Uncovering the Secrets of the Moore-Irwin House

presented by David Montalvo

David Montalvo will explore the story of the Moore-Irwin House. Starting as a log cabin built in the mid-1700s by John and Jane Moore, it served as General Muhlenberg’s quarters during the Valley Forge encampment 1777-78, and was expanded twice by their son Richard Moore. Purchased in 1918 by Alexander D. Irwin for use as his country home, it was remodeled and expanded three more times, the last two designed by famed Colonial Revival architect Richardson Brognard Okie.

After most of the land around the house was sold to developers in the 1950s, the house became the Upper Merion Cultural Center and was used by the Parks & Rec Department as their headquarters. The house was formally purchased by Upper Merion Township in 1972. Unfortunately, the house had been allowed to fall into disrepair and by the early 1990s the house was left vacant. The King of Prussia Historical Society is currently working on ways to save this unique and beautiful house so that it can once again be used and enjoyed by visitors.

David Montalvo taught high school physics for over 35 years, 33 of those years at Upper Merion Area High School. He and his wife Lynda (who still teaches chemistry at UMAHS) have lived in King of Prussia for 20 years and raised two daughters there. David became involved with the King of Prussia Historical Society in early 2015, becoming president in 2019. David's head may be in the sciences, but his heart has always been in the humanities.