Moravian Preservation Master Plan.indb - Society for College and ...

Moravian College • Preservation Master Plan
Figure 2-12. Undated drawing of the Single Brethren’s House
during 1776-1778 when it served as a hospital for Washington’s
wounded troops (Moravian College Archives).
Figure 2-13. View of Bethlehem in 1784 (Smaby 1988:108).
Urbanization of Bethlehem
1790-1850
Bethlehem experienced a building boom during
the 1790s and early 1800s. Numerous new house
lots were created beginning in 1789. The Lehigh
Bridge was constructed in 1794, providing better
accessibility between Bethlehem and areas to the
south. From this point forward, the appearance
of Bethlehem began to change dramatically from
that of a small medieval European village to that
of an urban American town. As time went on,
features like the clay tile roofs, jerkinhead gables,
and exposed log walls of the first wave of Moravian
construction was superseded by more typically
American details and building materials. Log
buildings were removed (including the First House
of 1741) or covered in clapboard, and gables were
rebuilt. New upper stories were added to some
buildings, including the Sun Inn. A city view from
1784 (figure 2-13) shows the first few blocks of Main
Street lined with narrow, side-gabled houses. By
1812 (figure 2-14), the city had spread a few blocks
further north and now boasted a massive new
church (Murtagh 1967:133; Smaby 1988:109).
The Moravian congregation outgrew its chapel
quarters yet again, and church leaders decided to
construct a new, much larger house of worship. The
majestic Central Moravian Church (see figure 2-14)
was constructed south of the Chapel between 1803
and 1806 and is still in use as the spiritual home
of Bethlehem’s Moravian congregation. Central
Church was constructed in a British-influenced
Federal style, unlike the older European-inspired
buildings surrounding it, and its large size made it
the most dominant structure in the town (Hamilton
1988:22; Smaby 1988:109).
Figure 2-14. View of Bethlehem in 1812 (Smaby 1988:110).
Figure 2-15. Map of Bethlehem in 1848 (Smaby 1988:112).
John Milner Associates • October 2009 • Chapter 2 • Historic Overview • 14