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, also known as the 1741 Gemeinhaus, is a really old house in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. It's located at 66 West Church Street.
This building was put up 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. It's the oldest building still standing in Bethlehem. It's also the biggest log house in the U.S. that has been used continuously.
The house is also important because of Lewis David de Schweinitz (1780–1834). He was a famous botanist and mycologist who lived here. In 1975, it was named a National Historic Landmark. The building is part of the Historic Moravian Bethlehem District. This district is being considered for the World Heritage List.
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Discover the Gemeinhaus!
The old Moravian Gemeinhaus means "Community House." It stands in the historic center of Bethlehem. You can find it at the corner of West Church Street and Heckewelder Place.
It's a two-and-a-half-story building made of logs. Wooden boards called clapboards cover the outside. The roof has six small windows called dormers. The front of the building has ten sections, with two main entrances. The oldest part of the building was built in 1741. It's the oldest building still around in Bethlehem. The building looked like it does today by 1743.
The Gemeinhaus complex includes other very old buildings. These are the 1746 Bell House, the 1751 Old Chapel, and the 1744-1772 Single Sisters’ House.
A Home for Everyone
The Moravian settlers built the Gemeinhaus as a home for their whole community. At first, about 80 people lived there. Later, it became a home for married clergy and church leaders.
This building was where they did many important things. They held classes, provided medical care, worshipped, and planned their mission work. It served these purposes for many years.
In its early days, everyone ate and cooked together in the Gemeinhaus. The Sisters prepared meals in the basement. Soon, over 100 people lived there. Later, a separate kitchen was built in the Bell House.
The second floor had the Saal. This was the biggest room in the building. It was the first place of worship in Bethlehem. Many important events happened here:
- The first funeral for Johannes Mueller on June 27, 1742. He was the first person buried in God's Acre Cemetery.
- The first wedding in Bethlehem on July 8, 1742. Johann Zander and Johanna Magdalena Mueller were married.
- The "Great Wedding" on July 15, 1749. Twenty-eight couples got married in one service!
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 building, now called the Old Chapel, was added to the Gemeinhaus.
Changing Homes Over Time
As the community grew, people moved out of the Gemeinhaus. New "choir houses" 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, even 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.
After that, the Trustees of the Moravian Congregation of Bethlehem rented out rooms. 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 place for elderly women. This lasted until 1964. The King's Daughters Home then moved to a better building. The Gemeinhaus finally opened as a museum on April 30, 1966.
Music and Healing
Music was very important to the Moravians' worship. The first keyboard instrument, a spinet, arrived in 1744. A pipe organ was added in 1746. They knew hundreds of hymns by heart. They often sang in many different languages at once. At one time, people in the community spoke 13 different languages! Other instruments like horns, brass, and strings also played along. Some of these instruments are still on display today.
The Gemeinhaus was also home to 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 had eight male and seven female nurses. They cared for the community using new medical ideas.
Meyer also opened Bethlehem's first pharmacy in 1743 in the building. It later moved to the Bell House. Then, a special lab was built on Main Street in 1752. The 1752 Apothecary was part of the Moravian Museum. It was the oldest pharmacy in the U.S. that was always open, until it closed in the 1950s.
Education for Girls
In 1742, Countess Benigna von Zinzendorf started classes for girls. These classes taught girls many of the same subjects as boys. This was very new for the time! 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.
A Famous Scientist's Home
Lewis David de Schweinitz was born here in 1780. His father was a Moravian clergyman, and Lewis also became a church official. This was his home until he was seven. Then, he went away to school in Nazareth, Pennsylvania. He lived here again from 1822 until he passed away in 1834.
While at Nazareth, de Schweinitz became very interested in botany (the study of plants) and mycology (the study of fungi). He continued these interests when his church duties allowed. He wrote important early papers, like "Synopsis of North American Fungi" in 1831. These papers were very detailed and well-organized. When he died, he was known as the leading mycologist in the country.
The Museum Today
Today, the building is the Moravian Museum of Bethlehem. It holds many historic items. You can see old artwork, furniture, clothes, instruments, books, tools, and writings. They all tell the story of Bethlehem's founders.
Visitors can take guided tours. You can learn about how the early Moravians lived together. You'll also hear about their missionary work. Plus, you'll discover their advanced education system and medical practices.
Some special collections include:
- Original paintings by Gustav Grunewald.
- Historic maps and prints of early Bethlehem.
- The Till Piano.
- Examples of silver, tin, and pottery made by early Moravian artists.
- Old clocks.
You can also find unique items in the Fire Engine Annex. On display are Bethlehem's two earliest fire engines:
- The Perseverance (bought in 1763).
- The Diligence (bought in 1792).
You'll also see old firefighting tools. These include fire buckets and helmets. There's even a piece of wooden pipe from the original 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, a non-profit organization.
Gallery
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Front of the Gemeinhaus, February 1969
See also
