CURRENT PROJECTS UNDERWAY
Crooked Billet History Fair 2023 - The Millbrook Society team is organizing a history fair promoting our local historical societies, historical organizations, museums, and others - local history is alive under one roof! The event will be held Saturday, April 29, 2023 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m at the (former) Penypack School Auditorium in Hatboro. The purpose of the event is to help these organizations promote education, preservation, protection, and awareness of local history. Artifacts, historical books, photos, maps, artifacts, and other memorabilia showcasing local history will be on display. Click on the link for information and updates.
Museum/Collection Assets Project - The project involves various components and phases and included: reorganizing and documenting assets in storage; updating and labeling current displays; and cataloging and digitizing manuscripts, paper files, maps, photographs, slides, and film. Volunteers are welcome whether or not you have experience with this type of work! Contact us at millbrooksociety@gmail.com if you would like to help out.
Real Estate Records Project - Millbrook is the custodian of a number of real estate records formerly with Miller Cornell. Staff members and volunteers are reviewing the deeds, wills, maps, and other documents in the property package, and then entering data from these records for relevant categories such as family names, name changes, property location and acreage, and other interesting information. Millbrook is undertaking this project to make this information more easily accessible for those researching properties or genealogical information. The project team can use volunteers to help with entering data and maintaining these files. Contact us at millbrooksociety@gmail.com if you would like to help out.
PAST PROJECTS
His
torical Architecture Resources Project - Millbrook, in conjunction with the Historical & Museum Commission of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, participated in this project, which involved documenting properties in Hatboro that were built in 1945 or earlier. Staff members looked peripherally at houses and buildings throughout the Borough, noted physical characteristics, photographed, and then completed a digital survey form for each property. Millbrook assisted in collecting and entering data for phase one of this project, which included many of Hatboro's most historic houses and streets.
Historical Markers - The Soc
iety worked with site owners and municipalities to place additional historical markers at noteworthy historic buildings and sites in Hatboro. Millbrook successfully placed markers at the Union Library, the former Roberts and Mander Stove Works, and site of the former Saint Louis Chapel.
Lukens Clock Preservation - The Borough of Hatboro and The Millbrook Society, with the support of State Representative Thomas Murt and many current and former citizens of Hatboro, engaged in the restoration and preservation of the historic clock in the tower of Loller Academy. This joint project has received two Commonwealth grants for which matching funds were raised. Millbrook is the trustee of the additional funds raised for the future upkeep and repair of this historic clock. Please click here to visit the official Facebook page for photos, more information, and to make a donation.
Millbrook publications - Produced and published books: Hatboro Then & Now (2021), Saving and Restoring The Lukens Clock At the Loller Academy (2017), a compendium of Charles Harper Smith's histories of Hatboro and Horsham with combined index (2016), and Images of America: Hatboro (2000) with Arcadia Publishing. Millbrook also published two youth activity booklets “The History of Hatborough" (covering the first 100 years) and “The History of Hatborough, A Continuing History.” (the second hundred years).
The Paradise Inn Project - The Paradise Inn, built circa 1840, was one of the oldest resort hotels located in the Pocono mountains of Pennsylvania. It was a haven for vacationing New York City actors and actresses, including Joseph Jefferson III who spent summers there. This project involved a detailed archaeological study.
Wreck of the Mair and Cranmer - This project was of personal interest to one of our members. It was an investigation into the loss of the three-masted schooner Mair and Cranmer and her crew. The vessel was built in the Delaware valley and lost off the Virginia coast in 1887. The vessel has never been found and research thus far has produced more mysteries than answers.
Delaware River Historic Resource Survey - Millbrook staff began this project at the headwaters of the Delaware in New York and followed the course of the river to Delaware Bay. The object was to study the historic uses of the river, historic sites along the river, wildlife and abuse of the waterway.
There are many more projects led by Millbrook since its founding. Projects often are based on the strengths that each of the members can bring to it. Some departments and projects were shelved until someone comes around with the skills to continue them...or to start something new. This is what makes Millbrook so unique! No matter what interests or skills a person has, Millbrook offers something for everyone.