News and Events: 2016
The Millbrook Society brought sights and sounds of a colonial yuletide to Hatboro's annual Small Town Christmas at the Hatboro Baptist Church on Saturday, December 10th.
The church's meeting room was splendidly adourned in colonial-period accoutrement and activities! The room over all was dressed in evergreens and bows and candles, while a dining table displayed period ware, utensils and decorations, and a fireplace was warmed by a display of greens, fruits, candles and candle holders.
Children enjoyed playing colonial-era games and activities, including the always popular clove-orange decorations.
A highlight of the evening was a young Jack Thompson dressed in a colonial costume and playing Silent Night and other selections on his violin!
Thanks to the Millbrook members who helped with setting up and breaking down our colonial room, and to those who dressed in colonial attire during Small Town Christmas.
Several Millbrook members staffed an information table at the Hope Lodge Reenactment held Saturday, November 5th in Fort Washington, PA.
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This activity commemorated the Whitemarsh Encampment when George Washington and the Continental Army were encamped in the Whitemarsh Hills area November 2 to December 11, 1777.
Originally known as Whitemarsh Estate, Hope Lodge was built in the mid-1700s by Samuel Morris, a prosperous Quaker entrepreneur. The house represents an excellent example of Georgian architecture.
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Visitors on this pleasant autumn day were treated to many sights and sounds one might have witnessed during the colonial period. Colonial and British troops set up campsites, and ran drills and maneuvers. Sutlers were peddling their wares. Reenactors provided lessons on medicine, clothing-making, and children's games. John Adams gave an inspiring talk from the steps of Hope Lodge and Dr. Benjamin Franklin demonstrated several of his numerous inventions. Click here for more information about Hope Lodge.
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The Millbrook Society extends sincere thanks to Hatboro Federal Savings for its donation of $500.00 to support the Society's new history activity book. This book is geared primarily to children, but will no doubt contain fun and interesting information for everyone. It introduces Hatboro and its rich history to those new to our town, and to remind those who live here of our valued past.
The activity book will be available free of charge at Hatboro Federal and other locations in Hatboro. They will also be available to 5th graders at Pennypack and Crooked Billet schools. Pictured above: Millbrook Board member and activity book designer Jim Maccaroni (l) and Millbrook's President David Shannon proudly receive the donation check from Hatboro Savings President/CEO Linda Roehner.
August 20th, Annual Revolutionary Reenactment at Moland House.
His Excellency, General George Washington, selected the Moland House as his headquarters from August 10th through the 23rd in 1777. The house was the hub for strategic planning between Washington and his generals and staff, and over 10,000 troops encamped on and in close proximity to the house during these 13 days. Visit the Moland House website for great information about the history of the house and the encampment at moland.org/moland-house.
Each year, the Moland House commemorates this significant historical period in its history and of our local history.
The Millbrook Society manages archeology at the Moland House throughout the year. During the annual reenactment, we demonstrate and discuss a typical screening process and showcase artifacts found on the property, including items dating back to the period when Native Americans lived in Bucks County.
May 11th, THE MILLBROOK SOCIETY'S ANNUAL MEETING
The Annual Meeting was held Wednesday evening May 11th with close to 50 members attending. Millbrook President David Shannon welcomed everyone and called the business meeting to order: Four board members were voted to new 2-year terms, Lin Magaha provided a budget update and Ralph Ciaudelli reported on the Society's accomplishments in 2015 and goals for 2016.
offered an inspiring presentation about how people and places of Bucks and Montgomery counties were forever shaped and marked by their place among the major battles and troop actions of the American Revolution.
He wove many interesting stories--many little known--about historical events at places like Langhorne, Core Creek Park, Warwick, Springhouse, Skippack, Whitemarsh, and of course, Hatboro, all of which dot the historical landscape across the counties. With the assistance of his son, Eric, Michael, enhanced his stories with maps, manuscripts and artifacts. Most compelling was his recounting those soldiers lying in unmarked graves, never to be known to history for giving the last full measure of devotion to the cause and to their country.
March 30th, "EXPLORING PENNSYLVANIA GENEALOGY"
Mary Porter, the Society's librarian and head of Archives and Research, hoped her presentation "helps people with family roots in Pennsylvania to find the information they need for their search." Her one and one-half hour program explained what online and print resources are available in PA for those researching their genealogy. It offered information about where and how to access data, and the parameters one needs to follow. Each participant received a PowerPoint presentation of her program which provides helpful reference information and tools.
January 13, QUESTERS GROUPS VIEW BOARD OF TRADE FILM
The Millbrook Society kicked off 2016 with a presentation to a joint group of the Questers as Millbrook's president, David Shannon, narrated the 1940 Board of Trade movie "See yourself and your town in the Movies" on January 13th.
The group of 27 members of the Damian House and Willow Springs Questers groups enjoyed the 30-minute black and white, silent film as they traveled 75 years back in time through the streets of Hatboro. The film presents the way Hatboro's people, places and things looked in 1940, and showcases Hatboro as a place of community, commerce and camaraderie. David's commentary throughout the film provided background which stimulated interest and recollections of Hatboro in a very different era.
The Millbrook Society and The Questers both are non-profit organizations dedicated to the study, education, and preservation of history and historical objects and landmarks.
The 1940 Hatboro Board of Trade short film was in high demand during Hatboro's 300th anniversary last year. It was presented to over 2,000 students and teachers at Crooked Billet and Pennypack elementary schools and Keith Valley Middle School. Other groups such as The Hatboro Rotary, The Craven Hall Historical Society of Warminster and Saint John's Lutheran Church of Hatboro also invited Millbrook to conduct showings.
The program prompts interaction and inspires various responses: the students and younger audiences marvel at the differences between their Hatboro today and that of their grandparents or great grandparents, while the more senior groups recollect, reminisce and share stories about the Hatboro of their youth.
Is your organization interested in viewing the Hatboro 1940 Board of Trade Film at an upcoming meeting or event…or interested in a presentation/program about relevant topics of local history? Please email or call The Millbrook Society at 215-957-1877 (mailbox) or millbrooksociety@gmail.com.