File:The guide book to historic Germantown (1902) (14576440790).jpg

Identifier: guidebooktohisto01jenk (find matches)
Title: The guide book to historic Germantown
Year: 1902 (1900s)
Authors: Jenkins, Charles Francis, 1865-1951 Site and Relic Society of Germantown (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Subjects:
Publisher: Germantown
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: The Library of Congress

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Text Appearing Before Image:
d the Germantown Union
School house. The little buildings were constructed for the
masters. The school started with 131 pupils—61 in the
English and 70 in the German department.
The following is an extract from an advertisement of the
school in the Pennsylvania Gazette, March 5th, 1761 :

" The School-House consists of 80 Feet in Front, and 40
Feet in Depth, two Stories in Height, with six commodious
Rooms for the Use of the several Schools. To which are
added as Wings, two convenient Dwelling-houses, with a lot of
Ground to each, for the Residence of the Masters and their
Boarders.

" The Advantages of the School, with respect to Situation,
must, if duly considered, contribute not a little to its Promotion
and Encouragement. The House is built on a fine airy Hill, a
little removed from the Public or Main street. The Air is
known, from long Experience, to be pure and healthy ; often
recommended, by the best Physicians, to Invalids ; and indeed
the Place, without Exaggeration, may be justly termed the

78
Text Appearing After Image:

MARKET SQUARE

79 HISTORIC GERMANTOWN

Montpelier of Pennsylvania. The Opportunities and Examples
of Vice and Immorality, which ever prevail in large Cities, here
will seldom present themselves, to decoy the youthful Mind
from its natural Inclination of Virtue. Its Retirement, for want
of Objects to divert the Attention will fix the Mind to Appli-
cation and Study. Its small Distance from the City of Phila-
delphia will enable the Citizen, in some Measure, to superinten
dboth the Health and Education of his Child.

After the Battle the building was used as a hospital for the
wounded, and several British soldiers are buried in the yard at
the rear. The school was chartered by the State in 1786 as the
Public School at Germantown.

The bell in the belfry has a romantic history. It was
brought to Philadelphia in 1774 in the tea ship Polly, which
was not allowed to land by the indignant citizens of Philadel-
phia. The cargo, including the bell, was carried back to
England, where it remained until the war was over, when it
was again brought over and put in place. A part of the
weather vane is a crown representing the royal insignia of
England, which has never been disturbed. In the Academy's
possession are the telescope used by Washington at the time of
the Battle and other interesting relics


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