Sebastian Mueller was born in Bismarck in 1860. After serving the required time in the military, Mueller moved to Pittsburgh, PA in order to work at the factory of his cousin, H.J. Heinz. Mueller began his career at the H.J. Heinz Co. as a general laborer, but quickly rose through the ranks to become a Senior Vice President. In 1888, Mueller married the sister of H.J. Heinz, Elizabeth Heinz. The two would have three children together, two of whom died in early childhood and a son who died in early adulthood. In memoriam of his two young daughters who passed away, Mueller began to buy tracts of land in the area of Glenshaw, PA in order to open a convalescence home in Glenshaw, PA. The home was opened in 1922 under the name "Elsalma Terrace." Mueller intended female workers of the H.J. Heinz Co. to use this property after an illness or surgery. This home continued in operation until 1935. Upon the death of his wife in 1934, Mueller moved into the Elsalma Home and began plans for a more elaborate vacation and convalescence home for the female employees of H.J. Heinz Co. Growing older himself, Mueller dictated his express wishes for the continuation of his project in a will and appointed men as trustees of Eden Hall Farm. Other than minor bequests, the entirety of Mueller's estate went to establish Eden Hall Farm.
Although Eden Hall Farm was officially created in 1939, the farm did not open to guests until 1951 after construction was delayed due to the country's involvement in WWII. Eden Hall Farm operated for the next thirty years as a non-profit corporation and any female employee of H.J. Heinz Co. could spend vacation and convalescent time there. In 1969, the Internal Revenue Service challenged the nonprofit status of Eden Hall Farm as the trustees had voted to allow female employees to bring guests from outside Heinz Co. to accompany them during their stay. In a 1973 lawsuit, the courts ruled in favor of Eden Hall Farm, who was granted a return to tax exempt status as a non-profit organization. In 1983, all of the net assets of Eden Hall Farm were transferred to the newly created Eden Hall Foundation, while Eden Hall Farm remained in existence for the sole purpose of a recreational home for working women. In the years to follow, the expenses to operate Eden Hall Farm would exceed the income the trust account created following the death of Mueller. In an August 28, 2003 Order of Court of the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas, Orphans' Court Division, a decision was made to allow Eden Hall Farm to remain open as a vacation home for women until 2007. If, by this time, the farm was unable to secure sufficient financial funds or contributions that would allow it to remain open, it would be turned over to the Eden Hall Foundation. In 2008, the Eden Hall Foundation gifted Eden Hall Farm to Chatham University in Pittsburgh, PA with a mission to promote sustainability and empower women.
1884: Mueller immigrates to Pittsburgh, PA and begins work at F & J Heinz Co. (Predecessor to H. J. Heinz Co.)
1888: Mueller marries Elizabeth Heinz 1892: Both of Mueller's young daughters succumb to diphtheria
1912: Mueller returns to Pittsburgh and begins purchasing property in Richland Township to raise horses and host company recreational activities
1922: Mueller purchases "Elsalma Terrace," a home named after his daughters and used for the purposes of a convalescent home for female employees of Heinz.
1935: Mueller begins to work on a more elaborate vacation and convalescent home for female employees.
1937: First labor strike begins and ends at Heinz 1938: November 17, death of Mueller
1973: Eden Hall Farm v. The United States of America
The collection is organized into seven series.
Restrictions have been placed on a portion of Series VI due to medical information on female visitors from the 1940s-1960s. Otherwise, this collection is open for research use and may be accessed on-site from the Archives of Chatham University in the Jennie King Mellon Library.
Materials were acquired by the university with Eden Hall Farm in 2008 and found on site.
Series I. Real Estate and Financials
Scope and Contents
This series contains information related to the real estate holdings that comprise Eden Hall Farm. Many files include the original deeds of purchase in the early 20th century, as well as surveys later conducted in the 1980-1990s. It also contains the Last Will and Testament of Sebastian Mueller, which express his wishes for the use of his estate in order to create Eden Hall Farm. Within Mueller's original Last Will and Testament, he deeded gifts to his longtime housekeeper, Mary Kopp, his gardener, Herman Reisman, and the remaining female staff at his home. The entirety of the remainder of his estate was to benefit the creation and implementation of Eden Hall Farm. An addendum to his Last Will and Testament left instructions for other funds to be dispersed. Additionally, this series contains cancelled checks from Eden Hall Farm for the years 1955-1956, as well as the ledger book for Eden Hall spanning the years 1954-1956.
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| Box | Folder | Staley Tract | 1 | 1 |
4 Acres Purchased 9/18/12 Recorded V1748, P454
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| Box | Folder | Campbell Tract | 1 | 2 |
15 acres Purchased 10/28/19 Recorded V 1968, P606
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| Box | Folder | H.J. Heinz Tract | 1 | 3 |
H. J. Heinz Tract 20.768 acres Purchased 2/20/20 Recorded V2030, P 124 (sold 19.768 acres to O.J. price 8/31/63) C.S. Heinz Tract 23.14 acres Purchased 1/12/20
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| Box | Folder | C.S. Heinz Tract | 1 | 4 |
23.14 acres Purchased 1/12/20 Recorded V2039, P14
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| Box | Folder | Burford Tract | 1 | 5 |
5 acres Purchased 5/3/20 Recorded V2021, P193
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| Box | Folder | Wilson Tract | 1 | 6 |
53.73 acres Purchased 5/14/20 Recorded V2052, P138
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5 acres Purchased 5/9/24 Recorded V2219, P54
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| Box | Folder | Schlusselbrunner Tract | 1 | 8 |
39.35 acres Purchased 7/25/28 Rec. V2339, P647
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| Box | Folder | Morrison Tract | 1 | 9 |
6.89 acres Purchased 11/10/28 Purchased V2380, P163
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| Box | Folder | Beveridge Tract | 1 | 10 |
49.217 acres Purchased 1/23/29 Recorded V 2388, P16
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| Box | Folder | Hohmann Tract | 1 | 11 |
31.71 acres Purchased 2/3/31 Recorded V2422, P522
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| Box | Folder | Martin Tract | 1 | 12 |
66.174 acres Purchased 6/10/32 Recorded V2472, P23
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| Box | Folder | Wilson Tract | 1 | 13 |
26.5 acres Purchased 3/29/34 Recorded V 2493, P444
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5 acres Purchased 12/14/36 Recorded V2559, P137
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| Box | Folder | Morrow Tract | 1 | 15 |
Bakerstown Road & Ridge Road- Recorded V3054 P501 3 acres + House & Garage Purchased 7/25/49
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| Box | Folder | Huckestein Tract | 1 | 16 |
3/4 acres Purchased 6/10/53 Recorded Vol. 3250 P710
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| Box | Folder | Eden Hall Farm | 2 | 1 |
Exemption From County and Property Taxes
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| Box | Folder | Gibson Tract | 2 | 2 |
40.293 acres Purchased 9/18/12 Recorded V 1734, P639
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| Box | Folder | Warner Tract | 2 | 3 |
57.43 Purchased 9/18/12 Recorded V1748, P454
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| Box | Folder | King Oaks Plan | 2 | 4 |
Lot #94 Purchased 8/1/22 Recorded V2153, P738
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| Box | Folder | King Oaks Plan | 2 | 5 |
Lots #36 and #95 Purchased 8/1/22 Recorded V2153, P738
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| Box | Folder | King Oaks Plan | 2 | 6 |
Lots #96, #97, and #98 Purchased 8/1/22 Recorded V2153, P738
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| Box | Folder | King Oaks Plan | 2 | 7 |
Lots #34 and #35 Purchased 5/12/23 Recorded V2157 P473 Sold to Glenshaw Presbyterian Church- 11/29/49
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| Box | Folder | King Oaks Plan | 2 | 8 |
Lot #38 Purchased 5/14/23 Recorded V2170, P5
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| Box | Folder | King Oaks Plan | 2 | 9 |
Purchased 11/21/23 Recorded V 2180, P488
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| Box | Folder | King Oaks Plan | 2 | 10 |
Lot #33 Purchased 8/31/26 Recorded V2306, P233 Sold to Edgar J. Cook 11/3/52
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| Box | Folder | King Oaks Plan | 2 | 11 |
Lot #93 Purchased 11/20/33 Recorded V 2181, P278
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| Box | Folder | King Oaks Plan | 2 | 12 |
Lot #32 and 33 Purchased 12/24/34 Recorded V2508, P120 Sold to Edgar J. Cook 11/3/52
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| Box | Folder | King Oaks Plan | 2 | 13 |
Lots #99 and #100 Purchased 2/9/35 Recorded V2510, P211
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1 acre
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| Box | Folder | All Real Estate | 2 | 15 |
Deeded to Eden Hall 6/14/39 Recorded V2626 P380
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| Box | Folder | Gibson Tract | 3 | 1 |
#1
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| Box | Folder | Warner Tract | 3 | 2 |
#2
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| Box | Folder | Burford Tract | 3 | 3 |
#3
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#4
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| Box | Folder | Campbell Tract | 3 | 5 |
#5
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| Box | Folder | Martin Tract | 3 | 6 |
#6
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| Box | Folder | Beveridge Tract | 3 | 7 |
#7
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| Box | Folder | Morrison Tract | 3 | 8 |
#8
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| Box | Folder | Schlusselbrunner Tract | 3 | 9 |
#9
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| Box | Folder | Huckestein Tract | 3 | 10 |
#9A (Part of Schlusselbrunner on tax book)
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| Box | Folder | Staley Tract | 3 | 11 |
#10
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#11
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| Box | Folder | Wilson Tract | 3 | 13 |
(53.3) #12
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| Box | Folder | Wilson Tract | 3 | 14 |
26.5 #13
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| Box | Folder | C.S. Heinz Tract | 3 | 15 |
#14
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| Box | Folder | Hohmann Tract | 3 | 16 |
#15
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| Box | Folder | Morrow Tract | 3 | 17 |
#16
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| Box | Folder | H.J. Heinz Tract | 3 | 18 |
(Entrance) #17 (Dickson? on tax book)
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| Box | Folder | Multiple Tracts | 3 | 19 |
H.J. Heinz (entrance), Morrow, C.S. Heinz, Hohmann, Wilson, Wilson, Schlusselbrunner
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| Box | Folder | Multiple Tracts | 3 | 20 |
Gibson, Wilson, Storey, Warner, Old, Burford, Campbell, Martin, Morrison, Keil
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| Box | Folder | Eden Hall Farms | 3 | 21 |
Perimeter Plot
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| Box | Eden Hall Ledger Book, 1954-1956 | 4 |
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| Box | Cancelled Checks, 1955 | 5 |
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| Box | Cancelled Checks, 1956 | 6 |
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Series II. Landscape/Architecture
Scope and Contents
This series contains information related to the landscaping and architectural designs within Eden Hall Farm. A portion of the designs were created by Lord and Burnham, the oldest Greenhouse developer within the United States and creators of Phipps Conservatory in Pittsburgh, PA, the National Botanical Gardens in Washington D.C., and the New York Botanical Gardens in NY, NY. The series contains oversized prints, estimates for proposed landscaping work, a yearly painting schedule, and a list of all buildings located on the property. Part of this series is located in Box 3, Folders 22-23.
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| Box | Folder | Buildings-Maps-Drawings & Misc. Information | 3 | 22 |
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| Box | Folder | Buildings-Maps-Drawings & Misc. Information | 3 | 23 |
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Series III. Estate of Sebastian Mueller
Scope and Contents
This series contains information related to the Estate of Sebastian Mueller. Included within the series are the inventory of Mueller's estate following his death, stockholder information at the H.J. Heinz Co., payments to Homewood Cemetery for the burial of Mueller, personal correspondence of E.D. McCafferty, the executor of Mueller's Last Will and Testament, a legal release signed by Jennie Leisie absolving Eden Hell Farm of any wrong doing following the death of her husband while employed at Eden Hall Farm, and proposed legal waivers for women to sign in the event of their staying at Eden Hall Farm.
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| Box | Folder | Estate of Sebastian Mueller | 7 | 1 |
Federal Estate Tax
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| Box | Folder | Estate of Sebastian Mueller | 7 | 2 |
Federal Estate Tax
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| Box | Folder | Eden Hall Farm | 7 | 3 |
Tax Exemptions-Income, Social Security, Unemployment
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| Box | Folder | Estate of Sebastian Mueller | 7 | 4 |
Organization of Eden Hall Farm
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| Box | Folder | Estate of Sebastian Mueller | 7 | 5 |
Organization of Eden Hall Farm
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| Box | Folder | Estate of Sebastian Mueller | 7 | 6 |
Federal Estate Tax Return Federal Estate Tax Pennsylvania Inheritance Tax Estate Tax Preliminary Notice
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| Box | Folder | Estate of Sebastian Mueller | 7 | 7 |
Federal Estate Tax Return Federal Estate Tax Pennsylvania Inheritance Tax Estate Tax Preliminary Notice
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| Box | Folder | Estate of Sebastian Mueller | 7 | 8 |
Federal Estate Tax Return Federal Estate Tax Pennsylvania Inheritance Tax Estate Tax Preliminary Notice
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| Box | Folder | Estate of Sebastian Mueller | 7 | 9 |
Federal Estate Tax Return Federal Estate Tax Pennsylvania Inheritance Tax Estate Tax Preliminary Notice
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| Box | Folder | Estate of Sebastian Mueller | 7 | 10 |
Federal Estate Tax Return Federal Estate Tax Pennsylvania Inheritance Tax Estate Tax Preliminary Notice
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| Box | Folder | Estate of Sebastian Mueller, Settlement | 8 | 1 |
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| Box | Folder | Estate of Sebastian Mueller, Settlement | 8 | 2 |
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| Box | Folder | Estate of Sebastian Mueller, Settlement | 8 | 3 |
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| Box | Folder | Estate of Sebastian Mueller, Settlement | 8 | 4 |
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| Box | Folder | Estate of Sebastian Mueller, Settlement | 8 | 5 |
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| Box | Folder | Estate of Sebastian Mueller, Bank Vouchers | 8 | 6 |
Mellon No’s 1 to 20 inc., Bank Vouchers-Workingman’s-No’s 1 to 307 inc., Mellon Bank Cancelled Checks, Workingman’s Bank Cancelled Checks
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| Box | Folder | Estate of Sebastian Mueller, Bank Vouchers | 8 | 7 |
Mellon No’s 1 to 20 inc., Bank Vouchers-Workingman’s-No’s 1 to 307 inc., Mellon Bank Cancelled Checks, Workingman’s Bank Cancelled Checks
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| Box | Folder | Estate of Sebastian Mueller, Bank Vouchers | 9 | 1 |
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| Box | Folder | Estate of Sebastian Mueller, Bank Vouchers | 9 | 2 |
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| Box | Folder | Estate of Sebastian Mueller, Bank Vouchers | 9 | 3 |
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| Box | Folder | Estate of Sebastian Mueller, Bank Vouchers | 9 | 4 |
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| Box | Folder | Estate of Sebastian Mueller, Bank Vouchers | 9 | 5 |
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| Box | Folder | Estate of Sebastian Mueller, Bank Vouchers | 9 | 6 |
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| Box | Folder | Estate of Sebastian Mueller, Bank Vouchers | 9 | 7 |
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| Box | Folder | Estate of Sebastian Mueller | 9 | 8 |
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| Box | Folder | Estate of Sebastian Mueller, Account with H. J. Heinz Co. | 9 | 9 |
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| Box | Folder | Estate of Sebastian Mueller, Account with H. J. Heinz Co. | 9 | 10 |
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| Box | Folder | Estate of Sebastian Mueller, Account with H. J. Heinz Co. | 9 | 11 |
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| Box | Folder | Estate of Sebastian Mueller, Elizabeth C. Mueller Deeds | 10 | 1 |
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| Box | Folder | Estate of Sebastian Mueller, Elizabeth C. Mueller Deeds | 10 | 2 |
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| Box | Folder | Estate of Sebastian Mueller, Elizabeth C. Mueller Deeds | 10 | 3 |
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| Box | Folder | Estate of Sebastian Mueller | 10 | 4 |
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| Box | Folder | Estate of Sebastian Mueller | 10 | 5 |
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| Box | Folder | Estate of Sebastian Mueller | 10 | 6 |
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| Box | Folder | Estate of Sebastian Mueller | 10 | 7 |
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| Box | Folder | Estate of Sebastian Mueller | 10 | 8 |
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| Box | Folder | Estate of Sebastian Mueller | 10 | 9 |
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| Box | Folder | Estate of Sebastian Mueller | 10 | 10 |
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| Box | Folder | Estate of Sebastian Mueller | 10 | 11 |
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| Box | Folder | Estate of Sebastian Mueller, Appraisals | 11 | 1 |
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| Box | Folder | Estate of Sebastian Mueller, Appraisals | 11 | 2 |
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| Box | Folder | Estate of Sebastian Mueller, Appraisals | 11 | 3 |
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| Box | Folder | Estate of Sebastian Mueller, Appraisals | 11 | 4 |
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| Box | Folder | Estate of Sebastian Mueller | 11 | 5 |
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| Box | Folder | Estate of Sebastian Mueller | 11 | 6 |
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Series IV. Eden Hall Farm v. The United States of America, 1973
Scope and Contents
This series contains information related to the lawsuit filed by Eden Hall Farm against the United States of America regarding the tax-exempt status of Eden Hall Farm being revoked in 1969. When Eden Hall Farm was formally created following the death of Sebastian Mueller, the IRS had declared the corporation was a non-profit and granted it tax exemption status. In 1959, the trustees of Eden Hall Farm began to allow the female Heinz employees to bring outside guests with them during their stays. As a result of outsiders staying at Eden Hall Farm, the IRS declared the corporation was no longer working as a non-profit for the charitable benefit of the community. Arguing that Eden Hall Farm was not under direct jurisdiction of the H.J. Heinz Co. and that Sebastian Mueller's wishes were not being violated, in addition to the fact that Eden Hall Farm held lower occupancy rates of nearby hotels and lodges, the courts decided in favor of Eden Hall Farm. The corporation was able to recover over $114,000 of taxes paid, plus interest. (Personal correspondence related to the trial is restricted access.)
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| Box | Folder | Eden Hall Farm v. The United States of America, 1973 Lawsuit, Tax Returns | 11 | 7 |
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| Box | Folder | Eden Hall Farm v. The United States of America, 1973 Lawsuit, Tax Returns | 11 | 8 |
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| Box | Folder | Eden Hall Farm v. The United States of America, 1973 Lawsuit, Trial Exhibits | 11 | 9 |
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| Box | Folder | Eden Hall Farm v. The United States of America, 1973 Lawsuit, Trial Exhibits | 11 | 10 |
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| Box | Folder | Eden Hall Farm v. The United States of America, 1973 Lawsuit, Trial Exhibits | 11 | 11 |
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| Box | Folder | Eden Hall Farm v. The United States of America, 1973 Lawsuit, Trial Exhibits | 11 | 12 |
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| Box | Folder | Eden Hall Farm v. The United States of America, 1973 Lawsuit, Trial Exhibits | 12 | 1 |
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| Box | Folder | Eden Hall Farm v. The United States of America, 1973 Lawsuit, Trial Exhibits | 12 | 2 |
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| Box | Folder | Eden Hall Farm v. The United States of America, 1973 Lawsuit, Trial Exhibits | 12 | 3 |
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| Box | Folder | Eden Hall Farm v. The United States of America, 1973 Lawsuit, Trial Briefs | 12 | 4 |
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| Box | Folder | Eden Hall Farm v. The United States of America, 1973 Lawsuit, Trial Briefs | 12 | 5 |
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| Box | Folder | Eden Hall Farm v. The United States of America, 1973 Lawsuit, Trial Briefs | 12 | 6 |
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| Box | Folder | Eden Hall Farm v. The United States of America, 1973 Lawsuit, Trial Briefs | 12 | 7 |
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| Box | Folder | Eden Hall Farm v. The United States of America, 1973 Lawsuit, Trial Briefs | 12 | 8 |
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| Box | Folder | Eden Hall Farm v. The United States of America, 1973 Lawsuit, Trial Briefs | 12 | 9 |
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Series V. Photographs and Ephemera
Scope and Contents
This series contains photographs and ephemera related to Eden Hall Farm and Sebastian Mueller. Photograph of Eden Hall Farm include large framed prints of an annual Branch Manager's Meeting held at Eden Hall Farm, series of photographs taken for a possible featured article in LIFE Magazine in 1953, an oversized scrapbook for Eden Hall Farm, as well as various assorted photographs. Other photographs include images of female employees of H.J. Heinz Co. labeling Worcestershire sauce. Photographs related Sebastian Mueller include photographs of his wife, Elizabeth, Mueller and his horses, as well as several portraits of Mueller throughout his lifetime. The ephemera includes awards presented to Eden Hall Farm and a 1906 framed telegram. The majority of photographs are from the first half of the twentieth century.
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| Box | Photographs and Ephemera | 13 |
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| Box | Photographs and Ephemera | 14 |
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| Box | Photographs and Ephemera | 15 |
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Series VI. Guest Information, 1922-1996
Scope and Contents
This series contains guest books for visitors of both Elsalma Terrace and Eden Hall Farm through the years 1922 to 1996. (Open access) The series also contains guest information from female visitors from 1940s-1960s. (Restricted access due to medical information)
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| Box | Folder | Guests Information, Guest Books, 1922-1928 | 16 | 1 |
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| Box | Folder | Guests Information, Guest Books, 1934-1936 | 16 | 2 |
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| Box | Folder | Guests Information, Guest Books, 1936-1941 | 16 | 3 |
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| Box | Folder | Guests Information, Guest Books, 1951-1957 | 16 | 4 |
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| Box | Folder | Guests Information, Guest Books, 1951-1957 (Includes ’62-’64) | 16 | 5 |
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| Box | Folder | Guests Information, Guest Books, 1957-1960 | 17 | 1 |
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| Box | Folder | Guests Information, Guest Books, 1960 | 17 | 2 |
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| Box | Folder | Guests Information, Guest Books, 1963 | 17 | 3 |
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| Box | Folder | Guests Information, Guest Books, 1964 | 17 | 4 |
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| Box | Folder | Guests Information, Guest Books, 1966-1968 | 17 | 5 |
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| Box | Folder | Guests Information, Guest Books, 1969-71 | 17 | 6 |
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| Box | Folder | Guests Information, Guest Books, 1971 | 18 | 1 |
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| Box | Folder | Guests Information, Guest Books, 1973 | 18 | 2 |
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| Box | Folder | Guests Information, Guest Books, 1983 | 18 | 3 |
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| Box | Folder | Guests Information, Guest Books, 1986-89 | 18 | 4 |
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| Box | Folder | Guests Information, Guest Books, June 1989-1990 | 18 | 5 |
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| Box | Folder | Guests Information, Guest Books, 1991-1994 | 18 | 6 |
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| Box | Folder | Guests Information, Guest Books, 1995-1996 | 18 | 7 |
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Series VII. Eden Hall Upper Elementary School, 2005-2007
Scope and Contents
This series contains information regarding the purchasing of land from Eden Hall Farm to the Pine-Richland School District in order to build an upper elementary school. The school opened in 2008 and memorializes the life of Sebastian Mueller. Included in this series is information regarding the groundbreaking ceremony, the naming of the campus, land surveys, and plans for the school to honor the work of Mueller. This series is contained in Box 7, Folders 12-15.
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| Box | Folder | Eden Hall Upper Elementary School, Groundbreaking Ceremony | 7 | 12 |
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| Box | Folder | Eden Hall Upper Elementary School, Groundbreaking Ceremony | 7 | 13 |
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| Box | Folder | Eden Hall Upper Elementary School, School Naming, etc. | 7 | 14 |
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| Box | Folder | Eden Hall Upper Elementary School, School Naming, etc. | 7 | 15 |
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