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 818 Callowhill Street |  Outdoor fireplace 818 Callowhill Street. |
The home at 818 Callowhill Street now incorporates stones from Perkasie’s past. The stones, originally used for roads and, as part of a classic Perkasie home have been reused in the construction of two fireplaces and a wall along the Callowhill side of the house.
The smaller blocks with more rounded edges were Belgian block used for paving the roads. Thousands of blocks were used for Perkasie’s streets. The block roads were bumpy, noisy and could be slippery when wet. The block roads were eventually covered with asphalt and forgotten. Many years later, when roads needed improvements, the stones were revealed.
The smaller blocks with more rounded edges were Belgian block used for paving the roads. Thousands of blocks were used for Perkasie’s streets. The block roads were bumpy, noisy and could be slippery when wet. The block roads were eventually covered with asphalt and forgotten. Many years later, when roads needed improvements, the stones were revealed.
 Block road in front of the former Lehigh Valley Transit Trolley station, 513 W. Walnut St. |  The home at Market and Seventh Street made from Rockhill Gray Granite. |
The larger more irregular stones were from a house at Market and Seventh Streets, now the site of the town Christmas tree. The house was constructed of Rockhill Gray Granite, quarried locally at Rockhill Quarry. Constructed in 1896 by Joseph Hendricks, the house survived until 1967 when it was demolished as part of an urban renewal project.
Ed Snyder was able to save both types of stones, as they were being discarded. He and his Father-in-law did all the stonework, incorporating the Belgian block, Rockhill Granite and local fieldstones into both fireplaces and exterior wall. Ed recently moved from his house on Callowhill Street, but his stonework will continue to be appreciated for years to come.
Ed Snyder was able to save both types of stones, as they were being discarded. He and his Father-in-law did all the stonework, incorporating the Belgian block, Rockhill Granite and local fieldstones into both fireplaces and exterior wall. Ed recently moved from his house on Callowhill Street, but his stonework will continue to be appreciated for years to come.
Rick Doll 2022
The Ebeneezer Church
Weathervane
Postcard image courtesy of Matt Lynch postcard collection
At one time, located on the site of the current house at 105 South Fifth Street was Ebenezer United Evangelical Church. This brick church was constructed in 1894 by a congregation made up of former members of Bethel Evangelical Church. A split in the General Conference of the Evangelical Association in 1892 brought about the formation of this United Evangelical Church denomination.
When the Bethel and Ebenezer congregations reunited in 1922, a new church building was constructed on the Bethel Church site at Fifth and Market Streets. The unused Ebeneezer building was used for meetings of the Klu Klux Clan for a short time before being sold to Franklin Horn.
Franklin Horn was a local contractor and builder. In 1936 he demolished the Church building and constructed a brick home on the church site. Saved by Franklin Horn, the original church weathervane was placed atop the new house.
Upon Franklin Horn’s death, the house was owned by his daughter and son-in-law, Rachel and John Gerner. The home remains in the family today. The original Ebeneezer Church weathervane survives and continues to grace the roof of this house.
When the Bethel and Ebenezer congregations reunited in 1922, a new church building was constructed on the Bethel Church site at Fifth and Market Streets. The unused Ebeneezer building was used for meetings of the Klu Klux Clan for a short time before being sold to Franklin Horn.
Franklin Horn was a local contractor and builder. In 1936 he demolished the Church building and constructed a brick home on the church site. Saved by Franklin Horn, the original church weathervane was placed atop the new house.
Upon Franklin Horn’s death, the house was owned by his daughter and son-in-law, Rachel and John Gerner. The home remains in the family today. The original Ebeneezer Church weathervane survives and continues to grace the roof of this house.
Images from the Perkasie Historical Society archives
Rick Doll 2022
Remembering Nace's
Greenhouses
Walnut Street
 |  1955 Sanborn Map  1954 Perkasie Anniversary Book |
The townhouses, currently under construction, on Walnut Street across from American Heritage Credit Union are being built on the site of the Nace Greenhouses.
The Nace family became involved with this property in 1905 when S. Linford Nace and Oliver L. Nace bought the homestead of William Yost on Walnut Street below the Walnut Street Bridge. Oliver Nace bought the entire acreage of this farm in 1912 and built his home on the property.
In 1922, Oliver Nace, constructed his first greenhouse, 166 x 40 feet. As business continued to grow three more greenhouses were built. Number 2 greenhouse, 175 x 40 feet was built in 1923, number 3 greenhouse, 200 x 40 feet was built in 1926 and number 4 greenhouse 150 x 40 feet built in 1927.
The Nace Greenhouses began using a specialized growing program in 1922. Chrysanthemums were grown for Thanksgiving and Christmas season, poinsettias for Christmas, and geraniums for Memorial Day and Mother’s Day. Mums were worn by thousands to represent school colors at collegiate and high school football games.
Five more greenhouses were later added on the property in years, 1934, 1936, 1938, 1940, and 1945. Oliver Nace’s son, Aaron became involved in the business serving as production manager for 10 years. In 1940, he assumed management of the business. At one time, twelve to fourteen people were employed at the greenhouses.
The business was incorporated in 1977. William and Robert, sons of Aaron Nace, became the third generation involved with operation of the business. The greenhouses were closed around 2001.
In 2005 the greenhouses were demolished to make way for an over-fifty-five housing development. Those plans were put on hold and later changed due to a national recession. Finally in late 2020, construction began on a forty - nine townhouse development named “The Fields at Constitution Square." Kay builders are constructing the townhouses and occupancy will be later in 2022.
The Nace family became involved with this property in 1905 when S. Linford Nace and Oliver L. Nace bought the homestead of William Yost on Walnut Street below the Walnut Street Bridge. Oliver Nace bought the entire acreage of this farm in 1912 and built his home on the property.
In 1922, Oliver Nace, constructed his first greenhouse, 166 x 40 feet. As business continued to grow three more greenhouses were built. Number 2 greenhouse, 175 x 40 feet was built in 1923, number 3 greenhouse, 200 x 40 feet was built in 1926 and number 4 greenhouse 150 x 40 feet built in 1927.
The Nace Greenhouses began using a specialized growing program in 1922. Chrysanthemums were grown for Thanksgiving and Christmas season, poinsettias for Christmas, and geraniums for Memorial Day and Mother’s Day. Mums were worn by thousands to represent school colors at collegiate and high school football games.
Five more greenhouses were later added on the property in years, 1934, 1936, 1938, 1940, and 1945. Oliver Nace’s son, Aaron became involved in the business serving as production manager for 10 years. In 1940, he assumed management of the business. At one time, twelve to fourteen people were employed at the greenhouses.
The business was incorporated in 1977. William and Robert, sons of Aaron Nace, became the third generation involved with operation of the business. The greenhouses were closed around 2001.
In 2005 the greenhouses were demolished to make way for an over-fifty-five housing development. Those plans were put on hold and later changed due to a national recession. Finally in late 2020, construction began on a forty - nine townhouse development named “The Fields at Constitution Square." Kay builders are constructing the townhouses and occupancy will be later in 2022.
 1951 March 22 News Herald Ad |  |
Rick Doll 2022
The Town Tree
at
Perkasie Station
Perkasie Train Station was always the center of activity in downtown Perkasie. Newspaper articles throughout the years mention the community tree being located on the station lawn. A Perkasie Central News article from January 1942 states that the Reading Railroad granted Perkasie Chamber of Commerce permission to plant a large evergreen tree on the station property for use as the town Christmas Tree.
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Recently, Perkasie Historical Society added to their collection the original 1942 letter and blueprint from the railroad company allowing this to legally happen. From the blueprint shown here, it is noted, the tree was to be planted to the left of the station building. The recently constructed outdoor dining area was the approximate location of the tree.
It is not certain when the tradition of the tree at the station ended. It most likely continued until the tree located near the covered bridge in Lenape Park was erected in 1962.
It is not certain when the tradition of the tree at the station ended. It most likely continued until the tree located near the covered bridge in Lenape Park was erected in 1962.
Rick Doll 2021
The Central News Building
"Dog House"
106 N 7th St.
The former Central News Building now Hartman Systems & Controls, LLC 106 N. 7th Street
A pre-demolition tour of the Central News Building brought back many of Charlie Baum’s childhood memories. As a child, Charlie spent many hours in the building. His his father was the newspaper owner and publisher and his mother circulation manager. One memory was about a little white rooftop structure nick named “the doghouse."
The doghouse contained a fan used to ventilate the building since it was not air conditioned. There was a small hatch, in the upper floor ceiling, allowing the fan to draw cooler air in through the windows and exhaust the hot air out via louvers on one side of the doghouse.
On occasion, Charlie’s father would ask him to clean and oil the fan. Since he was the youngest, he would place a ladder on a worktable and climb up into the ventilation shaft to clean and oil the fan. He remembers it being “a very hot job."
The doghouse contained a fan used to ventilate the building since it was not air conditioned. There was a small hatch, in the upper floor ceiling, allowing the fan to draw cooler air in through the windows and exhaust the hot air out via louvers on one side of the doghouse.
On occasion, Charlie’s father would ask him to clean and oil the fan. Since he was the youngest, he would place a ladder on a worktable and climb up into the ventilation shaft to clean and oil the fan. He remembers it being “a very hot job."
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Images from the Perkasie Historical Society Archives
The doghouse became history on September 28, 2021, when the Central news building was demolished. Hartman Systems will be constructing a building on the property.
To hear more of Charlie Baum’s Central News stories, visit the "2021 Memories of and Demolition of the Central News Building" Photographic Gallery (perkasiehistory.org) section of the Perkasie Historical Society website.
| Rick Doll 2021 |
The Evolution of Perkasie Roads
According to an opinion article from an 1895 edition of the Central News, early roads surrounding Perkasie could pose quite the difficulty; “Perkasie streets in comparison with the surroundings are an example of going from the sublime to the awful. In rainy weather wagons sink in mud up to their axles, and horses wear their lives out tugging light loads through the mire.” Our roads and transportation methods have changed dramatically since this time, switching from dirt to pavement and horse-drawn carriages to cars. Yet one aspect which remains throughout the history of roads in Perkasie is the role of community involvement in repairs and maintenance.
In the same newspaper as supplied the earlier citation, there is another passage which discusses the part cyclists played in bringing attention to road conditions. It states, “The bicycling mania is upon us; the knee breeches of the men, and the bloomer costume of the women cyclers are familiar to us all. They fly hither and thither, and all with a purpose, too. Their critical eyes detect… the bad condition of our suburban and country roads. Their reports have led to road reforms.”
In the same newspaper as supplied the earlier citation, there is another passage which discusses the part cyclists played in bringing attention to road conditions. It states, “The bicycling mania is upon us; the knee breeches of the men, and the bloomer costume of the women cyclers are familiar to us all. They fly hither and thither, and all with a purpose, too. Their critical eyes detect… the bad condition of our suburban and country roads. Their reports have led to road reforms.”
1910 Olympian Cycle Club (OCC) at Menlo Park. Image from the Perkasie Historical Society Collection.
This trend of community members bringing attention to road conditions in the local vicinity continues throughout Perkasie’s history, as is apparent in the meeting minutes reports from the Perkasie Chamber of Commerce. For instance, in 1922 a section of Hagersville Road was graded and prepared for stoning by “taxpayers and friends from Perkasie” as part of a Good Roads Day project. Road signs were also frequently procured and erected by local clubs and organizations, like the signs placed at the intersection of 5th Street and Concrete Road in 1939 by the Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club, and Lions Club.
1910 William Unfried Supervising Road Construction on 4th St. at West Chestnut St. Postcard from the Perkasie Historical Society Collection
Perkasie roads were not only shaped by those within the community, but also by those visiting the community. As the home of Menlo Park, Perkasie welcomed a large number of tourists from places like Philadelphia. In 1895 it was voted to change the street names in Perkasie to match those of Philadelphia and make navigation easier for these visitors. Front Street became Market Street, Main Street became Chestnut Street, and so forth.
In 1890 Colonel Albert A. Pope wrote that “A nation, or an age of civilization, is perhaps more easily judged and understood by the character and extensiveness of its roads, than by any other symbol of progress.” In Perkasie the character and extensiveness of the roads are the result of community involvement and care stretching back to the town’s creation, with current road conditions and names reflecting this history.
Sources:
“Make Your Roads Better” May 9, 1895 Central News Article
Perkasie Chamber of Commerce 1922-1945 Transcription of Meeting Topics prepared by Louise Doll of the Perkasie Historical Society
Building Perkasie Roads Poster
“An Address” January 23, 1890 Central News Article by Col. Albert A. Pope
We thank Jillian Lunoe of Bryn Mawr College, for writing this article for Perkasie Historical Society's "Memories of Perkasie"
In 1890 Colonel Albert A. Pope wrote that “A nation, or an age of civilization, is perhaps more easily judged and understood by the character and extensiveness of its roads, than by any other symbol of progress.” In Perkasie the character and extensiveness of the roads are the result of community involvement and care stretching back to the town’s creation, with current road conditions and names reflecting this history.
Sources:
“Make Your Roads Better” May 9, 1895 Central News Article
Perkasie Chamber of Commerce 1922-1945 Transcription of Meeting Topics prepared by Louise Doll of the Perkasie Historical Society
Building Perkasie Roads Poster
“An Address” January 23, 1890 Central News Article by Col. Albert A. Pope
We thank Jillian Lunoe of Bryn Mawr College, for writing this article for Perkasie Historical Society's "Memories of Perkasie"
Rick Doll 2021
Milton Bean’s American House
American House Advertisement Central News December 26, 1895
It has always been assumed that Perkasie’s American House with its turret, wrap around porch, and rounded windows was designed by architect Milton Bean. Yet there was never much definitive documentation such as blueprints to confirm these suspicions.
A hotel was opened by Aaron Kern in the frame building at Seventh and Market Streets in 1870. Phillip S. Cressman purchased the hotel building in 1884 from the second owner, Oliver Nase. Having only “8 guest chambers” in the building, Cressman saw the need to construct a new hotel on the site. The frame structure was picked up and moved to North Sixth Street for use as a residence.
Constructed in 1894, the new brick hotel had 39 rooms that were heated by steam and lighted by gas. The tower “is probably the highest point in town, and from the observatory one can discern towns in three counties besides more than a dozen local villages.”
Not long ago, some of the American House blueprints, drawn by architect Milton Bean were discovered. They show the magnificent exterior details and the layout of the first-floor dining and bar area. The blueprints also show the details for the adjoining stores that were along the Seventh Street side of the hotel.
A hotel was opened by Aaron Kern in the frame building at Seventh and Market Streets in 1870. Phillip S. Cressman purchased the hotel building in 1884 from the second owner, Oliver Nase. Having only “8 guest chambers” in the building, Cressman saw the need to construct a new hotel on the site. The frame structure was picked up and moved to North Sixth Street for use as a residence.
Constructed in 1894, the new brick hotel had 39 rooms that were heated by steam and lighted by gas. The tower “is probably the highest point in town, and from the observatory one can discern towns in three counties besides more than a dozen local villages.”
Not long ago, some of the American House blueprints, drawn by architect Milton Bean were discovered. They show the magnificent exterior details and the layout of the first-floor dining and bar area. The blueprints also show the details for the adjoining stores that were along the Seventh Street side of the hotel.
 Proposed New Business Block for Mr. P.S. Cressman M. Bean, architect, Lansdale, PA |  American House Blueprint 1892 |
The American House remained in business, although in later years, the upstairs room were converted to apartments. The building was destroyed in the Perkasie Fire of 1988. The site remained vacant until 2015 -16 when the new “American House Building” was constructed for retail and residential use.
Rick Doll 2021
The Living Memorial
Second Street Playground: Perkasie Historical Society image
Shortly after the end of World War II, the Perkasie American Legion, Post 280, established the Living Memorial at the Second Street Playground. In the spring of 1947, a tree was planted along the Northern end of the park for each of the twenty-two local men who gave their lives during the war.
The trees serve as both a living memorial and as a beautification project of the popular park. The entire project cost of $600 was financed by the Hartzel - Crouthamel American Legion Post 280 and “was not to be construed as a town or community Memorial.”
News Herald Sept 4, 1947 Living Memorial Second Street Park headlines The Living Memorial was dedicated in September 1947. There was a parade through the streets of Perkasie to the playground where the dedication ceremony was held. A lacquered plaque bearing a scriptural passage and the names of the twenty-two who gave their lives was also dedicated.
Second Street Memorial Plaque: "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13
Today, there are many mature trees along the Market Street side of the Second Street Park. Although there is no official documentation, many of these trees most likely are still living memorials and continue to beautify our community. Each year on Memorial Day, American Legion Post 280 continues to honor their fallen comrades by placing flowers at the Memorial Plaque along Second Street.
Paul Clymer of the Hartzel-Crouthamel American Legion Post 280 placing flowers at the Second Street Memorial (2019)
Rick Doll 2021
The Perkasie Water
Tower/Tank
Part 2
Many thanks to Ed White, Richard Jahn, and Rick Bates for providing more information on the Reading Railroad water tank that was located at Eighth and Market Streets in Perkasie. Rich was able to find a 1940’s era aerial photo in the Anthracite Railroad Historical Society (ARHS) archives showing the water tank just to the left of the photo center.
Rick, of Reading Technical & Historical Society, found a 1947 News Herald photo and article that appeared when the tank was demolished. The newspaper article stated the tank was constructed of native stone in 1867 and had a capacity of 48,600 gallons.
Ed commented that it was an interesting reuse of water runoff from the tunnel. The tunnel is north of the tank and at a higher elevation. The elevation difference provided a natural source of water pressure for filling the tank and supplying water to the locomotives.
Also, of interest, the crane next to the water tank is preserved by Reading Company Technical & Historical Society located in Hamburg, PA.
Rick Doll 2021
Memories of Perkasie
Sharing interesting connections between Perkasie's people, places and events.
Rick and Louise Doll
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