Private Donor Grant For Historic Montco Property Preservation Approved By Township

WHITEMARSH, PA — A property in this eastern Montgomery County community that was once a stop along the Underground Railroad and is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places is one step closer to being preserved after township officials approved a $2 million grant from a private donor that will help with the site's acquisition.

Whitemarsh Township Supervisors late last week approved the generous private gift from The Karabots Foundation to the Whitemarsh Art Center, which will help with the $3.95 million purchase of a 10.45-acre piece of property off of Butler Pike that includes Abolition Hall, the Hovenden House and another structure.

The historic property was a stop along the Underground Railroad during the Civil War, and the site currently contains a historical marker that talks of the parcel's history.

The names of the private donors were revealed just last week.

Related: Private Donors Revealed For Montco Historic Property Preservation

The Whitemarsh Art Center and the township had entered into an agreement of sale for the property in April of last year, and the private donors subsequently came forward to help with its acquisition.

The property — the oldest structure on it dates back to 1734 — had been slated for possible development back in 2016, but community activists successfully helped to defeat a townhouse construction proposal.

Abolition Hall, one of the structures on the property, was built in 1856 by George Corson, a famous abolitionist during slavery times.

Famous abolitions such as Frederick Douglas, Harriet Beecher Stowe and William Lloyd Garrison, spoke at the property, according to the township.

Following last week's township approval of the private $2 million grant, local officials said they were thrilled that preservation of the land would be moving forward.

"I know I speak for all of Whitemarsh Township when I say thank you to The Karabots Foundation," Whitemarsh Supervisors' Chair Laura Boyle-Nester said in a statement. "This incredible generosity is another sign of Nicholas and Athena Karabots' commitment to our community and its history."

The Whitemarsh Art Center, which has been searching for a new home, said it was "indebted" to the private donors for helping to acquire the property from its current owners.

"This gift allows us to further their mission and ours," Dan Zuena, president of the Whitemarsh Art Center Board of Directors, said in a statement. "Together, Whitemarsh Township, the Karabots Foundation and the Art Center are developing a promising and bright future."

Whitemarsh officials said that the Karabots — Nicholas has since passed away — were longtime supporters of the township, and back in 2010 gave $4.4 million to help expand and renovate the William Jeanes Memorial Library.

In a statement, Robert Downs, a representative of the Karabots Foundation, said that the organization was pleased that this latest grant would help to preserve such a "historically significant building as Abolition Hall and its surrounding buildings and grounds; and more importantly, they are delighted that it will enable the Township and Art Center to provide outreach services to local underserved and disadvantaged youth in the form of the educational, cultural and recreational programs that will be offered at the Property."

"The Karabots family looks forward to continuing its longstanding support of Whitemarsh Township and its communities," Downs stated.

The township said they and the art center expect to close on the property sometime within the next 90 days.