Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-06-26
Story of Betsy Ross House

70 the Editor Of The EreainC Public Ledger:
Sr-I have been an interested reader
~ your paper in relation to the Betsy
Ross House and especially in the ar
tclc signed III" in your issue OF the
2lst. While | do not want to de-
tract. or take any credit from Brother
Wcgcrbcr. 7 think til" time has com"
TO place the whole matter in the true
light.
As Il member Of Common Council
from 1SSS to l$04. earned til" title
of american Bill.' on account of my
Americanism in season and out of sea-
son.
On Deccmbcr 10. 1893. YOU will find
the following in the journal OF Com
mon Council.
'Alr. Soudcr read in place bill
entitled An ordinance to make an ap-
propriation TO authorize the purchase Of
4 plot Of ground and improvements at
30 Arch street. where the first Amcri-
ian flag was made.
(which was referred 10 the Finanrc
COmmitt"r."
\ few weeks later | wn~ taken III.
mo r">nl, "f an accident tho prcv'uu-
July. and my life was dcSpnircd Of. A.
soon aS ! was able ] was removed to III"
South and WAS unable to push ih" hill's
naHSag". and a~ til" price. tw"nIT-
hve thousand dollars. was conSdc.eh
'Norbitant by the press in general and
members Of Council II fell in commit
tee
At the following session had
Charles l.. Brown. now president
Judge of the Municipal Court. then Il
member from the Fifteenth Ward, in
lrodl"" similar ordinance. which WAS
referred I" the COMMITTEES on Property.
., which james u. Anderson. Of the
lmltlh Ward. was chairman. That or
"'han"" also failed of passage.
AT that time | wrote to William
N'ant, then State secretary of the Pa
,rlol" Order Sons If America. urging
nm TO use his influence to have the
lamps OF III" order urge it's passage by
'osn,ihcllS. which he promised to do.
since there was not any chance to
nave IN" city purchase tho property. |
aurheI to the Junior Order of Ameri-
tah Mechanics. of which | was mcm-
"rr' and got Schuylkill Council to take
~ th' matter. rs per the following
Tnnppihg from the Philadelphia Press Of
december q. 1S95:
BETSY ROSS MANSION
Patriotic Body Starts a Movement to
Purchase !,
t.. ~" Srhuylkill Council. No. T..
"SuhCr Junior Ore or of United American Me-
:" ,"G;ni'S' adopted resolution last night
- ''lli'' movement for the purchase
S,ran. ane betsy Ross mansion, ut e30 Arch
Lom Lmict: The meeting was held at the
%%h %;orol OF the council, Twentieth street and
wou wo.ol'nla avenue. and the resolution
H"' ronrrcd by William B. Soudcr and
,h AZ substance the resolution cites that
fl. council inauguratc q movement for
Nom ipurchaSe OF th" spot: that the
solroprH lmp'rH OF the council pledge them
chosSs hss TO raise $1,000 toward the pur-
s"h s"hhm price and requesting ull other
ya,Innn y,uI"r"l'ate bodies Of patriotic organi-
no.sihT, bT TO raise as large an amount as
po"ann no"s,ole by February l. The daily
rca"as is OF this city and elsewhere are
scrn,iod sit'd by the resolution to open sub.
mitton' lists at their offices. A COM
out ,h VI seven was appointed to carry
commi' t provisions Of the resolution. This
d''l,'c" dor m consists of William B, Sou
l.. Waii,n1, Deily, q. l.. Wescott, ID.
II M"alnc'' }. 7. Wobcnsmith, Harry
''' n ana u. s. Wright"
and I"' John Wunam.aker interested,
romn,inoN suggested purchasing the sur
norhs property and making IT into
from 10 preserve the sacred house
on th, ""' secured an optiou
shancI property on the west, an J..