relive history with us

The Swamp Creek Schoolhouse serves as the Society's hub and meeting place. Built in 1853, it has been carefully restored by Society volunteers. Inside, you'll find a collection of Township school memorabilia and an extensive schoolbook collection. Additionally, the schoolhouse hosts local history programs that allow visitors to engage with the past. And it serves as a popular field trip destination, where school as well as home school groups can experience what 19th century school life was like.

Originally part of the Dengler family homestead, the restored summer kitchen, circa 1845, features a cooking hearth and bake oven. During mild weather months, society volunteers demonstrate period-specific cooking and baking techniques. Their ongoing research into 19th century domestic practices provides a unique opportunity to interpret local domestic skills and crafts, much like those once practiced at the Dengler farm.

Only steps from the summer kitchen, the Society created and maintains a mid-19th century, scaled down, PA Dutch demonstration kitchen garden. As a three-season garden, and with plantings typical of the period, Society volunteers cultivate produce and medicinal herbs which would have likely been found in this locale. The garden provides a hands-on opportunity for students and adults to understand the reality of sustainable living demands of earlier times.

The Society has published four books of articles about local area history: Swamp New Hanover, Volumes One, Two, Three, and Four. In addition, we offer engaging local history programs hosted at the Swamp Creek Schoolhouse. Please view our events blog page for the latest happenings.