This coming Wednesday, The Reporter will publish a special section titled “Remember When ... Looking Back at the Transportation Revolution.”
So we thought it would be fun, as a precursor to Wednesday’s special section, to feature another form of transportation.
These photos, submitted by Dan Albright, both spotlight a beloved mode of travel, the horse. Well, in one case, a pony.


The shot with the horse features Horace F. Weachter, who was Lansdale’s streets and park supervisor. Albright said it probably was taken in the 1930s, and that the photo most likely was taken on Railroad Avenue, near Main Street, Lansdale.


The other photo shows Robert Albright, who then lived on Woodland Drive in Lansdale.
It was taken about 1948, and Albright said the photographer would come to grade schools and homes in Lansdale and take pictures featuring children on the pony with, obviously, the hope that parents would then buy the photos.
So now we hope you all are primed for Wednesday’s special section, filled with stories and photos that will help you “remember when...”

With the Olympics grabbing so much attention these days, we thought it would be fun to show you some photos of several local sports teams from years gone by.
These photos were submitted by John Telencho of Upper Gwynedd, who noted that he had bought the photos recently at an auction and really had no further information on them, other than what was marked on the pictures themselves.
But they are great shots of some local athletes, and include the Lansdale High School football team from 1930:

the Lansdale High School girls basketball team from 1928:

and the Lansdale High School relay team from 1931, a photo that also bears the note of “Jimmie” Crawford, well known to local athletes.

They may not have made it to the Olympics, but these athletes obviously have earned their place in history.
Thanks, John, for sharing these great snapshots of an earlier athletic age.

It was 35 years ago...And this weekend the scene will replay, at least to some extent, as the Philadelphia Folk Festival takes up residence in Upper Salford at the Old Pool Farm.These shots were taken in 1973 and appeared in The Reporter on Aug. 31 of that year, but people attending the Folk Festival this year may attest that the scenes are quite similar.Take, for example, the photo of the festival-goers walking away from the camping area in their shorts, skimpy tops or, in the case of the man, no tops.The photo of the infant is a bit of a standout, however. Apparently this kid didn’t hear the rule about “bottoms must be worn.”And it is a kick to see the old-fashioned tape-recording equipment and those huge earphones.

We wonder if this kid is now an adult festival-goer.The Philadelphia Folk Festival kicks into gear this Friday in Upper Salford and runs through Sunday, with the usual eclectic mix of performers, workshops, food and crafters.And, we’re sure, everyone will be hoping for cool, dry weather.Unless they’ve forgotten their pants, that is.

Since the Montgomery Country 4-H Fair is coming up this Thursday, Friday and Saturday, we thought we’d dip back into our archives and see what was going on at the fair in, say, 1974.
As these photos show, some of our local “personalities” were busy at the celebrity cow-milking contest.
Shown in the photos, from left, are winner Dick Heist, who was program director of radio station WNPV (maybe it was his snappy outfit that helped him win); second-place finisher Willard Krieble, who was chief photographer for The Reporter at the time (nice pants, Bill); and Wallace S. Hendricks, who was Lansdale’s police chief and, according to the caption information published in 1974, “experienced udder failure.” Hey, at least he dressed professionally for the contest!
Ah, those were the days.
Alas, it doesn’t look like there is a cow-milking contest in the fair’s present form.
But you can still experience other fun at the 4-H Fair starting Thursday evening, which is held at the 4-H Center on Route 113, Skippack Township.
The fair runs Thursday from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., with highlights that include opening ceremonies, pony rides, horse-drawn hayrides, animal costume class, swine judging, cat show, and honoring of outstanding 4-H members.
Friday’s hours are 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. and events include shows of dairy animals, poultry, rabbits, pygmy goats and beef cattle, a 4-H Seeing Eye Puppy presentation, pony rides, the cooking of the World’s Largest Sausage Patty at 6 p.m., courtesy of Hatfield Quality Meats, the Daisy Jug Band at 6:30 p.m. and a baking contest.
Saturday’s hours are 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and events include quilting demonstrations, an Equine Parade of Breeds, a model rocket launch at 12:15 p.m., fashion revue, pony rides and the annual pet show at 1:30 p.m., which is open to the public.
Admission to the fair is free, but there is a $5 parking donation. Sales of food and crafts are at extra cost.
A list of fair events can be found online at http://montgomery.extension.psu.edu or by calling the 4-H office at (610) 489-4315.