Celebrating 325 Years of William Penn's Vision The First Welsh Settlement in Lower Merion and Narberth 1682-2007 In August 1682, the Welsh Quakers first arrived to the area. They were seeking a home in the New World, which they had christened "The Welsh Tract." These "Merioneth Adventurers" from the County of Merionethshire in the North of Wales were part of William Penn's vision of the "Holy Experiment" in which the persecuted peoples of the Old World could find refuge in a land of promise and new beginnings. Mark your calendar for these upcoming events: The Harriton Plantation Fair will be held SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 29th from 10:00am to 4:00pm, rain or shine. Plan for an educational, family-oriented day in the park. Carriage rides, sheep herding, crafts, antiques & collectibles, childrens' games, Pennsylvania Dutch Food, quilts, music, the Treasures Booth, house tours, and free admission. On SATURDAY, OCTOBER 6th from 10:30am to 2:00pm their will be a joint tour starting at the Merion Meetinghouse, located at 615 Montgomery Avenue in Merion; and continued at the nearby Lower Merion Academy, located at 506 Bryn Mawr Avenue in Bala Cynwyd. The focus of these tours and presentations should help the general public gain a better understanding of Quaker values and Quaker education. This event is co-sponsored by the Merion Meeting and The Lower Merion Historical Society. The Mills of Mill Creek: A Photographic Journey will take place on THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11th at 7:45pm at Waverly Heights, 1400 Waverly Road in Gladwyne. Welsh Quakers came to the New World as farmers and millers, immediately setting up waterwheel mills along the aptly named Mill Creek. Meet these mills in a photographic journey sponsored by the Lower Merion Conservancy. An Interfaith Service celebrating the Great Holy Experiment of William Penn and the religious freedom enjoyed in this country, influenced by Penn and the early settlers will take place at 3:00pm on SUNDAY, OCTOBER 14th at the Merion Meetinghouse. This interfaith experience of religious tolerance is hosted by the Rev. Jonathan A. Malone, pastor of Lower Merion Baptist Church, Bryn Mawr. All are welcome and invited to attend. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 20th our three local Quaker Meetinghouses have an Open House with each community presenting a perspective of our Quaker heritage. All events are open to the public at no charge. 10:00am to 11:30am, at the Merion Meeting founded in 1682 and located at 615 Montgomery Avenue in Merion. Stories about William Penn's witch trial in 1701 and stories about his influence on the creation of the United Nations. This will be followed by a tour of the Meetinghouse and Burial Grounds. Refreshments will be available in the Activities Building. 12:30pm to 2:00pm, at the Old Haverford Meeting founded in 1683 and located at 235 East Eagle Road in Havertown. Discussion about "The Faith and Practice of Early Friends" will be presented by Patricia Dallmann. This will be followed by a "History of Old Haverford Meeting" presented by Joseph Tyson, author of "Penn's Luminous City." 3:00pm to 5:00pm, at the Radnor Meeting founded in 1693 and located at Conestoga Road & Route 320 in Radnor. Professor Charles Cherry of Villanova University will give a lecture on "William Penn and the Settlement of Pennsylvania." followed by refreshments and discussion on Quaker social and pacifist values. Lower Merion and Narberth will be an active participant in the "William Penn's Welcome Week" program that will run from SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13th thru SUNDAY, OCTOBER 21st. This will include special exhibitions, family activities, displays, lectures and programs to entertain and delight adults and children at each of the collaborating attractions. For more information visit www.ushistory.org/penn On WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 24th at 6:00pm, join with your neighbors at the Township Administration Building, 75 E. Lancaster Avenue in Ardmore, for the dedication of the 325th Anniversary Time Capsule. To be opened on the occasion of the 400th Anniversary Celebration in 2082, the Capsule will contain historical documents and other items of significance as chosen by residents and Township officials. If you have a suggestion for an item to be included in the Capsule, which was generously donated by the West Laurel Hill Cemetery, e-mail timecapsule@lowermerion.org by September 15th. The Merioneth Adventurers: Ride the History Trolley on SATURDAY, DECEMBER 1st, from 2:00pm to 4:00pm Registration fee is $25 per person. The Welsh Quakers that first settled Lower Merion-the "Merioneth Adventurers"-left behind a surprising legacy of still-standing buildings. On this trolley ride, the Lower Merion Conservancy's Mike Weilbacher and the Lower Merion Historical Society's Jerry Francis lead a tour of early settlements: our first school, first house of worship, a cottage where William Penn slept, old mills and millworker houses, and so much more. Along the way, we'll enjoy a reception at a Quaker farmhouse. Tour meets at the Lower Merion Academy, the Lower Merion Historical Society's office alongside Bala Cynwyd Middle School on Bryn Mawr Avenue. Call (610) 645-9030 to register or to receive information about this event.