Historic Timeline

• Before FOW – Several community groups were organized over the past 100 years in Worcester. Click HERE to read about the Fairview Village Assembly and the Worcester Township Civic Association.
• Fall, 1996 – Friends of Worcester held its first meeting. There were 15 attendees. Click HERE to read more about the issues they faced.
• August 1997 – FOW's first newsletter, The Worcester Watchman, was printed. It was just one page! Click HERE to read it.
• Late 1997 – Amoco announced plans for a gas station and convenience store at Township Line & North Wales Roads. Click HERE to read more about the fight and eventual victory.
• 1999 – The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission was considering Worcester as a possible location for a slip ramp. The fight may not be over yet. Click HERE to read more.
• October 1999 – FOW was organized as a Pennsylvania nonprofit association.
• 2002 – CVS proposed a 14,800-square-foot pharmacy at Trooper Road & Germantown Pike. Click HERE to read how FOW organized the effort to drive CVS out of Worcester.
• October 2004 – FOW hired a part-time Administrative Assistant.
• August 2005 – FOW received final approval of its tax-exempt status from the IRS.
• April 2015 - FOW joins with Worcester Alliance for Responsible Growth (WARG) to show opposition to the development of Center Square Golf Club
• January 2016 - FOW reaches their 20th Anniversary!

FOW's First Meeting

In 1996, Friends of Worcester grew out of a group of residents concerned about the stepped-up pace of residential development and the attendant loss of open space. The group quickly realized that many residents had similar interests and concerns about the loss of Worcester's rural heritage. Therefore, we formed a civic organization for the betterment of our community. In 1999, FOW was officially organized as a Pennsylvania non-profit association to improve the communication and involvement between residents and our elected officials.