Our annual business meeting was canceled in January, due to the threat of bad weather. To make it up, we will spread that meeting out over the next few gatherings to get our board and officers reelected.
2017 Update to the Membership
Happy 2017 from your King of Prussia Historical Society. As we begin our 5th year of the restored society that began in 1953, we are reminded of how far we have come, and how far we still need to go.
Welcome to 2017, where we are involved in many outreach programs designed to help the community and keep our history available to everyone. We are happy to host our second Eagle Scout project, as monument restoration at Christ Old Swedes Church will soon be underway. We will be participating in a local history day at Roberts School in the spring, a literacy event at the high school in April, partnering again with the McKaig Nature Center for a program in the fall, and a series of presentations to the children of the township at Old Roberts School.
According to the 2017 Upper Merion Township Parks and Recreation Master Plan, Chapter 4, Inventory of Parks, Recreation and Open Space includes a section on the Moore-Irwin House. In it, the property is discussed as:
This parcel is home to the former John and Jane Moore farm. The original farmhouse, circa 1750, and numerous, large specimen tree species remain on the site. The site was dedicated in 1985 as the Silas T. Burgess Arboretum, in honor of the arborist who cared for it. It served as a former location of the Township Parks and Recreation Department administrative offices. The building has been vacant since 1992 and has fallen into great disrepair with water damage occurring from leaking roof and major structural deficiencies. A study of the structure was conducted in 2008 to evaluate its condition and to provide an estimate for repairs. The site lies within an industrial park in King of Prussia, and no formal access into the parcel exists.
Opportunities
- Mature woodland – Wildlife sanctuary; potential as an executive retreat/meeting center.
- Potential to be reclaimed as an arboretum and museum in conjunction with the historical society.
- Parking exists in adjacent business park.
- Serves as a riparian buffer to Trout Creek.
- Potential to connect to the 1st Avenue Linear Park just to the south of the site.
Constraints
- Limited site access/entry.
- Historic structure in need of immediate, major restoration – Structurally deficient building and leaking roof.
- Infrastructure is lacking.
We are encouraged by the inclusion of the historical society in the new plan, and stand ready to work hand-in-hand with those interested in moving ahead. How can you help? Please consider joining as a member of the society, or please put us on your list for a tax-free donation.