Lansdale Historical Society

10/17/2026

BACK THEN by DICK SHEARER

Time can take an incredible toll on the history of a town. Back in April of 1977 the owners of Souderton’s Yocum and Godshalk department store decided to call it quits in the stately building their relatives erected in the 1890s.
With it went much of the merchant to customer friendship and knowledge that existed for decades.
Fortunately, the Milton Bean-designed building was taken over by neighboring Union National Bank (Univest) and to this day retains its commanding position near the top of the Main Street hill.

10/16/2026

BACK THEN by DICK SHEARER

Here’s one of those mystery photographs that challenges us to fill in the blanks.
There’s plenty we do know:
-- The scene is the alley behind the Jenkins Homestead.
-- The era is possibly 1940-1945, based on the bikes, clothing and the car down the alley. The view is east looking toward Memorial Park.
-- The kids were probably students at the old Lansdale Junior High School, located to the left of the camera view, which was destroyed by fire in 1946. More recently, it was the site of McDonald’s and the Sudz Laundry.
-- Obviously, it was winter.
- A notation on the back of the photo indicates it was taken by Charles (Chuck) Kinter, art director for the school who was an avid photographer.

WHAT’S MISSING? The names of the boys on the bike!

We’d like to remove this valuable picture from our overcrowded Mystery Photo box. Tell us who they are and add any other information like the exact year this shot was taken.

10/14/2026

BACK THEN by Pat Rieker

The favorite teen hang-out in Lansdale for after school or after the movie used to be Shelly’s at 219 W. Main St. The tiny counter area was often packed with customers ordering donuts or cherry Cokes. At Christmastime, old fashioned clear-toy barley candy was a tradition.

The customers in this 1944 photo are Marian Miller, Jayne Harvey and Jayne’s younger sister, Patsy Harvey. The employees are not identified. Do you know who they are?

10/13/2026

BACK THEN by DICK SHEARER

Ever wonder how long it took to turn Sumneytown Pike into a paved highway from the dirt road that was established back in pre-Revolutionary times?
It turns out the wheels didn’t start turning until August, 1926, when the Montgomery County Commissioners approved a contract to replace the dirt and mud with concrete from Spring House to Gwynedd (Wales Junction). That included North Wales, which had made some road improvements on its own before 1926.
The Lehigh Valley Transit Co. had to rip out its abandoned trolley tracks first, but after that the road contract stipulated the paving had to be completed in only 75 days.
Try to accomplish that today.

(PHOTOS) The first photo shows the dirt intersection of Sumneytown and DeKalb Pikes at William Penn Inn in the early 1900s. Sumneytown Pike is to the right of the inn where the white horses can be seen. The second and third pictures illustrate the trolley tracks in North Wales after the borough had made some improvements to the roadway. The LVT route, established circa 1901, ran from Wales Junction to Chestnut Hill. It was replaced by buses in 1926.

10/12/2026

BACK THEN by DICK SHEARER

Pretty much gone from today’s newspapers are home cures for medical problems that might send us off to a doctor or medical clinic today. Back in 1927 when these advertisements appeared in The Reporter, all sorts of treatments were offered for sale by mail or from your local pharmacist.
At least a half-dozen ads like these were published each day in the paper. Looking at some of these “cures” is enough to scare the nasty germs out of me.

10/11/2026

BACK THEN by Pat Rieker

The house commonly known as “Red Top” is one of Lansdale’s oldest and finest homes. The property has a long and storied history, which was recently sent to us by Dan and Corinne Mayland. The Maylands recently sold the house after having lived there for 26 years. We will share the story of Red Top in words and photos in a series of posts over the next few weeks.

Part 1: The House Behind the Wall

The next time you drive or walk on White’s Road, look for the big white house between Salford & Mitchell Aves. You’ll have to look carefully because the house is partially concealed behind a stone wall. The stately old home once featured a columned front porch with stone steps leading to White’s Rd. The porch was shaded by a row of maple trees.

In 1967, White’s Rd. was widened and sidewalks were installed. A stone wall was erected by local mason John Boyles to support the foundation of the house.

Next week we’ll look back at the early history of the mid-19th century house.

10/10/2026

BACK THEN by DICK SHEARER

It hardly qualifies as the migration of commercial and retail businesses from downtown Lansdale to Montgomeryville in the 1970s but when Hoelscher’s Jewelry moved out of the borough a few hundred yards into Hatfield Township in 1950, it raised a few eyebrows.
It was a big step at the time but in 1950 Hoelscher’s on Line Street just north of 9th Street was a tiny step into the countryside.
Hoelscher’s was replaced some years ago by Dog Kingdom. The original building is still there serving up puppy treats instead of something fancy to wear on your favorite companion’s finger (or paw).

10/09/2026

If you’re out at the Spooktacular Soirée this evening, make sure you come by and see us at the Lansdale Historical Society table and get your picture taken in the Tremont turret!!

10/09/2026

10/08/2026

BACK THEN by Linda Evans

The cigar industry was very prominent in this area in the late 1800s. John Weingartner (1832 – 1896) came to North Wales from Worcester and began manufacturing ci**rs. His first place of business was on Church and Second Streets. In 1891, he built a Milton Bean-designed factory at E. Walnut Street and the railroad. He and his wife, Elizabeth (Spare) Weingartner had several sons.
One of his sons, also named John (1866 – 1944), moved to the Boston area as a cigar salesman. Eventually he became involved in manufacturing varnishes and became quite successful. He visited his North Wales family every summer. He and his wife, Caroline (Cavanah) Weingartner, had no children.
When John, the son, died in 1944, he left quite a legacy for his family and the town of North Wales, leaving quite a bit of money to his relatives, the churches of North Wales, and Greenlawn Cemetery. The rest he left to the Borough of North Wales to develop their parks system. One result was Weingartner Park, dedicated in 1954.