Hard to believe it’s been a year since the Springfield Township Historical Society was first asked to participate in the Local’s “Local leaders on the coming year” issue and share with you about our 40th anniversary. And what a year it has been!

From exhibits on “The Great Estates” and the William Penn oak tree, to a lecture in conjunction with the local firehouse, or a tour of Lynnewood Hall, we have had so much fun and appreciated the continued community support of the individuals and businesses who have sponsored, donated to, and participated in these various activities. Now that 2026 is here, we are working diligently to continue our mission of preservation, research, and education to once again offer a variety of opportunities throughout the community.

Last year we issued a commemorative issue of our paper newsletter The Challenge. The final print edition was filled with stories and images of local places and highlighted the new ways in which we will be communicating going forward. It is our goal in the upcoming year to develop a better online presence that aids communication efforts and distributes information in a concise and timely fashion. If you haven’t already followed our social media accounts or signed up for our mailing list, it is highly recommended to do so. We intend to utilize these digital tools to share the historic resources available and the many programs that the Society is developing for the year, such as the upcoming Dine and Donate event.

Did you know that on average the Society accepts 30 donations of items to the collection each year? Filled with memorabilia, personal papers, photographs, newspaper clippings, etc., these donations provide the resources necessary to tell different parts of the Springfield Township story. Once these items are accepted to the permanent collection, they are cataloged and stored in proper archival materials to be used for a variety of purposes such as research, exhibition, or publication.

It is often forgotten-about mementos that enhance the story and fill the gaps in our history. If organizing is on your new year’s to-do list, as you clean out that closet or room, please consider the Society as a new home for your unwanted items. Our goal is to consistently build the permanent collection, bringing new resources to the public and sharing forgotten narratives. We have been able to provide access to some of these resources, not only through our in-person hours, but on our website as well. The collection is searchable under the “Archives” tab on springfieldhistory.org. As the year progresses, it is our deepest desire to include new material in this database. If you are interested in working with us to preserve our stories, we collect material on a variety of topics pertaining to the Township’s history and find value in most items. Questions? We are happy to share the details regarding the Society’s collection policies.

Located in the Blackhorse Inn on Bethlehem Pike, the Society is open to the public Wednesdays from 1-5 p.m. and Saturdays 9 a.m.-noon or by appointment. Would you like to be part of the Springfield Township Historical Society community? Information about sponsorships at various levels, becoming a friend, and volunteering can be obtained by contacting the Society. Please contact us at archives@springfieldhistory.org to discuss all the opportunities available to be part of this historic civic organization.