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Home : Quarterly Archives : Volume 20 |
Tredyffrin Easttown Historical Society |
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Source: April 1982 Volume 20 Number 2, Pages 67–71 Notes and Comments
Strafford Station Nominated for National Register Steps are underway to have the railroad station at Strafford includedin the National Register of Historic Buildings. Under new procedures for such registration, a nomination priority form has been completed and submitted to the state Historical and Museum Commission for its review. Also included was a historic resource form, in which the building is described and its significance noted. In describing the building, it was pointed out "The design and ornamentation of this building is in the Victorian Gothic stick style (1860-1890). The building is of wood, two stories, rectangular in plan with gable roof featuring wide overhang. A central brick chimney and two dormers, south and north, form the decorative elements of the roof. There are pairs of narrow arched windows on each side. The building is highlighted by decorative stick work that gives the appearance of structural function. The resulting shapes of vertical, horizontal and diagonal boards applied over vertical siding creates interesting geometric patterns. Most of the decorative motifs have been well preserved and display unusual carpentry skill." Its long history was summarized by noting "The building has served as the railroad station for Strafford since 1887. Previously it was located at Wayne, Pa, where it was the station for several years before being moved to Eagle (renamed Strafford 1887) in 1884. From 1887 until 1948 the building was also used as Strafford's post office. According to local tradition and many written articles, prior to its use as a station the building was part of the Centennial Exposition held in Fairmount Park in 1876."
Drawing by Jane Curtis used with permission The application forms were prepared by Anne Cook and Bob Goshorn at there quest of the Tredyffrin Board of Supervisors. The state's review of the proposal is now in process. TopTredyffrin Resident to Receive Freedoms Foundation Award The George Washington Honor Medal will be presented this month (April) by the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge to Marian Allen, who liveson Castlewood Drive in Devon, The award is being made for her "individual achievement [in the] rehabilitation for the visually impaired". The nomination, sponsored by Mrs, Samuel Dietz, was seconded by Congressman Dick Schulze and H.E.W. Secretary Richard Schweiker. Mrs. Allen, who became blind in 1968, is president of Travel Aids forthe Blind, a non-profit organization to raise funds to provide electronic aids to assist the visually impaired. Its principal function is to promote use and understanding of the Laser Cane, a device by which invisible beams of light locate obstacles in a traveler's path and warn him or her of them, giving a much greater mobility to visually impaired persons. In addition to her work with T.A,B,, Mrs. Allen is chairperson for theVisually Impaired Division of the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation; Corresponding Secretary of National Exhibits by Blind Artists; and a formermember of the Board of the Pennsylvania Council for the Blind. TopStabilization Work Started at DuPortail Barn As a result of several grants from the Pennsylvania Historic and Museum Commission, matched by county, township, and private funds, including the Fox Companies, work on the stabilization of the historic "signed" bank barn adjacent to DuPortail's headquarters was started last November and is nearing completion. The work is being done under the supervision of John M. Conti, Inc., of Morgantown, a specialist in historic restoration. The purpose of the stabilization work at this point is primarily to retard the deterioration of the barn's roof and walls. A reinforced polyethelene covering, supported by temporary beams inside the barn, will enclose the entire structure to protect it. All the work beingdone conforms with the U.S. Department of Interior's guidelines for the restoration of historic landmarks. TopEasttown and Tredyffrin Recognized in Tricentennial Ceremonies As a part of its "Community Recognition" program in conjunction with the observance of Pennsylvania's (and Chester County's) Tricentennial, the weeks of February 8 and February 22 were designated Easttown Township Week and Tredyffrin Township Week, respectively, by the Board of County Commissioners. In ceremonies at the Court House on the Tuesday of each week, a resolution to that effect was adopted by the Commissioners, with a formal presentation made to township representatives by Earl Baker, chairman of the Commissioners. The Tredyffrin Easttown History Club also prepared special exhibits that were placed in the window of the Court House Annex on Church Street in West Chester. Among the topics featured in the display for Easttown Township were General Anthony Wayne and Waynesborough, the famed Devon Horse Show, the old Devon Inn, the Berwyn Fire Company, and the old bronze works in Berwyn. In the exhibit for Tredyffrin, Valley Forge, the British camp in Tredyffrin, education and the Diamond Rock Octagonal School, early churches, Wharton Esherick's studio, General Pasquale Paoli, and the Paoli Local were highlighted. In each exhibit, in addition to maps showing the growth of the township, old photographs of the township, taken in about 1908 by Lucy Sampson of Berwyn, were displayed. The club president Bob Goshorn also made a few comments on the history of each township during the presentation ceremonies. The resolutions recognizing each township are reproduced, in reduced size, on the next two pages.
Resolution recognizing Easttown presented to Supervisor Mel Boyd and Township Manager Gene Williiams
Resolution recognising Tredyffrin presented to Supervisor Tracy Massey and Township Manager Norman Mawby |
