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Electronics Recycling Day.........................................18 Stormwater Advisory Task Force.........................22-24 Environmental Advisory Council ..............................26 Historical Commission
Using funds from an Audubon mini-grant, members of the Environmental Advisory Council (EAC) and Citizen's Stormwater Task Force have begun transforming the flower bed along the sidewalk of the Tredyffrin Library into a native plant garden. The area features over half a dozen different pollinator-friendly native plants and a newly-installed 55 gallon rain barrel, which waters the area via a soaker hose. Rain barrels are an easy way to reduce residential stormwater runoff. Not only are they a free and sustainable source of water for your garden, they also reduce the volume of water running into our overloaded storm drain system, and they are relatively easy to install! A simple diverter is installed into a downspout, directing some rain into the barrel. Once the barrel is full, an overflow tube allows the water to flow back into the downspout, preventing the barrel from overflowing. A spigot with an optional soaker hose allows for convenient access to the stored water when needed.
Why plant natives?
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A “native” plant is a plant indigenous to the area in which it grows and, because the plant evolved to be part of the environment, is a part of that location's food web. While plants can adapt to a variety of growing conditions through the world, most insects tend to be specialists. Entomologists have found that 90% of insects can only thrive with plants with which they share an evolutionary history. While more bugs are not often at the top of most people's wish lists, insects are an important indicator of the health of an environment including our own backyards! Doug Tallamy, an entomologist at the University of Delaware, estimates that 86% of the land east of the Mississippi is private property. Every space where we can add native plant life, whether it be libraries, back yards, or parking lots, increases and supports the biodiversity of our own community. Check out a book like Tallamy's Nature's Best Hope: A New Approach to Conservation That Starts in Your Yard to learn more about the difference you can start making today. More projects are on the horizon: a rain garden is scheduled to be installed at Tredyffrin Library this fall, the Stormwater Task Force intends to propose a Township Tree Canopy Plan at its next meeting, as well as a variety of educational and volunteer opportunities. If you would like to learn more and/or get involved, please check out: https://www.tredyffrin.org/boards/ environmental-advisory-council https://www.tredyffrin.org/projects/ stormwater-task-force
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HISTORICAL COMMISSION
Preserve · Protect · Perpetuate
Pearl M. Nudy, Historical Commission Member The Historical Commission are happy to report that the Mount Zion AME Church in Devon will be awarded a $35,220 Keystone Historic Preservation Grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to restore the building's beautiful stained-glass windows. We are grateful to all those who helped the Church secure this Grant. In addition, we are happy to report that after publication of last quarter's Tredyffrin newsletter story regarding Mount Zion Church's needs, several readers contributed to the Church fundraising, and we thank them! Had you noticed? During the months of June and July, members of the Historical Commission walked and drove through a few of the Township's historic neighborhoods. Clipboards in hand and walking the sidewalks, the volunteer commissioners familiarized themselves with buildings listed in the Township Historic Resources Survey. One important role of the Commission is to document pertinent and interesting information about the known historic properties within the Township. But this is not limited to just buildings. Historical viewscapes, railroad stations and roadways, cemeteries, and bridges all contribute to the Township's built heritage. The way to assess the condition of these treasures is with some good old fashioned “walk-abouts”. Commission members worked in pairs to canvas the designated historic locales. From a “street view”, they recorded current information, such as style of architecture and modifications, current use of the structure, and most importantly - whether the building is still standing. The last time this type of historic recon was undertaken was more than 20 years ago, in 2003.
Periodic review of the historic survey is necessary to sustain the Township's historic preservation designation as a Certified Local Government (CLG). The State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) in Harrisburg recognizes Tredyffrin Township as one of 45 CLG communities in Pennsylvania, out of more than 2,600 municipalities in the Commonwealth. As explained by the Federal and State funding sources: “Community certification opens doors to funding, technical assistance, and other preservation successes…. Being a CLG demonstrates your community's commitment to saving what is important from the past for future generations. As a certified community it becomes easy to demonstrate a readiness to take on successful preservation projects, making your community able to compete for new opportunities!” US National Park Service
“…the CLG program gives municipalities the option of strengthening local historic preservation activities through exclusive funding incentives and enhanced technical assistance.” PA SHPO
Photo by Pearl M. Nudy; pictured are Rob Williams, Commission Chairman, and Greg Reif, Commission Member
Because Tredyffrin is recognized by the Commonwealth as CLG, historic properties, such as the Mount Zion AME Church, are given priority within the SHPO Grant program that awarded the Church the funds for the restoration. And that is just the beginning for our local commitment to preserving historic resources.
THE MAURICE STEPHENS HOUSE Sarah Reisert, Volunteer, Valley Forge Park Alliance Honoring The Past And Looking To The Future
The Maurice Stephens House is located just across Route 23 from Washington Memorial Chapel, on the lands of Valley Forge National Historical Park's Grand Parade. According to the incised date stone found in the upper portion of the building's original east gable wall, the main portion of the house was constructed in 1816.
Oral history recorded in 1850 in Henry Woodman's The History of Valley Forge indicates that the property was the site of Brigadier General Jedediah Huntington's quarters during the Valley Forge winter encampment. The Provincial tax record for the property indicates that in 1769 the property was occupied by one Zachariah Davis, and it was likely Davis' log house which Woodman states served as General Huntington's quarters. Woodman goes on to state that there were a number of huts erected on the property as well, one of which was occupied by General von Steuben, who would drill soldiers on what would become the Stephens property.
Maurice Stephens is first listed in the Provincial tax record for the property in the year 1779, but it is not known exactly when he moved in. After building the stone house that is the heart of the structure we see today in 1816, he sold the property in 1825, two years before his death. It passed through the hands of four other owners before becoming part of Valley Forge State Park in 1919. Initially, it continued to be utilized as a farm and the barn home to a flock of 115 sheep that helped keep the grass down in the Park. Over the years it served as ranger dormitories, Park offices, and even a nature center, but the house had been vacant since the mid-1990s.
The Stephens House is one of many (and one of the most prominent) historic structures that the Park aims to lease through its adaptive reuse program. Through this program, the Park puts historic structures back into use while realizing rental income that it can then use to rehabilitate other structures.
Because of the Stephens House's prominent location in the Park, Park leadership saw it as the ideal home for the Valley Forge Park Alliance. The beautiful building contains ample space to house the Alliance's offices and is well suited to serve as a hub of Park activities that would draw attention to the Alliance and its efforts to assist the Park. It will also feature a café operated by ANEU in Paoli, creating a refreshing oasis for weary travelers in the very heart of the Park. The Alliance convened the Maurice Stephens Advisory Group one year ago. The group is comprised of community leaders with expertise in construction, fundraising, leasing, and the small businesses that could partner with the Alliance in this space so that it can once again welcome visitors. They are working hand-in-hand with the Alliance and Park leaders to finalize the construction plans, agree on lease terms that satisfy both entities, plan the public use of the space,
and raise the funds required to make it all happen.
“VFPA's rehabilitation and operation of the Maurice Stephens house would serve as a shining example of the capacity of publicprivate partnerships to restore and breathe new life into historic structures,” said the Park's business manager, Patrick Madden. The Alliance couldn't agree more, and they are eager to welcome you to their new home once the doors open sometime in 2023.
What is a Historic Barn Museum Without Antique Farm Equipment?
Pattye Benson, President, Tredyffrin Historic Preservation Trust
In the Spring, I was contacted by Fred and Lura Wampler, longtime township residents and owners of “Little Place Farm” in Wayne, their home for fifty years. Also known as the Lewis Walker Farm, the c. 1736 house served as General Enoch Poor's quarters during the occupancy of Valley Forge by Washington's army in the winter of 1777-78. In addition to the beautiful stone farmhouse, there are several outbuildings on the Wampler's property, including a wonderful stone and wood bank barn, the “Walker Barn”, built over 250 years ago. Since purchasing Little Place Farm in 1971, the Wampler's have collected antiques, including vintage and collectible farm tools and equipment. Fred and Lura kept tabs on the Tredyffrin Historic Preservation Trust's rebuilding efforts of the Jones Log Barn in Chesterbrook and, as it neared completion, they reached out to me with a generous offer. Many of the “old house” homeowners in the community know one another and the Wampler's and I go back many years. In fact, their wonderful historic farm was a featured stop on the Trust's annual historic house tour in 2006. They asked if the Jones Log Barn Living History Center could use some antique farm equipment and might I come for a visit to see the items.
With much gratitude to the Wampler's, the Living History Center will be a real farm museum when it opens and will include a full array of antique and collectible tools and equipment on display. The generous donation includes over thirty early Chester County farm items, including a c. 1860 red painted wood churn, an early 18th century primitive grape wine press, two original Conestoga wagon wheels from the early 1800's, and a c. 1860 wooden grain thresher, just to name a few. Currently in the final building inspection phase, the Jones Log Barn Living History Center will soon open to the public. The exhibits will help visitors understand the 18th century history of the Jones Log Barn and its rebuilding process, including the unique log construction. In addition to antique farm equipment, displays will feature artifacts from the original Jones Log Barn, including historic hardware, doors, and windows. Another exhibit will feature the substantial contribution of local company Eadeh Enterprises to the Jones Log Barn project, the Eadeh and Fritz family stories, and the Fritz Lumber history. The original blue Fritz Lumber Yard sign which hung outside the office and some of the handmade bird houses from the large red Fritz barn are on display. For questions or to learn more about Tredyffrin Historic Preservation Trust, the Jones Log Barn Living History Center, or our local history, please visit our website, www.tredyffrinhistory.org and/or contact Pattye Benson, the Trust's president at (610)644-6759.
A display in the Living History Center featuring a variety of early farm equipment and tools. General Poor's Quarters at Little Place Farm, c. 1736, Wayne, PA
Walker's Barn at Little Place Farm, c. 1736, Wayne, PA
One of two 12-spoke wood Conestoga wagon wheels, c.1820. The Conestoga wagon is a specific design of a heavy covered wagon that was used extensively during the late eighteenth century and the nineteenth century in the eastern United States. The wagon was pulled by a team of up to eight horses or oxen and large enough to transport loads up to 6 tons.
On site at the Jones Log Barn Living History Center, Lura and Fred Wampler of “Little Place Farm, Wayne, PA with their donated primitive seed separator, c.1900. A hand cranked wooden machine for separating seed and cleaning and sorting the grain, the machine retains its original blue paint and lettering. Oats, wheat, barley, flax, etc. were added in the top and then turning the crank at a steady speed, the clean grain came out in the bottom ready to seed a field.
Pennsylvania Education and Decision Insight, PA MEDI Program Chester County Department of Aging Services
A MyMedicare account is a helpful online tool that you, as a Medicare beneficiary, can access easily.
There are a number of useful features of these accounts:
Probably the most frequently used feature is the ability to enter, save, and edit a list of your prescription drugs and preferred pharmacies. This simplifies using the Medicare Plan Finder to compare Part D (prescription) and Part C (Medicare Advantage) plans during the Annual Open Enrollment Period (Oct. 15 through Dec. 7). Without an account, you must enter your drug list each time you want to check your coverage. Even if you aren't a regular computer user, having this available will be a big help to an APPRISE counselor or other person helping you shop for your next plan. You can print out a copy of your Medicare card if yours is damaged or lost.
Your current plans, including the subscriber number, are available to you online.
If you have Original Medicare, you can view the details of your claims as soon as they are processed, and view claims up to 36 months old. Your Medicare Summary Notices are also available, and if you want, you can receive them electronically rather that wait for paper copies in the mail. Any of this information can be downloaded and printed. (Those of you with Medicare Advantage plans get all your claims information through your plan provider.)
You can choose to receive email notifications from Medicare with information about preventive services and account alerts.
Preventing Falls
When you're young, often the biggest injury you may receive from a fall is redfaced embarrassment. As we get older, physical changes, health conditions, and medications make falls more likely. In fact, every second of every day, an older adult (age 65+) falls in the U.S. Falls are not an inevitable part of aging. That's why it's important to reduce the risk of falling by considering six simple fall-prevention strategies recommended by the Mayo Clinic. 1) Make an appointment with your doctor
Begin your fall-prevention plan by making an appointment with your doctor. Be prepared to answer questions such as:
What medications are you taking?
Make a list of your prescription and over-the-counter medications or bring them with you to the appointment. Your doctor can review your medications for side effects and interactions that may increase your risk of falling.
Have you fallen or almost fallen before?
Write down the details, including when, where and how you fell or almost fell.
Details such as these may help your doctor identify specific fall-prevention strategies.
Could your health conditions cause a fall? Certain eye and ear disorders may increase your risk of falls. Be prepared to discuss your health conditions and how comfortable you are when you walk for example, do you feel any dizziness, joint pain, numbness or shortness of breath when you walk. To set up an account, go to www.Medicare.gov, click on the Log in/Create Account button near the top of the screen and follow the instructions. For more guidance, SHINE, Massachusetts'
2) Keep moving
Physical activity can go a long way toward fall prevention. With your doctor's OK, consider activities such as walking, water workouts or tai chi - a gentle exercise that involves slow and graceful dance-like movements. Such activities reduce the risk of falls by improving strength, balance, coordination and flexibility. 3) Wear sensible shoes
Consider changing your footwear as part of your fall-prevention plan. High heels, floppy slippers and shoes with slick soles can make you slip, stumble and fall. So can walking in your stocking feet. Be sure to buy properly fitting, sturdy shoes with nonskid soles that are not too thick. Choose lace-up shoes instead of slip-ons, and keep the laces tied. 4) Remove home hazards
Take a close look around your home. To make your home safer remove boxes, newspapers, electrical cords and phone cords from walkways. Move coffee tables, magazine racks and plant stands from high-traffic areas. Secure loose rugs with double-faced tape, tacks or a slip-resistant backing - or remove loose rugs from your home. Use nonslip mats in your bathtub or shower. 5) Light up your living space
Keep your home brightly lit to avoid tripping on objects that are hard to see.
Place night lights in your bedroom, bathroom and hallways and place a lamp within reach of your bed for middle-of-the-night needs. Store version of PA MEDI, has produced a helpful short video on how to set up a MyMedicare account: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubkM ZBNr8-I . And of course, Pennsylvania Medicare and Decision Insight (PA MEDI) counselors are always available to assist you.
PA MEDI is Pennsylvania's statewide program of free, unbiased insurance consultation under the auspices of the Chester County Department of Aging Services and the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP).To reach a counselor about this topic or other Medicare services, call the PA MEDI Help Line 610-344-5004, option 2. Leave a message and a certified counselor will call you back, usually within one business day.
flashlights in easy-to-find places in the event of a power outage. 6) Use assistive devices
Your doctor might recommend using a cane or walker to keep you steady.
Other assistive devices can help, too.
Hand rails for both sides of stairways
Nonslip treads for bare-wood steps
A raised toilet seat or one with armrests
Grab bars for the shower or tub
A sturdy plastic seat for the shower or tub
An investment in fall prevention enables everyone to retain health and independence. To help increase strength and balance, Surrey in Devon offers a Tai Chi class every Wednesday at 12:45. Surrey's Fitness Center has equipment specially calibrated for older adults and a Fitness Trainer on staff. For more information, call Surrey at 610-647-6404
