Gvalmanac2016

Delaware County News Network presents the 2016

Garnet Valley Press

Almanac

DelcoNewsNetwork.com

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| GARNET VALLEY PRESS ALMANAC | DELAWARE COUNTY NEWS NETWORK

JUNE 2016

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Local Government »» Bethel Township

Chadds Ford Township

Township Building Stacy Langin 1082 Bethel Road, Meetings: 7:30 p.m., secGarnet Valley, PA 19060 ond Tuesday of each month www.twp.bethel.pa.us Bethel Township Hose 610-459-1529 Co. 1 Board of Supervisors Mike Heacock, Fire Michael Davey, Chair- Chief man Police Department Jean Stoyer, Vice Chair Alex Giribaldi Tom Worrilow, Chief of Mark Koehler Police

Officials Michael Maddren, Esquire, Solicitor Tim Durham, Code Enforcement Administrator Matt Houtmann, Township Engineer Stephen J. Wasylyszyn, PLS, Zoning Officer Edward Plasha, Tax Collector

How Bethel Township got its name The name of the township was recorded as “Bethel Lyberty” and was imported directly from Palestine. The word is said to signify “House of God” being the name of the second Hebrew letter (Beth-el), which is made after the fashion of a Hebrew house. Bethel Hamlet was settled at a very early date, and was probably composed of the first rudely constructed dwellings of the early immigrants who built them near each other for safety.

Courtesy of Bethel Townsnip’s web site http://www.twp.bethel.pa.us/

• CONCRETE WORK • BRICK WORK - ALL TYPES

Township Building 10 Ring Road, Chadds Ford, Pa 19317 610-388-8800 info@chaddsfordpa.gov

610-558-3605 Judge of Elections Building Inspector, Zoning Susan D. Dunwoody & Code Officer Southwest District Barb Kearney, Keystone Linda Henry - Northeast Municipal Services District

Inspector of Elections Board of Supervisors Katharine King - SouthFrank G. Murphy, Chairwest District man A ntoinette Sciallo Samantha Reiner, Vice Southwest District Chair Gail G. Force, Northeast Noelle Barbone District Rob Porter, Northeast Auditors District Vincent DelRossi, Chairman Timotha Trigg, Secretary District Justice The Honorable Wendy Joseph Pileggi, Auditor Roberts District Court 32-2-49 Tax Collector 485 Baltimore Pike Valerie J. Hoxter Glen Mills, PA 19342

Solicitor Michael Maddren, Esq., Maddren Law Patrick McKenna, Esq. (Alternate) Engineer Michael Schneider, PE, Pennoni Associates, Inc. JP Kelly, Kelly & Close (Alternate) Animal Control Officer Allen Strickler, Strickler Animal Control

Newlin Grist Mill

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ANNE NEBORAK -- DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA

A view of the Newlin Grist Mill log cabin in Concord Township.

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| GARNET VALLEY PRESS ALMANAC | DELAWARE COUNTY NEWS NETWORK

JUNE 2016

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Down by the river

Concord Township

ANNE NEBORAK -- DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA

A view of the Brandywine River.

Special Teas Tea Room Olde Ridge Village in Chadds Ford

Sisters Carole Bradley the chef and Judy Finnigan the baker welcome you.

All delicacies and scones made by Judy. 2009 award winner by Main Line Magazine for the best scones in the area!

Special Teas has over 50 loose teas to choose from and are constantly adding seasonal teas........Lemon and Lime Rooibos are a summer favorite.

The gift shop has several items made here in the USA from tea cozies to tea wallets and hand crafted tea jewelry. Brown Betty tea pots are still made in England and Special Teas has a variety of children’s tea sets and a wonderful variety of boxed teas and food items from Scotland and England.

Sundays are reserved for special events, including bridal and baby showers which have become a local favorite. A minimum of 25 adult teas are required to open the tearoom.

Children’s parties are done Saturday mornings from 11 to 12:30 in the Garden Room.

Maximum capacity is 24.

Visit us and enjoy the rewards of a wonderful cup of tea.

Reservations requested: 610-358-2320 Hours of operation: Monday 12-3 Afternoon Tea Only Tues.-Sat. 11-3 Full menu Closed Sundays...Reserved for parties of 25 or more adults 100 Ridge Road #37, Chadds Ford

www.specialteastearoom.com

Township Building 43 Thornton Road, Glen Mills, PA 19342 610-459-8911 office@concordtownship. org Board of Supervisors Dominic A. Pileggi, Chairman John J. Gillespie, Vice Chairman Kevin P. O’Donoghue Elizabeth A. “Libby” Salvucci Gail M. Ryan Township Manager/Township Secretary/Open Records Officer Brenda L. Lamanna Township Treasurer/Finance Director JoAnne M. Demnicki Administrative Staff Barbara G. Buchanan, Zoning/Planning Mary Lou Worland, Receptionist Deborah Kilburn, Accounting Christina Mahoney, Office of Property Safety/Engineering

Lisa Waldron, Web Admin & Newsletter Judy Melfi, Adminstration Appointed Officials Manos Kavadias, Director of Code Enforcement/ Zoning Maureen E. Kelly, Code Enforcement Assistant Frederick H. Field, Fire Marshal & Emergency Management Coordinator Robert Vasek, Deputy Fire Marshal & Emergency Management Coordinator James Callahan, Property Safety Officer Robert P. Kilburn, Property Safety Inspector Chris Mariani, Director of Public Works Pennoni Associates Inc., Township Engineer Donaghue & Labrum, LLP, Township Solicitor Allen R. Strickler, Animal Control Officer A llison O’Donoghue, Parks & Recreation Director Board of Auditors

David Montville Andrew Brenner Fire Company Concordville Fire & Protective Association Lee A. Weersing, President Tom Nelling, Fire Chief 610-459-4749 office@concordville.org Constable Thomas Mahoney Magisterial District Justice Wendy B. Roberts, Esquire District Court 32-2-49 Townships of Bethel, Chadds Ford, Concord & Thornbury 485 Baltimore Pike Glen Mills, PA 19342-1161 610-558-3605 Tax Collector Lisa C. Dort, Elected Tax Collector Lou Girolami, Deputy Tax Collector 610-496-6462 taxcollector@concord township.org

Concord Township Events Night at the Movies - June 11, 2016 Township Park – Smithbridge Road Dusk Rain date: To be announced Summer Camp - August 1 - 5, 2016 Park & Rec Building - 40 Bethel Road 9 a.m.

– 12 noon Mon-Thu, 9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. with pizza lunch Concord Community Day - September 10, 2016 Township Park – Smithbridge Road 4 p.m. - dusk

Chester Heights Borough Joseph McIntosh, Esq. Township Building 222 Llewelyn Road, Mayor P.O. Box 658, Mark Carroll Chester Heights, Pa. 19017 Secretary/Treasurer 610-459-340 stimmins@comcast.net Susan Timmins www.chesterheights.org Appointed Officials Borough Council Lawrence B. Ward, EmerFrederick L. Wood, Pres- gency Management Coordiident nator Patrick L. Patterson, Vice Richard J.Jensen, BuildPresident ing Inspector Anne C. Searl Michael Ciocco, Fire Philip Block Marshal Susan H. Clarke Matthew Houtman, P.E., Jordan Goldberg G.D. Houtman & Sons, Inc.,

Borough Engineer Michael Ciocco, P.E., S.E.O., Catania Engineering Assoc., Alternate Engineer Michael Ciocco, P.E., S.E.O., Sewer Enforcement Officer Gerald C. Montella, Esq., Borough Solicitor Peter J. Rohana, Jr., Esq., Conflict Solicitor

Tax Collector Maryann D. Furlong Constable Steve Luongo

JUNE 2016

DELAWARE COUNTY NEWS NETWORK

THORNBURY TOWNSHIP Township Building 6 Township Drive, Cheyney, PA 19319-1020 Tel 610-399-8383 Winter Hours: 8:30 am – 4:30 p.m. M-F Summer Hours: 7:30 a.m.

-5:00 p.m. M-Th Comcast Channel 965 Verizon Channel 32 Board of Supervisors

Township Manager Jeffrey T. Seagraves, Community Safety Officer Ted Cam Bob Kephart Officials

Geoff Carbutt, Subdivision Coordinator/Municipal Secretary Tim Durham, Code EnJames H. Raith, Chair- forcement Officer man, Jim@Thornbury.org Mark Bryan, Sewer EnJames P. Kelly, Vice Chair- forcement Officer man, JP@Thornbury.org Willard McMullin, Tax Sheri Perkins, Sheri@ Collector/Emergency ManThornbury.org agement

Keystone Collections, Local Earned Income Tax Collector Alan Mancill, Fire Marshall TJ Greene, Assistant Fire Marshall Allen Strickler, Animal Control Officer Kenneth D. Kynett, Esq., Township Solicitor Michael Ciocco, P.E., Catania Engineering Assoc, Inc. Township Engineer Charles Faulkner, P.E., Pennoni Associates, Inc., Township Sewer Engineer

| GARNET VALLEY PRESS ALMANAC | 5 A

AQUAVITA

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Founding of Thornbury Township Thornbury Township was founded in 1687, during a time of European settlement. Speculators purchased large parcels of land that, over time, were subdivided. While most of the township was suitable for farming, the land along Chester Creek offered opportunities for water-powered mills and mining. Farming and milling dominated the economy of Thornbury Township throughout the first two centuries of its existence.

One of the more important sources of Thornbury Township’s architecture was the milling operations. Early in the eighteenth century, a settlement began to grow at Sarum, where Glen Mills Road (laid out in 1687-88) crossed Chester Creek. Iron ore in the area attracted investment by a group of investors who helped John Taylor to construct a water-powered mill to roll iron. By 1724, Taylor had opened the Sarum Forge. This milling operation was the first of its kind in the state of Pennsylvania and served as an early magnet for immigration. In 1750, the Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania (James Hamilton) wrote to London “there is but one Mill or Engine for Slitting and rolling Iron within the County ... which is situated in Thornbury Township.” Two early businesses at Sarum were a store owned by Taylor (1742) and a tavern operated by Obadiah Russell (1743).

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Courtesy of Thornbury Township web site, www.thornbury.org.

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ANNE NEBORAK -- DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA

A blacksmithing demonstration is part of the activities at the 2015 Rock the Mill Music Festival.

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1001 E. WOODLAND AVE.

OPEN 7 DAYS

(ACROSS FROM BJ’S)

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| GARNET VALLEY PRESS ALMANAC | DELAWARE COUNTY NEWS NETWORK

JUNE 2016

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LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Concord voters approve home rule charter

By Kathleen E. Carey kcarey@21st-centurymedia. com @dtbusiness on Twitter

After months of study and rumination, township residents voted 2,674-1,833 to change the governmental structure of the western municipality.

Solicitor Michael Maddren explained how the transition to home rule charter would take place.

“Basically, what the charter provides for is a transition to be appointed by the supervisors by June 1,” he said, adding that it would include two members from the board of supervisors, two from the Government Study Commission that oversaw the home rule charter creation CONCORD >>

for the township, two people from the public and the township manager, Brenda Lamanna.

“T heir job is to go through the code, make recommendations for compliance with the home rule charter and then pass that to the board of supervisors for adoption,” Maddren continued.

Thoughts of change began to arise from a group of residents who did not feel adequately represented by the secondclass township structure and who wanted a higher level of transparency without restricting the ability to govern.

To meet that request, a question was placed on the November 2014 township ballot and residents

said “yes” to establishing a seven-person panel called the Government Study Commission to evaluate the second class township structure and to make a recommendation about a potential change.

On Feb. 11, they issued their findings, which included a home rule charter for Concord Township. It also included their recommendation in support of the home rule charter.

The Government Study Commission began to craft the home rule charter in August while garnering information from experts and interviewing township employees and officials.

The charter, which goes into effect Jan. 1, 2017, made several changes.

The five-member board of supervisors would be eliminated for a sevenmember township council.

Terms were reduced from six to four-year terms and members would have to live in the township for two years, rather than the one under the second class classifications.

Council members could not be township employees or hold any other elected positions while maintaining their council seat. In addition, council members would be unable to be hired by the township or employed by an individual or group doing business with the township for a year after leaving office.

A nnual limits were placed on property taxes.

Starting in 2018, real es-

tate tax revenues would be prohibited from being increased more than 5 percent from the previous year. Any more than that would require a supermajority approval of five votes.

Ordinances will also be unable to be presented and voted upon at the same meeting, except in emergency situations. A 10-day waiting period would have to pass between when the ordinance is introduced and when it is approved.

Maddren also explained there would be a transition into the new system of government.

“It will impact next year’s election,” he said.

“You’ll have two people run for a two-year term there and two people run-

Thoughts of change began to arise from a group of residents who did not feel adequately represented by the secondclass township structure. ning for a four-year term.”

With the three incumbents, that would constitute the seven-member council.

“Thereafter,” Maddren added, “all terms will be four years.”

Art house

ANNE NEBORAK -- DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA

The Brandywine River Museum.

JUNE 2016

DELAWARE COUNTY NEWS NETWORK

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| GARNET VALLEY PRESS ALMANAC | DELAWARE COUNTY NEWS NETWORK

JUNE 2016

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Education »» EDUCATION

EDUCATION

Local private schools Private Schools

Archmere Academy Inc.

Ford 610- 558-4007

www.rosehillschool.com 320 Llewelyn Road, Chester Heights 610- 459-2389

archmereacademy.com Concord Christian Academy 3600 Philadelphia Pike, and After School Care Claymont, DE St. Cornelius Catholic 302-798-6632 www.concordchristian.com School 2510 Marsh Road, WilmingAardvark Child Care & Learn- ton, DE stcornelius.ocephila.org ing 302-475-3247 160 Ridge Road, Chadds Ford aardvarkchildcare.com The Goddard School 610-459-8663 335 Cheyney Rd., Glen Mills 610- 358-8998 goddardschool.com St. Thomas the Apostle 2 Hillman Drive, Chadds School Chesterbrook Academy Ford 610-358-0380 stthomastheapostle.net chaddsford.chester broo430 Valleybrook Road, kacademy.com Rosehill School Glen Mills 4 Dickinson Drive, Chadds 610-459-8134

BETHEL TOWNSHIP ADVANCEMENT Through CoMMuNICATIoN

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www.twp.bethel.pa.us 1092 Bethel Road, Garnet Valley, Pa 19060 (610) 459-1529

ANNE NEBORAK — DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA

A view of Garnet Valley High School.

Garnet Valley School District information Garnet Valley Schools

610-579-4150 80 Station Road, Glen Dr. Jason Kotch, Prin- Mills cipal 610-579-7300 Bethel Springs ElemenDr. Marc S. Bertrando, tary School Garnet Valley Middle Superintendent of Schools 3280 Foulk Road, Gar- School Patricia Dunn, Assistant net Valley Superintendent of Schools 610-579-3000 601 Smithbridge Road, Dr. Vincent Citarelli, AsSteven Piasecki, Princi- Glen Mills sistant Superintendent for pal 610-579-5100 Human Resources & Staff Lisa Stenz, Principal Effectiveness Concord Elementary School Garnet Valley High School Board School 114 Station Road, Glen Rosemar y Fiumara , Mills 552 Smithbridge Road, President 610-579-6100 Glen Mills Tracy A . K ar woski, Vanessa Stroup, Princi610-579-7745 Vice President pal Stephen Brandt, PrinMary Kay Beirne cipal Robert Hayes Garnet Valley Elementary Greg Chestnut School Maria Deysher District Scott Mayer 599 Smithbridge Road, Administration Robert Anderson Glen Mills Richard Jones

JUNE 2016

DELAWARE COUNTY NEWS NETWORK

Worship »»

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| GARNET VALLEY PRESS ALMANAC | 9 A

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DIRECTORY

Local places of worship Bethlehem United Methodist Church Resurrection Episcopal Church, Rock4 Westtown Road, P.O. Box 57, Thornton dale 610-459-3482 2131 Mount Road, Aston www.bethmeth.com 610-459-2013 www.resurrectionrockdale.org Concord Liberty Presbyterian Church St. Cornelius Catholic Church 256 Bethel Road, Glen Mills Phone: 610-358-2105 160 Ridge Road, Chadds Ford www.concordliberty.org Phone: 610-459-2502 www.saintcornelius.org Concord Friends Meeting St. John’s Episcopal Church 821 Concord Road, Concordville Phone: 610-459-2953 576 Concord Road, Glen Mills Phone: 610-459-2994 Covenant Fellowship Church saintjohnsconcord.com 1 Fellowship Road, Glen Mills Phone: 610-361-0606 www.covfel.org

Elam United Methodist Church 1073 Smithbridge Road, Glen Mills Phone: 610-459-2911 www.elamumc.org

First Baptist Church of Ogden 2446 Mill Road, Upper Chichester 610-485-1706 www.fbcogden.org

Meadowcroft Presbyterian Church 1255 S. Westtown Road, West Chester 610-455-0455 www.meadowcroftchurch.org/

Mount Hope United Methodist Church 4020 Concord Road, Aston 610-459-0248 www.mthope.org

New Hope Community (Baptist) Church Garnet Valley Middle School, Glen Mills Phone: 610-459-1630

Reformed Presbyterian Church 2655 Chichester Ave., Upper Chichester 610-485-2644

St. John Fisher Catholic Church 4225 Chichester Ave., Upper Chichester 610-485-0441 stjohnfisherchurch.com

St. Thomas The Apostle Catholic Church 430 Valleybrook Road, Glen Mills 610-459-2224

St. Timothy Lutheran Church 535 Lamp Post Lane, Aston 610-494-2444 www.sttimothyslutheranchurch-aston. com

Siloam United Methodist Church 3720 Foulk Road, Garnet Valley 610-485-1600

Stonybank Community Church 35 Stoney Bank Road, Glen Mills 610-459-1827 http://www.stonybankchurch.com/

Thornbury AME Church Locksley & Cheyney Rd., Cheyney 610-399-0518 ValleyPoint Church Garnet Valley Middle School, Glen Mills 610-358-1358 valleypointchurch.com

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| GARNET VALLEY PRESS ALMANAC | DELAWARE COUNTY NEWS NETWORK

JUNE 2016

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Around Town »» Local area post offices

LOCAL LIBRARIES

Rachel Kohl Community Library

& Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; 610-485-0200 Sunday 1-5 p.m.; closed www.upperchichesterliSummer Sundays brary.org 687 Smithbridge Road, Mond ay-Tue sd ay 10 Upper Chichester Glen Mills a.m.-4 p.m.;Wednesday 10 Library 610-358-3445 a.m.-6 p.m.; Thursday-Friwww.kohllibrary.org day 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; SaturHours: Monday-Thurs3374 Chichester Avenue day 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; closed day 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Friday #19, Upper Chichester Sunday

Numbers to keep handy Local services Pennsylvania State Police: 911 Non-emergency: 1-484840-1000 PennDOT (Media): 610-

566-0972

Legislators U.S. Sen. Patrick Toomey: 215-241-1090 U.S. Sen. Bob Casey: 215-405-9660

U.S. Rep Patrick Meehan: 610-690-7323 Pennsylvania Sen. Dominic F. Pileggi: 610358-5183 Pennsylvania Rep. Steve Barrar: 610-3585925

BETTY LOU ROSELLE - DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA FILE PHOTO

The Chester Heights Post Office is located at 1 Smithbridge Road, Chester Heights.

Ste. 101 Chadds Ford, PA 99 Aldan Ave. To confirm the 19317-9998 Glen Mills, PA 19342hours listed below Phone: 610-388-6284 9997 Hours: Weekdays 8 a.m.

Phone: 610-358-9500 visit USPS.com, - 4:30 p.m.; Saturday 9 Hours: Weekdays 6:30 a.m. - noon; closed Sunday a.m. - 4:15 p.m.; Saturcall the post office day 6:30 a .m. - noon; CHESTER HEIGHTS closed Sunday or call the USPS GLEN MILLS Smithbridge Road service number at 1Chester Heights, PA 1-800-275-8777.

19017-9900 ( T h o r n b u r y To w n Phone: 610-459-1937 ship) The post offices Hours: Weekdays 8:30 142 Glen Mills Road a.m. - 4:30 p.m.; Saturday Glen Mills, PA 19342serving the Garnet 9 a.m. - noon; closed Sun- 9998 610-361-1312 Valley Press circu- dayPostmaster John Russo Phone: Hours: Weekdays 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Saturlation area: CHEYNEY day 9 a.m. - noon; cosed

ASTON

Sunday (Thornbury Township) THORNTON 4708 Pennell Road 119 Station Road Aston, PA 19014-9997 Cheyney, PA 19319-9998 Phone: 610-876-1265 Phone: 610-399-0239 (Thornbury Township) Hours: Monday-Friday Hours: Weekdays 9:45 378 Glen Mills Road 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.; Satur- a.m. - 1:30 p.m. and 2 Thornton, PA 19373day 10 a.m. - noon; closed 4:15 p.m.; Saturday 8 a.m. 9998 Sunday - 12:30 p.m.; closed Sunday Phone: 610-459-9548 Hours: Weekdays 8 a.m, CHADDS FORD GLEN MILLS ANNEX - noon and 1 - 4:30 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m. - noon; 1620 Baltimore Pike, (Concord Township) closed Sunday

JUNE 2016

DELAWARE COUNTY NEWS NETWORK

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| GARNET VALLEY PRESS ALMANAC | DELAWARE COUNTY NEWS NETWORK

JUNE 2016

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Local History »» LOCAL HISTORY

Concord Township Historical Society welcomes new members Concord Township Historical Society was formed in 1967 when the Pole Cat Road House was donated to Concord Township as part

of the development provisions for Fox Valley, an early housing development in the eastern end of the township.

In order to restore the house

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and preserve it for the future, the society was formed and began to raise funds for its restoration.

The Society is a nonprofit

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volunteer organization, open to the public, whose mission is to stimulate interest in Concord Township history through historic document, artifact and property preservation, research and education programs.

Through the years, the organization has changed and evolved to reflect the changing dynamics of the township. The board meets monthly and offers periodic public programs and events.

Membership is open to the public.

The key areas of interest and associated purpose are: • Collections — to docu-

ment the vast collection of papers, photographs, books and other objects that have been collected over the years and which reside at the headquarters of the society, the Pierce-Willits House.

Work has begun to catalog this rich treasure-trove, which will ultimately culminate in a full database that would be available for research. Future work will focus on archival-quality materials and processes to preserve these artifacts for years to come.

• Buildings & Grounds — to maintain and manage the two important historic

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properties that are cared for by the society: The Pole Cat Road House (PCRH) and the Pierce-Willits (PW) House. With historic structures such as these, work is never-ending.

• Membership/Web — to increase membership and volunteer participation in the society and to continue to enhance and develop our website at Concordhist.org so that CTHS can reach out and share our township history and activities. This site’s main focus is to provide information on our various historic properties, people and events and will continually be enhanced with new information.

• Public Relations and Fundraising — to increase public awareness of the society and its activities, to raise funds and to promote events. Future endeavors will include programs to increase the funds for the areas of focus described here. We will continue to offer appropriate historic-related items for sale, which will be offered through this website in the future.

• Education — to promote the inclusion of Concord Township’s history in the Garnet Valley School District curriculum. Our annual Scholarship Award to a graduating senior at Garnet Valley continues, and we are developing a colonial program for fifth-graders in partnership with the Newlin Grist Mill.

The society welcomes new members and volunteers to help with various projects: collections management, research, education, fundraising, and events. Check concordhist.org for more information.

JUNE 2016

DELAWARE COUNTY NEWS NETWORK

LOCAL HISTORY

| GARNET VALLEY PRESS ALMANAC | 13 A

LOCAL HISTORY

Southery Log House a local treasure Bethel dates back to 1684

By Loretta Rodgers For Digital First Media

The Southery Log House was built in the late 1600s in the William Penn style that was the precursor of the row houses in Philadelphia.

It was once a part of a 150-acre tract built by the Southery family, whose members were among the earliest settlers in Bethel Township.

Robert Southery died in 1686, leaving behind two daughters. His daughter, Mary, married Robert Palmer, of Concord, and the second daughter, Marjorie, married John Hannum, also of Concord. The two-story house was meticulously transported from a site near the John L. Myers Municipal Building on Bethel Road to its present location on the property of Dr. Mead Shaffer, where it was restored. A majority of the chestnut log boards in the original home were saved.

The home was continuously occupied until the early 1940s. It was abandoned for several years until it was purchased by Shaffer, who had it moved, log by log, to his property. It is furnished with antiques of the peThe Southery Log House. riod.

Bethel, smallest of all the original townships of Chester County, is triangular in shape, its southern line adjoining the state of Delaware, the northwestern boundary being Concord Township, the eastern, Upper Chichester. The township is mentioned as early as 1683, and again at the court held 11 mo. 6,’ 1684, the inhabitants of “Concord, Bethel and Chichester were ordered to meet on the third day of the next week.”

The land is high and very productive; clay used for making fire bricks and Kaolin abound in the northwestern part of the township.

Bethel hamlet was founded at an early date, the early settlers building together for the sake of safety.

At the September court, 1686, Edward “Beaser” was appointed constable for “Bethel Liberty.” In 1683, Edward “Bezer” and Edward Brown had 500 acres surveyed to them in the northeasterly end of the township. On this tract, Bethel hamlet, afterwards known as “Corner Catch or Ketch,” and the present village

of Chelsea, is located. In 1686 the grand jury reported the laying out of the road from Bethel to Chichester (Marcus Hook).

The list of taxables for Bethel township in 1693 shows nine taxpayers: John Gibbons, Ralph Pile, John Bushel, Nicholas Pile, Edward Beaner, Robert Eyre, Thomas Garrett, John Howard, Thomas Cooper.

In 1715, the list had doubled: Robert Pyle, John Grist, Robert Booth, Edward Beazer, John Canady, Benjamin Moulder, Joseph Pyle, John Hickman, Edward Griffith, John Hopton, John Gibbons, Thomas Durnell, constituting the list.

There are no railroads in the township, which contains but two villages — Chelsea, in the extreme northern corner of the township, and Booths Corner in the southern part. Public schools are maintained at both these villages. Another in the centre of the township is known as Central School.

The Methodists maintain churches and ministers in the township. The population of Bethel in 1910 was 535.

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I can be reached on my cell at (610) 202-8303 or call Garnet Ford at (610) 358-5600.

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| GARNET VALLEY PRESS ALMANAC | DELAWARE COUNTY NEWS NETWORK A

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JUNE 2016

JUNE 2016

DELAWARE COUNTY NEWS NETWORK

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CALL FOR DETAILS.

S & D Will Proudly Perform the Following Sales, Service, Installation of:

• All Makes and Models of Equipment • Gas & Oil Boilers/Heaters • Complete Air Conditioning Systems • Plumbing Repairs and Renovations • Custom Sheet Metal Fabrication • Sewer/Water Installation FREE ESTIMATES • FULLY LICENSED & INSURED NOW ACCEPTING VISA & MASTERCARD Owned & Operated By: Steve Scanlon

Family Owned and Operated Since 1986 sdmechanical.com

We Sincerely Appreciate Your Continued Patronage Throughout The Years.

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|  GARNET VALLEY PRESS ALMANAC | DELAWARE COUNTY NEWS NETWORK

JUNE 2016

A

TEL: 610-545-6040

TEL: 610-566-2226

FAX: 610-545-6030

FAX: 610-566-0521

3070 McCann Farm Dr.,

194 S. Middletown Road,

Suite 101, Garnet Valley, PA 19060

Media, PA 19063