Page 161 - WPA Book
P. 161
Works Project Administration – Articles from Rockingham County
HOUSES
1. SUBJECT:
Funk Printing House.
2. LOCATION:
Singers Glen, Virginia.
3. DATE:
About 1847.
4. OWNERS:
1816 Joseph Funk, descended to Joseph and John Funk 1863. Descended to his great-great granddaughter
Annie Lou Dodd, the present owner in, 1880.
5. DESCRIPTION:
The building which housed the printing business has been torn down. The house which he built and lived in still
stands.
6. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE:
Joseph Funk was born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania March 9, 1777, and died at his home in Singers Glen,
Virginia, December 24, 1882. He was teacher, author, translator, compiler, and publisher. His printing
establishment was opened at Mountain Valley, now Singers Glen, Virginia, in 1847 and is said to be the first
Mennonite printing house in America. This was kept up by himself and his sons until 1863 and then by his sons
until 1878. The Ruebush-Kieffer Press, established at Dayton, Virginia, in 1878, continues his work until the
present time.
7. ART:
None.
8. SOURCES OF INFORMATION:
Informant: Mr. Ott Mowbury, Rev. Childress, Singers Glen, Virginia.
A History of Rockingham County by John W. Wayland.
October 20, 2024 Miles E. Snyder
Harrisonburg, VA
Page 160 of 482
HOUSES
1. SUBJECT:
Funk Printing House.
2. LOCATION:
Singers Glen, Virginia.
3. DATE:
About 1847.
4. OWNERS:
1816 Joseph Funk, descended to Joseph and John Funk 1863. Descended to his great-great granddaughter
Annie Lou Dodd, the present owner in, 1880.
5. DESCRIPTION:
The building which housed the printing business has been torn down. The house which he built and lived in still
stands.
6. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE:
Joseph Funk was born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania March 9, 1777, and died at his home in Singers Glen,
Virginia, December 24, 1882. He was teacher, author, translator, compiler, and publisher. His printing
establishment was opened at Mountain Valley, now Singers Glen, Virginia, in 1847 and is said to be the first
Mennonite printing house in America. This was kept up by himself and his sons until 1863 and then by his sons
until 1878. The Ruebush-Kieffer Press, established at Dayton, Virginia, in 1878, continues his work until the
present time.
7. ART:
None.
8. SOURCES OF INFORMATION:
Informant: Mr. Ott Mowbury, Rev. Childress, Singers Glen, Virginia.
A History of Rockingham County by John W. Wayland.
October 20, 2024 Miles E. Snyder
Harrisonburg, VA
Page 160 of 482
