Called the most historic street in America, Germantown Avenue follows the path of an ancient Lenni Lenape trail. This historic route links Germantown, Mount Airy, and Chestnut Hill, the three neighborhoods of the city of Philadelphia that make up the old German Township. From the first protest against slavery in North America, to the battle of Germantown in 1777, to the service of its two military hospitals during the Civil War, Germantown has been the site of some of history's most significant events. Many rarely seen images from the archives of the Germantown Historical Society are in Germantown, Mount Airy, and Chestnut Hill. Covering the period from Colonial times to the twentieth century, these images tell in sharp detail the story of the region founded by German-speaking settlers in 1683. From these beginnings, Germantown evolved into a prosperous industrial center by the mid nineteenth century. It also became home to wealthy businessmen who built elaborate Victorian villas and gardens. Germantown was home to one of the nation's first commuter railroads and to many factories and textile mills. Immigrants from all parts of Europe were attracted to Germantown. These faces, events, and places are what make Germantown, Mount Airy, and Chestnut Hill an indispensable keepsake.

Called the most historic street in America, Germantown Ave. in Philadelphia links Germantown, Mount Airy, and Chestnut Hill, the three neighborhoods of Philadelphia that make up the old German Township. Germantown has been the site of some of history's most significant events. Covering the period from Colonial times to the 20th century, these images tell in sharp detail the story of the region founded by German-speaking settlers in 1683. Germantown evolved into a prosperous industrial center by the mid-19th century, and became home to wealthy businessmen who built elaborate Victorian villas and gardens. The area was home to an early commuter railroad and to many factories and textile mills, which attracted European immigrants. 200+ B&W photos.

Excerpt from Ancient and Modern Germantown, Mount Airy and Chestnut Hill "Hail to posterity! Hail future men of Germanopolis! Let the young generations yet to be Look kindly upon this. Think how your fathers left their native land, - Dear German land! O sacred hearths and homes!! And where the wild beast roams In patience planned New forest homes beyond the mighty sea, There undisturbed and free To live as brothers of one family." From the Latin of F. D. Pastorius - Whittier's translation. Townsend Ward furnished eight most interesting articles on "The Germantown Road and Its Associations" for the Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, beginning with No. 1 of Vol. V, A. D. 1881, and ending in No. 4 of Vol. VI, A. D. 1882. He then stopped to solicit funds for the purchase of the new Historical Society rooms, formerly General Patterson's house, at the southwest corner of Thirteenth and Locust streets. His lamented death has made a final pause where he expected to make but a temporary one. Mr. Ward had agreed with the editor of the Germantown Telegraph, to continue the work in the columns of his paper, by request of the editor. It has fallen to the lot of the present writer to take up the task. He will receive some aid from the manuscripts of the late author, kindly placed in his hands by the courtesy of Frederick D. Stone, Librarian of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Mr. Ward left a mass of notes on various topics, which show him to have been an indefatigable, as well as a wise, student of local history. In traveling he would pick up bits of information and jot them down, and his correspondence shows how he faithfully searched into details and was ready to correct errors. It also displays the great esteem in which he was held by persons of high station in the community. It is a source of much regret that the facile pen which lovingly described Second street and Darby road and Germantown road can work no more, and it would be desirable to print much of what he left in manuscript. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.