Upper Moreland Historical Association

Formal Dinner and Awards

At our annual Dinners, we present two awards: the Historic Preservation Award and an Honorary Lifetime Membership.

Historic Preservation Award

The Historic Preservation Award is presented to the owner(s) of an historic property in recognition of their interest in the historic value of their property, their efforts to maintain the historic appearance of the structure, and their willingness to share the unique history of the property with the Historical Association.

Past recipients of the Historic Preservation Award

2000. Mr. & Mrs. John Connell
The Potts-Yerkes House, 1759
2001. Hatboro Federal Savings Bank
Replication of the Joshua Potts House, 1743
2002. Maple Village, Inc.
Orangeman's Home for Protestant Children, 1901
2003. Frederick Betz
The John Lloyd House, 1758
2003. Capt. Thomas & Rita Gallagher,
The John Lloyd House, 1758
2004. Dr. Murrell, IV & Clare Dobbins
Tall Timbers Farm, 1783
2005. Mrs. Jeanne Harman,
310 Moreland Road, 1758
2006. Mr. Arthur Hall Adams,
The Willow Grove School, 1839
2007. Dr. David J. Robertson
Wynkoop House, 2955 Edgehill Road, 1791
2008. Cindy Joy Marselis & Christopher Lundeen
Colonial Farmhouse, 2320 Edge Hill Road, 1730
2009. Linda & Charles Breznicky
Colonial Farnhouse, 2100 Terwood Road, 1780
2010. Robert & Michelle Young
218 Cameron Road, Willow Grove, 1910
2011. Robert DiStefano
Parkside Boarding House, 11 Park Avenue. 1910
2012. The DiMarzio Family
Willow Inn, Upper Moreland, Since 1949
2013. Bonnie MacDonald
Colonial house at 531 S. Warminster Road, 1770
2014. TBA
TBA

Honorary Lifetime Membership

The Honorary Lifetime Membership award is given to an individual in recognition for exemplory contributions to the community and/or Association.

Past recipients of the Honorary Lifetime Membership

1998. Mrs. Anita Rothwell-Smiley
- Life-long resident of Willow Grove; Educator in the Upper Moreland School District for more than 30 years; Charter Member of the Upper Moreland Historical Association; Public Lecturer on the Willow Grove Park.
1999. Dr. Millie Wintz
- Educator; Environmental Instructor; Judge for environmental science and botany projects at the Delaware Valley Science Fair, the Junior Academy Science Fair, and the International Science Fair; Executive Board Member of the Upper Moreland Historical Association
2000. Commissioner Thomas Murt
- Upper Moreland Commissioner; Educator; Church Leader and Teacher; Sports Coach; Military Man; Founder of the Upper Moreland Historical Association; Former Member of the Upper Moreland School Board; Former Head Wrestling Coach at LaSalle University.
2001. Mr. Max Hankin
- Businessman; Poet-Philosopher; Community Leader; Member of the Hatboro-Horsham School Board's Advisory Board; Lifetime member of the U.S. Navy League.
2002. Dr. David Robertson
- Director of the Pennypack Ecological Restoration Trust; Adjunct Professor University of Pennsylvania; Author; President of the Northeast Chapter of the Society for Ecological Restoration.
2003. Mr. Frederick A. Marcell, Jr.
- President and Chief Executive Officer of the Willow Grove Bank; Founder of the Bank's Community Enrichment Program and the Willow Grove Foundation, both organizations committed to "giving back" to local communities through charitable contributions.
2004. Mr. David Kimmerly
- Preservation Specialist with Montgomery County and the author of Upper Moreland's Historic Preservation Ordinance.
2005. Mr. Joe Thomas
- President of the Upper Moreland Historical Association; Former Boy Scout Leader for 27 years; Former Presbyterian Church Board Member; Former Board Member of the Young Adult Group of Elkins Park, Former President of the Willow Grove Lions Club.
2006. Mr. Edward Momorella
- First Vice President of the Upper Moreland Historical Association; for his contribution to the success of the Association, his rich imagination and ideas, his many talents and executive ability, all adding to the vitality and quality of life in Upper Moreland Township.
2007. Mr. Mark B. Amos
- Printer; in recognition of his extraordinary support of UMHA goals, his rapid response to the printing needs of the organization and his ready ideas for keeping costs at a minimum.
2008. Mr. David A. Dodies
- Upper Moreland Township Manager; in recognition of his contribution to the success of the Association, support of its goals and concern for and response to the needs of the organization thereby assuring the attainment of the mission of UMHA.
2009. Mr. Ray Stahl
- Charter member and Treasurer of the UMHA since its inception; Cub Scout leader; Treasurer of Troop 354, Boy Scouts of America; and for years of service to his church and community.
2010. Mrs. Elaine Leibrandt
- UMHA Board of Directors; for years of service to church and community; for a decade of leadership as Secretary and Oral History Chairperson of the Historical Association; for her dedication to the mission of preserving local history.
2011. Mr. Elmer M. Fischer
- For his service to his country as an Air Force veteran with 24 missions during WWII; as a member of the Abington Music Theater; and as a member of two church choirs.
2012. Mr. Charles F. Kremp III
- For his lifetime contribution to our community through his concern for the success of local businesses; for his efforts to revitalize Willow Grove; and as an active member in numerous civic endeavors.
2013. Sen. Stewart Greenleaf
- For his lifetime contribution to our community as a former Township Commissioner, as a former County Assistant District Attorney, as a State Senator for 35 years and for his support of the overall mission of the Historical Association.
2014. TBA
- TBA

Other Awards

Patriot Award
This award is in recognition of long term service in the military of our country or active service in times of adversity and conflict.

Thomas P. Murt, for his service in Iraq with the 4th Infantry

Centenarian Recognition Award
This award is presented in grateful recognition of one hundred years of exemplary life and contribution to the good will of the community, for service and generosity to others, and for setting a positive example for others to follow.

Frank Taliaferro, a life-long resident of Willow Grove
Clara Whyte, moved to Willow Grove when she was eight years old, attended Immaculate Conception School and was one of the first students at St. David School. She was a member of the Ground Observer Corp during the Korean War, won several medals for swimming, belongs to the Old York Rd Genealogical Society, the UMHA, and is a former member of the Catholic Historic Society.