The Wentz Family: a familiar name in the Whitpain community as well as in the Worcester Township community.
The family descended from Peter Wentz (1680-1749), who was born in Partenheim, Germany where he and his nephews sought fortune in the New World. When he arrived in the New World, he joined the Dunkers or Brethren sect. He was naturalized in 1729/30 in Philadelphia.
In 1744, Peter settled in Worcester Township where he built a 2-story, colonial house (known today as the Peter Wentz Farmstead) with red sandstone. He purchased the land, where the home stands, from Clement Plumstead.
NOTE: There's confusion to when the house was actually built. Sources say that it was his son Peter who built the colonial home in 1758.
His son Peter Wentz, II (1719-1793) settled in the homestead (possibly built it) with his wife Rosanna. During his occupation of the home, his home played a key role during the American Revolution. General George Washington and his staff encamped in the Wentz home in October 2-4, 1777 before the Battle of Germantown, then later returned to the home from October 16-21, 1777.
Fun Fact #1: I interned at the Peter Wentz Farmstead in the fall 2018 where I researched and cataloged the architectural salvage collection in the homestead attic, where most of my work took place. My interests in archives began here!! Read more about my experience at PWF here!
The Wentz / Rising Sun Inn
Peter, II's brother Abraham Wentz (1725-1774) arrived in Whitpain in 1759 where he bought 110 acres from John Johnson.
In 1764, Abraham built a red brick building in Whitpain on Skippack Pike. Unfortunately, the tavern was left vacant and Abraham didn't leave a will to have someone else take care of the tavern.
Fun Fact #2: The Wentz Inn was known as the "Wheat Market." The tavern was used as a stopping place for farmers to buy grain.
It wasn't until his son Colonel John Wentz (1750-1817) was named the innkeeper. John served during the American Revolution as a lieutenant colonel. In 1779, he was a sub-agent to purchase four of the French army.
Between 1790 and 1800, John built a stone house right across from the tavern.
He was appointed Justice of the Peace in 1798 with the "Pennsylvania Farmer" Job Roberts.
John's son Abraham Wentz (1786-1870) took over both his father's properties: the tavern and the home. He was the innkeeper of the tavern from 1814-1870.
Abraham passed on the tavern to his son John T. Wentz (1810-1901), but owned it for a short period of time before moving to Norristown in 1888. He ended up giving the property to his brother Abram Wentz (1823-1909) one year before John left Whitpain.
The last Wentz to own the tavern was Abram's son Earl C. Wentz (1883-1965).
The tavern is now owned by the engineering firm Robert E. Blue Consulting Engineers, P.C. since 1986.
Architecture
The Wentz Inn building is remarkably in well-condition. It definitely looks like it belongs in the colonial era based on its architectural features.
According to the Pennsylvania Historic Resource Survey Form, the style of the building is Federal. But, based on what I know about colonial architecture, there are some features on this building that didn't convince me this is a Federal-style building.
Whenever I think about Federal architecture, I think about its small windows from the top floor that appear on the front facade of the building. The Wentz Inn building does not have any. It does have three pedimented dormers, which is very common for Georgian architecture.
I would say this building is more Georgian style mostly because of these features:
Symmetrical facade
Pedimented dormers
Transom window
Paired end chimneys
6x6 sash windows
Pent roof
I like to spotlight the brickwork on the building. If you look closely, there's a particular name of this structural brick-bonding method called the "Flemish Bond," where it consists of alternating headers and stretchers in every course.
"Flemish bond is a frustrating misnomer because this brick bond is not native to Flanders or even nearby sections of France and Holland. However, it does appear on late medieval buildings in scattered areas of northern and central Europe, particularly Poland. A rough but conspicuous early example is seen on Munich’s famous Frauenkirche, built 1468-88. How and from where it was suddenly spread to England in the early 17th century has not been determined. Yet its association with buildings in the style of contemporary structures in the Low Countries has resulted in its being termed 'Flemish' bond."
- Institute of Classical Architecture & Art's Advisory Council
Bibliography
"1149 Skippack Pike, Blue Bell, PA 19422." LoopNet. Accessed February 7, 2022. https://www.loopnet.com/Listing/1149-Skippack-Pike-Blue-Bell-PA/16186186/.
"Abraham Wentz (1725-1774)." Geni. September 29, 2021. https://www.geni.com/people/Abraham-Wentz/6000000001500487789.
Bean, Theodore Weber. History of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Volume 2. (Philadelphia: Everts & Peck, 1884): 1180-1181.
"Find A Grave." Find A Grave. Accessed September 29, 2021. https://www.findagrave.com.
"Google Maps Area Calculator Tool." DaftLogic. Accessed September 29, 2021. https://www.daftlogic.com/projects-google-maps-area-calculator-tool.htm.
"Local History Sketch. Interesting Local Matter Collected by 'E.M.': Old Tavern Site in Whitpain--Long a Landmark--Wentz Property, Near Centre Square--Now Owned by John C. Morris and Mary McAvoy." Ambler Gazette. June 20, 1901. Page 2. http://digitalcollections.powerlibrary.org/cdm/compoundobject/collection/wivp-gazett/id/1469/rec/1.
"Peter Wentz (1680-1749)." WikiTree. Accessed September 29, 2021. https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Wentz-327.
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 2. (New York, Chicago: T.S. Benham & Co. and The Lewis Publishing Co., 1904): 70-71.
"Technical Notes 30 - Bonds and Patterns in Brickwork." The Brick Industry Association. March 1999. https://www.gobrick.com/docs/default-source/read-research-documents/technicalnotes/30-bonds-and-patterns-in-brickwork.pdf?sfvrsn=0.
Wentz, Helen. Wentz: A Record of Some Descendants of Peter Wentz, The Immigrant. (Oxford: Miss. Bertha Earhart, 1939): 22-65, 80-89, 192-194.
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