Page 160 - WPA Book
P. 160
Works Project Administration – Articles from Rockingham County
HOUSES
SUBJECT:
Funk House.
1. LOCATION:
Left hand side of street, near center of Singers Glen, Virginia.
2. DATE:
1816.
3. OWNERS:
The original owner was Joseph Funk. In 1863 the property was handed down to his sons, Joseph and John
Funk.
About 1880, it descended to Annie Lou Dodd, the great-great-granddaughter of Joseph Funk.
4. DESCRIPTION:
The exterior is of log now weatherboarded and has a chimney at each end and a gabled roof. The windows are
now of the modern type. At the front is a long porch.
The house is two stories high and has a rock foundation. The doors are painted. House was remodeled in 1934.
The interior is pretty modern, and has two old fireplace mantels. The walls are papered and painted and the
floors are modern.
See form 3686, attached.
5. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE:
Joseph Funk, born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, March 9, 1777, and died at his home in Singers Glen,
Virginia, December 24, 1862. He was a noted teacher, author, translator, compiler, and publisher. His printing
establishment opened at Mountain Valley, now known as Singers Glen, in 1847 and is the first Mennonite
printing house in America. It was kept up by himself and his sons until 1863 and then by his sons until 1878.
The Ruebush-Keefer Press, established at Dayton in 1878, has carried on his work until the present.
6. ART:
Photograph.
7. SOURCES OF INFORMATION:
Informants: Reverend Childress, Singers Glen, Virginia.
Mr. O. Mowbury, Singers Glen, Virginia.
A History of Rockingham County by John W. Wayland.
October 27, 2024 Miles E. Snyder
Harrisonburg, VA
Page 159 of 482
HOUSES
SUBJECT:
Funk House.
1. LOCATION:
Left hand side of street, near center of Singers Glen, Virginia.
2. DATE:
1816.
3. OWNERS:
The original owner was Joseph Funk. In 1863 the property was handed down to his sons, Joseph and John
Funk.
About 1880, it descended to Annie Lou Dodd, the great-great-granddaughter of Joseph Funk.
4. DESCRIPTION:
The exterior is of log now weatherboarded and has a chimney at each end and a gabled roof. The windows are
now of the modern type. At the front is a long porch.
The house is two stories high and has a rock foundation. The doors are painted. House was remodeled in 1934.
The interior is pretty modern, and has two old fireplace mantels. The walls are papered and painted and the
floors are modern.
See form 3686, attached.
5. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE:
Joseph Funk, born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, March 9, 1777, and died at his home in Singers Glen,
Virginia, December 24, 1862. He was a noted teacher, author, translator, compiler, and publisher. His printing
establishment opened at Mountain Valley, now known as Singers Glen, in 1847 and is the first Mennonite
printing house in America. It was kept up by himself and his sons until 1863 and then by his sons until 1878.
The Ruebush-Keefer Press, established at Dayton in 1878, has carried on his work until the present.
6. ART:
Photograph.
7. SOURCES OF INFORMATION:
Informants: Reverend Childress, Singers Glen, Virginia.
Mr. O. Mowbury, Singers Glen, Virginia.
A History of Rockingham County by John W. Wayland.
October 27, 2024 Miles E. Snyder
Harrisonburg, VA
Page 159 of 482
