Do You Remember?
- Tic Tac Tie
- Max For Snacks, later The Pickle Barrel
- The Valley Forge Drive In
- The Valley Forge Diner
- The Valley Fore Home Center
- The Valley Forge Inn
- Pete-Za-Rama
- The Piccadilly Arcade then re-named The Continental Arcade
- Ej Korvette
- Brookmeade’s Valley Forge Dairy Cottage, Maplecroft Farm’s Dairy Bar, The Betsy Ross Restaurant (Best Ice Cream In Town), later The Sting, The Baron’s Inn, and now Creed’s
- Wt Grant
- The Viking Hut
- Wally Whopper (Burger King’s less than happy manager)
- All You Can Eat Fish Fry At Ho Jo’s
- The Purple Cow
- The Big Chicken At Nor-View Farm
- Perry’s Deli, now Michael’s Deli
- Brooks Sporting Goods, later Herman’s
- Wilson’s Exxon
- Tommy’s Texaco
- Ambrose Sunoco
- Cummins Atlantic, Exxon
- Bill & Dave’s Getty
- Victoria Station, later Rib-It
- Adult Gifts
- Queen Tv
- Eric King Theatre
- Bonnie Barn
- So Fro Fabrics
- Plaza Pets
- Dieckhaus
- Wanamaker, Gimbels
- Wanamaker’s Tire Center
- Lafayette Radio & Electronics
- Record Revolution
- Eddie’s Barber Shop
- Pat’s Barber Shop
- Valley’s Restaurant, later Casa Maria, an ugly Computer Store, then Petsmart, and now…
- Gaudio’s
- Slax N’ Jacks
- Fw Woolworth’s
- Jackmans
- Spa Vita Nova, later Queen Tv And Appliance
- Dutch Pantry, later Alfalfa’s, later Pastabilities, and then Hooters
- Food Fair
- The Chemist Shop
- Open Pantry
- The Happy Viking
- Wicks N Sticks
- Gino’s
- Horn & Hardart, later Steak ‘N Brew, later Aspen, then Sportsters
- Morris Weisbaum’s Drug Store
- Supplee Dairy
- Walker’s Farm And Meats
- The Sticky Bun
- The Pickle Barrel
- Florsheim Shoes And Barber Shop
- Peoples National Bank, Later American Bank, Meridian, Core States, First Union, Wachovia, Wells Fargo…whew!
- Western Savings Bank
- Bill Ding’s Home Center
- Burt’s Shoe Store
- Bakers Shoes
- Flagg Bros.
- Shoes
- The Door For Happy Children
- Thom Mcann
- Italian Delight
- Yankee Doodle Restaurant
- Beefsteak Charlie’s, later Tgi Friday
- The Inn Of The Four Falls
- Robert E. Lee Hardware
- The Escalator Ramp and the Santa Claus House at The Valley Forge Shopping Center
- Beck’s (On The Boulevard)
- Donut Land
- Hanscom’s Bakery
- The Inn, The Shoe Repair and The Laundromat
- King Of Prussia Lanes
- Wolfsohn Memorial Library
- The Tac House At Walker Field
Things To Never Forget:
- The Singing Bridge (over the Schuylkill in Valley Forge)
- The Hanging Rock
- The wind blowing the leaves around the stores as you walked outside of the old King Of Prussia Plaza in the fall.
Trivia Questions:
1. What Movie Was Playing At The King Theatre (and had to be interrupted) The Night Grants Burned Down?
2. What Flag Was Home Made?
What a great place to grow up …. I can’t drive through King of Prussia without thinking of all the great places that were there….but most of all nor view veiw farms….all the swim clubs..would go to all of them…the skating rink . Ii stated working there in 4th grade for free skating and like 10 dollars a week….a great man named Chuck Volpe owned it . It’s fun to talk about old times in K of P….great job on this site ….:)
Please provide some info regarding Alderbrook Manor, located at the bottom of KOP Road where it meets Croton. Love that house, but can find nothing regarding its current status (or history).
If you mean the large estate mansion house, I never knew it had a name. When we moved to U.M. in 1954, their property included all of the land that was taken to build Roberts School. The residents at the time were Mrs. McKay, a widow and her adult daughter Marjorie McKay who were driven around in a chauffered 1930 Packard. They were not very fond of kids sneaking in to swim in their lake, but we did anyway. I remember once when Jimmy Campbell and I were happily splashing around in the pond when Marjorie appeared from behind the hedge and told us she almost took our pants. That day they were good sports. The next time they let the dogs out, so I guess we finally got the message.
My Mom thinks the family name was McKaig, not MaKay.
John Morrell,
Please respond to this request. I would like to get in touch with you regarding the 50th Reunion of our UMHS Class of 1962. Also if any of you reading this have not contacted me,please do at-willier100@msn.com . We want as many of you as possible for a great turnout next year. I have taken over the Historian job and I am looking for the missing Alumni. Thanks in advance.
Linda Booker Sampson
You may also want to try “You need to know that we’re from KOP and it’s more than just a mall” on Facebook. Lots of UM Grads including John are there. Good luck!
Hello!
I am thiiiiis close to buying a home on Rebel Hill. I’ve been doing research on the area as I’m a huge history buff and know the area is rife with history! As such, I stumbled across this website, and wanted to let the editor know I love all the thoughtful information and posts provided within. However, I must ask (as my interest was piqued)—what was/is “The Singing Bridge?”
The singing bridge was a open steel grate bridge over the Schuylkill River at Betzwood. One would start out slowing at one end in thier car, increasing speed until take off! You had to be high to really appreciate it.
I lived within earshot of the Betzwood bridge and walked across it many times to get to boat launch at Betzwood park.
BTW- Queen Appliance was there long before Spa Vita Nova, and it was not the same building.
Is this possibly my old next door neighbor – “Jim Lovely”? My maiden name is Kosowski. I have Beemer missing my mom so looking at “oldKing Of Prussia” helps. My dad still tells people that he lived next to a house with “7 Lovely children”! (If it is a completely different “Jim Lovely”, you have a very cool name!
Lori
I used to baby sit you and your brother once in a while. Now there is only 6 Lovely children, Phyllis passed away. Nice to hear from you!
Thanks for responding Jim! I am so sorry to hear about Phyllis. You and the family will always be special to me. I will keep you all in my thoughts and prayers. Take care!
This isn’t a “Reply” but a plea for help in finding an Army Buddy of mine with whom I served in 1965 and 1966, in the Pentagon, who was from King of Prussia. His name was William Walker, but to me he was simply “Bill Walker”. I think his Father was in a family dairy business at the time. I visited his home once, in 1965, which I think was on a farm outside of KOP. We rode the Red Arrow line into the Philadelphia City Center. His Dad called that Interurban line “The Poor & Weary”, parody of it’s real name, the Philadelphia & Western, at the time. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks to anyone who might be able to help with a recollection.
Tim Varney
1-402-934-6622
LaVista, NE 68128
Here’s Bill Walker’s phone number 610-688-7498. We went to school together.
Does anyone remember a teen hangout in King Manor in the fifties called ” Royals”. It was near the P&W station on Crooked Lane.After Upper Merion football games,it was the place to go.
Lou DeSpirito
Lou,
I have heard of Royals, but must admit it was a little before my time. Maybe some of our readers will remember it, and comment. Thanks for taking the time to share your memories.
Hi Lou,
I lived on DeKalb Pike and went to school with you.
I remember that place as “Happy Sal’s”………….I used to go there with Diane Kremzier and Liesel Gadonas. I don’t remember it as Royals……..does Happy Sal’s sound familiar?
You lived on Wilson Rd. so I do remember you well.
It is okay if you don’t remember me. I lived next door to the Vento’s and good friends at one time to the Bearoffs. I pray all is well with you.
Josette Bernard Sangiacomo
Hi Josette
i remember your name ,but can”t recall your face.I do recall “Happy Sals” I think that was after “Royals”.I now Live in Wilkes Barre ,but have many fond memories of K of P Hope you and yours are well
Lou Despirito Class of 1956 UM
I remember the hobby shoppe, I worked there for many years.
Yes, I remember the Yankee Doodle, the Pickle Barrel (or the Peekle Bar-r-rel as my South American friends called it), and the old KOP Plaza. I’m from Ohio, but my company was headquartered in KOP. Went to training classes there five times between 1978 and 1984. We always stayed at the HoJo. Am I crazy or do I remember having several meals at the King of Prussia Inn in 1982? Articles on the internet seem to indicate that this restaurant sat idle for fifty years until 2002 when they relocated it. I was inebriated the few times that I was there, but not that inebriated. If anyone remembers the KOP Inn being open in 1982, please post something here. Thank you.
Editor’s Note: The King of Prussia Inn closed its doors in 1952. You may be thinking of Johnny Kamuca’s Valley Forge Tavern, located near HoJo’s and the old King of Prussia Inn.
I remember a restaurant that I think was in the middle of Rt. 202. I could be wrong about that. Anyway, lots of good memories of King of Prussia. Thank you for your response.
I grew up in Dover, Delaware, and we always went to King of Prussia mall for Christmas shopping. I remember all of the wonderful Christmas trees on display at Gaudio’s! It was a winter wonderland. My mom always found unique Christmas decorations there that every one would exclaim over. Whatever happened to that store?
Editor’s Note: Gaudio’s was a magical place during the holiday season. That mini-winter wonderland was a real treat. It started on Mount Ephraim Avenue in Camden, and was famous for its elaborate, walk-through Christmas displays. It was sold in 1969 to the Penn Fruit Co. supermarket chain, and grew to 20 stores strong.
In 1976, the Gaudios started over with a new garden center and a new name, G Boys, essentially competing with the chain that still bore the family’s surname. But Penn Fruit eventually ran into financial problems and its assets were sold to a liquidator. The last Gaudio’s store closed in 1989, according to a Courier-Post article from that time.
You were probably at the Peacock Inn that was located on the opposite side of 202. The K of P Inn was located on an island between 202 N and 202 S. Johnny Kamuca’s was on the North side, Peacock Inn on the South.
I remember eating at the Peacock Inn in the early 60s. There was a decorative water fountain display inside. It was the first one I had ever seen. Very Cool.
I grew up in the Gulph Mills section of the twp. My parents would take all four of us kids to the Peacock Inn for special occasions. We thought it was the best restaurant in the world.
Awesome, good memories.
Do you remember?
Gino’s
Hess gas station
CC&F Industrial Park
Arby’s
Donut Land
A&P
Vally Forge Drug Store
Ye Olde Coin and Hobby Shoppe ( in the mall )
The model car racing shop and track near Valley Forge Mall
What Movie OPENED the King Theater? The Longest Day (or was it Mothra?? )
The 5&10 at Valley Forge Center
The Bowling Alley
I was there, It was the “THE LONGEST DAY”
No, but you are very close. The film in question came out four years later. I was there as well, and they stopped the film to evacuate with about five minutes to go! It wasn’t until about ten years later that i finally saw how it ended.