Morgantown/Honey Brook townlively.com
FEBRUARY 26, 2025
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
Village Library hosts patriotic presentation BY FRANCINE FULTON
Exhibits highlight local educational history BY FRANCINE FULTON
unit, where members are elected. They also donate their pay back to the troop and aim to keep alive the skills of a cavalry unit on horseback by riding in military ceremonies. “We still maintain the cavalry traditions to this day. We ride (wearing) regimental uniforms, which are based on the original uniforms they would have worn, including bearskin hats,” Trego explained. “It is not a costume. It is a dress uniform.” Currently, the troop has 67 active members, and it has its own armory building in Philadelphia’s Rittenhouse Square neighborhood. It also maintains a militar y museum. “ When I
A display designed to celebrate the history of schools located in Caernarvon Township is currently being featured at the Caernarvon Historical Society building. The display features memorabilia from the former Caernarvon Academy, paintings of local schools created by artist Jere Brady of Morgantown, photos of former students and a list of names of teachers who taught at the various schools. Open houses will be held at the facility on Sundays, March 9 and 23 and April 6 and 27, from noon to 4 p.m. Society members, including president Yvonne Styer, will be on hand to provide guided tours. “All the schools are featured the old and the new,” said Styer. “We need to get people to see what we have here. I was so excited when we started putting everything out. The more (memorabilia) we put out, the more we found we had. When people come in, they will really be surprised.” One of the exhibits features Brady’s paintings and a miniature model of the Caernarvon Academy, formerly located next to the historical society building, which was originally built as a Presbyterian church in 1843. Before the academy was torn down, the building was part of the Caernarvon Elementary School property. “The Jenkins family created it for a private school, and for several years, it was,” said Styer,
See Village Library pg 6
See Exhibits pg 4
John Trego
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o commemorate the 250th anniversary of the formation of the Continental Army and to coincide with Presidents Day, the Village Library of Morgantown held a special event on Feb. 15 featuring several guest speakers, including state Rep. Mark Gillen, who spoke about the Berks County Military History Museum, and Twin Valley High School graduate John Trego, a member of First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalr y. Matthew Sims, author of “Why My Heart Is Purple,” attended the program via Zoom. The Berks Militar y History Museum, located at 198 E . Wyomissing Ave., Mohnton, opened in August 2017 in a former wagon works building. The museum’s motto is “Remembering Those Who Carol Quaintance (right) presents a gift to Rep. Mark Gillen following his talk at the Village Library of Morgantown. Served.” “What made it unique as a The museum, which features stuff; it’s about people and their cavalry unit was that you needed displays of uniforms, weapons, experiences.” For more information about horses and men who could flags and military equipment, as well as dog tags and medals the museum, visit https://berks fight on horseback,” Trego said, no t i n g t h at t he worn by local veterans, is open military.weebly.com. Nex t to speak troop fought not every Saturday from 11 a.m. to only dur ing the 1 p.m.; other hours are available was Trego, who pre“We don’t want sented a program Revolutionary War, by appointment. your story to be but in subsequent I t e m s o n d i s p l a y i n t h e about First Troop c o n f l i c t s . “ We museum have been donated Philadelphia City forgotten. Why? are believed to be or are on loan. “I would rather Cavalry, a volunteer Because it is the oldest con(the item) be in your house. cavalry unit in the America’s story.” tinuously serving But if it will fall by the wayside Pennsylvania Army unit in the United and will get thrown out, then National Guard. States military. We by all means bring it (to the T h e g r o u p w a s museum),” Gillen stated. “We founded in 1774 by 28 men at started on Nov. 17, 1774. This don’t want your stor y to be Carpenters’ Hall in Philadelphia; past November we celebrated forgotten. Why? Because it is original members were from a our 250th anniversary.” The troop is a private military America’s story. It’s not about local fox hunting group.
VOL XXXIII • NO 4