett~>r to tho 

C!,J.iri!Cn of the AJlpropriation Committee of tile rlouce D.lld 

Senate ~o th:'.t the mll.ttet· ~1a.y 'b!l brought eithel· to your 

offioi:J.l attention lly the Le~ielJ.ture or til<:! Let;i<~l<~ture 's 

(l.ttent.ion llY your ~cel}enoy, il..!l you "1"'-Y deuh·e, 

If tiLe Co"y,liusion C'lll bto ol' "llY o.uuiut,~nca 

in this matt<;lr, we would be very ,lleaued to t>iVe our ~(;rvic'"e 

to :JJ:H<ist i11 any lel5i~<lation t1·at tiw <>overnor l•IJ.Y de~ir<.;. 

J.y euoml tl:erl, 

de<Jretury. 

V ·ll.:L.U:t J.'ORGJ> ,&',\R.f\. ,Ju:lil¥iiStHUN 

correspondence, RG 46, PHMC. 

389 
APPENDIX C 

VALLEY FORGE STATE PARK BROCHURE: JUNE 10, 1926 • 

• 

• 

390 
• 

• 

• 

a vioil to th~ o<.rvotory on Mount Joy,"' to 

1M om.. of!+!~ old ft<!ouht, co.lled Fon Woohiftcton, whidt ov<rl0<1i<o the Gr .. t Valley in Ch.,t« 

County, atld tht old Star Rrdoubt, whore tht 

eye may sw<ep the Schuylk;l! Kivor on irs "''Y 

to Philad<lphio, os wdl a• the ""do beyond in 

Montggmery County. c,.,,;ng 1M rivor at 

thio !"lint, "' on aid to quick<r movement '" 

ca« of n.,.d, C-..:nor2l SullivM built a !<mpo!>ty 

bridge of log., thrown over timhe,-, which '"'t<'d 

upon pi<r> «'I in the h.d of the "'"""'· The 

hill, coiled Mount Joy, b.cau>< it WQ ind..d.d 

in 'William p,.,.,·, Propti•tory hhmor of Mount 

Joy, • gift by him to h., daughter L<titi• very 

early in tht hi<tory of Pmn.<v!v•oin, •lopin~r 

down to the east,,...,., tho •tr<nl:lh of the poojtion. 

A li~ uf .,.nhwork• wa• thrown up on tha 

br<rw of the hill. Thi; was a b...:k line, or inner 

line of delenoe, and b.hind it ,..,.,raJ briilldeo 

_,.. encunped. Tbe b ... tion• on thio line wuo 

tho forts m>W disti"&J&iol:t..J a• FOTt W .. hin~t~on, 

Fort HuntinRtOn lftld the Star Redoubt. Be--

yond, fu<tb<t """'· wa• a •imilar, a fltlftt or 

outer line of br<as<worb, Distinct "'"'"" <>f 

the.= entronchmenn rn•y otill be """" and an 

tho most intcrestinr f.,.tur .. of the pori:. 

Til tf.ita lfle defenseo and inomu• the oht'hu 

whkh tU,o might &fiOTd in caoe of assault, tret 

trunb and: ''""'~"• len"' ""1s· pointed otw.l:....-

bruoh and otlter obstruttiono wen! added to, or 

laid in front of, the mound• ol """b and nd. 

Theoe 11o;..., lone since di!l8llpearod. 

The !!toad level opa~ in tit• <'en!., af tho 

Park wu tht ''Grand Parade.." Here Baron 

YM Steuben, altl!r he arrivod, drillod tho 

tattered, unotilled ooldienr, llt!d inoruatd dlei• 

~'""" for oe!Vke in the """'P•igno whidl 'Oft"' 

to follow. On thi• ground on May 6, 1778, 

the m>opo we"' reviewed ood, with m.,. o 

hu•za atld feu de joie, the n-s of the Fn:r:~dl 

A!li....,., thr turning point of th. war, wq eel., bn~. 

Tit., offit:.rs quartered them..,] no in tho 1..-

<>f the la..,;li .. , mnstly Quakers, who hereabouts 

gained meagr< livrlihoods by rultivatinr fiehb 

deued (W_Jitlaf'! in the ahcrigir:ral forest. Th( 

r:tMt -~in1 M the. '-d~uarte'"Ci'' i• w~··· _ 'I1IIs- thii Mwl!. 

r ..... ~ • ,uilnt·· p~er of<i'tlol!' ' 

Friend., who had .- (l'bt mill, tltio whtet ofwti w .. !urn.d by the Valley C-k, flowin1 in 

front of the ho""'· "'"' th• point of it. jun<> tion with the Sthuylkill, Wa-.hin!lh>n, who hood 

""-"" ltrill1 under ~ ""'""'* M tmt in the """'P. 
<211>0 on tht t•e of Chri<trn.,. Da, to th" ho""" 

whu:h tho P-family •oated lor his U!<- Wothin th.,. simple walls throu~out the wint.c h< 

dwelt, tonbTed with hi• aid.-. and his ~<n<>ral• 

~Lafayette, Knox, Morgan, Wayne, Nathaniel 

Greene. Al<xandtr Hamilton, •on SttuOen, dr 

Kalb, Muhlenberg .,d tho r<>t--ao:ldr.-sod hi' 

"!'l""'h t<l Con~"" and planned his !utur. caml"'ili"''· Martha Washington carne hum Vor~mi• 

and joined htr husband at tht camp in Feb•uary, 

1 77H. i\n •tn-rnpt has been !D3de to rc-<tO!t thr 

hou"' to the form and asp«! which tl had ot 

that day. 

The Mount Joy, or Vall.,. For!(e, ~ smalf 

iron manufactory whtrt a few •mithics wirh 

a tilt hammer work..! at th<ir lim, which g•H 

its name to the caii!p, had bttn situated a f.-.. 

hundroJ yards farther u~ the cm:k. fiumeo1 ''"'" 

w«ko since by British raiders, a """ for~t was 

built, nt:llf<r W:osloin~ton'o Headquorlef'\. l.ikt 

tht grlot mill the Iorge drew its p<>w<:r lmm • 

dam in the little st<Gm. Mo<t of the oth<r 

hou,.. occupi.d "" tommanders' headquamrs 

(e.cept General Vamum's) are on g"'und out· 

•idt of, though odja«nt to, the Pari: And ~~ 

not open 10 inspection. 

The army of Valley Forg., upon !he comin~ 

of '!'ring, bt~n t<> rto'tlnn~itr• in !he •urrounding t<OUntry. lma>ediately upon htaring o,l th• 

eva~uatiun of Philaddphio, detachm<nt> <>f C•>n· 

tinenfalo eni<Ttd thot city, the main body >Vith 

Woshington in tommand, which had h<~un t~ 

"'""'out of the camp on June 18, 1778, lollo\V· 

ing the Il<itislt to h,,.,y them ao they r<tirtd 

aor.,.. the Jerseys, l;iving th<ir re-ar i:~J"'d a 

vigoro,.. blow at Monmouth. 

Milt the ormy, upon its romin~ to the e>mJ>, 

i• hdd to have numbered about f 1,000 mrn, .. 

a result ol privation (they weR "n•hd and 

otarvinK" W .. hingWn wrote to Gnvemor Clintoo 

in February, !778,) onrl the mnbr .. k of infection• di,.....,, so many died during the "'intcr ond 

were invalidtd to improvi""" h"'pitol• in the 

neighborhood fo< •iciness, that the tornm:rnd 01 

one time is thought to have indud.d f,... mon 

thon 5,000 effective men. 

Gob<i<l II. MoY<r,Chol.-"''" 

Albo" Cool! Mr«~S'"''"'' W. ll«btn llu<'o 

F.d,.ard Po!O. Ch<r..,-

Mi" Jo,.l< C. Enno 

I indooy <'oot<o 1! .. ;.,,., 

R;ehord H. KO<h 

Alh-..1 K_ Millo 

Wiltiom G. Murdorl 

M T. Philtioo 

Wiltiam Pro•-. J•. 

Jmtob E. Wid.-ner R•olo•" \', s, .. ,.,,.l,.,,_.,., 

Fom<s dlr~ Wotm,,~-o!fo,.;, 

luO< "" ,,.._ 

"' 

• 

• 

• 
• • 

" " " 0 -- [I 

g·l 

' ' 

" 0 -

0 

< 

> 

" 0 

> 

, 

0 " 

w 

ill < w " ~ 

I. 

' 
APPENDIX D 

EXCERPTS FROM "PRELIMINARY REPORT ON PARK EXTENSIONS 

AT VALLEY FORGE . JUNE 1928," BY RICHARDS. BURNS 

REGIONAL l'ROPOSJ\L.S AFFECTIJ.!G Ex.TEI''S IONS 

1'//I.SHINGTON BOULLVA!ID'.~ is ~ug13e~ted ir'. the Regional ,'le.nnin::; Federation1a report "By-Pusa lligh·,:nys for Traffic ileliof" nnd is nlreo.dy 

undor contemplation, It pu~~e::: throur,h Gulj:>h liill<l and, ticough beyond 

the e.rea covered by our prelimine.ry lllaJl, bee.rs e. definite relc.tion to 

it, BeinG an e.xpreas hif.l:hm.q ::.nd do!ligned r~e the backbone of the ;-.ir,h· 

way system of the east coact to prornote 1ndUDtry, tre.de, mcrt:J.~oJe defense, and recreution, it begiml in I·~e.ine and pore.lleln the Atlont:r_c 

coast to Florida,· No definite vidth hos boon rlecidcd nJon, but n 240 

foot risht-of-we.y >lith 120 foot of surfaced roo.dv10.y divided into 

.Qect1one for looai and expresa tre.ff:l.c, und either overl'.eod cro~;niLlGS or uml.orposses at itD junctions ..-;ith rai11"mys n.nct other hi~hwnys, in 

considered the ideal plnn. 

INTER-PARK HIOHWJ'.Y·:f is uh:o GU['.L':c~tctl in the reiJOl'~ c;f l:hc l"cderation and deslgned to follow o lie:::w·ely courc:c nlcne; the cree!c vulleys 

and higher slopes, connecting tho mont importw1t historic "nc1 :~conic 

nttro.ctions of the region. It ccmss to Pennnylvnniu from ~lew Ji"ll'~ey 

• 

and passes through Washington Crossing Purk on its wo.y to the ?0rldomen; 

thence j)roceeding aa nhol"ln on the plo.n a1~d terl:l!nnting belo,·l ".hJ.lr·.'ngtona, 

Dolm;·nre, W 

FAIIU!OUNT TO VALLIT FORGE PMlKWAY'-1 \"!Ur. ~ucr;e~tect sevcruJ. yco.rll 

ago and o joint committee from }'oir;nount and Valley Fort;e J.'o.rl:s 1"/C.ll 

e.ppointod to promote tb:l project, but n('vor f"unctioncc:9., 'i'he :,_;.ro:,Jcsal 

is nov1 renewed by the Feder&tion, tho object beine; to extend tt:c o::-

isting parkway out of Philadelphia e.long the Schuylkill i'rcm Pr.irJ:,ount 

Purk to connect with Valley Forge Pnrk as n route fol' plco~uro traffic, 

N0RRI3TOWN TO VALillY FGnGE BOUillV.ARD~:·, A nuggcstion is rHlve.nccd by 

pcr~onD in t'orristo\m who are intcrcr.tod i.n ticinr;, that tc\m >:i::~; Vnllo:>y 

l'or(;o OVCJ.' a more nttrnctivc nnll i.'-''-''-' conc;cetcd ruutG thu.H ;;.ny '"' ~~~u~o 

\."hich now o:>xist, It he.s been ;:Jropoocd to pa~o this boulevurd over thi!> 

SchuyJl<:ill into Ve.lloy Forge at thG point 1ih.crc tho old Sullivr.nl~ 

Erictcc nan located during the encampment, but a dii"i"crcnt tontntivc 

roc;tc ha:3 becm indian ted on tho plan as being n-.arc dcDirable, 

CULPH J;II.LS RESERVATIONlHf is propor;cd by tl1e Hegional flMnins 

FedGrr.tion ns e. fo:re>~t prc~crve e.lons Washington Boulevard. It ir.cludeD 

'l. IJ\ll.jor part of the area used n.s a cu!"p by \'laohine;ton 1s AnT!'; d\;ring the 

jourr.oy to Valley Forr,e. 

RIDGE RESIJ:RVATIONS·:H< is a:.llc suc;gested by th:l Federat1ou ar£ proposo:>d as e forest ~Jrecerve alone; t:1e intcrpllrk hir,hnay. It GXtcnl.:... 

from the IJresent Perl: bou ~dary :::m ieiount liiser;r along the ridge r.ortll • 

of Chester Valley wontword to DGvault, and brnnches of1" to co!)r,sct ..-.~t 

the i'.!<:"![crii'S Creek P.c~crv'"<tio~' ;:l'.iot. is "uc:::ented nbout t'1c nc11 (l.c.:J 

of tLc Sc:Jri:-_gfiGld Water Co:r.par.:·. Thi~ letter ir. turn feller:~ ~>.e 

cow''·" of" l'ickeri.1G C\·eck te<~ti·:rrru. 
* NOTE:-ThBse ~oropo:;a:C:; fer ~·t.:.tun' hl,~hu~~-~ '.l:i.Ll oo'i'cct. V:.l.Lcf i·'ol·~c 

• 

beneficially ul· othcl".;L,o, <1~ JoJ.clint: u;1011 ti,u i'•>i'' '·•:·:,t u;:,,;cl 

in plunnlnrs fo1· them so tbo;r \".'ill cor;J::>rm \lith o.ml adv;~;'.cc tlw 

lnLcl'CGto> uf the rc"Cl'Vatl<:>n. Wi"Ul c""'·.lrlcratiun "" "·'·''.-JlJ.l'~·i.n::; 

truffle ~Jroblems und conr;estion and to mai;,taininc; the to,Jo,-:ra_;;hy of 

historic lands they arc routed around, ruther thun diroctly tl-ro1.1gh o~ historical aroa, 

J\3 sum;uatcd tontativoly on tlHl plan, tho p>•opoocd routoa ull.ow 

motoristo with variouo :tnterento und 1nol1nutiono to pe.a:; to point a 

on the edge of or beyond tiw proposed ;}ark urea 1i;i_thout "Udi.J;g to 

col'.r;e:Jtion l"lithin its boundf,;.•ies, reservinr: the main encntpr.umt ~ection v1ithout further 1~odernizution for thone >lho flro ~ui'fl.C~er,tl:r 

i7lterentoct to pas;; tllrouGh Cllld ~top ut leioure. llnzar<.l~ f"ro'" e,:.:.oting nbru1Jt curven, un vell ~w purldng nnd otl~r congostion em: \Jo re~ 

licved to a lnrge cn.tent in the j)rocent Purlr oren by ono-t<:J.Y tr:::tac 

·restrictions as sugsested in rr previou~ report on tho dcvelo_.mcnt 

o.nd muintGnancc of" tho cxiJtin;T rcoorvuticm. 

~H!IfOTE:-On.ly a portion of tlle1le landn 1:;; included in the proposed 

Valley Forge Exten1Jionc, nince they nre remte from the cmcumpmcnt c;rouncls und de<:~ ir:nec1 to "ervo n.~ r ecrcn ti or.n.l OllCn c ilr.ce o 

i'or pre1lent and future popul&tion of" the Philadelphi& d.C:J br1.ct r'uther 

than historical purpo~es. Thi~ >.:ur,c:;eots the resw,tption Qf tb:o J.1Ul'k'a 

jlril!lfl.r)' 11orv1oe but Clooo not preoluCle broadllll.ins that ~orvJ.ce :en the 

extended areas i'or such forpa of recroution or such provisions ror 

the oor.tfort, nafety, and accor.unodation of Vi ~iter~ as l"lill not riotract 

from the a.pponranco and popular enjoy1:1ent of it hintor:i.cc.lly. 

--~-------------------------------

• 

ID!IVCRSITY OF PLNNSYLVU1IA is conte1:1plntir;g the r&~ovE:l of their 

undorp;ro.duate school fror.1 the present site in Philadelphia to the Honry 

}1", 1'/cc-l!:'..ll.n furr.~ situuted oouth vi' the Knox property in AREA Cl lll"Jich· 

c.d.foins the prenent Pork, Such u project, ii' cooperntivel:,• :;>lc.nnccl., 

should cor.tribute greatly to the service of both th<J Pork and tho 

University. 

AREAS SUGGESTED :roll. ;,.xTD!SION 

ARE/\ 1 - APPROXIMATELY 1400 ACRES 

The l11lljor part of this area i<J o. portion of" o.n extensive I"IOQ(led 

ridr;e north of' Chester Valley and of the proposed Ridge i:coorvP.tl.Olj. 

Knmm us l.iount Misery, it is a pronir.ent lXlrt of' the Valley Iiills that 

i'i,"l;l.:red :l.n t11c activities of the ContinePtul nr>d Britiah flrmi0c i~l this 

section and includes two Dr:l..";~.\le :Jites and tile enco.r,p1:1<'::1t quarter:.: t'f 

General Stirlir.g, Since tl:e lutter have bee!l recently altered !1!10 the 

barnn :Jml premine::J c;e!'erally cl".angod for the eunvenicmce nnd enjoy1.mnt 

of the o1·:ner, their acqJ..<iaiticn ut thin ti~'e ;,my :wt be \"lr.rrM,tcd ·;r. 

vi en of tr.eiJ.' probable prenent co ct vii th relO!ti on to their percc.i.niJ1t; 

hintor:iccl vnluc. Fro~" o. ::;conic :;to.ndpoint they nrc proninOJ;tly lrco.ted 

in the l:l.ne of a churmine; vista over Cheoter Valley frolll l.;ount Joy, but 

r1hile ;·mintnined in the c:xi:;ting condition do not acriou:;ly interfere 

with park _;Jronpects in thC!.t direction, 

;·:o::;t of the are D. io the lca:;t ir.:prcvcd lnnd i~1 the loculi ty um> 

•

exceptionally well adapted for par!{ purposes ns a n!lturo.l 1100ded sec~ 

tion for trails, nature studj·, i'orcstr~' purpo::Jes, and i'or the prescrvo.- tio~. 'lf the :;enernl J and::~capc :Jncl topography of tho hill~ of Vulle""J 

F'orr;e u~;al~.st real ellto.tc subdivision, lur.berir.[ r.nd otr.er "'3cncio:; 

dctr:1~ental ~o the lli.:;tor:lo and llCcnic value oi" t])e vicinity, 

395 
);ow situated within tt.e area &.re Vll.l'i.ous :,:>rivatcly "'·lled \.'OOdlots, 

about tr1cnty scatterc<l small i-Jou~cr-, the q-unrry :111'1 hcld.1:1'~s nC' ,;_ 

locul silicat sand, and ore cor.:pc.:".y, u D::tflll rc~c,vcir of the .·o,or~r:e-

:ftclC: \Yc.tcr Con.puny, c.nd the v1llnc;e of Valley Ji'orr;~. l'h<' lr.ttor in- • 

eludes about 35 minor dwellir.gs, a store, 3tonc em siler, 2 churctc~, 

schoolhimso, end a hotel th9.t was utilized as a hos_ill.tal r1.1Jr_Lnr; the 

onca!'lpment, With regard to the village, the po~sib!.lity of the n:ajor 

:part of it serving as a public r,asct f'or hotel, e;arnc~e, !lllcl )t!.bl:i.c 

accomodation better end with loss <lxpenae to the Cor'l"onwoalth undo:!' 

private ormership, than if inchld"d within tho rc~orvation, ,.,c.y )lo~sibly 

not justify the expendituN' involved in asaimiluting ull of it us" 

port of' the Purk, 

AREA :;; - AF;RCOCIMATilLY 070 AC!illS 

'111e ncquisition o.f tho nortl-.orn bank of tho Schuylkill CllVcor, oxtemding for the length of this areal is in l1ne with regiC'!l.(l.l )JOl~c1ea 

for protection of the banks of the t;chuylkill, Our plD.ns extends this 

11r1111 to the branch line of the fm nayl vnn111 R11i ll'oad on the noJ.•tll ovor 

oompnratively 1.ow and level lund to inOl\lda the site o.f the ol<l Pnvling 

l>lll.lUion 11B well 1111 the s1t1111 o;t" Fat land Ford and Sillivnn's i:lri<!.e;e 

a1.onc the river bank, a large woods in the western 61ld, ~lld n :few 

scattered stone houses. 

The major part of the aren lies across the Schuylkill fron 

Wesl1ington's Headquarters and figured in the daily activitles of 

officers and soldiers during the encw:lpment. Until recent yenJ.'S it 

has been little exploited and has remained as &n attractive s ~retch 

of low-lying land to look upon f'ro~1 the height~ of t.he prcl.lent )_)II.I'li, 

An Ullrestricted real estate subdivision hns boon recently st"-l'teQ in 

the section and-several bungalows of an inferior type erecte~. some 

alent; tho river, that threaten t.o do~troy parl: pro~pccts _i_n that • 

direction and eventually make the value of the land prohibi.tiv~. in 

price ~or park purposes, An old country home with an immense stone 

bnrn un<J. surroundinG attractive c,rouml~ tlut uro abandonm' rm· m=y 

r.1onths of the year and considerably run down are also included, 

AREA 5 - APiROXIW\.TELY 145 ACRES 

This area embraces the southern banl: of the Schuylkill Cliver 

runn:cr.g for the length of the present parl< and also includes the field 

between Port Kennedy and the pork field adjoining the Y.elnoriul Cl10.J.lCl 

property, ·It is likewise in line with policies for protechon of the 

Schuylkill, is obviously a portion of the old cncampr.1ent urea, ar.d c.t 

present contains no structures or modern development of' gr"''"-t J.r.1IJortunce, 

With the exception of tho nfoPell'_cntioned field, its value to nnd 

possible use by the pnrk is lessened by the main line of t~e Philadelphia end Reading Railroad that separate~ it from the pro~ent J.•csorvation. 

AREA C - APPROXIMATllLY 255 ACRES 

'Ihia extends eastward from the present pork boundary ln Z'o1•t 

Kennedy to include a most attractive portion of Trout Run Gt it~ 0~tlet into the Schuylkill, The inclucion of t.hi:J portion of 'rrout Run 

in not only in line with regional suggestionc f'or the preservatio:-~ of 

the r.lore important tributary valleys of the Schuylk:!.ll !lJltl_ foJ.' t.l-,0 pro~ 

taction of its banks, but al~o brinr,s historic Jenkins' i·~ills, r.ow 

known c\s }lancill's Mills, within the reservation, 

A ''art of tho ni'eV. has been recently nubd:ivided, b\\t llith little 

builliinc:; or> i~ to ,Jato, ar.ct LitOI'O i~ the llkellhood, ss in Ac•uu :.;, oi' • 

an OF.rly inflation of' its value to a price prohibiting its o.c~isltion 

for pr,:-k purposes, /In JlU count1·y hom" end Durrow>Uint, ;_,.,,,ruVOJ:>r::~t~, 

nbo·J.t cit;ht dwelHne;D, a ~t<:(5I'-"Dl"- pln:nt t~ut is nOt in o;Jorc.t_:rm, r.:1 

ol0 "Lc•m: ::Lruotu:re bclicvo<l by :,oo:w to be tl1c co\Ontr-y )10ltC o.0 Hc:Jcrt 

3% 
~!orris, but not authenticully vrovcn a~ ,;c-ch, a church !l.:Jci cenetery, 

r.wl a ~chool-hou~e ::~.rc lncl'-'clud wlthlu i.llt- '-ll'""· i1<:1·C', a~ ill <>lh:r 

are~>s containing churches, cen:eterics, or schools, exceptions for the 

inclt..siun of such publlc plucos mu~t be con>;iclcreU. • 

• MillA 2 - APPROXIMATELY 65 ACRES 

This narrow strip of land lies between the proposed Inter-Park 

Highwuy umi the Schuylkill River and will eventl.llllly be desiruble for 

continuity of the purk urea up to the hie;hway, us u furthCl' protco~ion 

along the banks of the river, and in order to forestall privute dovolopment which muy intorfero with the view from the proposed highway to 

the Schuylkill and over Area 3. It includes no i:mportar.t devolopmcnt 

<;:xccytinr: a row structures of n secondury typ0 n"'ur Porlriomcn Ju:..1ctlon, 

AREA ~ - APPROXIMATELY 440 ACRES - · This ground eJttends alone thG attractively covered, and in SOi'lG 

places procipitous, eastern bnnk of the <'erkio~wn Creek Elr.d its ucquisition would be a further step toward the preservation of uttr~ctive creek vallsys. It does not adjoin or materially affoct tile =jor 

historical area, but contains the ~lillgrove Mills thut was connected 

with the encampment and is now in an interesting stuto of :fll'GSorvution, 

and the· old Vaux Mansion of Revolutionary days. The home of Ju~s 

Audubon, famous naturalist, is within this section und, whilo not connected with Valley Forge, mny be war thy of preservation. 

Even though this area is somewhnt remote from the main histo~·ical 

section, the ultimate acquisition of most of it Will be a further 

protection to the main reservntion 'by preserving an attrectivo lli"l~Jrouch 

along tho Inter-Park Highway and in offering a camping site, awin~·.Jin8", 

an0 si,~ilar recreution for tourists to the locality who uro intorcr;tod 

•

more in physical refre'lhmont than in thG contemplation or historical 

featur~s. Conaidering the tremendous popularity that the present ~ark 

enjoys, nnd the necessity for accommodating even larger crowds in 

fut..,.re yenra, an area of this sort should 'be sat aside to rneot the de~ 

mands for public accommodations and certnin for~s of recreation, thus 

l-osseninc the dnnger of sufficlont ~1·esuure being brought to benr for 

u further modernization of the mBin encampment C\1'\:!ll to ll'POt sucf1 nccdn, 

li,c::;t of this section is in attractive 1"ields and ovcr-c;rcwn creek 

banl1s, but a few old stone housec, oevcrFLl recently coiL'l true ted bunga~ 

lows, and a portion of the Proteetory forms, soJr.e of r;hich shoulc' be 

included and others excluded after furtt.cr study, ere 1'1ithin ·che area. 

AREA 7 - At'PROXIMATELY 200 ACRES 

This is an extension of A1-·en 6 and brings the pari{ to inclm.a 

Trout Rtm on the snst as u ns.turol bourdary, the old ~uhlen'-:wrg Quarters, 

and mo:.<t att1•octive and adaptable mcudOVI~ far p1_cnickinG Ctm! no u :f!rotoction to the historical sitec on the eacter:n end of thG oui;cr l~n~; of 

dorcnse. 

The ncrone;e beins high in price in compurison to the fol'e(l;t'inc; 

ursos, and senerally kept as desirable borderinG land not threatened 

with objectionable development, immediate extension in that direction 

is not Pelatively imperative, 

'Phe e.J.•ea includes about ten dr;ellings, most of v.tlicl:t are aituated 

in rr r·o11 in Port Kennedy and entirely surrounded by park holdinr,s, o.nd 

a portion of rr country e~tate. 

-.flEA 8 - A?t'ROXD>ATELY 145 AC!lES 

'fuis extends from the j:l!lrl: boundary now located very clocc to the 

site of tl:e outer line or entrenchments nnd the Outer> Line Drive, 

southward to include the i:organ Qua1·ters which hav.c been altered and 

397 
equipped us a modern 

Ylhich ::c I'!Odern stone 

strnctures. 

cour.try home, tne ~5te ol' Weedon':> Qur.rtors u_;on 

house lHl3 been con~truct<>d, t\lo Ol' throe rr.i:-:.ol' 

It brings u 1"urtl".er pol·tL)n o!' 'i'1•out Rur:: a:.; a nutuPaJ. l.Jour.c'o.~"Y 

\lithln tlle limit~ of tm Parl< but itft '"1D.4.n vnluP, nr. •.:i'.'c 1>.-rcc. 7, lie~ 

in protecting the er::ca.mpmer.t area in ~i•at dil'CCtion frCJ>ii inju>·ious udjoinin~ development. 

Since the probability of o.n eo.rly cxploitEltion of tllis type ~~ 

not ap:l&rent and the land already hi[':h in value, it~ o.cr,u:i~itlOl"' .. warns 

not relatively important. 

AREA 9 - M,'ROXIMATELY 260 ACRES 

'Ibis i" probably tho h:!.c;host valued acroago adjoin:!.nc tl"l.\> ,:nrl<, 

go;mta'l.ninr< tlH• Km>~ 11atate, tho woo~d port:Lon of the Woolman fnr;.1, and 

a aeo'II:Lcm o:' th'l Wilson f'arm. All of' this aroa :!.s at pre~ont 

11111-intainQd. as d,aa:!.rable ne:!.t;hborinr; land ancl. the prospects far n continuation of this oondit:!.on ooom to preclude o:ny i1m1edJ. ate l1ecesslty 

for the e.oqu:!.sition of this gro~cl. under exint:!.n:1; conditi ana, 

It contains, ho>:ever, tho l'l'lox and Lafayette QuartGrs nnl a rwst 

attractive l_'lortion of' creek nnd r100dland on the Woolnan fnrln c~ >tcl.l 

ns the h:!.ghly developed home r.nd estate cf ttle late Senator ?hil~.nder 

c:. J(nox. Lying as it does bet"een the ()Xistinr; V~lley t•'or(fC Po:.rJ: :md 

the proposed 3:!.te of the University of J.'enn:~ylvania undcrgracl;\.:atc 

school on the Woolman t'nrm 'l;ieJ.ng in •·ith the s'Ll':gestcd route of the 

Fairmount to Valley Forge Parkway, and being of interest historicnlly 

and. scenically, it :!.s t'ortunntely snfeguurded from undeoir21bl.e cxploitntion by itn pro,ent O\lllCPn. JIO\'ICVOI·, ~hould t.11la <ll''"·'''•bl•; cc- 11 -

L\itlon coo.oo to exiat throu;>,h o. chonrrc in ormersllip or oth'-'r c~rc,lOIatuncea, th~ posa:!.b1lit:Lea for quick pr:!.vote explo:!.t£J.t!.on of' it would be 

h1111ten11d by the ;roeuident:!.lll r,nd oommorc:Lnl QevelQpment th£J.t ~.ccom:.,c..n:Liilc 

c. tln:!.ve.rdty. At thll.t time e:!.thsr lln fl)(tons:Lon of' the tlnivorsity Ollmpu~ over the urell or the exten:::!.on of Valley Forge i'urk to r.;eot tba 

UnivcrQity site would bo imminent. 

EHRE·r iiJ\GNESIA MANUFACTURING CONPANY - APi'ROXH\ATELY 35 ACR2S 

The monut'octuring plant and quo.rrien of thi:; concern no;·c: e:;·~nbli~hed before the present limits of the 1Jart llnd their Ccr'3Dqt.c:.lt 

detriment to park value~ and enjOylllCnt r1ere realized. It l.S nOYI 

located. in the center of the renervatio~, inclucl.Gs SGveral I::l\ielli!l,"S 

of un inferior type, und is unden:!.ably objectior;t~ble b1.1t valued :-~t 

an exceodingly hiGtl rigure. 

Being at present surrounded by purk holcli11G:; and pr~'VC!l~cd .i'rcm 

expansion and unlikely of becol:ling a more objoctiono.ble e:>~cUJ:Jbrnnce 

than it l"'.ow is, the plant is indicated as dccidoly desirublc cvcn'lual 

acquinition. 

WASHINGTON INN 

This Inn, having been u co1>ntry hor:~e and uned u~ a ba1-;ehouse 

~nring the encampment, is located near Wo.shi.nr'.ton 1;'! He,-,.dqu21r•tor~ :J'd occu;"Jic~ only o few root. f~ur·roul"',(Jln(; the building l t,;elf. 'L'bc olci 

•10l'tion of the building i." surrounded by \~odcrn r.dditiOJ1~. ,·;!·ich 'li:;-

tiP_ctly detract 1'rom tl1c de,;ircd Li~t(l~·ical usyoct of the l.oc"J.ity, 

but woro built on before ttlo pnrk was of lurr;e extent and hcve s1r:co ;~erved to rr.cet public requirements for a hotel and lunchin,-; plncc • 

A~ wit)', the Ehret Ma.o;r.e:lia Plant it is on establisb.od uni hi;c)1ly 

oJal;:'-'c'. Ul:sinoss enter·,,!·ise and subje~L Lc ncqui~itio;-, evcn'~\.;C·.lly .1.· 

the f1>ll c"-'rpo~es and bel"'.efits of tl":e nark ore to be reali~ccl. 

LOrrespondence, kG 4b, PHML. 

'" 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

APPENDIX E 

EXCERPTS FROM BURK, VALLEY FORGE, 1928, pp. 4-9 

REGULAR BUS LINES FROM PHILADELPHIA. 

Gr<y Lio. Jolota< Toun, Koith'o Thool'<, 1116 a..,tnul 

st ..... 

P. R. T. Bu> lm·•• B<e•<i >nd lnc"'t Ste<ol> ovory Sond•r. 

Ol W A. M. and l·.JO P, M. Aft" Ju'~< ht, fi•ily '"P'-

Royal Bluo Bu> luv" Benj.no1n Fr.nkli" Hotol 9:JO A.M. 

ud 2 P. M. d>~ly >II yoor. 

V>ll<y Focg< 

DolighHul Fou;-hout Tout 

Ftloy Milo Ttip lot $.100 

Ev.ry Dav. 1hy to Nov.mi><• 

AUTOMOBILE BUSSES. 

W>lli•m H. Mor<, 4545 Lan<a!ttr Avonu., >nd 1225 Mork« 

St"ol, Ph•i•Oolph,., Pa . 

MOTORISTS. 

Tho mo>t clir<ot '""" f<ont Phtl>dolphi> i> out Montg<>mory 

A;ouuo. l'rom (iulpl• Mill> 011 H>< roulo i> that ol Washmgton'o 

Moroh to Y>iloy Fot~<-

Ftorn Now Yock, tho bo!t mute i! th<ou•h Doylo"own, 

No,<i>lown. •nrl Jdlmoov>llo. 

From tho W"'· mntoc"t! wdi travol ""' th< L.one>"<r l'ok< 

At l'""l' "" •• fa. ., oho 1 "<iyiTr'" Country Club, turn ldt •I 

611ing st•tion und<r railroaO brul••· do~n grade throogh llowd-

>;!le, right to li<W>n Roorl. ldt lo Voll<y Forg<_ 

From th< So,.th, by w>y nl Conowuoj!o, '"'" l<h to w.,t 

(he<tor, right to 1'ool1, """ " abov<. 

HOTELS. 

(Do,.on«> fmm Wa>hington'> ll<odquort • .-.} 

Voll•y Forgo, 

W••hin~oo Inn."'" tl" ll<odq,.rtm-10 '""""· no pr .. au 

bath>. L.rg< bonqu<t boll. 

399 
.\!'"""" II"'"'· '" V,.JI<_, For"' Yol'••<-1 

w.ol« in """Y ""'"' but no ~'""L< batho. 

Km" n( !'""""---'~ ""1<>. 

Kn•• or l'm•>i> Inn. No "'"'' '""""· 

;,a,, .. ,,-,;~c-s ,,,.,_ y,. Ololo ]<if<""" Jnn-J 

l'nnoioiLOd wolh """~""· 

rooms. 

Nom•l<•wn-11 moiO!. 

'1'1" Volley !''""'-"'" li<Oprooi-100 room> wnh IMLil. 

Annrn·ono llood' Co<l'"''''i'"'· 

lluld Norr"L"wn-lli """'" no!lo hoth. 

]l<oocl )l•nnlt"'>-ll" rooon> woth h<th. 

l'h"'''""'ll<-6 ,,;,.,_ 

"l'l" l'ln•"''' llnt<i-J5 o·oo""· ~ w>Lh """'' b,.h, 

Strofford 

The Spr.,<l """I' Inn. ;.:o 8"" '"''mo. 

D.-·on-S.J nnl<!. 

D<•On Po.k HcLoi-14! room>, <Q wotll pd"" bath. 

Y•ll<y Fo••• 

Port t.:<nnrdy 

GARAGES. 

(;,.,..,.,., Sr"''C< .'>L.ohnn--l'un K«"•<Jy 27, 

Kin~ ol I'<Lo!l .. 

ll«k'o ,;.,,., .. ~.;,.,,_,., .. ., 1Uli·J·4. 

M•lluY• G"•••-•~""''<uwn Ull-11-4. 

SchrodO• c"'"" 

E. lt_ l'""'h"'"lo-l>"""'o"'" JOJO-R·,l. 

J•n"'"""'u' J<~<t>-on•ill< G.or••o:-l->or"'l~~·oo J4J~. 

o ...... 

llt'"'' Gouo<-Warto< 111. 

p..,..,;~ .. ll• 

l'alo<t Gor•J<-PhO<mXYill< 65. 

Pho><nm·oll< Coty G"•K<-Photnix•ill< 140. 

E.ut E"<l G•"i<-Ph .. no<.oll< 7Y>. 

O•rl« E. Staub, Auro R<p>.">-Photnixv•ll< l4.J, 

Nom$lo~·n 

K<r>«•~< o\o..o ~"""ly Cnmr,.nr---No,.,>lown 1214. 

Mann'• Gar>"'· i!ui<lr Som<<-N<><ri>to•m JSBO, 

\',1~, "'""' c;.,,.,, Fo.,nk ~1•1""'• N""""""" llfllM 

400 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

WHAT TO SEE AT VALLEY FORGE. 

Wnlungton's Marqu«. (Valley Forge Museum.) 

Wa•lungton's Hudquartcrs. Open daily from 3 

A. M. to 6 P. M, (Summer Schedule.) 

The Earthworks. 

The Washmgton Memorial ChapeL Open datly 

from 9 A.M. to 6 P.M. 

The Cloi>ter of the Colonie>. 

The Valley Forge Museum of American History. 

Open datly, except Sunday, lmm g A, M. to S P.M. 

The World War Log Cabin. 

The Soldoer5 Hut. (Reproduction.) 

The Camp School. 

The Watorman Monument. 

The Wayne Monument . 

The Muhlenberg Monument. 

The Delaware Marker. 

The Maine Marku. 

The Massachusetts Monument, 

The New Jersey Monument, 

The Pennsylvania Columns, 

The Monument to the Unknown Dead. 

The Bngade HospuaL (Reproduction.) 

General Varnum's Headq..arters. (Open to the 

Public.) 

Headquarlecs of Commanding Offioecs. (No admi~· 

oion.) 

View from lhe Observalory on Mount Joy. 

The Defenders' Gate . 

401 
HOW TO SEE VALLEY FQRGli. 

"i'ho!< wioo lo,w< o"i)' a ''""'"' """ >iOOl'"l , . .,, ""' ,,._ 

tccncl"'""''· HL>ntmglon i<e<loubl, the Sta; lle<:on.hl, \'o;n,.,. 

llco•l<o"·"'"'· tl« Dol<ll.l<e> Gat<, tl10 5ohJo«> ii<=t ;." 

\l'a•w,.,,., ~loo""''"'· tl" Uo"''" of th< Co,oouo. ,;_,. \\",,.,. 

'"~'"" )iemomi Cll•,>d. tl'< V"''-' Foog< ~ln><uo>, \\".-;,.,., 

w•i• 01.-<q"" ,,,,, '"·";'"'''""'' fl<adouartm. Tim '"' I" 

doo.o h"""<ily '"'""hom' 

I h"'' wloo '"" >I'·'" '"o" """ s:>oniol """ b"k "'" "'" 

mg tl" Mum11n, '""' '" :i" iell ·''the Ba~t"t Ro•d, ,.,__,, ·. < 

Ql<i ~"'""!, w• "'':I.e l·"'l'" 1<"-"' '" "" """''' J(.,,nl. ,.,:; .. " "'' 

'" Wduug"'" i<«io,.l>', go oo·co li>< iul'<r Lout Boul"'"'l. ""'' 

then lo \\l,,l•il'gt<.o>s tle:t<l>l~'"""'· "'h<r l>y !110 R"'" RoaJ n< 

the bmolcvac<l 

Th" book dc<ccohoo d" Lo"' ol til< ontie< ""'"'""'"" '"'' 

~""'to L•f•y«<<'' H<><l"""'"'· 

AUTOMOBILES. 

A• ti><'O >e< ,;,"'""I" lo.olf ""''' ot "'"''"""[.mol[<><",,,-, 

or "'of otl<<r '"·"" "''" wln<lo o"' "'"'' L'·'" \o '" >'d "" '"""" 

o! int<t<•t "' tho"""""'"'""'· mo>< p<Opl< w•ll t><<f<r to mok< "" 

toor in •ulo..,bol", 

402 

• 

• 

• 
.. 

• 

• 

APPENDIX F 

;,pril ~9th,(Jl935. 

Levels and ;nldes. ':.'he top of t.1<0 ,;o:1t:1 s:on;o •. all (and bo~tor::t or 

first lo1d at the road side front end (:::outh) sha-1 occur at a level 

six inches (6") belo~r the nei] no·.; d.ri·ren in t.1•· t:tab• et the ;:,outt:-

west corner of the site. 'l!-:e front end beck lines of tne hut shell 

be moved back to;;anl the J:ort': e>JIC f•~ot (12") fron the position os 

staked out on rtpril 27th <'nd t;:e sides shall be :-~oved one foot (12") 

toward t:!, West. 

·.~.-he top of 1;he stonfl ,-ul'ls on ::,e :.:<Jst 8nd ·./est sic'.es shell ·~e 

down one lo~ loY;er then the front ·:.all. l'he tau of stone nell on 

the c!".i!!llley end (l:orth) sho1l be dm;n one log lO•:er then the- side 

walls. 

'l'he inside floor sha~ 1 he of earth, puddled und tai"ped, 1;i th :he 

level flush 1otth ti:e to;> o.f the stone \'illll on '.i0:1tn fran:. 

'l'he outsir:te grade shnll be deterr.Jined af"ter the stone ;:ork is 

com-plete\! 3.nd in general shall be a fill of several inches at 

the :Oouth front to perhaps a foot at the ;.orth end on eac:1 side. 

fir:.y sodding or seedint; vllll be the subject of later discussion, 

Fill ell trenches v;i th locnl ,;ton<e laid in bn;:>-hazarr:t l".<Jr.ner in 

rr.ortar composed of one part Fortlar.C: cc_,;,nt, tht<Oe parts sand and 

one quarter part li;:e. ?ron the p;rode line up, ohe outside of 

all vmlls ore to Oa~ter in tiJl the/ Bl'e a:,proxir:ntel:· t1oelve 

inches (1::0") at t~,e to';) Y.ith a rrm6': 2" c!'.wcpl:or on t. e top outside edge, ''-he fecilli; :;tone ere not to ''' buil ~ to '' line and the 

r.;ortar is to be ke'>t 1·:ell i.-ack in ><or!e joint~ El.-Jd is to be allowed 

to oo2e out in otJ·,ers. ·;here si:ell ':le no yointino: dor.c> ar.C the 

effect to be ai:r:wd :Jt is to be t' at vd1ic;J ·.:ol,ld h~·;e ouen obtainE;d 

!J;r .soldiers layin•::; stone r;or!: in " hUl'ry in co'ti ·.:u tt.<Or, ':'he 

mortJJ.r ."or tr.c fireplace and t:1e cili'"ne:: O>hilll lJe ont. p<>rt Ce!'_ent, 

one 'Jart lime ~r.d six porL sar.d .1r.~ ti•0 in(;i<:'.e n~· tl.e firepl~ce 

shAll ;,c C.ash";d ·:.it;l ~ort~.:" ar,. r.nw!Ll au-.c-lt-d • 

·)C.: :J :;:To)';'. ·.·J :'1- ·:! :V ·.~.:-,; St():e -.~u: .. · 0 • t,i:!_l t' 

i,; r •c::'·: ~t -.,~i•'': pcJi~.~ u~e 1"'' :< 10" t'ire cl~J :'lue linin•; 

-' ':<i: ~ "' ,_ -. l1 - re iJc:il', "--
Lo·· side .• a1ls ::oor S:J•i .~ndov.s. c•u.ild ~h" sidu halls of t.rked 

lor,s, whole end sour.C., of ~OCf'l ;;ro;.ti:, exClusiVe of poplar, each 

log to approxil"l>lte ten incne:> (10") in C.iemeter at butt end and 

eig:~t inches (8") "!t narror;est e:Jd, ,,llo,·: approxim-:ely 2" sp8Ce 

bet"een 1-,gs la;·inr:; -,,it:: nlterr.ste tl!ickest anC' t!linn,>s·c dianetErs ~-

adj•.Jcent to each other, '::_'~:e bottorr; of the first loc in each case- W 

is to be >:•[Uaf'e<O off ·,•,lt:·. axe or c1dZ6 to prcFer:t a· out four to 

five inel:es of flP.t suJ•:C'acc t() rec t on top of stone ,-.all - except 

at ends which project :Ye:•ond stone \~all ,.,here tr.e loe;s shall be 

full round, proj-oetir.r• about fifteen inches \Vi") to the extrer::te 

of a-xE. cut e~_d •.• ll 1-'~s co 'Je blocke;! epart as laid ~-itt. pieces 

of well aeasoned 2" x 2" cut about 3" lor;r: !InC: sp::cccd about one 

foot (12") a-pl!rt and ·:.ell r.'liled 1n -;~lace ("_'hP.se >ill l~ter ~e 

covered up v.i tli the r;;ortar Cl!inking}. At :·re''"ent intervuls 

drive nSils partly into the lop,s as additional suprort for the 

r;:tortar chinkin;;, 

1he ends of all l•'Fos si;all project fran six inches (6") to at:ont 

fifteen inches (15") ·.ci"th axe cuts of irrer;ular shape end an 

occasional sa-... eu end or conbLnc;tion of saw and axe cnt. Each lor, is 

to oe chec.~·er"'c: '>n the top and notched on ·.t.e Pot ton to fit over 

one anot';er. ~afore each to:J log is placed in position the 

chal'!fe; on the los l:elor; is to be !ho' vil;• puttied · .. ith Pecora or 

sir::tile, cn~lkin::: Co!!!~ound, ~)efore logs ere ].aid a"'; d:'lor and 

''indo-. s, -..; • ., jer~'~s shall be set 1n plaee, the saJ.;e to consist of 

not less t.Jan ;:;" x 0" rouc;l':lJ hewn oak with :rsbbit eut out for the 

door end the windo .. S3Sh. 'ihe sill to door to consist of stone 

slabs like tr.e steps leadin£ do;·;,: to sace anc: the sills to tTio 

'l'lindoy.·s are to consist of slopinr: cuts out of the loe;s with de- • 

pressed rabbit in the sto::~e sill for door (uhich opens in) and 

raised rabbit on the wood sills fo;:- l'•ir.dov• sash (w.'-.ich open out). 

ihe wood jambs are to be cut dol'm ar;ainst these Si~ls. '.Lhe top 

Jog of each Side wall is to be a;:>proXiT".ctely 6 ft, 6 in. to the 

top fro>! the floor ~nd t:1ese two loss are to be lono; enou{;h to 

~reject two feet (24") at front anC. back to receive barr;e lor;s 

of g>•bles, 

Door. 'ihe door lS to be of split rwod 11ith tir,llt knots slJo-;.in(~• 

~bout 1!" in thickness, with battens of the sane on the inside, 

to be hunf, on wooden hinges :c.sde si:nilar to those 111 adjoinin,·; 

;::uE.rd ~;ouses, but ;-_euvicr, ar.c. 1·,ith " ¥1ooden l<ltch :ond lift, ':'he 

i',esJ. of J..-,or o~enin·~ to oe adze<l out of the lintel ].or,, 

;ir.r:o·:1s. The sash s:"~ll be r.unc; r-::-de in o.ccord.ar,ce ,·,ith detnile 

to bco f..:rnisheC.. :...e~c~1 sinl1l: '' hin -e,: et tl":c top 11ith ral'.-hide 

tiwngs 8:1( open out. '{'he i:eads oi' \'Iindo"- O[lenin .. ;s to be adzed 

out of lin;;el lo ;s. ·rue sash ur~ to 'tlC "r,lazeC.'' ~>it airplane 

clotn, :.rell•J';. ln colO.:', 

Chinldn·: of !.o~._ Tietween oll lo(;s fEl ti-.e spcces ··tth rr.ortar 

~o~ststinc ot O!!<O p-~r-;; !'ortlen·~ ce:·.<;nt, o1w part li~.e nnd six psrts 

'jCJloJI jen:.ey ;.-avel ur :•<o'l-'1',. lOG',_ ;."c;.'; JU.~C:. ·'" t.·.c- !:Ortar is 

,,l·c~"c in,,-crt ,,..,,;_ <;tlr_ ·.,-uP·:~ ;,l·o~H:Cl!•.; r:~~l.~ ,,!",r\ tetvreen 

~:-·: ·:,·:ode:~ ~tri;::~ · .. -~: ::-.·:~ ~:-.·- ~ 1.~ •:;-:-._~"'; ,_,~~ t):orou-::.l;r e~;bed 

t:.~ ;:;tn-.,~ .,,_., ode:: :::Cr~.,; so ti: .. t t.'l•,·.- do ;!o: ,;),,-,v, 2efore t~.e 

.--, '~ ,c,,s t:·,,,:.;., ,:,r_' 0'.;1: 

' '"' l • • 
• 

• 

• 

inf': as would :-:n•Jc; beer' <:nne :;y :he orl{;inal c;oldlcrs. :Jrir.t; tiLe 

ci:in:<:in: out to Je flus_. • .. i~-- ·~do;es of j~n~Js o:· dcoor ar.d win<klls. 

Put satoe: r.:;o,·tar as cninkin-: from ohau~er of stor:e foundation wall 

to Che require-1 heigat or. l•ottom lot; • 

~··ro:-J tile stone ~-ork of fireplace throt~t up, build 

s "hown of fa,;ots lai<1 end chinked · .. 1tio nortar the sa;Je 

lo,~s of ti:-~ si<i.e ,-.ells. l~eep tim insiJ.e of ti<e far,ot5 about 

:"our inches a· .. ay .·roll! tll. flue lining and fill this spnce as the 

fa;;;ots are laid \;i th ct.inkin,; :.ortar "ntl. stone spa;.ls. :.aintain 

a ::>pace ot no;; less them fou• inches (4") between flue linint; ~Jnd 

nearest part of lo,:s of ree.r ;·;all or ;;abl>' Lnc-:. fill ·ci th sa1.1e 

':".O;t"r· i'ut a slopir:: top of :r.s so:-.c r.:ortar !'ro::; top-:.x>st lop,s 

to flush ·.-.1t;1 til'" top of flus linir.;:;. 

?<oar. :rect a ridge pole con:<l' tin;; or the thi.r.r.est lor; obtainable for its ler!e:;tn. ·;he 5(!.:16' to pl'Oject h.o feet beyond the 

front gable Gnd to rest on lor; of chinney r,· hle ·.-;1 thout e;·ter.ding 

closer than four inches to i"lue lining. ','he bottorJ of this ridee 

pole to be eight feet, six inches (8' - 6") above tl!e 1n»1de floor. 

From the top of the eave logs (at height of »iX f<::et six 1r.ehes 

(G' - 0") to top of ridge 1013 cut in thin l·Jr,s as raft(!rs. \:'he 

sa!':".e to be sele(!teO for strnir;htness nnd oo ile full round (not 

squared off at top except to rer.ov<.' an:; li::br,ro,-,ths) and to be 

laid approxi!:Ptely (but not e.,.sctly) tv;enty four inches (24'') or. 

centers. Outside of tnc- two ;;able \;ells run a lsrgc log from 

proj<Jctin" eave lor;s to chc, ridc;e ?Ole at front snd into chicmey 

on re-~r. The rafters !lnd b9rge lo,c~s are to have axed cut ends 

exter:diw; eighteen inc!Jes ll8") to th~ point, beyond side r:alls • 

i.Jv-r all t~ese r.'lfters and to two i~c~.es (£") beyond the face 

of b ·r~e lo-s pl<'ce snd securely nail one inch (1") t;lick rout;h 

sa1'1fl sheathing ho.:ords as knotty a~ obtainable. 'i'he~e to !'lxtend 

fifteen inche" (l~J") beyor;d fece of side wall lOf>S, (leavinr; 

rufters to extend tr.rce inches (3") to poincs.) 

Covc,r these sheotllin--: boacds throuc~;hout witll best c,_uality two pl:· 

<Jics surfaced roofinb felt laid horizontally Hnu lapped ~hree 

inctes. On top of this pr.oparec! roofinr; ls:-' l" x 2" shinf:le leth 

or "n~ile<rs" vertically over the loc,~tion of eac:t rnfter, c:erore 

la:rine; these "nailers" coc.t tHE bettor: or each "'n(: the space it 

is to occupy on tlln felt with one heavy coA.t of ii.I.,;. thick 

\'1aterp!'<)Of ;>aint anC: drive nails thrOUGh 11hile ;.>(!int is fresl:. 

Cr. t:w,;~ e::tic.3l •·n~ilc;rs" place and securely nail ;,orizontally 

l" x _., r:'--ilerJ spac.;,. about tl.rec feet on centers, (without 

any paint ·.-;~_ere the_• overl!!p). 

On tLfS•::O ".ori.:>n~'--1 :..;Crip.> 1··~- ~he final roofir.r;, to consist of 

\',e]1 ~c•bnn<.- fer.cl'l rails, dr-:sscC. at edGeS so tlH•t they COLJe 

tir:;;:t).y i:l <.or~tCJct, ;]:c, railc; of the east slop<.. <Jre to be coMbed 

thru. i~chas (;)"j !'1: ti_;, ."i<l-:" --i'-h ll. d. ,ble horizontal axe cut • 

. cJ,, rails ut t:.- G"'ru; ,,r-~ · .. ) c;nr;er. o;,_"f 1rre;:u'arly. ,t11 nails 

1~. tr.e rlol' :Jr_ '' e _·~l·,~:n."' -•. ·o·•C :.8~c!,~d roolir:r: nails, those 

scc~.:ring c:1E r,,iJ~ "'·~ '-·' ~•l ""''-'-""' ~-" c>llttied • 

. . ' "" 

<05 
abo'.lt 2f:", .':"! h,;';P.r ;:,c;r.:-:s ;;o ''· :'our f~e~ "'-X inches (.;,• ;") 

wide, t'_e u·•per -•:r.':~ t ree fooet ·.·ide (3' 0"), all six feet six 

incaes ( 0' ,)' j lon_;. nbove -.;;,(· sc.ppo;:t:;, til~( to \"i!.lcil they shall 

bs secure:, pl•!ce t·.;o t .1r, lo!;"' fro:·, ea•1e loG :o eave lor:, to 

also act ~s co~lar 'oea:r,s. ,,t a'l c1V•-ilable -places in sid<; >r.all 

lo~'s inside the !.U'- <!rill dod drive in cn_oereC. >..:aden ~HoGS us 

if to h~n·: <.:lot'·i~.,, froc .• 

Steinin_·, ~efo;·e '-'TI:J ci"an!dn- b done 1;i ve ~n surr,·.c"s of all 

lOf';S one :;ooc; co;,c of creoso~c ~tain. ,,;.·pl;· sa;,;" StOJUL to all 

surfaces of renee rails b fore tl,e:· Ar~ use·! es roofine,. 0n 

coc.pletion .-;1ve all ex;:wsed surflwes of .·.-wf sl.ecJti~in;: on- ,;o,,; of 

oil stein, <ie.rk brown in color • .,.pply th" ssr.e to ell surfaces 

of door, sash and janbs. 

:urnish g_n~ do everythin[ necessg_r;r to :inist, the hut in " nu~.ner 

suitable to the spirit end ir.ter,t of its erection as a re;Jlica 

of ~'1<0 huts constructed b:· the bravo !':ien -;,ho su:"fere!!. tlle hurdships of the ··inter of 1777-78. Leave tl,e pl·er.ises clean anr! 

orderl;r. 

• 

::::rect one tall thin tree, r,e·lr roadr.u:r, RS a :'lor; pol~- Jecure 

pulley at top and star.chion ':lelOI" 1<1 til double :;_eJ,f;th or sui tAble • 

woven cord for a flllr, to he furr.ishe<i end infurled by the Penns;•lvania .oociety of the :i0!13 of the Revolution on cor:tpletion of 

the hut on or bsfore .-:-ur.e l8ti~ 1_9:..;3. 

D. 

CRM·MARO Files. 

::nickerboc~e:: ·;oyr:, .,.rc:ntect .. rcc.i~ ct~' -_-,t'•llo .. 

P::iJ.edcolp,"ia, l'co:-tnc. 

406 

• 
• APPENDIX G 

"REPORT ON GENERAL RESTORATION OF 

VALLEY FORGE PARK. OCTOBER 1936" 

RITS'l'OhA1'ION ()}' 'l'Hl:. VALlliY CHiilil\ AJ(.C:J\ 

We have conclusive evidence from old camp map~ anJ data 

that the industrial enterprises nlon~ Valloy Creek not only consisted 

or Forges but also Crist Mill and Saw Mill, T}lc latter two occupied 

the ground oppositB the Washington Headquarters and the power for botll 

was drawn from the mill race that was diverted f'rom a dan above the 

present bridge, Unfortunately mills of this type and period are ra,idly being bought and remodled by private individuals for road houses and 

dwellings, but it is hoped that the remain!~~ or.nmples shall be pre~ 

served as monuments of our industrial history. The advisability of restoring these at Valley Forge is queotionallle ns the absence of detail 

and o.uthentic infor!IIB.tion would not result in o.s an intereatinc o. study 

or appeal to the imae;inntion u::: would tho I;mrking of' these <Jitc>J or the 

•

exposed f'oundations that may still be in place, 

From borings and e:xcavntions I~ade nlong the Valley Creek 

in the vicinity of' data ahown on the Duportnil mnp1 two f'orgca 11erc 

f'ound and o1hat may have been n third. Exeavo.tions nt tho lower f'or~o 

locc.tod nenr the Washine;ton Inn on Valley Greek road reveals only tho 

foundc.tions nnd ruinous wnlls, The Upper forge excavation near \fns.hins;ton Spring on the Vnlloy· Creek Rand, hau l'Cvoaled more, portions of 

two ''o.to:r wheelr~ were found, t:runses, blocks, walls and 11. sluice etc, 

These interesting :ruinous structures likewise nrise the qU£Jstion as to 

\'Jhether it would be best t.-, reconstruct them cr let them rcn:~~_lJ ·rn thei;r 

ruinous state to appeal to the imagination, Authentic data und details 

vrould probably limit the reconstruction of thJ interior, A reconstruc~ 

tion of the e:.~:t<~rior hO>IoVer, \rouJld :probnbly be n wi~e move in connec~ 

tion IIith the upper forge for the protection of the interior from the 

weather, It is nlso [ugc;ested that n miniaturCJ working model cl~ould be 

made and placed in f\ :>uitnble loc><ticn for inspcctlon, 

• 
Shaull Wnshl:1gton l11n I.Jc n"<rul1''-''' aL ~vmc r~Lutv <1

;,Lc, a 

restoration of tr.at structure to itr, original form· and appearance for 

utili;oation a~ a mu,eum, with herb oudcn [l\.Lach<Hl, w,Julcl ccorLC:il,l:t be 

in keeping with the steps already taken to Dring ub.>ut the aspoct oi' a • 

Colonial hamlet to the locality. 'l'he lltable ll<lW u~od '""' ll lHU~Oun1 could 

than be converted into the stable of old on the intc ... ior !lnd used to 

display old time farm equipment, 

The frame house North of Phoenixville road and west of 

Vulley Creek is entirely out of keeping with the surroundine;s nnd would 

seem proper to raze it in tho interest of architectural harmony, 

In the same locality directly across the road. fr<Jm the 

above mentionocl frame housG o.rc four hm.we~ used ne dwcllinc;s lor p!ll'k 

employees, these houses were remodeled and now lend the desired atmosphe:rc to that region with the exception of th~ p,o,s, of A, hsll which 

is not under our control, therefore, limiting our power in tt's proper 

renovation. 

DAMS 

- From actual evidence found in excavating along the Valley 

Creek two of the four dams indicated on the Duportail lllllp ·.rcro" uc:ld for 

wn.tor power in running the wetar wheels of' the formerly mentioned industries were foWld, the middle dam having recently been recoNtructed 

from plans drawn by Mr. J, Orie Clorke engineer end the ·.>pper forgo remains as found in its ruinous state, 

The researches of Mr. J, Oris Clarke, data on old msps and • 

aketohee of the Headquarters area support the evideree that two do.m~ 

existed, one to the north of the present stone bridge that spo.JlB Valley 

Creek and one to the south, The one to the north was a log boorr. and 

the one to the south wns o. diversion dam, diverting w11ter into the 

cho.nnel of the mill-r11ce propelling the wheel of the gri~t mi1J, Theae 

d;,ms have since been destroyed but Should also be con structcd i.n the 

old time manner of damming a stream, ~t is not likely that the reconstr;.;otion of the mill races would be pre.ctical ns the result obte.ined 

would not warrant the great expen~e involved in restorations nnd do not 

h11ve !ml.ch significance in the absence of the mill, However, v1ith the 

sites of the Grist 1\ill, Saw Mill, and F01•gos marked md di!lplaying 

their rei;Jaining ruins togotlwr with recon~tructed dams, the interesting 

observer would e:uin an intellir;ent View of the industry thllt or.isted in 

Valley Forge during that ora, and tho settinG of the bu.ild1ng8 nearby 

woulct be greatly improved by tho expense of these bodies of woter, 

TilE rze:cVATION AND RAZING OF HOUSES IN PORT KEI:iNEIW ARE/\ 

In the vicinity of i?ort Kennedy, aubstent~al stone houses 

were ::>.cqulrcd with recent lcnd :tcquisltlon. The three clcubln hounos 

neo.r Port Kennedy Station have been renovated to the proper character 

and uro used as dwellings for park employees, There is, however, h10 

~:~ore houses nearby, one of them l:leing to the north of Port Kennedy 

road and one to the South neo.r the intersection in Port Kennedy, The 

lattcr is certainly of Colonlal chnractcr rmd if renovo.ted could be • 

used £or some utilit!l.!'i~n purpose and would lend r.ouch to thc atrnosphcre of' the locality, The former known us the Putter~on ~;B.nslon 

offl.ce is at present incongro-..ts Elml poorly located, With foresight 

as tl' i'l:rther land acquisiticn !l'.any Revolutionary tJeriod bulldingo 

wtll be avnilublc fca· tJ1e usc of the C:oJillT.ission us l'lCCtinG root.i~, 

'"' 
lnu>Jou;"~ Ol-' dy;ellingo in idool locati.ons. 

to utiliM the latter building it ahotlld 

qno.l·tcl-'s o.re o.vailablo. 

e \'•'OODLANDS 

Tf it i~. tlt:>u,j' t ncco~::wry 

only rer.tnin until further 

With the increasing appreciation of the America!l. )Jeople 

towar·d Mother Nature, there ore probably few who would sup~oort the 

policy o.f removing a desirable grove of trees for the sake of restrring the land to a cnltiv!l.ted field that existed dUJ•inc; tho BncaJ:.pr..ent 

period, There were doubtlessly portions o.f the reservation tCll\t were 

cleared by the Continental troops .far the purposo of opening vi~tos 

from oel'toin strategic military viewpoints, prcoumably wltll. a desire 

to advance the militnry phase of' tho cncc.nqnnent, sevornl oi' the re~ 

doubta and other points wero·dcnuded or VOGitotion muny J0ara UGO• 

Thll mar n~v• ~•en A4Y~I&~l~ •n~ may hola t~~~ to oo~t•1n ro~t1f1o•­

tiona und intronol'lmants but fhu wiadom of ~uoh t~eut~nont ill Ol"lUn to 

question, Such steps may be disputed not ;!lone fer the loss o.f desirnblo vegitation within the reservation, but aloo with consideration to 

the fuct that it is altogethBr likely the fortifications at Volley 

Forge were acreened with vegitation durinc their occupation by the Continental Army. No doubt there were clearings nnd a thinnin(l; out of 

trees so that observations f'rom intrenchments :md J'o·Coubts in the di~ 

rection o.f the enemy could be t.ol<en, so that n11tuT'al <'lb,t.ncles would 

not interf'ere aeriously with rif'le fire, but it ~.s r.l~o l::_kel~r thC~.t llnlOh 

vee;itation \las Dpared in order to camouflage the position of' tllc .fortifications. The-tact that ull important !Joints ofde.fenso wore called 

rodouLts, mcr..ning, hiddon·1'ot·t,., lncllnec onu towurcl th:l l!oliuf tl'l<lt 

•

thoy \'lOre treated aD such, nnd ~urroundcct on nt lcmnt three s:i.<lOF- by 

llit,_ic;cnous tree~;, lt alt:~Q woul<J Doom lO!';icul to believe that artor 

the ence.mpr..ent, further clearings wt:~ro made from tim.:J to tir.:e by 

.farmer.>, with the :result that we no11 have many acres of meod0\'1 end 

field that'I:cre formerly lund or virr;in Umber in 177e, \'lith tLesc 

thoughts uppermeot, a nil with th.:J evidence we C!Nl able to eonf irnt ou:r 

bolJ.eCs in, such as the old maps offer, sur;11estlons for tho extc:r.tion 

o.f V/Oodlondc Ol'O offered, 

ConDidcrinr; the present barrer, Gtate or SOI'lC orcas, o 

systematic program for rel'ore:Jtoti:m \'lith cora.f\,lly chosen indic<mou:J 

treBs must be undertaken in order to provide for future groo11th, to s1.<s~ 

tuin desirable specimen in oertuin orean ond to establish mere uuite~lrle 

species in plc.co of the in.festod and soft Y;ooded trees thot ex_~Dt. 

During tho days or the encampment, farmers of thnt da.y hnd 

clcllNKl the timber leaving only hed~crovs beorderin~ each field or 

pr:.pcrty 11r:e und n single specimen here ond t}mre 11hich tllc !'ar~•er 

•::bhccl ~o rBtnln for his comfort c.s a ehudy rccting place for hir.,eelf 

ond U.s hor~en, Natural c;roup-Lnl':s of trees u~doubtedly e::istec1 clonr; 

the rural roadsides us they do today alonr, certaj_n pork reads, hut u 

regulli!' spacin[!; of trees on Ollch side of o lone road wao r s '.lll'.\Sl.l~ 1 in 

t:"!os<: c1eyc in rural districto ns it is incongrous ne111, if 1:e nrc to 

preserve and attempt to increase the rur11l otmesphel'o of tr.o rosarvation. The hedgerous hovo virtu;;.lly all disappeared, nnd there seems 

•

no sensible reason to bring their retui'T'. but c policy of r.t::.turc.l tc.•cc 

grouping nt advantageouo points in the fields, mead0\1~ and alone: readci.-:e~ ,;ill 50 far to\'tord bnnl.~hinc ony re::-emblunee of formality and 

consc.:ruently l'lill brir.g about thut rllll.l utmo~phere thr..t :;_~ to be expected a!ld appreciated by t:r.o~c nho ColrD to pnrk~ fc:r ::->ejuvinD.tLm ar.Ci 

r:nd :·est 1·,-.,,~, tr-.c hu~tlc and hustle of the city o~.terpr-:~cs, 

'"" 
In tlcis snmo Gonnection Ct vunlf. b~ wc"tl "'' :•m;n~"':1 tLc 

mcudows and woodlands to promote an::l encoura1w t:.c ~~rovrt:h of' n'•civc 

f'loWCt's·and s:tlrubs in lar[';C mu~~c<o. II f.icLrl af bL'l~l.- ~y.orl '"'~"u~, ln.ltercups, faice dragon head, etc., fir.ds fl r.ll:>re responsive CLOJ''l in the 

hearts of tired urban dwellers than doe~ rm c:'flcicntly 1:w·:m :;~rotcil 

of [;russ. 

TOPOORP.?HY 

1<J. the cent.;al portion of the park the original crmtour of 

the lend has been decidedly chllllf"ed by formor quarry enterprisas o..'1d 

by the present industry of the El1rot Magnesia Company. LurQ;C cbtsns 

dot the landscape here and to restore the original contom• l"iOuld be of 

tremendous expense. As an altcrnetivo to filling in these qua:t·r.i.cs it 

would be much :rr.ore practical and undoubteUly more popular to ocn. 

v<'lrt them into natural features consistine; of the existing out cro~ling~ 

of' stone stratae, decorated with a collect Con of' nn tive plant J,LC.t<'lrial s 

The boundnries of mah quarry beine; planted out with trees to .Corm u 

transition f'rom the abrupt ahe.nge ln topc~ruphy to the undulatinr, ~ajoining fields, This solution would involve conpnritively a sJW:Cl sum 

in co~r.parison to the aost necessnry to Fill them in, and the rcsJC.lt 

would be not only of' interest to those in oearch of' ncenic beo.·..1ty, but 

to llotaniaal student<~ of \lChools and organlznt:!.ons interonted c:l tlw 

study of native plants of Pennsylvnnie., 

Soma o! these quarries have been leased by the ~h::·et J..iagnesia Co., for the purpose of usine; them aa a dum;ping ground fc:r thc:!r 

residue or waste, the f11led quarry to be sprinkled with n thin layer 

of top soil, This arrangement made years ago by a former Co,~-'.c~sion 

and the said company was a groat mistake md "" a rc<~ult one :>C' tho 

quarrios nearoat ?art Kennedy having rrreat naturalistic poscib~~ities 

in tho form of a·lake Bnd cliff's has been entirely ruirod by the J.cposit of rcsiUuo, and if coated with the specl.-ried sprinkling of' topsoil when deposits have ceased will Grow little mora than we<'!ds if 

that, However, (lventuo.lly if water is otill available stops 1;1u;r be 

talcen to bring back the lovely oxpanoe of' '''atcr that lends so nuc'--J 

charm to tho.t vicinity, 

ROADS 

It was a tho\lf,ht :>ome yearll ue;o thu t more rouC:s l!Cl'D .lCLd~ 

cd f'or the develc}ll!l!lnt of' tho purk, llJld nteps \ifOre taken in rnuJ-·ing a 

pl2.n f'or this purpose, 

• 

• 

\"lith all important points l'ti tldn the J,Jre~ent parl: bou_'l.d- arie~ now rcadily uccos~lb.l.c l:'ith eood ronde a1ld with o.rn:_JlO O;(J_~t,:w 

o.rterie~ for throu((h trni'fie, the constrnctlon of more roads of nonrl- lo~" Ch'-lNWtCl' l:ithin ~hu O.l'U(l 1/0ulcl br~r4,; abtJUt an unncoo~~al'~' ~·ublic 

extJcnse "-lld an overpowering read syotern. It 11ould also m!lke it ex~ 

tren,ely dirf'icult to rr.aintain l'ural character of tlw park by ntte,n;>ts 

to incrca.se the attraction or the fields and >~rodliJII.dn, The i.ncrcaoing pop-ularity of' tl1c un~\U'i'accd (Jf·l:uy~ tllroU(:.h country Ui~ tr5.cto 

)rove that urban touristo desire to evade the bouleve.rdo tl"nt cwcrpower 

rurul_sccnes, Likc11toe it i~ J:1cn'e ;Jlcn~a!t to l·idc ' . .'it:lil". thG park • 

o.nd VHl\-1 lo.rr;o :-.rcn~ of rr.cncto·.; and r:oodlund ti;nn thrcu.",h plots of tl:e ~umc amid"- nO~I:Ol•k ol- :JUl"lUCOd l'v"-'ltc, 'l'ton lt n'Jt)ll bu ~O.:C:.i. 'c)-_Ut li' 

e conglor.>cration of menningle~s ronc~ i~ c~.:r inte!lt:'.c-n \'lith ',:~~·c ci:rc;;.l~.r int.oJ•sections 1'or the 3~tcs rf futc·e r.c;.,o:-llll~, tho rJ:·<.l sccr,e,; 

tl:o.t :-cr•tray tJo.(' 9icturc ;--;: ~7'16 r ... :l 3ta.nC abovo al'l as une ::-cat 

"'" 
• 

• 

• 

111onun,cnt to 1/u~hingLon on'l lti: :U'Ja;,- :ol,::ll _,,,r-"''tLLtwtcly IJcc"'·"' ln~Jt:;n.lf'icant to the minds of the majority and recult in an unJ•cstt •• l, cemetery l~l:e, semi-.formal park. 

With tho ever lncrcucint> nmount o:f motorl::ltH vi:;ilii>G th<> 

park ,.,e are CO!IIjlelled to aacri:fice ~omo beal.lty :for public s~f<:!ty r:~nd 

convenience in the oonst:ruot1on of: parldne; nrca~, but 110 caruwt expect 

to aoool"llT!odate the abnormal over;fl.ow on holiday~ that would domn.nd 

parking areas o:f tremendous size~. 

The through highways ~uch· a~ Gulph and .I:'Cll't Kennedy Roads 

ho.ve sQmC very dangerous interoeotions, principally Gulph Road, It 

,.,.ould be bad taste to plant hideous stop signs of stato reaogr:ition lit 

thr.sQ intersections but it \'IOUld l.>o ndviooble to pls.ce o. lO\:/ z·ustic 

:1ooden ~ign, or po.int tJ.:e ·.•ord stop in l'lhite on the roo.d surface r1ith 

tho B.ddi tion of n root guc;orl nt the mo~t dnncerou~ points dlll"illG tho 

heavy traffic of the early ~rninc and 1o.ter nfternoon, 

There ere pRrk drives tho.t need re1o~ntion at certain 

points that ~eem expedH•nt to reduce rrnd ho.zards to n minir.rur.' tl.nd to 

improve tho r.;enoru1 road syotem. 

1. Outer Line Drive, 

(a) Relocation :from Fort Washine;ton to Wayne Monwnent ln orU.or to 

reU.uoe the traffic at the dangerou~ lnter.se~tion near l'iashi)"'!';ton Hedoubt and to ~onnect up more snti~:factorily l'oith Valley Rood • 

(b) To nbo1l:>h the abrupt curve between the Memorlnl ll.c•ch =d t:tD 

Punnay1vo.nia Columna. 

'· 

'· it 

on 

l'rWt-0-'YtiD ll".STORII'l'IVE M!D 1lEi'l ROADS 

intersection with Inner Line drive 

abo1ishin::; the three point infCll' the 

le UIUlcco~aary and oin:o 

may eo~ time be aboliahmcodco,, 

1, IInonthG ~rillam'O dE~velopod ao previously nontioned a quarry drivo 

connccti.nr; tllc Memorir>.l Arcn, Chapel nn,l Port Kcnnody would run very clo~a -co the lines of fl Contmnporary road ln that locality, 

2, '1'ho rostoration oi' the o;l.d road lcadin(l from the Sullivan br~d(;e to 

l'ol't ;:ennedy road if -otcp:J nrc t n';on to rebuild the uo.id br:il1go an~ the 

proposed bouloval'd to !lorriat01m, 

'" 
PATHS 

Bridle paths nre dCJsirnble for nature lovers, boy scout~, 

students, otc., and some nre advantagoous as firG trails, T!le bridle 

paths indicnt<;od on the more open spaces nre not macadam but merely n • 

course that horses l!lllY adhere to in daily riding, 

PICNIC GROUNDS 

The present picnic grounds seem entirely too ncur tho 

Huntington redoubt where children are apt to play havoc and too small 

for the throngs that swarm there durin8 the su~r months, 

It is suggested to relocate this ar!Hl dil'ectly acroos the 

Inner Line Drive to the a.djoininr; woodlond urea, This point wonld not 

only be concealed but would ha.ve use of th" existin13 rest rool!l.9, water 

line and tho space would bo ample, 

INTfillNCHMENTS fr.ND HUTS 

The entrench:nents that are presan.t along the Inner Drive 

are u grent asset in describing the picture of defenso to the public, 

lilrewiee it would. seem that to rebuild the intrenchments along the 

Outer Line· Drivel that len~ ngo were destroyed by .farmers in tilling 

their land, would be of groat·intereat and a desirable stop in the 

restoration of the military phaso of the reaerva.tion, 

The hut:~ used, eoon veniehod nfter the evncua.timo.rthocm. 

and today we etill have ~ few indications in the form of hol0s oxiatin 

in the vicinity of the Wayne Monument nnd the Cha.pel, If we Jmd detail 

information ae to tho oxuct locnt1ona of all tho~c huts the rc:;toration 

would be interesting a.nd worth while but an nttempt to rcstoro the 

piGtUl"e vtithout a.uthentic data would only arouse unnecessary (:ontroversy among the public, 

EHBELLISJH:ENT 

One o.f the outetanding fee.tUl"ea of the Ve.lley Forge Pa~, 

is the nbaonce oi' the n\UIIorous piec<ls oi' sculpture and momor:u:lla. Ona 

of the outsta.nding achievements of the onrly edrninistra.tors or the 

pa.rk is the restra.int that thl'ly hnve oxerciJod in prcventi!!G fnbc 

patriotiem to mnr the rural aspect of thie typical piece of PsnnsylVIll'lin country, Civil wnr battlefields hnvo boon cxploit<od to the point 

of doscrntion in thie manner, 

Jolonumenta nre in direct opposition to tho purposed act of 

Assenibly J·.l~y 30th, lB93, creating a collliTliiH!ion 1\Jr the purpouc pcrpctu&tin(!; c.nd preserving t:re ~.ito on which Washington's Arn;y· was encn;;;~Jod December 19th, l???, t•: June 18th, l7?8i to restor6 it !La nearly 

ns possible to it's original Qol'Jdition as a Mi itnry Cll.lll.Po 

A monumental pa.r.: 1o!Os not servo a.a doeo tho crude bcncltY. 

of the country in forming the ~icture of long ego. A olcnr ,1onception 

of inspirational and educntion' 1 acrvice of Valley b'orge is then essential to tho fernn tion of aou·td idene fox· the development and n .'lUCc~ssful resistance of the preastre tha.t it brought to bear by _ill act~ 

VJ.~utl or c·vor zoaloua citizen~ ror unnccocsary ornamcnta.tlon. 

"' 
• 

OTHER DETRIMENTAL FEATURES 

park~ 

guara 

Other feo.turoa unlluitnblo for the COI;lplete hnr1~0ny 

are the conglomeration of the sign typos, telephono poles rails. 

Existing signa nrB made of cast iron, colored enar..el and a 

few are of the rustic wooden type, It would be far more suitable to 

have all signa in harmony and preferably of the leas inconapioious 

type, Telephone poles and wires ere inoongrous to the beauty of any locality end should eventually be placed underground, 

Guard rails such as along the Inner Line I'rlvo, and the t}'Pe uaed alons the state highways altho neat in themaelvea are too conapiououe and too refined, We should have the same typos as u~ed in 

some portions of the West Cheater Park System in New York, That 1a a 

guard rail coneieting of a aeries of loge resting on 5oad stout poote 

of' the same character and being jlust high enough from the grouml to ~et tha bumper of an automobile, At exceptionally dangerous points 

exceptions to this could be made where extra reinforoetwnts 1nay bo 

.adopted. 

PLANTINGS 

As formerly mentioned detail plantil'(l euggeation.q and 

plana should follow the deoiaione made on the ge:nornl plnn, but etllphll~ 

sis placed on the planting of trees. Certain obno~ious views should 

be screened, certain woad plats arc too stit'f in th51.r alignncnt and 

many roads are tao naked, Pleasant surprises abould await one ut 

various intervale in order to eli~nate lar3e eetentatious plots or 

ground and to increane the apparent extent of' the reservations • 

• RG 6, PHMC. 

"' 
APPENDIX H 

RESOLUTION, VALLEY FORGE PARK COMMISSION: MAY 26, 1937 • 

• 

• 

41' 
• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

~d• .,. opro•-••" UoUGo orodoO, Bo.·· ioolo, 

'' 

. o<opooto" 

o&O oroor ~ o •Mto oo.lo:, ..,. .. oint ""~""'"'• • t ""'"" "' looJo o t~o loh a. I<>T. doo .. odt l~onno 1>1 <ho '""' J ~bo 15' 

043-5' In no '-'•• or •~• s~hylklll Rloor: <Ouc." oloo; ._,:· 

rhor S. 47• I 103.95'< \honoo S, 62• 45' 1. 7J7' too ;tooo ~~ .. oo S, IS• 15' "I, 399.)' <o o otooo: th .. oo s 79' 1"' o: 

J30,35' Oo • ol'ako1 oh .. oo J. 5" :10' W, 3)7.9' ,; tho pho .. of 

boolo.al~. ~u-P\ha looooon o.ll <hi oorhh lo< or 1 ... o oituoh Ia Soh~lklll ~•n"·"P• COooOo< Co, o!o.oooU Oouo.lod oM_ 

ho~r\h4 oo hllo•oo BoiiUiol ot o point h l1oo UoH\og J..nH 

of Blokloy lohh hoo l ... do ot P>o.odo )1. S'>n, 10;)' ud\ol \o 

lo~\boohrl1 dlrooUu hoo Hhu coo<or Hoo of "" ~•odin~ 

h.llro ... , n .. co lo o Jodhoot'"""l1 Hrodloo oy o o·o.-.o to "" 

•Ish<; •lib \ho raolluo or 716• o dlo<oooo of 17?' ,,,. 0, \o·"· 

<o \bo Oonu of tbo Ohohor b•IUhg :18.5• T•4l•l '' oA\d <oolo> 

lioo, 1hoaco I, 61!• •· 374' '" o point to lloo 4\o\j\oo ooH 

J ... Oo hn 1"-"<io or Jo)., L. 11<>7 141' ot rlsbt """'"' ,,~,o~\b ... t. 

ul1 d\roo\loo hoo ooU ~uh• !too; •h•oeo eroooloo ooiO ro!l-

.oo4 R. 64° e• J, :11>),9' Oo o pohl lo lbo ""' '""' of tho 

Sohu;rlkHl ~hor; lboooo h tho $·••<h .. o\ Uroot"'" oloo, oAU 

r\ur ;..,k hy !to '"''""' oo»rooo ""d Hot.,.ooo )00• ooco or 

loa to lho lloo Ho1Hos .. to Iondo ot Wor>loH ~>okl•J %ot.to 

hoo otbor lo.•4o of Phllo .. lph!o & ~••41os a. ~. , •»•oeo o1oo,, 

fold l1u o.nd podly o.lo•• 04.14 <1\oldlo• !too o! l...,h of Wortoo .. 

Bl<.loy...,.! Frooo\o W. """" orooolo• oold Rodtooo\ S. l;,' 'C' •· 

l~)' to Oho poht of o.,looh;. Cootoin\og 7 &eooo o' \on·l. "'" 

or looo, 

26. ~~~ ~llT Ci>!~&l~ lo< H piooo of gro•nd -l<b Uo b~!\d. 

boo ...,d J.p..,••••h tho<•~~ o'Oolod, Bog1o~!"" •I o point o< • 

<or~-. o! \bo I ....,do o1 H~"'1 I. Bro.,.,.boek """ '"• Philodol:pblo • 

Rof"l\o~ hlirojo.d ai•ht·<l'••o.r \ioo, \honoo S. 65° •· l~:><l.l': 

...... s. J~· 12' [. 210.~5'• •~>·•co s. 9• 5b• z. 188.92': '"""'0 

S. 44° I?' J. 347•4': lhoooo S. 36" )'l' •· l5'j,:J2' lo o <"'"" 

of BopUo• Ch.ro~.)ndo ood Coutory; thooeo S. 49° G2' •.169.)' 

o oouu o! Bopllol Chrob 1""4•: th•o<o S. ·n• 04" •· '59-)l': 

<~o.ooo s. 54> 06' 1. 170.2': \O.noo S. 10" 2.\' 'f. 0~3-5" <o • 

polat h pobllo ru4: \hoooo S. 87~ 26° I. bOJ,5'; lhoooo "' 

11° 1.2' L ~2.25': tboo<t J. 75° 5)' I. 4<ll,J'; lhoooo "· 8:1<' 

10' 1. 52•·9'; lboo<o S, foo ~· •· 932'; \bomo• "· ))"I. 375' 

loa ••••"' of lu.olo ot Pbila<ldphh .,4 ho<ilor h\Jrood oloog 

oo.\t l...t • ra4.lu ot J898.0J' •'0\ot.,.oo ot 5:.8' to • polo< lo 

.. 14 lo.lho.O L&O~o 1 \l>oooo J. )3" •· .(00' lo Pl""o o( boS''"''"· 

Coo<o.t.to1 69 ••roo o! Jo.od, •••• •• lo ... nru b•lld<os•· 

Z/. .l.l.t T!h.t CPUJI h\ or ploo. ot 1«~nd .,t<h tho '"114· 

logo &<>d l•prooo .. oh thoro .. «ootod, Bog\oolo• !oM ol'ooh lo 

hllol ruro, S<h"J"lkUI ~o ... ohlp, Choo<n Co,, Po. Oo~odod ood 

tooorHod u toHoo" 

Eo(h&\&( 8 t ~ poh< h So~t~woot Corur of lLDd oouo~· 

ot ;

1 oa.\d lla<y J,..o Bo..,. Jlol>olo to .. ,.,. Rob\noo~ 1>1 hod totod 

Oolo'oor 10, 19l4t th••O. 01 lud «<•YOTO<I 1>1 ~"1 Jou ... ,. :<ob:!O 

" B jaoola 1. !oOII. Jr. '' dood hlod ht•ol I, 1913, s. 88 15 

!. 2;, •"" •• hoo ·,., polot ..,, _s. 2° 15' •· 11).5' to"" L•;• pi~ h ~o•h• ot •"•'' or r•ot 25' o\h. !O..nco oloo' oootor o. 
ol lo H 

ooU oUoo- I, t 0 4~' I. \b)' \o o ~·~ .. h u,, o< t .... ~ ~~ 

MOiklu huu n .. oo ..J.u• lloo of ooU Sho.o l•d ~- 2" ,.,. 

J. )~' -u or looo to Oh 5o~l,..rly ol<l.o of o ,,L .. h rlsllt 

ol ""'"' U:r.uoo b7 So~norl7 ol<o o• OA\~ r\1:0< of •"1 S. 8?<> 

4'i' I, :lb?• ooro n l•" •• o po\r.t i" r.o··'"'': d\todloo "' 

1...,4 ooaooy,.a 1>7 Ury J""' e,.., llollolo to ••>< .. ,,~ ll,<,~~<-•<>~·. 

Ohoco o.lont Eo-ol<rl7 \ln. o~ onH hnd S, 2" 'j(•' ~- ~~·- ooro 

o• !on, h phoo of ~oslnolos. •~p>O>!o to\7 < ~~,.,; o. '""'"• 

28. .iJ.l, Tl!.lT CD'I'.I.IW lot o< plooo of !'"""" ""~ ''• lu\lO· t••• ..,4 lafUUocts Ollouon oroctod, Bo~\"1>1<11 ot o ooht c~ 

oLo oonhr )ID.o of lll• rood 1<Nio1 hoo Vol lor rorgo lo Phoonl<· 

o!llo ..!>1<11 lo o.loo o oor""r of \h B"!'tlot CIIU<oh propH\7: 

lhooo ohU tho hp\l.>t. Clmroh proporl:r f, ~-:• 50' !, o dloton<o 

of •21'; \hooo S, ~7• 2~' 1. • OtoOo.ooo ot <'O'J': ok.oooo •.:1v 

):I' I, • Uohn<>o of 405' to • volo• h no ••••.r of th ·ooro o 

.. otlonol <DOd; thooo ~- ;~o W' I, o 4\otooco of 21~·' to th, 

plooo of bo1innlo~. Cooto!olo~ 2 ic<"o of lOAd, ooro <H l•<>· 

J uo otory ochool b~llo!ln,;. 

f'UI!TIID IIJ:IIOLVC, h.o• Ho Soc<~h<r of t~o Cooo!oo!oo oonol 

o oo>UUod oop7 of tOlo hooluUon •• ••• Soo<Ho.q of 

10rooh -· ••toro, ...,o \o It 

)'1)11~ RUOL•D, r~>&t tbo Socut«y of t~o Con!oo!oo ••· 

tll:,-, In niH"'.!, tho • .., .. , o! ••• oo!4 trooto o~ locd o! 

tho ..,uu to.l<on th!o 4"'1 by tto Coooloo!On, """ bo It 

)'(THI!D !UOU:D, r~>&t tho Soe<oOory oond • oort!f!ool copy 

ol \~o ltooohUoo \o Obo H\orooy ~onor.J. o! tho Co .. ooo•oH~. ,.1\h tb. roq~oot tho.\ ~· tl<l<o looo!lato otopo ~ 

oftod,..to Uo '"''• In otdu '" olnlolu orponooo •• tbo 

c.-. ...... ,u. 

420 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

APENDIX I 

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE RESTORATION POLICIES: MAY 19, 1937 

The motives governing these activities ;we several, often conflicting: 

aesthetic, <~rch~ological and scientific, and educational. Each has its 

values and its disadvantages. 

Educational motives often suggest complete reconstitution, as in their 

hey-day, of vanished, ruinous or remodelled buildings and remains. 

This has often been regarded as requiring removal of subsequent 

additions, and has involved incidental destruction of much 

archeological and historical evidence, as well as of aesthetlc V<tlues 

arising from age and picturesqueness. 

The demands of scholarship for the preservation of every vestige of 

architectural and archeological evidence--desirable in itself--might, if 

rigidly 5at1sfied, leave the monument in condibons which give th« 

public little ide<> of 1ts maror historical <>spector importance . 
In ae~thetic regards, the clairns of unity or original form or 

intentron, of varrety of style rn 5ucce~~ive pl'r·iods of burlding and 

remodelling, and of present be.-:outy of texture and weathering may 

not alw<rys be wholly compatible. 

In attempting to reconcile these claims and motives, the ultimate 

guide must be the \<oct and judgment of the men in charge. Certain 

ob;ervations may, hm\ever, be of assistance to them: 

{1) No final decision sOOuld be t<rken as to a course of action 

before reasonable efforts to e'<haust the archeological 

documentary evidence as to the form and successive transform.-:otions 

of the monument. 

{2) Complete record of such evidence, by drawings, notes and 

transcripts should be kept, and in no case should evidence offered 

by the monument itself be destroyed or covered up before it has 

been fully recorded_ 

( 3 ) It is well to bear in mind the sayong: "Better preserve than 

repair, better repair th.-:on restore, better restor·e than construct.'' 

(4) It is ordindrrly better to retain genuine old work of several 

periods, r<lther than drbitrarily to "r·estore" the whole, by new 

work, to its aspect .-:ot a srngle perrod. 

(5) This ;;pplies even to work of perrods later than those now 

admired, provided their work represents a genuine cre<ltive effort. 

(6) In no cMse should our own -artistic preferences or prejudices 

lead us to modify, on aesthetic gr·ounds, work of a bygone period 

representing other artistic tastes. Tr·uth is flO\ only stranger than 

frctoon, but more var·i~d a"d more rr.tcrest;rrg, ilS well as more 

l>onest. 

422 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

(7) l'lhece miSSing le~lu~es are to be replacrd Without sufficient 

evidence as tu tne:r 0-'" or-igindl form, due regard should b~ paid to 

the factar·s of perood and regron in other surviving examples of the 

same time and locality. 

(8) Every reasonable addition<ll care and expense are justified to 

approxrmate in new work the materials, methods and quality of old 

construction, but new work should not be arlrficially "antiqued" by 

threatrical means. 

(9) ""'ark on the preservation and restoratiotl of old buildings 

requires a slower pace than would be expected in new construction. 

Battlefield Area Restor·ation Policy: 

Consideration 

raises many 

of a proper restoratron 

important problems. Not 

policy for historrcal 

the least of these 

proper application of such a polrcy to national battlefield 

areas 

is the 

areos. 

Those areas offer conditions not usually present in other historical 

sites and the problem is more immediate in vie" of the present rapid 

developm~nt p<-ogram. 

In o sense a wrse policy might better be described as one of 

st<1bilization rather th<1n restoration. Stabrlization embraces 

necessary restor·ation without subo<·dinating to it the entire physico] 

development program. 

It IS convenient to discuss the problem in two p<>rts, the elements 

usually presented 1n a battlefield <>rea when the N<>tioncl Park 

Service takes it over·, but before any developrne11t prognrn has been 

initiated; and, the successive steps in a sound stabrlization progran1. 

I. Wh~n the Nut"J'"; P~r·K Ser~iL~ ldkc"> over a mrlitJ•f ar-~M, it 

usuall\- COPorslo of th<" foll~"ing elenr~rrl; 
A 1'1/h.Jt was there when the battle ~>as fought, Lnclud 1ng 

ev•dences of the battle, sucll as earther1"0r·ks, ciC'arC'd 

fields, ruined foundations, etc. 

8. Subsequent additions, including for-est growth, modern 

buildings, monuments, and markers. Some of these 

subsequent additions, such as the intrusions of unsightly 

and modern structures, have been injurious to the 

appear.;mce of the area. Other additions, however, have 

improved it. For example, forest growth of 75 years 

frequently 15 a desirable witness to the age and the 

dignity of a battlefield area and fortifies the impression 

upon those visiting the area. 

II. To stabilize conditions on a battlefield area· after it is taken 

over, the following policies are hereby approved: 

A 

B 

Undesirable modern encroachments on the battlefield scene 

~hall be elrminated as soon as practicable. Not everything 

that has occurred since the battle can be considered an 

encroachment. modern structures 

intrusrons which have been due to other than notural 

conditions and which introduce a jarring note rather than 

contribute to the normal accretions of age are the elements 

which should be eliminated. These include modern 

buildings, high-speed highwoys, gas stations, transmission 

lines, and other obviously incongruous elements. Normal 

forest growth, the natural changes of st,·eam channel, the 

operolfon of other natural proces~es which seem destined 

never to be contr·olled, should not be eliminated. 

Having eliminated undesrr·able 8<Kroachments, those 

features of the area which hamper a cleor understanding of 

the engagement also 5hould be eliminated. ~or example, 

"here fun,~t gt·o.,".l> has ub~tr·uded an important vrsta or 

"her·e a road locatron CQnveys a ·"llisluken notion uf lr·oop 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

movements, th<>l feat<Jre should be modifted or eltmtnale<J 

for- educJtton~l reasons. 

C. Restoration, which seems advis<!ble to aid understanding 

and to restore the niltural landscape for clearing and 

naturally representing the battlefield area, should be made 

as funds therefore are obtained. Such restorations may be 

made for structures, earthworks, plant growth, etc. It is 

recognized that, in each case o< restoratoon, there " 

present ' danger of introducing '" artificral element into 

what "" been previously ' natural scene. Natural 

processes should be allowed fo operate '"' dignify with 

age the natural scene. 

The foregoing policies should aid in developing a battlefield area to 

provtde a combmation of elements renoaining from the time of the 

battle, plus the normal additions of age affected through the natural 

accretion of natural processes. When a battlefield area h<>s been so 

treated as to represent this combination, it can be said to be 

"stabilized." 

The Advisory Board approves the guid1ng policy of the treatment of 

the Morristown camp site, in accordance with which the restoration 

of only a ve•·y small number of representative structures is 

attempted, and expr·esses its opposition·to any attempt at compl~te or 

lar·ye-~Lale re~\Ordlio.-, of such sites, especially whf're the buoldir1g ol 

str·uct,ores is invo'ved . 

Unrau and (VjjHss, Administrative History, pp. 275-79. 

425 
----------------------

APPENDIX J 

RULES, REGULATIONS, AND GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR PATROLMEN, 

GUARDS, OFFICERS, AND CARETAKERS OF VALLEY FORGE STATE 

PARK: FEBRUARY 1, 1936 

1. :he ..iuper1ntalldet~\ Jt 71llh7 ?'lrge ?ull. 11 \Jie 

... 31ll11'0rehve ~:'!1cer ·Jf ~ll• 'flllltiY !<:>::~ Ps.rlr. 

·;.-11111.1a<11.on a.::A Jt' •.t.e ::A;::MZ"~!nt; ~r ""''ll'Aet~ and ~atert, 

.1.ll m.,l~yeea a.b.ell reCO>!Ili.&l Ul.e !rU t.'lorl ty ot thll 

..:·l7til"111ttildCI.'t. ~ ~Gars Ull be issued tro• b11 ::~t't'iee, 

2. ~llttvUl.en, ;uarUa, Careta.ll:eril !Tid Jt'tieera lhall 

reeo;pt..::e ra:lit1:::16 orr 1ot.Ua J: :.'le ru11: 1 tlle :o11111.1u1our• 

3.lld Ott1c1al• at the :epar't111CI.t by proper !!!1l1hJ7 

.nluh, 'llld a.b.dl be ns;:ecttul to sueb orr1o1ala, md to 

all peraon& 1.n tile :'ar'l: a<;; all tillllllo 

,, ?aUoLaen, ~~ar<11, C•ret4lr:.-:re .s.Dd JN'tcer• lball be 

taailh.l' n t !1 ell ?1:111: rulea IUI.d :egula tton., to •nabla 

tbq tD aot ett1e111ti.'oly 1n !ill ct~see, 

4, Intbl"Jiat1on rl!la•ive :o ar;!ere, ~r o';her ~llAlneaa 

• 

:.Jt tha :05rlr., ~1:11.:..1 :wn '.!e ~z..'-!::11<: Jted. <:o non.-e:::~:;.lor"•· • . ...n.:r eueDUoa to tbU ..ule a::.l!lll be s:peclttcally ~U1£lll'!te4 

))]" tha :-u;~~rlnt~dst, 

s. PatrolaaD, }ll.llrda and. Jtt1cers shall Cll!lkl r.-por"t 

calla to t.ba ..::upe 11.ntandcnt•a Cttl ea u til U JWI: 

i'atrol.Aan - 1.:2.adlt.taly u arr1Tl::...a; tor iutr, wban. leaYiD.£ 

bl.rrl.clr.a tor tclur or e~r&u•cy cell, 011 rt-tUMI. l.lld whan 

golno ort dutJ, .]\JII.r.:l.l • at II .:>,:.:,, l ?.~·., lUll bet·ullll 

4::!0 a.D4 5 ?,", :Tlg!lt Jttlcera - opu•ate wauhclooll: 

aa 01r::>Yt.dad at deai~:lBUd ..i'atlona aacb buur rroa a P.ll'. 

to e ,~,,),!. 

e. ;atro~n and X1~~1 vrttcer3 are n.o1 regardl~ •• 

properlr rel1aTed u.nul raliat 11 coDtsohd 1n IJUC!!. 

iloaltton 11.1 \o .,able .gdera to be ,9.VI!l 1111d reoe1Yeo!c. 

?, ;>at.n~l.aen 1 ~u...rda, CaratN:era lllld Otr'toara a:J'I OD 

d.UQ" \IDtil 1;bay ar• out or tha PUll a-rea. ~uar'ita abal.l 

aer·n beyolld tbair duigrz t11d a1Dht l:loura 1t nl&enotaa 

or P.ll'.ergenolaa llld.1cate tba r.eed or n:tcded 111rrtce, or 

ab.an ardara arl 111Uildo ;'atrohen !U'Il !IUbJeC'O to emer~enor calh ror d-uty dur1111: pertoda ort actual 

?atrol dut:r. 

8, :urtn11 Ul.eil' hour• o! i!ulJ1 ?etl"')lmen, -:-uarda, 

vrncer& end Caretaker• llohell :10t le•v• tbel.r poah on 

the ?&::-lit .. 11haut ;:rerm1aa1on rru:a \be .Jupertctellll.ct. 

426 

• 
• 

• 

• 

;, ::ban illne;:~a C!IHJ.aea abaence rro:n duty, ~etrolilen, 

>WI.tda, :)tricere and Ceretall:5re, ahllll llOUty the 

_,'J~E:t:'..t'lr.<!~t':a ·;r.'tce .,r1or ~ t.t.a deete;nated neit 

-:ou.r <Jt d••ty, .baenca 'Wi.tbou.t leave shall be cau.e t~ J1aC1;Jliae or dl<~llll ... al, 

10, l'11:l'80~8d !ll:.d I.Ul!\IICIIM .. ry COD'i'Hl'U.tiJD 

~et11:·en :'atMl;n<ln, ~r~e, ;rtl cijra ano:3 :ar .. ta.~ara 

.J.t.d 'l't<~it,;)Z':s 1.:~ ;l:rtl~lbltel!., ... TOld bel;:~ too 

!oal:.a..tl'l'lo rt 1• benv 1101: \0 \I'Olu.ntaar lnf'Cir::~Ation • 

. •e.1t 1n<J11r1ee and tb.en .~lve det1.11.1te aDC!. eou.rteoue 

re11 ;10 r:.u ea , 

U, _ o:~trol:o~ea, ~-lillrde, cu .. tall:era !!.Do:3 ;trtcere, 

.JIU'TiDI!I tbl 111..111.11 ;;ertode, Call ::aka IIO:IltiiD1cat1on e1t!l 

~ach ;.t.hiU' I!.Dd .-ith ot.Mr •Oll'Y••• aa brtet ae ;~oeelble 

and .a.b.all IIOt aoool!lpaz:.y e.acl1 otbar 111bile on dllty, a:zcept 

1D 8lTI8t oasea rz eaarg'lllc lee roqu1l'1ttl3; aat~illtlliiCe, 

121, ~rd.a va .Ulo••• to •ur ttw1.r b.uta ror lu.nob 0 

~o attend nrs1 llrl4 dUJ1.1lC inol-a'\ ••'tt!V, an17 • . 11111 in t» huta \htlf .llb.l.ll SI1Dtl.111 1 'l'i,;Uant outlook. 

13, :>strolaa, 1 -:-'-l.lll'!SI 1 ;rtieera llld .;ereh.k~r• 1Call 

, '1'0 1 d. 111 11:\.l,llg 0 lOun,glll;!; 1 8lX, .tl 0 \lll lJ1 ca 8 '\\ 1 tU.dll II o i!D d. 

Jhlll 110'\ 1.111 tcbecoo 1a thl :or••~a• -:Jt '-he Y111t1n,::: 

:;:1,1bl1c, ':"!:le llpO'Iilllrl!llee ot thl •c <~hall 1nd1catl 

111..;1lact atte:cdar::ee to i!..uty 1 :~~:.d readllll!lll tor .:~llr"'f10I 

a1 11.11 u.-•• 

Ho ?111'0lalll, :l..l.!lrda, Otr1ur• md Can\U:1r1 eU.ll 

not 11 co ep t a cy r<l••rd 1 gr• tul ty or ve.lu.a bl• th 1q 

•U.h•o•.,.•r rro:a llll:T p~no.l!. r~ aa 110t !!on• 1.n psrtorlllanoa ot duQ", 

1~. JtOZIU 1 s'!:lalt1 1 bMkftl ~lau or otlur art1olea 

::111 U:ls drt.vea 1 ra1:i1 or "111ce 1 liabl• ~ OI.IUIII inJury 

'r.l s horaa or ve!:l1ale 1 ar ~ 1noo::,en1111lOI !t.e ;lU.tll0 1 

~hall 'Js r>SoTe4 •• a . .on 111 notioad. 

11:~. COD.d1,1ona 1111:117 ~ l!lldii.Df!PIIr ar lneODT"ellilnll• 

tha publlo or tl:lat ••a 1l'Teg'l.llar or ot'raii..I1TI a!lall 

bl g1, 1'1111 pro=q)t ananUon elld •e:rurea I !!.ell be tell:au 

tQ ,-uard T1a1tora egoinat acoidCltl tr.eretrom • ..iuch 

cOlld.1t1oDII shall b1 1111111<'..1ately r~orted \o 

_u.;~ert~~ottl14eut•a ornas. 

17. "!'requan'\ d.lf;lr.datlo~ or 1ao1:!en~ JD a >u:ll'd'e 

;10•1 o:r 1D ;>sri: sr••• ullod•r • ?a U'!Jb&n' • or :U~h t 

;rtlo•r'• l<ltoll, thn are no\ ::~beerved ar.d re,:orted 

st;.!lll l)e c"ust~ !':It' rt~".Jril!lllll~. ?r~.;-~eDt re;>O!tlt1::ln 

:~f ,,~_,tl r;;,prt~n.J.• ~~.!1 :.1 btl O'l\UI fJr bUI;Jez>lit 1n >r 

Ha:ll.blal. 

427 
1a. -~en on -!uty 2' "'lltle t.c U~U'or:~~, ?etrol1un, ~;..:.arOs, .;~!'1~ers il::lll. ~ .. retM:e:r• ell.ell ll<>'\ !Silt.,r IIIJ.1 

::.a tel, inD., tanrn, ~a;.-r-:om Jl' saloon •:•re l1;1J.Or 

13 "'ld, 

HI. .>)leu on :l.u~y or 11!:11:!.11 11: \.IDHbrll., i'atrolmen, ·-uar~s, Jtt1cers 5ll.1 :a:::ete.kera are e:~:,resaly 

!:lrb1d4an. '0 aooept U~uor in mr !'bl'lll, and are 

1n.a\r'-»te4 to r<move troa t!Le Park any ;Jel"80D Co o~ere t.l::eJI 11J.\.!Ol'o 

20, ?e,rol..lll-., ~ ... :r-d•, Jt1'1eers II.ZI4 Ceret.e.il:ere 

sllall <!i1'fll their ntlll.ua cd nUJII;Iere 1D a rer~PaoU"Ul 

:IIII.D.nllr ~ all i'lll'IIOOII l'II,.U.IIIIt1Ill 'th-o 

21. Pa'\rol.Jie.D., ~,.;ar.le, ;rncare and caretllil:era 

s!l.llll sttto\ly ent::lrce the reg~.~b;iora !'brb1<"!.d1ng 

t.b.e colleotl.ng or sol1c1U!lii or .oney or tlle ede 

or ticOta. ot ant \C.lnd. in tlle ?arll:, 

za, Into::d.oate4 or .:1borderlr penon., tlild t.boae 

co:lrlitUna or ll"emp1.1.~W -.a oolllll1' an ob•ullulll or 1lldec~at 1.11' zua• be ;Jl'OIIlptlr reiiDTIId troa the ?ark, 

23, ?atrol.man, ::;U6r<U, orncan i!ID1 cue"tall::ara 

!LZ'a O.IIUUoned \o ba sura th~ a:•a clearly within legal 

ri.::;ht in ~king 1m arrest. ':'1187 sbell pertor1111 all 

;>alice <!uUn t'1rl!Ll.7 btlt w1 t!Jcut , ... :rUalHy or 

:;.reJo..~d1ce. 

24. l'ha co.!lduat or 11uapacte4 ;~araons al".!!ll !)a 

aloael7 watched, at:.d 1n ouoh llllltJJ18T that it sllall ba 

alidenl 'to llila1d ;l'lraoDA that tbay an baillfl Wlltohad 

11:-:d that csrtldD datect.ion 211.1•' felloe Lha att•pt ';Q 

001m1t •.11.1 orta.:1aa, 

2:5, :'atrol-."1.1111, ~UH'Iia, ~rticara au1 Carat4klll'll 

are euthorized elld r~uired to arTetlt pen~ 6>J.ilt7 

or o;ny ot the otTer;.sea Cfl.:ned in the rulea and re~~ul11t1one !'Or the :p"'al'lJII!ent. at the ~arll:, or any 

v1ol!\t1.)D ,r laa, ahe:a t:Oe otfenaa 1• co::> itted or 

os\t""'Ptad 'lllltb.in !light Jf tlla omoer, 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

ee, lhlll a r1•1 tor ci:Jl!lr-:e• 11:J;;H~er •lth tr11 

~o=.l.J.•l:ln ~r .. n.:Jte.d ca-.J..e•i~:a or ILl!. ort•tw• 

st:d. req\.:.eatll that the peraon c!::ar~e..J IL•r••1t.b. be 

taken into c..:et<Jd7, the <XI!!l;Jle1r.tar.t Jh.all ~:u tl;1 

.;m::~1a1nt tn •rl tJ.ni!:• rr ~t:.e C<llllplelDant ref!JJJel 

to :!o eo no !IITest :~ball :0. m'.!e, 

27, ·:ae or la !lgll8o;!;B oalou.J.a t1.:. to e~l t• r .. 121tanae 

or >;..':i.e subjection ot a prisoner ":.o ·~aJ.leC-ror 

1n<H~n.1U•u =st "'oararu.i..l,y aTo1.1e4 by ell arrlcera. 

28, cetrollllllD, ~\J.IIrdl, ~trtce;-s l.ll<i ~aretalr.ar• a.r• 

ror':li~e:n to interfere Ul O:UlY -7 ill u.. '""'' at Tiol~tora 'tlet.:.re thl ··11,;11trau• l.o :''llrll: caaaa, hll&ll 

:'I:J')C8 rt nP: aa a -t tnesa ri!l.loi te .:~D.ly mown tact• i!l.lld 

'.0 ·!lot. >ild tart &Ll !n!b n::.a t.ion, 

29, ::atM~IlD 3t..ll "!l:t!ep JIOt,)r t•;'J.l?"-ar.t oleau SD.d 

ln .o;ood rv.=1!!8 oom1 tion. ,.u unH'br!Md •;>lay .. , shllll ~TI !ltte:nt1;~n to t.lle can at thli.r 11-111torm8 

to 9!1.111.1l'l a ~ocd ;.enonal 8p;!lal'IIDCI, 

:30, 7teee ~1 .. 1!11. -~e&Ul4Uon• are d.u1aDB."•4 to 

:111intain pro;>lr ;11so1pl.1n• 1n. the :O•rll: pereon.nel 

alii. to 01ro~~• t;:. welfare or \11..1 vhUin.c .i)llhlto. 

!::1. caaee not e.l1e.rl:r OOTirll~ b7 1111.7 nlll !lerliA the 

r.!Oiloy- 11 ri,Ulr14. to Wll 1ntall1gent diaoretion 

~:111 to adTill ;~ro~'Oit17 ~th the _.urrtntenc.IQlt 

rd<ltive to :rucb C!llllo a ar1 O!Ublio 'I!IMII1~1, 

recd'l'inp; oompenuUon r:u;:~. ;~ubl1c fu.Ilc!l e.nc1 ::~t,ould 

n!lduot ::n:~rsel•e• 10 •• to r1fleot ore<!it -'D tile 

or;:;anl7aUon, thl :o11111ia11on a"d ~e ::o.aoa•ealtb • 

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,d'), LL!il. l;.o ... p111(, Ll\UI:, W!ViTl(;;, 

'~'-'-' tlt(_,Y r.~.y <.lo;,:;il'U, '.dlf.lj 

·· u,c y g~ ~ mov l.nt; ttlong 

.,,. ~:.1;,1- .,u;_· Jlhy.,.U:·;J tu;.k 1;ill l·- wo uifficult • 

o'l~duo IJ,, fll"l:·. IJL:<.-

iJH lJ ;,1·~· CCI ,;,.lf IJ•'J < 

.. ll Hl"/1 Oil 

i.~i:l (L~i 

J.~lli,'. (.] .. 

l [.JI!il 

l " 

1 

1 

1 

1 

l 

1 

l 

1 

" 

" 

" 

' '"' 

" 

u'bo;·t:o·uJc, l'·,Lrolr,tur. ·.iJl ~uv<.--r tlt<.i j·urli: gonornlly, 

u,An ,· . ..:.r.u; wH.! tollu. ~''• ·,"Ou<tJ'-' uw:..i 1;n<-U tu 'i.htJm, 

:·1t:lli'-' ''l~..>un<Jr: 

., J\1 ... l' 

.. :oj/1'- .. y:,.;U'-' 

[J;r. ... ~·t:uuUun .:..:lJ;: m,, 

ilsl•.l·:;~ctiun <>.J 11m~ 

.• t;:;ltil.; ,,,n: t·tLWl'it.l ,.,,. 

!.-11.."<''--I.C,JOll <!I' (:Lil]-J]l 

iCJ:l{: ·:1·ov..· nl.·:.J.~;: 

.• Llll''' .. l ,,. lh J' 

_,,,c.;,;.tlu, .. V\•<"·· 

,;.l. ,-... ucio" ·.JuO • 

e' " - JILl. Cctlt,rv111L 

.1Lllltt,l'\i1c !'Ul"m ntruncu. 

Ill!< \U\llll;, 

J 1'1111 J' lim· 

1 ill• htuLl, 

'Jl'i Vo; 

.,).,' ih. :to:, i1.;' 0!" liULd' J.iJIC ill'hL-

·''-~ , r,,Jt 1» 1. :.11t.d 

.):\'I; ~-'-J.J.c-U,/ 

·:tJ\.<.l.-0\.t:l!.," ·.JI· ',.• •l~ .. L ,_;-,: .m.l .. tlpll :uod- Ctll·Ji• ,<:htJol 

i.'tll..iCJlllll l1.•il"i·ll . .:- .. :., 

.'t!L·L .. :.iL.i.lJ.· i.:J!I 

luL .. l·:J,uL.iul> ,,f ~J"I'-•' :.i .. < .Jll\u ;."u 1\0ud t.u the '.0\ILl' 

:-;;, "lll.l .. u;;.. - lnu. 

.t:j ._,_· 1 U.H -JI Ll1!o-, •·U]L ;,[,·,, --~· l11ll- .... lc .. r 'l,lll 11, el.\Jlui/JC(J 

.\ \JL, ''-"•- ,l"(j~;L. 

.i.ll"! c oe'0<~<' 

, \. I , ! ,'' - ,J ,''. 

,, ;) "- j •• ).I. 

Correspondence, RG 46, PHMC. 

• 

• 

• 
' • 

• 

• 

APPENDIX L 

VALLEY FORGE DOGWOOD INFORMATION: 1938 

i r~. .! , .obin•;an, Jr., .... ,.c, . w. :.;oJ·u .. trcJe t, l'h1l•·..Jelp~.1u, renna, 

J nrc h 

~.()t]Lo l\J,.£1, 

It ,_.,u V(;I".'! nico tr, hav(' o vi~it fro~' you •-lld 1·r, 

.ObiU:.:.Jl, the other {)Ly, I l'iVU y.JU l>Ol'C\.1 th UO/ItC 

dutu l'<·i~l"•r<linr~ tht- vollt>Y Lll'l>fl ci0/'11->0d 11hiol! muy be 

of ;nt~.:rc••t in connnotion 11it\· ya1.u· ·.roJ•O!H.(. t.J•ti"lCi 

>"rm•. "11 tn:f'o:rrc.,tian, ·:.1; -.•· ' ,utt DOI't•-tn tli!!'L tl.u 

llll~iv; flliiOl'iii" tiO[l;WOOd {CorJ,Il>l flori<l11) n-oUl'iElhll<; 

'Hi t. •'•>'/ IJIH : t, 1'-l'l'' hill., in [:;Jl-lni~.ol \Hoyu, It 

1.: 11J(el~· tht~t :cll!i~' fin(, <Of'• ,~HJ~ flo tl\0 Cl>l~:p finm 

of' till <-<>ntiJKnh•l nlrlilr:.:, 

, JoLuhl~- tl1t old out livin·· d;Jf' ... >ot! ln 11•1• liOct1o11 1~• 

one l.llc'-'t in \. ,,; .. ·J: 'Ln t. tc '1 JJV, •Y l·.outc ~~ 

nc,,r 11.~ inteJ'[;ruHon I· it: !npti' 1 ·. ,,:_()., < h•-v .. 

. ,;tu!,li:;J,ct! itt.: !•I''' ut 0;. yc.·,,·._, !t l.. iut<,l'< vtinJ; to 

ol" cu·v•· i L nllir•• l<Jl'-11,:. ), ____ ·:· lli •. cul:: ,U<><·l'<·l~i:Ul!ll' 

blnclUJ, 

···rnm Hl\J:5 on, -~ 1.1 •. 1·, ,_,,Jl, t:<.l.l• ·-~·~u1z·,1 "cctionl-' or 

the ori;·.in;,l cnu". p .. < ut ;·rmw"'·, ·' Ltunti u/l 1 ,,,; fucu:.ou 

on till•• .nn.wont--1 LlTi< 111'G, Jllidhl:' o11' old Lluo:~ouoll 

Clime- llll1lCJ' pul'l: u\,/lUl'l'hip · .. itJo LJ1. ;mJ'Uh•·--"' ut ,, p .. rccl 

1.11' 1: ll· ju:.t :;autl. ;:,J' ~1lpl1 JJml <<L !.lie fuut of l t, JOy, 

ftLf J/l/lcl' inL ..Jl'i'J,_ \',:C:. OOIJ-'LI'L.I\'L\!0 thrU thi<O <JLCtion, 

bb;o.ictin: '-l" plot, ,.,_.v 1 ,,J r. ,: du,;\', -l><l~ .. or'-' pl<.nt.;,, 

111 Hll , \'!Wr(_ tlll'Y nO\'. ,;.,rmJ., • ti.i.- l;.yout llttr:.ct•,~ 

,,,ore U>itl rooro public ottont1un the !(len of o d.cf1nen.J !.log. 

wood ~~rove <Jt tht,t point developed, 1'heuo troos nre !rom 

i:lU tn <1b yrurll old, 

l"roqumtly the op.E<;tion 1:; nskc< r.:; to iJ;n number or docwood:; 1n Volley Ft.lr(lc l'lll'k:• scree tluy we hope to conduct 

mn ucourl•te ccnllU:> to doterlr.inc a do:l'init,- U!HiWer to that 

query. JJol'iovcr, from 11 cursory eurvt:y it iu ;;afo to 

lley thi.Jt the epeo1mon treefl lwrc totol O'I(Jr <J.,UOIJ, 'f'llilE' 

younr>.er ()nos end seedlir,f•S exceed ~o,ooo. 
.. Netionol fume is attucht to iJ.it. P>>rk site by r<-'u»on 

or tl!O \",hite, ,>inl~ >md crimflon l.i()g\·lood bcl:luty llf<re, second 

in tho vts1tor•o reaollcction <>nly 10 hcllowe•l mo,;,ortos ot 

titu heroic doorJs 11!" the n;en l:ho kept fnitil on U!B.B~o !Jill&, ,,li direct evidence (JJ' tno int<.rmn in ~Ia. pur)l.'B t:IOJ~IIood 

»hOI"i - t:.ol.0 170fl prlrtJono v.ere cheocktHI thru tl~ p41rk in Juy 

of lliBt year, ()n one t;unduy l;:.•l,UU() ll\J.ru.>n» v1cwo1· the 

dl:.ploy, l'lmlct· lolo•Jtn" 11J"<J r:.;t ollr do(.~"·odt< r;olc heouty, 

Curs are the fruit hf,l•l'in,-. !JPlOil "''" t.hl: l"l:l" burri<:; 

]Jr\:f.l'nl. h rcluriou,; ~::i:·~1t in ll.1· f',,u, 

!locwooc.J >::1/';ht~>ccr·.•: indmlod pc•·c;on,; from '•0 ~>tlltl'>l of the 

rnton ,, · d licve rLOl Canudtun proviM:cs, Cuba, 1 c:doo, .• n1:lond, 

rrelund, T'rH!lce w,d :·cl(;ium, ,,rJ<: rr·col·{],; ror recant. !fc'III'li 

,;IJ•.>'. "fl im·:reusP. in visitors in, B:·: J'ro. ll0,07:::i in i~Y 

H:I~O ~., W'IU,'It:./1 j'C!"""'Il~ in lu J~j~?, 

.. :xtrclLJC ou.·c i.,; a>:r,rul :;r, .. b;1 L ':1. 1 lmral·~; n,,"\. t., injure 

CV<.l!l t.):~ v ·.>Lldland ~;ocdlinr~" 1IU!'in clevnup v.ork. 'L'hfir.o 1~; 

1:1till 1-'0I::(: unnoyur:c.:. rror.·, wil!.l i"l·J·o.ui' ~ollec'WI"l;" frorr. 

U:.{l t.J tiur: ln1t thCJ' ilo no· "·e!n tu btc t.li pr~:~vnlent uo 

J'orln,,l'l)l". ..tornul v1,·i11mue h. :I''' .>J·ic., u!' biH oll<>!'r.l ~.>f 

tllc do':'·-"ud, j1;u·~ "" 1\. iu foJ· tl:i. ath1.l• ··oo1l t.hln!"ll or lit'~, .. r.u 11: <'n--.ll!lVO!', .:;cient1fiC!ill.y 10 c41n !'OJ" uur 

$pm:ll.·,(!n tree$ t•ml Oil' tantly fir·J,t Cl(iUinllt inBcct infcetution .• nct aiS<:llme ln1'oct1on, 

Jt' 1 nH,: 

Lol Cull 

bt' 0 ,· t;lly 

apon 1J":(), 

furt! :r "ervicu t.J you uo not. J.o; .. ttute 

Yours very truly, 

::il 'J, r'" ,,,Jane" . Ui .Jill 1't'LIW.:.J''I' 

Correspondence, RG 46, PHMC. 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

APPENDIX M 

AGREEMENT BETWEEN VALLEY FORGE PARK COMMISSION AND 

EHRET MAGNESIA MANUFACTURING COMPANY: 1939 
• 

• 

• 

'" 
• 

• 

• 

437 
• 

• 

• 

"' 
• 

• 

• 

439 
• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

441 
• 

• 

Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commis5ion, April 26, 1939. • 

'" 
• 

• 

• 

APPENDIX N 

VALLEY FORGE PARK COMMISSION RESTORATION PROPOSALS: 

NOVEMBER 1942 

~. the unCWJtant C=iiUii~nara ha'l'e ucce,..te.; :ml a •. ,.,rovod t.hie lt:t,illaU"" 

gandat.e llll.:l. withill the lLits ot a.,~o.,rL:>t.....: fun_~ an..: WI ill<:occ ere., 11 1101111 

t.ru.st tun..:, have ""'-';,..lllte.l rcst.vrcti.:..n of &everal 1..:ij..<.ort!IJlt ...tlit.ary W~itll of 

tba ori&lM.l inc~~t., 1nclu.l1llt; F ... rt ~o.ec.t..i liioore, St:Lrlinjj ne·.lout>t., Inner 

Line 1<1fl.;, .r'it, 2 k..J~s flP.nkinj; J'crTt "'"<A"'-' 1 2 tle·~!IJl~ flcnll:~ Fort \;at~hillgtan., 

ecq\Udtion of the oricino.l C"--..lissary Quarters _.ro,..erty, the site of SulliVIlii 

ari~ge acroes'tbe Schuylkill rtivur, the site of the ~icket roet of V1rnuu's 

Bl'icade an..! the l.an.J oCCllyie.l l.;y ~~ever<;,l CWr"'t~iee of Sllllivt:ll's l.lrit;o.Je ..:n tbe 

north bank of tbe S<::hqlkill il.iver, an.! 

\ool~DtE..S, it is t.he coosiJa:nd o.,inion of the ,.reeent Couuis91omere of Valley 

Forg" P&rk that definite rlll111i an.l eo;:,nit.c.Lenh l!hould l>e ua.le to CCICj.Jlete t.he 

ret~t.oration of this W.,..Ort.ant histe>l'ic t.nea....a .. G..><mt, therefore it is 

ii&SOL'Itll, that u 11. result ef j.Jreliuinr!l'}' e~tion ~t.t~J reoeueh, Vallsy Forp 

Pulr. COIIilillllion l'ttCDI..I..It:n..l~, Bll 51.>011 115 t.he Ll!t!Cl'::t.l coml.itiODS ..,en:dt, tbe CemlO!IR!iltb of .i'cnnqlvania BhvulJ t;ive :..ttention tc the ,...,r.,.,tuation of the Shrine of 

Valley For~:e, that en a,..,:ro,..rintion a:wuL boo =-..e by the Gcno:;ral .:O.IIII"f..bly to 

JII'OTUe !or t.lu~ tullil.Llent of th" lcbishtivo ~J&te cf 11!93, unJer which the 

rerJaining unit. shall ;..., rcsturto.l et a tot.u.l csti=te.! cost "hich Valley For(;e 

Parlr. Cllo..li.l.11111ion TO;>cor-s here'l<ith as a Ull.SonaLlt; exren..liture far 110 i:J;..-ortant a 

jJUblic 11ervice, anJ further it is 

1!ESQLV.!D, that the V::t.lley For,_e i'arlr. Co...::rl.ssicn, o.s of tlove!.ll..>r 25, 1942, 

recocuen..l11 to the G<.>vcrnur an~ the General nS5t:~LlT restoration, ~eseTVBtion 

anJ i.!J,.ii'OVIIL.Iell.tll of Vall"':;' Furr;e i-'o.rk c.t ::n csti:>at.,U cost thereof as folloes: 

~store olJ f<.>r~e 1n Vall~y ~re~k. lncl~cs 2 J~, ~ race, 

a.,,.ro.,riatcl.J" J,.,sitneJ fort.e ~uil:.-i:Jt:, U.,>J•ro.,ri•.tely UesiLnc..i 

tri:lt."• etc. \,ork snm:tg of 1937 c~1er stc-.'' i.uiLinl, stone 

brio.l~;e anJ r~tainir.t. 1:,.1:..' ::.lvo[ cre~k. ::,-~,r a.n~ ""-ter control 

project arc esti..;at.~s t;;.s~·- ~n ~ ::.c..:1J 0. C~o._ •kc' s _.l::.."ls . .O:S:':. __ J;::: Ct!S'r ;;.67,250.00 

~Wiliint: Inn .. r J..in~ of £.1-trenci"u.mt.s :ro._, !hb . .iclntosh sit~ 

ami ilr.:tsu-on~.- iliurlu:r, .-.iv.::: i.lrive o;.n.... .r'vit 1\<;:wcJy nm.J to 

J(nox' s Point <.>n lnm1r i..ln~ Dnvc, .. ::r.,. 0 c:; - ki.a.l len._ th 4$56 

feet. fiz",ish~~ cartmcorks, l't<JTHi cov~·,·~- tc<-':t. ~" -"-11, L.' l:it,h, 

1' .,..i-le o.t to).>, 9' ,.:;__:;~ ut Ocs~, wit:. ~c,:.t f' ,.-:_.· .. ._,rk ShDet~ 

Co.:li-'\lteJ 1n 19)7 cov~r :..o.t.erir.l, tc~lu-<o<-.~ ~ •.::..~h, !..q\.iy;...~"lt, 

eu,...,rvisiun IIJl.! l..>,1.ll haurs of lat.-or. 

EST:'"..i..YW l:LST vl"2.650.00 

<43 
116~tor1nt_ Uut.er Lin~ oC Ent.rench.:Je:"Jts t'ro.J "'"':.:~o:J's site, 

B&i>tist koaJ !lf'ooJ Devon koc.C, to !I'"' y,.,.k i' int. or .. :_-.,~e:r Line 

Drive. Th.,nce fro..: ""59!1Cili<J5ett~ &~tc, n,.-.r ~~t; Jn'l.1 olo.\c:ol i~: 

Arch, to Fort '"onlee:.i oiool": po.lLl ,,_;_~, Ou1-~.· Li!!t~ Dri-•e 

tot.<J.l l.Bn,;th ~750 te~t. :.'l!lish~J e.>:"th'"''"L~. 1\t.c·ne c~Hrc<! with 

e3rt.h, 4' hieh, 1' >li..;e nt tu-" an,;, 9' wi.le .::.t b.s., ~>Hh (' ..:l<J:.:t. 

Mark sheets eo~...,utt.; in 1937 cvver )luter~:J.~, tecl-.nicc.l ,.~Eelli'ch, 

squi..,cent, ~TVision, Wll.l )..IQil h..,lll's u-'' L~.or. 

tsTJ..rt.,TED C.;<;;~--- o,.22,750.00 

Restore Coo.,ney Street of 40 H\lts .;>T 10 Huts e.::.cn oct f.. Oiv.:.si.l/1 

&it.ee. H\lts s:U.illli' to t.-.e on~ <:t '"fn'-''s ;JiviEi..;r. restore' 

accordtn(, to Sj.otocifientic.ns ir' · .. :..shir.t_ton'c -:;r_;,rs ~.,.rK sheets 

ot 1941 c""er u:,.t..,riul, t~c!-.nic;:.l resec.rch, "'Olli,""~nt, ro,.-(.!'-

Viaion J.n...l .Jan houra. 

;:;:i':<l.d...'l'tr C'-'6! ---- ~)t:,75G.OO 

l<e3t-ure Kno•'s l-1 .. >.<:'<3-~oh Si:u-" ~t ~i':.e u! Knox's Arti:U.,ry. L<..s: 

cons':.l"\lcti.:.n, st...>nc r~,_.,...,.._l.m ""-,.,: cb.il.lney, tll><loUaJ '.iter -l.a!QII 

o~ t.:>e ,...rio.! 1771-!."'':J ... ,.rk s'lea~o vf '-9J7 c,,.,·~::- '-"'·t~.·i<>l, 

tech."ll.co.1 reaenrc!l, ~ui;..o~nt, su,.crvi.l.<.an ·.on.: -">ll h<->urs ..J! !..:itor. 

l:OSTLo..TUl COST --- ~ 4,125.00 

Restore Knux's ~~rtillery St.::ble un ~N,.ttst noc..i sit<;. Lot; cunstr-uction, stune !COJll..W.tioms ... orll: sheets ut 193? c,_,v.,r .c.:.t.eri.u.l, 

tecl!nic..:l r<~se!U'ch, equi •. .znt, 3\l,_..,ro-isi.m ·'lll·.\ ->o111 u~urs ..Jt L..lur. 

r.srr.t.:~w cost .. l:l,.<:so.oo 

Ut.uilJ 2 P'ielcl J...l.lle 0'1'~05 in .. ;.yne \/Ou.;s. StoJDa (1.et :!..stnry) 

c.,<:rW with .. uth in circuJ..::r ... vun...:s, 17' ..li=-:t..r, 3' .1i;): ;;.t 

cet~t.(!r ::n.l ot ch1..4'1ey. l.vrlr. ~ .. eta of 1~37 covur .14t<.>r1:..1, teehnica1 r .. se:.rch, eq,u.i.,uant, ~rvhion IUIJ ...::.n iwun uf k'wr. 

ESti-..Ti:D cost ---- :,., 1115-00 

RestOI'\l t-'ro•ost Quar-.; Kuii.:!KI, alor~i; l'urt. fianne..ly lr.=l :>.t site iD.-

..ila.te..! Ull. Dururt.a.11 .u..,-~. St.me ho-.ao .• ru 1ut: ,..ris<:.~n ill rnr. 

~orll: aftuets ot 1917 c .... v~r ~t.(!ria1, t~chnic.l rus~~cb, ~ui~ 

nent, su_...,TVi~illrl- c.n"- ..!-:lll h.,-,u-s uf b:..Or. 

.,11,750.00 

kestore Co . ..:lls~ Qu..:rt~rs, ,.jorgnn rleL.:qll.ll't.,rs. Stone. Entire 

tuil<linb ato.n...~. <;st.L.J..::k !.:J.Sel un V .... nn .. o.•'s ~krs rost<>-

ration, 31\J in<llU..:~8 fl.lnlishing, 

R"'store Col.ona1 :Je..-<oel' 11~ =.! b.l.II:JO Ovens, <JI'iC:ina1 <:"'lt.ral 

...-ortion ut _,r~a~nt ·--"-~hin~,t...n Inn n......- int...lct. Eati;:uta, incl~­

int; futniahint.s, ~,.se..i ~n 'hrnUi.L'a Qu:.rt.>rs r~st-.rJoti~-n. 

EEtl.L.TEIJ iXl.St +--- . -.-24,76o.OO 

"' 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

De ... oliah tarn '~ .,u.a:rJ "'.rr.1cks wnich n<JW h-.JU.se _._rk _,fficea, 

;.-\lblic l.atrll'le~ an... ,, .... li~-.. CnstroJ.ct ·r . .r~.-rLt<. CLl·~ni:ll 

<!esign A-~inis'!.r;.tivn cUl.Llir.1_ t.., ,.rc.vi~" C ___ •• issicn r~c<.., lark 

executiv" 0ffic..:s, v.ult, .~;:_ic<> he"~qu:-.r-..._r3, ,u":>lic "l'ltin(: 

nnJ restr..,u ... s, suuvcnu· St--ll.S, rest..ur=-:: •• :c•:i::", ,.u-kinG 

.s..,.:&ce, etc., wurtlly vf t<•is r"s.r·:::t:.11. S~ti.. ... t..:s = such e 

unit hav.., nut ._..,.,n r-"~ucet ~'-' -,,.r;o; s: ...... ts ~ut ...:..: reL=..l;oJ as 

re~a~Lll ~c~_te. 

,.l:l5,000.00 

keaton• Fort Julm "'""'"'· L;1se..l ..a cvsts r~r 7:,rh ll!ordacai 

.!.vore, iolShinbt...rl c.n... riuntinLtun. 

~ ),275.00 

Rc11tuz'e Hvs..,it<J.l Ql,urtcrs in or1t.~l ~uil-1int: .,c ,..nsent 

ollll\SiOill llouso 2t floors. i-as.:-.1 un r"stor .... tion c~;sts fer 

llam\.ILl alU hash111(tun ll~:>:lquart.:<ra, 111cl~.~uint (urniahin.,s. 

ESTbt..n:n e::.sr ---- .,.22,750.00 

Re,st<;~re k,..;"l> !It Picnic Gruun..:a, fkn~ing Fort. I!Uilt.ll'lt,tvll, atone 

eovereJ with ear~ JO' lone at. to~ 36' lon~ ut ~~~~. 3' ait,h with 

7' l>ase, 1' w., an..l 6• !..IUUt. l.urk sM<.tS cuu;..ut.~.l in 19.1.1 ~"""r 

oaterio.l, technical rcseJ.rch, equi;a.~.,nt, :~~~ .. ~rviaiun =-! l.lllfl 

bololl'll of L:IL~#, 

EST~T~ COST ---- V 885.00 

Re~t.ot-e !.he r<~;:>~~inint; 20Cl0 f<1et of ctattU. l.Oc.se<l on cust. .,r 

rest.uratiun uf 5lL f.;:cot 1n 1942. 

!:STI.MTill COst ---- :,.. 2,450.00 

Jo.ett.o..ra Se...tt LuMt1.o .on Ck.it.er l.inol <:.n~.rom~w· .u. .. M.i1l' 

""J'II.• S14ta&. 9t...ae e""ur~~ .,"ith O>Cll't.b 120' ~ "'" tcr., U'• 

1ant ;.ot ~ .... )' ~u_.;,. 'it.b 7' ~lM =.: 21 tv.,. "'-'" ~tl 

e= .. ut....; in 1941, c~'l\Jr ...._t,.,ri.:ll., t.o;,el.oi<:-1 Nte'-l'cb, "''.u1,!.JCIIIt, 

,u,..:rr1s1....a ..n.. --n ~._..rs -4 L.:..ur. 

i::STL.i..r.,.:. UJST ---- <t 2,~/'5.0l/ 

iwst.urut1..cr. ~r r-~~ t.., Fc.tlul~ P"r" ..n 51k .,f ur4,l1ul ua.:d b7 

Cut~.ti.nunt.a.l ..r..q tu r.u~.e:. SuUiV.oll '.:r-1-,:" l'rn-78. l.u!ltt.b 1.*15' 

..WU. 10' lli'Ul SD "'-"~ st..on.a !Jus .. :.n... 4~ ch.J t....t'• iourlc. llhooet. 

cou.,ut&.! 19)7 cuv~r cJI,tcf'iJ.l, tuclrlical r.:1"-ll'ch, equ1......,nt, ~­

visivn :m.: c.;lfl llulll's <.>f l:J.\..vr. 

Msture i'1c~"t. r'ust uti. V..rnu.. sit.. un n.:11ly uc,,uir~.l Zllli~~ lAnl 

<llvllt, t:.ort ~"M".!y k.A.J., Stone <ll\ll e-.rt.h 3' ll.4,h uutsi.!e 4' ~ 

~Lle, 8' L-'"• 2' tu~ L4' 1~ o.t. tv., nnJ 20 1 1"~ ~t baae. 

;.ur:r. st.::ets e->.J,..Ut...'\J 111 1941 C...ftr . .o..t...ri.U, t.oe~ical reseueb, 

eo::;u1~nt., SU.,-..rvi~io:~:~ =.. ....n tl.;w·s uf La~<.or. 

y 2,750-00 

rt~•tur"' 2 t'iell:~t r'v1t.t, n..,rt.b Ulol ~J\l.tll .... .-r=ebes t.u Sullivn.n 

llri.J.t,.e, St.111 ""-;earth J• hit;b, ouhiJe 4' ~. i1111..l<o ~~ 

b:t.lto 2' t.u..., l<>no.t.h 14' :1t tv,> ..lllo.! 20' ·•t t.:1~e. \tcrk aheets 

euor:ut.....r 1941 C<.9..:r .r.JWrial, technic_.! r..,secret\ 0 eq>.ri,nent, 

~1Si.1! ~ l.lt....-, 
tl."•""'" o~~iehuel StNr ll~A~M &t r._.rt ltoonne.!y, ~t.<IU of 

C<>loo:d c.D.l 211.1 ""t.bent. St...>& ~ ~~irli;. IJ~e it toz 

o,'\I.V.l t"'lt. !llU r~~-bli~ 1.atur:»ti<m tUJ"..0.'\1 at P~ll'll tort 

IC~ ent.r:>ncu. 

~TI::.In 1'!D COS'1' ---

lle~t= .. 51..!1> Tav&m, hec.~qUU''kJ-!1 cf V..m Steuben. U...su..I on 

V<Lml.ll.l <~o:.t., illcl-.line lt;O:j r~et 10' ro:J..J.•'.J3 :ml f\ll"nisbirlg. 

t.S'i'loLTt:D COST ··- vll,4SO.OO 

1\ .. tore ~Witi:l.bt...n Qu.o.rtcrs. stun~. o'...rt llt.!!li<!!Jig. i!.et.ain 

l.<l'iginlll "into :\n..; ral..uill :~ectiun ~\U"!'l6"J. .-:n.; re:.t...r~;~ 5,411\gh<..owle. l::lllti...:ltc bo.seJ un V~ '•"'J.rtcrp' ro!ltor:ltian. 

~STL...~ CuST ·--- .111,)50.00 

""'rro;.oric.tel.T :J:IJ't. sit<> vt l.nehl.rl~t-.n oLlJ'~I <lZ' tiel...! t.mt 

alung C~~.o~.., ~. U1<> lase Qr r..,c.,ntl.J' ~equir&.l HoW011. Sto.~ 

•itb a~~c..,ric.te Je~cri~tion. 

~~~t~~ or1~1n..!l ~kurs ot Sulliv~'s ~ri.l~c site on south 

bank o:;f Sch'!Ylitill <liv .. r <:~.nci .,l..:J.c .. n~;tly J.cr:_uire..! In..;i:!n,; li."lellt-.>~~e :..a.:u"i<t:l' "'~o'I'.J,.'I'iatcly .JI'..rk ... J. tr...r vi.~_,n-,.tion Ly j'(er-in<> 

ll.lilzoW l'llSII(>l\i.~U. 

f.STLb1';..!l COST 

Cl~<ll." cm.l t.rC....:" .a-~n :_....two"n ""··JUl._ 11:·Erv-.~~ an~ Sulliv'n 

~ri..!g~ sit<l vr. Sctru;ylkill niv~r .• t t~r..~ir,;..l vf F:ttlc.n..:. Fc.r:t 

li<JJ.c., \ourk sh.:ld.s of 1937 c..,v..,r <Jq\.li ..... .>nt, ::>U,A;lJ'Visi~n ..:.n.l 

uaD n~urs vf l3~vr. 

.:.STlol..',' .. il W;,T --·· "'),650.00 

lluil.i.l J ,..:.rki.nt; S,.<l.C<'S - (l) -.!j.c.::nt tv l ... ~;.int1:'-':l ,4~ •• orhl 

Ch:ir"'l an.: t'iell:..-t o'vst t'.,;rt K ... nr.~-J ·:>.'!- Qu.c.rr;r .. ~ • ..:., (2) 

IU'tilllll')' f.:rk aJjo.ccnt t._ ;;:nox Sto:t,:"' -n: :;,•vt'• 1]1 ::o.t site 

of rcstort.-..: 11\.lts. \,oril: au~ets c~.l.-uL..: .:.737 cvvur .. :J.t~rinl 

QllJ ;:,an n ... urs of l::.Lvr. 

iSr"cting 4 Lt.ri::"s ~t to• ~ in<!iaat...l lonticnJ. Stoae 

r~uvn "-!L 1"& s<;ftt\no•Ua.. ,,or~~; *"t.' "' 19Y7 lon.-

"at.ari.11, ~q'-'1.-..:.ent, roru"fis1ca :;.ni '-"l-11 !1-.>ur• ut Wbur. 

~Tr,.;..n:D cosr ---- :;l2,5W.oo 

Juil...i 2 :Jil~~ ,t ,..rc~..ective ~<J\!Lh b\l.o.l'c. t':ll.ls (l"b~l at 

JJ:;-::ic(l.t.eJ l<..c'-tiuns •.hrc-u.;hvlll ..,.u-11:. ;.crk sheets uf 1917 

c"ver ..>1teria..l, ¢Qui,....•mt, """'"rviJiull !:nd = b~W's ot la~~r. 

h.STU.n:D COST·--- ~ 4,1!2),00 

Create reer.,aticnnl area ~n ne~ly lC~uire..: l~s nortb bant. 

of Sc!-:uyl.:.:ill itiv"r t" ;.oruv1J., .<-1enic 'il-ea, '-'.'!C "r rher 

f~r ~-"~l.n;_ '-"'-.: sh'ic.nlne J.n::l '-"'"~net reg::o.r.l.,.J. '\.S desir,.ble 

l1l ~-.l~. ;.:st ... r~c 2-nc.l'-'....-cent cor~lll1-o3. 

ESTI.J.:':D COST ---- ..,.20,000 XI 

'46 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

He• rOOL.l\Oayll, a.-rruziwat.el¥ 2 i:Ul•n. rl..uul .,rej.ICLI'll>l l.y lat.e 

J, IJ. CLll'll:\1. The~ ai'B :W.,::ition• to o>J'"I!Ieont roa<11 .,.r-1Jing 

eu.si.,r untr-aneu:, r .. aturin'- cortllin ori.:.tnlll rro..:\ISiJ's, enol 

eli.ll.nati ... n uf t.:"•o .,;nsent. J""'-.,r a_.;,t.a, fur cunveniODce ot 

i;STU..TED COST --- ~3) 820.00 

Stone Obserout.ucy T'-""'r on iolt, Jr.-7. o.,ai,_n o..-•• rv_.rl.nt.o tD 

Cvlooic..l. w-cbitect..re, 100' hii,)\ 1 JO' Jiaceter at t:1se, 2' 

wlls, C<Jil.crete insile stair<o·317, w1Aim1 ... _,en~a J.t vnri011e 

..-l<ltJ\.ol""...s. Stru<:twc to be eith<lr rvWU ur Sll,ll:.r\1 1 siai.Ulz' 

to llov~ dill t.J•ccr at lorashin&;ton Cl'uS8~ ?l<l'k. 

i::S'l'IId..Tlll COST ·--- .,.ioO,oo:l.OO 

IIESOLYEll, th.1t the ~ t·.·t.:ll ot tha "stll¥ltd cvst ur coz.vhW r<1s~UI.Ift 

ut the loint.or &lc:=~ent lm-1?78 o.:u t.h~ 2030 ~cr<>ll vf Vell"7 ForL• P.>rt, 

\lll!le<.l cy the C ... :.JiJ<..llw<>U..l.th <Jf .r'onnsylv;mi~, u.s r..cu=en..io.l LJ V:olle7 for&• 

Park Couoissi~ \l9J9-194JJ is ---

a. .. JW T\J'ro<L ---- ... ,oo,ooo.oo 

tie, the \lliJ.orsiule<J., Ch:l:lr:Ja.n ..n! t:ltocutive Seel'etlll')' r"s_,getivo:LJ ot Ule Yo.llii!J 

Fort;e P.trk C""-'Llissi .. n, hart~by cartif7 ttw.t ti~e fore;;.vin._ il> a true and correct. 

COA ot a re110lut1un unanlcuu~l.J' u..Jo,..tel ';.,"J sal~ Cv..u3.:1~1un Bove:.Wr 25, l<J.42, 

Att.ut: 

aUtei't s. J~s 

DIIWI'IVE 5ECki.'l'MI.Y 

VAU.ICI roiGE r'-'nl CfWIS!Ii.tOI'l 

RG 2, VAFO Archives. 

"' 
APPENDIX 0 • 

REGULATIONS, VALLEY FORGE STATE PARK: MARCH 1944 

By "'~G~~ A ~~''u;rlt/ "ler··'>'l ih '"",;,.,of '--•• G,·n•r•l A.P;•ornOI,Y 

of t~o •:v . .,oo~e•lt" ,,f e.~,,;_,i'""''"• -'"Y ),), l>"-•-', ..,J ""~rulnent" 

"'"'H"''• tL>o ~&Uo;· F.,c~o P~.-~ Co•<1i>e\on hocoby "'tob lotoU r•(U-

\4Clono, for the ccmtN~ of ~"'·oonai """J·cct ~ .. J fu1· ~ ... rrooorvMtiGn 

f Valley for1,o Par~ proeorty, unoler •ioi«l Ci\e , ... .>bj_ic """ onj~y Chi,, 

osor•otton. 

1. Build!nco, otatueo, ~onu;>onts, ma:r);ers, fort,, o .. trenobJ..,nt•, uotru'"" •.:rth~orko, f•nco•, briJgoo, •lgno, rMd""'"' "'''''"• turf 

&nd any t'>a~ otructuro, >l"'ll not Oe ~.r,.cou or lnjlll'od in MY 

...,..ner. 

2. treoo, olu-ubbory an~ o<>il.or ?lant lifo, or t.neir blooooJIO and 

fruit, oho.n not t.. brobu, injurod oc , .• ,.ovod, Viol-ets, but tor-

-· <1.0.:\oiu, d.tul>.leHono '""<! muollr~OOI• ore oxoepto~. 

J, Picnicdng and ~~<reotloMl aocivltioo oll!t.ll bo cunfln,.:: to oect!Qns 

prQvide<l by tne Par~ •~"iniotratlon fo:r oucn P"·n·oou. Firo~ocxl for 

eo~~~"6 -~ bo obtAined by •pplic•tlon to the for~ Cu..,.·lo. 

4. H~>talnK "-'1<1 owt&rnln~ shall not be •l-lo~od ill V~lloy Croe~ nor ~'~'""> 

~lle ·~llttlw~ bank of tra Scrtwl~1,J.l RJ.•~t ..-1ttJ.n tho ?.u'k, Pyo<>ni 

""''I l:oa~ho., od~ or boat :l.n tho 5ci\U;rlkljl iliv•l· tro10 cerl.dn Are~,. 

o.l-on~ thot otro0->11' o Mrthorl,y bo.nll onl,y u;><.>n ~·-·nl.osion of tho Pnk 

Suverintondont under rogW.ationo provlde<l by t.l\<o ~rn""'-l.ooion. Opor~ 

&tlon of ,-at..,. onft oMroby oitru,r &bore llno of tho Scheyll<ill 

hlTor, ·witbil> tllo Park, t. uood, r""JuirM • por.oit t'oued by tho 

Pu~ Bupor:lnt.n<lont, tmd<~r C<lolllllisdo~ r~guLitiono. .l.yj)UC<>t!otl~ 

for P""'lih ahollld bo !ado "t tho Allmlniotration Offl.co, V&llOJ 

Fo>'iO ~ar~. 

5. lll"tlnlll> p-oup uo..,bUeo, .uoio&l or tbo>o.t.:ri<al anurt&Uu>onto 

or arw i&tJ:>..rinl;o ou·t..,.;!Od through ad .. rtt•o01ont oll&ll ro>quiro 

~orllli .. ion of t.ho C..-ioaion or !.ito Par~ Su.,-r1nWndont. hotin~~ 

or gaUor1n10 for politlcd ;ourpoooo """ not l'"l'>litted. 

6. AL.5, tlCbto, ;S~<bocripUCll.9, publH =t:lcu, o,..ntJo or 

~ uticle oh.o.ll net bo oolioitod, poat.od, <liot.:rih~j.lld, oold or 

oxpoood fw Mlo witholl.t & Uoonu lo.,..d IU tho Co=looicn. 

?. Auto~ob1l~ por1<.1n1 ollall bo confinfl<l to epo.cu dofinltol,y ol.loc4tod 

for ti>l.t pul'poa., 'o1oopt 0.. porait 10ou.d Of the Pork Suporint.orul•nt. 

Pui<inH -.rtor da>'l< lo oponif10&ll,r rorllidd•. 

li. G!U'bo.COo note po.por, T'llbbith ll(ld dloe=dod art1<l8s ., .. n n<>t bo 

droppod, oeattorod or dopoolt.od in tho Pori<, o:o:eopt in roo•pt.o.ol .. 

proYldod tor I!UOb llll!t.oriol. 

"' 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

'· Fire'·"""'ll not~ •'-!!.~;.~-"' oc ,...c~Ht..J k bw-n oxcop' !o firol:"co. .'<·»\ eJ 'of ta~"'"· Pe''""' "'" Oioo;.ovor flr•o oro u- .j'-'OOtel to n~cify too Pu~ vrao~, "''~ un:lfonod ~-1 ul· Po.r~ 

~l·~luyee ~ro~;·t~. 

• L;uostrl..n• ob.•l.l not C.. ~n~·•i '-" r\do on forUfico<.iono, ontuno!uoento, •·oodooy ""·""' or neor builrlin~s, -'"''""' ""j ~un,.~~nts. 

Tr.•y uo r~quo•t•J an-! ,-r.o-1 to u•• opon fl.oid• ":><! Or'cdl.o potno ln 

oooJ.od ..reus. 

ll. ~nl""'-)S "'"' O.(rJ; ""oil nut oo nunted, t.r•y~eu, !njW'od or ~llhd, 

nor t<l•i.r nest" ood 1oo~o,; ~i,<llrOO•l in t'no h~~. Fh>,lnr, oUdl be 

in oeeordAOC• •ith Go""'onoooHh l.~••· 

12. ~prlnp, rount"'lne ~nJ otre...,, oi\t\11 not boo foul&-i ul' J•"'"i"d ill 

ony """""". 

lJ, Uo~o &l"'ll not be allo•od to ..un ot l&rg~ in. we C;;r< but-~"" bo 

on l"oh w><i undar o.,or'o control ot dl tllPu. 

).4, Dioch&rp Of firO&rO. or firOWQTU Ohal.l Mt b., ~ll.ow.,;\ OOXOGpt 

UDder 11oeo.,e 1ssu~ by t.oo c~,__,;,.!on. 

15. Into~ic"-~inc U tuvr; or olc,,.,oiic t..ver-'l!e• 6Hal.l no~ bo 0011,...;1 

in ti>o Par-k. 

l'l. 

• G...,l>ling, obscene or indocont acts, 8buaive or tnraataning 1J!.ngua~o, 

d.l.s<>r.iorlt c<)l).iuct or any coOOuct t!l..t""""' onfto! ot.luor p.>r..,.• •AAll 

not be allowed Lo tile Par~. 

Co.,erchl truck• onnll not bo ~llowa~ to use Stuce dlgr>w~Y ~o~t" ~3 !"'••in~ t<lrolll!h ~ne Par~. T,as rule iS .-lo for th~ oafoty or 

drivoro and oul>l .. hCll ~ohicla" to "void d>Ulcoro~ ilill.<, 

-_. 1-ou:rl•t oa.p ~ito, oquipped -.-1tn fil:<tpJ.~co, oot"r, l~trloes r.n\'1 

a ob-olton-, Out no •~bins, io locat~ in tho fa:r~ .. F•cllitlu «rO 

ava!.lo.blo April l. t. Novo011ber l- !or porlodo not oxcoodi..ng too woek8. 

l'roa ~ov...,bor l to April l ttlo tourht site ~ bo uood oit.t>out tnooa 

-f~dllthG. Campon ~~t be ~ce.,..p.o.nlod b7 at least one peroon 5god 

lB r.,.ro or oT<>r. Roglotr~tion ~t tllo Par~ PoHeo Barr~c~o 1o roql¢"od. 

~o peroon ob&ll onl;or or &ocond the Ob•ern<torx._ Tower on ~t. Jot 

uon '-'t& ga.to tberoto l.o J.oci<od, &Dd. no person 10"a-Uowod oHhtn 

tho oneloeuro of llaohio.&ton' o KoO<lqu.utoro -.-non the gateo thoro to 

aro loc~od. l't>io nulo qd.n~t t.rospaoo oill ~ strlotl,y oniorcad, 

1'11& tooor b opon to tM pUblic froco 9 A.:i. to 6 P.~. during tho 

o\UillOr 1101>U>o ud fro. 9 A.ll,' to 0 P.!l. dUI'iDI tile 1rintor oontho. 

hslli:l&t-on'o H.adqu.uhn l• opon to Ute ,..hUe fr<>m ~A.~. to 

'i P.M. dl yoar. 

"' 
• 

I 

• 

• 
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• 

• 

'" 
• 

• 

• 

"' 
• 

• 

• Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, March 22, 1944. 
APPENDIX P 

REGULATIONS FOR STANDARD, "BETSY ROSS," AND 

"COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF" FLAGS: MARCH 1944 

JII.IIU&I.')' "' - I;y~ 5\ll'ldlll Nuw ·.,,11.'11 1111,1 

i'!tbru.lor)' l2'UI - l..ln.:ul.v.'li ll1rt-lll.l.U¥ 

" 2211..1 li~r.hJ.zlj!:'t.un 1 (; b1rU>·l~~¥ 

.l.jJ01l liith - U..t-~.u "r LulUn(;ton 

"" "" i'rOt\Qii ;.lUa.nOII 

"" JOt.h - !!l(l:.il/l'lill D"l <Uali' WUlt. 1.<> No;>Zh 

Ju.Je :..r.t.h illlt: lluy 1'\li.l Dlllllt. ut'kr PI!'>~~) 

• ,. . - l!&t.~l.o ot ll~ Uill 

" l'll\li l::vao~ \.i(la ll't' 

Jlol./ "" - lnaP))Onoience uy 

~\l)it-IHIIbiiT - """~" llq • 17th ConGUWU-m lla,y 

'.>ct.~ b"I' J.O.tl\ C~:olwotlll~ ~ 

" l'IU. - l;a t,t,l• of 311TII to~l\ 

" l'IV. llunWIJ.e1' 11f' l:'~».·ll.~~m 

liUVvloiL<N.• l.l t.U Arab""' tliQ' 

" - fhppkaJITlD& tlq 

Douewt.l&r l~ - .MG"' pw"·~ tJo;r 

• :<!rt.l• Cl.o~·J.~of.K~.r> Iloy 

tlw Al:llll'llll!.ll 1'lalil: IODJ ~ C~'-.Ln..CliJ.01£ o tl.o.oli 1>iwll bo dJ.•~O<l 

ev~r,t o..iey o~t, ~ ... :it.J.:rli;t.Yclllei'.Jqw.r'l;¢e1 uno:l~r ou.r" <.of Ueu().ll~'• C&.r'lt.U.~r. IJ11u ~ ~lll'iiHUI flJo.' U.OU1it- Oll t,il,o t~.,eOJ.IIl 44tot ll'btzl \1M 

l!alfi (Qar~·hoo.) fl4i -..u L11 UHII<l. 111 1r'Wr.q 1lUii.U\IIr I j$ fli!i llliiiJ.l 

lx> OUblltHuW\.1 f<:"' t.u~ ot.hu.r llb<'llo 

Tll1rW11n nt.n:r !lagli (ller.q Koas) ~ ~ ""' IU.IIplrl,yQd a\ J'~t. I!.W1t.ill.l~1 Fort. Rr.u\linGt.un, J'or~ liord.ooai. l!luuru, Ct.l.:r lloo.lllubt., llolaWt' ll11t., Crllnli Pu~>;ia ..nJ. Cn,~o> tei1Qill1 Wll;i.cl~· ,.~~.~. • ., or tJw i'..rlr. Po>llc• lind llu.ard roroe. No 

tl&~t atw.l.l oo noWJJ fi'olll t.be Oo·~ l'alldo Qll ~· •beD g1111 111 be1zl.n lii.s- ~t.a ~t. llllllt.ill.iii:'kou ~\N'IIo (?&~olallA J'UGl.lllf\OJ.blu 1;1buA Tuur. OUIIN~ 

ero au~ on ~u~~). 

'l'lou LwrioAD r~ ( h9 BLII>l.l u~ 41ap~ nery ~ •' I'lll'll: PoUot !WI 

c..~ BIIITI&OQ1 IIDlkl:r OW'Iil of t.iMo PMrll: PoJ.ioe lllld lliMl'd ForOIIo 

454 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

'J.'iw h-<~l'.ic .. u fl«l: ~ ~bull ''" Jiui'lr:.,yt~,J 11t Actuin1~tr•.~ioo Buildill.i 

on tilt~ IIJ>Oll'i"-1 ,[utes, \.IIHiu!" O<±l'<J v:· t:~~ flupO:r'i:ltan.clont, 

J.n ~flue c;l:ll.lll !Ju ojlsc~l.i.IYotl "~ tiuntinutcn (lll:li'tol·~ vu <1111•' of 

ruf'lllnr ""cl a_p!!Cll>l H<ntin~;;:u c.!' "''~ C":~!lisJicn, una~ c<U"o or tJw Plll'k 

<'olithl (111..! Gu~ r.·l 'Formo. 

Irul't.rllCticn~ tor UJ'och.:. c\b;>.\&:1 "ill b~t ctv<Jn :l'ro~J tim" to tl.lll" 11.11 

lilllY l!<! <lll~lliO<i IIJ.li>l".:lpl"ll<Wo 

'£1lco .:o..,llli~utou «uttlorho~ ttw aoqui~it!.ou of u. fll>.g pol<~ ~~n.l it.: 1n- ~t.a.Uation .. t lhmUneton .;.'u!lrtars, "hich 1t d&df'JIIlot.od ns :~. fhc !>OIIt., 

Tll<> c~,.,;o~\.UII:I.Qn "\\t.I.IO:rbu.t ' t .. ll 11""'01""'-'0 uf t'lu.f:;! in ~f'ioi.ent <jl,I&D.t.11f 

W ;Jr<lV.i.lu t:.o Jio1

HI\;" o1' tJrt,;r.t., \lll5u1.l•Jd (ll'l(l \11\~q;tu.l uol.G::-p &t. &ll 

loiW.OIII l\1\ <IXII~jlt.1ull WM~ llQ~~ i\>1.' •to~ ""'"'tobiN', 

Untll .;. 1\Cm ;.<Jl(l, <.'!' ni~" dllt'Jl',.J.1n~<l trJ tilt! Cu•ot.~iii.Si..Jil '"3 ;;~u Nod 

propur, l~Y .;.\.Jt.>linO': <ln'i oreato-> <.t >'o.,.oh1.nr~ton ""~"'·l~t.era, til& Colll-

'"~::uiOl> •• 1:-oct~ tn~t J( _cpp::.r, !'Let;''" vl.>La.ltl\Hi aui ,:l.,pk;o.>.:t ~<t .O..t ;m~t, ,,n "''" ,,p<>r:i.>J dak" for •·•\!.Olt ~'''' 3:.~>.1.!!. !'l<J[' ~,. ~ohodulad.. / 

Executive Secretary to Superintendent, March 27, 1944, correspondence, 

RG 46, PHMC. 
APPENDIX Q 

LIST OF PARK BUILDINGS AND THEIR UTILIZATION: MAY 1946 • 

• 

• 
• 

I. 

• 

\,'J'•slline;ton HoadQ,uertern -- apeu to public 

Varnum's Q.uertcrlil --open to' public 

: -- open to public 

Q.uertere -- Comr:~1ss1on teetJ:nt:t pleOtl 

to publ1o 

Creek -~ used by P,O.~. of A Lodge 

•• reaideooe of Superintendent 

etul office 

llquipment 

used by Community Club 

Wh1'to 

liouae across creek 

Eouoe aoro!ls creak 

Cottage across Creek •• 

Cottage aoroaa river at Pawling 

Aebert - could be used for 

!louse et r-o:rt Keanedy -- rented 

uoed tor employee 

2 llouaea at Ginder be.nk --

1 House at Cinder bank --

1 House at Cinder bonk -- abould be removed) 

1 House at Cinder baok -- rented to 

of former employee who died in 

for employee) 

of Patrolman 

Patrolman 

!>:eobanio 

ot employee 

" 

couldOe 

or employee• 

ot Patrolmen 

Sba1n11ne (He 

for employee Mrs. Dettra, W1do'l! 

19'1 (oould be uae~ 

1 House at Cinder bank -- ooaupied by ··lard Nichols 

2 Old wreaks across river on former Wetherill property 

no convenience exoept ~star from a apriDS 

sprins House -- !11rea Tract 

2 SIIIBll Houses -- Hires Tract -- Unoooupied,(st.o~o I"'•H""j 

Phillips to Wright, May 27, 1946, Correspondence, RG 46, PHMC. 

<57 
APPENDIX R 

LIST OF VALLEY FORGE STATE PARK EMPLOYEES: MARCH 1947 

J • ... 

1>~,ei' in t.dnu"n ~ 

(~r. Grade) 

/"'""'-.. 

'"' iSr. .. .i~) 

.'n;.lo;.rd' 

:oi.J,i~·· 

.• ~0';)4.00 

:;lJY.IJLJ 

..l'1U,.VO 

458 

E,U,;.,·.{ "' (;' J) DA1'<> 0}' 

:JJ.J.&= J/'_/1, f ii/•·Ld.n'l'.!ol:./j1' 

~Jlui..:.JO f't,L, .l')l.l 

~17'-/~.0IJ Nov. l9); 

~li!}6',51J Ap1·,_ 1';1-ID 

~1(//8. '15 D~c. 1'142 

'1-1C/6,'1~ J<~.a. .1'1..\ 5 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

v,,Lt, ". '·-. .'. , ,,; I ,, . "'· "'·-'"·· ..·' .... 1 ~--'""" l>tl ,,.._ •. ,•kti • .ll vu ..... :. ,,. --··-•"'·'''"·· ,,,;;.~,,.., .. ._ odoL.Lo'•*" 

C<'ol'tc tilxon J>ov, l~2U (;.;.,, ... Ilk<" ':i.,UJ ,211.~ -4'-' 

CO ""r t. a :·.~t,Su "'''·' ,,.,,_, .. 1 '-'-' ' Fv<'<O.ol· -,;, :, .1.. ()) ,2)1/t.:<U 

r;,,.. i<l Jlal'"ta!Ho 0 ltlC -·'"''. .l :!<' ,- o'l'nC o()J' v •'d'U tvr ·0 (;.l5'iJ,)Q 

J IJ.'-kS Slou<,n ,.!Ul'o 1~2') As~' t. }'<>•'UOI!>.II .uu ~.l.':l?l.2i.J 

.... ~. "' , !J, H()~iLOO(i ~c • #') li ~~l\U(,l'!<j)U<'l' ~-1.05 tliii!0.:/0 

J o~..-plL .• ii tc:'u 1"'"'' 1 Jl C.lO)J -"~CL.:.!olC , iiO o'l'/41.'15 

.• rs, •. tyrt.:i.a i\ • • 65 i,-li,LII,4) 

Juc;\ls .. ~u<lJcn ,lJ ~1.3)2.ul.i 

fian·r Di>M " • 'iiJ ~l250.13o 

Gd.:>l'r,u f<>l·~rw. /t. ,[> ·, ;.11,52.1,.1. 

"illio.<J~ .. tliCIUW.I' '. •"' ~- 1)/,..! ,lt, 

}'run~ J ~hns<>n .u~ :,'llOI,.Gu 

S~o.,,uel ~~•·1;ur t.u~, l')/,) ,, .. ~w·· • '/(! ;..uyJ,lu 

Ceu•·ge 'I' • -..;L.:>rt~ Jun. l-'.lf,G UL.ac" G-l'/1,,cl~ 

~t=l~~ !'-. ' ,. ,, J ~n. lp,i .. r.-.~'-''·~•· ,. 

. ' ~l..L-)1,')) 

.L,·~·""len J,,uru<.iu<" J CWI, l')i,i. S t-mv,__,r,•.,_ilh ,. • 'IIJ ijl...!Ol,'ro 

·>!--' l•Jl' .. : y,,~l-1; '"'V" .-"'' ''""'-" '·"''·"·' cv: •• ·" -"'"'''l'-'-' ;_,·,_,,,. .. i!ll'~ll l, l"/1,(., to 

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1804, 

.:· ~· u\lb i•' '- ,, u,·><.iuc. ' "~" c,;n.,~,oi i..U l.o"~ l,i:; , """ ·~, ,_,. '"' ::~ J '-''·-'- wl' : ~l"'l ic" cu l.'.Jw.Ja; ~, 

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,,.]• '-'l"C.~.i..)'t: ""''"-'"• I·CC'io CCB .. ,,OO, ~- ;o.- ,Uj'.J.l'~, 
,\l~-rt " . Soilh"~'~ ;, Jll" • J.7J.L Lauo:cd 

l'NildS '" ,'-l.J.n,, .• :,.y " " 

;J;.n,lJ c. dy; 

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l'c-•·o,mu~l. vl ~vw:;,~ 1 /"·'··1; .. o.v:- ""·' 

tuo:e oon.t.a~ ,.,,~rl ~eo,loJccs' ""'"'' 

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;v:t•,«Jct C<>VCl' <>n.J..i 

I'IU'i\1 :• j>ll)'l."Oll, 

Phillips to Bratton, March 20, 1947, RG 6, PHMC. 

.. vu.,::: 

,.v.~{ .. I.J··• 

.1621, 

ll'il 

H/17 

'}U6 

16')8 

lli>l 

''" 

665 

, 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

APPENDIX S 

VALLEY FORGE PARK COMMISSION PROPOSALS: OCTOBER 1950 

RESOLUTION 

\IIIIR>I'. 1he ~ct ol Gellco.ol \,,.,.,bl;·, \b1 30, 1M3.·" '"ncmle<l, 

ue.<!t<l the V.lllev fo•gc p,.,k Commi,.ion, '" "" autonmuo11>, """'' 

tne hody lor the ptUJ'O>C ·•1: . I) xquiring, tt>toring, l""''"'ing and 

pcrpet<J<Hin:;: the ,;,con' hich the Contu1ent.1l -"·'"')commanded h)' 

Ccnt>.ll (.c·mgc \\',o,hill_"'''n "-"encamped from Dcccmher 19, t;il 

'" )""" 1'1. 117H. ;ond 1~ m:.inlOoining tl>"t "" forc,ct "'a pnhlic 

pl:..-c ,,- P·''~ [,-,.-the enj"-'""'" o[ t~ p«>ple of tlte ~"'"of Penm)·l-

""'i", and 

\\'"'"'"·the \<t of (;e:oe•·al \=·mbl~, .lpoil !l. 1'12fl. "'amended. 

l'"'"" '"the .\dminMo:c::>c ( Hie. wrt;,il> the :uttono>l>l\' of tk \'.tilt;· F<n~e l'.dk Con11"i"i"n I" ;>being" <mde> <he tmi,dic<ion ot the 

'-<'"'<·<:uy "I Fo'""' ·""I \l-.Hel- !01 1""1"'"" o[ h1c;ol <<>nrml :ond ;,,_ 

I""'' "I""' the ,,,;d Coil' ·oi"i'"'· :oOO .oil otilco ·'~e,ric, of the Com· 

lH<'ll"C·•ILh bmlgcl.oiJ .11 d JH.tl r<>gui,Ltiom .nt<l J>l"<cdntc' N.LiJjj,lwd lm :he t,.,, in:ere-- ol ;,nblit lund,, .,ut 

\\-"'"'"·the Rw>huion .,f th: \",oll<v Fmge P.trk C.,,,,;,;.,,, d:ttod 

'\m-,.,,(,., ~''· l'l-13,1""' ,'in~ ,,, ""'-•looemen<imw<IJ""I"""' nl the 

l<t ul CencJ.tl.h~emhh \!:" ;t), 189~ •• " :emended. ha1. '":he li~ht 

"I ,.,I,,C<]I"'"t "l'"''''";t,_ l>t'cll l<~Jnd to l"""'k iu,•de<t"·'""h- lor 

the h"dg< '·" , ,, nd j,,, ol I'' "t•th '"' .,..,t,t,,heol I" the ,, l<>1 e'" 1<i _\<I.,,,_ 

"" "''"' ("de, om\ 

\\"<u•l "· Jt "rhc ''"""·'re<l npin= ol the pre<cllt Cmnon'"'"'""" 

<h.<t .1 lung-lcttl"< om\ em -1neiHOJJSi>e pbn [,,.the .ltrO•"Plilhmen< "! 

tloe I'" t I""''' I" t '' ,-j (,,.<[ b• the \ct ,r Gc<1c1 .11 \"cn>hh, I l.o;· ~~. I H<l~. 

·" .n11 emletl. ,b,uld 1,. ,~_,,;~net! to mnlorm to the lnul~et.1ry '""\ 

f"t,llt""'''""" nf thP ,\<'-ninHl.tti~tCotk. thCI'ei'>>C iris 

l'l,o "" 1, "· ·1 h.,, the Re'" Llion of the \":<lie; F<>I"~C P.n k C<"""'i"""'· 

d.llcol ""'"'"!"''' ~'i. 1'1-t.: ;, h,=c·bo. <cvokcol. :.r1<l ftnthe> il ;, 

R>.'-<<1 1 H>, -~ h.1 < the f<>l\</, ing 'lion (()! the RC><OI arion :<no\ JJC\'elo[>· 

mem ,[ \.111e• F"r~c P:o•k. ,,·.lfror<bn<c ""\(the prolhi<>n< of the 

\n ol Ccncoo\ ''''""hh \(:<> ,\0. 1893. ;o; ;tmemlcd. b< mhmitted fm 

, '''""' .11 tht """ h the Sec eL1n ,,f fO<"''' om\ W.uer<. H> the (;ovcrnor 0 • 

of the Cnmlli<JJ\Weohh. a<•d it,, Iunhcr 

R""''m. ThO! mhject :o a[m-._.._.of •PP'""'•ll, thP pro~r.lm ·"nut· 

li11e<l hcn·in 1iull >Cr,·e :ll\lllf _-\dminiltrotinn> an<l Commi;<iom as 

the],;,;, IOJ ,.,I\ anced pJ.,nninz_ ptq>OtJtHln nl >ound :tll<l <imely ellim.lte\ of publ<e fttmls w :,e reqtt<"<trd progre"i1eh' an<l odmini"ore<l 

,,.-,,-,odmg rr> !"occ<h>t~ ,;J:tb'i,hed in ·"'""bnce "ill> the ;ofo.c,O«I 

\<lun<li'"·"i"' Cook·'"' htt'l'h'r iris 

R•~''''" [I,,: lu«IL~ r ''""""i'"" he w~r·d '" "'"""·'"' tlti, prn 

.

1, . .,, '" ,, l11< .ttl<l lk"l ,. ,.,., •·•t•ohlr .,[ 1'"""1" ""'"'" .111<l re\1 

'"'" "' <1 1,.- 11 "'-" ,.,,,_. ·•th .,.jj.,, <ho· ''''"' ,,j ,nh.tl"!'tl ·,:,ttLtlttL~-
llm<uaH<m> ol """ <<I Lobo• _ "'I''"'"'"" .om! <u.MI i.ol. ·" ·.,ell 

<hang,ng '"'1";,,.,.,""'' lm <he'"''"'·''""' ·""I tbd<~p:utnt of 1 

,itc, ond I>C it 

II.>.>Ot\·£D, Thot poojcus fo1 the rc"or.>tion .uul <lc<·eio[><HCnt "f t' 

>ilc h< ine<:>qxn-.llt'<l in'"""""-" lnL<Iget!Ct[Ue"• gene<.lll~ 111 the f, 

[""·in~ order 11ith c>\iH>.otc\ to be intO'IlOr,ote<l as dcul<>ped in 1ioc 

to c>tobli>h pt ioo lltc• of bie11 '""'"' for wh" h ·'1'1" opl iati'"" ao e to · 

le<[ue>!etl!n ,L<<md.nl<t 11ith hu<lget;ny l""'"'hn·es. 

1' "' ,, ' 

' 

''"''"'" ''"'"'' 

\< '''""" "' '"""'' 

""''' "'"'" '""'"'"">' '- ''''·'""'' l'],.,,,.,.,g 

1<. Wo<~ 

~ ""''""~'"" f/'""'1""''"' 

Rc·•IOI";"n of''"""" l'.<ln1in3 

-1 l'i'"" ""' 

""''' ''"' '""'"'''"'"" 

,; '-"'"' .!"'""''""' foo ]tcun II "l'""l~l 

''"' _,,.,/,/,,.(,"" 

lhco,,.,.,,. ·""' "'!'"' 

'' ,.,,..,,J•/""''"0 r"" 

'"""' ,._,, '"''''" 

f-'"'""" ("·~· 

'"-'-·" 

,;~.N'l 

"")·'"" 

<oe.o ,_-, 

'' """ 

" ""' 

_, " 

p.,.,,,_ """". 

l""d ,,,._ 

,.,-_, _,"--

'~" Fl' 

,.,-., ·'"' I~" I _,q-, 

I"'- I ,.,. 

,.,., "" 

1"-1 , ... 

\1>11. lll'Llh IU tl> :;I; L"tnl.>l<'d ,,,,,,.,,( UC~n"""" l'o·•p<od o! 

uill b~ "'l'l'l"•'l·" .odo';<L\t'Oolpl.ullliOl~ oklc·lo>[" 

"' 

'" 

1.""-~'""'g< p(,,., fo• {occ 

PI•""'"~ «ml 1•««1•«•/""~ p",. 

\. \~'"""' l'l.mu">g 

8. l\'ml. 

/omplo!< /lool<>•"'""' o/ 

1\"onloi«~l'"' 1/o'"'-''i""''''' 

·'"" 

,I, ''"·'"'"' "'·"'""'~ B. \\"m l 

""'' (),. "'· ,-.,.,,,"""""I;' 

"'"'" 

A. ''""""'' L''-""""~ 1\. \\mi.. 

llool""' ""' ''"""'' 

~--•""'" 

'' 

,, 

!i>nu., 

"''I'·'" -""- L '" ""'" ''''·'""'' ,.,_,.,,.,-

II \\'uol 

'-'""''''" ""''"·''"'" '""I"'~ ~""" '"' '""'" '•"•""" I' I"'"". 

II \\',,. l 

'!'"""'' 

"''""'""' 

"'""' ' "I 

""" ""'"'' "'''""""'' 

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'""" ""''"'"' "' ''·" -" '"" ,,,. ,, " 

''"' """"' "" '"" "' 

\ ''" """' '''·""""" 

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,., ..... ,, '·"'·"' ""'" 

""'"'·"'"" "' ''"""' ''" , . .,,, ~ .. ,.,..,,, ""·"' '''""" 

""""''""·"'"·'I' 

I \ol""""' 1'1·"'"'"" 

" ""'' ''" , __ , .... , ' '"'"" ' "' ., "'' 

"'"""" ""' " "''"''" ''" 

I '"''•" '·"' \\ 'I' ''" ·""." ,.,_,,,., "" 

" ""'' 

·""'''"'''"' ""'""' ""' "" "' 

'·'·"'"·'' "1'-"""'" '" "' "'"''' '""'''""""· ""' ,,,, " ""'"" '"·'' ·'"'' '"'"·'<~<" ''"'""'"' '" ,,,, '' ''"'' I n-lolll•"l'"·" ·""' "'"'" '""'' ·""' ..... ,. \. '"""""' '''·"'""'" " "'"' "" '""''""' '""'"""'" ""'' ,._,., '·""'') 

'"""""""' 'i'""'''' 

"'""" _,, '"" 

I. '"""'"'' l'l.uo"'"" " \\ '"' 

.-.. ., '""'"" '''""'''' 

I! ·~'"' ·" ;, " ' 

'""""' I l<h·"""' 

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"' 

-''' 

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""' "' " I II " 

'I·"" 

'"' '"''"' 1"''1""" 

''""""' ''""'"'"" " \\ "'' 

"""""''"" '!'""''" ~'""' """' 

\, ''"·'""'' ,.,, ........ . " "'"' '""'' ,.,,,,., ''""'" ''""' !.' •• '. ""'"'"' '' ... 

' ,,,, ·'"' "' ,.,, .. ,.," 

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M1 ''"' '"""' 

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II ""'' 

'""'''"'' ""'''' ·""'!;.-., '""''' ....... "' ..... -. I'",, I 

,,.,. '"""' .. ·, 

,.,,,, "' ,.,,,,, 'i'l'"""'''' '" ""''~·· 

'""' "'' 

''" "'""·"""" ,,.,, ... "" 

·""""' , .. , 

''''"'"'" """' "' "' ....... , '""'"'" ·' ,.,,,,,. '" "'"""' "'"''' "'"" ·"'"""' ,, '.. " ",, "'•"" ,._,, .... ""'"'"'''""' "' ''"''"' ...... ,.,.,,., ...... .. , ... , ...... .. _\ ,,, .. ,.,.,.,, '''·""''"" " \\ "'. 

1)/,//,.,,, "'' '""'' (,,,.,,, 

\, '''""""' 1''-'""'"" " \\ '"' 

CERTJFJCATION OF APPROVAL 

I''''''! .r,,,. rl11· ''"'~"'"~"'"It"""' ·''"'·"'"I""' I·~ ,,,. 1.•11•~ 1-'"0' l'.<>k 

lll<>llthll' lii<'ClUig '"' ()c\<>IJc\ ~·,, IW,O_ 

""""" I) 

·" ""·"""'""'" ·'1'1''""' I 

""""'"''"' .oJ "' II~LII.II 

1·,,,, '""·'I'""(_'"""""" 

\ J II ' I 

"""" '-' iti'L><\1 >'II, I'· • "'' \"''' , ... ,., .. ,.,,h ("""'"""-

Report of The Valley Forge Park Commission, 1947-51, PP- 22-24. 

463 
APPENDIX T 

PROSPECTUS, STANDARD QUALIFICATIONS FOR PARK 

SUPERINTENDENT II: 1957 • 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

This ts resp:msibJ.e profo;sl!ional. work of e. supervisory 

~~~:;;~~:.;";:::~: tlu! managruoont of a la.rl!" ctate l'''·"'k ori"erl.ng a 

C <>f facilities, 

J.n employe of this class is res:ponsible i'or directing tb£ con~ 

atruotion, maintenance an~ protection of land ana vater areas, buildings Eilld other physical improvements at a la.rge sized state park 

ch~Q"acterizod b;y very heavy ,PUUlic attende.noe. Supervision is exercised 

over a large group of \lorkers engaged in thB perfo:nDBnae of routine 

construction and maintenance tasks. Prescribed policies are :followed 

in making sup:pliea Blld facilities available for public use. General. 

policies and plans are outlined und reviewed by a superior, but normal 

work acttvittes are conducted independently, 

Examples of Work Performed.; Supervises maintenance IIDd construction of 

paTk facilities such as table3, fireplaces, te~epnone ~inea, ~veloped 

groWldG, !JII1l!iiD1.IJ.g areas, roads, t:rail.a, reatroollla, va.ter etstems, Bll4 

tools aod equipment. 

Prorldee for the ae.f'ety of the visiting pubUc. 

Makes budget !llld technical I'lilruJing recommendations; develo,PB vorl< 

schedules; prepares fiscal reports and keeps accurate records. 

Col~ects fees from thB public for use of' park tac111t1es; keeps 

records of' receipts; .,repares requisitions for supplies and equipment; 

lll&kee re.,orts on pa.rk o.ttSI!dMce 8lld o.ctivitielilo 

Exi'laina and en£orces park rules and regulations • 

Supervises the au.,pression of forest fires. 

Addresae~ audlence3 on recreational and allied subjects. 

Performs related vork as required. 

facilities and equipment. 

Thorough lrnolfledge ot' the 

IIDd repair of park 

Therough k:now~edge ot' the policies, rules 8lld regul.stions pertaining to tbe state recreational program, 

Knovledge of forest fire fighting techniques, 

Ability to plan and direct the vork of subordinates in performing 

park maintenance and improvement functions, 

Ability to deal courteously but flrmly wlth thB public in expl.a.ining !>lid enforcing par~ rules end regulationa, 

AhHity to apeak effectively in pu.blic !llld to prepare ~tailed 

park reports and to keep accurate recorda. 

Min'llmlm Experience WJ.d. Training; Four years of experience in reaponatble park J!tWiagement vork; end such training aa JllaY have been gllilled 

throu3h graduation from a four year college or university with specialization in f'ore6try, l!l.Jlds~ape a.rchite~turo or clvil engineering; or 8JlY 

oqulv~lent ~ombinntion of experience and training • 

RG 6, PHMC. 
APPENDIX U 

REGULATIONS FOR USE OF PARK AREA KNOWN AS "BOY SCOUT 

CAMP:" MARCH 1956 

'" 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• Minutes, Valley Forge P<trk Commission, March 27, 1956. 

'" 
APPENDIX V 

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF E. CLYDE PYLE 

_\Jr. E. l'hJe 1'_1le furmalh mired October 26th, 1%6, havin~ boon 

Supe<mtendont o! Valle~· For~< St.~t< Park fur the pO>I «Kht anJ <>n< half 

[~JI,) )<·'"and'" the -enie< of the l'mn;d\·ano,, !Jcp"rtu\ent vi h"e", 

,,.) \Voter• I"' .dn""' !'"''' i+DI '""'· 

A n·nive of .\Ja[,,rn, Che>ter C'"'""· l'enn.1., .\lr. J',k g<.ldu.ored /rum 

IV<-t Ch<>t<r Ho~h Schuol. Cl-'" "; 'l! ond l'enn St,Lte Fo<O<t ~chnul, 

(1.,, of '26 with a B.S. degree, whe•e hew . ., .1 ioor-_1-ear Scholar>hip ''"'lentWhile rhcce he he.:,1me" <hamr m«Hkr ol So Si~m.1 Pi," '-"ional Ho""'·'" 

Frat<mm-. 

H1> fo<e•tn Clfe<t r"1lh· hcg.ln i11 the .ummor of 1~22 whe" workin~ 

" Clc.1r~dol '-.~r-en· und01 -!Ji,tri« ForNer William Da~u< a,J Rangor 

John '\d,on. Hr• rrote,_ional lorN'\ c·areer he~an ill 192(> '' _-\.;""""' 

forMer under llHnd Foro•"' R. Ll'oltl Ememk (later St.<te ForNOf) 

loc.1terf .11 Scr,ntull. P"""-· wh,le he "·" '"~-·~,d '" r,, e,t Prote,tiu" ,,,.f 

~uhlic reL<tLOfl< 1\'0rk, .1--i>tln~ Lw<luwon• '" "'""'""""'- Jle ""'''"d in 

,_,,,bJ,,hmg the lit>t Blue ll.ibhon Ire< p)."""'"'" "" ~""""o" :irr"'l!' [J,,,k 

W:lt<r Compan) ond mak"L~ the fwT WHrO, f'hn ol de>einpment for L:.cbwanna C''""'' Jlo, SeoUl Camp. 

1928-"''"'f"red to s .. -~ueh:mna FolN lJHrict h:.lted at Cuudor--

~"· P<rm-<-, unJn I!''""' Fot<"<r. Ibm E. EllMt. \\'hik here I>< 

,,i,teJ Ln rf<'clorm<'Hl ar.ol proiOCHmL of 260.000 .ere- ui Stat< For<>t,, 

includin~ ,dhn~ .,f "'I''" ,\fl<f hem!uLl lor paper \\'<~Jd ""J m4ple for man~)" 

"'" ""'"' 

f~J!-tr"n•lerr<J ru L1go""'· Penn.t., "'Acting Dimict foro>t<r lor 

ICvc I \j 11\Htltll, em<r~CHC\ Ll<lt_L' ;., place of !Ji,tfict For<>tu \'. \!. H'""· 

who""' m bo,pJt"l Jue '" o ><nous auto acci<Jent. Tr•n>ferred t<J Del•"·"" 

F<>re>t !J"orict on Jol) f~l!, a; ))i,trict Fmo>t<r of the P<Jcono \lountain 

Re~ion locaf«l at Stroud.f.ur~. Penn,.., wh<re he adonin,,t<reoi fur nearil 

tw<ntr-fi;e 125) '""''- While her< he ,["'·cted the ''"'bli>hm<nt nf 1hr<e 

(1) Ci;iban C.m-cr~at""' Corp< c,onp' anJ pwjc<t> carried out at each. 

AI~• W.P.A., L\V.D. ,,nJ T.P.W.f'_ pr•>i«,,, ,,II operatlnK out "f the 

IJi,trict Fm<-t<r ( )flice. 

Ah<r 1he W.r, \lr. l')k ""' in"'""""'·'l in P""'"al Jevolopmcnt .,[ 

three 0) new St.Jtr f' . .rk, at a time I' hen """''""'lwn w,., olone hi' Di•tri(! 

Fore-tor and IHJt thr<m~h Con!Taotor>. ThN inclwleJ B,~ PoCQIIO, Tob)-

hann,, o~nd Uouhhboro Sw1e P.rh. hesid<> bciTlK in char~< .,f Promi>ed 

Land and G%r~< ·w. Child> Sw< P.rh, ~0,000 acre> of St.1t< For"" 

includin~ "" ( fO) lake-~ and over nine hundred (900) permanent ioa<eJ 

<otta~e >it<-. He '"" in>!TUT11<nt<l in acQoirio~~ additional !'ark land for 

Child, Park and PtoonJ<ed Land. In ca"" of the later, onade it possihlo oo 

<On,truct a n<w lower f>ke "' a compl<teh- new for.,;t <n>~rno~ment. 

!Jurin~ hi, admini"'"""" the area of"" call•d "Huck<lb<rry Land" 

{Low Uru.hlond) w"' r<cl>~c<d from 30,000 to 10,000 acreo. Thi< great 

r<ofuttiun was partiallr accompanied by Nabli,hmcnt of the novel "non· 

ptotc"imt area"_ 

f958----tran,fe"ed tn Valley Forge S~ate Park wheT< he has bun until 

retirement. The work here has be<n most procluc""' ln th< way of genera! 

maintenane< and Capital lmprovoments. Some of th"" an: lasted bolow: 

I. !00,700 for<>t -.!linK> plu< 730 <hade and ornamental '"" planted 

{indu•lin~ ~2~ )J.,,'W'X>d). 

'" 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

· •' . '• , ' '""'''I. ''"·' r ''' ,,, 

'"'''" rnc·irnl;ne ,, •• ,.,,,""' 

4. Rchlhrl.t.Ll.•"' <>t "'"·''I'·'" '-<',• ·'"''' 

,,,d !'iP 

L.tn.l l'rll d.r;>q• ,.,,,,,,_1, 

-,. . ·'"'" 

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g,,,. 

t l""''""" " ,]' .; I""'"' \1- ,.,, '" '"" "·" ·"": ,,, fr,m . ' .,,,. "' ·Tr<'t'. 

~- l:r··.rllr•<l "''" '"" ,!• ,,.t, "-''''' i<ro. lD i!"·n·r>c'"" [',uri,- \rn 

''· ~ '"ll'lt· Fn1r:.r"··· ''''"' ''"''' ·" '"" 1.,,,,.,,,,., 

Ill, 

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Jj,.o,- .rl """·''i"n •l!tl• > >'CH.i "' >'"-"" ""',b 

""'"'Cd 'lnd C<'>•<n-trcr.-.-,, ,,,.,,.,j '" On•>''<'> 

I 1. l''·""•·•lh ""•"' ""'" •nl 'ld;<C '"'""'l.,on'• "'''"'',"<i ,,.,,] c'"""' 

.,,,,.., ,.,,,_,;,.n,.,, "'·" '""'· r '"'~'I "I"''· 1ll,,.;,,",nb ''"'I',, .. ] -"'""-ti"'"" 

·'"''" . ,,_ h,., '''" -1<-.l~c -b!- "'"'' ""'' 1<--, ,_,,, •,,,.,. -.ill.';e lurn•·or 

,,,,] •h- "'II" '''-''" ';>'IC-II'u" ,,..,,: . .J, .• _u.! "'" l '"'<' ]J,.p.,,d 

11 ... , "],,·], ],,,.,,,], 

:r,, l-""'""'""" ""d ,,.,~,,._, "' ""'' h.,.,"·'"'·""'"""': ,,,.I. 11ith 

""' ;oi<·>H>Iie<l. L•I'Wdil> ""' 12' """' ,. ;,,,.,. ri.HI .,,. ""rtl• ,,,1, 

• t ~-·hmlbll II.LCcc. 

li. R<mocl<k•l ,;,,,],lc-C.,rio~c >h<·J. 

].~. ]',,"hO•f "' ll<\1. i>npr<"cd """'"'" '~Ulp<n<IO .L;t'"' .ttH! '"""' t•> 

,.,,:,,,., ,.],! c.n-.r· '"·'··lc «;uipmc"'- S"'"' ""I' "·"· 

]'l_ Repl.oc·<>i '""chine """Jc '""' d,..,, "" b.1ke '"""' '"''·•ll•·•l ;,, G.SA 

wHh h.on.l "'"'' uno• of l "1""'·'1 ,],-.i~n21•_ 1\'hrn G.S.A. rwic··· '"' ·' T\e\1' '""" "·'- ""'·u·ll .. l "' j;""' "' 

.tddmm"d '"""'') ;,., "'""' nf<••l•·•l R,-,.<1""'" Cmt,·r .. t rq•.m ·" .; 

P·"""'"" """""' """ ,,,,,],.,: ,,,; 1<>'- ''""'1'''''1. 

21. Re-uri.u·•·d nwin H,,,,l.,,"""''r·"'"'-' ;,,, ·m.J :<>-•.tl!<·,i '''"" ,-,.,;,;,:. 

~'!.11/JJn. 

!!. F,]],j in OPP"""'"'"I' I C,UUtl <quare ' .itol• "' '·' ctlt _,],,~ _\ J ,IJ C w·~ 

R ... ,J in lr<lllt ot \\'.,,i,.,..,"'" fl<:><I•,<L·"'"' to R"ll't 21 '""I ">-I.dlcoi 

,i, II>) Ju"t hiou'"'"""' ''""''"'" P"h enrirc ]er•;:th-6U(J i«·T. wiofl 

I ,.,,·h"' perm.•nor.tll rlact·•l .TIM;:'·"'" f,,, Th< -.ddt .md '"n"'""'"''' 

'>I ,j,iwr-. 

2.1. <. . .- I""'"' purciiN'd -•n•l i•T·ulltJ in llu<>tLn~t""· 'lnillor) P"d' 

""J Tm>.'et "'""""'" 

ln<t.<ll«l new ~a-<>1"" ptnnp and 2000 ""linn 

c\JJod 205 .,,,., '" ar<.1 o! ParlJ""P<'rh, 

2t> .l!t...:di:H"'"'' "1"'1""''" uni.,,],J- r],,.,. '~I \\",,lko,· 'f,]k.,·· 'I• 

l'ul~cc) '·" ·""1'],1],. •. b '"""'"""" '''' .,Jli,·, _,,[ l' .. ,·d>l< ( 

'r'-''" ,, ,,.,,_ 
FRO" (;J-:'\.1 R.-\L fi'\IJ 

_1/;,l,lle ll.u", "I'·"''· ,!,,<JOU)> ·""' ,;,,_,,,.,_. 

Rcc<n>•t""' oq>itc.L "'IJior/ "'"' ,tnJ Hbcbmitl1 ~h"l' 

l'n>'i~··•l a<iditi<'ILll p.orli": ],t--i •no.oll ""'' "' ;· ""' "' ""'"" 

"""'' ""-' IHit', l•l."l">i>red L'amp ~.:lmolhou·c '"' ·'-~' ''"'" 

""J ,1"'" ot .\nlilm P.crl ~"-"" .Lr<eL. 

llow•·•,,J r,,,,,. """ "''''""'""" 

llr<' .ohrm ''''"" ill·UI',·d tor pwtoCtlon ul II.,,),."~""' lktJ-

>IU,1ft<r• ond S"t~i•·-Lorm~e She~. It •· .out•nn.otlc ,,,,[ b,,, 

,[;"'' '""""' "i<h ',lt,o;:< liroiloll•< 

~''" ·'"'' "•t<m in ! ktdqu.trtw "''·' impru< c.i 

I1H.dLorion nf ll<W pluonOoto~ and c·iwri,-.,]l"tuor• ,,.,J )wt 1\,Lter 

lt•<okup m n·•tn>n•n• .wJ ollie< 

r.,,.,,h ul B"le-Hnn·c·-d:""'O r•oonl .unl thH'< l>eul,.nm· 

r,,,d dL<lmr''"''"' 

PROJH_:TS \'''l)ER \\":\\ 

F1n1•l< ,]r.<ll•:<~< •1-t<lll ir~m llun"n~tun Pic'"'' dl<"·' p.orli"" lot· 

•••nittoJ ho- G.S.A. 

.\J .. ,],.J Cumpreh<H•IO< ]l"dopmeiOt n,, tor the cottice l',or\, ·"'·' 

liE,ER.~L STATE Al-THORITY Fl'll~ 

Pwl<'<l 16-t-1--\li><:oii.OI"""' Cnn-truo·t.nn "lno·h Hl.<d< ,<\ail.1i>lc 

12,'100 

25,000 

,;, :dl•~·"'"" "t S131,H5 

Fnr the purpu•< ,.f remudelhn~ "flicc qu.mer• in <>i,] koroo buildin~ Oil ]]o"Jqu:or'"' "''" : rchnbdllal< "'"'''""' CIHl' crtm~ "'""' 

""" ,, harn "-irh lwc-c- ,,11. and c.trria~c a<t:l; <•m-tructiun of 

l·,.k<-m '"' m Jloko-11 OU•< ; <:un>trUcti"n of auw "urk-hup .oJOi-

""" .or11l proo·i,iom ,.f aJolition.1l P"kin~ lot> " Huntin);tun 

I'Lonic Area. 

l'r .. jeo·t 16+-2-Cm•J' lfo•P"-'1 ('"" Steuben Quartor>) "'"''""~ 

""""'" rr<carrh .tnd prm ,.,on of archlt<"l pbn< cmcring ro· 

''""";,.,, "f thi• hi•!Uric >trU<'tUre "''' prond.-.1 an,! the prnjc<t 

.,-,,, compl<"'l atHI t-in tho pcuo'"' <>f being furr,•htd tn ,,,Ji-

'"" Jut"'"'"""'""" h1 t~< puloht 83,710 

PROJECTS l':'O.:DER WAY 

Pro.je<t 164-:l 

Fu111l• "'"<Hade a;·aiJ,I•Ic for tho ercctio10 "/" l<mfli••ll C''"'"· 

.\rc!1itt-.:t plato• !we bm• apjoro;·ed, hd• ccojuNo•d f,,. c<>n-

•rruction ,.,,1 proirc't .hnuld he "nolerwa. <loorol; ~~9-t,\llll 

l'wpcr 1~+-5- IRnS Fo~c;_ 

i<d<·t Ocro:ltC flill "II:?! th< Lo~i,]atur< al'l'""'d .1n •lloc,Hiun uf $55,000 

fcotu Gttt<tal St.10e Authmit\ fund> tur "•h>T.Ltiun of U/.1 

1-•-ro< '"""~ \-.olle~ Creek. Scnpo •h<et• '"'"''"~ rhe projocr 

h.''" h.en prop:ued and a pbn [,lor a to•t<>ratiun of the ruintd 

f,.r~c. \\'Lth r<~>f an•l frncin~ fur prurocti""· Archittet John 

llru~~cr ;, prep.1rin~ dt<i~n plan• for the prujw. 

\[,_ P)·le married \[argar<t A. At,.ttl. Jul;- 1. 1931. The;- ha•< two 

'On• and to;ll ~ranJchildrcn- David and blll<l) \i;·e in Redondo Btath, 

California. H< 1< an <nginoor with l!u~h« A~<<r>ft. Thoma< and hi< wil< 

ro<id< in '\ow Y .. rk C.tl-. "he" h< i• \'oce l'to"rlont of K<r<tin~ and Brown, 

,, Puflio· i(el."i"n firm Tom 1• """' ,,.,,,;.,~ ""h th< oliroction "fa $200 

m1li1ul\ oleooh•ptnco" UHlp<icn hH t'nl'"""'·' l'n"""" 

.\lc P•le h,,, iw•• ·""'" '" ""' ,,ff.o~r •. IJa,ne ''"' a '""""" uf 

,70 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

I~"""' U,h. tu1 I·'"'·"'- lie• h-•· '""ko·.l '" """""" ""'"' "' )o,. ,,Jull 

I do·.''''"'" >11 11.,- ,-,,,,,l'1\ '" ~""'""'"''''· l'uhuL<'«'I, II'•HtutLon.ol Krl"' 

"'"'·"'"'· '""j,J,,rJwu.l (-,.,,,.,""""'' I!Hti<t '"""'""''"'"''""I l""'"'l 

\h·ml,', ''"""",f.,. IN,._.. J,. -•·•u·•l the:\,,,.,;,.,, K"l L'r"" "']',,,Aid 

'"""'"'"'· lh• h,,, ,, ""'"':·o·r·ILoJ< ;, lloc lullom"~ "'"'"'izatl"fl' Crll""' .0 

.\""''"'-'" ill•,tU1c uf ]',,.k i'""<'<Hi>e,_ J>,.,.,,.,h.HH.t F""'<ln """''·"'"'· 

I'"-'"'" I,.,.,,,, -~"'"'·"'"" il.;;,. _\],,.h,•o ). ~'""'" ,; .-\merio·"" F"""'~­

o1 ~i""'·' 1'1 I· ""'"''". p,.,,,,_ Fmo-< ht<• IV" "lrn . I ~II ""') , Cuuoler>f'l'" 

lull·l•t"" I~ .,· F & .-\ \I.<·""- B.",:" Lo"l~o· ".l25. Rut:m Clutl ol 

""'~ nl 1'1u--io. ''""'" f.,r l'c•n"- ,.\,.o,.,:.,~,-- \-,,n,., F"r~< lli<ton<>l 

''" "'' ' 

"E. Clyde Pyle--Superintendent Valley Forge Park Retires," Picket Post, 

January, 1967, 15-17, 38. 
APPENDIX W 

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF WILFORD P. MOLL • 

• 

• 

472 
• 

• 

• 

ll>it••''' I' \).,,, 'I>< '"'" '"l" ,,,,,.,,_..,, ,, I,,,,,, I'·" ' ""'' h "' ""'' ''·"''"'''"'•' ,_, '''!"''"'"" 

Jj,.,, '" II""'-'"""" l .. " I •- ""'"·1,-ol I ,,_, t "", , II•- II,~·, '·''"'I 

,,,d """, l'm,l<e>' ~,t,,ltr•l'l,> tu the l'<tlfl'lh ""' ~'-"' ~d'""l ol f.,,,.,,, ttl 1'!2-1 lie ,o]~, •tuolw.l FmNrl Hl GmH.'IH ,uHI ~'"''-<"rL<i>J .<ml j.,.,·.uuc 

"Reci•tcrcd ('",] Lu~iocC< '" JiHO. I,,,,.,-"""''''' 

1~2+ ]Q2U- i':Hlplo\nl <H I'<'Uir•)h·""'' l'uHCI .uHILI"I" Cu .. <> FolH<·t ""J F~ehl Jo:,~;,,,.,, 'Jili. Hook """h,·d .,,,,.,iuc J,, ·'" ,.j,.,.";' ];,,.-

ll.mb tu ,\JiciHuH'tl: <lo.o!'ln,. ,,.J,. '''·"""""'""'""I tllllh<·o· ].,.h] .lppro~i,,tl, 

i926J~.li--Ro··ido·H[ r:n~inccr "" H·~''"·" l'uu-tnKti<HO for'"' Penn-

,_, I\-,,,;,. l>'P"""'"" oi llich,,-.n,, T:.,, "'"'- Hduolo·d. '"''"'·"~- l"''l'al 

,.,;,, ,,f m.LJ" ,,,.] p].,,,_ ,.,,,_.," ... ,;,, '"!"'''"'"'" "' """ CUIJ nrib .,; ""' 

high·a•' '" Penn"h ·'""'· l~.li 19.\7-Ilo·";"''·'l F"'""''' lm \ ;,t,,,, C'""""·'"''" l' .. rp• ,,,J,•r 

\".,itcJ ~"'"' Fm<"•< "''''""; >UJ"";.,.,I rJ,.. ;,.,,.,," .•n•l i''"k wurk f.>t til<• 

CCC ,._,,,p. ;, l'<·nn·•l'""'·'-

19.li-1939-.>,,.;,,,.,, (J,id ui 1'1 . .,,.,;,~, llnr.·.Lu ull':LC~•, l'otrn•ll\;1011.< 

ll,·p.lt"""'" .. 1 !--,.,,.,,, ,,,J \\·.,rcr.·. In tbi• "'"' 1 ''"""lin.H•·d tile l'e.Jn,,l 

lTl' '''"'I"' W. !'.A . .<rrd St,.t<· "'"'"'' ;, ole"•luJllrl~ rhe l'<•nn•ll<·ani.L 

Pr<rk \• """'-

i?W-19-12-l'rHl<ip.d .·bi•tant "' IJj,""' Lu~""'"' "" l'.-nn•)hni.L 

Tur01p;k ! " dwge .,f 36 mile• of l'cmo-d""''-' '] ""'l"k< "'"'" ucti.,n, !""" pO<·hmil""' j,,,,, rn ,:,.d <n·l"'"iuo .<ml '""'II'"~ for l"d l'"""''nt. 

Took('"'"';"'""'"''"'';,,,,;,, 1!!1 l'r.,J.·,,iull.ll l·:llJ'Ill<'O< ll.o,L<r<,,.;.,, o:ii2H4. 1942-19+1-Prir~c·rpa[ Rt"-("ardt !'""''"'· .ol-o Supm·i·<l\ of Timher 

~,],., fiJI tlw l'•·nn•_, h ·"''-' I lt·P·"'"""' of h"'''' .1nd \\'"tor•. Ar<an~orl lor 

timhcr >111'<'\•, a.J,.,;.,.,.,.,,,, cumluc«·d bid upt·nin~'- moJo hH,d in<]>ecti""' 

on """ 100 tmrh-r ,,.[,,, '"' ,t,r><' l-orN 1,,.,.]._ 

]9-ti-19.<2-!J,,-,,, h"''"" of ,.;,1,. >utr>lte:I•Wrr. '""'";" oi l'e•11>· 

,_,h.tnia. Or~""'"·d Fm \\',,,,,." S_,,,.,, to coord"""' "-"1' loc.>l Fi" 

l'oHrpattic-. rr•>mrteJ ref,rN,,;.,, in ><1""'1-. '"'"'"· "!'"""""" ""'I ].,,,1 

"''"''"''· J),.J,,worr C:w.d En~llt<l''• Je•<:;rwtcd and c<>n•<ruct<·d lil(· ""' 

·"''"""'''• ""J •UJW><•ed ,,,,,,]d<n~ the Ul-milc Drl.n•m· Can.d. hro•t 

Cw-ult,,lt ru V,,]],._, Fo1~r St:"c l':.,k, IV,t•ltin~t•m Cro--flrg ~tale !' ... k 

,ond ~d,mlkdl RiHr l'r"]''''-

!91C.J917-Chrd .,j Ro,'lt',""'"· !Jq'-111111<'<11 of fm<'•h ·""I \Vc.to·r•. 

\\',,, r~·•r.,n·iblt· lm dt< ·"1"""''"·";,,, ,.j tl~e p,.,,.,._,h,mi.< ~t"rc l'.nk ~,,,..,, 

,.;,], «•r<·ct '" pl.""""~ '".! ''"""l"'·"i""· "~'''"""" .

11111 "'·'""'''"'""· 

.IC'dopmmt ,,.,,] i<Hl'""''""'"t .,f >h< Ill+''·"' m:rc.ttic•n.ol ""·''- Tho !-:rt- ~lne<>rng b,tc·lgnHorHip],,. rl11· l·orNn tJ:tillin,. ,.;tl, 111> t''J'O'Iictl>'< ;, l•oth 

acti<-iti<·· 'l"·,],l..-,] ""' luo >hi- i"'""i"n. 

]Q\~-1%1-!);,,,., l"ur.'.•tCI iur the <"lgllt •<>uthc.t•'<·rn '"""'"' 1>f tl~e 

L'otl'l>loll\\C,IItli .,j p,.,,,,,J,,,,i,,, f.,l the llqHrtll'<'llt ,j F""''' ;<rld \V,ttor•. 

In _l,muar) 19'<~ ''"'k '""'1"'"'';,, St.tre Ci1'il ~'""'' ,.,,,,,.,_,;,,,_ .Lilli 

.Lill 'l"'lifi<·J ,lll<l "1'1'"""1 h rln· ·"·"" Ci<il ,,·nice(',,,,, .. ;"'' '" lwlol 

.tm f>lc-tr> l'"'itlon '"<ill' t'"'""'~mle.llth of 1\·llf'•ll'-"""-

ln 1%7 on L"""" I 'I I "·" ·'PPOinteJ ~uprlintri>•,lo·tn .,; >hr \'aile·. 

Fmgr State l'.<rk ,,,), ,, )',or, Super;ntenJrnt II' rotll\0:- I h."e bce11 

eon,nhnt 1<' the\-_,]](-, ]",,~,-~rot><' P.trk •lll•f 1~-ti .md f.,r F~re-tl', 

"Wilford P. 

April, 1967, 

''". ,,., '" .;,, 

New Superintendent 

"· ,,_, ,, ___ ,,_ 

tl _I, ,, I, ",, " ·'" ''. 

Valley Forge Park," Picket 
• 

CHAPTER SIX 

VALLEY FORGE STATE PARK ADMINISTERED BY 

• THE PENNSYLVANIA HISTORICAL AND MUSEUM COMMISSION: 1971-1976 

• 
• 

• 

• 

A. TRANSFER OF VALLEY FORGE STATE PARK TO PENNSYLVANIA 

HISTORICAL AND MUSEUM COMMISSION 

A major reorganization of commonwealth government offices was 

implemented as a result of passage of Act 275 by the Pennsylvaniil Stille 

legislature in late 1970. Signed into law by Governor Shafer on December 

3, 1970, the act abolished the Department of Forests and Waters and 

placed many of its boards and commissions under the newly-creilted 

Department of Environmental Resources. Valley Forge State Park was 

transferred as a commission-administered reservation to the Pennsylvania 

Historical and Museum Commission_ (1) 

The transfer of the park to the jurisdiction of another commonwealth 

agency necessitated revision of the park commission's by-laws. Hence, 

the by-laws were reviewed by a special committee, and new ones were 

approved on June 28, 1971.(2) 

Differences between the park commission and the Historical and Museum 

Commission over policy, budgetary, and land management issues soon led 

to strains between the two organizations. Whereas Valley Forge had 

evolved into an historical park with empha<:.is on light recreational 

activities under the Department of Forests and Waters, the Historical and 

Museum Commission attempted to emphasize historic preservation and land 

management policies 1n its administrative oversight of the park. 

Furthermore, straightened commonwealth finances forced the Harrisburg 

authorities to implement austerity measures for U1e park, thus bringing 

them into conflict with the park commission. (3) 

The park commission thus began to explore the feasibility of seeking 

separation from its parent body. A special committee was appointed in 

October 1973 to study questions relating to its status under the Historical 

and Museum Commission. In March 1974 the committee recommended that 

the commission have "an autonomous status; that this information be 

forwarded to our local legislators and that a bi-partisan State Legislative 

Study be made."(4) 

1. Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, December 28, 1970. 

2. Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, June 28, 1971 A copy of 

the new by-laws may be seen in Appendix A. Also see various items in 

the Charles H. Wolfinger Collection at the Montgomery County Historical 

Society at Norristown, Pennsylvania, for further data on this topic. 

3. Telephone interview with Stanley T. Brosky, Chief, Public Resource 

Development, Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, August 9, 

1984 . 

4. Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, October 22, 1973, March 4, 

1974. 

477 
Strains between the park commissiOn and the Historical and Museum 

Commission were further exacerbated in the summer of 1974 by plans of 

the Harrisburg authorities to have various commonwealth historic sites 

share resources to meet emergency foscal needs.(S) When the Historical 

and Museum Commission urged the park commission to adopt admission 

fees for park historic buildings, the commission opposed the 

recommendation. The commissioners opted instead to support alternative 

means of raising funds to operate the park, urging the Harrisburg 

authorities to support passage of several legislative bills that had been 

introduced in the general assembly to provide additional funds for 

running historical parks and other state agencies. Throughout 1975-76 

the two commissions worked uneasily together as they grappled with ways 

to obtain adequate financing for the park during the Bicentennial.(6) 

B. VALLEY FORGE PARK COMMISSION COMPOSITION 

ORGANIZATION 

Meanwhile in 1970 the Democratic Party recaptured the governorship of 

Pennsylvania by electing Milton J. Shapp as chief executive. For more 

than a year Shapp left the membership of the Republican-dominated Valley 

Forge Park Commission intact. In January 1972, however, Shapp named an 

entirely new slate of thirteen members to the commission. The new 

commission met for the first time on January 24 and elected Annamaria 

Malandra Malloy of Paoli as its new chairwoman.(]) In February the new 

commission formed eight committees to carry out its administrative 

responsibi I ities: 

historical interior furnishings 

museum, archives, and library 

executive and fiscal 

public relations 

property 

public welfare 

5. Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, September 16, 1974. 

6. Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, February 28, 1976, and 

Minutes, Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, October 1975 to 

May 1976, RG 2, VAFO Archives. Also see Pennsylvania Historical and 

Museum Commission, News Release, "Historical Commission Cites Need for 

Additional Budget Funds For Valley Forge State Park During 

Bicentennial," February 13, 1976, Record Group 13, Records of the 

Historical and Museum Commission, PHMC. 

7. "Changing of the Guard at Valley Forge State Park," Picket Post, 

April, 1972, 40-41, and Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, January 

24, 1972. Valuable insights into this period of Valley Forge park 

administr·ation were gained by the author in a personal 1nterview with 

Annamaria Malloy on April 10, 1984. 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

bicenter>nial 

special use policy.(8) 

' FINANCIAL SCANDALS 

In early 1971 a series of financial scandals in the administration of Valley 

State Park led to unfavorable publicity, crackdowns on illegal 

employees, and dismissal of some personnel including 

C. Frost, Jr., who had been appointed to his 

Robert Fowler, a news reporter for the 

li articles concerning the fact that Harold 

was conducting tours and pocketing the 

on regular duty in the park. Upon orders from the 

authoritieS and the park commission Atkinson was directed to 

refund the money by forwarding his personal check in the amount of $206 

to the Commonwealth General Fund. It was determined that thereafter 

guided tours would not be conducted by on-duty park personnel or 

off-duty personnel in uniform.(9) 

A major scandal made headlines in February 1971, resulting in the 

dismissal of Superintendent Frost and the resignation of Charles Dickens 

as chief of park police. The financial irregularities, as reported by the 

Philadelphia Inquirer, stemmed from Frost's admittedly having paid a 

part-time weekend park policeman, Henry L. Bechtel, Jr., a full-time 

Montgomery County detective, for two full weeks of work in the park 

during October 21-November 4, 1g10. Bechtel, who had worked only 

weekends during that period, returned six days' pay to Frost, who 

allegedly used the money to buy "two $80 jackets for park policemen, a 

$60 drug identification kit and other items for the park."(10) 

In the wake of Frost's dismissal in March 1g71, William Wewer, deputy 

executive director of the Historical and Museum Commission, reported to 

the commission that the open superintendent's position called for a person 

meeting certain civil service requirements. These were: 

a Superintendent Ill who must be a U.S. citi<:en of good moral 

character, physically capable of performing the duties of the 

position; with one year of experience as Park Superintendent II 

or two years of professional Park management experience and a 

8. Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, February 28, 1972. Job 

descriptions of the committees may be seen in Appendix B. 

9. Superintendent's Report, January 19, 1971, RG 2, VAFO Archives. 

10. Philadelphia Inquirer, February 1971, Park Archives, 

Division, Cultural Resources Management, Wash1ngton Office, 

Park Service. Hereinafter, these records will be referred to 

Archives, CRM-WASO. 

History 

National 

as Park 
bachelors degree •n forestry, out door recreation, park 

planning, engineering or an <Jppropriate notural science; or <Jny 

equivalent combination of experience ond troining. 

Commission members unanimously 

thot the vaconcy be filled with 

historical bockground inste<Jd 

superintendent or historian with 

ilrcheology.(11) 

concurred with Wewer's recommendation 

two positions: o superintendent with a 

of a forester and an assistant 

administr<Jtive ability Qnd an interest in 

D. HORACE WILLCOX NAMED AS NEW PARK SUPERINTENDENT 

After an intensive search by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum 

Commission, Hor<Jce Willcox was n<Jmed as the new park superintendent 

effective August 2, 1971. Willcox had o professional b<Jckground in 

archeology and museum operations, including a number of years with the 

National Park Service. Previous to his Valley Forge appointment he was 

employed as Principal Curator of History in the Office of State History, 

Department of Education, State of New York.(12) 

As pork superintendent Willcox supported the goals of the Historical and 

Museum Commission in emphasizing and upgrading the historical, 

interpretive, and preservation programs at Volley Forge. The new 

emphasis by Willcox wos described in o National Park Service report 

prepared by Hobart Cawood, Superintendent, Independence National 

Historical Park, and Murray H. Nelligon, Landmark and National Register 

Specialist, Northeast Regional Office, after their bienniol landmark visit to 

the park in August 1972: 

Until recently, visitor service facilities provided by the pork 

were largely limited to the picnic areas mentioned above, 

comfort stations ond static interpretive displays, such as the 

reconstructed earthworks, typicol hutments, cost 1ron markers, 

and the like. Interpretive literature was ovailable by purchase 

from the concessionaire. The pork maintained (ond continues to 

operate) o small archaeological museum in on historic stable neor 

Washington Headquarters, but the principal museum experience 

provided visitors was at the Valley Forge Historical Society, 

where part of Washington's famous marquee is displayed. 

Under Mr. Willcox's direction, a serious effort is being made to 

develop an interpretive program commensurate with and 

appropriate to the historic significance of the Park. 

11. Minutes, Valley Forge Park CommiSSion, March 22, 1971. 

12. Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, June 28, 1971. 

1971 Thomas Mumm of Rahns, Per>nsylvilnla, was hired as 

chief of police. 

<80 

December 

new park 

• 

• 

• 
• 

' 

.. 

• 

Archaeological artifacts are now on display in the new park 

museum building, a slide talk on the history of the park is 

given at scheduled times in an auditorium attached to the new 

museum building, and "living history" is be1ng presented (very 

effectively) by a staff of interpretive aides, some of whom have 

had the benefit of training by the interpretive staff of 

Independence National Historical Park. 

As a result of this new thrust, interpretation is pli!ying an 

increasingly important role rn the park operations, which 

heretofore was limited largely to maintenance and protection. 

Two problems, however, faced the ongoing manilgement of the park, 

according to Cawood and Nelligan. These related to the absence of a 

comprehensive park master plan and the need for a comprehensive 

historical research program. They commented: 

1. Fundamental is the absence of a comprehensive master plan 

upon which to base park development, operations and land 

acquisition. Over the years, there have been numerous 

decisions made mostly on an ad hoc basis, by the Park 

Commission in an effort to strike-,- balance between the 

historical and recreational demands on the park. But no firm 

policies have been established to delineate or reconcile these 

sometimes conflicting demands. A master plan is also needed to 

establish the relationships of park operations to the several 

major inholdings in the park, such as the Washington Chapel, 

with an associated cemetery; the Valley Forge Historical 

Society; and a large operating quarry. Because the park is 

easily accessible by maJor highways to large urban and 

suburban population centers, in addition to large numbers of 

out-of-state visitors, there os a constant heavy pressure to 

contmue to develop the park for recreational use, unguided or 

controlled by overall planning. 

2. There is a very definite need for a comprehensive 

historical research program, to produce the reliable data 

essential to sound planning, development and operation of the 

park. Mr. Willcox has plans to remedy this deficiency; but as 

yet the park has not obtained funds for this purpose.(13) 

E. PARK INTERPRETIVE PROGRAM 

As aforementioned Superintendent Willcox improved and upgraded the park 

interpretive program during the early 1970s. He delegated much of the 

responsibility for this improvement to Frances Kolb, tour guide 

supervisor. Volunteer guides were hired to augment the eight park 

guides in 1973, and training programs were initiated to upgrade the 

13. Acting Director, Northeast Region to Director, National Park 

Service, October 17, 1972, CRM-MARO F1les. 

,31 
accuracy and quality of the park interpretive efforts. Emphasis was 

placed on "living history" exhibits in which "custodial guides attired in 

colonial costume" baked and cooked over an open hearth, performed 

blacksmith activities, enacted a court-martial, and put on a Christmas 

dance. 

The park interpretive program was further augmented by the hiring of 

Alan Montgomery as a museum curator in August 1972. It was his 

responsibility to collect artifacts, catalog park possessions, and provide 

expertise in preserving, restoring, and furnishing park historic 

buildings. A program for school visitation was also among his 

responsibilities. (14) 

In July 1973 the Historical and Museum Commission let a contract to Dale 

Biever of Boyertown, Pennsylvania, to provide educational demonstrations 

relating to the encampment activities of a Revolutionary soldier in the 

park. The demonstrations were part of a statewide experimental program 

and were well-received, and such programs were expanded the following 

year.(15) 

During the summer of 1974 a series of camp life re-enactments were 

performed in the park. The "living history" demonstrations were 

presented by the 1st Continental Regiment of Foot. The "living history" 

exhibits were well-received, some 4,000 persons attending the final 

re-enactment on September 8.(16) 

As part of the effort to upgrade the quality of the park 

program at Valley Forge, an "lnterpretor's (sic] Manual" was 

provide orientation for the park interpreters, volunteers, 

history" guides. The introduction of the manual stated: 

interpretive 

prepared to 

and "living 

Valley Forge expects you to 

performance to improve yourself and 

improvements. 

review regularly your 

to recommend systematic 

Certain elements of your work are CUSTODIAL. Try to 

work such chores as cleaning, washing and sweeping into the 

living history format. We will try to get you the proper 

equipment, but you are also expected to keep the houses and 

immediate grounds free of litter and debris. 

Parts of your work are PROTECTIVE. Be constantly on 

the alert for fire, theft and vandalism. Know what to do and 

14. Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, August 28, 1972. 

offices were established in the Bake House in May 1973. 

15. Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, July 23, 1973. 

16. Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, September 23, 1974. 

Kolb's 

l 

• 

• 
• 

• 

do it. Remember you are not 

Your responsibility also includes protection 

a good scout, Be Prepared. 

a police officer. 

of the visitor. Like 

Mostly you INTERPRET the history and significance of 

Valley Forge through your role at your particular duty station. 

At the Reception Center you are more infrormational in scope; 

at Varnum's you might be role playing Mrs. David Stephens. 

Relax and enjoy it. Your attitude can set the tone for the 

whole day. No one expects you to know everything, but 

remember that in knowledge there is strength. Can you really 

know too much about the 18th Century and Valley forge. 

Generally the living history guides take the position that 

this is their own house; that the Park visitors are really their 

personal friends or acquaintan~::es; and therefore treats them 

ac~::ordingly. You converse, not le~::ture. 

The manual contained a general description of guides' duties as well as 

specific descriptions for guides stationed at the reception center, 

auditorium, Bake House, Washington's Headqu<Jrters, von Steuben's 

Quarters, and Varnum's Quarters. The general description of guides' 

duties read: 

The following responsibilities exist no matter where a guide is 

posted. 

1. Maintain a friendly, courteous informative manner ilt all times. 

2. Keep a ne<Jt ilppearance. Clothes, jewelry, makeup, hair, etc., 

should be appropriate. 

3. Act decisively and authoritatively. 

4. Know which problems you can cope with and proper Chilnnels 

for getting help with those beyond your scope. 

5. Know what is going on in the Park each day and whilt special 

events are coming up. 

6. Know Valley Forge histori~::<JIIy and geographically. 

7. Learn to oper<Jte the movie projectors. 

8. File post reports. Be sure to confirm that all required building 

checks have been made.(17) 

17. "Interpreter's [sic] Manual," n.d., RG 2, VAFO Archives. The 

manual also contained information on the following topics: winter 

encampments of the Continental Army during the Revolution, Washington's 

winter encampment headquarters, key dates of the Revolution, brief 

b 1ogrilphies of the leading figures involved 1n the Valley Forge 

encampment, periods of American furniture, a bibliography on historic 

furr1ishings, a glossary of historical furr1ishings terms, general emergency 

procedures, a general bibliography for the Revolutionary War, and sample 

questions and answers . 
e. PARK RESEARCH PROGRAM 

In June 1973 the Pennsylvania Histori<:al and Museum Commission, upon 

the recommendation of Superintendent Willcox, entered into <1n agreement 

with the National Heritilge Corporation of West Chester, Pennsylvania, to 

provide professional research services relating to restoration of eleven 

historic buildings at Valley Forge State Park. The agreement was 

multi-faceted, involving historical, archeologic<ll, and architecturill 

research as well as preparation of construction documents. The various 

research programs were intended to complement one another and provide 

sufficient background information "on which to base the accurate and 

authentic restoration" of the following buildings: 

Commissary 

Old Camp Schoolhouse 

Site of Huntington's Quarters 

Huntington's Springhouse 

Varnum's Quarters 

Varnum's Springhouse 

Varnum's Archeological Ruins 

Bakehouse 

Washington's Headquarters 

Washington's Stable 

Washington's Springhouse 

It was the intent of the historical research, which included an extensive 

survey of pr1mary and secondary sources, to provide supportive 

documentation and direction for subsequent archeological and architectural 

research. The historical and architectural research was carried out by 

the staff of National Heritage Corporation. The archeological excavation 

was carried out by a team of student archeologists in the employ of the 

corporation and under the supervision of Vance Packard, Jr., of the 

Historical and Museum Commission.(18) 

The continuing emphasis of the Historical and Museum Commission on 

research to support the park's preservation and interpretive efforts led 

to preparation of a variety of reports by park and historical comm1ss1on 

staff members. A partial list of these reports includes: 

Kathleen McQuaid, "Report on Valley Forge State Park Structures--

Architectural Survey for Interpretative [sic] Uses," December 31, 

1975 

Elizabeth C. Righter, "Manual for the Colonial Kitchens at Valley 

Forge Historical Park: Compiled for use by the Interpretive Staff," 

June 5, 1974 

484 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

R. Shuster, "Report on the E"cavation Conducted Behind Maurice 

Stephens Farmhouse on the Site of Huntington's Quarters," 

November 17-20, 1975 

Patricia Petersen, "Huntington's Hei!dquarters," October 16, 1975 

Dennis Warman, "Jedediah Huntington; 

October 16, 1975 

Revolutionary General," 

Patricia Peterson, camp., "Colonial Children: A series of Readings 

for the Interpretative [sic] Staff," January 1976 

Patricia Petersen, "Food Report," May 1976 

"Master Report for Varnum's Headquarters," June 7, 1976 

Joseph L. Reimers, "Baron Von Steuben," November 18, 1975 

"Brief Biographies of the Figures of the Encampment."(19) 

G. PARK ARCHEOLOGICAL RESEARCH PROGRAM 

During the 1970s a senes of archeological research projects were 

conducted in the park at the joint Instigation of Superintendent Willcox 

and the Historical and Museum Commis5ion. In the early summer of 1972 

an archeological dig was commenced, preceding repaving of Outer Line 

Drive, enlargement of a parking lot, and addition of a new lot. The dig 

was located on the site of Brigadier General George Weedon's Virginia 

Brigade. The dig, directed by Dr. Brian Egloff, state archeologist, and 

supervised by Vance Packard, Jr., an archeologist assigned by the 

Pennsylvania Historical and Museum CommissiOn, uncovered the remains of 

a small Revolutionary-era hut. As the hut was "much smaller than 

expected," the archeologists theorized that it may have been an officer's 

dwelling used by one or two men rather than the average soldiers' hut. 

The site showed evidence of a puddled clay hearth, a hard-packed floor, 

and a number of Revolutionary relics including a handful of buttons, gun 

flints, and bones of cows, pigs, and chickens.(20) 

Further archeological research during the summer of 1972 by Historical 

and Museum Commission archeologist Egloff unearthed the remains of four 

cabin sites. The findings of the dig and their significance were 

discussed by John F. Reed, a prominent local Valley Forge historian in 

the autumn of 1972: 

19. "Research Reports on Valley Forge," May 6, 1977, CRM-MARO Files. 

20. "Dig Unearths Revolutionary War Officer's Hut at Valley Forge 

Park," Picket Post, July, 1972, 36-37. Valuable insights into the Valley 

Forge archeological program during the 1960s and 1970s were provided to 

the author· by James Gordon, a former member of the Valley Forge Park 

Commission, during a personal interview on April 13, 1984. 

485 
Recent archeological excavations on the s1te of the 

encampment of Brigadier General George Weedon's Virginia 

Brigade have forced Valley Forge historians to revise their 

portrayal of at least some of the cabins constructed by the 

army at Valley Forge. Generally the cabins, based on original 

records, have been recorded as built in "company rows" facing 

each other across "company streets," and approximating the 

size {14' x 16') directed by Washington. The four cabin sites 

recently unearthed in the above stated area exhibited no 

"company row" patterns, but were rather indiscriminately 

scattered at various angles and sites as though located 

wherever the builders' whims seemed to dictate. Also, the floor 

plans were considerably smaller in area than Washington's 

specifications directed. 

The most notable deviations from specifications, however, 

were the fireplaces of two of these cabins. The specifications 

had directed a fireplace at one end and an opposing door at the 

other. One of the recently unearthed Cabin sites showed a 

corner alcove in which the fireplace had been constructed; 

another had its fireplace at the side. A third fireplace, rather 

than being centered at one end of the cabin, extended across 

the entire end, which was also unusual. Never before have 

these deviations been discovered. Large holes for posts 

reaching from the floors to the ridge poles for supporting the 

hinged doors were also another feature of each cabin. 

The dig recovered the usual small artifacts residual to 

military occupation: buttons, buckles of assorted sizes, part of 

a broken bayonet, a bone fork handle, musket parts, bullets, a 

human tooth, and other human discard. Also present were the 

expected litter of animal bones left from the feasting of the 

troops when the weather had moderated into spring and food 

was finally available.(21) 

The archeology program was expanded in 1973 under the overall direction 

of Vance Packard, Jr. Three dig crews worked at the commissary 

building on State Route 23, the camp schoolhouse, Washington's 

Headquarters, Varnum's Quarters, and the site of Huntington's Quarters. 

A volunteer group from Upper Merion, supervised by Denis McClelland, 

dug at the hut sites along Outer Line Drive.{22) 

The archeological research carried out in 1972-73 wa5 reviewed by the 

park commission in September 1973. It was reported that the archeology 

work at most of the major buildings had been completed. Nineteen hut 

21. John F. Reed, "New Archeology at Valley Forge," 

Autumn, 1972, 32. After the dig was completed one of the 

left exposed for viewing, while the others were covered by a 

lot . 

22. Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, July 23, 1973. 

"' 

WO> 

new parking 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

sites had been excavated, some 500,000 artifacts recovered, and excellent 

public relations achieved. Future work would concentrate on brigade 

lines, historic roads, and fortifications in addition to artifact retrieval at 

Knox's and Maxwell's Quarters, location of the Provost Marshal Quarters 

and the gr1st mill, and laboratory work to clean, preserve, identify, i!rld 

catalog the artifacts.(23) 

H. MOUNT JOY OBSERVATION TOWER 

One of the issues to be addressed by Superintendent Willcox was the 

question of what should be done with the existing Mount Joy Observation 

Tower and the corrollary question as to whether it should be replaced. 

He prepared an analysis of the questions involved in replacing the tower 

in November 1971 for submission to Frank Schmidt, Director, 8ureau of 

Historic Sites and Properties, Historical and Museum Commission. He had 

three park policemen prepare reports on the topic from the "police point 

of view." Their views, as summarized by Willcox, were: 

More parking space; more regulations and structural 

improvements for crowd control and visitor safety; more officers 

needed. During heavy summer visitation the top of Mt. Joy has 

about reached its saturation point. Unless additional woods are 

removed for added parking, traffic flow and pedestrian walks, 

the new tower will soon create extreme congestion and unsafe 

conditions . 

A report requested by Willcox from maintenance persons noted the 

expense of "properly maintaining the tower" as well as the repeated 

incidents of vandalism in the vicinity. In addition, the grounds, toilets, 

guard hut, fountains, paths, and benches in the vicinity of the tower 

required increasing maintenance efforts. The maintenance report led to 

the suggestion by Willcox that 

the area suffers from overuse caused by limited space. This 

overuse results in a poor appearance which in turn, suggests 

to the visitor that the Park management is insensitive to the 

proper care of this nationally significant site. 

Furthermore, Willcox analyzed the tower from an interpretive point of 

vrew. He posed four questions with accompanying observations •n this 

regard: 

1. Is the tower integral to basic understandrng of the historic 

significance of Valley Forge? The answer is No. There are no 

rnterpretive devices located at the present tower. Should such 

devices be placed with the proposed tower, they would only 

duplicate information which will be avarlable rn exhibits, 

publications and through personal services elsewhere in the 

Park . 

23. Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commissron, September 24, 1973. 
2. Is the tower integral to an understanding of the lay~out of 

the 1777-1778 encampment? The answer is No. The claim is 

made that the proposed tower will provide an over view of the 

encampment area. While this is true, this requirement will be 

satisfied by models, maps, publications, audio-visual 

presentations and personal services. It is important to realize 

that the size and nature of the encampment is one of the first 

aspects of the Park story wh1ch should be made clear to the 

visitor. As the tower is "deep" within the Park it is seldom, if 

ever, the first locus visited. Hence, any interpretive devices 

would only duplicate what the visitor should have clearly in 

mind already. 

3. Is the tower integral to an understanding of the 

organization or functioning of the 1777-1778 encampment from 

the point of v1ew of the officers and men? The answer is No. 

The claim is made that the Tower over view will give the visitor 

a spatial understanding of Valley Forge. While this is true, the 

visitor will get an historical distortion. Such an over view was 

not part of the original encampment. The visitor can better 

understand the logistical and administrative difficulties if he 

must take the time to move on the ground as did the military 

personnel. 

4. Does the tower satisfy any real or imagined visitor need? 

The answer is Yes. Psychologically people seem to want to get 

a bird's eye view. But in satisfying this need here, their 

interest is attracted by institutions, factories, and highways, 

not by Park features which seem small and insignificant from 

this distance. Also, the wish to be high seems to be 

accompanied by a wish to see great distances. Again the 

overlook bypasses the Park. In short, it is fun to see the 

view, but there appears to be no interpretive value. 

In summary, Willcox concluded that a tower at Valley Forge added "little 

to the enjoyment or edification of the visitor" and created 

"ever-increasing pollee and maintenance problems." Accordingly, he 

recommended that the proposed new tower not be built and that the 

present tower be demolished. In its place he proposed that an 

interpretive station be erected which would relate to the historic uses of 

Mount Joy, the inner line defense system, and uses of forest materials by 

the troops during the encampment. (24) 

I. CHANGES IN PARK REGULATIONS AND PROCEDURES 

Superintendent Willcox, in con5ultation with the Historical and Museum 

Commission, made a number of Changes in the regulations and procedures 

24. Willcox to Schmidt, November 5, 1971, RG 13, PHMC. 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

governing the operation of the park. The underlying purpose of these 

ch<mges was the des1re to upgrade the quality of the "v1sitor experience" 

•n the park, enhance VISitor safety, increase park staff morale, and 

provide for more efficient operation by the park staff. 

In November 1971 Willcox proposed a series of temporary winter park 

regulations that would be in effect from December 1, 1971 to March 15, 

1972. The regulations were designed to segregate winter sports activities 

within the park and thus provide for visitor safety. The proposals, 

which were approved by the park commission on November 22, 1971, 

read: 

1. There shall be no sno-mobiling [si<::) 

excepting that required at sledding and skiing 

purposes and approved by the Superintendent. 

m the 

areas for 

Park, 

safety 

2. Skiing, sledding, and tobogganing will be confined to 

Wayne's hill during the hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and only at 

those times when a Park policeman is on duty. The officer on 

duty has the authority to close the area when, at his 

discretion, conditions warrant it. 

3. Skiing, sledding and tobogganing activities will be confined 

to areas so designated . 

4. Hiking, ptcmcs, horseback riding 

recreational activities will be permitted. 

has the authority to halt any recreational 

discretion, conditions warrant it. 

and other approved 

The officer on duty 

activities when, at his 

5. The officer on duty has the authority to request any 

individual or individuals to leave the Park, particularly when 

the safety of the individual or others is involved. If proper 

cooperation is not received, the officer may take whatever steps 

are necessary to effect the removal of the offender(s) and/or 

fine the offender(s). 

Traffic 

1. During those 

are in progress, 

Memorial Arch will 

times when skiing, sledding, and tobogganing 

Outer Line Drive from Baptist Road to the 

be one way, west to east. 

2. Parking, on Outer Line Drive during these activities, will 

be confined to existing parking areas, to the north (left) side 

of the raad and to any specially marked parking areas. The 

officer an duty, at his discretion, may ask any vehicle to move. 

Refusal to do so may result in a fine. 

3. Any vehicle not equipped with chains or snow tit·es and 

which becomes immobile while in the Park will become subject to 

a fine. 
4. Except in extreme conditions, the Park maintenance force 

will not be asked to snowplow, sand or cinder any of the Park 

roads on off-duty hours. As customary, the Park maintenance 

force will assist Penn DOT personnel, as they are able, 1n 

these activities on Routes 363, 252, 23, and Gulph Road.(25) 

Park maintenance work rules, prepared by Superintendent Willcox, were 

adopted in July 1972. The rules, which were designed to upgrode the 

quality and efficiency of park maintenance crews and were to go into 

effect immediately, read: 

1, Hard hats will be worn during the performance of any job 

when other appropriote safety measures (e.g., cages on 

tractors) are not available. 

2. Safety goggles will be worn during the performance of any 

job during which foreign material represents a hazard. 

3. Employees not reporting for work other than those with 

prearranged leaves of absence, shall notify the foreman, 

the Police Barracks or the Park Office at a reasonable time 

before the beginning of the shift. 

4. The 1 hour lunch period is scheduled between noon and 

12:30 p.m. A flexibility period of 1S minutes will be 

permitted at either end of the lunch period for the 

convenience of the employees, insofar as the lunch period 

itself does not exceed 1,: hour. 

5. Employees not having job assignments at the Maintenance 

building area are granted 10 minutes travel time to and 

from the Maintenance building and the job site. Such 

employees will not return to the Maintenance building 

before 10 minutes prior to the end of the shift. 

6. Park tools, supplies and equipment will not be used for 

personal activities without prior approval of the Park 

Superintendent. 

7. No employee shall refuse to do any regular job assignment 

unless unusual c:onditions presenting a safety hazard can 

be justified at the time of the refusal. 

8. Each of these rules will be temporarily rescinded for a 

given employee upon suitable justification. 

• 

• 

25. Willcox to Valley Forge State Park Commission, November 11, 1971, 

Correspondence, RG 46, PHMC. These temporary regulations were put 

into effect every winter during the early 1970s. One notable change, 

however, was the absolute park-wide ban on snow-mobiling beginning in • 

the w1nter of 1972-73. 
• 

• 

• 

9. The first violation of any of these work rules will result in 

a warnmg. The second violation will result rn a 

suspension for one day without pay, The third violation 

will be grounds for dismissal. (26) 

Law enforcement and traffic control problems continued to be major 

concerns of park authorities in the 1970s. While security of park 

buildings remained a problem, the low wage scale ($5,800 per year 

starting rate) for security officers prompted a large turnover in the park 

police force as a number of men left the park for better-paying jobs wrth 

neighboring township police departments. After repeated attempts to 

have a signal installed at the intersection of State Routes 23 and 252 

failed, speed traps were established on Outer line Drive, Gulph Road, 

and State Route 23 in November 1972 tiJ cut down on speeding in the 

park. Because of rising gasoline costs and repairs to pollee cars as a 

result of driving through fields, park police began patrolling off-road 

sections of the park on horseback in May 1973.(27) 

To improve the quality of police protection and alleviate the critical 

shortage of police manpower in the park, a new 180-hour police training 

course for volunteer police "aides" was instituted in 1973-74. Applicants 

learned the park and police procedures from members of the park police 

who accompanied and instructed them. When the course was over the 

applicant could decide if he wished to pursue his application for full-time 

employment in the park, pending a favorable review of his work by park 

management. (28) 

A pistol range was constructed behind the park maintenance shop during 

the fall of 1975 for the exclusive use of park police. Special bullets were 

used to minimize risk, and formation of a park pistol team was forbidden 

by the park commission.(29) 

In September 1973 the park commission approved new guidelines, drown 

up by Superintendent Willcox, governing park housing. The guidelines 

read: 

1. Park housing will be made available according to the 

following priority: (a) Police; (b) Maintenance; (c) 

Administration; (d) Interpretation. The Commission 

recognio:es that all four divisions of the Park Staff are to 

be represented and the job responsibilities of the employee 

will be considered <n making the decision. 

26. Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, July 24, 1972. 

27. Minutes, Valley Forge Park CommissiOn, November 17, 1972, May 21, 

1973. 

28. Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, March 4, 1974 . 

29. Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, October 27, 1975. 

"' 
2 

3. 

In accepting park housing, the employee recognizes his 

responsibilities m protecting and maintaining the park, 

particularly with regard to emergency situations. 

A. "" park house with more than ••o bedrooms will be 

available to a single occupant. 

B. "" park house with more than three bedrooms will bo 

available for two o<;cupants. 

4. Houses will be available only to full-time Park Employees. 

Valley Forge Historical Society excepted.(30) 

In the spring of 1974 the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission 

printed new rules and regulations which were applicable to museums and 

historic sites and properties under its jurisdiction. A copy of the rules 

and regulations, which applied to Valley Forge State Park (the first such 

extensive revision since March 1944) may be seen in Appendix C. 

J. CHANGES IN PARK UTILIZATION PATTERNS 

The Valley Forge Park Commission continued to receive requests for use 

of park facilities for a wide range of organi.:ational activities and 

recreational functions. The commission, at the insistence of 

Superintendent Willcox, slowly attempted to phase out fum;tions that were 

"clearly" not compatible with the operation of an historical park, although 

a review of the 1970-76 period indicates the ambivalence of the commission 

regarding this issue. (31) In September 1971, for instance, permission 

was granted to the Golden Knights, a U.S. Army Parachute Team, to hold 

a parachute demonstration on the Grand Parade "to induce interest in a 

modern volunteer army." That same month, however, the Valley Forge 

Military Academy was granted permission to use a portion of the park for 

a two-day ROTC tactical exercise with use of 5,000 rounds of blank 

ammunition, it being understood that the academy would use either the 

Indiantown Gap or Ft. Dix facilities for future exercises. The 455th 

Finance Section D/A Philadelphia U.S.A.R. was allowed to conduct a land 

navigation problem in the park on October 3. (32) 

The park commission, generally sympathetic to mil1tary organi<:ational use 

of the park, began to refuse at least some military requests for use of 

the park in 1972. When the Department of Pennsylvania Marine Corps 

30. Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, September 24, 1973. 

31. In November 1973 the park commission adopted revised "Valley Forge 

State Park Guidelines for Public Use of Park and Facilities," a copy of 

Which may be seen 1n Appendix D. 

32. Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, September 27, 1971. 

"' 

l 

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• 

• 

League requested use of the park to hold a combined physical fitness 

meet and campout for 600 to 800 male and female marines in June 1972, 

the commission ruled ''that such activity violated a long standing Park 

policy of not permitting boy-girl camping." The commission also 

determined that a request by the Delaware County Marine Corps Reserve 

Unit to use the park for weekend training during 1972 W<IS "an 

Inappropriate use."(33) 

About the same time some 200 members of the Vietnam Veterans Against 

the War were permitted to camp 1n Wayne Woods during December 24-30. 

They used Valley Forge as a base camp from which they carried on 

demonstrations in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, New York, and Washington, 

D.C. On December 30 Dr. Carl Mcintire, a right-wmg fundamentalist 

minister, appeared in the park with 150 followers to confront the veterans 

with a speech titled "Manifesto of Peace."(34) 

Use of the park for wedding ceremonies was becoming popular by the 

early 1970s. Favorite spots for such events appear to have been the 

dogwood grove, the Memorial Arch, and the Wayne Statue area.(35) 

The park commission granted permission to the Valley Forge Signal 

Seekers to hold a model aircraft (radio-controlled) contest in the park on 

July 8-9, 1972. In conjunction With the event two access points at the 

existing park amphitheater were opened for use of auto parking and 

overnight camping for mobile campers and trailers.(36) 

During the summer of 1973 park authorities received increasing numbers 

of complaints from area residents relative to the noise and danger of 

model aircraft flying in the park. Accordingly, in September permission 

was granted to the Signal Seekers to move its activities to the south end 

of the park on the former archery range. The Signal Seekers, for its 

part, appointed a committee "to restrict flying to those models judged by 

ear to have exceptionally quiet muffled engines and to make 

recommendations for more quantitative criteria for engine mufflers."(37) 

Various sporting events continued to be held in the park during the early 

1970s. These 1ncluded archery tournaments, bike-a-thons and 

walk-a-thons, high school and community track and cross-country meets, 

horsemanship events, and "ski touring" sponsored by the Wissahickson 

33. Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, November 22, 1971. 

34. Superintendent's Report, January 11, 1972, RG 2, VAFO Archives. 

35. Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, April 24, 1972. Church 

groups also used the park on occasion for Sunday worship services and 

Easter sunrise services. 

36. Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, May 20, 1972 . 

37. Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, September 24, 1973. 

493 
Ski Club. Numerous requests for permission to stage hang-gliding and 

miniature rocketry events were repeatedly reject~d by the commission.(38) 

K. PARK IMPROVEMENTS 

A number of park improvement projects were carried out during the 

1971-73 period. These included: 

1. Renovation of Outer Line Drive 

In March 1971 the General State Authority approved a $96,000 project to 

renovate Outer L1ne Drive. The project scope read: 

To follow existing centerline of the Outerline Drive. Widen 

existing 14 foot road to 20 feet with 6 foot shoulders. 

(Shoulders should be black top, not gravel, to facilitate snow 

removal). Remove high crown. Construct new ramps at Gulph 

Road, near Memorial An;:h.(39) 

2. Dedication of North Carolina Marker 

North Carolina state marker was dedicated in ceremonies on May 3, 

1972, sponsored by the Daughters of the American Revolution. The 

marker was located off River Road near its intersection with State Route 

23.(40) 

3. Installation of Floating Boat Dock at Betzwood 

The Pennsylvania Fish Commission was authorized to install a floating boat 

dock for the use of the public at Betzwood on May 1972. The dock was 

to be in operation for one year to determine any problems that might 

arise from its use. Of particular concern to park authorities at the 

outset was the lack of restroom facilities and maintenance and security 

personnel required to service the area properly.(41) 

38. Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, November 27, 1972, May 21, 

1973. 

39. Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, March 22, 1971. Later it 

was determined to widen and resurface the road to an overall width of 22 

feet without shoulders except at both sides of the entrance to the 

reception center parking lot where the width was already 28 feet. The 

high crown was to be modified to conform with the widening of the road. 

40. Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, April 24, 1972. 

41. Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, May 20, 1972. 

l 

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'· Closing of Park Caves 

Two caves, located in an old quarry in the northeast section of the park 

near Port Kennedy, were closed to the public for safety reasons during 

the spring of 1973. The caves had first become well-known in 1894-96 

when pleistocene fossns had been discovered during excavation and 

exploration by Dr. Henry C. Mercer and Dr. Samuel G. Dixon of the 

Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. Over the years the quarry 

had been used for deposit of waste material by the Ehret Magnesia plant, 

however, and U.S. Army engineers were authorized "to do whatever 

necessary to close them." ( 42) 

L. PARK CONCESSIONS 

The park commission, in consultation with Superintendent Willcox, made 

provisiOn for Improved park conce55ions and visotor 5ervices in the early 

1970s. The contract for the park food and souvenir concession, covering 

the period from January 1, 1972 to December 31, 1974, was awarded to 

Nilon Brothers, Inc., of Chester, Pennsylvania.(43) Valley Forge State 

Park visitor servoces began receiving favorable publocity during the early 

1970s. Valley Forge Tours, Inc., and George F. Walters of Spring City, 

Pennsylvania, received award5 from Freedoms Foundation officials in a 

ceremony at Washington's Headquarters on AprH 6, 1972. George 

Washington Honor Medals were presented to Le5lie M. Brooks of King of 

Prussia, president of Valley Forge Tours, and Walters for their joint 

presentation of a new concept in sightseeing in Valley Forge State Park. 

The bus tours, offered on a daily basis since 1970, provided visitors with 

a 90-minute tour of the encampment areas whlle "first-hand stories" were 

"related in dramatized living sound." Walters, a painter-artist and 

popular history buff, composed the narration, accompanied by a variety 

of early colonial martial musical selections, and utilized a "You Are There" 

format. On each tour Walters donned a colorful uniform reminiscent of 

Washington's Life Guard. The four daily park bus tours were conducted 

between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. commencing from the reception center. 

Boarding points for tourists and local residents included King of Prussia 

Motor Inn, Holiday Inn, Valley Forge Hilton Hotel, Howard Johnson's 

Motor Inn, and the George Washington Motor Lodge in King of 

Prussia.(44) 

42. Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, March 26, 1973, and Gilbert 

Starling Jones, "Bone Cave In Valley Forge Park Shows Mastodon and 

Sloth Here; Concert Staged In One Cavern," Picket Post, January, 1946, 

46-50. --

43. Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, October 26, 1971. 

44. "Valley Forge Historical Society Events," Picket Post, July, 1972, 

35-36. The tours oncluded t"'o 15-minute stops at Washington's 

Headquarters and the Washington Memorial Chapel. By the autumn of 

1973 charges for the tours were $3.50 for adults, $1.50 for children from 

six to twelve years, and free for choldren under six. "Valley Forge Park 

Bus Tours," Picket Post, Autumn, 1973, 22. 
M. PARK COMMISSION REACTION TO DEVELOPMENTS NEAR PARK 

PERIMETER 

Several requests for zoning variances by private companies along the 

perimeter of the park 1n early 1971 provide interesting insights into the 

reaction of the park commission to surrounding suburban development. 

When the Sheraton Corporation requested a zoning variance on a 25-acre 

tract on State Route 363 about one-fourth of a mile from the park 

reception center, the commissioners agreed not to oppose the application 

provided construction of the hotel, convention center, and office building 

complex did not exceed "s<x or seven stories in height." 

When the Sun Oil Company applied for a zoning variance on the property 

adjacent to the eastern entrance of the park at Port Kennedy that would 

allow them to demolish four buildings and construct a gasoline station, the 

park commission approved of the zonmg change provided certain 

conditions were met. The conditions, which were agreed to by the· Sun 

Oil Company, provided that the three-bay station be built of stone in 

colonial design, the customary Sunoco sign on the front of the building 

be replaced with an eagle, and that the light standards be of rustic wood 

six or seven feet in height.(45) 

In May 1973 the park commission cooperated with the Montgomery and 

Chester county planning commissions and the Upper Merion Township 

supervisors in defeating a rezoning request in the Port Kennedy area . 

The 4.5-acre parcel in question Was being proposed as the site for 28 

high-rise condominiums.(46) 

N. DEVELOPMENT OF CHESTERBROOK 

The acquisition of the 865-acre Chesterbrook Farm on the south side of 

the Pennsylvania Turnpike across from the park by the Fox Companies of 

Jenkintown, Pennsylvania, in 1S70 began a seven-year controversy over 

development of the property. The tract comprised the last large 

undeveloped area Ln Tredyffrin Township, and Richard J. Fox, the 

company's president, soon announced his intention to develop the 

property according to a "unified plan." In September 1971 the 

Philadelphia firm of Wallace McHaig, Roberts & Todd, landplanners and 

landscape architects, prepared the proposed plan accompanied by an 

ecological impact study. The plan, which provided for a self-contained 

community, proposed that the tract would comprise 4,303 dwelling units 

housing some 10,000 residents on the cluster concept, consisting of 

townhouses, garden apartments, mid-rise apartments, and single family 

detached houses. Provision was made for an office center, a central 

community center with convenience stores, public facilities, and mall, a 

45. Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, February 22, March 22, 

1971 . 

46. Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, May 21, 1973. 

496 

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• 

• 

• 

resort motel, golf course and other recreational facilities, and open 

space, including wooded areas.(47) 

By late October Superintendent Willcox and the park commission went on 

record in opposition to the development of Chesterbrook. The rationale 

behind theJr opposition, which was endorsed by S.K. Stevens, executive 

director of the Historical and Museum Commission, centered on five 

points. These were: 

2. 

5. 

The development would increase vehicular traffic 

congestion through and around the park. 

The proposed water controls for the development would 

increase the likelihood of flood conditions along Valley 

Creek in the park. 

The development would 

recreational facilities and 

services in the park. 

increase the 

non-historic 

demand for 

visitor-related 

The proposed sewer line for the development along Valley 

Creek would disrupt park operations for a lengthy period 

and disturb valuable subsurface archeological resources. 

Three historic structures--the headquarters of Generals 

Duportail and Woodford, the headquarters of Generals Lee 

and Bradford, and the headquarters of Captain John 

Davis--which formed a part of the 1777-78 encampment 

were located on the Chesterbrook property and were in 

danger of losing their integrity.(48) 

By early 1972 the Valley Forge Park Commission had turned to the 

Historical and Museum Commission, urgmg it to promote the 

commonwealth's purchase of the Chesterbrook property. The park 

commission thought such an approach would be most successful 1n 

preservmg the three historic structures, protecting the southern 

boundary of the park from development-related encroachments, and 

insuring the continuing natural beauty and character of the area on the 

perimeter of the park. Of particular concern to the park commission was 

the land constituting the main watershed of Valley Creek. It was felt 

that full development of the property would create serious flood hazards 

for the park and that additional storm drainage from the Chesterbrook 

47. Jensen to Schweiker (and enclosures), September 15, 1971, 

CRM-MARO Files, and ''Chesterbrook: A Supplementary Report On the 

Ecological Impact of the Proposed Development With An Outline Descript.on 

of Measures Taken to Maintain Ecological Process On the Site and Its 

Environs," November 22, 1971, Division of Legislation, Washington Office, 

National Park Service. Hereinafter, these files will be referred to as 

Legislation--WASO. 

48. Willcox to Skow, October 22, 1971; Willcox to Connelley, October 22, 

1971; Stevens to Board of Supervisors, October 29, 1971; Connally to 

Willcox, November 12, 1971; CRM-MARO Files. 

497 
watershed would render the park's land bordering Valley Creek useless in 

the future. Cited were fears of the potential loss of the Knox Covered 

Bridge, uncovered foundations of the old forge, and Washington's 

Headquarters. The park commission was of the opinion that the danger 

of added storm waters could be averted if the Valley Creek watershed was 

kept in open space.(49) 

The development plan for Chesterbrook was under consideration by the 

Tredyffrin supervisors throughout the fall and winter of 1971-72. On 

March 13, 1972, they granted approval by a 3-2 vote to zoning changes 

permitting development of the controversial $138 million projected 

community after the township planning commission had twice rejected the 

plan by votes of 7-2 and S-4. Thereafter, the park commission, led by 

chairwoman Malloy, appealed to the Historical and Museum Commission for 

aid in "reclaiming" Chesterbrook for park purposes. Tacit support was 

given to two independently-formed local citizens groups formed to 

preserve the Chesterbrook area from "private exploitation." These were 

the Citizens Organization to Reclaim Chesterbrook (CORC) and the 

Chesterbrook Conservancy, both of which mounted efforts to attract 

state, federal, foundation, and private funding for the acquisition and 

preservation of the property.(SO) 

The park commission, led by chairwoman Malloy, was particularly incensed 

by the decision of the Historical and Museum Commission in late 1972 not 

to recommend acquisition of Chesterbrook since "it was not essential for 

the development and preservation of Valley Forge State Park." In 

reaction to this decision, which had been made without consulting the 

park authorities, the commissioners went on record in support of a bill 

introduced in the legislature by State Representative Samuel W. Morris 

and State Senator John Stauffer on January 23, 1973, calling for 

acquisition of Chesterbrook as an addition to the park. (51) 

The continuing population and development pre~sures prompted the park 

commission to propose a land acquisition program in September 1973. The 

program was designed "to lessen present pressure on the park and to 

enable it to fulfill its historical and recreational functions." The plan 

stated: 

49. "Chesterbrook," Picket Post, January, 1972, 32-33, and "Valley 

Forge Park News," Picket Post, January, 1972, 34. Also see Tapman to 

Anderson (and enclosure), February 26, 1973, CRM-MARO Files. 

50. "Tredyffrin OKs Disputed Chesterbrook Plan," and 

Chesterbrook," Picket Post, July, 1972, 38-39, and Reed to 

enclosures), May 10, 19~Park Archives, CRM-WASO. 

51. Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, January 22, 

Parisho to Madden (and enclosures), May 7, 1973, CRM-MARO 

see Philadelphia Inquirer, June 28, 1973, for more data on 

<98 

"We 

Long 

1973, 

Files. 

this 

Need 

(and 

Also '"' 

topic. 

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2 ' 

3. 

IMMEDIATE ACQUISITION 

CHESTERBROOK - 865 Acres 

LAFAYETTE QUARTERS - 30 acres and small house and 

property across Wilson Road. 

PORT KENNEDY - approximately 7 acres and 8 houses including 

the commercial development. 

LONG RANGE PLANNING 

1. LORD STIRLING QUARTERS and the property that goes with 

2. 

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2. 

this historic site on Yellow Springs 

Road. The property is not for 

sale and the Commission does not 

intend to seek its acquisition at 

this time. 

KEENE MANUFACTURING PLANT While this would be a 

natural addition to the Park, 

its acquisition at this time is 

not desired. 

AREAS TO BE EXPLORED 

south side of Route 23 from Colonial 

the Park. 

8. Houses and land on north side of Route 23 from the Park 

to Orchard Lane. 

C. Eight acres across from von Steuben Quarters currently 

for sale. 

Sullivans Bridge. 

on the north side of 

boundary adjacent to 

3. SMALL TRIANGULAR PIECE OF LAND (approximately I\ acres) 

between Route 23-A and new Route 363 across from the 

Schuylkill River Basin Authority Office. 

4. WESTERN BOUNDARY of the Park in the area of Valley Forge 

Mountain. 

LAND DISPOSAL 

Area around and in the cloverleaf on 363 and Trout Creek sliver by 

Richards Road and 23A (PennDot).(52) 

52. Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, September 24, 1973. 
Meanwhile, negotiations were continuing between the park commission and 

the Valley Forge Sewer Author1ty, which h<1d been established in 1970 to 

design and construct a sewer line to provide sanitary service for some 

65,000 residents in eight northern Chester County municipalities. The 

planned system was the culmination of some ten years of effort to alleviate 

a sewer service shortage and clean up Valley Creek. As part of the 

project a major force mam, known <IS the Valley Forge Interceptor 

System, was designed to pass through Valley Forge State P<1rk via Valley 

Creek and State Route 252 and then to the treatment plant along the 

Schuylkill River some four miles west of Washington's Headquarters. 

After considerable negotiations with park management and the 

commissioners, who were concerned that the project would not be 

sensitive to park resources, and state and federal agencies, the sewer 

project got underway during the spring of 1975 after right-of-way grants 

were made by the Historical and Museum Commission to the Tredyffrin 

Township Municipal Authority in February and the sewer authority in 

April. Installation through the park was completed in 1976 under 

specified guidelines: 

a. No blasting will be done near Washington's Headquarters 

per agreement with the previous commission. 

b 

'· 

The pipe has been rerouted to avoid all known future 

archaeological diggings such as the grist mill. If any 

others are found in the prosecution of work, the work will 

be stopped and the Park notified to allow for evaluation by 

Park Officials. 

Construction will be scheduled so as to minimize 

interference with Park operations. 

d. The force main trench will be kept to a minimum of about 

5 feet wide and 8 to 10 feet deep, and all ground will be 

restored to its original condit1on. 

e. Construction has been designed to prevent damage to the 

creek by siltation and degradation of the banks of Valley 

Creek. 

f. Installation of the pipeline will not prevent any land use 

over the pipe by the Park other than for permanent 

buildings. Obviously, the pipe must be available for 

access. 

As a result the water qual1ty in Valley Creek was improved in that 

sewage that formerly had been drained into the creek was transmitted to 

the treatment plant. Sewer service was made available to some park 

facilities.(53) 

53. Weinstock to Malloy and Weinstock to Valley Forge Park Commission, 

May 11, 1972, and Garvey to Grant, July 21, 1973, CRM-MARO Files, and 

500 

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0. VALLEY 

CELEBRATION 

FORGE INVOLVEMENT IN 

AND PARK BICENTENNIAL 

NATIONAL BICENTENNIAL 

CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM 

Throughout the early 1970s the park commission and state off1cials g<~ve 

considerable attention to the involvement of Valley Forge in the upcoming 

national Bicentennial celebration. In January 1971 the Tredyffrin 

township Board of Supervisors and the Brigade of the American 

Revolution approached the park commission concerning the issue of the 

park being considered as a principal site of the 1976 Bicentennial 

celebri!tion. The commission, feeling that such use of the park "would be 

contrary to [the] 1893 Enabling Act th<lt created the Park specifying that 

it is to be kept as nearly as possible in appearance as it was during the 

Encampment," rejected the petition. It was determined, however, to 

"endorse local celebrations such as French Alliance Day sponsored by 

[the] Valley Forge Historical Society or a pageant by the Brigade of [the] 

American Revolution."( 54) 

In April 1971 the Valley Forge Bi-Centennial Coalition, a non-political, 

non-profit committee of commissioners from Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and 

Montgomery counties, began circulating a proposal for a suburban 

Philadelphia Bicentennial program. Focal point of the plan, to be 

financed through private, foundation, industry, and government services, 

was Valley Forge State Park where the coalition planned to replace the 

Mount Joy Observation Tower, erect visitor facilities on land adjacent to 

the park, construct a monorail, minicar system to circle the periphery of 

the park, establish a transportation system between the park and 

Philadelphia, and build facilities for a "Citizens Forum for the Continuing 

Revolution," a regional recreation center, and a cultural center for the 

performing arts. The proposed structures were to be built on land 

bordering the park, thus providing a buffer zone protecting the 

reservation from "private" encro<!chments. The commission opposed such 

grandiose plans, stating that it would "maintain strict control over the 

planning and staging of any Bicentennial program in the Park" and would 

"insist on an orderly, dign1fied program in keeping with the hallowed 

grounds of the park. "(55) 

The park commission appointed a special committee in 1971 to develop 

preliminary plans for its participation in the national Bicentennial 

celebr<>tion in 1976. After a four-month study, the committee presented a 

53. (Cont.) Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, February 24, 1975. 

An archeological report was prep<>red in 1972, listing archeological sites 

along Valley Creek in anticipation of the excav<>tion for the sewer line. 

This report may be seen in P<>ul G. Atkinson, Jr., "Archeological Sites 

Along Valley Creek, Valley Forge, Pa: A Preliminary Report," Picket 

Post, July, 1972, 19-29. 

54. Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, Janu<>ry 25, 1971 . 

55. Minutes, Valley Forge P<>rk Commission, April 26, 1971. 

50> 
seven-point master plan that was approved by the commossion and S.K. 

Stevens. The plan, for which funds would be solicited from federal, 

state, and local sources, read: 

1. Reroute state Highway Routes 23 and 252 around the park 

and close off other roadways so that there will be no 

through vehicle traffic and only one ma~n entrance-exit in 

the area of the reception center complex. 

2. Acquire Ehret Co. plant property for development as 

parking or transit center site. 

3. Develop an informative guide service Or tape tour program 

and study auxiliary transit system. 

4. Seek passage of present Senate Bill 562 providing for 

construction of a museum building adjacent to present 

reception center. 

S. Seek grant for professional writer and director for a 

historical pageant to be presented daily during the 

Bicentennial summer with professional actors and actresses 

augmented by volunteer thespians from area little theaters. 

6. Seek grant for construction of stage shell at Park's natural 

amphitheater. 

7. Acquire Lafayette's quarters and seek grants to restore 

same along with Maxwell's and the Knox quarters. 

In view of the upcoming Bicentennial the park commission undertook 

production of a 25-minute motion picture to replace the slide show in the 

reception center auditorium. Much of the research for the film was 

supplied by park commissioner James Gordon. The preliminary production 

draft of the film, estimated to cost about $100,000, was completed by 

early 1972. The film, entitled "Valley Forge" was paid for with funds 

provided by the Pennsylvania Society, Sons of the Revolution, and 

premiered in the park on December 19, 1973. 

In late 1971 the park commission approved a reforestation plan for 75 

acres of land from Thomas Road to State Route 252 along the Pennsylvania 

Turnpike. More than 1,000 hardwood trees, including red oak, white 

pine, and red maple were to be planted in the program to aid surface 

storm drainage conditions, screen out the turnpike, and beautify the 

park's southern boundary for the upcoming Bicentennial. The program 

was to be accomplished by park labor over a three-year period. 

In a related development to improve park operations for the anticipated 

Bicentennial crowds the overnight trailer camp at the intersection of State 

Routes 23 and 252 was closed permanently on December 31, 1971, at the 

recommendation Of Willcox. The closing was the result of overcrowded 

conditions, misuse of restroom facilities, the shelter, fireplaces, and trash 

disposal, abuse of privileges by personal behavior, and visitor safety 

concerns on State Route 23.(56) 

• 

• 

56. Ernest P. Raum, ''Valley Forge Park News," Picket Post, January, • 

1972, 34-35. During the fall of 1973 some 35 volunteer::5 began the 

reforestation project by plant1ng 115 black walnut and p1ne trees along 
• 

• 

• 

In early 1974 a volunteer group known as Host '76 was formed under the 

auspices of the Montgomery County Convention and Tourist Bureau 1n 

cooperation with park authorities to aid Valley Forge State Park during 

the Bicentennial observances. The organization was established to provide 

full-time information services to those visiting the park's reception center 

and stafF von Steuben's Qui!rlers with volunteer guides every Friday, 

Saturday, and Sunday. The women in the Host '76 group planned to be 

costumed in period clothing that they made themselves. Included in the 

interpretation of von Steuben's Quarters was the adjacent herb garden, 

established and mi!intained since 1972 by the Herb Society of America, 

Philadelphia Unit.(57) 

During the spring of 1974 the National Park Service approved a $91,000 

grant for restoration of Washington's Headquarters. The federal money, 

coupled with more than $100,000 of state funds, was to be used for 

"making the historic building appear as it was when Washington lived 

there." Research had found that seve rei aspects of the structure were 

not accurately preserved. Among the projects to be completed during the 

restoration work was reconstruction of a log cabin dining room attached to 

the kitchen where Washington had taken meals end discussed business 

with his generels.{58) 

A furnishings plan for Weshington's Heedqu<~rters was prepared by Anne 

Woodwerd of the perk st<1ff in August 1974. According to the plan "the 

interpretive objective of the historically refurnished building" wes to 

"recall es completely and authentic<~lly as possible the people, events, <1nd 

appearance of the headquarters during its occupQncy by General George 

Washington." The pl<~n proposed an interpretive program for the 

structure based on the opereting conditions of the site: 

Because so much of the 1770's building ret<~ins its original 

fabric, <1nd because its floor plen is not conducive to <1 one way 

visitor flow pattern, end bec<1use the interpretive purpose is 

multifaceted, significant chenges in the traditional habits of 

useage are required. 

A mechanical fire-theft al<~rm system will provide besic 

coverege. This system, 1n the basement, will heve fire 

extinguishing c<~p<~bilities. Supplementing this system will be 

strategicelly located hand fire extinguishers. These 

extinguishers will be hidden from public view. The Park guides 

56. (Cont.) the turnpike. The project was sponsored by the Chester 

County Bicentenniel Committee. "Valley Forge News: Replace Trees Felled 

in Revolution," P1cket Post, "''inter, 1973-74, 34. 

57. "Von Steuben Headquarters to Be Open to the Public," Picket Post, 

Ill, 1974, 43-44. 

58. "Restoration of Park s;te Is Said to Be Assured," Picket Post, 

Spring, 1974, 32. 

503 
are instructed in the use of these extinguishers. A second 

back-up service will be provided by the Park police force, 

particularly during those hours when the building is closed. 

Lastly, as experience dictates, we will be prepared to install 

individual sensors to protect individual objects or loci. 

Traditional visitation here is very heavy from April to 

O<:tober, with June, July and August registering the heav1est 

<:aunts. On some Winter days the visitation will be below 100 

persons. While planned events may boost winter visitation, 

parity cannot be expected despite the fact that Valley Forge 

was a winter encampment. Therefore, a flexible approach to 

the visitor flow is dictated. 

During days of heavy visitation, all visitors will enter by 

the front door only. They will be limited to groups of no more 

than 30. Circulation will be through the reception room, then 

through the office, then upstairs (if they wish), but ultimately 

out the rear kitchen door. On days of lesser traffic, the rear 

hall door will be used as an exit and the fixed flow pattern may 

be relaxed. Visitors will not be permitted in the attic, the 

basement or beyond the safety barriers in the second floor 

rooms. 

The Headquarters will be open to the public from 9 am to 

5 pm every day except Christmas Day from the close of Labor 

Day weekend through June 15. From June 15 through Labor 

Day weekend the building will be open until 7:30pm. 

On the average, three (3) interpreters will be required. 

Operating as a team, their usual duty stations will be the first 

and se<:ond floors and the kitchen. This results in 1.5 

additional personnel for this building for a year's operation. 

The role of the guide combines historic, architectural and 

furnishings interpretation; protection, pedestrian traffic 

control; and minor custodial responsibilities. "Living history" 

will not be practiced, per se, but certain daily activities are 

required .... (59) 

During the summer of 1974 the park announced plans to give the 

reception center and museum "an interior facelifting, preparatory to the 

upcoming Bicentennial." The $12,000 project was covered by the 

commonwealth's Historic Preservation Fund. The plans called for visitors 

to be Channeled through the reception center and museum by a series of 

wall graphics, new displays, and rearranged existing displays. Paneled 

explanations of the history of the park and Revolutionary War were to 

"guide tourists to the museum from the reception center." The museum 

was to be repainted blue and additional wall graphics and paintings would 

compliment the encased displays of Revolutionary artifacts. An elevated 

tableau of an American field campsite was to be built, and wall panels 

59. "A Furnishings Plan for the Headquarters of 

washington at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania," prepared by 

August 1974, Correspondence RG 46, PHMC. 

General George 

Anne Woodward, 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

would depict American and British uniforms in detail. The project was 

carried out by park personnel, and grand opening ceremonies for the 

revamped reception center/ museum were held on September 23, 1974.(60) 

In preparation for the Bicentennial the and Museum Commission 

let a contract I 1975 report 

entitled ... 

serve 

as a use, of the 

park. The plan was under contract at a cost by the 

firm of Gilboy, Giombetti, Skibinski and Davies of Clark's 

Summit, Pennsylvania. In brief, the $16,000,000 plan separated 

development into three basic and sequentially-related phases: realistic 

development for the Bicentennial celebration; post-Bicentennial 

development, roughly corresponding to the completion of the proposed 

Valley Creek Interceptor, Pottstown Expressway, and Phoenixville Spur; 

and a third phase corresponding to the proposed development of a 

$3,000,000 park museum and cultural center facility. The overall 

objective of the plan was to provide the park commission with a guide to 

assist "in the formation of policy and specific decisions" designed to 

"return the Park to the mood, peace, spirit, and appearance of the 18th 

century; to restore it as nearly as possible to its original condition as a 

military camp, and maintain it forever as a public place or park for the 

enjoyment of the people of the State." The restoration proposals in the 

plan were provided with "full regards to the needs of the 20th Century, 

and to the irreversible changes made since 1777." 

The master plan proposed a number of park improvements in the areas of 

restoration and interpretation, land acquisition and disposition, traffic 

control, transportation, parking, general landscaping, recreation, paths 

and trails, public facilities, utilities, and manpower. The $16,000,000 

figure included some road work projects, among them being the return of 

park routes to historical traces, but did not include major highway 

construction that fell under the jurisdiction of the Pennsylvania 

Department of Transportation. Through park traffic would continue over 

State Routes 23 and 252 and local traffic over Yellow Springs Road until 

alternative routes could be developed. 

Restoration of park historic buildings was proposed in the plan. 

Washington's Headquarters was to be restored to its encampment 

appearance and refurnished. When acquired by the commonwealth the 

farmhouse that served as Lafayette's Quarters was to be adapted to 

highlight the contribution of the French to American independence. The 

interior of von Steuben's Quarters was to be reconstructed to appear as 

the baron's headquarters, with the basement converted to a hospital 

exhibit. Varnum's Quarters was to be refurnished, and its orchard 

gardens and outbuilding restored. Some 115 soldiers' huts were to be 

60. "Improvements Are Planned for Reception Center in Park," Picket 

Post, Ill, 1974, 14. 

505 
reconstructed: twelve at Stirling's Pennsylvania Brigade; three at 

Washington's Lifeguard; and twenty-five each at the encampment sites of 

Weedon's Virginia, Glover's Massachusetts, Mcintosh's Georgia and North 

Carolina, and the Rhode Island troops. Fort Washington was to be 

restored and von Steuben's statue was to be removed from Wayne Woods 

to a new site overlooking the Grand Parade. The Memorial Arch would 

undergo painting, clean1ng, and drainage repairs at an estimated cost of 

$150,000, and a $15,000 floodlighting system would be mstalled around it. 

The total restoration of the old forge and partial restoration of the grist 

mill would depend on flood control measures along Valley Creek. It was 

proposed that the Mount Joy Observation Tower be removed because it no 

longer served a practical, historical, or interpretive function in the park. 

Instead a $750,000 nature center was proposed for the tower area. 

The master plan proposed a large increase in the staff of the park from 

the existing 41 to 106. Broken down into categories the increases 

included; administrative staff from 6 to 10; professional staff from 1 to 

10; interpretation staff from 14 to 42; and maintenance staff from 20 to 

44 

The plan urged the state to demonstrate greater concern for "the effects 

of growing urbanization and industrialization in areas surrounding the 

park." According to the plan, the park must begin "to take defensive 

action against the potentially detrimental effects of such development." 

Recommended for acquisition were eleven land parcels totaling 116 acres to 

reinforce the park's natural barriers including Mount Misery, the 

Pennsylvania Turnpike, County Line Expressway, and the Schuylkill 

River. The 46.5-acre Keene plant industrial Site was also recommended 

for purchase. 

Full use of the proposed roads and parking areas would give the park a 

daily maximum visitor capacity of 15,700 automobiles. An indoor eating 

facility to serve visitors during the winter and unfavorable weather was 

suggested at the proposed new museum facility. (61) 

In March 1975 a contract was let by the Historical and Museum Commission 

to Steven Reissinger to carry out further exterior and interior restoration 

operation5 on a number of park structures under the title of "Historic 

House Restoration Project." The first two buildings on which he began 

were the commissary and the schoolhouse.(62) In July Reissinger issued 

a progress report on his work: 

62. Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, February 24, 1975. 

506 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

Building 

Commissary 

Schoolhouse 

Varnum's HQ 

Varnum's Arch. Rem<>ins 

Varnum's Springhouse 

Washington's Stable 

Washington's HQ 

Washington's Springhouse 

Huntington's Springhouse 

Bake House 

Amount Completed 

75% done 

75% done 

25% done 

90% done 

50% done 

SO% done 

25% done 

not started 

not started 

electrical only started.(63) 

As the work on Washington's Headquarters was nearmg completion in late 

January 1976 the park commission registered its complaints on the quality 

and accuracy of the exterior work. The compli!ints related to three 

principal topics: 

the type of cement is a modern type and not the original type; 

the pointing is not correct for the period; the building is not a 

faithful reproduction as had been promised. 

The commission <1lso expressed "gr<~ve concern over the timeliness of the 

completion of the restoriltions."(64) 

In February 1976 Washington's Headquarters WilS reopened to the public 

ilfter being closed for a year due to the restoration work. The l<.itchen 

had been lowered to its original 1\:t-story he1ght, the exterior stonework 

repainted, the dog-trot reconstructed, and shingling and woodwork 

replaced. Interior floors i!nd walls were refinished and repaired, the 

furniture cleaned and restored, <1nd the entire building repainted.(65) 

The deteriorating condition of the Nationi!l Memorial Arch was brought to 

the attention of Governor Shapp in 1974. Proposills were made to either 

repair the structure or cover it to prevent further problems from 

developing during the winter of 1974-75. Consideration WilS even given 

to moving the arch to a new location before money was spent to restore 

63. Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, July 28, 1975, RG 2, VAFO 

Archives. 

64. Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, January 26, 1976. Some of 

these compli!ints would later be repe<~ted by Nationill P<~rk Service 

architects. Valuable insights into historic preservation concerns of NPS 

<~rchitects were prov1ded to the author by Henry J. Mi!Qilllner, Region<~l 

Historical Architect, MARO, in " personal interview on April 30, 1984. 

65. Montgomery County Convention and Visitors Sure<~u, News Rele<~se, 

"Washington's Headquarters Reopens As Central Attraction At Valley 

Forge Park," April 23, 1976, RG 13, PHMC. 

507 
it. After rejecting this idea, the commission considered changing its • 

name "to one that better commemorilted the memory of the Continental 

Soldier."(66) 

Var1ous experts and firms were brought to the park to provide their 

expertise on what was needed to restore the arch. In June the Historical 

and Museum Commission approved restoration of the arch, and allocated 

$170,000 from the Land and Water Development Fund for the project.(67) 

During the fall of 1974 the park staff began turning its attention to 

various interpretive projects that would aid the Bicentennial effort. In 

October 1974 Superintendent Willcox submitted a list of ten requests for 

funds from the Bicentennial Commission of Pennsylvania. The 

recommended projects included the making of two films, development of 

library servtces, production of standarized highway, information, and 

interpretive signs, expansion of interpretive program supplies and 

equipment, reproduction of historic specimens, development of personnel 

for demonstration specialization, formation of a Valley Forge brigade to 

provide a period uniformed group for reenactments, reconstruction of 

soldiers' huts, preparation of foreign language publications, and 

publication of a Valley Forge historical booklet series. In support of 

these requests Willcox concluded; 

It is sad, but true that Valley Forge has been permitted to 

lie fallow. A sleeping giant of potential, traditional management 

response has been to react to pressures rather than to act in 

anticipation of historic preservation (i.e., site) and public 

needs. . . . 

All the projects contained herein point to this goal. None 

of them are of a temporary or peripheral nature. None attempt 

to "cash in" on the Bicentennial. Each is integral and 

interrelated to each other and to Valley Forge. 

Aspirations face the hard facts of reality. Not only will 

these projects add to the enjoyment and understanding of Valley 

Forge, they will provide the experience for future growth. As 

their implementation proceeds, tourism will increase. Likewise 

service to school children, the disadvantaged and the 

handicapped. Also, we must not forget that we soon will be 

hosts to millions of foreign guests. My view sees the 

management of Valley Forge as an investment in the future. A 

blend of education, enjoyment, service and stewardship 

pervades all historic sites and museums. . .(68) 

66. Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commtssion, September 23, October 28, 

1974. 

67. Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, June 23, 1975. 

• 

68. Rtpton to \'/ewer (with attachments), October 21, 1974, RG 13, • 

PHMC. 

508 
• 

• 

• 

In December 1974 the Pennsylvan1<1 general assembly passed an act 

providing for capital construction improvement projects in Valley Forge 

State Park, Washington Crossing State Park, and Brandywine Battlefield 

Park for the upcoming Bicentennial celebration. The act was known as 

the "Capital Budget Act for F1scal Year 1972-1973, Public Improvement 

Project Itemization Supplement, Bicentennial Improvements--The General 

State Authority." The act provided for fifteen spec1fic projects at Valley 

Forge at an estimated cost of nearly $10,000,000: 

(1) Construction and Rehabilitation of Restrooms 

(Base Construction Cost $80,000) 

100,000 

{2) Access Road and Parking Areas 

(Base Construction Cost $2, 750,000) 

(3) Expansion of Water System 

(Base Construction Cost $250,000) 

(4) Expansion of Electrical Service 

(Base Construction Cost $125,000) 

(5) Reconstruction of Soldiers' Huts 

(Base Construction Cost $250,000) 

(6) Acquisition and Rehabilitation of 

Lafayette's Quarters 

(7) 

(8) 

(9) 

(1 0) 

( 11) 

(12) 

( 13) 

( 14) 

( 15) 

(Base Construction Cost $187,500--

Acquisition Cost $428,000) 

Fixed Exhibits for Lafayette's Quarters 

(Base Construction Cost $95,000) 

Renovation of Knox House and Restoration 

of Farm Complex 

(Base Construction Cost $230,000) 

Fixed Exhibits for Knox Complex 

(Base Construction Cost $95,000) 

Construction of Foot, Horse and Bicycle 

Trails and Trailside Exhibits 

(Base Construction Cost $385,000) 

Fixed E)(hibits for Huntington's 

Headquarters 

(Base Construction Cost $115,000) 

Restoration of General Ma)(well's Quarters 

(Base Construction Cost $325,000) 

Construction of Amphitheatre 

(Base Construction Cost $493,650) 

New Museum Building 

(Base Construction Cost $1,500,000) 

Fixed f)(hibits for Museum Building 

(Base Construction Cost $110,000) 

The bill was signed into law on 

provided the thrust for the 

Bicentennial.(69) 

December 26 by 

restoration of 

3,437,000 

312,000 

156,000 

312,000 

692,000 

118,000 

287,000 

118,000 

481,000 

143,000 

406' 000 

617,000 

1,875,000 

137,000 

Governor Shapp 

the park for 

69. Act of the General Assembly No. 320, December 26, 1974, in 

"Statement for Management, Valley Forge National Historical Park," 

February 21, 1980, Files, Superintendent's Office, VAFO. Construction 

documents related to these projects are on file in RG 2, VAFO Archives. 

509 
Four days after approval of the aforementioned act Governor Shapp 

signed into law General Assembly Act No. 352, "providing for adoption of 

capital projects to be f1nanced from current revenues of the General 

Fund, and making appropriations." The act included authorization of two 

projects in Valley Forge State Park: 

(1) Picnic Areas 83,000 

(2) Fixed Exhibits in General Maxwell's 

Headquarters 60,000(70) 

Most of these improvement proJeCts were commenced during the winter and 

spring of 1975. One project that drew particular attention was the 

reconstruction of the soldiers' huts--a project completed by July 1, 1976. 

Based on evidence unearthed during archeological investigations by the 

Historical and Museum Commission in the early 1970s and research by the 

Schnadelbach Braun Partnership in the mid-1970s, twenty huts were built 

in five of the brigade sites: Virgin,a, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode 

Island, and North Carolina. In addition to the finished huts, the project 

included several partially finished buildings and "headers"--logs laid on 

the ground in the shape of huts--for public viewing.(71) 

As the Bicentennial construction projects got underway, the park staff 

focused its attention on planning for the upcoming national 

commemoration. The park began monthly publication of an interpretive 

paper, entitled "Broadside," in March 1975. The publication was intended 

for the park and commission staffs and was designed to upgrade the 

quality of interpretation during the Bicentennial. The paper was to be 

printed daily during the Bicentennial of the Valley Forge encampment 

between December 1977 and June 1978.(72) 

The park's Bicentennial activities began with the celebration of the 200th 

anniversary of Paul Revere's ride on April 27, 1975, with 500 to 700 

persons in attendance. The day was used to experiment with guided 

horseback tours. The experiment proved successful, and thus the 

commission planned to establiSh a concession for that purpose during the 

Bicentennial summer months. Other concessions proposed for the 

Bicentennial included: horse rental, bicycle rental, farm wagon and 

carriage rides, tent camping and recreational vehicle camping, canoe, 

rowboat, and fishing operations, jitney bus system, craft demonstrations, 

70. Act of the General Assembly No. 352, December 30, 1974, Files, 

Land Resources Division, MARO. 

71. "Reconstruction of Soldiers' 

G.S.A. Job No. 995-5, Research 

and "New Huts at Valley Forge," 

Huts, Valley Forge State Park, Pa., 

Documentation," RG 2, VAFO Archives, 

Picket Post (Fourth Qtr., 1976), 19-20. 

• 

• 

72. Minutes, Valley Forge Park CommisSion, March 24, 1975. In 1976 the 

format of the paper was changed to that ot a newsletter entitled 

"Independence: Valley Forge Living History Volunteers." For copies see • 

Wolfinger Collection, Montgomery County Historical Society. 

510 
• 

• 

• 

personal gu1ded tours, and electronic "'alkmg tours, It was determined 

to distribute brochures, entitled "What Happened at Valley Forge," in the 

park. Written by John F _ Reed and printed by the Pennsylvania Society, 

Sons of the Revolution, the brochure was designed to explain the movie 

"Valley Forge" that had been produced by the soc1ety for showing in the 

park. (73} 

On July 4, 1975, President Gerald R. Ford signed into law a bill that hi!d 

been introduced by Senator Hugh Scott of Pennsylvania, permitting the 

American flag to be flown at Valley Forge twenty-four hours a day 

providing it was illuminated. The park was one of only eight historic 

sites in the nation to attain that distinction. A flag-raising ceremony 

celebrating that special event was held at the park later in the summer. 

The flag raised that day was first flown over the United States Ciipitol on 

July 4, 1975. The festivities for the occasion featured a fife and drum 

group clad in iiUthentic costume.(74) 

In 1975 the Pennsylvania general assembly passed a bill appropriating 

$4,500,000 in funds to the commonwealth's Department of Transportiltion 

to promote and improve trilnsportiltion facilities and services for tourists 

visiting historical sites during the Bicentennial. Among the provisions of 

the bill was section 2 which directly related to projects in Viilley Forge 

State Park: 

The funds herein appropriated may be utilized for, but not 

limited to, preparation, promotion and distribution of 

transportation brochures, filmily pass subsidies, increasing 

passenger train, trolley and bus service, construction of parking 

areas, acquisition and erection of an aerial cable car or other 

device to bridge the Schuylkill River at Valley Forge, acquisition 

and/or rehabilitation of rolling stock iind buses, and renovation 

of the train station at Valley Forge State Park.(75) 

In October the Southeast Pennsylvania Transportation Authority 

announced plans to restore the Valley Forge Railroad Station and build a 

200-car parking lot adjacent to the Port Kennedy Railroad Station. A 

contract was let by the Department of Transportation to Kitchen and 

73. Minutes, 

Nursery and 

later. 

Valley Forge Park CommisSion, May 27, 

dog-sitting concessions were considered 

June 20, 1975. 

several months 

74. Hugh Scott, "Our Flag Flies 24 Hours At Valley Forge," Picket Post, 

Winter 1976, 29, and S.J. Res. 98, 94th Cong., 1st sess., June 26, 1975, 

Microfiche, S. 1776, Leglslation--WASO. 

75. The General Assembly of Pennsylvania, Senate 

of 1975, Appendix 4, "Statement for Management, 

Files, Superintendent's Office, VAFO. 

511 

Bill No. 27, 

February 21, 

Session 

1980," 
Associates for refurbishing the station at a cost of $50,000 m 

November. ( 76) 

In September 1975 budget cutbacks and staff shortages forced the 

Historical and Museum Commission to announce that Valley Forge State 

Park, as part of a statewide park reduction program, would close its 

facilities on Mondays beginning on October 6. While attendance at the 

park had increased from some 1,700,000 in 1974 to more than 2,200,000 in 

1975, the park's regular full-time staff had been cut from 42 to 30 and its 

requested $1,300,000 budget had been cut by more than half to $600,000. 

Visitors would be able to dr1ve and walk through the park on Mondays, 

but all buildings would be closed. At the same time the state commission 

announced that it would close twelve historical facilities throughout 

Pennsylvi!nia on October 1 "until further legislative action." Several 

other historical sites in the commonwealth, including Brandywine and 

Washington's Crossing, would also be closed on Mondays.(77) 

In October 1975 the park commission reluctantly agreed to concur with the 

schedule of operation recommended by the Historical and Museum 

Commission. The schedule was: 

1. Instead of being open from 9am to Spm on Sundays, the 

new hours will be from 12 noon to 4:30 pm (October thru April) 

and 12 noon to Spm (May through September). 

2. All park buildings will be closed on the following holidays: 

New Years Day, Lincoln's Birthday, Primary Election Day, 

Easter, General Election Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, 

Thanksgiving and Christmas. 

3. Park 

November 

buildings will be closed on Mondays 

3 1 1975, for an indefinite period.(78) 

beginning 

Several projects were begun by the park commission in 1975 to beautify 

the park for the Bicentennial. A "Trees for Valley Forge" fund-raiSing 

drive was commenced in December 1975. By the summer of 1976 some 

$3,000 had been contributed for the planting of trees in the park. The 

76. Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, October 27, November 24, 

1975. 

77. Phil<~delphia Inquirer, September 21, 1975, and Today's Post, 

.--.- September 23, 1975, Scrapbooks, VAFO Library. The commiSSIOn 

considered recommending that Valley Forge be closed from January 1 to 

March 15 as an alternative to the Monday closings. The employment of 

persons under the Federal Employment Assistance Act, Comprehensive 

Employment Training Act, and federal impact employment program in 

1975-76 alleviated the park personnel shortages to some extent. 

78. Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, October 27, 1975. 

512 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

Betzwood quarry was filled in, landscaped, and seeded by Dunkin and 

Sons, contractors for the Pottstown Expressway, in May 1976.(79) 

As the Bicentennial program continued Superintendent Willcox prepared a 

list of "speciali;:ed addenda for the present Park Rules and Regulations." 

These supplementary regulations were designed to help govern the 

anticipated Bicentennial crowds. (80) 

The commission approved a number of summer Bicentennial events in 

February 1976. Pony Express '76, Inc., was given permission to ride into 

the park on July 4 to present scrolls for rededication of the park to 

President Gerald R. Ford. The Salem County Historical Society was 

authorized to drive forty head of cattle into the park on June 16 to 

re-enact General Anthony Wayne's foraging expedition. 

At the same time a wide variety of non-Bicentennial related events were 

approved, thus indicating the wide diversity of visitor uses of the park. 

These included: 

a. A request by Christ Church of Valley Forge to hold an 

Easter Sunrise Service at the Arch 

b. A request by the Ambler Olympic Club to hold a national 

cross country meet on Sunday, October 31, 1976 

c. A request by the former prisoners of war from Romania to 

hold a memorial service on Saturday, August 28, 1976 

d. A request by the Independent Order of Foresters to hold 

an Easter Egg Hunt on April 10, 1976 

e. A request by the Chaster Valley Sportsmen's Association to 

hold an outing and trout fishing contest at Lafayette Farms on 

June 5 or 6, 1976. 

f. A request by the Northeastern Christian JunrDr Ct>llege to 

hold a sunrise service on October 31, 1976 

g. A request by the Valley Forge Elementary School to use 

the schoolhouse beginning in May until the end of the school 

year(81) 

79. Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, May 24, August 23, 1976. 

80. Ibid . A copy of these regulations may be seen in Appendix E. 

31. Minutes, Vi!lley Forge Pi!rk Commission, February 23, 

Weddings tn the park were discontinued for calendar year 1976. 

513 

1976. 
On February 14-16, the 

Jubilee celebration brought 

winter crowd ever in the 

areas, hiring of more 

park before 

reported in 

during the 

park's recently-inaugurated annual Cherries 

some 15,000 persons to the park (the largest 

, triggering calls for additional parking 

and revising traFfic flow patterns in the 

summer Bicentennial crowds arrived. As 

on February 18, 1976, the traffic problems 

were described: 

The Valley Forge Park police force got its first taste of 

Bicentennial traffic problems during the past weekend's 

Cherries Jubilee celebration. 

Traffic was particularly heavy Sunday when an estimated 

5,000 to 6,000 tourists reached the park in cars. Most autos 

rolled into the main entrance at the Routes 363 and 23 junction; 

where vehicles were often backed up 20-deep on both sides of 

the entrance. 

The nearby reception center's lot was almost full, but cars 

were bumper-to-bumper from the entrance to beyond the 

soldier's huts, a distance of more than a half-mile along one 

side of Outer Line Drive, necessitating one-way routing along 

the park's main access road .... 

The snow plowed to both sides of Outer Line Drive prevented 

parking along the grass at the sides of the road. 

Most tourists crept patiently through the traffic jam looking 

for a place to park. When they saw no spaces near the 

soldiers' huts, where the weekend's activities centered, they 

circled the park again looking for open spaces ... 

This recircling added to the traffic problem as cars wound 

from the jam at the soldiers' huts around the park and back to 

the main entrance. 

Additional parking lots along the main thoroughfares, called 

for in the park's master plan, would eliminate severe jamming 

like that which occurred during the weekend. 

The Valley Forge Park police assigned eight officers--all those 

available--to direct traffic Sunday. The remaining six 

policemen worked the two night shifts. 

In addition, a group of young police trainees from Pottstown 

directed cars to and from available parking spaces. 

The park recently hired five additional policemen who are 

being paid through a federal grant.(82) 

The Cherries Jubilee ushered in a year of significant Bicentennial events. 

Washington's Birthday and St. Patrick's Day saw special "living history" 

programs at Washington's Headquarters.(83) From March 27 through 

November 14 Valley Forge tours featured a two-hour "Sight and Sound" 

bus tour of the park. The tours began at the park reception center and 

departed from there on an hourly basis. 

82. Today's Post, February 18, 1976. 

83. George Oyer, "Keeping Tradition Alive," Military Collector and 

Histor-ian, XXVIII (No.4, 1976), 180-82. 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

On May 8 "The Ballad of Valley Forge," a musical setting of history based 

on letters and diaries of Washington during the encampment, was 

premiered 1n the park with President Ford in attendance. Co-sponsored 

by the park and the Montgomery County commissioners, the musical 

program WilS performed by the Pottstown Symphony Orchestra, 

accompanied by a 350-voice chorus under William Lamb as director. Neil 

Armstrong, the first American to land on the moon, was the n<~rrator. 

The program was held in the Wayne Woods ared of the park.(84) 

July 3 marked the arrival of the Bicentennial Wagon Train Pilgrimage at 

the park. Sponsored by the Bicentennidl Commission of Pennsylvania, 

wagons from each state converged on the park in the <>fternoon, and a 

music<>! show was presented <>t 10 o'clock in the evening, followed by 

fireworks about midnight. A sunrise service was held ne<>r the W<>yne 

St<>tue on July 4. President Ford, <>mong others, greeted the C<>r<>V<>n on 

July 4, while he was in the p<>rk to sign legisl<>tion authorizing the 

est<>blishment of Valley Forge National Historical P<>rk. From July 4 

through October 1 the w<>gon tr<>in enc<>mped on the hillside south of the 

Memori<>l Arch. It was estimated that 50,000 persons <>ttended the 

fireworks, 3,000 the sunr1se service, 200,000 the ceremonies surrounding 

President Ford's arrival in the park, and 75,000 on July 5.(85) 

During August 4-7 two archery championships were held at the pi'rk 

archery field ne;Jr the intersection of State Route 252 and the 

Pennsylvania Turnpike. These were the third Bi-Annui'l Archery 

Championship of the Americas and the 92d Annual Archery Championship 

of the USA. 

Throughout the summer a pageant, entitled "Vignettes of Yesterdi'y," was 

performed •n the p<>rk. The pageant, accompanied by living history 

exhibits, was concluded on August 21 with <> specl<>l minstrel show. (86) 

85. "Bicentenni<>l 

CRM-MARO Files, 

1976' 

W<>gon Tr<>in Pilgrim<>ge to 

and Minutes, Valley Forge Park 

Pennsylv<>nia, 1976," 

Comm1ssion, August 23, 

86. American Revolution Bicentennial Administration, The Bicentennial of 

the United States of Americ<>: £!_ Final Report to the People, 5 vors:-;-

(Washington, 1977), V, 161-62. 
• 

APPENDIXES 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

' 

APPENDIX A 

BY-LAWS, VALLEY FORGE STATE PARK COMMISSION, 

APPROVED JUNE 28, 1971 

I. TOe c~.,.,h~ionerB sh~ll crg~r.h~ ~nnu~lly in Jun. by tr.~ o.l~cti<'n 

Setticn 2. 

fourth )~ond~.y c-f each l!'.onth, OJith t~c exccptinn of July <:nd )ugust, 

-'t lc"-St five 

:_~.T:c~: '-' ----

s -_ll 

- - ~ 

519 
Cc=iesion~rs, ~ll~wtnr pr~gr~IIS of the vcrk under his cnn. 

Section 2. 

C~~is•icn. Hu sh~ll ke~n ~ recrrd of th~ proceedings of all meeting~ 

of 'Ill st~ted rr sp.ocid T"eetings of t~c r:cr:'!!issi<'ners, ccnduct the· 

ARTICLE lV 

Saction I. 

AR!ICLE \' 

S.octi~n l. 

corrcspe>n~~nc~ and carefully pre~ervc all erntre.cts and records 

bclc-nging t;; the Perk.. 

1. R~~~ing of !'inut~s 

2. Repcrt c-f Truste~ 

4. !!.~·vrt ~f surorintcn<'-~nt 

7. l!~;; Eusi:~c;s 

Th~s" By-L,~"S "'•''' \>(· a:.,cn<'-e: ,, " n.·--t'-i:ds "-. ' ,; tl".~ ~~"-- ' .•. -

Cc-=.issi~n ., "-PY r~~,l~r ::-~~t~ng _,r " ' sreci•l ~<:•ring c~lh~ f. c 

• 

• 

the puro~sc, wrirten n:-tCc• :f tl;e ;>rcr'so-~ cl-,-~"' ll~·:inr 'o~~~- qi\'·-~ • 

~t l~·-5t tnaty <'.ays ;>ri·r :· 5\..C-~ '"eet;ng. 

Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, June 28, 1971. 

520 
• 

• 

• 

APPENDIX B 

VALLEY FORGE PARK COMMISSION, 

COMMITTEE JOB DESCRIPTIONS: 1972 

1. Historical Interlor Furnu;hcnqs: ResponscC-le for the selection, acquisltion, preservatlon ar.d i1spli'Oy of furn~sh1ngs 

ar.d furniture in >'l~sh,n,:tcm's '-1Eadqu3''-e:s, Oake House, von 

Steuben and Varnum Quarters. 

2. Museums, Archives and Llt:rary: Responsible for the display 

and preservation of Revolutionary rel1cs 1n the museum 

(i,e., the Reception Center) a.nd Schoolhouse. Responsible 

for the selection and acquisition of appropr1ate ltems for 

display 1n the C<mtp Hospital (i.e., part of von Steuben 

Quarters and Stable), 

3, Execut:ive and F1scal: Responsible for tr.e prepaJCation {and 

adjustments, as requi:-ed) of the Park budget, Respons1ble 

for ~anagement and control of the Trust Fund, 

'· Public Relations: 

media contacts in 

and Chair>~oman. 

Responsible 

consultat1on 

for news releases and mass 

wlth Park Superintendent 

5. Property: Responsible for maH;tenance, use and improvements 

to Park buildings and adjacent lands (e.g. - landscaping, 

entrenchments, flond. and herb gardens). l>.ssist in land and 

building acquisltion, and proposing, acquirlng and placing 

rr.onurnents, 

6, Public Welfare: Respons1::>le for overseeing the management 

of the Park Securlty Force; for identlfying Md correcting 

public safety hazards; fe>r all matters concerning public use 

of the Park (e.g., complalnts, physical :.:r.provementsl; for 

liaison with the Park Concessions. 

7. Bicentenn1al: Respons1ble for the preparation of the Park 

'· 

for 3icentennial vis• tors in the matters of land and building 

acqu1sit1on, internal transportation, buildlng demolition, 

ro"'d x-elocat1ons, parking facil;.tl.es, g-.ndes, master plann1ng, 

special events, and lialson w:.th ne1ghboring and state Bicentennial Colm'11ttees, 

Special :Jse !'olic_y_: A mostlv '>h<""rt-~c;,nc<' r:ocunittee concern""! 

. . 

'·'-"''"'~ 

Wolfinger 

Collection, 

to Malloy 

Montgomery 

(and enclosures), March 

County Historical Society_ 

S21 

-"--"·· ... 

1972, Wolfinger 
COIIIM(to!WEAL"Tl'i Of PENHSYLVANIA 

PEHHS YL VANIA HISTORICAL AHD MUSEUM COIIIMISSIOH 

BUREAU OF IIIUSEUMS 

BUREAU OF HISTORIC SITES AND PROPERTIES 

RULES AND REGULATICtiS 

WELCOME --Ei'IJOY YOUR VISIT. Ploo.• bo <onoid«ato of ti>au who ,..;II u•o th" property ohor you 

>uto. ploooe obootvo !he follawmg rulo> ond rogulohon> wi>roh oro opphcoblo to Muuumo, Hi><Otl< Soto> 

ol lho Ponn>,lvon•• H<>tOtO<ol ond Muooum CoMmi.,oon. 

To holp inouro yout 

and PtopottoO> undoo 

ooloty and plo<ttl.ol""'""""n 

II In tho event of ho<otdouo <ondotoono endangettng 1,\o Ot poope<ly. thoo ptopot,.,. may be doood to publo< "'" ot rho do>«<hon of rho p•• 

;::; pe<tr '"P""''"'· ~ 

Ill. The Ia"'· rule> and rogulahano of rho Pennoylvonoo Game Commio,.on ond Pennoylvonoo F"h Com'""""" >hall apply to f,.h,ng. 

hunhng and boot•ng .. <opt whote modofocohon of ouch lowo. tuloo ond regulation• oro d.,ormonod noco.,ory by the H .. tou<al and 

""''"""'Com'""""" lot the uoo and proto< han of tooour<oo under ih jutoodictoon. 

IV GEI'IER.o.L 

1.. l.ny conduct "hoch « do!<imentol to tho opir<t and otmo>phore of tho prop01ty "prohobitod. Touching at hondlong of fu<n<ture or fu• 

""hong> on uhobot" prohobotod unlo" othorwioe outloorizod. 

8 Loot an.l found ottidoo >hall be roportod and turnod '" immedi<rtoly to tho property hoodquot!e". l.lllaot ar!ocl., '""Y be tocloomod 

ol .t.o hoodqu<trtOtO by ,Oontifyon~ oomo. 

f Food and b .. orogu oro Ut porm,ttod on ""1 boroldmg• othor than lho•o dooognotod lor •u<h ••• 

• • 

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mz " "" " m 

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" 

l•«n,.d -.ludo opOIOIO<> >hall oboy po>ted opeed limon, ood u>e only rood> and po<kon~ U!OO> open to publoc '""""'"' ho!f" unl<» 

olhooH"" d<o•gnoted by the local p<opo<ly '"P*'"""'· Tho opera""" of nonh<enoed moto"•ed •eh1d0> 0> nul permO!ted on P<OPo<ly <oooh, 

""'h and o<eo> unl<>> orhu""" deoignoled. E.co .. .-e noose, nu,.oneo, reckle" 0< noghgent ope<ullon o> prolubded (omme«oul hoff,. 

"allowed on prope<ty <oodo only when pro.,dong outhor .. ed ><••ice 

~ l •a>h, gorbogo ond other lot!e< "'""be plocod •n contoiH<> for thi> putpo,., and shall be lim"od lo motonol> o<eumulot•d du,.ng u>< 

ul '"'' p<opo<ty 

0 Pon ore pe,.nottod on <ectootion ••••• p<hoded thoy ore on o leooh not e.ceodong ,..(6)1eot In length ond Ottondod ut all"'"" Only 

Seoong Eye Do~• ••~ poom1!ted 10 .. hob•t buildong>. 

H D"<haogo of ony typ., offiooo<mo, 'oowo ond ouowo, oHgun<, olinyohof>, f.,owo•k>, •• tho u•• of patontiolly dudly weopon> oto ptohobotod unlo,. P""' opp•••ol has boen 9<'00 'oy tho ptopo<ty >upOtVi<O<. 

T Con .. do, oth« ptop~<ly "'""· Bo><!oto•><, •mmotol o< 10docont <ondu<t will not b~ tolototod 

V,olotoon< of tho,. <ulo> ond toyulation> ••~ enfo«Od undo< tho following Code" $octoon 5509, of the C<imonol Code, A<t of Oecembe< 6, 

1972, I 5509, IS Po_ ~ 5509; 18 Pa. $_ o 1101 (2) and (4) ot both; Act of Do<ombe< 6, 1912. Ho 334 > 3921, 18 Po S > 3921, IS Po S 

> 3903,· A<t of Do<ombo• 6, 1972, Wo. 134, > 650 L 18 Po. S. > 650 1; 18 Po. $, > 1101 (6), 18 Po_ ~ > 1105 o• both, Section 61~6 ol 11\o 

Coomonol Code, Aotol Duom'oot 6, 1971, Ho. 334 ( 18 Pu. S. > 61~6); ond So<tlon 61\9 oltho Ct1minol Code. A<t ol De<OMbet 6,\071 

Ho 334(18Pa.S.>6ll91. 

A doto.lod do><optoon of the obo•• onumotated <ulo> and togulotion• con be >eon on tho p<OpO<ty hoodquo<lo<> 
APPENDIX D 

VALLEY FORGE STATE PARK GUIDELINES FOR PUBLIC 

PARK AND FACILITIES; NOVEMBER 1973 

USE OF 

L Standar-:j Park Requlal..ions as ;:osted at each Park enterancf, shall 

be observed. 

2. Traffic limits e.s posted, she.ll be observed. 

:3. Use of Park and facllities i1J groups or organizations for special 

occassions :shall be permitted providing: 

A. Groups or organizations of 100 or more shall provide: 

L Toilet facilities 

2. Insurance for personal liability and property darnage 

:3. Parking e.ttendents, as required 

4. Cleanup personnel and facilities 

5. Fir~:.t aid equipment is available for use at :site 

(Depending on p.lrpJse of visit) 

6. A "''rety OOnd of $100.00 shall be submitted in advance 

• 

t:h~;- i-'irk SUperintendent. This bond shall be returned • 

after compiia.nce wlth the regulations. 

B. AnJ grc·,o or organization shall be permitted use of the Park, 

p:-ovided :.'ley dv not promote or advocate, the overthrow or 

de;rra:::2-ticr,, 'J! the State anl/or Federal Government. The 

C~nstiLtior of both the Federal and State governments are the 

re'llatc r:y directives. 

C. Ar.y group cr organization shall b€ penr.itted use of the Park 

provided: 

l. The use thereof is of an historical nature consistant with 

ttc, historical aspect of Valley Fcrge encampment 1777-78. 

2. The use thEreof is of a recreatiom.l or educational 

purpJse. 

4. Per:nission ln writing, shE.!.l b€ requ.ireC b"f ?JJ.Y group requestL'lg 

use of t::.c, P!crk or facilities. SUch permission si'.all be reQ'Jested two 

months in advance where possible. SUch permission will b€ required 

from i.he Valley Fo~e State Park Com!Dlssion. 

5. Thoo Pari; S",;,perinter.dent sh21! be sva:hble to assist a."ly group !n 

pre>E:r-a.ti:::r, or pl'?.nning for the event which s:-.all be required. 

Minutes, Valley Forge Park CommiSsion, November 26, 1973. 

524 
• 

• 

• 

APPENDIX E 

SPECIAL PARK RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR BICENTENNIAL: 

MAY 1976 

1. Dumping on Park property is forbidden_ Entrance to the Park dump 

1s forbidden at any time except by permission of the superintendent. 

2- Picnicking and recreational activities shall be in designated areas 

only. They end at dusk. 

3. Winter regul<~tions shall be in effect as posted. 

4. Meetings or gatherings for political purposes are not permitted. 

5. Tickets, subscriptions, notices, advertisements may not be posted, 

distributed, solicited, sold or verbalized. 

6. Vehicle pi!rking shall be in designated areas only. There shall be 

no parking after dark. 

7. Pedestrians may not ride on or next to fortifications, earthworks, 

parking lots, entrenchments, roadway banks or shoulders or near 

buildings, statues, monuments and picnic areas. Where provided, bridle 

paths must be used. Monuments, srgns, benches al"\d tables shall not be 

used as hitching posts. 

8. Animals and birds may not be hunted, trapped, injured or killed, 

nor may their homes or nests be disturbed. 

9. Bicycles shall be ridden Ol"\ designated bicycle paths. 

10. Skateboards are not permitted in the Park. 

11. No person is permitted within the gates of the Observation Tower 

when they are locked. 

12. The use of metal detectors, probes, tools, or equrpment which may 

locate, injure or damage any historical information or artifact is 

prohibited. All artifacts, specimens or objects having hrstorical value are 

the property of the Common"·ealth and shall not be removed. 

13. Abandoned vehicles will be treated in accordance with Commonwealth 

Law. 

14. Motorized vehicles shall be 

motorized vehicles are permitted on 

driven 

bicycle 

on paved 

paths. 

roads only. 

15. Boating and swimming are not permitted in Valley Creek or Trout 

Run. Boat launching is permitted at the Betzwood boat ramp only. Boat 

trarlers may not be parked in paved parkrng lots at Bellwood . 

525 
16. Opened containers of alcholic beverage are not permitted. 

17. No camping permitted without prior approval 

Superintendent. 

18. Buses shall park in designated spaces on paved parking lots only. 

19. Trucks are permitted on Routes 23 and 252 and Countyline [sic] 

Road only except by prior approval of the Superintendent. 

Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, May 24, 1976 

526 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

CHAPTER SEVEN 

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY OF PUBLIC LAW 94-337 

CREATING VALLEY FORGE NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK 

527 
• 

• 

• 

A. MOVEMENT TOWARD TRANSFER OF VALLEY FORGE STATE PARK 

TO NATIONAL PARK SYSTEM 

During the early 1970s individual local citizens and organized citizens' 

groups began writing letters to Pennsylvania senators and congressmen, 

state officials, and even President Richard M. Nixon, urging transfer of 

Valley Forge State Park to the National Park Service. Factors which 

precipitated the letter~writing campaign were the financial scandals in the 

park administration, increasing emphasis on recreational use of the park, 

inadequate staffing and state appropriations for maintenance of the park, 

and the proposed development of the Chesterbrook property. One 

particularly irate citizen from Devon, Pennsylvania, sent a cryptic letter 

to both Governor Milton J. Shapp and Senator Richard Schweiker on 

February 9, 1971: 

The series of exposures on conditions at the Valley Forge State 

Park discloses conditions which are disgusting by any concept 

of decent administration. First there was the irresponsible 

shooting of a rabbi and his wife, whose only crime was to be 

dr•ving through the park! An irresponsible state employee with 

no business handling a cap pistol, let alone an automatic 

shotgun, blasted at the helpless couple and the1r car--and then 

for good measure gave the rabbi a traffic ticket for running a 

stop-sign as he sought to save his life. Such things would be 

scandalous in rural Mississippi--but it is suburban Philadelphia 

we are talking about. 

Not only did this happen, but the man was left on the job--and 

would no doubt be there still were it not for Inquirer reporter 

Robert Fowler. Now there are front-page headlines today about 

kickbacks in the operation of the Park. On the surface this 

fraud seems not to be for personal gain, but as a sign of a 

state administration so absurd that it would not be possible to 

run the park without such practices. How in creation is the 

public to respect either a state administration, or our uniformed 

police, if such things are tolerated? 

The operation of a national historic shrine and a great site for 

the Commonwealth is an utter and disp1cable [sic] disgrace. In 

its best hour, it IS only a recreat1on area, without staff, 

adequate signs, and administration. At worst it becomes a 

haven for marijuana, irresponsible morons with shotguns paid 

for their duties by the Commonwealth, and a source of 

front-page stones about kickbacks. Is this a fitting memorial 

to the men who suffered and died there with General 

Washington? 

Why not--in this hour when the state 1s in financial 

trouble--turn the park over to competent prore,;sionals, by 

h<lnd.ng it over [to[ the the Department of the Interior, for 

administration as w1th Gettysburg' These people can run 

Valley Forge responsibly, as befits a gr·eat shrine. Memories of 

Dr. Kenneth D. Wells on the one hand, and of this park 

administration on the other, hardly seems a fitting memorial to 

529 
one of the great efforts in American history. Can't we use this 

occasion to get that park out of the hands of incompetents and 

transferred into the hands of professionals who know how to 

run it?(l) 

Following the firing of Superintendent Charles C. Frost, Jr., 1n 

mid-March, S. K. Stevens, executive director of the Historical and 

Museum Commission, announced his support for a plan to transfer Valley 

Forge, Washington Crossing, and Brandyw1ne Battlefield parks to the 

National Park Service. He noted: 

With the National Park Service, there would be more money 

to run the parks and they could be coordinated into the 

Bicentennial celebration plans .... 

Parks of this importance should not be run by 

commissions .... to try to get the commissions to change 

anyth•ng is like digging into a yellow Jackets nest and you have 

to be able to run. Local politicians are involved in such 

commissions. (2) 

The development of Chesterbrook also led to considerable pressure on 

state and federal officials to transfer Valley Forge to the National Park 

Service. One private citizen from Wayne, Pennsylvania, wrote to 

President Nixon on March 15, 1972: 

You have so many problems more weighty than this to 

worry about, and I know, Republican myself, it is usually 

best if citizens and I try to work together 

and make their own I 

Valley Forge, ~ 

Headquarters as 

the Park, could it not a 

more National level? 

Is it possible that the National Park Service should 

investigate this further? While the western states are busy 

saving all the natural beauties there, the east is fast becoming 

a macadam and cement monument. we have to start somewhere 

and save what little land there 1s left in the east. How about 

at Valley Forge, Historic Symbol of our great 

already written Senators Scott 

Ware "" "' well "' '"' State 

Schulze "'' Governor Shapp. 

they can't ,, won't do anything about it. " 

1. Mason to Shapp and Mason to 

Archives, CRM-WASO. Also see 

Woodcock to Schweiker, August 9, 

1973, Park Archives, CRM-WASO. 

Schweiker, February 9, 

Short to Scott, August 

1972; and Miles to Scott, 

2. Philadelphia lngu;rer, March 19, 1971, in PRP-MARO F1les. 

1971, Park 

13, 1972; 

August 8, 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

I agree with the many specific objectiOns, i.e. "increased 

density in population brings increased crime, etc. etc." but my 

mam concern is hard to put into words. It is so intangible. It 

involves the state of mind of our sodety. I firmly believe that 

the people in the east are becoming hardened by their 

surroundings with no care for aesthetic values, but caring only 

for material gains. 

The soul needs natural beauty within easy reach. Maybe 

this is one reason, other than tourism, why Valley Forge Park 

is crowded with city people every weekend trying to refresh 

their souls.(J) 

Perhaps, the first significilnt response by the National Park Service to 

the Chesterbrook issue occurred in November 1971. Writing to one local 

Paoli resident on the 16th, Northeast Regional Office Director Chester L. 

Brooks noted: 

As you may know, Valley Forge State Park 1s a Registered 

National Historic Landmark, and as such enjoys the protection 

from adverse impacts of Federally-funded or licensed projects 

under the Historic Preservation Act of 1966. To our 

knowledge, the proposed Chesterbrook development is not 

Federally funded, or otherwise assisted; and at the moment we 

do not know whether any exercise of Federal licensing authority 

will be required for the development. 

We are, however, concerned about any action which might 

adversely affect the State Park. We will be following the 

situation closely, and assist the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 

and Valley Forge State Park in any way possible to insure that 

the Park is not adversely affected by thJs development 

proposal.(4) 

3. Henderson to Nixon, March 15, 1972, Park Archives, CRM-WASO. 

Also see Smith to Hartzog, June 23, 1971; Gordon to Schweiker, 

November 10, 1972, and Emmel to Nixon, February 28, 1973, Park 

Archives, CRM-WASO. The beneficial economic effects of the 

Chesterbrook development were described in a letter from Henry L. Tolan 

of Wayne to Assistant Secretary Nathaniel P. Reed on January 18, 1975. 

Tolan to Reed, January 18, 1975, Microfiche Files, H.R. 5621, 97th 

Congress, Valley Forge NHP, D1visioJ1 of Legislation, Washington Office, 

National Park Service. Hereinafter, these f1les will be referred to as 

Microfiche, H. R. 5621, Legislation--WASO. 

4. Brooks to Bantz, November 16, 1971, CRM-MARO Files. Valuable 

insights into the issues involved in the traJ1sfer of Valley Forge to the 

National Park System were provided to the author of this study by 

Chester L. Brooks during a telephone interview OJ1 August 15, 1984. 
More significant was Brooks' letter to Norman A. Skow, Chairman of the • 

Tredyffrin Township Board of Supervisors: 

It has been brought to our attention that the Chesterbrook 

project very possibly may have an adverse effect on Valley 

Forge StatE Park through increased vehicular commuting traffic 

through the Park; additional runoff into Valley Creek and 

resultant increased erosion in the course of the stream through 

the Park; and the construction of a large pressure sewer line 

through the Park that will be needed to service the development 

project. . 

However, we would take this opportunity to respectfully request 

that in considering requests for changes in zoning and building 

permits for the Chesterbrook project that every effort be made 

to assure that it will not adversely affect Valley Forge State 

Park in any of the respects mentioned above; and that if the 

sewer line is built through the Park, that provisions be made 

for archeological salvage of historic remains that may be 

encountered in its construction. We would also like to suggest 

that the three historic properties associ;,ted with the Valley 

Forge encampment which lie within the area for the encampment 

be assured of preservation and public use, in anticipation of 

the Bicentennial Celebration of the American Revolution.(S) 

During 1971-1973 the National Park Service, a long-time supporter of the 

state parks movement, side-stepped the transfer issue when asked to 

respond to these letters. A typical response was that sent by Robert M. 

Utley, Director, Office of Archeology and Historic Preservation, to 

Senator Schweiker on September 27, 1972: 

Since that park is a unit of the Pennsylvania State Park System 

we cannot comment on its operation. We suggest that Mr. 

Woodcock direct his comments to the Superintendent of the park 

or to other appropriate State officials. 

The placing of V;,lley Forge within the National Park System, as 

you know, would require appropriate legislation by the 

Congress together with the concurrence of the State.(6) 

The National Park Service, prodded by the uproar over Chesterbrook, 

responded more vigorously to the issues raised by its development in July 

1972. On the 14th Utley asked the Northeast Regional Office to conduct 

5. Brooks to Skew, November 16, 1971, CRM-MARO Files. 

Connally to Kerr, January 20, 1972, Utley to Henderson, June 

Murtagh to Shaw, June 29, 1972, and Utley to Holmes, July 

ibid. 

Also see 

19, 1972, 

11, 1972, 

6. Utley to Schweiker, September 27, 1972, Park Archives, CRM-WASO. 

532 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

a landmark inspection of the park to evaluate the potential threat of 

Chesterbrook to the integrity of Valley Forge. (7) 

In response to the request by Utley, Northeast Regional Office Director 

Brooks scheduled a landmark inspection of Valley Forge State Park on 

August 3.(8) The inspection, performed by Hobart Cawood, 

Superintendent, Independence National Historical Park, and Murray 

Nelligan, Landmark and National Register Specialist, Northeast Region, 

resulted in a report that evaluated the potential impact of Chesterbrook 

on the state park. The authors stated: 

This is an extremely ambitious multi·million dollar scheme to 

build a "mix" of low and high rise residential and commercial 

structures, on several hundred acres of presently open land 

south of the park and separated from it by the Pennsylvania 

Turnpike. In addition to encroaching on one of the last 

remaining natural views from the park, this large~scale 

development may be expected to generate additional pressure to 

meet the recreational needs of the several thousand residents 

who will eventually live and work in it. Likewise, it will surely 

create additional traffic on park roads, with resultant pressure 

to improve them primarily to accommodate commuter traffic. 

Pressures to obtain additional utility easements may also be 

anticipated such as the one presently under consideration, a 

sewage pumping station to be built on the south side of the 

park, with a large pipeline to be built through the park to a 

sewage disposal plant on the Schuylkill River. This project is 

presently under review by the National Advisory Council on 

Historic Preservation, and recently the Tredefferin [sic] 

Township Sewer Authority applied to the Corps of Engineers for 

a permit for the sewer line to cross the Schuylkill. 

There has been considerable local opposition to both the 

"Chesterbrook" project and the sewage pump station. However, 

both the Park Commission and the State Historical and Museum 

Commission seem willing to accept the project, if the pumping 

plant 1S located and designed to minimize its intrusion in the 

historic scene along Valley Creek provided the park can 

7. Director, Office ot Archeology and Historic Preservation to Director, 

Northeast Region, July 14, 1972, CRM-MARO Files, and Director, Office 

of Archeology and Historic Preservation to Director, July 14, 1972, and 

Director, Office of Archeology and Historic Preservation to Director, 

Northeast Region, July 14, 1972, Park Archives, CRM-WASO. 

8. On July 27 Brooks sent a summary of the current status of the 

Chesterbrook project to Director George B. Hartzog_ Director, Northeast 

Region to Director, National Park Service, July 27, 1972, CRM-MARO 

Files. Relevant portions of this memorandum may be seen in Appendix A_ 
eventually 

stations. 

use the 

. (9) 

sewer line service its own comfort 

Meanwhile the local press and media continued to encourage the campaign 

for takeover of Valley Forge State Park by the National Park Service. 

Philadelphia television station WTAF Channel 29, for instance, ran the 

following editorial four times between September 29 and October 5, 1972: 

Over the past several months there have been numerous 

complaints about the conditions at Valley Forge State Park. 

Dirty restrooms, unmowed grass, lack of signs--these are just a 

few. The State Park Commission says it w1il investigate. At 

the same time, it is looking into the budget allocation for the 

park. The park is not in good condition and yet it is costing 

the state almost half a million dollars a year to run. 

Valley Forge is not only history for Pennsylvanians but history 

for all Americans. Valley Forge State Park should become 

Valley Forge National Park. The donation of the park to the 

Federal Government and to all the American people could be 

Pennsylvania's gift to the Bicentennial Celebration. The cost of 

running the park would be lifted from the shoulders of 

Pennsylvanians and made part of the National Park Federal 

Budget. 

The National Park Service efficiently runs beautiful, well cared 

for parks. Let's get some professional help in displaying one 

of America's most historic sites. Let's acquire more land and 

make the park larger. 

We call on Governor Shapp and Senators Schweiker and Scott to 

begin the legislative process of turning Valley Forge State Park 

into Valley Forge National Park. 

Write the Governor and your Senators. 

better park may be yours to enjoy . 

Pennsylvanians. ( 1 0) 

Support the plan and a 

for less money for 

In January 1973 a group of citizens interested in the preservation of the 

rema1ning open space and historical sites adjacent to Valley Forge State 

Park formed the Chesterbrook Conservancy. The immediate objective of 

the organization l'"as to obtain pledges to contribute toward acquisition of 

the Chesterbrook site for its preservation for ecological and historical 

purposes and thus "preserve Valley Forge as a national heritage." The 

9. Acting Director, Northeast Region to Director, National Park 

Service, October 17, 1972, PRP-MARO Files. 

10. 29 WTAF-TV Editorial, "Valley Forge Park . 

10/3, 10/S," enclosed with letter, Wiegand to Nixon, 

Central f1les, MARO. 

aired 9/29, 

December 20, 

10/1' 

1972, 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

initial goal of the group was to raise a collective commitment of $100,000 

by February 15. The purpose of this endeavor was that "this concrete 

expresSIOn of intent" would hopefully "serve as the catalyst needed to 

attract the necessary state, federal and/or foundabon funds for this 

important land acquisition. "(11} 

The National Park Service position on the Chesterbrook issue was more 

fully developed by December 1973. In a letter to Senator Schweiker, 

Northeast Regional Director Brooks noted that his agency was taking a 

"hands-off" attitude: 

The "Cheo;terbrook" project, a planned development of several 

hundred acres of what is now rolling farmland is a private 

development. The National Park Service has not been involved 

in the project and it is unlikely that it will be involved in the 

foreseeable future. 

In addition to Valley Forge State Park, l"hich is a Registered 

National Historic Landmark located on the north side of 

"Chesterbrook," there are five other historic sites m the 

"Chesterbrook" area Which are 1n the National Register of 

Historic Places, or are in the process of being added to the 

Register. These sites are: Cressbrook Farm (Brigadier 

General Louis Ouportail's Quarters), David Havard House 

(Lee-Bradford House), Headquarters of General Lafayette, 

Rehoboth House (General Greene's Headquarters) and Homestead 

Farm (General Lord Stirling's Quarters). 

Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 

provides that the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation 

must be allol"ed the opportunity to comment before the Federal 

Government may fund, license, or execute any project which 

may have an effect on the National Register property. Any 

Federal involvement at "Chesterbrook" l"hich may have an effect 

upon any of these sites would, therefore, be sUbJeCt to review 

by the Advisory Council. (12) 

The continuing campaign by local interest groups to have Valley Forge 

State Park transferred to the National Park System led to more forceful 

reject1ons of the federalization proposals in 1974. In Apr1l, for instance, 

National Park Service Associate Director Richard C. Curry responded to 

an inquiry from Senator Hugh Scott on behalf of a constituent by stating 

the Nixon administration's policy toward such efforts: 

With very fe"'' exceptions, it is this Administration's policy not 

to acquire existing State park lands for the purpose of 

11. "The Chesterbrook Conservancy," January 21, 1973, CRM-MARO 

Files . 

12. Brooks to Schweiker, December 5, 1973, Park Archives, CRM-WASO. 

535 
establishing a unit of the National Park System. On the 

contrary, the President stated that it will be this 

Administration's policy to return excess Federal lands to the 

State and local governments wherever posSible for the purpose 

of recreation. Such a program, known as the Legacy of Parks, 

has added 46,000 acres of surplus Federal lands to State and 

local governments for parklands and playgrounds. 

Additionally, through the Land and Water Conservation Fund 

established by an Act of Congress in 1964, the Federal 

Government has returned millions of Federal dollars to State and 

local governments for the acquisition and development of 

outdoor recreation facilities. The budget recently submitted to 

the Congress by the President for fiscal year 1975 recommended 

full funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund in the 

amount of $300 million with $196 million earmarked for state and 

local programs.(13) 

Meanwhile, Philadelphia-area newspapers and local political leaders took 

the transfer cause. For instance, the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin 

May 14, 1974, printed the following editorial: 

There's been a lot of talk over the years about turning 

Valley Forge State Park over to the National Park Service but 

with the Bicentennial fast approaching the time has come to 

translate this talk into action. 

Though Valley Forge is revered for its history and its 

beauty--superlative in the Spring when the dogwoods 

bloom--the park has not received what it justly deserves. 

It has been the unhappy subject of repeated disputes 

between the state commission and the Valley Forge Park 

Commission, a local advisory group. That conflict culminated 

recently when the local group asked for exclusive governing 

rights over the park--an untenable proposition considering the 

national importance of Valley Forge. 

The park also has suffered from a lack of funds for 

preservation of historic sites and construction of adequate 

visitors' facilities. Some 1.7 million people now visit the park 

annually. An estimated 5 to 15 million are expected in 1976. 

The park must be ready for this influx and it is doubtful 

whether Pennsylvania can do the i£!>_ alone or "ShOi".ild do 1t. 

Certainly the Federal Government would have more money 

spend on the park than the state. But the issue goes 

money. Valley Forge doesn't belong to Pennsylvania. 

to all America and, if only for that reason, the 

~,,"' Service is the proper agency to oversee the 

13. Curry to Scott, April 15, 1974, Files, Legislation--WASO. 

14. Editor,al, Philadelphia Evening Bulletin, May 14, 1974. 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

B. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR AND NATIONAL PARK SERVICE 

RESPONSE TO GOVERNOR SHAPP TRANSFER PROPOSAL 

The effort to tr<1nsfer Valley Forge to the National Park System took a 

dramatic turn on May 22, 1974. On that date Governor Shapp approached 

Secretary of the Interior Rogers C. B. Morton at <1 meet•ng of the 

Oelaw<>re River Basin Commission with a proposal (later conveyed to 

President Gerald R. Ford by letter) as described by J. Curtis Herge, 

Assistant to the Secretary: 

That the State of Pennsylvania denote Fee Title to Valley 

Forge, Washington's Crossing, and Brandywine to the National 

Park Service. The reason for this proposal is that adjacent to 

the Valley Forge area, but bisected by the Pennsylvania 

Turnpike, is a 600 acre area which is being developed under 

the name of Chester Brook [sic]. Chester Brook [sic], which 

is the last green area in the vicinity, is going to be developed 

with high rise apartment buildings. The Governor is of the 

opinion that if the development goes forward it will mean the 

"end" of Valley Forge. The Governor proposes that the 

National Park Service acquire Chester Brook [sic], the 

estimated purchase price being between $9 and $20 million. 

Morton called upon Maurice Arnold, Regional Director of the Bureau of 

Outdoor Recreation, who was attending the meeting, to explore the 

proposal with Norval Reece, a special assistant to the governor, and 

National Park Service Northeast Regional Director Brooks.(16} 

.Some six weeks later, on July 9, Acting Mid-Atlantic Regional Director 

Benjamin J. Zerbey submitted the drilft of a response to Governor 

.Shapp's propOSill. Although this draft was never sent to the governor, it 

shows the Park Service's initial reaction to his proposal. The draft 

response recommended that the proposal for federal purchase of 

Chesterbrook be rejected, but "thilt the Service initiate, in cooperation 

with the Stilte of Pennsylvania, a study looking to the possible future 

15. Assistant to the Secretary and Chief of Staff to Director, National 

Park Service, and Director, Bureau of Outdoor Recreation, May 23, 1974, 

Legislation--WA.SO. Ths following day a br1efing statement was prepared 

by N<~tional Park Service personnel for Director Ronald Walker, il copy of 

Vl'hich may be seen in Appendix B. Trartsfer of Valley Forge to the 

Feder<~l government was not unanimous at the state level. While the 

Historical and Museum Commission supported Shapp's proposal, as did 

Annamilria Millloy, chairman of the park commission, the commission itself 

voted 9-2 on June 24, 1974, against giving the park to the federal 

government. Residents of the are<~ were also divided over the issue 

between those who saw the federal government as the best defense 

<~gainst development of abuttmg lands to the park <~nd those who feared 

the consequences of giving up loc<~l control to federal ilulhorities. TodaY's 

Post, April 25, 1975, and Minutes, V<~lley Forge Park Commiss.an, June 

~1974. 

537 
l 

transfer of Valley Forge, Washington Crossing and Brandywine to the • 

Service."(16) 

Later, on July 26, 1974, National Park Service Acting Director Russell E. 

Dickenson responded formally to Herge's aforementioned memorandum, 

supporting the idea "that this matter can best be handled further as you 

suggest in your memorandum of May 23 by informal discussions." His 

response summarized the National Park Service attitude to Governor 

Shapp's proposal: 

All three State properties have been found nationally significant 

and designated national historic landmarks by the Secretary of 

the Interior. They are historically related and have high 

potentidl for unified management and interpretation. However, 

the Service has not studied the suitability and feasibility of 

such a proposal. Also, an act of CongrE>ss would be necessary 

to authorize acceptance of these properties and purchase of the 

Chesterbrook tract. We are not aware of any prospective 

legislative proposal. 

At present, in light of the large gap between authorization and 

appropriation for existing units of the National Park System, we 

are attempting to discourage proposed new parks. It does not 

seem wise to undertake new financial obligations when our 

resources are inadequate to meet obligations already incurred . 

The State should be able to take good care of its sites and with 

assistance from one or more Federal grants-in-aid programs 

meet present and prospective needs. We also note that the 

threat to Chesterbrook is apparently the result of the failure of 

local land-use planning.(17) 

By December 1974 Governor Shapp had become concerned that his 

proposal to transfer Valley Forge, Washington Crossing, and Brandywine 

Battlefield, was not receiving sympathetic attention by Washington 

officials. On December 23 he wrote to Secretary Morton stating: 

It is appropriate to act upon thos suggestion promptly, on 

the eve of the Bicentennial commemoration, os I understood that 

both you and the President are receptive to the idea .. 

I would appreciate an opportunity to meet with you, at the 

earliest possible time, to discuss implementation of Federal 

action to bring these historic sotes of national significance 

under Federal control. Enabling legislation will be introduced 

in the Pennsylvania Legoslature early in the 1975 session, and I 

16. Acting Regional 

Park Service, July 

portions of the draft 

Director, Mid-Atlantic Region to 

9, 1974, CRM-MARO Files. A 

response may be seen on Appendix 

Director, 

copy of 

c. 

National 

relevant 

• 

17. Acting Director, National Park Service to Herge, Assistant to the • 

Secretary and Chief of Staff, July 26, 1974, Park Archives, CRM-WASO. 

538 
• 

• 

am hopeful 

introduced in 

that ~imilar 

Congress.(18) 

legislation will simultaneously 

In January 

Wildlife and 

with him. 

1975 Nathaniel P. Reed, Ass•stant Secretary for Fish and 

P<1rks, informed the governor that he would be glad to meet 

However, he cautioned Shapp: 

Because I have supervisory responsibility for the Park Service 

and am, thus, acutely aware of its present funding and 

manpower problems, cannot be too optimistic about the 

prospects of assuming additional responsibilities at this time. 

We must also take into account that the Commonwealth has 

demonstrated its ability to administer these sites for the benefit 

of all Americans.(19) 

Prior to the meeting with Shapp, Reed requested James M. Lambe, chief, 

Division of Legislation, to meet with Representative Richard T. Schulze on 

January 21 and prepare draft legislation to establish Valley Forge National 

Historical Park. The congr~assman was advised that the department could 

not commit itself to support the project until after the advisory board 

action had been completed and clearanc~a from the Offrce of Management 

and Budget was obtained.(20) Accordingly, the National Park Service 

legislative counsel submrtted a draFt bill to Schulze on January 28.(21) 

c. LEGISLATIVE HISTORY OF PUBLIC LAW 94-337 

On January 28, 1975, Congressman Schulze introduced a bill, H. R. 2257 

(a copy of which may be seen in Appendix D) to authorize the Secretary 

of the Interior to establish Valley Forge National Historical Park.(22) An 

identical bill was introduced (H.R. 5621) by Schulze, with sixteen 

co-sponsors from the Pennsylvania congressional delegation on March 26. 

Later on June 17, Schulze again introduced an identical bill {H.R. 7989), 

this time with nineteen co-sponsors from other states. 

The National 

the Interior 

day Utley, 

Park Service was requested to submit a report on the bill to 

Department's legislative counsel on April 7. The following 

Assistant Director, Park Historic Preservation, reported: 

18. Shapp to Morton, December 23, 1974, Legislation--WASO. 

19. Reed to Shapp, January 16, 1975, Legislation--WASO. 

20. Lambe 

enclosures), 

to Curry, 

January 28, 

January 22, 1975, 

1975, Park Ar·chives, 

and Brown 

CRM-Wil.SO. 

(and 

21. Orown to Schulze, January 28, 1975, CRM-MARO Files. 

e 22. Philadelphia Inquirer, January 29, 1975. 

539 
We have reviewed the above bill and recommend an unfavorable 

report. Although Valley Forge has national significance and 

would no doubt be found suitable and feasible for admission to 

the National Park System, its preservation should be assured 

by its present owner, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. 

This report was based on analysis provided by Harry W. Pfanz, National 

Park Service Chief Historian, in an informal memorandum dated March 7. 

In part, Pfanz stated: 

Although Valley Forge has worldwide prestige, <s of 

unquestioned national significance, and as an operating park 

might be presumed to meet the criteria of suitability and 

feasibility as a unit of the National Park System, we believe 

that we must continue to oppose efforts to place it under 

Service jurisdiction. 

Because of the stringent financial and personnel limitations 

under which it must operate, the Service has opposed the 

acquisition of new areas which can be preserved and 

administered adequately by other public and private 

institutions. Since Valley Forge is a state park in the custody 

of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania its proper administration 

and preservation ought to be assured. If a state of the 

affluence of Pennsylvania cannot exercise such a responsibility 

for a site that has been under its jurisdiction for eighty years, 

the future for historic preservation in this country is indeed 

bleak. The state was assisted in its effort in fiscal year 1973 

by grant funds totalling $133,962 for preservation work at 

Valley Forge; additional requests for aid have not been received 

to date. It is through the grants-in-aid program that the 

Service might continue to assist at Valley Forge. 

Although such matters should not be determinant in our 

evaluation of potential Service areas, it is certain that the 

admission of Valley Forge to the System would create numerous 

problems for the Service. Not the least of these would be the 

expense and other difficulties associated with the acquisition of 

Chesterbrook (the reason for the present effort to make Valley 

Forge a part of the System) and the elimination of the 

expensive Keene Industries inholding from the center of the 

park. Valley Forge would also bring political and public 

relations problems engendered during the State's admmistration 

of the area by practices contrary to our administrative policies. 

Among the more obvious of these could be the well known Boy 

Scout encampments and the myriad problems resulting from 

Valley Forge's grow1ng role as a recreation site for its 

suburban neighbors. 

Valley Forge's 

popular image 

NatiOnal Park 

financial and 

genuine national significance coupled with its 

makes opposition to its inclusion within the 

System defensible only because of our present 

personnel situation. Hopefully, Pennsylvania's 

5<0 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

sense of responsibility and pride will make such opposition 

unnecessary. (23) 

Meanwhile, the Pennsylvania legislature was working on legislation 

authorizing the Department of Property and Supplies, with the approval 

of the governor and the Historical and Museum Commission, to transfer 

Valley Forge State Park to the federal government. On January 28, 1975, 

such a bill, known as H8. 156 was introduced by Representatives Vroon, 

Pitts, Crawford, E.H. Smith, Pyl.,s, Kusse, Zearfoss, and Renninger in 

the House and was referred to the Committee on State Government. A 

similar bill, known as SB. 108, was introduced by commonwealth senators 

Stauffer, Sweeney, Lewis, and Tilghman in the Senate on February 10. 

After some debate the Senate passed the bill on April 7 and sent its 

version to the House for consideration. (24) 

On May 20, 1975, Senator Hugh Scott, introduced a bill, S. 1776, in the 

United States Senate, authorizing establishment of Valley Forge National 

Historical Park. The bill was identical to that submitted earlier by 

Congressman Schulze. In announcing his bill Scott noted: 

There are advantages to be realized in a change from State 

control. Most significant, with the Bicentennial just months 

away, is that the park would have access to the expertise of 

numerous Federal historic agencies, and would be eligible for 

Federal support and financing for restoration, historic programs 

and promotion. Thousands, perhaps millions, of visitors are 

expected at this histori<; area during the Bicentennial. The 

Federal Government is more capable of handling the necessary 

services, facilities and planning for an event of such 

mag11itude. (25) 

23. "Valley ForgB, Penllsylvania," by H.W. Pfan;:, March 7, 1975; Chief, 

Division of LBglslatlon to Utley, April 7, 1975; and Assistant Director, 

Park Historic Preservation to Chief, Division of Legislation, April 8, 1975; 

Park Archives, CRM--WASO. 

24. The General Assembly of Pennsylvania, House Bill No. 156, Session 

of 1975; Senate Bill No. 108, Session of 1975; Watts to Lambe, May 22, 

1975, and Johnson to Lambe, May 2, 1975, Microfiche, H.R. 5621, 

Legislation--WASO. 

25. Senate, May 20, 1975, S. 8665, and 5. 1776, 

A of the Interior to establish the Valley 

Forge Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and 

for other purposes, 20, 1975, Microfiche, S. 1776, 

Legislation--WASO. In response to an Inquiry by the author of this 

study, Hugh D. Scott, Jr., now a partner in the law firm of Barnett & 

Alag1a in Washington, D.C., stated on AprJI 10, 1984: "My personal 

support (ot 5. 1776] was grounded on my lifelong 5ense ot history and 

my desire to preserve for the future generations a pr1celess national 

hentage." Scott to Unrau, April 10, 1984. 
During the spring of 1975 another controversy involving Valley Forge • 

State Park played directly into the hands of those supporting transfer of 

the park to the federal government. The controversy began when the 

Veterans Administration announced that it was considering use of 500 

acres of the park for use as a national cemetery along with three other 

sites •n Pennsylvania--Gouldsboro State Park, Ft. Necessity, and 

Allenwood, north of Harrisburg. The Historical and Museum Commission 

gave its consent for exploratory testing to determine the park's suitability 

for gravesites. When a test crevv vvent to the park to dig soil samples in 

mid-May, the Valley Forge Park Commission, led by chairwoman Malloy 

and supported by many local citi.:ens' groups, secured a temporary 

injunction against the testing on May 12. In late May, however, a 

commonwealth court judge in Harrisburg ruled that the Veterans 

Administration could dig test holes in the park to determine the land's 

suitability for gravesites. On June 4, four exploratory graves were 

dug.(26) 

The controversy over the plans of the Veterans Administration generated 

renewed publicity 1n favor of transfer of the park to the National Park 

System. On June 23, 197S, Colman McCarthy, at the behest of park 

commission chairwoman Malloy, published a significant two-part article in 

the Washington Post, describing the economic, political, and ecological 

forces that were threatening the integrity, if not the existence, of the 

park. On June 2, he wrote: 

Now, tvvo centuries later, and with the nation braced to 

celebrate the bicentennial, Valley Forge is enduring a new 

crucible. The threats today are not the assaults of hard times 

and hard weather but of the quintessentially contemporary 

encroachments of commercial interests, land developers, 

speculators and the federal government. The second crucible of 

Valley Forge involves a war of ideas and values; the 

adversaries are local, state and federal politicians, judges, 

bureaucrats, park commissioners, historians, developers and 

citizens. At stake is both the integrity of the 2,2S5 acres of 

rolling meadow and woodland in the state park and a unique 

history that gives the nation a link to a spirit of courage that 

it needs to be reminded of today. The fate of Valley Forge has 

26. For its part the National Park Service attempted to interest the 

Veterans Administration in a proposal to continue "operation of the 

existing State Park by the State of Pennsylvania together with 

complimentary acquisition by the Veterans Administration of the adjacent 

property, consisting of approximately 860 acres known as 'Chester 

Brook."' Such a proposal, according to National Park Service Director 

Gary Everhardt, "would be an appropriate way to protect this hallowed 

ground from possible unsightly development." Everhardt to Mahan, May 

6, 197S, Microfiche, H.R. 5621, Legoslation--WASO. It is interesting to 

note that in January 1969 Senator Scott introduced legislation providing 

for a new national veterans' cemetery in Pennsylvania. At that time park 

commission chairman Mather mformed Scott that he was a strong supporter 

of establishing a cemetery at Valley Forge. Minutes, Valley Forge Park 

Commission, February 24, 1969. 

542 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

not only aroused the citizens of eastern Pennsylvania. The 

tssue is quickly becoming a national one as well, engaging 

members of Congress and federal bureaucracies. 

For years, those who cherished the beauty and historical 

specialness of V<1lley Forge were happy that, whatever other 

indignities were being inflicted upon surrounding areas by 

urban growth, at least no one had successfully made a 

land-grab for the sacred acreage itself. It was true that the 

army of progress had been emplacing its fortresses almost 

completely around the park: a housing development, a high 

rise apartment building, an ITT-Sheraton hotel, a shopping 

plaza ("the newest landmark in this exiciting environment," its 

owners say), boutiquO?s, an office building, gas stations and 15 

aerO's of parking lot. HowevO?r much this may be leading to a 

situation of total encirclement, the park itself has remained 

inviolatO?. 

Although it is unlikely that the VA and Interior will go to 

war over Valley Forge, a skirmish of legalisms is possibiO?. 

According to a federal statute, the VA must consult w1th the 

advisory council on historic preservation before going ahead; 

the park is a National Register site. Such a consultation may 

raise the fact that the park was intended to be preserved as a 

historical site, with its purpose being served already: a 

sanctuary to remind the nation that its origins were tn courage 

and willpower. .{27) 

The following day McCarthy concluded his two-part article by stating: 

As if corporate threats from without are not enough, many 

see the greatest mockery inside the park--the Keene 

Manufacturing Company. In operation before the park's 

creation and never bought out, its chimneys belch fumes and 

its asbestos waste is piled in a hollow a few hundred yards 

between the park's memorial arch and the Washington chapel; a 

local newspaper recently ran pictures of the festering 

refuse--mingled with garbage and rubbish of unknown 

origin--and asked: "Is the park becoming Valley Forge Dump?" 

While awaiting an answer, park officials must also worry about 

money. The commission asked for $1.3 million for next year, 

but the governor's office came back with only $628,000. 

Court suits, money fights, rubbish dumps, urban 

encroachments, political wrangling, the threat of a VA 

cemetery--this is an odd way to treat a site originally settled 

by William Penn's pacifists and 100 years later made sacred by 

the heroism of Washington's tattered troops. Is it a question of 

too few people caring about the fate of the park? Is this, in 

fact, a vand commentary on American values on the eve of our 

Bicentennial? Or is it that too few know what 1s happening? If 

it is the latter, then a measure of hope exists. For it is hard 

27. \~ashington Post, June 2, 1975. 
to believe that the American public, once aware that Valley 

Forge is again a scene of trials and strains, would not rally to 

preserve the integrity of a relatively small memorial to a great 

moment in this nation's history.(28) 

As a postscript to the two-part article by McCarthy, the 

printed an editorial on June 3, 1975, urging preservation 

through transfer of the park to the National Park Service. 

observed that in "the next few months, two critical decisions must 

made" concerning the park. The first involved the cemetery issue: 

At the moment, the VA is digging into Valley Forge for soil 

tests. Although it has the approval of the courts and a state 

agency to make the tests, the VA has already gone too far. 

The Valley Forge shrine IS too sacred and too historically 

valued even to be mildly tampered with, let alone converted into 

a function for which it was never intended. Because suitable 

sites are available elsewhere in Pennsylvania, the VA should 

immediately select one of them and create the cemetery it needs. 

The second dispute involves the possib1l1ty of transferring 

Valley Forge from state to federal control. The move to bring 

in the Interior Department's National Park Service is supported 

by legislation introduced recently m both the House and 

Senate, as well as bills in Pennsylvania. Although federal 

control does not guarantee an automatic end to the problems 

that have plagued Valley Forge in past years, the pressures of 

the approaching bicentennial can be eased by the additional 

funds and ideas that would be made available. 

In addition, the presence of the Interior Department would 

make it easier for the park to acquire bordering land that is 

needed to prevent urban encroachments. The local commission 

now operating the park is performing well, despite the neglect 

it suffers from officials in Harrisburg; but an alliance with the 

Interior Department can give the local board a chance to be 

even more diligent in its efforts to preserve this shrine.(29) 

be 

The two-part article 

quickly er~tered into 

and Ser1ator Hugh Scott 

Valley Forge Park. "(30) 

editorial were 

Schulze 

of 

28. Ibid., June 3, 1975. 

29. Editorial, ibid., June 3, 1975. 

30. House, 

, June 5, 

June 

1975, 

3, 1975, 

s 9722-24. 

4833-35, 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

The House Committee on Appropriations entered the 

cemetery issue on June 19 in its report on the 1976 

Housing and Urban Development--Independent Agencies 

Bill. The committee noted: 

fray over the 

Department of 

Appropriation 

Finally, the Committee is advised that one of the locations 

being considered for a new cemetery is at the historic shrine at 

Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. There is no justification for 

developing national shrines as cemeteries or overly 

concentrating activities at such locations. The Committee has 

therefore denied any funds for planning, developing or 

constructing a national cemetery in that area.(31) 

In commenting on 

editorialized on July 

committee's decision, Washington 

The committee's decision is correct. Unfortun~tely, it may 

not be fin~l. Rep. George Danielson (D-Calif.), chairman of 

the subcommittee on cemeteries and burial benefits, told The 

Philadelphia Bulletin last week that the decision on Valley Forge 

belonged to his committee and the decision of the Appropriations 

Committee is not legally binding. Rep. Danielson said he may 

hold hearings. A jurisdictional skirmish between these two 

comm•ttees is not needed now. The Appropriations Committee 

had all the necessary facts needed for its decision; to run 

through those facts in hearings before another committee would 

create a useless delay. 

The VA should get on with its cemetery plans elsewhere in 

Pennsylvania; it has a choice of several alternate sites that 

would serve its purposes. All but overlooked in this dispute is 

the precarious state of the park's finances. Such lack of 

enthusiasm becomes another argument for turning over the park 

to the Interior Department. Both the Senate and House are now 

considering such legislation. The sooner they get to it, and 

the sooner the VA takes its hands off Valley Forge, the better 

it will be for all concerned. Valley Forge promises to be a main 

attraction in next year's national bicentennial celebration. 

Beyond that, it is in the public interest that this scenic and 

historic parkland be--like any other historic site--preserved as 

nearly as possible in its original condition.(32) 

.S. Congress, 

and Urban 

~th Con g., 

32. Editorial, Washington Post, July 2, 1975. 

Post 
On August 11 National Cemetery System Director Mahan informed National • 

Park Service Director Gary Everhardt that his agency's plans for a 

national cemetery at Valley Forge had been thwarted by the House 

AppropriatiOns Committee report. Thus, his agency was no longer 

considering establishment of a cemetery there.(33) 

Meanwhile, the National Park Service had officially submitted its comments 

on H.R. 2257 to the Interior Department's legislative counsel on July 22. 

Echoing language of the earHer Pfanz report, the lengthy memorandum 

recommended that H. R. 2257 not be enacted but that an enclosed 

substitute bill be passed in its stead. The memorandum stated: 

Pennsylvania has kept this area preserved as a park for SO 

years. Transferring ownership of the park to the Federal 

Government at this time will not, in and of itself, solve the two 

principal issues facing the area, namely protection of the 

historic scene on adjacent lands, and provision of money and 

manpower to maintain and interpret the area to its deserving 

high standard. Acquisition of the 869.08-acre Chesterbrook 

property will cost approximately $22,350,000, according to our 

current estimates; acquisition and removal of the 46-acre Keene 

industrial plant within the park will cost an additional, although 

unknown, amount. The Chesterbrook acquisition alone would 

amount to almost one-third of the entire appropriation requested 

for the Turnpike right-of-way. Chesterbrook contains two 

properties associated with the encampment that are listed on the 

National Register. These are Cressbrook Farm (Ouportail's 

Quarters) and the David Havard House (Lee and Bradford 

Quarters). Development of Chesterbrook as a suburban 

community is pending ... 

Valley Forge is a special place to Americans. It LS not only of 

national significance, but the story of Valley Forge is known 

worldwide. We believe, therefore, that the Federal Government 

has an interest rn assuring the continued preservation and 

interpretation of the area for the benefit of future generations. 

This interest so far has been manifest through the grant 

assistance mentioned above under the 1966 Historic Preservation 

Act. H.R. 2257, however, would place the entire responsibility 

for day-to-day management and interpretation of the existing 

State park, together with any additional land acquisition and 

development, under the National Park Service. We suggest 

there is another alternative. 

33. Mahan to Everhardt, August 11, 1975, and Everhardt to Mahan, 

August 25, 1975, Microfiche, H.R. 5621, Legislation--WASO. By 

November 1975 the Veterans Administration had determined to establish a 

national cemetery at indiantown Gap. 

"' 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

The alternative we suggest would simply make more money 

available to the State of Pennsylvania to accomplish the two-fold 

objectives of additional acquisition and increased operational 

funds. With adequate funds the State could acqULre 

Chesterbrook and the Keene inholding; with additional operating 

money the State could add to its existing staff and purchase 

needed maintenance equipment, etc. Under this alterniltive the 

necessary land acquisition would not have to be subordinated to 

other Federal priorities already milndated by the Congress, and 

management requirements would not have to be limited by 

Federal personnel ceilings. In addition, the State could 

maintain the continuity of operation that it began in 1893. 

We therefore recommend the enactment of the enclosed 

substitute bill in lieu of H. R. 2257. The enclosed bill would 

authorize grants to the State of Pennsylvania of $25 million for 

land acquisition to round out and protect the existing state 

park, and it would authorize annual grants to the State of not 

more than one-half the cost of yearly operation, maintenance, 

and interpretation as determined by a plan agreed upon by the 

Secretary of the Interior and the Governor of 

Pennsylvania ... 

Because there is no question that Valley Forge is one of this 

Nation's most sacred historical treasures, we believe that it 

would fully qualify for protection by the National Park Service, 

if the State of Pennsylvania had not undertaken to do so many 

years ago. With the Bicentennial approaching, many earnestly 

believe that Valley Forge should not be turned over to the 

Federal Government. We do not beOeve, however, that only the 

Federal Government can perform an adequate preservation and 

interpretive function here. With funding assistance as we 

suggest the State should be able to do the job and do it in a 

manner that the Nation can be proud of. (34) 

On August 28 Acting National Park Service Director Dickenson sent a 

supplemental report on H. R. 2257 to the Interior Department's legislative 

counsel, recommending passage of the bill if it were amended. The 

supplemental report stated that the Park Service concurred with the 

House Appropriations Comm•ttee report to the extent that it "referred to 

the use of lands within the state park for possible national cemetery 

development." However, the Park Service believed that "a properly 

developed cemetery on the Chesterbrook property adjacent to the park 

34. Associate Director, National Park Service to Legislative Counsel, July 

22, 1975, Park Archives, CRM-WASO. Also see Associate Director, 

Profess•onal Service to Assoc•ate Director, Legislative Services (and 

enclosures), June 17, 1975, Park Archives, CRM-WASO, and Assistant 

Director for Federal Programs and Planning, Bureau of Outdoor 

Recreation to Leg•slative Rev•ew Officer, Bureau of Outdoor Recreation, 

June 18, 1975, Microfiche, H.R. 5621, Legislat•on--WASO. 

547 
would be appropriate." Accordingly, the Park Service 

following amendment to H.R. 2257, which, 1f adopted, would 

acceptable: 

offered 

make the 

The Secretary may not designate the property of approximately 

870 acres adjacent to Valley Forge State Park known as 

Chesterbrook for acquisition as part of the Valley Forge 

National Historical Park, but the Administrator of Veterans' 

Affairs IS authorized to acquire such property with funds 

appropriated for purposes of the National Cemetery System and 

develop and maintain thereon a national cemetery, subject to 

such terms and conditions as the Administrator and the 

Secretary shall agree are necessary and desirable for the 

protection of the national historical park. (35) 

Che 

bill 

While the Interior Department was preparing its comments on H.R. 2257 

the general assembly of Pennsylvania enacted SB. 108 into law as Act No. 

53 on July 22. Passage of SB. 108 by the House of Representatives was 

the result of a Hrong bipartisan effort led by Representatives Peter R. 

Vroon (157th District, Chester County) and Morris (155th District, 

Chester County). The bill, which was signed into law by Governor 

Shapp on July 30, authorized the Department of Property and Supplies, 

with the approval of the governor and the Historical and Museum 

Commission, to transfer Valley Forge State Park to the United States 

Government for a consideration of $1. The law provided that the deed of 

conveyance should "limit use of the land to recreational and historical 

purposes only, specifically excluding use as a National Cemetery." 

Exclusive jurisdiction would be ceded to the United States, provided that 

the commonwealth should "retain concurrent jurisdiction with the United 

States in and over the lands and buildings aforesaid, in so far that civil 

processes as may issue- under the authority of the Commonwealth of 

Pennsylvania against anyone charged with crime committed outside said 

land, may be executed thereon in the same manner as if jurisdiction has 

not been ceded." The commonwealth also reserved the right "to levy and 

collect all taxes now or hereafter imposed by the Commonwealth and its 

political subdivisions upon property and persons within the boundaries so 

ceded."(36) 

35. Acting Director, N~tional Park Service to Legislative Counsel, 

August 28, 1975, Park Archives, CRM-WASO. The Bureau of Outdoor 

Recreation reviewed the supplemental report on September 9, 

recommending that H.R. 2257, even if amended, be rejected. Deputy 

Director, Bureau of Outdoor Recreation to Legislative Counsel, September 

9, 1975, Microfiche, H.R. 5621, Legislation--WASO. 

• 

• 

36. No. 53, An Act (58. 108) AuthoriZing the Department of Property 

and Supplies, with the approval of the Governor and the Historical and 

Museum Commission, to tran5fer Valley Forge State Park to the United 

States of America, July 30, 1975, Appendix S, "Statement for 

Management, Valley Forge National Historical Park," February 21, 1980, • 

F1les, Superintendent's Office, VAFO. A copy of the act may be seen in 

Appendix E. 
• 

• 

• 

Meanwhile, during August 1975 further publicity about the conditions in 

Valley Forge State Park contributed to the growmg movement for 

federalization of the reservation. In early August, for instance, a letter 

from an irate visitor to the park was printed in Post, and in 

subsequent months the contents of the considerable 

attention as an example of the shocking and conditions in 

the park. The VISitor noted; 

On a recent outing to Valley Forge Park, our family found it 

necessary to visit the restrooms which are located in the picnic 

area at Huntingdon's [sic] Brigade section of the park (off 

Route 23). What o degrading and shocking experience. Filth 

and water overflowing onto the floor. The odor absolutely 

unbearable. This situation should be remedied immediately. 

This restroom should either be removed or repaired to usable 

sanitary condition. 

As a resident of Upper Merion Township, find the 

conditions there deplorable. As the Bicentennial celebration 

fast approaches, more tourists will be flocking to the area and 

will be exposed to this appalling site. 

As a concerned citizen I hope this area can be improved. 

am certain that anyone reading this article r.·ould not want his 

or her relatives or friends to have to visit this "disaster 

area. "(37) 

The New York Times also entered the discussion over threats to the park 

that pointed to the need for Valley Forge to become a national p<~rk. On 

August 15, 1975, the newspaper printed an editorial under the title "More 

Than a Cemetery": 

With the Bicentennial only months away, one of the country's 

most historic sites is ironically threatened with conversion into 

a cemetery bordered by housing developments and a 

motel-office-shopping center plaza. 

It is no disrespect to the veterans who might be buried at 

Valley Forge to suggest that the inspirational quality of this 

scene that so tested the spirit of the Revolutionary soldier 

should not be sacrificed to a purpose that can be ·as well 

served by alternative sites. As a cemetery, Valley Forge would 

have to accommodate an estimated twenty to forty funerals a 

day. An ever-larger area would necess<!rily be closed to public 

use--whether for recreation, study or the genuine lift to be 

had from this combination of beauty and historic meaning. 

Unfortunately the VA's threat is not the only reason for 

Congressional urgency. The State of Pennsylvania has failed to 

give Valley Forge the financial support that it needs. As a 

result, the park suffers from flooding, deterioration and traffic 

Jams on adjacent roads, severe enough to have depressed 

Washington's troops more than the cold and the meager rations . 

37. Today's Post, August 5, 1975. 

549 
With the facilities it can now afford, there is no way that the 

park's management can begin to handle the ten million visitors 

it expects in 1976. 

It may already be too late for Valley Forge to play the role it 

ought to play in the Bicentennial year, but if it is ever to 

serve future generations of Americans as they should be served 

by a font of history, it will have to be as a national park. 

The sooner Congress establishes it as such, the sooner will 

Valley Forge be assured the permanent place it deserves among 

the nation's generators of patriotic feeling. (38) 

On September 15, 1975, Representative Roy A. Taylor (D-N.C.), 

Chairman of the House Subcommittee on National Parks and Recreation, 

announced that hearings would be held on H.R. 2257, H.R. 5621, and 

H.R. 7989, identical bills that would authorize establishment of Valley 

Forge National Historical Park. In his news release Taylor noted: 

Valley Forge represents a crucible in which our will to exist as 

a nation was put to the test. As we approach our 

Bicentennial year, it seems particularly appropriate that we 

consider whether Valley Forge itself has sufficient protection to 

endure as a reminder of this gallant chapter in our past. 

Valley Forge State Park currently protects portions of the 

encampment area used by the Continental Army during the 

winter of 1777-1778. . However, the current legislation 

would propose the acquisition of additional lands in the valley. 

Our hearings should bring out the condition of these lands as 

well as discuss the alternatives of state or federal management 

of the area. . (39) 

In preparation for her testimony before the House subcommittee Annamaria 

Malloy, chairman of the Valley Forge Park Commission, polled her 

colleagues on the nationalization question. The vote was 9-4 in favor of 

transfer of the park to federal control, although the minority voiced a 

vigorous negative vote. Ernest P. Raum, a long-time commission member, 

noted: 

I'm opposed. 

And, I don't think anything could change my mind short of an 

absolute guarantee that the Federal Government would acquire 

Chesterbrook as an addition to the Park. Yes, I agree that 

Valley Forge has nat1onal significance, but I fail to see why it 

can not be preserved by the people of the area as a tribute to 

38. Editorial, New York Times, August 15, 1975. Also see Philadelphia 

Inquirer, June 29, 1975. 

• 

39. United States House of Representatives, Committee on Interior and • 

Insular Affairs, Subcommittee on National Parks and Recreat1on, News 

Release, September 15, 1975, M1crofiche, H.R. 5621, Legislatlon--WASO. 

550 
• 

• 

• 

the Nation. Must we always call on "Big Daddy" to do things? 

Why can't we follow the tried and true American principle of 

doing things for ourselves? 

Other questions also enter my mind. Has the Federal 

Government done such a great job with Gettysburg? Will 

nationalization bring admission charges as it has in some of the 

national parks? Would Valley Forge become a step-child to 

Independence Mall under the Interior Department's jurisdiction? 

And, for that matter, did the Federal Government's rule over 

Independence Mall come about because of its concern to 

preserve the birthplace of the nation or was it because of the 

dedication of a group of local patriots who shamed the U.S. into 

doing something about it? Can we as Valley Forge patriots, in 

turn, "shame" the government into doing bigger and better 

things for Valley Forge? 

I don't believe we can. Under federal jurisdiction I forsee a 

step-child operation from Philadelphia or Washington, which, in 

effect, would simulate the Park's present major problem, 

"absentee landlordship" from Harrisburg. This problem, which 

can and should be resolved, was created by the 1970 legislature 

when it forced the Department of Environmental Resources to 

replace the former Department of Forests and Waters and placed 

the Valley Forge Commission under the Historical and Museum 

Commission. The Valley Forge Commission has twice voted to 

seek a legislature divorce from this union, but the leadership in 

each case has let the matter die. 

Rep. Schulze recently released the results of a private poll 

which claimed that 89 per cent of the area residents favored 

nationalization of the park. 

I do not believe this. People I talk to want a certain status 

quo. They like the "golf course" look. They like mowed fields 

and the serene atmosphere. They fear such proposals as 

"working Revolutionary farms" and mushrooming parking lots. 

They are proud of their park and take pride in the knowledge 

that they have a part in this g1ft to the Nation.(40) 

Two days prior to the hearings, on September 27, the Interior 

Department submitted its views on H.R. 2257 to Representative James A. 

Haley, Chairman of the House Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs. 

The latter, signed by Assistant Secretary of the Interior Reed, indicated 

that the department still had reservations about enactment of the bill: 

40. Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, September 22, 1975 . 

55; 
We believe that the Federal Government does not have sole 

responsibility tor preserving, developing and operat1ng 

nationally significant historic sites. This responsibility is 

shared w1th local governments, individual citizens and private 

institutions. Accordingly, we have reservations about the 

enactment of H.R. 2257. However, we would look forward to 

the opportunity to work with the Committee in an effort to 

assuage these reservations.(41) 

Hearings on H.R. 2257 and related bills were convened in the Longworth 

House Office Building by the House Subcommittee on National Parks and 

Recreation on September 29. A number of witnesses appeared to present 

testimony in support of the bill, led by Representative Richard T. 

Schulze who stated in part: 

On January 28, 1975, I first introduced this legislation calling 

for Federal acquisition and administration of Valley Forge Park. 

In initially introducing the bill, I had the strong support of my 

constituency. Since that time, however and as the threats to 

Valley Forge have received exposure, 15 of my colleagues from 

the Pennsylvania congressional delegation have cosponsored the 

bill, and the entire Pennsylvania delegation IS on record in 

support of our effort to establish the Valley Forge National 

Historical Park .... 

The integrity of this hallowed ground is under siege. 

Urbanization in the area and upstream has caused industrial 

pollution of the creek which flows through the park. The 

creek banks are eroding and, during heavy rains, water laps at 

the floor of a covered bridge dating from the early 1800's and 

at the foundation of the historic building, Washington's 

headquarters. Debris from the flooding is deposited in the 

park. 

Commercial and urban development has moved to the perimeter 

of the park on the northwest, the east, and the south. On the 

southwest boundary, however, remains an 855-acre tract of 

open, undeveloped woodland known as the Chesterbrook tract. 

Chesterbrook contains a number of historical sites associated 

with the Valley Forge encampment. As you will note, my bill 

would allow for expanding the existing parkland and, for the 

record, I, personally, support the acquisition of this land as a 

valuable and appropriate addition to the park. However, a full 

study should be made. 

Valley Forge was visited by over 1\ milliOn indiViduals last 

year. These visitors come from all across the Nation and the 

world. It 1s expected that there will be over 10 million people 

VISiting the park next year in connection with the Bicentennial 

celebration. 

41. Reed to Haley, September 27, 1975, Microfiche, H.R. 5621, 

Legislation--WASO. The full text of the letter may be seen 1n Appendix 

F. Also see Associate Director, National Park Service to LegiSlative 

Counsel, September 22, 1975, Park Archives, CRM-WASO. 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

The State of Pennsylvania has not appropriated funds 

sufficient to arrest these growing problems. On September 21, 

1975, Governor Shapp announced that the State will close or 

curtail service at 29 historical sites for budgetary reasons. 

As of tomorrow, October 1, 1975, Valley Forge will be closed 

on Mondays. 

What will tell your constituents when they arr1ve, on 

, pilgrimage to the sacred ground of Valley Forge 1n celebration 

of the Nation's 200th anniversary, only to find it closed? What 

excuses will suffice? How will we explain~ 

How tragic it will be if Valley Forge, a symbol of the Nation's 

ability to survive and will to succeed, is not properly 

preserved for posterity. Whilt more appropriate time than in 

this Bicentennial Congress to insure the integrity of "the 

Cradle of the Revolution."(42) 

Others who testified or submitted written remarks on behalf of the bill 

included: Assistant Secretary Reed; National Park Service Director 

Everhardt; David Kimball, Chief of State, Private, and Federal 

Assistance, Mid-Atlantic Regional Office; Pennsylvania Representatives 

Morris and Vroan; park commission chairman Malloy; Eleanor M. Morris, 

member, Valley Forge State Park Commission; Robert Toland, Jr., 

Chairman, Citi.:ens to Save Valley Forge; T. Oestry Jarvis, 

Administrative Assistant, Parks and Conservation, National Parks and 

Conservation Association; Karen Gallogly, representative of the Sierra 

Club; Conrad Wilson, executive director, Chester County Historical 

Society; Kenneth H. Gordon, Jr., Chairman, Valley Forge Land Use Task 

Force; Ann Louise Platt, representative of the Chesterbrook Conservancy; 

Richard J. Fox, President, The Fox Companies; John F. Reed, President, 

Valley Forge Historical Society; Col. Paul Atkinson, representative of the 

Valley Forge Historical Society; Gen. John H. Hunter II, Fellow, Company 

of Military Historians; Marjorie F. McKaig, Secretary, Upper Merion Park 

and Historic Foundation; Emanuel V. Lauria, President, Valley Forge 

Civic Association; Jerome Bullock, President, Chester V<tlley Sportsmen's 

Association; Patricia A. Crawford, Pennsylvania Hause of Representatives; 

Tom Berriman and Tom Burget, students, Valley Forge Junior High 

School; Patricia Anderson, Edmund C. Thompson, and York A. King, 

Jr., residents of Valley Forge area; Donald C. Smith, a real estate agent 

and resident of Wayne, Pennsylvania; Romney 8. Biddulph, candidate far 

Tredyffrin Township supervisor; Ralph W. Kent, former judge of Court of 

Common Ple<ts, Chester County; William S. Latoff, candidate for public 

office, Chester County. In addition, numerous other congressmen and 

representatives of state and local organi.:at1ons submitted statements in 

support of the bil1.(43) 

43. Ibid. pp. 33-249. 

553 
Of all the witnesses perhaps the most poignant in favor of the bill was • 

Annamaria M. Malloy, the influential chairwoman of the Valley Forge Park 

Commission. She observed: 

It is sad, but true that Valley Forge has been permitted to 

lie fallow and yet the very name swells within us a pride of 

nationality. A sleeping giant of potential, traditional 

management response has been to react to pressures rather 

than to act in anticipation of historic preservation and publiC 

needs. 

Management <s guilty of confusing directives. Areas of 

responsibility vacated by attrition remain unfilled. Projects 

which will provide the experience for future growth are 

nonexistent. Activities which will add to the enjoyment and 

understanding of Valley Forge are undeveloped .. 

Because the parent organization is an ineffectual commission, 

its inadequate appeals for funds, because of its composition, 

are defeated by the competition of giant departments such as 

Penndot. Manpower does not exist. For 4 years we have 

requested an historian, for instance. We still do not have one. 

Our curatorial staff consists of one trainee. Archeological 

programs are nonexistent because the Valley Forge Commission 

has been forced to first satisfy basic physical needs. And yet 

we all understand that such research is essential to historical 

restoration and interpretation. 

There are 2,255 acres of fields and woodland at Valley Forge, 

but we still do not employ a forester because the Pennsylvania 

Historical and Museum Commission doesn't w;:mt one. As a 

matter of fact, at this very moment a picnic area, known as 

Fort Huntington, boasts concrete based picnic tables and 

benches placed right over the original fortification and 

earthworks. 

We respectfully submit that the Federal Government is more 

adequately prepared to protect the site. The State of 

Pennsylvania exercises little or no control over the 

municipalities 1n which the park is located. 

The development of an 11,000 inhabitants' and a 10,000 

workers' community on the park's south flank proposes a 

tremendous burden on the site .... 

State procedure for land acquisition is se.lf-defeating. The 

legislative process advertises and encourages greed. Witness 

the disgusting behavior of the University of Pennsylvania 1n lhe 

latest saga of the acquisition of Lafayette's quarters at Valley 

Forge. 

The Valley Forge State Park Commission is composed of 

ded1cated, sincere volunteers. It can recognize and request 

dedicated care; but il has no guarantee that it will be 

supported by the PHMC. As a matter of fact, in its recent 

land grab attack, the commission was forced to fight its parent 

organization in the court. Were it not for the concerted and 

adamant support of the people, Valley Forge might well be on 

its 1->"ay to becoming a national cemetery. 

55' 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

Valley Forge needs projects which will add to its enjoyment 

and understanding, projects which will provide for future 

growth. The Nat1onal Park Service alone has built into its 

structure this kind of needed expertise. Adequate management 

at Valley Forge is an investment in the future. A blend of 

education, enjoyment, service, and stewardship--the best there 

is in the land--is apparent in the National Park Service. We 

insist that Valley Forge deserves this same attention.(44) 

For its part the Department of the Interior continued to indicate its 

reservations about the bill at the hearings. Its reservations were 

primarily focused on the belief that the federal government did not have 

the sole responsibility for preserving, developing, and operating 

nationally significant sites such as Valley Forge and that the cost of 

acquiring Chesterbrook was too high for the benefits its purchase would 

return. Assistant Secretary Reed noted: 

In responding to this legislative proposal, it was our initial 

view that the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania should be 

encouraged to continue its long administration of Valley Forge. 

Because the Commonwealth has been unable to protect the park 

environment from incompatible residential and commercial 

encroachment, we e)(plored the legislative option of special 

federal grants, commensurate with the interest of all Americans 

in Valley Forge, to assist 1n land acquisition and park 

operation. 

At the same time, we recognized that the transcendent 

national importance of Valley Forge made it as deserving as any 

other historic place 1n America of preservation and 

interpretation within the National Park System. As significant 

as this area is in our Nation's past, however, its present 

integrity is compromised by intrusive modern development within 

and around the state park. Added intensive development on 

the bordering Chesterbrook tract would further impair the 

historic scene. Whatever its role in history, a historic site is 

worth little today if its integrity is lost. A viable national 

historical park would require a halt in the suburbanization of 

Valley Forge. 

By authorizing the acquisition of 3,SOO acres, it is the intent 

of the bill that the park include Chesterbrook. Acquisition of 

this property, however, would cost over $22,000,000--almost 

one-third of the entire appropriation requested for land 

acquisition in the National Park System by the administration in 

Fiscal Year 1976. Because the Pennsylvania Turnpike 

effectively separates Chesterbrook from the core area of Valley 

Forge, it is difficult to perceive it as an integral part of the 

park. Its ch1ef value to the existing park is to provide an 

open environment and to preclude development which might 

44. Ibid., pp. 80-82. 

555 
intrude on the park's overview, but its price tag is simply too 

high for the benefits its purchase would return. We see no 

need to acquire Chesterbrook if an alternative to this end can 

be found .. 

If the Chesterbrook property is not acquired as a part of the 

park, then we estimate the cost of acquiring private lands 

within the proposed park to be approximately $8,622,000. 

Further, Mr. Chairman, we estimate that about $15,812,000 

would be needed to carry out the state's master plan for 

development of visitor use and administrative facilities and to 

bring these plans to the standards required by the National 

Park Service. 

The National Park Service estimates that our operating costs 

the first year would be about $2,145,000, which is comparable 

to the state's anticipated 1977 budget request of $1,315,000 for 

salaries, plus an additional amount for other operating 

expenses. 

The State of Pennsylvania is to be commended for its efforts 

in the preservation of Valley Forge. Although we have 

reservations about making its continued preservation a solely 

federal effort, we would welcome the opportunity to work with 

the committee to develop legislation which would insure the 

future preservation and protection of this historic shrine.(45) 

Meanwhile, the Senate Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs was 

proceeding with its consideration of S.1776. On October 15 Acting 

Assistant Secretary of the Interior Douglas P. wheeler submitted the 

department's comments on the bill to committee chairman Henry M. Jackson 

of Washington. The letter, the arguments of which were endorsed by the 

Office of Management and Budget on October 20, was identical to the one 

sent by Reed to Congressman Haley on September 27.(46) 

On October 30 hearings were held on S.1776 by the Senate Subcommittee 

on Parks and Recreation, chaired by J. Bennett Johnston of Louisiana. 

The first to testify on behalf of the bill was Senator Hugh Scott, sponsor 

of the legislation. He observed: 

Mr. Chairman, I come before you today as a member of the 

steering committee of the C1tizens to Save Valley Forge. I am 

pleased to join the entire Pennsylvania congressional delegation 

in support of S.1776, a bill to authorize the Secretary of the 

Interior to establish lhe Valley Forge National Historical Park in 

the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Senator Mansfield heads the 

45. lb1d., pp. 44-47. The full prepared statement by Reed may be seen 

1n Appendix G. 

46. "''heeler to Jackson, 

Legislation- -WASO. 

October 15, 

556 

1975, Microfiche, S.1776, 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

bipartisan list of 18 Senators who have joined as cosponsors of 

5.1776 .. 

Yet, at this moment in our national life, Valley Forge is the 

scene of yet another struggle. At stake today is the inner and 

outward integrity of the hallowed park. The tests now are the 

assaults of cruel negl1gence and steady encroachments. 

The most pressing question to be answered involves 

ownership of the park. The f1rst steps for a Federal takeover 

of Valley Forge Park have alreody been taken. The 

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has recently enacted enabling 

legislation to permit the nationalization of Valley Forge Park. 

It makes historic sense to make Valley Forge a national 

shrine--it is a national symbol. Valley Forge attracts visitors 

from all over the United States eager to study and appreciate 

the site of the turning point of our American Revolution. 

It makes practical sense as well. A change from State control 

will provide the park with access to the expertise of the 

National Park Service and eligibility for Federal support and 

financing for restoration, historic programs, and promotion. 

The Federal record in the development and interpretation of 

national parks is outstanding. This record indicates that 

Federal ownership would enable trained historians to develop 

Valley Forge Park. Valley Forge deserves this kind of 

first-class attention. 

The second question to be answered involves the proposed 

Federal acquisition of the 865 acres of unspoiled land adjacent 

to Valley Forge Park, known as the Chesterbrook tract. 

The Interior Department estimate of the Chesterbrook 

property totals approximately $22,350,000--a figure I find I 

cannot live with in this time of Federal budgetary stress. 

Perhaps the Department should reexamine its estimates. 

Anticipating the nationalization of Valley Forge Park, believe 

it would be prudent for your subcommittee to consider planning 

now for such necessities as a visitor center and critically 

needed parking spaces. It would be tragic to macadamize the 

hallowed encampment grounds to accommodate such facilities. 

The Chesterbrook tract offers a viable alternative to such 

further encroachments. 

Accordingly, I propose that the Interior Department and your 

subcommittee fully consider at least the partial acquisition of 

Chesterbrook, 1f no significant downward adjustment can be 

made to the current Interior Department estimate. Such partial 

acquisition should be studied with a view toward the economic, 

ecological, and historic considerations at stake here.(46) 

55< 
Other witnesses, or persons submitting prepared statements in favor of 

the bill, many of whom had testified at the House hearing in September, 

included Senqtors Mike Mansfield of Montone and Richard S. Schweiker of 

Pennsylvanio, Congressman Schulze, Assistant Secretary Wheeler, 

Pennsylvania representatives Morris and Vroon, and park commission 

chairwoman Malloy. Additional communications were submitted for the 

record in favor of the bill by Senator Hubert H. Humphrey of Minnesota, 

T. Destry Jarvis, and Richard S. Kirkendall, executive secretary, 

Organization of American Historians.(47) 

Much of the testimony echoed that provided 1n the House hearing on 

September 29. One significant point brought out by State Representative 

Samuel W. Morris was an opinion from the Legislative Reference Bureau, 

legal counsel for the general assembly, that there was no legal or 

constitutional impediment to transfer of ongoing state capital improvement 

projects to the federal government.(48) 

In the wake of the House and Senate hearings the on 

November 4 printed an editorial endorsing transfer to 

federal control and acquisition of Chesterbrook. the 

editorial, Chesterbrook was "essential to the integrity of the park, not 

only to provide additional land for the increasing numbers visiting the 

area, but also to prevent further urb<~nization around the park." It was 

crucial 

• 

now for the Interior Department to stand firm in its original e 

interest in accepting stewardship of Valley Forge. Almost ten 

times the usual number of visitors is expected in 1976. If any 

American parkland deserves the enthusiasm of the Interior 

Deportment, it is this site of the historic encampment of coloniol 

soldiers 200 yeors ago. To maintain Valley Forge in pastoral 

excellence and environmental purity will not only honor the 

patriots of the past but also serve the millions of citizens who 

visit the park today. (49) 

47. Ibid., pp. 150-57, 216-98, 317-19. Also see Statement by the 

Department of the Interior Before the Subcommittee on Parks and 

Recreation, Senate Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, on S.1776, 

"To Authorize the Secretary of the Interior to Establish the Valley Forge 

National Historical Park in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and for 

Other Purposes," October 30, 1975, Microfiche, 5.1776, 

Legislation--WASO. 

48. Wise to Morris, 

NRA, and 

OctOber 30, 

4, 1975. 

November 

The editorial was 

5. Congressional • 
• 

• 

• 

House and Senate delegations visited Valley Forge State Park in November 

and December. On November 14-15 Chairman Taylor and members of the 

House Subcommittee on National Parks and Recreation took a two-day 

chartered bus trip to tour the park.(SO) Members of the Senate 

Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, accompanied by Senator Scolt, 

Representatives Coughlin and Schulze, and National Park Service 

personnel, took a helicopter and bus tour of the park on December 

15. (51) 

At the House hearing on H.R.2257 on September 29 the Department of the 

Interior had been asked to furnish in order of priority a list of the areas 

it believed should be added to the existing state park should it become 

federally administered. On December 8 a li~t of ten properties wa~ 

submitted to subcommittee chairman Taylor. The list contained the 

estimated cost and rationale for acquisition of each tract: 

1. Open land bordering State Route 363 at northeast corner of 

park--$15,710. 

2. Tracts lying between State Route 23 and 363 at northeast 

corner of park--$1,056,830. 

3. & 4. Two tracts of open land on the east facing slope of Mount 

Misery--$66, 000 . 

5 Keene property--$3,878,450. 

6. Tract of vacant land, zoned commercial, on the south side of 

State Route 23 opposite von Steuben's Headquarters--$612,885. 

7. Valley Forge Village tract--$630,170. 

8. Tract on Thoma~ Road-$322, 155. 

9. Tract bordering the Pennsylvania Turnpike at western park 

boundary--$795, 170. 

10. Stirling Quarters property--$1,244,630. 

The total land acquisition cost was e5t1mated at $8,622,000.(52) 

SO. Associate Director, Legislation to Director, November 10, 1975, 

Micronche, H.R.ssz·r, Legislation--WASO. 

51. Associate Director, Legislation, to Director, December 10, 1975, 

Files, LegJslation--WASO. 

52. Brown to Taylor, December 8, 

Legislation--WASO. Also see RegiOnal 

Associate Director, Legi~lation, WASO, 

MARO. 

559 

1975, Microfiche, H. R. 5621, 

Director, Mid-Atlantic Region to 

October 15, 1975, Central Files, 
In November Senator Scott and Congressman Schulze requested that the • 

Interior Department conduct a prenminary evaluation of the runoff 

flooding problems of the Schuylkill River and Valley Creek and perform a 

preliminary land use study. On December 12, Acting Secretary of the 

Interior Reed responded to their requests: 

The Geological Survey reports that the flood problem at Valley 

Forge State Park, especially at Washington's Headquarters, is 

essentially caused by backwater flooding from the Schulyklll 

River. The highest flood on record was in June 1972, during 

hurricane Agnes, when the Schuylkill reached a stage of 90.1 

feet above mean sea level at the mouth of Valley Creek. 

Further, the Geological Survey concludes that any development 

of the Chesterbrook property should not significantly affect 

flood magnitudes of Valley Creek. This property represents 

only 5.8 percent of the total drainage area of Valley Creek and 

is located very close to the mouth of Valley Creek. 

Development would probably lead to increased runoff, but these 

flows would run off before upstream peaks arrived in the 

area. 

The existing master plan provides an adequate guide for 

preservation, use and development of the proposed national 

historical park while the Service conducts its own 

comprehensive post-authorization studies and the historical and 

archeological research required .. 

Reed went on to indicate the department's 

congressional efforts to authorize purchase 

Chesterbrook property: 

evolving attitude 

of all or part 

toward 

of the 

1. We would acquire and develop the three historic properties 

on the tract and provide visitor access to them as part of the 

park tour. 

2. If acquisition could be accomplished in time, we would 

recommend use of a portion of the tract for Bicentennial 

parking, linking temporary parking there to the park tour by a 

shuttlebus service. 

3. The traditional outdoor recreation uses of State park 

lands, such as picnicking, games, sledding, and similar uses 

that are not related to the story of the encampment of 1777-78, 

should be relocated either to the Chesterbrook property or to 

other properties on the periphery of the present State park. 

4. The Chesterbrook property, or any portion of it fronting 

on Valley Forge or Wilson Roads, would be a desirable location 

for the reception center, auditorium and related parking when 

the present facilities have served the1r useful life. 

560 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

Currently, Mid-Atlantic Regional Office officials were 

of ilcquiring less than the entire Chesterbrook 

acquisition of a portion in easements.(53) 

Jook1ng at the cost 

parcel, including 

On December 16 Representative Joseph McDade telephoned Director 

Everhardt requesting a breakdown of the estimated cost of operation and 

maintenance of Valley Forge for the 1976 fiscal year, assuming early 

enactment in calendar year 1976 of the pending authorizing legislation, 

together with the estimated cost of operation and maintenance during the 

transition period. McDade was concerned that the authoriZJng legislation 

would be enacted, but that the National Park Service would be without 

funds to take over the project in time for the Bicentennial visitors. 

Robert Kasparek and William Quick of the Washington Office division of 

legislation prepared a legislative support data package, based primarily on 

information that had been compiled by David Kimball of the Mid~Atlantic 

Region 1n September, and submitted it to Representative McDade on 

December 22. Along with the package National Park Service personnel 

estimated that appropriations for operation and maintenance of Valley 

Forge National Historical Park, subject to enactment of the authorizing 

legislation, were $2,145,000 for fiscal year 1976 and $668,000 for the 

transition period. (54) 

In mid~January 1976 Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Interior Wheeler 

submitted a report to Senottor J. Bennett Johnston, chotirmotn of the 

Subcommittee on Parks and Recreation, relative to utilizing the Keene and 

Chesterbrook properties for possible visitor p<trking in the proposed 

Valley Forge Nation<tl Historical Park. The report, prepared as a result 

of the Senate hearings on 5.1776, noted that the National Park Service 

had identified the Keene property as having moderate priority for 

otcquisition, but that some extensive work would probably be necessary to 

make it suitable for parking. The report contained various options that 

53. Reed to Scott and Schulze, December 12, 197S, Microfiche, S.1776, 

Legislation~-WASO. Also see Regional Director, Mid-Atlantic Region to 

Associate Director, Legislation, WASO, December 16, 1975, Planning 

Division, Files, Mid~Atlantic Regional Office. David Kimball provided the 

author of this study with the planning files that he compiled on the 

Valley Forge effort. He also provided valuable insights into the planning 

effort underlying the transfer of the park to the National Park System in 

a personal interview on May 2, 1984, at Independence National Historical 

Park. 

54. Lambe to Files, December 18, 1975; Draft, 12/18/75, Appropriation 

language needed for Valley Forge National Historical Park; and Chief, 

Division of Legislation to Chief, Division of Programming and Budget, 

December 22, 1975, Microfiche, H.R. 5621, Legislation--WASO. Also see 

VAFO NHP Legislation Folder, "V<tlley Forge National Historical Park 

(Proposal)," Park Archives, CRM--WASO, and Legislative Support Data, 

(December 22, 1975), Files, Planning Division, MARO. Background 

information used to compile the leg1slat1ve support data package may be 

seen in the aforementioned planning files. 
might be considered for the Chesterbrook property, consisting of a 

planned unit development for most of the property and a 92.5-acre tract 

under a separate ownership. The 92.5-acre parcel on the south side of 

the Chesterbrook property could accommodate visitor orientation facilities 

and parking, but its estimated cost was a prohibitive $2,000,000. The 

report recommended acquiring three historic structures within the planned 

unit development and obtaining the max•mum amount of vegetative 

screening between the state park and the Chesterbrook tract as well as 

on the Chesterbrook property itself. The options for Chesterbrook, 

Wheeler reminded Johnston, were presented only for the purposes of 

considering alternatives for visitor parking at Valley Forge and "should 

not be construed as <l recommendation by this Department that all or a 

part of the Chesterbrook tract should be purchased to become a part of a 

proposed national historical park."(SS) 

While Congress was considering the pending legislation, National Park 

Service officials from the Mid-Atlantic Region and the Denver Service 

Center visited Valley Forge State Park in February "to obtain a cursory 

overview of the operation." Following the visit, Associate Regional 

Director Nathan B. Golub reported to Mid-Atlantic Regional Director 

Brooks on some of his observations that provide an interesting 

commentary on existing park operations: 

Personnel: 

Present staff-- 38 permanent State employees 

35 CETA employees whose assignment terminates 

June 1976 

Only 2 park employees are State Civil Service (Supt. and Curator). 

All others are patronage employees. 

If NPS assumed responsibility, we must select those to be retained 

very carefully, should they elect to remain. 

The present division chiefs are considered by Willcox to be 

competent. 

The Park operating divisions are: Administration, Curatorial, 

Interpretation, Maintenance and Security. 

Equipment: 

Most park 

salvaging. 

equipment 

acquisition 

equipment is 1n very poor condition and not worth 

We strongly recommend that the NPS does not assume 

when park is transferred. To do so might delay the 

of proper equipment. 

55. Wheeler to Johnston, January 19, 

Legislation--WASO. 

1976, Microfiche, S. 1776, 

562 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

Operations budget: 

The present annual operations budget is about $650,000. The park 

estimates the doubling in visitation from 2 million to 4 million from 

'76 on due to the initiation of many new visitor programs and 

services. This would necessitate a budget increase. However, the 

park is currently mowing 1800 ilcres of open fields (out of a total 

park acreage of 2255) which we firmly believe can and should be 

considerably reduced; not only for economy reasons but for historic 

scene effect. This would also reduce the present "invitation" to 

incompatible visitor activities incurred by the vast "lawns." 

Construction: 

The parks Bicentennial construction program embraces 15 projects at 

a programmed cost of $9,100,000. Eight of these projects are about 

to be bid and all are expected to be completed by July '76. (We 

believe the completion data to be optLmistic.) The projects cover 

utilities, a Visitor Center, exhLbits, road work. 

If the park is transferred to NPS prior to completion of the projects, 

it might pose some legal problems with the Contractor. 

Some of the current construction (buildings) does not, at first 

glance, appear to meet NPS standards. Nevertheless, we hope that 

their progress is not interrupted by NPS for this reason. 

In conclusion Golub noted that should "the NPS be given the management 

responsibility for Valley Forge, it must include adequate manpower and 

funds to do it properly. This park is too popular and well known to be 

subjected to any operational hiatus. To do otherwise would be to invite 

severe criticism."(56) 

Senator Scott continued to press Johnston to amend S.1776 to permit 

inclusion of the Chesterbrook property in the proposed national historical 

park as the Subcommittee on Parks and Recreation began preparation for 

the bill's markup.(57) At a meeting on February 27 attended by 

Secretary of the Interior Thomas Kleppe, representatives of the Interior 

Department and the Office of Management and Budget, Senator Scott, and 

Representative Schulze, a tentative plan was developed to acquire 

Chesterbrook as part of the proposed park. It was determined to 

56. Associate Regional Director, Operations, Mid-Atlantic Region to 

Reg•onal Director, Mid-Atlantic Region, February 17, 1976, CRM-MARO 

Files. Golub provided valuable insights into the operation of the state 

park and the issues involved in LIS transfer to the National Park System 

in a telephone interview with the author of thLS study on August 13, 

1984 . 

57. Scott to Johnston, february 18, March 4, 1976, MicrofLche, 5.1776, 

Legislation --WASO. 

563 
conditionally include Chesterbrook in the pending bills with the •. 

understilnding that negotiotions were underway to allow purch<>se of the 

tract for much less than the cost estimated by the Department of the 

Interior. The plan was described by Deputy Assist<tnt Secretary Wheeler 

in a letter to National Park Service Director Everhardt on March 8: 

At the meeting with Secretary Kleppe, Senator Scott and 

Representative Schulze made reference to (Treddyffrin) 

township and (Chester) county contributions in the total amount 

of $2.8 million for the purchase of Chesterbrook. Accordingly, 

the Federal Government would be asked to contribute $12 million 

from the Land and Water Conservation Fund. The Nature 

Conservancy was asked to negotiate an option with the owner of 

Chesterbrook, Richard Fox, and 1t has agreed to do so. The 

plan entails a Federal repayment to The Conservancy in three 

annual installments of $4 million. Although the Office of 

Management and Budget, which was represented at the meeting 

between Senator Scott and Secretary Kleppe, has made no 

commitment concerning Federal partocipation, it has agreed to 

review a proposal from The Nature Conservancy which reflects 

these understandings. Such a proposal is to be prepared by 

The Conservancy, and forwarded to the OMB through this 

office. 

The most interesting sidelight to this plan was the suggestion that 

Chesterbrook not be acquired unless the secretary was satisfied that local 

zonmg and land use controls were adequate to protect the perimeter of 

the park. Accordingly, Scott requested the subcommittee to include 

language 1n th<> bill reflecting these issues.(S8) After some fruitless 

negotiations with Richard Fox, the owner of Chesterbrook, Scott proposed 

that the Interior Department 

support acquisition of the Chesterbrook tract, while suggesting 

that the Park Service be authorized to expend no more than 

$12.0 million for this purpose. Thus, any cost of in excess of 

$12.0 million would be borne by the township, county, or 

private contributors. The total Federal obligation for Valley 

Forge would then be $20,622,000 including the earlier approved 

estimate of $8,622,000 for inholdings.(59) 

58. Wheeler to Everhardt, March 8, 17, 1976, Microfiche, S. 1776, 

Legislation- -WASO. 

59. Wheeler to Mitchell, March 17, 1976, Microfiche, S.1776, 

Legislation--WASO. Also see "Actual EconomiC Impact of Assumptions With 

Placement of Chesterbrook in Boundaries of Valley Forge Park," March 

25, 1976, ibid. 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

The Scott recommendations were included in markup sessions on 5.1776 on 

Mar<:h 18 and H.R.5621 by the House Subcommittee on National Parks and 

Recreation the following day. The substantive amendments included: 

1. Reference to a boundary map which includes the Chesterbrook 

property; 

2. Language directing that the effective date of any donation of 

State property shall not be prior to October 1, 1976; 

3. Use and occupancy right for owners of improved property for 

noncommercial residential purposes for 25 years or life with respect 

to noncommercial residential dwellings construction of which was 

begun before January 1, 1975; 

4. Language prohibiting the establishment of the national h•storical 

park until the Secretary receives commitments from the Commonwealth 

of Pennsylvania that appropriations for development will continue to 

be available and obligated for development of the park; 

5. Authorization for land acquisition of $20,622,000 ($8.622 million 

for inholdings and minor additions to the existing State Park and $12 

million for acquisition of Chesterbrook); and 

6. Authorization of not more than $500,000 for development of 

essential public facilities and direction that within three years from 

the date of establishment of the park the Secretary shall submit to 

the Interior Committee a final master plan for development.(60) 

Meanwhile, the National Park Service Mid-Atlantic Regional Office was 

busily engaged in preparing and submitting updated legislative support 

data for the proposed park to the Washington Office. When asked for a 

breakdown of operating and maintenance costs required if the National 

Park Serv1ce were to assume responsibility of operating Valley Forge in 

May or June, Mid-Atlantic Regional Director Srooks submitted proJected 

start-up costs to the Associate Director, Legislation, on March 16. The 

data, a copy of which may be seen in Appendix H, was based on the 

following assumptions: 

1. National Park Service operations to begin May 1, 1976. 

2. That the personnel required will be iQ. addition to this Region's 

3. 

present ceiling. We cannot absorb any within that ceiling 

unless we close one or more other areas, or facilities. 

That the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's 9.1 

construction program WJII be complete by July 1, 

million dollar 

except for the 

60. Associate 

Wheeler, March 

March 19, 1976, 

D1rector, Legislatoon to Deputy Assistant 

26, 1976, and "Suggested Staff Amendments, 

Microfiche, H.R.S621, Legislation--\VASO. 

Secretary 

H.R.5621," 

565 
ne"' museum building, which will not be complete before October 

1. Thus, interpretive and maintenance staff for new facilities 

would not be required until July 1, and staff for the museum 

would not be required unt1l October 1. Protection staff 

requirements will not be affected. 

That most state employees will not be hired. 

grade levels will be reducect,and costs reduced 

since many present employees would not qualify 

proposed. 

If they are, 

concomitantly, 

for the grades 

5. That the state will remove all portable office furniture and 

equipment as well as maintenance equipment.(61) 

Supplementary data, 

other than office 

Mid-Atl<mtic Regional 

including a staffing justification 

equipment needed, was sent 

Office on March 29.(62) 

a breakdown of 

WASO by the 

Mid-Atlantic Regional Office personnel prepared an analysis of land use 

control possibilities for the proposed park on March 25 in response to a 

request by WASO. The analysis included discussion of factors influencing 

land use, existing land use, needed land use controls, and likelihood of 

cooperation by local jurisdictions.(63) 

On Apr1l 28 the full Senate Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs 

reported favorably, "by majority vote of a quorum present," on 5.1776 

"with an amendment to the title and an amendment to the text." The 

amendment was 11 111 the nature of a substitute." The committee's 

amendment differed from 5.1776 as introduced in four significant aspects: 

1. Immediate establishment of area rather than by Secretarial 

announcement. 

2. Precise map reference. 

3. Exclusion of 869 acre Chesterbrook tract at a cost of 

$22,350,000. 

4. Acquisition authorization ceiling of $8,622,000. 

The exclusion of the provisions for acquisition of Chesterbrook, ~-.·hich 

had been determined after it was apparent that a negotiated purchase at a 

61. Reg1onal Director, 

Legislation, WASO, March 

Mid-Atlantic Region to Associate 

16, 1976, Files, Legislation--WASO. 

Director, 

62. Acting Regional Director, Mid-Atlantic Reg1on to Assoc1ate Director, 

Legislation, WASO, March 29, 1976, Files, Legislation--WASO. A copy of 

this supplementary data may be seen in AppendiX I. 

l 

• 

• 

63. Acting Regional D1rector, Mid-Atlantic Reg1on to Associate Director, • 

Legislation, March 25, 1976, F1les, Legislation--WASO. A copy of the 

an01lysis may be seen in Appendix J. 

566 
• 

• 

• 

tower price was not likely, was strongly opposed by Senator James A. 

McClure of Idaho. As a result of h1s objection to the proposed bill, his 

views were printed as part of the committee's report: 

It is not a very great exaggeratron to charge that this bill is 

a fraud! Fraud is a calculated deception and that is the 

unfortunate result of the Committee's action. I am 1n favor of 

making Valley Forge a part of the National Park System, but 

only if, in doing so, we can do a significantly better job than 

the State of Pennsylvania is doing now. If we fail to do so, we 

fail to respond to the great urgency that hils led to the 

introduction of this legislation and we break faith with 

thousands of Americans in every State who have waited for 

years for funding of their own park proposals. We deceive 

local sponsors who have hopes for action to protect Park values 

and we deceive backers of dozens of other park proposals that 

this proposal should have priority over theirs. 

Chesterbrook should be acquired if we are to make Valley 

Forge a National Park. Historically, it has buildings relevant 

to the Winter of '76 and is part of the ground Washington's men 

used during the encampment. It is the last natural, 

undeveloped area adjacent to Valley Forge. The Park was 

established and has been managed with the objective of 

preserving, as close as possible, the kind of conditions 

Washington's men encountered. Chesterbrook is the vista 

essential for maintaining the traditional setting. But it is being 

threatened by development and although the State of 

Pennsylvania has preserved the Park for 83 years, they can't 

afford to preserve Chesterbrook. Congress can!. 

In this year of our Bicentennial, we are making a big mistake 

by pushing such legislation through without a more concerned 

look at what we are losing. We are only deceiving the American 

people when we say we have given them Valley Forge. We ~"lave 

not given them anything more than what they already had. 

Thus if we can't pass legislation that is a significant 

contribution to our National Park System, then we should not 

pass it at all--but we can and we should!(64) 

One week later, on May 5, the full House Committee on Interior and 

Insular Affairs reported favorably on H.R.S621 with amendments. The 

committee voted to exclude Chesterbrook from the park as had the Senate 

Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs.(65) 

64. U.S. Congress, Senate, Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, 

Valley Forge National Historical Park, 94th Cong., 2d sess., 1976, S. 

Rept. 94-817 . 

567 
Prior to 

Senate, 

consideration of H. R. 5621 and S- 1776 by the full House and 

the printed an editorial in support of their 

passage, as 

and Scott's 

Chesterbrook. 

response by Senator Scott. The editorial 

response also provided the rationale for exclusion of 

The editorial on May 31 stated: 

With some of the same persistence that characterized the first 

encampment at Valley Forge 200 years ago, a small group of 

eastern Pennsylvania citizens has been working doggedly to 

save the scenic and historic parkland now at the site. At the 

moment, the 2,250 acres of the Valley Forge State Park come 

under the control of officials in the state government in 

Harrisburg. But because many of these officials have either 

been uncaring or uninformed about the problems of keeping the 

parkland in a fit condition, the local commission that runs the 

park (and runs it well) is seeking to transfer Valley Forge from 

state to federal control. 

Legislation is now before the House and Senate. The bills 

have national interest, not only because the current dispute 

tells us something about the workings--or nonworkings of 

Congress. The deficiency 1n the legislation is that neither 

House nor Senate committees reported out prOVISions for 

including an 869-acre site known as Chesterbrook, which 1s 

adjacent to the park. This ecologically valuable property has 

been considered an essential buffer for the park if Valley Forge 

is not to have still another real estate development crowding its 

borders .. 

Although Sen. James A. McClure (R.-Idaho) is offering an 

amendment to acquire Chesterbrook, the fear of many--a 

legitimate fear, we believe--is that a do-or-die fight over 

Chesterbrook at this point could interfere with progress toward 

the goal of nationalizing the park. With the passage of 

130 years, it would seem to us that a final and favorable 

decision on the park is overdue. President Ford is scheduled 

to visit Valley Forge on the Fourth of July. It would be nice if 

on that occasion he could have on hand newly signed legislation 

making Valley Forge what it should have been all along--a 

nattonal park.(66) 

On June 6 Scott responded with the following letter that was printed in 

the editorial section of the newspaper: 

welcomed your May 31 editorial, "Nationalizing Valley 

Forge," which addressed the most pressing issue surrounding 

Valley Forge Park--the question of stewardship of the park 

itself. This matter has been sorely lacking perspective in 

recent months, and emotions have run high. 

My legislatton, S. 1776, would transfer the park from state to 

federal management. A similar bill introduced by Congressman 

66. Editorial, Washington Post, May 31, 1976. 

068 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

RichardT_ Schulze (R-Pa.) awaits action by the full House of 

Representatives. AdJacent to Valley Forge os the 869 acre 

Chesterbrook tract, which has been the prime subject of 

controversy. If it were possible, I (as well as all of us who 

venerate Valley Forge) would like this tract to be purchased 

and added to the nationalized park in order to prevent the 

encroachment of developments and the like within sight of the 

hallowed encampment grounds. 

We must regret that we could not accomplish this. The U.S. 

Department of the Interior estimated the value of the land at 

$23 million--a price which the federal government cannot bear 

during this time of essenti<~l economic frugality. Congressman 

Schulze and I personally met twice with the Secretary of the 

Interior, the Honorable Thomas Kleppe, to work out an 

acceptable plan to allow for the acquisition of the tract. The 

negotiations which followed were vigorous, protracted, but 

unsuccessfu I. 

The final proposal, an offer representing the best possible 

package obtainable with federal support, was submitted to the 

developer. It did not meet with his approval. Therefore, we 

were forced to conclude that for the time being all avenues 

leading to acquisition of Chesterbrook had been exhausted. 

Therefore, we must now continue with the prime mission of 

5.1776; the transfer of Valley Forge Park to the federal 

government. The bill 1s pending before the Senate but 

unfortunately includes an amendment offered by Rep. James A. 

McClure to include the acquisition of Chesterbrook as part of 

the bill. 

The McClure amendment so far has served no purpose other 

than to divide and mislead my consitituents about my desire for 

preservation and protection of Valley Forge. I must, in all 

sincerity, take issue with your editorial's charge that I "lost 

interest in the Chesterbrook tract and offered little leadership 

in the cause of acquiring it." 

What I have done is to come to grips with the reality of the 

situation. It is my hope that Valley Forge will very soon be a 

national park. To this end I have always been committed; 

Valley Forge is too sacred to be trifled with.(67) 

On June 8, 

June 11 the 

amendment. 

House vote 

Kansas: 

1976, the House considered and passed H.R.5621, and on 

Senate passed S.1776 after first defeating the McClure 

Noteworthy in the Congressional remarks proceeding the 

were the comments by Congressman Keith G. Sebelius of 

while the State of Pennsylvania has done a commendable job 1n 

managmg this area through the years, it is the committee's 

intention and hope that the National Park Service will do an 

• 67. Ibid., June 6, 1976. 

569 
even better job. In that regard, there are several points I 

would like to make. 

valley Forge has come to be an area where outdoor recreation 

pursuits often tend to <mp<nge upon and detract from the 

h<storical integr<ty of the historic resources. At all costs, the 

National Park Serv<Ce must guarantee that the area's historical 

integrity is preserved without adverse impa•rment by more 

purely recreation-related activities and interests. 

The National Park Service must take immediate steps to 

reroute 01nd/or elimin01te some ro01ds so as to reduce the 

adversity of some of these roads on the historical fabric of the 

area, and to provide for the increased safety of visitors. It 

was brought to the committee's attention th<~t some roads 

through the park act as merely il thoroughfare as the shortest 

distance between points, the travel upon which has no 

rel01tionship to the park ilt all. Immediate actions should be 

taken to eliminilte or rectify this situation. 

The National P01rk Service should greatly phase down the 

grass mowing and simil<~r operations which contribute to the 

appearance of 01n artificially manicured and historically 

misrepresented scene. Serious effort must be made to depict 

conditmns as closely approxim<~ting the earlyday scene ilS is 

possible.(68) 

The act was signed into law (P.L. 94-337; 90 Stat. 796) by President 

Gerald R. Ford in speciill ceremonies at the p<Jrk on July 4, 1976. In 

attendance were Governor Shapp, Senators Scott and Schweiker, 

Congressman Schulze, Secretary Kleppe, and other distinguished guests. 

In his prepared remarks the president observed: 

This is a great privilege for me to sign this very important bill 

on George Washington's desk. I am deeply grateful because of 

the strong congressional support over a long per1od of ye01rs. 

Senator Scott, Senator Schweiker, Congressman Schulze, and 

many others took the lead, and the net result is that under 

this legislation, the Federal Government will take over this 

historic site and it will be known as the Valley Forge National 

Historic Park. 

It will be a great tribute to those that I mentioned in my 

remarks, to those who gave so much, and the sacrifices that 

they made. 

so, I congratulate you, Hugh Scott. I congratulate the other 

Members of the House and Senate who did such a fine job in 

making this s1gning possible. 

68. Conqress<onal Record--House, 

Congressional Record--Senate, June 

June 8, 

11, 1976, s 

1976, H 

17628-36. 

16875-78, 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

And so, Governor, we are delighted to t<1ke over and make 

certain that the good work of the State of Pennsylvania is 

carried out and that this historic site will become another in the 

complex of nat1onal historic sites for the preservation of those 

things that mean so much to us~-those sites that contributed so 

significantly to our national history and our national 

progress.(69) 

Chester Brooks, Mid-Atlantic Regional Director, heralded the addition of 

Valley Forge to the National Park System. In comments released to the 

press, he observed: 

The addition of Valley Forge adds to the National Park System a 

site known to people throughout the world. 

We will be assuming jurisdiction over a park that is not only 

historic but a preserve of great natural beauty. We in 

the regional office in Philadelphia look forward to gaining the 

confidence and cooperation of the many friends of Valley Forge 

who live in Montgomery, Chester, and Delaware counties who 

have been so devoted to the park over the years. 

He noted, however, that the legislation provided that the existing state 

park would not be transferred before October 1 to prevent disruption of 

visitor use during the summer months of the Bicentennial year.(70) 

69. "Remarks Upon Signing Legislation 

National Historic Park, July 4, 1976," Public 

the United States: Gerald R. Ford, 1976-77, 

1976 (Washington, 1979), p""i):" 1,965-66, and ~~:~'";;;~: News Release, July 27, 1976, "National Park 5 Gains Historic 

Forge in Bicentennial Year," Microfiche, H.R. 5621, Legislation--WASO. 

Also see "An Act to Authorize the Secretary of the Interior to Establish 

the Valley Forge National Historical Park in the Commonwealth 

':~:;;,~'';~;'; and for other purposes (90 Stat. 796} (94-337),"· 

D the Nat1onal Park Service, Laws 

I IV, January 1973 to 

copy of P. L. 94-337 may 

70. U.S. Department of the Interior, Nat1onal Park Service, Mid-Atlantic 

Regional Office, News Releases, "Valley Forge to Become a National 

Historical Park," July 3, 1976, and "National Park System Gains Historic 

Valley Forge in Bicentennial Year," July 22, 1976, Scrapbooks, VAFO 

Ubrary. 

57' 
• 

APPENDIXES 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

APPENDIX A 

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE SUMMARY OF 

CHESTERBROOK PROJECT STATUS: 

JULY 27, 1972 

tba "Cbut.orb~., project b a weq allbittou., -.ortl7 pJanpod olft'alc; pt 

of "'"'rd ll•uaolred area~ of tlbat U - opsa I'OUJ.Ga; t.n.t.Dd, OA dla aCIIItb 

as.de of Yallq •araa State Pad, bet-• die ra-ylvada 'h.np~ aDd -

U,&, 2.0Z, 1'be project pLD., dated October 17, 1971, w.. pNpUod bf hD 

f'.cUus and MIGO;iot.es, aftlll p:-ovidc. for .a .. tx of c:OI=s:!r.:ie.l ~dopaent 1 low 

•ftlll sotddle 11\l:omo bc>i.>nh.;, tecnlltioul !acllitha aftlll opeu. a~co: 0 ma1nly 1111 

the fo:'lll ot a J!Pll cv.Jrae. b'bcQ eoq>leted, it h IOll<J'eetod to acc........,ate a~t 12·1~,000 poopla. 

'l'lle bhtoric p~rtl.ea involvod .are the DJportaU Quartan (111. c.cod eandltioll), 

ccd th~ Lce•Dr~d(ord (~artera (in poor, but resto~blo condittoD). AccordiQ& 

to lo<:al tredltl.o110 a tlJ1rd l:!t.torU prol"''"t.r b "bo iuvolvgd, t.ba c;apr.a1D. 

Jo~11 l),oyia QUart<>n, pre~evtly a apriq bo .. u. l!ovwcr, Pe.ither the park, 

DOr the hnwylv.:~nh tfu.wUIII of W..torical Ccc;,;,iu l.o:a accept• t.ba trdltloll; 

l>otb beUeve that the. Ilm't. QUartert were incorporated a. .11 larse. -la• 

louilt yu.no ago a..:l a .. b&equntly bur11t to tha p-ound, of liht~ 01117 a few 

""'-''"'"t 1o<lllls are B><taa.t. Tbg Du.portdl Hou•• aftlll tke Lea--Bradford Hall4• 

q11artera wre -l.aata4 .,. tha St&te to tb. Batlonal l.cat.ter oa ~rll 20. 

1972, •ut bava llrCit .. ,..t INu .lllltcred Oll tba ust.tv • 

575 
'fb• HI:Q.ua nport idllll.tifiea all tta: .. propa.:t1.Ja as hhtorlc a!>d ·ufeu 

aaveral place. to tbeb bd.nc truan-odl ~~mo.,..r, it. <rpedfiu C111lJ thlt 

they aveo.t.uallJ ¥111 boll ovn"' ,;alld operated lor utlllpedfhd pucpoaea 117 a 

cG.....nlt}' dvl.c a&Goc:JaUoa llh1~ 11111 Ql.rD. and cop~r:>t.;, a :;olf course and. 

other coa:ca fi:I<:U1tlaa•IIOt ~~t~ch of a i"'Jr&nt..e tb.1t th.:>y 11111, 111 laet, 

boo pr.o.aarvad, 

ra .Lata, tba acti.Ou of tho '>'arlen .. ao.renuwnta aod <~&~ha U....Olved &rG 

aa follow: 

• ,..:::..:·~~';:~ to ba divided, with 11.00 :~s·>llCJ ~· l"C!J~~.et, and """tlwr p:~.rt oppoi~d. 

Jet ospre•~ed h18 vie~•· 

'lbo lfation.;~l P41:k .SCnko (U.\~0 ln.! Re&loq) !:us e:q~N,$cd 

14o;rerao offuu tho pl'Ojaet lii.2Y hiW" 011 tho park, and 

historic propert1u 1110-ll.tioned abo-Je b~ pt.J3arnd. 

rhe E'!lvkO!I"'fUitd i'rot~ctioA A:!;CiLC-7 h.U aaked tho r.atiou.o~l A<fvhory Council 

!or Historic Pre,Crvdtion to rcv1~~ th~ puap houae and •~r line, and tha 

c010a.:U pl'uantly hu tt.. proj'i/.Ct unda ~tdvlscmcat. 

tha Carps of B1>3ineers h~G lll)t bcoa l<JYalvijd to date, to our lti'IO>flcdga, llut 

""']' boo lo tl1o futur" 1! queationg are I"ilhcd u to th~ aJv~ru affect,, the ~noff and ,utatloA naulthl !rO";> "the..:tcr'brook'• IIW]' h..,e 011 Vdley Crec11.0 

10hlcb flo..& throush tboJ p:orlc. lind eotO'C'll the SchuJ1Ull lliv•-r 11081' Wub1ngtoa'• 

Ho!.l.!qu.-.: t<l r.t • 

576 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

H,U,D, to 01>1' knlwldgo has wt bcall :lDYiillv.td. to d.1.t<10 llut wq b. la tb• 

lut>ll'e lt lavolved b fund!na "Cbe•terbroolr.," 

lt b our e~pJ.nton tb.;~.t th~ t1<0 blutoric. prop<~rth.~ d~ucrlb\!<1 aboore ehaulol 

h 1o. pablle o-~:l~r~hi; t<> ,::11->u"~ tb::ir :l'JrVI.val, 1/e 3at.!11:.r th:Jt thuo h 

sll<:>l ,pre:~~ure £ur the :it.at .. to <l~<,:uiro tho cn.tir<;: ·~~ten."OCd" tract 11<1<1 

ouSd tt to tOO ~tata Porlt u a re~,:rt.a.tioi!Oil 11dj~:w:t "-='"4 for cqS.<>ao 

flea.kld~0 BO:r Scout o~P.tit0 <~~te., tbr.ls te:.IO'Y.Lot tllh t7pa of activit7 

fl'VII r.h.e ""'"' bLitodc =ln p~rt of tho p~:~rl!:, !.'ere thb to c.01:111 ~e. it 

'11011ld 0 of co•u·u, en.t\ll:"lit tho:~ preseO'<JtlOII ot tbe two b!atode bouse. ilft'Ohz.ti 

in thl "d>osUob-.ook" p:.oject, 

Director, Northeast Region to Director, National Park Service, July 27, 

1972, CRM-MARO Files. 

577 
APPENDIX B 

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE 

VALLEY FORGE: 

BRIEFING STATEMENT, 

MAY 24, 1974 

Valley Forge State Park, the scene of Washincton's encampment during 

the winter of 1777-1778, is a national historic landmark embraclnc 

2,300 acres on both sides of the Schuylkill River in Pennsylvania. 

Threats to the integrity of its immediate environs, caused by a 

private development project, have broucht pn•ssure upon the State 

Parks System and tho National Park Service to acquire the park and 

the surrounding area. The same threat has involved the Advisory 

Council on Historic Preservation under Section 106 of the National 

Historic Pl·escrvation Act of Hl66. 

State appropriations for the park are too lm< for ndequate mainten.~nce, 

and there h11s been citizen complaint because of visible deterioration. 

Although this situation has stimulated some Pennsylvania cititens to 

seck a Natie>nal Park Service takeover, othCTS would oppose the idea 

because of a fierce pride that the St~te preserved the l'TopeTty 

dcca~es ago "·hen the Fede-ral Governr.~ent fail<""d to do so. Failure of 

the National rark Scn•ice to pre\·cnt construction of the tower a.t 

Gettyshurg has ir,tensified the feelings of this faction. 

The park is nationally significant by virtue of its status as a 

national historic landm~rk, but no suitability-feasibility study has 

been prcp~rcd as required for the creation o£ new National Park 

Service areas. Bec~use it functions as a park at the moment, it 

would probably meet National Park Service requirements. 

The private development project, known :ts Chesterbrook, will require 

access to a se"'age treatment plant and sewer line which are being 

built for the use of the park with fundine f"rom the Environmental 

PTCtcction Agency. The line will cross a corner of tl>e park and 

therefore the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation had to be 

allowed opportunity to comment. nw Council, EPA, and the State 

Historic rresei""Iatlon Officer, have concluded that any ndverse 

effect of the line has been adequately mitigated and that con5truc.tion 

may proceed. 

The Chest<·rbrook tract contains three prop~·rties that ore listed in 

the Nation:ol Re!(istcr and several others thnt umy !Je eligible fer 

listing. t..ny fnturc involvement b)' EP/1 in issuing se"er permits to 

thP Chcs.ter.brcok ~cvcl()pers could possibly c:reate other Section 106 

cases. 

There a1·c two bills before the State Legislature, one of which would 

enahle the State to purchase the Chesterbrook tract and one of which 

would authorize the State to turn the park ever to the l'oderal 

Government .. 

Files, Legislation--WASO. 

578 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

APPENDIX C 

INITIAL NATIONAL PARK SERVICE DRAFT RESPONSE TO 

GOVERNOR SHAPP'S PROPOSAL TO TRANSFER STATE PARKS: 

1974 

It h ol)vfo~• that VRSbington Cros.dng, Tlr;mdydne and Vdlcy ror,Ie 

Parka •~• natlonallJ el;nifioaat Revol~tionary eites. Each he& beeQ 

~eelgnet~d by the Secretary of the laterior a~ a neglatered Katlooal 

Hhltor1c Landnark. n.ay should be ezcellently "-'lintatned and interpreted for the public benefit iD perp11tuitt. ll'e .-outd defer eon51derat1on of acquisition by the Service for several reasons, bo~ever. 

'fo hel that etah> :,:overnm~nts sho'lld continue to cari'J' out thei:r 

h1~tor1c prese;v<>.tton N!~ponsib1litic11. In r.nnJ' c"sca thc7 o•·o beat 

qualltied to •·el,.te t:.c d~vclo:,..c:d or histodo sites to re:;ional 

and locnt pro~;r"""'• It doe" not 8C<'·n .. t~o, J:>Orcovcr, ro~ state,; to 

tran"f~r hlstnrlo:2ltc" to til<! F.-dcral Govcrr.,.~nt a~ lhe very u~o 

the latter h boletcrint: stnto initiative in hb[{>rfc prcsurvation 

throu<:h H·vcral "atchlnc (:l'ant~-1n-~1d progra'""· The l'!'attcnlll PD.rlr. 

Strvlc'" Jt~elf l><binbtur~ o:o as•iata•,cc ~rc;:r~,. support1n;: ata.te 

purchase 11 n~/~r restoration ot propertie~ listEd on the Hational 

lleghter, '1!10> Durenu of Outdoor /kcn·ntio" adrJin1ster8 a grants-inaid program. .-llich, altllou.,_ it h cOnUnod to rcor ... uonal purpos .. , 

•Jght balp a state to huJ an area tor recreational purpose• even lt 

the property included htator1e attc."'' or buJldin~. Jt 11ueh ll<lrll 

tbe """•• the atllt<l cc:.ld tllen llpPIJ to tb<l Hattond Pllrk ServlCtl 

!ru !<~"<!~ to M:>ht 1n the preacrvaUcn or those hlatodc properttea, 

Fi•>a\ly, ~e think the propcsed donaUott ahould be dt>!<>rr:d "e~dln" 

1 Jcbt Shte~Suvico litUdy of the p~cposnl, 

n.e otho:•· part o! lhe Governor's proposition 18 that Chc~tcrbl-ook 

be purcha~<!d by tho Servtco 1n re"tllrn for its nectvtng Utta to 

tho> !or-c:,;o1Tl~ par'<s. 'n>o Cb<>st<>rb>·oo11: arc:l, of Cllurse, h hbtcri~ 

c:>tly lll::nlflcant. Jt wos IUI3001ated •1tb Valley For_;e durt;n;: tho 

enc~>O.P-"'"t J." !he wintor ol 1777-73 ar,d thcr<.> are five h1~torl<:~ 

hu11d1nr,s in ita boundll.rles which arc on the N"U"nal Pe<;ht<'r. 

'three ot tbcs~ buUdin:" .,are used aa headquarters by ofti<:~ers durlnr 

the encao>p,ent and t~o National Park so:r.,:lce'a l:>':>nta-tn-:ltd pro:;r~ 

baa opprov"d rc"tor<~Uon gr11nb for those tllr><e structures. Jt ts 

also true that this &65-acre area 1B the la9t lar~e o~n spaea in the 

vic:i~lty ol Valley Forg:o, and that 1ts d~velop .. ent as a housing area 

wcutd ~~an the !os~ ~t another n<ltUTRl situ to one of tho country'• 

lar;;eat 01utropolitan :u-eas. ll.lt 11e cannot rcco . ...::end the Service's 

purcbasc ot t:h<•aterbrook, bec<1use the estiDU>tcd pries t~llich is so:""-

where bctwc~n S~-::0 .,tlUon, would put a heavy burden on tliC' S"rvica'e 

lL~d ac<]uhltion p.-o:.~ra:-1, 't'e also bell""'" that the state should take 

all 11accs•;;~ry steps to preserve tb13 hlst~ricallJ 111>d enYtro""'""t<llly 

alpittcant property. J'urthermore, •• b•ve to note that tbe Cheeterbl'oolr. 111tuaUon 11 du•, appll!"cntly, to tile fa.tlure of local land use 

pla.nnlng, 

Acting Regional Director, Mid-Atlantic Region to Director, National Park 

Service, July 9, 1974, CRM~MARO Files. 

579 
APPENDIX 0 

H.R. 2257: JAI'WARY 28, 1975 

IN Tilll JIOllfm OF ImPllHSEI'\TfiTIVFJ! 

.1 '"''-'" 2~. w;:, 

Ilk~""'~''"'""""'' <l•c fnllo•·"'" l,m: ~''"'' ~" ,.(m•d loll,. Cooo 

on;u,. "" '""'''"' '"'' '"'"'"' Allno,. 

A BILL 

To n10lhnrizc lho Recretnry of tho Iulcriur to estoUiish t)1e Valley 

}'urge Nolional l!L,toricnl Pork in tho Conomouw.,.]t.b u[ 

l'enn>yl""nio, and for other puq>ooos. 

' Boil <!!acted by !he Senalc and !lou_,, of Rep.-...e•ltl2 livru of the Uniled 8/oics of America in Cong>1'M awmbled, 

3 Thol itt 011lor to l''""'"'" naJ C<>mmcnwrale lor the people 

4 ul 1Lu Uniled Sillies the nroa n>Soriute<l with a1e heroic 

5 ouiTering, hord•hip, on<l dctcru•innlion nud t·c,olve of Oen~ral 

6 George WoshiHgloH"s ConliMntol Army duri11g lhe winl..-

7 of 1777-1778 nt Volley Forgo, lhc Socrctnry of tloo llLiorior 

8 (hetoino!Lor rdcrrcd tn us lho "Secro~ry"j, i• nothorized 

9 lo •"nhli•l, tho Volley Forge Notional Jfisl<ltiC~~l I'ltrk ;,;-

10 the Cmnmnnwcohh nf rcnn•ylmuin. 

580 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

1 s~~- 2. F<>r 1ho l""l'"'"' "i ,,;_, Act, 1he St"crctary may 

~ J<•<igw•l" ""' w ••xc<•cJ tiJreC lhou.<<W<l fnc handrcd acre' 

3 consisting of We existing Valley Forge St•to P!Lrk wgolller 

4 wilh such nddition•llnnds and intcr"l!; therein ao ho deems 

~ nccc"nry fm proper intcrpt<IHlinn, pn>lectinn, and admin6 istration o{ the oren rdcrrod to in the first .cction of this 

7 Act. A mnp or other Uonmlnry description of 1hc nrea so 

8 designated sholl he published in the Jl'rdcrol Register. Wilhin 

9 lhc arto so dcsig~1nlcd the Sccr<'lnry moy !IC<tllirc lands nnd 

10 interests therein by donation, pllrchase, or exchange, exoopt 

11 tbot ony property owned l•y ihe Commonweollh of Penn· 

12 sylvania or any politico.! subdi,·ision lher<of may be acquired 

13 only by donotion . 

14 SEC. 3. When the Secretary Uei.ermines that lands and 

15 in!erests therein hnvc been ocquir<d in an omo~nt sullicient 

W lo constit~~ an adrninistcrnble uni4 he shall e>inbli;h the 

17 Valley FQrgc Natiounl Wslmi"al l'a•k Ly puLlication of a 

18 notice 1o tlJat cfft•UL in the Ft•Ut•rul Hegistcr. 1\•n.Jing snch 

19 eslablishmenl auU ill.crcnf!er, tho Sc<Ter.o.ry shnU ndminioLer 

20 the property aquired for such park in accordance wi~ lh~ 

21 Act of August 25, !~H) (3D Sio.l 535), as amended and 

22 suppleme.nt..d, ond the Act of August 21, 1~35 (~9 8La~ 

23 666) , n.• arncntlcU. 

21 SEC. 4. There are nutlJnri>rcl I~ hr opproprinlocl '"'h 

20 sum•"" mny he nocr.,or;· to cony ont1hr l""'·"ion' of t!Jis 

26 AoL 

Park Archives, C:RM~WASO. 
APPENDIX E 

ACT NO. 53: JULY 30, 1975 

SB 1:18' 

Aull•ori!in1tt..: D:ronmont of l'r<:'p<n~ and Sul'!'lin. ,.;,h the appro~• I olttw 

Go•-ernor an.:! 11'1< 11"'"'""1 an~ /,t....,un> Comm~»•on.1o Lfansln \'.olio}· 

Forrc Slate l'orl1o tho llmtod Stotos o( Ameria. 

The Gen~r..l As~oC"mbly of:ho Commonwealth ofPe111uyh-an~ !.ere by 

enKI.s aJ follow11; 

~ion I. The Pcrunment of Propeny and Supplict • .,..itb the 

arprove! ofthc Go\ernor and the HiMorical and !llweum CoiT.mission. 

is hr.reby amhori1ed <>n beh~lf of the Common" ealth of Pennsylvania 

to convey to the I! nitcd State. of America title 10 a certain tr;.;t of land. 

situate in th~ Ccunti:s of Che~tcr end Mont1omer}· of tke 

Commonwoahh of Penmy!vania. known M Valley Forf!• State Park, 

for a 'onsidemtl<>n ofS!. The do..:ription of tho: property eon•-•J""d •hllll 

be s10ch u the proper officials of tN: Commom•cahlland the t:nitod 

States Government may •grec upon. 

Scc:tion 2. The deed of con,·e~-..n~ shall limit the u•e oft he l~nd to 

TetOn:ationd and h1110rical purp~~cs ool'". •petifK:all~- •~:lu~iog me as a 

National Ccmcitf}" sh~!l 1>: app:<''co ~y tM• Dcpartm~r.t oi Jm:ice 'lnci 

shall be exenu~d b)· the Setrctary of Pro pert)" <i!Sd Supplin in the n~mc 

of tke Common"·calt h of l'c nnl) ]\"a~i". 

S~!ion 3. Exclu;il< juril<.l"·ti"n in ~no o..:r the 'lfores~id lands. 

whe-n k:Qui,--,d b) the U n:t~::! St~t~' is h~rc Oy crdcd :o the U nired Stat'-"< 

by tile CCimmonwealt~ of P<~nsyh3ni". prnli~.-,: tita< t!lc 

Commonwealth of l'~~ns)·h·~ni.:. shn!l retain concurtrn• juri•<liction 

"·lth the United s~~tcs in and o,·cr thclanrls .:.n:l bui!dt~!!' ofo:tfJid. in 

so far that ei~il p101:CS>CS as r10~ i"~c u!ldcr tk auth"rit;- <>:· 1hc 

Commonwealth of Pcnn<yhania a.,.,;n~t ""I""" <hnrrcd "''h cJ'mc 

committed outside said land. m3)" ~ c.ucuted <hcroon in the >~me 

manner"-' if jurildiction hold not b.,cn ceded. 

Sec-tion 4. Tho: juri>dict1on ceded to the 11 ui•cd States shJ!l be ur-on 

the fur"tho: condition t~Jt the Co'flmonweahh rcscr•·:; w itself and its 

political lUbdi,·isinn• wt.~to-:"r po"·~r ~r ~~~~non it ...-.~)" 

"onstitution~th· rosen'<, 10 icvy and ~ollcet all :axe."""" or her~aftn 

impo.«< by tho Common"c~lth and i" ~CIIi:•cnl <u!xlilisit-n< u~on 

propcn} and pC<"OI<i W1thin the houndanes •o etOdcd. · 

Section 5. The c<>n,·cyan~c •h~ll be made en the furt~cr crmJition 

and the Un1ttd St:otc• •h~U nprr"IY affirm b)• n:solut;on of the arc ocy 

acc-cr-t;ni: t~.r co~,··:o•·cc, th;n if."' ar.d whoon the P""'""' "rc ~o 

lnn£rr usrr! :,., "'~''"":"''"" a o<! h i•torrc;,l rwr r~'"'. 1 t,c t ;, k ~ t>d r; >ill ol I""''"''"" th<rctu >h:~ll io•mcd:olciy re,cr: tn and rcw~l '" tile 

582 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

COII\monw..alttl ol l'enn~ylvania. and iu a~sigrtS, and funho:r that tho: 

United States if,.., and when the ~rn'l"'rty above doscriboed ill no lonil=r 

l:nCd for such purpose~. it shall sum:rodcr and ,-acatc the p.-.:mixs 

immediatdy notifying the Department of Proro:rty and Supplio::s «liS 

s~or in fu.-c:tion of iu action, anJ e~ecutcandacknowled!l"agood 

and proptr d«d conveying the prem~ .. to the Commonw~ilh ol 

PennsylY\Inia. fiH and cleat of all licM and e.-c:umbrancct • .u -11• 

recording rne .o.amc, all at the cost of the- United Statn. 

S«tion 6. ThiS act sllalltal:c cHcct in>mcdiatcly. 

ArPROVED-The JOth day of July, A. D. 1975. 

MILTON J. SHAPP 

Appendix 5, "Statement for Management, Valley Forge National Historical 

Park," February 21, 1980, Files, Superintendent's Office, VAFO. 

583 
APPENDIX F 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR POSITION ON H.R. 2257: 

SEPTEMBER 27, 1975 

United St~tes !:>epartment of the Interior 

omct.O> "" '"·""'"' ~·'""'~H" DC """ 

SC.i' 2 I iS75 

''"' Co"""" ... "'""'" tO. '""' of <h!o 0.>...-<~o< oo 

'·"· ""· • Mil "1'> •~•"• roc"' .. ,.,,.,.,.,, of <0• ''"'" ''''' tlot!on<l. <iotodool •~• !o <to <o~o .. ol<O o( ,...,.,,, .. ,. 

~· "' '"'" .......... ·· 

"·"· 2257 ~"'· ""'"""" ••• """'""' ,, ••• '""""" "'''"" tM l"o.ll<Y tor.., >otloool H!otor!<ol •~• lo <h< ''-""""" of 

""'·"''-'• oo< <o <=«0 1.500 ««> ""''"'"' ot '" Vol.oy 

'"'' 3<«< P«k '"''"" vlth o~h "'"""""' "'·'" '"" '"""" ""''' •• <0• """">n "'"' ""'""' '" "' ,...,,., lot<cp"'"lon, 

'"'"'""• ofu! '""'"'''"""' o< t>.< ntloo.,_ hlotodoo..l p~<. '""'' 

.. , " """"" ,, "'"'"'· """'"""·" ""~··· .... ,. '""' '"' P" .. ''' ,_,, >y '"' 0.-•V<LI>O of''""'''"''·'" oo on,y po:!tl<ol 

oubdhhlon '"''""' • ., " "'""" """ o, ''""""'· Th• Mll • .,,, '"""'" "' ,,.,.,.,,.,., or""' •~ •• '" ""'""" " •-=> o<rt '" ,, .. , ...... """'' ''''' ·~ "'' o[t< of <h• "'""~"""'of Coo-.>i C.O'<< '""'<'""'' 

COot!o,.to.l Ar"i '"'"' "·' """ •lot<c of l"H'''· '•llov!o' '" 

"""' o< .,....,..,,, ~• C:.~<o~ lo "·' foll of !Cl' l.o."<l H<>V< 

O.ll•<•O '·'• •lotodoco ''"''" •= '"'''""-'> lo '"' '"'"'" '"'''"'or'"""'"'''·"· •"'• '"""""·'" ""' '"'"""or 11,000 

''· '"'""" ••. ,, "" ""' .. "''"' '"'"'· "'""' ''"' "dl .. ""or'"'""'"""· tho"'' . ., "''"'·"• ""' '" ''""''"' '"' """'"'"" .. ""' "' ....... """''"·'" " ... ,,,,. 

"' •-~• '"'" tO< """ of ""'"''" '" '"'"'"'"·" "" •••• , . .,, <o "' Dut<< "'"'om<>~"~' o! '•ll•" '"''' ""' lot>~"'~" of·~·' ~• '""'""' o '"'''"'of <h< ,,....., '"'"'"'• 

'"'·-· ""''""'' ""' '""0""'· "' .. .,,., ... """''"' flo'"•·• '""'· "·" '""' '"" """ '" "" o Oo=« of ''"'""·· '"' ""'"'"'' ... '" ""''· 

', ... , •• of"' ..... ! .. "'~·. F.~·,l·~·-'· '"" '"" '·' ""· '" '"'·'"'"'"' '""'"''"'' '·'" """· ,,, '""" '"'""'" ,., ...... ,.,. .... '·''"''' ,.~_,J,. •·••· ""' ...... "" ""' .. ·'"'""··· :. "'"'""'""' '' n.• ,.,.,,. •ow s·"'• '"'' '•=•··"· "'' 

'"' ,, "'"'"'' ""' '" """ ""''"" >.• '" '•'-"'" """ ""' 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

• ... , .. ""' .... ....,. ,, v.u., ''""'· Th< .... .,, ... ,. ~~·"·· 

""''" "'"" ........ ,. •. ··='- '"' ,., ••• '"' •••• ,, '" ""' """'"' " .. ,, .. ..,,~ ....... "' .. '" ........ ....-• " . airt~• or ... n,,. '"'"" ~• ...., ''" ''"""""' " • ,,.,~·~,... om <o.lloO >lo=< Jof. 

''"" ..... ,.,..., • ''"""'- ,..,_ .. ,, """· """•=• " '" '""'"'"' "'" "" "•'=l• ,.,_,, .... .,., "'· ""''" ,,,..,."'' '"'·'" ........ ,, ,,,., ··~ "" " '" ""'' ....... ,,.~,. 

'" 'm<e .. <!oo """" Yoll<> '""'' "'"'""'"'""'""to< ...... """' "" ..,., ... _ •• ""'"''=' ..,_,. ""' .. """" ,,, ........................ '" ....... "''"" """''''""" ,..,_ nu, <·=m< """,,..._,too t>o '"'' io .,2l,<XXlo.,.,oo.l'> vitO" 

rv.:u-u .. ..,.,.,.,,,, Tho >ot!oool "*" ,,.,., .. ••"-''' toot i< 

"""" "" •boo< 12 o!llioo <nooollY to, .. ,,,. ~-• -<otolo '" 

.... &< ''"""' .... ····~ .......... """' ,, """" ,.,. """· 

, .... '"""""'· .... ""'"" ... ,, """ " '"'""""'" ,, ., .. "'"''· 

'" '"''"''• ........ "" .., ...... 010 .uuoo ........... •=.., .. .. , .. '"'''" ''"'' ... '" "'""'· ""'""'"'""' ..... ol """' .. , <l.ooloO , .. .,,.,_ """ """''"' "" suv!oo ""'-'' '''"'·' .... , !hlo ploo '" oOO ,.,.., oo=~'"" .. , Oh<o•!o ~• ortbooloo!ool 

,,,.,.,_ ''" ,..,.. ....... ••«-•·· .... , .... ., .... ,,~·· '"" '" '"' '"''· ohou!d 1t "''""" o """ of tM ,..,,., """ ow<~• hO n!llloo, .. ,,, lo 1n ""-'"" t~ <Oo Uo ollll" stoto ,.,..,, .. """" ....... ...,.. "-"- "" >ou!d ·'~· ... """' "'"""'''""' '" • .,.,.__,.,. ....... _., ~• """"'""'""of Obo u!o<lo• >toto p~>, ""'"''' •«O ...,. 

• ldlt!oool lood '"uh!t!on oru! •~•"""'", "''" Cho Yodocol Gom...,ot < on'""""' .. Ocoyl"""o 000 >oot thto mo ,,..,......, 00 o ..,-> !"aT 

..., ,.. ..... "'"''"""'or ... 60?-" ""' ""'"""""' '""'"" .. .,.., ... '"" .... vOU ''" ,.,.,.,_.,lY 1<>,1\0,000, m"""" to...-'"'""',..,.,,.,, 

'"vlo!tloo ~· """""' of"-" ''""" ,.,,. '"""" .. olont v<tbio 

t ,, ,.,, "'" "'' ,. """='-'· t,,m,•so. n .• '""""'""' 

•·qol•l"oo "'"' vou_ld ~""'"to •lmo>t ono-001•0 of tho""" 

'"''""''"''" .......... ,,, , .. ,. "'""'" .. lo "' ""'"'' ''" ~.,.., '" floool >Nt mO of 111,"'0,000. Ao of"""' 1'" 1915, 

' • ''"' ''"' "'"""'0' ,,. '"""'"' '"- '·" "' ,,., ..... W'-lt< o< '" "o<ioool '"' Sy•t<o" l51>,000,0CO. """" <hio ''"" ···~ '" '"''"''' "' "'""""" "' "' ,,.,,.,. '"' "• 'rt.l<k••- '''"""' '"'""" '"' '"''"<' '.'•"•• "''·'"" ''""""" ''"' •t.!••- '"' '"""'" M• ltAh"-•' - '" " "''"'"' "'""" •" -, .. ,. 
• 

• 

• 

586 
• 

• 

• 

APPENDIX G 

INTERIOR 

A"D 

STATEMENT BY THE DEPARTMENT OF THE 

BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON NATIONAL PARKS 

RECREATION, HOUSE COMMITTEE ON 

INTERIOR AND INSULAR AFFAIRS, ON H.R. 2257. 

KIL CHA.i"""'• IT,. A ?LE.I\SOl<Z 70 A.l'L'>O,'U< D>:!'ON- iC:J :>OVA> 'X> 

\l:STI>"Y CO: H ,R, ~>>7, MJTilORUI"O 057Alli;;OH:~ I•"T CF <".<E VA;.l£Y FOi\o;E 

SACRITICE n;;..T "'-'" B<e,,: ::<l Til" rn;:;700 S:::A7'S MCi<>. ToL'u~ >.""! CF 'iA:.>:iY 

FOROe. Mll"C THE Dl'l'mR ~I~"l'ER C? 1777·lTIB, ;;;rn ';';-i"i "~;TISH i<jc'<'/ 

D!W.TEP Ca<FO!l>MLY rr: n;;: PATRW/ OAPO:OI'.L c; PHI;;.;:.;;..-.<IA, ,,_,HI:.o:wo 

A);;J !liS COI<TI$J<7hL A111<t 0° ll,OOO u;c;..:-;rCO Sw.E 20 "' OLS :;<J 7.£ '"ES7 • 

HERE "' "'"' '''""''' oe '"""""' "''" """'""'··" K ''"'""-"' C? .,-,,;. ""'" 

Stii!VTrLD, BOC;,>!E DISCl?:.:Il>"ED A),";) Pf!o-;;c:;;:;-;:, A.>O <lO':OOEO i<S A 

RESP>;C:C~!£ FICH7WC FCRCO. TH!; VAJ.IE! fCw.;E S:XRY ,;;.< :>SPI'-"D 

VJU.L>,"Y FORGE '"'"FELT 7rl'O iXP...C7 C? """ ;vi-:< ouo;;.. ;,u; O~;.,;;c,:c:AI. 

IUO!'i AI\III'I!;D FOR I~S """"" CO"Cii.''-"""";7 ,.,, oeCD!BLO l<;, cc-r. •'\iL.\ 

-~"·' .,,-"''" 

587 
FOR QUAATI;itS THE TROOPS ER>.C'{!CV SC«>: 'lQO CAillT<', r; ·ACITRIZE:D SY 

~>V<t"" aOOFS .:Ill LJ1"['1>; CCWOHT. OT>;P,, DISOCMFOR:rol \1'0'0: MCRL C·.RIOC';· 

J\J5I Of.fORE CIIRlS'D'.A< WASHI:IGTW lU'I'GRTEO TO CO,Ol!ESS !lilt <';i<Xl OF JUS 

""""""'""WERE J!IEJTICTIVE FOR tACK Of cwnmro, f'()O'll: .... , """ BlJo.liu:r.l. 

p; THE BJT'!I'.R COLD, !HE HOO?I'r.<L HUTS iW'IOLY fiLlED WITH Fii05Till'l'l: 

VI=M$ 111<0 AMron::;;o, I>JRING niB PIJL CAI<PAIGN !10: =IC" HAD "'LII 

JOIJ!ED Of CAl'TU: A!ID CAAIN; NC>i l't!E AIO<Y S SUPPLY SYSTrn BRC<E ro<J< 

.liiD FOOD AS lil:Lt. AS Cln;;!Ir!G ~/.S tACKING. Tlfl'£0 niOOJSMO SOWIE.OS 

0!'0 AT VALII:Y FORGE THAT I<U<1'!'R. 

WITK HA1lWIAEL Gru:or/O'S APPOIN'll<!;l/T /.S ~AFT'<iO!I.SITR GOJ<£1UL, 

AUE;OOATI; SIJ;>P:.IES FIMJ.!X ><OVLD TO THE fl/OL'II'HI,_"l', AAOJ<; n<E NO'I'EO 

FOHEJON OPi'1GlERS AT VAUEf fOI<Q: ~ILS BAJ<Oif VO" Sl'EUlli:N, \IHO IN "-""'H 

EEGAN 1'0 AA.ISE TROOP DISC!Pl.IIII: AJ<ll O<CAAc.i' BY IT<llTITUTI:<; A m>l S1'5'!ml 

OF DlU!.L. nilS ENCCAJP.MEMO/T ,JIOCED FOftGED AN EYFE:<TM: FIGI!TIJIO U!IJT 

Ill" 'I'HESE MEN Fill>< THE COI.<l!ITES n<I.T """"' !lew niL SThTES <JF Cor<>;ECTICrn, 

UElAO'A!o:, CEOf>OIA, !<,[!10:, MASSACHUSE'M'S, """ YOR.~ , )<Fo/ IW<J'SHTR<, 

Mi1711 CA_O<lLINA, F<l'I;:;'i~VANIA, HHOo;; JSWI:l, VTROIJ<lA A!IO I'EHHONT. 

"""" 'iHE SO!Jll>:M lJ:FT 00 o-wl: 19 rn PURSUIT Of THE B"ITISN t'l..c<JAr:tNG 

PHI!AD<L>l'IIl• THE'i \,"ER!: I<); AliMY IN FW:T .1,5 \.':EU, AJl !W<E. 

WK.,l!lG:WM"S ""rn<0'1"1 JS LOO'ORG1'1""11UllE' ""1.-ITI\C"JT ARI\Cl)A!<O. 01\ 

7\lS OO\U£S! t£'/LtT"!ON fRO< TH"lli, IT""' BE S~ID Tll>T !lO HIS:WRY NW 

>0<JA:;1" CAl' '"l)O'JC:SH. ;.;; Jr.COAf,C" OF N," Mlf'i ·,; SC"Fi<i,lt:·l SL;.;rl o:<t00COO. 

HA.'<<:>LlPC t.> ""'" •\\< C'Jt'E, NO,,..._,,:.", 1"-f'l< •1m TIO' '"'"' ;>A7IE"CC 

588 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

·or·'"''"7 BOll"•~:>.·,.,. 10 ;.;,, o;., ,,.,-""" "'"'"'• ,.", •'-'·-· '" .:;_;c, :-.,_, 

MARCW.S M:CO"' BE T!li.CSD BY 7&: BlOOD HOI< ,-,;i;;< FllT, .Vi:> AII<OST At; 

OnEN O'l\""dC\;7 PROYIOICOS AS WTrn Tll>.'1, '""'C><:C>;O UffiC"Jc;, ~,; ;-"'~' 

Alffi S>C'O, AND AT CI!RIST','AS T ..... IJ<; UP T!:>:<" w:;c;".'-" ~J.;;J<,.,;"s ;.;i:u<I~ A 

"'11' S f<!JlCH Of :;')~; tO<fO<'f, ;;::n!OUT A ><OoS<: CR A lrJ"r 1'0 CO'•"•;< :;'!<lo'l 

1JJI'l':[~ ';W;'t COtr..r> Be EVILT, IS A PROOF c;· i'A-.1E;U:>: AJ,":J Cil<.OlbOC& 

"""" I:i MY Orii<lOJ: CAN SCAI\CE ilE P/.!<A=LEil." 

A I.L\CrllG HISTORIAN Gl' 'OiL A.'<ERICA.' R<.-vo;;,;-,-;o" HA:l \;;;r=N OF "tm: 

=tSIWII<.O OF VIlLI<.< FO!IGE." ACCORDING TO A.'Com:R, "l'A'"-"Y fORG& 

I<AS THE ~.AKING CF AN """''FRet< A JIA!>-S71U<':EJ MC3 0? """'-"" l!ru ••• ," 

1\!i: PU.CO '•1tLRE "!HE AMLRIO"" S!>&L """ "'""''"<->." "" "!I.'<ISTi:<!<:O 

or T!li' /<,'<ERICAN SC<.OIORY TJJLRE l<AS I<' "IRGS >2.\SU'RE IV<; :i'Q """'ll~"':':roK'S 

I•SPIRED LL\Df:ll.SHIP, BUT Tri£ AJ!HY COUI.:> WC M». '""'' .-l>LD TCGO"''l!!."R--

I."VEI< BY A "'A.'H!IN~ro,, •• ,'I7000i A ;[[OHER Co;.~lC'10:; l" :uo; o-VSO'ICO ot 

>HE A>'Efi:ICI\." 0.\!iS.. 

~OM¥ O'E RE:IDOlER V~Y fOor:E "CS:C fC" 1?3 ?<OR=YAL OF ClJl' 

lll.t!CliAL Cfi/V.IICTER '-'0 SP!ai~. Tl!O,;, ;.;-,;c .r?,<Sl'XD ~,~;«J-: A><£ "/HE 

51.1I'f1J'>11: F£po,·so:wmo,, CF """ '1i0 HAYL OvTn:...<o, o;oo, "''' P"'---vA'"'" 

l~ DOftl.SE OF Tl<E: Ll30RIY I'OR WJ!ICH ;.-. AS A i"'TIO" s:;:;,;oo, 

A l'Qn1'10i; OF = '""'""" BECA."' A ?E:,.,.S'IL'I'->U. STA';';; ?J>J'J\ 1:1 

1890. ;,Q',; OONTATiiit:<; APp?OXTl<ATOLY 2,)00 ACRLS, IT:; ;.u<C:•iSTER50 

BY Tli>: i/,C,£."1 FCRC>: O:CA7!. C.\l<K W<"~SOi"- :;, l\<i2 ::k O<PM-;>~)•7 Cf 

589 
H.R. ><57 "CLruD AUTiiOR!?.E '"' SECRETARY Of 1m: P.ilEi"O' W 

AC'IJJI'J. TilE STA70 PAR.' AA;J ADD]T'IONAL w;c,; :li:!.D>OD >'O" A:J•JmSTIV\71C<;, 

p=CTIOO, A."O Th"Tii<I')!LT!.nON 'JP TO A ro7J\l. Of .l,500 ACRES. :rlliS 

CEILING WOOLO I'E"'lf FEOLAAL ACil]lSITIO" OF THE IIITRUS:m; '6-ACRE 

KEENE INiliSTRIES SITE N>J\1\ THE CUITER {)F '-'lE PAIU< A110 011:\Sl'IOR"ROO!l, 

All OOii·ACRE OPEl! TMCT LC<:AThO OFf TilE PARK'S SOlJ'I?.I'OST «JMTI'R !lE"[()IllJ 

no> IU"'llYLVMllA TliRl<PI.X. "1!E CHESTERllROOl\ PMI'iRTI flOURI:D IN 

THE Rt"IOUI'liOMARY ENCJI>!FI<>:11'1 AA"ll IS THE Ol<LY .rGT<Il'lC/.lll' OI'E!I SPACE 

STII-[, EC'-'HlllliG THE STAn; PI.AA. PLANS TO OLVEWP lT !:l A SLT!llllti'.P.II 

CM!VKITY HAVE Li:D TO 1J< ACTI\'E HO.,i1: fOR l'r'S PUBLIC AC{OUISll'IOX 

MD ~o>OAt'ION IN AN UI<IFIBL<li'tD STATE, 

II' RESro>or•o ro rniS t.I:GlS!.lTIVE PROPOSAL, IT ~1\S OlJil. l!IUIAL 

VJE11 mAT mE C'"'.QrNEIILn! OF PE:IINS!LVMIA SHOLI!Jl BE E!iCCURAGED TO 

CO>"Om.IE ITh LONO AI>IINISTRA:rlel' OP VAllEt FORGE. BECAUSE Till' 

Ct>f<ON>TI.Lnl HAS BED! UNIJH}; TO PROTECT lliE PARK EJI'o'IMOW.If'/ FRGO< 

INCOMPATIBLE RESillE!I'IIAL 1.110 CCM<E.CIAL ENCRMCJ0<%7, 11'1i =!.OIIZD 

TI« WJlOIA!rvE OPT):Oli Of SPinAL FEO!;AAL G""-"'l'S, CG~~<E~;S\JAAIE Win! 

'[)It Th"'!'LREST OF ALL AMERICMS Ill VALLEY rCRG,, T'C ASSIST IN WID 

AC<I'JISITIOO ;>.NO PAl<" Orf:F.Il"iON, IT W.Y HE NC'f>D I> D<IS CO!<mc:riON 

T!OIT n1!' C<U<OI<;II'.I>.LD! HA.< P.I.JW.If'l R>-0Er<.D G"""'I'S 'l'<mCThG $iJJ,')62 

roH PRI:5rR''ATIOl• .<OAA AT VAl,l,.h'Y PO?GP V'IDER TEE ""T:i0NAC t<IST:·>)C 

Pl!LSEWJATION AOT o.- 1900. 

590 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

PABX SYST<>L A.5 STGNIFOCAXC 1\Jj TIIIS A;ili ;s r:. Clffi M7IC,'S •W;/, 

I<""""'R, iTS PREs:;:NT I"T<.G.:IT ;s Cw.rRW.iSOO 8Y I:ITOl;S;'.'E MOJLhX 

O""<:I.Ci'>:!:::'T ].;J1l<Ili AI'O Allml;D 1'!{1; STATO F"""- ICXlEO ,,";L;.s;•TL o;.-,•n,-

0\w::IT Ctj :UZ BOOil'"!"(; C){ESTIRBROC< TAAC'' OO;L:l <UJr;1;i;R :O'.rA:. mr. 

"W;'ORIC oc,;;,;:, >1iATI.'"r:ER iTS ROi): U: h-:SroOY, A >r:sro•IC ;;·,~ IS 

>"OR";';< L:i70.;' 70">Y ;:]' ITS I:i'IW"IIT IS :.CS7 A \";All!.>: ""l'IOML 

RIS70RiOA~ PARK •ouw jljj~VIRL A liALT Th nc,; OVOO""'"'f!V.T:C> OF 

VIJ.!Bi FCBGE. 

BY A\-THCRIZTI<O TIO. ACOGISITIO" Cf 3,500 AO""S, :7 IS ;:.,; .07<l•T 

Of 'll!E OlLL ':\1.0.0: TilE PAM t:,CUJJi'. CHESTI?JlROO.<. AC<O.J:S!:.o;, Of ?;II$ 

PROPF.Wr'l, CU<OI'ER, ;.·our.o COST 0'/ER $<2,C<Xl,OCO- '''""'' c;;>.-7Hii\il Of 

THE ENTIRE IU'?KO?lHATlO" RE'<'JESTI:O FOR ,_,;;:, /,C:;)ISTTOO;; ;:: ,,;;; >A!lCNAL 

PA!IJ( SYSTil1 "' '!'".V: A~!"";STI\ATIC[i Th ;JS:hl- TLAR 1']16. Oie<CJ<L 1'"&: 

Pi:lo'lffiYL"AIIIA :1\:i<l-7[1:1' "'<E:CTNEW 0'-PA>n""S CHLSTLRB"OO< d<J'- 7nE 

CORE AR1:A (f' VA'--'L<.'"Y FCRCO, IT ;s nJ?<TCc~"7 :X'""""''~,;'' ;,s ;J; 

fl,"TD:;""1 ?f,RC CF Th"i: P-. ITS ct;= ·;:u...,-,; 70 ::-,o; ''<S7.:,o Po'..;< OS 

TO FROV"iOC ~:; OPE" '""\'J'OJ,"><;:,,"f AtCO TO <:-u.CCU.•E OL'~LCOW~::; •• ~~" 

li!GHT :JlTRL.r.lO CN T>:E PARK S C'JE.''nL·••, o:; ;,s ;"R;O>: '"" .o S:!2CY 

roo "'"" ""' "'~· "''"'"" ::s '""""''" •• ~cc · ". 

·.; 0 -,, .;, ;, "'· 
'Htf. t,AO'JUNAL F'n.HJ< Of .• '.'LCf "''" r;cr, •'-·"· me. o:t'J,WA!l\ OUITA•It.:J''/ 

""'"""·'TI orum oe OCVF.wr;.n ;, ""'-'"'" riR< ;·c" vAu~;y '"""· H:<I>:V>:R, 

WE KA'<E ni:VIE:".!ED 11CE STATE'S >1!.3ThR PIAl< FRC+l :iiD: STA.,D:'()INT Of '•"l!.O.'T 

THE COOT IIIGIIT DE TO O!>ERATF. THI'. PAI<K ,; A UNIT 00' :oo; IIAnOOAL PARK 

SYSTt><. 

rF mE CHI'.OI'ORII>'OOK ""0PER1'Y IS IKif ACQliiR>:D AS A PMT UP TII'i PI.AA, 

1\<EN \IE [STIWITE 11!1: COST OF ACQJIRI"G PRIVATE !Al<IlS WITHIN II«: 

P~O!'<>SED PARK TO DE APPROXIHATEl.Y $8,6~2,000, 

ruO'J'){ER, fiR. CHAIJ<'.All, \IE ESTOO'I'< tHAT Aro\r. $15,81;!,000 WWLD 

BE rrE.!:DEII TO CIIRRl "-'!;HE STATE'S AASTER l'U.N FOR re;VEI.!J,.,,l<T 0~ 

VISITO" LJ:;E NID AUUI!ISTI'.o\TPIE fACILITieS """ 70 BR!!JG 11JESE PWIS '1'0 

!!"' e~l\_'ll'f.ROS P.!:<IJii'.fD Ol T\!E 1'-<:'IO,;'AL ?.lllii ""'""iCi:. 

'!'rr 'IATlOfW. , .. ~ SERVICE E5TJ ... OT.S THAT OUR OPEMT'"' COOTS 

Til' FHl-'1' YfM ~(IW) "" Alloor $;',llo5 0000, W•i!CH iS CO>IP""""!." TO 

"rl!E STAT!:'S ANT!CIPATU>l'J/7 B\JDG>:T •l<l.n:ST 01' $l.Jl5,(d> !'01\ 

SIU.AI\!>:0, PLu:; M AllO!nONAL A>'-"JNT roR OTHE:> Ol'f-""~"'' E:XP"'"SES. 

AS >11,/rio;,-,;n <ARLIER, ""· CJIAJR!'A., A SUITAlliL!njf"'J.OIOOLl.,. 

S1WY WAS •or CMRlW C<1i f'<,_ t"-!IS PRCro':AL- WE BELIC.I'E 7>'.At SllOH 

A S';'"Jll"/ "' I);)JlE TO ""'""-l<lllE :F T>IE"' ARE C'fiiER LKJ,-,; TIUIT S:'CULD BE 

COHSID!ltEO fOR !HOLliS!®'"'"' P .. <'" 0'""" TO rL'LLY COI'J'C.T>O ITS 

>I!SS!Ot1. 

VAI.J£'1 FOBOO )S W"E Cf !)!QSE f""" PIACt: ;J,'<"ES IN J'J<;"RJCA:' "lS:;')Rj 

Ol<OOf :llc'<"E oo;<OTES ~OW T\W! .'1J07 A PIJ<:r. IT SCI!G>!J?:ES, "" '0 C"[I!El\, 

592 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• Valley Forge National Historical Park, Hearing. 

September 29, 1975, pp. 41-47. 

593 

on H.R. 2257. 
VALLEY FORGE NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARX (PROPOSED) 

Attributable Personnel Services and Supporting Costs 

FY 1976 and Transition Period 

Operation of the 

N«tion"l Park S stem 

Superwtendent, GS-13 (!-perm.) 

,, ' .- ' ' I. 

Supervisory Park Ranger (Historian), GS-12 (1-peno..) 

Supervisory Park Ranger (Protection), GS-12 (1-pem.) 

~~intenance Supervisor, GS-12 (1-perm.) 

Adm>nistrative Officer, GS-11 (1-perm.) 

Supervisory Park Ranger (Protection), GS-11 (1-perm.) 

Park Ranger (Historian), GS-9 (1-perm.) 

Park ~:tnger (Protection), GS-9 (2-perm.) 

'-1' l'rocurclllllnt Supply Clerk, GS-7 (1-perm.) 

~ Se~ret~ry-Stenographer, GS-6 (!-perm.) 

Park Technician {Protection), GS-S (5-penn.) 

Superv1sory Park Technician (Interpretation), GS-S (4-perm.) 

Park Technician (Tour Guide), GS-4 (IS-perm.) 

Clerk (Typing), GS-4 (3-perm.) 

Facility !-tanager - Wage Graded (1-perm.) 

Roads~ Trails t1aintenance Foreman- Wage Graded (1-perm.) 

Automotive Mechanic - Wage Graded (1-perm.) 

Carpenter- Wage Graded (1-perm.) 

Maintenance Mechanic - Wage Graded (2-pe:nP..) 

Painter - Wage Graded (1-penn.) 

Engineering Equipment OJ>erator (Leader}-Wage Graded (2-penn.) 

Engin~ering Equipment OJleratoT -Wage GTaded (4-perm.) 

Maintc·aanee Worker (Leader) - Wage Graded (2-pem.) 

Laborer - Wage Graded (2-perm.) 

Jan1tor - Wage Graded (4-perm,) 

Park Technician (Protec'tion), GS-4 (other than perm.) 

Park Technician (lnterp.), GS-4 (o'ther than perm.) 

• • 

FY 1976 

4' 200 

3,600 

3,600 

3,600 

2,900 

2,900 

2,500 

5,000 

2,000 

1,800 

8,100 

6,500 

26.100 

4,300 

2,600 

2,500 

2,000 

1,900 

3,900 

I, 900 

4,300 

1,600 

3,900 

3,100 

3,200 

8, 700 

17,400 

Transition 

6,300 

s' 300 

5' 300 

5 ,300 

4 ,400 

4,400 

3,800 > 

7,600 " 3,000 m " 

2,600 z 

0 

12,200 X 

9' 800 

I 39,200 

6,500 

3, 900 

3 '700 

3,000 

2,900 

S, BOO 

2,900 

6,000 

11,400 

5' 800 

4 ,900 

9,500 

13,000 

26,100 

• 
• • 

:;;<> 

<> •• •• pO 

Vl ':2. 0' • 0 

0 

' c 

s 

' 

VALLEY FORGE NATI~AL HISTORICAL PARK (PROPOSED) 

Attributable Personnel Services and Supporting Costs 

FY 1976 and Transition Period 

Operation of the 

National Park S stem 

Park Technician (Historic Crafts Demonstrators), 

G~-5 (other than perm.) 

Laborer- Wage Graded (other than perm.) 

(5 m.y. 1975} (7.5 m.y. trans.} 

Personnel Services 

Other Benefits (10\ perm. and other than perm.} 

llnlform Allow. ($125 Admin. and $60 Maint.) 

lmrnc•diate Bicentennial Operations 

Trash Pick-up and Disposal Contract 

other Supp. Costs 

Total Operating Costs 

equipment (non-recurring) 

Office 

Other than office 

Total - Operation of the National Park System 

(N~T) 

(GROSS) 

FY 1976 

6,000 

48,300 

!00,000 

400,000 

931,600 

l,03S,Hl0 

• 

TrailS it 1 ~~ 

9 ,<lOll 

72,500 

120 300 

4~5 ,500 

445,5110 

495,000 
APPENDIX I 

PROPOSED VALLEY FORGE NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK 

STAFFING AND EQUIPMENT JUSTIFICATIONS: 

MARCH 29, 1976 

PROPOSED VA.LLEY FORGE NII.TIONAL 

HISTORICAL PAAJ: 

STAFFING JUSTIFICA.TION 

Superintendent: A Superintendent should enter on duty immediately 

after the area is authorized to provide unmagerial leadership and 

direction in planning, programming, operations, public relations 

and cooperative program5 and to assure an orderly transfer from 

State to Federal operation. 

This position is required il!liDildiately upon 

administrative tasks involved in staffing, 

and supplies, and operating the area. 

Protection Staff: A Supervisory Park Ranger, a Park Ranger and five 

Park Technid111'1s (Protection} will be needed il!liDildiately upon startup to provide 365 days, 24-hour patrol of the Park to protect resources, visitors and the truckers and passenger car operators using 

Park through and cotnlltllter roads. 

rr~~~~~;:;::';~'~",;':':l2!~l; (Historian} and five 

Will be needed on startup to develop an interpreters and volunteers, and supervise at the 10 exhibit buildings, 

recreation center, museum, amphitheater and other interpretive loc: 

thrOul!hc"t the Park on a seven day a week basis. 

596 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

This position will be needed immediately 

of equipment and supplies. 

~ Secretary-Stenographer and three 

immediately upon start-up to provide 

office services, 

Eighteen Tour Guides will be needed to provide on-site 

and protection for the ten exhibit buildings, the 

center, the museum, the artillery park and such bicenattraction as the bicentennial wagon train which will be at 

the Park from July 4. 

Immediately upon transfer 

Park Service will became 

;::::::'~:,;,,;~:;,maintenance operation of SOIDI! 35 major structures, 

s of have either new and sophisticated or old and obsolete 

medumical systems. Many of these structures have not been wellmaintained and will need extensive maintenance. At the sa=e time, 

record bicentennial and post-bicentennial visitor use will increase 

maintenance and operating requirements. This wort load will req~ire 

a Facility Manager, a Carpenter, a Painter, four Janitors, plus 

!l.Ssistance from seasonal laborers and the Ground Maintenance force. 

bicentennial 

The nature 

by th.e 

Centennial · that the level of use will not drop 

back to pre-bicentennial levels b~t will remain high). Immediately 

upon start-up, this workload will require a Roads and Trails Maintenance 

Foreman, two Engineering Equipment Operators (Leaders), four Engineering 

Equipment Operators, two Maintenance Workers (Leaders), two Laborers 

and a force of seasonal laborers. 

Technicians (Protection) and twelve 

::~::::~!,::•~i!:l:l:::~::required the visitor to use. augment Four the Park 

(Histaric Craft will be needed to demmlstrate 

wrio~s military-reh.ted crafts during periods of peak visitor W~e • 
WORKLOAD FACTORS 

Land - 2,225 acres, 1,800 acres of which are presently being moved, 

Roads - Approximately 5 miles of primary through and commuter roads 

presently maintained by Park staff. Approximately 7 miles 

of secondary Park tour raids. 

Trails An extensive trail network. 

Historic Structures -At least 14, ten of which will be exhibit 

structures, and most of which are large, 

Earthworks - Five earth fortifications, plus an e~ensive trench line. 

Other than Historic Visitor.Use Buildings & Structures- Six, includin1 

a concession building, a new museum building and an 

observation tO'IIer. 

Monuments, Markers and Statues - Eight, including me110rial arch. 

Other Structures - One railroad station, IS hou.ses, -.y of them over 

SO years old, one covered bridge and one maintensnce 

area. 

Restored Huts - Approximately 20 ~ecanstructed soldie~s huts. 

Picnic Areas - Three existing, three being installed. 

Parking Areas - Fifteen. 

Comfort Stations - Six existing, five more under contract. 

598 

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• 

• 

• 

PROPOSED VALlEY F()RCE 

NAT!OR&L RISWRIC.U. PARK 

Schedule of Other Tll8.ll Office Equip~~~ent 

Operation of the National P!l.rll: System 

No. 

"''""" Passenger Vehicles • J,OOO 5 

Passenger Vehicles 

police packages "'"' • ),200 5 

Road EQ.Ilipmant 

I)Qmp t:ruoka lli th 

snow plowe (jJ 1),000 2 

Stake bod7 truck • 6,000 1 

Pilik-up t:ruok • 4,000 3 

Carry-all (fo= 

wheel drive) • 5,500 2 

SILl. t Spree.d1:1r • 150 2 

G:ra.der (jJ 25,000 1 

Asphalt kettle • ,,000 1 

GroUilda Equipment 

liidil:lg Mover • 4,500 10 

Kovar heads • '00 10 

Poet hole digs>!r • 1,500 1 

Sprayer • 5,000 1 

Leaf blowr • 750 2 ,..,~ • 9,000 2 

Wood clipper • 5,000 1 

Gmss trimc.ert~ • 500 , 

Concrete m.i:l:er • 1,000 1 

Fertilizor spreader-, • 150 2 

Ecyrlraulio lift llr:lWBr @ 10,000 1 

Power aavu 

Fzl:lnt end loader 

(bucket) @ 20,000 1 

Wood-working Bhop 

machine~ & tools 

Metal-AutoJWtive ahop 

equipmm>t & tools 

Test Equipment 

Radio System 

JIH.scell.a.neous 

Water Wa.gon @ 15,000 1 

Electric generator • 1,000 1 

Air compressor • 1,500 1 

Fire suppression 

equipment 

Total 

First 

y~ 

-=· 

15,000 

16,000 

26,000 

6,000 

12,000 

11,000 

1,500 

25,000 

2,000 

45,000 

2,000 

1,500 

5,000 

l,SOO 

18,000 

5,000 

1,000 

1,000 

1,500 

10 ,ooo 

5.000 

zo,ooo 

25,000 

50,000 

5,000 

50.000 

15,000 

' 1,000 

1,500 

I ~ • 

Acting Regional Director, Mid-Atlantic Region '0 Associate Director, 

Legislation, WASO, March 29, 1976, Files, Legislation --WASO _ 

C99 
APPENDIX J 

LAND USE CONTROL POSSIBILITIES 

PROPOSED VALLEY FORGE 

NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK: 

MARCH 25, 1976 

I. Factors J.nnuenoing llllld WIB. 

Transportation routes, p:rox:im.ity to PW.l.&delpb..LB lllld the interrelationship between the two are the 11111.jor i.D!luencea affacti.DB 

land use aroUIId Valley Forp Sta.ta Par!r.. 

PW.ladelphia lias twelve milas to the east of Valley Forge Stata 

Par!r., and is e.coassible by two 118jor hi~ ..Wch interooll!leOt 

just outside tha po.rk.'s eastern bOU!Ide.ry. Theae 11111.jor ~wa.yu 

ara the Pel:lilBJlvsnia. Tumpike, which wiDgs north of Rliladelphla 

to connect to the New Jeree:y- Turnpike; the Schuylkill E:rpres!MI.:1 

(I-76), which follows the Sob.:lylkill River into tha hearl· gf 

downtown Rlil.a.delphiA. U. s. Routa )6), which rllillll north-south 

aloii!I' the parlt'e eastam boU!Idary, also OOimeots to this inter-

,._,. 

• 

Valle:y- Forge State Park: is bordared on the north by tha Schll;:fl.ldll • 

River, and on tha so\lth fo.eae Chestar Valley, a JDBjor east-vest 

corridor. 'nlrou8h this O<:l:rridor run the Pennsyl~ T\lrnpike, 

..Wch fortiiEI the park's southern boUIIdary, and U. s. 202, recentl:y 

\lpgre.ded to f= lanes, which pe.rallele the Tumpike about one 

mile south of the latter. .1. siDBle-tra.ck line of the Readiiig 

Rail!'l:lad cloeel:y parallels u. s. 202, as does a double-track line 

of the Pe!lDBYlvania Reil=ad (see sketch mapa, appended). 

II. ~sting Land Use 

Tha opening of the Scheyl.ldll E:rpresnay 1.D the early 50's led to 

intensive colll!leroial and light industrial developit~ent at the 

Pennsylvania Turnpike InterchwJBe. Simil.&:r development, includin,g 

a hi8h-riae 5hemton Motel, has occurred e&at o:r Route )6) along 

the eaetem bOU!Ide.ry of Valle:y- Forge State Pa:l'lr. in Upper Merion 

Tovnolrlp. 

Lande due south o:r the park are in Tredyihin Tov.n.ehip. Here, 

BDall lot eiii!I'le-fe.mJ.ly residential development hae taken place 

in the area bcrundered by the park's so\lth bouiid.a:cy, the Chesterbrook: tract, U. s. 202 a.nd Ro\lte 26). Recently, a multi-fe.mily 

developmmt baa gone up jWit south of the Turnpike and 11eet of 

Route 26). Lands between the Turnpike !IDd U. S. 202 vest of 

Cheaterl>rook re111ain essentially open and IJJldeveloped. .Uso, ind\latria.l d.evelopment is oceu=ing dong U. S. 202 end in the 

corridor between u. S. 202 and the P~Meylva.nia Railroad line, 

and this trend will probably continue. 

600 

• 
• 

• 

III. 

• 

~e west of the park, a. l&rge-lot reaidential I!Ubdivision occurs 

on the vooded slopes £l.lld crest o£ Holliit Misery. Hortb of Mount 

Misery, 1llODg Route 23 betve..n Valley Creek am! the Fnoedomll 

Jbundation !1 Inixture o£ older resid.entia.l !I.Dd coume:roie.l use 

ooC\U'll, and there are siglle of a trend to'o'Brd ocm=e:roie.l developwent. One tract, zoned colllllll!rcia.l, is proposed for i.nclu.eion 

in the proposed National Park. 

Land north of am! acrose the Sllhuy1kill fmm the park is a 

mixture of open land and residential development. 

Por the most pn.rt, the more i.nttmSive resid.antial development Oll 

land..9 ut>lll:ld Valley J'orge a:N relatively nev, IIZid the:re is vll'-

tuall:,y no possibility that this di!Vl!lopment 11111 be su.ppla.Dted by 

~-rise residential, coamercial or ilulu.etrial use for a great 

man;y yea.m to came. Open l.a.cd, or BmBll pockets of older residences am! lllll!lll commercial eeta.bliehlllente, is ve~ lik:el:,y to be 

mono i.ntem~ivel:,y developed 1.n the very near f'utu.re. 'nle United 

States Geological Survey qll.Bd Bheete for Valley Forge and for 

Ma.lve:m (to the net of Valley Fo~ were printed in 1966 and 

1955 respectively, o.nd were p!ldtorevised in 1968 IIZid l97J. Both 

photonrvieiona indicate ertomsive DSW d.eveloplllllllt. Thill is par--

tioula.rl:,y IWtioe.able ou tbe Malvern quad, 'olhich v=ld indicate 

that Valley Forge area ie no loll8'3r on the ll."i.D,ga but b rather 

well 11ithin the weste:rn limits of ezurllan growth, 

\lhile tbe i.nteiiSive oO!IIIIlEiroia.l o.nd li&bt i.n.d.ustrial diJVI'llopDflllt 

east of tbe park has a.. siJVI'ln adverse ef.Ceot on tbe eetti.rlg of 

the pa.rll; IIZid tbe view froJII the park, tbb use b&e reached a 

point at 'olhioh !Ill attempt to limit f\lrther demolopment heno is 

pointless. 

Land 1Jse Controls Heeded 

A. Tbe Route 202 o::orridoT, aloDg which i.n.d.ustrial development is 

hkiDg plJl.ee, ie visible fmm IDWJh of Valley Forge State ~. 

alth!Ju8h it is a mile or more f:rn111 the southern bound.luy. Industrial use of thie oorridoT is loaics.l, However, height 

natrictious are neaded to prevant OOIIBtructiou of m<llti-ato:ry 

buildinge o.nd tall stacks, a.rJd eontrola to limit erterior colore 

to the earth tones ue required. A .fifty foot bei&bt reetriotion, with the pemisB!Lble height of stacks kept open for nesotiatiou, eeama rea.oonable, (Tred:Tffrill Township) 

E. The "Cellov SpringB Road corridor ie now op811 agricultural land, 

This corridor ie visiblB fmm Ia.Fu.yette'e Quartere, a.rJd ehould 

be kept as nBarly in ita present state ae possible, ~esidential 

zoni.tl6 with the l!lll.:dmum 16881 lot size require11111nt is desirable, 

(TNdy.ffrin To>mehip) 

60; 
C. land south of ROl.lte 23 from the pa.rl!: bounda~ wet to the 

proposed acquisition acrose from Von Steuben's Quarters is 

now residential •nth a few ama.ll cowme:roia.l establishments 

inte:rmi.xed. It should be zoned residential to prevent ~ 

ther strip commercial development, (SchuTlkill Township) 

D. lands north of Valley For13'8 e.nd across the Schuylkill are 

currai~tly open laD.d with one inetitu.tio~~~~ol use (St. Gsbrlel 

Hall) e.nd solll8 residential su.bdivisicn. This land elopes 

up .fr<:>m the riVET to a broad c:reet, e.nd is visible !:rom 

stretches of Route 23. The Proposed Pottstown E:qlres~ 

would out throllBh it. It would be desirable to hllve this 

l.e.nd zoned for la.:r~ let ei.ngle family residential use. 

Height reetrloticns (35 feet) e.nd oolor controls to assure 

use of ee.rth tones are needed to reduce the visual illlpa.ct 

of development. If the proposed Pottstown E:I;Jlree!IWSy ie 

built, a.e mu.cb of the elope as possible ahould be included 

in the right-of-way, s.nd no access should be pe:rmitted to 

the nell highway eo as to diSCOUXB88 i.ndUBtrial or COIIIDEI:roial 

use of adjacent la.nd in this area. (Lower Providence Township) 

E. It would be desirable to protect two other tracte, alt.hollBh 

neither is particularly visable from the park. The f~t of 

theee is the Valley i'or!!" Count~ Club which lies betveen the 

Turnpike/Erpres~ interchange and. Route 363, and. is the only 

11iz.able piece of open epa.c11 rema.inin,g to the east of the State 

Park. Ite retention ae a SQlf couree should be encoUJ:B69d. 

(Upper Merion Tbvnehip) 

The other tra.ot consists of the l.e.nd between the Pennsylvania 

Turnpike e.nd Route 220 west from Chesterbrook to tbe nerl 

north-south road. It ie currently open land vi th scattered 

reeidencee. Zoning designed to prevent intensive commercial 

development, auch as a major ahopping center, or large induatrial buildings is desirable. (Tredyffrin Tovnehlp) 

rv. Li.kelihood of Local Cooperation, 

Based on a telephone cooversation with State ParK Superintendent 

Viloox, the likelihood of township cooperation in attaining the 

land uee controls desired is as followe: 

Tredyffrin Town11hip 

Schuylkill Township 

Lower Providence Township 

excellent 

poo" 

gQod to excellent 

Acting Regional Director, 

Legislation, March 25, 1976, 

Mid-Atlantic Region to AssoCiate Director, 

Files, Leglslation--WASO. 

602 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

APPENDIX K 

PUBLIC LAW 94-337 

An A<l tu authodzP lh• ~retar, of <h• Jn..,.,or lo eotHhlioh th<-

\lollr>' Fm·'l1• National HiatoFO<al Pnk in the Comrnnn,.•·al<h 

of Pennoyl>anio, and for olhrr puo-po••• UIOl Htat. 7061 t94 -337• 

Be 11 Pnaeled by lht• Senate and House of Neprest·nla-

/W<S of the U1u/ed Stales of Amenca m Congress assembled, That in order to pNserve and commemorate for th€ 

people of the Untted States the area associated wtth the 

hero•c suffering, hardship, and determmatwn and resolve of General George Washington's Continental Army 

dunng the winter of 1777-1778 at Valley Forge, the 

Secretary of the Interior lheremafter referred to as the 

"Secretary") IS authorized to estabhsh the Valley Forge 

Natlonal HisWrical Park lherema!ter rderced t.o as the 

"park"), in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 

SEC 2- (a) The park shall comprise the area generally depleted on the map entitled "Valley Forge National 

Historical PHk", dated February 1976, and number~d 

VF-91,000, wh1ch shall be on file and available for inspectJon m the offices of the Natwnal Park Service, Department of the Interior, Washington, Di~trict of 

Columbia, and in the offices ofthe superintendent uf the 

park. After advising the Committees on Interior and 

Insular Affairs of the United States Congress, in writing, 

the Secretary may make minor revisions of the boundaries of the park wh~n necessary by publication of a 

re''lsed map or other boundary description in the Fed~ral 

R•\ister. ( ) Within the boundaries of the park, the Secretary 

may acquire lands and interests therein by donation, 

purchase with donated or approlriated funds, exchange, 

or transfer. Any property owne by the Commonwealth 

of Pennsylvania or any political subdivision thereof may 

he acquired only by donation The effective date of such 

donation shall not be prior to October l, 1976_ 

{c) Except for property deemed by the Secretary w be 

essential for visitor facilitles, or for acC<'SS to or administratwn of the park, any owner or ownen5 of improved 

property on the date of its acquisition by the Se<retary 

rna}·, as a condition of such acquisition, retain for themselves and their successors or asstgns a right of use and 

occupancy of the improved property for noncommercial 

residential purposes for a definite term not to exceed tw~nty-five years, or in lieu thereof, for a term ending 

at the death of the owner, or the death of hts or h~r 

spou•e, whichever is the later_ The owner shall elect the 

term w be reserved Unless the prorerty ts wholly or 

partiallv donated, the Secretary shal pay to the owner 

the fair"markd value of the property on the date of ouch 

acqu>S>t>on, less the fair market value on such date of th~ r>ght r~t>~in~d bv the owner 

>dl The S€cretan· may \crm>natc a nght "f u'e and 

occupdncy n•tam~d pu.,uant to this S<•ctl<m upon h1s 

603 
d~teo·mmatoon that such use and occupancy IS being exercised m a manner not con>istent with the purposes of 

thts Act. and upon tender to the holder of the r~ght of 

an amount equal to the fair market value of that porUon 

of the right which remains unexpired on the date of 

termination. 

(e) The term "improved property", as used in this section shaH mean a detached, noncommercial residential 

dwelling, the construction of which was begun before 

January 1, 1975 (hereafter referred to as "dwelling"), 

together with so much of the land on which the dwelling 

is situated, the said land being in the same ownership 

'''" the dwelhng, as the Secretary shall designate to be 

reasonably necessary for the enjoyment of the dwelling 

for the sole purpose of noncommercial residential use. 

together with any structures ace..,sory to the dwelling 

wh1ch are situated on the land so designated. S~c 3. When theSecretarydeterminesthat lands and 

interests therem have been acquired in an amount sufficient to constitute an administerable un1t, he shall establish the park by publication of a notice to that effect 

in the Federal Register: Provided, That the park shall 

not be established until the Secretary receives cummitmenl.s whkh he deems I<> be sufficient from the Com- monw~alth of Pennsylvama that the appropriatiOnS 

made by acls 320 and 352 of 1974, and act 12A of 1975, 

of the Legislature of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, will continue to be available and obligated for de· 

velopment purposes within the park. The Secretary shall 

administer the property acquired for such park in ac· 

cordance with the Act of August 25, 1916 (39 Stat. 5351, 

as amended and supplemented, and the Act of August 

21, 1935 (49 Stat. 6661, as amended. 

SEc 4. {a) There are hereby authorized to be appro· 

priated such sums as may be necessary to carry o"t the 

purposes of this Act, but not more than $8,622,000 for 

the acqu1sitwn of lands and interests in lands. 

(b) For the development of e""entlal pubhc facilities 

there arc authorized to be appropriated not more than 

$500,000. Within three years from the date of estabhsh· 

ment of the park pur>uant to th1s Act, the Secreta!)' 

shall, after con•ulting w1th the Governor of the Commonwealth ofPennsylvan1a, develop and transmit to the 

Committees on Intenor and Insular Affairs ofthe li ntted 

States Congress a final master plan for the development 

of the park consistent with the ob;ectives of th1s Act. 

indicating 

ill the facthtles needed to accommodate the 

health, safety, and interpretive needs of the VlSltlng 

public: 

12 1 tht• \()calion and e'IL mated co•l of all fauhuc;; 

,tnfl 

• 31 I h<• po <'I<'< 1<·d m·<·d for Hny additional factlitl<'' 

witbm llw park 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

CHAPTER EIGHT 

ADMINISTRATION OF VALLEY FORGE 

NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK 

BY THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE: 1977-1982 

605 
• 

• 

• 

The first two years of National Park Service operation of Valley Forge 

National Park were extremely busy and hectic.. The area was the first 

large-scale state park unit to be transferred to the Nation<>l Park System, 

thus placing considerable pressure on both federal and state officials as 

they grappled with the issues involved in the precedent-shattering 

transition. In addition, activities were immediately initiated to commence 

an extensive research effort, plan and implement a six-month program 

commemorating the Bicentennial of the Valley Forge encampment, prepare 

management and planning documents to govern administration of the park, 

and launch a land acquisition program. Because of the manifold activities 

required to get the park fully integrated as a unit in the Nat1onal Park 

System, a formal annual report for the park was not prepared until fiscal 

year 1979. The park staff minutes, a complete set of which are on file in 

the Superintendent's Office in the park headquarters, provide information 

on the administrative details of park management from October 1977 to the 

present. 

A. INITIAL NATIONAL PARK SERVICE ADMINISTRATIVE EFFORTS AT 

VALLEY FORGE DURING 1976-1977 TRANSITION 

With passage of P.L. 94-337 the National Park Service took steps to 

implement its provisions in administering Valley Forge National Historical 

Park. On July 12, 1975, Richard C. Curry, Associate Director, 

Legislation, WASO, submitted an activation memorandum to Regional 

Director Brooks detailing certain activities that should be commenced in 

conjunction with the land acquisition and appropriations provisions of the 

law. He noted: 

Section 2 of the Act authorizes acquisition of land for the park 

through normal means, but that State-owned lands shall not be 

donated prior to October 1, 1975. Donation of the Valley Forge 

State Park would be considered an administrable unit to meet 

the requirement in Section 3 for publication in the Federal 

Register. Therefore, you should begin negotiations as soon as 

possible to determine when the State believes it would be in a 

position to donate the property as well as the commitments for 

development funding required in Section 3. 

Based on the negotiations with the State and other advance 

Information you may have, you should begin at once to program 

requests for funds and personnel to administer the area. The 

authorization for $500,000 in development funds provided m 

Section 4(b) of the Act should be cons1dered in light of funds 

forthcoming from the State and the planning for future 

development also provided by this Section. Requests for 

development appropriations should be tempered accor·dingly. We 

have recommended that funding accord1ng to Denver Serv1ce 

Center estimates should be programmed ;nto the budgetary cycle 

to carry out the planning mandated 1n the Act.(l) 

1 . Associate Director, Legislation to Regional D1rector, Mid-Atlantic 

Reg1on, July 12, 1976, Files, legislation--WASO. 

607 
On August 31, 1976, Mid-Atlantic Regional Director Brooks met with the • 

executive committee of the Valley Forge Park Comm1ssion to brief the 

members on Park Service plans for the transition. According to a 

commission summary of the meeting, Brooks elaborated on a six-point 

National Park Service program: 

1. NPS w1ll bring in from other national parks a Superintendent 

and key personnel as soon as possible, certainly by Januar·y 1977. 

The new NPS staff will be complete by March 1977. 

2. NPS is anxious for the 

new Superintendent until 

presumably cease to exist. 

Commission to 

the staff is 

continue to 

complete. 

meet with the 

It will then 

3. NPS policy is to give all administrative responsibility to the 

Superintendent, who will act in accord \•lith a rigid set of previously 

established regulations. 

4. Since NPS cannot legally acquire the lands and buildings of the 

Park for several years, it will act under a Memorandum of Agreement 

during the transition period. The Agreement will be signed by 

January 1977. 

5. NPS will start a research program immediately, and prepare a 

new Master Plan within three years. The objectives will be 

strengthening the historic integrity of the park; emphasizing the 

historic accuracy of the site, the encampment, and the strategic, 

logistic, and political importance of Valley Forge. 

6. Present employees are encouraged to apply for Federal 

employment, which must be done right away. The CommissiOn is 

requested to explain past procedures and policies to the new 

Superintendent, and to advise him of our goals and how we have 

tried to achieve them.(2) 

By September negotiations bet'r>·een NPS and state officials (Stanley T. 

Brosky was the state transition coordinator) had reached an impasse. 

The problem was defined 1n a letter from Mid-Atlantic Regional Director 

Brooks to Governor Shapp on September 8: 

On July 4 President Ford signed the Legislation authorizing the 

National Park Service to assume management of Valley Forge 

State Park after October 1. The enabling Legislation included 

language which prov1ded that the park would not be established 

as a unit of the National Park System until land had been 

transferred from the State. It also provided that before the 

2. Minutes, Valley Forge Park Commission, September 27, 1976. Also 

• 

see "Only Gradual Changes for the Park," Picket Post, (Fourth Quarter, • 

1976), 21-22. 

608 
• 

• 

• 

Service could accept these lands there must be a commitment by 

the State to obligate the $10 million Bicentennial development 

program. 

State officials it has become 

intends to meet the Bicentennial 

cannot transfer the lands and 

costs on land it does not own. 

In conversation<; with varLous 

apparent that the State fully 

development commitment but 

continue to pay development 

As there appeilred to be no feasible alternative to the problem, Brooks 

proposed that a memorandum of understanding be negotiated thilt would 

provide for National Park Service administration of the park until the 

state had met its Bicentenniill commitments and transferred the lands. 

Accordingly, he enclosed a draft memorandum of understanding for 

discussion purposes and proposed that meetings be held to discuss "some 

interim management arrangements."(3) 

H. Gilbert Lusk was named as the 

superintendent for Valley Forge National 

Regional Director Brooks on September 

appointment, effective October 10, Brooks 

first National Park Service 

Historical Park by Mid-Atlantic 

23, 1976. In announcing the 

observed: 

It may be some months before we assume operational control of 

the park but we can smooth the transition from State to 

Federal management by nam1ng our superintendent now and 

bringing him to the area early. 

When he arrives at Valley Forge, . . Gil Lusk will work with 

State Park Superintendent Horace Willcox, members of the park 

commission, and community leaders to develop a National Park 

Service program for operating one of the most venerated plact!s 

in American history. 

A native of Oakland, New Jersey, Lusk had received a degree in history 

from Gettysburg (Pa.) College in 1965. He joined the Park Service as a 

summer mtake/historian at Castillo de San Marcos National Monument in 

1!362. Thereafter, he served as a park historian at Colonial National 

HIStorical Park, Grand Canyon National Park, and Booker T. Washington 

National Monument. In 1968 he became a district supervisor at Cape 

Hatteras National Seashore. Later that year he became an environmental 

specialist in the WASO Environmental Office, and 1n 1969 he became 

environmental program specialist in Garden City, Utah, serv1ng Bryce 

Canyon and Zion national parks and Cedar Break National Monument. In 

3. Brooks to Shapp, September 8, 1976, Files, Leg1slation··WASO. On 

March 8, 1977, the Department of General Services reviewed the status of 

the state Bicentennial projects at Valley Forge, finding eight completed 

and seven incompleted. Blauser to Mclaughlin, Marcil 8, 1977, in "Lt!gal 

Documents Pertaining to the Valley Forge Transition," transmitted from 

Supermtendent, Valley Forge National Historical Park to Acting Regional 

Q 1rector, Mid-Atlantic Region, April 5, 1977, CRM-MARO Files. 

609 
1970 Lusk was promoted as first superintendent of Wolf Trap Farm Park 

for the Performing Arts, and in 1972 he transferred to the Blue Ridg~> 

Parkway as a supervisory park ranger. In 1974 he became 

superintendent of Appomattox Court House National Historical Park.(4) 

When Lusk arrived at Valley Forge it was still unclear when the National 

Park Service would take over actual adminiStrative control of the park. 

Nevertheless, he established an office in a wing of the Keene Corporation 

complex and set to work immediately, establishing National Park Service 

park goals for fiscal year 1977 and a park research program and 

clarifying the transitional duties for the basic personnel of the park. 

The basic personnel, who were to be on duty by mid-December, wer~> to 

consist of himself, four division heads (chiefs of interpretation and 

maintenance, chief ranger, and administrative officer), a research 

historian to be made available by the Mid-Atlantic Region, and a 

secretary/stenographer. Lusk also established the init1al goals for park 

operations and research and transitional duties for himself and the basic 

personnel. (5) 

During the next two mor"lths Lusk set about creating the nucleus of his 

staff. Barbara Fox was hired immediately as his secretary. In late 

December Lusk announced the selection of four division chiefs and a park 

research historian. The Mid-Atlantic Regional Office diverted reserve 

funds to temporarily cover the salary costs at Valley Forge until transfer 

of the park to federal jurisdiction and congressional appropriations were 

forthcoming. The four division chiefs were: 

Chief Maintenance--Paul Clark 

Morristown-Edison Group, New Jersey, 

(facility 

since 1973) 

manager 

Chief of Interpretation--William E. Cox (chief of interpretatiOr"l at 

Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, K~>ntucky, since 1974) 

Chief Ranger--Thomas J. Fewlass (district ranger at Glacier National 

Park, Montana, since 1967). 

4. U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Mid-Atlantic 

Regional Office, News Release, September 23, 1976, RG 3, VAFO 

Archives, and U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, 

Southwest Regional Office, News Release, "Gil Lusk Named Superintendent 

of Big Bend National Park," February 18, 1981, Central Files, VAFO. 

Valuable insights into the administrative issues at Valley Forge were 

related to the author of this study by H. Gilbert Lusk during a telephone 

interview on August 17, 1984. 

5. Superintendent, Valley Forge to Regional Director, MARO, October 

7, 1976, CRM-MARO F1le~. See Appendix A for a copy of the transitional 

duties for basjc personnel as developed by Lusk. Also see Wayne 

Suburban Times, November 18, 1976, Scrapbooks, VAFO Library. 

6>0 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

Adm1n1strat•ve Officer- -George T. 

Lassen Volcanic Nationi!l Park, 

Yard1c {administrative officer at 

California, since 1972). 

HistorLan--Ch<!rles E. Funnell (historian transferred from MAR0).(6) 

The new division ch1efs reported to the park on January 17, 1977, for a 

one-month orientation and planning period. During that tome the new 

Nat1onal Park Serv1ce staff members consulted with the state park staff to 

become acquainted with current park procedures. Since it was 

anticipated that the Park Service would assume operational control of the 

park in early 1977 Lusk and his staff also used the t1me to plan the 

summer program for the park, identify needs for equipment and materials, 

and interview approximately forty state park employees who had submitted 

applications for employment with the National Park Servlce.(7) 

In mid-february it was announced that 25 state park employees had been 

offered positions for the future staff of Valley Forge National Historical 

Park. The selections were based on interviews conducted by a 

four-member panel consisting of the park administrative officer, the 

division chief for which the employee was being selected, and two 

Mid-Atlantic Regional Office representatives--the Equal Employment 

Opportunity Officer and a staff member of the personnel division.(B) 

The first formal policy pronouncement to be issued by National Park 

Service park management was the announcement on March 17 of 

recreational policies designed to guide activities when the National Park 

Service assumed administrative control of Valley forge on March 31. The 

new regulations were somewhat controversial in that they reversed some 

longstanding recreational uses of the park allowed by the state. In 

making the announcement Superintendent Lusk observed: 

6. Funnell and Lusk collaborated on the design of a National Park 

Service brochure for the park in late December 1976. The minifolder was 

to "have currency for about a year" until historical research would 

"provide data for an eventual revision of high authenticity." Historian, 

MARO to lnterpretJVe Specialist, MARO, December 21, 1976, CRM-MARO 

Files. Valuable insights into park operations during the transition period 

were provided to the author of this study by Thomas J. Fewlass during a 

personal interview on April 9, 1984. 

7. U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Mid-Atlantic 

Regional Office, News Release, "Key Staff Members Selected at Valley 

Forge NHP,'' December 29, 1975, Scrapbooks, VAFO Library. 

8. U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Mid-Atlantic 

Regional Office, News Release, "State Park Employees Selected for Valley 

Forge NHP," February 15, 1977, Files, Superintendent's Office, VAFO. 
All uniformed National Park Service personnel w1ll be equipped 

to ans~>·er visitor questions about recreational uses and provide 

detailed information. Our function 1s to make the 

transition to National Park status as easy as possible -- and 

our rangers will be ready to assist the visitor at any time. We 

have not come here to say 'don't' but rather to say 'do' within 

the guidelines of safety ar;d respect for a part of America's 

irreplaceable past. 

As in other historical 

regulatior;s permitted a 

preserving the historical 

parks 

variety 

scene. 

of the National Park System, the 

of "spontaneous" recreational uses 

The regulations stated: 

Foot and horse trails -- Valley Forge has approximately ten 

miles of foot-horse trails for use by those who wish to see the 

park at a more leisurely pace than in an auto. The trail 

system leads hikers and riders to or near all of the park's 

major historical features. Horseback riders are requested to 

stay on designated horse trails to prevent damage to the turf 

and to assure the safety of other visitors. 

Bicycle trails -- A separate system of bicycle trails guides 

cyclists to many historic features free from the hazards of auto 

traffic. Motorized vehicles and skateboards are prohibited on 

the bicycle trail. 

Picnicking -- Picnic tables are located in several areas of the 

park and are available on a first-come, first-served basis. 

Fires are permitted in picnic areas but only in the existing fire 

grates. Lighting other fires in the park is prohibited. The 

8etzwood picnic area, on the north bank of the Schuykill 

River, is the park's largest picnic area. This ilrea also offers 

a boat launching ramp for those wishing to boat or fish. Boat 

users are cautioned that jjfe preservers must be carried for 

each occupant. 

Informal lunches and blanket picnics are permitted outside of 

the general picnic areas in the large grassy meadows. Use of 

historic structures, log cabins, earthworks and forts for picnics 

or sunbathing, however, is prohibited. 

Kite flying/frisbees -- The spacious open fields of Valley Forge 

afford opportunities for popular, spontaneous pastt•mes such as 

kite flying, frisbee-throwing and just plain lazing. Because of 

the historic character of Valley Forge, recreational activities 

which detract from the historical scene will be excluded from 

areas of prime historical interest, such as close to forts, 

earthworks or cabins- Park rangers will assist you in finding a 

Suitable location for your activity. 

of these act1v•ties are 

because of dangerous road 

limited to designated areas 

park 

while 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

for safety reasons. 

loc<ltions, 

; 

State Park regulatiOns. 

Park rangers will identify approved 

-- Skateboards and snowmobiles w>ll 

in the park, as they have been under 

Organized recreational activities and spectator sports These 

activities are currently prohibited within the park but plans are 

under discussion for park land on the north shore of the 

Schuylkill River to accommodate organized recreation activities. 

Valley Forge has several major parking areas. Visitors are 

reminded that parking IS limited to authorized parking areas 

only. Parking on fields or pulling off the road onto road 

shoulders is normally prohibited. 

National Park Service regulations require that all pets in the 

park be kept on a leash and not be permitted to run free.(9) 

A week later Superintendent Lusk announced the National Park Service 

was seeking applications for its Volunteers in the Parks (VIP) program at 

Valley Forge. The volunteers were needed to supplement the regular 

staff in living history programs and to work at the visitor center and in 

historic buildings. Volunteers in living history programs would wear 

period clothing and perform mterpretive activities such as portraying 

military history, cooking period foods, and telllng visitors about the 

encampment. At the visitor center volunteers would provide information, 

introduce the motion picture, and assist school groups during heavy 

visitation. In historic buildings, such as Washin9ton's Headquarters, 

volunteers would wear period clothes and tell visitors of the importance of 

the structure. (10) 

Negotiations continued between the state and federal governments and on 

March 30, 1977, special ceremonies were held at the Memorial Arch to 

formally commemorate transfer of the administration of Valley Forge to the 

9. U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Mid-Atlantic 

Regional Office, News Release, "National Park Service Announces 

Recreation PoiJcies for Valley Forge NHP," March 17, 1977, Files, 

Superintendent's Office, VAFO. Lusk had already turned down a request 

by the Signal Seekers to use the park for flying model airplanes and 

rejected a proposed road rally to raise money to fight leukemia. Thus 

some local newspapers tended to report the new recreational policies as 

banning all "organized recreation" in the park. Daily I March 

22, 1977, and The Evening Phoen1x, March 22, 1977, VAFO 

Library. 

10. U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Mid-AtlantiC 

RegJonal Office, News Release, "Volunteers Needed at Valley Forge NHP," 

March 24, 1977, Files, Superintendent's Office, VAFO. 
federal government. The Valley Forge Fife and Drum Corps and the 

Valley Forge Military Academy Band provided music for the occasion. 

The princ1pal address was given by James N. Wade, the commonwealth 

Secretary of Administration who was representing Governor Shapp. 

Speaking for and representing the federal government at the ceremonies 

was Robert L. Herbst, Assistant Secretary of the Interior Designate for 

Fish, Wildlife and Parks. William J. Wewer, executiv« dir«ctor of the 

Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, served as master of 

ceremonies for the program which included the following participants: 

Dr. Jacob W. Gruber, cha1rman of the State Historical Commission; William 

J. Briggle, deputy director of the National Park Service; Mrs. Annamaria 

Malloy, chairman of the Valley Forge Park Commission; William M. 

Mclaughlin, Deputy State Secretary of General Services; and the Rev. 

Sheldon M. Smith, Rector of the Washington Memorial Chapel. The 

central event of the ceremonles was the signing of the transition 

documents by which the National Park Service assumed administrative and 

operational control of the park at midnight March 31. Two documents, 

entitled "Memorandum of Initial Agreement" and "Interim Lease" (the texts 

of which may be seen in Appendix B(ll) were designed to permit the 

National Park Service to administer the park until its formal establishment 

and transfer of title. The ceremonies also featured formal retirement of 

the state flag.(12) 

One of the clauses of the "Memorandum of Initial Agreement" provided 

for the assignment of lessor rights to the National Park Service of the 

existing concession lease by the Ogden Food Service Corporation of 

Delaware. The commonwealth had let a contract to the corporation (with 

offices in Philadelphia) to operate the park concession from May 1, 1974, 

to December 31, 1978. Thus, an instrument was drawn up and signed 

11. Acting Regional Director, Mid-Atlantic Region to Director, National 

Park Service, February 28, 1977, CRM-MARO Files, and Appendixes 7 

and 8, "Statement for Management, Valley Forge National Historical Park," 

February 21, 1980, Files, Superintendent's Office, VAFO. 

12. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Historical and Museum Commission, 

News Release, March 25, 1977 (and attachments), RG 13, PHMC. A 

briefing statement entitled "Plans for Valley Forge National Historical 

Park" was prepared as part of the news release. A copy of the document 

may be seen in Appendix C. The National Park Service also issued a news 

release for the occasion, a copy of which may be seen in Appendix D. 

All Valley Forge Park Commission files and transcripts were moved from 

the pa1·k to the state archives at Harrisburg on March 21, 1977. This 

tr<~nsfer would later pose problems to the Park Service in terms of 

retrieving artifacts and documents relating to Valley Forge. See, for 

instance, Lusk to Wewer, (and attachments) January 17, 1979, RG 3, 

VAFO Archives. 

61' 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

at the ceremonies assigning the lease agreement to the federal 

government. ( 13) 

The terms of the interim lease provided for federal operation of the park. 

However, a land survey and title clearance would have to be completed 

before the commonwealth transferred official park ownership to federal 

authorities. Parcels on which commonwealth Bicentennial prOJeCts were 

underway would remain in commonwealth hands until the construction was 

completed.(14) 

One week after the transfer ceremony, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 

ilflnounced that it intended to complete its Bicentennial capJtal 

improvement program at Valley Forge by the spring of 1978. Projects 

already completed, according to The Suburban and Wayne Times, were: 

Restoration and development of ten historic buildings, including 

Washington's Headquarters and stable, the Bake House, 

Varnum's Quarters, the Commissary and Schoolhouse. 

Improvement of roads and parking area to provide better 

visitor access and visitation in the park, also removing and 

concealing public areas from the historic concept of park 

programs. 

Restoration of Knox's Quarters, with work directed to the 

exhibit restoration of the small farmhouse occupied by General 

Knox, the exterior restoration and renovation of the large 

house addition to the original structure and the restoration of 

the barn for housing exhibits interpreting the Knox 

contribution to the encampment and the barn basement area as a 

stable for patrol horses. 

Fixed exhibits for Huntingdon's [sic] Quarters combining 

interpretive panels and restored period rooms to show the 

effects of encampment and farm life on Valley Forge. 

Construction of three new toilet facilities and the renovation 

of those in the Fort Huntingdon [sic) picnic area and Artillery 

Park. 

Improvement of utilities, with the extension of water services 

and expansion of electrical services, providing these services to 

recreational and historic development in the park, and lighting 

Memorial Arch, Waterman's Monument and the People's Flagpole. 

13. Assignment, March 30, 1977, in "Legal Documents Pertaining to the 

Valley Forge Transition," transmitted from Superintendent, Valley Forge 

National Historical Park to Acting Regional Director, Mid-Atlantic Region, 

April 5, 1977, CRM-MARO Files. On March 20, 1979, the NPS let a 

contract to the corporation for operation of the concession through 

December 31, 1981 . 

14. Today's Post, March 1, 1977, Scrapbooks, VAFO Library. 

615 
Projects still underway included: 

Construction of a new museum directed at the overall subject 

of the Valley Forge encampment and >ts effect on the military. 

Fixed exhibits for the new museum directed at the overall 

subject of the Valley Forge O'ncampment and its effect on thO' 

people and the military. 

Restoration of Lafayette's and Maxwell's Quarters as the 

integral part of the park interpretation, with the Lafayette 

project including land and building acquisition. 

Fixed exhibits for Lafayette's Quarters primarily dirr>cted at 

showing the French patriot's contributions to the encampment. 

Fixed exhibits on General Knox installed in the rO'stored barn 

of the Knox Quarters Farmstead. 

Reconstruction or partial reconstruction of 25 soldiers' huts, 

following historic construction methodology. 

Construction of bicycle, horse and foot trails, 

exhibits, picnic facilities, with the last including 

benches, braziers and information shelters. 

trailside 

tables, 

Construction of a new amphitheater to provide outdoor 

facinties for historical drama and special event programs. 

Construction of a landscaped seating area surrounding the 

People's Flagpole, located east of the Memorial Arch.(15) 

Other memorandums of understanding and agreements were entered into 

by Interior Department officials with state agencies to provide for 

effective administration of Valley Forge National Historkal Park. An 

occupancy license agreement was signed by the Commonwealth of 

Pennsylvania, Department of Environmental Resources and the U.S. 

Department of the Interior, National Park Service on June 7, 1977, 

providing for park recreational use of 85 acres in the northwest corner of 

the park. This area, known as the Valley Forge Impounding Basins, 

would continue under Pennsylvania ownership for 25 years, but would be 

managed by the park during that period. The National Park Service was 

expressly given permission to develop a road, parking lot, and large 

cleared area for recreational activities on this land. A supplemental 

agreement covering this acreage was signed on August 18, 1977.(16) 

15. The Suburban and April 7, 1977, Scrapbooks, VAFO 

Library. After the Park over administration of the park it 

made changes in the specifications, drawings, and programs of work for 

the projects still under construction to bring the work into conformity 

With NPS management and preservation policies. See, for instance, 

Budge to Willman, September 27, 1977, CRM-MARO Files. 

16_ Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Environmental 

Resources, Occupancy License Agreement, June 7, 1977, and Supplemental 

Agreement, August 18, 1977, Appendix 11, "Statement tor Management, 

Valley Forge National Historical Park," February 21, 1980, Files, 

Superintendent's Office, VAFO. 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

e. NATIONAL PARK SERVICE RESEARCH PROGRAM 

Once the National Park Service took over the administration of Valley 

Forge National Historical Park it was found that little site-specific primary 

research was available on the encampment period. Many of the histories 

and various references made to Valley Forge in other works were based 

on secondary sources and information from the nineteenth century, and 

the h1story of Valley Forge had become permeated with histor;cal myths 

and legends. It was reali~ed that park planning, management, and 

interpretation could not be done in an accurate or authoritative manner 

without a thoroughly researched physical history of the area, a 

well-documented historical base map of the encampment, and extensive 

archeological and architectural investigations of the park's subsurface and 

structural resources. Hence the Mid-Atlantic Regional Office planned one 

of the "most concentrated and intensive research projects undertaken by 

the National Park Service." The multi-disciplinary research effort 

included prOVISion for extensive historical, archeological, and 

architectural investigations. (17) 

1. History 

To meet the park's historical research needs Mid-Atlantic Regional Office 

personnel conceived the Valley Forge Histor1col Research Project in 1976. 

Those most responsible for the planning and conceptu<tlization of the 

project were S. Sydney Bradford, Associ<tte Director, Planning <tnd 

Resource Preservation, John Bond, Regional Historian, and Charles 

Funnell, the potrk historian.(18) In August 1977 five graduate students 

were <tdded to the park staff as research historians with the assignment 

to spend a year g<tthering photocopies of period documents from over two 

hundred otrchives in the United Stottes, Great Britain, and Frotnce. The 

five historians were Jacqueline Thibaut, Wayne K. Bodle, Michael L<twson, 

David Rich, and Harry Roach. Aside from the archives visited by the 

historians, a further 446 were queried by mail with 107 responses, thus 

adding to the d<tt<t base of documentation. All told, copies of some 10,000 

documents and 265 rolls of microfilm were deposited in the p<trk archives 

as a result of the research effort. 

After 

(the 

the reseorch phase of the project 

latter selected as coordindting 

was completed, Bodle 

research historian) 

and Thibaut 

prepared an 

17. Chief, Division of Resource Preservation to Regional Director, 

November 3, 1977, and Lusk to Morse, April 24, 1979, CRM-MARO Files, 

and U.S. Department of the Interior, N<Jtional P<trk Service, Mid-Atlantic 

Region;,! Office, News Release, "Valley Forge Historical Research 

Underwdy," October 31, 1977, RG 3, VAFO Archives. 

18. V;:,luable 1nsights into the Valley Forge research program were 

provided to the author of thiS study during personal interviews w•th John 

W. Bond and Henry J. Magaziner on May 1, 1984, ond <1 telephone 

interview with S. Sydney Bradford on August 13, 1984. Funnell died 

unexpectedly on 1977. 
extensive three-volume draft In 

the summer of 1979, as 

completion, Dr. John Shy of the University of Michigan at Ann 

revie~-o·ed the manuscript and made recommendations to improve the 

document. Dr. Michael Zuckerman of the University of Pennsylvania also 

read portions and offered a critique of the manuscript. 

The draft report was printed in May 1980. 

addressed a number of questions relat<"ng to the 

important of these were: 

The three-volume 

enc<rmpment. The 

How did Valley Forge fit into the history of the Revolution, and 

what was its probable historical significance? What was the 

nature of the Continental army organization during this period, 

and hoW did it change? How did the army intersect with the 

civ>lian population of southeastern Pennsylvania and the British 

army occupying Philadelphia? What were the military objectives 

entertained by Washington and Congress over the winter? What 

was the nature of the physical community of structures, 

features, and objects at Valley Forge? How important were 

political considerations in the administration of the army? Did 

the army suffer privations as severe as traditionally recorded, 

and if so, why? Finally, how was the Valley Forge encampment 

a reflection of the larger cultural matrix of eighteenth century 

North America?(19) 

work 

most 

The three-volume draft report rejected a number of myths associated with 

Valley Forge history and revised some aspects of traditional historical 

interpretations of the Valley Forge encampment.(20) Thus, the study 

raised a consLderable furor among some elements of the local citizenry and 

various historical groups. A typk<>l reaction was the resolution passed 

by the Virginia Daughters of the American Revolution at their annual 

convention in Richmond in March: 

Whereas the National Park Service is conducting a $150,000 

study on an 18-month project with the purpose of attempting to 

disprove that Gen. George Washington knelt in prayer <>t Valley 

Forge; to present as untrue the stories that W<>shington's 

exhausted, ragged army suffered dire straits as they retreated 

to Valley Forge following losses at Brandywine and Germantown; 

Director, 

CRM-MARO Files. 

20. The Morning News, August 30, 1978, and Philadelphia Inquirer, 

November 12, 1979, in CRM-MARO Files. 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

and to offer proof that the 

houses and grounds at Valley 

quarters, is inaccurate; and 

plaque 

Forge 

de~ignating one of the 

as Gen. Von Steuben's 

Whereas, this study constitutes a rewritmg of American 

history and represents an unwarranted expenditure of 

thousands of dollars tor a project not requested by the 

American people; 

Resolved: That the Virginia Daughters of the American 

Revolution express their displeasure with this unnecess<1ry 

expenditure of the taxpayers' funds on an unmerited effort to 

rewrite American history--without documented proof--and with 

detriment to basic national beliefs and institutions."(21) 

The three-volume draft report was reviewed by National Park Service 

historians John F. Luzader and Charles W. Snell and by the Washington 

Office in 1982. Approval for contracting with former coordinating research 

historian Jacqueline Thibaut to revise and edit the report and prepare an 

historical base map for the park was received. Volume I, as rev1sed and 

edited by ThJbaut, was approved in March 1984; Volume II was approved 

in September 1984; and Volume Ill and the historical base map were 

approved in March 1984. (22) 

2. Archeology 

On March 18, 1977, Mid-Atlantic Regional Archeologist John l. Cotter 

prepared an overv1ew statement for the needs of the archeological 

investigation program at Valley Forge National Historical Park. Cotter 

listed three aspects of the archeological program that were required. 

First, archeological reports on all field work performed with approval by 

the commonwealth were needed. At the time only four such topical 

reports were known to have been made available to the National Park 

Service, and these were reports on projects undertaken by recent summer 

classes under the direction of Cotter. The classes, "Methods and 

Problems of Historical Archeology," given under the Department of 

American Civilization of the University of Pennsylvania, had prepared 

reports on the following topics: "Limited Investigation on the Hut Sites 

of the Pennsylvania Encampment," and "limited Investigations on the 

Virginia Encampment, Outerline Drive, the Kitchen of the Lafayette House 

and Grounds of the Duportail House." Cotter went on to note that 

archeological work was known to have been performed in the 1950s and 

1970s at the New Jersey Encampment hut sites by John Witthoft and 

Duncan Campbell and the refuse deposits on the Parade Ground by 

21 . and The ledger-Star, March 18, 1979, in 

22. Superjntendent, Valley Forge National Historjcal Park to Regional 

Director, Mid-Atlantic Region, March 23, 1982, Central Files, VAFO. Data 

on the approved volumes was supplied by MARO Historian Tobias . 

619 
Dunciln Ci!mpbell. Vance Packard, Jr., had been engaged in 

archeologicill investigations at Washington's Headquarters, Huntington's 

Quarters, V<~rnum's Quarters, the School House, Weedon's Brigade site, 

and the Commissary, and Stanley Lantz, an amateur, had excavated a hut 

site in the Pennsylvania Encampment area. No reports documenting these 

projects, however, were available. 

Second, all extant plans for the reconstruction of earthworks and huts 

that indicated the location and documentary or ground evidence on which 

the reconstructions were based, together with any other documentation 

pertaining to these features, was needed. It Wi!s especially important to 

know "if presently reconstructed and interpreted earthworks were sited 

on extant feature evidence or if they were placed on the approximate 

sites referred to by Revolutionary War map resources." 

Third, the cleaning and cataloging of artifact specimens stored in bags in 

the park visitor center should be continued. This work had been 

commenced by Ron Schuster and WilS currently being conducted by 

Roxannil Gordon, a University of Pennsylvania senior in <~nthropology 

under a work-study program sponsored by the Pennsylvania Higher 

Education Association in cooper<1tion with the state park. Arr<~ngements 

should be made to continue Gordon's work, estimated as requiring another 

year, under Nationill Park Service auspices once the work-study grant 

ran out in May. 

According to Cotter, the "prime objective of future archeological work 

should be conservation of i!rCheological site values" or that they could 

"serve to verify historical features as to location <~nd character whenever 

possible, <~nd thereby contribute to the authenticity of the interpretation 

of the Valley Forge encampment area." A "minimum of site disturbance 

should be undertaken in order to conserve ilS much site evidence as 

possible, while doing sufficient work to certify the location and character 

of the archeological values that remain." The following <~reas were to be 

verified by identification of location and character of historical research 

and had first priority: 

1. Outer line drive: Virginia and other encampments 

2. Fort Greene 

3. Fort Muhlenberg 

4. Pennsylvania encampment 

5. Fort Washington 

6. S1te of the original forge on Valley Creek (re-excav<~tion) 

7. New Jersey Encampment 

8. Fort Huntington 

9. Star Redoubt 

620 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

10. von Steuben's quarters and camp hospital 

11. Miscellaneous fortifications and entrenchments to be verif1ed 

from references on historical maps 

The following ;~reas were to be inveo;tigated after primary requirements 

were met: 

1. Knox's Quarters 

2. Maxwell's Quarters 

3. Blacksmith Shop 

4. Artillery P<1rk 

5. Colonial Spring 

5. "Bake House" at road intersection south of Washington 

Headquarters 

7. Refuse pits to be identified from records, of extant, and 

re-test of refuse deposits reported south of Washington Memorial 

Chapel near Waterman Monument and Grave by Duncan Campbell 

8. Road to Sullivan's Bridge, bridge approach, and other historical 

roads 

9. On the basis of receiving reports of archeological work 

accomplished by the State of Pennsylvania 1972~76 at Valley 

Forge State Park, the completion of such work as may be 

advisable at Huntington's Quarters, Varnum's Quarters, 

Washington's He<tdquarters, Weeden's Brigade, and the 

Commissary site. 

10. Sites of features indicated in historical research forthcoming on 

the next two years to be verified archeologically.(23) 

Assistance in formulating the archeological program was provided by NPS 

Chief Anthropologist Douglas Scovill <tfld Dr. Thomas Lyons. The 

objective was to utilize techniques, such as those used by Lyons in the 

Chaco Canyon project, which would provide the least destruction to 

subsurface features while working toward <tnswering research questrons. 

was let on fall 1977 to the Museum Applied Science Center for 

(MASCA) of the University Museum, University of 

to conduct an archeological survey and research project on 

National Historical Park. The contract provided for use of 

A contract 

Archeology 

Pennsylv<tnia 

Valley Forge 

23. Regional Archeologist to Associate Regional Director, P & RP, March 

18, 1977, CRM-MARO Files. 

621 
various techniques of archeo!ogic<~l "prospecting," including aerial 

photography, geophySICal surveying with a cesium magnetometer, scanning 

with soil-penetrating radar, and to a limited extent use of a soil 

resistometer to facilitate the location and identification of subsurface 

cultural features, both preh1storic and historic. The contract called for a 

complete <~erial survey of the park, including the collection of existing 

aerial photographs as well as the takmg of new ones with black and 

white, color, and false-color-infrared film from both vertical and oblique 

orientations. A maximum of fifty selected acres of the park was to be 

surveyed with the magnetometer, while the radar was to be employed in 

areas where the magnetometer could not be used because of proximity of 

high voltage wires (or passing cars) and to provide profiles of soil 

stratigraphy. Trail excavation was to be used to verify the indications 

from the aerial and geophysical surveys. 

The MASCA archeological contract work was headed by Elizabeth Ralph 

with Joseph H. Hall IV as co-director and Bruce Bevan as field director. 

Other persons on the MASCA team included Diana Bermingham, John 

Cotter (who had retired from the NPS), Lin Foxhall, Joseph Hall, 

Nicholas Hartmann, Marie Lurquin, Michael Parrington, Louise Senior, 

Harold Spaulding, Helen Schenck, and Perry Tourtellotte. 

General inspections of the park were carried out by MASCA personnel in 

October 1977, and full-scale fieldwork began on May 15, 1978. By 

December 1978, the research work had turned up significant new 

information as revealed in an article in the MASCA Journal. One example 

that was noted was the following: 

A good example of the amount of information that can be 

culled by using more than one instrument, as well as utilizing 

historical sources of information, is a narrow linear feature 

picked up in the aerial photographs. A trench excavated 

across it revealed, just under the topsoil, two parallel 

humic-filled ruts worn into the subsoil about 1.5 meters apart, 

with the downhill rut being filled with stone rubble. The 

absence of any artifacts precludes a confident identification of 

the feature, but its course, as traced for 30 meters by the 

soil-scan radar, coincides with that of a road shown on an 1777 

map.(24) 

24. H. Schenck, " 

Journal, I (December, 

Valley Forge Nat. Hist. 

for Archeological 

Park, n.d.; and 

Files; and 

Orr, Cox, Lusk, 

Geophysical Survey Project 

Reports Nos. 1-10, May 15-26 

Archeological Report Collection, 

Prospecting at Valley Forge," MASCA 

Archeological Survey and Research at 

Specifications for Contract 

Forge National Historical 

27, 1978, in CRM-MARO 

Survey PrOJeCt to Bond, 

, May 5, 1S78; Valley Forge 

Report, May 9, 1978; and Progress 

September 18-29, 1978; Record Group 4, 

VAFO Archives. 

622 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

The archeological contract work was completed 1n January 1979. The 

MASCA study found that extensive damage to subsurface archeological 

resources in the park had resulted from the three Soy Scout Jamborees of 

1950, 1957, and 1964. However, it concluded that there was great 

potential for future archeological research since some 200 undisturbed hut 

sites were found in the areas of Maxwell's, Conw<~y's, Wayne's, ond the 

Virginia Brigades. Among its efforts the MASCA team complied a 

"Summary of Archeological Work at Valley Forge" and a "Bibliography of 

Archaeological Excavation at Valley Forge Park." In conjunction with the 

latter document, hitherto unavailable reports concerning archeology work 

in the park since 1948 were collected for deposit in the park archives. 

Copies of both aforementioned documents may be seen in Appendix E.(25) 

3. Historic Architecture 

On September 1!3, 1!377, a contract was let by MARO to John Bruce Dodd, 

Architect, of Layton, New Jersey, to conduct architectural research in 

the park. Earlier in 1975, Dodd had conducted extensive surveys of 

historic buildings in the Mid-Atl<mtic Region. Under the contract an 

inventory was to be made of the following park structures: 

63 buildings 

2 bridges 

4 major memorials, including the Wayne statue 

2 other statues 

35 minor memorials, tablets or markers 

28 reconstructed huts 

5 major earthen forts 

5 redans 

1 observation tower 

3 miles of trenches 

6 miles of historic roads 

1 major limekiln 

2 earthen limekilns 

The inventory was to 

historical significance of 

evaluation of the existing 

include an analysis of the architectural and 

each structure. The contract provided for an 

conditions of the buildings, determination of the 

25. Record Group 4 of the VAFO Archives contains "The Archeological 

Report Collection," consisting of all known extant archeological documents 

relating to the park. Also see David G. Orr and Daniel G. Crozier, 

eds., The Scope of Historical Archaeology: in Honor of John L. 

Cotter """"[Philadelphia, 1984), pp. 125-161. various archeologieill 

studies had been conducted in the park during i tenure as a state par·k 

the reporting procedures for such undertilkings had often been 

haphazard, piecemeal, or inadequate. Some reports were lost, while 

others were never made. 

623 
structural evolution of each structure, and recommendation for 

preservation treatment of the structures.(26) Two principal products 

resulted from the architectural research and investigations performed by 

Dodd and his wife Cherry. One who the List of Classified Structures 

prepared for the park in 1981. The other-product consisted of six 

historic structure reports (archotectural data sections) prepared by the 

Dodds in 1981: 

Jimmy White House (Traditionally Site of the Adjutant General's 

Quarters) 

Washington's Headquarters 

Philander Knox Estate (Traditionally Maxwell's Quarters) 

David Potts House (The Bake House) 

Varnum's Quarters 

Lafayette's Quarters(28) 

C. VALLEY FORGE BlCENNTENIAL CELEBRATION ACTIVITIES 

After taking over administration of Valley Forge the National Park Service 

made extensive plans to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Valley 

Forge encampment. Thus, between December 17, 1977, and June 19, 

1978, a series of historical lectures, new interpretive programs, and 

ceremonial events were conducted.{29) 

26. U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Mid-Atlantic 

Regional Office, Press Release, "Valley Forge Historical Research 

Underway," October 31, 1977; Statement and Certificate of Award, 

Architectural Study at Valley Forge National Historical Park, John Bruce 

Dodd, Architect, September 19, 1977; Dodd to Maga<:iner, August 4, 

1978; and Regional Historical Architect to Chief, Contracting and Property 

Management, September 28, 1978, CRM-MARO Files. 

27. List of Classified Structures Reports . 

Historical Pi!rk, Valley Forge, Pa., by John 

, Valley Forge National 

and Cherry Dodd, 1981. 

28. Copies of all six reports on file >n the VAFD and CRM-MARO 

Library. 

29. U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Mid-Atlantic 

Regional Office, News Releases, "Operational, Press, and Patron 

Advisoroes," September 12, 1977, and "Valley Forge Celebrates 

Bicentennial," September 29, 1977, RG 3, VAFO Archives. In preparation 

for the Bicentennial the National Park Service was successful in its 

• 

• 

efforts to eliminate passenger train service at the Valley Forge railroad • 

station effective October 30, 1977. 

624 
• 

• 

• 

Early in 1977 the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives adopted a 

joint resolutiOn designating December 19, 1977, as "Encampment Day." 

The joint resolution called upon the pres1dent to issue a proclamation 

calling upon the people of the United States to observe the Bicentennial 

anniversary of the Valley Forge encampment ''with appropriate ceremonies 

and activities. "(30) 

The Bicentennial commemoration commenced with a three-day celebration 

on December 17-19. On the 17th and 18th camp life demonstrations were 

held in the park, featuring sixteen different units from eight nearby 

states. Other programs included an 18th century military drrll 

demonstration, and a lecture by John F. Reed, noted local Valley Forge 

historian. On December 19 a public ceremony was held at the Memorial 

Arch that featured addresses by Secretary of the Interior Cecil D. 

Andrus and Pennsylvania's Lieutenant Governor Ernest P. Kline. The 

ceremony climaxed a colorful "march-in" of 350 Revolutionary brigade 

volunteers from the park and various historical organizations who retraced 

the final seven miles of the route taken by Washington's army in 1777, 

with some 400 Valley Forge Military Academy cadets serving as an honor 

guard. The ceremony commenced with a special naturalization ceremony 

for 200 new citizens from 45 countries, representing each year since the 

encampment, the oath of allegiance being administered by Judge John B. 

Hannum of the U.S. District Court for Eastern Pennsylvania. At the 

ceremony Secretary Andrus accepted from Lieutenant Governor Kline a 

deed of intent turning over possessoon of the land for Valley Forge 

National Historical Park from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to the 

National Park Service. (31) 

Beginning National Historical on Januory Park and sponsored continuing a series through of evening June history 1978 ;;:'ii~:i~~~~ 

in conjunction with its Bicentenniol activities. The first 

on January 7 featured Colonel John B. B. Trussell, 

military history, author I il 

Army; 8_ Study of the 

staff of the Pennsylvania 

the topic "Soldier Life at c~;~~~,:::~:~l evening research symposiums were 

Loter month 

in the park auditorium, 

30. H.J. Res. 344, Joint Resolution Designating December 19, 1977, as 

"Encampment Day," Reed Collection, RG 10, VAFO Archives. 

31. U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Valley Forge 

National Historical Park, News Releases, ''Governor Shapp and Secretary 

Andrus to Lead 200th Anniversary at Valley Forge," December 8, 1977, 

and "Two Hundred New Citizens to Take Oath at Valley Forge 

Bicentennial," December 12, 1977, RG 3, VAFO Archives. 

32. U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Valley Forge 

National Historical Park, News Release, "Valley Forge National Historrcal 

Park Hosts State Historian and Author to Speak on Soldier Life at V<tlley 

Forge," December 27, 1977, RG 3, VAFO Archives. 
first featuring Or. S. Sydney Bradford, MARO Associate Regional 

Director for Planning and Resource Preservation, and Jacqueline Thibaut, 

a graduate student at the University of Pennsylvania and coordmator of 

the five-member park historical research team. The bi-weekly symposiums 

were designed to discuss various historical aspects of the Valley Forge 

encampment, what was known about Valley Forge, questions being 

addressed by the f1ve-member research team, and to keep the public 

informed of the progress of Valley Forge research.(33) 

During the remainder of the Bicentennial celebration several special 

speakers were featured at the park. Orrin W. June, an architectural 

historian, spoke on January 29 concerning Major General Anthony Wayne's 

relationship with his home, family, and Valley Forge and his role at the 

Valley Forge encampment. Linda De Pauw, a professor at George 

Washington University and noted author on the subject of women, spoke 

on the "Women's Role in the Revolution" on April 22, as part of the 

opening of an exhibit emphasizing the role of women in the American 

Revolution in the park visitor center. On May 20 W. Stephen Thomas, a 

noted historian, gave a special illustrated slide lecture on "Medical 

Aspects of the Americ<tn Revolution" •n conjunction with a two-week 

exhibit on 18th century medicine in the park visitor center. Benjamin 

Quarles, a distinguished black historian at Morgan State University, also 

lectured on the role of Blacks in the American Revolution.(34) 

The bi-monthly research symposiums continued through June with reports 

on various topics being presented and presentations of updates on the 

most recent findings of the te<tm. Among the topics addressed in these 

symposiums were discussions of "The Summer Soldiers" by Michael Lawson 

on March 10; "Prisoner of War Exchange Procedures as They Were 

Administered by the Commissary of Prisoners of War, Elias Boudinot," by 

Harry Roach on April 21; "Court Martial Proceedings During the 

Encampment of 1777-1778" by David Rich on June 2, complimented by <tn 

exhibit on military justice in the Revolutionary War in the park visitor 

center; "The Artillery and Its Youthful Commander, Henry Knox," by 

33. U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Valley Forge 

National Historical Park, News Release, "Research Symposiums to Start 

January 27th at Valley Forgr. Nation<tl Historical Park," January 6, 1978, 

RG 3, VAFO Archives. 

34. U.S. Departmr.nt of the Interior, National Park Service, Valley Forge 

Nat1onal Historical Park, News Releases, "Anthony Wayne to be Subject of 

Talk January 29," January 23, 1978; "Park H1storian to Discuss Prisoner 

of War Exchange at Valley Forge," April 17, 1978; "Valley Forge to 

Present Program on RevolUtiOnary War Medicine," April 26, 1978; and 

"Valley Forge to Present Exhibit on Revolutionary War Medicine," May 15, 

1978; RG 3, VAFO Archives. 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

Harry Roach 

During the 

June 30.(35) 

on June 16; 

1777-1778 

and "The Physical 

Encampment," by 

History of 

Jacqueline 

Valley Forge 

Thibaut on 

The si><-month Bicentennial celebration included a number of major events. 

Among these were living history groups portraying the winter encampment 

durmg the week of Washington's birthday, February 22, dedication of the 

new $1,700,000 visitor center on March 31, a French Alliance Day 

ceremony on May 6, and ceremonies marking the departure of 

Washington's troops on June 16-19.(36) 

The newly constructed visitor center was transferred from the 

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to the National Park Service in a ceremony 

on March 31, 1977. The visitor center, located near the main park 

entrance at State Routes 363 and 23, was officially presented by James N. 

Wade, Pennsylvania Secretary of Administration, to recently-appointed 

Mid-Atlantic Regional Director Richard L. St<Onton.(37) The new wing on 

the east was designed to house park interpretive offices, and the west 

wing was to be used as a multi-purpose room for special programs. The 

middle portion of the building l<~y underground and was to be approached 

by a lower-level entrance in the rear. The main exhibit area, which 

would later fe<Oture display of Washington's marquee tent on loan from the 

V<OIIey Forge Historical Society, was shaped like a tr<Opezoid.(38) Also at 

the center were an information desk staffed by park interpreters, <1 

publication and mementoes sales desk provided by the Valley Forge 

Interpretive Association, a bus tour desk which would direct <1 shuttle 

35. U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Valley Forge 

National Historical Park, News Releases, "Talks to Examine the summer 

Soldiers of Valley Forge," February 27, 1978; "Park Historian to Discuss 

Prisoner of War Exchange at Valley Forge," April 17, 1978; "Valley Forge 

to Present Exhibit on Revolutionary War Mil1tary Justice," May 30, 1978; 

"Park to Present Illustrated Lecture on Artillery at Valley Forge," June 

9, 1978; and "Final Research Symposium to be Held at Valley Forge June 

30, 1978," June 25, 1978; RG 3, VAFO Archives. 

36. Philadelphia Evening Bulletrn, October 4, 1977, Scrapbooks, VAFO 

Library. 

37. Valuable insights into this period of Valley Forge administration were 

provided to the author of this study by Richard L. Stanton, presently 

Superintendent of Chesapei!ke and Ohio Canal National Historical Park, 

during a telephone interview on August 17, 1984. 

38. The George Washington marquee was placed on displi!y on Febru<~ry 

17, 1979, after Ni!tional Park Service personnel spent more than a year 

restoring the heirloom and designing an enclosure with a controlled 

environment in which to exhib1t it. U.S. Department of the Interior, 

National Park Service, Mid-Atlantic Regional Oflice, News Releases, 

"Nat1onal Park Service to Preserve George Washington's Sleeping Tent," 

November 28, 1977, and "George Washington's Sleeping Tent Goes on 

Display At Valley Forge NHP," February 1, 1979, RG 3, VAFO Archives. 
bus serv1ce offering historical interpretations during park tours beginning 

on April 15, and a Montgomery County Tourist Bureau desk which would 

prov1de information helping visitors to plan their stay in the area.(39) 

On May 6 the 200th anniversary of the announcement of the French 

Alliance "'as commemorated at the park in special ceremonies held on the 

Grand Parade near Varnum's Quarters. French Ambassador Francois de 

Laboulaye and France's honorary consul in Philadelphia, John W. Fawcett 

Ill of Rosemont, spoke at the ceremony. More than 300 men and boys, 

dressed in Revolutionary War uniforms and aligned under the direction of 

the Brigade of the American Revolution, ended the festivities with the 

reenactment of the "Feu de Joie." A special exhibit of original portraits 

of Lafayette and Duportilil Wi!S feiltured at the Bake House in conjunction 

with the celebration.(40) 

The Bicentennial observance of the histor1c "march-out" of the Continental 

Army was commemorated on June 16-19. The weekend activities began on 

Friday in the park visitor center multi-purpose room where Harry Roach 

of the park's research history teilm discussed artillery as it relatad to 

Valley Forge. Dunng the following three days the park sponsored a 

living history weekend with demonstrations relating to Revolutionary War 

camp life at the sites of the Virginia Brigade and Washington's life guard 

huts. On June 17 Major General George J. Keegan, USAF (Ret.), was 

the principal speaker at the flagstaff (donated by the General Society 

Sons of the Revolution) dedication in front of the new visitor center . 

For cycling enthusiasts 90-minute "bike hikes," led by park interpreters, 

were offered on Saturday and Sunday {such hikes had become regular 

weekend features of the park interpretive program on May 20), beginning 

at the visitor center and extending along the five-mile bicycle route 

through the park. On Sunday ~fternoon Bill Maudlin, a syndicated 

cartoonist with the Ch1c;ago Sun Times, presented the first copy of his 

book Mud and Guts: A Look at the Common I i of the American 

Revolu""tTO""n ~the park. Finally On Monday -the park, in 

conjunction with the Montgomery County 1 presented a 

memorial celebration in the newly-completed amphitheater, highlighted by 

the program "The Ballad of Valley Forge." The Pottstown Symphony 

Orchestra, William Lamb conducting, provided the music for the ballad. 

The ceremonial "march-out" of historically costumed troops followed the 

musical portion of the program. More than 300 students from Haverhill, 

Massachusetts, who had been studying Valley Forge as their historical 

39. Today's Post, September 13, 

1978; Town and Country, March 22, 

1978; Scrapbooks, VAFO Library; and 

National Park Serv1ce, Mid-Atlantic ',;:;;:;:~' Visitor Center to Open at Valley NHP," 

Superintendent's Office, VAFO. 

Express, May 

May 8, 1978; 

May 8, 1978; 

Post, 

May 8, 

Library. 

May 6, 1977; Evenmg 

1978; and Not"!h Penn 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

theme for the school year, participated in the "march-out." A fireworks 

display concluded the evening's <>ctivities.(41) 

The Bicentennii!l activities in the park spurred increases in visitation, 

<tlthough the number of visitors coming to the park was well below 

commonwealth expectations. During 1976 some 3,000,000 persons visited 

the park, and during the spring and summer of 1977 visitation averaged 

between 300,000 and 400,000 per month. ( 42) 

D. PREPARATION OF NATIONAL PARK SERVICE MANAGEMENT AND 

PLANNING DOCUMENTS 

1. STATEMENT FOR MANAGEMENT 

The planning process for Valley Forge National Historical Park began 

with the preparat1on and approval of a "Statement for Management." This 

statement, which was made available for public review and comment in May 

1978, was approved by Mid-Atlantic Regional Director Stanton in August 

1978, and served as the initial document in the planning chain for the 

park and formed the base upon which all future planning was built. The 

document defined the parameters within which the park's planning would 

take place and established a set of objectives to be achieved through 

future action plans. It was used to guide short and long term 

management of the park and to determine the nature and extent of 

planning required to meet the park's management goals. In the absence 

of more specific planning documents during the first several years of the 

National Park Service's operation of Valley Forge it provided a general 

frame.,ork for directing park operations and communicating park 

objectives to the public. 

The "Statement for Management" provided for administration of the park 

under four land zone classifications. There were historic, natural, park 

development, and special use. The zoning system was based on the 

historical significance of park resources, existing park development, and 

public use consistent with park management objectives and mandates. 

Subzones further defined management emphasis and limited options for 

future park management and use. Subzone designations provided 

guidance for planning, design, and implementation of specific uses and 

activites. 

The historic zona included most of the park area south of the Conrail 

tracks and east of Mount Misery, a tract in the extreme western part of 

41. U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Valley Forge 

National Historical Park, News Releases, '"Bike Hikes' A New Feature at 

Valley Forge," May 5, 1978, and "Historic March-Out AclJvit1es Planned at 

Valley Forge, June 16-19," June 14, 1978, RG 3, VAFO Archives, and 

The. Suburban Times, June 15, 1978, and Main Line Times, 

June 15, 1978, VAFO Library. -- --

42. Today's Post, August 19, 1977, Scrapbooks, VAFO Library. 

629 
the park 

including 

northern 

in the 

Fatland 

border 

Village of Valley Forge, an area on both sides of and 

Ford and Sullivan Bridge, and two small pockets on the 

of the park where houses of undetermined historic 

significance were located. The historic zone was to be managed to 

protect, preserve, and interpret sites and physical remains of the 

encampment. There were four subzone management classifications within 

the historic zone: 

1. Thirteen areas were to be managed as historic preservation 

subzones to carefully preserve and interpret primary historic 

locations and sources without alteration or disturbance. 

2. The open space activity subzone included open fields and 

scattered wooded patches throughout the historic zone where light 

recreational activities were permitted, but heavy, habitual, or 

organized recreational activities were prohibited. This subzone 

included minimal, if any, above ground standing resources, and thus 

light recreational activities did not conflict with or damage natural 

resources. 

3. Eight small areas where monuments or statues were located 

constituted the commemorative subzone, which was managed to 

commemorate for posterity the men and events of the historic period. 

4. Three areas, currently being used for park operations or 

administrative purposes, constituted the adaptive use subzone. 

The natural zone included most of the western fifth of the park and 

strips of land generally bordering both sides of the Schuylkill River. 

This zone contained woodland, river, and wildlife resources which were to 

be managed to protect the natural values and act as buffer areas for the 

historic zone. The entire natural zone was classified as a natural 

environment subzone available for recreational enjoyment of the natural 

resources, and also served as a local wildlife refuge. 

The park development zone included 

of park management and visitors. 

subzones: 

small areas which served the needs 

This zone was divided into seven 

1. The 

circulation 

transportation subzone 

and bicycle trails. 

included 

2. The educational/interpretive subzone 

center I administrative offices/ auditorium 

amphitheater. 

areas 

mcluded 

complex 

,, vehicular 

visitor ,h, 

3. The administrative subzone included two areas used for 

ma1ntenance and storage facilities. 

4. The recreational subzone included two areas north of the 

• 

• 

Schuylkill River and three 5mall areas south of the river managed to • 

provide for high-density recreatmn and picnic activities. 

630 
• 

• 

• 

5. The unused park subzone consisted of nine scattered areas 

throughout the park that included abandoned or currently unused 

structures, quarries, and parkmg lots. 

6. The visitor service subzone consisted of the concession building 

with its surrounding picnic area. 

]_ The residential subzone included seven small areas on which 

park employee housing facilities were located. 

The special use zone comprised areas in the park where non-park uses 

were primary. This zone was divided into five subwnes: 

1. The institutional subzone was applied to two areas which were 

used by private organizations--Washington Memorial Chapel complex 

and headquarters of the Patriotic Order, Sons of American 

Revolution. 

2. The private residential subzone applred to five private 

residential area5. 

3. The commercial subzone included a Sunoco gasoline station and 

grounds near Port Kennedy . 

4. The 

township 

transportation 

roads and two 

subzone consisted of land used for state and 

railroads. 

5. The 

northern 

utility 

part of 

subzone 

the park. 

applied the power line crossing the 

The "Statement for Management" defined nine management goals for the 

park. These were: 

1. Preservation and protection of cultural resources. 

To locate, identify, <md preserve the park's cultural resources 

rn a manner consistent with legislative and executive 

requirements and the Service's historic preservation policies. 

2. Conservation of natural resources. 

To promote the undisturbed operation of natural processes and 

the natural reestablishment of mature woodlands and wildlife 

populations, except where manipulation is required to maint<rin 

an historically authentic setting or to provide for optimum 

resource-comp<rtible recreation activities. 

3. Visitor use. 

To fully utilize the inherent qualities of the resource base with 

primary emphasrs on the park's historrc significance. 

Secondary emphasis should be placed on open space 

resource-compatible recreational uses . 

4. Interpretation. 

To rdentify and provide for appropriate interpretive use of the 

historic resource relative to the prrmary interpretive themes of 
the encampment, including its impact on the course of the 

Amer1can Revolution. 

5. Access and circulation. 

To promote efficient access to the park and to ensure safe, 

uncongested circulation within the park for visitors using their 

automobiles as well as for those on bicycles, horses and foot. 

6. Concessions. 

To identify and manage an appropriate concessions program 

based on visitor needs and commercial services available in the 

surrounding regional ar.,a. 

7. Development. 

To ensure that all park development is the minimum necessary 

for park administrat•on and the provision of "ssential services 

to park visitors, and that non-historic facilities are compatible 

with preserving the historic setting of the park's cultural 

resources. 

8. Lands. 

To identify and to acquire, through acquisition, legislation, 

boundary adjustment or other means, a land base sufficient for 

the preservation and management of the historic encampment 

setting and related resources. This land base will permit 

max•mum use of screening and protective measures to assure 

integrity of the resource and protection of its ambience from 

surrounding development. 

9. Cooperation. 

To cooperate with other 

organizations, and members of 

governmental 

the public, to 

agenc•es, private 

ensure that: 

1. land use and visitor activities within and without park 

boundaries are compatible, to the greatest degree possible, 

with long-term preservation of the park's cultural 

resources and their settings; 

2. interpretive and recreational opportunities within the 

park are complementary to those offered outside the park; 

•co 

3. the local community is fully informed of facilities and 

programs available in the park.(43) 

In February 1980 a 

National Historical 

revised 

Park 

"Statement for Management" for Valley Forge 

was approved by Acting Mid-Atlantic Regional 

• 

• 

43. "Statement for Management, Valley Forge National Historical Park," • 

August 3, 1978, pp. 1-38 (copy in Denver Service Center, Northeast 

Team Files). One shoUld consult the maps attached to the document for 

the location of the zones and subzones. 

632 
• 

• 

• 

Director James W, Coleman, Jr_ This document updated the earlier 

statement, taking into consider<>tion land acquisition developments and 

revisions in park poliCJeS, operations, and procedures. The land use 

classification zon"s and subzones remained substantially the same, with 

minor revisions to accommodate park additions and poli<;y changes, and 

the park objectives were left unchanged.(44) 

2. GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN 

National Park Service efforts leading toward a general management 

plan for Valley Forge National Historical P<wk commenced with twenty-two 

pre-planning public involvement consultations held during October 11-21, 

1977. Some 86 local, county, and state agencies ar~d public interest 

groups were in attendance at these meetings. The purpose of these 

<::onsultations was to listen to comments and thoughts of park users, 

neighbors, local governments, planning commissions, schools, and local 

recreational and historical groups, and identify problems, opportunities, 

and issues to be addressed in the assessment of alternatives of the 

general management plan. The consultations, as well as the early phases 

of the planning process leading to the final general management plan, 

were under the direction of Franklin G. Collins of the Denver Service 

Center. Other members of the original planning team were; 

Superintendent Lusk; Barron Bohnet, landscape architect, Mid-Atlantic 

Region; and Denver Service Center personnel Roger L. Buck, Jr., 

landscape architect, Bonnie M. Campbell, interpretive planner, Mary M . 

M<~gee, environmental specialist, Laura E. Soulliere, cultural resources 

specialist, and Richard E. \'/ells, landscape architect.(45) 

Between August 1978 and July 1980 a number of meetings were held 

directed toward preparation of the environmental assessment, a 

preliminary document to the general management plan. Preplanning 

workbooks were distributed in August 1978 to gain further input to the 

plan. During June and early July 1980 preview meetings were held for 

Pennsylvania legislators, state agencies, Pennsylvania congressional 

delegations, conservation groups, local county planning commissions and 

township representatives, park employees and con<::essroners, and the 

press.(46) 

The first planning document to be prepared by the planning team (Buck 

had replaced Collins as team captain) was the Environmental Assessment: 

Draft General Management Plan dated June 1980. The problem statement 

in the document read in part; 

44. "Statement for Management, Valley Forge National Historical Park," 

February 21, 1980, pp. 1-38, in Files, Superintendent's Office, VAFO. 

45. Tesk Directive, General Management Plan, Valley Forge National 

Historical Park, Chester and Montgomery Counties, Pennsylvania, Package 

101, May 25, 1978, Denver Serv1ce Center, Northeast Team Files . 

46. Regional Director, National Park Service to Deputy Director, National 

Park Service, December 16, 1981, Central Files, VAFO. 

633 
In the 200 years ~ince the encampment of the Continental army 

at Valley Forge, recreational uses have been developed that 

range from compatible with to adverse to the Significance and 

preservation of the park's historical and natural resources. In 

particular, both current and potential recreational uses of the 

park need to be examined as to their appropriateness and 

relative priority of land use •n relationship to the limited 

resources and primary purpose of the park. 

Prior to the nation's bicentennial, the Commonwealth of 

Pennsylvania developed facilities to meet anticipated demands. 

Some of these facilities, particularly those built for the 

bicentennial, may not be compatible with long-range use and 

preservation of the park. Facilities developed for state use 

may not be needed for federal use, and in some cases, uses for 

these newly built facilities must be developed. All existing 

facilities need to be examined to determine their adequacy to 

meet the management objectives of the park, their adaptability 

to newly developed uses, or the desirability of their removal 

and restoration of the area. The latter applies particularly to 

parking areas. 

High volumes of industrial, commercial, and commuter traffic on 

park roads conflict with both the historical significance of the 

p;,rk and the visitor experience. The existing network of roads 

is confusing and not conducive to an orderly use of the park. 

An evaluation of current traffic problems, an analysis of the 

circulation system, and an investigation of potential 

transportation systems <Jre needed. 

Encroachments continue to intrude on the historic scene of 

Valley Forge. The var1ous forms of encroachment include 

nearby high-rise structures, noise generated by heavy traffic 

on interstates 1n the park's proximity, commercial and 

residential development, and <Jssociated intrusions such as water 

pollution and traffic congestion. 

Present interpretive development/programming represents a 

transition from management of the park. An interpretive theme 

and concepts for conveying that theme must be developed to 

adequately serve park visitors. 

Research to adequately define the encampment scene, old road 

and fortification alignments, original fabric of historic 

structures, and evolution of the lands encompassing the park is 

currently in progress. This expanded data base must be 

Incorporated into the options for manag~ng the cultural 

resources, including landscape management. 

Two natural hazards must be considered in natural resource 

management--periodic flooding of the Schuykill River and 

smkholes located in certain areas of the park. The possible 

63< 

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• 

• 
• 

I 

ie 

.. 

pollution of Valley Creek 

monitored, and pollutoon 

eliminated. 

or other water bodies must 

sources must be identified 

The development and analysis of three 

management and use of the park were presented OSO~'", 

Between July 8 and August 11, 1 

two spedal meetings were held on 

Some 129 persons attended the public 

special meetings with Valley Forge Volunteers 

Forge Mountain Civic Associatlon.(48) 

In October 1980, as a result of public 

the three planning alternatives proposed i 

Regional Director Coleman approved the i 1 

Finding of No Significant Impact. The selection of Alternative 2, with 

some modification, would thus guide management through the general 

management plan in future years. Alternative 2 stated; 

The primary emphasis of this alternative would be on 

preservation and restoration of the historic scene to the 

encampment period of December 1977 to June 1778. An ongoing 

restoration program would be established to ensure that 

additional restoration would be undertaken as adequate data 

become available. Some clearing of forested areas and 

restoration of landforms would be undertaken; however, no 

attempt would be made to restore conditions that would be 

destructive to the existing natural environment. 

Visitor use would be directed toward appreciation of the 

important historical/cultural resources in the core area, which 

includes Washington's headquarters, Varnum's quarters, the 

Grand Parade, and the earthworks. General boundaries of the 

core area extend south of the outer line defense to the west 

side of Valley Creek, to Washington's headquarters and the 

Schuylkill River, across the Schuylkill to incorporate the site of 

Sullivan's Bridge and Fatland Ford, and then back to the south 

47. U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park 

Service Center, Environmental Assessment: Draft 

Plan, June, 1980, pp. 4, 77, 99, 127. Also see U. 

Interior, National Park Service, Denver Service 

Assessment Summary: Draft General Management 

Denver 

1-8. 

48. Regional Director, National Park Service to Deputy Director, National 

Park Serv1ce, December 16, 1981, Central Files, VAFO. Also see Lusk to 

P<1rk Neighbors, July 14, 1980, and Superintendent, VAFO to Division 

Heads and Supervisors, June 17, 19, 1980, Files, Superintendent's Office, 

VAFO. 

635 
bank of the Schuylkill returning to the outer line. The 

greatest emphasis on restoration of the historic scene would 

occur in the contiguou5 core area. 

Intensive recreational activities would be concentrilted 1n 

specific areas north of the Schuylkill River. Nonintensive 

recreation such as bli!nket picnicking and frisbee-throwing 

would be allowed on the periphery of the core area. 

Interpretation addressing the encampment period would be 

located at key interpretive node5. A comprehensive media plan 

of waysides and exhibits would be developed to augment 

personal services. 

The Department of the Interior and the National Park Service 

would exert maximum effort to reroute traffic around the park 

and to control the flow of traffic within the park. An 

intrapark mass transit sy5tem would be provided. 

Additional lands would be acquired north of the Schuykill 

River. Following appropriate research, significant cultural 

resources within the acquisition area would be preserved or 

partially restored. Active recreation would take place in arei!S 

that are the least visually intrUSIVe on the historic scene. 

Four principal modifications, however, were made to the alternative: 

1. Inner Line Drive was to remain in its entirety. 

2. State Route 252 was to remain in its entirety. 

3. Existing maintenance area was to remain in its entirety. 

4. The picnic area complex near the visitor center, identified in 

Alternative 3, was to be developed in final pli!n.(49) 

In April 1981 released for 

review.(SO) was printed •n 

November 1981, ; ~~~:;'":::, in the Code of 

Federal Regulations November with a ·, review period 

requesting written comments to be sent to the park superintendent. On 

November 16 a press release, entitled "Draft General Management Plan for 

49. Selection of Alternative and Finding of No 

Regional Director James W. Coleman, Jr., October 17, 

VAFO. 

Significant Impact, 

1980, Central Files, 

50. Extensive comments were submitted by the Chief, Office of Park 

Planning and Environmental Quality, Washington Office, National Park. 

Service, August 13, 1981. The principal questions raised were those 

pertaining to hut reconstruction, establishment of an archival collection 

and research center, visitor use data, and phasing of various 

development proposals over a five-year period. Chief, Office of Park 

Planning and Environmental Quality to Region<! I Director, Mid-Atlantic 

Region, August 13, 1981, CRM-MARO Files. 

636 

• 

• 
• 

• 

Valley Forge National Historical Park Available For Review," was 

distributed to some 150 newspapers, television, and radio media.(51) 

Three "open houses" were held at the park during December 1-5 for the 

purpose of presenting the final pl<1n to the interested public. As a result 

of the public reviews three issues of controversy emerged: relocation 

and zoning of recreational uses, expenditures for proposed development, 

and emphasis of historic values.(S2) 

Comments were received from and were cons1dered in the 

development of the final (Wells had replaced 

Buck as team captain superintendent by 

this time) approved by Coleman on June 8, 

1982. The major elements were preservat•on of significant 

historic resources, commemoration significant events, management of 

recreation, and prov1s1on for health and safety. The total capital 

development costs for the plan's implementation were estimated at 

$11,353,289, and the annual operating costs for the park at $3,750,746, a 

figure including existing and future needs after implementation of the 

plan.(53) 

3. RESOURCES MANAGEMENT PLAN 

In November 1981 a draft resources management plan for Valley 

Forge National Historical Park was prepared. The document, which was 

designed to refine and elaborate on the draft general management plan, 

detailed resources management strategies and actions designed to fulfill 

the legislative mandates and administrative and policy requirements of the 

park. It provided management objectives (a copy of which may be seen 

in Appendix G), overview and needs assessments, project statements for 

the cultural <1nd niltUrill resources milnilgement programs, ilnd defined 

activities, purposes, processes, altern<~tives, and impacts. The major 

focus of the plan was on the preservation of cultural resources ilnd 

restoration of the historic scene. N<1tural resources management actions 

51. "Draft General 

Park Available For 

Management Plan for V<illey Forge National Historical 

Review," (November 16, 1981) 1 CRM-MARO Files. 

52. Regional Director, Ni!tionill Pilrk Service 

Park Service, December 16, 1981, Central 

to Deputy Director, 

I VAFO. For a 

of local "''w''''"" reaction to the Draft ' 

<he 

December 

1981; and 

Niltionill P<1rk Service, Denver 

Valley Forge National Histor1cal 

pp. 1-9. The major proposals of 

Appendix F. 

637 
would assist in modifying visitor recreationill use patterns and in 

retaining the park's natural setting.(54) 

4. INTERPRETIVE PROSPECTUS 

By the spring of 1977 an immediate need was felt "for some plan for 

the orderly direction of the Interpretive programs and development in 

Valley ~,~,,~·· Historical prepared Park. during According;'Y::' the late ;, "~",:,,::-~;:: an interpretive specialist in the 

Regoonal i consultation with William E. Cox, the park's chief of 

interpretation. A working conference in the park during mid-April 

provided mw;h of the conceptual background from which the interim 

prospectus was developed. Among those in attendance at the conference 

were Superintendent Lusk, Chief of Interpretation Cox, Messrs. Ellsworth 

Swift and Alan Kent from the Harpers Ferry Center, and Sielaff. In 

addition, Associate Regional Director S. Sydney Bradford of the 

Mid-Atlantic Regional Office contributed the historical summary for the 

document. 

The interim prospectus contained sections on interpretive objectives, 

factors influencing the interpretive program, analysis of visitors, and an 

outline of proposed interpretive services and facilities of the park. Much 

of the report was tentative, pending the completion of numerous 

Bicentennial-related developments in the park and the results of further 

research documentation and visitor-related data. The interpretive 

objectives set forth the direction that the National Park Service planned 

to take on interpreting the park to the American public. The5e objectives 

were: 

Help vi5itors, through efficient orientation and information, 

plan for optimum use of the park. Follow up and promote 

winter use by aiding the visitor to plan a future trip. 

Explain why the Continental Army came to Valley Forge, and 

relate the events leading to the winter encampment. The 

visitor needs an accounting of the campaign history to put the 

Valley Forge experience in context of the Revolution. 

54. "Valley Forge Natiortal Historical Park Draft Resources Management 

Plan," November 2, 1981, Denver Service Center, Northeast Team Files. 

On November 8, 1983, Mid-Atlantic Regional Director Coleman approved a 

''Resources Management Plan/Environmental Assessment" for Valley Forge 

National Historical Park subject to satisfactory consideration of regional 

comments. Regional Director, Mid-Atlantic Region to Superintendent, 

Valley Forge, November 8, 1983, F1les, Superintendent's Office, VAfQ_ 

55. Valuable insights into the early park interpretive programs and 

planning efforts "·ere provided to the author of this study by William E. 

Cox during a telephone interview on August 13, 1984. 

638 • 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

Humanize the story by telling about life dur1ng the 

encampment and the interaction of everyone involved including 

the local residents as well as enlisted men and officers. 

Relate the problems and 

encampment by concentrating 

difficulties of managing the 

on Washington's administration. 

Trace training and reorganization efforts to show the 

<::ontinuing evolution of the Continental Army. Describe the 

molding of an unified Army from a mixed group of men coming 

from diverse geographical and military backgrounds. 

Recognize how foreign help from governments and 

individuals contributed to the shaping of the Army. 

particular reference to von Steuben, Ou Portail, De 

Pulaski and Lafayette. 

from 

Make 

Kalb, 

Give the visitor an accurate picture of the historic scene at 

the time of the encampment. (56) 

By the summer of 1979 the park's division of interpretation had prepared 

a seasonal information booklet, providing background data for the use of 

seasonal interpreters hired to augment the park staff during the heavy 

summer visitation season. The booklet contained sections on the purpose 

of the park, performance, uniform, and grooming standards, standard 

operating procedures at Washington's Headquarters, Varnum's Quarters, 

the Memorial Arch, and the Muhlenberg Brigade site, and various park 

policies. Sections were also devoted to discussions of the principles of 

interpretation, giving a demonstration, leading a conducted walk, 

conducting trip interpretation, "honesty m interpreting the cultural 

past," and a short history of the National Park Service.(57) 

mterim interpretive prospectus 

interpretive program><;:"~":':":'{, Prospectus was 

planning of the Ferry 1n 

regional personnel, document the 

objectives of the park, described the factors influencing the 

choice of interpretive media, and developed a plan for interpreting the 

park. The prospectus observed that Congress established Valley Forge 

National Historical Park "to preserve and commemorate for the people of 

56. "Valley Forge National Historical Park--Pennsylvania, Interim 

Interpretive Prospectus," (Summer, 1977), p. 1, RG 3, VAFO Archives. 

Also see Bond to Associate Regional Director, P & RP, August 11, 1977, 

CRM-MARO Files . 

57. "Division 

Forge National 

of Interpretation, Seasonal Information 

Historical Park, Summer 1979," RG 3, 

Booklet, Valley 

VAFO Archives. 
the United St~tes the area associated with the heroic suffering, hardship, 

and determination and resolve of General George Washington's Continental 

Army during the Winter of 1777-1778 at Valley Forge." Hence 

interpretation "must indicate the causes of the suffering" and "the 

benefits derived from determination and resolve; that in addition to 

enduring hardships, the army became a military organization capable of 

meeting a highly trained force in a protracted conflict." The "elements of 

the story," according to the document, added up to one central thoeme: 

"The Emergoence of an American Army." It was the objective of the 

National Park Service to interpret this theme to the public by {1) 

imparting an awareness of the h1storic scene, and (2) placing Valley 

Forge in its historical, military, and socio-political context. 

The interpretive prospectus briefly discussed factors influencing the 

choice of media for interpretation and outlined a plan for park 

interpretation, using exhibits, audiovisual aids, wayside exhibits, 

reference services, and publications. Special attention was given to 

interpretive planning and methodology at the visitor center which was to 

provide visitors with general orientation for the park, Washington's 

Headquarters, Artillery Park, Varnum's Quarters, Redoubts Nos. 1, 3, 

and 5, the Adjutant General's Quarters, Pawling House, and various 

Officers' Quarters. (58) 

E. LAND ACQUISITION AND PROTECTION PROGRAM 

In May 1976, more than six weeks before President Ford signed into law 

the bill authorizing the establishment of Valley Forge National Historical 

Park, Congressman Schulze inquired of Interior Department officials 

concerning measures to protect National Park Service lands "from 

peripheral high-density development." In response, Robert M. Landau, 

the National Park Service acting associate director, informed Schulze on 

May 24: 

The National Park Service IS certainly concerned that 

development on the periphery of parklands remains compatible 

with the historic and natural resources of the parks and does 

not detract from the enjoyment of these resources by park 

visitors. Since such development may take place on lands not 

under Federal control, we must rely on the cooperation of State 

and local governments and private individuals to mmimize or 

eliminate potential conflicts. This is most often done through 

wning, agreements, contracts and planning.(59) 

58. Harpers 

Forge 

March 

Ferry Center, D1vrsion of Interpretive 

I Historical Park, Pennsylvania, lnterpr·etive 

1 18. 

59. Landau to Schulze, May 24, 1976, RG 3, VAFO Archives. 

640 

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• 

• 

• 

On July 9, 1976, less than a week after President Ford signed mto l<>w 

the bill authorizing Valley Forge National Historical Park, Congressman 

Schulze was encourag1ng local governments to protect the park from 

"peripheral high-density development." In one letter to Ernest Gaugler, 

chairman of Lower Providence Township, he observed: 

Although the stewardship of the Park will pass from State 

to Federal hands, our loc<tl governments along the periphery of 

Valley Forge Park should begin long-range planning now and 

carry out whatever measures necessary to assure the protection 

of the historic and aesthetic integrity of these hallowed 

grounds. 

It certainly is not my intention to dictate what these 

actions should be. However, I do want you to know of my 

deep concern over the future of Valley Forge Park, and I urge 

your be5t effort in achieving the maximum protection pos5ible 

for this hallowed and historically significant area. 

In this connection, he enclosed the Landau letter and a copy of the 

Interior Department's "Land Use Control Possibilities, Proposed Valley 

Forge National Historical Park" that had been prepared in March. This 

short report discussed factors influencing land use around the park, 

existing commercial, light industrial, and residential land use on the 

periphery of the park, and the urgency for land use controls in several 

areas: the corridors along State Route 202 and Yellow Springs Road, 

lands south of State Route 23 from the park boundary to von Steuben's 

Quarters, and lands north of Valley Forge and across the Schuylkill 

River.(SO) 

Local groups led by State Representative Samuel Morris continued their 

efforts in 1977-78 to interest the National Park Service and Congressman 

Schulze in acquiring Chesterbrook, development of which had begun in 

1977, for addition to the park. In April 1978 Schulze responded to these 

pressures by saying that while he would have no problem in introducing 

legislation providing for the i!Cquisition of Chesterbrook, he was having 

problems in getting House leaders to even listen to the subject. Hence 

the Chesterbrook issue slowly f<~ded as the Fox Companies continued their 

development of the property. (61) 

During the r:>eriod between July 4, 1976, and August 30, 1978, the 

National P<>rk Service conducted a l<>nd acquisition program to "carry out 

the 1ntent of Congress to consolidate and preserve the park resource." 

The program, based on the provisions in P.L. 94-337 authorizing the 

60. Schulze to Gaugler (and enclosures), July 9, 1976, RG 3, VAFO 

Archives. 

61. Regional Director, 

Legislat•on, WASO, April 

VIII (April, 1984), 1, 40, 

Mid-Atlantic 

4, 1978, and 

in CRM-MARO 

Region 

Dela~->·are 

Files. 

to Chief, Office of 

Valley Business D1gest, 
park, included the takeover of thirty-one private propertie5 totaling some 

200 a<;:res. By early 1979 the Park Servi<;:e had assumed ownership of 24 

of these properties and was awaiting a federal court ruling on the 

purchase price of six others. These a<;:quisitions included properties at 

the western edge of the park along State Route 23, Orchard Lane, Yellow 

Springs Ro«d, and «tOp Mount Misery, at the eastern edge of the park in 

the Port Kennedy area near State Route 363, and at the southeastern 

corner along Thomas Road. In addition, the 46-«cre industrial 

"inholding," previously owned by the Keene Corporation, had been 

pur<;:hased in October 1976. (62) 

Preliminary discussion5 for a major park land acquisition program were 

commenced in late 1978 to protect the park boundaries from en<;:roaching 

development. About this time (August 30) the park received a letter 

from Morris Gerber, an attorney from the Norristown firm of Gerber, 

Maer<:, Wilen<:ik & Shields representing Peter J. Carnie!, former 

Philadelphia Democratic Party chairman, ex-state senator, and present 

member of the state turnpike <;:Ommission <md owner of 155 acres of land 

located in Lower Providence Township. The tract, known historically as 

"Fatlands," abutted the northern boundary of Valley Forge National 

Historical Park. The purpose of the letter, a copy of which wa5 sent to 

the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners, was to inquire if the 

National Park Servi<;:" would be interested in acquiring the land less the 

Fatlands Mansion and ten acres which would be retained for use by the 

Camiels. If not, Carnie! indicated interest in subdividing his property for 

construction of 65-70 single-family homes.(63) 

After National Park Service inspection of the "Fatlands" property by 

Superintendent Lusk and his staff and consultation with various Park 

Service offices and the Montgomery County Planning Commission, a 

meeting was held in Regional Director Stanton's office on October 25, 

attended by Superintendent Lusk and other regional personnel. It was 

decided to reexamine the park's total land acquisition needs and to 

consider "Fatlands" as part of a total land acquisition package for the 

park--the pacKage to "give complete protection for the resource." It was 

agreed to prepare the package for indusion in the 1979 National Park 

Service Omnibus Bill. Thus, the National Park Service decided to 

62. "Briefing Sheet," (March 26, 1979), and The Evening Phoenix, 

March 24, 1979, Files, Superintendent's Offlce,---;;t"AFO. For further 

documentation on this land acquisition program see Staff Appraiser, MARO 

to Superintendent, Valley Forge NHP, June 13, 1977, and Chief Land 

Acquisition Div1sion, National Park Service to Regional Solicitor, Boston 

Region, April 25, 1978, Files, Superintendent's Office, VAFO. Also see 

The Times Herald, February 4, 1978, and Montgomery County Post, 

February 15, 1978, Scrapbooks, YAFO Library. 

63. Gerber to Lusk, August 28, 1978, Files, Superintendent's Office, 

VAFO. For further data on the h1story and significance of the Fatlands 

property, see Karen E. Lee, "A History of Fatland and Mill Grove," May 

18, 1973, CRM-MARO F1les. 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

expedite its land acquisition plan which it had hoped to defer until after 

completion of the park's general management plan. (64) 

During the next five months, Superintendent Lusk and his staff met with 

local property owners, township planning commissions, congressmen, and 

state legislators in their efforts to compile a land acquisition package for 

the park.(65) On March 23, 1979, Lusk submitted the land acquisition 

package to Regional Director St<1nton. The package proposed ilcquisition 

of fourteen propert•es totaling 626 acres--496 acres by fee acquisition (60 

acres in Chester County and 436 in Montgomery County) and 130 acres by 

scenic easements (20 acres in Chester County and 110 acres in 

Montgomery County) to assure present zoning and usage of property. 

Lusk noted that: 

. all land owners who would be mvolved by sale of their 

property to the National Park Service have been contacted and 

are formally disposed to such sale. It is important that we 

move quickly on this package as these owners will sell to 

developers and other interested parties should we fail to act. 

Three of the tracts are on the market at this time, but the 

owners would prefer selling to the National Park Service and 

have agreed to hold up sale for a reasonable time pending our 

decision. 

The package included maps, photographs, justifications, descriptions, and 

details of incre<>sed operating costs. In conclusion, Lusk observed: 

This property represents the complete needs of the park and 

details only those areas which would have significant impact on 

the park. It <>lso provides the park with adequate recreational 

buffer land to accommodate incre<>sing traffic in the years <>head 

and to provide for recreational uses now impacting the prime 

historic zone. Use figures at Valley Forge for 1978 indicate in 

excess of 11,000,000 visits. This breaks down, roughly, to 

1,000,000 historic visitors, 4,000,000 recreation<>! users, and 

6,000,000 commuters and drive throughs. These figures 

further support our need for protection of the resource <>nd 

addition<>! recreation<>! l<>nd. 

64. "Reconstruction of Planning Summary of Discussion and 

Correspondence Regarding Land ACQUisition <>t V<>lley Forge Since August 

28, 1978"; "Land Acquisition Program, Meetings With Townships and 

Congressmen"; and "Summary of Planning Commission Discussions;" 

[March 1979], Files, Superintendent's Office, VA FO. Super111tendent 

Lusk's views on the acquisition of F<>tl<>nds may be seen 1n 

Superintendent, Valley Forge National Historical Park to Region<>! 

Director, Mid-Atlantic Region, September 8, 1978, CRM-MARO Files. 

65. Superintendent, 

Director, Mid-Atlantic 

Director, Mid-Atlantic 

Planning Divisiol"\. 

Valley Forge National Historical Park to Regional 

Region, January 16, March 9, 1979, and Regional 

Region to Director, WASO, February 2, 1979, Files, 
Because of the offer of Fatlands to the park, this lands 

package has come out of sequence with our present General 

Management Plan schedule. It should be noted however that 

this package was discussed with the planning team and received 

their support. It has also been supported by the Montgomery 

County Planning Commission and the Lower Providence Township 

Planning Board as well as Schuylkill and Tredyffrin Township 

personnel, the Chester County Planning Commission and almost 

all neighbors contacted by the park.(66) 

In a separate 

considered for 

observed: 

document Superintendent Lusk listed the "areas 

acquisition" with accompanying justifications. 

No further land acquisition is recommended South of the 

Pennsylvania Turnpike. Land in this area is generally 

developed to a high density and is visually separated from the 

park by the turnpike. Administration of isolated historic 

structures on these neighborhoods would be costly and 

inefficient for the park. The structures involved, basically 

quarters for encampment general staff, are somewhat similar to 

those already in the park. 

Every effort will be made to protect existing historic structures 

in the area South of the turnpike through state and local 

groups, historical societies, etc. 

In addition Lusk provided rationale for four specific areas that were not 

considered for acquisition. These were: 

CHESTERBROOK 

Already under development, th1s tract will produce considerable 

population pressure on our southern boundary, may result in 

additional stream pollution or flow rate, and will complicate 

traffic in the area south of the turnpike. However, the 

development is separated by the turnpike, providing limited 

access to the park and is well screened from the park because 

of natural topography. The extremely high cost for purchase of 

this land does not support our acquisition based on impact to 

the area .... 

VALLEY FORGE MANOR 

This area is located between the park boundary and Pawlings 

Road near the Schuylkill River and consists of several homes on 

66. Superintendent, Valley Forge National Historical Park to Regional 

Director, Mid-Atlantic Region, March 23, 1979, Files, Superintendent's 

Office, VAFO. 

'" 

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• 
• 

• 

• 

large acreage tracts. No action was recommended regarding 

these properties because they represent a low impact use and 

do not threaten the park at this time. Zoning for the area is 

presently R-1 and the use pattern is compatible with our long 

range plans. The area is also screenable from the park using 

existing tree lines. 

CAMIEL LANE/VAUX LANE/CHAPEL VIEW AND VALENTINE 

A subdivision of private homes on large tracts located between 

Fatlands and st. Gabriel's and on Pawlings Road. This, like 

Valley Forge Manor, IS a n<~tural development which can be 

screened and because of its existence is not recommended for 

any action. As with Valley Forge Manor, the only threat from 

these properties would be in future years and a~suming that an 

individual could purchase many of the homes in the tracts and 

convert them to other uses of a commercial or industrial nature. 

As this situation is well into the future, we believe it best to 

leave things as they are at this time. 

Private homes on large tracts located next to Fatlands. These 

homes do not represent any immediate or near term threat to 

the park, and we should encourage their continued use as 

residences and continued zoning of the property for residential 

use by the Township. .(67) 

Superintendent Lusk held a press conference on March 26 to announce his 

land acquisition package recommendations. According to Lusk, the park 

was recommending 

that the boundary be adjusted at this time because we feel it 

may be the last opportunity to preserve the vi~ta access across 

the Schuylkill River from the park. The proposal recommends 

purchase in fee of approximately 60 acres in Chester County 

and about 400 acres in Montgomery County as well as purchase 

of scenic easements on another 130 acres in both counties. Much 

of the additional 

market at this 

land. 

land recommended 

time and consists 

for purchase is on the 

of large tracts of open 

We view the land in Lower Providence Township as the last 

sizable land acquisition required for the park. It is 

beneficial to the park to have such areas to preserve the 

67. "Areas Not Considered For· Acquisition," [March, 1979], Files, 

Superintendent's Office, VAFO . 

645 
historic scene. Commercial development or multiple story 

build1ngs would seriously detract from the visitor's experience. 

Acquisition will also have a very beneficial affect on the area 

by providing more open space for recreational uses.(68) 

In early July 1979 the National Park Service prepared the draft of a bill, 

authorizing acquisition of 682.4 additional acres to Valley Forge National 

Historical Park, thus providing for a legislative mandate to implement the 

land acquisition package when it would be approved. The proposed 

legislation was designed "to support our imperative need to continue the 

protection of the cultural resources and to add additional recreational 

lands." The authorized ceiling for funds to be expended on land 

acquisition for the park was raised from $8,622,000 to $13,894,865.(69) 

Nearly four months later, on July 12, Congressman Lawrence Coughlin 

introduced H.R. 4762, a bill to add 682.4 acres to Valley Forge National 

Historical Park.(70) Hearings were held on the bill on July 26, and on 

November 13, the House passed the Valley Forge provision as Title II of 

H.R. 4308 for establishment of Legionville National Historic Site.(71) 

Shortly thereafter, the text of language relating to expansion of Valley 

Forge National Historical Park as passed in H.R. 4308 was incorporated as 

Title 111 in H.R. 5926, a bill providing for establishment of Biscayne 

National Park. The House Subcommittee on National Parks and Insular 

Affairs conducted a hearing on H.R. 5926 on November 30, and the bill 

was favorably reported from the full Committee on Interior and Insular 

Affairs on December 5. 

68. "Briefing Sheet," (March 26, 1979), Files, Superintendent's Office, 

VAFO. Also see Lusk to Resident, November 7, 1979, The Evening 

Phoenix, March 27, May 17, 1979, and The Times Herald, March 27, 1979, 

ibid. --

69. Deputy Director, National Park Service to Legislative Counsel, July 

2, 1979, Files, Superintendent's Office, VAFO. This memorandum, a copy 

of which may be seen in Appendix H, contains the legislative package in 

support of the proposed bill. 

70. u.s., 

Providing for 

the State Of 'Se5s.~79, 

H.R. 4308, A 

National Historic Site in the 

purposes, October 29, 1979, Files, 

Pennsylvania, and 

Superintendent's Office, VAFO. 

646 

'" 

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• 
• 

• 

• 

Title Ill of H.R. 5926 amended the establishing act for Valley Forge 

National Historical Park 1n three instances. First, a new map was 

referenced for the area, which included some 682.4 acres of i!dditional 

land. Second, the Secretary of the Interior was specifically authorized to 

prov1de technical assistance to V<trlous entities to provide for the 

preservation of other historical properties in the vicinity of the park. 

Third, an increase was made in the land acquisition ceiling for the are;~ 

which would permit the acquisition of the lands added to the park. The 

bill authorized up to an additional $5,273,000 to be appropriated for land 

acquisition at Valley Forge. These changes to the establishing act were 

needed, according to the committee, because: 

Subsequent to the establishment of the historical park, the 

Nation;~! P;~rk Service conducted a study of the boundary and 

the surrounding lands, and identified a number of properties 

which are desirable for addition to the area. Addition of these 

areas would permit the acquisition of scenic easements over 

some 149 acres to retain the character of the area surrounding 

the park, provide for fee simple acquisition of some 482 acres 

which will improve the management of visitor use activities and 

protection of historic properties, <tnd incorporate some 51.4 

acres of State and county owned lands which would be acquired 

only by donation. (72) 

On December 10, 1979, the House passed H.R. 5926, despite opposition 

from the budget-minded Office of Management and Budget and Department 

of the lnterior.(73) During the debate prior to the vote, Congressman 

Keith G. Sebelius of Kansas and Coughlin provided the rationale behind 

the Valley Forge provisions. Sebelius noted; 

After the National Park Service took over the area, they were 

able to evaluate the current boundaries of the park in view of 

their adequacy for their management needs, and with a 

particular awareness that adjacent suburban development was 

fast encroaching upon the park. 

This evaluation led to the conclusion brought forth in the bill 

before us, advancing the urgent necessity of some further 

boundary additions. Most of the lands to be added will help 

protect the integrity of the current historical lands by 

buffermg them from adverse adjacent development. The 

additions will also offer expanded management flexibility to 

channel much of the current non-conforming recreational use 

72. U.S. Congress, 

Establishing the i 

~ Purposes, 

House, Committee on Interior and 

National Park in the State of 

1st sess., 1979, H:ffepT. 

Insular Affairs, 

and For 

~-1T" 

73. U.S. Congress, Senate, H.R. 5926, An Act to Establish Biscayne 

National Park, to Improve the Adm1nistrat1on of the Fort Jefferson 

National Monument, to Enlarge the Valley Forge National Historical Park, 

and for other purposes, December 12, 1979, F1le>, Superontendent's 

Office, VAFO. 
withm the park from the areas of major interest. It is most 

important that the National Park Service keeps this issue in the 

forefront of all its planning and management efforts. 

The committee, when it authorized thos new area in 1976, saw 

this issue as one of very high concern--the segregation of 

recreational use from the prime parts of the historical resource, 

and the altogether eventual complete elimination of some aspects 

of recreat•onal use. 

Coughlin supported his colleague's remarks by stating: 

It is important that the Federal Government move immediately 

to obtain these valuable lands. All of the property to be 

acquired in fee, except for one parcel, is slated for purchase 

or development by private individuals. There is the real 

danger that these tracts will be lost, unless the Park Service is 

able to <ICt in the next few months. It is my understanding 

that informal agreements exist between the National P<1rk 

Service and l<1ndowners, that the Government would h<1ve the 

opportunity to purchase the land by the end of the ye<1r. 

Unless the property, mast of which is raw land, is acquired 

now, it will not be feasible to purchase it in the future. 

Higher costs are certain when compensation for development and 

displocement is included.(74) 

On February 18, 1980, Senotor John Heinz introduced a similar bill 

(5.2299) in the Senate. Accordingly, it was referred to the Committee on 

Energy and Natural Resources to be considered <1iong with H. R. 5926 

which had been referred to the committee the previous December.(75) 

Hearings were held on S .2299 and H. R. 5926 by the Senate committee's 

Subcommittee on Parks, Recreation, and Renew<lble Resources, chaired by 

D<lle Bumpers of Arkansas, on March 12, 1980. Senator Heinz, 

Congressman Coughlin, and Frederic T. Dannerth, deputy director, 

Montgomery County Planning Commission, all appeared to testify in 

support of the bill. In his prepared statement, Dannerth presented <1 

cogent five-point analysis of why the boll should be enacted: 

75. U.S., Congress, Senate, CongressiOnal Record, 

sess., 1980, 126, pt. 3: 2919-20. Also see Philadelphia 

1979, <1nd Philadelphia Inquirer, May 8, November 20, 

data on this topic. 

96th Cong., 2d 

Bulletin, July 29, 

1979, for further 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

1 

2. 

Historic: preservation--a number of historic srtes of 

Revolutionary significance are included m the land 

acqursrtion 

Recreation--lands to be acquired would facilitate the 

raprdly growing demand of the community, the region, and 

the nation_ 

3. Scenic river--to enforce the Schuylkill River Valley as 

Pennsylvania's first legislatively designated scenic river 

4. Park setting--to stabilize the setting of the park as 

travelers and visitors enter the park 

5. Park vistas--to protect the most significant vistas from 

major areas within the present park 

Opposing the Valley Forge provi5ions of H.R. 5926 and 5.2299 at the 

hearings was Ira Hutchrson, deputy director of the National Park Service. 

In his prepared statement Hutchison represented the views of the 

Department of the Interior: 

The cost of acquiring the lands and interests in lands which 

would be added to the park is $9,100,000. The administrat,on 

believes that this cost is excessive for the acquisition of 

essentially buffer areas and recreation lands unrelated to the 

historic resource. Further, we strongly believe that in this 

case the availability of public recreation is the responsibility of 

the local governments of the area and if the lands are to be 

acquired, such action should be by the local governments. We 

therefore recommend against the enactment of 5.2299 and Title 

Ill of H.R. 5926. 

The local county commissioners and planning entities generally 

support the Protection of these lands. As evidenced at public 

hearings held in 1979, public sentiment 1s also for such 

protection. Accordingly, we believe that the purposes of these 

provisions can be achieved through zoning and other local 

action, and we intend to work closely with local officials to 

bring about the local controls.(76) 

witness statement 

department's legislative counsel for approval 

anticipation of hearings on H. R. 4762. At that 

noted: 

were 

had submitted to the 

on July 24, 1979, 1n 

time, his draft statement 

The National Park Service believes it is imperative that we 

acquire these additional lands (682.4 acres) to continue the 

protection of the cultural resources and add the needed 

recreation lands to the park. Invaluable resources are 

threatened by growth and development immediately adjacent to 
In response to Deputy Director Hutchison's testimony members of the 

subcommittee indicated that they wished to submit written questions to the 

Park Service. On March 14 the questions were submitted to National Park 

Service Director William J. Whalen, and on April 2 the answers were sent 

to the subcommittee. A copy of the questions and answers pertaining to 

Valley Forge may be seen in Appendix 1.(77) 

The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources favorably 

reported H.R. 5926 by unanimous vote on April 14 1 1980, subject to 

several amendments none of which affected the Title Ill provisions 

relating to Valley Forge. (78) On June 5 the full Senate approved the 

committee's ilmendments and passed the bill, (79) and the House concurred 

in the Senate's amendments on June 17.(80) President Jimmy Carter 

signed H.R. 5926 into law (P.L. 96-287) on June 28, 1980.(81) 

On October 1, 1980, notice was published in the 

boundary of the park had been revised 

The revisions included lands depicted on the 

646/VF-91,001, dated June 1979, and prepared 

Division of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Office.(82) 

76. (cont.) the park's boundary which would alter the historic 

scene significantly and be immediately noticeable. 

Because Of the park's close proximity to Philadelphia and its 

past history of use for recreational purposes, we feel these 

lands are needed to buffer and protect the prime historic 

scene. 

Acting Director, National Park Service to Legislative Counsel, July 24, 

1979, Central Files, MARO. 

77. Bumpers to Whalen, March 14, 1980, dnd Hutchison to Bumpers, 

April 2, 1980, Central Files, MARO. 

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, 

I Park and Expand the Valley Forge 

~ sess., 1980, S. Rept. 96-665, 

79. U.S. Congress, Senate, Congressional Record, 96th Cong., 2d 

sess., 1980, 126, S 6364-65. 

80. U.S. Congress, House, Congressional Record, 96th Cong., 2d sess., 

1980, 126, H 5055-56. 

81. Title Ill of Public Law 96-287 may be seen in Appendix J. Also see 

Chief, Land Acquisition Division to Regional Director, Mid-Atlantic 

Region, October 15, 1980, Files, Superintendent's Office, VAFO, for a 

copy of the r·evised area sheet reflecting the summary of land acquisit>on 

authorities for the park. 

32. Federal Register, XLV (October 1, 1980), 65051. 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

While H.R. 5926 was making its way through Congress, the National Park 

Service continued its review of the proposed Valley Forge land acquisition 

package. In March 1980 the Mid-Atlantic Regional Office completed its 

review of the draft land acquisition plan, and thereafter it was submitted 

to the public for comment.(83) After receiving generally favorable public 

reaction, the land acquisition plan was approved by Acting Mid-Atlantic 

Regional Director James W. Coleman, Jr., on May 2, 1980.(84) 

Land Protection Plan was prepared under new federal 

1 during The plan, vvhich was <>pproved by Mid-Atlantic 

Regional Director Coleman on March 9, 1982, contained discussion of the 

following topics: land resource protection measures, authority to acquire 

lands, review procedures, current status and planned action, and current 

status and planned actions of lands authori<:ed by P.L. 96-287. The 

introduction of the plan stated: 

As a result of the last several decades of urban growth in the 

Philadelphia metropolitan region, much of the land surrounding 

Valley Forge National Historical Park has been developed for 

residential and commercial purposes. The former farm and 

forested lands in the immediate environs of the park are being 

converted to these other uses. Thus, it is envisioned that no 

further land protection measures, including land acquisition, 

other than those identified in this plan or later minor revisions 

of it, will occur. Opportunities for a substantial enlargement of 

the National Park appear not to exist based upon what remains 

of the encempment area. 

This plan proposes a 

protection measures. 

objectives in mind: 

wide range and variety of land resource 

These have been designed with several 

a. Protection measures must, at a mLnimum, assure the 

preservation of the encampment area. Additionally, sufficient 

lands must be available to commemorate the events of 1777-78 

and to assure public use and enjoyment of this historic area. 

b. The 

compatible with 

most 

park 

cost-effective measures will be 

management needs and practices. 

utilized, 

c. To 

designed to 

governments. 

the maximum extent 

encourage cooperation 

possible, measures will be 

with the State and local 

83. Acting RegLonal Director, Mid-Atlantic Region to Superintendent, 

Valley Forge, March 7, 1g80, fjles, SuperLntendent's Office, VAFO. 

L the original 

proposed revision would be 

Interior, National Park Servic,., Valley Forge 

Acquisition Plan, May 1980, Files, 

This plan pertajned solely to the lands 

sjnce there was no assurance that the 

by Congress. 

'" 
d. Land protection measures will be tailored to specific 

needs of the park and to the needs of the individual 

landowners, Where it is proposed to acquire lands or interests 

in lands from private parties. Land protection techniques will 

be those minimally needed to meet Park Service land and public 

use resource objectives.(85) 

Partial funding to begin acquisition of lands authorized by the 1980 act 

were appropriated in fiscal year 1982 in the amount of $3,840,000. One 

60.69-acre parcel was purchased for $407,000 in 1982.(86) At the end of 

1982 the total acreage of Valley Forge State Park was 2,639.7S.(87) 

F. SIGNIFICANT 

ADMINISTRATION: 

ISSUES AND 

1977-1979 

ACTIVITIES RELATED TO PARK 

Aside from the various issues that were addressed by the Park Service as 

it sought to integrate Valley Forge as a fully functioning unit in the 

National Park System, a variety of activities related to park operations 

were initiated during the 1977-79 period. It is the purpose of this 

section to describe briefly those activities and note the impact they had 

on park administrative practices and procedures. 

1. BUILDING SECURITY 

During the transition from state to federal administration at Valley 

Forge, there were "regular" breaches of security at park buildings. For 

instance, a collection of English china and a pewter collection (both 

collections V<llued in excess of $250,000) that the Valley Forge Historical 

Society had stored 1n Maxwell's Quarters was stolen by a four-m<~n 

antique fencing ring in November 1976.(88) This theft led the National 

Park Service to assign are<~ coordinators who were made responsible for 

building security at the end of each day once the P<~rk Service assumed 

administration of the park. When incidents of vand<~lism increased dur1ng 

~'i·~;"~·:';·=~~~~~~"i'~'~he Interior, National Park Service, V<~lley Forge ·~~,;~~';'T~~i'a;~ Protection Plan, March 9, il 1 VAFO. An--updated land 

June 

approved by Mid-Atlantic Regional Director Colem<~n 

U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park 

Forge Land Protection Plan, June 17, 1983, Files, 

Qffjce, VAFO. 

86. Superintendent, VAFO to Regional Director, MARO, April 12, 1982, 

Central Files, VAFO. 

87. Ibid. 

• 

• 

88. Today's Post, April 1, 1977, and Philadelphia Bulletin, [ca. May, 1977], • 

Scrapbooks, VAFO Library. 

652 
• 

• 

• 

the summer and fall of 1978, the park developed "Standard Operating 

Procedures" for opening and closmg Washington's Headquarters and 

Varnum's Quarters to insure better security.(89) 

2. CONTRACTS AND SPECIAL USE PERMITS 

Various contracts, concession permits, and special use permits were 

let by the park during 1977-79. According to the "Statement for 

Management," these included: 

Special Use Permit 4860-9-0001 of March 16, 1979 was issued to 

the Montgomery County Convention and Visitors' Bureau to 

utilize a small amount of floor space in the Valley Forge National 

Park Visitor Center for dispensing area information from their 

own facility. This group operates one desk in the visitor 

center seven days a week from May 1 through October 31, and 

on weekends only from April 14 through May 1-

Speci~l Use Permit 4860-7-0003 of March 31, 1977, was issued to 

the Patriotic Order, Sons of America, for use of approximately 

one and one-fifth acres, with building, for their headquarters. 

Special Use Permit 4860-8-0007 of October 19, 1978, was issued 

to the Valley Forge Historical Society for the use of 

Huntington's Quarters to store various materials. 

Concession Permit CP4860-08-001 was issued to Valley Forge 

Tours w provide tour bus service throughout the park during 

the heavy visitor season. The rental of self-guided auto-tape 

tours is also authorized under this permit. . .(90) 

3. STAFFING 

During the spring of 1977 a flurry of protest was raised when the 

Washington Office considered reduction of the Valley Forge staffing level 

from the originally planned 61 to 41 positions. The twenty positions that 

were proposed for withdrawal included: maintenance mechanic (2); 

laborer (2); electrician; horticulturist; engineering equipment operator 

(3); park technician (protection) (2); park technician (tour guide) (2); 

projectionist (2); janitor (3); historian exhibits specialist (1); and 

maintenance worker leader. All told, some $347,400 in wages would be 

saved with the cutbacks.(91) 

89. Supervisory Park Historian, IFO to All Interpreters, December 29, 

1978, RG 3, VAFO Archives. 

90. "Statement for 

February 21, 1980, 

Management, 

PP- 29-30, 

Valley 

Files, 

Forge National Historical 

Superintendent's Office, 

Park," 

VAFO. 

91. Chief, Programming and Budget Division to Acting Regional Director, 

Mid-Atlantic Region, June 8, 1977, CRM-MARO F1les. 

653 
On June 9 Representative Coughlin registered his complaints about the 

proposed cutbacks in the I it "a tragedy if 

we lose the level of ' national shrine 

below what is necessary to handle the visitors and preserve the Valley 

Forge Park." Despite the Congressoonal pressures and objections from 

the Mid-Atlantic Regional Office, the personnel cutbacks were 

implemented. (92) 

4. VALLEY FORGE PARK INTERPRETIVE ASSOCIATION 

Park management initiated cooperative efforts with various 

organizations to maximize preservation and interpretation of park 

resources and enhance the role of the park in the local community. The 

Valley Forge Park Interpretive Association was incorporated on June 16, 

1977, to promote the educational, scientific, and interpretive goals of the 

park. As an independent non-profit association with local citizens 

serving as a nine-member board of directors, it began operation of a 

sales counter in the visitor center on July 1, offering such items as 

publications, maps, medallions, posters, and handicrafts to supplement 

the interpretive material produced by the National Park Service. The 

board of directors included: 

Conrad Wilson, former executive director of the Chester County 

Historical Society and resident of Villanova (chairman); Miss 

Marie Strycharz, senior trust officer of the American Bank and 

Trust Company, Port Kennedy (treasurer); Robert E. Anewalt, 

Marketing Representative for IBM, Valley Forge; B- Daniel 

Clater, social studies teacher at Valley Forge Junior High 

School, King of Prussia; Frank X. Custer, public information 

director of Chester County, Phoenixville; Edward W. Graham, 

Curator-Director of Mill Grove, the first home of 

Artist-Naturalist John James Audubon, Audubon; Mrs. Elsa V. 

Hartman, former teacher and administrator of the Agnes Irwin 

School for Girls, Devon; Ralph W. Kent, attorney and former 

judge of the Court of Common Pleas for Chester County, West 

Chester; and John F. Reed, trustee of the Montgomery County 

Historical Society and Freedoms Foundation. 

In addition, the park superintendent served as an ex-officio member of 

the board and the park's chief of interpretation as executive secretary. 

In announcing the formation of the board, Superintendent Lusk stated 

that the association wOUld produce a double benefit for the park, enabling 

the visitor to "find good-quality publications available to enrich his 

92. Congressional Record -House, 

MARO position paper on the 

Appendix K. 

June 9, 

proposed 

1977, 14-5613. 

cutback may 

A copy of 

be seen 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

understandings'' and the park to "gain the 

interpretive innovations and publications, "(93) 

funds finance 

The Valley Forge Park Interpretive Association supplemented the efforts 

of the Friends of Valley Forge, a group that had been sanctioned by the 

Valley Forge Park Commission in March 1976. The Friends opened a craft 

shop on the second floor of the Bake House in June, selling hand-crafted 

gift items, the proceeds from which were contributed to the park for 

various interpretive programs, library acquisitions, and park activities. 

By June 1977, the Friends had a membership of 210 families and some 60 

volunteers working in the shop.(94) 

On July 1, 1979, the new cooperating association initiated a bicycle rental 

program in the park and each rider was provided with a map of the six 

miles of park bicycle trails and a specially written cyclists' guide to the 

historical features of the park. The bicycle rentals were available on a 

daily basis from July 7 to September 1 and on weekends dunng September 

and October.(95) 

The cooperating association made a substantial donation of $7,000 to the 

park for the operation of a "Children's Program" during the 1978~79 

school year (the "Children's Program" had been commenced during the 

1977-78 school year). Four programs of 90 minutes each were offered to 

school children of Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New Jersey: "George 

Washington: the Soldier, the Man;" "Soldier Life;" "Foreign Influence;" 

and "Civilians at Valley Forge". Over the nine-month period 9,331 

students 1n grades three through twelve participated in the programs. 

Two of the five interpreters involved in the "Children's Program" were 

paid through funds donated by the association, and purchase of essential 

props such as maps, uniforms, and soldiers' accoutrements were also made 

possible by contributions from the association. In addition to working 

with school groups, the two interpreters planned a self-guiding tour of 

the park for school groups and reorganized the program's mailing system. 

93. U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Mid-Atlantic 

Regional Office, News Release, "Valley Forge Park Forms Cooperating 

Association," June 27, 1977, Files, Superintendent's Office, VAFO, and 

The Suburban and Wayne Times, September 1, 1977, Scrapbooks, VAFO 

Library. 

Minutes, Valley Forge 

and Wayne 

Park Commission, March 22, 1976, and The 

April 7, 1977, Scrapbooks, VAFO Library. 

Friends have funded have included 

at historic ,;,,.,;,.,;~':': presentation of "Friend of the Year" 

awards to noteworthy contributions to the park, and purchase of 

in the 

an electronic security system at Washington's Headquarters. 

95. Valley Forge Park lnterpretiv<= Associat•on, News Release, "Weekend 

Bike Rentals at Valley Fnrge National Historical Park," August 22, 1979, 

RG 3, VAFO Archives. 

655 
special programs for children seven to twelve years of age were held e 

during the summer. The group size for the summer program was limited 

to twelve. The objective of the program was to explore the life of the 

Continental soldier. During the 1978-79 school year four 60-minute 

ch1ldrens' programs were offered twice da1ly on a reservation basis: 

"George Washington: the Soldier, the Man;" "Small Things Forgotten; 

Exploring Material Culture;" "Foreign Influence in the American 

Revolution;" and "Soldier Life: The Revolutionary Soldier."(96) 

S. YOUNG ADULT CONSERVATION CORPS PROGRAM 

In October 1977 Mid-Atlantic Regional Office Director Stanton 

announced the commencement of a Young Adult Conservation Corps 

(YACC) program at Gettysburg National Military Park with a satellite 

camp at Valley Forge National Historical Park. Both camps were operated 

on a non-residential basis with enrollees commuting from their homes. 

The enrollees were unemployed persons between the ages of 16 and 23 

who worked for up to twelve months. The pilot YACC program began 

with some 35 corpsmen at Gettysburg and 15 at Valley Forge. Funding 

for the program was provided under the Comprehensive Employment and 

Training Act. Robert Greer, a Job Corps officer since 1971, was 

appointed camp director for the YACC at both parks, but was stationed 

at Gettysburg. Chief of Maintenance Paul Clark served as project 

manager at Valley Forge. Assignments at Valley Forge included trail 

building and conservation development of a recreation area north of the 

Schuylkill River, construction of three footbridges on the trail system, 

fence building, wood chopping and snow removal for winter 

re-enactments, landscaping, tree planting, and minor structural 

rehabilitation work. In September 1977 several YACC enrollees began a 

two-year program of accessioning/cataloging and cleaning of some 250,000 

artifacts that had been left over from the state operations of the 

park.{97) 

The YACC program in 1979 employed twenty corps members and two staff 

employees. Specific projects performed that year included: 

Snow removal and cleanup of heavy visitor use areas; 

installation and removal of snow fencing throughout park as 

needed; rehabilitation of old YACC building; build and install 

96. U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Valley Forge 

National Historical Park, News Releases, "Park Association Donates to 

Valley Forge Children's Program," June 11, 1979, and "Valley Forge 

National Historical Park Children's Programs Return,'' September 26, 1979, 

RG 3, VAFO Archives. 

97. U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Mid-Atlantic 

Regional Office, News Release, "YACC Program at Two National Parks," 

October 28, 1977, and U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park 

Service, Valley Forge National Historical Park, "Young Adult Conservation 

Corps Assists With Valley Forge National Historical Park Archaeological 

ProJect," July 14, 1978, RG 3, VAFO Archives. Also see The Pocono 

Record, May 5, 1978, Scrapbooks, VAFO Library. 

656 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

picnic tables; build and install bemches; cut and clear park 

boundaries, prune and cut and remove dead trees, install split 

rail fences; whitewash basement of ranger station; cleaned 

interior and exter1or ground at building sites in park; and 

cleared trails and installed bridges.(98) 

6. VOLUNTEERS IN THE PARKS PROGRAM 

The first full year of operation of the Volunteers in the Parks (VIP) 

program in Valley Forge National Historical Park was fiscal year 1978. 

More than 1,100 volunteers donated some 22,948 hours in assisting the 

park staff in carrying out the interpretive program. The VIP hours at 

Valley Forge equalled almost half of the entire Mid-Atlantic Region's total. 

Much of the volunteer work related to the living history Bicentennial 

events occurring in the park between December 19, 1977, and June 19, 

1978. In addition, VIP persons worked in the visitor center, cataloging 

and preparing artifact collections for display, and writing a VIP 

newsletter. The volunteer program was under the direction of a 

volunteer, Mrs. Carroll C. Jamieson, who worked with Supervisory Park 

Historians John Burns and Lou Venuto in coordinating the program during 

its first year.(99) 

In 1979 some 311 enrolled Volunteers in the Parks, of which 270 were 

"living history" troops, contributed a total of 5,569 hours. VIP programs 

involved site interpretation, assisting with special event support, manning 

visitor contact stations during times when park staff was not available, 

and providing interpretation skills not available on the park staff.(100) 

7. ACQUISITION OF NEUMANN COLLECTION 

In 1978 Valley Forge National Historical Park acquired the George C. 

Neumann Collection as the result of efforts by the Friends of Valley 

Forge, a contr·ibution of $350,000 by the Sun Oil Company of Radnor, 

Pennsylvania, arranged by Mid-Atlantic Regional Director Stanton, and 

$290,000 in National Park Service funding. The collection, to be housed 

in the park, had been assembled by Neumann, a management consultant, 

historian, and authority on Revolutionary War weaponry. It was 

considered to be the largest single private collection of Revolutionary War 

98. Superintendent, 

Mid-Atlantic Region, 

Valley Forge 

March 27, 1980, 

NHP to Acting Regional 

Central Files, VAFO. 

Director, 

99. U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Valley Forge 

National Historical Park, News Releases, "Apply Now For Summer Jobs at 

Valley Forge Park," December 15, 1978, and "Volunteers in the Parks 

(VIP) and Valley Forge National Historical Park's Interpretive Programs," 

December 29, 1978, RG 3, VAFO Archives . 

100. Superintendent, Valley Forge 

Mid-Atlantic Region, March 27, 1980, 

NHP to Acting Regional 

Central Files, VAFO. 

657 

Director, 
artifacts in the world and was "designed to create an accurate awareness 

of the American soldier's pledge for freedom." The extensive collection, 

gathered over twenty years, consisted of nearly 1,500 items, including 

muskets, r1fles, swords, polearms, small cannons, handbooks, diaries, 

eating utensils, and medical equipment. The collection consisted of four 

parts: firearms (80); swords (350); auxiliary edged weapons (330); and 

accoutrements and accessories (680). (101) 

The entire 1,500-piece collection was to be displayed at the park for one 

week only--December 19-24, 1978, after which a portion would remain as 

part of the permanent exhibitry at the VIsitor center and the remainder 

as a permanent study collection for research purposes. After a short 

ceremony opening the exhibit was held at the visitor center on December 

19, some 100 Revolutionary Brigade volunteers climaxed a colorful 

"march-in" to the encampment area at the Memorial Arch in observance of 

the 201st anniversary of the beginning of the Valley Forge encampment. 

The Commander-in-Chief's Guard, a ceremonial 30-man unit of the 3d 

U.S. Infantry from Fort Myer, Virginia, was on hand in Continental 

costume to perform the manual of arms as set down by von Steuben. 

Because of the popularity of the exhibit, Superintendent Lusk extended 

the time of the display until January 1.(102) 

8. HISTORICAL ENCAMPMENTS POLICY 

Park management developed guidelines for an historical encampment 

policy in conjunction with the French Alliance Day weekend festivities in 

May 1978. The guidelines continued to serve as an overall policy 

statement governing historical encampment reenactments in the park. 

The guidelines dealt with the duties and responsibilities of group leaders, 

safety procedures involving black powder, small arms, artillery, and 

quarters, and questions of authenticity.(103) 

101. "The Neumann Collection at Valley Forge," (1978], CRM-MARO Files. 

The park drafted a "Scope of Collections Statement For the George C. 

Neumann Collection" in October 1978, dealing with collection management, 

loan procedures, treatment, and use. Superintendent, Valley Forge 

National Historical Park to Regional Director, Mid-Atlantic Region, October 

27, 1978, RG 3, VAFO Archives. 

102. U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Mid-Atlantic 

Regional Office, News Releases, "Press Preview of Artifacts and News 

Conference," November 8, 1978; "Formal Opening and Public Display of 

Neumann Collection of Revolutionary war Weapons and Accoutrements," 

December 5, 1978; and "Exhibit Opens and Troops March to Commemorate 

Anniversary at Valley Forge," December 12, 1978; and U.S_ Department 

of the Interior, National Park Service, Valley Forge National Historical 

Park, News Release, "New Exhibit at Valley Forge Extended to January 1 

By Popular Demand," December 21, 1978; RG 3, VAFO Archives. 

103. "Guidelines for Participants, French Alliance Day Weekend, May 6-7, 

1978, Central Files, VAFO. 

608 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

9 DEMOLITION OF STRUCTURES 

The most significant structural demolition project at Valley Forge 

under the National Park Service was that of the Keene industrial complex 

in the fall of 1978. The factory complex had been closed in the early 

197Cls and thus had become a safety hazard and a breeding ground for 

vandalism. On April 29, 1976, five weeks prior to the formal signing of 

P.L 94-337, a field inspection of the site was conducted by the Interior 

Department's Air Quality Monitoring Branch. Three examples from the 

waste material pile were sent to the Annapolis field office for asbestos 

identification. In early August it was determined that one of the samples 

taken from a pile of waste material approximately 400 feet north of the 

manufacturing building contained a form of asbestos called 

chrysatile.(104) On October 13, 1976, the National Park Service acquired 

the property from the Keene Corporation for $1,000,000. In June 1977 

the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Exposure Evaluation Branch 

conducted another examination of the waste material, the results of which 

indicated that two of the twelve samples contained minor amounts of the 

abestiform mineral amosite (content in 5-10 percent range), one containing 

some fiber glass and two containing elongated particles which were 

probably organic. 

By early March 1978 the National Park Service had commenced plans for 

the demolition of the plant. In April Pennsylvania Department of 

Environmental Resources personnel arrived in the park to inspect the 

buHdings and the on-site quarries proposed to receive the demolition 

waste. Four of si;.; samples of material taken during the inspection 

contained asbestos. Accordingly, the state agency recommended that 

demolition not take place during "an air pollution episode" or periods of 

high wind. Water and/or chemicals should be used to control dust where 

possible. The agency also provided guidelines on proper handling and 

disposing of solid waste materials. These regulations, as well as 

suggestions submitted by the EPA, were added to the project's 

specifications in May. 

At a meeting with regional and park personnel at Valley Forge on May 16, 

1978, Superintendent Lusk stated that the Keene building demolition 

project must be completed by September 30, 1978, in order to spend the 

$200,000 allotment for the project. Lusk wished to see the project 

proceed despite objections by historical architectural consultants John and 

Cherry Dodd and other regional personnel who argued for preservation of 

at 12ast one of the structures provided that it could be made free of 

asbestos contamination. Of particular concern to Mid-Atlantic Regional 

Archeologist David G. Orr and Regional Historical Architect Henry J. 

Magaziner was one of the Keene buildings, a stone multi-story structure 

of mid-nineteenth century v1ntage that had an interior of mill 

104. The "asbestos legacy" of the Keene plant may be seen in the 

Philadelphia Inquirer, December 10, 1979, CRM-MARO Files. 
construction, which they felt should be preserved and adaptively restored 

for National Park Service operations.(10S) 

In response to a request by Regional Director Stanton for information on 

what the environmental consequences would be if the building were 

cleaned up and retained for park use, Regional Director David H. Rhone, 

Department of Labor (OSHA), stated on June 1 that there was no way of 

knowing without tests whether asbestos might be imbedded in the walls. 

Accordingly, he recommended taking wipe samples after completion of high 

powered vacuum cleaning operations. If asbestos were found, sealing 

should be considered.(106) 

On June 19 Regional Director Stanton sent a memorandum to the Associate 

Director, Management and Operations, WASO, stating the reasons for the 

Keene plant demolition. The document read in part; 

To acquire a land base sufficient for the preservation and 

management of the historic encampment setting and related 

resources, certain lands within the heart of Valley Forge 

National Historical Park were recently acquired from the Keene 

Manufacturing Corporation. Within this development subzone is 

the abandoned quarries and plant facilities used on the 

manufacture of asbestos insulation products. On the site are 

waste dumps containing asbestos residue, and the plant itself is 

laden throughout with friable asbestos materials and fibers . 

The factory consists of a modern section and an approximately 

century-old stone structure, whose interior was gutted so that 

it could be modernized for contemporary industrial use. Its 

exterior walls need much repair, and all its windows and doors 

are damaged beyond repair. 

The primary reason for demolishing the entire plant IS because 

it is an environmental hazard. Decades of asbestos dust and 

fiber infect its floors, walls and ceilings. The Pennsylvania 

Department of Environmental Resources has inspected the 

building for asbestos contamination and found such wherever it 

tested in the stone section. Orally, an official in that office 

informed us that people should never work in the factory again, 

even if it were cleaned. The reason for that IS the 

cancer-inducing power of asbestos residue. 

A secondary environmental reason justifying demolition is that 

only a large t"·enty-four hour park protection force, which does 

105. Orr to Bond, May 19, 1978, 106 files, MARO Historian's Otfice; 

personal interview with Henry J. Magaziner, May 1, 1984; and "Demolition 

of the Keene Building, Valley Forge National Historical Park, History and 

Documentation," [August, 1978], CRM-MARO. 

106. Stanton to Rhone, May 22, 1978, and Rhone to Stanton, June 1, 

1978, 106 files, MARO Historian's Office. 

660 

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• 

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• 

• 

• 

not exist, could keep trespassers, whether vandals or not, out 

of the site. A chain-link fence around the area, which would 

cost approximately $100,000 would not in itself deter trespassers, for fences, like promises, are made to be broken. 

If we assume the stone structure was to be saved, however, it 

could not be made usable in the foreseeable future because 

practically all of the area's Revolutionary resources, both 

buildings and earthworks, as well as the monumentation 

honoring the encampment, place a fiscal demand upon the 

Service that will not be met for years. The structure's minor 

significance and damaged character would not justify its 

rehabilitation while other major cultural resources continued to 

deteriorate and erode.(107) 

On July 7 WASO Associate Director Daniel J. Tobin responded to the 

regional director, informing him that no action should be taken on the 

Keene project until the park's general management plan was 

completed.(108) The following week Deputy Regional Director Zerbey 

traveled to WASO to convince Tobin that the Keene plant should be 

exempted from Special Directive 78-3 providing for "Removal of 

Structures." The associate d1rector was informed that the plant buildings 

and the adjacent quarries were a continuing danger to public health and 

safety from the effects of asbestos frbers in the area and that the 

structures had deteriorated to the point that they were a severe hazard . 

Following the meeting federal and state documents verifying these 

arguments were forwarded to WAS0.(109) 

In August 1978 Regional Director Stanton forwarded to WASO additional 

documentation justifying demolition of the Keene plant. This material, 

based on a site inspection by MARO personnel, stated in part: 

The reasons for demolition are numerous, including 

considerations of history, health, safety and security, and 

management, all of which are closely interrelated. The subject 

site is a complex of abandoned and deteriorating nineteenth and 

twentieth century industrial buildings, with associated railroad 

tracks, quarries, and waste dumps, extending over forty-some 

acres. The plant produced insulation materials, some of which 

contained asbestos. The site is most offensive when viewed at 

107. Regional Director, Mid-Atlantic Region to Associate Director, 

Management and Operations--WASO, June 19, 1978, 106 files, MARO 

Historian's Office. 

108. Associate Director, Management & Operations to Regional Director, 

Mid-Atlantic Region, July 7, 1978, 106 files, MARO Historian's Office . 

109. Acting Regional Director, Mid-Atlantic Region to Associate Director, 

Man<>gement <>nd Operations, July 14, 1978, 106 files, MARO Historian's 

Office. 

661 
close range, with its abandoned, dilapidated buildings, rusted 

railroad tracks, storage tanks, immense piles of debris, 

quarries, and weeds--all combining to assault the senses. 

Visual pollution aside, the Keene site is a most serious 

environmental, safety, and security hazard. Above all in this 

regard is the presence of friable asbestos materials and fibers 

in the walls of the plant itself, and in some of the waste piles. 

Everywhere a layer of dust has settled, and in some of the 

buildings are thick deposits of residue from the production 

pro<::esses. 

All of the aforementioned conditions would be intolerable in any 

setting, but they are especially objectionable in a park, 

particularly a historical area such as Valley Forge. Historically 

speaking, the Keene site is a mass>ve intrusion on the 

encampment setting at the Park. This is the primary 

justification for its demolition, which would be desirable even 

were not the plant complex in such a decrepit and hazardous 

condition. All currently available historical evidence indicates 

that the site was open ground at the time of the encampment, 

with perhaps a road trace cut through it. After the demolition 

process is completed, the site will be completely backfilled and 

rolled. As soon as possible, the area will then be restored to 

its presumed historic appearance.(110) 

ThereaFter, the Keene plant demolition plans proceeded with dispatch. 

On August 15 Regional Director Stanton approved the finding that an 

Environmental Impact Statement was not required for the proposed 

demolition. That same day WASO indicated that it had no objections to 

the demolition as justified in the August 4 memorandum, and on August 22 

the State Historic Preservation Officer concurred in the Mid-Atlantic 

Region's determination that the Keene plant site did not meet the criteria 

of eligibility for nomination to the National Register of Historic Places. 

Thus, the project could proceed in accordance with the provisions of 

Special Directive 78-3, "Remov<rl, Major Alteration, or Neglect of Old 

Structures." (111) 

110. Regional Director, Mid-Atlantic Region 

Management and Operations, WASO, August 4, 

to Associate Director, 

1978, CRM-MARO Files. 

111. Regional Director, Mid-Atlantic Region to Superintendent, Valley 

Forge National Historical Park (and enclosures), August 21, 1978; Acting 

Associate Director, Management and Operations to Regional Director, 

Mid-AtlantiC Region, August 15, 1978; Weintraub to Stanton, August 22, 

1978; and Acting Regional Director, Mid-Atlantic Region to 

Superintendent, Valley Forge NHP, 106 files, MARO Historian's Office . 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

In October a contract was 

the Keene plant demolition. 

the demolished buildmgs 

property.(112) 

let to Shelly's of Delaware, Inc., to conduct 

Much of the concrete, brick, and stone from 

was used to fill a dry quarry on the 

The National Park Service continued its on-going study of providing both 

for the "preservation of the resource" and "an environmentally sound 

solution" for the Keene site. In March 1S82 the park superintendent 

stated: 

The final phase of this effort is the filling of the wet quarry 

utilizing the spoil piles, grading and landscaping of the site to 

provide safety for the park visitors, correct the existing 

environmental problems and provide usable space for a major 

picnic facility. Various discussions and correspondence with 

the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources have 

indicated they will require additional testing and analysis of 

spoil piles and clean fill to seal the bottom of the quarry. 

When this is accomplished, we will be in compliance with the 

substance and intent of the Instructions received from DER to 

use the spoil plies for fill in the wet quarry. We have 

contracted to have 40,000 cubic yards of clean fill placed in the 

quarry, and this amount of material is equivalent to 12 feet of 

clean fill in the quarry.(113) 

10. SCOPE OF COLLECTIONS STATEMENT 

By early 1979 

furnishings collections 

"Scope of Collections 

stated: 

the extensive archeological, documentary, and 

in the custody of the park made it necessary for a 

Statement" to be prepared. The introduction 

The Museum collection should be limited to objects 

associated directly with the people and events related to the 

military encampment at Valley Forge 1777-1778 and with the 

civilian population as well as the industrial activity (1742-1900) 

of Valley Forge village, and those items of merit that directly 

relate to events and activities that have occurred over the 

years at Valley Forge end that would help interpret the history 

of the site. 

The policies governing acquisitiOn, care, and use of various collections 

were stated as follows: 

112. Preconstruction Meeting, Demolition of Keene Plant, Contract Number 

CX-4860-8-000-3, October 27, 1978, CRM-MARO Files, and North Penn 

Reporter, November 1, 1978, and Today's Post, November 1, 1978, 

Scrapbooks, VAFO library . 

113. Superintendent, Valley Forge National 

Director, Mid-Atlantic Region, March 23, 

660 

Historical Park to Regional 

1983, Central Files, VAFO. 
Archeology--As a result of many excavations through the early 

1970's, the park has inherited an extensive archeological 

collection. This material, along with that collected by visitors 

and turned over to park officials are about 65% cleaned and 

cataloged. All of the pieces inappropriate for exhibit in the 

park's museum will be stored within the confines of the park to 

await future study. 

Historic Structures Furnishings--Objects should be acquired 

only if they meet approved furnishings studies and plans. 

Since furnishings plans are not available for most of the 

buildings, furnishings should be acquired only if: 

a. The object has been authenticated as having been used in 

the buildings or by its occupants during the period to 

which the structures have been refurnished. 

b. It is an item of military or civilian nature that would 

have been available 1n the late eighteenth century. 

It is the reproduction 

available to the park or 

extant. 

of an item which IS not 

the original of which IS not 

all military objects in the collection 

C. Neumann Collection acquired in 1978. 

pieces will be il primarily for use in exhibits in the 

Visitor Center and elsewhere as needed, with the remainder 

being considered as a study collection. Acquisition will be 

limited to artifacts as related to the early years of the 

Revolutionary War. 

Archives--The archives are divided into three areas. The first 

one is related to records, letters and other available 

documentation connected with the encampment period. 

The second includes the period which covers the development of 

the geographical area of Valley Forge as a growing 19th century 

industrial village and follows its social and manufacturing 

progress through the periods of water and steam power. The 

third area of interest is the development of Valley Forge as an 

historical site .... (114) 

11. MOUNT JOY OBSERVATION TOWER 

In March 1979 John T. Brugger, Architect, was hired by the park 

to perform a structural evaluation of the Mount Joy Observ<ltion Tower. 

114. Superintendent, Valley Forge Nation-'ll Historical Park to Curator, 

Mld-Atl<lnt.c Region, March 30, 1979, RG 3, VAFO Archives. 

66< 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

In his report, which was sent to Superintendent Lusk on April 3, he 

estimated that $36,950 in repairs were needed immediately to maintain the 

integrity of the tower. A total of $49,950 in repairs were needed to 

preserve the tower for 5-10 years' use, and $71,700 in repairs were 

needed to restore the structure for use beyond ten years. 

Accordingly, Mid-Atlantic Region Associate Region<tl Director Nathan 8. 

Golub provided Superintendent Lusk with the regional office's 

recommendations for treatment of the structure on April 12. He 

observed: 

Since the trees on Mount Joy have grown up around the tower 

and now almost entirely prevent its effective use by visitors ilS 

a vantage point from which to view the Park and its 

surroundings, and as we should be reluctant to see the trees 

cut down, it is our hope that the General Management Plan will 

call for the removal of the tower. However, it is obvious that 

we cannot get rid of it immediately. . The question 

therefore seems to be what action should be carried out with 

currently available means to reduce the present safety hazards. 

Thus, Golub stated that Lusk should remove the concrete pads which 

covered the bases on two of the legs and remove the corroded rivets 

where the legs connected to the cast bases of all four legs, replacing 

them with high strength bolts. In addition three other steps were to be 

taken: 

a. Stair treads and landings should have abrasive grit adhered to 

them to minimize hazard from slipping. 

b. The broken tread below the 4th landing should be repaired. 

c. Corroded holes 1n the stair railing safety plate should be 

covered to minimize injury due to jagged edges.(115) 

Thereafter, discussions continued over the question of what should be 

done with the decaying structure that had become a landmark for many 

park v1sitors since its construction in 1906. Various proposals were made 

to restore the structure or at least maintain it for public use, while 

others suggested its closure and ultimate demolition. The structure is 

presently closed, and the park general management plan calls for its 

demolition. 

115. Brugger to Lusk, April 3, 1979, 

Operations, MAR to Superintendent, 

CRM-MARO F1les. 

660 

and Associate 

Valley Forge, 

Regional Director, 

April 12, 1979, 
G. SIGNIFICANT 

ADMINISTRATION: 

ISSUES AND 

1979-1982 

ACTIVITIES RELATED TO PARK 

By late 1979 Valley Forge National Historical Park had become a fully 

integrated unit of the National Park System in terms of administration 

under the leadership of Superintendent Lusk in cooperation with 

Mid-Atlantic Regional Office personnel. The National Park Service 

research program was nearmg completion, the basic management, 

planning, and land acquisition program processes were well underway, 

and basic Park Service policies had been established and implemented. 

Although the park would not be formally established until November 1982, 

1ts operation by the National Park Service had become institutionalized by 

late 1979. 

After Lusk was named as the new superintendent of Big Bend National 

Park in February 1981, Wallace B. Elms assumed the position of park 

superintendent at Valley Farge on June 15 of that year. Elms, who had 

served as superintendent of Petersburg National Battlefield since 1975, 

was born in Altus, Oklahoma, and attended New Mexico State University. 

His Park Service career began as tour leader at Carlsbad Caverns 

National Park (1956-58). Thereafter, he served as subdistrict ranger at 

Lake Mead National Recreation Area in 1957-60, district manager at Fort 

Jefferson National Monument in 1960-63, management assistant at Wind 

Cave National Park in 1963-65, chief park ranger at Mount Rushmore 

National Memorial in 1965-70, and chief of ranger activities and resource 

management at Herbert Hoover National Historic Site in 1970-73. His first 

superintendency was at Hopewell Village National Historic Site during 

1973-75.(116) 

1. ADMINISTRATION DIVISION 

According to the superintendent's annual report for 1979 the park 

visitation for that year was 11,500,000. While the "exact measurements" 

were difficult to determine, the "current visitor mix" was estimated to be 

1,000,000 (historic), 4,000,000 (recreation), and 6,000,000 (commuters). 

Observances and special events continued to be celebrated on historical 

dates: Washington's Birthday, French Alliance Day, "March Out," and 

the Continental Army's arrival. The annual boy scout pilgrimage on 

Washington's birthday continued with some 1,500 scouts in attendance. 

The park was staffed with 46 permanent full-time positions, 14 permanent 

less-than-full time positions, and 72 temporary positions. The YACC 

program had 19 enrollees with two staff positions. In addition, a total of 

54 enrollees worked in the park that year under the provisions of the 

Comprehensive Employment and Training Act. Three minority cooperative 

education students were employed during the summer season. 

116. U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Mid-Atlantic 

Reg1onal Office, News Release, "Wallace B. Elms Appointed Superintendent 

at Valley Forge National Historic Site," May 18, 1981, Central Files, 

VAFO. Valuable msights into park operations during the post-1981 period 

were provided to the author of this study by Wallace B. Elms during a 

personal interview on April 9, 1984. 

666 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

Three concession operations were located in the park. Ogden Foods 

operated under contract to provide visitors with fast food, soft dr1nks, 

and souvenirs. Th" Valley Forge Park Interpretive Association had a 

permit to rent bicycles to the public and operate the book store in the 

VISitor Center, and Valley Forge Tours had a permit to provide visitors 

with tape tour rentals and bus tour service. 

The park had an operating program (ONPS) of $1,976,000 in 1979. In 

addition, an amount of $50,000 was managed in the Quarters Account. 

Cyclic maintenance funds totaling more than $1,000,000 were received for 

various maintenance projects. An imprest cash fund of $1,500 was 

av<lilable to the park onsite to facilitate the payme11t of small purchases 

and travel, A reimbursable account was established betwee11 the park 

and the Montgomery and Chester County CETA programs, and some 

$265,000 worth of payroll was managed by the accounts.(117) 

The superinter~dent's annual report for 1981 stated that the park's 

orgar~ization was typical of most units in the National Park System. A 

superintendent, who was in immediate charge, managed the park through 

four divisions: administration, interpretation, resource ma11ageme11t and 

visitor protection, and mai11tenance. The park's total program was 

accomplished through a FTE ceiling of 100.1 work years of employme11t. 

Under this ceilirlg the park was authorized 42 permanent full-time and 13 

subject-to-furlough positions for a total permanent ceiling of 51.9 work 

years. The other employment ceiling was 48.2 work years . 

Seasonal employment reached a total of 71 in 1981. These positions 

consisted of park technicians in interpretation a11d visitor services and 

resource management and visitor protection divisions. Laborers, 

maintenance workers, motor vehicle and tractor operators, painter 

helpers, and gardeners were hired seasonally in the maintenance division. 

The YACC continued to make contributions to the maintenance and 

preservation 

the following 

activities 

projects: 

in the park. In 1981 YACC personnel performed 

a. Installed patio block floor--Ash's Residence. 

b. Installed wood shake siding and roof--Ash's Residence. 

c. Constructed wall in YACC garage (cinder block). 

d. Installed patio block floor--cellar, Ash's Residence. 

e. Sanded and varn1shed all floors--Ranger Station. 

f. Cleared brush and trees--Betzwood Area. 

g. Installed patio--Koch's Residence. 

h. Installed cinder block r<otaining waii--Koch's Residence. 

1. Lime Kiln--Stabdization and clearing. 

j. Planting periwinkle--Visitor Center. 

k. Constructed new fence--Stirlir~g's Quarters . 

117. Superintendent, Valley Forge 

Mid-Atlantic Region, March 27, 1980, 

NHP to Acting Regional 

Central Files, VAFO. 

Director, 
' m. 

' 

Constructed trash receptacles--55 gallon type. 

Developed Betzwood Picnic area. 

Extensive maintenance support to B&U and R&T. 

The three concession operations mentioned in the 1979 annual report were 

still continuing. A new permit extending from January 1, 1981, to 

December 31, 1984, was issued to Valley Forge Tours. A new contract 

extending from January 1, 1982, to December 31, 1985, was issued to 

Ogden Foods. All three concession oper<1t1ons enjoyed an increase in 

gross business figures of ten to fifteen percent in 1981. 

The park was petitioned by the National Association of Government 

Employees (NAGE) on March 2, 1981, by Harry Breen, national union vice 

president. A "pre-election" conference was held at the park on April 9, 

and in an election on May 19 the park employees voted for NAGE Local 

R3-120 to represent them by a vote of 16 tog, the bargaining unit at the 

time of the election consisting of 33 employees. Park employee John Kintz 

was designated acting union president until an election could be held. 

Breen proposed the same contract recently negotiated at Delaware Water 

Gap National Recreation Area for Valley Forge. Since the proposal was 

not fully satisfactory to the park, contract negotiations were undertaken 

in late October. Due to unsuccessful attempts at agreement, negotiations 

were ended on October 29, NAGE indicating that it would return to the 

bargaining table with representation from the Federal Mediation and 

Conciliation Service. 

Special use permits were issued for special recreation events throughout 

1g81, most of which were for short periods of time and specific forms of 

recreational use. The park anticipated issuing agricultural special use 

permits for the purpose of managing large, open, mowable fields. 

Requests from organized special interest groups wanting permits for uses 

which conflicted with general visitation were continually denied by the 

park. 

A total of $2,065,000 (ONPS) was available to the park in fiscal year 

1g81. A quarters income/reimbursable account of some $55,000 was 

available to fund Government Furnished Quarters Operations. The park 

received $67,000 in Regular Cyclic Maintenance Funds and $28,500 in 

Cultural Cyclic Maintenance Funding. Health and Safety Funding in the 

amount of $250,000 was received to work on elimination of public safety 

hazards at the former Keene plant property in the park. Historic 

preservation funds in the amount of $50,000 were received to provide for 

restoration work on the National Memorial Arch. 

A total of 16 formal contracts were 1ssued for a dollar amount of $558,361. 

Small purchasing for a wide variety of equipment, supplies, materials, 

and services totaled $475,200. Some 58 percent of all contracts were 

awarded to minority business enterpnses, and $12,900 of purchasing was 

accomplished through women-owned firms.(118) 

118. Superintendent, Valley Forge National 

Director, Mid-Atlantic Region, March 23, 

6C8 

Historical Park to Regional 

1982, Central Files, VAFO. 

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• 

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• 

• 

The superintendent's annual report for 1982 indicated that m<lnagement of 

the park was accomplished with <1n approved budget of $2,218,200 and a 

full-time equivalency ceiling of 51.9 work years of permanent full-time and 

48.2 work years of other employment. The park had 42 permanent 

full-time, 13 subject-to-furlough, 5 part-time, and 79 temporary positions. 

Seasonal employment reached 60. 

Efforts to schedule negotiations with the National Association of 

Government Employees to resume bargaining on a local labor-management 

agreement were coordinated by the Mid-Atlantic Region Labor Relations 

Office and the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service. Negotiations 

were resumed in late February 1982 and an agreement between NAGE and 

the park was signed on February 25 and approved by the Department of 

the Interior on March 17. 

Seventeen formal contracts totaling $878,592 were awarded by the park in 

1982. Fifty-six percent of the contract amount was awarded to minority 

business enterprises, and $1,380 of purchasing was processed through 

women-owned firms. 

In addition to the approved ONPS budget of $2,218,200 for the park, 

some $51,000 was available to fund Government FurniShed Quarters 

Operations and an account of $2,150 was utilized for the VIP program. 

Some $840,000 in Park Restoration and Improvement Program (PRIP) funds 

were available in 1982 to accomplish various health and safety, building 

rehabilitation, cyclic maintenance, and preservation projects.(119) 

2. RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND VISITOR PROTECTION DIVISION 

The superintendent's annual report for 1979 stated that the park had 

fifteen commissioned law enforcement personnel. During the year 325 

Class I and II offenses were handled by pilrk rangers, as were 100 

reportable automobile accidents. Building security systems for several of 

the park's structures were upgraded, and a 24-hour radio dispatch and 

road patrol were maintained in an attempt to provide maximum protection 

of the visitor and park resources. To provide better, more responsive 

protection to the park and its visitors, the horse patrol was expanded 

and additional patrols scheduled. Concurrently, motor vehicle patrols 

were reduced, triggered in part by fuel conservation considerations. 

Several fire 

expanded in 

equipped with 

alarm 

1979. 

either 

systems in park structures were upgraded 

All administrative and public use buildings 

portable or fixed extinguishing devices. 

;cd 

were 

Management of the landscape and fish and wildlife were major park 

concerns 1n 1979. The trail system on the north side of the Schuylkill 

R1ver was improved. Dumping of tOXIC chemicals into Valley Creek 

upstream from the park resulted in a massive fish kill. A gypsy moth 

119. Superintendent, VAFO to Regional Director, MARO, April 12, 1983, 

Central Files, VAFO. 

669 
infestation caused defoliation of numerous trees in the park. "High 

population densities of Canadian geese and white-tailed deer and small 

game, plus aquatic life in Valley Creek and the Schuylkill River" 

continued "to generate management problems and promote sensitive 

concerns in the visitor use patterns of the park. 11 (120) 

Law enforcement, traffic control, and physical security of historic 

structures continued "to demand the majority of the protection division's 

efforts in 1981." Park travel reached approximately 12,200,000 visits 

during the year. There were 97 vehicle accidents investigated by park 

rangers resulting in $195,000 in damage and injuries to 45 persons. Some 

745 written warnings and 501 citations were issued in the park, 231 of 

the latter being for hazardous traffic violations. 

The 1981 report listed a number of "noteworthy occurrences illustrating 

the diversity of activities" in the park. These included: 

The finding of the vict1m of a "gangland style execution" 

under the Betzwood Bridge in January. Arrests were later 

made for this murder that occurred outside the park. 

The Kennedy Mansion was broken into or vandalized ten 

times during the year. Two arrests were made which resulted 

m $100 fines. 

A beer truck lost its load near Ft. Huntington and dumped 

500 cases of lager on the road. Traffic was disrupted ... 

A< 9:00 p.m. " 0 snowy evening, "' Wayne Statue area 

hosted 200 sledders, 20 illegally parked cars, widespread litter, 

vandalized trash basket, sign ,,, post. Rangers confiscated 

"' destroyed so bottles ,, beer, ' fifths ,, whiskey ood 5 

gallons of wine. 

Repeated vandalism and antisocial acts (35 acts of 

vandalism in preceding 20 months resulting in $3,200 in 

damage), resulted in the closure of Outer Line Drive (between 

the National Memorial Arch and State Route 252) between the 

hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. 

A 

parking 

resulted 

horse, after throwing 

lot whereupon it ran 

in $800 damage to the car 

its rider, ran 

over a parked 

and leg injury to 

into the 

Toyota. 

itself. 

Knox 

This 

At the annual outing of the Valley Forge Riding and 

Driving Association, a runaway horse drawing carriage ran 

down Route 23 for approximately a mile. It went through a red 

120. Superintel1dent, 

Mid-Atlantic Region, 

Valley Forge 

March 27, 1980, 

NHP to Acting Regional 

Central Files, VAFO. 

670 

Director, 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

light striking three waiting vehicles, pulling a carriage across 

the hood of one. 

On the weekend of June 30, 

counted in the park. This may 

activity .(121) 

11,500 

oe ' 

picnickers were 

record for this 

In January 1981 mmor changes were 

circulation to provide for safer tours of 

changes, Superintendent Lusk stated: 

made m 

the park. 

parking and traffic 

In announcing these 

The most noticeable change will be the reversal of traffic 

on Inner Line Drive which connects Varnum's Quarters, 

Artillery Park, the dogwood grove and Fort Huntington. Cars 

leaving Washington's Headqu<>rters will be able to cross Route 

23 and directly enter Inner Line Drive, while the current tour 

route requires that they turn onto Route 23 and proceed east 

for one-half mile before turning onto the Drive. Another 

benefit of this reversal will be improved sight distance at the 

intersection of Inner Line Drive and Gulph Road. 

Other changes will be made to improve access to parking 

near the Memorial Arch, Artillery Park and Ft. Huntington. 

Parking on the cobblestoned drive around the Arch will be 

eliminated. ( 122) 

The superintendent's annual report for 1982 noted that visitor use at 

Valley Forge had continued "its steady increase" since 1979. The 

statistics for the four-year period illustrated the trend: 

Year Non-Recreation Total Visits • Chan!le 

1979 8,296,910 11,404,330 • u 

1980 8,306,153 11,525,959 • 1.07 

1981 8,851,453 12,181,740 • '·' 1982 "' 9,060,326 12,450,816 • 2.37 

Activities involving use of automobiles had the heaviest impact on the 

resource management and visitor protection division's operations in 1982. 

More than 6,812,000, or a daily average of 18,663 vehicles traveled over 

roads within the park. Reported traffic accidents increased sixteen 

percent to a total of 113. Two of the accidents resulted in a total of three 

121. Superintendent, Valley Forge National Historical Park to Regional 

Director, Mid-Atlantic Region, March 23, 1982, Central Files, VAFO. 

Also see U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Serv1ce, Valley 

Forge National Historical Park, News Release, "Vandalism Causes Park 

Road Closure," October 1, 1980, Central Files, VAFO. 

122. U.S. Department of the Interior, Nat1onal Park Service, Valley Forge 

Nat 1onal Historical Park, News Release, "Valley Forge Nat1onal Historical 

Park Makes Changes In Tour Route," December 2, 1980, Central Files, 

VAFO. 

'" 
fatalities, the first in the park since 1978. Both fatal accidents (as well 

as the previous fatality) occurred on Gulph Road and involved single 

cars, operated at high speeds, by young male drivers who had been 

drinking outside the park. 

Offenses that caused a significant workload for the park included the 

following: 

Liquor Laws 

Possession of Controlled Substance 

Weapons 

Disorderly Conduct 

Driv1ng Under the Influence 

Indecent Exposure 

Larceny 

Assault 

No. of Offenses 

m 

n 

12 " 

' 5 

06 

' 

New regulations prohibiting the use of alcoholic beverages in the park 

were announced in December 1980 but were not fully approved until 1982. 

The regulations prohibited "use or possession of alcoholic beverages in 

cars, as well as picnic areas, fields or in any other public area." The 

restriction did not apply to persons transporting alcoholic beverages in 

sealed or unopened containers through the park on public roads. In 

announcing the regulations Superintendent Lusk said they were 

"necessary to provide greater protection to the park's historic resources 

and to reduce unsafe and undesirable visitor activities." Lusk went on to 

state: 

When Valley Forge was adminiHered by the State, it, like 

other State Parks, had strict prohibitions <1gainst alcoholic 

beverages. Except in some urban parks, Ni!tional Pi!rk Service 

policy generally permits i!ICoholic beverages to be consumed in 

accord<~nce with State li!WS. . . Thus over the pi!st four 

years Valley Forge became a congregating point for groups of 

people, mostly youthful, who came primarily to drink. 

Vandalism, harrassment of park visitors, reckless driving and 

other disruptive actions became incre<~singly frequent. Visitors 

who came to experience the unique historical qu<~lities of the 

park were often prevented from having a Siltisfactory 

visit. 

This i!Ction will bring Valley Forge Nation<~l Histoncal Park 

in line with State and local parks as far as alcoholic beverage 

policy is concerned. This national park was established 

to preserve history and we just could not allow the actions of 

those who come to drink to jeopardize the safety or quality 

experience of our other visitors.(123) 

123. U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Valley Forge 

National Historical Park, "Alcoholic Beverage Use Prohibited 1n Valley 

Forge National Historical Park," December 2, 1980, Central Files, VAFO. 

The regulation was caught 1n the moratorium on new regul<~toons just as it 

• 

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• 

• 

• 

Winter recreation 

division" >n 1982. 

activities presented "ever-growing challenges 

According to the superintendent, sledding 

for the 

at the hill below the Anthony wayne Statue results in as many 

as 7,805 recreationists using this small area on an evening or 

weekend afternoon. Traffic congestion, illegally parked cars, 

underage drinking, excessive drinking by "adults," fights, 

vandalism, turf damage, use of dangerous "sleds" (automobile 

hoods), injuries caused by both exhibitionist practices, as well 

as those caused by crowded conditions were some of the 

problems accompanying this activity. 

Another recreation activity, while not yet common, was showing signs of 

Increasing frequency in 1982. Two ultralight aircraft were reported to 

have landed and taken off within the park. 

Three events during the year indicated, according to Superintendent 

Elms, the diversity of visitor use in the park. These were: 

The River Trail, which parallels the north bank of the 

Schuylkill River, was officially designated a National Recreation 

Trail by the Secretary during a ceremony held in June. 

The Fish Derby, sponsored by the Chester Valley Sportsmen's 

Association, was conducted on upper Valley Creek in mid-June. 

Approximately 600 persons participated. 

July 3 saw a commemoration of the Bicentennial Wagon Tra1n at 

Valley Forge. Approximately 10 wagons terminated a journey 

from such diverse areas as Virginia and Texas. Approximately 

4(10 observers braved the rain to attend the ceremony held at 

the amphitheater. 

In 1!;182 five tort claims were filed against the park and damages were 

awarded to one person for an incident that occurred in the park in 1978. 

The problems involving these cases were described as follows: 

One of these, which involved alleged failure to protect a 

visitor's disabled vehicle, was dismissed by the Solicitor 

because the alleged incident occurred more than two years 

before the claim was filed. 

Three claims involved damages to visitors' automobiles as a 

result of actions of park employees. Awards were made in the 

amounts of $1810.42, $387.96 and $200.00, respectively. 

The final claim, which resulted from <>n accident 

claimant contended that the government was 

in wh1ch the 

negligent in 

123. (Cont.) 

granted until 1982. "' go1ng to the printers. Hence final approval was not 

673 
maintain1ng a 

$6,875,000.00. 

the overpass 

Department of 

wooden overpass, was 1n the amount of 

The Solic1tor denied the claim on the basis that 

and the road both belong to the Pennsylvania 

Transportation. Litigation IS continuing. 

The U.S. District Court awarded damages totalling $300,000 for 

an incident that occurred in the park in 1978. The incident, 

which resulted in permanent, partial loss of the use of one 

hand and arm, was caused by a rock being thrown by a park 

mower. The judge determined that the manufacturer and the 

seller of the mowing equipment were liable, as well as the 

government, and assessed the parties the following sums: 

manufacturer - $100,000 

seller - $50,000 

government $150,000 

As a result of the title transfer of park lands to the federal government 

1n 1982, consultations were held by park management with the district 

attorneys of Chester and Montgomery counties to assist in the orderly 

transition of jurisdiction to the federal government. The park's objective 

was to retrocede concurrent jurisdiction simultaneously with the 

acceptance of exclusive jurisdiction. The end result would be that the 

state and the National Park Service would share jurisdiction concurrently 

over former state park lands. 

In 1982 the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation was requested by 

park management ttl follow through on plans to reverse the direction of 

traffic on the one-way bridge across the Schuylkill. Such a reversal 

would facilitate access ttl the Betzwood picnic area. It was recommended 

that the reversal take place at the time of the opening of the nearby 

Pottstown Expressway scheduled for 1983. 

A long-time goal of the park was the reduction of commuter traffic on 

park roads. Hence the park had supported construction of the Pottstown 

Expressway and was actively encouraging construction of the Phoenixville 

Spur, often referred to as the Chester-Montgomery County Connector. 

Construction of a law enforcement pistol range was completed in the park 

during 1982. The range was designed to facilitate mandatory firearms 

training for law enforcement personnel. 

Problems relating to the clean up and restoration of the desilting basin 

area north of the Schuylkill became a major issue 1n 1982. The project 

was described by the superintendent as follows: 

It was noted that the contractor who had been operating under 

a state permit to remove culm material from the desilting basin 

had terminated operations but had failed to clean up, restore 

and seed the area as specified in his permit. In an effort to 

resolve this matter, the Pennsylvania Department of 

Environmental Resources which had jurisdiction over the 

desilting basin, was contacted and the apparent deficiencies 

were po1nted out. An on-site meeting with a Department of 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

Environmental Resources representative confirmed that contract 

conditions had not been complied with, but produced only a 

pledge to "try to" do something about the Situation. After 

several months, we were advised that since the land had been 

transferred to the Federal government, the slate planned no 

further actJOn. A letter requesting their assistance in cleaning 

up the area was drafted for the superintendent's signature and 

sent in late December. 

In a cooperative effort with the Mid-Atlantic Region ChJef Scientist and 

Pennsylvania State University an acid precipitation monitoring st<>tion was 

installed near the ranger station 1n October 1982. Park personnel 

collected samples and submitted them for analysis weekly.(124) 

In March 1982 Superintendent Elms requested and by the end of year 

received permission to demolish a house and garage dating from the 1920s 

or 1930s that was located across the road from the park visitor center. 

The property on which the structures stood had been acquired in June 

1981 to remove them. The substandard buildings were deemed a safety 

hazard, surplus to the park's needs, detrimental to the visitor's 

enjoyment of the park, and incompatible with the historic setting of the 

area.(125) 

3. MAINTENANCE DIVISION 

During 1979 the park made definite strides toward energy 

conservation. An energy coordinator was established for the park and 

was delegated the authority to monitor and take corrective actions to 

reduce energy consumption. Thus gasoline usage was reduced eight 

percent, electricity usage 10.5 percent, and fuel oil, diesel, and kerosene 

consumption 25 percent, the latter due to mowing operation cutbacks and 

winterizing unoccupied buildings. 

The superintendent's annual report for 1979 indicated the maJor 

maintenance program carried out in relation to buildings, grounds, roads 

and trails, and signs. His observations included: 

Buildings 

The park's 200 historic buildings and structures as well as some 

SO administrative buildings generate large work loads and 

funding demands on the management of the park. 

124. Superintendent, VAFO to Regional Direcor, MARO, April 12, 1983, 

Central Files, VAFO. 

125. Superintendent, Valley Forge National Historical Park to Regional 

Director, Mid-Atlantic Region, March 5, 1982, and Regional Director, 

Mid-Atlantic Region to Superintendent, Valley Forge NHP, March 31, 

1982, and later correspondence, 106 Files, MARO Historian's Office. 

675 
Buildings continue to need rew1ring, new plumbing, reflooring, 

stabililation of foundations and interior and exterior fabric 

work. Major repairs include new heating systems, historic 

renovations and reroofing. 

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania contracted for major 

restoration of Maxwell's Quarters. Most of the work has been 

completed, and the structure will be turned over to the park. 

An addition to 

constructed to 

responsibilities. 

the park's maintenance building has been 

facilitate expansion of maintenance division 

As funding 

stabilization 

structures. 

following: 

permits, construction contracts are let 

and rehabilitation of these buildings 

This year contracts were completed for 

for 

'"' '"' 

and painting two historic buildings; reroofing 

House; stabililation of the Commissary 

[Mordecai Moore] and reroofing Lafayette's 

Glazing, caulking 

the Knox-Tindle 

General's Quarters 

Quarters. 

In addition to the above, contracts were let for two sewer 

improvement systems, security fencing and underground water 

and power connections. 

Grounds 

Dogwood groves were pruned, mulched and fertilized. 

Dead and diseased trees were removed from the park. 

Approximately 125 large trees were removed. 

Several trees were 

park •n cooperation 

planted 

with the 

and transplanted throughout the 

"Trees for Valley Forge" program. 

Road pull-off areas were seeded, filled, sodded, 

maintained. 

Approximately 800 

maintained by park 

acres 

staff. 

of open field were 

Fifty acres of public use area are mowed annually. 

mowed "' 

A construction contract was let for landscaping and visitor 

center parking lot improvements. 

Roads and Trails 

Minor repairs to park owned roadways included culvert cleaning 

and replacement. 

676 

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• 

• 
le 

• 

• 

Ro<1ds were restriped where needed, and 

spaces were identified and pa1nted at 

concession areas. 

handicapped parking 

administrative and 

The Perkiomen Trail was revitalized and Improved from Pawlings 

Road to Betzwood (approximately three miles). 

A horse trailer parking lot was installed at the end of 

Perkiomen Trail. 

Resurfaced boat trailer parking lot. 

Raised cobblestone on south side of Arch by pulling stone, 

filling and compacting foundation and resetting stones. 

The hiking trail to the Lookout Tower was cleared and 

repaired. 

A maintenance yard parking area was installed. 

Park maintenance staff spent a large amount of time and 

overtime plowing park and State roads during extreme weather 

conditions last winter. 

Sign Program 

Interpretive and Regul<>tory signs were designed and ordered. 

Metric conversion has been implemented where recommended. 

Sign coordinator for park h<>s attended NPS Sign training. 

Park's Sign 

municipalities, 

Plan was coordinated with seven surrounding 

to insure adequate signing on State roads.(126) 

The superintendent's report for 1981 contained <> comprehensive list of 

activities carried out by the mamtenance division under eleven subject 

headings. The list included major items under general maintenance, 

cyclic maintenance (B & U), roads and tra1ls general, roads and trails 

cyclic, historic preservation, sign program, grounds, landscape 

management, picn1c areas, energy program, and safety.(127) 

During 1982 routine maintenance as scheduled accounted for approximately 

sixty percent of the manpower and programmed funds. Some 435 work 

orders were generated, of which 106 were for quarters maintenance, 40 

126. Superintendent, Valley Forge 

Mid-Atlantic Region, March 27, 1980, 

NHP to Acting Regional 

Central Files, VAFO 

Director, 

127. Superintendent, Valley Forge National 

Director, Mid-Atlantic Region, March 23, 

677 

Historical Park to Regional 

1982, Central Files, VAFO. 
for grounds work, 26 for roads and trails, and 184 for buildings and 

utilities. 

In addition, several major projects were carried out under contract in 

1982. Inner Line Drive between Gulph Road and Artillery Park was 

repaved by the S.C. & E.K. Fisher Company of Norristown in September 

and October. In November repairs to Washington's Headquarters were 

undertaken by the Neromac Construction Company of Rydal, 

Pennsylvania. The work included repair of broken plaster, repainting of 

paneling, doors, window seats, tr1m, and other woodwork, and 

resurfacing of walls and ceilings with simulated whitewash. Exterior work 

included stripping, priming, and painting of shutters and hardware, 

repair of window frames and sashes, and investigation to locate and 

correct the source of water damage in an upstairs bedroom. 

The second phase of the restoration program of Washington's 

Headquarters was performed under contract by W. S. Horst, Inc., of 

Gap, Pennsylvania. A new thermostat controlled electric heating unit was 

installed in the basement of the structure and hooked into the existing 

duct system, thus eliminating the need for the use of wood-burning 

fireplaces in the building to supplement the present oil-burner forced-air 

system and providing more efficient heating for visitor comfort as well as 

better preservation of the original fabric of the structure. Three 

electrical lines were laid to provide extra power for the heater and other 

electrical services. As part of the project, a new boiler with an 

advan<:ed oil efficient heating system was placed in the Bake House, and 

underground insulated pipes were laid to carry heat from there to the 

early 19th century barn used for restrooms and office space. 

The maintenance division participated in a tree planting program in the 

park in 1982, assisting the Bell Pioneers in April and October. Some 150 

dogwoods were planted in the dogwood grove, and a sassafras tree was 

planted at the David Potts House. Park personnel ass1sted a Valley Forge 

Junior High School class in planting a red maple at the visitor center in 

April. In May the Rotary International sponsored a tree planting 

ceremony in the Rotary Memorial Grove at the crossing of State Route 252 

and the Pennsylvania Turnpike. The tree was dedicated in honor of 

Pres1dent Ronald w. Reagan, and the main address at the ceremony was 

given by Congressman Richard T. Schulze. 

A contract was let in 1982 for field mowing of approximately 550 acres. 

Two cuttings were requ1red (one in May or June and one in September), 

and some 476 tons of hay were cut.(128) 

128. Superintendent, VAFO to Regional Director, MARO, April 12, 1983, 

Central F1les, VAFO. Also see U.S. Department of the Interior, National 

Park Service, Valley Forge National Historical Park, News Releases, "Hay 

For Sale," April 2, 1982, "Media Advisory," May 12, 1982, "Washington's 

Life Guard," April 8, 1982, "Part of Inner Line Drive Temporarily Closed 

At Valley Forge National Historical Park," September 15, 1982, and 

"Repairs Planned At Washington's Headquarters," October 29, 1982, 

Central Files, VAFO, and Regional Director, Mid-Atlantic Reg1on to 

Superintendent, Valley Forge, March 15, 1982, 106 files, MARO 

Historian's Office. 

678 

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• 

• 

One of the most extensive park maintenance projects to be carried out in 

1981-82 was the stabilization ot the Memorial Arch. The condition of the 

arch had been deteriorating for some years prior to the National Park 

Service takeover of the park. State documents reveal a "concerned 

awareness of the deteriorating condition of the arch due to penetration of 

water" from April 1974 to National Park Service acquisition of the area. 

In May 1975 it was estimated that necessary repairs would cost $174,469, 

but the proposed work was never carried out by the state. 

In July 1979 the National Park Service let a contract to Harbeson Hough! 

Livingston & Larson, Architects/Planners (H?L?) of Philadelphia, the 

successor firm to the designer of the arch P'l!u1 P. Cret, to prepare a 

report for the restoration of the arch. During preparation of the study 

five consulting firms were employed by H L to provide expertise in 

particular fields. These included: Berry£ ~omer; Keast & Hood Co., 

Structural Engineers; Warren, Ehret, Linck Co.; Western Waterproofing 

Co.; and Albert Cosenza & Co., Inc. As part of the study a series of 

3/8" and 1/4" weep holes were drilled at the top of the base of the erch 

where water had been oozing for an unknown length of time. In March 

1980 H L issued its report, finding that "the arch is basically sound but 

needs ~x~ensive cleaning, pointing, caulking and weatherproofing."(129) 

Accordingly, the Mid-Atlantic 

Report for the stabilization of 

purpose of the project read: 

Regional Office prepared a 106 Effect 

the Memorial Arch. The description and 

The stabilization program will continue to allow water to 

discharge down the face of the Arch, but will involve the 

installation of a lead coated copper roof on top of the stone 

slab. Originally the stones had raised joints. To echo this 

aesthetic feature and also to create a tight roof which would 

allow for expans1on and contraction of the metal, the 

stabilization program is to provide raised battens which will 

parallel the original raised bosses. This will allow the 

individual sections of metal to expand and contract in response 

to thermal change without opening the seams. 

To induce ventilation of the "rooms" and dry out moisture, 

stainless steel louvers will be introduced into the walls of the 

"rooms," immediately above the lower cornice line. These will 

be out of sight until the viewer gets a distance from the Arch, 

as will the new metal roof. The latter will be painted neutral 

gray so as to blend into the color of the stone. Great care has 

been taken not to cover any of the architectural faces of the 

Arch. 

There will be caulking of the many cracks in the stone to keep 

water out. In a later phase of the project there will be a 

129. Harbeson to Lusk, March 14, 1980, and attached Report for the 

Restoration of the National Memorial Arch, Valley Forge National Historical 

Park, Valley Forge, Pa., 106 files, MARO Historian's Office. 
cleaning and repainting program, us•ng water and detergent 

rather than sandblasting. An attempt will be made to push 

dislodged stones back into place as far as possible. The 

lighting system will be modernized; this may require the 

excavation of new cable trenches. 

The stabilization project was approved by the Advisory Council on 

Historic Preservation in May 1981 subject to minor changes affecting the 

masonry work in ph%e two. The firm of Charles S. Luppold, Inc., of 

Reading, Pennsylvania, was hired to install a new copper and lead-coated 

roof on th" arch at an ultimate cost of over $90,000, and work began in 

November 1981. It was largely completed in March 1982. Cleaning and 

pointing the stonework and stabilizing the foundation was carried out 

after completion of the roof by Dual I Maintenance Co., Inc., of Mt. 

Laurel, New Jersey.(130) 

4. INTERPRETATION AND VISITOR SERVICES DIVISION 

A number of park interpretive programs highlighted the year of 

1979. A new 15-minute sound/slide program, produced by Animation 

Arts, Inc., of Philadelphia, was premiered in February. A new screen 

was installed in the auditorium, and the building Wils wired for the 

automated program that featured watercolor sketches for visuals. 

The annual Boy Scout Pilgrimage for some 1,200 scouts was held in 

February. This annual winter encampment weekend was enhanced by a 

living history demonstration by some 100 troops quartered m the 

Muhlenberg Brigade huts. The George W<lshington tent, insured at 

$500,000 and on loan from the Valley Forge Historical Society, was fully 

displayed in a climate controlled environmental exhibit case for the first 

time in conjunction with the festivities. 

A full range of park interpretive activities were offered in the spring and 

summer of 1979. French Alliance Day was celebrated with living history 

programs at the Conway Brigade. A new tour system permitted park 

interpreters to take groups of six to twelve persons on ten-minute tours 

of Washington's Headquarters rather than allow visitors to explore the 

structure on their own. Other summer programs included living history 

presentations ~t the Muhlenberg Brigade area, historical programs at the 

National Memorial Arch and Varnum's Quarters, a five-mile interpretive 

bike hike, and a two-mile, 90-minute guided hike along the Inner Line 

Defenses. 

130. Colemiln to Weintraub, February 10, 1981, and Agency Official 106 

Effect Report, National Park Service, Mid-Atlantic Reg1on; Weintraub to 

Coleman, March 6, 1981; Coleman to Garvey, March 23, 1981; Tannenbaum 

to Coleman, April 27, May 15, 1981; Coleman to Garvey, May 7, 1981; 

Acting Regional Director, Mid-Atlantic Region to Acting Superintendent, 

Valley Forge NHP, May 20, 1981; and Philadelphia Inquirer, February 13, 

1982; 106 files, MARO Historian's Office_ 

680 

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• 

• 

On September 30, 1979, the von Steuben Statue was rededicated at its 

new, more historically appropriate location overlookmg the Grand Parade 

in the vicinity of Varnum's Quarters. The program commemorating the 

relocation was sponsored jointly by the Steuben Society of America, 

Pastorius Unit Number 38, ot Philadelphia, and the National Park Service. 

The ceremony included a brief demonstration of the von Steuben drill as 

performed by members of the park staff. 

The 202nd anniversary of the arrival of the Continental Army at Valley 

Forge was commemorated by the park's first evening programs on 

December 19-22. Visitors could tour Washington's Headquarters and 

Varnum's Quarters by candlelight, the latter featuring re-creations of 

military camp life. 

The park interpretive staff engaged in a number of studies in 1979. 

These included " hut exhibit plan, a survey collection report on the "dig" 

at the Muhlenberg Brigade, and a flood study of the Washington's 

He~dquarters area in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. 

In 1978 Congress passed Public Law 95-344 providing the authority to 

make units of the National Park System more accessible to urban visitors 

by transportation modes other than personal motor vehicle. In response, 

Valley Forge National Historical Park implemented a Visitor Access 

Transportation proposal for weekend bus service between the park and 

Independence National Historical Park (Fifth and Market Streets) between 

September and December 1979. The service was provided by the 

Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPT A) and featured 

four round-trip busses per day. The park prepared a folder advertising 

this service.(131) 

Park press releases indicate that the interpretive program during 1980 

followed the format of the previous year with several innovations. In 

February a temporary exhibit, "Events in the Life of George Washington," 

was opened for display in the park visitor center. The exhibition, which 

featured a display of 19th century engravings, etchings, and lithographs 

from the Williard-Budd Collection II, was sponsored by the American 

131. Superintendent. Valley Forge NHP to Acting Regional Director, 

Mid-Atlantic Region, March 27, 1980, Central Files, VAFO. Also see U.S. 

Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Valley Forge National 

Historical Park, News Releases, "Slide Program on Valley Farge to be 

Premiered," January 29, 1979; ''Revolutionary Encampment to Come Alive 

at Valley Forge," February 1, 1979; "Public Meetings At Valley Forge to 

Explore Public Transportation to Park," August 18, 1979; "Tours of 

Washington's Headquarters Head List of Summer Activities," August 7, 

1979; "Valley Forge to Independence Weekend Bus Service Starts 

September 1," August 23, 1979; "Steuben Statue to be Dedicated," 

September 21, 1979; and "Park to Commemorate Historic Date," December 

7, 1979; and Act1ng Superintendent, Valley Forge Nat1onal Histor1cal Park 

to Regional Director, Mid-Atlantic Region, September 21, 1979; RG 3, 

VAFO Archives. 
Historical Print Collectors Society, Inc., and the New Jersey State • 

Museum. 

The annual winter encampment weekend was celebrated in February by a 

living history exhibit at the Muhlenberg Brigade huts. The exhibit 

featured a military camp life re-enactment by the Corps of the Continent<!! 

Line. 

In February the Pennsylvania Commandery, Military Order of Foreign 

Wars, made a donation to purchase an exhibit text for George 

Washington's tent which was on display in the park visitor center. The 

organi<:ation also provided funds for improvements to several other exhibit 

signs. 

French Alliance Day, May 6, was commemorated by the presentation of a 

program in the multi-purpose room of the park visitor center. Dr. 

Russell F. Weigley of Temple University presented a lecture on "The 

French Alliance and the American Revolution." The park staff also 

presented four interpretive programs to 250 students from the seventh 

grade of Valley Forge Junior High School. 

In June 1980 a display focusing on the development of Valley Forge as a 

commemorative site was displayed in the park visitor center. Many of the 

items exhibited had been recently donated by John F. Reed, a prominent 

local historian and collector. 

In July an exhibit, ENERGY, was on display in the park visitor center 

for several weeks. The exhibit was the largest traveling exhibition from 

the U.S. Department of Energy and was operated by Oak Ridge 

Associated Universities, a not-for-profit educational research association 

of fifty colleges and universities. 

Summer programs in 1980 included a twenty-minute living history program 

at the Muhlenberg Brigade huts, walking tours around the Washington's 

Headquarters area, and afternoon programs at Varnum's Quarters 

emphasizing 18th century civilian life and craft demonstrations. 

Children's programs included activities designed to let them experience 

the life of a Continental soldier. 

On September 14 the 250th anniversary of the birthday of von Steuben 

was celebrated at his statue in the park by the Steuben Society, 

Pastorius Unit Number 38, of Philadelphia. The ceremony featured a 

re-creation of the Steuben drill by members of the park interpretive 

staff. Throughout the day a "living history" military camp, staffed by 

park interpreters, was set up at Varnum's Quarters. 

Day-long activities were held near Washington's Headquarters on 

September 21 marking the anniversary of the British raid that first 

brought the revolution to Valley Forge in September 1777. A "living 

history" British military camp was set up, featur1ng talks and 

demonstrations during the day. 

682 

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• 

Throughout November the park offered special programs each weekend at 

two "living history" sites. On Saturdays civilian life demonstrations were 

featured at Varnum's Quarters, and on Sundays soldiers at the 

Muhlenberg Brigade huts conducted military camp life activities. Guided 

hikes along the Inner Line Defenses were offered from Varnum's Quarters 

to Fort Washington. 

The arrival of the Continental Army at Valley Forge was celebri!ted by 

daytime and evenmg activities on December 19-21. A living history 

military camp was in operation on the Grand Parade near Varnum's Qu<~rters, and a special exhibit on eighteenth century military camps was 

premiered at the visitor center.(132) 

Superintendent Elms described the interpretive operations at the park in 

1981 as being "very productive". He noted: 

New programs included walks at Washington's Headquarters, 

programs at the Visitor Center and roving interpretation during 

the summer. 

There were 246,599 interpretive/informational contacts made at 

the Visitor Center in calendar year 1981, an increase of 6 

percent over last year. Nearly 100,000 park brochures were 

distributed throughout the year, with 35,000 park summer 

newspapers given out during the summer months. In addition, 

150,000 visitors watched the park's audio-visual program. 

Ten separate interpretive programs emanatmg from the Visitor 

Center during the summer reached over 2,400 park visitors. A 

roving interpretive program was instituted for the travel 

season. Eight hundred and thirteen contacts were made, 

primarily with recreational users. 

132. U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Valley Forge 

National Historical Park, News Releases, "Washington Display to Open 

February 1 at Valley Forge National HIStorical Park," January 29, 1980; 

"Revolutionary Troops to Camp Out at Valley Forge," February 5, 1980; 

"Military Order of Foreign Wars Makes Donation to Valley Forge National 

Historical Park," February 19, 1980; "Noted Historian to Present Progr<Jm 

at Valley Forge Park," April 29, 1980; "Area Students to Commemorate 

French Alliance Day," April 30, 1980; "Special Exhibit at Valley Forge," 

June 18, 1980; "Energy Exhibit Set For Valley Forge," July 1, 1980; 

"Summer Programs Offered At Valley Forge," July 10, 1980; "Park 

Historical Society to Sponsor Historical Lecture," September 4, 1980; 

"Valley Forge Offers Speci<JI Programs This Sunday," September 15, 1980; 

"Fall Activities at Valley Forge," October 21, 1980; and "Valley Forge 

Events Scheduled ror December 19-21," November 12, 1980; Central Files, 

VAFO. 
Divisional employees presented 116 formal children's programs to 

over 2,800 area students in 1981. A new lesson was added this 

year, and the four pre-visit booklets were upgraded and 

reprinted, as was the childrens' programs informational mailer. 

The park brochure was revised and reprinted. 

changes were made. 

In all, ten 

The summer interpretive season began June 20 and continued 

until late August. Daily programs were offered at Washington's 

Headquarters, the Muhlenberg Brigade huts, and General 

Varnum's Quarters. New operations this summer included the 

staffing of the Valley Forge Train Station as a visitor contact 

and orientation point for the Washington's Headquarters area. 

A newspaper advertising the programs was prepared and 40,000 

copies dostributed. Funding for the paper was provided by the 

Valley Forge Park Interpretive Association. Total contacts 

during the summer were over 100,000 visitors, about the same 

as 1980. 

During the year major "living history" events were held to mark 

Washington's Birthday, French Alliance Day, and the arrival of 

the Continental Army on December 19. Washington's Brithday 

encampment continued to be the most popular annual event, 

with visitation of over 6,000 during the two-day weekend. 

Attendance at both the French Alliance Day program and 

particularly the December 19 event was up markedly from last 

year. The arrival of the army was celebrated by evening 

programs, including a slide talk, a film, and a "living history" 

camp. The Friends of Valley Forge assisted by serving 

refreshments to visitors, and the Valley Forge Park Interpretive 

Association helped with publicity. Total visitation was over 

1 ,600. 

Two temporary exhibits were created during the year. A black 

history exhibit was displayed in February at the Visitor Center, 

and displays on touring Valley Forge in the nineteenth century 

were exhibited in July and August. 

An interim furnishings plan for Washington's Headquarters was 

developed and instituted this year. Another change at 

Headquarters was the installation of new, less obtrusive, room 

barriers in the second floor rooms. These barriers are alarmed 

to provide better security as well as allowing us to operate the 

building with less staff. 

Redoubt #3 (Fort Washington) was stabilized to prevent future 

erosion. The earthwork is now closed to the publ1c w1th a 

fence. 

Housekeeping and 

General Varnum's 

effect. 

cleaning schedules for both 

Quarters were developed 

Headquarters and 

and are now in 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

The curatorial vaults in the Visitor Center have been set up for 

use, and all artifacts are stored in place. 

A collection of over 1,000 artifacts, that was left in the park 

by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and had not previously 

been identified, was stabilized and added to the museum 

collection. 

All historic furnishings in the park 

~<~ere consolidated in a single park 

General's Quarters. The inventory on 

and all the furnishings were cleaned. 

that are not on display 

building and Adjutant 

these items was updated 

All artifacts in the museum collection were incorporated into the 

new museum classification system established by the National 

Park Service. This involved review and identification of over 

1, 500 items. 

Organizational \<lOri<. began on the park archives. Dave 

Nathanson, librarian at Harpers Ferry Center, visited the 

archives and based on his recommendations, a storage, 

classification, and retrieval system for the collection was set 

up. The twenty-five cubic feet of materials in the archives are 

now stored in secure and environmentally stable 

condition. 

The library vertical file was reorganized and updated. 

Additional security for rare books was provided, as was a 

listing of new books and a new set of procedures for staff use 

of the library. .(133) 

In March 1981 the "living history" military camp was moved from the 

Muhlenberg Brigade huts to the area along Inner Line Drive at Con~<~ay's 

Brigade hut area. The program was moved in order to place the 

eighteenth century camp "in a more pleasant and complementary setting" 

where "few modern intrusions were visible from the site." Five special 

Sunday programs were presented at the new site in March featuring the 

following topics: artillery at Valley Forge; soldier life at Valley Forge; 

eighteenth century games and amusements, times of celebration, and 

earthworks and entrenchments.(134) 

133. Superintendent, Valley Forge National Histoncal Park to Regional 

Director, Mid-Atlantic Region, March 23, 1982, Central Files, VAFO. 

Also see Superintendent, Valley Forge National Historical Park to Regional 

Director, Mid-Atlantic Region, July 15, 1981, Central F>les, VAFO. 

134. U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Valley Forge 

National Historical Park, News Releases, "Living History Programs at 

Valley Forge," March 3, 1981, and "Spec1al Living History Programs Set 

For Valley Forge," March 16, 1981, Central Files, VAFO. The move was 

an experiment. Because of par·king and i!Ccess problems, the programs 

were returned to the Muhlenberg area by the summer of 1981. 

686 
Beginning on April 6, 1981, weekday bus service was commenced between 

Philadelphia and Valley Forge National Historical Park via SEPTA bus 

route 45. Prior to this date the bus route had operated between 16th 

Street and John F. Kennedy Boulevard 1n Philadelphia and King of 

Prussia, with its terminus at the nearby Valley Forge Apartments. The 

new service would extend the bus route one-half mile west to the park 

visitor center.(135) 

The VIP program continued to make contributions to the interpretive and 

resource management operations of the park. In 1980 some 3,500 hours 

were donated by 35 volunteers and in 1981, 39 volunteers donated 1,650 

hours at a per hour cost of $1.39.(136) Among other contributions the 

volunteers 

supplemented the historical interpretive program, worked with 

the staff curator on a variety of projects, helped reorganize the 

park library collect1on, cleared an overgrown bridlepath, and 

assisted in other phases of management of the park's historical 

and natural resources. About eight percent of the volunteers 

are directly involved in contact with the public, providing 

information and explaining the park's story through "living 

history" programs, house tours, and assisting at the Visitor 

Center information desk. Their efforts help give visitors the 

best possible experience at Valley Forge.(137) 

In 1981 the 1 association took over funding responsibility for 

printing of The the Valley Forge National Historical Park 

newspaper, The newspaper had been published annually by the 

National Park Service since 1978 to provide visitors with information on 

lours, program schedules, and current developments and research efforts 

in the park.(138) 

Attendance at park interpretiVe programs, according to the 

superintendent's annual report in 1982, was up approximately 25 percent. 

Among the accomplishments of the interpretation division that year were: 

135. U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Valley Forge 

National Historical Park, News Release, "Direct Bus Service to Come to 

Valley Forge National Histor1cal Park," December 2, 1980, Central Files, 

VAFO. 

136. Superintendent, Valley Forge National 

Director, Mid-Atlantic Region, March 23, 

Historical Park to Regional 

1982, Central Files, VAFO. 

137. U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Valley 

National Historical Park, Nei>'S Release, "Volunteers Busy At 

Forge," January 21, 1!381, Central Files, VAFO. 

Forge 

Valley 

138. The Sentry, June-August 1978, Summer 1979, June-August 1980, 

1981, qnd 1982, RG 3, VAFO Archives. 

686 

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• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

The park's collection of living history clothing and equipment 

was inventoried and stored in the IFO. All items were 

inventorred and weapons used tn the program wer" marked with 

property numbers. 

A photographic record of interior views of Headquarters and 

General Varnum's Quarters was created for use in interpreting 

the buildings to handicapped visitors. 

The park archives: a considerable amount of work was done in 

organizing and stabilizing the collection ..• 

A new first-person living history program was developed and 

presented to mark the June 19th march-out date. Over 1200 

visitors attended the program. 

Ranger-led 

experimental 

these two to 

be ~;:ontinued 

hikes through the park were offered on an 

basis during the summer and fall. Attendance at 

three hour hikes was good and the programs will 

this year. 

A ten day formal summer training program was presented to 22 

seasonal and permanent interpreters. The summer season itself 

was expanded to run from Memorial Day weekend through Labor 

Day . 

The Visitor Center staff conducted two on-site workshops for 

interpreters in May and August. The subjects were Use of the 

Photography Department and Its Equipment and The Use of the 

Park's Audiovisual Equipment .... 

The German mini-folder was redesigned, additional text was added 

and 4500 copies printed. 

In conjunction with Ralph Lopatin Productions and the Pennsylvania 

Society of Sons of the Revolution, the Visitor Center staff developed 

a 16 minute introductory film for Valley Forge. The cost of 

production was $12,.500 which was donated by the Sons. The film is 

shown daily and was seen by some 15,000 people this summer alone. 

The film was put on both 8 and 16 mm formats. Special projectors 

were purchased to allow the film to be shown in the Visitor Center 

as well as the Auditorium. 

The staff developed an orientation slide program with voice over tape 

utilizing the park's rear screen slide projector. 

The superintendent's annual report also listed a number of special 

interpretive activities and programs during 1982. These Included: 

The prem•er showing of the film "Valley Forge; A Winter 

Encampment" was held on April 25. 125 people attended 

.ncluding members of the Pennsylvania Society of Sons of the 

Revolution, the Friends of Valley Forge and the Valley Forge 

687 
Park Interpretive Association. 

organized by the Visitor Center 

A catered reception also 

staff followed the program. 

Three special 40 minute programs entitled "The Pageant of the 

Revolutionary Soldier" were presented by 40 members of the 

2nd Pennsylvania Regiment at the Park's Muhlenberg Hut area 

on July 11. A total of 557 people attended the programs. 

Between Memorial 

presented at the 

attending .. 

Day and Labor Day 

Visitor Center totaled 

interpretive programs 

138 with 2198 visitors 

During 1982 over 150 Children's Programs were presented to 

nearly 4,000 students from area schools. Again this year, four 

programs were available from which to select. 

The Visitor Center staff conducted 11 special encampment tours 

for distinguished park visitors during the year. Included were 

visitors from Australia, Germany, Scotland, Italy, and Africa. 

During 1982, 246,599 visitors came to the Visitor Center. A 

large percentage of these were directly contacted by the staff. 

A contract was let for the installation of a video monitoring 

system for the park's audio-visual program. Much has been 

done and work should be completed soon after the first of the 

year. 

The library reference collection was expanded with nearly 150 

titles on a variety of topics being added. The library shelving 

sequence was rearranged to make it easier to use. 

Security for the park's rare books collection was increased. A 

fully enclosed metal and glass cabinet was purchased and 

installed in the rare book room. Additionally, a 

hydrothermograph was placed in the rare books room. 

Three traveling art exhibits were displayed at the Visitor 

Center this year. These included the Charles Harper Ill 

Exhibit, The Kay Smith Exhibit and the Artists-in-the-Park 

Exhibit for 1981. These works were on display for a total of 

about ten weeks during the year.(139) 

139. Superintendent, VAFO to Regional Director, MARO, April 12, 1983, 

Central Files, VAFO. Also see U.S. Department of the Interior, National 

Park Service, Valley Forge National Historical Park, News Releases, 

"Educational Programs In Progress," March 29, 1982, "Early Films Subject 

of Park Program," May 3, 1982, "Art Exhibit at Valley Forge," May 14, 

1982, and "Park Announces Summer Programs," June 17, 1982, Central 

Files, VAFO. 

688 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

Th~ park curator and historian completed a furnishings pl<ln for Varnum's 

Quarters in 1982. As part of the project a graduate student was hired 

from the Cooperstown History Museum Studies Program to research the 

eighteenth <::entury pottery excavated from the structure in 1973. (140) 

A continuing topic of concern facing cultural resource management 

personnel in the park during the 1979-82 period was that of demolition of 

unused and non-historic structures. On June 12, 1979, Superintendent 

Lusk requested permission to remove eighteen buildings from the park 

either through sale or demolition. The structures were: 

Park Police Posts, PPZ, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, Qnd 9--VAFO Building it52 

Tourist Camp Restrooms and Pavilion--VAFO Buildings #76 & #77 

Tourist Camp Restrooms--VAFO Building 1176 

Tourist camp Pavilion--VAFO Building #77 

Sunoco Service Station--VAFO Building #118 

Recently Acquired Residences (6) and Associated Garages (2). 

These wer-e: 

Croft Bungalow--VAFO Building -1163 

Boyer House--VAFO Building #101 

Boyer Garage--VAFO Building 11102 

Major Clark Outbuilding, Garage--VAFO Building 11107 

Samuel Britton Jr. House--VAFO Building #116 

Garnett House--VAFO Building #121 

Andrews House--VAFO Building 11123 

It was proposed to remove these buildings down to ground 

the ground to appropriate grade, and plant the sites. 

statement read in part: 

level, restore 

The problem 

None of the structures are contemporary with the 

encampment of 1777-78 nor are they relevant to it. All require 

repair to bring them up to standard, excepting the service 

station. The purposes of the proposal are to remove structures 

that are intrusions on the historic scene; to remove structures 

that pose health and safety hazards; to save, costs of repair 

and maintenance of structures not relevant to the Parks 

purpose whenever possible; and to avoid increases in energy 

use whenever possible. 

It was noted that the current status of the structures adversely affected 

the environment as follows: 

1. They contribute to a water runoff problem. 

2. They provide retreats for undesirable animal populations such 

as rats, stinging insects, and termites (11101, the Boyer house, has 

suffered termite damage) . 

140. Superintendent, VAFO to Regional Director, MARO, April 12, 1983, 

Central Files, VAFO. 

689 
3. The buildings are generally deteriorating through weathering 

and vandalism. Rotted wood, broken glass, etc. provide safety 

hazards, especially in buildings that are not adequately secured. 

4. The 

appearam:e 

sc.ene. 

appearance of these 

of the park as well 

structures adversely 

as being intrusions on 

affects the 

the historic 

5. The park police posts were designed somewhat in the style of 

the soldier's huts but with significant differences and they are, as a 

result, misleading and contusing to visitors. 

6. They limit management's 

possible, the historic setting of 

ability to restore "to 

the encampment. 11 (141) 

degree 

The procedures of 

permission to remove 

1980.(142) 

the compliance process were implemented and 

the structures was granted in late 1979 and early 

H. FORMAL ESTABLISHMENT oe VALLEY FORGE NATIONAL 

HISTORICAL PARK 

On December 14, 1977, the commonwealth had issued a deed of intent "to 

grant and convey to the said United States of America" tracts "of land 

situate in the Townships of Norriton, Lower Providence and Upper 

Merion, Montgomery County and of Schuylkill and Tredyffrin, Chester 

County, Pennsylvania." The boundary descriptions were to be "revised 

and defined by an accurate survey and plan to be completed in the 

spr1ng of 1978." Three conditions, however, were to apply to the 

intended conveyance: 

(1) Exclusive jurisdiction in and over the aforesaid lands, 

when acquired by the United States is hereby ceded to the 

United States by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, provided 

that the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania shall retain concurrent 

jurisdiction with the United States in and over the lands and 

141. Superintendent, Valley Forge 

Director, Mid-Atlantic Region, June 

assessment), RG 3, VAFO Archives. 

National 

12, 1979 

Historical Park to Regional 

(and attached environmental 

142. Acting Regional Director, Mid-Atlantic Region to Associate Director, 

Management & Operations, WASO, August 17, 1979; Coleman to Weintraub, 

August 24, 1979; Associate Director, Management and Operations to 

Regional Director, Mid-Atlantic Region, September 12, 1979; Stanton to 

Garvey, September 19, 1979; Tannenbaum to Stanton, October 4, 1979; 

and Acting Regional Director, Mid-Atlantic Region to Acting 

Superintendent, Valley Forge NHP, October 1979; 106 Files, MARO 

Historian's Office. 

690 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

buildings aforesaid, insofar that civil processes as may issue 

under the authority of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 

against anyone charged with crime committed outside said land, 

may be executed thereon in the same manner as if judsdiction 

had not been ceded, 

(2) The jurisdiction ceded to the United States shall be upon 

the further condition that the Commonwealth reserves to itself 

and its political subdivisions whatever power of taxation it may 

constitutionally reserve, to levy and collect all taxes now or 

hereafter imposed by the Commonwealth and its political 

subdivisions upon property and persons within the boundaries 

so ceded. 

(3) This document is made to the Intended Grantee on the 

further condition that if, as and when the Intended Grantee 

shall cease to use the above described premises for recreational 

and historical purposes, or shall alienate or attempt to alienate 

such land, the title and right of possession thereto shall 

immediately revert to and revest in the Commonwealth of 

Pennsylvania, and its assigns and further that the United 

States, if, as and when the property above described is no 

longer used for such purposes, shall surrender and vacate the 

premises immediately notifying the Department of General 

Services or its successor in function, of its action, and will 

agree to seek congressional authority to execute and 

acknowledge a good and proper Deed conveying the premises to 

the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, free and clear of all liens 

and encumbrances, as well as recording the same, all at the 

cost of the United States of America.{143) 

Official transfer of the park to the federal government and formal 

establishment of Valley Forge National Historical Park was finalized in 

November 1982. The boundary survey for the park was completed in 

August 1980 by John G. Reutter Associates, Consulting Engineers, 

Planners, Land Surveyors, of Camden, New Jersey. Thereafter, a 

warranty deed was executed between the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 

and the United States of America on March 19, 1982, and filed for record 

on April 28, 1982, in Montgomery County Deed Book 4683, Folio 645, and 

Chester County Deed Book V59, Folio 464. The deed provided for 

conveyance by the former to the latter of five parcels of land designated 

collectively as tracts 101-30 and 101-33 totaling 2,404.50 acres. The 

conveyance was endorsed on June 4, thus vesting title in the United 

143. "Deed of Intent," December 14, 1977, Appendix 9, "Statement for 

Management, Valley Forge National Historical Park," February 21, 1980, 

Files, Superintendent's Otfice, VAFO. 
States of America. The Final Title Opinion was received on September 

10, 1982, and on November 24 Secretary of the Interior James G. Watt 

issued official notice of establishment of Valley Forge National Histor1cal 

Park.(144) 

144. Deed, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to United States of America, 

March 19, 1982, Montgomery County Deed Book 4683, Folios 645-84, F1les, 

Land Resources Division, MARO; Chief, AcquisitiOn Branch, Land 

Resources Division, MARO to Chief, Branch of Coordination and Control, 

WASO, Files, Superintendent's Office, VAFO; and Federal Register, XLVII 

(December 2, 1982), 54,367. 

• 

• 

• 
• 

APPENDIXES 

• 

• 

693 
• 

• 

• 

TRANSITIONAL 

HISTORIAN AT 

APPENDIX A 

DUTIES OF DIVISION HEADS AND RESEARCH 

VALLEY FORGE NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK: 

OCTOBER 1976 

Major duties are li.st.eC which '-"Oul<l he ac-co'";>lished prior 

to 1\pril 1~, 1"!"17 by each in<:1i.v1dual and by the entire group 

working as a transitional Operations team. There are other 

functions which would also be perfur11'1ed. 

rf these positions are filled we would be ready to fully 

operate the park within JO days notice of sup.tllemental funding 

with no lost time in the crucial bicentennial year. 

Capital equipment, property, personnel, and program direction 

WOuld be available as a result of this pre-planning and would accrue 

definite and positive benefits to tile National Park Service. 

''rhe intention is to fonn a team, with members having individual 

responsibilit.ies, loohich would be involved from the very inception. 

Each division head would. be mal<ing necessary decisions for his 

division and also participating in the broader policy discus-~ions 

695 
TAA:JSITIONN, llU'l'It.S 12/19 4/15 -----

Chief of Interpretation 

l. E:stoblish effective working relationship/conmunications with 

Chief of InterpretatiOn and )oluseum Curator at Valley Forge, 

as well as surrounding schOOls, civic and otller organized grouP". 

2. COnduct a thorough operations review and analysis of on-going 

park procedures and policies involv~ng interpretation, visitor 

information, exhibits, trails, films, living history and 

volunteers. 

3. Prepare input for "Stat~ment for Management", "Resources 

1'\anagem.,nt Plan", and nvisitor Us" Plan". 

4. Prepare draft park interpretive prospectus. 

5. Prepare "Scope of COllections" Statement. 

6,. Inventory and work with state to assur" turn-over of all artifacts, 

library materials, archaeological findings and pertinent display 

blaterials. 

7. Joleet witll and interview all park interpretive personnel. 

B. Review park tour bus operation and tapes for accuracy. 

9. Become knowledgoble and conversant witll the Valley Forge story. 

10. Develop initial division organization, staffin'l needs and budget. 

11. Par.ticipate in si.,.,ing progrdlfls. 

12. Prepare seasonal hiring nee~~-

13. l'lloet with park volunteers and discuss their current role and 

Org=ization. 

14. Public speaking. 

15. Prepare bicentennial interpretive program and activities schedule 

in cooperation with other groups. 

16. Prepare plan for opening of "CoOperating 1\Ssociation" outlet and 

"ct.ivitie.g. 

n. Analy~e visitor trafhc 

needs and concepts. 

flO'<> in structures based on interpretiv~ 

lB. Identify n.,Rd,-,d chang~s in atlases, maps, trd.vel brochures, 

etc. from "State Pa"~"" to Natwnal Hi~torical P3rk". 

696 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

TRA.'%!1'\0md. D\Jflt:S - _}_2/1?_- 4/~ 

Chief of Maintenance ··---

l. Establish effect1Ve wor-king relationships/o:>mmunications with 

state park chief of ma.J.nten!lnce, Perm rot, utilities and local 

highway ell vis ions. 

2. conduct a tllorough operations revi.,... and analysis of on-going 

park maintenance pr:ocedures and policies. 

3. Pr-epare input for "statement for Management", "Roesources 

Managemertt Plan", and "Visitor Use Plan". 

4. Inspect every park structure and prepare bllildir.g p.-eser11ation 

folders on each . 

5. Determine "'hat, if any, equipment will be left by the state. 

6. Analyze capital equipment and property needs for maintenance and 

prepare orders. 

7. Meet with and inte.-view all park maintenance pe,rsonnel. 

8. Develop lflltial division organization, staffin<;l needs and budget. 

9. Participate in signing programs. 

10. Prepare seasonal hiring needs. 

11. Discuss state rol"' in maintaining through roads, snow clearing, 

and ro,>dside maintenance. 

12. RE>vie"' utilities requin,ments, trash removal e<:>ntract, and 

sewet-jwater si.tuation. 

13. Develop and ret~in blueprints, as builts, and other existing 

data regarding park developm"nts. 

14. Pr"P"'-e grouncl•; and stru~turt•s maintendnCe plans . 

697 
T;<AN5IT!Oo;~\'. DUT!i.S 1?/19- 4/15 

O,ief Ranger 

1. Establish cffectiwe workin9 relationship/communications with 

Olief of V<11ley Forge P=l< Police and sucroun~i.ng law enforcement, fire and rescue or<janizauons. 

2. COnduct a thorough operations review and analysis of on-gcinq 

park proceduccs and policies involving law enforcement, fire 

safety and resources management. 

J. Prepare input for "Stater;,ent for Manage;:,ent", :Rc~ources Management Plan" and "Visitor use Plan". 

4.. Meet with and interview all state park police personnel. 

5. Review park boundary, ease;r.cnts, contracts and uses of park 

structures. 

6. , Review COncession operations. 

7. C..velop initial division orgar1ization, staffing needs and budget. 

8. Participate in signing programs. 

9. Prepare seasonal hiring nee~~-

10. Analyze protection needs of visitors and Strl1ctures,set up standard 

' loci< system, and law enforcem.,nt standards. 

11. Analyze need for park radio system. 

12. Trafflc fl'-"' analysis. 

13. Analyze n~ed for hre and safety equiprroont an<l prepare order. 

698 

• 

• 

• 
66S 

"UOl.J~-ll3fU]L•J;Oit Uofb~ 

\{~"' l-'•L·.Juo~ Jo 01 u;o.i ·.~ ~~~ pu~ svoi"" V'o:>ueuiJ C'JL·<i~.:td ·n 

·s"IJ~"lll!d DlHJl<':l" pu,; uo-q'<'Z}UI!D.lo ar..p<'-'1S!UJW[>>' do;ar..C(J "Sl 

·s:p,_quo" uol,;sv~uo:> P'-"' S:ln.uad '"'~""U!""""' liuns-,x., ~'~"'""ll -~~ 

"01<l 'uop"{00 W.lOJ 'SI',S"(II.JCI~U} "al:otdw" >£.l"d CqqS 11"' a:lEU-q:>HXX) "£1 

·wa1sAs 1auuos.Iad dn l<lS 'ZT 

·wa1sAs AlJ:~o.:td dn 'I"S "II 

·st>T:PTnn •J.::wuon"'~" 's<>UolJd AOJ a6u-e.:t:rv ·or 

·st'-'P"•= "-'"''"""""" P'"' 's>[ooqpm>q 'saru <>~>-''~"-nsrurUJ;>" dn 1as "6 

· saaXordwa l""o""'"' .:IOJ suu:o1 a.>ed<>.ld ·a 

"Sl"P<ll<'W ptn• sancidns '.':1.:zado.>d t!" .lOJ SUOJ'\)S1'f'b<l" 3Jl?d<>Jd "L 

·s.:t<>p-lo lU<JUJdmb" 1"11d"o ;u,.da.Id -'9 

"l"lUawatddns JO ofiess"d uodn pait'J 

aq o+ suop1sod CIOJ s,zs-.o:s 'suond>""""P uO''l]Sod """"""d ·s 

·srepa'I<'W wE.rfio.>d l""FI1""!' a.l>?d<>.I<f '17 

".,U>lld &Sfl .lO~'!S"'f/1., pUll .,UPTd ~U<JW 

-a0~U<'\ol S8:l.lTIOS"<!.' .,'JU<>OJ;;5~<mH JOJ lU&\ll&l,;'!S., .lO~ CjndU'! ;;u .. dO.:Id 'E 

·saonoo pu,; •nnpa:Jo.:<d >[J"d &UJ'cD 

-UO l!P }0 STS~JPUP pUP ~a.A&.l SUO;'J .. .l&dO tj0nO.l0~ P 'J:lnpUOJ ·~ 

· rauuos.:~;>d pup 

uop".l'JS1u'!"'<'" '<~''"'"~n::>o.:Id u1 P""lOtlU"'f Tauuos.:~vd >[.:IPd "'~"~s };a>[ 

<{'!'!~ SUO-p~:l'\U:\'~'1ll00ljSdtl!Sll0'!l"1<10: 5UT>[JOM ""q:>aJ]O ljS11q<'ls:3. •t 

-,-,-o-,-,-,-c)---,f.- Tc. ''"'",'''''''· oC!"'P\f 

ST/1' - tl/n S:i!C11Q '1\INUI.LlStNlf.L 

• 

• 

• 
4/15 

!Oesearch Historian ---- -

1. Establish bibliography of all existing research on Valley Forge. 

2. Review material for accuracy, sources, coverage and determine 

areas of research need. 

3. Prepare g;oal for research program. 

4. Prepare research contracts for i1'1pletruontation as soon as funds 

an• available. 

5. Begin research project on physical resource. 

6. Participate in planning and writin9 of "Statcnr~ent for Management", 

"Pesource Management Plan" and "Visitor Use Plan". 

Priority re<;earch mU3t be accomplished by October of 1978 in order 

to meet the Generdl Man~gC!ment Plan submitlal date of 3 years a ftc--

the o~rk bcc::,w-,~~ a N3ti.on~l Park Sernc~ area. 

Superintendent, Valley Forge to Regtonal Director, MARO, October 7, 

1976, CRM-MARO Files. 

700 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

APPENDIX B 

INTERIM AGREEMENT AND LEASE FOR 

VALLEY FORGE NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK: 

MARCH 1977 

C:ONIIONW~.un< o.- Pt:NNSYI.\IA~, ... 

GOVEI .. IOII'S o.-.-1<;( 

.. AIIIIO •• UIIG 

Thll -nool.,. gf llllth.l ~~n-~t bot>HOO tho C_,.,.e.ttk of Pormoyivanh 

ond the Mott--.1 PO<~ 5o,...l<-o U lot tho po~rpooo of ~t(Wldlns lot tho 

"""'ln10<ra<lon, opuatioo, ptOOHVOtlmo ODd "''"'ll'I"OUtlon of Volley for10 

Pnk bf tho "•U-1 P•rk :;<orrloo ut1t1l ouch •- u ct .. r title to &ll lo"<lo 

vltblo tho bo>u,.,orp of odd pork a. tnaohrtod bp tho C._.!IVOolth of 

POGIIOylnUa to tO. llo.lt"" 5uto• c-....... t. 

V&llor '"""" $tat• P•tk hao beoo noopol"d oo poue.,lnl """......! , l>eloc dul-tod o llod..,.l B.loto<lt ._,. oa Joo""l'"f <O, 

u np<Oo ... d ... tl>o hO<dohlpo oaeouatend by the ,.,orltoo A..,. uDder 

O.oonl lluh .... t<JG, illotlq tho Yintet <>I 1117-Te: """' 

<:~.on .. , the C""'t .. o of tbo Ul:l.ltod Sto<u """'""" ond tho P<Ooident •lined 

P. J, 11'-331 vhith -..thotl..ae<l the ..:ooptG<O of Y&lloy fOTI< !tote Puk f~ t"" c,_...,.oolt~ of hm>oylv ... l-o 0<1<1 tbo ootobUo'-"t of Yoll•Y for~ 

l<otloo.o.l Rl-otorieol Po<&; -

Wher•••· tho c,_o...,oolth of """""Yl•.,io eaooot lol•lly '"'P""d f"od• oo 

land it do•• not roto111 OWMnblp of, ami -•t ourcloo Ito rlshto ODd 

""""'" ""dor tl>o ouroty bO<>d• ..,.! wuoou .. , o«"""""Yln& tho '"""'"''<!"" 

oootrooto, 1n ordor to CUI"J' o•t <bo p<ojooto lt<•Uod lo <0< ofornold 

oc<o ""lch ore ottoebod .... ...Ud &O "'"lbito A tb.ou1h c: 

"""''"• It 1• tho d<loln ol tl>o "'-"'oalth of P"""oylvonla to b<ing •boot 

lo o timely ao!!oer tho odoolnlouotiOll., ••PO'<otlon, .. tnt.,..oeo, politlns, 

pr .. ervotloo on< '"torpretotl"" of V&lley Porse •• o oatiooal hiotoricd 

park under the aeslo of the llatloi'Ol Puk Servlc< oo tho< Volley Forse ...,, 

1>o devotod to public uoe oM perl'*tuotloo of tho sr ... teot trodlt!ono of the 

Unitod S<oooo of -rico; ....! It h tho fu<ther dool<o of the C"""'"~ .. ltO 

to "'"Plt In good l~ith """ tho tenu ond condition• looposcJ b, A<t ll "' 

tho Peoo•ylvanla C:.O<<Ol .... -,, oM thooe "'""" .. by tO• l'n!<<d Stat., 

Congr<"' 1n r. ~ 94-lll, ood 

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N 

~ 
• 

• 

• 

.;, To P""'lde tllo ~o<ional Pork Serv<CO """ a ooopleto 1nvontory 

of all hiHono onifo<U, t.rnlshinp o,.! O<hor OOYoobte it- to be 

loaned to th Matlo""l Pari: Serviee, in e.aplionoe ~lth tile -lni<t<otiYe 

Co<le of the c-n•nlth of Penn>Y'-•nia Olld to ououte >O>d tnn>f<r a< 

tho time of P""l"" outllothatlon of sald ''""'for •• tho Notional Park 

Sen lee. 

e. To flanonce tho bi<tnt'ennid ·dovolof"'ent prorru in accor<lanco 

with .leU J10 ..,.; JS2 of ~74, and Act 12A of 1~7S <If the PoM•ylv.,,a 

Goneul Au011bly, "WibiU A th:rooah C," Olld to po,..,it the NaUonal Par); 

S.rvlco the co>•>rto>y of Jlaited de>irn in!""< thr«~gh the oegi> of the 

Historlcol and IIJo .... c-.hslon for tllooo project> in pro&rU> "' in 

d ...... 

f. To t-1• .. • o contract with T""er Opdcol C"""'onY concurrent 

with Ule &Ss-Uon of Op<T'Itional nop:malbUity for Valley Forge Park 

by tl... Notlooal Pork Sorvlco. 

I· To ontor Into on onl~nt &lr<-~t ~ill> 01don food Sei'Vi<O 

Corporation of Delawuo t'"'t wwld tranofer leuor riji~U to the H•hoMl 

Port Service one ond tll.o , ... u those pro><ntly .,J"''ed by !.lte 

Co-nwea)th of Pennsylvonla oe<or<IU.J to, ond for the tuo of, ,.;d 

loose .,,..._,t ..... aooil....,l attadled u "Apporol•1•• S on<! c." 

h, To """'"" or Joua Volley For1o Porlt to the United Stotes 

Ga.-onuoont, Piarlonal Port 5oi'Yice, -ODd don of all ten .. u . 

Article II - Ia <Qnsi<lorouon of tho ob<rYo, <llo Hotiottol Pnk Sen'i« 

heroby •1neo: 

a. To oc<UPT ..,.. ..... ,. tile bo.Udlns• o:wl r<""ndo for ~rpooe> oet 

forth in Artlcl< 1 of this arr .... nt; and to opon.te, polico, ""d ""inuin 

tho buildinJs, utUitl .. , obj"""' pork roods 011d Jtoor.do, and ... ke oil 

.epu" thereto ond apply ouch :rules ..,.. n~r~~latlon• ther<ln •• ""Y be 

ne<uoary to pi"OP"tly perfo,. park fllnctiono ond to ~~&intotn the pooco. 

b. To exerci>o roaoonoblo <ore to proven< "-i• to, or dosn-uct!on 

of any par< of !.Ito ,..,..;s, r<""n<il, lnL.lldinj;O and utilitleo or their 

OWJrtOnaru:e•. 

c. To a.ou.e !lability to thl~d poroons ond tloe J•nn•l ~Oil< f= 

any ci&W arioin11 f- tllo use of pr .. isoo ..-.lor the conveyonco on<! Je.,e 

henln conto.plated ..... to 0<!-toly prot""' oro! u a ><lf·m•uror, inoW"O 

the proal•••· ln>"Ont0r7 Hns ono! buUdinao tlootoin fn>o fir< loO>, riot 

an<! othor .,......_IU<>; to save ho<:~~le" t.he C._.,.,.Hith of PoM>ylvonu 

fr.,. any fututo liobiUty-.ftoT pououlan u deli~«d under the 

conveyonco ..... loooe Ooroln, l'ltOV!D[J) t.hot tloo liability ond obligation> 

ho«undor ohall continuo only oo lo>nJ as title >llall reaain in tho Uni<od 

States of -ric> all<! ohall .... , olld dete .... in< If ond when title ohould 

rove.t in the Com<mwoaltlo modor tho -ertor hetoinaftor sot forth in 

tlno k<tielo. 

d. To o<;<ept tho usiiJNOOnt of leO>or riattu 

Old"" FOO<I Ser"lice Corporation of Dolo•aro for the 

lo><e whi<h >h•ll tonoino.te on Oec...bn ll, 1~18. 

'""" on~ ...,,;Jnoent ••• otuehod all<! respoettvoly 

B Pl<l C."' 

to the I<.,< with 

noooi'"'u of oaid 

The ofo<e~onuonod 

.. rkod "~ppondaJO> 
e. To upunly affu:o by r<>oludon thu If, •• ond ~hn tho ,.;~ 

pr .. uoo "'""" lo~J« ,..,... for roc~otional and hi><o>i<al )"O>rpooes, the 

t>tle and ngh< of"""""'"" th«O<o shall '-!LatO)y ~•n to """ , ..... , '" t),o C.-m•ealtlo of PonnoylvOJao, .,d In "'"~~"'• ...0 furthoc 

that tho United suto> >f, '' ond """" Va1ley foTgo P_.k to no Jon11er 

uoed for ouclo p.orpo>o>, It sholl •~oder ond vocate the )'rtiOi>u 

t-.dto<oly nonfyinr tho !)epar ... nt of ~e,.r&l Service> of <he 

c,_,nwealth o1 P<M>ylnni• or It\ ouccenor In flio,<tlon of It> action, 

ono1 eU<ut<! alld ocktl""JO<I1.- a '~<><Hi and pr<>p<r <lee.! conveying the P"""""'i .. > 

to tho C.-:> .. oalth of P<orJ,.ylvonia, fn• and clear of oil Ji<no >lld 

onc..-llrancn, ., well &> r<~oordinl , ... , all at the CO>t of the United 

State>. 

f. To c<>fl<luc< at it>··~··· an accunte su,.,.oy and provide a legd dooorlptlon of the bound&TIO> of Volley foTge Stote Part., a< 

11oner&lly dOfi.Md by c-n•oalth ...0 fodoral hfblo<;on. 

A<tiolo III • It io '"''"111 omdooutood on.! ogroed: 

a. That notOinJ heroin eontoinod ohol! be conotroed ao bindln' tOe 

Nati~n.al Pork S<-Nice to u~d In ony one fueol year any ''"" in ••••" 

of appropnotion5 ,..do by Congren f~r that f!oool year. or to involve 

tOe United StatU tn ""1 eontnct or other o!>l>gotion for the future 

uponditu<O of""'"~ In o.«:eu of >llclo owropriati0Jl5. 

b. No -er of ot dOleiato of Congren or re•l<lent ,...,;.,;"""' 

,hall bo a.i1utted to 0"11 share or port of thi• •tr«ment or to ••r benefit 

th.ot .. 1 orhe therefroa, but t<,h ,..,ntl<tion oholl ""' be o:onstrued to 

ex<ond "" thi> OJro-nt if o.odo with a eol"fl<'ntlon or c""pony for "' 

i•nera! benefit. 

A<ttc\e JV • Thlo initial OJ<e ... nt •hoi\ be<:oae effective upon IU 

ex.cu6on, trut the >tt•<:hod !e.se of co!bteral title re•l prope<t~ 

.... J.nini nth the Comoon~eolth .. rkod "Appendage A." aod the •••i-ent 

of lenor rt;.hts to the Notional Park Servtee of the Oj!den Food S.rvi« 

Corporation of Oelavon leuo •rkool "AW'n~ate C" bee- effective upon 

th~ <lot• of ootWeyanoe (or 0> O<OOh thereafter •• pr><ti<>ble) of Volley 

Forge Pa<k to the Notion~) hrk SeNice in accordance ~lth tf<• nti<leo 

here ar.d before 50tforth. All tton>f<TO of title ot delivery of 

P'"'""'"n oholl be IN<ie on lqroh JO, 191'. or U 00011 lhereafter as pracuoable. U>O ond OO<U!'""<Y >hoi\ eot10tn<e oro! continue for the t<,.,> 

>taU<I theroln ex<ept for tho,. P>""Je<U &> y« un<:ompletod to •hich the 

Comon•ealth of P<nn<ylvonia io c"""!ued to fulfill in Hs bi«ntennul 

d<Velol"""nt pn>gru. For thooe p..oject5 so pr<>posed use ond occupancy 

<hall not c ... en« prior to <:OOipletion thereof to the nthfa<tlon of the 

HistoricaJ oro1 """'""" """"'"'""· 

Th" innial ogre""'"' ohall continue m full force and •ff•" until all 

uncertain and iJWiefinite .. tter• heroin referred to hove be<n vroperly 

deftned orul dete]"Oin•d by all patti"' to th" arroement. Th• uncerutn 

oro1 1ndefin1te .. u«s inc\O<!o but aro no< li.o>ted by tho foll.,.in]l: 

Inventory .00 valuotion of..,."""' Objects, forni<hingo or 

hhtort<ol uhtbit>. 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

su ..... er of the Valltl)' ForJ• ~ork pr•» ... 

D••d !f'OIO th< c-~oalth of hnnoylvOIIla to th< Un"e.l Sut .. 

Ga¥er11110nt for p..,.;...,,, 

S..id uncoru.in ...:1 ln<loflnlu .. uoro shall .. cludo l•bor ~la<l<>n• or 

connocu. """" thooo a,.! other aanen O.vo b.., finally dof!ned an.! 

dotomoinod, tttio (nitlal agro ... nt ohUI bO<cae final. 

llpprOV'O'd u to Lotg-dity and 

Form of ~utiO» 

Approve~ as to Legality a~ 

Fono of E><e=tJ.on 

By: 

By: 

"' 

70e 

EXecutive Oir&ctor, Hiotonc• 

and ~se~ C~iooion 

Secretary, Geneul 

Dep.ortlOent of 

Services 

~iltcn J. Shopp, Governor C~nveelth ot Pennsylvania 

ll!llTEO S'I'A'!'t:S ilF AMERICA 

BenJ~ln J, ~erbey, Act1ng 

Req>onol Director, Notional ~ark s.>rv>ce 

Cec>l 0. Andruo, Secretary 

of the Intencr 
LI:ASE 

W]-{t:R£AS. o~ the Hr~ Ooy of J~ly, 1971. tile Gonoul Aooembly of the Common,..eolth <>l Pe<>noylvonio enootod Act S3 cl tho l.,owo o/ the Commonwealth Of 

Pennoylvam~ and the Ho.o.onble G<>vernor of laid ComrnoO'-"Ulth orprovecl ntd low 

on the 30th doy ol July, 1~71; and 

WH::E;I'-US, l"'''uut to uid Act_ and other lawo and cletemnna"ono, the 

Sooret.o.ry ol the DeP"rtment <>l Gen .. al Suvtceo. with the approvol of the Covornor 

and the E><«'-'lin Dirootor of the lltotorical ond Museum Com:ni,.ion, \o nlhori~ed 

to e><«Ute <hlo instrument on beholl of the Commonwealth of Pennoyl.,amo: and 

WHEREAS, purouant to Pubhc Law 9~-lH Conan,., 90 S<at. 790, the Secre 

tary of !.oter>or or hi• <Nly authocioed rep.-oentaUve, i> outhoriood to oe«pl o 

donation of lond for the Volley Forgo Nahonal Hi•lorieol Park, and 

WHEltUS, fNrouant to 36 F. R. 21~16, th~ Reg<onal r>;ncto~. Mtd·Atlantic 

Region, N~tlonal Park ~rvic~ io authodnd to aceopt land and make ouch aj;r••· 

rnonto in relahon to tbo acquioition of land u may bo noco .. ary on beh.olf of the 

Untied Stat .. of America: ..,d 

WHEREAS, 11 ;, tho fN<pcoe of th>O lo.,e to convey a prooent 1ntere>t '"land 

ownod by the Com•nonwoalth of Pennoylvania •o the United State, of Amor«•, pondlng a lull conveyance ol tho lee "tle: and 

THIS lNDE:iT\iRE, made thi• Jt'~oay of~/,___ , 1~77. between 

tho Corrunonwooltb of Pe•u»ylvama, achng by •nd through Ronald G. Lench, Secretary of tho D<pa>tment of Conenl Sorv>ee>, whh the approvol of the Governor ud 

the L>:ecutive D<eector of the Kiotorical and Muo~um Cormn""""· Commonwealth 

o/ Pennoylv.nia, honinaftor coll•d L"'"'" and the Umted Stat .. of Amerie•, ading 

by anG through n•njannn J. Z:<rbey, Aohn8 R<gio~al D~roctor, M>d-l'll>nti, Re!um, 

National Puk Serv>CO, he"<inoit .. c•ll•d L•.,••· 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

W<T~ESSETH. That H.< Le"crs, for and '" conS\dotU>On ol the cO'"<"anu 

and agr<-emeoto hote>nallor ''' fo"h '" th,. <not rumen<, do hotoby domooe •n1 

\eaoe l"'uuant to the author"y contained"' /letS) ol the Lawo of the Comrnon"uHh 

of Pennoylvama, to the l..eooee, the prernioeo eonl.o>ntng 2255 lle<eo more or lo" ~. 

u Valley Forge State Park, u obown on plan attoched ao &hib•t A, neept\ng Pro-

)O<t Aroa, ao on attache~ Schedule B, both of wh>ch an made a part hereol, \n the 

Countieo of Montgomory and Cheoter, aaruable to <he prov><iono of Leg,.laHve Act 

SJ, at a HUed rontal of OriE DOLLAR ($1. 00). 

TO HAVE ANO TO t\01..0 tbe nme for &nd during the te.rn eorruneno.ng on 

the JO<h day of Marcb, 1~77 and <"!'idng upo<> tbo recording in approprtate oWeeo 

o/ a Deed from Leo,on to I..OOHo eonvey•na tho luoed pron>\O~o ond tunoferdnJ 

~good and mu~etable title l.o Luooe. 1<1 th~ nut that titlo to the land hcroinabovo 

doocribod b~o not veoted in th~ Luou hore;, by hly !, 1977. thio )uoo ohall auto· 

"'ohcoily be e"'endod hom y<H to yeu upon the urne tecmo and oond•hon• unt.) 

utle to the land huotnabove deocr.bed shall bo ~estod '"the \..oooeo. At the date 

of convey~oce thio Leue sholl me<Ge into the fee, and all reveuioury >ntueo .. of 

L .. oor shdl cUH and deto<mine, 

The L.,oee eoven~ts that •t w•ll be uoponoible for tho '""ntenan<e, Tepah, 

and up~eep of uid )~d. ""eeptin11 the.efrom any area of the premisoo that io oubject 

to the dghto M third partieo, or whtch io in the proceoo of conltn"tion on or near 

the •~apted areao of thio Lease. 

The L"''' will pay, nd ~so eovenu" th•t it will p•y, •ll watu ront> •nd 

o~wer rnh, if ~ny, ond •ll utihty ~Oih of ADy naturo, i! any, ueept •• otherwi.e 

provid•d for in <hu Leao~, accruing duT1ng th~ term of the Le•oe. and all bolls for 

the ume \! p»d, by the Leooo<>, m~y be recovered u rent, from the Le10ee. 

t..eoooro ohal) not be liable lor loH !o any pe.,onal property o{ Le .. e< by ony oavH 

whatooever oxcopt for \o'"•• eovord by employees and agent> of the L"oor aotuog 

707 
'"'"'"the ocope o! tho>c omployment. The LHOH •h•ll keep the dem,ed promue• 

>n ~ood condit>On during the conhn~an« of the lu,. and «move all aohu, cubb"h 

and re/uoe rnatteu therefrom. The L ..... "''ll uo• every reuonable precaution 

ag.,not l>U •~d give the Luoon pr<>mpt writteo notice of any aec1dent, fire or dam· 

age oecurdnl on or to the p<emioeo. The Lu•ee """"''' al! hab1hty to th>rd penor 

aod the geooral public for any eleizno orioing from <ho uu of prem\o .. undor thio 

Leu e. 

The LI:SSORS, in eonoidention of H>e reeoipt of the eonoidoration above otated 

heroby covenant ond agree to the lollowtng: 

&. That lhe r. .. ooro lor Ho Agendeo and Department, w>ll not iooue 

end lurlhu hondo or other tnotrumento, ovidencin~; a deb< of the 

Leoeo», which are oee,red by the premioeo lntended and O!l<ee· 

~Ole to tho provisions of Lejis\.o.tive Act 5:!. ciated !'-'IY 30. 1975, 

and "'iU ma~e ""cb pay=ont to the bondholde<S •• roquirod under 

the Bond ot Truot lhdenture covering thi• lond. 

b. The conveyance of the land shall he upon the terms anci cond•tiono 

set lorlh >n Legiolanve Act 53 of tho La"'' of the Common,.eatth 

of Pennoylvanio, which ot.atute io ineorpouted by roluence in thu 

aguement. prov,Qeci the title to the land i• ><ceptable to the AttorneyGone<a) of the Un>ted Stateo. 

e. The Le.,eo or thltci part>" under the d!>octinn ol ond "'""the pumiHion o{ the Le.,ee. m.y in their dlOCreUon erect or em .. to bo 

erected on the prernioe• ony public Unprovement• ond •lructureo 

which the L••oe• deemo duirable. Th• public improvements and 

otruetut., erected by the Les"e or th><d pa<tie> oh>U be ooosid<~<d 

by the L"ooro to b• the prnpe"y of L"•••· even thougO perm•n•ntly 

•fh.ed to ond fo•m•ng a put of th• .. alty. 0-oeroh•p of thoo• pubhc 

708 

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"rtp<Ovemenh and otructuro• >< con.,dered by the Le .. or 10 bo 

<>thor"' the Luoee or the th>rd porbeo u the" tntueot =~y op· 

peH ~nd d the to<mtnahon of thu Ju .. may be removed by the 

Lo .. ee and/or lh"d p .. !ioo ~• the>r dioeretion and at their expenu. 

d. The Luoou rep<eoenl ond tl ;, o cond<h<m of th" leue that no 

member <>lor dohgato to Conge•••· or resident eommi,,.onu, 

on...u be admitted to or oh.are any p..-t <>l thio leaoo, or to any 

benefih tlt.ot moy orin the>drom: but thio provuion oha!l not bo 

eonot,.,ed to extend to any ogroement <>< le.,e mode w;th a cOT· 

porahon for ito gene<al benefit. 

e. r., •••• the third p.a<ty ohould .. oct or eouoe to be ue<ted ouch 

public \mprovomont. o.nd otruetureo. ootd thtrd party will procure 

niCicient liability U.oura.oeo and oure<y bozulo to protect oga<not 

ouch lou or ciarnag<- to the <e>lty and aho eovnage lor liabni<y 

to out>!d~<> lor lo .. aa, dalmo, demando or damageo by nuon 

ol oa>d oonotruchon aohvtty, payable to The Geoeal St..te Author· 

lly or Un>tod S<>.teo o! Am••k• •• their \Otueot may appe~r. Th~ 

l..oooee ~nd/or third par!ieo Wider thom agree to ropoh ~oy lo .. 

o< dornage to tbe r<OI<)I :.od all preoont irnpro~emenU by reo~on 

of aH\x.ng, ueehng or romoving U\d p.>bl>< irnprove<nent• and 

f. The Le,.oro waHant that thlo io LO ln\er~;ovexrunenhl tranoaotion 

and no peuon OT oe!!in1 ~i,eney has bun employed or retained to 

•o\lelt or •«ur< thi• leaoe upon on og«oment or und.rotanding 

for a eomm,.olon, pOTeont•l•• brokuage, or eonhngent leo. ox-
oeeud~& huoineu. For broach or viol~uon of thto warranty the 

pueentage, b~okuage, or contingont fee. 

The Le,.oro and Leooeo mutua!Iy agree that, 

h. Th'" ln.,tument ohall automahca\ly tenni ... te upon conveyance 

of the \a~d intended by Legiolative Act Sl, to the Leuee by t.h 

c. Nothina herein eontaoned ohall be held to deprtve tbe Commonweolth of Pennoy!v011\a or it. poliheal oub-d(v\oiono of conol\tutio~al 

reoernd hy Ad Sl of 1~75, 

IN WJTN£SS Wlil:llEOF, the re•poohve portico hove hereunto'"' theu hando 

.-nd oealo the day and yeu firot above "'ritten. 

Approved ao to L•&ality and /orm 

ol ueeution 

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANI..' 

{Leooorl 

!ly'',,,,,?~.,,,,c:c~c,\jc.'-,!~'•'·'·'~~':' . .1..-;,o,;,C:Gc,c,c,c,c,c,-

se.v""' 

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;:;uMM0''"' [AL r:-; O< PE:<KSY LV AN \A 

ATTEST' 

APPROVED' 

UtHT£D STATES OF AI-IERICA{l.-eo•ee) 

Ben' mon ]. 

C>t ctOt, 

"""on~! Puk s.,v,« 

Appendixes 7 and 8, "Statement for Management, Valley 

Historical Park, February 21, 1980, Files, Superintendent's 

m 

g Region~] 

.,.,o~. 

Forge National 

Office, VAFO. 
BACKGROUND 

APPENDIX C 

BRIEFING STATEMENT, PLANS FOR 

VALLEY FORGE NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK: 

MARCH 1977 

On July~. 197G, the 200th Anniversary of the adoption of the DeciMation 

of lndupendcnc", Pre~ident G<;rald Ford signed" law authorizing th~ ~dd!tlon of Valley Forge National HiHorical Park to the National Park 

System. 

The state of Pennsylvania had set aside much of the area of the historic 

encampment In 18~;)3. It 10as later established as a state park. At present, 

the park comprisn 2 1 255 acres and is located 2~ miles weSl of central city 

Philadelphia. 

Several buildings In the park, notably the stone farmhouse used by General 

George ~ashlngton far his headq~arters, existed during the winter of 1777-

78. HIStoric eerthwork5 are still visible. Los huts and c~nnons located 

throughout the park .ue reproductions of the type at Valley Forge during 

the encampment. Original cannons are on view Inside the p<~rk's reception 

center. 

fort Washington Is the only original fort structure remaining In the park. 

The Star Redoubt Is the only fort reconstruction derived from on-site archaeological research. The remaining forts: Greene, Muhlenberg, and 

Huntington are rough appro~imations of where the forts 10ere ~haught to be. 

Two Important secondar, roads pass through the park ~- Route 23 and Route 

252. Both carry a considerable volume of commuter and truck traffic. In 

addition, Valley Farge Park contains ~pproximately 20 miles of paved internal roads. The Reading Railroad discharges passengers for Valley Forge 

Pork ot two stotions ~11th1n the pMk boundaries. 

NUMBER Of VJSJTORS 

The park recorded 1.7 million visitors as a state park in I~H5 (not counting 

the heavy commuter and throu9h·traffic passing thro~gh the park on secondary 

roads). Appro~imately 3 million visitors toured Valley Forge Park in 1!176; 

ln <!ddition, an estimated I 1/2 million came to the park on July 3 and 4 

when the bicentennial \.lagon Truin enc~mped in the purk and President Ford 

attended authorization c~re.71Dnies. 

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LAND ~CQUISITION 

Public Law 9~-337, the authorizing legi~lation, permits up to $8.6 million 

to purchase properties on the park's perimeter and one industrial site with· 

in the pork boundaries. Togeth(lr, these properties comprise approxim~tely 

250 ~crcs. In October 1976, NPS acquired /16 .:~cres of land and the m.:~nufacturtng plant of the Keene Corporation for $1 million, 

The Regional Land Acquisition Office has begun preliminary work to define 

all priv~tely-hcld land within the p.:.rk bound.:.ries uuthorizcd b·f Congress. 

This Involves searching land title records and preparing descriptions of 

parcels of land. Although a survey"'"" once made of all land included 

within the state park boundaries, the record of this survey was lost In 

1~72 ~hen a building in Harrisburg was flooded by the Susquehanna River. 

During Fiscal Year 1~77, $2.~ million was allocated from the 1and and 

Water Conservation Fund to enable the Hid~Atlantic Region to acquire 

land within the boundary. 

OPERATING BUOGET 

The National Park Service estimates that It will need at a m1n1m~ 

$~55,600 to operate Valley Forge National Historical Park for there~ 

malnder of Fiscal 1977 (unti I October I, 1977), but more than that to 

operate with a full staff and program. The regional staff has estimated 

that a superintendent and staff of 60 will be required to operate the 

park according to NPS standards. A full·year b11dget of $1,957,000 has 

been requested by the Park Service to operate Valley Forge NHP during 

Fiscal Year 1978. 

RESEARCH NEEOEO 

"A Milster Plen for Valley Forge State Park" prepared for the Pennsylvania 

Historical and Museum Commission in 1974 states that "jt appears there Is 

a tremendous need to accurately document original encampment siteo" at the 

park. NPS agrees ~ith this assessment. A portion of the operating funds 

requested for fiscal 1977 is a req11est for $232,000 to be spent for his~ 

torical, archaeologic~l, and architectural research. 

NPS research efforts will focus on the "significance of the encampment as 

the first organLI!ed and hutted quarters of the Continental Army" and on 

"the strategic significance of the encampment in the successful prosecu~ 

tion of the war." 

One historical study, if funded, will document the physical aspects of the 

area before, during, and nftcr the 1777·76 encampment. Such physical as~ 

pects include the topography, vegetation existing at the time, and major 
~nd tllinor ;tru,ture> incl"~'"~ :ortifioLiono <l~d ,pj]itory ;;JuCllJt .. o ,, 

well as roads, r~ilroads, bridges, and uther- man-mad~ q;un,,,.,,. A ;ecc'o 

historical slu<ly "'II assc>s lh" impact uf George \la,Hinylu"' > ,,; I i L~f) 

leadership on the encampment and on Patriot military forces in the Revolu· 

t ion, 

The architectural research study will provide an architectural history of 

each extant structure dating fron1 the cncampm~nt. 

The results of these rescurch projects ur·c d~signcd lo give the NPS the 

basis in fact it needs to draft a General Management Plan for the his~ 

torlcal park. Public Law 9~-337 requires th<>t a V<~lley Forg" G"neral 

Mona~omont Pion bo prepared within three years from tho d<~te of estob· 

llshmont of the park. 

INTERIM PERIOD 

Pennsylvania'~ Hi~torlcal and Museum Comn1ission will complete its $10 

mlllion Bicentennial constr~ction program. Construction has begun on a 

contemporary visitor center to be located adjacent to the present park 

-admini~trative headquarters and reception center. Under the state's 

construction program, parking lots, bicycle trails, and other visitor 

hc!litles have been built and ~everal historic buildings have been re· 

stored. Negotiations are underway between NPS and the Valley Forge 

tllstorical Society to reach agreement allo;;ing many important artifacts 

gathered by the Society to rcmuin on diopl.oy in the park. A planning 

committee has been formed to inc I ude representatives of various citizen, 

patriotic, volunteer, and other groups who have an Interest in the park . 

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Hi5loric~l and Museum Commission, News 

Release, MilrCh 25, 1977, RG 13, PHMC. 

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APPENDIX D 

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE PRESS RELEASE ON 

VALLEY FORGE: FEBRUARY 1977 

"-"-l c . ··---- -- --- 02 •;,n;,, =·'-,- ?.'_cc. ~'-· :_ .. ___ .;: 'l ·-------

The N<:>.tio=l P1U'i:: Sen·ice will 2.ss=e o;peratin;:; control of the for:;ar 

Valley For;;e 1 p_,_,, State F=k on !"''.ll'c;, Jl. 

Under te:"l!ls of= ag:rec:Jent bet·.·een the U,S, Depa.rt::Jent of t:-:e Inter~o,, 

parent agency of the Park Se'""ice, and the Co=ommal th of F~::r.syl vania, t!'..fl 

park's l:mds and building-s will initially be leased to tha Ftd~rc.l .?.&Oncy. 

Upon completion of a detailed sur,-q <'.nd cle=in;;: of land titles, the 

state will transfer O\me::ship t" the Federal g<Jve=ant except fO"-' those 

areas lihere state constr-.lction work is still in prog:cess. 'C'lose parcels ''ill 

be added to the :Jational Historical Park wi'.e!'l co:::str-<ction twrk is fi:tis':t.eci. 

The Fed.eral park was authori7.eci 1.L"lde:!:' le£isLotion si,:;1~d by fo:rr.e:o:-

.Presid<>nt Gerald R. Ford at Valley Forge on July 4, 1976. Funds for !l"tional 

Fa.rk s~rvic~ c;>er;>.tion =e not s<'scifical1y iw::lud-ed ~n tl:e c=:c~nt ay>'!cy 

bUd6\?t, but interim operation will be covard by til.a use of resal-,-e fu:1Cs 

authorized to oeet possible e!;lergBncies of "the ager.c;r, said E~;,j=in J. Zer'bey, 

acting director of the .five-st"te l·:.id-Atle_'\tiC Rogion of i:?S. Re£;Ul3.r !\:r.<!-

ing uill begin witil. the fiscal ;,.ear starti.'lg October 1, 1977, he said. 

The Park Ser-vice has alreai;r na:::~cd a nucleus staff of siz, headed by 

Superintendent H. Gilbert Lusk who has been on duty since l<'st F~11, Zerbey 

said. In addition, rr.s. Civil Se:Frice <'ppoint.,ents will be offered to 2$ 

cu=ent ee~p1oyec-s of thE' Ste.te Park an.d mo:·e Crt'S car8e:c :r;eo_p~e will b<> transferred to Valley Foro>, the actine regione,l director said. 

The state is building or re!l.ovc.tine; a v~iety of par:.: facilities to coeJplete its co:-~itnent of $1),~83,000 in improve.,conts prior to -.h.o bi.c-cnt~r.l".ial 

of the Continental Aretlf's encampment at Volley For~ in Dece~Cer 1777. 

The 2,2$$-acre park pres~rves historic l<UJd~ and buildin5') as~odated 

vith the revolutionaries' bitter winter. "A.lthoue,h no kettle~ were fc'~~-t 

at !'alley Fc>rr;-.;> 1 it is import.mt in the :latiN>'::: milib.ry histor-J '"'the 

pl;;t..:c- ::r.-·r·-: C.-:r--rl ~.·,-;-,:,-:;:'.c"'~ .-_:-~r ·w'l~ ih ,. -.,:-' t•J ('';·:·;-it t"•--·,[;'; 

th·o ,.,,_,.," z,,,.:;,. -_.- --,' ·\ . 

U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Mid-Atlantic 

Regional Office, News Release, February 24, 1977, Files, Superintendent's 

Office, VAFO. 
Da.',e 

1921 

1929 

1946 

19.50 

1962 

1965 

1966 

1967-

1969 

APPENDIX E 

MASCA ARCHEOLOGICAL RESEARCH FINDINGS • 

SU!t'J•IARY OF ARCKAEJLOGlCAL WORK AT VAlLE:Y FORGE 

?er~onnl'l 

John Kennedy 

Jerome She as 

J. 0. Clarke 

Duncan Campbell 

Alden Mason 

Donald Cadzow 

John Witthoft Ed~ond Carpenter 

Henry Michael 

George Agogino 

Duncan Campbell 

Stanley Olson 

Duncan CamiJbell 

Duncan Campbell 

Duncan Campbell 

John Witthoft 

Robert Di tchburn 

Stanley Landis 

John Cotter 

"'· Civ. 772 

John Cotter 

Am, Ci v, 772 

·~· Richard Gordon 

John lliitthoft 

Duncan Campbell 

Stanley Landis 

S<::a'1ley Landis 

Arpa of 

Investigation 

tower Forge 

UiJper P'orge 

Fort John Moore 

West of steps to 

Waterman's Grave 

Orand Parade? 

Wayne's Woods 

NJ Encampment? 

DuFortail HQ and 

Lafayette kitchen 

Wayne's \\'oods 

West of steps to Waterman'~ Crave 

Wayne's .,.·oods 

Findings 

circular hearth, flooring, 

masonry -all 

two undershot wheels, ash 

shaft, oak channels, trip hammer, flume,ple.nks, sluices 

and iron units 

aerial photography revealed 

trace of redoUbtt trenches 

excavated through ditch and reronan~s of Farapet 

2 offal Fits Opened 

"searching for legendary 'Central Burying Ground'" 

hut fireplace excavated 

5 hut floors excavated 

NOT IN PARK 

2 huts excavated, c. 15 

more located and mapped 

2 offal pits re-(?} 

investigated 

using metal detec!or, 

located and ider,tiLed hut 

floors and oth~r !eatures 

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Brian ~gloff 

Vance Packard 

J, de/1:, Rarc.sey 

Univ, o~ Dela, 

Dennis ~·.cClellan 

Lower rterion HS 

Jeff Kenyon 

Episcopal Academy 

1972 Jc!'.n Cct~~r 

cont. Jos~p.~ i':a:l 

AI>!, Giv, 572 

1973 'lance Packard 

Dennis :•tcClellan 

• 

19?5 

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!larry Kent 

Steve 'orlar!'el 

Richard Schuster 

Richard Jordan 

Barbara d~·:·ol,.do 

Brr'C stUd£'nts 

Outer ~ine :rive 

(parking lot) 

Varnum's HQ 

Ou~er Line Crive 

Hu.otingto:-~'s HQ 

Schoolhouse 

~a~:~intos~. Erl5ade 

(oarlcing lot) 

HUntington Brigade 

(pa:"king lot) 

Varnum's Brif''' 

(parking lot 

Waterman's Grave 

area 

Chapel \lloods 

Baptist Road N. 

of Rt. 2J 

Huntington's HQ 

Inner Line Drive 

N, o:· Rt, 2) 

5 huts identi.Eed, 4 e..:cavav;: 

checking resi sti vi ty survey, 

8 huts uncovered, 5 excavated 

sto:-~e foundation of earlier 

dwelling; also "a ru"lber of 

s~all structl..!'es--outr.o\..~e~, 

s;,-,cke houses, cr.~:ken coo,:-s, etc, 

;<c;.~ .'I 9 fc;lly exca'•ate::!. 

additional 5 or 6 huts 

excavated 

fieldstone we!l, atone wall, 

road-ted, fireplace of barn 

lei tchen, ~stone cylinder," 

icehouse 

fou:ndation of stone wall 

seoarating breezeway fro" 

kitchen, well in back yard? 

stain, pit 

2 II! fuse pits 

stone footer wall, roadbed of farm lane 

12 (?)pits 

no excavation--14 hut depressions locatad 

road bed 

area behind small stone 

plastered additio~ excavated 

trench across entrenchment 
Biblio~:;raphy of Archaeological Excavation at Valley Forge Park 

{arranged chronologically) 

Norman Randolph, memo to Valley Forge Park 

struction of Fort John Moore" 6/J0/48 

Commission 

(?) 

Norman Randolph, memo to Valley Forge Park Com~ission on ~Reconstruction of Port John Moore--Archaeological Research" 9/29/4.8 

J, Duncan Campbell, •valley Forge Park--Archaeological Investiga- tlona--JOth April-1st June 1962--Preliminary S~ary Report• 

John Cotter, •Preliminary Report on Archaeological Investigations 

at the Pennsylvania Encampment at Valley Forge--July-October 1966,• with Appendix 11• ~Report on Wayne'a Woods lnvestieations• 

by Stanley Landis (this appendix also refers to Campbell's 1950 wor~ in Wayne's Woods) 

J. Duncan Campbell, •Archaeological Tests, Varnum's Brigade Area, 

22-24. August 1966M (this report also mentions his 1950 work 

in the same area and in the Grand Parade) 

Stanley Landis, "Valley Forge 1968" (this report also refers to his 

1967 work in Wayne's Woods) 

Stanley Landis, "Valley Forge 1969" 

• 

e.J, Egloff, v, Packard and J. de !1\, Ramsay, "The Excavation of • 

Pour Hut Sites at the Outer Defensive Line of Valley Forge• 

Vance Packard, "Salvage Archaeology at 

lieritage Vol. 5, No. 4 (1972) 1 also 

logists' Handbook No. 1 (197J) 

Tucker F. Hentz, "Digging into History,• ~af:aZine VOl, J, No. 2 {197J) 

• 

The Episcopal Academy 

Joseph H, Hall IV, •The E;o::cavation of Hut 9 on Outer Line Drive, 

Valley Forge~ 8/11/72 

John L, Cotter, "Further Observations on the Hut 9 Excavation" 

Joseph H. Hall IV, "A Brief Study of the Zooarchaeology of the 

Pennsylvania and Virginia Line Huts at Valley Forge" 

Vance Packard, •summary Report on the S~er's Work at Valley 

Forge• 11/7/72 

Vance Packard, rough draft of report on Huntington's HQ 

Vance Packard, rou11:h draft of report on Commissary 

Vance Packard, rough draft of report on School House 

Steve ¥arfel ar:d ba~~Y c. Kent, report~ on e;o::cavatior.s "' Valley 

Fcrj<e, August •nd Septerr.l-er :975 

718 

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R. Schusc.,~. "i<.e~crt or, tr.e Excavation Gonjuct'"d behind Maurice 

S"te!J'".ens :'ar~>tv·~~e on the Site of I1UI1tington' s Quarters 

November 17·20, 1975" 

Richard Jordan and Pa!llela de Toledo, •A Report on the 197.5-1976 

Archaeological Investigations of the Inner Line Fortifications 

at Valley Porge State Park~ 

See also • 

Catalogue of Huts 1-5, 7-16 excavated on Outer Line Drive 1972 and 197) 

Kathleen :f.cQuaid, "Report on Valley Forge State Park Structun<s--

Architectural Survey for Interpretive L'ses" 12/Jl/75 

For forges 1 

1921-1927, pp. 6-71 

GilbertS. Jones, Valley Forge Park 091J.2), pp.5-6 

• RG 4, YAFO Archives. 
APPENDIX F 

SUMMARY OF GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN 

Cultural Resources Management 

The primary emphasis of this plan is on the preservation and maintenance 

of the historic setting and remnants from the encampment period. An 

ongoing program of research will be established, and limited restoration 

will be undertaken as adequate data and funds become available. 

Some modification of vegetation patterns and restoration of landforms will 

be undertaken; however, restoration of encampment conditions that would 

be destructive to the existing natural environment will not be undertaken. 

In time the landscape will be restored and modern intrusions removed as 

possible from the most historically significant areas, such as Washington's 

headquarters and the inner line of defense. 

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A full range of treatments will be applied to the park's 247 classified 

structures. The level of treatment of the structures will be based on 

their historical significance and value for contemporary uses. In general, 

structures in the Washington's headquarters area will be restored or 

partially restored. Four hisUlric road traces and five earthworks will be • 

restored. Major officers' qu;~rters will be pilrti;~lly restored, and the most 

historically significant ancillary structures and archeological sites will be 

preserved. Twenty-one other structures will be modified for adaptive 

use. Four major structures and twenty huts will be demolished, and the 

rem;~ining classified buildings and ruins will be maintained or minimally 

treated to ensure public safety. 

A sufficient number of huts (20 to 60) representing a regiment will be 

re-created in the center of the park to provide visitors with a sense of 

the encampment and camp life. 

The 42 monuments spread throughout the park, all of which were 

constructed after the Revolution, will be preserved for their inspirational 

and commemoriltive value. 

Research will be a very important function for the future of Valley Forge. 

Ongoing archeologic;~l research will be undertaken to provide information 

about the encampment. Archival and artifact collections will be acquired 

as funds and materi;~ls become available and iiS defined as appropriate on 

the scope of collections statement. 

720 

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Natural Re5ource5 Management 

Natural resources in the historic zone will be managed to enhance the 

historic setting. In the natural environment or recreation subzones, 

natural resources will be managed for maximum benefit of the natural 

systems or recreational uses. Total tree cover will be decreased as 

individual trees die, as sight lines between fortifications are cleared, and 

as exotic species are removed. Vegetative screens will be established on 

the periphery of the park. No active wildlife management will be 

undertaken by the National Park Service. 

Water resources will be managed to ensure adequate water supplies for 

the future. The Park Service will monitor water quality and quantity in 

the park and will work with other agencies and interests to prevent 

further deterioration. No critical actions are proposed for floodplains, 

and no actions are proposed for wetlands. The park will maintain a 

systematic approach in dealing with geologic hazards such as subsiclence 

ancl sinkholes. 

Interpretation and Visitor Use 

Interpretation will focus on the encampment period, and interpretive 

opportunities will be locatecl in areas where physical resources best 

represent the themes. A comprehensive media plan of waysides ancl 

exhibits will be developed to augment personal services . 

Information and orientation will be provided at three sites at the major 

entrances to the park. The primary interpretive effort will be in the 

Washington's headquarters area. Interpretation of camp life will continue 

at Muhlenberg's brigacle until an encampment scene can be re-created in 

the center of the park. The clefense of the encampment will be 

interpreted through exhibits at redoubt 3. Other aspects of the 

encampment will be interpreted during peak visitor seasons at structures 

that represent a specific function. 

Because the park is locatecl in one of the nation's largest metropolitan 

areas and already receives heavy visitation, the Park Service recognizes 

that recreational activity in the park will remain a significant element. 

With sensitive management, a historic preservation approach can 

adequately aclclress the neecls of the recreational community and yet 

provide for the protection of the prime historic resources. 

The core area of the park will be reserved for quiet recreational 

activities. More active forms of recreation will be encouraged in areas 

that are not visually intrusive on the historic scene and in areas where 

cultural resources have been substantially alterecl. 

Areas north of the Schuylkill River will be developecl for more intensive 

forms of recreation. A new canoe launch arlo play areas will be 

cleveloped in the northwestern section of the park. An organizecl group 

walk-in camping facility will be providecl north of the Betzwoocl picnic\ 

area. Picnic areas in the primary historic sites will be relocatecl, ancl 225 

additional picnic tables will be provided in 8 new picnic areas. 

m 
General Development 

Historic structures will be adaptively 

practical. The maintenance area will be 

facilities will be provided. Some intrusive 

nine new restrooms will be constructed. 

used to the greatest degree 

expanded, and new concession 

restrooms will be removed, and 

To ensure the integrity of the historic core, and when acceptable 

alternate routes become available, Gulph Road will be returned to a tr11ce. 

County Line Road will be removed from Gulph Road to the entrance of the 

maintenance area. The existing park entrance drive will be removed and 

reveget.lted, and a new entrance to the visitor center will be constructed. 

The Park Service strongly suppor-ts completion of the Pottstown bypass, 

the Phoenixville spur, and on-off ramps at Pawling Road from the 

Pottstown bypass to divert commuter traffic away from the pari\ and to 

serve recreation and historic properties on the nortt1 side of tne 

Schuylkill River. Tt1e Park Service will cooperate witt1 tt1e Pennsylvania 

Department of Transportation to improve public safety on commuter roads 

tt1rougt1 the park. 

Parking areas will be modified, removed, or constructed, witt1 a reduction 

of 16 percent in total number of spaces to better serve visitor needs and 

to more efficiently control visitor use concentration. 

A tour bus system will be provided witt1in tt1e park. 

Missing segments of tt1e park's trail system will be constructed, and tt1e 

trail network will be connected to tt1e regional trail system. Overt1ead 

power lines will be removed or buried wt1ere feasible. Wastewater 

disposal systems will be upgraded to meet local standards. 

Tt1e Park Service will conduct an active program of cooperation, providing 

technical assistance to surrounding communities and public and private 

nonprofit entities for tt1e protection, rehabilitation, or preservation of 

properties near tt1e park that are related to tt1e purpose of tt1e park. 

• 

• 

U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Denver Service e 

Center, General Management Plan, Valley forge National Historical Park, 

Pennsylvania, September 1982,pP. 7-9. 

m 
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APPENDIX G 

VALLEY FORGE NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK DRAFT 

RESOURCES MANAGEMENT PLAN: NOVEMBER 1981 

~nagement nbjectives pertaining to th~ preservation and protection of cultural 

and natural r~aources are: 

A. Preservation and Protection of Cultural Resources 

To> locate, identify, and preserve the park's cultural resources in a manner 

consistent with legislative and executive requirements and the Senice's 

hhtoric preservation poUdes, 

To acquire infonnation through research, surveys and other means 

necessary to facilitate preservation, management and interpretation of 

the park's extensive cultural resources. 

To protect and preserve the park's historic structures, roads, fence 

linea, artifacts, earthworks, subterranean remains, and other historic 

resources, utili2ing preservation techniques that retard deterioration 

to the greatest possible degree. 

To restore physical historical re~ins as appropriate to facilitate 

preservation and enhance interpretive values. 

To restore, to the degree possible, the historic setting of the 

encampment to approxi~te conditions existing during the wintH of 

1777-1778. 
To eliminate, to the degree possible, physical and visual intrusions 

into the historic setting of the encampment caused by roads, nonhistoric development, utility linea, railroad tracks and sewer linea. 

To identify and preserve those structures having sufficient historic 

integrity to justify their preservation in part or in full as historic 

structures, regardless of association with the encampment. 

To manage, according to National Park Service standards, the park's 

historic (including archeological) artifact collection, and to make 

this collection available as appropriate for scholarly study and 

interpretation. 

To identify appropriate historic materials for possible purchase and/or 

donation for park use. 

B. Conservation of Matural Resources 

To promote the undisturbed operation of natural processes and the natural 

reestablishment of mature woodlands and wildlife populations, e~cept where 

manipulation is required to maintain an historically authentic setting 

or to provide for optimum resource-compatible recreational activities. 

To acquire information through research, surveys and other means 

necessary to facilitate protection and management of the park's 

natural resources. 

Io manage the Valley Creek area as a natural stream associated with 

the historic encs~nt. 

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• 
ro fully utilize the inherent qualities of the resource base vith primary 

• ~basis on the park's historic significance. Secondary emphasis should be 

placed on open space resource-compatible recreational uses. 

To provide for non-consumptive and npontaneouB recreational uses within 

the historic and natural zones while maxtGizing protection of historic 

and natural resources. 

To identify and prohibit non-conforming recreational uses which impact 

the historic atmosphere of the park, physically destroy the resource, 

and create safety hazards to users and visitors. 

To protect both visitors and the resource base through successful law 

• 

and safety regulation enforce~ent, including a continuous public 

information progra~. 

To provide maximum possible accessibility to and utili~ation of physical 

park facilities by handicapped citizens. 

D. Lands 

to identify and to acquire, through acquisition, legislation, boundary 

adjustment or other means, a land base sufficient for the preservation and 

management of the historic encampment setting and related resources. This 

land base ~ill permit maximum use of screening and protection measures to 

assure integrity of the reaource and protection of its ambience from 

• surrounding d"velD)>IDI!o.t. 

Denver Service Center, Northeast Team Files 

725 
APPENDIX H 

BILL 

LEGISLATIVE PACKAGE IN SUPPORT OF PROPOSED 

TO ENLARGE VALLEY FORGE NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK 

To: Legislative Counsel 

Through: Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Park.(Sgd) David f. Hales P~ JUL 2 1979 From. v~~irector, National Park Service 

Subject: A bill to amend the Act of July 4, 1976, authorizing the 

establishment of the Valley Forge National Historical Park 

in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and for other purposes 

Public t..a~· 94·33! (90 Stat. 796), authoriZed the Secretary of the 

Interior to establish Valley Forge National Historical Park in the 

COIIII!Iom;eal th of Pennsylvania to preserve and c(DI!l!leiJlOrate for the people 

of the United States the area associated with the heroic suffering, 

hardship and determination and resolve of General George Washington's 

Continental Army during the winter of 1777·1778 at Valley Forge. 

• 

The enclosed legislation would authorize the acquisition of 682.4 additional • 

acres of land, lllaking a total acreage of 3,233.08 to support our imperatiVe 

need to continue the protection of the eultu:ral, resources and to add 

additional recreational lands. For the acquisition of lands and interests 

in lands which are added to Valley Forge a figure of $13,894,865 is 

authori;ed. 

Management is concerne~ because in,·alusble resources are threatened by 

gro~·th and developl!lent. Kith the addition of these 682.4 acres as 

recommended by the planning experts, we feel the land ac~uisition for 

Valley Forge should be substantially complete. 

I. Summary of legislation: 

l. Provide recreational buffer land to accOIIII!lodate increasing 

local recreation use no~ impacting the prime historic zone. 

2. Pre\·ent intensive development of unimproved land immediately 

adjacer.t to tile par\,'s boun:i<.~les l>'llld would alteT the scene 

$i~Ifl.:antl.'' an~ be i~~~~~:~G:a:ei.' no!l~eat.lt. 

726 

• 
m 

-~~o.; ·:..Ooo:_ ~' :o~;-:'\ :!~~.:;:;.;::•') 

•. , --~·r~,c~ ;·.;l ~o p~·.!c:••~P ~·<~ >~ i::•·Jr :•:; ;.oon .>s~~-~" 

:l~7u:e:~c' >-'-'-~l""" !"-'"'"' ~~.:~aJ ~~ 1~ ~"" ~u~~c::mn a~e '{.LlHf 

'~l ~~ :~•ce:?e ·~;5.'-llllnO:> :l'u-,no.: .>~l JO :u~·~C~:"-"'P 10 sll<l'fS 

·.(l'.LP.OJ .rnsa~J >dCp Sl! UO<l!S]:r>b,_, Sd'i Sl.:cd<i:~> .{:·.moJ .(.HtJO~:'-lOf'j 

"S?llll[ lU.>:>eCpe uo sasn 

FLil>npuc P'"' repu.lp<><>J: p•se.>.ou~ 'l!O~J :l'ur.~ou sasn )U'!!puane 

.Ifi~)O [:Ull YISHllPUll.\ II!O.IJ S.>:>.IP053J: <>~1 jO UOp:>.>)<Ud pilse.>nur 

.:o; -'~"" e "'""" ?!~"-~ cue ~.:e::! oq ;o •c..t~-~""-' l""'.roH<4 a41 uo 'l''.;c'"?" C'Jl! .-:I.;.:a,as :'l'iJic J:r.c" s:·:;~dcr•-'-"? ~-.r~snc\{ a.::nlfi.J 

'-""''"'''1 duuea4 .:o >L••:>.r::!c!e -'~'~'".:;; -:<1 41;.~ h;•.:doTa.l.-p 

>:•'?'""""1 .:o; ;;uop.e:pot.p~.e ?ll? J~ce<c: ~upsr~• JO •sr.ecag: 

'1-'~d l"~POl>IH r~uoqe~ aho:1 

.\<>['[~\ puno..r-e asn ;>lfll! 8uqJ<>JJ11 >aJct3n1JttT ..ro[ew a~e mq a>aql 

~aa ... :aq 1!\.['P~oqn<>J .. H>lct< •'11 ~ue e;'..[d:~~eH'..(d ol .<l;w:rto..Id 

>,F~d 'l~l 'V"d "'~l ;o .(1tupp a~1 tl"l snno..I ctopn..rodsuu.t 

• 

·:uns.<s ~led reuo~1e.'1 "'11 ;o Htm e se pa!!lO'Il"" se.~ • 

'S~H-LLH JO ltldUidtlrnJU<> ..IalU!A lall<q >,.(<II.IV {elUall"tlliO::J 341 JO 

a:p;; <>4.1 '1..I11J IEJI..IOHIH IS"l!O!lE'i a~..IO~ .(ane.\ '9.6! 't .((rtC UQ 

:;:pq ~t.p mJ UO'il!<oij "II 

"J11<o[ Ja\op SSE<i{g (L.._O)SHO<! !11 S-''l"Ol 

)U3•ll:..Iedg JO tlO"flJfl..llSUOJ [et;U<>)Cd ltl3A3ld ·~.ted 'l\.("l 01 ltl~'e[pe 

""-'" .OA!"l!>Ua> .(..r.o.~ i. UI )UaUldO(<o.\ap [11J:..Il>npu} ..IO[Eiil apr>(J"ld 

pUe )ct<oll!dOt3A3p 1ll!d l<oJTe.!l JO 3Sn aA!SU3ltl"! 3lOW jU3.\3ld '9 

·~Jed <>4.1 lllo.tJ """!A aA.tasa..rd 

01 UOflJT..IlS3l 14.8"!"'1 pue tl0!lj3l~d [S"lUa~O.!"!AU3 ap!AOld 'S 

'I!"l.l tl"!'IJeJedd~ "'ll pue l!"l.l 

ao4sas..roH 31.{1 se tl"" se '<oJuapuadapur puv .Uvnpugs <>J!!P!T.~ 

:.!Oqnpn"lf '1-<ed nns 8lnqsue.t~ 01 SJTel~ pauugrd ~li."- 1ll"!"l pjno .... 

~"'\.["- V'1d ~4l U"!'..[l!·"- lUa\ll<!O[<o.'.ap ·~;n;;.(S (Tl!.<l lOJ ~pi\O.ld ·~ 

,-.;.c;l.q~JcC p;q ;ouE [e::U..'"Iil "CIOU~St?U"[ JO ·~~~S~..IJ ['~nu"l~UO~ 

-~~l ~"~s>e 01 S3)l~o;;~..r ~'-""! .n~:-.ba~e ·.;:c ... t.<•d "'..[1 '~''O~J "1: 

• 
TMis 1s tM~ last opr,~nunity to preSET\'~ tl>~ vista ac:ros> ~he 

Sch~_,-nill River frorr the pan an~ COM:rol th~ use of opec lan~ 

visible f:ron. the park. 

Ill. Alternatives: 

Use of scenic easement on all proposed additional lands. Preservation 

of the e~isting agricultural scene ~ould require very restrictive 

and thus expensive scenic easements. 

IV. Results of Enacttn~nt: 

A. Budgetary impact on tMe Bureau: 

The present par\. staff consists of 4S authori:ed pencanent 

positions, 13 subject to furlough posi,ttion; and 2S IOO!l- ye~n of 

teorpo:rary positions at an O~PS fundin~ le,el of approximatdy 

12,000,00~. Present p~rk is 2,551.04 total acreage in si:e; 

135.44 Federal acreage and 2,41S.60 nonfederal acr~age. The full 

or partial acquisition of 682.4 acres (4S2. -private he acres and 

149. - private scenic easement - Sl. 4 acres Federal, State or 

county land) IOi)l result in a.n increase..'_~·orkload for the protection 

of these acres. 

VHitation figures for 19~S indicated in exoess of ll,OOO,OfiC 

visitors, bro~en do-,;n to 1,000,000 for tMe historical resource, 

4,000,000 for the recreational resource, and 6,000,000 commuters 

or drive thrc-ug'-.s. This furthe:c supports our i~~~perative need to 

prn~ect the l"i>~o:i~a: resource ant! a.dC aciiitioCJa! recreatlOT,3l 

iarc'.;, 

1. Pe:csc·.-,e! ~c:c~t;- 4 p~:-o:•.-.en~ an~ S.C• :na:r ve~rs o:r-_,,. 

2. Acquisition costs- $9,100,000 

3. Developmerot - l'>ot J..no~TL 

4. Operations and Mar.agement- $134,500 

S. Zero base budget ran,ing - ~ot ~no~TL 

B. CManges in progran: authorit)"/responsibility: 

Re~e'n deyelopm•'-~ and tMe increased general interest in develop:oents 

o~ t)"e fringes of \"alley Forge !>a nona) Historical Park co"'e at 

~~;-,I-cc- •:~::•. ~:-,e i< mn~ \"UlneraC!~ t-ccac.S( c' :;, .Pc:-Oo 0 <' 

728 

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• 

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It is 1·er:• imr~rnn~ tr~t all the land:; adJac~nt to \"all e)· F~:-ge 

be p:rct.,cte~ and p~r~ha:;ed as a Jon~-!"ang< pro~ran: irte~ra~~C •••th 

the !T.ana&eme:lt of the parL DHen acquisition of SOI>e of 

the IanJ is appropriate be~ause of the circumstances, >;hi)e the 

Sc<mic easement would afford the necessary control in other cases. 

V. History of Bureau position on similar or related legislation; 

/t:lne. 

Summary of legislative interest: 

Support for \'olley Forge expansion has come from the Montgomery 

County Co11.~.is:;ionen and Planning Commission; the Lower Providence 

To,.-nship l'lannin& Board, the Schuylkill and Tredyffrin To,.TLship 

officials, the Chester County Plannin& Cornrr.ission and all!IOH all 

of the neig~'>":rs and involved lando~oTJers contact~d by park personnel. 

Thi" propc~eC land acq~isition also has the support of the Honorable 

Richan: T. Schuloe anC the Honorable La;;rence Coughlin, U.S. House 

of Repre~entati\~s. B~cause of the high level of interest already 

existing, pubhc sentiment might be equally negative if these lands 

were not acquired. 

\'JI. Public statel!lents on the issue: 

None. 

VIII. Su=.a::-r of major policy questions raised by the legislation: 

!oi€eC f~; ;:r~~e:tD~: r;.;le)· i=o::-ge l!l".!;t be p:rctected f:ror ad,·ers~ 

de\~;c;:,.ec:, bctC res:den~ial and COII"J:>~rcial: bo~tong anC huntin~ 

attiYit~<o on ti•<' S:hu;-ll:ill Ri\er .,.hj:;)": mal..e the pari.. extremely 

vulnHat:e to ille~:al poaching; envir;,mmental i!llpacts on dud. anJ 

geese nesting areas; and present >Oning which would permit expansion 

of a trailer parl and an industrial plant on a sect>on of the parl 

boun~~::"). 

H.anaoece~~ Frc!ection: Prmid~ adequate la.'ld resources to 

as;c,rE t~ .• c~c~:nued pre~eno~ of indigenous ~~Wt~Pal, .... aurfo~·J an: hrC popdatio,~, protect th< h>Stori" scEne fr~rr 

recreo::c·o: o:t;,·;~'~' a~C e•~~n~ .cec1c an~ '":'t' prct~:t>~~ 

V t:' '".'""c·. F~-· . 

72S 
" ' '• h- ·---·-'- ,. __ ,_, ·- __ ,,_., ""' 

uoo;--e,-otl~' t "3~.c "" ·'·~ -) ''""··'·~- "~5.o., ,_-a •. o •. 

,,,;~o OC'<-'lL.::.;.,; ~:~:-. ~'-""· >~,:·- ~=~-,-~~ r_. :)-,< ~_,fcT~ C:u'-

a~d irr.;-le~e:-.:eC t>)' local &~·EIT"'e~.ts linking Inde;:oede•.:e ~atio~al 

Historical Par~. Valle)· For&e !'>.atH>nal Hi~torical F~r~, the J\ucl:Jbor 

~ilrliife Sanctuary and Evar.st-urg State Par~'" ...-ell as tt.e 

Horses~oe Trail and the Appalachian Trail. 

The gcve:rnment's right to presene and protect \'alley Forge 

as a historical park ~ust be continued. 

IX. Reco~endation of support: 

1\e recmomenC the J\dr.inistranon tranorcit th• encio~ed draft 

letislatior to Con&:ess and that the legislat:on be enacteC. 

Enclosure 

; E i l L 

To 3J'T'encl the An of Jul) 4, 1,.·~. au~hon:in~; the ~s~;.:-;:,r,.~~r:~ of 

the \"alley FM~~ l'ational l'io:o:rical Pa:r~ '''the Coot"'1~r.~·e~!t:~ 

of Fennsylvania, anJ fo-:: other pui7oses. 

Be it enacted by rhe Senate and the House of RepresentatneE of thf 

United State< of America in Consress assembled, That the Act entitle~ 

"Ar. Act to authori::e the Secretary of the Interior to establish the 

\"alley Forge ~ational Historical Park in the COI!l!llon~·eaith of PennS)'J\·ania, 

Files, Superintendent's Office, VAFO. 

730 

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APPENDIX I 

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS RELATIVE TO NATIONAL PARK SERVICE 

TESTIMONY ON H.R. 5926 AND S. 2299 BEFORE SENATE SUBCOMMITTEE 

ON PARKS, RECREATION AND RENEWABLE RESOURCES: MARCH 12, 1980 

Q. l. The SuCo,_or:-.•ntt~e has r~c:ie•;ec ~csoi_-.c·-.:· ::-~: ,-,~ ,_,n_..;~ ~" ,;,13 ?~'','"'V," 

.are under thr,at ..:~f develo~en[. ',,'bat typ~s of de·:~l..,~;:,ent have be~l\ 

propo~ed and how qe>ickly would i.t occur a~ser1t ~assage of this legisL:nion~ 

A. 1. ~uch of the land is currently ~oned for single farnily residences. 

Q • 

Other zorling classi£ications include industi"ial, light industrial and 

mobile home park. T<JO subdivision plans have been filed which would result 

in l20 houses being constructed on two of the tracts, A manufacturing 

plant has been propos~d on a portion of these lands. Lands have also been 

sought for the construction of a ~ltistory nursing home although the lack 

of adequate sewage disposal facilities has resulted in a delay on this 

proposal. 

Development is pending on six of the eight fee tracts and will occur within 

nine months on two tracts and within 15 months on three others. Owners are 

currently awaiting the outcome of this legislation. 

2. ALe you aware of th.e specilic actions or events including zoning 

changes ot: challenges to ~oning that have occurred or are plann"d that 

would indicate that these Lands are in dar~ger of development in the immediate or near future? 

A. 2. Several months ago the owner of one of the tracts received a firm 

offer of pui:chase for the purpose of consnucting a manufactui:ing plant. 

It was only because of the owner's desire that the land be kept available 

for park purposes and the concern of the Trust for Public Land that the 

land was not sold and construction possibly st<Htffi. The TT\lst for Public 

Land became aware that the owner could no longeiC affot:d to avoid selling 

the property and has purchased an Option to buy pending the outcome of 

Congressional action. 

another tract which includes several historic buildings is owned by a 

retired couple who are desirous of having their prop~rty become park land. 

They. too, ~ve receivffi offers frotll developers and have stated that because 

of their n~ed for funds they will be compellffi to sell soon. Th~ir attorney 

has, in fact, written to Congress contending that the government's failure 

to take action one ~ay or the other is harming his clients. He states that 

the value of their property on the market is adver~ely affected by the 

threat of government acquisition. 

Finally, the Environmental Protection Agency is currently reviewing a 

funding request ftom ~ontgomery County to provide a se1<1erage system for the 

area. Township authorities have advised us that it has been a lack of 

se1<1erage facilities that has prevented the area fron1 being 01ore heavily 

d..,eloped before now. 

73; 
!. 101~ ad;oir"l~3CCO.~i.0r"l ha> s::atd irl Lts 111ews concecnin.,; S. 2229 and 

:«1-e Ill o': H.:l.. 5926 that the.<e lands can be Mf~ctivel:' O!anased by State 

and local authorines. Assuming the worst, that current zoning classiitcatiOr"lS ·~ere char>ged by board action or by CO\Itct action, and that over the 

ne.xt 20 ;,e.Hs t>,ese. lar>ds were developed for industrial uses otc for high 

density dwelling Ur>its, what ~rould be the impact on the park? 

;>.. 3. Depending on the type of development there would be varying degrees of 

impacts. The pai"k could be ringed with high rise apartment and hotel 

complexes such as those that have been end are now beirtg constructed on the 

eastei"n edge of the park. This would result in a serious visual impact on 

the now largely rural scene on the rtOrth and west. 

Q. 

'· 

Q. 

Industtcial or residential development would result in increased regional 

traffic. which would place additional presSLLre on the park road systl!lll for 

commuter and freight hauling access. Additional air pollution would result 

from traffic and industrial exhausts. 

Dense residential development would tremendously increase recreational 

pressures on the park's historic resources. 

Develop:nent will reduce wildlife habitat and interfere with normal strealtl 

drainage pattei"ns. Water quality could be adversely affected by industrial 

discharges. 

4. What is the Curative Amendment? 

4. The Curative Amendment, od>ich is contained in ~t 247, the Pennsylvania 

Municipalities Planning Code, allows an owner or developer who is unable to 

obtain zoning changes hom the zoning boards to seek relief through the 

State coui"ts. The coutcts have the authority to overtcUle the local zoning 

board if they find that the board failed to provide what they consider to 

be a proper mix of zoning classificatinns within its area of jutcisdiction. 

Recent rulings have favored high density zoning classifications over low 

density. 

'· What is the histotcical or etccheological s.Lgnificance of the lands 

under consideration? 

A. 5. a. Thetce is substantial evidence that the lands adjacent to the 

encampment site and north of the Schllylkill Rivet: were heavily used and 

trafficked during the enc=prnent pei"iod. A ford (Fatland Ford) and a 

bridge (Sullivan's Bridge) le"d directly from the core of the camp to the 

territory north and east of the rivet:. Virtually all communications from 

New York and New England arrived at '.l"ashington' s Headquarters via this 

tcOUte. Furthen:nore, there were and are definite encamptoent-related sites 

north of the riv~>r. Thes .. include: 

732 

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Q. 

'· 

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the Com!Tlias;uy ~upplies !'roco •;.,'-/ ~ngland, upo~ •.Jhich th~ army de?.O~<le~ 

in part i~r su•vival, ;;ere ootlec~ed at this site for tnnsport act"Oss 

to the a=y. Th" ?a·.-ling hom" '-'aS used by the Commi%ary officials as 

an office dut:ing the .rorst of the winter food "hortages, vhen they 

genuinely believed that their lives \olere in !m!ninent danger. Returns 

exist vhich record the kind and quantities of the supplies stored at 

the Pawling farm, and correspondence documents the Commissaries' 

residency there during e.'Ctended periods. The PaOJling fat"m location, 

which may be clearly discerned from the rising ground above Washington's 

Headquarters, is of pre-E!llinent impor-tance in understanding and intetp<eting 

the army struggle foi" survival as a concentrated military force at 

Valley Forge. 

b. It is knoW!! that several impo<:tant encampment-related functions 

were relegated to the no~th side of the Schuylkill, in close proximity to 

the encampment, One of the public markets, where neighboring civilians 

sold produce to the officers and soldiers, was just across the river, 

apparently nMr th<'. br ldge. The Baptist Road, one of the important arteries through camp, had an egress vhich may still be discerned at the northe<:n e:<tr~Dity of the ford. 

On June 10, 1778, nine days before the Continental Army marched from the 

Valley Forge locale to begin a new campaign, Washington ordered the men out 

of their now squalid huts and into tents to harden then for the initial 

..arches. Th...-e is !lOw strong evidence that a portion of the army was moved 

across the river to a !lew location, probably close by the river, and that 

m.any visitors to camp found lodgings in this illlmediate vicinity. 

c. There is a very high p..-obability that archaeological features of 

this nature e:<ist in this vicinity, Because of the hMvy use of the Pawling 

farm by the army's commissary, the e:<istence of a m.arket, the probability 

of a seconda..-y encampment site, the cet"tainty of guard huts and picket 

posts related to the bridge and ford on the north side, and the relatively 

undisturbed nature of the terrain, presence of important archaeological 

remains is certainly indicated. 

d. The land known as the Camiel property is the location of "Fatland," 

a major domestic structure in the classical revival idiom, designe<l by the 

important NDerican architect John Haviland, and built about 1840. The 

house is of considerable architectural merit, and stands on the site of an 

Mrlier structut"e owne<l by the Vaux family, who were hosts to visHo..-s to 

Valley Forge during the encrunpment period. "Fatland" is clearly visible 

from the northern defenses of the encampment, particularly from the Star 

!!.edoubt. 

6. What has been the general public reaction to this proposal? Can you 

give specifics? 

6. Public ~pport in area 

supponive of the package • 

ne,.,spapers and editorials h.:>s been strongly 

Several favo<able editorials .... ere entered into 

733 
Q. 

rl",e <"-cod by Sc:'.c<O~< O~'n" ->:' Penr.svL.'d~.Cc< ·...-hen :~e innoduced S, 2299 on 

l'eb<uary 18, 1980. :-!OH ~rea resCGencs favor the ?ac~ge. 

~ny of th.e <esidents of a :nobile home poH:k in one of the traces "'ere led 

to believe that the proposed park upansion would result in the purchase of 

the mobile home park and their eviction. The llational Park Service -_,ould, 

however, acqui,e only a deve.lopment easEOllent from the o=er of the mobile 

hom" park to prevent high ris" or co...,ercial d ...... elopment. The mobile home 

park would continue on as a permitted use within the eas=ent because of 

its low height. 

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia, o~er of the St. Gabriel's Protectory for 

Boys, has advised us that they feel their property values vould be adversely 

affected if their lands we<:e included in the boundary. The Service would 

obtain a first right of refusal and would not attempt to purchase the 

Church's property until such time as they desired to sell. 

All of the lando'W!lers whose property would be purchased in fee have upressed 

a willingness to sell to the National Park. Service. Some owners from whom 

development eas=ents would be purchased have opposed the plan. 

The County Cornr:>issioners of ~lontgomery County and numHous other County and 

Township officials have indicated support of the aC<jl11sition. Feature 

articles and editorials supportive of the bill have appeared in the Philadelphia Bulletin, Inquher and numerous local papers. 

7, What is the annual 

estimate of the numbers 

purposes? 

visitation at Valley Forge and do you 

who come for historical, rec~:eational 

have an 

or other 

A. 7. In 1979 Valley Forge :-;ational Historical Park. experienced 11.4 million 

visits, "hich was an increase over the 11.3 million in 1978, Of these, 

about 6,000,000 are commuters or local or regional traffic; approximately 

1,000,000 are historic users; and 4,000,000 are recreational users. 

Q. 8. l<hat is the impact of the recreational use at Valley Forge on the 

historic values of the park? Would the lands proposed for ac'l'-'isition help 

to accomodate recreational users and activities? 

'· 8. a. Lands without historic assod.ations =uld be used as open space to accommodate the types of recreational activities we would be reducing or 

eliminating from the historic portions of the park. south of the river. 

Fields would be available for ..alking, kite flying, frisbee thro.,ing, 

blanket picnics, marathons, =del plane flying and so forth. Trails could 

be established for bicycling, jogging and horseback riding. As the suburban 

d""elopment surrounding the park continues its growth and recreation 

de;11ands inct:ease, these lands could provide pressure relief for the historic 

portions of the park. 

b, 'Oarious alternative3 ar~ now ~eing addre33Cd in the Ga1.eral 

734 

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Q. 

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Q. 

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:>..;.,e~=·"-.t P!<O:l. '1.~3~~.-c~ ·.nil i~e~tlf:: ti<~ "->:oric 3lgnlfica"ce of ~ac:C 

portion c.f t~1e P"-L~, .,-~.,, :,;hich r"'c~e;>:ic:>n <ilCCO,-it:::"s ·.;ould i;>e li:ni.ced to 

areas where theit" eff.,cts 1.1ould no<; b" d"tt"lJ'lO:>tal to the histo<ic resource. 

Thes<'- areas "ould p>obably be basically arollnd the fi"inges of tile p«rk. 

Some of this available land would not be Sllitable for all forms of reu·e.ation, thet:efore, some forms of recreation might have to be el:iminated hom 

the pat"k altogether. Carrying capacities would have to be dEtermined for 

each portion of the park to assure against the ha=ful effects of ovet"use. 

c. These additional lands would p•ovide linkages for trail connections 

b«t,.,een the now d<!'leloping C!ontgome..-y County Park system, Evansburg su.te 

Park, the Audubon 10ildli£e Sanctuai"y and the Schuylkill River Recreational 

Corridor, which leads to Philadelphia. The pai"k already provides access to 

the Horsehoe Trail which connects "ith Hopewell Vlllage National Historical 

Site, FI"ench Creek State Park and the Appalachian Trail. 

A portion of the lands could be leased to the County or Township Park Board 

to pi"ovide ll.n!ited formal recreational facilities 511Ch as ball fields. 

9 . Wh.:!.t is the status of Chesterbrook? 

9. The development of Chesterbrook is progressing at a rapid rate. Roads 

and utility systems are installed. An est1nlated 50100 homes and townhouses 

have been constructed and are now occupied. Several coll!mercial office 

buildings have been or a•e being constructed. General DuPortail's Quarters 

and other historic pwp.,I"ties are being protecteo.l through the efforts of 

area citi-z:ens and our park Superintendent at Valley Forge. Funds for their 

preservaiton and us~ are being sought under Federal grant programs through 

the Pennsylvanl..'l Historical and Museum Commission. It is our hope that the 

DuPortail complex and 2.73 acres of land will be donated by the development 

to the Vall~y Forge Historical Society along with funds for its protection. 

This gift will, hopefully, he matched by a grant to this Historical Register 

property. 

10. Both the Biscayne and Valley Forge proposals se<!ll to be designed to 

protect existing park resources and to pt"ovide additional areas for recreation use. Both would cost between $8-10 million. flhile one involves slightl) 

more private land than the other (approximately 700 in Valley Forge _!!· 

3,700 in Biscayne), the difference is relatively minor. How does the Administration rationalize its support for one and its opposition to the other? 

10. Biscayne )(ational ~!onument was established on October !8, 1968, by 

Public Law 90-606 to "preserve and protect for the education, inspit"ation, 

recreation and enjoyment of present and future generations a rat"e combination of terrestrial, marine and amphibious life in a tropical setting of 

great beauty." The addition of 71,000 acres to the existing :nonument «ould 

include th~ Ragged Keys and Soldier Key in the northernmost extension and 

mainland coastal mangrove area along the western boundary of the monument . 

Public La« 94-337 authorized the Sccr~tai"y oi the Interior to esta~lish 

735 
:all~y Forse ~ationa! ~iscoo<cal ?ark in the Comnc.n,,e,llth of Penns;'L"'"'" 

:o pocs.erve and LOf"J:t,..or.lt~ for tohe ?eople of che '--nitcd States the ared 

assoctated with the heroic 3uffering, hardship and determination and re~oLvo 

of General G~rge ~ashington's Continental Army during the winter of 1777-

1778 at Valley Forge. The addition of 682.4 acres 'lould provide recreational buffet land to accommodate increasing local recreation use now 

impacting the pdme hiseoric zone, prevent tneensive development of unimproved land ~ediately adjacent to the park's boundaries which would alter 

the scene significantly and be ~ediately noticeable, provide adequate 

land resource to assure ehe continued presence of indigenous mammal and 

bird populations, and provide for a traU syst ... development within the 

park to link with planned trails to Evansburg State Park, Audubon ~ildlife 

Sanctu3ry and Independence, as well as the Horsehoe Trail and the Appalachian Trail. 

The Administration supports the addition of 71,000 acres to Biscayne as it 

represents an integral component of the warm, sani-tropical marine and 

coastal island ecosystems presently found in the monument. The addition 

will be principally composed of donated lands, which we would estimate have 

a value in e.'tcess of $150 million. On the other hand, the Administration 

does not ..upport the addition of the 682.4 acres to Valley Forge because we 

feel these are essentially buffer lands to protect the historic scene from 

recreation. 

The General !>lanag.,..ent Plan for Valley Forge which is in the process of 

bei!lg pr~pac"'d stresses the enhancement of the historical experience and 

downplays recreaeion in the historic zones. 

Hutchison to Bumpers, April 2, 1980, Central Files, MARO. 

736 

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APPENDIX J 

PUBLIC LAW 96-287 

TITLE UI-VALLEY FORGE NATIONAL HlSTQIUCAL PARK 

SEc- 30L The Act entitlM "An Act l<l authorize the Secretary of the 

Interior to establish the Valley Forge National Historical Park in the 

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and for other purposes", approved 

July 4, 1976 (90 Stat. 796), is amended (lJ in subsection 2ia) by 

changing "dated February 1976, and numbered VF-91,000," to 

"dated June 1979, and nutnbered VF-91,001,"; (2) in se<otion 3 by 

adding the following sentence at the end theTe<>f: "In furtherance of 

the purposes of this Act, the Secretary is authorized to provide ~hnical assistance to public and private nonprofit entities in qualifying for appropriate hisWrica! designation and for such grants, other 

financial assistance, and other forms of aid as are available under 

Federal, State, or local law for the protection, rehabilitation, or 

presen"ation of propertios in the >icinity of the park which ace 

historically related to the purpose$ of the park''; and (3) in subsection 

4(a) by changing "$8,622,000" to "$13,895,000". 

U.S. StQt. at Large, 94 Stat. 601. 

16USC<IOoa·l 

Iii L'SC <JOoa-2 

Te<hnooal 

""'""'""' gmnl appl""""' "' 

,. uoc '"""' 3 
' ·'' ' ' : 

APPENDIX K 

MARO POSITION PAPER ON VALLEY FORGE 

PERSONNEL CUTBACKS: JUNE 1977 

' ,.- ' ' " 

lstive ou_cpec·;; C.C.t:< fer 10!1~ f:'.r~t 

for the sec~!ltl Y~"-" e!' o.cereotions 

(,~ p2r:-.,_~c~_t 903 i;: iec,c. :fc.,;,•.cer, 

""re "~"~ ; ";_ str a L i 'fe ~:i Fi t'l"--''ttc·:r. lc av i n_g 

"--'' "M.1_-;_Luc __ •0

• ,_i--hi>u~;:Cv-c det~t·:-.l:ntion 

'" bo ~~~- r ·-····cll""'20 ,. it' - ho.;- '·1~ -- t •t;" .• as ~e .. ··-'"' .o oL.1 a., rr.o_a pos. ~ono -~-t.!1o,- ~er.--o~_en pes1 .o .. s 

for the operaLon o'' t!le Pal;'_\:, fro:n these -"l positions, 6 key stai'r positions 

previo'-'sly authorized must be subtracted leavin>; 35 positions. fro,;, these 

35 positions re,ai.Cting it ap):eal'S t\lat sere.<; 2~ :·cr;:_er State e-:ployees, 

presently on S!JeCial tenure a_p_;ooint,o;ent3, d.ll be consiC.c:ceJ for conv~rsion 

to per::'~_ent tY1'e positCono, leav::ng ll po~iti.on3 to be fillej_ by e:q:e,-ienc~d 

NPS perso:mel. The training of tl:e forer State e"·ploy.ees "ill ta.>;e one to 

t'ro yea,-s to fu.>Jction in this histo1·ical a.'ld recreational area, whic~ has 

been saj_~y ne;::;lected i::~ its opcra:ion ard nair.t.,na.>Jce acti·;ities. In adC:ition, 

ne·" facilities tota.li~-G $l3,C:JO,OOO no·~ ur:der cor.struction by the State t-:~"--1 

require eJQcrieneed :;>crsonncl for operation a.'ld caintenance. 

The Valley Forge ;-ratiol'."-'- Historical ?ur:.C is located in tl:e gcr.e:cal a.l:ea of 

som~ 4 million people •,:i-';h'-n a me~e thirty :oir.'-'.tc drive, Year~y -,:sitation 

to this area has bc"'n 3 millior. ,.;ith ti'.e pea.'.: visitation seaso,-, n8'o' unde!'",<a.y. 

A tY1'ical SunC.ay in l<ay 1977 has drawn soc-_e 30,000 visitors su~~rvise'"- by 

only 6 rangers, 

A sizeable segrc.'"'-"' o:: C:he Pf.ck neig'>bors either opposed or acce;>ted oit!--1 

reserva~ion the tra..'lsfer of be Fa,-k to the r:ational Park Se>'Vice. 'This 

s""·" scg:cent '-'il!. be Katchint: the progress of t!1e Park with a hi,gP.Jy critical 

eye to ir.sur~ that ;-;;os will in fact O!JCra~e "'·d :L>:>9rove t:~e ?ar:~ as :proviC.ed 

for in the legislation. 

The 61 pemaCte:-,t positiocs wilJ be sorely ne~ded to prepare for t:'1e Pa,·k' s 

200th a.'lJiiversary celebration Decc:1ber 1977 ti-.ro'.l;;il June 1976 that -wiJ.l hc:re 

:1ational ar.d interna'~ionaJ e"?osur2 with parLCci;;,.ti.on fro-:t tte go•ter.-u-.ents 

of France, Great Britain a.'1d t~-" United States. 

~n vie·., of the forer;oh;; •,-;e respectfully requc.st cor.sid-eration to aut'",oc:zc 

t"·' ~\tl' 6! .,~~-·~~.,, .,~sit•~"-" ;,., .-,n:~- L> :-_•'--'~ 0'J- C<'C"""--·,~ts to~'·~ 

(,,·l__:~:;,-3~~-- s~:.t., ;,·-- ;c..-.-::c:ylv·c•>-._;:, ~!t.e b~-'~ Civ'c G:coc;;;s e_,;! to th? -,;_·•t;~ .. 

~ -'"!'~. 

Regional Director, Mid-Atlantic Region to Director, National Park Service, 

July 15, 1977, CRM-MARO Files 

738 

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RECOMMENDATIONS 

Virtually all known repositories having materials relating to the 

administrative history of Valley Forge National Historical Park were 

consulted or visitO'd during the course of research for this report. It is 

recommended, however, that Valley Forge National Historical Park initiate 

an oral history program and tape record interviews with many of the 

persons named in this study who have been involved with the 

administration of Valley Forge both as a state park and as a national 

historical park as well as those individuals who played key roles in the 

process during which the state operation was transferred to the National 

Park System. 

It is also recommended that the National Park Service initiate proceedings 

to have the Records of the Valley Forge Park Commission (RG 46) in the 

state archives at Harri5burg organized and processed to facilitate 

research and use. These records are the primary body of documentary 

materials on Valley Forge during its 83-year operation as a state park. 

Yet only about 1/3 of the record group materials has been organized, the 

remaining 2/3 of the collection being boxed in a disorganized manner and 

hence largely unusable . 
REPOSITORIES VISITED DURING RESEARCH 

Chester County Historical Society 1 West Chester, Pennsylvania 

Denver Public Library, Denver, Colorado 

Historical Society of Montgomery County, Norristown, Pennsylvania 

Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 

Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 

National Park Service, Mid-Atlantic Regional Office, Philadelphia, 

Pennsylvania 

National Park Service, Washington Office, Washington, D.C. 

Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Pennsylvania State 

Archives, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 

Pennsylvania State Library, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 

University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 

U.S. Department of the Interior, Natural Resources Library, Washington, 

D.C. 

Valley Forge Historical Society, Valley Forge, Pennsylvania 

Valley Forge National Historical Park, Valley Forge, Pennsylvania 

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REPOSITORIES CONSULTED DURING RESEARCH 

National Archives and Records Service, Washington, D.C. 

National Park Service, 

Services, Harpers Ferry, 

Harpers Ferry 

West Virginia 

Philadelphia Federal Archives 

Pennsylvania "' 

"' 

Center, Division 

Records Center, 

of Reference 

Philadelphia, 
ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY 

PRIMARY SOURCES 

Manuscript Materials and Collections 

Denver, Colorado. National Park Service. Denver Service Center. 

Northeast Team F;les. 

Technical Information Center Files. 

Harrisburg, 

Commission, 

Pennsylvania. 

Pennsylvania State 

Pennsylvania 

Archives. 

Historical Museum 

Record Group 6, Records of the Department of Forests and Waters. 

Record Group 13, Records of the Historical and Museum Commission. 

Record Group 46, Records of the Valley Forge Park Commission. 

Pennsylvania State Library. 

Biennial Reports of the Department of Forests and Waters, 1950-1970. 

King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. 

John F. Reed Collection (private collection). 

Norristown, Pennsylvania. Montgomery County Historical Society. 

Charles H. Wolfinger Collection. 

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Historical Society of Pennsylvania, 

Manuscripts Department. 

Ellis P. Oberholtzer Papers. 

"J. F. Watson's Visit to Chester Ill 1827, to Valley Forge in 1828, 

(and) to Canal Delaware and Ches. Canal 1829." 

Nicholson, John P. coli. Four Scrapbooks on Valley Forge, 

1897-1912. 

Oberholtzer, Ellis P. Two Scrapbooks on Valley Forge, 1928-1935. 

Watson, John F. "Supplement to Watson's Annuals." 

National Park Service, Mid-Atlantic Regional Office. 

Central Files. 

Central Files Awaiting Transfer to National Archives and Records 

Service, Federal Records Center. 

History Division, 106 Files. 

Land Resources Division Files. 

Cultural Resou1·ce Management Files 

{Office of Associate Regional Director). 

Planning Division Files. 

'42 

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• 

Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. Valley Forge Historical Society. 

Minutes, Board of Directors, Valley Forge Historical Society. 

Valley Forge National Historical Park. 

Central Files. 

Park Archives. 

R~acord Group 1, Records of the Centenniill and Memorial 

Association of Valley Forge. 

Record Group 2, Records of Valley Forge State Park. 

Record Group 3, Records of Valley Forge National Historical 

Park. 

Record Group 4, Records of the Archeological Report Collection. 

Record Group 10, Records of the John F. Reed Collection. 

Record Group 11, Records of the George Schultz Collection. 

Record Group 12, Records of the Francis Brooke Collection. 

Record Group 13, Records of the Horace W. Sellers Collection. 

Record Group 14, Records of the Liggett Collection. 

Park Library. 

Rare Book Room Collection . 

Scrapbooks. 

Superintendent's Office Files. 

Washington, D.C. National Park Service, Washington Office. 

Cultural ResourcBS Management, Division of History. 

Park Archives Files. 

Legislative and Congressional Affairs, Division of Legislation. 

Division Files. 

Microfiche Files, H.R. 5621 and S. 1776. 

Wayne, Pennsylvania. 

E. Clyde Pyle Papers (private collection). 

West Chester, Pennsylvania. Chester County Historical Society. 

Newspaper Clippings Files, Valley Forge Park . 
Most helpful for the purposes of this administrative study were the three e 

record groups, especially Record Group 46, in the Pennsylvania State 

Archives, the various files in the National Park Service's Washington and 

Mid-Atlantic Regional Offices, and the extensive holdings 1n the files and 

archives at Valley Forge National Historical Park. 

The hearings on H.R.S621 and 5.1776 were useful for an understanding 

of the legislative history of Public Law 94-337 creating Valley Forge 

National Historical Park. The hearings on H.R.5926 provided considerable 

data on the extension of the national historical park boundaries for land 

protection and "buffer" purposes. The hearings on 5.614 aided in a 

better understanding of early federal efforts to establish a national 

government reservation at Valley Forge. 

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• 
• 

• 

• 

Congressional Documents 

Congressional Record, 1975-1980. 

U.S. Congress. House. Loaning Certain Brass Cannon to 

Park Commission. 59th Cong., 2d sess., 1907. H.Rept. 

Forge 

Memorial Arch 

---the5eeretary--of the Treasury. 

1312. 

at Valley Forge, Pa.: Letter from 

61st Cong., 3d sess, 1911. H.Doc. 

Committee on Armed Services. 

to the Sixth National Jamboree of 

Vatle;t"Forge-state Park, Pa. 88th Cong., 

7 . 

--ofFiOrida~d 

H. Rept. 96-693. 

Establishing the Bisc<~yne National Park in the State 

For Other Purposes. 96th Cong., 1st S%5., 1979. 

Committee 

Association of Valley 

H. Rept. 936.-

on the Library. 

Forge, etc. 50th ""' sess. , 

Erection of 

--60th Cong~ sess., 1909.-

At Valley Forge, Pa. 

of Memorial Arches at Valley Forge, Pa. 

H. Rept. 319. 

Services. Authorizing Mrlitarv 

Jamboree of the Soy Scouts of 

Pa. 88th Cong., 1st sess., 1963 . 
Committee on Interior and Insular Affc1rs. Valley 

Historical Park. 94th Cong., 2d sess., 1976. S. 

Forge 

Rept. 

Forge;-Pc. 

Committee on the Library. 

61st Cong., 2d sess., 1910. 

at Valley 

2d""""S"e5S. '""""'i9IT. 

Report of the Comm1ssion of Fine Arts. 62d Cong., 

S. Doc. 19z:-

These documents were useful primarily in describing the role of the 

federal government in constructing the National Memorial Arch at Valley 

Forge and establishing and enlarging Valley Forge National Historical 

Park. 

Newspapers 

New York Times. 

-- June 19, 1904. 

March 17, 1929. 

November 30, 1930. 

November 24, 1935. 

November 28, 29, 1936. 

May 2, 1937. 

October 14, 1939. 

January 1, 1957. 

July 5, 1964. 

October 21 1966. 

August 15, 1975. 

Philadelphia Evening Bulletin. 

May 14, 1974. 

July 29, 1979. 

Today's Post (King of Prussia, Pennsylvania). 

Aprli""25, 1975. 

August 5, 1975. 

February 18, 1976. 

746 

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• 

Washington Post. 

June 2-3, 1975. 

July 2, 1975. 

November 4, 1975. 

M<1y 31, 1976. 

June 6, 1976. 

These newspapers were helpful 1n providing data on Valley Forge, 

especially during the 1970s when efforts were underway to transfer the 

state park to National Park Service administration and to enlarge the 

national historical park. Numerous other newspaper references Cited in 

this study were based on clippings found in the Newspaper Clippings File 

at the Chester County Historical Society, the scrapbooks in the library at 

Valley Forge National Historical Park, and the CRM-MARO files. 

Personal Interviews By Author 

John W. Bond, Philadelphia, May 1, 1984. 

Wallace 8. Elms, Valley Forge, April 9, 1984. 

ThOmils J. Fewlass, Valley Forge, April 9, 1984. 

James Gordon, Valley Forge, April 13, 1984. 

David Kimball, Philadelphia, May 2, 1984 . 

Henry J. Magaziner, Philadelphia, May 1, 1984. 

Annamaria Malloy, Paoli, April 10, 1984. 

Wilford P. Moll, Norristown, April 11, 1984. 

Joseph Monkoski, Philadelphia, May 3, 1984. 

David G. Orr, Philadelphia, March 21, 1985. 

George A. Palmer, Philadelphia, April 30, 1984. 

E. Clyde Pyle, Valley Forge, April 12, 1984. 

John F. Reed, King of Prussia, April 10, 1984. 

These persons provided considerable background 

operation and administration of Valley Forge both as 

national historical park. 

Telephone Interviews By Author 

knowledge on the 

a state park and a 

S. Sydney Bradford, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, August 13, 1984. 

Chester L. Brooks, Duluth, Minnesotil, August 15, 1984. 

Stanley T. Brosky, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, August 9, 1984. 

William E. Cox, New River Gorge National River, West Virginia, 

August 13, 1984. 

Nathan 8. Golub, Washington's Crossing, Pennsylvania, August 13, 

1984. 

H. Gilbert Lusk, Big Bend National Park, Texas, August 17, 1984. 

Richard L. Stanton, Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Nat1onal Histor1cal 

Park, Maryland, August 17, 1984 . 

Benjamin J. Zerbey, Messilla, New Mexico, August 13, 1984. 

These persons provided considerable background information relative to 

the estilblishment and operation of Valley Forge National Historical Park. 

"' 
Significant Correspondence 

Hugh D. Scott, Jr., to Harlan D. Unrau, April 10, 1984. 

This letter provided data on Senator Scott's involvement in the legislative 

process leading to creation of Valley Forge National Historical Park. 

SECONDARY SOURCES 

Books 

Bean, Theodore W. ed. History of Montgomery County, .Pennsylvania. 

Philadelphia, 1884. 

Years Ago 9.!:: the 

The Sectarian and Owenite 

Trl America, ----;]32-1829. 

Boy Scouts of America. BSA National Jamboree, Valley Forge, 1950. 

N.P., 1950. 

• 

Buck, William J. History of Montgomery County Within the Schuylkill • 

Valley. Norristown, 1859." 

Burk, W. Herbert. Historical and Topographical Guide to Valley Forge. 

Norristown, 1906. 

Valley Forge: What It Is, Where It ~' and What to See There. 

--North Wales, Pennsylvania, 192 . 

__ . Valley 9orge and the Presidents of the United States of America. 

(N.P., 192 ). 

Day, Sherman. Collections of the State of Pennsylvania. 

Phfladelphia, 

Develin, Dora Harvey. H1storic Lower Merion and Blackley. Bala, 1927. 

Ewing, William C. Vdlley Forge Revisited. Yonkers, New York, 1904. 

Futhey, J. Smith, and 

Pennsylvania, \\lith 

Philadelphia, 1881-.-

in Penn's Land. Port Washington, 

Cope, Gilbert. 

Genealogical 

H1story of Chester County, 

and Biographical Sketches. • 
• 

• 

• 

of the State of Pennsylvania (1832). 

Hart, John Robbins. 

1944. 

Valley Forge During World War II. New York, 

Heaton, Ronald E. 

1950. 

Valley Forge: Yesterday and Today. Norristown, 

Hosmer, Charles B. 1 Jr. 

Preservation Movement 

New York, 1965. 

Presence of the Past: 

in the United States 

to the National 

Jones, Gilbert s. 

Guide Book. 

camp. Valley For)ge 

[Philadelphia, 1942 . 

Park: An Historical Record and 

McCullough, John M. 

Inquirer. 

Montgomery, Willi<tm E. 

of Pennsylvania . 

1950 As Reported rn the Philadelphia 

In the State Parks and State Forests 1ms-.-

Nelson, Beatrice Ward. State Recreation: Parks Forests and Game 

Preserves. Washington, 1928. 

Oakley, Amy. 

Indianapolis, 

Ooc 

1950. 

Keystone State. 

Orr, David G., and Crozier, 

Archaeology; Essays in 

Daniel G., eds. 

Honor of John L. 

of Historical 

Philadelphia, - --- 1984. 

Philadelphia & Reading R.R. Excursion Routes to Summer Resorts. 

Philadelphia, 1876. 

Pinkowsky, 

Valley Forge 

Historic Homes of 

1953. 

Riddle, James W. Valley Forge Guide and Handbook. Philadelphia, 1910. 

Stager, H.J. and Memorial Association of Valley 

Forge. 

Taylor, Frank H. Valley Forge: 

Philadelphia, 1905. 

A Chronicle of American Heroism. 

The Descent of Samuel Whitaker Pennypacker. Philadelphia, 1898 . 

Tilden, Freeman. The 

New York, 196""2.""""" 

State Parks: Their Meaning in American Life. 
Torrey, Raymond H. State Parks and 

~ ~ United States. Washington, 

Recreation.ol 

1926. 

Uses of State Forests ---

comp. Valley Forge Park: An Historical 

Scouts of America National Jamboree 

Wildes, Harry E. Valley Forge. New York, 1938. 

Woodman, Henry. 

1922. 

The History of Valley Forge. Oaks, Pennsylvania, 

The works by Bean, Buck, Day, Futhey and Cope, Stager, and Woodman 

provide considerable data on the history of Valley Forge between the 

encampment and establishment of the state park. The works by Burk, 

Ewing, Hart, Heaton, Jones, Riddle, Taylor, and the Valley Forge Park 

Commission were especially useful in understanding the state park 

operations and developments at Valley Forge. 

Periodi~;:als 

"A Valley Forge Trolley." Washington Chapel Chronicle, II (February 15, 

1910), 3. 

Arky, Louis H. 

Formation of 

Magazine of 

"The Mechani~;:s' Union of Trade Associations and the 

the Philadelphia Workingmen's Movement." Pennsylvania 

History and Biography, LXXVI {April, 1952), 146-47. 

Baker, William S. "Washington After 

Pennsylvania Magazine of History and 

186-87. 

Carson, Hampton 

Pennypacker." 

(1917), 41-42. 

L. "The Life and 

Pennsylvania Magazine 

the Revolution, 1748-1799." 

Biography, XIX {July, 1895), 

ivan's Bridge, Valley 

Historical Sketches: 

Historical Society of 

41-44. 

Services 

of History 

of s~muel Whitaker 

and Biography, XLV 

Clark, James B. "Address." American Monthly Magazine, 

(December, "" 

Collins, 

1', 

F.A. 

1917), 

1895), 521. 

"The Valley 

655, 657. 

Forge Memorial Park." Outlook, CXV (April 

750 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

"Delaware Memorial at Valley Forge." 

and Biography, XXXIX (January, 

Pennsylvania 

1915), 69-79. 

Magazine of History 

Dyer, George. "Keeping 

Historian, XXVIII (No. 

Tradition Alive." 

4, 1976), 180-82. 

Military Collector '"' 

"Evacuation Day at Valley Forge Park." Washington Chapel Chronicle, IV 

(July 5, 1911) 1 27-31. 

Falkner, Leonard. "We Relive the Miracle of Valley Forge." American 

Magazine, CLVIII (December, 1954), 98-102. 

of Sullivan's Bridge 

of Papers Prepared For 

Pennsylvania, IV (1910), 

Hallock, Effie. "The Interest in Our Colonial and Revolutionary Past." 

American Monthly Magazine, XIII (August, 1898), 126-27. 

Hocker, Edward W. "Valley Forge as a National Park." Outlook, LXVII 

(April 6, 1901), 787-90. 

Jenkins, Howard M. "The Old Iron 

'"' 

Forge Valley Forge." 

Pennsylvania Maga<:ine of Hi~tory Biography, XVII (1893), 443. 

"Massachusetts Day at Valley Forge: Dedication of the Massachusetts 

Marker." Washington Chapel Chronicle, IV (December 15, 1911), 

67-71, and IV (January 15, 1912), 75-76. 

Morit;zen, Julius. "Valley Forge and the Nation." Harper's Weekly, XLV 

(June 22, 1901), 628-29. 

Newton, A. Edward. '"Change Cars at Paoli."' Atlantic Monthly, CXXX 

(August, 1922), 171-81. 

"Notes and Queries." Pennsylvania Maga.:ine of History and Biography, 

XVI (July, 1892), 250. 

Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, XVIII (October, 

1894), 384. 

Peabody, R.S. 

Architects, 

Maga;zine of History and Biography, XIX (April, 

Proceedings of the 11th Convention, American Institute of 

(1877), 17. 

Pennypacker, Isaac R. "Valley Forge." American Mercury, VII (March, 

1926), 343. 

Pennypacker, Samuel W. "Anthony Wayne." Pennsylvania Maga;zine of 

H•story and Biography, XXXII (July, 1908), 257 301. 
II 

Picket ~' 1943-81. 

"President McKinley and Valley Forge." 

(March 15, 1916), 90-91. 

Washington Chapel Chronicle, VII 

Reed, John F. ed. "Minutes of the Centennial and Memorial Association 

of Valley Forge." Valley Forge Journal, I (June, 1982). 

Reed, W.H. "Sullivan Bridge Marker." Historical Sketches: A Collection 

of Papers Prepared For the Historical Society of Montgomery County, 

Pennsylvania, IV (1910), 33-37. 

Richardson, w.H. "Valley Forge." New England Magazine, XXVII 

(February, 1901), 608. 

"Valley Forge Campground." 

of Papers Prepared for the 

County, Pennsylvania, rn19iil)), 

Sketches: A 

Society of 

Roosevelt, Theodore. "The Valley Forge Speech." Independent, LVII 

(Jury 7, 1904), 19-21. 

"The Valley Forge Reservation." Historical 

of Papers Prepared For the Historical Society 

Pennsylvania, V (1925), 371-81. 

"State Markers." Washington Chapel Chronicle, I (December 15, 1908), 

2-3. 

"Statue of Baron Von Steuben at Valley Forge." Washington Chapel 

Chronicle, VII (December 15, 1915), 69-70. 

Stevens, S.K. "News and Comment." Pennsylvania History, IV (April, 

1937), 128. 

"Pennsylvania History--Past, Present, and Future." Pennsylvania 

History, XVII (April, 1950), 95-96. 

"The Boy Scouts at Valley Forge." Washington Chapel Chronicle, VII 

(March 15, 1916), 89-90. 

"The A Collection of 

County, 

"The Valley Forge College of the University of Pennsylvania," School and 

Society, XLVI (July 31, 1937), 137-38. --

"The Valley Forge Trolley." Washington Chapel Chronicle, VI (August 

15, 1913), 35. 

"Valley Forge." Harper's Weekly, XXII (July 6, 1878), 533-34. 

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"Valley Forge Camp Ground." Washington Chapel Chronicle, Ill (August 

15, 1910), 3. 

"Valley Forge Park." Bulletin of Montgomery 

County, Pennsylvania, XXI 

"Valley Forge Park." Washington Chapel Chronicle, I (April 15, 1908), 

2. 

Walker, Howell. "Washington Lives Again at Valley Forge." National 

Geogrcphic Magazine, CV (February, 1954), 187-202. 

"Washington's 

American 

Hei!dquarters During 

History, Ill {February, 1879), '"' Revolution." 

157-60. 

Magazine ,, 

Most useful for 

Collins, Hocker, 

and Smyth as 

Technical Studies 

List 

this administrative history were the articles 

R. 

Division of lnterpretrve Planning. 

Park, Pennsylvania, Interpretive 

Structure Reports .. Valley Forge, Pa., oy Valley 

John and 

Forge National 

Cherry Dodd. 

"Statement for Management, Valley Forge National Historical Park." 

August 3, 1978. 

"Statement for Management, Valley Forge National Historical Park." 

u.s. 

February 21, 1980. 

Valley Forge Historical 

Jacqueline Thibaut, May, 

Valley Forge Land Protection Plan. June 17, 1983. 

---Plan. May, 

Forge National Historical Park Land Acquisition 

Forge National H1stor1cal Park Revised Land Resource 

March 9, 1980. 

053 
Denver Service 

---Gener:ai Management Plan. 

Center. Environmental 

June, 1980. 

His""tOrTCal Park, 

These sources provide detailed rnformation 

management, operation, planning, interpretation, 

Valley Forge National Historical Park. 

Dissertations 

oc 

ocd 

Assessment: Draft 

Forge National 

the administration, 

research program of 

McCurdy, Linda. "The Potts Family Iron Industry in the Schuylkill 

Valley." Unpublished Ph.D. dissertation, Pennsylvania State 

University, 1974 (published by Pottstown Historical Society, 

Pottstown, Pennsylvania, in 1975). 

Powell, Barbara MacDonald. "The Most Celebrated Encampment: Valley 

Forge rn American Culture, 1777-1983." Unpublished Ph.D. 

dissertation, Cornell University, 1983. 

The dissertation by Powell was particularly helpful in focusing on the 

issues facing both state and federal officials in the administration of 

Valley Forge as a park within the context of American socio-cultural and 

intellectual history. 

Miscellaneous Printed Materials 

Reply to Hon. 

Arch ~ the 

Valley Forge, 

American Revolution Bicentennial 

United States of America: 

Administration. 

fi Final Report 

The Bicentennial of the 

to the People. 5 vols. 

Washington, 1977. 

What Shall We Do With Valley Forge? N.P., [1928]. 

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Department of Forests 

~ Forge: President Hoover's Visit, Memorial ~. 

[Harrisburg, 1931]. 

and Waters. 

May 30, 1931. 

By-Laws of the Valley Forge Park Commission With a Compilation of Laws 

Relating to the Commission. Harrisburg, 1""!m6. 

75< 

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Dedication Exercises at the 

Forge, Pa., Er&ted 

Saturday, 18th November=~· 

Federal Register. XLV (October 1, 1980). 

XLVII (December 2, 1982). 

Fitzpatrick, 

4 vols. 

John C. ed. The 

Boston, 1925. 

Diaries of George Washington: 1748 1799. 

Fortieth Report, 

January ~ 

to Valley Forge Park Commission, 

1921. 

at the Valley 

remarks <1nd 

Heaton, Ronald E. Valley Forge _!_r]_ A~- Norristown, 1956 . 

Holstein, Anna Morris. 

Valley Forge and Its ----

"Valley Forge, 1777-78." A Brief 

Environments. Philadelphia, 19~ 

Review of 

Maine at Valley Forge: the Unveiling of the Maine Marker, 

October 11, 1907. 

Public Papers of the Presidents of the United 

1976-77, Book!..!.,. April 2 to July~ 1976. 

Report of 

State 

Encampment Commission of the 

Reports of the Valley Forge Park Commission, 1894~1951. 

The Works of Daniel Webster. 6 vols. 11th ed. Boston, 1858. 

The 150th Anniversary of Valley Forge: Address of George Nox McCain, 

Litt. D., at Valley Forge, December 19th, 1927, at the Sesqulce;::;tennial Celebration of its Occupation Q_y Ge;:;eral Washington and 

H1s Army, December 19th, 1777. [Philadelphia, 1928]. 

lJ 5. Department of the Interior. 

to the National Park 

Januar:-y 1978. Washington, 

National Park Service. Laws 

Supplement .!_'{, January 

755 
These sources contributed to an understanding of events at Valley Forge 

during its tenure as a state park and more recently as a national 

historical park. Particularly useful for this administrative history were 

the By-Laws and the Reports of the Valley forge Park Commission. 

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As the nation's principal conservation agency, the Department of the 

Interior has basic responsibilities to protect and conserve our land and 

water, energy and minerals, fish and wildlife, parks and recreation 

areas, and to ensure the wrse use of ail these resources. The 

department also has major responsibility for American Indian reservatron 

communities and for people who live in island territorJes under U.Sadministration. 

Publication services were provided by the graphics staff of the Denver 

Service Center. NPS D-7 September 1985