The Ambler Community
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Since 1874, Ambler Savings Bank is proud to be the Hometown Financial Center and a contributing
partner to the Ambler Community.
THE VILLAGE OF AMBLER 125 YEARS AGO
by Newton M. Howard
The year was 1874, with the population of Ambler Village not yet reaching two hundred. The many
water-powered mills, in and around the Village, were nearing the end of their existence, with the
Industrial Revolution still years away. The North Pennsylvania Railroad, having established a line
through here in 1855, named their depot "Wissahickon," with the settlement becoming known as the
Village of Wissahickon. In 1869 the depot was re-named Ambler to honor Mary Ambler, heroine of the
Great Train Wreck of 1856.
Many of the early homes and business places in the Village were located north of Butler Avenue between
Main Street and Ridge Avenue. Jonathan Lukens, recognized as the first land developer in Ambler, had a
surveyor lay out many of these streets before 1869. He had also established the Coal and Lumber Yard,
selling it to Joseph Stackhouse in 1873.
Surprisingly, the Village in 1874 had neither a public school nor a church. There was a private school,
Sunnyside Academy, founded in 1869 by Miss
 Elizabeth Knight, but most families could not afford to send
their children to Sunnyside. It was necessary for the young people to travel great distances for a public
school education at the old Shady Grove School on Lewis Lane, or to the Dager School on the Bethlehem Pike.
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The closest churches were the Mt. Pleasant Baptist on Morris Road since 1834, the Upper Dublin Brethren or
the Upper Dublin Lutheran Churches. Because none of these were within comfortable walking distance for Ambler
residents, the Baptists announced in 1874 that a plot of ground at Spring Garden and Hart’s Road had been
purchased from David Ambler, but several years were to pass before a Chapel would be erected.
Jacob Lugar began construction of the first hotel in 1871. It was near
the railroad depot. He called it the "Ambler Park Hotel", hoping to
accommodate visitors to the local Fairgrounds of the Montgomery County
Agricultural Society’s Ambler Park.
Before the hotel’s completion in 1872, Jake Lugar was suddenly sold out
by the Sheriff and moved back to Horsham. James Z. Wampole, next owner,
likewise lost the property within a year, with A.S. Acuff becoming the
new proprietor.
It was important during this period for a hotel to provide accommodations
for the horses and carriages of their patrons. Ambler Park Hotel was soon
advertising that sheds were available "to shelter forty horses, with ample
room for any number of carriages."
On the second floor of these sheds, a large hall was built to accommodate
200 people. This was known as Yerkes Hall and was Ambler’s first public
hall. It was named for Davis Yerkes, who leased the entire hotel property
from Acuff. It was used for lectures and gatherings of all types, with entrance
to the hall from Short Street near Main.
It was in Yerkes Hall that a group of citizens arranged a public meeting on
February 14th, 1874, for the purpose of forming the Ambler Building & Loan
Association. On this date the books of the Association were opened to receive
subscriptions for stock at fifty cents a share. The issue on the first series
was limited to one thousand shares. Yerkes Hall was leased to the Association
for $25 per year. The group met on the second Saturday night of each and every
month, with Acuff agreeing to "furnish light and have the Hall comfortable
during cold nights." The Association elected as their first president David
Ambler, son of Mary and Andrew Ambler. The secretary was William C. Walker.
David Ambler was unable to complete his term as president, and in nine months
resigned, being replaced by George K. Knight. The meeting place for the Building
& Loan Association remained in the Yerkes Hall for a number of years. Soon after
their move to new quarters, a disastrous fire destroyed the 3-story frame
structure on the northeast corner of Butler & Main, known as Buchanan Hall. This
fire, on February 9, 1890, also destroyed the old toll gate, as well as Yerkes
Hall, the stables and carriage sheds of Ambler Park Hotel. Historically, it was
this fire which led to the formation of the Wissahickon Fire Company in 1891.
Ambler Savings, having been located at 8 Butler Avenue and 44 Butler Avenue,
moved into their present building at 155 E. Butler Avenue in 1962.
Thank You for your Loyalty, Trust and Business!
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