September 2000
Vol. 3, Issue 5

While working on the brochure for Allison-Antrim Museum (AAMI), I became totally fascinated with the museum’s oldest archive – a William Penn document dated March 10, 1715/16 with James Logan’s signature. It is one piece of a sizeable collection of Pennsylvania governors’ signatures given to AAMI by Tom Brumbaugh the week the museum opened in August 1998. And, in Tom’s words, "A very rare document, and considering its age (it now being 285 years old), in fine condition." I surmise this collection, with 40 different signatures, is the largest collection of Pennsylvania governors’ signatures outside the number of signatures in possession of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Our collection is 41% of the 98 men who have served as governor of Pennsylvania from the Colonial era up through modern times.

The document is on animal skin parchment and traces the history, dating back to June 1, 1707, of two contiguous lots of land in the City of Philadelphia. Both lots were eventually sold to Gabriel Wilkinson, trader, living in Philadelphia.

The handwriting, in cursive, is difficult to read. Within the document, individual letters are formed in a couple different ways. It would have taken a long time to hand write this document. How did the recorder of this deed write in perfectly straight rows without ruled lines? Why does one very rarely see mistakes of spelling or omission on such documents? From what notes or records was this deed written? And I discovered legal terminology has a long history of its own.

Who was James Logan? James Logan, 1674-1751, born in Ireland, was a Scot-Irish Quaker. His physical appearance is described as having been tall, graceful, and grave. From the "History of Franklin Co., Pa. 1887": "…James Logan, a man of singular urbanity and strength of mind, and withal a scholar." Upon Penn’s second return to Pennsylvania in 1699, he brought with him James Logan who made his home in Stenton, near Germantown.

He was an author with several works published in Latin, well trained in the ancient languages and sciences, and America’s first physiological botanist. Logan was Penn’s loyal secretary and was appointed the Confidential Agent for the Penn family thereby handling their legal affairs. His love of learning led him to collect a vast library. Upon his death, his collection was bequeathed to the people of Pennsylvania and it is now known as the Loganian Library.

In 1701, Penn chose James Logan for Secretary of the province and Clerk of the Council. Logan’s public service record included: being elected mayor of Philadelphia; Chief Commissioner of Property; Agent for the purchase and sale of lands; Receiver General; Member of Council; President of Council; Chief Justice, and was acting governor from 1736 – 1738. He was a man of great influence and dedicated himself to the interests of the Penn family. His influence and many positions of public office provided continuity to the affairs of state during some very turbulent times under Governors Evans, Gookin, Keith, Gordon, Thomas, and Hamilton.

What was happening in Pennsylvania in 1715 when this document was signed? It is difficult to get a perspective on a time in the so very far distant past – 285 years ago.

It was a time of quill pens, candle light, and a very much slower pace of life.

The legislative body had two houses: the Council with three members from each county and the Assembly with eight members from each county. Unrest perpetuated itself between the counties of the province – Bucks, Philadelphia, and Chester, and the lower territory counties – New Castle, Kent, and Sussex.

Between the two houses, there were contention, charges, and counter charges resulting in little being accomplished legislatively during some periods. James Logan was head of the Proprietary party (the wealthy and best-educated Quakers) that controlled the Council and loyal to Penn and his family. David Lloyd, brilliant lawyer, quarrelsome, cantankerous, and forceful, was Speaker of the Assembly and head of the Popular party (the country Quakers) that governed the Assembly. There was a constant struggle between Logan and Lloyd throughout their concurrent political careers.

Logan also had to deal with the consequences of disastrous choices made for governors. John Evans was Pennsylvania’s youngest governor (26), and most notorious. From "Shelter for His Excellency", "…he stands as the undisputed all-time, all-out playboy Chief Executive. He made a form of history never equaled, before or since." Keep in mind, this is the early 1700’s. Recalling the headlines of 1999, perhaps, after all, it’s not really that hard to relate to a time long ago. Evans antics and histrionic schemes and tricks on the Quakers created a lot of discord.

Col. Charles Gookin, Evans successor, was governor from 1709 – 1717. Gookin was mentally unbalanced and became unpredictable and unreasonable.

And, as a matter of course, from the time William Penn was granted his charter on April 2, 1681 from King Charles II, there was the ever-persistent matter of Pennsylvania’s southern boundary. On August 4, 1763, Thomas and Richard Penn, sons of William, and Frederick Lord Baltimore agreed to accept, as a final decision, the surveyed lines and boundaries made by Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon. Mason and Dixon did not complete their work until 1767.

In 1715 there were about 42,500 people in Pennsylvania. Benjamin Franklin was only nine years old, and was still in Boston attending a school for writing and arithmetic. Antrim Township and Greencastle were the wilderness. And, today was not even a glint in the founding fathers’ eyes.

The information in this article was gathered from the following bibliography resources.

Enclosed with this mailing, is a copy of AAMI’s new, full-color brochure. We are very excited about it. With the help of Rick Kline, Joe Scheerer, and Andrew Haldeman at Kline Scheerer & Associates, we’ve come up with a very striking brochure that will catch people’s attention when lined up with brochures from other organizations. We wanted to keep the strength of the bold, Celtic colors that are in our sign along South Ridge Avenue, make it informative, and interesting enough to peak people’s curiosity to want to visit the museum and see more. We’ve focused on the unique parts of our collection that set us apart from other area museums. There are many pictures to grab people’s attention and information such as – directions and hours of operation. In order to keep it relevant at all times, we have omitted some things like a list of current directors and membership levels that could change at any time in the future and make the brochure out-of-date.

The brochures will be delivered to Visitors Centers, the Greencastle Chamber office, downtown merchants, and other places in the region for display.

With regrets, the Board of Directors accepted the resignation of Kelly Scott, both as a member of the board and as treasurer, effective at the July 13, 2000 board meeting.

Kelly assumed her seat and the treasurer’s position May 1, 1998. Under her term, she set up all the accounts needed for our organization on a software program. This was not an easy task trying to transfer previous hand written records to the computer program - including the 1998 Capital Campaign income. She also took over just when some renovations were starting prior to opening August 1, 1998. It was a laborious job with many changes made till everything was in place under the proper account headings. The system is now a workable and easily understandable one.

We appreciate her contribution to the Museum.

We welcome Patricia A. Faust who will be filling the vacated board seat and position of treasurer.

Pat has lived in Greencastle for 33 years and has been a widow for six years. She has a daughter and granddaughter who live in Austin, Texas.

After 22 years of service, Pat retired at the end of February 2000 from the First National Bank. She worked in the accounting department.

Pat volunteers her services to several area organizations that include: working on the golf tournament fund raiser for Hospice; serving on the Relay for Life Committee as Registration Co-chair for the Franklin County Unit of the American Cancer Society; and, for seven years, has been on the Chamber of Commerce’s annual golf tournament fund raising committee.

To current members, the museum’s board of directors thanks you very much for your continued patronage through your annual memberships. And, welcome and thank you to our new members for your support. Your endorsement by means of your donation is greatly appreciated. It is the annual donations of the people of Greencastle-Antrim and family and friends, who may no longer reside here, upon which AAMI depends to operate on a day-to-day basis.

We’ve had a good response from current as well as prospective, new AAMI members. Enclosed, you will find your membership card. If it is not enclosed, perhaps you have forgotten to return your membership application and check; or things may have crossed in the mail. We hope that you will continue supporting AAMI with your membership in order to help us reach our membership goal of a 25% increase. If you have a question concerning your membership, please don’t hesitate to call.

Mark and David are in the eighth grade at Greencastle-Antrim Middle School (GAMS) and are students of Sonya Weaver, a social studies teacher at GAMS. All three are members of AAMI and attended one of two docent-training workshops held this past March.

Under Weaver’s guidance and by compiling information from Glen Cump’s files, the young men have started putting together a presentation about Henry Prather Fletcher. Born in Greencastle, Fletcher rode with Teddy Roosevelt and the Rough Riders. He also served 51 years under eight presidents as a U.S. ambassador to four countries and held various secretarial positions with legations to three other countries.

Future plans include doing a first person, interpretive presentation as Henry P. Fletcher.
 (David on left)

In 1997, Allison-Antrim Museum, Inc. received 501(c)(3) federal tax-exempt status. At that time, we were told that the IRS would review our organization at the end of 1999. AAMI has just received notice of a final ruling from the IRS that we will maintain our 501(c)(3) status and all contributions to Allison-Antrim Museum, Inc., not given in exchange for goods or services, will continue to be tax deductible.

• From Glen Cump, AAMI historian: his large collection of information on Greencastle-Antrim history; the Rankin family; the Snively and Stover families; the Browns Mill School; the Greencastle area schools; the Enoch Brown massacre; and Henry P. Fletcher; approximately 150 dry plate, glass slide negatives of the Greencastle-Antrim area originally made by George Frederick Ziegler; two spears acquired by Henry P. Fletcher while stationed in the Philippines in 1901.
• From loan status to gift: Martin’s Mill Covered Bridge (MMCB) mug and Boy Scout patches; 1969 calendar with picture of MMCB for the month of May; wooden pins, iron nuts, bolts, and washers from the original MMCB; three pictures of construction of the trolley line between Chambersburg, Greencastle, Waynesboro, and Pen Mar 1903 – 1904; c. 1930 picture of members of the First United Methodist Church – gifts from A. Richard "Dick" Walck.
• Eleven quart punch bowl, with cups, hangers, ladle, and base from Isabelle Barnes.
• WKSL business advertising pieces in the original packaging – one letter opener and one, 6" ruler – a gift from Ben Thomas, Jr.

The Crunkleton and Hykes families have donated, on a permanent-loan basis, two land deeds issued to the Crunkleton family in the mid-1700’s for land in the Milnor area of Antrim Township. The Crunkleton family had the parchment deeds protected by a conservator of documents; and commissioned the construction of a handcrafted display case that allows the viewer to, also, see the back of the documents.

• Continued from the last newsletter: A picture of Browns Mill School students, dated 1887, was found among the Browns Mill School papers given to the museum by Glen Cump. The picture included a James Carr.
• Received an inquiry from the director of a museum in Iran inquiring from what sources Allison-Antrim Museum receives income other than admission fees.
• From Mary Hyland, a request to establish reciprocal links with www.artsandmusicpa.com.

• Bonnie completed a PA Federation of Museums and Historical Organizations Membership Benefits and Activities Survey
• Bonnie conducted a tour for Helen Kinney, Greencastle; Ross Kinney and his children, Anna Marie and Zachary, Minnetonka, MN; and Bill and Sue Kinney Martin, Tucson, AZ.
• Answered a multi-page questionnaire for the IRS review of AAMI’s tax-exempt status.

We are searching for old photographs of the museum property in the early 1900’s at which time the last surviving members of the Irwin family owned it. Or, when the Zimmerman family might have lived here. In particular, we are looking for photographs of the outbuildings – barn, out kitchen, washhouse, wagon shed, privy, carriage house, lime kiln, etc. If you have any photographs or know of anyone who might have photographs, please call Bonnie at 597-9325.

. . . . . . . the necessary?

The answer to July’s "Have You Seen…" is a spring lancer. It’s part of the Carl Family collection and it was used to bleed people. Bloodletting was thought to rid the body of poisonous toxins and germs that were in the bloodstream that may be causing illness.

September 10: Open House, 1 – 4 pm, Cumberland Valley Small Engine Association exhibit of miniature replicas.

September 14: Monthly meeting, 7 pm, Evangelical Lutheran Church, Ted Alexander – "When War Passed this Way, 1861-1862".

October 5: "Missions to America" Williamsburg Electronic Field Trip; Check the MPT listing for time.

October 8: Open House, 1 – 4 pm, Shirley Baker’s one-of-a-kind collection of about three dozen mustard pots.

October 12: Annual meeting, Antrim House Restaurant, 6:30 pm, election of board of directors, speaker - John Wine on "The Greencastle Post Office".

November 2: "Potions, Ails, and Smallpox Tales" Williamsburg Electronic Field Trip; Check the MPT listing for time.

November 9: Monthly meeting, 7 pm Evangelical Lutheran Church, Ed Bearrs, Battle of the Bulge