May Program

Our May program will be held on Wednesday, May 7th at 7:00 at the society building. Please join us as our own vice president, Nathan Babb explains the timeline of the archaeological study at Hood Mansion in Limerick Pennsylvania. The Boyertown Area Historical Society’s Archaeology Division with the help of a forensic archaeologist and a forensic anthropologist worked with Eastern Pennsylvania Preservation Society at the mansion. The Mansion (Called Bessie Belle) was built in 1843, designed by Washington Hood for his father, John McClellan Hood. John wanted this mansion as a summer home for his wife and his thirteen children who lived in Philadelphia.

Son, Washington would die at the early age of 32 from the Yellow Fever Plague. His parent erected a monument in honor of this son at this beloved family home in Limerick. The family crypt was next to the monument in honor of Washington. John and Elizabeth Hood and son Montgomery Hood were laid to rest in this family crypt. Over the years the crypt fell into disrepair and some bones were stolen. To stop this the bones were all removed and buried elsewhere on the property.

The property was sold a few times, each time the plans for the mansion was to be demolished. At one time in the past year the mansion was listed as free to anyone who would move it. No one took advantage of this deal.

Nathan got the opportunity to work on the property to find artifacts and the bones that had been buried many years ago. Nathan worked with a forensic anthropologist and a forensic archeologist during this adventure. He will tell us about the timeline of his adventure, the crew he worked with and the treasures they discovered.

Sadly the mansion was demolished on October 29, 2024. Left are the memories and the treasures that were recovered. Please join us to learn of this adventure.