Germantown, Mount Airy and Chestnut Hill (PA) (Images of America) [Paperback]

Judith Callard (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 28, 2000

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.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

A respected writer and local historian, Judith Callard is currently the editor of the Germantown Crier, the magazine of the Germantown Historical Society. She has written articles for the Philadelphia Inquirer and the Germantown Courier. She has gone to exhaustive lengths to assemble the perfect collection of images which, along with her well-researched narrative, make Germantown, Mount Airy, and Chestnut Hill an important and timeless work.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Arcadia Publishing (May 28, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0738504165
• ISBN-13: 978-0738504162
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,148,469 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent pictorial history of Germantown, May 6, 2003

By 

Donna Di Giacomo (Philadelphia, PA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Germantown, Mount Airy and Chestnut Hill (PA) (Images of America) (Paperback)

The book primarily focuses on Germantown and good thing: Germantown is rich in history and Judith's selection of pictures demonstrates this.

She really dug deep into the Germantown Historical Society's picture archives to come up with the treasures she did. For instance, on page 71, there is a picture of the James M.E. (Methodist Episcopal) Church, on the corner of Haines Street and Belfield Avenue from 1890. This became the site of the famed Holy Rosary Italian Catholic Church in 1927.

I especially love the older, pre-Industrial Age pictures, when streets were unpaved and Germantown had yet to be really developed.

The Images of America series from Arcadia Publishing is a pictorial history of America's neighborhoods. The Germantown book is definitely worth buying and proudly displaying on your shelf.