Kids & Family

UMHA Presents: Willow Grove-Opoloy

An artifact in the Upper Moreland Historical Association's archive room will be displayed here in this ongoing series.

Welcome back to another installment of “Upper Moreland Historical Association Presents.”

The ongoing series will present a photo of an artifact showcased in the Archive Room, located in the Upper Moreland Township Building’s Lower Level.

Displayed in this room is an historical patchwork of collected souvenirs, memorabilia and every-day items representing a once daily way of life in Upper Moreland. 

Find out what's happening in Upper Moreland-Willow Grovewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Ever wondered what it would be like to own the Upper Moreland Free Public Library?

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Find out what's happening in Upper Moreland-Willow Grovewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Willow Grove-Opoly

 

Amid the obscure artifacts in the Upper Moreland Historical Association, some of which date back to Colonial America, is a very familiar board game.

According to Don Shields, first vice-president of the Willow Grove Lions Club, the “Willow-Grove-Opoly” board game was a fundraising project, initiated by the Lions Club at the turn of the century.

That is to say, somewhere between 2000 – 2001.

“To our knowledge, none of our members have any of them left,” Shields told Patch in a correspondence. “There were unsold units, but they were given away as door prizes at other club fundraisers.”

As it has been over a decade since the “Willow Grove-Opoly” has been seen in public circulation, Shields said finding out information about the board game. He said that current Lions Club members don’t exactly know why the project was chosen for a fundraiser, nor how much was raised for the club’s charitable work.

However, he said that the Upper Moreland business community at the time had partnered with the Lions Club of Willow Grove to help populate the board’s retail, playable spaces, which included:

  • – Price: $120
  • Portrait Palace – Price $ 200
  • – Price $200

Municipal and public Upper Moreland sites that could be purchased in Willow Grove-Opoly included:

  • #1 – Price 140
  • – Price $160

Currency was in familiar Monopoly denominations, however it had “Willow Grove Bank” printed on the bills.

Should you land on The “With 0 Customer” the player would pay $14; “With 4 Customers,” you pay $750; with a “Full Clientele,” landing on the police department would cost you a whopping $950!

The Willow Grove-Opoly  game board was also decorated with several sketches of famous historical buildings in the township, similar to the ones shown in several UMHA literature, which were drawn by UMHA president emeritus Joe Thomas.

According to Shields, the Willow Grove Lions Club had a bad experience in putting this fundraising project together for several reasons; among them was dealing with game-making vendors. He said it is unlikely that the club will produce updated Willow Grove-Opoly games. Nor, will they redistribute unsold copies, as the club has given most of them away throughout the years at other events.

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Can’t get enough Upper Moreland History?

The Upper Moreland Historical Association Archive Room, located in the lower level of the township building, is open on Thursdays from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Special appointments can also be made by calling 215-657-2775. For more information, visit http://www.umha.com/.

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Check Patch back again for more “UMHA Presents”.

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For more information on the Willow Grove Lions, visit www.wglions.com

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