John Badalamenti, Associate Broker/ Lone Spillard, CLHS

One of America's first - small animal shelters, Francisvale, (c. 1909) located in Radnor, PA, just celebrated their 100 yr anniversary; Congratulations Francisvale!

Wonderful Video They Put Together to Celebrate the Gala Event: http://www.francisvalehome.org/videos/gala/video.html

Anyone who travels on S. Gulph Road on a regular basis should be familiar with the infamous "Gulph Mills Overhanging Rock. " Most people however don't know of its historical significance. To be honest, for all the times I passed under it to/from the Main Line, I had no idea, nor truly gave it any thought.

It wasn't until two years ago when I was working on the historical background of one of my listings in Gulph Mills, the "Bird-In-Hand Schoolhouse" (Gulph Mills' orginal name was Bird-In-Hand) that I stumbled by accident upon its major historical significance. I will admit that my eyes welled up and got a little chocked up, and to be quire frank - embarrassed that I never knew of, or perhaps had a recollection of the period of Dec. 13^th to December 19, 1777 and what George Washington and his troops endured right here in Gulph Mills, right where many pass ever day.

On Friday Morning, Dec. 19th 1777, George Washington and his Army started their march to Valley Forge from their encampment in Gulph Mills and passed under the famous overhanging rock

The troops suffered tremendously with lack of food, clothing, and supplies during extremely cold conditions during those four days in Dec., 1777 in Gulph Mills which also continued for months during their encampment at Valley Forge.

There where many attempts to remove the rock over the years. It has been altered to remove portions of the top extrusion for trucks to pass safely. But there where also many who felt so strongly about its place in history that worked to have it remain as a symbol of American history and as a monument (The Overhanging Rock is listed in the National Register of Historic Places, site #97001251) to those who suffered and endured beyond belief which inevitably changed the course of the Revolutionary War - and history - forever.

There is a great historical overview of The Overhanging Rock at Gulph Mills by ushistory.org, courtesy of the National Center for the American Revolution/Valley Forge Historical Society which I encourage all to read: http://www.ushistory.org/Valleyforge/history/rock.html

Disclaimer: I do not profess to be a historical expert on the area. The above comments and statements are my own and while I hold a keen interest of it, the above should be considered reliable, but not guaranteed.

State Representative Mike Vereb is holding his "Annual Family Fun Day", June 20th 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Collegeville Pitstop, 3960 Germantown Pike, Collegeville, PA, 19426.

Food, rides and entry are all free to the public,

Rep. Vereb has a YouTube Video on the event: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRCZLEkv02c

...a new Day Care, Bank, and Office Building, all right along Route 29/Collegeville Ave. several miles south of Main Street and several miles north of the 422 Collegeville exit.

This isn't a plug for Wawa as they certainly don't need one, but I've always found the Wawa stores to be a pleasure to partonize. Touch screen ordering of deli sandwiches & hot meals, clean restrooms, and great coffee. And while filling up a gas tank is a painful experience for most of us these days, at least the Wawa visit is a pleasant one. I've also found their gas prices to be at - or below average market prices for a given area. Yes, sometimes there are lines for a gas pump, but they usually don't last long.

So when this new mega Wawa (and by mega I mean the big store with the gas pumps) recently opened up a mile or so from my real estate office, whoaaa! Wawa coffee (our office coffee just doesn't taste the same, but don't tell anyone I said that)!!! Small pleasures I guess?

Like any business venture, placing a large Wawa in a given town just doesn't happen on a whim. Nor does a new bank, day care, office building, etc., hence I would tend to believe that there's a very good reason for choosing this location.

Construction crews are no stranger to the Collegeville area these last few years. The Providence Town Center (still under construction), opposite the Wyeth complex right off the 422 Collegeville exit on Rt 29 will be composed of 140 acres of small-town style architecture and streetscapes, similar to those found on the Main Line of Philadelphia. UPDATE: The Wegmans/Collegeville's Grand Opening is Oct. 11, 2009!!! The mixed uses along with the attention to detail will create a retail experience that will remain interesting visit after visit. Stay tuned. This is going to be one heck of a shopping experience!

Perhaps we'll bump into each other at the new Wawa. I'll be the guy pumping gas while holding a cup of (Wawa) coffee in the other hand with a smile on my face.