Monthly Meetings of the Goschenhoppen Historians at Red Men's Hall • The Goschenhoppen Historians

Harvest Home Celebration - The Original Pennsylvania German Thanksgiving

Bob Gerhart

Thursday November 18th, 2021

7:30pm Red Men's Hall, Green Lane PA

As always, there is no fee to attend and light refreshments will be served at the conclusion of the evening’s program. Further information at 215-234-4119

From long before President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed the last Thursday of November as a national day of Thanksgiving in 1863, Pennsylvania Germans throughout southeastern Pennsylvania had expressed their gratitude to God for another year of harvests to sustain their families and communities. “Come, ye thankful people, come, raise the song of harvest home” has been heard in area churches for more than 150 years. For much of this time it was the musical accompaniment for elaborate church displays of garden produce, orchard fruits, and sheaves and shocks of the field at “Harvest Home” services. Communal observances and giving thanks for successful harvests have been celebrated throughout the world from earliest times. The concept of Thanksgiving is long lived. The day of Harvest Home service was a highlight of the fall season in Pennsylvania Dutch communities.

The November meeting of the Goschenhoppen Historians will feature an illustrated presentation of the customs and practices of harvest Home services in our region by popular local historian Bob Gerhart. For twenty years Mr. Gerhart was pastor of the Hereford Mennonite church (now Butter Valley Community Church) in Bally; prior to that he served churches in the Quakertown area. All of these observed the tradition of Harvest Home. As a youngster growing up in the Perkiomen Valley, Bob also saw the importance of Harvest Home among the Lutheran and Reformed churches of many of his relatives in the region.

Come join the Goschenhoppen Historians at their November meeting for Mr. Gerhart’s illustrated presentation of the significance of the original “Pennsylvania Dutch Thanksgiving.” The meeting will be held on Thursday, November 18, 2021 at 7:30 PM at Red Men's Hall, 116 Gravel Pike (Route 29), in Green Lane. As always, the public is invited and there is no fee to attend. Light refreshments will be served at the conclusion of the evening's program. In observance of the continuing Covid pandemic please be prepared to wear a mask. Further information at 215-234-4119

Casting Cannons for the American Forces in the Revolutionary War: Antes' Family Involvement

Robert Wood

Thursday February 20, 2020

7:30pm Red Men's Hall, Green Lane PA

As always, there is no fee to attend and light refreshments will be served at the conclusion of the evening’s program. Further information at 215-234-4119

At the outset of the Revolution the small number of artillery pieces held by American forces had been imported from Europe and there was no American production of heavy armaments. It was obvious to both sides of the conflict that without additional artillery the American cause would be seriously handicapped and England very successfully blocked the importation of any such arms for revolutionary forces. Local historian Robert Wood will present an interesting program documenting Pennsylvania's iron furnace's efforts to address that imbalance at the Goschenhoppen Historians' February meeting.

It was clear that needed artillery would have to be cast here in the colonies to overcome the British embargo. But, it also quickly became evident that there weren't any iron furnaces in Pennsylvania, or throughout the colonies, with the knowledge and experience to produce such armaments. Frederick Antes, first born son of immigrant Henry Antes, had considerable experience in gunsmithing with the Moravians and so was tapped by the Committee of Safety to be chief founder for a while at Warwick and Reading iron furnaces. A younger brother, William Antes, was also involved with both furnaces throughout the war effort. Unfortunately, neither the Antes' nor the furnace’s master founders knew anything of casting large cannons. But they applied their patriotic spirit and ardor to the job at hand and began attempts to make useable cannons. However, getting their new ordinance to pass the rigorous proof testing as per contract was another story.

Mr. Wood will present the compelling story behind these efforts as our infant nation struggled to maintain its independence from Great Britain's far superior military presence. His presentation is well supported by a Power Point presentation highlighting local iron furnaces and their cannon casting efforts. The meeting will be held on Thursday, February 20, 2020, at 7:30 PM at Red Men's Hall, the Historians headquarters, 116 Gravel Pike (Route 29), in Green Lane.

Quilting: Then and Now

Linda Szapacs

Thursday October 17, 2019

7:30pm Red Men's Hall, Green Lane PA

Noted Quilter and Goschenhoppen Historians member, Linda Szapacs, will present a beautifully illustrated program with historic quilts from her own and the Historians’ collection and modern quilts of her own and other contemporary quilters. She will explore the roots of quilt making and early and more recent methods and materials. Many quilts, new and old will be on display. Linda is a talented teacher and weaves an interesting story.

As always, there is no fee to attend and light refreshments will be served at the conclusion of the evening’s program. Further information at 215-234-4119

Hiwwe wie Driwwe

An exploration of the Roots of our Pennsylvania Dutch Culture

Thursday September 19, 2019

7:30pm Red Men's Hall, Green Lane PA

The September meeting of the Goschenhoppen Historians will feature part 1 of a documentary film exploring the roots of our Pennsylvania Dutch culture and language in the Palatinate region of southwestern Germany. Inspired by Berks County native, and folk musician, Doug Madenford’s quest for his roots, German film makers Benjamin Wagener and Christian Schega produced a documentary film, “Hiwwe wie Driwwe,” loosely translated as: Over Here the same as Over There.

Narrated by Doug Madenford, the film explores current Pennsylvania Dutch culture and language in southeastern Pennsylvania and regional language and culture in the Palatinate, finding large similarities despite some 300 years of separation. The film briefly details the genesis of the migration of many Germanic subjects to the Pennsylvania wilderness in the early 18th century and the endurance of the folk culture they brought with them that created what came to be called Pennsylvania Dutch, both culture and language.

Filmed in both Germany and America with subtitles in English when Dutch or German is spoken, it shows an interesting amalgam of cultural endurance and evolution. At 91 minutes long it will be shown over two Historians’ meetings, the first in September, and the final segment in November. Join us on Thursday evening September 19, 2019 at 7:30 PM at the Historians’ headquarters in Red Men’s Hall, 116 Gravel Pike (Route 29), in Green Lane. As always, there is no fee to attend and light refreshments will be served at the conclusion of the evening’s program. Further information at 215-234-4119

June On-Site Meeting: 1736 Antes House

Bob Wood

Thursday, June 20th, 7:00pm (note on site meetings begin earlier to maximize daylight)

Antes Plantation, Frederick, PA

Our June monthly meeting is always one to look forward to! This year's on-site meeting is at our own Henry Antes House. The main level of the house is open during our Annual Folk Festival but this is a rare chance to tour the house from top to bottom. There is no electricity in the house so be sure to bring a flashlight. Free and open to the public.

NOTE: this event is not at Red Men's Hall - it is at the Antes Plantation, 318 Colonial Road, Perkiomenville.

Who was Henry Antes and why is he important in the history of the Goschenhoppen Region?

Bob Wood’s illustrated talk will develop the story of the Antes family in Germany and in early Pennsylvania. For the past fifty years, the Goschenhoppen Historians have devoted themselves to restoring the 1736 Henry Antes House and plantation in Upper Frederick Township, presently the site of the Goschenhoppen Folk Festival. Thanks to their efforts the house is now a National Historic Landmark. Much of his presentation will deal with the architecture and restoration of the Antes House. Few people in the very early Germanic settlement of Southeastern Pennsylvania (before 1750) were more noteworthy than Henry Antes for his work with religious, civic, and economic development of the region.