Should anyone ever come across the original photo which, according to this book, inspired this drawing and was "in the possession of Mr. Grove", I would appreciate a copy.
If you stand in front of the Willow Grove Mill in 2000 and look north toward the Forrer home and the union of the East and West branches of the Hawksbill, you will see a freestanding fireplace. Whether this is Joseph's fireplace that appears in this drawing of the original home is presently unknown.
Sam McNeeley, who investigated the property in November 2000, said "according to Mrs Baldwin who lives in the Forrer home at Mundelsville [where the chimney stands], the free standing piece of chimney is believed to have been from a Ruffner cabin, but there is no document to prove that it is."
Strickler's book (page 362) states "there was an old log house standing in 1900 near Willow Grove Mill. This was probably the house [in which Dr. Henry Ruffner was born about 1790]. This would probably be the house built by Joseph Ruffner who lived on and owned the land until 1795 when he sold to the Forrers.
Strictler's book continues, "Claude R. Grove informs us that he went to Willow Grove mill in 1900 and occupied an ancient log house which was part of the mill property; that it was about 32 by 30 feet; that it was a two-story eight-roomed house with four [rooms] above and four below, with a kitchen of frame added; that the rooms on the west side were larger than those on the east side; that the window panes were 6 X 8 inches, four in a row below and two in a row above.
Mr. Grove removed the old house in 1909 and built his present residence on the same spot."
Revised July 2000
Copyright Bill Myers July 2000