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In the summer of 2000, Bill and Gaye began their search for their Proudfoot heritage. With the help of locals and historical research, they uncovered the original Proudfoot-Wallace homestead from the 1760s. This discovery led to the formation of the Proudfit Family Association and a reunion in 2001.
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The Search Begins2000 • Both Bill and Gaye were searching for their Proudfit heritage in the summer of 2000. • Bill stopped at the York Historical Society to research one week before Gaye visited with the same purpose in mind. • Bill had left his e-mail address with the librarian who gave it to Gaye. • Gaye contacted Bill through that e-mail address • Other contacts were established and the e-mails flew hot and heavy. • And that’s where our story begins . . . Bill Walters Gaye David
During his visit, Bill discovers the original Proudfoot-Wallace homestead with the help of Helen Breneman Miller who currently owns about half of Proudfit Point land grant. • Bill had a 1907 photograph of Andrew Proudfoot’s home from Historical Sketch of the Proudfit Family of York County, Pennsylvania, compiled by Margaret Compton and published in 1911, which had been sent to him by researcher Kathleen Eaton Greene along with other Proudfit material. Using maps and interviewing local residents, Bill eventually determined the location of Andrew Proudfoot’s land and then, with the help of neighbor Helen Breneman Miller, he found an old shed with the distinctive double chimneys shown in Compton’s picture. Under the 20th century siding, Bill found a log structure he was sure was his ancestor’s home in the "new world."
How many people drove by and didn’t realize what they were looking at? Would you have known this was the 1760 home of Andrew Proudfoot??
Brief History • In 1754 Andrew Proudfoot came to America acompanying his brother, James, who had been called to Pennsylvania to minister to the Scottish settlers • In about 1760 he built his home in Pennsylvania Picture from 1907
Over the years it was expanded to include an area known as the “mother-in-law’s” addition. • The house was occupied for many generations • But as sometimes happens the house fell into disrepair over the past, several decades
Bill’s next step was to prove the old shed was once a home and then establish the age of the structure. He knew from Compton’s book that there had been an addition to the original log home – a stone extension which was added by a later owner – and this was consistent with the layout of the shed. In order to document his find, he contacted Gary L. Geiselman, General Partner of Olde York Homes. Mr. Geiselman went to the site in November 2000, and reported that the original log structure dates to the 1760s or 1770s, based on the following details: • the overall design of the older part of the structure is typical of 18th century buildings in the York County area; • the primitive hand-split lath on the first floor walls; • the design of the fireplace and chimney; • the style of hand-hewn floor joists and logs; • the chair rail and baseboard design; • the underside beaded loft flooring, a distinctive decorative element which can still be seen from the first floor.
Mr. Geiselman noted white-washed log walls in the sleeping loft area which was still intact; the remains of the porch ceiling rafters showing that the house had an approximate five-foot porch overhang along the front; a walk-in basement and perhaps a walk-in fireplace on the lower level, a common design for many early York County houses. He dated the addition to the original structure to be as early as 1790 to 1800. • In conclusion, Mr. Geiselman reports, "I was amazed to see how little the interior of these buildings had changed. . . . The interior of the log house shows evidence of nothing but whitewash being applied to the woodwork, plaster and log walls. The newer section shows white-washed walls and at most one coat of paint on all wood-work. What is remaining of these structures is truly a time capsule. I would love to see someone do something with this building before it deteriorates any further." • With this interesting and important discovery, Bill Walters set out to share Proudfoot Point with other descendants of Andrew Proudfoot.
The first reunion in 2001 • Judith McGarvy was vital in organizing the first reunion with Bill.
Two days before this first reunion, Bill finds the old McAllister family plot where Andrew and his wife Sarah are buried.
During this first reunion . . . • The group toured the Proudfoot-Wallace House • The group toured the McAllister Cemetery • The group voted to form the Proudfit Family Association • The Association then voted to have Compton’s Historical Sketch of the Proudfit Family of York County, Pennsylvania re-published • The Association voted to have Andrew Proudfit’s tombstone repaired. • The Association would facilitate the exchange of Proudfit family genealogical information. • The Association felt the best way to achieve the goal of information exchange was through a Proudfit Family website. • Gary Geiselman reported to the Association that he had inspected the Proudfit site and authenticated that the building was indeed from the 1760 time frame. • The Association felt that would be a worth while endeavor to restore and preserve the Proudfit-Wallace Family Home.
On November 7, 2001, Gary Geiselman of Olde York Homes submitted an outline of work to be done on the Proudfoot-Wallace log home during the first phase of restoration. When more decisions have been made regarding the scope and definition of the project, Mr. Geisleman will be able to develop cost estimates and investigate potential grant sources. Phase I will include: • clean site and grade where necessary; • remove trash and waste; • shore up building where necessary; • restore stone foundation and chimney; • remove existing wood siding; • repair or replace existing logs as needed; • salvage matching logs from another project and install where needed to recreate original appearance; • re-chink all logs; • discuss the possibility of re-siding the building, if the old logs are in a condition that warrants protection; • install new door jambs, window jambs, faceboard and soffit material as needed; • fabricate and install doors and windows; • remove existing roofing material; • install new rafters and lathing; • install cedar shake roofing material; • construct front porch; • paint exterior.
Reunion 2002 The artist’s rendition of the restored Proudfoot-Wallace cabin.
The first goal for the Association is accomplished . . . • The Proudfit Family Association has reprinted the Historical Sketch of the Proudfit Family of York County, Pennsylvania compiled by Margaret Compton and published in Meadville, Pennsylvania in 1911. The book includes information on the immigrant Andrew Proudfoot and his brothers and gives a complete record of the descendants of Alexander Proudfit (second son of Andrew Proudfoot and Sarah Wallace) and Martha McCleary. • The appendix contains the family entries from Andrew Proudfoot’s Bible, a copy of his last will and testament, an inventory of his estate, Sarah Proudfoot’s last will and testament, notes from Andrew Proudfoot’s "trial" for heresy, a letter written by Andrew giving his views on the subject of grace, muster roll for Lt. McKis-sick’s Company in the Revolutionary War, and a Scottish ditty sung by Alexander Proudfit for his children and passed down through the generations. • The book is 100 pages, soft cover, perfect bound with a full-name index and the 21 photographs from the original publication. The cover of the reprint repeats that of the original volume — red with gold lettering. Many thanks to Judith McGarvey for her work.
Second goal is accomplished . . . Robert Shaub, Vice President of our association, spent countless hours since the 2001 reunion clearing the McAlister Graveyard where Andrew and Sarah Proudfoot are buried. He recovered most of the pieces of their broken gravestones and arranged for the restoration of the markers.
On Sunday, July 28th , after the special Proudfit/ Wallace church service at Guinston Presbyterian Church, we gathered at the old graveyard for a rededication of the site and the stone. Thanks, Robert, for all your hard work!
Third goal is accomplished . . . • The Proudfit Webpage is up and running. • http://www.proudfit.org • Topics • Proudfoot Point Colonial Homestead Restoration • Proudfit Haunts (Picture Gallery - See it all) • Guinston Church • Proudfoot home site • Wallace Cross Mill • And more . . . • Proudfit Association Newsletters • Proudfit Family Tree • Proudfit Family Resource Link Page • Miscellaneous Proudfit Family Information (Articles, Cemetery Lists, Documents, and Pictures) • The Proudfit Family Guest Registry • Thanks to Gaye David
Fourth goal is preservation of the Proudfit Homestead . . .Step 1: • Proudfits meet with property owners. • Much has happened since Bill and Sandra Walters’ discovery of Andrew Proudfoot’s home. In May 2002, Bill Walters, Robert Shaub and David and Judi McGarvey, accompanied by Gary Geiselman of Olde York Homes, met with the current property owners, Estella Hyson and her son Eric Hyson, as well as other Hyson family members, to discuss options for the preservation and restoration of the Proudfoot-Wallace home. The Hysons expressed a great deal of interest in the historical significance of the property and agreed to discuss the situation with other family members and get back to us with their ideas for the property.
Step 2: • Hysons agree to easement. • Shortly before this year’s reunion, Eric Hyson called Bill Walters to say that he had contacted a lawyer with instructions to grant the Proudfit Family Association an easement to the log house for the purposes of restoration. The specific details of this easement are being worked out at this time with respect to a statement of our association’s purpose, and restrictions regarding boundaries of land use and whether or not the restored home would be open to the public, etc. Eric Hyson has agreed to take on the responsibility to "mothball" the log house until plans can be made for restoration and funds raised to complete the project. Mothballing will include stabilization of the structure, clean-up of the site with removal of all debris, salvage of all materials which may belong to the original structure, temporary shoring up of the floors and walls, and covering all openings for security and weatherization.
Step 3: • Gary Geiselman Donates Time to Proudfit Preservation Project • Gary Geiselman, General Partner of Olde York Homes, has been involved with the quest to preserve the Proudfoot-Wallace log home almost from the time Bill Walters discovered the old structure in the fall of 2000. At Bill’s request, Gary visited the site and documented its age and value to the community. He has drawn up plans for restoration, worked on detail drawing, cost estimates, zoning requirements, phase details, presentation packets and pamphlets. He has been an enthusiastic supporter of our group from the beginning. • Due to his personal interest in seeing this log homestead restored, Gary has volunteered to donate his personal supervisory time -- the time he has already expended, as well as time in the future -- for the duration of the project. Thank you, Gary, for this wonderful gift!
The Association votes to incorporate in order to facilitate the accomplishment of its goal. . . • At the annual meeting at Hershaull Park in July 2002, the members in attendance unanimously voted to authorize the officers of the association to execute instruments of incorporation for the purposes of forming a nonprofit organization to accept donations and grants for the restoration of the Proudfoot-Wallace homestead. The treasurer reported that the group has the funds to pay the filing fees for incorporation. • Achille, Ellermeyer & French, our attorneys in Brookville, Pennsylvania, have faxed a draft of the Articles of Incorporation for a domestic nonprofit corporation and an application for a tax ID number to the association’s officers for review. We plan to be ready to file for incorporation early in 2003.
Reunion 2003 • The year of achievement . . . • Last spring, members of the Proudfit Family Association met with the Hyson family, owners of the property, to discuss how to save this important historical structure. The Hyson family granted a 99 year deed of easement to the Proudfit Family Association for the purposes of preservation and education. Now we will have legal access to enable the Association to restore and maintain the log house. • Further, Eric Hyson, one of the property owners, has "mothballed" the site to prevent further deterioration. The old house has been stabilized with all openings covered and secured to prevent vandalism and damage by weather. The site has been cleaned up and much of the debris carted away. We wish to extend our heart felt gratitude to the Hyson Family for this marvelous gift and their continued interest and support.
The 2003 Clean Up Crew . . . Wayne Proudfit Bill Walters Gaye David Sandra Walters Robert Schaub Not Shown: Pat Proudfit Michael David
