Historical Commission

Preserve ¦ Protect ¦ Perpetuate

This is a good time to meet your Commissioners - a group of men and women who have interest in the “good old stuff” in the Township: homes, commercial buildings, railroad stations, bridges, protecting the heritage.

Greg Reif: I have always been someone who is naturally curious about the area I live in and think more people should have this perspective about their communities. Being a long time resident of the Philadelphia area including central Bucks County and now along the Main Line living in Wayne, it's easy to be curious when we live amongst such rich history. This curiosity, paired with an educational background in urban planning from my time as an undergraduate at Virginia Tech's College of Architecture and Urban Studies is the backdrop for my participation on the Historical Commission. Our focus on bringing some of this history to the public consciousness is a foundational part of what we are trying to accomplish on the Commission. When we appreciate and understand where we live, we are more likely to protect and preserve our community. The roads and neighborhoods we travel everyday have unique and interesting stories to be told. Why is it called Wilson Farm Park or Cassatt Road? Why do they call that neighborhood the Shand Tract? Who was Anthony Wayne and did he really partially inspire the creation of the famous Bruce Wayne/Batman character? These were prominent people and stories from our past that I think are important to share and/or at least to keep my wife and young children entertained.

Pearl M. Nudy: For a long time, I have been very interested in historic preservation because I live in an area of the Country where kings, presidents, and military generals have lived and visited, and important battles have taken place nearby. In their wake, this area has been left with historic homes, buildings, bridges, and so much more, all of it having great stories to tell. Saving those precious resources is important to me, not simply because I live here, but so do my children and grandchildren; as do my neighbors and their children, and maybe even their grandchildren. The people I see at church, the supermarket, and elsewhere - we all live in this great place: Tredyffrin Township! Saving history ~ that's why I serve on this Commission.

“History - it never gets old!”

Jerry Detorre, Vice Chairman: My interest in cities and architecture grew with me as I started helping my father in the 1960's restore our 1905 city home. That interest led me to study and work professionally in urban design and engineering, building design and city planning. All five of the homes over my life were chosen because of their age, architectural qualities and setting, and any changes I undertook were compatible with and enhancing to the original design. I hope, as a member of the Commission, to assure Tredyffrin's history and historic resources are appreciated, touted, and protected.

Beth Specker: A love of history was instilled in me from an early age. Our family vacations were to Williamsburg, Boston, and Mt. Vernon. My favorite books were history novels and biographies. My career has involved history and civics education. Serving on the Commission will allow me the opportunity to combine my passion and experience to give back to the community that has been my home and ensure that the rich heritage of Tredyffrin Township will continue for generations to come.

Rob Williams, Chairman: My wife and I moved to Strafford in 1993 for the same reasons as many others - good schools and low taxes. Only later did I discover Tredyffrin's history like family spelling bees at the Old Eagle School; discovering quirky ruins from a past era. These remind me of childhood days being driven to historic locales along the East Coast - landmarks such as Gettysburg and my parents' antiquing in Lancaster. Books also captured my imagination such as Eric Sloane's beautifully illustrated Diary of an Early American Boy and An Age of Barns. I can trace those drawings to my later engineering studies. In 2005, we moved to my Tredyffrin historic house built in 1910 by noted architect Charles Barton Keen, who designed Radnor's Willows and Newtown Square's Aronimink Golf Club. We maintain the house with care, including the integrity of the “two-pipe steam” system that was a novelty of the time. A lifelong appreciation of beautiful old buildings moved me from being a history amateur to Chair of the Historical Commission.

Alison Andrell, Secretary: Some of my best childhood memories involve walking with my mom every weekend to historic Downtown Lancaster, which was about a half mile from my home. I'm grateful for those moments because I quickly gained an appreciation for the arts, local history, and architecture. Fast forward to today where I work for a commercial real estate firm that helps shape and revitalize communities. I love using my creativity to tell stories and create excitement about places and culture. I also use that creativity serving on the Historical Commission where I am leading the marketing efforts to advocate for the preservation of our Township's history.

Josh Talley: Like many of us in Tredyffrin, we tend to stay here awhile. I moved to the Township in 1984 and have witnessed the area change and evolve over the decades. Living so close to Valley Forge National Historic Park, I developed a deep appreciation for the historic area in which we live. Only later in life though did I come to realize how steeped our Township is in the history of our Country and the wonderful treasures that exist within the Township. These factors led me to join the Historical Commission with a goal to promote the many historic resources that exist here.

Now that you have met us, keep an eye on Township news for information regarding the Chester County Village Walk in Chesterbrook on July 28. This will be so much fun and is months in the making! And if you see any of your Commissioners along the path, introduce yourself. We would like to get to know you, as well.

Greg Reif Commissioner Pearl Nudy Commissioner Jerry Dettore Vice-Chair Beth Specker Commissioner Rob Williams Chair

Alison Andrel Secretary Josh Talley (Not Shown), Commissioner