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.

About Us

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

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 1895 Public School

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.

Featured

Ambler Walking Tours are back for Fall 2025!

On the following Saturdays from 3 – 4:30:
Sept 20, Oct 4, Oct 18, Nov 1, Nov 22, Dec 6

Learn details about the architecture and history of Butler Avenue. Fun and unusual tales, guaranteed!

Groups of up to 12 guests

Tickets are $15 (Proceeds benefit restoration of the Ambler Train Station’s “Freight House”)

Participants receive a coupon from Tannery Run Brew Works

Registration Required in Advance:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ambler-downtown-walking-tour-fall-2025-tickets-1626330872419?aff=oddtdtcreator

Wissahickon Valley Historical Society

 

Wishes to thank the following for their contributions for the 50th Anniversary Luncheon

 

For Raffle or Silent Auction Items:

Act II Playhouse

American Helicopter Museum

Cantina Feliz

Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site

From the Boot

Grand Opera House, Wilmington

Harry’s Taproom

Longwood Gardens

McCaffrey’s Food Markets

Panache

People’s Light Theater

Philadelphia Museum of Art

Phil’s Tavern

Pudges Steaks & Hoagies

Reading Fightin Phils

Smoke & Mirrors Magic Theater

Urban Air Adventure & Trampoline Park

Wharton Esherick Museum

Winterthur

Wilma Theater

 

For purchasing an ad:

Ambler Savings Bank

Chow Law Firm

The Jane Douglas Team

Marie and Tom Goldkamp

Keller Williams Real Estate, Lei Berry, Realtor

Minuteman Press

Rotary Club of Blue Bell

Frank Russo

Spring House Travel

Verco Painting

 

For municipalities:

Borough of Ambler

Lower Gwynedd Township

Whitpain Township

 

For a personal donation:

Russ and Jeannie Bellavance

Kate Harper

Frank Russo

 

For helpful members:

Judy Baigis

Fawn Carey

Bernadette Dougherty

Barry Johnson

Chris Raines

Campaign to Preserve the Franklinville School

Donations are needed for the Franklinville School. In the past two years, WVHS has replaced the electrical panel, added drainage from the crawl space, replaced the front porch floor, repaired the porch roof, and replaced the roof. WVHS has done its best to find and use grant funding. However, water is still causing damage to the Franklinville School’s walls. We need to repair broken windowsills and paint and seal the outside walls.

Please consider a generous gift to WVHS, marked for the Franklinville School. You can make your check payable to “WVHS” and mail to: WVHS, P.O. Box 96, Ambler, PA 19002.

You can also donate using Venmo or PayPal at: https://www.wvalleyhs.org/donate/

Thank you!

Join WVHS for a Dine and Donate at Tannery Run Brew Works on September 25!

In the September issue of The Valley Crier you will find news about WVHS – and about history in the news: 

…READ MORE

Read Part 1 of Whitpain Farm in the September issue of Stroll Blue Bell 

READ MORE

We invite you to sign up The Valley Crier newsletter to stay informed of upcoming events, educational programs and community activities. Please email us at info@wvalleyhs.org if you prefer to have our newsletter mailed to you. Be sure to include your name and address, thank you.