Preserving the History of Ambler, Whitpain and Lower Gwynedd

The Wissahickon Valley Historical Society’s
Pandemic 2020 Initiative
To help capture the extraordinary experiences of our community
during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Wissahickon Valley Historical Society
is collecting stories and artifacts related to the pandemic of 2020. Images,
videos, diaries, poems, stories will all be accepted as part of the project.
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For attachments and files, please email them directly to
info@ wvalleyhs.org
or mail them to WVHS, P.O. Box 96, Ambler, Pa 19002
215-646-6541

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.

Announcements and Coming Events

Click to view our latest newsletter!

May-June 2020

In this issue:

The WVHS COVID-19 Community History Project, Finding History in 1940s Church Newsletters, Do You Know Anything About Prohibition in Our Area?, Congratulations to
Wissahickon School District!!! 

The Genealogy of a House

Read about WVHS board member Joe Langella’s research on his Lower Gwynedd home.

All WVHS meetings and events are cancelled/postponed until further notice. Please check back for updates. We hope everyone is doing well.

Unless otherwise noted, WVHS programs take place at the 1895 Public School, 799 W. Skippack Pike, Blue Bell, PA 19422

Who We Are
Learn More

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
Learn More

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
Learn More

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

Click on the picture or the title to learn more about Yen Ho’s website on Wissahickon Valley history!

Learn From the Past, Shape the Future

Pennsylvania’s Wissahickon Valley Region: A Story Worth Telling

Hello Everyone!
My name is Yen Ho, and I’ve been a member of the Wissahickon Valley Historical Society for 3
years. I am currently a graduate student at Drexel University, pursuing a Master’s degree in
Library and Information Science. Prior to Drexel, I earned my Bachelor’s degree in historic
preservation.
I always have a curiosity about my hometown in Ambler (technically I live in Whitpain
Township). What sparked my curiosity was the old buildings/homes that are still standing today
in the Wissahickon Valley (Ambler, Whitpain, and Lower Gwynedd). I want to know their
history, and whether or not they should be recognized.
I have a history background, and I have the opportunity to express it through my research in my
blog.
We invite you to sign up for our 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.

Wissahickon Valley Historical Society is a certified 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization