Harleysville, Towamencin Twp., Souderton School District
3 Bedrooms, 2.0 Bathrooms, 2.57 Acres - $375,000

Graciously restored Stone & Stucco Farmhouse, filled with warmth, charm & character on 2.5 acres. Dramatic Family Room with multitude of windows, tile flrs, wood mantled wood stove overlooks the apple tree with terraced gardens, Patio and adjoins the custom kitchen with granite countertops, farm sink & stainless steel stove. Living and Dining Rm offer an exposed wall. There are 3 bedrooms, office or sitting room with great views. The Master Suite, accented with a walk-in closet & beautiful new master bath. This bright sunny home features Pumpkin pine floors, newer baths, Deep window sills, mature landscaping, fruit trees, blueberry bushes, grapes, pear trees, Williamsburg style garden. Wonderful Red Barn includes the 2 car garage. Circa 1840. Shows beautifully!

A History of 590 Quarry Road
The current house was built between 1825 and 1850, however, a much older house circa 1750 was first on the property and was set further back in the garden. Some 18th century building materials were reused in the 1840's house. This is most notably seen in the cellar where some of the beams are hand turned while others are cut with a water saw (water saw mills in Harleysville arrived around 1810). At some point in the 1800's, the roof was lifted to make a third story and evidence of the original roof line in the stone is still visible. The main house never had a fire place but there is evidence on the walls of all rooms where stove pipes were located.

The original 1750 house burnt down. The exact reason it burnt down is unknown, but it is possible that is was one of the house in Harleysville burnt by the British for collaboration with the American Army during the Autumn of 1777.

The till under the window in the dining room was probably used by Nancy King when she used to sell beer from the house.

The barn foundations are circa 1750 and is of PA Bank Barn type. The barn was made bigger around 1900 by Henry Becker. The floor beams and the threshing floor are probably original to the barn, while the upper section of the barn and cattle stalls date from the 1900 alterations.

Most notable resident of the House is James Y. Heckler who wrote the book, "The history of Harleysville and Lower Salford Township" in 1886. Heckler collected and compiled local history and geneaology and published it. Most of the area was founded by Mennonite families and these people kept no church records out of religious polity. This book is available from the Mennonite Church in Harleysville in reprint.

From History of Harleysville, 1886 - J. Y. Heckler.
May 23, 1682 - John Longhurst purchases 250 acres from William Penn (which includes the land the house is on)
Hans Reiff purchases the land on February 13th, 1718
The land goes to his eldest son, Jacob Reiff
Jacob's brother, Peter Reiff, purchases 193 acres on August 9th, 1737
(Land stays in Reiff family but unknown names at this time)
John Reiff
John Alderfer purchases part of the Reiff land from John Reiff.
The current house was built at the beginning of the 19th century
The previous house stood further back in the garden.
The house was built by John Alderfer who was married to Nancy King who used the house as a beer shop. At some point, Nancy stopped the shop and while she lived there Joan Boaz taught English and German in the house for a short time. Nancy could not agree with the scholars and the school had to be discontinued. Nancy died on July 10th, 1843.
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J.Y. Heckler lived in the house in the 1870's
Henry Becker lived in the house in the 1880's to the 1920's

I have tio find the deeds, which are packed somewhere but I can add the gaps between the Alderfers and Heckler and also have the names from the 1920's to the present.

Lee Hallman in his book "The 1777 Revolutionary War Encampment at Heckler Plains: During the last two weeks of 1777, Heckler Plains was the far right of the Continental Line (with the line following the Skippack Creek and the left being at Rt. 73) and served as an artillery park consisting of 40 cannon. After the Battle of Germantown on October 4th, 1777, the army came back to Harleysville where the 1741 barn that stands on Hackler Plains was used as a field hospital. The encampment area included the 590 Quarry Road property, the original circa 1750 house and barn at 590 Quarry Road, although there is no known documentation on the use of this house or barn by Washington's Army.

For more information, please contact Jane.

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