Description: Across the road from the well-known Washington Memorial Chapel within Valley Forge National Historical Park is this 50 foot granite obelisk, erected in 1901 to commemorate the grave of Lieutenant John Waterman of Rhode Island, a commissary officer under General Varnum, who died on April 23, 1778. His is the only known grave of the Revolution in Valley Forge. However, what makes this Lucy Sampson image unique is that is depicts the surprising amount of industry on the land that comprised Pennsylvania’s first state park. On the left can be seen, belching smoke from its great brick smokestack, the large, multi-story Ehret Magnesia Company which manufactured asbestos insulation into the 1970s. To the right of the monument is perhaps a farm or some other industrial presence. And on the back of this postcard is the following statement, “My house in between Monument and Magnesia Works can see my lane on this card.” - Herb Fry and Roger Thorne
Photographer/artist: Lucy Sampson
Date taken:
Photo location:
Type: photo
Subject: Military
Township: Upper Merion
Source: Herb and Barbara Fry Collection
References: The Valley Forge Asbestos Insulation Works by Peter Segal and Mike Bertram, TEQ 48-3(September 2011)
