Photo by James Short.
Time was allocated and the agenda for the Ambler Borough Council’s Committee Meeting on June 4 included a presentation to follow-up on the 1855 Freight House. The Wissahickon Valley Historical Society is seeking to save the historical structure, which may be demolished as SEPTA makes plans to improve tracks in the area.
As previously covered, the society had sent representatives to earlier council meetings to ask the borough for a space. The society’s members had hoped to use portions of borough parking lots to store the structure. They’d hoped the building could be temporarily placed there until repairs and relocation could be planned.
“The Wissahickon Valley Historical Society is requesting an opportunity to speak on SEPTA’s plans to demolish the 1855 Freight House,” said Council Vice President Haley Welch, of Ward 3. “They are requesting to put the building in the borough lot. Council requested additional information.”
However, no one from the society was present at the committee meeting.
“There isn’t [a presentation]; you can take it off your agenda,” said Ambler Borough Manager Mary Aversa. “I think I mentioned at the last meeting that we're looking at another location, but thank you for your consideration.”
No further update was provided during the council’s committee meeting. Wissahickon Now was able to reach Aversa for more information.
“I have no further details on SEPTA’s timeline,” she said.
The manager noted this was not the first time the transportation giant suggested such a demo.
“This has been proposed for demolition for several years,” she said of the Freight House. “The request to put it in the borough lot was withdrawn by the Historical Society.”
Calls and emails to the historical society were not returned to Wissahickon Now.
