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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End of Year Request!

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.

As 2024 draws to a close, please consider a generous gift to WVHS, marked for the Franklinville School. “Giving Tuesday” approaches. Please make your check payable to “WVHS” and mail to WVHS, P.O. Box 96, Ambler, PA 19002. Or you can donate using Venmo or PayPal at: https://www.wvalleyhs.org/donate/

Thank you!

4500_046_Franklinville School House Postcard_Normandy Farm_Gwynedd Valley PA_Side View

 

 

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

WVHS Pot-Luck Holiday Party!

Monday, Dec 9, at 6:30 PM at the 1895 Schoolhouse

Dues-paying Members: Free. Others: $15 per person (Or pay your dues, $25 per individual/$35 per couple, at https://www.wvalleyhs.org/join-us-2/ ) Bring: appetizer, side-dish, or dessert (and serving utensils) WVHS Providing: ham, beverages, and wine samples. Also: BYOB Please respond by Dec 5 with your number of guests and food contribution to info@wvalleyhs.org

On our usual meeting night, please join us for our annual “pot-luck” December party on Monday, December 9th, at 6:30 PM (Note the early start time.) The party is free for paid members, and $15 per person for nonmembers. As a change of pace from last year, the historical society will supply a spiral-cut ham, so please bring either an appetizer, side-dish, or dessert, and serving forks and spoons. Also note that this party is a BYOB! In addition, the historical society will serve samples of the wine from the Gwynedd Hall Celebration.

Holiday Pot-luck Party: Monday, December 9, 6:30 PM

Welcome December and Happy Holidays! In this issue of The Valley Crier you will find news about WVHS – and about history in the news: 

…READ MORE

Read about the 1774 Blue Horse Tavern in the December issue of Stroll Blue Bell

READ MORE

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.

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

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.