The "The Cool Town With A History: The Finale - The Mueller House and Gardens" Story

The Johannes Mueller House. 

It was an ordinary day.  Finishing my walk along Main Street with a stop at the Johannes Müeller House  built at 137-139 East Main Street.  It was the first house in Lititz which was built in 1740 by John George Klein, who later gave the Moravians his 491-acre farm for their settlement.  

The Lititz Museum located to the east of the Mueller Home.

In 1792 it was  rebuilt as a dye house for Mr. Mueller, the town dyer.  In 1794 the original dye house was replaced by a log addition to the left of the original.  Mr. Mueller lived in the stone part and worked in the log house.  He used part of the second floor of his home as a smokehouse, hanging pigs he raised in the rear yard over the chimney to dry while the fire kept his family warm.  From 1830-1849 the building served as the borough's second post office and was then a millinery shop.  This house is the oldest existing home in Lititz and is operated by the Lititz Historical Foundation.  Across the street from the home stands the Moravian Church Square as well as nearby Linden Hall which is the oldest boarding school for girls in the country, having been founded in 1746.  

The row of homes on East Main Street which includes
the Johannes Mueller House and the Lititz Museum.

To the right, or east, of the house, is another home which was built in 1793 by Christian Schrop in 1793.  Mr. Schrop was a nail smith, school teacher and musician.  Eventually this building was renovated and now serves as the Lititz Museum.  Beind the museum and Mueller houses is located the Mary Oehme Gardens which is a venue for weddings, receptions and corporate affairs. Well, my trip around the 2013 Coolest Small Town in America has come to an end.  Hope you enjoyed a few of the stories and if you ever get a chance to visit Lancaster County, make a stop in nearby Lititz to see the town for yourself.  You'll be amazed at the history and character this small town in the middle of Amishland really has.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The entrance to the Mary Oehme Gardens between the Mueller House and the Museum.

Looking north from the entrance.

The rear of the gardens. 

Looking toward the Mueller House from the rear of the gardens.