Last Saturday we went to an Open House at the Witwer homestead along Route 322 between Hinkletown and Blue Ball. This is where my five times great-grandmother, Elizabeth Witwer, grew up. She married Jacob Stauffer (ca.1747-1821) and is also Leroy's four times great-grandmother.
Elizabeth was the daughter of Michael Witwer. He was the son of Hans (John) Witwer who immigrated about 1717. A survey of 632 acres in Earl Township was made in 1731 for Hans Witwer, but he did not receive the patent before he died in 1741.
In 1736, Michael bought 56 acres from Jacob Sensenig. This land adjoined the land of his father, Hans. He bought an additional tract later and got a patent for 145 of acres. The house and mill were located on these acres.
The old stone house has no date stone. There may have been one on the left gable before the small addition was made. However, the type of construction indicates it was probably built in the 1700s. There are deep windowsills and wide floor boards, some measuring eighteen inches across. Trees that huge disappeared long ago.
There is also a summer house next to the main house. A later owner moved an old log house and attached it to the summer kitchen to connect it to the main house. The original fireplace is inside of the summer kitchen. The hole in the wall provides access to the beehive oven outside.
The springhouse near the pond is a later construction.
The property around the house has shrunk to 3.5 acres. The barn across the road from the house and the rest of the farm land has been sold off in pieces. Electric and plumbing has been installed in the house but much of the original construction is intact. I am always glad to see people who value and preserve old things. We are who we are because of those who lived before us.
