Historic
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Local Swim Club Earns Place in History as Nation’s First Black-Owned Swim Club
Nile Swim Club in Yeadon was designated a historic site by Pennsylvania recently, receiving its own historical marker at a ribbon-cutting ceremony, writes Nathaniel Lee for The Philadelphia Tribune. The club, at 513 South Union Avenue, was the first Black-owned swim club in the nation. In 1957, Zoe Mask, Carson Puriefoy, and Elmer Stewart, who…
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Pennypacker Mills Announces Summer Porch Performances
Start your summer with a visit to Pennypacker Mills for one of several performances sponsored by the Friends of Pennypacker Mills. The Summer Porch Performances series is back with free, family-friendly events appropriate for all ages. Alice Paul, Suffragette portrayed by Alisa DupuySaturday, June 26 at 7 p.m. Alice Paul was a vocal leader of the 20th century women’s…
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MONTCO Escape: 20 Must-See Sites and Scenes to Fully Experience Valley Forge National Historical Park
Living in Montgomery County, one of the best gateways we have to the outdoors is Valley Forge National Historical Park. It’s practically in everyone’s backyards, and it’s full of history, monuments, trails, things to see and experience, even shop. Don’t miss these Valley Forge sites! If you are visiting Valley Forge National Historical Park from…
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Lansdale’s Peter Wentz Farmstead Selected as National Underground Railroad Historic Site
Montgomery County Parks, Trails, and Historic Sites has announced that Peter Wentz Farmstead has been officially recognized by the National Parks Service (NPS) as a National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Program historic site. The Farmstead will be included on an NPS map of its national collection of 682 historical sites. The Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Program coordinates preservation and…
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Abolition Hall in Plymouth Meeting One Step Closer to Being Preserved
Abolition Hall in Plymouth Meeting, which was once a stop on the Underground Railroad, is closer to being preserved despite continuous interest from developers, writes Michaelle Bond for The Philadelphia Inquirer. Whitemarsh Township supervisors have officially announced their plans buy the farm with great historic importance. The officials approved the sale agreement earlier this month…
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Licking the British: Local Revolutionary War Reenactor Mimics Valley Forge Battle Formations with Popsicle Sticks
While spring is usually a big season for Revolutionary War reenactors, most have had to find new ways to enjoy their hobby during the pandemic that has caused the cancelation of the majority of events in Valley Forge for the second year in a row, writes Cameron McWhirter for The Wall Street Journal. Kenneth Gavin,…
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WCU Grad Student Finds Adolescent Resilience and Strength in Holocaust Diaries
Jenna Walmer, a West Chester University graduate student, prepared her thesis on adolescent resilience during the Holocaust by focusing on diaries written by two young women, Anne Frank and Renia Spiegel, writes Bill Rettew for the Daily Local News. Walmer noted the similarities in the adolescent development of both Frank and Spiegel in her thesis,…
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Brandywine Battlefield Property in Chadds Ford Bought by Conservation Group Promising to Protect the Land Forever
An historic Brandywine Battlefield property in nearby Chadds Ford originally considered for private development, was acquired March 25 by North American Land Trust (NASLT) which intends to protect the land forever under a conservative easement. The 72-acre property on Oakland Road will be open to the public as Brinton Run Preserve. The NALT acquisition preserves…
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Tireless Efforts of Volunteers and Pottstown Historical Society Brought Historic Carousel Back to Its Old Glory
Nearly two-decade-long efforts by determined volunteers and the Pottstown Historical Society brought back to life the Historic Pottstown Carousel, making it the second oldest operating Philadelphia Toboggan Company wooden carousel in the entire country, writes Mary Ann Dailey for the Pennsylvania Magazine. In 1999, a group of volunteers learned that a 1905 carousel was available…
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Mont Clare, Phoenixville, Local PA Towns Home to Large Number of Preserved Underground Railroad Sites
While many areas in different states are home to Underground Railroad locations, parts of Montgomery County and Chester County boasts an especially large number of preserved sites with documented history, writes Kimberly Haas for Hidden City Philadelphia. Several stops were in Kennett Square, including the Pines, the home of Bartholomew Fussell, who was one of…
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Washington Post: Undercover of the Fight of the Century, Activists Broke Into FBI Offices in Media
Anti-war protesters used the distraction of the “Fight of the Century” between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier on March 8, 1971 to break into an FBI office in nearby Media and steal documents highlighting the government’s persecution of activists, writes Kevin Blackistone for The Washington Post. The seized documents shed a public light on COINTELPRO,…
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Preservationists Work to Raise Funds for Willows Mansion Restoration in Villanova
The once-deteriorating Willows Mansion in Villanova is now undergoing renovation to use for weddings and public events, writes Paul Jablow for The Philadelphia Inquirer. The mansion, originally named Rose Garland, was built in 1910, designed by renowned architect Charles Barton Keen for a wealthy distillery owner’s bride. In 2017, a local preservationist buff noticed a…
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Two 111th Attack Wing Airmen in Horsham Continue Tradition Set by Their Grandfathers, Original Tuskegee Airmen
joined military service to continue in the footsteps of their hero grandfathers, legendary first Black U.S. military aviators, the original Tuskegee Airmen, writes Staff Sgt. Timi Jones for the DVIDS Hub. Tech. Sgt. David W. Stevenson, a combat arms maintenance and training security forces member with the 201st Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron…
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Meet Villanova’s Brother-Sister Basketball Duo–First Ever on Campus
Villanova University’s got a brother-sister basketball duo this year out on the courts. The first ever, reports Jamie Apody for 6abc.com. Forward junior Cole Swider is joined by his new practice partner—sister Kylie. “Initially, I was like ‘no way can I go there. I can’t follow him,’” Kylie said. “And then every place I went,…
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Retired Shipley School Teacher Finds New Life in Restoring Local History
Tony Morinelli, a retired humanities teacher and theater director at the Shipley School in Bryn Mawr, now devotes his time to restoring pieces of local history, writes Paul Jablow for The Philadelphia Inquirer. Morinelli, who is an accomplished artist and holds a doctorate in medieval history, bought an abandoned 18th-century mill owner’s home in Havertown…
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Har Jehuda Cemetery in Neighboring Delaware County Facing Hard Times as Business Declines
Har Jehuda Cemetery, a Jewish cemetery in nearby Upper Darby, is being tended to by a skeleton staff, writes Andy Gotlieb for Jewish Exponent. Declining upkeep in local cemeteries isn’t limited to the just Delco or Montco areas, as The Morning Call has reported in recent months. The crew does the best it can but…
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Gladwyne Architect Celebrates Groundbreaking Design in American History in His New TV Series
Renowned Gladwyne architect Charles E. Dagit Jr. celebrates grand design in the new series based on his 2015 book, The Groundbreakers: Architects in American History – Their Places and Times, writes Marilyn Odesser-Torpey for Main Line Today. The eight-part Groundbreakers TV series is currently airing on MLTV-Main Line Network on Sundays. Through interviews and historical…
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Commercial Takeover of Christmas Rescued it From Mummers Anarchy & Made it Safe to Celebrate
The commercial takeover of Christmas helped rescue the holiday from the grip of violent gangs of Mummers that used to roam the streets of cities such as Philadelphia and made it safe to celebrate, writes Jason Zweig for The Wall Street Journal. Mummers were gangs of drunk young men who would dress in outrageous disguises…
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