LOWER MERION HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Executive Board Meeting
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Lower Merion Academy
Second Floor Meeting Room

Present: Jerry Francis, Leon Levine, Jack Hagner, Anna O'Hora, Betty Cannon, Phil Eidelson, Joanne Murray, Denise Francis, Ted Goldsborough, Dennis Montagna, Andy Amsterdam, Bobbie McElroy, and Andrew Hubsch (an invited guest).

Excused Absences: Alison Graham, Ross Mitchell, Bruce Reed, Hamill Horne.

Jerry Francis called the meeting to order at 7:32 PM, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

Minutes of the June 14, 2007 Board Meeting were unanimously approved.

President's Report: At the April Annual Meeting, Chris Leswing, Assistant Director of Building and Planning for Lower Merion Township, discussed the Comprehensive Preservation and Redevelopment Plan for the Township. The Historical Society has stepped forward and will be actively involved in the future planning for historic preservation, open space and zoning in the Township.

Treasurer's Report: Jack Hagner presented the Statement of Financial Position, the Statement of Activities, and the Statement of Detail Expenses, as of August 31, 2007. The reports show that Society is in a stable condition for the near term. These reports were unanimously approved.

Education: The year-to-date totals for the Society are: we hosted 23 lectures/events for a total of 690 attendees. On September 15th, Ted Goldsborough attended the Autocar Annual Luncheon in Exton.

Because of recent changes in the School District's curriculum, there were fewer requests this year for our services. This Spring, Ted did bus tours for four (4 ) elementary schools (Merion, Gladwyne, Belmont Hills & Penn Wynne), instead of the usual six (6) elementary schools. Only two (2) elementary schools, (Belmont Hills & Gladwyne) made a request for our intergenerational program.

Library & Website: Thanks go out to Phil Eidelson, our data input man for our website; and to Joanne Murray, for the school memorabilia display that she installed on the shelves in the first floor meeting room.

Also, Ted recognized and thanked the following volunteers/interns who have been helping these past months organizing our various collections at the Academy:

  • Thomas Auxier - Hampshire College - Ardmore Jr. High School photo collection.
  • Liz Bruss - L.M. High School Sophomore - Col. Barker's scrapbooks.
  • Allie Cade - L.M. High School Sophomore - "The Merionite" newspapers.
  • Julia Fleekop - L.M. High School Senior - Ardmore Jr. High School photo collection.
  • Matt Gabalowi - L.M. High School Senior - Bala Cynwyd Jr. High School collection.
  • Eliza Reiss - Haverford College Junior - Yerkes plot plans and Byerley collection.
Regarding our website, in the first eight (8) months of this year, we have had 210,700 visitors, from 68 countries. Many of these visitors had an interest in our burial records database.

Membership: Denise Francis reported that we currently have a total of 283 members: 63 are complementary, 27 are life, and 193 are paid members. In the 193 group, 32 have not paid since 2006 and 12 are new members.

Program: The 325th Anniversary Events are listed under "Upcoming Events" on our website. They are:

  • October 6th - Lecture on "Quaker Life: Belief and Education"
  • October 14th - "Interfaith Service" at the Merion Meetinghouse
  • October 20th - "Open House" at Merion, Old Haverford & Radnor Meetinghouses
  • October 24th - Dedication of the "Time Capsule"
  • December 1st - "Ride the History Trolley" Tour
Publications: Andy Amsterdam has begun production on a printed Atlas of Lower Merion Township and Narberth Borough maps from 1851 thru 1961. It is anticipated to be 200 plates, 12"x18" on heavy coated stock, in 4 colors, with hand sown binding. It will be available for purchase in early December of this year.

Old Business: The Cynwyd Train Station Revitalization Project is taking shape and all agreements should be in place within the next two (2) months. They are:

  • A lease agreement between SEPTA and the Township.
  • A sub-lease agreement between the Township and the Society.
  • A contract between the Society and JECB Construction (our General Contractor).
  • A contract between the Society and Broadlands Financial Group (our Financial Manager).
  • A $225,000 grant from Montgomery County.
  • A matching $225,000 grant from the Township.
Once these above documents have been executed and the grant monies received, Phase One work will begin with an anticipated completion date of twelve (12) months. Phase Two will involve selecting a tenant/caretaker for building, and Phase Three will be concerned with the application of ornamental features to the outside of the building.

The following resolution was presented for adoption by the Board of Directors:

Authority is given to the President of the Society to enter into a sub-lease agreement with Lower Merion Township for the Cynwyd Train Station building located at the corner of Conshohocken State Road and Montgomery Avenue in Bala Cynwyd.

The resolution was seconded and unanimously approved by the Board of Directors.

New Business: Went into a closed session to discuss the Andrew Hubsch's proposal on "Merion Mercies: The New World Saga."

The meeting was adjourned at 9:20 PM. Respectfully Submitted,
Gerald A. Francis, President
The Lower Merion Historical Society