Quakertown, PA

Quakertown Train Depot 1915

 

I found these historic photographs of Quakertown for Dad.

 

He was born on this farm in 1924 and didn't really leave Bucks County until he was drafted at the start of WWII.

When we lived there the 1950's, you could still take the train anywhere in the country. I remember a long trip west to visit Aunt Ruth in Colorado. It was a huge adventure, and a few memories still stand out: the Pittsburgh steel foundries glowing at night, the frightening experience changing trains in Chicago, our little bag of plastic toys, and especially the feel of scratchy seat upholstery on bare legs. Little girls did not wear pants back then.   

Quakertown has a rich, long history. It was originally part of the William Penn (1644-1718) holdings, a 1000-acre tract known as the "Manor of Richland."

Manor, indeed. Penn thought quite highly of himself as he snatched up huge tracts of "wilderness." Just a crossroad village with a tavern, Quakertown was a stopover for stagecoaches and commercial traffic between Allentown and Philadelphia.  
 
There was an extensive community of German farmers (Pennsylvania Dutch) but the village remained small until the railroad came through in 1855.  Then local industry took off, employing many of our relatives right up until the 1960's.

Small factories like this produced cigars, boots, shoes, clothing, tools, harnesses and stoves. 

There were a couple of hotels like The Bush House, the only places to stay before motels were invented.  I was surprised that the run-down Bush House is still operating as a boarding house. You can even find some hilarious Yelp reviews on the Internet.  What a world.

Sines 5&10 Cent Store and soda fountain is also still there, operated by the Harr family for over 100 years. This was where we went once a week clutching our nickle allowance, agonizing what to spend it on.  A wondrous place, where you can still buy just about anything.