The Goschenhoppen Historians will kick off their 2015-16 program year with a presentation by local historian Bob Wood on eighteenth and nineteenth century fencing practices in southeastern Pennsylvania. With a richly illustrated Power Point program, Bob will document the extraordinary effort expended during that early period erecting and maintaining fences.
Today we generally utilize fences to contain livestock within designated areas or for purely decorative or property security purposes. In the colonial period, fences were required to keep free-ranging livestock out of cultivated areas. Roadway frontage, by law in many cases, had to be lined with adequate fencing to facilitate the moving of livestock as varied as turkeys, ducks and all manner of four footed creatures from place to place.
Mr. Wood, author of “The Historian” published in several local newspapers, and a four volume series of published articles entitled “Swamp, New Hanover,” was born and raised on the farm where he still lives in New Hanover Township. His knowledge of the local area and the farming and folk practices of his Pennsylvania Dutch forbears, together with his extensive research into the folk culture of the region, make him a knowledgeable and entertaining speaker. His presentation describes building and maintaining various types of rail fences that once were common throughout the Upper Perkiomen region.
Bob’s program will begin at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 17 at Red Men’s Hall, the Goschenhoppen Historians’ headquarters, located at 116 Gravel Pike (Route 29), Green Lane. The public is welcome to attend, and refreshments will be served during an informal get-together at the conclusion of Bob’s presentation. More information can be obtained by calling 215-234-4119 or by visiting the Historians’ website at www.goschenhoppen.org.
In addition, Bob Wood has slated Thursday afternoon history talks at Studio B, 39 East Philadelphia Avenue in Boyertown. His hour-long talks and conversations cover a range of local topics focusing on Pennsylvania Dutch folk culture.
His presentations are held each Thursday from 1 to 2 p.m. The schedule is as follows: Sept. 17, Casting Cannons for the Revolutionary War; Sept. 24, Enclosed Heating fire and the Smoke Free Parlor; Oct. 1, Bees Parties and Frolics or a Chore Called by Some Other Name; Oct. 8, The Unfortunate Execution of Civil War Soldier William H. Howe from Perkiomenville; Oct. 15, Chickens; Oct. 22, The Dutchmen and the Revolutionary War; and Oct. 29, Some Interesting Local Diaries.
