News Release: Preserving the Stoltzfus House April 2008

The Nicholas Stoltzfus House: A homestead alive
What was an old house on the way to ruins, is today preserved. The fifth annual benefit auction May 12 enables the Preservation Committee to continue the preservation. But more than saving the building is "keeping it alive".

The building is significant as an early, if not the first, house along the Tulpehocken Creek.

Stoltzfus (Stoltzfoos) and Smucker (Schmucker,Smoker) clans consider this a homestead which Nicholas, his son Christian, and daughter, Barbara (m.John Smucker) shared. It is estimated over one million descendants are living today.

This year the Committee has plans to build a "carriage house." Jack Parmer, our documentarian, has dubbed it a "barniage" since it is halfway between a barn and a carriage house. The plans include restrooms, a meeting area, some archival space, and a small apartment. When the barniage is completed family groups will be better accommodated. The rendering of the barniage is on display.

A fund drive is begun, the auction will kick it off. The barniage when complete will enable groups such as reunions to assemble at the Stoltzfus House, have a picnic in a pavilion which will be shared with Country Meadows, and then cross the Tulpehocken Creek for the trails, the Gruber Wagon Works, or the Canal Museum. All this will make a family day special.

Much can be learned in the House about the Amish families that came to Berks County in the 1700s. In particular the Committee wishes to collect stories that reveal the faith and life of these early immigrants. Nicholas came because he joined the Amish church and was denied many opportunities in the Palatinate. His father and grandfather were Lutheran ministers.

The House has a story of its own, well documented by Jack Parmer. He has a slide show that is viewed during the auction. Parmer graduated from Elizabethtown College in chemistry, developed his own paint manufacturing business in Akron, Pa., and was the first small business to purchase an IBM computer in their early days. Since then he has utilized many computer advancements - including the imaging skills that he used to place the "barniage" in a photo behind the House!

It was with Abner Beiler, deceased Amish historian, that Jack stopped in to see the House in 1997, and he has fallen in love with this house and its story.

The House will be open with Carol Kissinger cooking in the open fireplace. Nicholas' chest and the Christian Stoltzfus' (his son) Bible, along with a Martyrs' Book will be on display. The Bible, the Martyr's Book, the Ausbund (the hymnal), and the prayer book were the source of early Amish faith, and still form the core of spiritual life. Jack Parmer will have a slide show documenting the preservation. Rooms with period furniture can also be seen.

Jay Stoltzfus, ophthalmologist, will be present with his magic tricks. Amish youth will have volleyball games down by the Creek. A Pa Dutch singing group will provide some folk music.

The auction on May 12 (Mose Smucker, AU4088, auctioneer) begins at 9:30, quilts at 11:30. Food includes barbecued chicken, home made ice cream, and much more, including shoo-fly pies. Vendors include Twin Oaks Bee Ranch, Auburn,Pa., (Julie and Rick Freeman), Original Paintings, Oley,Pa., (J. Alan Boyer), and others.

Bring items and Bid to help the preservation. The auction depends on donated items for the auction and buyers. Plans are to list and schedule donations made prior to April 15. Items brought to the sale will be sold as time allows. To donate call 610-373-6206, 717-367-3906 and psku@aol.com

Directions
Exit the freeway at Broadcasting Road in Spring Township (Rt.222 North of Reading), go east to the dead end, turn right (south) on Tulpehocken Road. Soon you will pass the Jenssen House. Driving south on Tulpehocken Road, the peaceful Tulpehocken Creek on the left contrasts with busy "fields" to the right which once was a dairy establishment. Tulpehocken Farms is now developed into Berkshire Mall, Berks Penn State Campus, and numerous establishments. Beyond all this at 1700 Tulpehocken Road, the end of this road, stands this house. "Tulpehocken" to the native Indians referred to "turtle".

Recent History
The House was depicted in the Reading Newspapers in 1982 as a peaceful place. Today if you visit the house and sit on the deck with Crystal and Matt Brunk, you can look to the Creek for a peaceful effect, but the drone of motors behind on the entrance ramp to Route 222 disturb this peace. Here sits an old house, almost made extinct by highway construction, with stories to tell.

Since 1997 steps have been taken to preserve the house. It was still standing then because the earlier threats to demolish had been warded off by local concerned preservationists. As soon as Tulpehocken,Ltd., and Country Meadows paved the way a committee appointed by the Pequea Bruderschaft Library took on the preservation, with help from the TriCounty Heritage Society.

Descendants of Nicholas Stoltzfus rolled up their sleeves. At no cost to the fund, Lemar Mast and his father, Horace, repaired the windows with wood provided by Keystone Wood Specialties. Jacob Riehl Masonry repaired the walls. In one and one-half days mostly volunteers cleared the metal roof, removed the two layers of old wood shingles underneath, and put on a shake shingle roof. In the process Jack Parmer, Akron businessman, historian, and photographer, documented various stages of remodeling that had taken place since the middle 1700s.

Contact:
Paul S Kurtz
709 S Locust St.
Elizabethtown, PA 17022
(717)367-3906
psku@aol.com