Early Roads

From 1682 to 1759, Wm. Harmer's 408 acre tract of land was sparsely settled and undivided by many roads. The only buildings on the land were Harmer's gristmill (later called Plumly's Mill,) and his fulling mill.

The need for roads grew with the increasing population. Harmer sold parcels of his land to farmers, who needed to get their produce to market. Most of the early settlers were Quakers, and they needed to get to their meetinghouse, which was at a distance. The first three roads through the area that served the people's commercial and social needs were Mt. Pleasant Avenue, Butler Avenue, and Church Street.

In 1730, Wm. Harmer drew up a petition signed by 43 area landowners and presented to the representative of the English Court in Philadelphia, to build the first road, now Mt. Pleasant Avenue. It began at North Wales Road*, and passed the Fulling Mill, the gristmill and continued for about a mile on what is now Morris Road.

In 1739, a road originally laid out in 1712, and used by the Quakers to travel to their meetinghouse in Plymouth Meeting, was made a public highway by the Court. This road became known as Butler Avenue. Prior to paving, dirt tracks carved by horse drawn wagons were often ploughed over by farmers eager to increase their planting area.

In 1744, Burk's Road, later known as Church Street, was built by John Burk to connect his mill with the King's Highway, Bethlehem Pike, the main artery in the township.

Back to TOP

*North Wales Road was also known as The Great Highway, The King's Highway and Bethlehem Pike.

Learn how Butler Avenue became "piked."

Source: Early History of Ambler by Dr. Mary P.H. Hough, 1936.