Open Land Conservancy at sunset by Ray Clarke
TOWNSHIP DIRECTORY
Township Staff
TOWNSHIP MANAGER
William F. Martin
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
Joseph DiRocco, CPA
DIRECTOR OF PLANNING AND ZONING
Erin McPherson
TOWNSHIP ENGINEER
Stephen Burgo, P.E.
PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
Darin Fitzgerald
PUBLIC INFORMATION SPECIALIST
Gabrielle Ignarri
DIRECTOR OF LIBRARIES
Mallory Hoffman
SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE
T. Michael Beaty
TOWNSHIP SOLICITOR
Gawthrop Greenwood, PC
Board of Supervisors
David Miller, Chair
Julie Gosse, Vice-chair
KS Bhaskar
Matt Holt
Sharon Humble
Carlotta Johnston-Pugh
Murph Wysocki
Volunteer Boards
Arts Commission
Environmental Advisory Council
Commission Library Board of Trustees
Authority
Recreation Board
Trustees
Planning Commission
Committee
Zoning Hearing Board
Newsletter Staff
Patricia Hoffman, Editorial Assistant
Edward Watton, Franklin Maps Sales & Graphics Manager
The staff wishes to thank the many contributors for the content of each Tredyffrin Township newsletter.
Important Phone Numbers
Tredyffrin Township Building
Tredyffrin Township Police Department
Tredyffrin Township Public Works Department
Fire and Ambulance
Tredyffrin Township Libraries
Tredyffrin/Easttown School District
PLEASE NOTE: th During your participation in and attendance at Township events and activities like the Summer Concert Series, 4 of July Celebration, or Community Day, you may be filmed, videotaped, and/or photographed by Township Staff. Your attendance serves as permission for use of your image by the Township (for example: in newsletters or on the Township website).
2025 REMAINING MEETING SCHEDULE & HOLIDAY CALENDAR
ARTS COMMISSION
7 PM
September 4
November 6
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
7 PM
September 15
October 6 & 20
November 5** & 17
December 1 & 15
ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY COUNCIL
7 PM
September 23
October 28
December 2
HISTORICAL COMMISSION
7 PM
September 11
October 9
November 13
December 1
LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES
7 PM - Tredyffrin Public Library
25
23
4
MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY
PM
14
PARK & RECREATION BOARD
10
8
12
PENSION TRUSTEES PLANNING COMMISSION
12
PM
18
16 November 20 December 18
7:30 AM September 17
December 17 7 PM
Tredyffrin Township makes every effort to provide information to the residents and businesses as effectively and as timely as possible. The methods currently in use are:
SOCIAL MEDIA
ZONING HEARING BOARD
September 25
October 23
November 19** December 17**
**Nov. & Dec. meetings being held prior to the 4th Thursday due to Thanksgiving and Christmas Holidays.
Labor Day ..........................Mon. Sept. 1 Columbus Day/
Indigenous Peoples Day..Mon. Oct. 13 Veterans' Day....................Tues. Nov. 11
Thanksgiving Day ............Thurs. Nov. 27 Day after Thanksgiving ........Fri. Nov. 28
Christmas Day .................Thurs. Dec. 25 Day after Christmas .............Fri. Dec. 26
New Year’s Day 2026 .........Thurs. Jan. 1
The best and most current place to get information is through the Internet by connecting to the Township website at www.tredyffrin.org, which continues to provide information on all events and programs taking place throughout the Township, as well as providing the latest news, events, and emergency announcements. Tredyffrin is also on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, so follow us on these social media platforms.
E-NEWSLETTER
Tredyffrin offers monthly updates about Township news and events via the e-newsletter. To sign up for the e-newsletter, weather advisories, events happening in and around Chester County, and/or alerts by email or by text, visit www.readychesco.org and enroll. By creating a profile and selecting what types of notices you wish to receive, updates can be sent to you however you choose.
PRINTED NEWSLETTER
This printed newsletter is distributed three times a year to every residence in Tredyffrin Township as a public service. Franklin Maps works closely with the staff to provide this service for the Township and its residents. The cost of the newsletter is covered by advertising and not Township funds. If you have items of interest or ideas for articles, please send them to tredyffrin@tredyffrin.org
POLICE DEPARTMENT MESSAGE
The Police Department is proud to announce that we will be hosting our 25th Annual Citizens Police Academy The program was created to give people from the community a close-up view into how the Department functions and the vast array of services it provides. Attendees are provided with the opportunity to come to the Police Department once a week and learn about various topics.
Topics being covered this year include: domestic violence, tactical operations,
criminal investigations, traffic safety, and drug investigations, patrol procedures, a tour of the Chester County Public Safety Training Campus, a tour of a local fire department, community policing, and guest speakers from the District Attorney's office and other cooperating agencies.
The 2025 CPA classes will be held every Thursday evening for 12 weeks, starting September 18 through December 11 from 7 to 9:30 PM at the Township Building. Deadline for applications is September 5. Space is limited. The Academy will not hold class during the week of Thanksgiving.
If interested, please contact the Director of Community Policing, Officer Joe Butler at 610-408-3654 or e-mail at jbutler@tredyffrin.org
Seniors, and those applicants who have served, or are actively serving in our military, please inquire about obtaining a waiver for the registration fee. Applications are available by visiting the website at www.tredyffrin.org/Departments/Police/ Departments/Community-Policing-Unit. This year's program is free of charge!
TEEGARDEN PARK IS THE ONLY PARK THAT PERMITS DOGS OFF-LEASH WITH PROPER LICENSING.
All off-leash dogs must be registered with the Township and display the issued registration tag and must be renewed yearly. Dog owners must provide the Township with a copy of the dog's license and vaccination records at registration. The fee is $25 per dog for Tredyffrin residents and $50 per dog for non-residents. This is limited to Teegarden Park during the posted permitted hours only. The registration form can be found on the Township website. Additionally, dog owners must maintain awareness and control of their animals as they use the park. Dogs permitted in the fenced-in children's play area. Dogs may not interfere with athletic activities, children playing, or pets in the yards of homes that border Teegarden Park. Off-leash dog owners may be cited and fined if they do not adhere to the posted rules for off-leash dogs in Teegarden Park or if their dogs are off-leash in other Township parks.
ARE NOT
E-SCOOTERS, HOVERBOARDS AND E-BIKES
As e-scooters, hoverboards and e-bikes become more popular for personal transportation and leisure activities, emergency departments are treating an increase in injuries nationwide. Collisions with motor vehicles and control issues are leading hazards. Here are some safety tips:
• Always wear a bicycle helmet when riding to protect your head in a fall.
• Before riding, make sure to check for any damage, which includes examining the
handlebars, brakes, throttle, bell, lights, tires, cables and frame.
• See and be seen. Most deaths involve motor vehicles. Many micromobility products are small, quick, and quiet, making it difficult for others to spot you, especially in parking lots and structures
Expect vehicle drivers and pedestrians not to see you; slow down and stay aware of your surroundings. Use the bell/horn to alert others.
ARTS COMMISSION
Tredyffrin Township Welcomes Its New Arts Commission
It's Official, Tredyffrin Township has an Arts Commission. In late 2024, the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the formation of a public Arts Commission. With a goal to provide guidance, advocacy, and leadership to support the arts and cultural matters, community members applied to serve on the five-person Arts Commission as an advisory board on art and cultural matters.
In early 2025, the Board of Supervisors received applications and community members were interviewed to serve on the newly approved Commission. Appointed to three-year terms are Angela Scully, Chair; Libby Bernick, Vice Chair; Pattye Benson, Secretary, and Cara Cline-Thomas. A vacancy exists for a professional, licensed architect or certified urban planner. Township supervisors Matt Holt and Carlotta Johnston-Pugh serve as liaisons to the Art Commission.
Do not make abrupt, unpredictable movements.
• Beware of obstacles. Escooters have small tires, so objects and uneven surfaces can cause them to stop suddenly, throwing you off. Always keep both hands on the handlebars and keep items off the handlebars. Slow down and lean back when you have to ride over bumps.
Never ride under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Only one person per scooter; additional riders can increase
Their Mission is to use the full spectrum of arts to create a sense of place and community in the Township. Their vision is to encourage wide participation in the arts in order to highlight all aspects of the Township, its citizens, and the beauty of the seasons.
Creation of an Arts Commission Logo
A community vehicle for the expansion of the arts and related community activities within the Township, the Arts Commission designed a special logo to identify the group and its mission.
Making Art Accessible
In line with the belief that art should be accessible to everyone in the Township, the Arts Commissioners are actively seeking innovative ways to enhance participation and public engagement. They are
the risk and severity of collisions.
• Follow all manufacturer directions, review the safety information and identify and weight and age limits for the micromobility device.
considering a range of ideas aimed at fostering inclusivity and encouraging diverse involvement in the arts, including:
• Showcasing Local Artists with artwork in the Township Building.
• Rock painting with words of encouragement and kindness in public places.
• Mural Art to welcome and preserve local heritage.
• Township Community Day art activities. Help Us Make Public Art a Reality in the Township
The Arts Commission is eager to hear your thoughts and suggestions on how to bring public art to life in the Township. Your input is invaluable in shaping a vibrant artistic landscape that reflects our community's spirit. Contact the Commission at tredyffrin@tredyffrin.org.
PUBLIC WORKS
Leaf Hauling Regulations for Residents
All residents of the Township are permitted to haul materials to the Mill Road Leaf Site for disposal, when open. Proof of address (driver's license, etc.) is required. There will be no pickup of materials, this is a drop-off site only.
Branches/brush/stick requirements - maximum diameter six (6) inches, maximum length twelve (12) feet, minimum length four (4) feet.
The following material will not be accepted: Twigs and hedge clippings, vines, fresh or rotten firewood, stumps, roots, garden debris, thorn bushes, or large branches (see requirements above).
Free Compost: Free compost is also available at the Strafford Library, Teegarden Park, and Wilson Farm Park 7 days per week during certain times of the year
Leaf Hauling Regulations for Contractors
A special permit is required for each property serviced. The permit must be signed by the property owner and will only be valid for that specific property. The permit will indicate the number of loads of leaves to be removed from the property. The permit must be brought with each load to be dumped, or you will not be permitted to dump. The Township employee checking the permit will sign and date each load dumped. After the last load allowed by the permit is dumped, the permit will be turned in and kept at the leaf site. Additional loads for that property will require an additional permit.
Leaf Hauling Permit Application costs $50 per vehicle per season.
Permit sticker must be attached to each vehicle. Permits will be issued at the Tredyffrin Township Administration Building, Monday through Thursday, 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM. There will be no refunds or credits.
Payment accepted by check only at the following rates (cost per load):
• $20 for a 4-wheel vehicle
Disposal of Swimming Pool Water and Chemicals
Per PA Department of Environmental Protection regulations,
To properly dispose of pool water and other wastewater, you must contact the Public Works Department for permission to discard into the sanitary sewer system. Public Works will grant approval if the residents follow the DEP Guidelines for wastewater disposal, the water conforms to the sewage treatment plant requirements, and there is a public sewer in close pool water and other wastewater cannot be discarded into the storm sewer, ground water, stream, or other natural water source.
T&E CARE
T&E Care held the annual School Supply Drive this May and June. Thanks to our community's generosity, almost 250 children will receive backpacks and supplies for the upcoming school year. We are grateful to the hardworking committee who organized this event: Jen Bracco, Marianna Bracco, Laura Giordano, Kim Jamme, Kate Peyton, Mary Frances Szpila, Sara Vose, and Jean Allen. Special thanks to FLITE for providing the funds for the backpacks, Beaumont Elementary School for providing the space, and the community volunteers who helped unbox and sort the supplies.
• $34 for a total combination of 6 wheels (trailer) dump or stakebody
• $40 for a total combination of 8 wheels (trailer)
• $60 for any stakebody over 14 feet in length
Contractors to haul leaves only to the Mill Road site - No branches, sticks or wood chips. Any violation (illegal dumping, bad checks, etc.) of these regulations may result in a revocation of dumping privileges.
Hours of Operation for Contractors (when open in the Fall/Winter):
Monday - Thursday 7:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Friday: Closed
There will be no access to the Mill Road Leaf Site on weekends for contractors. All contractors must dump Monday through Thursday
proximity to the pool discharge point. The cost for the discharge is $6.51 per thousand (1,000) gallons. Fill out and submit the Pool Discharge permit which can be found on the Township website.
If anyone is concerned about possible improper discharge of pool water into any street or stream or into the sanitary sewer system, please contact the Township at 610-408-3620 immediately. If a potential problem is noticed after business hours, please call the Police Department (911). Chemicals and paints also should not be disposed of in the sewer or storm drain
Thank you all for helping the children in our community start off the 2025-26 year strong-we know they will be excited to receive their new items.
Save the date and come help us celebrate! 2025 Fall Fest is Saturday, September 20 Waynesboro Country Club
We are excited to share that the annual T&E Care Fall Fest will be held at Waynesborough Country Club on Saturday, September 20th. Cheers to 20 Years will be a night of fun celebrating 20 years of T&E Care with fellow community members enjoying live entertainment. This year's
systems. The Chester County Health Department holds free Household Hazardous Waste Collection Events each year.
event will also honor and celebrate the retirement of T&E Care's founder Sandi Gorman and all of her amazing work and dedication. Please look for your invitation in August and be sure to RSVP quickly as this is a limited capacity event. A Special Thank You to Sequoia Financial Group, our Lead Sponsor for this event.
LIBRARY NEWS
Library Storytimes Offer Connection, Early Literacy, and Joyful Community Moments
Library storytimes have been beloved for decades and for good reason. They check all the boxes for caregivers of young children: they're free, educational, and they provide a wonderful way to meet friends and neighbors. Our Township Libraries host at least five storytimes each week, but the biggest crowds gather at the smallest branch—Paoli Library
Youth Services Librarian Sarah Roeske says storytime is her favorite part of the job. When she joined Paoli Library in August 2022, storytimes drew just a handful of attendees. But word quickly spread. Families began telling friends and neighbors about the hourlong program which consists of half structured storytime, half open play, and about Sarah's high-energy, welcoming style. Her approach is responsive to young children's needs: kids are free to stand, move around, and participate at their own developmental level.
Tai brings his daughter, Sage, to storytime and says that they are “magical.” He appreciates the “nice variety of books, songs, and dancing” and says Miss Sarah is “great”.
Each Paoli storytime session follows a predictable routine, which helps children feel secure and engaged. In warmer months, Thursday storytimes move outdoors to Greentree Park, giving everyone more room to participate. Some families travel from well beyond Paoli to attend. Sarah also shares her magic with children at Show & Tell Preschool, making sure storytime reaches beyond the library's walls.
Caregivers love that Sarah takes the time to learn everyone's names and make personal connections. She's even earned a reputation as Paoli's unofficial “friend matchmaker,” introducing families with similar backgrounds, needs, or interests.
DONATION EVENTS
Bikes and sewing machines can be dropped off rain or shine: th SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13 2025
9AM-12PM West Goshen Municipal Complex ENTER from Five Points Rd. 1025 Paoli Pike. West Goshen, PA 19380
For more information please contact: Alan Schultz, President P4P/SP alan@p4p.org
908.399.8217
When several immigrant families from nearby apartments began attending programs, Sarah helped them connect and made sure the library ordered books in their native languages. Today, those families regularly attend together, making storytime not just a program but a community.
In 2025, Sarah is celebrating her tenth summer as a Youth Services Librarian, and Paoli Library's basement storytimes draw 30 to 50 enthusiastic attendees each week. On Tuesday and Thursday mornings, every inch of space is filled. Families perch in doorways or atop the toy chest while Sarah reads above the crowd.
Catch a Storytime at Tredyffrin Township Libraries
At Paoli Library:
• Family Storytime: Tuesdays at 10:30 AM
• Family Storytime: Thursdays at 11 AM (at Greentree Park in summer)
At Tredyffrin Public Library:
• Toddler Storytime: Wednesdays at 10:15 AM
• Family Storytime: Wednesdays and Thursdays at 11 AM
• Storytime Shenanigans: First Wednesdays at 5 PM
Miniature Golf is Back at the Library
2nd Annual Charity Miniature Golf Classic: November 7-8
After a wildly successful debut in 2024, the Charity Miniature Golf Classic is back. This fall, enjoy a fun-filled weekend of mini golf INSIDE both Tredyffrin Public Library and Paoli Library, all while supporting a great cause. Proceeds benefit the Tredyffrin Township Library Foundation's endowment, helping ensure a strong future for your libraries.
Weekend Highlights — The ParTEE
Friday, November 7 | 7:00 PM | Tredyffrin Public Libr Tickets: $50/person or $90/pair - available online Join us for a lively evening of wine, beer hole golf course throughout the library library book cart and a prize for the bes CommuniTEE Day
Saturday, November 8 | 10 AM - 4:30 PM | Both Libraries Tickets: $6/person - available at the door Fun for all ages. Play 18 holes at Tredyffrin Public Library and 4 at Paoli Library entertainment, snacks, and prizes in The 19th Hole loung year: More holes and refreshments at Paoli, plus a punch card! Complete cour both libraries and enter a special raffle.
Pedals for Progress/Sewing Peace, in its continuing effort to recycle unwanted items properly, is having a used bike and sewing machine collection sponsored by Chester Co. Solid Waste Authority.
OPEN LAND CONSERVANCY BY R
AYMOND
Neighbors Care For Valley Creek Preserve
Open Land Conservancy (OLC) of Chester County is an 85-year-old non-profit land trust focused on the Valley Creek watershed in Tredyffrin and East Whiteland townships. It is supported by our supporters' contributions of time and money plus project-specific grants. Many neighbors appreciate the value of the open space in their backyards and this article celebrates some of those neighbors that keep Valley Creek Preserve a thriving natural space that all Township residents can enjoy.
The 47-acre Preserve is located around the section of Valley Creek that is bounded by suburban housing located on North Valley Road, Swedesford Road, Wisteria Road, Hayfield Road, Page Place, Overlook Place, and Treeline Drive. The land forming the Preserve has been farmed for three centuries. A grist mill on Valley Creek was built before the Township was established and in 1779 a second mill was built where the present Great Valley Mill stands.
OLC assembled the Preserve and adjacent conservation easements from 1975 through 1997 from four contiguous parcels of prior farmland. The property consists of a flood plain 100 - 200 feet wide adjacent to the creek, a wooded riparian buffer with various shrubs and grasses, and two meadow areas. The key challenges are invasive species — animal and vegetable — and erosion from stormwater runoff. Volunteers have helped OLC address these challenges in so many ways over the years and below are just a few examples.
One of the most used features in the Preserve is the trail around the meadow in the center of the Preserve. This meadow, which had become overwhelmed by invasive shrubs and vines, was the site of one of OLC's earliest restoration projects, with funding support from a generous neighbor. Back in 2007, the area was cleared with “Hydro-Ax” equipment (“Stay Back 300 Feet”) and drill-seeded with warm season
surrounding areas prior to tree planting, and mowing thistle in the meadow before it goes to seed.
Ash trees were once a common sight in Pennsylvania's forests, parks, and neighborhoods, and they flourished in the Valley Creek floodplain. The trees provide habitat and food for many creatures, including, interestingly, frogs, whose tadpoles appreciate the lack of tannins. That lack, though, reduces the tree's resistance to the invasive Emerald Ash Borer (“EAB”), whose larvae feed on the inner bark, disrupting the tree's ability to transport water and nutrients, eventually killing the tree. A dire outlook for the frogs — listen for them as you walk the Preserve — and for the Louisville Slugger Pennsylvania Ash baseball bat.
Now the dead Ash trees are a concern for the Preserve. The wood becomes brittle; branches and whole trees are liable to snap. OLC is taking steps to close vulnerable trails and to bring down trees that are near busier areas. We are really grateful to neighbor Ray Mirra, whose team worked with OLC tree service provider CJ Tree Service, to take down target trees like the one near the Preserve entrance in the photograph.
Visitors can enjoy all of this thanks to the meticulous trail creating and cutting provided by neighbor Dennis Nackord for over 40 years. Dennis and his immaculate equipment have also provided invaluable help to Preserve Manager, cross-Preserve neighbor and Conservancy chain saw wielding Ray Clarke, by moving fallen honey locust trees from the trail, mowing
All is not lost, though. Our friends at Valley Forge National Historic Park are part of a pilot program to determine whether a native Asian wasp that is a natural predator of the EAB can be used as a biological control. We hope those wasps make their way up the creek to the Preserve in time to protect the young and healthy ash tree in the next photo. You can just make it out, nestling behind a little but growing patch of Common Milkweed, host of the Monarch butterfly. That NE section of the Preserve is accessible only because of the sturdy bridges built by Eagle Scout teams from Troop Paoli 1.
The loss of the Preserve's Ash trees makes it all the more important to restore the native tree and shrub riparian habitat. Two years ago, thanks to generous grant support from TreeVitalize, the Miller Foundation and PECO, OLC removed two sections of invasive Phragmites Australis grass and engaged a team of volunteers to plant 300 trees and shrubs of species like maple, willow, oak, and sweetbay magnolia. Neighbors from the Valley Creek Farm neighborhood, including scout Nate Saylor's Devon 50 troop were part of the team.
OLC is delighted to work with all community organizations. Delaware Valley Friends School was looking for site to accept donated trees as part of an effort to offset their carbon footprint. Here owners and conservation easement landowners Allan Shi, Rachel Hu and Mark and Amy Saylor stand by one of those trees they planted in their easements adjacent to the Preserve.
And, last but not least on this not-complete list, the clean-up teams deserve thanks. The Preserve collects unwanted debris from its suburban surroundings. Not only do Trout Unlimited members conduct annual cleanups, but the Devon 50 Scout Troop under the leadership of neighbor Mark Saylor has collected more than its own weight in trash. Most of those tree protection tubes were replaced around the young, well-planted saplings that survived the flood.
The Conservancy is fortunate to be part of neighborhoods that care so much for our precious open space and we are so thankful for all those that come out to help sustain it
Comitta’s Corner
News, Events, Updates
Free Shredding Event October 4
It's been a busy summer! State Senator Carolyn Comitta and her team will continue attending community events around Chester County this fall to offer in-person services. In addition to visiting the Easttown Library on the second Wednesday of the month (2 - 4 PM) and Malvern Public Library on the first Tuesday (10 AM - noon), the staff regularly attends outdoor events, street festivals, and community day celebrations in our area. For a full schedule of events and opportunities, pasenatorcomitta.com/events
Please feel free to contact Senator Comitta's office with questions at senatorcomitta@pasenate.com or by calling (610) 692-2112.
Pennsylvania Money Match Program
To help residents safely and securely dispose of sensitive documents, State Sen. Carolyn Comitta and State Rep. Melissa Shusterman are hosting a free community shredding event on Saturday, October 4 from 10 AM - 1 PM at the Valley Forge Middle School, 105 W Walker Road, Wayne. The event is free and open to the public. However, please note the following:
• This event is for individuals only, not businesses.
• There is a three (3) box limit per car
• Only paper will be accepted. Please do not bring binders, binder clips, or books.
In addition, at the event, participants are invited to bring donations of basic needs products such as menstrual hygiene products, toothbrushes and toothpaste, flushable wipes, and deodorant for the nonprofit organization Mitzvah Circle. While donations are welcomed and encouraged, they are not required to access the free shredding services.
Pennsylvania is now returning unclaimed property automatically through the Treasury's new Money Match Program. Thanks to the program, thousands of residents are being reunited with unclaimed property like dormant bank and retirement accounts, uncashed checks,
unclaimed rebates, and stocks that have been lost or forgotten. Pennsylvania Money Match authorizes the Treasury to automatically return single-owner properties valued up to $500 after a thorough identification and verification process. Funds are sent quarterly. If you receive a Money Match letter, read it and keep it. About 45 days later, your unclaimed property will arrive in the form of a check from the Pennsylvania Treasury Department. In addition, Sen. Comitta encourages all Pennsylvanians to take a moment to search the Treasury's online database in case you have unclaimed property worth more than $500 at patreasury.gov/unclaimed-property
HISTORICAL COMMISSION
Neighborhood Walks
Neighbors continue to learn about the history of their properties and the interesting houses nearby with the Neighborhood Walks. Walk #6 was a stroll on a beautiful Saturday in May along Cassatt Avenue in the Tredyffrin side of Berwyn village. Local historian Greg Prichard started the tour recounting the development of rail stops along the Main Line and the evolution of the Berwyn Station. Writer John Hayman shared the history of Berwyn Village from his recent article in the TE Historical Society's Quarterly magazine. The long history of the Berwyn Theater building was told by HC member Ernie Falcone including its roller rink days and its adaptive reuse as the Playfly Sports business. Finally, all were welcomed by Jean Faber and fellow congregants to the First Church of Christ, Scientist; previously, the Baptist Church in the Great Valley chapel, built in 1886. Their church bell rang inviting visitors to learn the story of the church building and to listen to their exquisite pipe organ. Keep atuned for future public organ concerts.
America 250 Tredyffrin
The remarkable 250th commemoration of our Declaration of Independence is less than one year away. Organizations across the country are preparing. Tredyffrin and Easttown have partnered to help our nonprofits, scout troops, schools, civic organizations, and municipalities to plan events. You and your organization can get ready by joining our monthly A250 TE Zooms on the 2nd Monday of every month hosted by the Chester County Community Foundation. https://a250friends.org/tredyffrin/. Together we communicate, coordinate, and collaborate for 2026 and beyond. Among the many events will be “Dare to Declare”, full readings of the Declaration at locations around town followed by celebrations and discussions. If you want ideas or partners to organize, promote, sponsor, or just volunteer, join our 2nd Monday Zooms.
American 250 Audio Tour of Tredyffrin's Generals — all 8 of them
The Historical Commission is preparing for A250 Tredyffrin by launching an audio tour of buildings that stood in 1777-1778 where both British and American generals quartered. Our Township has the largest number of extant generals' quarters for the Valley Forge winter encampment. In September 1777, over 12,000 British troops camped along Swedesford Road between Howellville and Contention. Tredyffrin farm families quartered Generals Howe, Hessian Knyphausen, and Cornwallis. Yes, that Corwallis - the one who surrendered to Washington at Yorktown to end the Revolutionary War. During the Continentals winter encampment of 1777-1778, French General Duportail quartered in today's Chesterbrook near his friend Lafayette, whose quarters stands in Valley Forge National Historic Park. And around Valley Forge Elementary School are four other houses of Gen. Washington's staff, including “Mad” Anthony Wayne. The audio tour develop by the Historical Commission and TE Historical Society (TEHS) will be available online in the Fall. Special thanks to Conestoga HS 2025 graduate Rowan Bellew for his amazing technical wizardry and to Commission member Janice Olsen for the audio tracks research.
These eight 18th century buildings and many more can be found on the new Township interactive Historic Resources Map using the QR code.
HISTORICAL PRESERVATION TRUST
Fourth Season: Jones Log Barn Living History Center…The Tredyffrin Historic Preservation Trust is amid its fourth season of the Jones Log Barn Living History Center. Visitors have the unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the rich history of the region, experiencing firsthand the daily lives and traditions of early settlers. Step back in time and wander through the meticulously preserved Jones Log Barn, where the past comes to life. Gain a deeper understanding of the challenges and triumphs faced by those who shaped the Tredyffrin area, leaving a legacy for generations to come.
Located at 297 Adams Drive in Chesterbrook, the Living History Center is a special one-ofa-kind log barn museum and is open to the public, free of charge each Sunday, 1-3 PM, April through October.
Immerse in the Past…Students in the Tredyffrin Easttown School District are making memories together as they explore the unique history and heritage of our Township. As part of the District's curriculum, the third graders in the community study local history. During the fall and spring months, TESD students from the five elementary schools visit the historic Duportail House, Federal Barn and the reconstructed Jones Log Barn Living History Center in Chesterbrook. In the spring, we enthusiastically welcomed students from Devon and Valley Forge elementary schools and in the fall, we look forward to visitors from the other elementary schools. Providing morning and afternoon programs
for each school, the students learn about the history of General Duportail and his house, the reconstruction and history of the Jones Log Barn, colonial dance and music and participate in a quilt-making project. The Trust has enjoyed a decades long partnership with the school district, and we look forward to continuing to share our local history.
Exciting Upcoming Events...As the Trust embarks on a new season of events, they continue their mission of preserving and celebrating the rich heritage of the Tredyffrin community. Join in the celebration of history, culture, and tradition as you connect with the past in a meaningful and engaging way.
The 2025 Lecture Series continues this fall…for tickets and further information, please visit our website at www.tredyffrinhistory.org. Highlights include:
• Wednesday, September 10 at Duportail House: “Alexander Hamilton, American Colossus” with accomplished speaker and local historian Jim Segrave-Daly. Specializing in American History, Jim will discuss the impact Hamilton had on his adopted country, from his service during the American Revolution to the founding of our nation and his service as chief architect of America's political and financial systems.
• Wednesday, October 15 at Duportail House: “The House on Chambers Road: A Ghost Story” with guest speaker and awardwinning author Cynthia McGroarty, a
Tredyffrin resident. Inspired by Historic Waynesborough, the talk promises gothic touches with ghostly storytelling just in time for Halloween!
Help Us Continue Preserve Local History: Annual Fundraiser - Beer & Brass, Thursday, October 23. (see flyer on page 34) The event serves as our primary source of funding, enabling the Trust to continue its vital work in preserving local heritage and offering enriching educational opportunities to the community. Join us in the Federal Barn and the Jones Log Barn in Chesterbrook for live music, silent auction, food, beer/wine and lots of fun! For tickets, please visit our website at www.tredyffrinhistory.org.
In a world that is constantly evolving, it is crucial to remember and honor our past. Our local history holds the key to understanding where we come from, how our communities have evolved, and the challenges our ancestors faced. However, preserving this history is not a task that can be accomplished single-handedly. It requires the support and dedication of individuals who are passionate about keeping our heritage alive.
How Can You Help? If you have a passion for local history and a desire to make a difference, volunteering with Tredyffrin Historic Preservation Trust is a great way to get involved. For further information, please call (610) 644-6759, email info@tredyffrinhistory.org, or visit www.tredyffrinhistory.org.
DUPORTAIL HOUSE
Where National History Meets Neighborhood History:the Tredyffrin Heritage Center At Duportail
As America prepares to celebrate its 250th birthday in 2026, one remarkable property in Chester County stands ready to tell the story of our nation's founding — right in the very rooms where General George Washington's chief engineer once lived and planned the defenses of Valley Forge.
Plans are now underway to establish the Tredyffrin Heritage Center at the historic Duportail House in Chesterbrook. This new center will preserve an authentic piece of Revolutionary War history while creating a vibrant heritage destination for America's Semiquincentennial celebration.
Originally built in 1740 by Welsh farmer John Harvard Jr., the Duportail House served as the headquarters for General Louis Lebègue Duportail during the Valley Forge encampment of 1777-78. It was here — nearly 248 years ago that Washington's chief engineer, personally recruited by Benjamin Franklin, drafted the map that laid the foundation for today's Valley Forge National Historical Park
But this isn't just another historic house. In the early 1900s, Duportail's original plans for the Valley Forge defenses were discovered in the attic, proving the site's vital connection to the survival of American independence. While those plans now reside in the Pennsylvania Historical Society, the house where history was made is ready to share its story with a new generation.
As our nation prepares for its 250th anniversary, the Center will present national history where it meets neighborhood history, offering the grand sweep of American independence where it played out in real family homes and on actual farms that visitors can experience today.
The Chesterbrook property where the Center will be located includes the 1740 farmhouse along with what is reportedly Pennsylvania's oldest signed bank barn (1792). Both are within walking distance of Valley Forge National Historical Park, making them an ideal complement to our national story of independence.
The vision behind the Heritage Center extends far beyond preservation. The Duportail Heritage Center will serve as a key eastern anchor in Chester County's Heritage Interpretative Network, connecting regional historic sites through digital kiosks and forming a vital link in the proposed Patriots' Trail, which will unite Revolutionary War sites across the region.
On July 4, 2026, the Heritage Center will host a Dare to Declare event, inviting community members to join in a powerful public reading of the Declaration of Independence, bringing that founding
document to life in the very place where the fight for independence was mapped out.
Tredyffrin Township has long recognized the Duportail House as a community treasure, protecting it through decades of growth and change. Now, as we approach America's 250th anniversary, individuals and organizations are invited to help turn this legacy into a living, lasting resource for future generations. The Tredyffrin Heritage Center at Duportail invites you to Celebrate History Where History Was Made. Join us on July 4, 2026, and stand in the very rooms where the course of American independence was charted and where national and neighborhood history meet.
To support this effort, contact the Tredyffrin Heritage Center at Duportail, 297 Adams Drive, Chesterbrook, PA 19087. The Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and all donations are taxdeductible.
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WHARTON ESHERICK MUSEUM
Kelly Cobb
This year, we were delighted to work with Philadelphia-based textile designer and researcher Kelly Cobb as the 2025 WEM Artist-in-Residence. Kelly is an Associate Professor of Fashion and Apparel Studies at The University of Delaware and the Director of the Textile RAD Lab, whose past projects have explored the complexities of textile production and supply chains with a focus on restoring our connection to the origins of materials and to the human labor and environmental resources embedded in them. For her engagement with WEM, Kelly centered her residency on the textiles and garments made by Wharton's wife Letty Esherick. An installation that brings visitors into Kelly's process, juxtaposing Letty's textiles and Kelly's archival research alongside contemporary making, will open in the WEM Visitor Center on September 18 and run through December 28.
Working at a Joyous Creative Thing Kelly's creative work is deeply rooted in research. In her earliest residency visits to WEM, she not only examined Letty's textiles and garments, but also poured over the materials related to Letty that we hold in our museum archives, including letters, ledger books, and photographs. These resources revealed Letty's creative interests to be interdisciplinary, extending from textiles to jewelry design, dance and
movement, and even theatrical sound design. In Letty's letters, Kelly quickly recognized the unfortunately familiar story of a wife and mother putting her artistic pursuits on hold as financial and familial pressures grew. Her 1947 letter to Wharton, written when the couple had long been separated and their children grown, says it all:
“…just now I want a chance to do what you have been doing all your life,working at a joyous creative thing, which I hope will pave the way for my being self-supporting. This may be too late for me - but I still want to try”
In tribute, Kelly called her research initiativ Working at a Joyous Creative Thing project allows us to contextualiz creative work in light of conven gender roles, divisions of labor and challenges of being a maker-mother Kelly's material analysis of Letty's textile and garment work is also illuminating her creative practice. Her project included offsite research made possible through the award of a CAS Go Grant from the University of Delaware (UD). The Go Gr funded travel and fieldwork at P School of Crafts, Crossnore School, and Hedgerow Theatre, three site Letty's creative life at WEM's campus. Letty's textiles and garments also tr — in this case to UD where textiles intern Sophia Gutman examined the understudie
materials, using methodologies like those featured in The Dress Detective — a practical guide to analyzing fashion — to better understand Letty's weavings, embroidery technique, and approach to garment construction.
We are thrilled to have Kelly digging deeply into these under-researched textiles, as well as filling in gaps in what we know about Letty and her drive to live a creative life. Her work also broadens our understanding of Wharton Esherick's creative world by recognizing the individuals and practices that shaped it. You can learn more about Kelly's project and related programs and
