Fall 2012 - Pennsylvania Questers

ChaPTeR
News Irene Reiter is a dynamic lady who is
known as a well-researched speaker,
sometimes as a first-person
portrayer of historic characters. She
recently educated, and entertained,
our chapter with her impersonation
of Elizabeth Chapman Lawrence, a
wealthy and colorful Victorian lady,
who was born in Doylestown, just
eleven miles from here, in 1829.
Elizabeth was the aunt of the august
Dr. Henry Mercer, and helped
to fund his projects, including the
Mercer and Font Hill Museums and
the Moravian Tile Works, which are
still very much in use.
Mrs. Lawrence met a wide
range of very interesting people, in-
Irene Reiter por tray ing
Elizabeth Chapman Lawrence
10 Fall 2012
Ann’s Choice #1479
Submitted by Connie Fewlass
cluding Elizabeth Barrett Browning,
James Buchanan, James Michener
and even the Queen of England!
Preparations for being presented to Queen Victoria included acquiring
the proper dress, of course, which had to be elaborate as well
as expensive. Price was no problem for her, but it was noted that
the “meanest” appropriate dress would cost a hundred and twenty
dollars… in the 1800’s! She did lead a very privileged life.
Rittenhouse #252
Submitted by Joanne Jackson, Secretary
In January, a program on the history of aprons was hosted and
presented by member Mary Jane Rees at her home. We were all
told to bring or wear an apron. There was an ankle-length calico
apron of the type worn by farm women that went from the kitchen
to the garden and everywhere else while doing daily housekeepiing
duties. We saw some cover-up aprons worn over “house
dresses” which were part of the homemakers attire until the ’40s
and ’50s. There were waist aprons both utilitarian and dressy; ones
obviously saved for “company.’ These were beautifully embroidered,
appliquéd, smocked and specially made for holidays. There
were even some present-day barbeque aprons. Aprons are not
used so much now by homemakers; worn mostly when doing an
especially messy
job. We had a
good time trying
on the aprons
and admiring the
handwork and
d r e s s m a k i n g
that made these
aprons a part
of a housewife’s
life.
Rittenhouse Questers modeling aprons
Quester 2012 PA Grants
Chapter Amount Historic Site Project
Brown's Folly $ 335.00 Pennsbury Manor Acquire 1 barrel,2 bellermine jugs,1 redware
Conestoga $ 1,000.00 Historic Waynesborough Grooming items for Anthony Wayne and wife
Dames of Rocksville $ 275.00 Bucks County Historical Society Restoration of gauntlets and money belt
Damian House $ 400.00 Upper Moreland Historical Assn. Preserving 1800-1900 local newspapers
Fairwold $ 1,000.00 Morris Aboretum/Springfield Mill Restore turbine and foot bridge by turbine
Fonthill $ 750.00 Bucks County Historical Society Restore Frock Coat of Cpt. Mahlon Yardley
Freedom Valley $ 432.00 Historic Yellow Springs Restore Civil War Coat
Gaudy Dutch $ 250.00 Historical Society of Whitpain Acquisition of school desk for Franklinville Sch.
Glen-Wynne $ 264.00 Pennypacker Mills Acquisition of coal sieves -Hands on History
Hope Lodge $ 300.00 Peter Wentz Farmstead 3 real Elizabeth Drinkers diaries & UV filters for
3 parlor windows to protect textiles
Horseshoe Trail $ 100.00 Diamond Rock School House Preservation Assn. Restore Agreement to start school
John Craig's Tavern $ 212.00 Graeme Park Historic Site Acquisition of period items for dining room
Keystone Gleaners $ 500.00 Wayne County Historical Society Restore 1876 document at Dorflinger Glass
Kit-Han-Ne $ 375.00 Mildred Lankerd-Thomas
Genealogical Society Restore copies Leader times newspaper
Lingohocken $ 184.00 James Lorah House Restore Chippendale side chair
Lydia Darragh $ 100.00 Craven Hall Historical Society, Inc. Acquire reproduction kitchen items
Marquis $ 1,000.00 Johnsville Centrifuge & Science Museum Acquire scale model of Mercury-Mercury mission
Mercer Mile $ 1,000.00 Heritage Conservancy Restore exterior Mercer tiles-Aldie Mansion
Moland House $ 750.00 Moland House Restore desk as was used in 18 th century
Museum Pieces $ 175.00 Bucks County Civil War Museum Restore historical lithograph
Neshamini Creekers $ 500.00 John Fitch Steamboat Museum, Inc. Acquire Steamboat mosaic tile floor
Paoli Local $ 1,000.00 Friends of Hibernia Restore settee in Hibernia Mansion
Peaceable Kingdom $ 1,000.00 Newtown Presbyterian Church Acquire 2 Iron benches for gardens
Penn's Manor $ 200.00 Morris Arboretum Restore function of mill
Pennypack $ 500.00 Friends of Boileau Farmstead Restoration of Farmhouse cellar door
Queen Ann’s Lace $ 187.50 Clifton House-Ft. Washington Historical Society Restore wing chair in main meeting room
Rittenhouse $ 70.00 Historical Society of Whitpain Acquire girls & boys period handmade clothing
Salt Cellar $ 200.00 Moland House Place settings for display in kitchen
Spoke and Handle $ 1,000.00 Friends of Bolton Mansion Restoration of dining room floor and trims
Spring House $ 175.00 Wissahickon Valley Historical Society Acquisition of window shades to protect artifacts
Steeplechasers $ 1,000.00 Little Abington Meetinghouse (circa 1836) Restore chimney & acquire household items
Tedyuscung $ 250.00 The Springfield Historical Society Archival shelving for display & Storage
Unami Creek $ 500.00 Richland Historical Society Restore windows & shutters at Shelley school
Weldon House $ 300.00 Fairmount Park Restore historic park Guard House
Ye Olde Almshouse $ 1,000.00 The Historical Society of Hilltown Twp. Hartzel-Strassburger Homestead-restoration
TOTAL $ 17,284.50