Lewis David de Schweinitz Residence facts for kids
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Gemeinhaus-Lewis David de Schweinitz Residence
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U.S. National Historic Landmark District
Contributing Property |
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Gemeinhaus-Lewis David de Schweinitz Residence, October 2011
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 Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Location | 66 W. Church St., Bethlehem, Pennsylvania |
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| Built | 1741 |
| Part of | Historic Moravian Bethlehem District (ID12001016) |
| NRHP reference No. | 75001658 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | May 15, 1975 |
| Designated NHL | May 15, 1975 |
| Designated NHLDCP | October 6, 2012 |
The Moravian Museum of Bethlehem is a special old house in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. It is also known as the 1741 Gemeinhaus or the Lewis David de Schweinitz Residence. This building was constructed in 1741. It was built to be a home for the first Moravian settlers. It also served as their main place of worship, called the Saal.
The Gemeinhaus is the oldest building still standing in Bethlehem. It is also the largest log house in the United States that has been used continuously. The house is important because of its connection to Lewis David de Schweinitz. He was a famous botanist (someone who studies plants) and mycologist (someone who studies fungi). In 1975, the Gemeinhaus was named a National Historic Landmark. It is also part of the Historic Moravian Bethlehem District. This district was added to the U.S. Tentative List in 2016. This means it might become a World Heritage Site one day.
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What is the Gemeinhaus?
The old Moravian Gemeinhaus means "Community House." It is located in the historic center of Bethlehem. You can find it at the corner of West Church Street and Heckewelder Place. It is a two-and-a-half-story building made of logs. The outside is covered with wooden clapboards. The roof has six small dormer windows. The front of the building is wide with ten sections. It has two main entrances.
The oldest part of the building was finished in 1741. It is the oldest structure still standing in Bethlehem. The building looked mostly as it does today by 1743.
Other Historic Buildings Nearby
The Gemeinhaus building complex includes other very old structures. These are the 1746 Bell House and the 1751 Old Chapel. It also includes the 1744-1772 Single Sisters’ House. The Moravian settlers built the Gemeinhaus as a home for their entire community. About 80 people lived there at first. Later, it housed married clergy and church leaders. For many years, it was where they learned, practiced medicine, worshipped, and did missionary work.
Life in the Early Gemeinhaus
In its first years, the Gemeinhaus was a place for shared meals. The Sisters cooked daily meals for everyone on the lower floor. Soon, over 100 people lived there. A separate kitchen was later built in the Bell House.
The second floor of the Gemeinhaus held the Saal. This was the biggest room in the building. It was the first place of worship in Bethlehem. The first funeral in Bethlehem happened here on June 27, 1742. It was for a man named Johannes Mueller. He was the first person buried in God's Acre Cemetery. The first wedding in Bethlehem also took place here on July 8, 1742. It was for Johann Zander and Johanna Magdalena Mueller. A very special event called the "Great Wedding" happened on July 15, 1749. Twenty-eight couples were married at the same time by seven clergy members. By late 1749, the community had grown to over 200 people. They needed more space. So, they built their second worship place in 1751. This is now called the Old Chapel. It was added to the Gemeinhaus.
Changes Over Time
As the community grew, people moved out of the Gemeinhaus. Other buildings were built for different groups. These included the Single Brethrens’ House, the Single Sisters’ House, the Bell House, and the Widow's House. Later, small homes were built for individual families. By 1761, there were 650 people in the community. By 1843, there were 865.
By 1796, the Gemeinhaus was only home to the clergy and their families. People started calling it "the Clergy House." By the mid-1800s, more homes were built. The Gemeinhaus was no longer needed as a "Clergy House." By 1869, only one clergyman, Rev. Peter Ricksecker, lived there. He was a missionary to the West Indies.
After that, rooms in the building were rented out. The Trustees of the Moravian Congregation of Bethlehem managed this. In the 1920 city directory, it was listed as apartments. In 1923, a group called the Union of King's Daughters and Sons opened a home there. It was a care home for elderly women. This home stayed until 1964. The King's Daughters Home then moved to a more suitable building. The Gemeinhaus officially opened as a museum on April 30, 1966.
Music and Medicine in the Gemeinhaus
Music was very important to Moravian worship. The first keyboard instrument, a spinet, arrived in 1744. A pipe organ was installed in 1746. Moravians memorized hundreds of hymns. They often sang them by heart. Sometimes they sang in many languages at once. At one point, people spoke 13 different languages in the community. Other instruments like horns and strings also played along. Some of these instruments are on display today.
The Gemeinhaus also had Bethlehem's first medical office. Dr. John Adolph Meyer started it in 1742. His practice is thought to be the start of the first hospital idea in America. Dr. Meyer worked from a small room in the Gemeinhaus. He and 15 nurses cared for the community. They used advanced medical practices for their time. Dr. Meyer opened Bethlehem's first pharmacy in the building in 1743. It later moved to the Bell House. A new laboratory was built in 1752. The 1752 Apothecary was part of the Moravian Museum. It was the oldest pharmacy in the U.S. that was always open. It closed in the 1950s.
Education for Girls
In 1742, Countess Benigna von Zinzendorf started classes for girls. These classes taught girls a wide range of subjects. This was similar to what boys were taught. Her classes were held in the Gemeinhaus. They even started a month before the first classes for boys in Bethlehem. The girls' classes later moved to the Bell House in 1749.
Lewis David de Schweinitz's Connection
Lewis David de Schweinitz was born in the Gemeinhaus in 1780. His father was a Moravian clergyman. Lewis also became a church official. The Gemeinhaus was his childhood home until he was seven. Then he went to school in Nazareth, Pennsylvania. He lived in the Gemeinhaus again from 1822 until he passed away in 1834.
While in Nazareth, de Schweinitz became interested in botany and mycology. He studied plants and fungi whenever his church duties allowed. He wrote important papers, like "Synopsis of North American Fungi" in 1831. These papers were very detailed and well-organized. When he passed away, he was known as the leading mycologist in the country.
The Moravian Museum Today
Today, the Gemeinhaus is home to the Moravian Museum of Bethlehem. It holds many historic items. These include old artifacts, artwork, furniture, clothing, instruments, books, tools, and manuscripts. They all help tell the story of Bethlehem's founders. Visitors can take guided tours. They learn about early Moravian community life. They also learn about their missionary work, advanced education, and medical practices.
Some special collections include original Gustav Grunewald paintings. There are also old maps and prints of early Bethlehem. You can see the Till Piano. There are also examples of silver, tin, and pottery. Clocks made by early Moravian artisans are also on display.
Fire Engine Annex
The museum also has a Fire Engine Annex. Here, you can see Bethlehem's two earliest fire engines. One is the Perseverance, bought in 1763. The other is the Diligence, bought in 1792. Old firefighting tools are also on display. These include fire buckets and helmets. You can also see a piece of wooden pipe. This pipe was from the original pumped water system of the 1762 Waterworks.
The 1741 Gemeinhaus is cared for by the Moravian Museum of Bethlehem. This museum is part of Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites. This is a non-profit organization.
Gallery
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Front of the Gemeinhaus, February 1969
See also
