Norriton Township Historical Photos, Maps, & Documents (Montgomery Co., PA)

Concentrating on pre-1940 and also, in particular, from when it was part of Philadelphia County through the industrial revolution.
~• See <documents> and <photos> for links to many of the people associated with this project

1760s

• Egypt Road properties of the 1760s
• Jeffersonville Inn built in 1765
  • which became affectionately known as the Tom Brown Inn. See Phila. Inq. article of c. 1921 which gives an account. Brown was the proprietor for the last 11 years of his life (c.1908-1910); read more at https://hsmcpa.org/index.php/component/k2/itemlist/tag/Inns

1770s

• All of Norriton in 1777 property parcels delineated. Searchable!
  • There are 90 parcels indexed so far of which there are fewer than 50 surnames

1780s

• 1786 Pennsylvania, U.S., Septennial Census, 1779-1863 (cover page for all townships
  • Norriton has 153 households

1800s

• 1807 Pennsylvania, U.S., Septennial Census, 1779-1863 Norriton (entire) had only 243 households.
  • these can ab accessed on ancestry dot com beginning on page 39 of 90

1840s

• PA railroad map shows 1840's rail service
• Jeffersonville in 1849
• Shannonville in 1849
• The William Hamill House also owned by Edward Worstall Hibbs
• The Yellow Club

1850s

• According to W. H. Reed’s well researched article: "As the village grew up around the inn, Reed remarks that references to the inn change from “the Jefferson Inn” to “the Jeffersonville Inn.” In 1852, elections returned to the inn when Norriton Township was made into a separate election district.
• Norriton map of 1857
• over the township line to the west

1870s

• Jeffersonville
• West Norriton in 1871
• Abraham Reiff mill in Norriton
• West Norriton in 1877
  • Norriton : From Montgomery County 1877, Pennsylvania Published by J. D. Scott in 1877

1880s

• West Norriton in 1887

1890s

• a clearer image of the Jeffersonville Inn c, 1895
• rooms for rent at Norris Hall (1897) Hizer
• West Norriton Presbyterian Church (clipping) 1898
• trolley transportation became consolidated and convenient. ( see doc. )
  • http://www.phillytrolley.org/svt/schuylkill-valley-transit01.html (see the route as it went out to Egypt Road and Ridge Pike)
• excursion map of 1898

1900's

• Norristown streets 1902 > see individual section maps for detail

1920s

• The Jeffersonville Inn in 1921
  • ""At the turn of the 20th Century, the inn was known as “Tom Brown’s Inn” after its owner. It was closed for much of the 1920’s, but in 1925, the inn’s new owner, John Hallman, took advantage of the expansion of Valley Forge Park, and highlighted the inn’s historic significance with many antiques from the time of the Revolution."

1930s

• Norris Hall ( sold in the '40's )
• trolley line in West Norriton/Trooper in 1932 : http://www.phillytrolley.org/svt/schuylkill-valley-transit03.html
• Dec. 12, 1931 last day of trolley service from Norristown to Chestnut Hill

1950s

• 1956 map detail includes Norriton > example

cemeteries

• Norriton Presbyterian Church Cemetery
• Montgomery Cemetery
• Lower Providence Presbyterian cemetery

other sources

• The History of West Norriton (Book) • Purchasing a Copy
  • The book is available at the Township Office for $10, or you can send $12.50 ($10 for the book and $2.50 for shipping and handling) to:
  • History Book, West Norriton Township, 1630 W. Marshall St., Jeffersonville, PA 19403
  • aka 1630 W Marshall St, Eagleville, PA 19403 Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Phone: 610-631-0450
• The Historical Society of Montgomery County
• 19th century maps of Montgomery County: https://ancestortracks.com/Phil_Mont_Bucks_Del_maps.html
• original landowners of Norriton (prior to Norristown) https://maps.archives.upenn.edu/WestPhila1777/view-parcel.php?pid=1...
• U.S., Presbyterian Church Records, 1701-197 Norristown Norriton Providence Presbyterian Church Baptisms, Births, Marriages, Deaths 1836-1891
• Worcester Historical Society P.O. Box 112 Worcester, PA 19490
  • ~• note: The old Skippack Pike had numerous Inns along its route, esp. in 1849 where we sse them on the Wistat Map. The 1st Montgomery Troop, largely based in Norriton, used to meet at Wentz' Tavern, run by John Wentz in the late 18th century.
• Buck's History of Montgomery County, widely quoted
  • eg: https://www.newspapers.com/image/919874300/?terms=%22History%20of%2...
    • North Penn Reporter Thu, Dec 14, 1882 ·Page 1