The Corridor - Old York Road Historical Society

The CorridorVolume XV, No. 1 The Newsletter of the Old York Road Historical Society Spring 2006SPRING LECTURE SERIESThe Program Committee has arranged the followingpresentations to be held on Wednesday evenings at8:00 p.m. in the Community Room of the JenkintownLibrary at Old York and Vista Roads. Lecturesare free and open to the public.March 8 – Society Hill and Old City. Society DirectorRobert M. Skaler will speak on his latest book“Society Hill and Old City”, published by ArcadiaPress. He will follow the fall and rise of SocietyHill in the 1850’s, when it was the center of thebanking and insurance industries in Philadelphia, tothe turn of the century when the neighborhood wasrestored. Many photos are from private archives andnever shown before. A book signing will follow theillustrated lecture.April 12 – The Story of Camp Hill Hall. Trudyand Lewis Keen will present a program about CampHill Hall. Many people have driven past the drivewayto Camp Hill Hall located on PennsylvaniaAvenue just below Route 309 and noticed the concreteglobes. This program will highlight the estateand the families who were brought life to this locallandmark. Three prominent families of Philadelphiaand New York Society (Fell, Drexel, and Van Rensselaer)provided the money to build this late Victorianmansion. Pictures, both old and new of themansion, will take you on a virtual tour of the houseand grounds. The family story includes death, divorceand a possible murder!May 10 – Eastern Montgomery County Revisited.Society member Andrew M. Herman will illustratehis talk with postcards used in his latest book coveringall of the communities in eastern MontgomeryCounty. Priceless views of Valley Falls, HuntingdonValley, Cheltenham, Glenside, Willow Groveand Abington are included. Copies of the book willbe available following the lecture.The Annual Meeting of the Society will precede the Maylecture. Officer and Committee reports will be presentedand the Nominating Committee will present a slate ofOfficers and Directors to be elected for the 2006-2007program year.SPRING OUTINGSBENJAMIN FRANKLIN:IN SEARCH OF A BETTER WORLDSunday, March 19, 1:00 p.m.Join us as we celebrate the 300 th Anniversary ofBenjamin Franklin’s birth with a tour of the Franklinexhibition at the National Constitution Center. Thisexhibition features interactive displays and over 250artifacts including an original copy of the Declarationof Independence and Franklin’s copy of theConstitution. A bus will leave the Jenkintown Libraryparking lot at 1:00 and return around 5:00.Cost is $20 for members and $25 for non-members.Please return the enclosed form by March 13.THE CENTURY HOMES OF RYDALAND MEADOWBROOKSaturday, June 3, 2:00 p.m.The Society and the Rydal-Meadowbrook Civic Associationwill jointly host a house tour of historicresidences in Rydal and Meadowbrook. Featuredwill be several notable homes including the Satterthwaiteresidence where Betsy Ross lived with herdaughter. The tour will begin and end (with a reception)at the old Abington School House on the SunriseAssisted Living campus in Abington. Ticketsare $30 per person and reservations are due by May26 (Civic Association members are encouraged toregister via a mailing to be sent out by RMCA).Tribute to Les Harvey,Willow Grove BandleaderSaturday, June 10, 9:30 a.m.Join the Upper Moreland Association and the Societyfor the 10 th Annual Historical Picnic at theBoileau Farmstead, located at Byberry and OrangemansRoads. The “Old Comrades” Band will performmusic in the style of legendary bandleader, LesHarvey from 11:00 to 1:00. Refreshments may bepurchased at the registration table. Please call 215-886-8590 to r.s.v.p. by June 3.

Abington Township CentennialThis year Abington Township is celebrating its centennialof first-class township government. Uponachieving this status, the board of Commissionersheld its first meeting on March 5, 1906 at theWeldon Hotel (later Casa Conti and now the NewLife Church). There are a number of events plannedthat will carry the centennial seal including these ofspecial historical interest:Monday, March 6, 8:00 p.m., The Board of Commissionerswill re-enact their first commissionermeeting. Included will be an historical display aswell as memorabilia from the township’s early days.The Society will also mount a display this evening.Sunday, April 9, 2:30 p.m., Penn State Abingtonwill host a presentation in the Woodland auditoriumon Amelia Earhart and her connections to the area.This lady pioneer in aviation attended the OgontzSchool and was connected with the Pitcairn developmentof the autogiro. The program is free to thepublic.Thursday, May 4, 8:00 p.m., A musical concert willbe held in the Abington High School Auditoriumfeaturing the Quakertown Band performing worksby John Philip Sousa and others who were famousfrom their days at Willow Grove Park. The Societywill mount a display in the lobby for this evening.Tickets are required to ensure adequate seating; call215-881-2517 to reserve your place.Saturday, June 3, 2:00 p.m. House tour of the CenturyHomes of Rydal and Meadowbrook sponsoredby the Rydal Meadowbrook Civic Association incooperation with the Society. See announcement onfront page and enclosed reservation form.Saturday, June 24, 9:00 a.m., The Township’s Parksand Recreation Department will host a bike tour.Historic sites throughout the township will be featured.The route will later be available as a drivingtour for those who only drive with four wheels. Formore information, contact the Parks and RecreationDepartment at 215-576-5213.A Devoted Volunteer RetiresThe Society would like to acknowledge the unfailingdedication that Miss Florence Miley has given to theSociety for many years. Miley has been active behindthe scenes keeping the Society’s obituary filescurrent and cataloging them according to the Soundexsystem. This important work in the preservationof obituaries helps researchers locate a name whenthe spelling may be questioned. Her volunteer servicesare greatly appreciated.Willow Grove ParkThe Society’s latest book, Willow Grove Park, isnow available. Published by Arcadia Publishing, thebook contains over 200 images of the park documentingits entire history. Proceeds will be used forcollection organization, conservation, and preservationpurposes. Please spread the word about thiswonderful book. See the enclosed flyer on locationswhere the book may be purchased. Current and Lifemembers will be mailed their book in late March.New Collections ReceivedThe Society has received a number of notable additionsto the archives. From the estate of DorothyHallowell, the Society received some items relatedto Deerfield, the Hallowell estate on MeetinghouseRoad. From aerial photographer Salvatore A. Boccutiin Ambler, the Society has received a large collectionof prints and negatives documenting many ofthe projects Boccuti has photographed. Images datefrom the 1970s to the 1990s and include sitesthroughout the Delaware Valley. The collection isestimated to number 10,000 images. From McCleesGallery in Haverford the Society received a numberof drawings and other works of art by or related tomembers of the Russell Smith family of painters.These works will join the large collection alreadyowned by the Society. From Lillian Rankin the Societyhas received a collection of photographs andobjects related to Hatboro and Beaver College. Finally,from the estate of Morris George, the Societyreceived papers documenting his work with AbingtonMemorial Hospital (of which he was president),Abington High School, the Abington YMCA and theRotary Club of Jenkintown.Photograph Exhibition ContinuesThe exhibition of photographs from the collection ofthe late Stephen Silverman, Esq., is presently on displayat the Swedenborg Library in Bryn Athyn. Thedisplay, featuring images of Huntingdon Valley,Bryn Athyn and Willow Grove, will remain on viewthrough April. All are welcome to visit the exhibit.Parking is provided in the lot adjacent to the library.Membership RenewalWe are half way through our 2006 membership year.If your mailing label does not read “2006” you arenot current in your membership. Members receiveour latest publication, Willow Grove Park, in additionto regular benefits. Thanks for your renewal!

Patrons’ Party to be Held at VernonThe annual Patrons’ Party will be held Sunday, May 21, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at Vernon, the historic home ofthe Newbold family and presently the home of Katherine and Thomas Zoidis. Vernon dates back to 1736 whenthe original dwelling was built by Stephen Jenkins of the family for whom Jenkintown is named. The house waslater occupied by seven generations of the Newbold family. The house has grown from its original one roomsquare on the first of its three floors with a lean-to kitchen, to its present estate size. William Newbold plantedmost of the large specimen trees now surrounding the house shortly after purchasing the property in 1850 for useas a summer home. By 1854 he had planted an orchard on the Washington Lane side of the house, now a lawn.Invitations will be mailed to all 2006 Patron members in mid-April. Invitations will allow for two tickets to theparty. Directions will be provided with the invitation. In order to receive an invitation, you must be a current2006 Patron member (check your mailing label – the label for current patrons will read “2006P”), a Life memberwho has made a financial contribution of at least $30 this program year, or a donor of archival materials to theSociety’s collections. Please consider an extra bit of support to help the Society and receive an invitation. If yourmembership is current but you are not a Patron member, consider upgrading your membership. Patron membershipssupport new collection acquisitions, a sample of which will be on display at the party.SOCIETY AIDS TOOKANY CREEK WATERSHED CONSERVATIONCheltenham Township recently received a grant from the Pennsyolvania Department of Conservation and NaturalResources for the development of a watershed management program for the Tookany Creek. This effort involvedthe collaborative partnership among the four Montgomery County suburban municipalities in the upper reaches ofthe watershed, namely Cheltenham and Abington Townships, and Jenkintown and Rockledge Boroughs.The municipal partners all agreed on the need for a watershed conservation plan as an important step to addressthe severe flooding and stream bank degradation, and poor water quality, all of which are the unfortunate consequenceof suburban development. Society Director Bryan Havir was instrumental in coordinating the watershedmanagement plan that will aid in protecting the vital resources of the Tookany Creek and the entire Tookany/Tacony-FrankfordWatershed. The six main tributaries in the headwaters of the study area are BaederCreek, Jenkintown Creek, an unnamed tributary, Leech’s Run, Mill Run, Rock Creek and the main stem of theTookany Creek. Their total length is 21.22 linear miles.Special thanks is extended to Society Secretary Mildred Wintz, Ed.D., for assisting the steering committee in researchingwater data and maps in the archives of the Society. Dr. Wintz provided historical background andanalysis that helped the municipalities in forming future policies, adaptive reuse of historical buildings, and landuse and management options of the watershed. Once again, the Society’s archives have proven their value as anexcellent primary source for research.Society Receives Grant AwardsThe Society recently received two grants. The first was a $1000 grant from the Willow Grove Foundation. Thegrant will be used to match the funds needed for the Pennsylvania Historic & Museum Commission (PHMC)grant to clean, house, catalogue and print the Society’s glass plate negative collection. The Willow Grove Foundationis the charitable arm of Willow Grove Bank which has branches throughout the area.The second grant was for $2500 from the Jenkinstown Lyceum. This grant is also earmarked for the glass platenegative collection project. The Jenkinstown Lyceum was founded in 1838 and survives to the present day furtheringadult education primarily through grants and public lectures. The Society is grateful to both organizationsfor their generosity and support.With the above mentioned gifts, the Society successfully concludes its efforts to raise the matching funds for thePHMC grant. We are grateful to all who responded to our year-end appeal as well as those who donated or attendedAn Afternoon with John Adams and Thomas Jefferson in October. That event, sponsored by E. AllenReeves, Contractors, was the Society’s most successful event ever in both attendance and funds raised. We aregrateful to all those who have been unfailing in their support of the Society and its efforts to provide the best researcharchive and collections in this area. You have truly “Given Our Past A Future.”

THANKS TO OUR PATRON MEMBERSThe Society takes pleasure in recognizing those who have so far supported our work for the 2006 program yearthrough membership at the Patron Level. Patrons will be invited to the Patrons’ Party (see related article).Paul E. Aloe & Pat SullivanPaul K. BuntingMr. & Mrs. John B. ChapmanMr. & Mrs. Dennis A. ClineMrs. Eleanor Holt CobbFrances N. CrawfordJoanne L. DiamondMr. & Mrs. John Draper, Jr.Mrs. Dorothy D. EastwoodMr. & Mrs. Donald L. FelleyMr. & Mrs. Ron FreidmanMr. & Mrs. Michael W. GillespieKathy Ann GlatthornJohn GlynnMr. & Mrs. F. Wallace GordonMr. & Mrs. Robert L. Gray IIIFrancis R. Grebe, Esq.Dr. & Mrs. Charles H. GreenbaumMrs. John T. GullaMr. & Mrs. Robert J. Harbison IIIBryan T. HavirMr. & Mrs. Walter HellendallMr. & Mrs. C. John HobeJanet S. KleinMr. & Mrs. John LarishDr. & Mrs. Donald W. MaloneyMartha C. McDonoughMr. & Mrs. Martin MikelbergChristopher H. PaquetteAlbert R. PaulbinskyLachlan PitcairnMr. & Mrs. Joseph A. PokrifkaNancy R. PoselStephen S. RappoportThe Hon. & Mrs. Lowell A. ReedMr. & Mrs. Leon S. RhodesMr. & Mrs. Luis Vincente RiveraMr. & Mrs. Lincoln Roden IIIMr. & Mrs. Baron RowlandMr. & Mrs. Hugh T. RyanMr. & Mrs. Laurence C. Sibley, Jr.Elizabeth B. SmithMr. & Mrs. Jeffrey G. SolowMr. & Mrs. Lewis S. Somers IVMr. & Mrs. Peter C. WardMrs. Lewis S. WeissThomas J. Wieckowski, Ph.D.Mr. & Mrs. Thomas D. ZoidisOld York Road Historical Societyc/o The Jenkintown Library460 Old York Road PAIDJenkintown, PA 19046-2891ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTEDNON-PROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGEJenkintown, PAPERMIT NO. 22DATED MATERIAL