 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2002 (XXXX 4) |
Willistown's 1798 stone meetinghouse was damaged by fire early on the morning of April 11. The fire completely destroyed the attached 19th century wood-framed library and the shingled porch roof on the south side of the building. The original meetinghouse survived but suffered scorching and extensive smoke and water damage.
Discovered by the property caretaker about 6:30 a.m., the library fire consumed over 800 Quaker books and the original parchment diagram of the Meeting's adjacent burial ground. Fortunately, copies of many of the destroyed volumes and records are stored in the Friends Historical Library at Swarthmore College and a duplicate cemetery diagram is available. The Meeting regularly deposits records at Swarthmore. A notebook containing a complete list of all the volumes in the library was found in the debris thrown outside after the fire. This find by 10-year-old member George Cauffman was a good reminder to keep accurate records for insurance purposes in fire-safe places.
Representatives of the Chester County Fire Marshal's Office and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms pored over the building, but the cause of the fire has not been determined. The ATF team, with its dog, came to the site because all fires at houses of worship require Federal inspection.
Willistown members and attenders were temporarily worshipping in the Meeting's social room. The Meeting feels very grateful that so little was lost and that we will be able to replace the library. Our special gratitude goes to the Meeting caretaker, Joe Simonetti, who discovered the fire and ran into the Meeting room with two full fire extinguishers and poured their contents against the door between the Meeting room and the library even as the heat of the fire was melting the piano keys next to him. His bravery saved much that we as a Meeting treasure.
Nancy Donaldson
Willistown Meeting (PA)
Last modified: Wednesday, February 18, 2004 at 08:18 AM