Past Meeting

This Society meeting was held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday September 18, 2022
co-sponsored by the Tredyffrin Public Library as an online web seminar.

Matchbook Cover Memories of the Main Line

presented by Bart Van Valkenburgh

Society member and VP Bart Van Valkenburgh explored Main Line history through his extensive collection of vintage matchbooks. Bart's local history programs are always fascinating as he does more than scratch the surface — he weaves tales and shares memories, and the audience is welcome to share their memories too.

Do you remember when so many people smoked cigarettes, and when you bought a pack of smokes, you received a book of matches?

How about back then when each matchbook cover usually featured an advertisement for a local business? It was a dying art that disappeared about 25 years ago.

Bart Van Valkenburgh has collected hundreds of old matchbook covers dating from yesteryear. This collection shows many Main Line businesses that we frequented using the matchbook cover medium to advertise. Come and share the memories of these stores, restaurants, car dealerships and other businesses long gone from our neighborhoods.

And remember those days of yesteryear.

Bart Van Valkenburgh is Vice President and Program Chair of the Tredyffrin Easttown Historical Society, chairman of the Willistown Township Historical Commission, a member of the Paoli Battlefield  Preservation Fund board of directors, a member of the Paoli Memorial Association, and a board member of the Bartram Bridge Joint Preservation Commission. He is an active historian and has prepared and presented numerous informative and entertaining programs for a variety of organizations.

 

Page last updated: 2023-10-06 at 12:42 EDT
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