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Richland Historical Society

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170 Richlandtown Pike
215-536-7562
Website
Richland Historical Society:

  • - A group of former teachers, interested citizens, and pupils formed the Richland Historical Society.
  • - The Richland Historical Society was organized in 1958 and is a not for profit, 501-C-3.
  • - The Society purchased the Shelly School from the Richland Township Board of School Directors on September 29, 1959.
  • - The Society's annual homecoming, held in September, is a reunion of members, interested persons, and students who attended and/or graduated from a one room school.
  • - The Shelly School, often called "the little red school house", serves as a museum and meeting place.
  • - Meetings are held the 3rd Tuesday of the month at 2pm.
  • - A library/museum is located in a separate building.
  • - Membership is extended to anyone, sixteen and older.
  • - Officers and charter members for the first Homecoming/Reunion in July of 1960 were: President - Ellamanda Lewis, Vice President Pearl Frederick, Treasurer - Melva Endean, and Secretary - Emma Kemmerer.
  • - It was one of nine one room schools in the township.
  • - The purpose of the Richland Historical Society is to foster and perpetuate interest in the historical background of the one room school system, hold the Shelly School as a shrine, secure desks, books, and other artifacts related to the operation of a one-room school, establish a library, interest youth in the schools of the past, and to maintain a museum for the enjoyment and education of future generations.
Richland Historical Society's Beginning:
  • The area schools were consolidated into the Quakertown Community School System and closed the last of the areas one-room rural schoolhouses in 1957. A group of former teachers, interested citizens, and pupils, under the leadership of Lyman Koehler and Ellamanda Lewis met as a committee in their homes to plan the formation of a historical society in Richland Township, which surrounds the Borough of Quakertown.
  • The Richland Historical Society was organized in 1958.
  • The purpose of the Richland Historical Society is to: foster and perpetuate interest in the historical background of the one room school system; hold the Shelly School as a shrine; secure desks, books, and other artifacts related to the operation of a one room school; establish a library; interest the youth in the schools of the past; and to maintain a museum for the enjoyment and education of future generations.
  • The Society purchased the Shelly School from the Richland Township Board of School Directors on September 29, 1959. It was one of nine one room schools in the township.
  • The Society's annual homecoming, held in September, is a reunion of the members, interested persons, and students who attended and/or graduated from a one room school.
  • The Shelly School, often called "the little red school house", serves as a museum and the meeting place of the Richland Historical Society.
  • The Society is now in the process of expanding the museum into the building located beside the school which at this time, is referred to as the library/museum. The museum is open to the public by appointment.

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