The Speaker's House

The Speaker's House is a museum located in Trappe, in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania that preserves the home of Frederick Muhlenberg, the First and Third Speaker of the United States House of Representatives.

History

1717–1781

The first settlers of Trappe were German immigrants John Jacob Schrack (1679–1742) and his wife Eva Rosina Lang Schrack (1688–1756), who settled there in 1717. The Schracks had seven children: John Joseph, twins Maria Sabina and Anna Maria, Christian, Philip, Elizabeth, and John Jacob Jr. John Jacob Schrack Sr. was a valuable member of the local community and Lutheran church. He operated a tavern known formally as the Sign of Three Crowns but popularly as "the Trap", after which the town was named. In 1742, Henry Melchior Muhlenberg, a Lutheran pastor, arrived in Trappe. The Schrack's oldest son, Joseph, ran the family tavern after his father's death in 1742. Joseph married a woman named Silence, who was from New England (1712–1777). They had two boys and five girls. In 1763, they constructed the house later bought by Frederick Muhlenberg, now known as The Speaker's House. After Joseph's death in 1772, Silence Schrack sold the house to James Diemer for £725.^[1]

James Diemer married Elizabeth Currie on December 5, 1759, at Gloria Dei Church in Philadelphia. He may be the same James Diemer (d. 1820) of Reading who was active in public service, as a justice of the peace and later a judge (from 1791 to 1819). Diemer sold the property on 6 November 1775 to Michael Connor, a merchant of Philadelphia, for £905. Connor was married on 9 January 1774 to Mary Cottringer or Gatringer. Connor and his wife evidently lived in the house, as Henry Muhlenberg described the Connors as his neighbors. The Connors sold the house on March 1, 1777, to merchant John Patton (1745–1804) for £1,500 only six days before his marriage to Jane Davis (1752–1832). Connor was an Irish immigrant who arrived in America in 1745. In March 1776, he joined the Continental Army as a Major in the 9th Pennsylvania Regiment; the following year he was promoted to colonel. The Connors did reside in the house, as a letter written by Peter Muhlenberg in 1799 describes the home now known as The Speaker's House as "the house below him where Col. Patton had lived." John and Jane Patton had eleven or twelve children; Benjamin, the oldest, may have been born while they lived in Trappe. Patton sold the house in September 1778 to Isaac Connely (1747–1823) for £2350. Only 22 days later, Connely it to innkeeper John Reed (1723–1790) and his wife Dorothy. Henry Melchior Muhlenberg refers to Reed as "Neighbor Reed" and purchased goods from him such as firewood, beef, veal, pork, salt, rye and oats. In May 1781, Reed offered to rent out "2 large rooms in his big house, half of the cellar, adequate firewood, and fodder for his horse at 20 pounds silver money a year." In December of 1781, he sold the house and property to Frederick Muhlenberg.^{[2] [2]}

Frederick Augustus Conrad Muhlenberg (1781–1791)

Born in Trappe on January 1, 1750, Frederick Muhlenberg died on June 4, 1801. He was one of eleven children born to Henry Melchior Muhlenberg (1711-1787) and his wife Anna Maria Weiser (1727-1802). His father was head of the German Lutheran Church in America from 1742 until his death in 1787. Frederick was educated in Germany and ordained a Lutheran minister on his return in 1770. The following year, he married Catharine Schaeffer (1750-1835). They had seven children: Henry William, Maria, Elisabeth, Margaret, Ann Catherine, Frederick, and John Peter David. For several years Frederick served Lutheran congregations in the Tulpehocken Valley of Berks and Lebanon counties. In 1773, he accepted a call to minister to the Christ or Swamp Church in New York. As signs of revolution began to emerge, Frederick and his family left New York in 1776 and returned to Pennsylvania, where they stayed briefly with his parents in Trappe before moving to the nearby town of New Hanover for several years.^[3]

In 1779, Frederick left the ministry to enter politics and became a member of the Continental Congress to fulfill the term of Edward Biddle. The following year, he was elected Speaker of the Pennsylvania Assembly. On December 19, 1781, Frederick purchased a stone house and sizable property in Trappe for £800. Located next to the property owned by his parents, it would provide support for Frederick's wife and children during the long absences necessitated by his new career. Half of the money for the purchase was provided by Frederick's business partner, Christopher Wegman, whom he repaid in 1785. Frederick's political career continued to rise during the 1780s. He was re-elected to the Pennsylvania Assembly in 1781 and 1782. In 1783 he was chosen to be President of the Council of Censors for Philadelphia County. When Montgomery County was established in September 1784, he was appointed the first Register of Wills and Recorder of Deeds. His Trappe home came to serve as both a private residence and de facto seat of government, as there was not yet an official courthouse. Frederick also operated a general store on the property, which sold goods such as sugar, tea, coffee, tobacco, fabric, sewing supplies, and ready-made clothing. When his father-in-law David Schaeffer Sr. died in 1787, Frederick and his wife inherited a part-ownership of a sugar refinery in Philadelphia. Frederick bought out the other owners and formed a partnership with Jacob Lawersyler which lasted until 1800.^[4]

In 1787, Frederick served as president of the Pennsylvania Constitutional Convention. A highlight of Frederick's political career was his election in 1788 to the House of Representatives in the First United States Congress. When the Congress convened the following spring, he was elected the first Speaker of the House, a role which required a significant amount of entertaining and thus merited a salary twice that of other congressmen. While Speaker, Frederick Muhlenberg was the first Signer of the Bill of Rights. After the federal government relocated from New York to Philadelphia in 1790, Frederick sold the Trappe property and moved to Philadelphia. During this period he became a Trustee of the University of Pennsylvania, which at that point in history was still under the name of the University of the State of Pennsylvania. This appointment lasted from 1779 until 1786. He was Speaker of the Pennsylvania Assembly from 1780 to 1783 as well as being an ex-officio trustee during some other years, though historical documents aren't specific as to when. The last moment of his career at this stage was in December 1790 when he was chosen as the president of the German Society of Pennsylvania. His term went until the year 1797.^[5]

Now residing in Philadelphia, Frederick's political life continued to go very well. During the 1790s the following happened for Frederick. He was chosen to be in the Second United States Congress during 1791; the Third in 1793, when he was again elected Speaker of the House of Representatives; and the Fourth in 1795. During the Fourth Congress, Muhlenberg became the chairman of the Committee to the Whole and was in charge and watched over the debate regarding an appropriation to support the provisions of the Jay Treaty with Great Britain. The Federalists supported this agreement, however the Jeffersonians were against it. As chairman, Muhlenberg was vital in giving the vote that decided for the appropriated funds. According to historical records, he apparently regretted it and went with the Jeffersonians on the issue instead. It was obvious that how he had decided to vote was so unpopular with the different constituents, that he actually drove his own brother-in-law, Bernhard Schaeffer, to stab him because he was so upset/^[5]

Frederick Muhlenberg decided that it was for the best not to run again, and so he didn't try for a position in the Fifth Congress. During the year of 1800, Governor Thomas McKean appointed him Receiver General of the Pennsylvania Land Office. Because of this appointment Frederick and his family left their residence and went to Lancaster as that was where the seat of state government was located. It was in this spot, that as history shows, Frederick Muhlenberg died from a stroke on the fourth of June 1801.^[5]

After Frederick Muhlenberg

After living in the home for ten years, Frederick Muhlenberg sold the property in 1791 to his sister and brother-in-law, Mary and Francis Swaine. It is possible that the Swaines resided in the house prior to buying it. The Swaines had four children, who all died during the 1790s; three are buried at Augustus Lutheran Church.^[5]

According to the 1798 Federal Direct Tax, the house was assessed at 800 dollars and the property at 1,380 dollars. The two story 30 by 25-foot (7.6 m) stone dwelling had a total square footage of 1,500. Four outbuildings were assessed, including a stone kitchen 20 feet (6.1 m) by 15 feet (4.6 m), a stone store room, also 20 feet (6.1 m) by 15 feet (4.6 m), and a stone store, 20 feet (6.1 m) by 30 feet (9.1 m). The stone barn was 30 feet (9.1 m) by 40 feet (12 m).^[6]

In January 1799, Peter Muhlenberg wrote a letter to Taverner Beale in which he noted that he still resided in the same house (previously of his father, Henry Melchior Muhlenberg), and that Mr. Swaine lived in the first house below him where Col. Patton lived. He also noted that Swaine managed a store and was a magistrate.^[6]

The Swaines advertised the house for sale on November 24, 1803. It was bought by Charles Albrecht of Philadelphia. The sale included 3 tracts of land: the 50-acre (200,000 m²) and the 5³⁄₄ quarter acre tracts Swaine had purchased from Muhlenberg, and the 11 acres (45,000 m²) and 9 perches purched from Magargel (on the 1803 deed the Magargel tract was measured at 10 acres 89 perches).^[6]

The 19th century

Early 19th century

The first man to next be in possession of Frederick Muhlenberg's house at the start of the 19th century was Charles Albrecht. Charles Albrecht was born in either 1759 or 1760 and lived until 1848. According to the house deed, Albrecht was a musical instrument maker. He was one of the first in America to manufacture pianos. Charles Albrecht was born in Germany and spent nearly 30 years living there before he decided to move to the city of Philadelphia in 1787. He married the widow Maria Fuchs (later anglicized to Mary Fox). Charles Albrecht became an American citizen on February 15, 1798.^[6] He took up his residency in the home that he acquired from the Swaine family, Frederick Muhlenberg's home. This information is authenticated by his absence in the Philadelphia directories from 1805 through 1808, coinciding with his ownership of the property in Trappe. The tax records also note his occupation as an instrument maker.^[6]

The historical records tell us that Muhlenberg's home also functioned for them as a store. Charles and Mary continued to stay in the home until April 1, 1808. On that date, they put the house of 66 acres (270,000 m²), 49 perches up onto the market. It was bought by Abraham Gotwals, Esquire, who resided in Upper Providence Township, for $1,750.^[7]

Abraham Gotwals (1764-19th century) was born to John Adam Gotwals (1719–1795), also from Germany. When he was 20 years old in 1739, he decided to move to Pennsylvania using the ship Samuel. Later in 1785, he wed Magdalena Detweiler (1764–1830). Abraham and Magdelena were from Montgomery County. They had a total of 12 children. According to records available the family appears in the Upper Providence roll in the 1810 United States Census with a household of eleven people: three under ten, three between ten and fifteen, and three between sixteen and twenty five, in addition to the two parents who were then both forty six.^[7]

On April 29, 1811, Abraham and Magdalena put the property up for sale. It was bought by Sarah Bartleson for $5,600. Apparently, Abraham and his family hadn't lived in Trappe for a while, as according to the deed, he lived in Perkiomen.^[7]

The husband of Sarah Bartleson who bought the house was Dr. William Johnson (1785–1831), the son of Henry Johnson (1764–1811). The records show that on June 11, 1811, Dr. William Johnson wed Sarah Bartleson (1790–1838). Their wedding occurred 43 days after she had bought the property, but it was just before her father died on May 23. According to records, when Sarah bought the farm, according to the deed, the $5,600 was paid for by Israel Bartleson. In 1820, the household consisted of William and Sarah, the three children, all then under 10 years old, and one male aged between 16 and 26 years old, probably a farm hand. 10 years afterwards, according to the records, there was one male between ten and fifteen (son William), one male between 40 and 50 (Dr. Johnson), one male between 50 and 60 (identity unknown), one female between 10 and 15 (daughter Sarah), one female between 15 and 20 (daughter Mary), two females between 40 and 50 (Sarah, and an unknown woman) and one female between 60 and 70 (identity unknown).^[8]

A man named David Williams came to stay in some part of Frederick Muhlenberg's home and paid rent to Sarah Johnson at the time that she died, because according to records he who owed Sarah Johnson rent. According to historical documents this was at the same house from David Williams' appearance in the 1840 United States Census, who had been the next door neighbor of Dr. William Johnson in the 1840 census.^[8]

From what stories that are found in historical records illustrate to us "Henry A. Hunsicker remembered a one story wing attached to the east side of the house, fronting the turnpike, which was used for store purposes, and which was at one time occupied by Felty Fitzgerald, who sold watermelons and trucks." While we don't know because of gaps in the records, we think that Sarah Johnson may have decided to rent out the store to others after her husband died. While again we don't know because of gaps in records, it is likely that the store in Frederick Muhlenberg's house was being occupied by Dr. Johnson who used it as an office while he was practicing as a doctor in the area.^[8]

Valentine Fitzgerald (born 1795) was given the nickname of "Felty". At an unknown point, he was wed to a woman named Magdalena. During their marriage, they had four children. They were Valentine, Sophia, David, and an unnamed child who was born on August 31, 1827, but who died two weeks afterwards. Their three youngest children received their baptisms within Augustus Lutheran Church that was in the Trappe. In 1820, his household consisted of himself, his wife (between 16 and 26), an unknown female over the age of 45, and two children, a boy and a girl, both under 10. In 1830, the household consisted of himself, a female between 20 and 30, and two boys, one between 5 and 10, and one between 10 and 15. In 1860, when Valentine was 65 years old, he decided to stay and eventually to board with the family of Jacob Markley. At that point, during the day, he was employed as a laborer.^[8]

In 1831, Dr. William Johnson died. On that date, his widow was given the ability to claim about $88 in household goods, with the remaining $221 in possessions, which included furniture as well as surgical instruments, medical books and a "Shower Bath," being sold to satisfy creditors. According to historical records, at the time that their daughter Sarah died 10 years late when she was 25, she owned the following; piano, furniture, silverware, jewelry and other items valued at $595, in addition to a dower fund.^[9]

Israel Bartleson had purchased the farm in 1811. Although Sarah Johnson had left her grandmother the farm, she did on July 4, 1840 put it in her will, which took place five months later, on December 18, 1840, she sold 36 acres (150,000 m²) and 53 perches, which included the Frederick Muhlenberg House, to her uncle Wright Bringhurst.^[9]

When it came to deciding how the estate should be split, Wright Bringhurst decided to split Frederick Muhlenberg's home into two equal tracts. The tract of 16 acres (65,000 m²) and 52 perches containing the house was put on the market on December 27, 1841. It was bought by his uncle Enos Lewis, who was the brother of his mother Mary Lewis Bringhurst. The other tract of 16 acres (65,000 m²) and 106¹⁄₂ perches was then put on the market on February 24, 1845. It was bought by George Hagy.^[10]

According to records, Enos Lewis was wed Margaret Dewees, who never had children. In order to complete his transaction fully, Enos Lewis bought the other portion of the Frederick Muhlenberg farm that Wright Bringhurst had subdivided, from George Hagy, reuniting the farm in March 1849. Five years later in 1850, Enos who was 68 years old at the time, and his Margaret who was 50 years old at that time, were still residing within Frederick Muhlenberg's home, along with three other people. According to records they were Ann Hess, aged 17; Susanna Clemmens, a mulatto girl aged 12; and Joshua Davis, a black laborer aged 40. Enos and Margaret Lewis ended their stay in the house on April 2, 1855 when they put both tracts of land up for sale. It was purchased by Samuel Townsend who came from the city of Philadelphia. The Lewises then constructed a home for themselves which was located on the corner lot east of Bringhurst's Manion, fronting the Reading Turnpike. They apparently put the farm up on the market.^[10]

Late 19th century

Samuel Townsend (1817–1860) was 38 when he acquired property. He purchased it from the Lewis', the Hagys', and the Clemens'. The acquisitions not mentioned but which did occur included: an unspecified tract from Eleanor Shupe on April 2; 5 tracts totaling 49 acres (200,000 m²) from John Heneks on April 3; 81 acres (330,000 m²) from John Todd on April 19; 160 acres (0.65 km²) from Abraham Hunsicker on April 27; and 57 acres (230,000 m²) from Edward Evans and D. Morgan Casselberry.^[11]

During either 1854 or 1855, Thomas, Samuel's brother came to the property in Montgomery County so that he could labor there. The time Samuel and Thomas spent together was not always peaceful before Thomas decided to leave the property—records show that Thomas had refused to leave the farm unless Samuel would secure him according to promises made to him prior to this. Thomas had nothing to live on excepting three ground rents.^[12]

After Samuel Townsend, the house moved rapidly from owner to owner. After he was divorced from his first wife and then remarried, Samuel lived most of his life in the Trappe area. While he was there he resided in a property east of the Frederick Muhlenberg House purchased at auction on February 15, 1864 by James Hamer, M.D., for $10,532.80. In March 1860, the property was put on the market. It was then purchased by Henry Shuler.^[13]

Henry Shuler (1817–1864) acquired the home on March 17, and moved his family into it. After spending four years there, Henry died on May 3, 1864. His family went into disarray without its breadwinner. According to the census of 1870, six years afterwards, Elizabeth Shuler, the mother of Henry had already started boarding with another Trappe family. Also at this time, Maria, Henry's wife was renting a home elsewhere. We also know from historical records available, that she owned no real estate, though her personal property was valued at $5,100. The increase in the family's personal property most likely resulted from the sale of the Frederick Muhlneberg House. The property was put on the market by the Montgomery County Orphan's Court. It was later purchased on September 20 of 1867 by a Dr. Lewis Royer.^[14]

When Lewis Royer acquired the home, he had already been residing in it. After he bought it, he set about remaking it so that when he was finished it was very different from the 18th-century farmhouse property that it had once been. According to records available now, he added the rear section, transformed the front and center sections into a Second Empire residence, demolished the store on the east side of the front section, possibly demolished a wing on the west side, and built the one-story addition on the west side as a doctor's office on the foundations of an earlier wing. His stay in the now remade property ended on April 10, 1884, when Royer put the property except for four small lots totaling a little over 2 acres (8,100 m²) that had already been put on the market and bought by Aaron D. Wagner, onto the housing market. In 1890, he decided to repurchase the home which then made up of 30 acres 40 perches, and remained in possession of it until the end of the 19th century.^[15]

The first person of the 20th century to buy the home was Andrew Heyser Detwiler. He was born in 1863 and lived until 1933. When he bought the home from Lewis Royer's estate on March 31 of 1908, it was totaling 29 acres (120,000 m²) and 92 and 22/100 perches. He kept the property for roughly 15 years, and then in October 1924, he put the property up on the market.^[16]

Brothers Henry W. and Percy W. Mathieu then bought the home on October 2, 1924 from Andrew Heyser Detwiler. However, they put the home on the market barely four weeks afterwards, on October 28, 1924. On October 28, the home and 10.77 acres (43,600 m²) was bought by Ursinus College which would use it, on and off, many times, throughout the 20th century.^[17]

Ursinus College (1924–1944)

In 1924 Ursinus College bought the property and 10 acres (40,000 m²) to alleviate a campus housing shortage. The house was renamed "Highland Hall". It was positioned on a slightly elevated hill along Main Street, and it was estimated that it would take about 8 minutes to walk there from the main campus. The records show that it was used for student housing before Ursinus purchased it—the 1924-25 college catalog described it as a dormitory for men that provided every comfort and convenience and which accommodated 28 students. At that time, Dertwiler would still have controlled it.^[17]

In order to make the house fit the standards for an Ursinus dormitory, renovations were made in order for it to hold 26 to 28 freshmen boys, and quarters for a houseman and caretaker. A new 100-foot (30 m) artesian well was drilled and fitted with a pump, additional bathing and toilet facilities were installed, and clothes closets were constructed in several rooms. And lately, a new Freed Heater was also installed to supply steam heat.^[17]

As of the 1925 academic year, in the fall, the home was Ursinus College's Athletic Club. Thus it functioned both as a dorm and as a training club for the male varsity players. It was also during its time as the Athletic Club, which lasted for six years, that the house had its highest profile while it was in Ursinus' possession. In 1929, it was chosen by the annual football banquet as its site in December of that year. Its time as an Athletic Club ended by the 1930 to 1931 academic year. In 1930, Ursinus' began to bring athletics back to the main campus area, and according to the Ursinus College Bulletin, it noted that the Athletic Club property in Trappe couldn't be run to meet expenses, and in the fall of 1931, athletes were once again living on the main campus.^[17]

The dormitory was then transformed back into a private residence for Russell Conwell Johnson (1894–1950). He was at that time the first athletic director for Ursinus College. He resided in the home with his family. This included his wife Mary Siez and son Donald. Russell "Jing" Johnson was an Ursinus alumnus, an honors graduate in chemistry with the class of 1916, and was also a star of the baseball team. According to historical records, the Johnson family resided in the house from roughly 1931 to 1937, although it seems that Russell Johnson did carry on being a coach for Ursinus College through till 1941. After that, records indicate that he became involved in the war and ended up becoming a trained officer at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. He died in 1950.^[18]

According to records available, when the home was in Ursinus College's possession as a dormitory in 1932, the college valued Highland Hall at $22,294.05. The barn had been demolished, this probably explains why the outbuildings had depreciated to a value of $13,363.63. Faced once again with the problem of more students than dormitory beds, Ursinus College pressed Highland Hall into service for student housing for the 1937–1938 school year.^[19] In 1932, Ursinus said that although seventeen men were residing in Highland Hall, it was going to put the house on the market. This was because it was very old, it was too far away from the main campus, and the cost to keep it going was hurting Ursinus financially. In 1933, Ursinus while keeping it as a dorm for male students, made major renovations to it. Among them were that the front porch and a portion of the side porch were completely removed and were replaced with a flagstone terrace, and a cornice was erected around two sides of the building at the 2nd floor level, which harmonized with the third story mansard effect. The one story frame addition at the rear of the building was removed and appropriate architectural treatments of both the front and rear entrances were provided. The interior was completely renovated during the summer, all the old wallpaper was moved, the walls and ceilings were covered with a light enamel paint, and the woodwork and floors were repaired and repainted. Highland hall was soon one of the best looking of all the male housing dormitories on campus.^[19]

By 1942, Ursinus was using the house again. During that summer, the residence was transformed into a women's residence hall. In order to make women students want to stay there, the tuition and board bill was $50 less than the regular fee for women. The dormitory underwent necessary painting, papering and repair and could accommodate seventeen girls. This project was in the end a bust. The doors closed on July 13, 1944. Ursinus put the house up for sale because of its remoteness from the campus. It was bought then by Andrew and Myrtle Rihl. Prior to that, the college had put the 7 acres (28,000 m²) on the market. This had been purchased by the Collegeville-Trappe School District for erection of a new high school in 1938. The acreage that the Rihls had purchased amounted to 2.826 acres (11,440 m²).^[19]

Andrew Hoover Rihl, bought the home with Myrtle, his wife. For nearly his entire career he was a salesman and inspector for the Keystone Blue Paper Co., a leader in the development of the process of blueprinting.^[19]

1950-21st century

On July 6, 1950, the home was purchased by Henry L. Haas (1908-1894) along with 1.9819 acres (8,020 m²). He had purchased the property with his first wife at the time, Anna, who died shortly afterwards. He then later wed. Henry and his wife lived in every part of the home for many years. By the 1960s, they had converted the second and third floors to rental apartments, and they came to only reside on the first floor of the house.^[20]

21st century and the creation of Save the Speaker's House

In 1991, a national drugstore chain expressed interest in Frederick Muhlenberg's house and acreage. They hoped to get rid of the property in order for them to build a business store there, mostly likely a drugstore. The community didn't want this historical landmark to be destroyed and so they gathered together to save the house. As a result of this movement, Save the Speaker's House, Inc was created. The organization was incorporated as a 501(c)3 non-profit in September 2001 and purchased the property on April 1, 2004. In 2005, Save the Speaker's House, Inc. obtained a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services that provided the group with funds for researching the property and operating the organization.^[21]

In order to give the public a good history of Frederick Muhlenberg's house, Save the Speaker's Housein the last few months of 2005, hired the nationally renowned historic preservation firm Watson & Henry Associates of Bridgeton, N.J. to prepare a Historic Structure Report (HSR) on the Frederick Muhlenberg House. The purpose of the HSR was to document the house and make recommendations for its preservation and restoration. This was the first step taken in an effort to bring the property back to its former glory, through rebuilding and refurnishing it. The Historic Structure Report included a study of the house's construction and modifications over time, as well as an assessment of the building's structural, mechanical, plumbing, electrical, and HVAC systmes. Scientific analysis of paint, wood, plaster, and mortar samples was used to help with the study. The report would provide recommendations for restoration and ongoing preservation of the house with the goal of operating it as a historic house museum interpreting Frederick Muhlenberg's political accomplishments and family life.^[22]

Ursinus College has helped to Save the Speaker's House. One of the fraternities, Sigma Pi, undertook a fall clean-up project, organized by the fraternity's social chair, Stever Ordog. The men removed trash and debris from the garage, did general yard clean-up, and removed modern cabinets and appliances from the house to allow architectural teams to continue their investigations. In the previous spring, about two dozen fraternity members spent an afternoon cleaning trash and debris out of the house.^[22] Starting in 2006, Save the Speaker's House started having archeological work done on the property surrounding the house. Early work done in May 2006 by the Millbrook Society, a Hatboro-based non-profit organization did much of the work. They brought in teams that were able to excavate a total of nine test pits which were chosen on the basis of being within areas that had previously seen great success in terms of high artifact deposits. The first survey conducted showed that in that area there were over 1,200 artifacts and located the remains of a former cellar entrance, bake oven foundation, and a stone-lined well. One of the most important finds discovered there were fragments of a white salt-glzed stoneware dinner plate which was manufactured in Great Britain from the 1760s until the 1780s. This kind of ceramic dish would most likely have been a popular one during that period and would have always been on Frederick Muhlenberg's table during meal times. Save the Speaker's House aims to find and document the foundations of missing outbuildings. It is hoped by this process that ultimately the public can learn a great deal about Frederick Muhlenberg family's household.

In 2006, the house and its acreage became the first in the Borough of Trappe to be registered as an official state archaeological site.^[23] Kise, Straw and Kolodner of Philadelphia did another archaeological survey of the site that unvcovered the remains of a general store to the east of the house.^[24]

During 2006 Save the Speaker's House Inc. paid off its mortgage with a grant from the Montgomery County Green Fields/Green Towns Open Space Program. The house and its acreage are now placed under a conservation easement to ensure that it be permanently preserved as open space.^[21]

Since opening, Save the Speaker's House has received many groups of volunteers who aided them in doing research in the past and who are continuing to research the history of the Frederick Muhlenberg property and its owners by means of newspapers, diaries, tax and estate records, maps, photographs, deeds, and family correspondence.^[25]

During the fall of 2007, Save the Speaker's House started having a tree-ring analysis, or dendrochronology occurring around the property. The specimens that were taken were sent to the Tree Ring Laboratory at Columbia University, where they were carefully examined to compare them with known dated samples. The study showed that the wood that came from the trees that constructed the home were cut from 1763 to 1764, and that the home would have been ready to live in mostly likely as late as in 1764. This was surprising to historians and Save the Speaker's House, as it was thought for some time that the cabin was constructed in 1745 by Johannes Ried (John Reed). The report issued thus shows that it might have instead been constructed by John Joseph Shrack who owned the property until 1772.^[26]

The mission of The Speaker's House is to inspire leadership and civic engagement by bringing to life the home and legacy of Frederick Muhlenberg, first Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Since 2008 Save the Speaker's House, Inc. officially became The Speaker's House. This was done to show that the estate could no longer be destroyed through demolition or commercial development. A descendent of Frederick Muhlenberg gave a portrait of the man to The Speaker's House. This portrait is a 19th-century copy of an original portrait painted in 1790 by Joseph Wright, now owned by the National Portrait Gallery. The portrait is in the possession of Ursinus College and it will soon be put up in its Myrin Library. The portrait will be included in a project to commemorate the upcoming 100th anniversary of the 1910 Muhlenberg Album, a book which includes photographs of family heirlooms.^[27] The Historic Structure Report that was started earlier, has now been completed on the home in December 2007. It has thorough documentation of the house's complex history and change over time, and an analysis of its existing conditions.^[28] With the help of the former State Representative Raymond Bunt, Jr., The Speaker's House was given a grant of $15,000 by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development to help fund restoration work on the house. The grant will be used to remove the stucco from the facade of the building, which was applied sometime after 1925, and repair and repoint the masonry. The pent roofs, constructed by Ursinus College when the house was being remodeled for a dormitory, will also be removed. When the stucco is removed, visitors will be able to see the masonry once more.^[29] On April 12, 2008, a Pennsylvania Historical Marker was placed on the site of Frederick Muhlenberg's house to celebrate the life and accomplishments of Frederick Muhlenberg while he lived at 151 W. Main Street in the Trappe area.^[30]

The history of Frederick Muhlenberg's house and the activities of the Speaker's House have been covered in The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Mercury, and the Valley Item.

References

External links

• The official website of The Speaker's House

Coordinates: 40°11′44″N 75°28′05″W / 40.195547°N 75.467996°W / 40.195547; -75.467996