Preserving the History of Ambler, Whitpain and Lower Gwynedd
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.
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.
Coming Events
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March-April 2020
In this issue:
Getting Involved with WVHS, The Story Behind a Recent Donation, A Short History of the Ambler Gazette, The Genealogy of a House and Franklinville School Gets a Safety Update
Read the expanded version of The Genealogy of a House in our Featured section!
Unless otherwise noted, WVHS programs take place at the 1895 Public School, 799 W. Skippack Pike, Blue Bell, PA 19422
All WVHS March and April meetings and events are cancelled/postponed. Please check back for updates.
Featured
The Geneology of a House
WVHS board member Joe Langella shares his research on his Lower Gwynedd home in an expanded article featured in our current newsletter.
Emmy Simon’s Postcard Collection
Emmy Simon is a longtime WHVS volunteer and board member. Her extensive postcard collection of the local area can be found below.
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