Pastors and Patriots: The Story of the Muhlenbergs

Frederick Muhlenberg

There is more to the colonial history of this area than Valley Forge and Independence Hall.

As in many places along the east coast, there is a whole secondary level of people, as important in their day as George Washington and John Adams, who helped make this country what it is today.

We talk a lot in this blog about John Potts and the Potts family, and appropriately so.

But there are others and one of those others is the Mulhlenberg family.

And what better way to learn about them than to meet the author who literally wrote the book on them?

And you can do that tonight, starting at 7 p.m., at the headquarters of the Schuylkill River Heritage Area at 140 College Drive here in Pottstown.

In the final event of the Schuylkill River Heritage Area's 2013 lecture series, author Lisa Minardi, will discuss the important role the Muhlenberg's played in the history of America. 

The Speaker's House in Trappe.

After the lecture, she will sign copies of her newly reprinted book, "Pastors and Patriots: The Muhlenberg Family of Pennsylvania."

Light refreshments will be served and the Heritage Area's new River of Revolutions Interpretive Center will be open during this event.

RSVP: There is no charge for this event, but space is limited, so please let them know you are coming by calling 484-945-0200, or emailing Cindy Kott at ckott@schuylkillriver.org

The book sells for $40 and all proceeds benefit the Speaker's House renovation.

Minardi, is president of The Speaker's House, a preservation group overseeing the restoration of Frederick Muhlenberg's home in Trappe. 

Muhlenberg was not only the first Speaker of the House of Representatives but is the first signer of the Bill of Rights.

There's his signature, right above John Adams.

The mission of The Speaker’s House is to not only celebrate and preserve the heritage and home of Frederick Muhlenberg, but also to create programs to inspire leadership and civic engagement in the timeless issues of our nation.

The house also holds events, one of which is coming up on Saturday, Dec. 21.

The Christmas Cantata, a Concert of Christmas directed by Laurie Mueller, featuring the Augustus Lutheran Church Choirs, Marimba Music by Diane Mills, Flutist Patricia Ahmad, Community Music School String Quartet, Handbells, Youth vocalists, percussion enhancements begins at 3 and ends at 5 p.m..

A social reception with light refreshments to follow.

Childcare available by request and resrvation only: call 610-489-9625 for more information.

Minardi's book, includes extensive new information about the Muhlenbergs and more than 100 color
photographs of historic paintings, furniture, silver, and other family heirlooms. 

The talk is part of the Schuylkill River Heritage Area's lecture series .

Other Upcoming Events

Feb. 22, 2014: Bringing The War of Independence to Life, an exhibit of Revolutionary War illustrations collected by Schuylkill River Heritage Area Executive Director Kurt Zwikl will open at Valley Forge National Historical Park, in the Visitors Center. 

In June the exhibit will be moved to Morristown National Historical Park.

'Pastor and Patriot' Comes to Pottstown

Frederick Muhlenberg's portrait

Did you know that the first person to sign the  Bill of Rights once lived in Trappe?

Neither did I until I read Mike Synder's excellent article in the Nov. 3 Mercury about Frederick Muhlenberg and his times in the house on West Main Street.

According to Snyder, Muhlenberg presided at the Pennsylvania state convention to ratify the U.S. Constitution in 1787.

"Two years later he made the move from state to national politics when he was elected as a representative to the first United States Congress and chosen as the first Speaker of the House and was the first man to sign the Bill of Rights," Snyder wrote.

History geek that I am, I immediate resolved to visit the house, which is still open to the public but, as is the case with many lesser-known landmarks, in desperate need of money.

But if you don't want to leave town, you can mark Monday, Nov. 19 on your calendar.

Photo courtesy of Lisa Minardi

Artist rendering of The Speaker's House by Julie Longacre,
showing the house as it looked when Frederick Muhlenberg
lived there.

That's when the Pottstown Historical Society, of which Snyder just happens to be president, will host Lisa Minardi as the gues speaker.

In addition to being an assistant curator in charge of Pennsylvania German Art at Winterthur Museum in Delaware; an Ursinus graduate with a degree in history and museum studies, she is also president of The Speaker's House, a preservation group overseeing the restoration of the home.

Her first book Pastors and patriots: The Muhlenberg Family of Pennsylvania," was recently published and copies proceeds from the sale of the $30 book, which will be for sale on the night of the meeting, will benefit the Speakers House organization.

The Muhlenbergs came from Germany in 1742, in part because there was a distinct shortage of Lutheran clergymen and the Rev. Henry Muhlenberg is often recognized as the "father of the Lutheran Church in America."

His wife was the daughter of Conrad Weiser, who helped preserve peace with the Iroquis.

The Speaker's House as it appears
today.

Frederick was one his 11 children. His other childrenincluded a famous Revolutionary War general, Peter, and Gottlied Henry Ernst Muhlenberg, who becoame one of America's best known botanists.

His daughter, Maria married a U.S. Congressman and his daughter Eve was mother to Andrew Schultz, a governor of Pennsylvania.

Minardi's talk will focus on the Muhlenberg family during the time of the American Revolution and will include images of houses, portraits, furniture and other artifacts associated with the family that were discovered during research for her book.

Minardi's talk will begin at 7:30 p.m. at the historical society's headquarters, 568 High St.

For more information, go to the historical society's web site.