Headquartered in the Whitpain 1895 Public School, the Wissahickon Valley Historical Society serves to educate the public about the heritage and history of the people, institutions and events that have influenced and shaped the communities of the Wissahickon School District which encompasses Whitpain Township, Lower Gwynedd Township and the Borough of Ambler.
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Wissahickon Valley Historical Society Sends Sincere Appreciation to the Individuals and Businesses Who Assisted with the Gwynedd Hall 200th Anniversary Events
Thank you to the businesses who donated food and beverages:
- Cantina Feliz Ambler
- Deterra Restaurant and Wine Bar
- Panache Woodfire Grill
- Tannery Run Brew Works
Thank you to our sponsors, those who purchased ads for the program booklet:
Platinum Level—
- The Chong Law Firm
- Verco Painting, Steven J. Vereb
- Russell Roofing and Exteriors
Gold Level–
- Jane Douglass Team, Berkshire Hathaway/ Fox & Roach, Realtors
- Foulkeways at Gwynedd
- Marie and Tom Goldkamp
- Schneider’s Heating & Air Conditioning
- Spring House Travel
Silver Level—
- Lei Barry, Realtor, Keller Williams Real Estate
- Pleasantville United Church of Christ
- Star Painting & Wallcovering
- Tannery Run Brew Works
- Ken Ulansey Ensemble
- The Woman’s Club of Whitpain
WVHS is grateful to the following for their talent and dedication:
- Neil Binkley, a graphic designer and photography consultant,
for his design of the printed program booklet
- Charlie Stewart of Inhabit Media, for his outdoor photography of Gwynedd Hall
- Christine Raines, for her photography to preserve the two events
- Ken Ulansey Trio, for lovely music
Thank you to the individuals and businesses who contributed Raffle Baskets:
- Jeannie and Russ Bellavance
- Blue Bell Inn
- Chanticleer, A Pleasure Garden
- Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site
- Grand Opera, Wilmington
- Jane Douglass, Realtor
- NuWaves Salon & Day Spa
- PJ Whelihan’s Pub and Restaurant, Blue Bell
- Philadelphia Museum of Art
- Reading Fightin Phils
- Renew Theater, Ambler and Keswick Theaters
- The Rose Group, Applebee’s
- Theatre Exile
- Wharton Esherick Museum
- Winterthur
- Woodmere Art Museum
- Sally Zeller
Lists may be incomplete
Holiday Pot-luck Party: Monday, December 9, 6:30 PM
Welcome November! In this issue of The Valley Crier you will find news about WVHS – and about history in the news:
Read about the 200 year old Gwynedd Hall in the October issue of Stroll Blue Bell
Founded in 1975 as a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, the Wissahickon Valley Historical Society’s purpose is to preserve the local historical buildings, artifacts and folklore of the historic Wissahickon Valley.
The Franklinville School c.1858 is a white stucco one-room schoolhouse on an acre of ground, located at 1701 Morris Road, Blue Bell, between Normandy Farms Estates and the Windermere Community. It is the only one-room schoolhouse open to the public in Whitpain Township.
The two-story schoolhouse has a Library containing deeds, wills, photos, books, maps and genealogies, a 19th Century School Room and a Museum of local artifacts, focusing on items, pictures and records from the early farms and our industrial past.
Wissahickon Valley Historical Society’s Ambler History Walking Tours
Ambler Storytellers’ –The rich history of Ambler and especially its Butler Avenue properties.
On Saturdays at 3 PM (until approximately 4:30) on the following dates:
- September 21
- October 12
- October 19
- November 2
- November 16
- December 7
Reservations required/Groups of up to 12 guests.
No fees, however a $10 donation to the non-profit Wissahickon Valley Historical Society is suggested.
Your contribution to WVHS can be made at the tour or in advance: https://www.wvalleyhs.org/donate/
Register here for tours: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ambler-downtown-walking-tour-tickets-974142174467
Please click here to see our new video about the history of the Franklinville School, prepared by the Historical Society of Montgomery County to encourage donations to the renovations there. WVHS appreciates the assistance of the HSMC