Concord Township Historical Society was formed in 1967 when the Pole Cat Road House was donated to Concord Township as part of the development provisions for Fox Valley, an early housing development in the eastern end of the township. In order to restore the house and preserve it for the future, the Society was formed and began to raise funds for its restoration. Today the Board is comprised of Pr
esident, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and six Directors. The Board meets monthly and offers periodic public programs and events. Membership is open to the public. The key areas of interest and associated purpose are:
Collections - to document the vast collection of papers, photographs, books and other objects that have been collected over the years and which reside at the headquarters of the Society, the Pierce-Willits House. Work has begun to catalog this rich treasure-trove which will ultimately culminate in a full database that would be available for research. Future work will focus on archival-quality materials and processes to preserve these artifacts for years to come. Buildings & Grounds - to maintain and manage the two important historic properties that are cared for by the Society: The Pole Cat Road House (PCRH) and the Pierce-Willits (PW) House. Recent work includes installation of a new heater at PW, new wiring, and repair of the front porch column. A dehumidifier was also installed at PCRH. With historic structures such as these, work is never-ending. Membership/Web - to increase membership and volunteer participation in the Society and to continue to enhance and develop our website at Concordhist.org so that CTHS can reach out and share our township history and the Society’s activities. This site's main focus is to provide information on our various historic properties, people, and events and will continually be enhanced with new information. Public Relations and Fund Raising - to increase public awareness of the Society and its activities, to raise funds, and to promote events. Future endeavors will include programs to increase the funds for the areas of focus described here. We will continue to offer appropriate historic-related items for sale, which will be offered through this website in the future. Education - to promote the inclusion of Concord Township's history in the Garnet Valley School District curriculum. Our annual Scholarship Award to a graduating senior at Garnet Valley continues, and we are developing a colonial program for 5th graders in partnership with the Newlin Grist Mill.
