Today we thought we’d give you a few shots of Lansdale from 1978 — perhaps to compare with those from the 1950s that recently ran.

In the photo of Main Street that was taken with an ultrawide-angle lens, it may give it the appearance of almost a ghost-town effect, but if you look closely you’ll see plenty of shops.

This was a time when Koehler’s Jewelers was still on Main Street, as was Swartley’s.

There are various clothing stores, a shoe store, optician and other shopping options.

In the other photo you see Ralph’s grocery store, which also had been on Main Street.


Check out that Tuesday and Wednesday thriller: a big single roll of Scot towels for just 55 cents.

Newcomers to the area might wonder why the shopping center at Route 63 and Forty Foot Road in Hatfield Township is called Ralph’s Corner.

Here’s why. Ralph’s was long a grocery store staple in Lansdale, and eventually moved out to that site.

Years later, Clemens Supermarket took it over.

Now that Clemens no longer exists, Superfresh has moved into that spot.

But Ralph’s Corner remains, a nod to days gone by.