As promised a few weeks ago, we are revisiting some items from the “North Penn Photo Revue,” which was published in September 1946 and showcased “The North Penn Victory Celebration” after World War II.
What better time than Memorial Day to highlight items from this booklet, which was produced to honor the area’s service men and women who had served in World War II.

It was published by Charles J. Maguire of the North Penn News in Lansdale.

In the photo featured today, you see the V-J Day Parade in Lansdale.


The information in the book notes that Eugene V. Hartley of Lansdale, commander of the VFW in Lansdale, is leading off the parade, followed by the color guard from Lansdale High School.

The other feature today speaks for itself. This was a full-page salute to area war heroes who made the supreme sacrifice and was sponsored by the Lansdale VFW.

We plan to occasionally feature photos from The Revue in coming weeks and months.

In September 1946, a “North Penn Photo Revue” showcasing “The North Penn Victory Celebration” was produced to honor the area’s service men and women who had served in World War II.


It was published by Charles J. Maguire of the North Penn News in Lansdale.

It was noted in the introduction that it had been “long promised and, we hope, anxiously awaited. The purpose has not been for artistic achievement, but rather for recording for years to come the names and pictures of North Penn men and women who helped bring peace to the world in 1945.”

It also included a promise that this was “the first issue of the North Penn Photo Revue, but we promise, not the last.”

The Lansdale Historical Society said it may have been just that, the first and the last.

With Mother’s Day just past, we thought we would feature a few photos of the women pictured in The Revue.

In the photo of the seated women, Virginia Testone of East Main Street, Lansdale, is shown after being sworn in as a member of the Women’s Army Corps, with Lt. Frances Johnson, WAC, who administered the oath.

In the other photo of the standing women, Dorothy Van Luvanee of Souderton is being sworn in as a member of the U.S. Coast Guard Women’s Reserve.

We plan to occasionally feature photos from The Revue in coming weeks and months.

We all know how challenging it can be to drive through portions of Montgomery Township — especially the area around the Five Points Intersection.

But believe it or not, there was a time when there were few homes in Montgomery Township, no mall and the roads were basically empty.


The Lansdale Historical Society will transport you back to that time, and then bring you up to present day, in its May 11 program, “The Changing Face of Montgomery Township.”

The show will trace the many changes that have taken place in the 296-year-old municipality, from its sparsely settled beginnings to its present status as the region’s commercial center.

It will feature stories about Montgomery Township’s growth during the colonial period, when it served as a main transportation route between Philadelphia and points north.

But during the mid-1800s, development ebbed and population declined when a faster mode of transportation — the railroad — passed by the township to the north and west.

A century later, the popularity of the automobile took its toll on the trains and Montgomery Township, by then the crossroads of Routes 309 and 202, erupted in a wave on new homes, stores and industries.

This photo shows Route 309 north during the 1930s. Stoudt’s store, on the right, was a long-time landmark on the corner with Doylestown Road (Route 202).

At the far left is Horsham Road heading west toward Hatfield. Notice the speed limit sign near the store — 20 mph. This was a time when Five Points was a quiet little intersection.

Richard Roller of the Montgomery Township Historical Society will narrate the program with the assistance of Kathy Sands.

The show will also include an extensive video presentation by Steve Moyer, featuring many vintage “past and present” photographs that document the township’s dramatic changes during the 20th century.

The program begins at 7:30 p.m. May 11 at the Lansdale Parks and Recreation Building, Seventh Street and Lansdale Avenue. There is no admission charge, but donations are appreciated.

For more information, call (215) 855-1872.