Wichita eagle., 1889-11-17
OLD HOPE LODGE FARM.
AN OLD HISTORIC PROPERTY IN
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PA.
A Quaint Mansion Containing Raxe Old
Furniture and Many Relics-Closets
Enough to Satisfy Any Housekeeper.
Dispute to Original Owner.

Enough to Satisfy Any Housekeeper.
Dispute as to Original Owner.
In Whitemarsh, Montgomery county, 8
short distance from Fort " Washington, and
only stones throw or two from the famous
old fort in which the American soldsery in.
trenched themselves after their defeat at the
battle of Germantown. stands substantial
mansion, which is notable for its age, the
associations connected with it and the elegant
simplicity of its architecture. IL stands
back from the Bethlehem pike several hun
dred yards, and is shaded by venerable white
pines, horse chsstnuts and other trees, some
of which are more than century old.
1t is an unusually large house, with brick
front and an abundance of large windows,
over the caps of which are pressed brick or
lamentations.
OLD TINE ARCHITECTURE
The entrance is through door of more
than ordinarily large size, and by means Of
soapstone steps, in which are craven the in
itials of the children of the residents for more
than a hundred years back. and underneath
portico supported by large columns quantity
carved The doorway enters upon a hall forty
by twenty feet, which divides the house into
two equal parts, and leading therefrom are
many doors. with arched and keystoned tops
and columned sides All the ceilings are
thirteen feet high. The rooms are large, but
an otherwise barnlike appearance is broken
by the numerous doors throughout the house.
1t seems as though the owners had set them
wherever there was AN available wall space.
The greater part of these doors open into
closets, so large and so roony as 70 be ample
to hold bedroom suite and still leave space
enough TO turn around. Every chamber has
at least two or three of these wonderful
closets
Every room from floor TO garnet is furnish
ed with large old fashioned freplaces. the
mantels and fronts of which on the first floor
are of black marble, and the fronts of those
on the second floor of light blue tiles, on
which are enameled curious figures The
main stairway leading from the hall TO the
garnet is wide enough for public hall, and
rises by easy flights of broad, low steps from
story to story, and is incloSed, except on the
landings, where there are richly carved bal
ustrades. Besides this stairway there are
two Others. one at each end of the house
semi-concealed, dark, uncanny, winding az
fairs, set in the partition walls, and leading
from the cellar to the garrets and communi-
eating with ell the rooms in the house. One
of the garrets is nearly 100 feet long and 20
feet wide, and was fitted upin 1854 a lodge
room for the Free Masons, who in that year
split from the Germantown lodge, but was
never occupied by them, on account of the
death of the owner of the house. who was
one of the seceders
Instead of rafters, the roof is supported by
heavy oak beams on which are laid three
inch planks. Hidden away in the garretE
are relics collected from time to time by for
mer owners A bundle Of war arrows the
flint heads of which are said to be poisoned,
taken from an Indian warrior supposed 10
have been one of "A band attached to the Brit
ish army; two bows that belonged also to an
Indian brave of the past; a CHASTITY collection
of human bones in box-bones that once
formed the skeleton of a half grown boy
also an immense palm leaf fan, used by serv-
ants more than l2j years ago To keep the flies
from the dining table of Samuel Morris, one
of the owners of the place
There are conflicting stories as to who
erected the mansion As a result, its exact
age is unknown, but it is agreed that it was
built not later than 1885. Ii is stated on the
one hand that the house was erected about
112i by Henry Hope, the first owner of the
property, after whom the place was named
Hope Lodge Farm" three-quarters of CEN
fury later, and who received grant of 800
acres of land from William Penn.
On the other hand, il is claimed by the de-
scendants of Samuel Morris, the second
owner and who was also the possessor of
large mill on the Wissahickon, near by, that
he was the builder, and this claim seems to
be the better founded one Those who claim
Hone ma huI hat ba vraG a hac h
eIor, and that the bricks with which the front
of the house was built came from England,
being brought over as ballast Of a ship The
wood work of the interior is also said by COM
petent carpenters to have been imported 1t
is also related that when the house was fin
ished he gave grand house warming and a
reception to meet his intended bride and her
mother, invitations having been issued 20
all the leading families for miles around
During the reception. however, il is said he
drank too much wine and made use OF an of
fensive remark 70 his betrothed, which so
her that she Cancelled the engage
ment. This, it is related so preyed on Hopes
mind that shortly after he sold the property
10 Samuel Morris.
Samuel Morris was the eldest son Of Su-
sauna Morris, the eldest daughter Of Robert
.
phia with William Penn in I7ol Susanna
Morris was a noted minister Of the Society of
Friends, who made three JOURNEYS to Eng
land to preach. during one OF which. in 1871,
she was shipwrecked notwithstanding that
she was warned beforehand i; is related, By
three successive dreams Of the coming catas-
trophe Samuel Morris, like most Of the
Friends Of that time. in that section. was .
strong Royalst, even going so far, it is said,
as 10 drive his cattle 20 Philadelphia for the
use OF the British soldiery after the battle Of
Germantown, rather than let the Americans
have them. With him on the farm resided
niece Annie Evans, who fell in love with aud
married Col. Alexander Andersen, young
American soldier Of the revolution. in spite
Of the violent opposition Of her uncle.
On the death Of Samuel Morris the prop
erty came into the possession Of Joshua Nor
ris, brother OF Samuel Morris, and by him
it was sold 10 William West he did in
l1s2 April u, 17s4, the executors granted
the premises 30 John wilcox and Joshua En- !
len, 10 the USE u James Horatio Wa.noazh
for life he was general IN The revolution
airy army, and was grandfather Of tbs wife
Of Gen, Russell b. Thayer. After residing
On the PROF y for some years be rented il i
to the well known Steel family. Of German
town, who lived there uine ysars. and be 1
took up his residence On Price street, Ger (
where be died, Jan -, fsI2 -
Philadelphia Ledger.
Grains of Gold.
Rank and riches are chains Of god, but i
till they are chains
As tears soften the hcart, % does rain soften 4
the earth that good may come.