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Lower Merion A Preserve America Community.

Submitted by MainLineThoughts on Thu, 2008-07-24 10:34.
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Ahhh the irony....all that ever happens it seems is residents have to fight to keep historic structures. It's funny that the township that almost eradicated a historic business district a couple years ago when eminent domain was being tossed about is now a Preserve America Community, huh?

Well, it's a lot to live up to and sarcastic comments aside, something to be VERY proud of. Still, doesn't "Preserve America" ring to mind images of small town splendor? So why are we supersizing our communities again?

Preserving Lower Merion's past

Lower Merion received the Preserve America award from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development Tuesday. The ceremony was held at Pencoyd Iron Works Building which was nearly destroyed in a fire in 1996.

Preserve America Community:
Lower Merion Township, Pennsylvania

The first inhabitants of Lower Merion Township (population 58,740) were members of the Lenni Lenape tribe. Welsh Quakers granted land by William Penn settled in the area in 1682.

In 1712, Lower Merion was established as an independent township with about 52 landholders and tenants who primarily practiced agriculture. Later, waterpower captured from local streams and tributaries of the Schuylkill River enabled manufacturing in the community. The creation of the Pennsylvania Railroad line west of Philadelphia during the 19th century brought new, prosperous residents to Lower Merion, and the town became known as part of the “Main Line,” a network of affluent Philadelphia suburbs along the railroad line.

Today, many groups work to maintain the historic charm of Lower Merion. The township has a historic commission and a Historical Architectural Review Board, which were created in 2000 with the adoption of a Historic Districts and Resources ordinance. Currently, Lower Merion Township has six local historic districts, including Ardmore, which also participates in the National Main Street Program. In addition, Lower Merion has been a Certified Local Government since 1992.

The Lower Merion Township Historical Society has worked since 1949 to carry out its mission of “Preserving our past for the future.” The historical society has a large collection of materials relating to the town, and published a 284-page book on the township in 2000...

Township to Receive Preserve America Citation at July 22nd Ceremony
Community Invited to Pencoyd Iron Works Building for 10:30 a.m. Ceremony
Posted Date: 7/15/2008 2:27 PM

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Submitted by MainLineThoughts on Thu, 2008-07-24 12:22.
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oops. forgot:

Posted on Tue, Jul 22, 2008
Township helps 'Preserve America'
By Richard Ilgenfritz

For a decade after a fire gutted the building in 1990, the historic Pencoyd Iron Works building sat abandoned and forgotten at the end of Righters Ferry Road in Bala Cynwyd.In 2000, Donna Galvin of Penn Real Estate Group rediscovered the building while taking walks around the area, explained Sean McCloskey, president and CEO of Penn Real Estate Group.

After seven years of work at a cost of $1.6 million, the building was renovated and now serves as the headquarters of Penn Real Estate Group.

Tuesday, the building served as the backdrop for a ceremony recognizing Lower Merion Township as a Preserve America Community, an initiative organized by the White House and First Lady Laura Bush that recognizes the work residents and officials have done to preserve the township's history.

"On behalf of the first lady, I'd like to congratulate Lower Merion Township," John Bravacos, regional director of U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, said during a ceremony Tuesday morning in front of the renovated Pencoyd building.

Bravacos presented the Preserve America award to Lower Merion Township Board of Commissioners President Bruce Reed and Township Manager Doug Cleland.

"We are simply delighted to be named a Preserve America municipality," Cleland said....For Bravacos, a Paoli resident and former Tredyffrin Township supervisor, Lower Merion has always set the bar high in preservation.

"We've always looked up to Lower Merion," said Bravacos, "as one of those places that is doing history right."
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