SHELLY & SONS INC.

Shelly & Sons Inc. of Perkasie lost significant warehouse space and inventory, and the data processing and computer center at the central headquarters in the 1895 J.G. Moyer landmark building at Seventh and Market Streets.

In 1870 Joseph G. Moyer moved to Perkasie (then Comleysville) and purchased a lumber and coal business from Abram A. Hendricks in 1874.		The J.G. Moyer building circa 1909.

The J.G. Moyer building looking North on 7th Street.		The J.G. Moyer building as viewed from Seventh Street circa 1906.
Train near Shelly's circa 1960. Note the train barn to the left rear of the photo.		Little remains of the J.G. Moyer building during the fire.
The District Court building has replaced the Shelly properties. Several businesses are also located in this building.		Behind the District Court building evidence of storage bins can still be seen next to the new wall.

The J.G. Moyer building appeared on the cover of the July 7, 1945 issue of the Saturday Evening Post magazine. John Falter created this painting of a Fourth of July Parade - his concept of a World War II VE (Victory in Europe) Day celebration in a small town. The event never actually happened. The event was recreated in November of 1987 by the Pennridge Chamber of Commerce.

Original Falter painting.		November 1987 reenactment of the parade in the painting .

AMERICAN HOUSE HOTEL

The American House Hotel was originally built with a frame structure in 1870. The second owner, Philip Cressman, moved the original structure on rollers to 115 and 117 N. Sixth Street in 1894. Then the structure we know as the American House Hotel with distinctive turret (later removed) was built.

This hotel was one of two hotels in downtown Perkasie. Charming Victorian period details made the structure distinctive. The other hotel, Union Hotel was demolished in the 1960's as part of the controversial urban renewal project in downtown Perkasie.

Market Street looking East from Market Streets. The turret in in place in this post card image.		Seventh & Market Streets in Perkasie circa 1968. The turret has been removed. Note the H.G. Moyer building at left.

LESHER'S 5¢-10¢-$ 1

This Lesher's building was built as a store in 1924 on the ashes of the American House stables. The building opened as the Kulp Brothers Dry Goods Store.

In 1933 A.A. Lesher purchased the businesses of the Victory Store and the Schmidt's 5& 10. Lesher's business started at 613 Market Street, moved to Seventh Street (next to the post office) and then moved again to the Kulp Bros building. Gene Pritchard, owner at the time of the fire maintained the charm of the building with its large wooden and glass candy counter.

Kulp Bros building.		Lesher's 5¢-10¢ß-$1 store as it appeared in 1979.
The Lesher's building is being hit with many streams of water during the fire.		Twisted metal - the final remains of the Lesher's building are removed after the fire by a crane.

Today the property of the American House Hotel and Lesher's is a parking lot. On Saturdays between May and November the Perkasie Farmers Market is also located on these grounds.