Rippling

With the exception of a few of the ironmaster's homes, the older homes scattered throughout our community are uniquely of Pennsylvania German construction with its distinctive size, proportions and durability. The house known as "Rippling Glen", pictured at left, is found along Forgedale Road.

The original log shelters gave way to the thick stone-walled houses with roofs having a definite overhang, usually with "backwash" eaves at the gable ends.

Early homes had the large, central "walk-in" fireplace in the interior for the warmth it provided to the surrounding rooms. Later construction built the chimneys on exterior walls after the introduction of iron plate stoves made efficient heat. The development of stovepipes meant greater flexibility in placement of stoves.

The common appearance of the area's stone homes was a plastered and whitewashed exterior, though today's residents are uncovering the beauty of the fieldstone walls by removing the stucco.

The original plastering prevented the soft, sandy original mortar from being washed out by the weather. Until portland cement was introduced mortar did not have the hardened quality we take for granted.

Whitewash was readily available and easily applied. The linseed oil produced in the area made paint available for the windows, shutters and door trim, traditionally a deep green, often a yellow or sometimes a black.

Upstairs shutters were often louvered to allow ventilation in the bed rooms, though closed. Downstairs shutters were solid, providing maximum security, more from the weather and heat loss in winter than against intruders since doors were rarely locked among trusting neighbors.

Porches were large and usually the length of the house. These were more than the stoops of city homes. The porch was the place to visit in pleasant weather or for children to play on rainy days.

The outbuildings were as important as the main house. They consisted of a wash house, a smoke house; the summer kitchen, a spring-house, and often a "little house" for the hired help.

Outhouse

Of course, the most important was the outhouse. Sometimes it was a two-holer; sometimes a three-holer, often with a lower level, child-sized seat. Some were sturdy, some were fancy, some were overdue for paint repair some required a good bit of faith that they would remain upright until the visit was completed. An example of this essential building is shown at right.

Seat lids varied from those that were cut precisely and fit snugly, to those that were hinged and could smash slowly retrieved hands. Some makeshift lids were unattached and could easily be dropped through the hole itself if not handled respectfully.

Fragrant in the summer heat, frosty in the winter freeze, place for meditation with an almanac or dreaming with a catalogue, this was the one building essential every day.

One of the outstanding families throughout the 1800's was the Amos Schultz family. Amos was born in 1809. As a very young man he replaced his father as the teacher of the Washington Schwenkfelder Meeting House.

Amos' farming career began when he married Elizabeth Kriebel and settled in the home of his uncle near the Niantic Road. Amos purchased the farm after the death of his uncle. The grain and produce grown on the farm was hauled to the Philadelphia market. The farm was very successful.

Elizabeth Schultz, born in 1812, was known as a kind person and a very hard worker. She made all of her family's clothing from cloth she made from flax.

Amos was responsible for the introduction of the first Spitzenbrey or "Dresher" apple into the Perkiomen Valley. He and his brother ran an extensive fruit orchard. They experimented with various fruits Schultz was a carpenter, blacksmith, shoe maker, stockraiser, bookkeeper and an accountant. Already as a young man he was well respected by the members of his community.

Schultz

He served two terms as Justice of the Peace, taking office in April 14, 1840, the first year of the Township. He was often appointed administrator of estates. His name appears on many of the important documents of his time.

In 1861 he constructed a three story mill and a three story house for a mill property. In 1865 he built his home on Niantic Road in Washington Township next to the Perkiomen Creek. The house, which still exists today, is illustrated at left.

Among his other business ventures, Amos was a brick manufacturer. He made bricks near his new home. They were formed by hand, sun dried and then kiln fired. On a good day 2200 bricks were made.

Homes built of Schultz bricks included those of Thomas Christman, Abraham Kreibel, Joel Schultz, John S. Schultz, Henry Landis (a three story house that included the Landis Store along the Niantic Road) and Andrew Schultz. Most of these buildings still exist.

Bridge

Schultz petitioned both Berks and Montgomery counties to have a bridge built over the Perkiomen Creek at his property. It had become necessary to pull the wagons or carriages of several individuals including his mother-in-law from the water. Both counties refused Amos went around to the neighbors and raised the money himself to have the bridge (shown at right) built.

Many profitable business invest ments were made by Schultz. He purchased bonds to build the much needed Colebrookdale Railroad from Pottstown to Barto. At one time he owned half the stock of the National Bank of Boyertown where he sat on the Board of Directors.

Excerpted from "CONTINUING THE VISION -- PRESERVING THE VALUES", the history of Washington Township prepared to commemorate the Sesquicentennial of the Township's establishment. Copyright 1990, Washington Township Historical Committee.

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