Historical Commission Meeting Minutes - May 21, 2025

Historical Commission Meeting Minutes
May 21, 2025 @ 7pm
A hybrid meeting was held both via Zoom and in person at the Township building.
Call to Order – Meeting was called to order at 7:02 PM
Pledge of Allegiance
Roll Call of Members:
Commission Members Present: Patty DeFroscia, Donna DiPrinzio, Mark Evans, Lorraine Tindaro, Cathy Callahan, Tom Parr, Jamie Evans (Via Zoom)
Commission Members Absent: Leah Jennings
Staff Members Present: Abbey Swan, Don Vymazal
Professionals Present: NA
Guests Present: Mike Bedrick
The Historical Commission May 21, 2025 agenda was posted on the Township website and at the township building on May 20, 2025. Agendas were made available to the public at the meeting. The 2025 Historical Commission meeting schedule was published in the Daily Local News on December 18, 2024.
Public Comment – None
Approval of 4/16/2025 Minutes
Minutes were approved 6-0

1. New Business:
   1. Caln Community Day – Abbey wanted to make sure the group has September 6th from 3-8 PM on their calendars for Community Day, if the Commission would like to set up a table.
2. Old Business:
   1. Thorn Tower Section 106 Review – Don submitted the letter asking to be made a party. Abbey was listed as the contact and will pass information along to the Commission as it comes in.
   2. Lincoln Highway Historic Marker Project – No progress
   3. Review Letter for Endangered Resources - Tabled
   4. Historic Preservation Ordinance – Historic Resources List: Mark is working on updates based on an updated version of the ordinance from Jim Buczala. There was a brief discussion about the newly-listed former bed and breakfast property on Edges Mill and 322. Don pointed out that it’s currently zoned residential and the township has gotten some interest from realtors.
   5. Schoolhouse Tours – 17 people attended the May tour, including the owner of the Pim-Uhler Farmhouse. Tom will reach out to see if he’d like to join the Commission. Abbey called for tour guide signups – Donna and Mark will do June, and August will be determined.
   6. 250th Grants (Update) – Abbey reported that the grant application for $10,000 with a $10,000 match was submitted to PA250, for a combined 250th event.
   7. Historical Commission Banner/Logo (Update) – Banners have arrived.
   8. 2025 Event Planning
      1. Spackman Picnic – Mark shared a slideshow for picnic planning. He detailed updates to the property since last year, including roof, window, and porch repairs, tree trimming, and invasive plant removal. Mark would like to ask the BoC to donate the old brick from the removed chimney at the farmhouse to the FOSDF to sell for a fundraiser. Bricks would be engraved and made into a path at the farm. Mark detailed plans for the picnic, including an updated location, at the top of the hill, for the event. A FOSDF board member will cover the cost of BBQ catering and guests will be offered a discounted price on meals – to benefit the FOSDF. He also reported the proposed date for the 2026 picnic/event is on June 20th and outlined some of the events being discussed (trolley tour, costumed farm tours, picnic, etc.). Visitors from Calne were invited to attend the 2026 event.
         
      2. The CCHPN newsletter is coming out in the next couple of weeks and a full-page ad would be $400. The commission voted 7-0 to approve the expenditure to advertise the picnic.
         
      3. Additionally, the Commission voted to approve a $175 expenditure for props for the photo area with antique vehicles for the picnic.
         
      4. Patty reported on her successful visit to Calne, England.
3. SUB-COMMITTEE REPORTS:
   1. MEMBERSHIP – Mark found some potential new members at the polling places and Cathy has a friend who plans to apply.
   2. EVENTS – Picnic expenses were discussed including, busses, porta potties, tables, chairs, tablecloths, and flaggers. Public works will donate a large trailer for the stage. Publicity is ongoing and 50 attendees have signed up so far. As they register, attendees will have the opportunity to purchase a BBQ lunch through a link, benefitting the FOSDF. Donna offered to research any news events that happened on June 28th, 1776 so we have a reason to ring the bell. Mark suggested inviting Marian Moskowitz to read the Declaration of Independence.
   3.  SPACKMAN FARM – The roof is finished and the porta potty is gone. Public Works will fix the solar panel on the camera behind the farmhouse.
   4.  MARKETING AND SOCIAL MEDIA – Covered above
   5.  HISTORICAL PRESERVATION – Covered above
   6.  CALN AT RISK – Taylor/Vicker’s house will be repaired for adaptive reuse. Lloyd Farm – has been seeded and farmhouse is unchanged. BoC is still deciding on Conditional Use request for Mainline Health.
   7. OCHS LIASON REPORT – May 31st OCHS will host a follow up flea market at the Meetinghouse to sell remaining items.
   8. FINANCE UPDATE – Donna provided the group with a budget update. Out of the $20,000 budget, $819 for the bus deposit and sticker order has been spent.
4. ADDITIONAL BUSINESS:
   1. The group thanked Jennifer Thornton for her efforts to add properties to the National Historic Registry. Cathy was invited to attend the state meeting where her property will be considered for the registry.
   2. Members of the group will attend the Annual CCHPN dinner and presentation on June 25th.
   3. Mark proposed finding a date for Commission members to clean up at the Farm before the picnic. Abbey will send out a scheduling poll for June 11-13 dates/times.
   4. Abbey was tasked to design a 3” magnet for picnic attendees to match the Schoolhouse and Meetinghouse stickers. The text will say Spackman-Davis Farm Picnic – 2025. The group voted unanimously to order 200 magnets for $161.

ADJOURNMENT – The meeting was adjourned at 8:26.