Perhaps no other structure tells the story of community like the Rittenhouse Barn. The Rittenhouse Barn stands as a testament to history, resilience, and community spirit. Today we will uncover the hidden stories within these walls.
The original Rittenhouse Barn was built of local stone. It appeared on the 1798 Direct Tax List. The barn belonged to Margaret Rittenhouse. She was the widow of William Rittenhouse. William was the great-grandson of William and Gertrude Rittenhouse. They settled in Germantown around 1690 with their three children.
The Rittenhouse family made their mark. By the end of 1690, they ran the first paper mill in America. It supplied paper to printers in Germantown. For over 150 years, the mill kept running.
But the original barn did not survive. In 1938, the Works Progress Administration oversaw its demolition. This was part of President Roosevelt’s New Deal. The WPA employed architects, engineers, masons, and carpenters during the Great Depression. They built the present Rittenhouse Barn. Curtis Seibert, a WPA architect, drew up the plans. His design sought to recreate the original structure. He adapted the barn to modern park needs. The Pabst Lane Shelter plan is very similar. Both barns feature three parts and a loft. They are built into the hillside in the typical bank barn style. Seibert included stables, a tool room, and a storage shed in his design for the Rittenhouse Barn.
The added chimney suggests the barn served as a shelter. By the mid-1980s, the storage shed was gone. However, physical evidence of it remains on the barn today. The service bays are also gone. The foundations still exist. For forty years, Fairmount Park vehicles were maintained at the Rittenhouse Barn.
Historic Rittenhouse Town took control of the building in the 1990s. They restored it carefully. Today, the Rittenhouse Barn houses the Paper Studio. It also holds the offices of the Wissahickon Restoration Volunteers.
Imagine the original barn. Picture Margaret Rittenhouse overseeing her property. Think of the workers building the new barn during the Depression. Envision the park vehicles being serviced here. The Rittenhouse Barn has witnessed many eras. It has adapted to changing needs. It continues to serve the community today. It is a tangible link to the past. It is a vibrant space for learning and preservation. The Rittenhouse Barn is more than just a building. It is a living piece of history.