A daily feature from our surrounding historical societies.
For a long time, the corner of S. Broad Street and White’s Road was the home of the Lansdale Memorial Works. Conveniently, it was located right across the street from the Lansdale Cemetery.
The gravestone carving business was initially started by D. N. Hulshower, who ran it from 1885 until 1924, working from his home on the northwest corner of Susquehanna and Derstine Avenues.
In 1920, he sold out to Andrew Gilkeson. Gilkeson had owned several monument and gravestone businesses in the area, beginning in 1889.
Obtaining the lot at S. Broad and White’s Road in 1920, he built the “Lansdale Memorial Works” in 1924. He modernized the engraving by using a sandblast machine. The Lansdale business was turned over to his son Paul in 1928.
We’re not sure how long Paul continued in the business, but it was listed in directories into the 1960s.
The building was eventually razed, and replaced by a Wendy’s, which opened in March of 1980.
Credit: Lansdale Historical Society
