The Old York Road Historical Society will host a presentation titled “CTPD: The First Fifty Years” on Wednesday, October 9 at 7:30pm in the John Barnes Room of Abington Friends Meeting (520 Meetinghouse Road, Jenkintown).

Society Vice President Tom Wieckowski will provide a look at the beginning of the Cheltenham Police Department in his presentation.

From the description:

From amateur night watchmen, horseback transport and whistles, to professional officers, autogyros and two-way radios, the department filled a void at the beginning of the twentieth century we take for granted today. The police story reflects the larger backdrop of the development over a short period of time of all of our York Road communities as they transitioned from the vagaries of life in the colonial era of horses, dirt roads, farmlands and oil lamps to encompass the challenges of modern living in an era of automobiles, paved highways, suburbanization and electricity.

The lecture is based on an article by the presenter in the recent issue of the OYRHS Bulletin. Copies of the OYRHS Bulletin will be available after the lecture for $10.

Lectures are free and open to the public. This lecture will be offered in-person only.

The lecture series is sponsored by a grant from the Jenkintown Lyceum. For more information, you can call the Old York Road Historical Society at 215-886-8590.

For all the latest news, follow us on Facebook or sign up for Glenside Local’s “Daily Buzz” newsletter here.

Photo: OYRHS