Way back in 1972, Lansdale celebrated its centennial.

Some of you may still have the centennial commemorative book that was produced that year, marking the celebration that ran from May 27 to June 3, 1972.

Above the dedication in that book, to Dr. John B. Jacobs, was the following:

“This is not a detailed history of a place or things. It is the story of people -- people from the past and people of today leaving, hopefully, a legacy for the people of tomorrow. Individuals shape events and groups of individuals shape places. And so we’ve tried to concentrate on the ‘people aspect’ of our community. Come our 200th anniversary, we hope the celebrants can review our work and say with some degree of nostalgia, ‘That’s how it was in Lansdale in 1972.’”

Well, another 100 years has not yet passed, but we do have a photo that was featured in the centennial book, on a page of photos labeled “Pre-Centennial Activities, April-May 1972.”

Shown here, in a photo snapped by former Reporter chief photographer Willard Krieble and provided by the Lansdale Historical Society, we see the Centennial Belles, strolling along in all their glory.

Unfortunately, we don’t have identifications for these fair ladies. But perhaps some of you out there may recognize a face or two.

Hard to believe that was more than 35 years ago!