Thursday, September 24, 2009

Valley Forge Sharpener

Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, was the site of the American Continental Army camp in the winter of 1777–1778 during the American Revolutionary War. This was a time of great suffering for George Washington's Army, but it was also a time of retraining and rejuvenation. The site of the encampment became a Pennsylvania State Park in 1893 and, on the 4th of July, 1976, it became Valley Forge National Historical Park. The modern park features historical and recreated buildings and structures; memorials; and a newly renovated visitor center. A chapel was built in 1903 as a memorial to George Washington. Other park amenities include walking and bicycle trails. The park supports around 1000 deer which can be seen grazing in the wide open fields. The company, Sharpenking recently began selling a Valley Forge Washington HQ pencil sharpener for $5.50. Do you know of other souvenir versions of Valley Forge? Also in this park is The National Memorial Arch which is dedicated "to the officers and private soldiers of the Continental Army. The Arch was erected in 1910 by an act of the 61st Congress.The architect in charge of the arch was Paul Philip Cret and its It is modeled on the Arch of Titus in Rome. Does anyone know if a souvenir replica was ever made of this arch?

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Yes I have the arch and it is still currently being sold. Also of note is the Old School house at Valley Forge that was made in the 1930's and is very hard to find. SD

Anonymous said...

In addition to Washington's HQ as a pencil sharpener it was available in the 1960's as a S&P set on a tray.
The arch is sold in Philly area as a cast iron bank. The same company reproduced the Masons Grand Temple in Philadelphia in cast iron from the very hard to find 1800's casting.
For the bicentennial a replica of the troop cabins was sold as a black cast iron bank, the same manufacturer made a replica of the Hessian Huts from Reading, PA (Reading had a prisoner of war camp for the Hessians). Mark

Dave said...

Great information. Thanks Scott and Mark. If you have any photos of the souvenirs you mention, send them to me.

Anonymous said...

Here you go Dave:

http://www.calstatela.edu/faculty/abloom/vfarch.jpg

Related Posts with Thumbnails