It was a case of the third try
being the charm. Twice before Birmingham Township had to reschedule its 325th
anniversary celebration.
The first date was Aug. 27, but
that was the day Hurricane Irene hit the area. Another date in September had to
be scrubbed because of scheduling conflicts. But despite high winds, Saturday,
Oct. 15, was the day it finally came together.
While the event was scaled down
and people had other school-year activities to tend to, the several hundred
people who gathered at Birmingham Hill, along Birmingham Road at Wylie Road,
had a good time with kids games, an interactive map of the Battle of
Brandywine, a visit from Gen. George Washington and free food.
There were also demonstrations
of 18th century military skills.
Patty Heldt, who lives within
biking distance to the hill, brought five members of her family to enjoy the
day.
“We’re very big on history,”
she said. “We like to visit monuments and historical places like Williamsburg
and Boston and Philadelphia and, of course, all the wonderful historical places
near Kennett Square and Chadds Ford.”
Heldt has British friends who,
she said, take pleasure in teasing her that the Brits won the 1777 battle that
was fought mostly in Birmingham Township.
Held said her family and
friends attending the anniversary were thrilled with everything offered, from
the food to the costumes and the hayride.
Township Supervisors’ Chairman
John Conklin said township residents are proud of Birmingham’s history and
wanted to do something to celebrate its rich background and compared that to
today’s climate.
“The early farmers went through
a lot of changes in terms of what crops to plant and a shift to dairy, then
there were mills along the Brandywine, but it was always an industrious, solid,
small community. That is a tradition we recognize we’re benefitting from
today,” Conklin said.
The total cost of the event was
roughly $12,000, with $7,000 coming from donations, he said.
Conklin said the need to change
the date from the original Aug. 27 was disappointing, but was glad there was
sunshine Saturday, even if the high winds forced the township to scale back on
some of the displays.
About Sally Denk Hoey
Sally Denk Hoey, is a Gemini - one part music and one part history. She holds a masters degree cum laude from the School of Music at West Chester University. She taught 14 years in both public and private school. Her CD "Bard of the Brandywine" was critically received during her almost 30 years as a folk singer. She currently cantors masses at St Agnes Church in West Chester where she also performs with the select Motet Choir. A recognized historian, Sally serves as a judge-captain for the south-east Pennsylvania regionals of the National History Day Competition. She has served as president of the Brandywine Battlefield Park Associates as well as the Sanderson Museum in Chadds Ford where she now curates the violin collection. Sally re-enacted with the 43rd Regiment of Foot and the 2nd Pennsylvania Regiment for 19 years where she interpreted the role of a campfollower at encampments in Valley Forge, Williamsburg, Va., Monmouth, N.J. and Lexington and Concord, Mass. Sally is married to her college classmate, Thomas Hoey, otherwise known as "Mr. Sousa.”
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