Odds are if you’ve ever mentioned Glenside, you’ve been met with a blank stare; a quizzical look; an omnipresent “where?" But no matter where you start your journey, Glenside is worth the trip.
Glenside is a collection of three townships (Abington, Cheltenham and Springfield) nestled in the rolling hills of Montgomery county 10 miles North of Center City, Philadelphia and within two miles of the Philadelphia county line.
Glenside is also easily accessible to almost every major road in the area and Septa Regional Rail. See this map for Glenside's location in Montgomery County.
According to the Greater Glenside Chamber of Commerce, Glenside dates back to 1718 when lime-burning kilns were set up in nearby Roslyn. The booming industry resulted in the naming of Limekiln Pike, a major thoroughfare serving the region. The almost 200 year history is palpable at every turn with stately architecture taking you from brick and stone colonials to the more exotic tudors.
You can almost sense the trolley that used to run down Keswick Ave (the tracks are still there hidden under the blacktop and cobblestones) delivering people to the country for rest, relaxation and the fun of Willow Grove Park. (more about that later).
What makes Glenside such a special place? Around every corner there is evidence that this is a community that cares about itself and the people in it.
And at the epicenter of this vibrant, community is the grand and historic Keswick Theatre designed by Horace Trumbauer (the same as the Philadelphia Art Museum). The theater opened its doors on Christmas, 1928 in the grandest of fashions: with flyers dropped from a passing plane.
A mighty institution, the Keswick has withstood floods, hurricanes, an “epic” fire, and earthquake and with the strength of the community behind it, held off the wrecking ball more than once and maintained a reputation of being one of the finest music venues in the world.
Comments