A little over a year ago the Towamensing Historic Commission met at the Dr. Michael Touger home, a property known as the Norm Beers Farm on Beers Lane. At that time the slate roof of the 1910 barn had failed and led to deterioration of the barn.

The commission expressed concern about the possibility of losing one of the over-100-year-old buildings on the list of historic sites. Roy Christman had suggested people who could do the reconstruction."I want to thank Roy for pointing to people to do the work. They walked the barn beams without safety gear," said Touger.The sides of the barn have been completely replaced.He said on the lower lever there were stalls for 40 animals, and the commission immediately moved down to see. The rear level behind the stanchions was removed because it had collapsedSome of the buildings on the farm were built with wood from the horse sheds at Jerusalem United Church of Christ.The meeting at the barn was to decide if it met the qualifications for the Historic Preservation Award which will be presented Oct. 4 at the Towamensing supervisors' meeting.Commission Chairman Karl Rollape asked if the would accept the preservation award."I accept if you don't ask me to do it again," said Touger."This is a success story for everyone involved," said Christman.In other business: The lease for the Greenzweig School was discussed. With the donated help of surveyor Rudy Wolfe a plan of the grounds was drawn and presented to sisters Lana and Susan Kuehner Zavagansky.Township Solicitor Tom Nanovic is drawing up the legal papers.. One more meeting will be held to finalize the plans. The land will be leased for 99 years at $1 a year and the school will be owned by the commission.Paul Hoppel said he thinks it is awesome because not many places have two original schools. Others in the township have been turned into homes or storage. He said the Kuehners originally came to him about the transfer.Rolappe recalled that the commission had done some repairs to keep the school from further deterioration a few years ago.A bonfire and hayrides will be held at the Olde Homestead Tree Farm on Oct. 25, 5:30 p.m. It is open to the public without charge.