A undated photograph, probably taken some time in the mid to late 20th century, of the remnants of an old log structure on what was once the Jacob Rickert lands in Specktown, Lykens Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. This home, still standing today although uninhabitable, is “up the mountain road” behind the Gratz V.F.W. building .
Note the television antenna on the left side of the house, indicating that the house was occupied and had electricity, probably into the 1970s when cable TV came to the Lykens Valley. The house is of log construction and was most likely built before the Civil War.
At one time there was a cluster of buildings located here as well as piping that fed water from a spring to the homes.
On the township warrantee maps, the land on which this structure sits was part of a tract originally obtained by John Rickert. By 1875, the tract had been split, and the owner of part of it was the widow Elizabeth “Betsy” Rickert (nee Yerges). In 1843, she and her husband Martin Rickert conveyed two tracts of land from the original warrantee to Jacob Rickert. Since the spring was on the land that was conveyed to Jacob, Martin and Betsy made sure that they had access to the water. The remnants of the water pipes found on the site today were part of the 1843 agreement:
Martin Rickert shall have free and uninterrupted use of the spring to which pipes are now laid for the purpose of conveying water to the house of Martin Rickert with privilege at all times to enter upon, pass and re-pass to and from the spring to obtain water or for laying or repairing pipes by him to his heirs with as little damage as possible.
As the property changed hands over the years, it was split and owners of parts of it included Elias Koppenhaver, Anna Mariah Schaffner (wife of Martin P. Schaffner), John Hess and Caroline Hess; Fremont J. Mauser and Annie Mauser; John H. Tschopp Sr. and Pearl Tschopp; and George Tschopp. Other owners of parts of the land were Frank Gunderman and Mary Gunderman; John J. Bellon; and the heirs of John H. Tschopp Sr. and Pearl Tschopp, i.e., Betty M. Tschopp, Dorothy Tschopp, and Beulah Tschopp.
Part of this land was conveyed in 1979 to Pennsylvania Power and Light for the right of way for bringing power over Short Mountain.
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Corrections and additional information should be added as comments to this post.