Commission News
Welcome to the final edition of our email newsletter for this season. The newsletter will resume in the fall preceding the commission's first meeting in September.
We are planning on holding this month's meeting in-person, but outdoors, at the Richard Wall House courtyard.
We are tentatively planning a Grand Re-Opening Open House in October, pending a turnaround with the pandemic. While the COVID-19 pandemic continues to shut down Wall House tours, the Historical Commission is hosting its monthly meetings remotely, via Zoom.
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Old York Road Garden Club and the Wall House Herb Garden
From Marda Craig, president OYRGC
The Old York Road Garden Club has been maintaining the Richard Wall House Herb Garden since 1994 and it’s been one of our favorite community projects since its beginning.
This season we noticed that the garden needed some more attention than before because we weren't able to get to it through the pandemic months. The work started with the clean up. Thanks to Bonnie Zieger, Marda and Wes Craig who dug out some of the herbs that had taken over and weeds that are always an issue. Then research was done as to what herbs might have been grown in the garden over the years that families were living in the House. Seventeen varieties of herbs and some flowers were purchased, then planting took place. Eight Members of the OYRGC came on a cool and cloudy Monday morning to install the herbs. Thanks to Marianne Miller. Mary Findlay, Marj Sears, Marda Craig. Janice Goeke, Mary Louise Ryran, Linda and Brian Freedman. To finish the garden we will mulch and add stone to the paths.
To complete the project we will draw a plot plan with the herbs labeled so that visitors will be able to identify them. We will also include a description of each herb and how they are used.
[Editor's Note: In 2020, the Garden Club provided the Historical Commission with a list of herbs typically found in an herb garden. It appears on the township website on The Herb Garden at the Wall House page. We hope to include that list along with the plot plan in future brochures and on the website.]
Hopefully by June we will be done. Visit the Wall House Herb Garden and enjoy this living reminder of Cheltenham History.
Marda Craig, president OYRGC
Garden Club Cleanup Crew, May 2021 |
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A Moment in History
Public Spirit, May 16, 1896
WYNCOTE GOSSIP
Supervisor Evans is getting along nicely in his work of widening Greenwood Avenue. He has completed all of the filling in necessary along Mr. Webster’s property and we trust that the board walk will be replaced before we have wet weather, as without the walk we would have plenty of mud. We would like to have a little rain every day, if it were not for the walking, so as to help out the committee on sprinkling. This committee was appointed over two months ago and have done nothing yet, as far as we can learn. It has not even organized. What is the matter with the chairman? If our supervisor will only give us a good hard stone on Greenwood Avenue and scrape off some of the dirt, we think that water would have some effect on the road, but as it is at the present time it takes so much water to get the dust settled.
[Editor’s note: before roads were paved in Cheltenham, dust was a problem during dry weather in the warm weather months, and the roads were regularly sprayed with water to contain the dust.]
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DVDs for Sale
Longtime friend of the Historical Commission, Patricia Miller, is selling a DVD about the Elkins Estate: "A Story of the Dominican Retreat Property and Tyler School of Art in Cheltenham Township." Copies are $30 each. Please contact Patricia Miller, mpatmaida7@aol.com, 215-635-2444 to order copies. Proceeds are shared with Patricia and the Historical Commission.
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Upcoming Historical Commission Meeting
The next meeting of the Cheltenham Township Historical Commission will be June 10th at 7:30 PM at the Richard Wall House courtyard. Here is the agenda.
In the event that an in-person meeting is not feasible, Zoom information will be sent closer to the meeting time.
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Previous Historical Commission Meeting
The last meeting was on May 13th at 6:30 PM via Zoom. Here are the minutes.
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Citizens for the Restoration of Historical La Mott
Camp William Penn and Historic La Mott Day
- When: 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Saturday, September 18, 2021
- Opening Ceremony: 10:00 at Camp William Penn Gate, 7322 Sycamore Ave., La Mott, 19027
Events
- Visit encampments: USCT and PA. 53rd Infantry Re-enactors
- Visit Camp William Penn Museum
- Living History Demonstrations including ammunition making
- Civil War Medical and Surgical instrument ‘show and tell’
- Book signings, Lectures, Period Music, Films
- La Mott History display
- Civil War baseball as demonstrated by the E.P. 6th graders
- Local history organizations with tabletop displays and information
Closing Ceremony: 3:45 at Flagpole (corner Sycamore and Willow)
Camp William Penn, located in what is now modern day La Mott, was the first and largest Federal training site for colored soldiers during the Civil War.
Note: Volunteers needed for help in all aspects of this event; some starting now and some the day of the event. Ideas and suggestions are also welcome. If you are able to help or participate, please use contact information below.
Citizens for the Restoration of Historical La Mott
Email: pt@usct.org
1618 Willow Avenue
Telephone: (215) 885-2258 La Mott, PA 19027
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The Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) Civil War Museum & Library
“John Nicolay, Lincoln's Secretary and Biographer"
- When: 1:00 pm, Sunday, June 6, 2021
- Speaker: John Voris, distinguished 'Living Historian'
John Nicolay had an interesting route to end up as friend and confidant to President Lincoln - and to his surprise after the campaign, was asked to work in the Lincoln White House. His devotion to the Union Cause, and his devotion to the dead President becomes an interesting story to hear. On June 6, he comes back to give us some surprising details of his life - before, during and after his work in the Executive Mansion. Seeing how both Providence and coincidence weave through his life makes him a man much remembered in our time - for his own life story, as well as how he gave us the Lincoln we know today.
Please send a request to reserve a virtual seat for this outstanding presentation by replying to this e-mail at garmuslib1866@gmail.com. You will be sent a link with a password that will enable you to access the program within 24 hours of the start of the presentation.
As a lover of history, you know how critical it is to keep history alive, especially today! We very much appreciate your continued support for the GAR Civil War Museum & Library.
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The Grand Army of the Republic Civil War Museum and Library, 4278 Griscom Street, Phila. PA 19124, www.garmuslib.org, will reopen to the public every Tuesday from 12 to 4 beginning June 1, 2021.
Please call the Museum at 215-289-6484 before planning your visit to confirm that our volunteer staff will be in attendance. Our "Open House Programs" will continue on Zoom. The Museum will follow the current CDC guidelines.
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Northeast Philadelphia History Network
Real Philly History, Real Fast
- When: 7pm, Wednesday, June 2, 2021
- Speaker: Jim Murphy – Author & Philly Historian
Philadelphia is known for its vibrant colonial history as well as some quirky history. The country’s first quarantine station was located here. One of Philly’s clocks has a face larger than Big Ben’s in London. And a unique skill of Black abolitionist James Forten saved him from a life of West Indian servitude (and “Forten” was not even his real name).
In his new book, Real Philly History, Real Fast, Jim Murphy provides an original tour of the city exploring neighborhoods from Chinatown to the Italian Market and highlighting artistic gems like the Dream Garden Tiffany mosaic and Isaiah Zagar’s glittering Magic Gardens.
This is Philly history in bites as digestible and enjoyable as a soft pretzel with mustard.
YouTube Videos of Recent NEPHN Presentations
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The Society for Industrial Archeology - Oliver Evans (Philadelphia) Chapter
Philadelphia Railroads
- When: 7pm, Wednesday, June 2, 2021
- Speaker: Joel Spivak, author & rail historian
Philadelphia is known for its vibrant colonial history as well as some quirky history. The country’s first quarantine station was located here. One of Philly’s clocks has a face larger than Big Ben’s in London. And a unique skill of Black abolitionist James Forten saved him from a life of West Indian servitude (and “Forten” was not even his real name).
Philadelphia, “the workshop of the world,” produced locomotives, railcars, interiors, wheels, and tracks. Some of the earliest railroads in the country operated in Philadelphia and left a legacy of treasures around the city.
Take a virtual tour and hear about Joel’s love of the railroad and how he developed a lifelong interest in the subject.
The book, “Philadelphia Railroads,” by Allen Myers and Joel Spivak, is a tribute to Oliver Evans, the inventor of the American “High Pressure Steam Engine.”
Chapter member Joel Spivak is a native of Philadelphia and has had a varied career in architecture and the arts. His community service is legendary, and has benefited neighborhoods all over the city. Projects he was involved in include creating the South Street Renaissance and defeating the Crosstown Expressway in the 1970s, the opening of Rocketships & Accessories space toy store in the ’80s, and winning the “Outstanding Achievement in Design for Affordable Housing” HUD award in the 1990s. He created and managed a Little League baseball team at Sack’s Playground at 5th & Washington in the early ’90s, and has created events for National Hot Dog Month for the past 10 years. In addition, he has written three books on transportation history in Philadelphia. He was awarded “Citizen of the First Rank” by City Council for his lifetime commitment to his neighborhood and the city of Philadelphia.
The program will be presented through a Zoom meeting. It is FREE, but pre-registration is required to receive the link to the Zoom meeting. To register, please send an email indicating your interest to oesiaphila@gmail.com
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A Publication of the Cheltenham Township Historical Commission
The spring 2021 publication of The Wall Paper is now available - click here. Back issues of The Wall Paper are available on the Cheltenham Township website. The edition features:
- Chairman's Chatter
- 50th Anniversary Grand Re-Opening Open House
- Upcoming Events
- Questions from Residents
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The Richard Wall House is normally open on the fourth Sunday of every month and upon request, when not closed due to the COVID-19 crisis. To arrange for a tour after the COVID-19 crisis is over, either private or for a group, either call the Township at 215-887-1000, ext. 227 during business hours, or call the house directly at 215-887-9159 and leave a message.
Learn more about the Wall House on the Cheltenham Township website.
Friends of the Wall House
Be a Friend of the Wall House and help preserve the rich history of Cheltenham Township.
Benefactor: $100 * Sponsor: $50 * Patron: $20
Make checks payable to Cheltenham Township Historical Commission. Mail your check, name, address, and email to:
Friends of the Wall House
c/o Cheltenham Township
8230 Old York Road
Elkins Park, PA 19027-1589
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