While almost everyone has heard of the Underground Railroad, few locally or nationally understand that Phoenixville was in many ways the O'Hare airport of this transportation network in southeastern Pennsylvania. With out and open supporters and still-surviving structure combinations of Pennypacker and Whitehorse Farm, Kimber and the school (restaurant), the Friends Meeting House at Corner Stores, there remains the unexplored and untold story of the Reeves family and their property. It is documented that the Schuylkill was crossed at the Phoenixville bridge, Fitzwater Station and a property near Paulings Road. The toll taker at the Phoenixville bridge was a known abolitionist sympathizer.
The Reeves family treated their Negro servants and workers in a more enlightened manner than was customary for the times. The Whitaker family (business partners of the Reeves) shared political views in contradiction to the Pennypackers. All three powerful families became interrelated. Since the underground railroad was a politically charged, de facto criminal conspiracy, a man like David Reeves, reportedly so measured and cautious would not take a political stance between the Whigs and abolitionists. However, we can make an educated guess at to where his sympathies may lie. The Phoenix Park property is obviously an historic property which cries out for preservation while the oral history and archaeological evidence is explored.

PHOENIX EDITOR QUITS MESSAGE FROM STRINGER

Your question is good but a bit scewed. The development site is twofold. One project goes hand in hand with another. There is the elderly housing/HUD/Evans building as well as multiple parkng lots and an "new educational building" all involved in the entire project.

This must be clear as realizing this and looking at the plans in full, the project will be on top of the multiple underground railroad passageways. The HUD bldg may not sit on the route but the parking lot and educational hall will be directly on top of and require digging into these historic sights.

As for the graves, the memories, markers and notorzed reports all serve as proof of a few facts:

A) Clemm attorney lied about no impact historical with the project, when he represented the church only.
B) Clemm attorney lied about no impacton Evans project when he represented Evans only at boro mtgs.
C) Priests/Ministers involved denied it affecting any of their projects and claimed it was all rumors and lies by a few disturbed outcasts of the parish.

Well Sir: This lease, agreement and property is one parcel to remain as is for CHURCH USE AND THE FUTURE SUCCESSS OF THIS CONGREATION or the lease is broken an the priest could be evicted.
His doors legally could be chained as done years ago for not honoring the wishes of the landlord and founders of this Holy Temple.

As for the counil, once this project moves forward, nothing will be done without their involement and the properties history and serenity will be gone forever!

If the residents of Phoenixville spoke up and put pressure on the council,perhaps this history in our midst would not disappear under the block and macadam that Evans has planned. Sadly, the only place one hears what a travesty this proposed building at the town's entance would be from the locals is at the weekly bingo games. Rather than speak up, the general public that could influence decisions with their votes, hear the watered down,filtered news via the gossip chain. The few that have attended have been maligned and ridiculed by the proponants of this low income housing; have had insults hurled at them and have been literally thrown out for having the nerve to exercise their right to free speech.
Has the public been fooled or are they the fools for allowing their elected officials to let the greed of a few dictate the future landscape and vistas of many??

why do you think, the authentic founders and families ie SNB have not wasted the legal hourly rate and had their attorney come in front of council?

Ask yourselves this as would it make a difference on councils hanlding of matters?

or could the stratagy be to lay low, not attend and the true SNB let the HGB hang themselves and pay back the legal - when they are in contempt...?

or could the stratagy be to sue the borough for not working their due diligence in this matter?

Who will Evans sue for his plans, funds and time wasted on a project that he had no right to pursue?

Maybe that is when Fedornock, Bilanin and Smisko will move on to greener pastures (lets not forget the innocent Samilienko boy).

June 15
9:53

A lawyer does not lie.. ever!
They are the most honest occupation out there......

A priest never uses his collar to manipulate or control people... ever! They are the most trusted occupation out there........

Well, If any of you people read the newspaper lately or the Bible, you will learn that their are good cops and bad cops. Also, there are others who abuse their power and are disobedient to GOD the Father, and will do whatever it takes to be in control or cash in their silver pieces! LOLOL

Geez....Really?????Underground railroad? There was such a thing? Evans said there wasn't at the last council meeting. To prove it,the buzz at the pirogi factory is that a few disgruntled ladies that were unhappy with the priest made up that fairy tale. Stay tuned for the next chapter in which we hear them try their spin on there never was a Civil War. And the world is only 2000 years old and we never landed on the moon, etc.etc.

It is a darn shame that the "buzz" of the baking ladies is of negative information about people.

The majority of the ladies still helping know the truth deep down and are petrified to disagree as this is their church they love. They all loved Father Michael and are manipulated into pretending he was not a good man. They all respect and love those treated poorly and have watched those outcast, go to confession and yet, must pretend like the Stepford Wives that the crap they are fed is the truth.

God Be Merciful on the people who abuse their authority and trust of these woman and children. God Be Merciful to the mental state of the man being disobedient to God the Father by acting out and hurting so very many from this parish family!

Hey all

go on myspace and type in

the names of the children of the people making the decisions for the church. Dan Breno, Koss, Fedornock, Zollars....

Scary what they are up to. Maybe their parents should stay home and monitor their behavior before allowing them to be Pres of ACRY and be "young adult leaders" to the youth as they obviously are doing a lot more then what they should for their age. Perhaps the ages they post are inaccurate as none are over 18 yet they all claim this on these legal sights ie facebook, myspace.

An Officer of a church organization is to be setting an example. Follow the bylaws. What disrespect. Knowone can forge this or lie. Check it out!

Instead of speding time on selling your church legacy, raise your kids or monitor their activities while you are misbehaving yourselves at conventions.

FROM INGOGNITO
SS PETER AND PAUL SISTER PARISH TO HOLY GHOST ROCKAWAY, NJ

EPISCOPAL VISITATION
A reminder to everyone that
Eminence, M e t r o p o l i t a n NICHOLAS SMISKO, will be
visiting our parish on Sunday, July 12 for our Parish Feastday of SS Peter & Paul. A brunch will follow immediately after liturgy in The Mission Banquet hall.
Mark your calendars now & plan to be here.

If anyone has questions on the letters of censure, support for HUD property or online comments by this parish leader, please attend.

Parish is located in NJ and the Metropolitan has not been to Phoenixville for his biyearly visit in over 6 years therefore if you wish to address your concerns, INCOGNITO, and Metropolitan Smisko will be available at this luncheon. Hopefully they can encourage thier contacts to end this ongoing division and spending of the Building fund for court costs on this historical sight of the railroad and revolutionary sights confirmed by the state.