The Moravian Historical Society in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, was founded in 1857. It aims to preserve and present the art, history, and culture of the Moravians in America, and it is the third oldest historical society in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The Society is housed in the 1740/1743 Whitefield House on the Ephrata Tract in downtown Nazareth. The Society is affiliated with the Moravian Archives in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, the repository for records of the Moravian Church in North America, Northern Province.[1]
The Society collects objects relating to Moravian history in North America, provides research assistance, publishes, and offers lectures, programs, events, and activities for all ages and levels of interest.[1][2]
Site
The Society owns three acres of land in Nazareth, PA, called the Ephrata Tract. It was on this site that the First House of Nazareth once stood. It operates out of two buildings on the Tract: the 1740/1743 Whitefield House and the 1740 Gray Cottage.
Ephrata Tract
In 1740, a Moravian group from Savannah, Georgia was hired by landowner and BritishclericGeorge Whitefield to build a school for orphaned slaves. Whitefield wanted to build his school on a 5000-acre area he called Nazareth, which he had purchased from William Allen that same year. Tensions arising from theological disputes between Whitefield and the Moravians led the Moravians to purchase and begin to establish Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, leaving Whitefield's school building unfinished. When Whitefield later went bankrupt, the Moravians purchased the 5000 acres, which included the Gray Cottage, First House, and the bottom portion of the Whitefield House. This area became known as the Ephrata Tract. The town of Nazareth was laid out in 1771 several blocks to the west. The First House was demolished in 1864, but the Whitefield House and Gray Cottage still stand. The buildings were added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 1, 1980.[3][4]
The marker for the Moravian Historical Society
Whitefield House
Construction on the Whitefield House started in 1740 and completed in 1743. It was originally used to house 32 married couples arriving from England. Through the years, the Whitefield House operated as a place of worship, girls’ boarding school, nursery, the Moravian Theological Seminary, and apartments for furloughed missionaries. Today, the Whitefield House houses the Society's museum, administrative offices, and gift shop. The museum runs a series of permanent and changing exhibitions showcasing the culture of the Moravians and their contributions to American history.[5]
Gray Cottage
The Gray Cottage was constructed in October 1740 by the Moravians as protection from the harsh winter weather ahead. It is an oak log structure, and was originally called the “Old Block House” from the German word Block, meaning “log.” From 1743-1745, the building was used as a boys’ school. It has also been used as a girls’ school, a home for widows, a nursery, and a private residence. It is the oldest Moravian building still standing in North America.[5]
First House
The marker designating the First House of Nazareth
Constructed in June 1740, the First House sheltered Moravians during the construction of the Whitefield House. It was approximately 30’ wide by 20’ deep, and stood two and one half stories tall. It was demolished in 1864, but the foundation was discovered by archaeologists in September 2014 in the area between the Whitefield House and the Gray Cottage. Several artifacts including redware pottery and a brass horse bell were also discovered. A small stone marker stands on this site.[6]
Monuments
The Society has placed several markers at locations of American Moravian historical significance:
The First House of Nazareth marker: A small stone marker on the Ephrata Tract indicating the location of Nazareth's First House, which was demolished in 1864.[6]
Meniolagomeka in Monroe County (near Kunkletown), PA: Dedicated on October 22, 1901, at the former site of the Delaware Native American town of Meniolagomeka. Several Moravian missionaries labored here from 1752-1755.[7]
Wechquetank in Monroe County (near Gilbert), PA: Dedicated on May 31, 1907, at the former site of the Delaware village of Wechquetank, which means willow tree in the Delaware language. The site was a Moravian mission from 1750-1756 and 1760-1763.[8]
The Rose Inn in Northampton County (Upper Nazareth), PA: Built in 1752 by the Moravians; it was used as housing for refugees from 1755-1756. It formally closed in 1772, and was demolished in 1858. A stone marker sits on the original site near a barn made partially from wood of the original inn.[9]
Shekomeko in Dutchess County (near Pine Plains), NY: Dedicated to the Mahican Native American village of Shekomeko, the first Native Christian congregation in America. Moravian missionaries worked there from 1740-1746, until new legislation expelled them from the area. The original monument was dedicated at the site of missionary Gottlieb Buettner's grave at Shekomeko on October 5, 1859, and rededicated as its current, more accessible site on June 22, 1926.[10]
Gnadenhuetten in Borough of Lehighton, Carbon County, PA: Dedicated to the mission at the village of Gnadenhuetten. The village was destroyed in a massacre during the French and Indian War on Nov. 24, 1755.[9]
Dansbury Mission in Monroe County (Stroudsburg), PA: Dedicated on June 25, 1931, to the Moravian mission that began in 1747, and was destroyed during the French and Indian War in 1755.[11]
Friedenshuetten in Bradford County (near Wyalusing), PA: Dedicated on June 15, 1871, at the former Native American mission village of Wyalusing, 1763-1772.[12]
Gnadensee (Indian Lake) in Litchfield County (near Sharon), CT: Dedicated on October 6, 1859, at Wechquanach near Shekomeko overlooking the Gnadensee. Missionary David Bruce's body was carried over the Gnadensee to Wechquanach in 1749.[10]
Collections
The Whitefield House Museum's collection contains over 10,000 Moravian objects, which are featured in permanent and changing exhibits. Highlights from the collections include:
23 oil paintings by John Valentine Haidt (1700-1780), the first artist in Colonial America to portray chiefly religious topics,
A 1776 pipe organ made by David Tannenberg, the most important organ-builder of his time,
The Antes violin: the earliest-known violin made in the American Colonies,
The 2014 Civil War history exhibit inside the Society's museumRare first editions of books written by John Amos Comenius, the "Father of Modern Education." [1]
The museum also contains a large collection of Moravian mission artifacts from six continents, as well as various textiles, household goods, and Native American artifacts.
The entire collection is available to researchers by appointment. Research requests are processed through the Moravian Archives in Bethlehem.
The museum operates from 1-4pm, seven days a week except for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter.[1]
Publications
The Moravian Historical Society publishes various guides and periodicals, including:
Transactions of the Moravian Historical Society-a publication that ran in volumes from 1868-2000.
Journal of Moravian History-a biannual publication and expanded version of Transactions, created in 2006 in collaboration with the Moravian Archives and now published by Pennsylvania State University Press. It features scholarly articles, translations of Moravian source material, and book reviews.
Abundant Heritage Newsletter of the Moravian Historical Society-a biannual newsletter featuring events and programs run by the Moravian Historical Society.
Moravian Walking Tour and Guidebook of the Lehigh Valley-a guidebook highlighting the Moravian sites in Nazareth, Bethlehem, Emmaus, Allentown, Easton, and Christian's Spring.[1]
Events
The Moravian Historical Society offers a variety of events for all ages and interest levels. Historic Nazareth Walking Tours meet at the Whitefield House every second Saturday at 3pm, and feature a tour guide in historic Moravian dress. The museum's Free Summer Sundays offer families a free museum tour as well as historic youth crafts and games. The Whitefield After Dark program takes place on the fourth Friday of every month, excluding summer holiday, and allows visitors to explore Moravian history after closing time through lectures, screenings, and various family activities.
For kids, the Society has an annual Hands-On History summer camp. It is a week-long camp where campers participate in various activities such as constructing a play, making crafts, and playing games relating to colonial history and Moravian culture. The Society also holds an annual Arts & Crafts Festival featuring more than 100 craft vendors as well as food and free kids’ activities.
The Society hosts the annual Share the Heritage Auction and Dinner to raise support for its many activities and events.[1]
Annual Meeting, Lecture, and Reception
The Society hosts an Annual Meeting, Lecture, and Reception to present the state of the Society and give a lecture on an aspect of Moravian history. Each year features a key-note speaker, as follows:
2017:Natasha Lightfoot, Columbia University, New York
2016:Paul Peucker, Moravian Archives, Bethlehem
2015:Otto Dreydoppel, Chaplain at Moravian Hall Square
1971:David A. Schattschneider/Bishop Kenneth G. Hamilton
1970:Dr. Jaroslav Pelikan
1969:Dr. Walser H. Allen
1968:Dr. Winfred Kohls (read by Dr. John R. Weinlick)
1967:Mrs. Thomas J. Butterfield
1966:Rev. Kenneth G. Hamilton
1965:Rev. Vernon Nelson
1964:Dr. Richmond E. Myers
1963:Rt. Rev. Allan Schattschneider
1962:Dr. Clarence E. Clewell
1961:Rev. Henry Williams
1960:Dr. Edwin W. Kortz/Rev. John Fliegel
1959:Dr. Samuel V. Gapp
1958:Dr. Edwin A. Sawyer
1957:Dr. Heinz Motel
1956:Ann Hark
1955:Dr. John H. Weinlick
1954:Rev. Vernon W. Couillard
1953:Dr. John H Weinlick
1952:Rt. Rev. Kenneth G. Hamilton
1951:Prof. H. H. Beck
1950:Miss Haller
1949:Rev. A. O. Danneberger
1948:(Unknown)
1947:Professor Richmond E Myers
1946:Rev. H. A. Kuehl
1945:Professor Garth A Howland
1944:Hon. John R. MacNicol
1943:Mr. Garth A. Howland
1942:Mr. Paul T. Warner
1941:Rev. John Joseph Stoudt
1940:Professor Amos A. Ettinger
1939:Rev. Kenneth G. Hamilton
1938:Dr. Hans T. David
1937:Mr. David Sanders Clark
1936:Dr. Albert G. Rau
1935:Professor Herbert H. Beck
1934:Miss Adelaide Fries
1933:Dr. A. G. Rau
1932:Mr. R. R. Hillman
1931:Dr. A. G. Rau
1930:Bishop J. Taylor Hamilton
1929:J. Taylor Hamilton
1928:Hon. H. J. Steele
1927:Bishop Hamilton
1926:Henry F. Marx/Rev. W. H. Vogler (read by Rev. G. F. Bahnson)
1925:Rev. John Baer/Paul E. Beck
1924:Rev. J. Taylor Hamilton
1923:Adelaide Fries
1922:Rev. J. E. Weinland
1921:Rev. J. Max Hark/Dr. A. G. Rau/E. A. Rau/W. H. Vogler
1920:Clara A. Beck/Rev. H. B. Marx/Rev. T. M. Rights
1919:Adelaide Fries/J. T. Hamilton
1918:J. Upton Myers/Dr. A. G Rau
1917:J. Upton Myers
1916:Rev. Augustus Schultze
1915:W. E. Doster
1914:Rev. A. E. Oerter/Rev. A. D Thaeler
1913:Rev. Albert Oerter/Rev. H. E. Stocker
1912: M. W. Leibert/Abraham R. Beck
1911:Rev. H. A. Jacobson
1910:Rev. H. A. Jacobson/Rev. E. T. Kluge/H. H. Hacker
1909:Rev. Paul de Schweinitz/A. G. Rau
1908:Rev. E. T. Kluge/Joseph A. Rice
1907:Albert G. Rau/Rev. Henry A. Jacobson
1906:Abraham R. Beck/Albert G. Rau/J. W. Jordan
1905:Robert Rau/Isaac Huntting/Rev. E. T. Kluge
1904:Rev. E. T. Kluge/Robert Rau
1903:Rev. E. T. Kluge/Rev. H. A. Jacobson
1902:Rev. E. T. Kluge/Henry T. Clauder/Rev. E. T. Kluge
1901:Albert G. Rau/Rev. E. T. Kluge/Rev. C. A. Haehnle
1900:John M. Levering/Eugene Leibert/Robert Rau
1899:Rev. Eugene Leibert
1898:Rev. Eugene Leibert/Rev. J. Taylor Hamilton/Bishop Levering
1897:Bishop Levering (read by Rev. J. Taylor Hamilton)/Rev. E. Leibert/John W. Jordan (read by Rev. M. W. Leibert)/W. H. Jordan (read by Rev. P. de Schweinitz)
1896:Rev. E. Leibert/Robert Rau
1895:J. Taylor Hamilton/Henry A. Jacobson/Rev. J. M. Levering
1894:J. Taylor Hamilton/John W. Jordan
1893:Eugene Leibert/James Henry
1892:Helen Bell/J. Taylor Hamilton/William Henry Rice
1891:James Henry/Henry A. Jacobson/John W. Jordan
1890:Henry A. Jacobson/Robert de Schweinitz
1889:James Henry/Robert de Schweinitz/Henry A. Jacobson/John W. Jordan
1888:James Henry/John W. Jordan/Henry A. Jacobson
1887:James Henry/Abraham S. Schropp/Edward T. Kluge
1886:James Henry/Robert Rau/John W. Jordan
1885:John W. Jordan
1884:James Henry/John W. Jordan
1883:John W. Jordan/Henry A. Jacobson
1882:James Henry/John W. Jordan/Henry A. Jacobson
1881:James Henry/J. Max Hark/Henry A. Jacobson
1880:James Henry/J. Max Hark/John W. Jordan
1879:James Henry/Henry A. Jacobson
1878:James Henry/J. Max Hark/Henry A. Jacobson/A. A. Reinke
1877:James Henry/Henry A. Jacobson/John W. Jordan/Henry A. Jacobson
1876:James Henry/Henry A. Jacobson/Henry A. Jacobson/John W. Jordan/William Henry Rice
1875:James Henry/Henry A. Jacobson/John W. Jordan
1874:James Henry/Henry A. Jacobson/William C. Reichel
1873:James Henry/Henry A. Jacobson
1872:James Henry
1871:William C. Reichel
1870:(No speaker)
1869:Eugene Leibert/Edmund de Schweinitz
1868:James Henry/Louis R. Huebener/John C. Brickenstein
1867:James Henry
1866:(No speaker)
1865:James Henry/John C. Brickenstein
1864:John C. Brickenstein/Edmund de Schweinitz
1863:John C. Brickenstein/Edmund de Schweinitz/C. F. Kluge