Friends of Narberth History

Website

Friends of Narberth History Visit NarberthHistory.org for more!

The Friends of Narberth History seeks to share, educate, enlighten and engage to understand the who, what, when, where and why of the Borough of Narberth, Pennsylvania and its people.

Two big trees we lost in the storm of July 11, 2026 were among the oldest members of our community. You can't say much a...
08/21/2026

Two big trees we lost in the storm of July 11, 2026 were among the oldest members of our community.

You can't say much about trees in Narberth without mentioning Anton Emil Wohlert (1869–1941). Wohlert, a Danish immigrant, ran The Garden Nurseries on Montgomery and Gordon Avenues in Lower Merion from about 1910 to 1941. He was a nationally recognized expert and propagator of Japanese flowering cherries, which he supplied to Merion Meeting, Fairmount Park and Washington DC. Wohlert was the father of Narberth's early treescape, donating hundreds of street trees throughout the borough. He lived at 26 Narbrook Park, and oversaw its landscaping in 1915-16, including the now huge London Plane trees there. Alas, the storm took this one, 110 years old, in front of #10 Narbrook. (Photo by Morrissey Jackson)

Another giant stood in front 5 Chestnut on the other side of the tracks. My amateur ring count of its stump (I'm not certain where the rings end and the bark begins) shows the tree was some 50 years old, so sprouted in the 1970s. Who has lived in Narberth that long?

Dendrochronology, or dating tree rings, can help reconstruct history. Growth rings from non-destructive borings of wood beams in a building can be compared to known samples to determine when the tree was cut, and thus the age of the construction. Does anyone have or know someone with experience in this? The origins of several local homes in the former Libertyville, along Montgomery Avenue, are speculative. It would be enlightening to know.

Our best wishes go out to all whose homes, businesses, cars and trees were damaged in that frightful storm.

Wohlert: NarberthHistory.org/people/Wohlert/1869
Nov. 2018: maps.app.goo.gl/g1kdfVecV2R4yM4t9

This is BIG. Literally, the biggest in Narberth's history. For the 1876 Centennial, a gigantic hotel was erected across ...
07/03/2026

This is BIG. Literally, the biggest in Narberth's history. For the 1876 Centennial, a gigantic hotel was erected across the tracks from Elm Station. It covered 496 by 450 feet, 5.1 acres, on what today is the south side of Narberth. That's the size of all of Narberth Park, the baseball field plus the basketball and skateboard courts, and throw in the playground and library building for good measure. It could house 5,000, more than today's entire population. It hosted tens of thousands from all over the world from May to November 1876.

The "Grangers' Centennial Encampment" was built to serve The National Grange of the Patrons of Husbandry, whose mostly rural and agricultural membership advocated universal suffrage and opposed the economic tyranny of the eastern banks and railroads. The Encampment overspread much of today's south side. "In the splendid dining-hall, a separate building 320 feet long and 80 feet wide, 1,000 guests can be accommodated at a time. The fine kitchen behind it, fit for a duke, or, rather, a dozen dukes, has 30 feet of ranges." There was an icehouse, a dairy, a laundry and a hospital, as well as a telegraph office, Pennsylvania Railroad baggage and ticket offices, and a U.S. post office. It had its own police force.

Then a week after the Centennial closed, it burned to the ground in a spectacular fire visible in the night sky throughout Philadelphia. Many feared that the entire Exposition was ablaze. A recent dig in a back yard within the Encampment's footprint yielded decorative upholstery tacks, handmade nails and melted glass, evidence of a very intense, very large fire, predating the 1906 house.

I had heard the rumors, seen the references, but I was thunderstruck by the reality of its size, its story, and how soon it was forgotten. And did I mention the "Elm Station murder"? That, too.

Is it an exaggeration to call the Grangers Encampment "Elm Station's Lost City"? Discover the city's life, death and community at NarberthHistory.org/stories/elm-stations-lost-city.

The Elm Station Murder: NarberthHistory.org/sources/centennial-murder

One hundred years ago, Narberth was adding 200 new citizens a year. It was already being called "Hungrytown". It battled...
04/23/2026

One hundred years ago, Narberth was adding 200 new citizens a year. It was already being called "Hungrytown". It battled flies and proposed a train yard where the park is today.

Instead, we got the park, the community building and the library.

Have "Adventures and Enthusiasms" this Saturday at 1pm at the library, a free Narberth history presentation with a special surprise guest to recreate the dedication of the Narberth Community building 100 years ago.

The story is inspiring. It's fortuitous. But it was never a sure thing.

Address

Narberth, PA
19072

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Friends of Narberth History posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category