Name/Title
The WissahickonEntry/Object ID
2013.34.5.14Description
The Edwin C. Jellett Series of Scrapbooks, Volume 5 -The Wissahickon
Page 14 contains a newspaper clipping consisting of three columns from The Public Ledger of April 7, 1898. The title appears to be labeled "The Monastery". The article provides a detailed history of the site and the history/genealogy of the individuals associated with this location. The author begins with John Kelpius, a local hermit/mystic and his community of like-minded individuals who established a presence on the site. Following the death of Kelpius, the property was acquired by the Gorgas family and one Joseph Gorgas, a member of the German Dunker community built the structure known as the Monastery. Although the structure built by Gorgas was likely never used as a religious community, the building retained the name due to historical associations and the occasional visits of members of the Ephrata Community in Lancaster County to the site. Following the departure of Gorgas to Ephrata, several owners can be detailed unitl ownership devolved to The Fairmount Park Commission sometime after 1852. The Park Commission still owns the structure today (2014).Collection
GHS Scrapbook CollectionMade/Created
Date made
1890 - 1910Notes
Creation Date: April 7, 1898