The Parish House Museum
The Museum is the focus of the Hummelstown Area Historical Society also know as the Parish House building. Located at N. Rosanna and North Alley (no street number) in Hummelstown, PA 17036. Phone: 717-566-6314.
In addition to having an excellent collection of general artifacts of the Hummelstown area from the 1700's, the museum contains an extensive arrowhead collection.
Museum Hours
Monday 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
(May to October)
Third Sunday of every month
2 p.m.- 4 p.m.
Other times by appointment.
The Parish House building which serves as the museum for the Hummelstown Area Historical Society was built in 1815 as Zion Lutheran Church, the second for the congregation organized in 1753, which had dedicated its first edifice, a log structure, in 1766.
Upon the erection of the new brownstone church in 1893 the old building was used for community activities including a public library and reading room. Literary and musical programs were held with both local and outside talent, but these activities succumbed to declining interest by the end of the century.
Then in 1911 the tower was completely removed and the entire building remodeled to accommodate the Sunday School which had outgrown its quarters in the 1893 building. Since then its appearance has remained essentially unchanged
.
During a period when the Hummelstown Public Schools were overcrowded the lower rooms served as classrooms. In 1965 facilities were provided for the Sunday School in connection with the brownstone church and the Sunday School moved out.
The rooms again became available for the public but that use declined and the building saw little activity until November, 1971, when the Lutheran congregation granted its use to the Historical Society.
The building has long been known locally as the “Parish House.”In this building you will find more than 14,000 items which reflect the way of life in the Hummelstown community for more than two centuries.
The Parish House and the adjoining cemetery stand on land deeded to the Lutheran congregation by Frederick Hummel who in 1762 founded the town, laying out into lots a tract of land originally warranted to Henry Chambers in 1744.
This section for which he paid 200 pounds sterling became the center of the present town. The founder’s last resting place is marked by a monument in the cemetery just north of the building.