The Weekend in Germantown Part I

It was nice yesterday spending time in my own neighborhood participating in at least one event of the Revolutionary Germantown Festival. This is a yearly celebration which reenacts the Battle of Germantown in which General George Washington and the American Army attemptes to liberate Philadelphia from British control. In 1777 Philadelphia was the capital of the United States. All week British flags hang outside historic homes in the area signifying British rule. A tent symbolizing British soldiers was erected on the grounds of Grumblethorpe. A full reenacted battle was held at Cliveden House with all day events culminating in the "after the battle bash" held at Grumblethorpe. The British won the battle and celebrated at Grumblethorpe. Yesterday's celebration included food, reenact or's from the battle celebrating their victory, and beer. The event was held from 4:00-8:00 PM. I met several people visiting from other neighborhood walking along Germantown Avenue historic homes.

If you didn't get to attend this year, come participate in the event next October. I didn't go to the reenactment in the morning but did get to see one of the historic homes along Germantown Avenue. A British soldier standing guard caught my attention and I went inside for the PowerPoint presentation and tour of Dreshler-Morris House.  President George Washington and his family stayed in this house twice once during the yellow fever epidemic in Philadelphia, and as a summer retreat for the family. The red settee that was in the house during the families stay is still in the house along with other locally made furniture and some reproductions. 

Market Square, also in Germantown was having their first pop up farmer's market to gage if neighborhood participation was enough for future markets at this location. Hopefully we'll also have a weekly farmers market instead of driving to neighborhoods near by to purchase goods from their markets. Somehow I read the advertisement about the event but had the wrong day. It was today, not yesterday. The weather has been brutal and sticky this weekend, today worse than yesterday with light rain. That didn't stop me from walking to Market Square to see if the event was still being held, and it was. Actually I would have driven but that would have been lazy since it was just up the street several blocks. But my car is out of commission. I was in a car accident after work last week. Not hurt, but my car was. So until it's fixed I'll be riding Uber or being driven by my daughter. Maybe the car insurance includes a rental. We'll see.

Today several vendors were set up. Vegetables drew my attention especially the beautiful local apples, carrots, and radishes. Fresh lettuce, greens, and kale. Baked breads, scones, baguette's, and cookies. I looked but avoid those. Maybe next week. Honey, fresh humus, and native plants. Weaver Way Coop with their merchandise and Germantown Kitchen Garden which had a nice selection of native plants. I'll have to visit them. They also have a weekly farm stand that I've never visited but will regularly in the spring. Lets take a walk on Germantown avenue.

I apologize in advance for any bad picture quality. Grumblethorpe.

I was a member of this church for many years with my daughter.

The brick building on the left is the Germantown Historical Society.

This is a memorial to soldiers killed. I'll talk about that at another time.

I sat on a bench in Market Square enjoying the light breeze after I realized this was the wrong day for the farmer's market and  rested until he caught my attention across the street. Nice of him to pose for me.

Had to walk from one house through a pass to the house.

The garden is maintained but it would be nice to have some attention on native plants and what was use for medicinal purposes. And it would be nice to know what was growing in this area during that time.

The bench was not original but we were told it was put there for visitors to rest during the tour.

The sofa is authentic and there when President Washington visited. This room was set up as his study. Other pictures will be posted when I figure out how to get them off my smart phone onto Google. They should automatically load. Drama for the not so savvy technical woman.