October 25, 2007 Issue                                       

©2007 The Chestnut Hill Local

Celebrating 40 years of service: Founders’ award for Shirley Hanson
A sense of Stewardship.
A column  of the Chestnut Hill Hostorical Society

An example of the fantastic historic architecture that the Historical Society has worked to preserve for the past 40 years.  A wonderful 1917 stone Tudor designed by Walter A. Thomas, this lovely home will be host to this year’s Preservation Potpourri, on Dec. 1.

The Chestnut Hill Historical Society has announced that it will honor Shirley Hanson, a long-time resident of Chestnut Hill and a founder of the Chestnut Hill Historical Society, with the first Founders’ Award. 

The Founders’ Award is a new award established by the Chestnut Hill Historical Society to periodically honor a member of the local community who has shown an outstanding commitment to historic preservation in Chestnut Hill and the surrounding community.  The award was established in 2007 in honor of the Historical Society’s 40th anniversary. 

As a founding member of the Chestnut Hill Historical Society, Hanson is uniquely qualified to be the first recipient of the award. 

“We are honoring Shirley to recognize her 40 amazing years of dedication to the National Historic District in Chestnut Hill,” said Ellen Grady, president of the board of directors of the Historical Society. “Shirley has been active in historic preservation in our community for 40 years, and continues to make a significant contribution as a member of the Historical Society’s executive committee and board of directors.” 

Thanks to Hanson, the VFW Building on Germantown Avenue still stands, the Graver’s Lane Train Station has been preserved, and virtually every building in Chestnut Hill is on the National Register of Historic Places. Through her efforts, numerous building facades in our community have been protected and the quality of our architectural life has been preserved.

The Chestnut Hill Historical Society also announced that, in connection with the award, it is establishing a Founder’s Fund.  The Founder’s Fund will support continued historic preservation efforts in Chestnut Hill and the local community, and will be used exclusively for a historic preservation project identified and selected by the recipient of the Founder’s Award.

Magnificent architecture of Chestnut Hill that is rarely open to the public and greatly valued by the Historical Society. This lovely, visually stunning brick Georgian revival, designed by George Pearson in 1894, will also be host to this year’s Preservation Potpourri. (Photos courtesy of the Chestnut Hill Historical Society.

The Historical Society is soliciting funds from members of the community who would like to support historic preservation and honor Hanson.  The Historical Society has received a leadership gift of $500 and is hoping to raise $5,000 for the Founder’s Fund this year. 

Hanson has requested that 2007 Founder’s Fund contributions be used to rebuild, update and upgrade the Historical Society’s Resource Center. The Resource Center is the Historical Society’s compilation of resources for those looking to maintain, preserve or renovate a historic home or building, and is available both online and at the Chestnut Hill Historical Society’s headquarters building.