Tours of the Whitpain Public School 1895 building are on the 2nd Sunday of the month from 1 to 4 PM, and by appointment. Member docents will be available to give tours. Our library is open to the public by appointment. Please contact us for more info.
The PUBLIC IS WELCOME to attend the following events. Programs start at 7:30 PM unless otherwise indicated. Please join us at the Schoolhouse at 799 Skippack Pike in Blue Bell, PA 19422. The programs are followed by light refreshments.
Members' Summer Picnic (join the Society and meet us!)
Program: Open House/Celebration of 1895 School House LIsting in the National Register of Historic Places.
Program: Antique Car Collecting.
Program: Homer-Laughlin China Co./Fiestaware.
Members' Holiday Party (join the Society and meet us!)
Program: History of St. John's Lutheran Church.
Program: Finding Your History/Collecting Oral History.
Fall Market Day/Flea Market at the Schoolhouse 8AM-2PM+. Dealers <click here> for more info.
Program: Learn about the Merci Train. After WWII, French civilians donated "Thank you" items enough to fill 49 railroad cars! These railroad cars and items survive today in museums and private collections.
Program: Local Historical Groups Share Open House Dates. <click here for more info>
Program: Students from Gwynedd Mercy Academy will share their multi-media presentations resulting from research done for History Day competition. History Day presentations
Speaker: Local students
April 13, 2009:
Program: Ambler's Saint Francis Day Celebration
Speaker: Angelo Mussari, former president and long time committee member.
Each spring the St. Francis Society of Ambler holds a local celebration, mass, parade, and community meal. Learn more about the tradition and its connections with Ambler history.
March 9, 2009:
Program: History of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Penllyn
Speaker: Rev. Quann, Pastor
Special location and time: To be held at the Bethlehem Baptist Church (corner of Dager Rd and Penllyn-Blue Bell Pike) at 7:00PM. <click here for directions>
February 9, 2009:
Program: History of the Philadelphia Phillies
Speaker: Rich Westcott, Writer
Special location: To be held at the Wissahickon Valley Public Library
<click here to learn more about the speaker>
Herman Ehret, Bob Whittock, and our guest speaker Rich Westcott at our February 9, 2009 meeting.
January 12, 2009:
Program: Women's Horticultural School of Ambler
Speaker: Peggy Johnston, WVHS
The Pennsylvania School of Horticulture for Women was among the first in the nation to educated women for careers in horticulture and agriculture. It was founded by Jane Bowne Haines whose family owned Wyck. In 1910 she and a "congress of women" managed the construction of numerous buildings and began the establishment of gardens and farm plots and an arboretum at the site off Meetinghouse Rd. in Upper Dublin. During WWI and WWII the school trained women to grow and preserve food for the war effort. In 2002 the school was recognized by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. The arboretum grounds are open to the public.
November 9, 2008 at 3:00PM:
Program: Veteran's Day Program: Tour of Boehm's Church and Cemetery
Location: Boehm's Church <click here for info and directions>
Speaker/Guide: Bob Whittock
October 11, 2008:
Annual Market Day
Everyone is Welcome!
<click here to see photo's of the event!>
October 13, 2008:
Program: Ambler from the People's Point of View
Speaker: Wissahickon Middle School Students/The Highlands
September 8, 2008:
Program: Members share Summer adventures
Speaker: Open to all WVHS members
May 12, 2008:
Program: Handcrafted Folk Music Instruments
Speaker: John MacMillan, Instrument Maker
April 14, 2008:
Program: Second Empire, What's That?: A Survey of Architectural Styles & Details
Speaker: Peg Johnston, WVHS Member
February 11, 2008:
Program: Members Share from Their Expertise & Collections
Speaker: WVHS Members
January 14, 2008:
Program: Civilians in the Civil War: Fighting the War on the Home Front
Speaker: Paula Gidjunis, Civil War Expert
November 12, 2007:
Program: The Amana Society of Iowa
Speaker: Art Driedger, WVHS Member & Former History Teacher
October 13:
Fall Market Day/Flea Market at the School House
8AM - 2PM
October 8, 2007:
Program: Meet General Meade
Speaker: Anthony Waskie, PA Humanities Council
September 10, 2007:
Program: Growth of Montgomery County Since WWII
Speaker: Arthur Loeben, RSVP & Former Director, Montgomery Co. Planning Commission