Tomorrow is the inauguration of the first African-American president in the United States, Barack Obama.

And this election year there was a strong contest that involved a female candidate, Hillary Clinton.

But this certainly wasn't the beginning of women's involvement in the political world, as evidenced just a bit by today's photo, although on a rather different level.


This information with this picture, submitted by Judy Dailey of Upper Gwynedd, notes:

"Globe-conscious, modern-day Betsy Rosses of the Montgomeryville Homemakers Club, who made the first hand-sewn UN flag in the Philadelphia area, work on a second at the Lansdale home of Mrs. Edmond G. Bigoney, club president."

Shown from left are Mrs. Edwin Stanley, Mrs. Boyd Clowney, Mrs. Malcolm MacFarland Jr., Mrs. Bigoney and Mrs. Albert Greenberg.

Mrs. Clowney was Dailey's mother, and she said the club "got quite a bit accomplished" in its day. She also noted that she wished she knew what happened to the flags.

We don't have a date for this photo, but Dailey estimated it was the late 1940s or early 1950s.

And obviously it was before newspapers, and society, changed to using a woman's first name when identifying her, instead of linking her to her husband.

When you look at today’s Remember When photo, you may wonder why this orchestra is posing in a field.

Lansdale Historical Society President Dick Shearer wondered the same thing when he submitted this photo of the Lansdale Symphony Orchestra, taken somewhere around 1905.

He jokingly noted, “I can only imagine that the groundhogs dug for cover when they started to play!”

All kidding aside, the historical society takes a look at “Culture Comes to Lansdale” this Tuesday when it presents the first community program of the new year, at 7:30 p.m. in the Lansdale Parks and Recreation Building, Lansdale Avenue and Seventh Street.

Note that the doors open at 6:50 p.m.

Shearer will narrate the program, which will focus on early efforts to bring the cultural arts to town in the early 1880s.

The formation of the original Lansdale Symphony Orchestra, the Lansdale Band and the Literary Society will be described as part of the program, which also will cover the construction of the Music Hall Theater as the borough’s first cultural arts auditorium and the varied traveling acts that performed there — everything from operettas to vaudeville.

Also included will be a look at the North Penn Symphony Orchestra under conductor Leonard Murphy, in time for Lansdale’s centennial celebration in 1972.

There is no admission charge for the program, but donations are appreciated.

Dianne Spotts from Hatfield has not only provided a photo for us today, but quite a story as well.

We present it to you as she submitted it to us:

Driving away from our street of row homes in Philadelphia in the fall of 1967, traveling north on Ogontz Avenue, bounded on both sides by even larger row homes, its center still hosting tracks for the No. 6 trolley, my husband and I ventured forth to find a new home.

After a few dozen blocks, we crossed Cheltenham Avenue and continued north on Bethlehem Pike, now Route 309.

It was not an expressway at that point, but led to what we considered “the country.”

We had a nervous excitement brewing that day, even though realizing the adventure would probably bring us the responsibilities of a larger mortgage and expanded monthly expenses.

Passing the 309 Drive-In and a handful of stores, we even saw sheep grazing.

“Where are we going?” I thought, my stress mounting. “With one car and no access to public transportation, and three small children, will I be stranded out here?”

On time for our appointment with a Realtor in Lansdale, we drove to a handful of homes that appealed to our price range, but not to our tastes, until we came to a new development in Hatfield Township.

We knew the single home would stretch our budget, but it was the first time we felt excited: A brand new home was beyond anything we had envisioned, but within a few months, we were moving into one.

Even empty rooms didn’t dull the thrill of having a brand hew home. Our three children soon discovered the other children in the neighborhood, and the two older ones were installed in their schools. As a stay-at-home mom, I began meeting others, in a great part, through the Welcome Wagon Club.

Gloria Jones, the official Welcome Wagon visitor, came to call with a basket of goodies; small welcome gifts from businesses in the area, coupons and information about the club.

Wearing her trademark hat, Gloria was the consummate lady.

Using the coupons in her basket, I became acquainted with the area supermarket, cleaners and drugstore nearby, for openers.

Taking her suggestion to investigate the Welcome Wagon Club, I met many terrific ladies and started bowling each Thursday morning at Town & Country Bowling Lanes in Lansdale.

Soon after having a fourth child, I ran for office and eventually served on the board. Many socials and functions followed, including the fashion show, where this picture was taken.

Gloria passed away a number of years ago, as have some of the ladies pictured here. In their memory, I offer a tribute to them and the Welcome Wagon Club, and the easy transition provided to me when we moved into the area I’ve called home for 41 years.

And note, I’m pictured sixth from the left.