Credit: Wissahickon Valley Historical Society
Ambler Downtown Walking Tours are slated for Saturdays this fall
A civic-minded woman who worked to save the lives of those in an 1856 train wreck. A 1928 theater with Spanish Colonial style architecture. White Mountains of asbestos.
The Borough of Ambler has a deep and rich history. If you’ve ever wondered about what makes this small town of 6,400 people what it is today, you’re in luck. The Storytellers are here.
Fall dates have been set for the Ambler Downtown Walking Tours, with the first occasion slated for Saturday, Sept. 21 at 3 p.m. As you stroll through the downtown of the Borough, you’ll get to learn quite a bit about the community you call home.
Peter Wilson is one such knowledgeable Storyteller. He, and his co-tellers, guide the walks as historical society volunteers. Organized through the Wissahickon Valley Historical Society, which continually works to preserve the history of Ambler, Whitpain, and Lower Gwynedd, the Storytellers walks are scheduled at various times of the year. Headquartered in the Whitpain 1895 Public School, the society is always seeking new ways to pass down the heritage and history of the area.
While the tours are conducted free of charge, reservations are required.
“Tours are limited to 12 people,” Wilson said. “It is a free tour, but you must sign up through Eventbrite.” The organization likes to keep the groups small and manageable.
The Storytellers lead groups from the Ambler Train Station to the Ambler Theater as they tell their tales. In total, the walk is around one hour or about half a mile.
According to Wilson, there will be a wide variety of history discussed along the way.
“It is a great history of the town from before the factory and up to present day,” he said.
He added that he hopes that the enthusiasm of the historians comes through in their Storytelling work. When asked what he hopes walkers take away from the tours, Wilson said “how magical the company town was, by showing architecture that is hidden or that has been replaced, and how the town came to be.”
There are plenty of different tales that the guides will regale walkers with along the tour. Wilson said that he does have one favorite.
“[My favorite is] how the theater was nearly demolished, but thanks to the hard work of Bernadette Dougherty, who also funded this tour, it was saved,” said Wilson. “And how important historical preservation is evidenced by what Ambler has become.”
All ages are welcome to come along on the tour. Largely, the tours are rain or shine, and are only rescheduled if “weather is untenable.” Otherwise, guests are simply asked to bring along an umbrella.
At the end of the day, the tours are designed to give visitors and residents a special glimpse at everything Ambler has been, and what Ambler has grown into, too.
When Wilson was asked what he hopes tour guests will take away from the experience, his answer was simple:
“A love of Ambler, and to educate people about the Wissahickon Valley Historical Society and why it matters,” he said.
For more information on the historical society, visit https://www.wvalleyhs.org/, email info@wvalleyhs.org or call 215-646-6541. To register for the Walking Tours, visit the Eventbrite registration page here. Dates are on many fall Saturdays, at 3 p.m., starting on Sept. 21 and running through Dec. 7. Tours are currently slated for seven dates including:
Reservations are required.
