Thank you for visiting SNEWPapers!
Sign up free
Domestic News
August 11, 1825
The Wilmingtonian, And Delaware Register
Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware
What is this article about?
A box made from five types of historical wood was presented to General Lafayette in Germantown, each piece linked to early Philadelphia and American colonial history, including trees from William Penn's era and Columbus's house.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
CURIOUS BOX.—A box has been presented to General Lafayette at Germantown, composed of five different kinds of wood; as follows:
The Box is turned from a piece of Black Walnut, which till 1818, was a living forest tree, standing in front of the Hall of Independence, and had been with other like trees the contemporaries of William Penn and the first settlers of Philadelphia. That Group formerly served as imposing and appropriate conductors to that venerable building, when standing as it formerly did, at the utmost verge of City Population. When Richard Penn visited Philadelphia, and was shown these last living vestiges of his great Progenitor's day, he burst into a flood of tears. The interest to be afforded by this wood now is, that it is the last of all the Forest Race, so near the city. The four sections of the circles on the lid are as follows to wit:-
The Sweet Gum is another tree of the Forest Race of Penn's days, and the the last present living trees so near the city, (save an Elm still standing at the N. W. corner of Schuylkill, Seventh and Race streets,) it being one of three or four now standing on the northern side of Vine-street, in front of Bush Hill.— Such facts as these tend powerfully to impose upon our consideration, the wonderfully rapid growth of our American cities from the rude sylvan, to the embellished City State.
The Oak is a piece of the top log of a buttment wharf, (now strange to tell,) located at the junction of Hudson's Alley and Chestnut street, in the year 1683, and then appertaining to the first Bridge ever made over Dock Creek. Under this Bridge, replaced by a stone one in 1699, vessels loaded with wood used to go up to the "common landing" at the junction of High and Fourth streets. The present piece of wood was found six feet under the present surface in 1823.
The Elm is of the celebrated Treaty Tree, of Shackamaxon, which blew down in 1810, and a Scion of which is again flourishing. (like the production of the fabled Phoenix;) in the western lot of the City Hospital.
The Mahogany is a piece of the Beam of the first house constructed by the Europeans in America! It was built and occupied by the great Columbus, and is still preserved with commendable care by the Haytien Government.
The Box is turned from a piece of Black Walnut, which till 1818, was a living forest tree, standing in front of the Hall of Independence, and had been with other like trees the contemporaries of William Penn and the first settlers of Philadelphia. That Group formerly served as imposing and appropriate conductors to that venerable building, when standing as it formerly did, at the utmost verge of City Population. When Richard Penn visited Philadelphia, and was shown these last living vestiges of his great Progenitor's day, he burst into a flood of tears. The interest to be afforded by this wood now is, that it is the last of all the Forest Race, so near the city. The four sections of the circles on the lid are as follows to wit:-
The Sweet Gum is another tree of the Forest Race of Penn's days, and the the last present living trees so near the city, (save an Elm still standing at the N. W. corner of Schuylkill, Seventh and Race streets,) it being one of three or four now standing on the northern side of Vine-street, in front of Bush Hill.— Such facts as these tend powerfully to impose upon our consideration, the wonderfully rapid growth of our American cities from the rude sylvan, to the embellished City State.
The Oak is a piece of the top log of a buttment wharf, (now strange to tell,) located at the junction of Hudson's Alley and Chestnut street, in the year 1683, and then appertaining to the first Bridge ever made over Dock Creek. Under this Bridge, replaced by a stone one in 1699, vessels loaded with wood used to go up to the "common landing" at the junction of High and Fourth streets. The present piece of wood was found six feet under the present surface in 1823.
The Elm is of the celebrated Treaty Tree, of Shackamaxon, which blew down in 1810, and a Scion of which is again flourishing. (like the production of the fabled Phoenix;) in the western lot of the City Hospital.
The Mahogany is a piece of the Beam of the first house constructed by the Europeans in America! It was built and occupied by the great Columbus, and is still preserved with commendable care by the Haytien Government.
What sub-type of article is it?
Social Event
What keywords are associated?
Lafayette Gift
Historical Box
Phadelphia Woods
Germantown Presentation
Colonial Artifacts
What entities or persons were involved?
General Lafayette
William Penn
Richard Penn
Columbus
Where did it happen?
Germantown
Domestic News Details
Primary Location
Germantown
Key Persons
General Lafayette
William Penn
Richard Penn
Columbus
Outcome
box presented to general lafayette
Event Details
A box composed of five different kinds of wood with historical significance was presented to General Lafayette at Germantown. The woods include Black Walnut from a tree near Independence Hall, Sweet Gum from Penn's era, Oak from a 1683 wharf, Elm from the Treaty Tree, and Mahogany from Columbus's house.