Tuesday, July 26, 2016

Remember

"Life is a lark at Willow Grove Park". I remember it well. In the early part of the 1900's, my grandmother told me she and family and friends rode the trolley up from South Philly to hear John Philip Sousa play. That's what it's original purpose was; to encourage users of the new suburban trolley lines put in by PTC (before it became SEPTA). 

My parents rode the same trolley up from West Oak Lane in the late 40's and well into the 50's for dates. And how many companies must have had their annual outings there. 

As a kid, I remember riding down Easton Road past the "The Alps" to get a glimpse of people in the cars on the amusement ride. I thought they were so brave! We would go a couple times in the Summer as a treat with visits to Dorney Park in Allentown as well. 

By that time, the Hankin family had owned for many years and built Willow Grove Lanes, the world's largest bowling alley as well as the shopping area across the street. 

Let me see. We had Horn and Hardardts, Snellenberg's, Murphy's 5 & 10, Penn Fruit and what fun the shopping was! It was a treat to go to the automat at H & H and get to put the change in like a big kid. 

So now it's all changed. You can see some of the nostalgia in Willow Grove Mall like the old carousel horses and such. Kids and adults too are glued to their phones looking for pocket monsters, not even interacting with other humans. Makes me sad. 😒

I'm determined to try and create some great memories for my family. Stick to some annual events and hope traditions get carried on. So off to the Hatboro Moonlight Memories this weekend! BBQ nights at our kids' houses. Visits to the Naval Air Base to see the restored planes and helicopters. And just being together. Without the "smart" phones. Just simple, human contact. πŸ‘ͺπŸ‘©❤️πŸ‘©πŸ‘¨πŸ‘¨πŸ‘§πŸ‘§πŸ‘¨❤️πŸ’‹πŸ‘¨πŸ‘©πŸ‘©πŸ‘§πŸ‘¦

http://umha.com/pages/willowgrovepark.html This link takes you to the Upper Moreland Historical Society website and the history of the Park.

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