Plenty of History Nearby

I recently made a couple of visits to Moland House, located on York Road just 10 minutes north of Hatboro. It is significant because it served as George Washington's headquarters for nearly two weeks in the summer of 1777.

   
I went the on the Fourth of July to see a rare copy of the Declaration of Independence. The enthusiasm of staff made a nice enough impression on me that I went back the following Sunday to see the house during regular visiting hours (on the second Sunday of the month during summer). On my second visit I was again impressed with the friendliness and interest of the staff.

It was evident that the house has been painstakingly restored. It was nearly demolished before the Warwick Historical Society gained control of it. Starting in the mid 1990s, the shell was gutted, and the original fixtures were rebuilt to the best guess of restorers. Four restored fireplaces and built-in cabinets were created.

To furnish the rooms, the society is acquiring period furniture in an ongoing process. Staff is also developing 23 acres of grounds into an attractive natural area. I felt that the staff made an impressive effort to make the house and grounds attractive.

The original house has two floors. Downstairs, there is a reconstructed colonial era kitchen including a beehive brick oven. The kitchen is complete with colonial-era cooking implements and fixtures and even cooks (in colonial garb) baking and frying old-fashioned collations using 18th Century recipes. Some of these dishes looked quite tasty, like apricot pudding, a lemon peel confection and a bacon and mushroom dish. However, to get a taste one needs to volunteer at the house.  
While seeing the kitchen, it crossed my mind why gyms were unnecessary way back when. Working with those implements is quite adequate for keeping one in shape.

Another room downstairs served as Washington's war council room. Colonial-era furniture and equipment creates a period ambiance. Washington described seeing a creek from the council table by looking through a window over his right shoulder. One can experience the same view of Little Neshaminy Creek while in the council room. The upstairs bedrooms are fitted with period furniture and fixtures, such as a colonial-style four poster bred, an old-fashioned wash stand, and quilted straw blankets. Staff was agreeable during my visit, even entertaining questions from myself and other visitors until 4:30 p.m., though the house officially closed at 4.  

Restoration isn't the only work going on at the house. There are volunteer carpenters, turners, seamstresses and archaeologists working on site (and in garb during visiting hours). I'm considering joining them, though foregoing air-conditioning in this summer weather is making me dither on this.

For those interested in seeing the house, there is a reenactment of the encampment and other activities taking place on Aug. 20. And there is also the usual August opening hours.

Some historical notes:

What were Washington and 11,000 of his troops doing in the area for two weeks? We learned they were heading to New York to assist General Burgoyne in preventing the British from taking over New York's Hudson Valley. While camped in the area, news came that another British army was spotted heading toward Philadelphia. They changed their plans and headed south. Unfortunately the army lost the ensuing battles of Brandywine and Germantown, leaving the British in control of Philly. The Continental Army was forced to spend the winter in difficult conditions at Valley Forge.

Washington first met generals Lafayette and Pulaski at Moland House. The society is working to raise money to cast statues of Lafayette and Pulaski and have them installed on the site. A model of a statue is already located on the grounds.