Historic Reeseville, Early King of Prussia, Pennsylvania

We get emails from people who visit the Historic Reeseville website. If you would care to write us with comments, photos of the King of Prussia area or a memory or two, do so by clicking here.

When I was 12 years old (June 1977), My parents dragged me along to a Postcard Show put on by the International Federation of Postcard Dealers in King of Prussia at the George Washington Motor Lodge. I had no idea then at the age of 12 that my life was about to have a drastic change. As a young girl of 12, I was boy crazy and I met a boy at this show that would forever change my life. We became good friends and would see each other many times a year at various shows or flea markets that our parents both did together. This boy became my 1st love at 16 years old. Time and distance got between us. The last I saw of him was at the George Washington Motor Lodge in King of Prussia in 1982. He had a new girlfriend and life moved on. We found each other in 2005 and altho we are both married to other people now, he and I are best friends now. Some of my most precious memories are those that took place in June of every year in King of Prussia at the George Washington Motor Lodge. Thank you so much for this site where I am able to walk down memory lane just a bit easier!

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I grew up on the hill above NorView Farms in the 60's. It seems amazing today, but my parents would give us the money and an empty gallon milk bottle and we would walk down to the Farm (over the barbed wire fence) and past the huge pile of manure. Can you imagine letting a 7, 8 or 9 year old wander around like that today? My parents tell us that some of the cows once got loose and ended up marching up our hill. They must have gotten thirsty because they were found in our back yard swimming pool!

If you took a survey, I wonder how many of us worked at The Purple Cow. I worked there from 1972-1975 and my brother worked there for a year or two before that. I think lots of us got our jobs when our older siblings graduated up to better jobs. I still remember the over developed forearm I had from scooping ice cream.

One of my friends was Albert Mason III whose grandfather built a log cabin/house at the top of General Von Steuben (I think). One day he brought a picture (circa 1959) from the back of his house overlooking where the mall and GE were built. It was one giant farm field.

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I just came across your site by accident. What a pleasant surprise to be reminded of the great places I grew up around in King of Prussia. My parents moved into Lafayette Park in 1957, a few months before I was born in January of 1958. We lived on Pancoast Rd and one of my best memories is of playing in the woods behind Mrs. Pancoast’s house. My parent’s tell me that when they moved in they were told that what is now upper Lafayette Park was going to be a bird sanctuary forever. ;-) I remember Wills’s apple orchard that was at the end of our street and then further back in the woods were two big stone columns that were probably gateposts at sometime. Every time I drive down Keebler on the way to my parent’s house I marvel at the three old “palaces” that are now surrounded by houses. Lots of other memories from your site, working at the purple cow in the late 70’s, Dad taking my brother and me to the Donut Shop on a Saturday morning for a special treat. The best thing was seeing a picture of Mr. Lee in front of his hardware store. My dad, Ted Caldwell, was a regular customer as long as I can remember and I would always tag along on his trips to the hardware store. If you are still in touch with Bob Lee, please tell him that one of my fondest memories involves his dad. My mom and I were visiting my dad in the hospital in 1997 or so; he had just had surgery for a ruptured aortic aneurysm. As we walked into the room, there was a man standing at my dad’s bedside talking to him and it turned out to be Mr. Lee. What a pleasant surprise because at that time I probably hadn’t seen Mr. Lee for about 20 years.

Looking through the emails was another surprise. I went to Gulph Rd elementary until they opened Caley Rd. elementary. I went to school with Jody Glider and Frank Battista. I remember Cummins gas station and also Mr. Wilson’s Esso station; all the houses that used to be on 202, the angus cattle in the field at the corner of Henderson and Valley Forge rds, going to the ‘Farm’ to get milk, riding my bike to the Shopping Center, dad walking the dog in fields that are now the industrial park and then later, me riding my bike through the industrial park. I remember making jokes about how long it would take for “the plaza’ to fall into a sink hole. I remember playing softball at Walker Field, the Peacock gardens, the drive-in, the old township building on the corner of Allendale and 202, Perry’s delicatessen, walking around the neighborhood selling girl scout cookies, Mullen’s chicken farm on Allendale rd, just up from MDP, where there was always a sign Eggs for sale. Thanks for a great site and a fun trip down memory lane.

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To: info@historicreeseville.com
Subject: My memories of King of Prussia.................

We moved to the area in 1951.........our daughter, Kay was born there
in 1952..........our son, Jody, in 1957. I started a business there
along with Bob Lee....Art Cummins.....Morrie Weisbaum ........and Mr.
Wills had a real estate office in that first group of five stores
built by Don Pasquale. My hairdressing shop......JOSEPH,
HAIRSTYLING.........was shared with Eddie for some years until I relocated my business across Rt 202 next to Howard Johnson (where we enjoyed the ""all you can eat fish fry) in the renovated house that had belonged to Clarance Bean and his wife.

My business did well in all the years we lived in Gulph Mills.....the children graduated from Upper Merion High....My wife, Helen, earned her Masters Degree In Psycology........We all have happy and fond memories of our llives there.

Jody lives in California....working in RandD with IBM...his first contact with computers was in high school courtsey of GE/ Kay is a lawyer.....working for SENIOR LAW.......a nonprofit organization Helen died just three years ago I am nearing 89 Years..........and living with wonderful memories of King of Prussia

Joseph Glider

Does anyone remember the golfball driving range on South Gulph Rd ?
The quarry on Warner Rd that was filled in as a land fill?

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Hi Mr. Glider,

This is Bob Lee, son of Bob Lee of Lee Hardware. Wow, what a surprise to receive a copy of an e-mail sent to you by Michael Morrison. It must be close to 50 years since I’ve seen you when you were in your shop across the street on 202.

Apparently you are doing well and I’m certainly glad to hear that. As you probably know, my Dad passed away in January of 2000.

My family and I live in Florence, SC and, believe it or not, I’m 62 and will retire from working this coming June. I’m sure it’s hard to believe the little boy who worked at the hardware store is now old enough to retire. I have two grown sons and 3 granddaughters who live within driving distance. Now it’s time to enjoy them.

One story I’ll NEVER forget. I was about 12 or 13 years old and had a pet mouse which was kept in a shirt pocket. Eddie Knasiak dared me to take it back into your first beauty shop and show it to the ladies. I took the dare and women scattered EVERYWHERE!! They went flying out the front door and others went down the basement stairs. Naturally I took off from the scene with every ounce of energy that could be directed to my two little feet. Sorry about that! J

All for now, drop a note if you get a chance.

Bob Lee

I enjoyed reading your quiz list of "Do You Remember?" ... and looking at the old photographs. As a kid growing up in Trooper, I used to love going to the KP Mall and to "the shoe store with the kid sized door", and watching fireworks from Gimbels parking lot, and watching the Easter Bunny land in a helicopter, and later, I remember being on the escalator ramp with the Methacton High School Marching Band playing in full parade charge down the ramp!

Also, I remember; The Ground Round (former Harvest House), Thrift Drug, The News Stop, Provident Bank, Tall Attire, Plaza Flowers, HFC Finance, and Acme Markets in that same strip at the time. I remember going to Charlie's Place (now Ruth's Chris) for a beverage with Carla from "Tall Attire" many weeknights after closing our neighboring stores, or to Houlihan's on Friday nights with my best friend, and former Assistant Manager, Dan.

AND ... Don't forget "Popcorns", in the site of the former KP Corral, the former Dick Clark's American Bandstand, now "Fox and Hound". Before Popcorns it had another name, and it was a two level nightclub (first floor and a lower level), and before that it was an automotive service center, possibly part of EJ Korvettes? The current Bennigan's was also a former automotive service center, also connected with a store in the mall.

My parents bought a new home in the early fifties on Old Fort Rd. in Candlebrook. We lived there for the first 15 years of my life and my mind frequently travels back to those happy years that we lived there.
Every home had three or more kids; we were always outside, even in the winter time, playing ball at the Candlebrook School, riding bikes up to the Valley Forge Shopping Center for candy at the 5 & 10 or Perry's Delicatessen, or catching a Saturday matinee at the King Theater.

From my bedroom window I could see the movie screen in the distance at the Valley Forge Drive-in theater.
I remember the early days at the "Plaza" with Korvettes department store, and the Harvest House Restaurant.
My band, The Kontenders, played frequently at the area swim club dances(Lafayette and upper merion), as well as the TAC (teen activity center) House at walker field. Does anybody remember the little observation stand at the Quarry, on Dekalb/Rt. 202, just down from Sam Ash Music?

The old neighborhood looks a bit worn and shabby now but when I have occasion to drive through my memory quickly restores everything back to the way I remember it.
Thanks for providing this website.

I just wanted to say thanks for all the wonderful memories. As a 41 yr old and a
graduate of UM School District, I think back of how the community use to be and
the growth that has taken place. I know we must conform to change, but sometimes
its a bit too much.

As a kid going to the plaza and stopping by the famous purple cow
and getting the hot dogs and ice cream. Remember the exotic bird in the continental
arcade (can't remember the birds name) section? My mother and aunt worked for Gimbels back in the day, and we would always attend the Christmas party they would throw every year. Does anyone remember the fireworks show that Gimbels use to display up on the hill where the Bahama Breeze and movie theatre is now? I don't remember how many years they did that, but i do remember everyone in the parking lot sitting on their cars enjoying the fireworks! Things like that i remember as a kid with my family.

Traffic was light and crowds were few back in the day, which made it more desirable for getting around the township. The trips to Nor View farms for the ice cream and seeing the animals. When i ride my bike by the old swim club on Brownlie Road, I stop for a minute and think back at the sounds and splashing coming from the pool. So many great times spent on those hot summer days!!

I wish sometimes we could rewind the tape and had a chance to enjoy those times
again just a bit more!!

You did a wonderful job with the site and for giving us a life
time of memories of good ole King of Prussia.

Thanks again,

KenC

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Hi Michael.
I have lived in King of Prussia for twenty years and never knew all these things. We have so much to be thankful for and the history that you have shared is wonderful. We have a lot of look a like from my favorite part of the world. Instead of looking to England for history I will look to near by areas and King of Prussia. Thanks for sharing.

LaVera Seymour of King of Prussia.

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Hey,
Very cool website! I grew up in K of P we moved there when I was 5, I am 52 now! unfortunately I dont have any pictures, but I have a memory for you....Do you remember that at Halloween somebody would put up big canvas boards in front of all the stores at the valley Forge shopping center and area kids from the area schools would be picked to paint a Halloween picture! I went to MDP and was picked to paint in front of Perrys, I was young, but it is a fond memory. I also remember when I was a Brownie in girlscouts singing Christmas caroles in front of santas house on the top level of the Valley Forge shopping center outside Grants, I think it was....This was all before the Plaza!

Debbie

I loved your site. A classmate from Upper Merion just fowarded it to me and
I have sent it to my family. I graduated with Patti and share many of the
memories you have of King of Prussia, as do my two sisters and brother. Our
parents still live in town, so we get back to visit and see huge changes.

When I was 14 I began working at NorView Farms with Joe, Frank and Al. I
worked at the store and later in the ice cream parlor when it first opened.
The family was a wonderful employer of young people in the community. The
Battista and DiGiambattista "kids", my peers, would sometimes stop by to
see their dads while we were working. It was a great family-run business and
the brothers loved their farm.

Seeing the photo of "the boys" in the newly updated bottling facility really
brought back memories. I was working when those shots were taken. The
bottling facility was an exciting addition to the operation. There was also
excitement when new calves were born. One of the brothers would take the
pregnant cow out to the hill that was above the parking lot, along the path
that the cows used to take twice daily, from the field to the barn. Most
activity everywhere at the farm would become focused on the progress of the
birth. I was always happy to get to watch from the parking lot, and not have
to be interactive in the process, as Frank or Al would sometimes be.

Funny you should mention that.. I worked at the Purple Cow for more than 2
years. Have some great memories and stories. One night after closing Dan
the day manager came back drunk and went swimming in the fountain. Luckily
we had paid off the mall cops with free hot dogs and ice cream for years,
and they let it go.

DEAR MICHAEL: I was very impressed with your website concerning the King of Prussia Inn and its surroundings. Our family moved to King of Prussia (Colonial Village) in 1944. I attended Port Kennedy Elementary School, Swedeland Elementary and Jr and Sr high school at the originial high school building on Gulph Road. I graduated in 1957 from Upper Merion HS. I worked at Morris Weisbaum's Drug Store as a soda jerk when I was in high school, and probably my first job. I have followed the entire history of the King of Prussia Inn, and remember it when it was open. I rode my bicycle from Colonial Village to Norristown occassionally and recall it being open at the time. I was able to film the entire relocation process of the Inn to its new location. My daughter got a special tour of the Inn from Al Paschall. Al presented me with a watercolor of the Inn which I hang proudly in my home. The biggest surprise of all was on my last birthday, I got the tour of the Inn by Al, and we had coffee and birthday cake in the main conference room at the Inn. Your website brought back many fine memories of the area. I consider my days in Upper Merion Township the happiest days of my life. Sincerely, Tom Taylor

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From: shirley weaver [mailto:saweav65@msn.com]
Sent: Tuesday, March 15, 2005 1:09 AM
To: info@historicreeseville.com
Subject: Matsunk

I enjoyed your King of Prussia site very much. We moved to this area in 1966. I used to work at the Woolworths when it was outside. We have lived in the village of Swedeland since 1972. I was wondering if you have anything about this area or about the old Alan Wood Steel. It was originally called Matsunk. Again I enjoyed the pictures and articles very much. Thank you for talking the time to do this great project.

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From: PGPASTORWAYNE@aol.com [mailto:PGPASTORWAYNE@aol.com]
Sent: Monday, March 14, 2005 12:30 AM
To: info@historicreeseville.com
Subject: Awesome

Michael -

Reading the Times Herald online story about KofP led me to your website . . . what a great piece of work you've done! Thanks so much for the walk down memory lane.

My wife and I are both 1969 graduates of Upper Merion HS, and remained in the area for many years. I first worked at the Village Shoe Shoppe in the "old" part of the breezeway mall . . . our ads said "Wanamaker's is across from us." We've since relocated to Prince George, VA where I pastor a small (200 member) independent church . . . but your website put me right back in Montgomery County, reliving memories of milkshakes from the Purple Cow, a "Max Special" of hot pastrami, cole slaw, and Russian dressing at Max for Snacks, having an ice cream cone and filling our jugs with spring water at NorView Farms, enjoying perfectly broiled pork chops and cole slaw from Danny's Diner, watching triple features at the Valley Forge Drive-In, and washing down a steak with sauce & onions with a "lime rickey" at DeJohn's. It doesn't get any better than this!

Thanks, again!
Wayne & Janet Marburger

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From: WILLIMACK2@cs.com [mailto:WILLIMACK2@cs.com]
Sent: Sunday, March 13, 2005 5:45 PM
To: info@historicreeseville.com
Subject: Nor View Farms

You have done an outstanding job on this web site. When I saw the pictures of Nor View Farms, I went back in time. The apartments in front were owned by the McKay's ( Jim ) We lived in one in the 40's, the Digiambatista's were people I basically lived with every day when I lived there, as a youngster. Gabby ( Al ), Frank and Joe . Of course their Father Savatore and Mom, thats all I knew her by. The McKay's sold all the apartments to them when Jim died and all the McKay's split the money. About 90K from what I understand from my Dad. This was in the mid to late 40's I believe.

From: Steve Doolittle [mailto:doo_2_little@yahoo.com]
Sent: Thursday, December 16, 2004 10:30 AM
To: info@historicreeseville.com
Subject: Nice Website!

I discovered your site a few months ago and have really enjoyed it. I
showed it to my brother last weekend who enjoyed it as well. We lived in
the area from 1962 to 1972 and are very familiar with the "Do You Remember?"
section. It brought back a lot of great memories.

One comment I had. We used to get our hair cut in a barber shop that was
located on the "top side" of the Shoemaker Barn. Was that "Eddie's Barber
Shop" you refer to on your site or am I confused?

We all went to Gulph Road Elementary. My older brother's went on to Upper
Marion (one graduated from there in 1969). At the time, we lived at 290
Gulph Hills Rd. At the bottom of the hill where we lived (the corner of
Upper Gulph Rd and South Gulph) was a very old building (I think it was
called the Picket Post Restaurant at the time). It was down the street from
Hanging Rock. Supposedly, it was one of many headquarters Washington stayed
in (but Im not sure).
There was also a Mobil Gas Station across the street from the Picket Post
where my Dad always had our car worked on. I think it was called
McGlauphlin's Mobil Station and dont know if the building is still there.
Last time I was through the area it was closed.

One thing we missed after we left was a good, authentic, Philly Cheese Steak
Sandwich. My dad used to take us to this little corner bar on some side
street in Conshohocken called Wallys. It was more bar than restuarant but
man they made good sandwiches.

When we moved we all missed the area. It was a great place to spend your
childhood.

Dear Mr. Morrison,
You are to be congratulated on the website that you created. I have lived in K of P since 1949 and I witnessed so many changes---most not for the good. Our first home was on the site where PETCO now is located on 202. In 1949 202 was a two lane highway. The closest market was Billy Walker's Farm or the stores in Bridgeport. Beginning in 1951 my brother and I were the first paperboys in Brandywine Village and Candlebrook. We watched the homes being built in these two developments and in the Valley Forge Homes development. We would be amazed and amused at the humongous earth movers that were creating the roadbed for the PA Turnpike. Little did we realize that that "progress" would have on our quiet little part of the world!

Your website brought back many pleasant memories for me and I must admit that it was an emotional experience as well.

I could go on writing about the many experiences and memories that we had as youngsters.

Thanks again for a visit to the world of nostalgia of my childhood. You have made a magnificent contribution to our history and I hope the teachers in our schools are aware of the site and share it with their students. I had taught in the Upper Merion Area School District and was an administrator in the Junior High and the High School.
Sincerely,
Frank Luther

Have lived in KoP all of my 37 yrs. I remember most of the places on your "do you Remember" list but wonder about a few in particular. Wasn't there a seafood restaurant in the former Pizza Hut site? I always remember the big lobster. Or do I have that wrong? Wasn't there also a Chinese restaurant where Kinko's is? And don't forget Kiddy City and Your Father's Mustache. I think I spent too much time sneaking up to the 5 & 10 (for Reggie bars, wax lips, and Razzles--ahhh the old days)!!!!!
I enjoyed your site and will forward it to all my relocated family. Thanks for the trip down Memory Lane!!
Lisa P

May 2004

Dear Mr. Morrison,
A friend of mine sent your website about King of Prussia to me and I am really enjoying it. Thanks for doing it.

I graduated from Upper Merion in 1961, the first class in the "new" high school. My family is now living in Florence, SC and it is nice to browse the website to remember what was once a very little town.

While going down your list of businesses in the "Walk Down Memory Lane Quiz", I noticed one in particular that is VERY familiar to me. It is Robert E. Lee Hardware. My dad, Robert E. Lee, opened that store in 1954. I was 10 years old at the time. The original location was on 202 next to Eddie's Barber Shop and Weisbaum's drug store. About 10 years later we relocated to the Village Mart across from The Kingswood Apartments. Dad retired in 1979 and sold the business. It remained open for another couple of years and closed for good.

I might have some old photos of the store around here somewhere and I have the original sign that hung next to the entrance to the store. If you are interested in seeing any of them, let me know. I would be glad to e-mail them to you.

Sincerely,
Robert E. Lee III

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Dear Mr. Morrison,
Thanks for your reply to my e-mail AND the photos of the old barn. Wow, what a surprise!! Dad would have enjoyed seeing them. You may or may not know that he passed away in January, 2000. Mom (Lena) put her time in at the store also; she passed away in January, 1980 just a few months after dad retired.

I started working for dad at the store when I was 10 years old. It was after school and Saturdays. My days there ended in '65 when Uncle Sam sent a letter to join his Army! If you came into the store during those years, I may have made a key for you!

Yes, you have my permission to add any of my comments to your site. I'll take a picture of the original sign and see if I can locate any photos of the two locations. All will be sent as attachments on an e-mail.

Thank you so much for the pictures,
Bob

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To: Michael Morrison
My family is from KOP and Norristown, My early years in KOP were in Brandywine Village where I spent time

With the old farmer Billy Walker. He at one time own considerable properties. Walkers Park was the location of his barn and butcher shop and general store. His last home is now Dr. Churches Veterinary located on RT 202. It would be great to see pictures of Walkers Farm etc. His Grandson was a classmate of mine from Upper Marion High.

April 2004

Dear Mr. Morrison,
The company for which I work here in Melbourne Australia has just completed
its purchase of Aventis Behring - one of whose plants is located on First
Avenue in your historic city, and I was looking up the history of such a
fascinating name. Of course, your informative website came up.

I was interested in the comments by one of your correspondents about the
Cornish pirate King of Prussia and that she believed your inn could not be
named after him because it was built before he scavenged the northern seas.

I also noticed that the early Bird-In-Hand store was owned by a Roberts
family in the mid 1700s. I suggest digging into the history of this family
as Roberts is an old Cornish family name. I myself am a Roberts of Cornish
descent and my family have considerable genealogical information indicating
pirate and wrecking connections about that time.

From afar, I believe that Americans are immensely proud of your
heritage and you probably already have voluminous records on the
Roberts's, if so, I apologise for my temerity in thinking you haven't
already checked this possible link out !

Your city and environs look wonderful and your website is delightful, and I
thank you for a glimpse into a history I can only envy (Melbourne was
founded only in the 1830s).

March 2004

I would like to thank you for posting the Danny's Diner postcard, along with the information regarding it's current status. I was born in Norristown in the early 60's and moved to Williamsport in the early 70's. My memories of my childhood are filled with found memories of Danny's, as we would often go there for breakfast after church on Sunday or as a special dinner on Friday nights. I actually remember seeing this postcard on eBay, but lost the bid.

Not only am I a former resident of the area and diner lover, but also a postcard collector. I will look through my collection and see if I can add anything to your site.

Thank you again,
Rose Arvin Wachter

Thank you for creating such an informative site on King of Prussia history! My father, Johnny Kamuca, owned the Valley Forge Tavern for many years, so many of the images on your site bring me fond, but somewhat sad memories. With each new trip through King of Prussia it seems as though another of these once so easily recognizable landmarks has disappeared.

A few still remain though, some hidden, others a little more obvious: Valley Forge Center, Norview Farms, even Burger King...

Please keep up the wonderful work!

Juan P. Kamuca

- Please let me know if you'd like me to forward some postcards of the Tavern or other K of P memorabilia I have, thanks.
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Juan turned me on to your site about King Of Prussia!! I really enjoyed
checking out all the pictures.

It's funny, every time our band (Juan, Dave Ross and I) play at "Peppers"
(in the Valley Forge Shopping Center) we inevitably wind up standing in the
parking around 2:30AM (after packing up our equipment) talking about all the
original stores there.

Of course Pepper's is now located where I use to watch my Dad and uncles
bowl every Friday night in the early 60's.

I've been scanning old photos of the Farm for you. I'll start emailing
them to you tomorrow. You can pick and choose the ones that will work for
your website. It's too hard for me to choose.

My uncle took some excellent 16 MM color movies of king of Prussia that are
priceless (back as far as 1948). Movies of my Dad and Uncles farming the
wide open spaces of what is now Candlebrook. Clips also include a 2 lane
Henderson "dirt" road.

My Father, Frank is the last survivor of his family and I'm sure he would
love to see The Farm included on your site. You will see by the pictures
that he absolutely loved working and being a part of that Farm. He
continues to stop in just about everyday to see how things are going. He
still helps the township find animals for the petting zoo each year.

Great K of P website! I grew up in Bridgeport and Norristown in the 1950s-1960s. One of my dad's best friends moved into the first housing development in King of Prussia. I remember hearing in the news about some of the houses disappearing overnight into huge sinkholes during the construction phase. I understand that sinkholes were also a major concern when the King of Prussia Inn was relocated. Another thing I remember is stopping very early in the day for breakfast in the big Howard Johnson's restaurant attached to the HoJo hotel at the big K of P intersection, each time we drove down to the New Jersey shore. Finally, I remember that close to K of P was The Valley Forge Motor Court, whose sign showed a Revolutionary War soldier at attention with a bayoneted rifle. For years as a kid, I thought "motor court" meant the place you get taken to for serious traffic violations, and in that context the soldier with the rifle really frightened me. I always told my father to please drive carefully in that vicinity. He clued me in much later.

Best,
Steve Conway
St. Paul, Minnesota

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Hello,

I just discovered your web site about King of Prussia. It was great for me to find this. I grew up in KOP and graduated from Upper Merion High School in 1978. When my mother died last year, I lost my last link to King of Prussia, and I have been collecting postcards and memorabilia to keep the memory of the area alive for me. My mother came to the area in the late 1940's, to "Hidden Valley Road," off of N. Henderson Road. At that time, hers was the only house in the area, the one used as a model for those who were considering building on the recently purchased farm land.

Thanks for your interesting web site. It means a great deal to me!

Bill Fogle
Washington, DC

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I do remember the old King of Prussia Mall. It was still intact for a few years after I moved to the neighborhood. Boy, was I sad when I heard they were going to close the Acme. But my disappointment was short-lived. Little did I know that they were going to open another one up the street. I remember also how convenient it was to hop into Gene's books. My husband is not a mall shopper and when they redid everything and Gene's Books moved, he resolved he would not go to the mall again. He has only been back a few times since and only under duress.

Your brother's website is really marvelous, Patty! Tell him to keep up the good work. He should be featured on Studio 22 on the Township channel. Thanks so much for the great pictures.

Received November 30, 2003

How wonderful to see "Historic Reeseville" on the web... Here it is, the
middle of the night, I can't sleep, and something posesses me to do a search
on K of P history...

I'm George Brusstar, lifelong resident and King of Prussia historian... So
glad to see this showcase on the web... Somewhere in this house I have old
pix, even some old video of recent "things not there anymore", and countless
stories and memories (some my own, others from oldtimers having told me)...

For your list of old businesses, what about The Sidewalk Deli? I think it
was called something else before that, but I don't remember... It was one of
my first paying jobs, washing dishes there at 12 or 13... Torn down to make way
for "the new" Plaza around 1993... It stood next to The Sticky Bun Shop...

And who could forget the giant clock that stood about 2 or 3 stories tall
when the Plaza had an "outdoor mall" portion? It was near where the
Continental Arcade began, on the Thrift Drugs side...

People seem amazed when I remind them there's more to K of P history than
the Inn (which I spent years cleaning and painting as a volunteer in my
youth)...

as with... I always preferred adding the "e" myself, though I admit Thomas
Rees didn't spell his name like, say, Merrill does!

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