Peter Wentz Farmstead — Attraction in Worcester Township

The Peter Wentz Farmstead is an historic, Pennsylvania German farm that has been continuously farmed since 1744. It is located in Worcester Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania near Lansdale.

The first family to till this land was that of Peter and Rosanna Wentz, who were both first-generation Americans. Peter Wentz inherited the property from his father who may have purchased it as early as 1710. The couple had seven children.

The farm was sold to Dewalt Bieber in 1784 and then to Melchior Schultz, a minister of the Schwenkfelder faith, in 1794. Schultz family descendants owned the home until 1969 when it was purchased by the County of Montgomery.

The Georgian-style farmhouse was built in 1758, and is a large 2+1⁄2-story, dwelling with attached out(summer) kitchen and bake oven. The main house consists of two floors with four rooms each and a central passageway on both, a cellar with a corner water spring trough and a full attic. The front facade is built of dressed local red shale and sandstone. The remainder of the building is built of uncut sandstone and localized red shale stone. Located nearby is a circa 1920's poultry house building that has been converted to a visitor center with restrooms and a gift-shop and employees offices upstairs. Also located on the property, there are many reconstructed outbuildings, including an Privy, a smokehouse, a woodshed, an ice-house, a barn, a chicken house, and a sheepfold. Currently, the farm has sheep, cows, and chickens.

The house served as headquarters for the Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army George Washington before and after the Battle of Germantown, October 2–4 and 16–21, 1777. His Excellency did not travel alone. His "military family" included a staff of a military secretary, several aides-de-camp, a dozen servants and his personal guard unit, the Commander-in-Chief's Guard. That unit consisted of sixty infantry soldiers and three officers. Washington set his 9,000 strong army two miles south on top of the Methacton hill to be in striking distance of 8,000 Crown forces in nearby Germantown.

By October 20 news arrived that the fortifications and breastworks around Philadelphia were completed, the British abandoned their outpost in Germantown. Washington responded by moving his troops within a half days march of Philadelphia. Whitemarsh or Fort Washington was chosen as it was 15 miles...

Beautiful, well preserved and restored farmstead of Peter and Rosanna Wentz. They settled here in 1744 and moved into the new house in 1758. The interior of the home has decor and character in keeping with wealthier farmsteads. The home and barn are very large and there are many other smaller buildings. The surrounding grounds and farm are in an idyllic and peaceful setting. This is one of the homes where George Washington stayed. A calendar on their website posts upcoming events. In November there is an Apple cider pressing demonstration and also a Sauerkraut making demonstration. During the month of December there is a candle lighting event. This beautiful historic farm is...

Stopped by for annual sheep shearing and period display event. Volunteers are knowledgeable, friendly and enthusiastic to share about their craft. Very kid friendly. They have a couple newborn lambs. Tours of the house available and give an interesting perspective to the history of the area. They are boasting a new chicken house/pen. Suggested donation of $2. I certainly encourage a little more to help keep history alive in...