Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-10-29
OLD HOPE LODGE FARM.
AN OLD HISTORIC PROPERTY IN
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PA.
A Quaint Mansion Containing Rare Old
Furniture and Many R-lics-Ciosets
E.ough to satisfy Any HonsekeePer.
Dispute as to Original Owner.

Quaint Mansion Containing Rare Oiu
Furniture and Many R-lics-Closets
E.ough to satisfy Any H""s~keePer
Dispute as to Original Owner.
IN Whitemarsh Montgomery county, a
SHIRT distance from Fort Washington, and
emily stones throw or two from the famous
oil fort in which the American soldiery in
trenched themselves after their defeat at the
battle Of Germantown, stands a substantial
mansion, which is notable for its age. the
associa ions connected with it and the elegant
simplicity Of its architecture 1t stands
back from the Bethlehem pike several hun
dre'l Yards and Is shaded by venerable white
pines horse chestnuts and other trees, some
Of which are more than century old
1t IS an unusually large house, with a brick
front and an abundance Of large windows,
over the caps Of which are pressed brick or
nancnt atoms.
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 wears back, and underneatha
portic" supported by large columns quantity
carved The doorway enters upon hall forty
BY twenty feet which divides the house into
two equal parts, and leading therefrom are
many doors. with arched and keysSoned tops
and colunned sides. All the ceilings are
thirteen feet high rhe rooms are large, but
m otherwise harnke appearance is broken
hV the numerous doors throughout the house
II gems as though the owners had set them
wherever there was an available wall space.
The greater part of these doors open into
rlos,ts large and 80 rupiny As to I've ample
to hold bedroom suite and still leave space
enough 10 turn around Every chamber mas
a; least two or three of these wonderful
,lo>ers
Every room from toor to gurret is furnish
ed with large old fashioned tireplaces, the
mantels and fronts of which on the first f"or
are of black marble. and the fronts Of those
on the second floor of hight hlue tiles, on
which are enamele,l curious figures. The
main stairway leading from the hall to the
garnet is wide enough for public hail and
rises by easy flights of broad. low steps from
story to story. aud is incosed, except on the
landings. where there are richly carved bal
ustraes Besides this stairway there are
two others, one at each end of the horis..-
semi-concealed dark, nncannv, winding af
fairs, sat in the partition walls. AMI leadin:
eating with all the rooms in the house One
of the garrets is nearly 100 feet long and ~
feet wide. and was fitted up in 1854 as IA lodge
ropm for the Free Maso,is, 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 ho,iSe who was
one Of the ssce,lcrs.
Instead of rafrers. the roof is supported by
heavy OAK beams, on which are laid three
inch planks. Hidden away in the garrett
are relics collected from time To time by for
mer owners \ bundle Of war arrows the
flint heads OF which said to be poisoned,
taken from an Indian warrior supposed 10
have been one of n band attached to the Brit
Ish army, two bows that belonged also IT, IN
Indian brave of the past. CHASTITY collection
of human bones in ii box-bnnes that once
formed the skeleton Of half grown boy:
also al immense palm leaf fan. used by serv-
ants more than rs wears ago to keep the flies
from the dinm- table Of Samuel Morris one
Of the owners Of the place.
There are conflicting stories as to who
erected the mansion. As result, its exact
age is unknown, but it /. agreed tina, it was
built mot later than rs, 1t is stated on tll.
one hand that tie house Was erected about
ls2i by Henry Hope. the first owner Of the
property, after whom the place WAS named
HOPE Lodge Farm" three-quarters OF "A cen
tury later. aud who received a grant OF 30
acres of land from William Penn
On the other hand, it is claimed by the de-
scsndants of Samuel Morris. the second
owner, aud who WAS also the possessor of a
large mill on the Wissahickon. near BY that
he was the builder, ami this claim seems In
b. the better founded one Those who elnn
Hope as the builder say that he was a bach
elor, and that the bricks with which the front
Of the house was built came from England.
being brought over as ballast of ship The
wood work of the interior is also said by com
petent carpenters to have been imported II
is aho related that when the house was fin
ishesi he gave a grand house warming and a
reception to meet his intended bride and her
mother, Invitations having been issued to
all the leading families for miles around
During the reception, however, il is said he
drank too much wine and made U.s. of an Of
fensivs remark to his betrothed, which 20
angered her that she Cancelled the engage
meut. This, it is related, 20 preye,i Oil Hopes
mind that shortly after he sold the property
to Samuel Morris
Samuel Morris was the eldest son Of So
sauna Morris, the eldest daughter Of Robert
and Susanna Heath, who came to PhiladeI-
phia with William Penn in IDOL 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 ship~r-ckei, notwithstanding that
she was warned beforehand, it Is related. By
three successive dreams OF the coming cafAs-
sr9phe. Samuel Morris, like most Of the
Friends IL that time, in that section, Was .
strong Royaiist. even going 70 far. II Is said,
As to drive his cattle to Philadelphia for the
use Of the british soIdiery 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 and
married Col Alexander Anderson, . young