Merion Civic Association

History

The Merion Civic Association was founded by Edward Bok in 1913.

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Theodore Roosevelt wrote "Model Merion" in 1917. PDF 73KB

Merion Civic Association Fifth Year Book from 1918. PDF 553KB 45 pages

Merion Civic Association Tenth Year Book from 1923. PDF 410KB 33 pages

Merion Civic Association Eleventh Year Book from 1924. PDF 658 KB 40 pages

Merion War Tribute House Architect's Notes. 1923-1924 PDF 140KB

Merion Time Line
YearEvent
1695Merion Meeting House built
1884Mater Misericordiae Academy (Merion Mercy) opened History
1913Merion Civic Association founded
1914Merion train station building constructed Merion (SEPTA station)
1917Merion Station Post Office opened
1917Merion Red Cross House opened Philadelphia Inquirer
1920League of Women Voters organized. About Us
1921Episcopal Academy moved to Merion. EA Facts
1922Barnes Foundation established. About the Barnes Foundation
1924Merion Tribute House built History
1925Merion Elementary School opened. History
1927Saint Joseph's University moved to 54th and City Avenue
1944Merion Botanical Park created Merion Botanical Park wiki
1947?Saint Joseph's University acquired land in Merion
1953Adath Israel built History
1956Akiba Hebrew Academy moved to Merion. History
1968Mater Misericordiae Academy renamed Merion Mercy Academy and Waldron Mercy Academy History
1991Senator John Heinz killed in plane crash at Merion Elementary School.
Two first grade students were also killed.
See New York Times article.
2008Jack M Barrack (was Akiba) Hebrew Academy moved to Radnor, PA.
2008Episcopal Academy (EA) moved to Newtown Square, PA.
EA site bought by Saint Joseph's University for Maguire Campus.
2010Kohelet Yeshiva High School starts classes (former Akiba site).
2011Merion Station Post Office back-office operations moved to Bala Cynwyd Post Office

Where are they now?

Akiba Hebrew Academy (1956-2008)
Arrived in Merion in 1956. This school educates students in grades 6-12.
In 2007, it was renamed the Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy.
In the fall of 2008, it moved to the former American College Campus in Bryn Mawr, PA.

The Buten Wedgewood Museum Collection (1957-1988)
This 8,000 piece collection of Wedgewood pottery was first displayed in The Buten Wedgewood Museum in Merion in 1957.
The collection was moved to Nassau County, NY in 1988.
In 2009, it has been moved to the Birmingham Museum of Art in Alabama.

Episcopal Academy (1921-2008)
Founded in 1785, this school serves grades Pre-K through 12.
In 2008, it relocated to Newtown Square, PA.

Red Cross House (1917-1919)
An article in the Philadelphia Inquirer states "Under the auspices of the Merion Civic Association, the Main Line suburb will shortly open what is said to be the first distinctly Red Cross house in the United States." The work done at the Red Cross House was described in the Fifth and Sixth Year Books of the Merion Civic Association, and was also cited in a Philadelphia Inquirer article of January 22, 1919. However, it is not mentioned in the Eighth Year Book, in 1921, so we conclude that it was closed by then.

Von Trapp Family (1939-1943)
The Trapp Family emigrated to the U.S. and settled in Merion, PA in 1939.
The family moved to Stowe, Vermont in 1943.
They now run the Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe, VT.
Excerpt from The First 300: The Amazing and Rich History of Lower Merion


Main Line Times and Patch.com (newest first)

04/03/2011 Merion's last historic streetlight restored after storm damage