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Now available: A newly reprinted edition of The “Blue Book”
East Falls: 300 Years of History, first published in 1976, is a unique presentation created by a team of community volunteers. Obtaining a copy of this 50-year-old work has been a challenge in recent years, so we have just reprinted it. Please click here to learn more about these new copies and to order them online.
Recognizing Philadelphia History Month, April (and May) 2026
East Falls Historical Society presented a series of three talks as part of History Month (April) in Philadelphia under the overall title, “East Falls and Our River,” of course referring to the Schuylkill River. The first session, held at Memorial Church of the Good Shepherd on April 8, discussed how European settlers from the 1600’s through the early 1800’s used the river, and featured a talk by Clare McCabe, an EFHS board member and a graduate student in history at Temple University. The second session, held via Zoom on April 22, featured a number of EFHS board members talking about a potpourri of topics — steamboats, fishing, the Falls Bridge, and Gustine Lake. The third session, held at Castle Ringstetten on May 13, covered “East Falls and Rowing” — both the story of the upstream houses owned by the rowing clubs on Boathouse Row, and also the tradition of the Kelly family and their rowing partners. Speakers were HIlary Langer of Vesper Boat Club, Henry Haupfuhrer of Bachelors Barge Club, James Hill of Undine Barge Club, and Rich Stehlik from Malta Boat Club.
Our well-attended Zoom talk about “Wendell & Smith: Pioneering Planners of Suburban Philadelphia.”
Greg Prichard, Historic Preservation Planner for Lower Merion Township, presented an overview of this prolific developer of suburbs and suburban-style neighborhoods within Philadelphia (including the upper part of East Falls) in our annual Winter Zoom program on February 25. They were early proponents of what we now call “transit-oriented development,” and their developments provided commissions to a number of young architects who became extremely successful later in their careers.
If you missed the talk or simply want to revisit it, please click here for the Zoom recording.
East Falls Historical Society has recorded more than 60 oral histories! Here are the latest:
The first mayor and first governor to hail from East Falls, Ed Rendell recalls his almost 50 years in East Falls — his impressions of the neighborhood, walking his dog, what he thinks of local eateries, and of course highlights of his career.
Head of School at Penn Charter from 1976 – 2007, Dr. Earl Ball discusses his challenges, achievements, and memories of his years there.
Franz Ostertag, a lifelong Fallser, talks about growing up on Calumet Street, attending school and church at St. Bridget, and working at McDevitt Recreation Center.
Chadwick Papers Index online!
Adapted from The Chadwick Papers Index by Katy Hineline, 1991. Click here to open in a new tab.
Visit the Grace Kelly Gallery at NewCourtland!
Click here for details
