Broadside printed on white wove paper (now darkened) has bold title at top: "Haus-Segen." The smaller subtitle of two lines reads: "Das mogen meine Kinder lesen,/ Wenn ich in der Erde thu' verwesen." (Apparently "These words are something my children should desire to read when I am moldering in the grave".)
Within a variant of the Greek key border is the printed text, done in old German type. Underneath the two titles there are two columns of text, each with 28 lines. Text is a religious theme done in rhyming couplets. The name "David L. Beiler" is printed at bottom right. Beiler is most likely an Old Order Amish printer.
Broadside had been folded back along all four sides to make it fit a wooden frame (not original, since other screw holes indicate a previous use). Old acidic cardboard backing was originally used as a backing for an early 20th century photo of a group of firefighters dressed in full uniform with musical instruments, titled "Junior Fire Company -- Reading, PA." Photocopy of fire company in object file.
Provenance
Seller purchased broadside at Horst Auction, April 16, 2003, a sale of household goods consigned by Ruth E. Stoltzfus (Mrs. Morris A. Stoltzfus). There were a number of Amish items for sale that seller believes the family obviously had in storage for many years. Morris and Ruth Stoltzfus were far removed from Morris' Amish roots and would not have valued or displayed them. Mrs. Stoltzfus has since died (6-25-03). See obit. in object file.
Clarke Hess says David Luthy (Canada) would know who this David L. Beiler was. The 3 candidates in the Fisher book appear to all be too recent.
Darkened, some "bleached" damp-stained corners & edges, minor foxing. Embrittled and fragile; all edges folded over with resulting tears including nearly detached section at center left and upper left. Involved tear extends upward from bottom, 2" from bottom right corner. Another is 1" to left of upper right corner. Several interior tears at "Haus" and as well as several holes (near lower left corner and throughout lower right quadrant. Paper strip 1 1/4" wide pasted along upper edge at fold line. Acidic cardboard backing removed. Later conserved by Maria Pukownik (returned Feb.2004 - CD w/ photos in file). Then framed for 2006 Printed Word Exhibit.
Object ID
P.03.20.2
Notes
David Luthy is an Old Order Amish writer and editor for Pathway Publishers. (Their address: 10380 Carter Road, Aylmer, ON N5H 2R3). Clarke E. Hess suggests contacting him to learn the identity of David L. Beiler.
Place of Origin
Lancaster County
Credit
Gift of V. Ronald Smith, Heritage Center Collection
Pencil drawing of Dr. Atlee's house is mounted in hinged window mat. The front, facing out to the left, has a door with a small stoop and three shuttered windows, as well as four shuttered windows on the second floor, and two gabled windows above. The side facing out to the right is in two sections: one section under the peaked roof with three rows of two windows each, and a two-story section with a flat roof, also with three rows of two windows each. In both of these sections, the top two windows are much smaller than the rest, and also without shutters. Two basement windows can barely be seen on the front and side of the house.
NOT FOUND IN BOX 0066, July 2023
There are three chimneys of various designs; one at either end of the peaked roof, and a third at the extreme right of the house.
There are two smaller sections coming off either side of the house. These can only be seen in part, and are not drawn in much detail. Fences extend off of both these sections, with a tree growing behind each section of fence. An ambiguous shape has been drawn behind the tree on the left, possibly another building. The bottom of the drawing is also ambiguous, with the sidewalk following the same lines as the house.
A hand-written caption at the bottom reads "Dr. Atlee's House". There are two bordered emblems at the upper corners of the drawing, also done in pencil. The one at upper left reads "Georg/Burckh---[?]/Anna Margari-/ta B. 1764", encircled by a floral pattern. The one at upper right reads "I.G.B./A.M.B/1764" and is encircled by two flowers.
This building was erected on the northwest corner of E. Orange and N. Duke Streets in 1764 by George Burkhart, the richest joiner of pre-Revolutionary Lancaster, as his own residence. It was one of the most highly developed stone houses with a four bay facade in Lancaster. During the 19th century, it became the residence of the Atlee family. It was demolished in 1902.
Note: P77.31.68 shows the same building.
Additional notes have been made in pencil: "S.E. cor. Lime + Middle Sts--." just above the curb of the sidewalk; "Brick" just above the basement window; and "Filled with stone." in the upper right corner above the tree. The number "25" also appears in upper right corner, and a circled "30" in the lower right corner.
Middle Street is now Howard Avenue. The Sawbuck House, also called the Powell House, was demolished before 1900.
Yellowed around the edges; the side edges and right side of the bottom edge are ragged, with small nicks all along the right side. There is a crease extending from the top edge, about 3" from the right, down to about 3/4" from the upper right corner. There is a dark brown spot about 2 1/2" up on the right side, just outside the border. Now mounted in hinged window mat.
Object ID
P.77.31.02
Place of Origin
Lancaster County
Role
Artist
Credit
Acquired through the generosity of the James Hale Steinman Foundation, Heritage Center Collection
Pen & ink drawing (over pencil sketch) of log house. The house has a single brick chimney (with smoke emerging) and a Dutch door with the top half open. There is a wooden plank porch w/ a long bench extending the length of the house front.and a gated wooden fence extending from the left front corner of the house. NOT FOUND IN BOX 0066, July 2023
The left side of the house has a shelf with various pots and bottles on it. Harness hangs on wall near right corner. Fencing encircles entire yard & garden at left and behind house. Additional large building partially seen behind house appears to be a barn with vertical board siding.
A woodpile with an axe in front of the fence, and a man with a cane watching a small child playing w/ dog on the path leading to the gate.
The drawing is black and white, but there is a light brown border around it.
The caption in the upper left corner reads '"PINE-FARM"/LANCASTER CO. PA./ Home-stead of/ Christian Stauffer/ 1847'
Christian Stauffer was a kinsman of David McNeely Stauffer, the artist.
J.W.W. Loose, The Heritage of Lancaster, pp.74-75.
Height (cm)
18.0975
Height (ft)
0.59375
Height (in)
7.125
Width (cm)
22.5425
Width (ft)
0.7395833333
Width (in)
8.875
Dimension Details
Hinged within a window mat..
Condition
Good
Condition Date
2017-06-28
Condition Notes
Some brown marks along the top edge. There is a brown stain or mark on the bottom center of the drawing, in the path about halfway between the gate and the dog.
The paper was previously attached to another backing, as there are pieces of the backing and glue stains along the edges of the reverse.
The piece is currently mounted in hinged window matting.
Object ID
P.77.31.09
Place of Origin
Lancaster County
Role
Artist
Credit
Acquired through the generosity of the James Hale Steinman Foundation, Heritage Center Collection
Watercolor painting of a square-shaped 3-tiered wooden washstand. A tall ceramic pitcher with blue scenes painted on it is set in a circular area on the lowest level. Mid-level there is a small drawer with a metal hinged-handle. On the shelf there appears to be a piece of plain paper. The top shelf is a white insert with a white ceramic ewer decorated with blue painted mountains in its interior. This nightstand stands next to a wall with white wooden panels on the lower portion and wall above decorated with gray leafed fronds. There is a portion of a green throw rug with a red border on the floor (lower left corner of drawing).
There are brown marks in the paneling behind the washstand. There are the remain of a previous backing on the corners and side of the reverse which have partially bled through the upper right corner.
The piece is currently float-mounted in hinged window matting.
Object ID
P.77.31.37
Place of Origin
Lancaster County
Role
Artist
Credit
Acquired through the generosity of the James Hale Steinman Foundation, Heritage Center Collection
Ink drawing on paper, depicting a frame house in a rural area with a tall chimney and wooden fence. The caption at the bottom reads: "Old Frame House--/at turn in Lititz Pike--/edge of Lancaster Pa." (written by Scott Sagar)
There is a significant 1/2-inch tear in the upper left corner. Other small tears appear in the center top edge; the lower right corner (about 1 inch up from bottom); and the bottom edge (about 2 inches from the right).There are remains of a previous backing on the corners of the reverse.
The piece is currently float-mounted in hinged window matting.
Object ID
P.77.31.63
Place of Origin
Lancaster County
Role
Artist
Credit
Acquired through the generosity of the James Hale Steinman Foundation, Heritage Center Collection
Ink drawing on paper-board of the Donegal Meeting house, a small one-story building with barn-like roof and twin doors as well as a walled cemetery and numerous trees in the background. There are several people shown and a few horses.
A small caption at bottom right reads "Drawn + printed by D. (?) Stauffer, Mt. Joy.", and a larger caption at bottom center reads "DONEGAL CHURCH."
This is the Donegal Presbyterian Church at Donegal Springs, built about 1740.
The same building is depicted in P. 77.31.30. (Written by Scott Sagar.)
Pen and ink with watercolor depicting an unidentified interior wall of a room without furnishings.
Most wall surface covered with paneled woodwork, including an off-center fireplace with mantel and ceiling-high surround, two flanking cupboards with mid-section double drawers and decorative keystone at top, also floor to ceiling. At left is a paneled door. Entire was length has paneled wainscot. Wallpapered walls. Strong cornice at ceiling includes dentil molding.
The fireplace, wallpaper, border, and highlights are watercolor, the rest is pen and ink.
Some widely spaced buckling along the top edge. There are blue stains from a previous backing on the corners and edges of the reverse, and these have partially bled through to the front.
The piece is currently float-mounted in hinged window matting.
Object ID
P.77.31.35
Place of Origin
Lancaster County
Role
Artist
Credit
Acquired through the generosity of the James Hale Steinman Foundation, Heritage Center Collection
Birth & baptismal certificate on laid paper. Printed form with central textblock in German within a multiple line border. Infilled and decorated around textblock by Speyer; cross-legged angel at top, pelicans feeding young at sides and flowers at sides and bottom. Watercolors are red, blue, yellow, green and brown.
Infilled for Johannes, son of Valiendein (Valentine) and Eliesabetha (Elisabetha) Bohmer of Brecknock Township in Lancaster Co., born Dec. 13, 1788.
Georg Friederich Speyer (active 1774-1801) used this printed form produced c. 1789 by Barton & Johnson of Reading. See Notes.
General wear with numerous creases and wrinkles; one pronounced vertical centerline crease. Repaired tears, esp at left edge. All edges are ragged and uneven, esp. at right.
Conserved by CCAHA in 1989 (see report in file). Hinged into window mat & back mat. Relaced in its original frame using UF-3 Plexiglas and acid-free cardboard on reverse with a taped mylar dust shield.
Object ID
G.77.50.1
Notes
Printed form by Reading printers Thomas Barton and Benjamin Johnson, circa 1789 (see Klaus Stopp, The Printed Birth & Baptismal Certificates of the Pa. Germans, v. 4, p. 84). Speyer used this printed form for Johannes Bohmer who was born the previous year in1788.
Place of Origin
Lancaster County
Role
Artist
Credit
Gift of Mr. & Mrs. Richard Flanders Smith, Heritage Center Collection
Crazy quilt made by Veretta (Ettie) Lucinda Neel. Crazy quilt blocks are on point and made of pieced and appliqued silks, satins and velvets.Decorated with a variety of cotton, silk and chenille embroidery stitches; tied, not quilted. Contains portions of neckties, hatbands, wedding gowns and other family fabrics."V.L.Neel" is embroidered on center block. Finished with a 4"-wide border. Cotton batting. Back is a silk print of silver bells.
Embroidered initials on quilt are SC (or LC), RM, EK, JMP, L(or S)and R. The date 1885 appears twice as well as a music staff, $, pierced heart, five hand-held fans, two painted swallows, owls, boots, hummingbird, stag's head, butterfly, flowers, anchor, etc.
Provenance
Maker to nephew Thomas Ross Neel to daughter and donor, Marianna Neel Akerman.
Maker was an unmarried woman of Scots-Irish descent and Presbyterian. She made this quilt for her hope chest at age 31, but never married. Donor recalls her great-aunt saying she was "unlucky in love" and pointing out the appliqued heart pierced with a downward-pointing arrow as representative of her broken heart. Ettie's sweetheart chose another for his wife (see label from 1990 exhibit). Ettie lived with her parents, Thomas Ross Neel and Verlinda Stubbs Neel (Fulton Twp.), and after their deaths she lived with the family of her sister, Belvidera Neel Carter (Mrs. Samuel Carter) in Christiana.
Maker kept in storage, in unused condition. Two pieces of the same fabric in the center block are shredded and another light colored fabric, used several times, has some staining.
Object ID
G.03.14.01
Place of Origin
Lancaster County
Role
Quiltmaker
Credit
Gift of Marianna N. Akerman, Heritage Center Collection
Crazy quilt with nine blocks of crazy quilt patches of silks, satins, etc.. Of significance is a ribbon in upper middle block reading: "1854. / Chestnut Hill / ACADEMY / Reunion / 1876." Extensive decorative embroidery on seams as well as some extending into center of patches. Some ribbons are appliqued with decorative embroidery stitches only. Two blue ribbon bows also applied. Eight-inch-wide border of red velvet with mitered corners is a replacement as well as red satin floral weave back. This same red satin is used as a very thin edging around crazy quilt blocks. Binding also formed by backing brought forward.
Quilt made by donor's grandmother Harriet E. L. Alexander who was born in Cecil County, MD. and lived in Rock Spring, MD. Her parents were Robert Levis and Amanda Mullin; father operated a paper mill at Walnut Hill, Md. She apparently attended Chestnut Hill Academy in Colerain Twp, in early 1860s(?). She then met her future husband, Vincent King Alexander, while both were attending Millersville Normal School.
Maker's daughter May Jackson reportedly replaced the border and back. Thus, only the 9 blocks are original. See NOTES
Trish Herr believes the quilt has a Quaker look to it, especially due to its wide borders.
Southern Lancaster Co.
Provenance
Maker to daughter May C.A. Jackson (1875-1903) who "refurbished" quilt before giving to her daughter Helen Jackson (1912- ? , married 3 times) according to Anna S. Alexander (donor's sister-in-law). Helen gave quilt to her cousin John S. Alexander (donor).
Note in file indicates backing was replaced c. 1960.
Scattered deteriorating patches. Most have shredding or splitting. One in middle block of top row is brittle and broken with extensive losses. See condition report in file. Border and back have been replaced.
Object ID
G.96.22.1
Notes
Ribbon pertains most likely to the Chestnut Hill Seminary of Andrews Bridge, Colerain Twp., 1854-1877, run by Thomas Baker. The 1854 initial year of operation matches the date on the ribbon. Biographical Annals has a bio of Baker pp. 497-97, noting his teaching and surveying professions. A Bio of Hon. Marriott Brosius (1843-1901), p. 17, states his early education was in the "Octoraro and Chestnut Hill Academies under the tutorage of the veteran teacher, Thomas Baker..."
Place of Origin
Lancaster County
Role
Quiltmaker
Credit
Gift of John S. Alexander, Heritage Center Collection
