Grater House

This house was erected circa 1724. The property on which the house was built was bought by Abraham Op de Graeff in 1706 from Matthias Van Bebber. The house on the property was built by Jacob, son of Abraham, and Anneken (Indenhofen) Op de Graeff around 1724. This was not your normal farmstead for the 1700's. This was considered a "plantation" where they, more than likely, grew apples, pears and peaches. The property, of 100 acres, was in the Op de Graeff family until 1816, when the great grandson of Abraham Op de Graeff died and the property was sold to Abraham and Mary Tyson by Ann Op de Graeff, great granddaughter.

The Tyson’s resided in the house until 1847 when they sold it to Josiah Bechtel. Bechtel lived in the house until 1866 and during this time, he built an addition on the rear of the house, doubling it's size. Bechtel also split the land up, selling about four different pieces off for large sums of money. He sold the parcel containing the house to Abraham and Mary Grater. The land was now 26 acres and 124 perches. While the Grater family lived in the house, the Underground Railroad was put through the basement. Also, the Grater's added the back addition including the kitchen, dining room and 2 bedrooms. Abraham Grater was very influential in the Mennonite church and caused a reform around the mid 1860's. Within 10 months of the Grater’s moving in, they sold the house to Jacob and Mary Gerges for $4,550. Gerges owned the property until 1875 when he sold it to John H. Tyson for $4,200.

Grater house in 1941

Grater house in 2004

The Tyson’s owned the house with two parcels of land until 1907. In the fall of 1907, Franklin Tyson, executer of estate, sold the now 82 acres of land containing the house to Christian and Susie Bean. The Bean’s lived in the house until 1929 when they sold it to William Zeisloft who only lived in the house for about 2 weeks. Zeisloft then sold the house to John Boyer for $1. Boyer lived in the house until 1931 when he sold the property to John and Carrie Thomas for $1.

The Thomas’ lived in the house until 1943 when they sold it to Irvin and Claire Bachman for $7,200. In 1955, Claire Bachman sold the house to Milton and Mary Rhoads for $5,000. In 1967, The Rhoads sold the house and 1 acre of land to Giles and Margaret Showalter for $20,500. About 4 years later, the Showalter’s sold the house and land to Donald and Victoria Leese for $26,500. The Leese’s owned the house until 1974 when they sold it to Peggyjean Stewert and her trustee for $48,000. About 4 years later, Peggyjean and her trustee sold the house to Peggyjean’s mother, Nancy Overfelt, for $1. Overfelt lived in the house until 1986. In 1986, Donald and Joanne Fountain bought the house for $96,500. The Fountain's still reside in this house with their five children.

Chain of Title

1724 - 1750 ~ Jacob Op de Graeff & Anneken (Indenhofen) Op de Graeff
1750 - 1791 ~ Abraham Updegrave & Cathrine Updegrave
1791 - 1816 ~ Henry Updegrave (Unmarried)
1816 - 1847 ~ Abraham Tyson & Mary Tyson
1847 - 1866 ~ Josiah Bechtel (Wife Unknown)
1866 - 1867 ~ Abraham Grater & Mary Grater
1867 - 1875 ~ Jacob Gerges & Mary Gerges
1875 - 1907 ~ John H. Tyson & Susannah Tyson
1907 - 1929 ~ Christian Bean & Susie Bean
1929 - 1931 ~ John Boyer (Unmarried)
1931 - 1943 ~ John G. Thomas & Carrie M. Thomas
1943 - 1955 ~ Irvin Bachman/Claire Bachman
1955 - 1967 ~ Milton Rhoads & Mary F. Rhoads
1967 - 1971 ~ Giles S. Showalter & Margaret W. Showalter
1971 - 1974 ~ Donald J. Leese & Victoria Leese
1974 - 1978 ~ Peggyjean Stewert (Only 17!)
1978 - 1986 ~ Nancy Overfelt (Mother of Peggyjean)
1986 - Current ~ Donald W. Fountain & Joanne Fountain

Researched and written by Nick Fountain
President of the Skippack Historical Society (2007 & 2008)