Paoli Memorial Grounds & Malvern Memorial Park

04/08/2026

We were the recipients of 2 of the cannons found back in the 1870s! This is exciting news that more have been discovered.

Four Revolutionary War–era cannons, cast at historic Warwick Furnace, have been uncovered in Chester County.

The discovery took place at the Thomas P. Bentley Nature Preserve in Glenmoore, where the French & Pickering Creeks Conservation Trust found the massive iron cannons just below the surface.

Each cannon is more than seven feet long and weighs over 4,500 pounds. They were buried in 1777 as British forces moved toward Philadelphia, hidden to keep them out of enemy hands.

For nearly 250 years, they remained untouched in the same ground where they were made and concealed.

02/13/2026

This April 26, 2026 concert is one chance to hear the "Remember Paoli" piece that had been lost to the ages but reconstructed by the Chester County Concert Band! We're excited to hear this again soon.

Spring 2026 Concert Poster - download here: http://www.cccband.org/schedules.html

12/24/2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Paoli Memorial Association Receives $325,000 DCED LSA Grant for New Heritage Center at the Paoli Battlefield
Malvern, PA — The Paoli Memorial Association (PMA) is pleased to announce that the Commonwealth Financing Authority has awarded $325,000 through the 2024 Local Share Account (LSA) program to support construction of the Paoli–Malvern Heritage Center.
The Paoli Memorial Association expresses its sincere appreciation to the leadership of Borough of Malvern for their partnership and support in submitting the application. PMA also extends its gratitude to Senator Carolyn Comitta and Rep. Kristine Howard for their advocacy on behalf of this project and their ongoing commitment to preserving and interpreting Pennsylvania’s Revolutionary War history.
The new Heritage Center will be located at the Paoli Memorial Grounds, adjacent to the Paoli Battlefield—the site of the September 20–21, 1777 “Paoli Massacre,” where 53 Continental soldiers were killed in a surprise nighttime attack. The Center will provide:
Preservation and protection of the 1817 memorial obelisk, the second-oldest Revolutionary War monument in the United States, marking the burial mound of 52 soldiers.
ADA-accessible amenities, including restroom facilities and accessible pathways for wounded warriors, veterans, school groups, and visitors with mobility needs.
Indoor interpretive exhibits and educational storytelling to enhance understanding of the battle, the Philadelphia Campaign, and the region’s Revolutionary history.
The Heritage Center will serve as a key link within Chester County’s emerging Heritage Information Network, a coordinated system of heritage centers, interpretive kiosks, and digital tools that connect visitors to Revolutionary War sites, cultural landmarks, and local business districts. In Malvern, the Heritage Center will help connect the battlefield to King Street’s revitalized commercial district and the nearby SEPTA station, strengthening heritage tourism, local spending, and community visibility.
“This investment ensures that the story of Paoli—and the sacrifice that helped shape American independence—will be preserved, interpreted, and shared,” said Frank Ortner, Vice President of the Paoli Memorial Association. “We are grateful for the Commonwealth’s support and are excited to move forward.”
The Paoli Memorial Association’s capital campaign is now underway, with the goal of completing the project in time for the 250th anniversary commemoration of the Battle of Paoli in September 2027.
To learn more about the capital campaign for the Paoli Memorial Association’s Heritage Center—and how you can participate—please visit https://paolimemorialassociation.org/

Paoli Memorial Association
Hugo Schmitt, Board Member
[email protected]

12/18/2025

Thank you, Senator Comitta and Representative Howard!

As we gear up to celebrate our nation’s 250th anniversary, residents and visitors will be exploring the various cultural and historical sites across Chester County to better connect with our rich and storied past.

That’s why I was glad to work with Rep. Lawrence for funding for the Oxford Area Historical Association's building and with Rep. Kristine Howard for funding toward the Heritage Center at the Paoli Memorial Grounds & Malvern Memorial Park.

Together, we are investing in our historical sites, learning from our past, and charting a strong path forward in Chester County.

12/08/2025

https://www.facebook.com/events/1389628102763039?active_tab=about

Join us on Wednesday, December 10 at 7:30 PM at Malvern Borough Hall for a special community meeting hosted by the Paoli Memorial Association (PMA)!

We’ll be unveiling plans for the new Heritage Center, scheduled to open in 2026 in celebration of our nation’s 250th anniversary. Come see the proposed location, interior layout, and interactive touch-screen kiosk—and share your ideas! This project is being built for the community, and we want to hear from you.

Bring your neighbors and friends!
🎁 Everyone in attendance will be entered to win a special prize.

We look forward to seeing you there.
— PMA Board

12/02/2025

It's Giving Tuesday!
We are building a Heritage Center to house our 1817 Monument and to create a welcome center on our private land for the Paoli Battlefield. We need your help, and today is a great day to start!
If you can't donate today, please share this post and spread the word!
https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-the-paoli-memorial-association-heritage-center

11/11/2025

Today we honor all of those who stood and fought for our country throughout the years. As you know World War I – known at the time as “The Great War” - officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, in the Palace of Versailles outside the town of Versailles, France. However, fighting ceased seven months earlier when an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. For that reason, November 11, 1918, is generally regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars.”
In November 1919, President Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day with the following words: "To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…"
The original concept for the celebration was for a day observed with parades and public meetings and a brief suspension of business beginning at 11:00 a.m.
The United States Congress officially recognized the end of World War I when it passed a concurrent resolution on June 4, 1926.

11/07/2025

We need your help to save our 1817 monument! Our goal is a new home for this monument, which as far as our research determines it is the second oldest Revolutionary War monument. Ultimately, we'll have a replica made of the original monument and place it in the mass grave where the original sits today.
Please donate. Any amount would be helpful. If you can't donate, please like or share this GoFundMe. We appreciate your help to honor the 52 patriots in our mass grave and the 53rd on the Paoli Battlefield.

Dear friends and community, I'm reaching out to you today to ask … Hugo Schmitt needs your support for Support the Paoli Memorial Association Heritage Center

10/05/2025

NO POLITICAL SIGNS PERMITTED
At our annual general meeting on September 20, 2025, the members present voted in favor of disallowing all political signage on our private land. This means Wayne Avenue from First to Monument, Monument Avenue from Wayne to Sugartown, and Sugartown Rd from Monument to the laneway to 555 Sugartown.
If there are any political signs posted on our property, they will be removed.
Thank you for understanding.

09/20/2025

Thank you to the for your Heritage Day today, and to all the cash donors to support our Heritage Center building.
Thank you to the Sons of the American Revolution for this program starting at 6pm tonight!

09/09/2025

Our annual (and only) meeting is coming up on Saturday, September 20, 2025! We are meeting in the Hibberd Room in McGuigan Hall on 1 E First Ave at 9:30am to discuss our year in review, and to receive updates on the building of our Heritage Center. All are welcome to attend, and lifetime members may cast a vote on the discussion topics. Please see our website to find out more on how to become a lifetime member, and to learn more about our fundraising efforts to finally protect the 1817 monument!
Photo to help visibility -- it's our grounds committeeperson Frank Ortner and his wife Carole, at a past Memorial Parade!