The Reporter (Lansdale, PA)

150th recognized in Harrisburg

State rep reads resolution recognizin­g milestone

- By Dan Sokil dsokil@21st-centurymed­ia.com @Dansokil on Twitter For more on the 150th anniversar­y celebratio­ns visit www.NorthWales­150. org.

NORTH WALES >> As North Wales Borough continues celebratin­g the 150th anniversar­y of the town’s incorporat­ion, word has spread as far as the state Capitol, and even overseas.

Council members publicly thanked State Rep. Liz Hanbidge, D-61st, for formally recognizin­g the town and its birthday in Harrisburg last week.

“We appreciate Representa­tive Hanbidge doing the resolution, and also in the house chamber, a number of other representa­tives from southeaste­rn Pennsylvan­ia came up to congratula­te us, and to tell us they thought it was a wonderful event as well,” said council President Jim Sando.

Planning began last year on a series of local events meant to commemorat­e a century and a half since North Wales Borough was formally incorporat­ed in 1869, and so far successful events have included a dinner ball in February, a vendor bingo in March, a breakfast fundraiser in April, a steam train excursion and fireworks show in May and a yard sale on June 1.

At the start of the June 11 council meeting, Sando and Borough Manager Christine Hart showed video of the latest: a recent visit to Harrisburg to see Hanbidge formally read into the record House Resolution 359, which commemorat­es the borough’s anniversar­y.

“Incorporat­ed on August 20th, 1869, the borough was part of the 1702 William Penn land grant, and originally given the name ‘Gwynedd,’ in honor of the homeland of the earliest settlers who emigrated from the northweste­rn part of Wales,” Hanbidge said.

“North Wales Borough reflects the deep history, not only of my legislativ­e district, but of the entire commonweal­th. As the first and oldest borough in the North Penn Valley, North Wales’ tight-knit community remains a shining example of the best and most unique values of our commonweal­th,” she said.

As she spoke, the official state video of the proclamati­on showed a delegation from the town in the Capitol gallery, including Sando, Hart, Mayor Greg D’Angelo, Assistant Manager Alan Guzzardo, and Jim Schiele, co-chairman of the ‘ North Wales 150’ planning committee.

“With a Main Street lined with shops, restaurant­s and homes, a restored and renovated firehouse with one of the highest volunteer rates in the state, a SEPTA train line running through the center of business district, and a borough hall and area library in the backyards of residents, North Wales Borough is an idyllic, hardworkin­g Pennsylvan­ia town,” Hanbidge said.

Hart said, in addition to the formal recognitio­n, she enjoyed seeing the ornate architectu­re of the Capitol building, and she and Sando recalled a chance encounter when the borough team was waiting for a tour guide.

“A tour guide comes up, and asked ‘ Are you here for the tour?’ We said yes, and she said ‘Is anyone else here for a tour?’ A couple sitting over on the side of us raised their hand,” Sando said.

“She said, ‘Where are you from?’ and the gentleman said from England. She asked where, and he named a city, and she said ‘ Where is that?’ What do you think he said? ‘North Wales,’” he said.

After recovering from their initial shock at that coincidenc­e, Hart and Sando said, they enjoyed spending the rest of the tour with the couple from the borough’s namesake.

“We toured with our fellow North Wales-ians, that were Welsh. And they could speak Welsh too — we couldn’t, but they asked us if we could,” Hart said.

Solicitor Greg Gifford joked that the encounter with the couple, and the 150th, may require a change to the town’s codebook.

“In lieu of the anniversar­y, there’s going to be a new ordinance that all of those living in North Wales Borough must learn Welsh,” Gifford joked, and Sando replied through laughter that it would be on the agenda at a future meeting.

All summer, residents can buy commemorat­ive 150th anniversar­y items including an anniversar­y cookbook, t- sh ir t , water bottle, ornament, and photo book. Other upcoming events scheduled for the 150th anniversar­y include an “Incorporat­ion Day” celebratio­n on Aug. 20, which will feature all bells, whistles and sirens in town ringing all at once at 6:30 p.m., followed by a free concert by the Montgomery County Jazz Band in Weingartne­r Park. After that day, the final celebratio­n will be a 150th anniversar­y parade through town starting at 1 p.m. on Sept. 14, featuring local social groups, drum and marching bands, military re-enactors, and more.

Hart also announced that the ongoing 150th celebratio­ns have helped the borough reclaim a relic from its earliest days, found by a family member who has donated a one-of-a-kind antiquity to the town.

“She was cleaning out her grandfathe­r’s basement and came across original general ledgers from 1890 to 1893, from the North Wales National Bank,” Hart said.

“They are phenomenal. And along with the ledgers, that were all done in

“North Wales Borough reflects the deep history, not only of my legislativ­e district, but of the entire commonweal­th. As the first and oldest borough in the North Penn Valley, North Wales’ tight-knit community remains a shining example of the best and most unique values of our commonweal­th.” — State Rep. Liz Hanbidge, D-61st District

ink and pen, are the original board minutes from the North Wales National Bank. They have graciously donated them, and they will be on display soon,” she said.

A different resident has also donated a photo album showing flower gardens that had grown on property now developed by Merck, that had been part of North Wales before being donated to Upper Gwynedd.

“They were the largest gardens in the world at one time. So that was another great donation in promoting our 150th: people are paying attention, and donating their great stuff for our history museum,” Hart said.

That history museum is located on the second floor of the borough municipal building, 300 School St., and is open to the public during normal business hours from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays.

Borough council next meets at 7 p.m. on June 25 at the municipal building, and for more informatio­n or meeting agendas and materials visit www.NorthWales­Borough.org.

 ?? PHOTO COURTESY OF NORTH WALES 150COMMITT­EE ?? North Wales Borough officials pose at the Pennsylvan­ia Capitol building in Harrisburg on June 4 after hearing a resolution from State Rep. Liz Hanbidge commemorat­ing the borough’s 150th anniversar­y. From left to right are Mayor Greg D’Angelo, council President Jim Sando, Borough Manager Christine Hart, Assistant Manager Alan Guzzardo and 150th anniversar­y committee Co-Chair James Schiele.
PHOTO COURTESY OF NORTH WALES 150COMMITT­EE North Wales Borough officials pose at the Pennsylvan­ia Capitol building in Harrisburg on June 4 after hearing a resolution from State Rep. Liz Hanbidge commemorat­ing the borough’s 150th anniversar­y. From left to right are Mayor Greg D’Angelo, council President Jim Sando, Borough Manager Christine Hart, Assistant Manager Alan Guzzardo and 150th anniversar­y committee Co-Chair James Schiele.

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