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After the Sweet shop closed, local contractor, John Mayes occupied the site as an office for his paving business. Later the building was the office of the Lee Stover Insurance Agency. Hair salons, Images and Dragonflies were located here prior to 2020. Currently, Pridmore Floral Design provides wedding floral designs from this 500 West Market Street address. RDoll |
Memories of Lesher’s Store
The thirty-fifth anniversary of the 1988 Perkasie Fire brings back memories of a Perkasie treasure lost that day, Lesher’s Variety Store. The store was started in 1926 as Beer’s Variety Store by A.A. Lesher. Later, the store was operated by Bentley Smith and beginning in 1984, by Gene Pritchard.
You could find anything at Lesher’s as both the first floor and basement counters and wall space were well stocked with merchandise.
You could find anything at Lesher’s as both the first floor and basement counters and wall space were well stocked with merchandise.
The store is remembered for its wooden floors, large candy section, toys, housewares, penny candy, trains, remote-controlled cars and basement with Christmas items and tropical fish. There was a small food area behind the candy section where they sold hot dogs, soda, and soft pretzels. And don’t forget sidewalk sales and sales during the holiday season. Shopping at Lesher’s was very memorable for all.
A short time after the fire, Gene Pritchard opened Lesher’s II a short distance away at 7th and Arch Street.
A thank you to the Pritchard Family for sharing their memories and photograph collection.
Additionally, Images of the Perkasie Historical Society Museum "1988 Fire Displays" can be found in the Perkasie Historical Society Photo Gallery
2013 25th Anniversary of the Perkasie Fire of 1988
2018 30th Anniversary of the Perkasie Fire of 1988
R.Doll
Goldberg Brothers
Quality Store
As teenagers, Harry and Samuel Goldberg left Lithuania for America and arrived at Ellis Island in 1905 with instructions to meet a certain contact in Philadelphia who would provide them with a place to stay and whatever they needed. Upon reaching Philadelphia, they were given a few articles of clothing, a meal and encouragement to keep moving outside the city where the cost of living was more affordable.
They settled in Perkasie, Bucks County where most folks spoke Pennsylvania Dutch- a local dialect of German. Though they spoke no English at the time, their Yiddish skills were sufficient to allow interaction in the community. They found cut-and-sew work in a local clothing factory paying $1.35 a week. When the brothers learned their foreman who had worked there for 30 years but was earning only $1.55, they decided this was not the career path they wanted to take and began planning to go into business for themselves.
Within a year or two, Isaac would join his brothers in Perkasie. In 1911 they would open their first retail establishment, Goldberg Brothers Quality Store.
The store was located at Sixth and Arch Streets on the site of the current Grandview Service Center. The Goldbergs catered to their working-class customers and purchased a horse and wagon to make home deliveries of the clothing and material goods they sold.
Samuel married and looking for larger markets to sell goods, left the partnership in 1914, moved to Philadelphia and eventually founded Goldberg Marine… a major retailer of boating supplies. Isaac also married, moved to Philadelphia and started I. Goldberg Army Navy. By 1915 the Goldberg’s Perkasie store closed and Harry moved to Souderton… eventually opening H. A. Goldberg’s Clothing Co. on East Broad Street. His business thrived into the mid-1960s when the business finally succumbed to the competitive pressures generated by area shopping centers and malls.
Story & photos contributed by Alan Weisberg, son of Jeanne Goldberg Weisberg and grandson of Harry & Anna Goldberg.
Ten Cent Shine
On March 30th, 2023, Perkasie lost a local legend with the passing of Robert “Bob” Benner, at the age of 101. Bob was always good for a story from days past. The following is one of his memories he shared of life in Perkasie in a simpler time.
I had a shoeshine stand at my father’s restaurant, the Colonial Café. The restaurant was located at 7th and Arch Streets in the building that is now apartments. I inherited the business from my older brothers, Clyde, Leroy, and Woodrow. I had a two-seater stand outside the restaurant in the summer and a one - seater inside during winter. Many of Perkasie’s businessman patronized the restaurant and needed their shoes shined.
I would use brushes to apply the shoe polish paste and a cloth to shine the shoes. The charge would be 10 cents for a shine or 25 cents for black and white shine. One particular businessman would always want his black and white shoes shined. I hated this job because it was difficult to keep the black shoe polish off the white leather.
Bob went on to become a star athlete at Sellersville - Perkasie High School, serve in the Coast Guard during WW II, serve on Perkasie Borough Council and volunteer for various organizations.
Rest in Peace Bob.
Rest in Peace Bob.
RDoll
Tragedy at 7th and Walnut
Streets
A tragic event occurred on September 11, 1938, when a north bound (towards Allentown) trolley car struck an automobile driven by William Reichard. His wife was a passenger in the car at the time. The accident was at Seventh and Walnut Streets where the trolley tracks crossed Seventh Street. The Perkasie Central News reported that Mrs. Reichard told the trolley motorman that “they saw the flasher signal but thought they could make it."
Unfortunately, Mr. Reichard was thrown from the car and was pronounced dead at the scene. Mrs. Reichard was transported to Grandview hospital and was treated for cuts and bruises and a fractured left arm and leg.
The Central News reported that the Reichards were Perkasie residents living on Eighth Street near Park Avenue. Mr. Reichard was a W.P. A. (Works Progress Administration) employee. They were familiar with the trolley crossing, having driven this route a few times a week to the downtown Perkasie area.
Unfortunately, Mr. Reichard was thrown from the car and was pronounced dead at the scene. Mrs. Reichard was transported to Grandview hospital and was treated for cuts and bruises and a fractured left arm and leg.
The Central News reported that the Reichards were Perkasie residents living on Eighth Street near Park Avenue. Mr. Reichard was a W.P. A. (Works Progress Administration) employee. They were familiar with the trolley crossing, having driven this route a few times a week to the downtown Perkasie area.
Thanks to Kimberly Gaston for sharing her family’s photo of the accident scene at Seventh and Walnuts Streets. The photo was taken from the top of the trolley tunnel looking down Walnut Street towards Sixth Street.
RDoll
Memories of Perkasie
Sharing interesting connections between Perkasie's people, places and events.
Rick and Louise Doll
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