Society tells town’s history through its buildings
Hard to believe, but some of the country’s most important historical sites exist only because of volunteer historical societies. It was 1858 before the Mt. Vernon Ladies Association acquired the estate from the Washington family and began an ongoing preservation effort. Otherwise, we
might not have the home of the nation’s first president to visit.
The Souderton-Telford Historical Society has a similar purpose: to preserve and share the places and stories of our towns for the future. We’ve done that for the last decade via our newsletter and other education projects. But in 2026, when America’s history is front and center, we are excited to be completing a project to identify and mark the significant buildings that tell the history of Souderton.
It was a rainy morning, but members of the historical society were on
the scene when the Hotel Souderton marker was installed. From left are
Jeff Gross, Brent Bernd, Ron Alderfer and Cory Alderfer.
We have worked with the owners of those buildings in a voluntary, non-binding program. The educational markers briefly explain the history and importance of each location to the growth and development of the borough. QR codes on each bronze marker open a longer article on our website with more details. This allows residents and visitors to take a walking tour of the historic locations.
The society has received contributions from Souderton Connects and Univest to help pay for the initial set of 10 markers. We hope this will inspire interest among owners in the borough to learn more about the history of their properties, including private homes.
The markers have now been professionally installed, and we invite you to look for them as you make your way around town. Families and groups will enjoy using the QR codes to learn more about our town.
Here, in no special order, are the 10 markers to look for:
Historical Society President Brent Bernd, right, gives installer Scott Herbein a hand with the marker for Liberty Hall.
- Henry O. Souder home c. 1834: This building is among the oldest in town. Owned by Henry O. Souder, he sold it along with land to the railroad company in 1852. The town that grew around what was then Souder’s Station on the North Pennsylvania Railroad was named “Souderton” in 1887.
- Hotel Souderton 1855: The Hunsberger family saw an opportunity with the arrival of the railroad in the 1850s and established the area’s first restaurant and hotel. Many of its patrons were here for business such as the cattle auctions held nearby.
- The Souderton Independent Newspaper Offices 1890 and 1909: Owner and editor William F. Goettler began publishing as the Souderton Independent in 1881, reporting the news, and encouraging growth and expansion with his editorials.
- Liberty Hall 1881: This building, then the largest of its kind in Montgomery County, served the town as a space for community gatherings of all sorts. Cattle and livestock auctions were held behind the hall with stables and livery teams available for rent.
- Union National Bank 1877: Souderton’s hometown bank, chartered in marker for Liberty Hall. 1876, moved into this building atop the hill in the heart of town the following year. In 1929, it moved to the large limestone bank built on W. Broad Street.
- Cigar Factory 1897: Built to attract more industry to town, cigar manufacturers Theobold and Oppenheimer leased the space in 1899. It’s an example of the factories that made items from cigars to textiles at the turn of the 20th century.
- J.M. Landis & Co. and Souder & Crouthamel Building 1893: This was the largest retail establishment between Allentown and Philadelphia for almost 100 years. Despite appearances, the building was home to two separate businesses: J.M. Landis & Co., a department store, and Souder & Crouthamel, a hardware store.
Building locations for the ten markers.
- Electric Light and Water Pumping Plant 1899: This is the second of our buildings constructed by the Souderton Improvement Company. It would generate electricity for lighting and to pump water from the well fed by the headwaters of the Skippack Creek. It was also used for the borough hall, and fire and police stations, among other purposes.
- H.K. Godshall Feed & Grain Mill 1864: The earlier part of the building was constructed by Herman K. Godshall as a feed and grain mill. It was acquired by Moyer & Bro. in 1869 and expanded in 1882 to serve what was then a large farming community.
- Reading Railroad -Souderton Station 1927: Replacing the 1865 wood-framed Souder’s Station, this iron, stone and stucco building is a symbol of the importance of the railroad to the town’s growth. When rail travel was at its peak, an average of 51 passenger and freight trains passed through town each day.
The marker project is one that members of the historical society have been working on for several years. Our goal was to identify those existing buildings that represent key factors in the history of Souderton Borough. It’s not just about the old buildings but what they tell us about how Souderton developed, grew and changed in the last 175 years. This involved research, writing, discussion, editing, fund-raising and outreach.
The markers provide only the highlights. Lots more interesting details are shared via the QR codes on each marker. We hope to see residents, visitors and school groups following the tour through Souderton’s history!
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If you are looking for a fun Mother’s Day gift, we suggest tickets to the society’s event, Art in Sacred Spaces. The afternoon, self-guided tour of six
churches will delight visitors of all ages with beautiful artwork, history and activities to help commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Tickets are $15 for those age 13 and older. For your convenience, tickets are available for purchase online. Or scan the QR code to open the webpage and make your purchase. The emailed receipt is your ticket.
To read more about Art in Sacred Spaces, open our recent newsletter.
Follow us on Facebook (@SoudertonTelfordHistory) or visit our website, where our newsletters are tagged for easy reading. We thank pixelMIGHT for donating its services. Email newsletter@soudertontelfordhistory.org.
The Souderton-Telford Historical Society is a 501(c)(3) non-profit. Your contribution helps to collect, preserve, and share the history of our towns. Use the DONATE button on our Facebook page. Or mail tax-deductible donations to:
Souderton-Telford Historical Society
127 E. Broad St.
Souderton PA 18964
