The Dale Engle Walker House

The Dale Engle Walker House

"Born in 1741 in northern Ireland, Samuel Dale, a wheelwright, emigrated to America in 1766. During the War for Independence, he served in the Northumberland Militia and fought in the Battle of Princeton. In 1789 Dale bought a 303-acre plantation for £ 600 from James Fleming, who had cleared 4 acres and built a log cabin on a place Fleming called “Lilliput.” By 1793 Dale had built the front portion of the house on the northeast corner of what is now known as Dale’s Ridge. Although no records exist, the back wing was probably added sometime between 1810 and 1840. Of Georgian style, Dale’s house was built from local limestone and floors are American Chestnut quarter-sawn. "

In 1929, Jacob & Maude [Troxell] Engle purchased the Dale farm. They established the J.B. Engle Dairy, delivering milk to Mazeppa, Forest Hill, and Lewisburg.  

The Sign Reads:

Welcome to the Dale Engle Walker House

Samuel Dale, a Scots-Irish immigrant, Revolutionary War officer and state representative, built the front half of this limestone structure around 1790.  His descendant's added the west wing about thirty years later.

The Dale family rented the farm to a succession of tenants before selling it to Jake and Maude Engle in 1929.  The Engles operated a dairy farm here during the 1930s and 1940s.

Charley and Rosemary Walker bought the 137-acre farmstead in 1957.  Thirty-two years later  they protected it with a conservation easement administered by the Merill Linn Land and Waterways Conservancy.  The Walker estate bequeathed the property to the Union County Historical Society in 2000.

Enjoy the sights, sounds, and events here, but remember: the DEW House and Dale's Ridge Hiking Trail are on private property, so please be considerate.

If you'd like to volunteer or if you want more information about the tours, programs, and photography policy, please call the UCHS office at 570 (524)-8666 or visit our website at www.unioncountyhistoricalsociety.org

"Exploring Union County's Past To Inform the Present and Future."

Jacob and Maud had 10 children: Paul, Dick, Ruth, Millie, Anna,

George, Grace, Nevin, Arthur & Jacob.

 "Charlie"  [Ralph Charles] and Rosemary  Walker purchased the property in 1957. They installed running water, electricity and modern heating in the house and improved the cellar with a stone floor and rough-sawn walnut walls made from the property's trees. Rosie, a master gardener, cultivated extensive flower beds around the house. 

In 1989 the 137-acre property was protected by a perpetual conservation easement held by the Merrill W. Linn Land & Waterways Conservancy. The Conservancy

maintains a two-mile trail along Dale's Ridge.

 In 2001 the Walker estate bequeathed the property to the Union County Historical
Society, which has worked to preserve and restore the house, create exhibition and
storage space for the society's collection, and use the property for public programs and
events such as Rural Heritage Days

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The Dales Ridge Trail is a 2.3 mile loop around the historic property.  A moderately steep climb leads to beautiful views across the valley.

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READ MORE

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https://www.unioncopahistory.com/dewhouse

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Jacob B. Engle, 77, a dairy farmer, Lewisburg RD3, died September 29, 1977 in the Buffalo Valley Lutheran Village, Lewisburg. Mr. Engle was a native of Gowen City, born Oct 3, 1899. He was the son of the late George K. and Catherine Moyer Engle. He was married for more than 57 Years to the former Maude Troxell, who survives.

He was a lifetime member of the Loyal Order of the Moose in Selinsgrove, and the United Church of Christ of Mazeppa.

In addition to his widow, he is survived by four daughters, Mrs. Ruth Clemens, Mrs. Anne Dersham, and Mrs. Mildred Noll, all of New Columbia, and Mrs. Grace Buckley of Australia; six sons, Paul A., New Columbia; Richard R., Roanoke, VA; George C., Allenwood; Arthur F., Lewisburg RD3; Jacob F., Mifflinburg RD2; and Nevin E., Bellefonte RD; 28 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren; and one great-greatgrandchild.

Burial will be in Highland Cemetery, New Columbia.

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The funeral for Mrs. Maude Engle, 90, Lewisburg RD3, will be conducted at Mazeppa Union Church by the Rev. Kerry Smart. Burial will be in Highland Cemetery.

Mrs. Engle died February 23, 1987 in Colorado Springs, CO while visiting her daughter, Mrs. Grace Buckley.

Born July 14, 1896 in White Springs, she was a daughter of the late Clinton S. and Anna (Shively) Troxell. Her husband, Jacob Engle, died in 1977.

Mrs. Engle was a graduate of the Muncy Normal Teachers College. She moved to Gowen City in 1907, where she taught in the public schools.

She was a member of the United Church of Christ Congregation of the Mazeppa Union Church.

She is survived by 10 children: Paul, Mrs. Ruth Clemens, Mrs. Anna Dersham and Mrs. Mildred Noll, all of New Columbia; Richard of Roanoke, VA; George of Allenwood RD1; Arthur of Lewisburg RD3; Jacob of Mifflinburg RD3; Mrs. Grace Buckley of Colorado Springs and Nevin of Bellefonte RD1; 26 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; two sisters, Mrs. Mary Lewis of Scranton and Mrs. Mabel Frederick of Shamokin; and one brother, Ray Troxell of Julian, CA.

She was preceded in death by three brothers.

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