Welcome to Gloria Dei (Old Swedes’) Church.Built between 1698 and 1703, it is one of Pennsylvania’s oldest surviving landmarks. Its brick walls carry the memories of European settlers who first arrived in the Delaware Valley in 1638. Their way of life was rooted in their Lutheran faith and traditions that shaped the area long before the American Revolution.Community extended beyond the church walls. Families built log cabins and farmsteads and worked the land. They wove textiles and built furniture in styles that reflected their homeland. And they used natural materials to recreate the toys and games of their ancestors.
The Game of Graces
Our tour begins with the Game of Graces. Originally from France, this popular two-player game was known by several names: Graces, La Grace, The Graces and the Flying Circle. Historically, it was considered a game for girls. Why? Playing it encouraged gracefulness, elegance and coordination. While records indicate that this game was in America before the Revolution, it wasn’t widely advertised in Philadelphia until the 1800s.
Bilbo Catcher
Variations of this game can be found in many cultures throughout history. By the 18th century, it became very popular in both England and in the colonies. There are various names for this game including the “Wood Cup and Bowl,” "bilboquet" or the “Bilbo Catcher.”
Playing Cards
In the 18th century, Philadelphia citizens spent a lot of time playing cards … in their homes, at taverns and on ships. A number of games could be played using the same deck of cards. The most popular were: Whist, a trick-taking game; Ombre and Brag that involved fluffing and betting; and Quadrille, which emphasized skill and strategy.Notice that none of the suit cards have numbers. Much of the population was illiterate, so numbers weren't necessary or important.The notorious 1765 Stamp Act levied taxes on essential and popular goods imported to the American colonies. This tax was collected to pay for Britain's expensive Seven Years War. Playing cards were among the taxable paper goods listed in the Stamp Act. And that made no one in America happy.
Bird Whistles
Children enjoyed playing with Bird Whistles in the 18th century. They would fill them up partway with water and blow into them like a whistle. The result: the whistles warble like a songbird.
Tic-Tac-Toe
Dating back to Ancient Egypt, Tic-Tac-Toe or “noughts and crosses” was popular in Colonial America. While the rules are simple and easy to solve, the fun comes in adapting strategies to force a draw – so neither player wins.How to Play: Two players take turns marking spaces in a three-by-three grid, one with Xs and the other with Os. A player wins when they mark all three spaces of a row, column, or diagonal of the grid, whereupon they traditionally draw a line through those three marks to indicate the win.
Powder Horn
This is another toy that emulates an object used by adults. This miniature powder horn or powder flask toy is based on an object used for holding gunpowder. Woodworkers often made them for their children out of cow, ox or buffalo horns. Also, weapons like flintlock pistols, blunderbusses and wooden rifles were fashioned for children’s play.
Jacks
Also known as “knucklebones,” “dibs” or “jackstones,” this game has been played for over two thousand years. Today it is commonly called Jacks. This game tests hand-eye coordination, speed and focus. Early versions of the toy were made entirely from knucklebones. Modern versions include a bouncy ball.
The Royal Game of the Goose
The Royal Game of the Goose is the earliest commercially produced board game, dating back to the 15th century. Its design evolved over time to reflect current politics or social situations. Game sheets, like this one, were produced by American printers during the 18th century. Modern versions of this game include Monopoly, Candy Land and the Game of Life.How to Play: It’s a simple race game - the first player to reach space 63 wins. Along the way, landing on various tiles can send you forward or backward. You can get stuck on a tile until another player relieves you. Or you can be forced to start over from the beginning.
Drum
This is another toy that emulates an object used by adults. A child size drum like this would help little ones hone their musical skills. But this wasn’t just a toy. Boys who were too young to enlist in the revolutionary cause could become drummers for the American army.
Pieces of Eight
In colonial times, the dollar coin was the smallest value of currency minted. But shop keepers didn’t always charge full dollar amounts for the items they sold. To make change, shopkeepers cut dollar coins up into pieces or “bits.” These “bits” were also used in a game called “Pieces of Eight.” Pieces of Eight is a math game that teaches children fractions. Children are tasked with figuring out combinations of pieces that make whole coins. For example, one half bit plus two fourths bits equals one whole coin.
Ring Toss
Not just for kids, this simple game of ring toss provides a challenge for people of all ages. This set comes with 3 wooden rings and one peg. The object is to toss the rings so that they land on the peg. The game becomes more challenging the further you are from the peg.
Spinning Tops
Spinning tops were one of the most popular toys of the eighteenth century. They were made in all shapes and sizes from a variety of woods. Tops are among the oldest toys known and they continue to amuse children today. The object is to spin the top and see how long it spins before it falls down.
Love Cards
Lovelorn Philadelphian’s enjoyed playing with cards like these. With a heavy mythological influence, satyrs and cherubs announce warning and advise on ways of the heart. Although the value of each card is depicted in the upper corner by a normal suit card image, you won’t find any numbers written there.
Jaw Harp
Another popular musical instrument was the Jaw Harp. While only capable of producing a single note, players can vary the instrument’s tone by changing the shame of their mouth. In the 18th century, Williamsburg merchants listed jaw harps in their store inventories and advertised them in the Virginia Gazette.
Buzz Saw
The Buzz Saw or the Whirligig toy noisemaker is a simple classic toy. Children in the 18th century typically made it out of household items and scraps. They would simply wind it up and let Newton's laws entertain them for hours.
Hotch Potch Ring Toss Game
Similar to the Bilbo Catcher, the Hotch Potch Ring Toss Game tests eye and hand coordination. A simple and fun game, players try to catch the wood hoop with the Hotch Potch. It provides hours of entertainment for kids of all ages.
Dice Games
Dice games have been popular since ancient times. Typically made of bones, dice were household items in colonial Philadelphia. In the 18th century, dice games — like Farkle, Hazzard and Shut the box — were played in taverns and parlors. However, since they were often associated with gambling, George Washington issued a general order in 1777 prohibiting dice games because they “bring disgrace and ruin upon officers.”
The Captain's Mistress
Here’s a game adults enjoyed, especially those who made their living at sea. Legend says that Captain Cook played this game nightly to relax with his fellow shipmates. In fact, he spent so much time playing the game, it came to be known as the Captain's Mistress.
Conclusion
Gloria Dei (Old Swedes’) Church endures as a testament to the resilience of immigrant communities and the blending of traditions that shaped early Pennsylvania. They carried their customs across the ocean and adapted them to a new land. This is especially evident in the toys and games they introduced to early America. And those handmade games continued to amuse children and adults for nearly 200 years!However, in the early 19th century, a major shift occurred. Philadelphia’s first toy manufacturer opened in 1838 near 2nd and Arch Streets. Francis, Field, and Francis, commonly known as the “Philadelphia Tin Toy Manufactory,” sold imported French and German toys. They also produced what is believed to be the first manufactured toy in the United States: a horse-drawn fire apparatus.
