17 
buildings as Concord School, and Union School, or German- 
town Academy, appeared to enlarge and dignify the "town." 
Increasing importance offered greater attractions, and 
traveller students usually found their way to Germantown 
before leaving for home. After Pastorius, the village was 
for a long time silent, and it is mainly upon the records of 
observing visitors that we must depend for a fuller 
knowledge of the life of the inhabitants. The district 
continued rural, but as lots were sold, and as buildings were 
erected, "Main Street" came to present a more solid front, 
although for a long time open fields extended far to the 
rear. Joseph Murter told me that in the year 1820, and for 
several years after, the only houses in Germantown not upon 
Main Street, were a very few farm houses situated on the 
side lanes. Now, all visitors who came to Germantown were 
not favorably impressed, and to form an intelligent judg- 
ment, it becomes a duty to present the "other side" of the 
picture. 
Silas Deane, of Connecticut, in 1775 wrote, "I cannot 
describe pompous villas, or elegant gardens, where there are 
none, unless I meant a romance, and as I mean only to divert 
you with honest chat, I describe the country as it is. Between 
this city and Germantown, there is not one elegant country- 
seat, and the greatest improvements on nature, is that on 
their groves, owing by no means to luxury, but to penury and 
want." 1 
James Mease in 181 1 described "Germantown as a 
summer retreat for a number of citizens, and excepting its 
airy and elevated situation, being on the first ridge after you 
leave Philadelphia, it has little to interest or detain 
strangers." 
Of it, Fanny Kemble as late as the year 1835 wrote: 
"The cross roads in every direction were a mere succession 
of long, dusty, sandy pit-falls or muddy quagmires, where 
on foot or on horse-back, rapid progress was equally impos- 
sible. The whole region from the very outskirts of the 
city to the beautiful crest of Chestnut Hill over-looking the 
