For unknown years, the serene, majestic hills and valley known today as Pine Forge, Pennsylvania, had been the home of the redmen, Indians, as they were later called by the white settlers.  These native Americans hunted game in the forest, grew corn, gathered nuts and berries in the fertile fields, caught fish and drank freely from the clear, sparkling stream called the Manatawny that watered their rich green valley.  These first inhabitants were a part of the Leni-Lenape Delaware Indians.  

Life continued in the same pattern along the banks of the Manatawny for many centuries for these redmen, who, knowing no other people than those of their own color, assumed themselves to be the lone blessed children of Heaven.  Into their midst came the first white settlers in 1716, under the leadership of a Quaker, ironsmith Thomas Rutter.  Rutter had received a patent from William Penn, the proprietor of Pennsylvania in 1715, for 300 acres of land.  His mission was to establish an iron forge for the infant colony.  Rutter arrived in the New World in 1682, the same year as William Penn.  He settled first in the Germantown secction of Philadelphia and was married to a Rebecca Staples in 1685.

Thomas Rutter was a deeply religious man.  He was often referred to as "the pious Quaker".  He firmly believed in liberty for all mankind believing that "Negroes, Blacks and Taunies were a real part of mankind for whom Christ had shed His precious blood."  A group of dissenting Quakers emerged, who centered around George Keith.  This group was known as "Keithians" who strongly demanded the abolition of slavery and Thomas Rutter was a part of this group.  In 1694, a pamphlet was issued by the Keithians, who were the first group in America to publicly speak out against this evil institution, slavery.  

Thus Thomas Rutter was not only an Quaker and ironsmith, but also an opponent of slavery.  He later was known as a Sabbatarian for he also preached a tenant of holding the Seventh-day as Sabbath.

William Penn, recognizing the necessity of iron wagon rims, nails, door hinges, plow shares and other iron fittings, asked his friend Thomas Rutter to pioneer the iron industry for the colony of Pennsylvania.  The first of several iron forges that were attributed to Thomas Rutter was known as Poole Forge.  This was later moved further up stream to Pine Forge.  Colebrookdale Furnace became another forge that Rutter assisted in establishing.  Thomas Rutter was not alone in this venture forhe was assisted by George Mufflin, Thomas Potts, Samuel Savage and George Boone along with many Indians who trusted and admired him.

History recalls that Thomas Rutter was not a young man when he began this pioneering work, but was 50 years of age.  Rutter may not have lived to actually see his Manatawny iron industry lead the nation industrially, but he must have sensed there would be periods coming very soon when this inevitably would be the case.  His forges and furnaces were instrumental in providing the Continental Army the cannons and shot that George Washington desperately would need to win the war of independence from England.

Yes, Pine Forge became a nucleus of other bloomery and blast furnaces that later emerged in the area.  It was also here at Pine Forge that Thomas Rutter erected his home.  A stately Georgian colonial brownstone mansion.  The exact date of its construction is still unknown but the years 1720-1729 stand out as the time period for its erection.  The Pennsylvania Guide to the Keystone State dates the mansion as being built in 1720.  Others have set the date at 1723.  We do know that it was completed before 1729, for in 1730, Thomas Rutter died, leaving a legacy that was carried on by his sons Thomas and John, and his daughter Anna.

"Pine" as the mansion was known, was built in three stages, and was the ancestral home of the Rutters, Potts and Bailey's.  During the ownership of later successors, extensions were added.  "Pine's association with the underground railroad movement operated while John Potts Rutter was living at the mansion.  His brother Charles lived in Pottstown near the river with his father-in-law, Jesse Ives.  Here at the Ives House, Charles Rutter hid fugitive slaves as they were passed northward.  When Charles felt conditons warranted, he would forward his fugitives to "Pine" and leave them in his brother's care until a successful escape could be made.  Once there, the fugitives, if a posse were on their track, could take shelter within the tunnels under "Pine" that were reached through the cellar.  Thus the old passageways designed by Rutter as a safeguard against Indian attacks were being utilized in a way that Thomas Rutter could never have contemplated, although he probably would not have objected.  Many of the blacks remained at Pine Forge while others continued north.  Names of fugitives and free blacks can still be seen in the old ledgers of the accounts that are now in the possession of Pine Forge Academy.

From this small sketch, the role of Thomas Rutter and Pine Forge are intimately entwined with the founding not only of Pennsylvania but America.  The full role that Thomas Rutter and Pine Forge have played in history is yet to be known.

In the mid 1940's, the Black Seventh-day Adventists of the Middle Atlantic States began "The Northern School Project", spearheaded by the late Elder John H. Wagner, Sr., President of the Allegheny Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, Washington, D.C.  The dream of a rural boarding high school where their young people could obtain an education that could not be obtained in the public schools was their desire.  Several possible sites were visited and explored where a school could be built, but no commitment was made.

A Walter Caution informed his pastor, Elder Frank L. Bland of Philadelphia that there was a farm for sale near Pottstown, Pennsylvania.  It was known as the Old Rutter Estate.  President Wagner and his committee visited the property and they were deeply impressed by the "rolling hills", "running streams" and "sun kissed countryside".  This natural setting they felt was the ideal location for their boarding school.

Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Snydner, who were the current owners of the Rutter Estate, upon understanding the intentions and purpose of the committee, agreed to sell the propery, 575 acres, for approximately $42,000.00.  This was a period of economic recovery and hardships, however, in a period of three months, the relatively new Allegheny Conference raised the money needed to consumate the purchase.  The downpament for the property was given by Dr. Grace Kimbrough, a noted SDA physican of Philadelphia.

The founding fathers, to name a few: Elder John H. Wagner, Sr., Elder J.L. Moran, Elder W.L. Cheatham, Elder W.R. Robinson and Dr. Grace Kimbrough laid the groundwork for the opening of the school.  Their dream for a boarding school in the north had been realized---its name would be Pine Forge Institute.  After months of preparation, with church members throughout the conference coming to the school site, donating their time, money and energy, the Rutter Estate was transformed into a boarding school site.  The first school term began in the fall of 1946.  

The existing buildings on the Rutter Estate became the first classrooms, dormitories, chapel, cafeteria and faculty housing for the institute.

For more than sixty years, Pine Forge Academy, as it is now called has been training leaders that serve not only their church, but also the business world, industry, local, state and federal government.  The alumni of Pine Forge Academy serve with distinction.  The medical, educational and private sector of society also profess noted alumni who hold positions of distinction and testify to the training they received while students at Pine Forge Institute/Academy.

The student body is composed of students from across the continental United States as well as from several foreign countries.  Th faculty and staff are dedicated to the training of the "head, hand and heart" of the youth who enter these sacred portals of learning.  They recognize that the dream of the late Elder John H. Wagner, Sr., is still needed in the 21st Century to train leaders for service to meet the challenges of these crucial times in earth's history.  It is the purpose of Pine Forge Academy to send forth students of keen intellect, strength of character, abiding love and self-abnegation to serve the needs of a chaotic world with a true sprit of loving, caring and sharing as well as to help hasten the second coming of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.