By Ed Dybicz, 1966
Most everyone knows that the Revolutionary Arm was encamped at Valley forge, a great part of it then in Upper Merion Township, during the Winter of 1777-78.
But there are few who heard about the “women’s camp” at Valley Forge in 1890.
Those women were also bent on “revolution.” Instead of physical fighting against injustice as did the colonists, the women wanted to overthrow “demon rum”, and the establishment of the camp was one phase of their “warfare” and idea of bringing it to national attention, according to records of the Historical Society of Montgomery County.
The idea of having a “temperance camp” on the Revolutionary camp ground at Valley Forge originated with the Women’s Christian Temperance Union of nearby Chester County.
The camp was opened on July 30, 1890 and was continued to Aug 5.
There was no state park on the rolling hills and byways of Valley Forge at that time. But there was a picnic grounds with a dance pavilion for many years in the vicinity of Fort Huntingdon.
It was here the Temperance Camp was held. Meetings by the many assembled groups took place in the pavilion.
Some of the participants lived in tents for the week while others made daily or occasional trips to and from their homes.
Mrs. Sarah Louisa Oberholtzer delivered the main address on Aug. 1, 1890.
Apparently there was some sort of “dress discrepancy” in those days because one of the subjects on the speaker’s agenda was a talk on “dress reform” by Miss L. Tompkinson, a crusader from a distance.
The reports did not tell whether the Women’s Christian Temperance Union decided to take up dress reform, but the report did state that a “heavy shower broke up the meetings.”
Many of those who came to Valley Forge made the trip by steamboat “Martha Washington” which sailed the Schuylkill from Norristown.
For many years, Valley Forge was a real military camp. The Second Regiment of Pennsylvania National Guard held their training grounds there. Col. Robert P. Dechert was commander of the camp which was named “Camp Washington”.
Several assemblages of the Boy Scouts of America which they called “Jamborees” have been held at Valley Forge.
The park had its inception in an act of the Legislature of 1893 creating a commission “to acquire, maintain and preserve forever the Revolutionary camp ground at Valley Forge for the free enjoyment of the people of the state”.
Since then, a park of 1500 acres has been established comprising most of the headquarters of the generals and the remains of forts and entrenchments.
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KOPHS March Program in honor of Women’s History Month
Hear more about the women of our past when the King of Prussia Historical Society welcomes historian, demonstrator, interpreter and teacher, Clarissa F. Dillon, Ph.D., as she presents “Distilling as Women’s Work”.
Clarissa brings wide-ranging research, hands-on experience, and careful documentation into her presentations on 18th-century housewifery.
WHAT: “Distilling as Women’s Work”
WHO: Clarissa F. Dillon, Ph.D.
WHEN: Saturday, March 10, 2018 at 2:00 pm
WHERE: Christ Church (Old Swedes) 740 River Road, Swedesburg PA 19405
