Rutledge Ad Hoc Historic Committee 2025.12.17

12/17/25 Meeting

Call to order:
- The Rutledge Ad Hoc Historical Committee was called to order at 6:35pm on 12/17/25 at 212 Unity Terrace, Rutledge, PA 19070 (Rutledge’s Lower Hall).
Roll call:
- Committee Members:
  - Andrew D. Marques
  - Robert Morbeck
  - Alan McPherson
- Residents:
  - Caitlyn Mierau
  - Brian Sammond
  - Valerie Marlowe
Reading and approval of minutes:
- Minutes for 10/8/25 unanimously approved
- Minutes for 11/19/25 unanimously approved
Project Updates:
- George Raymond Plaque: Review materials and prototype plaque. Discuss next steps [10 minutes].
  - Discussion regarding where the plaque should be posted resulted in several possible locations without a final decision made. Proposed locations include (1) Borough Hall, (2) Triangle Park, (3) asking permission for current residents of the historic home if they would like the plaque.
  - Additional recommendations to have a map outside borough hall with the location of historic sites was recommended.
  - Andrew will work with people like Roxanne for draft a letter for the residence that may be considered for a plaque.
  - The construction of the plaque would ideally be a short, stone structure with a metal plaque affixed. Dimensions approximately 2 feet wide, 2 feet long, and 1-3 feet high.
- Rutledge Antiques Roadshow: Discuss timing and scope of this event [10 minutes].
  - The concept is to invite the residents to bring objects of local historical significance for display in the borough hall. A panel of local experts and historians will provide further information to the owner of the items.
  - Logistical discussion:
    - Advertising could be through (1) Facebook, (2) Borough Email Newsletter, (3) handouts at the Rutledge Historical Committee Table at activity events, or (4) door-to-door canvassing.
    - Submission process can be made by two methods. (1) Pre-event submission will allow your items to be reviewed by the committee in advance of the show with feedback. (2) At event submission will allow anyone to bring items to the event but they will be displayed at a separate table. Items must be family-friendly to be on display. Space for at event submission will be limited.
    - Timeline:
      - 1/21/26 – Flyer reviewed and publicising begins
      - 2/16/26 – First submissions for official review
      - 6/17/26 – Pre-event submission closes
      - 6/27/26 – Happy Hour 1 week before the semiquincentennial, items will begin being displayed on this day and can be viewed throughout the week during borough hours (subject to review by borough council).
  - Further discussion
    - Valerie: University of Delaware has a program for people to bring items and get assessed by the members
    - Suggest: photos, documents, toys, items found in your house.
  - Actionable items:
    - Make a flyer and have Alan as the contact
    - Make an announcement on the eNews
    - Valerie can get us to see how to do this
    - Pick the dates for the review
    - We could do door to door canvas
- Semiquincentennial Planning: Flag raising [10 minutes].
  - Date: Monday 2/16/26 (Presidents’ Day)
  - Discuss timeline and programming. Proposed timeline:
    - 5:00pm-5:10pm Introduction
    - 5:10pm-5:15pm Flag Raising
    - 5:15-5:30pm Food and drinks
    - 5:30-6:00pm Presentation by Andrew Marques “Rutledge Citizen Historians” and debut website.
  - Date and timeline was approved.
- Semiquincentennial Planning: Discuss events leading up to 7/4/2026 and [10 minutes].
  - 6/27/2026 Saturday:
    - Happy Hour
    - American History Trivia? – Mike is interested in this
    - Debut Rutledge Antiques Roadshow
  - 6/28/2026 Sunday:
    - Film Screening: Film TBD
  - 6/29/2026 Monday:
    - Art Contest Activity: Make art and post it in your home’s window. Recommended to leave up through 7/4/26.
  - 6/30/2026 Tuesday:
    - Scavenger hunt – Rutledge History related items. You may receive a pretzel prize if you find everything.
  - 7/1/2026 Wednesday:
    - Game night (i.e. Bingo, Quizzo) led by Mike Karrpyn
  - 7/2/2026 Thursday:
    - Craft activity
  - 7/3/2026 Friday:
    - Scavenger hunt – US History. You may receive a donut prize if you find everything.
    - Components proposed by Christine Gradel:
      - George Washington Picture, paintings or dollar bill
      - Copy of Constitution
      - A red, white and blue item e.g shirt, hat, tie, mug
      - Bell
      - Flute, penny whistle or drum
      - Paper map of Philadelphia or section of Philadelphia
      - Feather for Yankee Doodle’s hat or quill pen
      - A key for the Keystone State
      - A white star
      - A red brick
      - A flag stamp
      - An item with the word “liberty” printed on it
  - 7/4/2026 Saturday:
    - 7/4 – Usual Rutledge festivities led by Activities Committee with a table or booth to represent Rutledge History?
    - Parade costume contest for historical significance.
- Review of Projects: Review the projects discussed in our October meeting [15 minutes].
  - 2/16 first event: Rutledge Citizen Historian by Andrew Marques
  - Delaware County Historical Society Presentation in April/May – we must confirm with Zach
  - 4th of July Week
  - Early December dinner/potluck and sharing review of the past year
New business:
- No new business.
Announcements:
- Our next meeting will be 1/21/26
Adjournment:
- The meeting adjourned at 7:28 pm 12/17/25