Thelma Fisher’s 100th Birthday Party

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Please join us in celebrating Thelma’s 100th birthday!

Saturday, March 3, 2018, 1 – 4pm

Calvary Bible Church, 110 Valley Park Rd, Phoenixville, PA 19460

 

Thelma Fisher – a charter member of the Charlestown Historical Society will celebrate her 100th birthday this Saturday, March 3 at the Calvary Bible Church – at the intersection of Whitehorse and Valley Park Roads – across from  the Schuylkill Township office building – time from 1 to 4 pm.    Family requests no gifts.  She still lives on the Fisher Farm on Charlestown Road.

Spring 2018 Meetings

April 11 – American Revolution to Fine Art

Presented by Gene Pisasale

  • Charlestown Historical Society Meeting
  • Wednesday, April 11, 2018 from 7 to 9 pm.
  • Charlestown Elementary School Cafeteria   
  • (please park on right side in the parking lot near the bus garage)
Our April 11 meeting features a presentation by Gene Pisasale, an author and lecturer living in Kennett Square.  Last April he appeared before us as “Alexander Hamilton”.  The April topic will be “American Revolution To Fine Art” – Brandywine Valley Reflections.

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The Brandywine Valley acted as a crucible producing events that changed the courseof American history.  Three signers of the Declara
tion of Independence
lived here, as well as classical composer Samuel Barber and the renowned Wyeth family of artists.
Topics will include:
  •      Founding Faith  –  The Quaker Meetinghouses
  •      Colonial Gristmills –  Cornerstones in the Foundation of America
  •      Historic Inns and Taverns
  •      Industrial Building Blocks –  The Mines and Minerals of Chester County
  •      A DuPont Legacy  –  The Splendor of Longwood Gardens
  •      Sanctuaries in a Crowed Landscape  –    The Parks of Chester County
  •      Kennett Square –  The Mushroom Capital of the World
  •      The Great Pumpkin Carve

May 16 – Studying the Charlestown Presbyterian Cemetery

Presented by Dr. Laura Sherrod, Kutztown University

  • Charlestown Historical Society Meeting
  • Wednesday, May 16, 2018 from 7 to 9 pm.
  • Charlestown Elementary School Cafeteria   
  • (please park on right side in the parking lot near the bus garage)

Charlestown_Revolutionary_War_Cemetary_2_2007-1Our May 16th meeting is a presentation by Dr. Laura Sherrod, Professor of Geology at Kutztown University who, together with her students has been conducting a ground penetrating radar and magnetometer study of the Charlestown Presbyterian Cemetery, commonly referred to as the Revolutionary War cemetery.   Their goal is to locate unmarked graves and a mass burial pit thought to hold the remains of 50+ soldiers.  Research into the subsurface may show the location of the original Charlestown Presbyterian Church built in 1742.  In addition to a visit on October 13, she and her students visited the cemetery several times this winter to gather additional data.  The cemetery is located across from Charlestown Playhouse on Charlestown Road.

CHS Scholarships – GVHS Seniors

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CHARLESTOWN HISTORICAL SOCIETY SCHOLARSHIPS     

ATTENTION: Great Valley High School SENIORS!

In 2017, the Charlestown Historical Society established a Scholarship fund for Great Valley graduating  seniors from proceeds received from the sale of our founder, Stinson Markley’s farm.  Again this year $ 10,000 of Scholarships will be awarded in a program administered by the Great Valley High School Guidance department.

Five $ 2,000 Scholarships will be awarded to students pursing STEM (2), nursing, fine arts and vocational studies.  Scholarship applications will be available in the Guidance Office by March 1st with applications due in early April.  Scholarships will be awarded at the Senior Awards Assembly on the evening of Thursday May 17th.

Services for Long Time CHS Member Tom Babacz

Our long time friend and CHS member and Treasurer passed away on Monday, October 2. His obituary is in the Pottstown Mercury, where messages of condolence can be entered.

Funeral Mass will be Friday, October 6 at 11 am at St. Ann Chapel, 604 S Main St, Phoenixville.  Friends may visit at the chapel from 9:45 to 10:45 am.  In lieu of flowers the family suggests a donation to Phoenixville Area Community Services (PACS), 257 Church Street, Phoenixville, PA 19460.  CHS will donate $ 100 to PACS in honor of Tom Babacz.

Charlestown Heritage Day – Oct 8, 2017

Please Join Us To Celebrate the Deep and Rich Heritages of

Charlestown Township
Charlestown Village
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CHARLESTOWN HERITAGE DAY

Stories, Pictures, History, Village Walk

Sunday, October 8, 2017

  • 10:30 a.m. – Church service and presentations
  • Noon – Light refreshments
  • Noon – 2:00pm – Enjoyment of displays in church
  • Throughout the day – Self-guided walking tours of Charlestown Village including Woolen Mill and Revolutionary Cemetery

CHARLESTOWN UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

In Historic Charlestown Village
650 CHURCH ROAD
MALVERN, PA 19355
610-933-6083

Sponsored by the Charlestown Historical Society, the Charlestown Historical Commission, and Charlestown United Methodist Church

Charlestown United Methodist Church is co-sponsoring Charlestown Heritage Day on Sunday, October 8 at 10:30 a.m.  The Charlestown Historical Society and the Charlestown Historical Commission are working with the church to celebrate the rich heritages of Charlestown Township, Charlestown Village (on the National Historic Registry), and Charlestown United Methodist Church.

Even though the village is within the mailing scope of Malvern, it actually lies in Charlestown Township, just south of Phoenixville off of Charlestown Road. Few people know that Charlestown Village was once called Egypt, and was the namesake terminus for Egypt Road back in the 1700s. The name changed severaltimes and it ended up as Charlestown Village. Charlestown Township was once part of an original land grant from William Penn to Charles Pickering. Charlestown UMC began as Charlestown Methodist Episcopal Church in 1830. Each has a rich heritage worth celebrating.

The celebration will be at Charlestown United Methodist Church on Sunday, October 8 at 10:30 a.m. It will include stories, pictures, displays, history, and a self-guided walking tour through the village, including the newly restored historic Woolen Mill across scenic Pickering Creek. The church address is 650 ChurchRoad, Malvern, PA 19355.

After a brief worship service at the church, the audience will hear short presentations about: Charlestown Artists; the Revolutionary War Cemetery (just outside the village); Charlestown Township and Village Histories; Valley Forge Military Hospital; the Wisner-Rapp House and Charlestown Historical Society; and the church itself.

Finally, the audience will be free to enjoy refreshments, displays, old photographs, maps, and a self-guided walking tour of Charlestown Village, including the Woolen Mill, and the Revolutionary War Cemetery. This will all occur in the pleasant company of others interested in the rich heritage of the area.

This is an event that is well worth including in your fall schedule. All are welcome. As you have questions, you may call Eric Woodworth at 610-913-0420.

Video of Charlestown Woolen Mill

More information and history about the Charlestown Woolen Mill

CHS Fall 2017 Events

 

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Don’t miss the following Charlestown Historical Society events to be held this fall!

Check out the above links for more details about these events!

CHS Meeting – November 15, 2017

Remember Paoli

Charlestown Historical Society Meeting

Wednesday, November 15, 2017  from 7 to 9 pm.

Charlestown Elementary School Cafeteria   

(please park on right side in the parking lot near the bus garage)

The November 15 CHS meeting will be a presentation by Jim Christ, Vice President of the Paoli Battlefield Preservation Fund who will show a slide presentation of “Remember Paoli”, a battle fought near the current location of the Chester County library on the night of September 20th, 1777.  Learn how the British General lead around 2,000 men at night in the Great Valley to surprise over 2,000 of General Anthony Wayne’s men and 2,100 Maryland militia under General William Smallwood.  Let’s explore why this battle is called the “Paoli Massacre”.