An ice cream shop that also serves oysters? Let's talk about that.
History
Alexander Niblock (1823-1900) was born in Buckingham, Bucks County, PA on September 5. In 1864, he moved to Upper Dublin where he built a farm on Bethlehem Pike. It was later owned by Dr. Richard V. Mattison.
In 1884, Alexander passed on his farm to his son George and moved to Ambler where he lived ever since. While in Ambler, his son Harry R. Niblock (1860-1939) was running a restaurant on the busiest street in the borough: Butler Avenue. He ran his restaurant since 1894. There's little information on Harry, but based from the information I found from the Ambler Gazette, he was a fisherman. He traveled to different places like Anglesea, Victoria and Fortescue, New Jersey to find fresh seafood.
"The restaurant and lunch rooms of Harry R. Niblock on Butler avenue ably supplies Ambler's needs in this respect, and its unexcelled service, cleanliness and accommodations make it a most desirable place to stop. Here fully cooked meals or short orders are prepared on short notice, and oysters are served in every style, while families are supplied with the largest and finest oysters on the market at all seasons of the year... The success that Mr. Niblock has made of this business here has been developed by a great deal of perseverance and hard work."
- Ambler Gazette, August 20, 1903
In 1931, Harry sold his restaurant to his son Alexander after 40 years of operation under his management. His son Alexander was responsible for making alterations and expansions to the restaurant and kitchen. He built a garage at the rear of the restaurant for his truck.
Bibliography
"All Businesses Represented." Ambler Gazette. August 20, 1903. Page 2. https://digitalarchives.powerlibrary.org/papd/islandora/object/papd%3Awivp-gazett_2910.
"Ambler Property Sold." Ambler Gazette. February 19, 1931. Page 1. http://digitalcollections.powerlibrary.org/cdm/compoundobject/collection/wivp-gazett/id/20084/rec/1.
"Niblock's Restaurant Combines Quality With Low Prices and Service." Ambler Gazette. February 1, 1934. Page 6. http://digitalcollections.powerlibrary.org/cdm/compoundobject/collection/wivp-gazett/id/20241/rec/38.
"Obituary." Ambler Gazette. May 24, 1900. Page 4. http://digitalcollections.powerlibrary.org/cdm/compoundobject/collection/wivp-gazett/id/3180/rec/1.
Scott, J.D. North Pennsylvania Railroad 1886 Philadelphia - Bucks - Montgomery Counties, Ambler, 1886.
The Jewelers' Circular and Horological Review 38, no. 24 (1899): 11.
"Wissahickon Valley Public Library's Ambler Gazette Collection." POWER Library: Pennsylvania's Electronic Library. Accessed July 6, 2022. http://digitalcollections.powerlibrary.org/cdm/landingpage/collection/wivp-gazett.
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