The Old Penllyn School
- Yen Ho
- 6 hours ago
- 3 min read
In February 2026, I was contacted by a member of the Lower Gwynedd Township who sought research on the old Penllyn School nearby the train station. Previously, I've done broad research on the area's education history and the controversial 1954 case on the newly built Penllyn school, but I haven't done further research on some specific schools. Until now.
History from 1888-1923
"The four schools open, in 1844, were the 'upper eight-square,' on the Allentown road; one on the Sumneytown road opposite Frederick Beaver's; one at Gwynedd meeting-house, partly supported by the meeting fund; one at the 'lower eight-square,' on the turnpike below Spring-House. The two 'eight-square' were actually octagonal in shape, a plan then thought to be a very good one."
- Howard Malcom Jenkins, Historical collections relating to Gwynedd (400)
Penllyn School became the latest school to be built in Gwynedd Township in the summer of 1888, and already adopted the free school system compared to the other schools established in the area: Cedar Hill, Dager, and Maple Grove.
During its early years, the school was separated by gender: the Penllyn School For Boys and Penllyn Seminary For Young Ladies. The school for girls was opened two years after the school was built. The school's earliest principal was Frederic Garner for both boys and girls. Later on, the school would later integrate into one school.
The earliest known students who attended the Penllyn School For Boys were William H. Drayton, Jr., Frederick Shellenberger, Harry Markoe, Jr., Norris Wister Vaux and Henry Pepper Vaux. Some were directly related to the most elite families in Penllyn: The Draytons, the Markoes, and the Vauxs.
As the school continued to grow, the Lower Gwynedd School Board planned to expand the schoolhouse with the help of local architect Ralph Schafenacker and Justus W. Lutz. Later the school was painted white and is still white til this day.
From Schoolhouse to House
After 35 years of operation, the school board decided to close down the Penllyn School. After the class of 1923 graduated, the school officially closed, and was put up for sale. It didn't take long until William W. Stines purchased the former school house for $4,575 ($87,019.18 in 2026). He worked for the Campbell Brothers Greenhouse in Penllyn. One year later, the home was given to Paul B. Postell. The home was remodeled by Stines before moving out.
Fun Fact # 1: There were 24 students who graduated from all 4 schools in Lower Gwynedd.
Bibliography
Jenkins, Howard Malcolm. Historical Collections Relating to Gwynedd: A Township of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Settled 1698, by Welsh Immigrants ; with Some Data Referring to the Adjoining Township of Montgomery, Also a Welsh Settlement. (Philadelphia: Howard Malcolm Jenkins, 1897): 400.
Philadelphia Real Estate Record and Builders' Guide, v. 3, n. 33 (1888): 392.
Smith, J. L. Montgomery County 1893, Upper and Lower Gwynedd Townships, Lansdale, North Wales, Spring House, Ambler Right, 1893.
"WILLIAM W. STINES." Ambler Gazette. March 19, 1931. Page 3. https://digitalarchives.powerlibrary.org/papd/islandora/object/papd%3Awivp-gazett_18387.
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