The location of this building
“This was the largest retail establishment between Allentown and Philadelphia for almost 100 years. The facade obscured the fact that the building actually was home to two separate businesses: J.M. Landis & Co., a department store, and Souder & Crouthamel, a hardware store.”
The original general store
In 1860, Henry O. Souder opened a general store located just to the left of this location. That building in later years became known as the G.M. Haas restaurant. In 1861 Henry erected a large wooden hardware store on this site, with tinsmith Benjamin Wolford operating on the second floor. This came to be known as the Souder & Crouthamel Hardware store.
Fast forward to 1882, when the thriving general store, now owned by Jonas M. Landis and Ellis H. Souder, was seeking space for new lines of merchandise. In 1893, the owners of both businesses commissioned Lansdale architect Milton B. Bean to design two adjoining brick buildings that would present a unified façade.
The new twin store buildings
The left side became home to J.M. Landis & Co., while the right housed Souder & Crouthamel Hardware. The building earned the distinction of being “the largest store between Philadelphia and Allentown” and was known as “The Mammoth Store”. Look up, as the initials of the original owners can still be seen carved in stone near the roofline.
J.M. Landis & Co. was sold in 1926 to Ellis Souder and his sons-in-law, John Yocum and E. Stanley Godshalk, becoming Yocum, Godshalk & Co. After Adam Crouthamel’s death in 1944, his sons Hastings and Trostle assumed control, renaming the hardware business Crouthamel Bros.
In more modern times
Despite its unified appearance, customers had to step outside to move between the two stores. Many longtime residents also fondly recall the round, ice-cold water fountain in the Yocum, Godshalk store – a popular stop for schoolchildren. The fountain remains today, though no longer in service. The entire building now forms part of Univest Corporation’s headquarters.
The historical markers were made possible by generous donations from Souderton Connects, Univest Corp, and the Souderton-Telford Historical Society. We hope you enjoy them.
