‘If I Could Bring One Thing Back to Montgomery County …’

The Old Images of Montgomery County Facebook page posted a simple query on April 25:

“If I could bring one thing back to Montgomery County, PA it would be _________ .”

And, at the time that this article was written, the simple question received more than 130 comments.

According to the “about” section of the Facebook community’s page, Old Images of Montgomery County PA’s purpose is simply to share user-uploaded or forwarded old and vintage images of the county. Many of the images on the site are of historic photos juxtaposed to compare as a “then-and-now” image, with no shortage of proceeding nostalgic commentary.

When Old Images of Montgomery County posted the above question, many of the page’s fans talked about places or attractions they recalled as youth, such as drive-in movie theaters and mega bowling alleys, whose thunder of struck pins are long echoes of the past.

The following are places throughout the county that were frequently mentioned:

• West Point Park, where apparently many a company picnic was once held.

• Montgomeryville Mart, a place where people flocked for sticky buns, among other food and wares

• Norris Theater in Norristown, which opened its doors in 1930, closed in 1983 and is now a parking lot.

• Whitemarsh Hall, a mansion that was bigger than the White House in Washington, D.C.

The Most frequently mentioned (approximately eight references) was for the return of the Willow Grove Park.

According to a previous Patch article, the park was opened in 1896, and featured amusement rides and carnival attractions. By the 1900s, more than 45,000 people visited the park each year, mostly to hear the U.S. Marine Band ‘March King’ John Philip Sousa. The park remained a popular recreation destination until its close in the mid-1970s and conversion into the Willow Grove Park Mall.

Some other responses included remarks of modern living, such as one commenter expressing disdain for the fashion of pajama bottoms and Ugg boots.

However, the most frequently posted response was not of a place, but rather many fans of Old Images of Montgomery County PA said they whished they still lived in the county.

For more information, visit the Old Images of Montgomery County PA Facebook page or e-mail Oldimagesofmontco@gmail.com.