Community Corner
This Was Blue Bell: Welcome to Pigeontown
A look back at the history of our area, courtesy of 'Old Images of Montgomery County PA' on Facebook.
This week's "This Was ..." isn't a historic photo, but the photo does harken back to history of the area.
Sandy Hargrove posted the photo to the "Old Images of Montgomery County PA" Facebook page. This replica sign in the photo that welcomes drivers and pedestrians on Route 73 to Blue Bell, formerly "Pigeontown." The sign states Pigeontown aka Blue Bell was founded in 1840.
Facebook fans of the site stated that it was called "Pigeontown" because of a man who raised pigeons in the town in the 1700s.
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Reader Mary Baralt said Blue Bell was a stop on pigeon migratory travels. Conshohocken and Manayunk were Lenni Lenape settlements, and the Blue Bell area was the hunting area, she said.
According to reader Ron Cione, the sign is an exact replica of the original sign, which was stolen around 2005. The original sign was given to the township by the Pennsylvania Historical Society.
Find out what's happening in Lower Gwynedd-Ambler-Whitpainfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
What history do you know of the sign? What history do you know of Pigeontown? Tell us in the comments.
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