Politics & Government

Wawa Proposal Prompts Historical Group's Membership Drive

The Millbrook Society hopes to enlist help as it considers purchasing a pair of 300-year-old buildings.

Although historical preservation comprises the first portion of Hatboro-based Millbrook Society’s mission statement, it’s an effort that, without practice, has left the nonprofit group a bit rusty.

The focus for the last 15 years of the 30-year-old group’s existence, according to Millbrook Vice President and Hatboro historian David Shannon, has revolved around archaeological work and education.

“Now we’re realizing we’ve got to shift gears because there’s a very pressing need,” Shannon said.

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That pressing need involves to purchase several centuries old buildings at the corner of Horsham and York roads – tearing down all but the shuttered – to make way for a 5,102-square-foot convenience store with six gas pumps.

The pair that Millbrook is interested in is the four-story Old Mill Inn and the structure situated across the street, which currently houses . Both are being asking price after the  

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“The spa building was built as a home. They were built within six months to a year of each other,” Shannon said, adding that the mill and adjacent building were constructed sometime between 1715 and 1720. “The mill and the house are a pair. They belong together … You’re looking at the core beginnings of Hatboro in structure. That’s where Hatboro’s main street was.”

While Shannon and Millbrook President Lin Magaha can speak to the importance of preserving the buildings, actually doing it is a notion not as easy.

“If we’re to move forward I’ve got to see resources and I’ve got to see skill sets,” Magaha said. “I’m not going to go out on a limb and put out a drive for money unless I have the resources to put something together that would support a formal acquisition.”

To be successful in buying and preserving the properties – should the Wawa proposal fall through - Magaha said the society is conducting an extensive membership drive. About 10,000 fliers are being mailed to properties in Hatboro and surrounding areas to encourage an influx of new members, he said. Specifically, volunteers with insight on architecture, finances, fundraising and, perhaps most importantly, historical preservation, are being sought to join the 120-member organization. 

, a third-generation Hatboro resident who led the charge to start the newly formed , said her group is following the Millbrook Society’s lead – at least in terms of the proposed Wawa project.

“The HRA cannot fundraise to buy the properties as an alternative to Wawa - we're simply too young an organization,” Fox Regan said in an e-mail to Patch. “It looks like the HRA will fall in line in a support capacity for now - as far as an alternative to Wawa is concerned, at least.” 

Millbrook officials told Patch that the organization had no plans to try to purchase the properties should the Wawa project move forward. It was not clear Thursday if and when that might happen as Hatboro Borough Manager Steven Plaugher said land development plans had not yet been submitted.

Wawa Regional Real Estate Manager Susan Bratton, who led an often-times heated two weeks ago at , said she did not “have an answer” as to when plans would be filed, adding that “it’s not something that would be imminent.”

“We’re really taking a look at all the issues that were raised,” Bratton said. “We’re just kind of reviewing the concept and reviewing the idea.”

To get involved

To learn more about becoming a member of the Millbrook Society, click here, call 215-957-1877 or email museum@millbrooksociety.org. 


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