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Established June 2, 1997
by citizens for citizens
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March 16, 1998
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August 13, 1997
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A beautiful part of southeastern Pennsylvania
Fans of the World Series Champion Philadelphia Phillies
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Charlestown Historical Society (CHS)
(Links to past events of the Society are provided at the bottom of this page.)
2008 Patrons Dinner at the Mill (click here for invitation)
The Charlestown Historical Society wants to let the Charlestown community know that they are planning to hold their annual fund-raising dinner at the newly restored Woolen Mill in Charlestown Village on Saturday, September 13. The Mill building dates from the 18th century and thanks to a donation of the property around the Mill by the Bartschi Foundation (which also manages the Swiss Pines property), our Township acquired the building in 2002. After a great deal of effort and support from the Board of Supervisors, and some funding from outside granting agencies, the Mill is largely restored and will be a new and very interesting location for our dinner.
The event will begin at 5:30 pm and will feature catered foods, wine, beer, soft drinks, music, and a wonderful opportunity for Township residents & guests to both support the Society and visit with neighbors and friends.
Invitations will be mailed out in August. For any updates, contact either John Pittock, CHS President, at 610-827-1486, or Debbie Kuhn at 610-935-9337. Be sure to save the date of September 13 for a great evening in a historic Township location!!!
Thanks, John Pittock
CHS was started in 1973 as a non-profit, non-political organization whose aim was and is to provide future generations with a small "window on the past" - showing through artifacts and records what life was like in this quiet farming community in the 19th Century. A marvelous glimpse of Charlestown's past is provided by the Society's 1983 reprint of "Pictures from Memory's Wall", a poem and photographs published as a booklet by Richard S. MacNamee in 1905. The entire booklet is available from our The early days section, courtesy of the Charlestown Historical Society.
| Currently, the CHS headquarters is the Jacob Wisner House (affectionately known as the "Rapp House") on Yellow Springs Road. Built in 1835 by Jacob Wisner, it passed down through four generations until the death in 1957 of great-grandson Ben Rapp. |
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He left it to his friend and neighbor, E. Baker Pyle. In 1977, the Pyles donated the homestead to CHS. Also on the National Register, the house has never been modernized or altered. There is still no plumbing, and minimal electricity was added during our 1979 restoration.
Every Tuesday, our dedicated volunteers (who always need help) diligently clip, file, research and record information, photos and documents pertinent to Charlestown and its residents. Four times a year, members receive a newsletter reporting CHS and township news and announcing the guest speaker at our four yearly meetings - at present held on the first Wednesday evening of October, November, March and May at the Charlestown Elementary School. We may have an archaeologist, a furniture or art restorer, a collector or conservationist, an historian - or sometimes just long-time residents with tales to tell. CHS lends its support in whatever way possible to historic sites like the old cemetary and the old bridge on Pickering Road.
There are Rapp House work parties several times a year to help maintain our headquarters. Whole families pitch in to weed, plaster, paint, patch or clean - always enjoying the homemade picnic provided. It's a great way in which to meet new neighbors and help out at the same time.
The officers of the Charlestown Historical Society are:
| Secretary | Eleanor Calveccio | |
| Treasurer | Tom Babacz | |
| Vice President | Paul Stanley | |
| President | John Pittock | |
You may email the Charlestown Historical Society at chs@charlestown.org.
The mailing address of the Society is:
The Charlestown Historical Society, Inc.
PO Box 344
Devault, PA 19432-0344
Membership in Charlestown Historical Society costs $25 per family, $10 per person or $8 per senior per year. To join, send your payment (payable to Charlestown Historical Society) to:
The Charlestown Historical Society, Inc.
PO Box 344
Devault, PA 19432-0344
Past Events of the Charlestown Historical Society
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