THE LOWER MERION HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Present:
Guests:
Excused:
Jerry Francis called the meeting to order at 7:30pm, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
Minutes of the September 18, 2008 Board Meeting were unanimously approved.
Update on the Cynwyd Heritage Trail: Representing the ÒFriends of the Cynwyd Heritage TrailÓ were Lee Rudy (Vice President elect) and Drew Ries (Treasurer elect). Recently founded, they have applied for a 501(c)(3) designation and are working in partnership with the Township of Lower Merion. Their mission is to advocate for construction and maintenance of the Cynwyd Heritage Trail, and to undertake projects to enhance its recreational, natural, and educational value through volunteer commitments of time, talents and fundraising. The goal of the Friends is to get 300 members by the end of the year.
Chris Leswing, Assistant Director of Planning for the Township of Lower Merion, announced that the Township is applying for funding from a Preserve America Federal Grant
Bruce Reed reported on the legislative breakfast that he attended. The participants discussed the trail and where the County and City will to take the lead in talks with SEPTA to extend the trail over to Manayunk Bridge into Manayunk.
Cynwyd Train Station Stabilization Project: Jim Easter, whose JECB Construction Company had the contract for the Cynwyd Station project, passed away on December 8, 2008. The heirs to his estate want release from the project contract. Philip S. Rosenzweig, Township Commissioner for Ward 6, is drafting a release agreement for JECB Construction Company to sign.
Bruce gave a review of the station project. The historical building was in ruin, falling down and was a public safety issue. Montgomery County provided ½ of the $225,000 cost of stabilization, which was matched by the Township. Broadlands Financial Group has drawn up an agreement that could be used by a replacement general contractor. Upon inspection, Broadlands states that the work, already done, is superior quality. Since the site will be mixed-use, the Fire Marshall has decided that there will be a need for a fire suspension system. The cost for such a fire protection system is estimated to be $33,000 to $36,000. Montgomery County and the Township have been asked to put up the necessary funds to cover this unbudgeted expense.
Bruce made the first motion: To give the power, to the President of the Historical Society, to enter into any arrangements necessary to allow work to continue on the Station project. The motion was moved, seconded and unanimously approved.
Bruce made the 2nd motion: The Historical Society President be empowered to provide a loan, up to $35,000, to the construction project, for a fire suspension system, subject to his reasonable expectation that the funds will be reimbursed. The motion was moved, seconded and unanimously approved.
PresidentÕs Report: Jerry announced that there will be an educational walk along the trail this Sunday morning at 10:00am beginning at the Cynwyd Station. The Township plans to install information maps and historic markers along the trail to show where the railroad stations and mills were once located.
The School District has completed the re-building of the Academy sun porch. Upgrade to the second floor bathroom will be done this summer. The School District has proven to be good stewards of the Academy. The Neighborhood Club of Bala Cynwyd did the initial planting this fall of a new garden in the terrace area and will complete the planting this summer.
Upon investigation and a lot of fieldwork, Max Buten and Steve Selinger think they have found part of a foundation wall of CleggÕs cotton mill that was once along Vine Creek.
Treasurer Report: Jack Hagner presented the Statement of Financial Position as of December 31, 2008
The Society has agreed to make the Academy Building available to the Friends of the Cynwyd Heritage Trail. Jerry suggested that the Society loan the group up to $1,500 to help pay the filing fees for their 501(c)(3) application. A promissory note will be signed that the Friends will re-imburse the Society, interest free, at a later date. Jerry also suggested that we donate $500 as seed money, as they have many short-term expenses over the next few months. A motion was made for a loan up to $1,500 and a donation of $500 to the Friends of the Cynwyd Heritage Trail.
Education Report: A list of 31 lectures and events, given by society members, from January 1, 2008 thru December 31, 2008 was distributed. The total number of attendees was ~1490.
Denise and Ted discussed the Cynwyd SchoolÕs 6th grade teacherÕs project. The teachers brought 20-25 students to the Academy building, where Denise and Ted gave them files on famous past residents of Lower Merion Township. The teachers asked the students to write a biographical sketch of these Lower Merion residents. The teachers have asked to come back to do the project again.
Library Report: Donations are received frequently. A portrait of John Levering was donated by his family and will hang next to his map located in the General Reference Room.
Web Site Report: Max Buten reported that over 3,000 pictures are now on the web site. New buildings have been added. Editing has been completed for the letters A to L and work will continue for the letter M to Z. There are ~1,000 more images to be added. Jerry announced that we had 219,577 visitors to our web site in 2008. The grand total, since we launched our site, is now at 1,017,481 visitors.
Membership Report: The annual membership dues letter has been prepared and will be mailed in the next few days.
Program Report: Joanne Murray is making plans for the 60th Anniversary celebration that will occur at our Annual Meeting/Open House on April 19th. In this weekÕs Main Line Times, Joanne was profiled as the Volunteer of the Week. Congratulation goes out to Joanne.
Public Relations/Publications: The Township will be installing two wall murals in the second floor lobby of the Administration Building. This was a collaborative work with the Society who supplied more that 70 antique images for the collages. Copies of the guidebook were distributed.
Another collaborative effort with the Township is the Preserve America Grant where the Society will help design and supply antique images for ~20 historical markers along the Cynwyd Heritage Trail.
Old Business: 28 Hexamer maps (site elevations) on Lower Merion, have been purchased, printed and laminated. They are now available to the public.
Leon Levine announced that the Society would undertake a project to borrow, from the Delaware County Historical Trust, a manuscript of the Great Welsh Tract, by Berry Smith. Copies will be made and shown at the next meeting.
Ross Mitchell reported on the S. Hamill Horne Charitable Trust and distributed a letter that he has sent to Joseph Horne. Ross also reported that David Wilder has been mowing and cleaning the Llewellyn site, at the Johnson property, on Youngsford Road in Gladwyne. The site should be fenced and a sign installed.
Bruce Gill and Jerry would like to put together a spring festival event for The Lower Merion Society for the
We have received from Judy Swartz ~ 2,000 negatives that had been collected by her late husband. Many are from Lower Merion and they will need cleaning and cataloging before they can be integrated into our collection.
New Business:The Estate of Frank P.K. Barker, Jr., a Gladwyne resident, left the Society a bequest of $3,000.
Jerry appointed the Budget Committee
The Financial Review Committee would be Phil Bagley and Ann Bagley.
The Nominating Committee, to select the Officers and Directors, would be Ted Goldsborough, Jerry Francis and Ross Mitchell. The slate will be announced at the Annual Meeting.
Ted then led a tour of the attic of the Academy Building.
The Meeting was adjourned at 9:30 P.M.
Respectfully Submitted,
Barbara McElroy, Recording Secretary