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Historical Commission Meeting Minutes - April 21, 2021

5/20/2021

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Historical Commission Member Attendees: (6– Quorum)

Dawn Coughlan – Chair
Lorraine Tindaro – Vice Chair
Mark Evans – Secretary
Paul Stephens

Tony Wagner
Patti DeFroscia

Historical Commission Members Absent (2):

Catherine Callahan (Excused)
Leah Jennings (Excused)

Historical Commission Guests (2):

Mike Bedrick
Micki McAllister

OPENING:
The meeting was called to order by Chair Coughlan at 7:04 PM. Secretary Evans announced that the meeting was being recorded to expedite transcription of minutes, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
Secretary Evans continued with Members Roll Call and Introduction of Guests.
Chair Coughlan asked if there were any comments/corrections on the minutes of the March 17th Meeting. Patti D stated that under section 2.b.i. the correct name of the historian should be Ross Kershey, not Pershing. Mark E said he would make that change.
Chair Coughlan asked for a motion to approve the minutes of the March 17th Meeting
Moved by Paul S
Second by Mark E
Vote called by Dawn C
Motion passed 6-0

OLD BUSINESS:

Historic Preservation Presentation by Mark Evans
1. Mark gave a brief presentation based on his learnings from the CCHPN Leadership Luncheon he attended representing Dawn C
  1. Importance of the Ordinance and the need for a new one for Caln
    1. Mark now believes it would be more expedient to have the ordinance done outside the Zoning Taskforce
    2. A proper ordinance would require developers to report to Hx Com regardless of where they are making plans, prohibit demo by neglect, attractive nuisance liabilities, stop/stall the demo permit process, expand overlay district, protect trees, enact sign laws
    3. Contact Jeanine Spears at the County re $5K Vision Partnership funding for Ordinance. Ask township for balance of funds.
  2. Educating the residents
  3. Detailed minutes
  4. Connection to Muni Administration
  5. Need for a Hx Com member on Planning Com and Zoning Hearing Board. There is an opening on ZHB
  6. Comprehensive Plan and Implementing Historical Protections
  7. Work towards residents feeling a part of it. Need a motto
  8. Prepare assessment request list for Diane Cram at CCHPN. They will fund assessments
  9. Push for more accountability from municipal government, empower them to ask more questions and take a stronger stance
  10. Recruit as many people with a passion as we can
  11. Request budget increase from BOC to fund memberships and PA Share (approx. $500)
    1. Paul S added that PA Share gives access to State Database
  12. Certified Local Government

HISTORICAL PRESERVATION ORDINENCE – ME/PS
1. Mark laughed and said “I think I just presented it”
2. Paul S said the main thing is a need for an ordinance with teeth that allows us to protect the community. It’s a way of letting the community know what’s been ID’d as important and trying to protect it
3. Mike B asked if the proposed process would be for the Hx Com to prepare the ord and present it to the Zoning Taskforce? Mark responded that the process would be to determine to move forward with it, reach out to J Spears to gauge odds of getting $5K for it, find the proper attorney to work with us to draft it, ask Twp for balance of funds needed to complete it.
4. Mike B asked if we should start putting together as many specifics as possible in advance. Mark said we’ve already been working on that. Paul S said it’s not a matter of reinventing the wheel – there are good ordinances out there to model from and tailor to our needs and flavor of Caln.
5. Mike B suggested that we should put all of that together and have a special meeting to review. Mark said we have a sub-com working on it that should be able to present to us at a meeting in the near future.

EDGE’S MILL HISTORIC DISTRICT
1. Mark reported that he pulled the histories from OCHS on 4019 and 4020 Edge’s Mill Road, the deed descent for 930 and 931 Bondsville Road but no histories. Needs the addresses of the remaining properties within the district.
2. Dawn said she has a call into the OCHS President regarding the other 2 properties that they most recently commissioned research on that have not yet been uploaded. They are also deed descents. She believes Cathy C has a professionally prepared history of the Edge House.
3. Mark said that when we have all of those docs, he will attempt to create narratives for all based on the one for the Edge House.
4. Paul S said that we had talked about having the SHPO to provide us with an example of another National District application to model from.
5. Paul S stated that he had taken some photos but needs to get back out again – doesn’t believe we managed to make contact with all of the property owners to take pictures from behind the houses, etc. He has completed Dawn and Cathy’s houses but needs permission for the others.
6. Dawn asked Patti if she knew Gary Norheimer (the owner of the Mill and other properties) and if she could get clearance for Paul S to go on the property to photograph them. Patti said they are neighbors and said she would try to get contact information.
7. Mark mentioned that we had asked for 90 days to figure out how to do this on our own and were only 30 days into it. Dawn said we were on oour way.
GARDNER-BEALE HOUSE / CASD PROGRAM
1. Paul S reported the kids are putting together their videos and hoped to have them uploaded and available in the next 30-45 days.
2. On May 6th he would be meeting with the class. Along with Diane Cram and Suzanne A (designer from Archer-Buchanan) they will show the kids how to date the house based on technology. He said he is a “nail nerd” and gets excited about that! Differences in technologies that went into creating the nails can be used as a dating tool for when something was constructed. He showed us an 1815 L-head nail, a hand-wrought Rose-head, and other examples.
HISTORIC RESOURCES MAP
1. Mark said that he needs to follow-up with Abbey and Denise to see where we are on scanning.
2. Mark said that the maps he saw a the luncheon blew him away. Paul S said they were the GIS maps, that are being used quite effectively in documenting historic sites. If we were to join PA Share at the professional level we could go in and look at the GIS maps that the state currently has on Caln and ID the Hx resources that they’re aware of, and from there start updating that record by providing information on other properties that we’re aware of.

VA HOSPITAL DEMO
1. Paul S said that he needs to revised the letter, that unfortunately the demo did take place. They did have professional photography taken so were going to ask that they give us a set of the photos and any plans or drawings of the buildings to give to the Historical Society.

BAKER-SMITH PROPERTY
1. Mark said that he was supposed to draft a letter from the Hx Com to the BOC asking them to approach the owner of the property regarding the historic Spring House and their previous offer to donate as parkland. He said he’d dropped the ball, no excuses.
2. Dawn said she could draft it up. It’s a sweet little springhouse and it would be a shame if it were demolished.
3. Patti asked where it is. Dawn said it’s an open area across from Handicrafters, where they could put a trail, a couple of benches, a marker with history of the site. Patti said they’d tried to save the house before it was demoed. They took interior photos but the inside had been let go, there were holes in the roof.
4. Paul S asked if the images were with the OCHS, Patti said she thought she had them in her house. Paul said they would be great for our “Lost Caln” documentation.
  1. Mark recognized Tony W for all the work he’s been doing with getting the history out, and added that perhaps we could add a “here’s what we lost” every so many months. Dawn said we’d need somebody who knows that stuff, like Patti.

SUB COMMITTEE REPORTS

SPACKMAN FARM
1. Dawn reported that the roof color was chosen 2 weeks prior to tonight and according to the Twp Manager, the order was placed that day. It takes 2 months for manufacturing and delivery. Hopefully by June we’ll be under construction. The color will be Bronze.

MARKETING AND SOCIAL MEDIA – Tony W

Tony W reported that he had written and sent out letters of support for the Garner-Beale House CASD project out to both Senator Muth and Representative Williams, and that hopefully we’ll hear back from them soon.
He worked with Abbey to get her some photos for the Newsletter article on the CASD GB House project, and forwarded the link to the Program Instructor
He said that Lorraine forwarded some info on a Chesco Times contact. He asked if the group wants to share one of our recent articles with that contact? Spackman Farm or GB?
1. Dawn suggested GB, and that they should mention the upcoming video. Paul said that’s like a 2 for 1: the program at the High School and promoting Caln History. Dawn added that it connects with the County. Mike B said it’s public schools doing stuff while the pandemic is still going on.
2. Dawn suggested Town Lively. It’s the former Community Courier and it’s Francine Fulton who is a real friend of grassroots type things. Paul said he just got one. Micky M showed her copy to all of us. Micky said she would send the contact info to us.
3. Tony said that he will work on Chesco Times and Town Lively
4. Dawn added that the Daily Local is worth a shot, and that GB is timely.
  1. Mike B said that the Daily Local would be pleased to run something that they don’t have to write.
5. Tony asked about the master list for the next Caln Newsletter topic. Mark said he thought it was Juneteenth. Dawn said she hasn’t seen anything on the Caln level about it, only at the County level.
  1. Dawn said we could volunteer, provide water bottles, give us a script - lead walks through Carver Court, underground railroad stops in Caln we could have people stationed at. Dawn said the Gravner-Barnes house on 340 that is documented as being a big stopover.
  2. Tony said he would find the list. Dawn said that he and Abbey were doing a great job, and that Juneteenth should be the next one.
Tony said that he would volunteer for the Zoning Hearing Board

Dawn interjected that she thought Micky M has been posting some very intellectual commentary on Caln Watch, and that we are looking for members. Micky responded that they are moving to Maine in the not-too-distant future. It may only be for part of the year, so they may not sell the house in Caln. Mark and Paul said we could keep working through Zoom, and that he would send her the link to apply. He said we could use someone like her who cares. She said we was sad that there weren’t ordinances in place to protect things, but encouraged from this meeting.

HISTORICAL PRESERVATION
1. Cathy and Leah were unable to attend. Dawn said that they are the group working on the ordinance and we look forward to what they come up with.

NEW BUSINESS:
Dawn made a motion to adopt “Historic Caln, Where it All Began” as our motto.
Second by Mark E
Dawn called the vote
Motion passed 6-0

Mark E made a motion that the Hx Com report to the BOC that we have adopted “Historic Caln, Where it All Began” as our motto, and encourage them to take that motto under consideration for the Township as soon as possible
Second by Dawn C
Dawn called the vote
Motion passed 6-0

Dawn asked if there was any additional business.

Mark E stated that he wanted to get on the record regarding the Baily-Pyle House
1. It was willed to and is owned by Brandywine Hospital, not Regal Builders
2. There are 2 date markers on the house, 1729(?) with the letter “M” for Mendenhall, and 1929(?). The original house burned down and was rebuilt in 1929
3. The barn was destroyed by a hurricane in 1973 so the current barn only dates back to then
4. Paul S said that it may well be worth looking at, that it is within the 50 year zone, but may not have any historical associations or characteristics that would make it qualify. There were some well-known Philadelphia architects that were doing country homes in the 1920’s
5. Paul said that maybe there is a foundation with Brandywine Hospital that could adaptively reuse the building. There could be solutions out there, but jumping up and down screaming may just scare people off.
6. Dawn asked Patti to reach out to the Foundation to see what she could find out about the house. She said she would try. Paul said that we could offer to them a free assessment through CCHPN, and that we’re concerned about it just sitting there. We’re not trying to push them, only encourage them

Dawn asked for a motion to adjourn.
Moved by Mark E
Second by Patti D
Dawn called the vote.
Motion passed 6-0

Meeting adjourned at 8:10 PM

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Historical Commission Meeting Minutes - March 17, 2021

5/18/2021

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Historical Commission Member Attendees: (7– Quorum)

Dawn Coughlan – Chair
Lorraine Tindaro – Vice Chair
Mark Evans – Secretary
Paul Stephens

Tony Wagner
Catherine Callahan
Leah Jennings

Historical Commission Members Absent (1):

Patti DeFroscia (Excused)

Historical Commission Guests (3):

Mike Bedrick
Tony DiSario
Jane Kennedy

OPENING:
The meeting was called to order by Chair Coughlan at 7:06 PM. Secretary Evans announced that the meeting was being recorded to expedite transcription of minutes, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
Secretary Evans continued with Members Roll Call and Introduction of Guests.

Chair Coughlan asked for a motion to approve the minutes of the January 20th Meeting
Moved by Paul S
Second by Mark E
Vote called by Dawn C
Motion passed 7-0

Chair Coughlan asked for a motion to approve the minutes of the February 17th Meeting
Cathy C asked for clarification to be noted that she was stating that it was the Hx Com’s responsibility to work on moving it to the Register. Mark E responded that he understands there are times that our verbiage doesn’t match our meaning, and that these things can be tweaked in advance of the meeting by sending an email. Paul S added that he understands her passion about Edge’s Mill.
Tony W asked for clarification on Page 4 letter D if it was meant to be his statement or Tony S? Mark said it should be Tony W, and that he will make that change and tweak the wording on Cathy’s comment.
Moved by Tony W
Second by Paul S
Vote called by Dawn C
Motion passed 7-0

OLD BUSINESS:

EDGE’S MILL HISTORIC DISTRICT
1. Paul S stated that he had presented the proposal to the BOC for consideration. There were some reservations about the cost, and a comment from the general public that we had spent a lot of money on the School and Barn Roof and given the circumstances might not be the right time. Paul appreciated the comment. He reported that a take away from the BOC was that we would explore other ways of completing the project and/or raising funds for it.
2. Cathy C mentioned the email she had received from Corey at the National Register suggesting we only need the DOE at this stage. It’s still a lot of money but even Karen Marshall didn’t believe it could be done without a professional, it’s too many properties.
3. Commissioner Jane Kennedy arrived as a guest to share some of the issues she faced with Carver Court, how it was done as a local group effort without Township money, so that maybe we could find ways to economize. Asked if we had considered a 501C? An oral history on disc as a fundraising appeal? She asked if Mark had the docs she had sent. Mark said they did not come through.
  1. Jane shared that Elizabeth R is aware of the project, that it is viable, and with more photos and oral history how they are all connected – a common thread that makes it a district. A nice story that ties all of the properties together. She believes we can move forward on our own.
    1. Cathy shared that Elizabeth had told her a paragraph on each would be sufficient, and that otherwise it was a go.
  2. At this point there were technical issues that prevented Jane from sharing her screen, and apparently the survey form she was trying to show was too large to go by email.
    1. Jane to get the forms to Mark, and he will get it distributed.
    2. Jane asked if there is a map of the district, that it will have to be included. Cathy said submitted it with her submission, and has a copy.
      1. Mark asked Jane if it was her understanding that we should be able to get it done, and if she expected we will get help from Elizabeth, et al. Jane said we won’t know until we get there.
      2. Mike B suggested that we give it 30-days to ID roadblocks and determine if we could do it. Cathy C repeated that Karen Marshall told her we couldn’t do it on our own.
      3. Dawn C suggested we table it until we see the forms.
        Paul S said photos were easy to get. He would take some himself. Asked Cathy C to notify the residents that he may be out there taking photos
        Dawn C added that all the histories of the homes are on the Historical Society website, the info is available
        Mark E said he would pull down the histories, and see what he can do. Agrees with Mike B on 30-days, though might be actually 60-90 days.
        Paul S said that the more we provide RGA the less it may cost
        Mike B added that if we come close but can’t accomplish it, we can go the BOC and say “this is as far as we could get, can you help us?”
        Paul S suggested that each document how much time we out into this so that we have numbers to point to
      4. Everyone thanked Jane for her help

GARDNER-BEALE HOUSE / CASD PROGRAM
1. Paul S reported they had the first classroom exercised with the students doing sketched and elevations. A lot of the original trim is still there. House has a confused Hx as far as building changes that have occurred, Have more questions than answers, are at the beginning. About 15 students per class, 2 classes. Mix of interest levels, but a lot of fun.
2. Mike B asked about legendary tunnel that goes up the hill.
  1. Leah said the tunnel is there but boarded or cemented over. Last seen by historian Ross Kershey. Paul S said that he didn’t see any evidence of that. There is only a basement in the front 1811 structure, only a crawl space in the back section. Paul S said it would be nice to have the historian show us where it was. It’s a long way to the hill.
  2. Leah added that the original owners of the house are buried in an unmarked grave along Lincoln Highway, just past Enterprise Car Rental, back in the woods.
3. Paul S will try to set up an Hx Com site visit for us.
INVENTORY OF HX RESOURCES
1. Mark reported that he has delivered the package to Abbey, and that Abbey and Denise will get it scanned and provide a master copy for us.
VA DEMO PERMITS
1. Paul S thinks we should get a letter out. Will draft a letter this week.
BAKER-SMITH PROPERTY
1. Mark said the Hx Com will have to draft a formal request asking that the Township reach out to the owner regarding historic Spring House on property.
2. Dawn offered to draft a letter asking the BOC to contact the property owner if he is still interested in donating the property, and if he can be swayed by the historical significance of the spring house.
3. Dawn asked Paul S if he’d checked out the integrity of the spring house. He said he hadn’t from up close due to it being private property.

SUB COMMITTEE REPORTS
1. SPACKMAN FARM – Paul S
  1. Mark reported that Monday at 1:30 will be the Pre-Construction meeting with Kupex.

MARKETING AND SOCIAL MEDIA – Tony W

Tony W had to leave the meeting early so no report.
Dawn asked if Lorraine or Mike had anything to share.
1. Lorraine said they were in the process of contacting Katie Muth, Dan Williams, and Mike McGann from the paper. Will get contact info to Tony.
2. Leah said she “Neighborhood.com” is a great resource for marketing.
3. Paul S suggested that if we send the Chester County Ledger “ready to publish” articles about we’re doing, they would probably run with it.
4. Mark said he’d also reach out to Dan Williams via FB messenger.
Dawn mentioned the article Abbey had done in the Caln Newsletter, and that she was working on the next month’s article already. When Spackman Farm is completed, we’ll have another great story to tell.
Mark said that he had reached out to Catherine Quillman, that she now writes for Today Media. Hopefully she’ll respond.

HISTORICAL PRESERVATION – Cathy C
1. Very concerned about signage and upset about trees being removed, the sort of things we need to protect against in the new ordinance.
  1. Leah said that she spoke with the owner about the trees and he didn’t like what she had to say, and added that he might be considering a sign along the highway. Said he was planning for new plantings.
  2. Dawn clarified that there are no protections against him removing trees, and that the signs are creating light pollution.
  3. Paul S said that there is a legitimate concern about preserving trees in an historical area, and maybe that should be considered by the Zoning Taskforce. “If a tree is over a certain height or size, or is a particular species, you need a permit”.
  4. Cathy said she was told by Ray S that you need a permit to take down a number of trees, and that they are in a flood plain, Dawn added there will be runoff issues due to the trees having been removed.
  5. Paul suggested that we approach the owner with a list of plantings that will focus the view on his building and enhance the appearance.
  6. Dawn expressed concern about the possibility of a large lighted sign. Paul S said we need to make sure Ray S won’t just give them a permit without clearing through us. Mark stated that Ray is very busy, and it wouldn’t hurt for us to make sure we’re concerned with what “could” happen. Paul S said that if not handled properly it could lose it’s integrity and be considered Industrial.
2. Dawn specified that going forward it was important to build these protections into the ordinance, Cathy asked if there were any other suggestions for the ordinance.
  1. Mark asked if Cathy and Leah have found any language that protects trees, etc. Cathy said Chadds Ford is very strict. Mark suggested that they grab that language.
    1. Cathy stated that our overlay has language. Paul S felt the language in our overlay spoke in vague terms, that we need specific language. We need to look at other places to make ours up-to-date and enforceable.
    2. Leah added that as long as there is no DOE, there are no protections for the south side of the street.
    3. Paul said that it’s in the local ordinances that we control these things, why we need the strongest ordinance we can.
    4. Dawn asked what the timeline was with the Taskforce, what is our deadline? Mark said within 90 days we should have something ready to present.
      1. Mark stated that if we want to end up with what East Brandywine has, that we need to start by asking for what Chadds Ford has, it will get whittled down.
      2. Paul S said we could do a “buffet” menu, different pieces from multiple Townships.

NEW BUSINESS:

MARK E brought up PSATS’s monthly publication, and that Caln is one of the few Townships in the County that does not have information on the Historical Commission
1. Dawn was concerned that other Caln Commissions are listed but not ours.
2. Mike B added that Lorraine had tried to get that added a few years back with no success. Mark said we will get it done this time.

Dawn thanked everyone for their contributions, that it was a really good meeting of the minds and we had built lots of momentum.

Dawn asked if there was any other business. There was none.

Dawn asked for a motion to adjourn.
Moved by Lorraine T
Second by Mark E
Dawn called the vote.
Motion passed 7-0.

Meeting adjourned at 8:15 PM.

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Historical Commission Meeting Minutes - April 21, 2021

Historical Commission Meeting Minutes - March 17, 2021

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