Springhouse

Introduction

Text-to-speech Audio

A one-story, gabled, stone springhouse served the Morgan Log House property as a way to store perishable food items like milk and other dairy products prior to refrigeration. It was located near the intersection of Weikel Road and the Towamencin Creek tributary. It was later demolished to allow for the widening of the road and the replacement of the creek's culvert.

Images

View of the springhouse and Weikel Road bridge, circa 1935.

View of the springhouse and the Forsythe's Holstein dairy cows, circa 1935.

A sketch of the springhouse by "Sis" Forsythe Robinson, circa 1935.

Handwriting, Rectangle, Schematic, Slope

Backstory and Context

Text-to-speech Audio

A one-story, gabled, rectangular, stone building with a wood-shingle roof was used as a springhouse near the Towamencin Creek tributary and Weikel Road. It was demolished sometime after the 1970s restoration in order to widen Weikel Road and replace the creek culvert.

It is unknown the age of the springhouse. The Forsythe family stored milk and other perishables in the springhouse. Sis Forsythe Robinson recalled seeing snakes in the building and in her sketch details that the entry required crouching. Upon entering the building, a stone island allowed for standing in the center of the structure between spring water troughs that contained submerged jars of perishables for colder refrigeration. Stone shelves on the walls also stored additional jars of perishables.

Sources

Draft Agricultural History of the Morgan Log House (2019). Morgan Log House files.

Draft Architectural History of the Morgan Log House (2019). Morgan Log House files.

The History of the Property and House. Morgan Log House. http://www.morganloghouse.org/history-2/

Image Sources(Click to expand)

Sis Forsythe Robinson photos. Morgan Log House files.

"Sis" Forsythe Robinson. Morgan Log House files.