Rittenhousetown Historic District
Encyclopedia
The Rittenhousetown Historic District was an early industrial community where the first paper mill
in British North America
was built by William Rittenhouse
and his son Nicholas on the north bank of Monoshone Creek
near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
. Flax
was woven into linen in nearby Germantown
. When the linen fabrics wore out, the rags were brought to Rittenhousetown to be made into paper. Paper produced at the Rittenhouse mill was sold to printers in Germantown, Philadelphia, and New York City
. In 1890, Rittenhousetown became part of the Germantown section of Philadelphia.
The site was acquired through donations and several purchases by the City of Philadelphia through the Fairmount Park Commmission
over the years from 1890 to 1917.
It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
and was designated a National Historic Landmark
on April 27, 1992.
Historic RittenhouseTown, Inc. was formed in 1984 to preserve, restore, and historically interpret RittenhouseTown. The group maintains five historic buildings: Abraham Rittenhouse Home (c. 1720), which serves as the visitor center; Rittenhouse Homestead (1707); Enoch Rittenhouse Home; Jacob Rittenhouse Home; and the Rittenhouse Home. There is also a barn and bakehouse that are used for paper-making and cooking demonstrations.
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Paper mill
A paper mill is a factory devoted to making paper from vegetable fibres such as wood pulp, old rags and other ingredients using a Fourdrinier machine or other type of paper machine.- History :...
in British North America
British North America
British North America is a historical term. It consisted of the colonies and territories of the British Empire in continental North America after the end of the American Revolutionary War and the recognition of American independence in 1783.At the start of the Revolutionary War in 1775 the British...
was built by William Rittenhouse
William Rittenhouse
-Life:William Rittenhouse was born in Germany with the name Wilhelm Rittenhausen. His name as "Willm Rittenhuysen" was on a petition for naturalization of residents of German Town, Pennsylvania dated 7th May 1691....
and his son Nicholas on the north bank of Monoshone Creek
Paper Mill Run
Paper Mill Run, also known as Monoshone Creek, is a small tributary of Wissahickon Creek in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Its watershed includes parts of the Mount Airy and Germantown neighhborhoods of Philadelphia....
near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. Flax
Flax
Flax is a member of the genus Linum in the family Linaceae. It is native to the region extending from the eastern Mediterranean to India and was probably first domesticated in the Fertile Crescent...
was woven into linen in nearby Germantown
Germantown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Germantown is a neighborhood in the northwest section of the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, about 7–8 miles northwest from the center of the city...
. When the linen fabrics wore out, the rags were brought to Rittenhousetown to be made into paper. Paper produced at the Rittenhouse mill was sold to printers in Germantown, Philadelphia, and New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. In 1890, Rittenhousetown became part of the Germantown section of Philadelphia.
The site was acquired through donations and several purchases by the City of Philadelphia through the Fairmount Park Commmission
Fairmount Park
Fairmount Park is the municipal park system of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It consists of 63 parks, with , all overseen by the Philadelphia Department of Parks and Recreation, successor to the Fairmount Park Commission in 2010.-Fairmount Park proper:...
over the years from 1890 to 1917.
It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
and was designated a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
on April 27, 1992.
Historic RittenhouseTown, Inc. was formed in 1984 to preserve, restore, and historically interpret RittenhouseTown. The group maintains five historic buildings: Abraham Rittenhouse Home (c. 1720), which serves as the visitor center; Rittenhouse Homestead (1707); Enoch Rittenhouse Home; Jacob Rittenhouse Home; and the Rittenhouse Home. There is also a barn and bakehouse that are used for paper-making and cooking demonstrations.
See also
- RittenhouseRittenhouse-People with Rittenhouse surname:*Ariel Rittenhouse , US female athlete in swimming and diving*David Rittenhouse , US astronomer, inventor, mathematician, and public official*Moses F...
(surname) - Awbury Historic DistrictAwbury Historic DistrictThe Awbury Historic District is a historic area in the East Germantown neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.The district comprises the former summer homes and farms of the extended Cope family, who moved to the area starting in 1849...
- Chestnut Hill Historic DistrictChestnut Hill Historic District (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)The Chestnut Hill Historic District is a historic area in the Chestnut Hill section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.It was added to the National Register of Historic Places as a historic district in 1985.-Contributing properties:...
- Colonial Germantown Historic DistrictColonial Germantown Historic DistrictThe Colonial Germantown Historic District is a designated National Historic Landmark District in the Germantown and Mount Airy neighborhoods of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania along both sides of Germantown Avenue...
- Tulpehocken Station Historic DistrictTulpehocken Station Historic DistrictThe Tulpehocken Station Historic District is a historic area in the Germantown neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Large suburban houses were built in the area from about 1850 to 1900 in a variety of styles including Carpenter Gothic, Italianate, and Bracketed as part of the Picturesque...
Further reading
- Green, James. The Rittenhouse Mill and the Beginnings of Papermaking in America. Philadelphia: Library Company of Philadelphia and Friends of Historic RittenhouseTown, 1990.
External links
(NPSNational Park Service
The National Park Service is the U.S. federal agency that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations...
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- Historic RittenhouseTown website
- First Paper Mill in British North America
- Listing, photographs, and drawings of the Claus Rittenhouse house at the Historic American Buildings SurveyHistoric American Buildings SurveyThe Historic American Buildings Survey , Historic American Engineering Record , and Historic American Landscapes Survey are programs of the National Park Service established for the purpose of documenting historic places. Records consists of measured drawings, archival photographs, and written...
- Listing, photographs, and drawings of the Claus Rittenhouse home outbuilding at the Historic American Buildings Survey