Montgomery Township History: Five Points in Montgomeryville through the years

Some readers asked for a look back at the Five Points intersection and shopping center. Check out some history below.

    Five Points in June 1975.
 Knapp Farm - Montgomery Township Historical Society 

 "Here’s an aerial view of the corner and most of the 309/202 strip taken in the early 1970s. Quite a change took place in a mere 30 years. To the left, you can see a small corner of the old Montgomeryville Airport down where North Wales Road passes through today.

"Across 309/202 and off to the upper right side of the photo is a big, wide open space that in a few years would become Montgomery Mall. It was also the beginning of the end for Lansdale’s status as the region’s commercial center."

    The shot was taken in 1975 and it shows the vast amount of open land still available at that time. Doylestown Pike (Route 202) is in the foreground.
 Lansdale Historical Society Facebook   

 "We’ve posted a number of aerial photographs shot from above the Five-points intersection in Montgomeryville – most of them in color – but this black-and-white beauty gives us a remarkable view to the south, going all the way to North Wales in the distance.

The shot was taken in 1975 and it shows the vast amount of open land still available at that time. Doylestown Pike (Route 202) is in the foreground but look to the middle of the photo where you can clearly see North Wales Road. Follow it from left to right, and take notice – no mall, no housing developments on Knapp Road, no Sandy Brook Plaza – and if you continue on to the right you’ll see Pennbrook Junior High School set at an angle."

    Five Points intersection in the mid-1970s, looking north toward Doylestown along the old Route 202 (Doylestown Pike). Route 309 is in the foreground.
 Lansdale Historical Society Facebook   "We’ve run aerial photographs of the Five-Points intersection in Montgomeryville from a number of directions. Here’s one looking north toward Doylestown along the old Route 202 (Doylestown Pike). Route 309 is in the foreground."

    Weis Markets at Five Points in 1986.
 Lansdale Historical Society Facebook 

  

"Back in the day, the shopping center at Five Points in Montgomeryville looked much different than it does now. Today, BJ’s and Lowe’s anchor the sprawling complex, but back in 1986, Weis Markets was one of the major stores. It closed after a number of years, while its sister market at Valley Forge Road and Sumneytown Pike in Upper Gwynedd seems to be doing quite well."

    Bradlees Department Store at Five Points in 1987.
 Lansdale Historical Society Facebook   

    Five Points Shopping Center in 1987.
 Lansdale Historical Society Facebook   "It isn’t always necessary to go way back to find dramatic change in the North Penn Valley. Here’s a look at the original Five Points Plaza in Montgomeryville in 1987 when it was a conventional shopping center anchored by Bradlees, Builders Square and a Weis Market. Now it consists of two big-box stores - Lowe’s home center and BJ’s Wholesale Club – plus a small group of specialty shops and countless parking spaces that are never filled."

    An aerial view of the corner and most of the 309/202 strip taken in the early 1970s.
 Lansdale Historical Society Facebook June 1975: The Five Points intersection in Montgomeryville looking south along Bethlehem Pike (Rt. 309) The ever-popular Montgomeryville Mart is visible in the upper left corner. The township's commercial boom had just begun. 

    The interior of the Walker Inn which stood on the south side of Montgomeryville’s Five-Points intersection, ca. 1900.
 Lansdale Historical Society Facebook 

  

"Imagine how much today’s tavern owners would pay for an ornate bar like this. What would cost to reproduce it in 2024?

You’re looking at the interior of the Walker Inn which stood on the south side of Montgomeryville’s Five-Points intersection, in front of where Pho Today stands.

Walker Inn was a major stop on Bethlehem Pike because of its location. Unfortunately, it was positioned so close to the road that when traffic volume increased the intersection had to be widened and the old hotel had to go. The photograph probably dates from the very early 20th century."