Souderton

Historical Building Markers
Historical Building Markers

by Ron Alderfer | Apr 2026 | ,

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. 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...

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Art in Sacred Spaces
Art in Sacred Spaces

by Ron Alderfer | Jan 2026 | ,

‘Art in Sacred Spaces’ honors our legacy Historical society invites community to uncover hidden treasures The United States is marking its Semiquincentennial this year — 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence. This milestone invites us to reflect on the freedoms that have shaped our country: to seek a better life, to live in peace, and to worship as we choose. These ideals brought new communities such as Souderton and Telford to life and inspired remarkable creativity. To honor this special national anniversary, the Souderton-Telford Historical Society is proud to hold its first fund-raising event: Art in Sacred Spaces. In partnership with six local churches and the Mennonite Heritage Center, we invite you to join a self-guided driving tour celebrating the artistic and historical gems in our own backyards. The idea for Art in Sacred Spaces was inspired by a tour guide in Ireland, who told a group of American visitors that we ignore the history in our small...

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Holly Brothers
Holly Brothers

by Sue Bowman | Dec 2025 | , ,

Special edition December 2025 Holly Bros. ‘handkäse’ once a Souderton staple   Editor’s note: The historical society earlier this year was contacted by a writer from Lancaster Farming, a weekly agricultural newspaper based in Ephrata, Lancaster County, looking for information on Holly Bros. Hand Cheese — a Souderton landmark in earlier decades. The society was able to provide information on the business and participate in the placing of a historical marker in September. We thought our readers would enjoy the resulting article, which was published in October. So here is a holiday special edition of our Gazette, with thanks to Lancaster Farming for permission to reprint the piece written by its correspondent Sue Bowman. Sept. 13 was a red-letter day in Souderton, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania: A ceremony at the borough’s Holly’s Hill Park unveiled a new 3-by-4-foot interpretive sign commemorating the Holly brothers and their cheese factory, which once stood on the site....

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Legion and VFW
Legion and VFW

by Edie Adam | Dec 2025 | , ,

Veterans’ service continues at home, thanks to American Legion, VFW posts with research by Cory Alderfer The work of winding down World War II was well under way when the Souderton Independent reported on Dec. 6, 1945, that Cpl. Nicholas Rohs had arrived at his father’s home in Hilltown Township to begin rest furlough. He had been captured at Corregidor in the Philippines in 1942 and spent three years, 11 months, and four days as a prisoner of the Japanese. Rohs, the newspaper reported, was “well on his way” to full recovery. For World War II veterans — and generations before and since — a return to civilian life was just the beginning. Many would look for comradeship and advocacy in organizations that had been founded for those purposes. Fortunately, veterans here could turn to two such groups: In Souderton, American Legion Post 234 had been present since 1919, chartered in the shadow of what was then called the Great War. In neighboring Telford, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5308...

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Recipe for a fun life? Sell a fun product in your hometown for 50 years.
Recipe for a fun life? Sell a fun product in your hometown for 50 years.

by Richard Detwiler | Sep 2025 | , ,

Scott Landes once told a reporter he was “a Souderton boy through and through.” Known by everyone as Scooter, Landes marked 50 years in town as a small business running his bike shop. You may know the story of how he got his start back in July 1975, but when the Souderton-Telford Historical Society interviewed him, Scooter also shared a range of memories of growing up and working in town. STHS: So, basically my assignment from the historical society was inspired by someone who saw you peeking out the door in the mural photograph in the restaurant. Scott Landes: The first time we ate there, I took my wife. We’re walking out. I love these old pictures of Souderton.  I did like a double take. I went, “Oh my gosh, what?” Then I said to our young waitress, “Hey, see that guy there? That’s me.” And she looked at me and said, “No way”. I grew up here in Souderton. My father was an internist at Grand View (hospital, now part of St. Luke’s). I went to Souderton, went to Albright College, and...

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100 years of vision, courage, action, generosity
100 years of vision, courage, action, generosity

by Cory Alderfer | Jul 2025 | ,

Researched and written by Cory Alderfer Souderton was grossly behind the times. Unlike other towns located along the Reading Railroad, there were no public parks for children to play safely. This, among other issues, was an unfortunate state of affairs. By the late 1800s, adults had begun creating numerous athletic, social, fraternal, and volunteer opportunities for themselves within Souderton and Telford. But no dedicated safe play space for children had yet been built. In 1921, nine-year-old Ernest Walter Hunsberger was killed by a car while riding his bike.  Even after that loss, it was another three years — 1924 — before residents of Noble, East Broad, and South Front streets took matters into their own hands. With the help of their children, the adults sold refreshments that summer, raising money to purchase a sliding board to be placed on an empty lot on Noble Street. The many failed attempts to raise interest in organizing a Souderton Playground Association were one of the...

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The Purple Death
The Purple Death

by Cory Alderfer | Sep 2024 |

While many have heard of the Spanish Influenza, far fewer know the details of this disease, or how it affected the families of the local community.

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Hillside Cemetery
Hillside Cemetery

by Craig Silsbee | Jan 2023 |

Souderton Borough and the Historical Society work together to restore the neglected walls of Hillside Cemetery. Here is the story.

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Small-town Farm Boys Go To Sea
Small-town Farm Boys Go To Sea

by Peggy Reiff Miller | Nov 2022 |

Guest-author Peggy Reiff Miller recounts the story of two “Seagoing Cowboys” – local teens Herbert Wenger and Marvin Garis, as they serve during World War II.

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A Hillside Avenue Memoir
A Hillside Avenue Memoir

by Marian Eide | Jan 2022 |

Guest-author Marian Eide shares a rousing game of “Do You Remember?” as she recounts the memories of her youth, growing up on Hillside Avenue.

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Souderton Medicine Bottles
Souderton Medicine Bottles

by David Buck | Nov 2021 |

Guest-author David Buck collects antique bottles of many types. In this issue, he tells us about four local doctors and shows us samples of their medicine bottles.

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Family Secrets
Family Secrets

by Emily O'Rourke | Sep 2021 |

Guest-author Emily O’Rourke was a 17-year-old high school student at the time of this writing. We are thrilled that Emily was willing to share this story of a long-held family secret – which sheds light on a different era in local history.

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A Sense of Community
A Sense of Community

by Doug Shupinski | May 2021 |

Guest-author Doug Shupinski paints a warm portrait of his life and memories growing up in our local community; and what we can all learn from it.

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Independent-isms
Independent-isms

by Cory Alderfer | Nov 2020 |

Most small-town newspapers have their quirks, and items that seem humorous today. So it is with this collection from our own Souderton Independent. Smile!

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Delivering Lessons in a Milk Truck
Delivering Lessons in a Milk Truck

by Matt Shupinski | Sep 2020 |

This issue highlights something that many of our readers have never experienced – a local milkman. These illustrations honor a time and a lifestyle that is now gone; but still valuable.

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A Conversation with Clarence Moyer
A Conversation with Clarence Moyer

by Dan Yocum | Mar 2020 |

There is nothing better for a historian than to have a live conversation with someone who lived through the historical highs of a community. Guest-author Dan Yocum has recorded just such an experience with Souderton resident Clarence Moyer.

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The Herman Funke House
The Herman Funke House

by Craig Silsbee | Nov 2019 |

Herman Funke was one of many who found a place here in Souderton. A place to live, marry, and start a business. Member Craig Silsbee relates the story of his current home, and of Herman’s life here.

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The Deli Shops of Souderton
The Deli Shops of Souderton

by Jake Senkow | Jul 2019 |

Among the many “mom and pop” businesses in Souderton, probably none has garnered the amount of comments and memories as The Deli Shops of Souderton, and owners Bob and Shirley Derstine. Told by guest-author (and their grandson) Jake Senkow.

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Souderton School District Memories
Souderton School District Memories

by Wendy Leshinskie | Jan 2019 |

No matter our age, we all have memories of our school days. In this issue, we read about some of Wendy Leshinskie’s memories as she moved through the Souderton School District’s facilities.

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100th Anniversary of World War I
100th Anniversary of World War I

by Rev James Shelly | Nov 2018 |

On the 100th Anniversary of World War I, we get to read about some local family connections to that fateful event by guest-author Rev James Shelly. Thank you to all who have served.

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Zion Mennonite Fisk Organ
Zion Mennonite Fisk Organ

by Jon Leight | Sep 2018 |

Among the many unique things about our Souderton /Telford communities, here is one hiding in plain sight! Jon Leight tells of the history and special nature of the organ at Zion Mennonite Church.

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Churches
Churches

by Souderton-Telford Historical Society | Jan 2017 |

How much do you know about the earliest church in Souderton? Here is an interesting article about that very thing!

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Home of Henry O. Souder
Home of Henry O. Souder

by Cory Alderfer | Aug 2016 |

Our second ever newsletter – fittingly enough – tells the story and history of Henry O. Souder and his home on Main Street Souderton

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