The Ruins Found on the Kibblehouse Property
- Yen Ho
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
From viewing the 1916 map, I found an interesting feature on a certain property that showed a ruin that belonged to Ralph Kibblehouse, or possibly belonged to someone else before Kibblehouse purchased the property. Was it a ruin that was left behind since the 17th or 18th centuries? What was even that ruin?
Ralph Kibblehouse
Ralph Kibblehouse (1871-1944) was the son of George and Hannah Kibblehouse. After attending public school in Gwynedd, Ralph became an apprentice of Jacob C. Rile to learn carpenter trade. He worked around the area until he married Sarah Baker in 1894, and settled his family in Gwynedd where he continued his carpenter trade. He moved around Gwynedd until in 1902 he moved to a 32-acre farm that belonged to the estate of Mordecai Jones. It was at this place where Ralph operated a stone crusher and grist mill and employed 12-15 men, supplying the local demand for crushed stones necessary for paving the highways in the area.
From the 1916 map, a ruin was found on his property, and it might have something to do with a fire that broke out and destroyed the crusher mill that same year.
Bibliography
Friends' Intelligencer and Journal, 1889. (Philadelphia: Friends' Intelligencer Association, 1889), 409.
Jenkins, Howard Malcolm. Historical Collections Relating to Gwynedd: A Township of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Settled 1698, by Welsh Immigrants ; with Some Data Referring to the Adjoining Township of Montgomery, Also a Welsh Settlement. (Philadelphia: Ferris Bros., 1884): 191.
Morris, William E, and Smith & Wistar. Map of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania: from original surveys. [Philadelphia: Smith & Wistar, 1849] Map. https://www.loc.gov/item/2012590207/.
Mueller, A. H. Atlas of the North Penn Section of Montgomery County, Pa., Plate 29, 1916.
Roberts, Ellwood. Biographical Annals of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Containing Genealogical Records of Representative Families, Including Many of the Early Settlers and Biographical Sketches of Prominent Citizens, Volume 1. (New York: T.S. Benham, 1904): 268-269.
Rock Products and Building Materials: Incorporating Dealers Building Material Record, Volume 18, no. 10 (1916): 43.
First thanks for researching and posting our local history. I love it! But this post confuses me. Was the “turnpike” on the map the present day Sumneytown Pike? Where was his mill? Maybe near the Evans road bridge over the Wissahickon? Kate Harper