SCHUYLKILL TOWNSHIP
HISTORICAL COMMISSION
MEETING DATE: November 17, 2008

COMMISSION MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE:
Sandy Momyer, Khalil Hihi, Doug White, Joanne Brown, John Gregory

OTHERS IN ATTENDANCE:
Barbara Cohen, Lee Ledbetter, Peter Brown

Sandy opened the meeting at 7:05 p.m.

APPROVAL OF OCTOBER MINUTES:

Approved

CORRESPONDENCE & ANNOUNCEMENTS

Pam Applegate-Frasch will be on maternity leave beginning now.
Schuylkill River Heritage Center will be hosting a program on Phoenix Bridges on Dec. 2 at 7:30 p.m.

REPORTS:

Board of Supervisors:
Pohlig information will be discussed under Current Projects
Planning Commission:
Nothing relevant to HC
 EAC: 
            No Report           
Open Space Commission:
            No report

FOUNDERS DAY

Sandy reported that all went well and it was a great day.  We were pleased to honor Joanne Brown and her family.  She also thanked everyone who helped with the set up, food preparation and presentation and the clean up. 

Laura Walter confided to Sandy that the house will be going up for sale.  We will check with Mary Bird to make sure the deed restrictions will go with the sale.

CURRENT PROJECTS

  1. Anderson Cemetery fence style has been determined.  Upon checking we learned that it is a post and board fence.  Dianne Cram went to the site and checked this for us.  She also said it is painted white.  We will get the fence and see about painting it in the spring.

  2. Freedoms Foundation – Sandy spoke with Russ at the Foundation who said he is working diligently to clean up the house.  When that is complete, he will contact us to come to tour and document it.

  3. Sedgsley Farm (Reeves Property) – Sandy and John attended the recent Supervisors meeting when Pohlig reviewed the historical response to its proposed plans.  They are opposed to doing archaeological testing as suggested by the PA Preservation Office.  They reported that they would search for artifacts as they proceeded with the project and notify us if anything was found.

    4. Norm Vutz thought that maybe outside support was needed and this would be at a fee.

    Our commission believes testing should be completed.  Given the proximity to Moore Hall, the Revolutionary War event and the Native American presence and the Underground Railroad, there is a high probability of finding artifacts.  As per John Gregory’s suggestion, we should check this out.  He will talk with Mark Shaffer at the Preservation Office and Mike Caldwell at Valley Forge National Park to see how this could be accomplished.  Sandy will check with West Chester University to see if students could do this work.

  4. Royal Bank – the historic house has been demolished – nothing more to say.

  5. Schuylkill School – Barbara Cohen reported that the Term Sheet has been signed by the school district and the township.  A letter of cooperation is in place and we now need a lease.  Barbara and Sandy will now be searching for private and public funds.  We also will be looking to change the way people think about this structure.  We hope to present a township sponsored informational forum on the building to present findings.  We will check the facts and studies on the building.  We will make sure the building is environmental sound and present what can be at the site.  In addition to other uses, the school district needs space and we can make this space work for them as well.  We want to change the negative aspects of the building to positive thinking and consensus. 

  6. Toonerville Trolley Trail – Barbara Cohen gave an update.  We are awaiting notification of funding.  Signs have been discussed and we are looking for signs on the Horseshoe Trail to illustrate the industrial history of the area.

    7. We then discussed the total signage for Schuylkill Township.  We think we can get funding from the Chester County Visitor Center for the design.  We would also look into I-Pod driving tours.

  7. Ordinance Update – We discussed the situation in E. Coventry re homeowners not wanting they homes on the historical resource lists.  We can learn from their mistakes by keeping our homeowners informed as we do the research for the County Atlas and update our list.  Lee Ledbetter suggested that we determine guidelines re what constitutes an historic house.  We can eliminate many houses by not including the 1960 track homes

    8. We have not made a positive contact with David Kimmerly from Preservation PA to set a date to meet.  Sandy will continue to talk to him to set a date.  She will forward contact to John Gregory who will head up our ordinance review and upgrade process.

    Members commented on the house at Country Club and Route 23.  It appears to be a 1940’s structure in need of attention.  Sandy will contact Yerkes.

    We also discussed the cyclorama building at Gettysburg and the “recent past” aspect of preservation.  This is a Neutra designed structure and a valuable example of his work.  We can’t overlook the “modern” style of architecture.

ARC – Sandy reported that the ARC has dismissed Tom Daly as director and appointed a new director.  This gentleman is expected to be a great negotiator and hopefully will be able to work between Valley Forge National Park and ARC to settle the location and design of the center.

OLD BUSINESS

  1. Recollections of our Past…- Moore Hall has been added to the website

  2. 705 Pennypacker Avenue – Sandy has again asked Yerkes to look into this. house and ownership – the dumpster has been in the front yard since June 16.

  3. Budget – we will be asking the Supervisors for the same budget as last year:  $4,850 for HC, $150 for petty cash, $1,000 for the cemetery.  Barbara Cohen will seek funds for Schuylkill School.

  4. Signs – see above

NEW BUSINESS

  1. We have been informed that Anderson Place has had mortgage related problems and is in bank possession.  This is an historic place and we need to keep on top of this.  Doug White will check into the matter and keep us informed.

  2. Joanne Brown brought a collection of historic documents and articles that she will donate to our files.  We thank her for this.  They will go into our filing cabinets in the historic township building.

Meeting adjourned at 8:50 p.m.
Next meeting will be December 15, 2008
Meeting to begin at 7 p.m.

Submitted by:
Sandy Momyer