Images and text include:
Folio 10:
Newsclipping (undated) found in folio 10:
"Among the old properties in Germantown none attract the attention of the visitor more than the one on the southwest side of Main street, below Walnut lane, with its quaint and comfortable looking mansion and its spacious and well kept grounds, shaded by majestic trees. The Chew house...excepted, there is no place in Germantown with as interesting history as this one, which is owned by members of the Haines family, to whom it has descended in a direct line...from the original owner, Hans Millan, two centuries ago.
"Hans Millan was a Hollander, who, it is supposed, came to Germantown along with Francis Daniel Pastorious, and from whom he received his grant of land...While it is thought that he settled here earlier, the first mention of his name among the settlers occurs in 1689. Presumably about 1695 the rear portion of the present house was built, it being, it is said, the first stone house erected in Germantown. A few years later the front portion was erected, an open passage or cart way dividing the first stories, the buildings being joined from the second floor. This cart way led to a small brewery, which was built some years later by Reuben Haines, and which stood on a spot where West Walnut lane now is. In 1824 this passageway was closed and the house consolidated.
"In the central part of the house was an immense Dutch oven and fireplace, which when if was torn down yielded sufficient stone to build a long and thick stone wall over three feet high, in the rear of the place.
Manuscript text found with newsclipping on the back of four photographs of Wyck, in folio 10:
Text by Jenkins from 1913 pamphlet in folio 10:
"The early descriptions of Germantown tell of the long and crooked Main Street, the fruit trees lining it and the fact that many of the houses had their gable ends to the street. It is therefore of interest to note that 'Wyck,' one of the oldest houses standing in Germantown, is the only dwelling on the Main Street that now shows its gable end to the passerby.
"No one knows just when 'Wyck' was built. The house originally
consisted of two parts, and the one further from the Main Street
is thought to have been erected about 1690 by Hans Milan, and the
part toward the street at a later period.
"Like almost all houses of importance along our Main Street,
'Wyck' was used as a hospital after the battle of Germantown. It
stood in the thick of the fight and it is known that a party of
British were in possession of the big house on the opposite
corner of the street and that they were vigorously attacked by
the American troops.
"The covered passageway between the two buildings was used as an
operating room and the blood-stains of the wounded are still to
be seen on the floor boards.
"In 1824 this passageway between the two buildings was built up
and the house presented one continuous front as it does today.
"Here in 1825 was given a reception to General Lafayette, then on
his triumphal visit to the United States. He had come to
Germantown on a hot morning of July 20th. He had been received
by the whole town at Neglee's Hill, had been asked to breakfast
at the Chew house, visited the Mt. Airy Military Academy,
journeyed up to Chestnut Hill for a view of Barren Hill, the
scene of the skirmish of that name, and early in the afternoon
the party had returned to 'Wyck.' Here Lafayette stopped for an
hour, 'where he again received visits from ladies and gentlemen
of respectability.' The presentation of the townspeople was made
by Charles J. Wister, for many years one of the best known and
most active citizens of the town...
"Just where these interesting ceremonies occurred can only be
conjectured, but it is known that the reception took place in the
passageway through the center of the house. There is a tradition
that the General, fatigued by the labors of the day, was seated
during a portion of the reception in an arm chair, still
carefully preserved in the Haines family. The tradition is that
it was one of two chairs which Franklin brought with him on his
return from his service abroad as Minister of the United States
to
France...
"'Wyck' stands in the midst of the noise and bustle of our Main
Street, a quiet and peaceful memorial of the past. The house is
one continual delight to every one fond of the old days and ways.
It is not provided with either gas or electric light, candles
and lamps being all that is used, in keeping with its low
ceilings and furniture of the olden times. Among the trees about
the house is a Spanish chestnut, a seedling from a tree which
Washington had planted for Judge Peters on the lawn at Belmont in
Fairmount Park. In the olden days a brewery stood on Walnut
Lane which was built by Caspar Wister Haines and which was torn
down about 1842. The present garden wall was made from stones
taken from the Dutch oven which originally stood in the present
dining room. Many amusing anecdotes are told of Reuben Haines.
He was deeply interested in agriculture and was one of the
projectors of the turnpike road. Of the horrors of the Main
Street in the early days, before it was turnpiked, many stories
are told. It was deep with mud in the winter and spring and
almost as deep with dust in the summer. It is related that at
one time Reuben Haines wished to cross to the other side, and in
order to get safely over he saddled his horse and rode. A
portrait of him by Rembrandt Peale is preserved in the house.
"For many years 'Wyck' was the home of Miss Jane R. Haines, who
preserved it in its ancient form. In 1890 the large old-
fashioned barn which stood on the place was altered into a
comfortable dwelling which has its entrance on Walnut Lane."
Manuscript text found on back of J. Richard
sketch in folio 10:
"This old homestead derived its name, Wyck, from an English
residence. The work means white, and, by a coincidence, the
house well deserves the appellation it being plastered and
frequently white-washed.
"On Zimmerman's plan it is marked lot no. 17 toward the
Schuylkill, being located at Main & Walnut Lane and running back
originally as far as the Township Line. It has ever been in the
same family, though inherited for a long time through the female
line. In 1697 Hans Milan purchased the property and probably
erected part of the house. His daughter Margaret married
Deidrick, called Dirck, Jansen, now Johnson. Their daughter
Catherine married Caspar Wistar and their daughter Margaret
married Reuben Haines, born 1728, and they were married 1760. By
this marriage there was only one son, Caspar Wistar Haines, who
was probably the first of this name to come to Germantown. He
was one of the originators of the turnpike and became its
treasurer. His only son, Reuben, was a member of the
Philosophical Society and in the first year of the Academy of
Natural Sciences; of the latter he was secretary until his
death.
"Considerable additions were made to the house in the last
century and some alterations about sixty years ago. It is a
striking looking building, standing with the gable end to the
avenue, its front of 80 ft. facing south eastwardly; its width
varies from 20 to 30 ft. Of course Wyck bore its part in the
battle and its floor is yet stained with the blood of wounded
soldiers who were carried into the house during the
engagement.
"When General Lafayette visited this country in 1824 he was
entertained by Reuben Haines and held a reception in the old
house when he was introduced by Mr. C.J. Wistar to the ladies of
the town.
"When this house was first built it is doubtful if the Main St.
occupied its present location, as the Indian path which formed
the first road followed the low ground further to the west, where
Honey Run crossed the grounds.
"The old rifle was owned by a German soldier in the British army,
probably a Hessian, & was found on the Haines property after the
battle, & is now in the possession of Miss Haines.
"See Smith & Botton for Brief of Title. The family think the
house built by Hans Milan is all gone, & that the original part
of the present house was built by Dirck Jansen between 1710 &
1720."
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