Copper Beech Tree
The Copper Beech Tree For many years, the Pierce Willits property that currently houses the Concord Township Historical Society Museum has enjoyed an old establishment. In the side yard there stands an ancient Copper Beech tree. The arrangement of the dark leaves is such that they overlap one another, creating an impenetrable canopy and a welcome cool space in the stifling Concord Township summers. It is believed that the Copper Beech tree was planted when the original log cabin was replaced with the stone home built by the Pierce family, the original inhabitants of the Willits farm. That would make our Copper Beech tree about 200 years old! It continues to provide welcome shade and interesting conversation starters for any passersby. May 2016
Civil War and Concord
The Civil War and Concord One hundred and fifty years ago, on April 9, 1865, General Lee surrendered to General Grant at Appomattox Court House, Virginia, ending the war between the North and South. To commemorate the Sesquicentennial of the Civil War, our museum has some exhibits that highlight the part Concord Township played in that conflict. The Society has an original photo of the horse that carried Major Frederick Cushman Newhall, of Philadelphia, when he escorted General Grant to the Court House, on behalf of General Sheridan. This photo included a narrative in the frame, which explained the importance of the horse. The “Concordville Rifles”, Company D of the Pa 97th Regiment, was formed in 1861 with 50 men from the local area. This Company was part of the reinforcements sent to Fort Wagner, South Carolina, but found only dead and wounded members of the 54th US Colored Troops Regiment. The movie Glory is based on this battle. Pennsylvania was the 2nd northern state in number of troops in this war, at 362,000, suffering a lost of 10%. William Palmer, of a prominent local Quaker family dating to the 17th century, joined the 16th Regiment Pa Militia, Company D, under Colonel Joseph Willcox, of another prominent local family dating to 1720. Of the letters Palmer sent home, he writes to his father “I have a little time to spare this morning and I thought that I would write a few lines to thee and let thee know where we are and how are getting along, … there are about four thousand militia from Penn encamped here… Jackson’s army is about 15 miles from here. McClellan’s army is situated directly between us and them about 10 miles from us. August 2015
First Telephone Switchboard
Village of Concordville: The First Telephone Switchboard in Concord Township K . Jester house, circa 1870, Resource # 174 on the Concord Township Historic Resources Inventory The Village of Concordville grew during the mid-late nineteenth century, with homes and businesses to support the growing agriculture in the township. Located at the intersection of Baltimore Pike and Concord Road, it still serves as an important transportation hub today. This photo shows the C. K. Jester home, dating to the 1870’s, located on the north side of Baltimore Pike, almost directly across from where Concord Road comes out to the Pike. It was the location of the first telephone switchboard in Concord, during the early part of the 1900’s. At that time, a call was placed by picking up the telephone handset and waiting for an Operator, who would say “Number Please”. You would give her the telephone number and she would connect you via a switchboard, an example of which is seen in the photo above. It was easy at that time to know the Operators in this small local exchange area. The early exchange for Concord was “Valleybrook”, followed by 4 numbers. When dial phones came to Concord in the 1960’s, phone numbers went to 7 digits, with Valleybrook being replaced by the new “Globe 9”, which later became known as “459”. August 2014
Merion’s Produce Hut
Merion’s Produce Hut – Closed Permanently Twenty-seven years ago, John Merion opened Merion’s Produce Hut in Concordville. Retired for three months from owning IGA Supermarkets, he wanted to do something that kept him in touch with people, and played on his farming background. Sadly, it has been closed permanently due to John’s health issues. He comes from a long line of farmers, and although he was the first non-farming Merion man, he wanted to maintain his connection with the earth. He got up every morning at 4:30 and travelled to area farmers in Delaware, New Jersey and Southeastern Pennsylvania, in search of just-picked produce so his customers would have fresh vegetables and fruit to purchase. The Merion family moved to Concord in 1865 and purchased a farm on Featherbed Lane. They ended up owning two farms in the township, and leasing two. His Uncle John Merion is shown in this 1910 photograph of their early produce stand on Concord Road, between Smithbridge and Mattson Roads. John spent his whole life in Concord, and fondly recalled when corn and cows dotted the fields, and barns were places for animals. It was a time gone by when farming was the mainstay of the community, and where everybody knew everyone’s name. He had planned to continue serving his customers until he no longer could. We will all miss his warm welcome to all who stopped in. August 2019 Obituary of John C. Merion John C. Merion, Jr., 74 passed away peacefully at home on August 15, 2019 surrounded by his family. He was a life long resident of Concord Township. John was born on October 26, 1944 in Pearisburg, VA to the late John & Ruth Lucas Merion. He attended the one room schoolhouse on Concord Road and Concord Elementary school, then Media High School where he met the love of his life, Evelyn Peterson. They were married in August 1964. John worked for A&P Supermarkets as a produce manager for 19 years. After leaving A&P, John owned and operated three IGA supermarkets in West Chester, PA, Roslyn, PA and Newark, DE before opening Merion’s Produce Hut in Concordville in 1992. John loved following and attending NHRA drag races, eating seafood and anything to do with cars. He was a member of Concord Masonic Lodge, 625 F&AM. John also loved his granddogs. He is preceded in death by his wife, Evelyn P. Merion who died in 2016. He is survived by daughter; Heather (Merion) Anderson, son; Christopher J. Merion and wife Janice (Smith) Merion, and sister; Ruth Arlene (Merion) Bullock.