About the LMT historical society
The history of Lower Macungie Township, in western Lehigh County, is being preserved today by a group of dedicated local residents who have seen much of the traditional township landscape disappear in recent years. We can still see many barns and old stone homes, often beautifully restored to suit our modern way of life. But the farmsteads themselves are in most cases no longer active, and housing developments have taken over much of the farmland.
The Lower Macungie Township Historical Society was formed in 1989, initially to save a log house built in about 1790 from demolition. The log house, in the village of Wescosville along busy Route 222, a former King's Highway, was moved a hundred yards west into a township park, where it is being maintained by the society. Plans are to restore the interior as funds become available. The society is developing an Historic Structures Inventory and conducts a public lecture series on local history in conjunction with the Macungie Historical Society and Kalmbach Memorial Park.
All photographic images on this site are provided by Focus On This Photography & Kevin Shoemaker. Protected by copyright.
WESCOSVILLE LOG HOUSE
The Lower Macungie Township Historical Society was formed in 1989, initially to save a log house built in about 1790 from demolition. The log house, in the village of Wescosville along busy Route 222, a former King's Highway, was moved a hundred yards west into a township park, where it is being maintained by the society.
HENRY BORTZ LOG HOME
The Wescosville Log House is a typical example of Pennsylvania German log structure, which is not what most people imagine such buildings to have been. The homes were not “rustic” and “crude” like log cabins in other parts of the country, but rather were as comfortable as the larger stone homes being built at the same time.
One of the least-recognized aspects of the Pennsylvania German log house is that they were commonly sided with clapboard, also called shiplap siding, which was then whitewashed. The logs were left exposed only under porch areas, which were already protected from the weather. These were also whitewashed. Interior walls were plastered as soon as time and money allowed, and whitewashed. The ceiling was usually exposed and not plastered but whitewashed.
This structure was moved in the spring of 1989 from its original site to save it from being razed. The building was documented by a consultant in historic architecture during 1991. Restoration plans have been based on the advice in that report. New material has been removed, the exterior restored to its original appearance, and a kitchen garden planted.
The log house is open to the public during Society events, which are announced in our calendar and newsletter.
Please come back in the next few weeks for more information about the log house, and upcoming events.
Wescosville Log House
Lower Macungie Township Wescosville Recreation Area
5047 Hamilton Boulevard (Route 222)
Wescosville, Pennsylvania
LMT BARN SURVEY
Lower Macungie Township Historical Society is conducting a survey of the historic barns in the township. Our goal is to record as much information as possible about each barn for archival purposes. We may eventually include some of these barns in a publication, with the current owners permission, but our main goal is to preserve the information for future generations. Sadly, a lot of the township's barns have been abandoned or torn down, and we want to record the information, images and stories as accurately as possible.
In the coming weeks, more information will be available about our barn survey in this space. Until then, if you are a barn owner and would agree to have a member of our Barn Survey team conduct a survey of your barn, or if you are simply willing to give us basic information about the building, please use our contact form to let us know, and one of us will be in touch with you.
VETERANS RECOGNITION PROJECT
Lower Macungie Township Historical Society has begun a project to preserve the history of veterans who have served in the Armed Forces of the United States from the time of the Revolutionary War to those currently serving around the world today.
Our goal is to assemble a comprehensive collection of photographs, along with biographical sketches, for as many veterans as possible who have lived in Lower Macungie Township at any time in their lives. This information will then be made available to current and future generations for research into this important aspect of our community's history.
If you have lived in Lower Macungie Township at any time in your life and would like to be included in this historical collection, please contact us. Family members are also welcome to send information about veteras. If you would like additional information, please contact us.
If you know of anyone else who has served or had an ancestor or relative who has served in the Armed Forces, please let them know about this project!
