Songstress to Perform in Malvern on Nationwide Tour of Lincoln Highway

Cecelia Ott will perform Thursday at General Warren Inne, one of many stops as she travels the highway from New York to San Francisco.

Share Your Ideas for Malvern's 125th Birthday Celebration

Malvern Borough was established in 1889, and the historical commission is planning its upcoming milestone next year.

Malvern Borough is turning 125 years old soon, and the borough's Historical Commission will get the ball rolling Monday night on planning the festivities. The group posted a public invitation on Facebook for a brainstorming meeting to be held at the municipal building at 7 p.m.: The meeting coincides with the commission's regular meeting schedule; it meets the fourth Monday of each month.

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Kristin Thomas

8:57 pm on Monday, April 22, 2013

The Fire Co is planning a parade for the 125th - should probably coordinate.   more ›

Duffy's Cut Teen's Remains To Be Buried in Ireland

John Ruddy, identified through a birth defect of the jaw, will be buried in County Donegal in March.

The remains of one of the railroad workers unearthed at Duffy's Cut will be buried in Ireland in March, according to a recent report in the Daily Local. John Ruddy, an 18-year-old laborer, was identified by a genetic jaw defect. He will be buried in County Donegal, Ireland, in a ceremony March 2:   The workers came down with cholera, died and were buried at the site. The article also points out that Sen. Bob Casey was able to get the work moving again at Duffy's Cut after work was halted due to the dig site's proximity to Amtrak rail lines. Five other sets of remains from the dig site were buried in a Bala Cynwyd cemetery last March. See also: 180 Years After Malvern Tragedy, 5 Irish Reburied in Bala Cynwyd AP: Researchers Unable to …

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Where Were These Photos Taken?

Only one structure in the photos is still standing.

Historical Snapshots

Photo Location Revealed: Thomas Mill

The building is set back in the woods across from Bartram's Bridge in Willistown Township.

Last week's historical photo challenge was a tough one; there were plenty of incorrect answers before the correct one came in. The house pictured in the photo is set back in the woods off Goshen Road, as can be seen in the modern day photo. The photo depicts Thomas Mill in Willistown Township, located across the street from Bartram's Bridge at the border of Willistown and Newtown townships—and Chester and Delaware counties, for that matter. Today, an engraved stone at the driveway to the building reads "Thomas Mill Farm est. 1745." According to a historical narrative (PDF) at the Library of Congress, which also supplied the photo, "Isaac Thomas built the mill in 1774 on land inherited from his father, Peter Thomas." Kudos to Eric Lewis, …

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Pete Kennedy

10:52 pm on Thursday, January 31, 2013

Thanks! Glad you enjoy it.   more ›

Borough to Discuss Historical Ordinance Tuesday

The Historical Commission will deliver a presentation at the Borough Council meeting.

The Malvern Borough Historical Commission will present information about a possible new ordinance to preserve the historic character of local properties at the Tuesday night Borough Council meeting.  No ordinance has yet been proposed, but the eventual language will likely include a review process for people who seek to significantly alter a historic building or who allow one to fall into disrepair, according to Historical Commission member Lynne Hockenbury.  The commission has been gathering public input to craft the resolution in a series of meetings this year. Roughly 300 households in Malvern Borough received letters inviting them to attend the meeting, according to Borough Manager Sandy Kelley. "The list of people invited was larger …

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Historical Snapshots

Frazer: Named After a Revolutionary Soldier

The area was previously called Garrett's Siding, according to a document provided by the East Whiteland Historical Commission.

Last week, in lieu of a historical photo challenge, we posed a question: How did Frazer get its name? As two commenters correctly pointed out, the village is named after Persifor Frazer, a Revolution Era farmer-turned-soldier-turned-judge. Geoeray quoted Wikipedia's page on Mr. Frazer, which begins: "Persifor Frazer (August 9, 1736 – April 24, 1792) was an American farmer, soldier, and industrialist, and the founder of one of the most prominent families of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania." marion1 noted that Frazer was not the only notable resident of his time: "Persifor Frazer and Dr. Samuel Kennedy (served with Gen Washington and first Surgeon General) both owned property in the village of Planebrook." According to an old Philadelphia …

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Bad Signs for Malvern Borough (Literally)

The signs at King Street and Sugartown Road, and Warren Avenue and Paoli Pike, bear incorrect information.

How did Malvern become Malvern? Contrary to the note on one the Malvern Borough sign—which indicates that the area was named for Malvern Hills in Wales—no one really knows. The Malvern Historical Commission has been receiving letters for years now that the sign is incorrect, Lynne Hockenbury, MHC member, writes in an informational document available on the Malvern Borough website (PDF). Malvern Hills is actually located in England, and there's not much evidence that the English town is actually the borough's namesake. George Highly's book History of Malvern indicates a different origin, suggesting that the borough was named by founder David Evans, possibly after Malvern Hills, VA, where a battle was fought during the Civil War. Hockenbury…

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Historical Ordinance the Topic of Monday Meeting

A March 26 meeting of the Malvern Borough Historical Commission will focus on a proposed historical preservation ordinance that will affect homeowners and businesses.

The Malvern Historical Commission has been working with the borough Planning Commission since July 2011 to craft a new borough ordinance aimed at historic preservation. On March 26, at 7:30 p.m., the Historical Commission will hold a public information session to explain the details of the proposed ordinance and collect resident feedback. "The joint planning commission group has been working on an ordinance which has some pretty significant issues in it, regulating what you can and can't do with your house," Borough Council president Woody Van Sciver said at a recent meeting. "So that's an important thing to focus on. "Anyone who is interested is welcome to attend," Historical Commission chair Lynn Hockenbury said. "We hope to get some …

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Civil War Featured At Veterans Fair

The fair included a display from the Pennsylvania Veterans Museum in Media.

Jeff Freeman of Malvern stood beside a 1903 McClellan Saddle and explained the important role Pennsylvanians played in the Civil War. Freeman, a member of the Media-based Pennsylvania Veterans Museum board of directors, was at the National Guard Armory in Plymouth Meeting for the 2nd Annual Veterans Fair on Sunday. "A lot of Pennsylvanians served," he said. "A lot of units." Read more about the Pennsylvania Veterans Museum. Also read:  • Viewfinder: Veterans Fair • Veterans Fair Honors Generations Of Military Members • 2nd Annual Veterans Fair Set For Sunday

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