Ellen White could not have been more plain in her mission for black people.  It seemed as though Mrs. White was highly impressed that Blacks should learn and want to do for themselves.  In the same book, she makes another statement.

From these views of Ellen White and upon personal belief, I draw my own thesis; Christian education is paramount in the cultivation of young Black minds and is a catalyst for the spreading of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  In this paper, I will discuss the historical importance and the religious relevance of the founding of one of the most well known Seventh-day Adventist schools in North America.

"On the river Manatawny where the hills are rolling green, meets the light of heaven’s sunshine, through the tall majestic trees.  Where my heart is ever quickened, and my face is often seen.  That is where my alma mater, Pine Forge reigns as queen!" [3]

These words, cherished in the hearts of many, begin an anthem that was written to sing praises to the first and only historically black, Seventh-Day Adventist coeducational, secondary boarding school in North America.

For almost two decades Black Seventh-day Adventist pined away after a school that would meet the needs of their young people.  Oakwood’s industrial school served its purpose for the area that it was in and the opportunities that it provided, but in the wake of regional conferences Black Americans were finding more and more that their educational needs were hard pressed to be met.  The main argument was that Oakwood was too far to travel.  Not only the distance was a problem.  Oakwood was, and still is, located in the south.  Many were afraid of attending school so deep into the south.  Thus, the newly formed Allegheny Conference deemed it necessary to begin "The Northern School Project." [4]

In 1945, John H. Wagner, newly elected Allegheny Conference president, resurrected the original idea of J.L. Moran to begin a Seventh-day Adventist boarding school.  Coincidentally, at the same time, leaders of the Lake Region Conference were juggling around the same idea.  They wanted to begin a boarding school in Cassopolis, Michigan.  Unfortunately, their attempt was not successful.  Wagner, undaunted by the recent failure of his Lake Region brethren was moved by his desire to enrich the Christian education experience.  It seemed only natural that his first mission be to start God’s school.

Plans for this "school in the North" began to take shape when a certain layman from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania found a rural piece of land for sale right outside of Pottstown, Pennsylvania.  At the first given opportunity he mentioned the land to his pastor, Frank L. Bland who in turn surveyed the land and lost no time in recommending the conference to investigate the purchase.

Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Snyder [5] were selling the 575-acre piece of land for $42,000.  Wagner was elated, a mere $74 per acre.  Not only would this land be suitable for the school but also for his young conference, which was temporarily housed in Washington, D.C. when David Amey, a Philadelphian realtor, met with officers from the conference. On December 14, 1945 the conference officially purchased the land on which Pine Forge Institute would be founded. Directly after, plans for a school term to begin in September of 1946 were announced.  Immediately the slogan "Heed the call: A school by fall!. [6] was heard throughout the conference.  Churches, pastors, and patrons alike rallied together to raise the needed funds to consummate the deal.  Within a short amount of time the required down payment was raised and renovations were underway.

The land that the school was to be built on was pregnant with historical importance.  In the beginning there was a tribe of Indians called Manatawnies.  They received their name from a nearby creek, which they called Manatawny meaning, "here we drink." [7] At first, a few white men came onto the scene, gentle and God fearing Quakers.  Then others who were not quite as God fearing as their predecessors followed.  A small drink from the bottle could easily be a white man’s pay for whatever information or favor was requested.  The drinking eventually became too sordid for chief Onewago, chief of the Manatawnies, who called upon the white Governor to protect his people from these intruders.  Around his council fire the chief pleaded that this fine land might again be filled with sunshine, this land which he loved, which had unhappily come to be called Mahanatawny; "where we drank liquor." [9]

Thomas Rutter a Seventh-day observing Keithian Quaker was one of the colonists who came over from England with William Penn.  Rutter settled on Manatawny Creek about 1715 and built Pine Forge and other forges and furnaces.  The main building on the Pine Forge estate is the Pine mansion on which construction was completed between 1725 and 1729 [11] by Rutter, who also built America’s first iron-making operation, Pool Forge, in the early 1700’s.  The occupancy of the Pine mansion is as follows:

• Thomas Rutter

• Thomas Potts

• John Potts

• David Potts

• David Rutter

• John Rutter [2]

Thomas Rutter and Thomas Potts were cousins and upon Rutter’s death in 1730, the home went to Potts.  Thomas Potts’ son, John, was not only the next to live in the Pine mansion but the founder of a nearby city, which is known as Pottstown to this day.

In 1843, the property for a period of years went out of the family, and two Joseph Baileys; father and son carried on the iron business.  About 1880, the iron business was moved to the railroad, a mile away.  In 1906, the Pine mansion was purchased by Mary Elizabeth Rutter, the widow of David Rutter, nephew of John Rutter who sold Pine in 1843.  During her ownership, two hundred acres were added to the estate west of the creek.  In 1916, Pine was given to William McMurtrie Rutter by his mother Mary Elizabeth Rutter. [14] Finally, in 1940 the Rutters reluctantly gave up all ownership to the Pine Forge estates.  In an interview W.M. Rutter, at 63, gave his reasons for selling.  "Both are real personal in nature.  First, since the death of my wife two years ago, and with my children in all parts of the nation at their work, the place is too large for me.  Secondly, there is the financial problem of maintaining an estate of this size."

The 1800’s were turbulent times for the Americas.  Slavery was the biggest issue.  In 1850, the Fugitive Slave Act was passed which constituted a maximum fine of $600 against any found abetting a runaway slave.  Consequently, the anti-slavery forces were driven "underground." The Pine Forge property was one of the many stops on the Underground Railroad and featured an escape route from the cellar of the Pine mansion, or Manor House, to the Manatawny River almost one hundred yards away.  There is a story on record of one Quaker whose back yard ran down to a small stream.  He made runaways approach by walking them in the creek bed, then "pumped down" his sloping lawn with water for a half-hour so the scent of the fugitives might not be traced with bloodhounds directly to his cellar. [16]

When the Pine Forge property was purchased there were about twenty to twenty-five buildings. [17] With a little work, most would be in working order.  Farmhouses were to become homes and dormitories, while an old cattle barn would be a chapel and the gristmill would be the administration building and provide classrooms for the first classes.  A call was made by Elder Wagner to all of the workers of the conference to come and help to prepare for the school year that would begin less than eight months from the time of purchase.

Once again, constituents rallied together and within a short period of time considerable changes had been made to the estate and school was ready to begin.  Business houses of the Pottstown and Reading area came to establish commercial relations with the merging institution.  A giant was being born.  Light would again walk out of a stable, and truth would flow from a gristmill like fine flour.  Pine Forge would be; Pine Forge was!!

Finally, the long awaited school opened.  The Allegheny conference had originally invited J. L. Moran, of Oakwood, to be treasurer- C.H. Kelly of the Columbia Union carried on his work until the school year at Oakwood was over.  Later the committee elected Moran to be principal of the new school, to which the name Pine Forge Institute was attached.  Moran reported in the September 9, 1946 Visitor, "School is now open and filled to the capacity with students from California, Wyoming, Indiana, Michigan, Massachusetts, Maine, New York, and South Carolina, as well as every part of the Allegheny Conference ... All the young people seem to be happy to be at Pine Forge."

Amid all the excitement of a new school, times were not so easy for the faculty, staff, and student body of Pine Forge Institute.  Slavery had ended but racism had not.  A riot in nearby Philadelphia on September 29, 1946 involved more than one hundred Negroes and whites.  This had followed a race riot in Athens, Alabama, and another in Columbia, Tennessee, earlier that year.  In that year also, six black Americans were lynched, and the news of these events was not reassuring to a school administration that had begun its work amid protests from the nearby white community.

The lack of employment and the difference in income earned by blacks had their bearing on the economy and progress of Pine Forge.  The median income of wage and salary workers nationwide was, for the white male, $2,357, and for the nonwhite male $1,279.  For the white female, it was $1,269, and for nonwhite females, it was $432.  The people who had to pay prevailing tuition rates for their children at Pine Forge were therefore at a noticeable disadvantage.  Family backing for school fees was augmented by the street sale of denominational magazines, a project many students and parents more than willingly entered into.

However daunting socioeconomic and civil circumstances were, Pine Forge Institute continued to prosper academically but more importantly spiritually.  At the conclusion of the first year of school, 10 students had been baptized into Christ.  More than 500 people gathered for the first commencement services to see six graduates receive their diplomas.  Pine Forge was on her way and God had done it.

When Moran resigned in 1948 due to major back problems, Robert L. Reynolds [18] became principal who was followed, two years later by Ercell Ivanhoe Watson [the author's uncle] in 1950.  During his ten years at Pine Forge the J. H. Wagner administration building, which still stands today, was erected.  This building not only provided office space and classrooms but adequate library facilities as well.  Five modem buildings have been added since then.  Kimbrough Hall, a girl’s dormitory was built in 1961 while Charles L. Brooks was principal.  It was named after Dr. Grace Kimbrough from Philadelphia, Pa who financially contributed greatly to Pine Forge Institute.  A boy’s dormitory was built during the 1973-1974 school year.  It is known as Handy Hall and is dedicated to Robert L. Handy who was the first dean of men in the new dorm.  He gave the boys an example in deep spirituality, good personal grooming and sympathetic consideration for each other, especially for those who were away from home for the first time.

In 1985 under the leadership of Conrad Gill, a new church was built.  Since 1966, when the student body outgrew the old church, students had been forced to worship elsewhere.  At first, they met in the worship room of Kimbrough Hall.  Then in 1975, an arsonist’s fire destroyed the cafeteria and the worship room became the campus dining hall.  Soon church services were moved to the chapel of Handy Hall.  Plans for a new church slipped from lethargic to comatose in the following years.  It was not until Pastor Samuel Campbell, with the backing of then Allegheny East Conference president, Meade C. Van Putten, found a building fund of $22,000 in 1981 and a nucleus of members who wanted to build a new church.  Campbell led the congregation to multiply the building fund nearly tenfold to $200,000.  Finally plans for an 800-seat church and a multipurpose room were drawn up and approved by the Allegheny East and Columbia Union Conferences.  Ground for the new church was broken in May of 1984 and a little over a year later, on March 30, 1985 the doors to Pine Forge Church officially opened. Visitor, April 15,1985 p.8

The newest building on the campus of Pine Forge is the gymnasium, which was erected in 1986.  Renovations were made to the old gristmill from 1994 to l996.  It is now the music building known as North Hall.

The name was changed from Pine Forge Institute to Pine Forge Academy in 1965.  It offers curricula on two levels: college preparation and a general course of study.  A work-study program operates in cooperation with assorted local businesses.  The school is well known for its choir which has sang for President William Clinton on more than one occasion and tours throughout the United States and Caribbean annually.  Students at Pine Forge Academy do not only excel in singing.  Under the leadership of Ms. Gazetta Holt, Pine Forge boasted a winning debate team.  Other extracurricular activities include both men’s and women’s basketball, coed soccer, track and cross-country, and Creative Arts, a spiritually based drama group that performs puppet shows and plays all over the United States and the Caribbean as well.

Since its opening the principals of Pine Forge Academy have passed the baton of headmastership 18 times:

Pine Forge is not what she might become, but for what she is, she is forever indebted to an all-wise God and His servants both alive and asleep who gave of themselves.  The world has beaten a path to her door and awaits eagerly her blessed fruit.  As I contemplate the selflessness and sacrificial labor of the past-, the blood, sweat, and tears that laid the foundation for this school - God’s school, I look towards a brighter future for Pine Forge and see endless possibilities.

In Louis B. Reynolds’ book, We Have Tomorrow, the question was asked, "Is there a need for Pine Forge Academy today?" I think the following incident is an extraordinary paradigm that answers this query in a more than positive manner.  Pine Forge Academy became the focus of national and international attention in 1977.  At this time in America, civil rights was a major issue.  Race riots, hate crimes, and civil demonstrations were the norm.  Fourteen students, along with their adult chaperons were on a history field trip to Boston.  A gang of white adolescents made a violent attack on the Pine Forge group.  Several of the students were physically injured along with their teacher.  The news media picked up the story and carried it across the United States.  What was so remarkable about the incident was the character of the students who were assaulted.  Nothing, save the character of Christ, was displayed.  There was no retaliation or evil words said on the part of my fellow alumni.  The training they had received at Pine Forge Academy testified to the fact that there will always be a need for this academy.  Its operation has not been interrupted since the doors opened in 1946 and should not be shut until the second-coming of Jesus Christ.

If Pine Forge continues with the seriousness of purpose of God’s work, black young people will forever be able to receive the type of character training that will last for eternity.

[1] Ellen G. White, Testimonies, vol. 9, Washington DC: Review and Herald Publishing Association, p. 202

[2] Ibid. p 199

[3] Pine Forge Academy Alma Mater, Anthony, Harold L.

[4] Louis Reynolds. We Have Tomorrow: The Story of American Seventh-day-Adventist with African Heritage," Washington DC Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1984, p. 248

[5] Mercury, Oct. 5, 1982

[6] We Have Tomorrow, Reynolds, Louis B., p. 250

[7] C.D. Brooks.  Founding of Pine Forge Academy

[8] Pioneers Along the Manatawny

[9] Oral Interview.  J.B. Rhoads, Boyertown physician

[10] Dedicatory Program of the Thomas Rutter mansion

[11] Mercury, Pottstown, PA, Oct. 5, 1982

[12] Dedicatory Program for Thomas Rutter mansion

[13] Mercury, Pottstown, PA, Oct. 5, 1982

[14] Dedicatory program for Thomas Rutter mansion

[15] Pioneers Along the Manatawny, p.45

[16] Ibid. p 41

[17] A Star Gives Light, p 80

[18] Visitor, April 15, 1985 p.8

"We Have Tomorrow," Reynolds, Louis B., Review and Herald, 1984

"Pioneers Along the Manatawny," Claussen, W.E., Gilbert Printing Company, Boyertown, PA, 1968 Dedicatory program for Thomas Rutter mansion

"Founding of Pine Forge Academy," Brooks, C.D., unpublished article.

"A Star Gives Light," South Atlantic Union Conference, Decatur, GA, 1989

The Pottstown Mercury, Pottstown, PA, Oct. 5, 1982