WILLIAM BROOKE THOMAS TREGO (1858-1909)
Historical Marker
On September 20, 2008, the community of North Wales, PA, observed the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the birth of William T. Trego by dedicating a State Historical Marker at 509 E. Montgomery Avenue, where the artist once lived and had his studio from 1890 to his death in 1909.
Speakers included:
William F. Van Sant, III, Secretary of the North Wales Historical Commission
Phyllis B. Byrne, President of the North Wales Historical Commission.
Rep. Rick Taylor, Commissioner, Pennsylvania State Historical and Museum Commission
Kate Harper, PA House of Representatives
Joseph Hoeffel, Montgomery County Commissioner
Jane Murray, Spokesperson for Allyson Schwartz, U.S. House of Representatives.
Douglas Ross, Mayor of North Wales
The Keynote Address was delivered by:
Joseph P. Eckhardt, Emeritus Professor of History, Montgomery County Community College, and Trego Biographer.
Music for the event was provided by A Touch of Brass Band.
The 104th PA Volunteer Infantry Brigade, a contingent of Civil War reenactors, attended to pay their homage to the artist who once honored their forefathers in his famous painting, The Rescue of the Colors. Men in Civil War uniforms were once a common sight in and around Trego's yard, as he sketched models for his paintings. The men of the 104th were the first soldiers seen in the neighborhood in more than one hundred years. A salute was fired in the artist's honor following the unveiling of the marker.
A reception was held after the ceremony at St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church in North Wales, a structure Trego once painted in a cityscape study of North Wales. A photograph of his painting of the church was on display at the church hall for the occasion.
Speakers included:
William F. Van Sant, III, Secretary of the North Wales Historical Commission
Phyllis B. Byrne, President of the North Wales Historical Commission.
Rep. Rick Taylor, Commissioner, Pennsylvania State Historical and Museum Commission
Kate Harper, PA House of Representatives
Joseph Hoeffel, Montgomery County Commissioner
Jane Murray, Spokesperson for Allyson Schwartz, U.S. House of Representatives.
Douglas Ross, Mayor of North Wales
The Keynote Address was delivered by:
Joseph P. Eckhardt, Emeritus Professor of History, Montgomery County Community College, and Trego Biographer.
Music for the event was provided by A Touch of Brass Band.
The 104th PA Volunteer Infantry Brigade, a contingent of Civil War reenactors, attended to pay their homage to the artist who once honored their forefathers in his famous painting, The Rescue of the Colors. Men in Civil War uniforms were once a common sight in and around Trego's yard, as he sketched models for his paintings. The men of the 104th were the first soldiers seen in the neighborhood in more than one hundred years. A salute was fired in the artist's honor following the unveiling of the marker.
A reception was held after the ceremony at St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church in North Wales, a structure Trego once painted in a cityscape study of North Wales. A photograph of his painting of the church was on display at the church hall for the occasion.
The Lilly Bell Quickstep by G.W.E. Friederich
From the Library of Congress American Memories Collection:
Band Music of the Civil War Era.
The arrival of the 104th Pennsylvania Volunteers
Welcoming dignitaries and guests to the ceremony.
"The tribute we pay to this artist today is long overdue..."
The North Wales Historic Commission unveils the marker.
The first volley of the salute startled everyone.
The 104th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry surround the marker at the end of the ceremony.
