Piece of history donated to Damascus Township

By Z.A. KOHLOA
Posted 9/8/20

DAMASCUS, PA — When the Damascus Township Board of Supervisors opened the floor to the public at its August 17 meeting, resident Eliece Rybak displayed an original map from 1851 that she had …

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Piece of history donated to Damascus Township

Posted

DAMASCUS, PA — When the Damascus Township Board of Supervisors opened the floor to the public at its August 17 meeting, resident Eliece Rybak displayed an original map from 1851 that she had framed after finding it in the attic of a historic local home known as the “old Abraham house.” The same map was first presented to the Damascus board on December 3, 1851 by George Abraham. 

Abraham, who owned a sawmill and farm in Damascus, attended the public meeting nearly 170 years ago asking the supervisors to approve the construction of a road that led to the Delaware River, which could increase the productivity of business. Eliece explained that having that connection to the river allowed Abraham to get massive cuts of lumber down the Delaware faster and on its way to Philadelphia where his father-in-law’s ship-building company was.

Eliece, on behalf of the Cecil Rybak family (Abraham’s descendants), had the historic map framed using wood donated by Dan Thuman of Beech Pond Woodworking. Eliece said that to further ensure the map’s preservation, she also went to Chip Forelli, of Chip Forelli Photography, who provided archival glass that covered and protected the map.

Eliece donated the map to Damascus Township, on behalf of the Cecil Rybak family, to be hung in the Board of Supervisors building, commemorating Abraham’s original presentation of the map in 1851. 

In other news from the meeting, the Damascus Board of Supervisors approved a request from Wayne County 911 to put an antenna on top of the tower at the township building. The supervisors said that adding an antenna on the tower would improve radio capabilities and increase the coverage area for the county fire department, police and EMS, at no charge to the township. Any charge for fees, equipment and materials would be paid for by Wayne County Emergency Management.

Continuing the meeting with new business, chairman Joseph Canfield informed the board that Jason Maciejewski of the planning commission had handed in his letter of resignation, but would act as an alternate on the commission. In turn, former alternate Scott Rutledge was moved up to a full-time member.

Later on, zoning officer Ed Lagarenne provided his zoning report: 

“This month there have been permit requests made for one commercial remodeling, one shed, one detached garage, a non-permit for an under the road cable wire and a political sign. Now both major parties are covered,” Lagarenne said. He also updated the public on a camper trailer violation on Baldwin Hill Road that he’s been trying to address since June 2019; the trailer was removed on August 14.

Damascus, town board, meeting, history, map, 1851

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