Unraveling the mystery around some of
Quakertown’s History

Historians are a passionate bunch. Many of us like our jobs, some of us love our work and much of us work to live. Historians, they live to work. On a recent Saturday afternoon I met up with Dr. Robert Leight, a man clearly enveloped in the history of our region. You’ll be reading from him directly as he’ll be writing for “The Free Press” going forward.

The career educator in local school districts including Pennridge and a former Professor, now retired, from Lehigh University has a lot of insight into many things about our region. I was completely unaware of many of these items which came both as educational and fun in discovery. Our region has some important historical events and items throughout history that this 12 plus year resident was not in the know. To say I had a general knowledge of this place I call home is really stretching it. I moved into my home here in October of 1994 and like many of us the best part of our region was the convenience to metropolitan areas north, south, west and east. The word’s out and the region’s grown as those of us who saw this burgeoning area as a resting place after our 9 to 5 have more neighbors today than back in the mid 90’s and certainly in the last two decades.

You move into a region and in this man’s view to ultimately understand your place in the mosaic of this community one should try and understand what some of the history of our Quakertown has been long before we arrived. Dr. Leight shed some light on facts that I found both informative and entertaining as we sat and conversed. There’s the ‘biggies’ that most of us have heard or certainly will hear about. The importance of the Fries Rebellion, the Underground Railroad significance and our region being a hiding spot for one of our nation’s treasured symbols of freedom, the Liberty Bell. These three obvious touchstones to history that Quakertown has played are but a part of a larger historical significance I’ve discovered.

Everything from the amazing to the strange has a place in Quakertown’s rear view mirror. Here are just a few examples. The Bucks County Fair called Quakertown and upper Bucks County home since about its inception post Civil Way through about the 1930’s. This agricultural fair featured prize animals, produce, shows, all while showing off all our county had to offer the world. It either ended or changed to something else post 1930, but before moving on the county fair was conducted in the area now occupied near to the Quakertown High School close to 2nd through 4th Streets. Also worth noting ‘Park’ Avenue may have no doubt been coined after the late ‘Lulu’ Park where the fair and even ‘Sulky’ races occurred. ‘Sulky’ races are horse races, the kind where the horse pulls a light two wheeled carriage for one person behind. Call it Quakertown’s version of NASCAR.

More uncovering of the far past shows our region was home to a world famous organ company. The Durner Organ Company manufactured exquisite machines that Dr. Leight tells me are still in operation in many area houses of worship. A Durner product was featured in 1876 at the World’s Fair in Philadelphia. Quakertown sounds the big time back in 1876 thanks to Durner. The former factory was at Front and Juniper Streets and presently being rebuilt as of this writing to an unknown use.

Moving right along here’s something I’ve often wondered. Call me crazy but until I moved into this part of the world I never had the famous ‘Weber’ Cheese-steak sandwich. Being from Philadelphia the only thing we put on our steak sandwiches are your choice of cheese ( I’m a provolone guy ), onions, raw or fried and that’s it. Everything after those standards is all options. To hear about a steak where lettuce, tomato and even mayonnaise are included is heresy to my Philly taste buds. Dr. Leight explains this culinary oddity got its start at a place now occupied by the Quakertown Family Restaurant. The former ‘Smitty’s’ Drive-in was a place to get a quick bite. Apparently a regular trucker patron at ‘Smitty’s’ was named Weber who enjoyed his Cheese-steak with a side salad of lettuce and tomato. One day in a rush he ordered his package together on a roll to save time and thus the ‘Weber’ was born. Little did our man know his name would live on for decades as many of us still order and enjoy the famed Weber.

Just across from where ‘Smitty’s’ once sat a nationally known restaurant ‘Trainer’s’ operated for many decades and until not too long ago. Trainer’s, Dr. Leight tells me was so exceptional that a man he met in the service from Minnesota once quipped about a visit. Dr. Leight explained many knew the region based on a ‘Trainer’s experience’. A bad fire nearly destroyed the landmark restaurant in 1975 and after re-opening it went through some trouble but still operated until closing in 1985. Trainer’s famed trademark Lobster logo is affixed to the Friday’s now on the former restaurant’s resting place. The obvious naming of ‘Trainer’s Corner’ Shopping Center also pay tribute to the former eatery. Keep moving through the shopping center to the K-Mart and imagine a drive in movie. Back in the 40’s and 50’s instead of shopping for blue light specials as you would today you’d be viewing all night movies from the comfort of your own vehicle. Drive-in movies were all the rage and sadly you rarely see any still operating.

Finally, a proud achievement of our area is our own Quakertown Band. One of the oldest organizations in our region if not the nation, began as a German band back in the late 1800’s, this fine group of musicians still tunes up and plays today. They’re always a rousing hit at the pre fireworks celebration every July 4th. To find out more about these nifty, entertaining and informative pieces of our past visit places that have all the details. The Quakertown Historical Society, The Richland Historical Society and the obvious place to look for all things recorded our own library on Mill Street. Back in the day you might be able to take the Liberty Bell Limited trolley to such places as Quakertown even had its own trolley service, but like many of the things in our past it’s there too, as a piece of our history.

A former professor of mine used to quip, ‘To see where we’re going we’d better look where we’ve been.’ I’ve just scratched the surface. I look forward to reading directly from Dr. Leight about more area history and happenings and hope you’ll take this opportunity to get informed about where you live. If nothing else think of how you’ll impress everyone at upcoming summer barbecues. Until next time, See ‘ya around town.