[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 18636]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            BYBERRY FRIENDS MEETING HOUSE--200TH ANNIVERSARY

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                        HON. ALLYSON Y. SCHWARTZ

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 11, 2008

  Ms. SCHWARTZ. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the 200th 
anniversary of the Byberry Friends Meeting House, located at 3001 
Byberry Road in the far northeast section of Philadelphia.
  In 1675, four adventurous Quaker brothers--Nathanial, Thomas, Daniel, 
and William Walton--arrived in New Castle, Delaware, from England, in 
search of a new home and religious freedom. They walked nearly 50 miles 
along the banks of the Delaware River into Pennsylvania, arriving at 
Poquessing Creek. They were captivated by the region, which reminded 
them of their former home in Bibury, England, and so they established 
their home here. They had success farming and were able to establish 
good relationships with the Native American tribes who helped them 
survive their initial difficult years.
  This community subsequently grew with the influx of more Quakers in 
the 1680s. The first Quaker meetings were held in the homes of members. 
As the community grew, members were able to build a log meetinghouse in 
which to worship. In 1808, 133 years after the Walton brothers settled 
here, the community built the larger meetinghouse that is still in use 
today. Members of the Byberry Friends Meeting were influential in the 
movement to abolish slavery.
  Today, the Byberry Friends Meeting continues to hold weekly worship 
meetings. The school building, used for many years to educate the 
children of the Meeting, is used by a community day care academy.
  Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the 
historic Byberry Friends Meeting House on this momentous milestone and 
honoring the contributions that the members of this community have made 
to the people of my district and Philadelphia.

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