Hatboro History Museum at Pennypack
The Amy B. Yerkes Museum of Hatboro History is open during every event being held at Pennypack Community Center (see our events page), select Wednesdays (contact us for details), and by appointment for individuals or groups (email us).
The Millbrook Society's Amy B. Yerkes Museum of Hatboro History is now open at its newer, bigger, and more community-oriented location at the Pennypack Community Center (the former Pennypack Elementary School at 130 Spring Avenue behind Amy's Family Pizzeria and Lehman Memorial Methodist Church), in Room 2.​
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This long-awaited move allows us to display more and bigger items, tell more stories, and accommodate more visitors than ever before. Come see our extensive collection that includes military items, Indigenous artifacts, Hatboro memorabilia, original Hatboro hats, Amsco Toys games, an early 1900s Roberts & Mander stove, the circa-1890s finial from atop Borough Hall, a Hatboro-made antique ice coffin, an original Lollar Academy desk, an authentic 1800s buffalo robe, and so much more. And don't forget to visit our Gift Shop table for lots of books, games, and goodies.
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While the museum has moved to Pennypack, The Millbrook Research & Archives Center (our offices, education, and services) will all still remain based at Hatboro Baptist Church.
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If you have questions. wish to schedule a tour, or are interested in volunteering as a docent, please contact us at millbrooksociety@gmail.com or 215-957-1877.
Amy B. Yerkes, 1883-1962
Hatboro's history museum is named in honor of Amy B. Yerkes, a local educator who made her mark as a dedicated teacher and then principal at historic Loller Academy. She also served as the first official historian and first female trustee for the Hatboro Baptist Church. Ms. Yerkes was born in March 1883 in Warminster and died in July 1962 after which she was buried in Hatboro Cemetery.
The Yerkes' family history in Hatboro dates back to the early 1800s. The Yerkeses were retail merchants, preachers, politicians, lawyers, hotel owners, medical doctors, farmers, and teachers. The family also was influential in creating Union Library of Hatboro, the second oldest library in Pennsylvania operating under its original charter and 12th oldest in the nation in continuous operation.
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The Amy B. Yerkes Museum was originally founded in 1979 under the leadership of historic Hatboro Baptist Church. In 1985, The Millbrook Society (founded the year prior) partnered with HBC to manage the museum and its archives, with the museum operating out of the second floor of the 280 year old church. In 2024, Millbrook acquired a space at Pennypack Community Center where the museum now resides on permanent display for the public to view more easily.
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The Millbrook Research & Archives Center and The Millbrook Society Offices continue to operate out of Hatboro Baptist Church.
The Millbrook Society's collection comprises historical artifacts, archives, photo archives, and a research library that reflect and support the Society's Mission and its three primary, interrelated activities:
PRESERVATION… by collecting and maintaining artifacts, documents, manuscripts, and maps.
WHAT ARE…
Historical artifacts?
Three-dimensional objects with historical or aesthetic significance.
Archives?
Historical records and documents.
Photo archives?
Images such as photographs, negatives, film, postcards, etc., and their electronic images.
Research libraries?
A collection of books and other printed and electronic resources used to support research.
The general collection has grown to represent the growth of Hatboro and the surrounding areas.
It represents the life of our community over time! You can learn about the life of our community through community, commercial, religious, educational, military, civic, and governmental artifacts.
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Many of the items in our collection are donated by local residents or families. We take great pride in being able to preserve and share with the community these beloved pieces which they have entrusted to us.
New items are always being added to our collections, so keep an eye out here or on our Facebook page for updates. If you have items representing our local history you would like us to consider preserving as part of our collection, we are happy to speak with you.
Part of the annual membership dues to The Millbrook Society goes to maintaining our collection.
If you are not a member of The Millbrook Society, we invite you to join us and our mission of preserving, protecting, and educating about our local history. Please contact us at The Millbrook Society at 215-957-1877 or millbrooksociety@gmail.com.
We gratefully appreciate financial donations earmarked for maintaining our museum and the collection.
The Society participated in the Historical Society of Pennsylvania's Hidden Collections Initiative for Pennsylvania Small Archival Repositories in 2012. To see the result of this review and a detailed list of the collections, click here.
