The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1885-08-05
HISTORICAL:MEETING,

u
Society, but there was so much that is of
general interest that we copy the follow
ing excellent report from the Newtoson
Enterprise.
AS announcement, the July meeting of
the Bucks County Historical Society was
held at the cave in Durham, on the
premises of the Durham Furnace, on
Tuesday, the 28th ult. The quota from
Newtown and vicinity met at Washing
toms Crossing, on the Delaware Valley
road, In time for the morning train up,
numbering over twenty, and several had
boarded the train at Wilburtha. Stop
ping at Lambertville another car was at
tached, which was soon filled with gentle
men and ladies from that city, New Hope
and Solebury township. to the number of
over sixty. At Bool's Island the Doyles-
town delegation and others Joined the
train, and by the time Durham was
reached the number cavebound was about
200. You may look in vain on the time
table for Durham. 1t is not station,
but it is point on the Belvidere road
opposite the furnace, and here those
destined for the meeting, those who start.
ed out for day of enjoyment, and were
not disappointed, disembarked. And now
we will say how they got over the river.
The Pennsylvania road, to facilitate trans
portation of heavy material to and from
the furnace, has constructeda siding with
V in it, from the main track to the
waters edge. Here in slip lies large
fiat boat on which two freight cars can
be run. This boat is taken across the
river by wire-rope ferry, similar to that
for taking over canal boats from New
Hope to Lambersville. On the Pennsylva-
MIA side, it is met by track built by
Cooper " Hewett, proprietors of the fur
mace, which takes the cars up from the
river, over the canal, and to the furnace
There are locomotives on each side, that
on the New Jersey side being one of the
| first used on the Belvdere road, with but
two driving wheels that on the Durham
side was built at the machine shop of the
furnace company. A long, open car had
been provided with temporary seats and
steps to climb up, and it was soon filled
TO overlooking. Several walked down to
the river and got on the ferry-boat, and
all were soon over. The car stopped near
the cave and here let us digress and say
something about the cave.
This only Bucks county cavern has
long been known. 1t extended into the
| limestone rock, which forms q hill. 1t
had narrow entrance near the river road,
| and there were several chambers, the
| fatherest and lowest terminating in q pool
| of water. When the furnace was built on
| its present site the limestone of the hill
was quarred for flux for the ores, aud
the entrance of the cave was not respected
until the greater part of ifwas obliterated
What now remains is large vaulted
chamber open to the day, having we'll
| graded, wide approach. Back of this
chamber the cave narrows down to the
water. In this open cave the meeting
was held. 1t is large, airy, light and
clean. A plank floor had been placed over
it, with seats and rostrum. Here the
meeting assembled. There is no better
place for a summer meeting. 1t is one of
Gods first temples and surpasses any
| sylvan glade or leafy retreat. And here
let architects come when they design q
public building. Had the court-rooms
in the great granite pile at Ninth and
| Chestnut, Philadelphia, or our circular
| bell courtroom at Doylestowu been
| designed after this natural model, we
would not have had so many complaints
VI uau dCouoIlc QUALITIES
The meeting was called to order by
Gen. w. W. II. Davis, president of the
! Society, and Alfred Paschall read the
minutes of last meeting. The programs
were then distributed. Gen. Davis then
gave a short sketch of the first settlers oil
Durham township, soon after the yeal
100, and of the first furnace built at a
point some distance back from the river
where cannon and balls were cast for the
revolutionary army, and where the great
chain was forged that stretched across
the Hudson River below West Point
The first paper announced was one by T
w. Bean, of Norristown, but he was no
present. The first one read was that by
G. Il. Hindenach, of Reigelsville. Mr.. ii
is principal of the public school of tina
place-a tall, fine looking gentleman
and read with full, clear voice. Hi,
paper was history of the schools of the
township. He gave history of the early
schools of the infant settlement, and ther
of each school-house in the township
with the names and pecularties of the
different teachers. 1t was very interes
ting as part of the local history.
Charles Laubach had prepared paper
on the life of Taylor, one of the signeri
of the Declaration of Independence
which was read by Rev. Mr.. Melchor
Taylor was an Irish boy, who was brought
over rs a "redemtioner, his time being
sold to pay his passage over. He obtain.
ed employment as "filer" at the fur
mace, afterwards as clerk, and at the
death Of the proprietor thereof, married
his widow. lie became u leading man in
the community, deeply interested in iron
manufacture, and at one time owned all
the land where Catasaqua now stands
He was member of the Continental Con.
gress, served on many important commit.
tees, and died at Easton, where a monu-
ment perpetuates his memory.
The time for adjournment had now ar.
rived, and it was announced that lunch
would be served at the residence of b. II.
Fackenthall, Jr., manager of the works,
at his residence. The winding line oil
march was taken, and then we realized
the immensely of the crowd, and ascer.
tanned what appalled, Mr.. F. and his esti.
mable lady. 1t was understood for some
time that when the society met at Dur.
ham Mr.. f. intended to furnish the lunch,
besides making the extensive preparations
for the meeting. Public invitation was
given in the papers, besides special invi
tations. As the time approached Mr.. f
endeayored to ascertain about how many
would be present, but no definite informa-
ton could be obtained. "If the weather
was favorable" &C., &C., and there were
SO many "ifs" that he was left in the
dark. Gen. David could give no definite
information. Chas. Laubach said the
meetings down county were generally
well attended, and if the day was fayora.
BILE, there might be rs or 100. So Mr.. f
made arrangements for 100; and when
he saw 200 people streaming out of the
cars, he was naturally appalled,. But
when the procession filed into the beauti-
full lawn at the managers residence, near
the furnace, it looked as though there
would be no disappointment. The com.
pany scattered about on seats under the
trees, on the terraces and everywhere
We have not said heretofore that the
great majority were ladies', and when ID ia
known whence they came, the reader car
appreciate what charming company
was assembled. Soon the lunch was an.
nounced, and then it was discovered that
it was served by Trenton caterer, as the
!