Perkasie's Christmas HousePerkasie’s “Christmas House” with its extensive lighting display and unique handmade items is a local favorite during the holiday season. Located on busy Fifth Street, the display is enjoyed by many who drive by each day. For some, an up-close visit that includes a few photos has become an annual tradition. The house, located at 308 N. Fifth Street, is home to Ken and Lois Heitz who moved to Perkasie in 1996. In the past the house was part of the Freed Glass Company located next door. Many design features of this house, attributed to Lansdale architect Milton Bean, help to make it magical when decorated for Christmas. The Heitz’s both enjoy Christmas and spend many hours decorating the interior and exterior of their home. Having worked many years in retail, including 20 years as the Doylestown BonTon manager, Ken is experienced in display design and placement. A display highlight is the yellow carousel that was inspired by the Perkasie Menlo Park Carousel. The 12-foot-tall display with 12- wooden horses was drawn by Lois, then cut out and painted by Ken. Other custom display items include six, 8-foot-tall double candy canes, two, 8-foot-tall nutcrackers and a 10-foot tall “Believe” sign. The red “Season’s Greetings” sign was once hung over the main entrance of Hess’s Department Store in Doylestown. This store later became BonTon. In 2023 Ken and Lois announced this would be the last year for their Christmas display in Perkasie. They will be giving the display to their son Andrew who will continue the tradition at his home in Alabama. There is only a short time left before the Heitz’s display is dismantled and moved. Take time during this busy holiday season to stop for a final look and maybe get a photo on the swing. Thanks to Lois and Ken for providing great Perkasie Christmas memories for all of these years. Images : RDoll, Perkasie Historical Society Archives.
Rdoll
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The Duck FarmThe Perkasie Historical Society Museum receives all kinds of donations from all different eras, but it is always exciting when we receive an artifact that can be tied to other items in our collection. We recently completed archiving a large number of deeds, a few which were for properties along what is now the east Branch Perkiomen Creek by Kulp Park on 2nd street, Perkasie. Research confirmed that on April 15, 1897, Henry O. Moyer and Isaac Groff purchased 26 acres and 2 lots of land from Charles Bissey. By September of the same year, they had improved the property with the building of a barn to be fitted with incubators to raise ducks. The creek was also dammed, and 2 artificial lakes were to be built to raise fine food fish as well as providing water for the ducks. This was confirmed by correspondence found in an envelope labeled “Marge Cusante's grandmother.” The letter dated July 25, 1898, between “Lorna” and Elizabeth” mentions going down to the duck farm to see the ducklings. However, by October of 1898, Henry O. Moyer and Isaac Groff announced that the land purchased from Charles Bissey would be sold, although it wasn’t until September 5, 1907, that the Henry O. Moyer Estate sold the duck farm. The land was further divided into lots and new pavements were installed. In April 1924, the Perkasie school board purchased 12 acres between 2nd Street and the creek, and in 1930 the public playground was opened. Today this is the Frank R. Kulp Playground. S.Murga, L.Doll, RDoll
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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
Darius Sine Mt Alto Coal
Yard
by
Charles Baum
At the October 2022 Perkasie Historical Society meeting, former society President, Charles Baum presented a horse harness hames cover from Darius Sine Coal yard. The harness hames cover was donated by his sister, Martha Baum Walker. The following is a brief history of the Darius Sine business that was given by Charles Baum that evening.
How many of you remember the long-established business at 8th and Vine at the railroad underpass?
Mt. Alto Coal Yards were built by Abram S. Benner in 1886 and before completion, the large shed was destroyed by a cyclone. A year later it was rebuilt, and the business was sold to Henry L. Texter. In 1890 it was acquired by W.H. Savacool who operated it until 1902. After sheriff sale, it came the procession of Perkasie Building and Loan Association until 1904 when Darius Sine purchased the property.
How many of you remember the long-established business at 8th and Vine at the railroad underpass?
Mt. Alto Coal Yards were built by Abram S. Benner in 1886 and before completion, the large shed was destroyed by a cyclone. A year later it was rebuilt, and the business was sold to Henry L. Texter. In 1890 it was acquired by W.H. Savacool who operated it until 1902. After sheriff sale, it came the procession of Perkasie Building and Loan Association until 1904 when Darius Sine purchased the property.
The business grew rapidly and according to the Perkasie 1929 Anniversary Book, they sold 10,000 tons of coal, 1500 tons of lime plus cement, sand, feed, and straw in 1928. Mr. Sine became the first in the area to deliver coal by truck and the first to use electric loaders and conveyor belts.
Darius Sine died in 1929 at the age of 65 and his sons William R. Sine and Paul R. Sine operated the business as Darius Sine Estate. They then ended the feed business and concentrated on building supplies other than lumber. In 1938 they added kerosene and fuel oil along with paints.
The business lasted until 1970. Today the red building, one block behind the post office houses several small businesses including a cabinet maker and window fabricators.
Memories of Perkasie
Sharing interesting connections between Perkasie's people, places and events.
Rick and Louise Doll
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