Bucks
Fred Diseroad
Dear Friends,
Good morning. “When things go wrong, you get the blame,” a former West Rockhill Township Supervisor, turned artist began. “When things go right, you don’t get credit.” Frederick K. Diseroad had an amused twinkle in his eye when he told me that political truism.
Professionals know him as an architect (50 years). Township residents remember him for his 23 years of service on the Planning Commission (10 years), Zoning Hearing Board (4 years), and Supervisor (9 years). I met him because he is an excellent artist…he drew a pen and ink picture (18” by 36”) of our Quakertown home.
His name surfaced when I admired a picture of the Grim, Biehn, and Thatcher law headquarters in Perkasie. My grandparents, his in-laws, my father, and uncle lived there for more than 50 years. A pen and ink print hangs in the reception area.
It turned out that Fred Diseroad draws 16 or 17 pictures like this each year and donates his earnings to the West Rockhill Township Historical Society. Our picture cost $300 including the matting and frame.
“Normally, a picture costs $400 if you don’t belong to the Historical Society,” he said. (I instantly joined for the $15 yearly dues and saved 100 bucks.) “It doesn’t take a degree in finance to figure out the better deal,” Diseroad laughed.
His pictures generate about $2,500 to the Historical Society’s coffer each year. Diseroad takes photographs of his subjects in the winter months before foliage blocks their view. He draws on Millar, a plastic-like surface which can be changed more easily than working with water colors. When he’s satisfied with his painting, he transfers it to parchment. A picture generally takes 25 hours to finish.
I asked him how he got into drawing?
“In 1993, our daughter wanted an ink drawing of the church and Pearl Buck House for her wedding invitation,” Diseroad replied. The rest is history. “I’ve done more than 250 pictures,” he continued.
“I used to paint,” he added. “Then I started into ink drawings. No one teaches ink drawing anymore.”
Fred’s been an architect for 50 years. At age 75, he’s semi retired, he told me. “I don’t do field work any more,” he said. “Putting things together is more fun than the paper work, administration, and legal end of the profession.”
After his military service ended in 1956, his architecture career began in Buffalo, New York. But the winters were too cold. Three years later, he joined Vincent Kling one of Philadelphia’s famous architectural firms.
Fred remained with the Kling organization for 35 years before starting his own company, first in Lansdale and then in Hatfield. He opened a second office in Chestnut Hill, one of the city’s neighborhoods. Before the economy slowed down, his firm had 100 employees.
Having served in local government, I enjoyed hearing about the last time that he ran for election in West Rockhill. Although the effort didn’t pan out very well, he tells of his experience with great relish and considerable amusement.
When Fred ran for reelection as a township supervisor, he crossed filed in both the Democratic and Republican primaries. A win in either primary would have guaranteed him a spot on the November ballot. A win in both primaries would have insured his election automatically.
“My advisors told me to be low key,” Fred told me. “I was an incumbent and incumbents never lose. But it wasn’t such a good idea. I lost by two votes on one ticket and four votes on the other!
“I was so popular,” he continued, “I did such a good job as a supervisor, that someone with 100 write-in votes beat me.” He laughed good naturedly, adding, “Other than a damaged ego, I survived.
“There went my dream of being Governor of Pennsylvania,” Fred quipped.
Well, years have passed and that blip on his political radar screen disappeared...as success usually does for all who run and serve.
But, thanks to Fred Diseroad, I now receive the West Rockhill Historical Society’s monthly bulletin. “That $15 membership deal is better than the stock market,” he said. The fee includes the summer picnic where the food is free and the annual Christmas party too.
He estimated that the monthly meetings bring out 30 people. The society gathers on the second Monday of each month. “Last month, the topic was the Lone Ranger,” he told me.
I unfortunately joined too late to attend that program. The Lone Ranger continues to be one of my heroes. But more events are coming. The society meets at the West Rockhill Township building (1028 Ridge Road). For more information, call the township office at 215-257- 0701.
Sincerely,
Charles Meredith