Life in Glenside Township
Shared between Abington and Cheltenham Township, Glenside is a great neighborhood where you can walk to parks, the library, shops, cafes, restaurants, and breweries. It’s the size of about 1.3 square miles and is only about 6 miles from Center City Philadelphia. The Glenside Train Station heads to Doylestown or Lansdale to the North, or downtown Philly to the South. It takes about 25 minutes to get downtown. Head south on Easton Rd towards Arcadia University. Pop in one of the mom & pop shops along the way or grab a pint at the Glenside Pub. I shop at Produce Junction when I need a lot of fruit and veggies. Walk the grounds of Arcadia and check out Grey Towers- Glenside’s very own castle! This is an excellent spot to do your very own photoshoot. Enjoy my alma mater :)
Check out the weekly Farmer’s Market located by the train station on Saturday Mornings
Major routes include route 73 (Church rd), 309 Expressway, route 152 (Limekiln Pike). Quick access to the PA turnpike.
Living in Glenside
Glenside, PA is a vibrant suburban community located in Montgomery County, about 10 miles north of Philadelphia. Here are some key aspects of life in Glenside:
Great Location: Glenside is located in a convenient location for commuters, with easy access to major highways like the Pennsylvania Turnpike and Route 309. Additionally, the SEPTA regional rail line runs through Glenside, providing easy access to Philadelphia.
Community Atmosphere: Glenside has a strong sense of community, with many local events and activities throughout the year. The Keswick Theater is a popular venue for concerts and shows, and there are many restaurants, shops, and cafes in the area.
Good Schools: Glenside is served by the Abington School District, which is known for its excellent schools. In fact, Abington Senior High School was recently ranked as one of the top high schools in the state. Some parts of Glenside are served by Cheltenham School District, too! Arcadia University (my undergrad Alma Mater) includes Grey Towers, the castle visible from Easton Rd and 309.
Parks and Recreation: Glenside is home to several parks and recreational areas, including Glenside Memorial Hall Park and the Ardsley Wildlife Sanctuary. These parks offer hiking and biking trails, picnic areas, and playgrounds.
Historic Charm: Glenside has a rich history dating back to the 18th century, and many of the homes and buildings in the area have been well-preserved. The Keswick Village shopping district has a historic feel and offers a unique shopping and dining experience.
Overall, Glenside offers a great quality of life with a combination of suburban charm and city conveniences.
Glenside Real Estate MArket
Glenside is a suburban community located in Montgomery County, PA, and is located about 10 miles north of Philadelphia. The real estate market in Glenside tends to be competitive, with a mix of single-family homes, townhouses, and condominiums available for sale.
Factors that can influence the real estate market in Glenside include supply and demand, interest rates, the local economy, and the availability of new construction projects. Like many suburban areas, the real estate market in Glenside may experience seasonal fluctuations in activity, with more activity typically occurring in the spring and summer months.
If you're interested in buying or selling a property in Glenside, it's always a good idea to work with a knowledgeable local real estate agent like myself who can provide up-to-date information and insights on the market. They can help you navigate the market and find the best deals and opportunities based on your specific needs and preferences.
Talk to Shaina today about the Glenside housing market!
Things to do in Glenside, PA
Glenside, PA is a vibrant suburban community with plenty of fun activities and attractions to explore. Here are some ideas for things to do in Glenside:
Attend a Show at the Keswick Theater: The Keswick Theater is a historic venue that hosts a variety of concerts, comedy shows, and other performances throughout the year.
Visit the Ardsley Wildlife Sanctuary: The Ardsley Wildlife Sanctuary is a beautiful park with hiking trails, a pond, and a variety of wildlife to observe.
Explore the Keswick Village Shopping District: The Keswick Village shopping district has a historic feel and offers a unique shopping and dining experience, with plenty of local boutiques, cafes, and restaurants to explore.
Attend a Festival or Event: Glenside hosts several festivals and events throughout the year, including the Glenside Arts Festival, the Cheltenham Jazz Festival, and the Keswick Village Fall Fest.
Play at the Glenside Memorial Hall Park: Glenside Memorial Hall Park has a playground, basketball court, and picnic areas, making it a great place to spend an afternoon with family or friends.
Walk the grounds of Arcadia University: Take a walk at Arcadia when school is not in session and enjoy the beautiful campus!
Overall, Glenside offers plenty of opportunities to enjoy the outdoors, explore local history and culture, and have fun with family and friends.
Glenside History
Glenside was created in 1693 and had a rocky start as it switched between Cheltenham Township, Philadelphia County which then dissolved and became the newly formed Montgomery County. William Penn handed out land like candy back in the day and what we now know as Glenside was the result of William Penn giving 100 to 500 acres to 15 of his English buddies. Toby Leech is a prominent name in the early Glenside days. He had opened the first corn mill along the Tookany Creek. You can still see the house he built for his slaves on Church rd. Slavery did not last long in the area thankfully and large part due to the influential legacy left behind by Humphrey Morrey leveraged by his son.
In 1691, Humphrey Morrey became the first mayor of Philadelphia and was one of the dudes William Penn gave land to. He was influential in the area’s politics and social development. After his legacy, his only surviving child, Richard Morrey inherited his grant land and placed his name in history books as the first slave owner in Glenside to free his slave workers and one of the first in the entire country AND to be one of the firsts to grant land to slaves. Richard was pretty ‘woke’ for his time. A few years later, he fell in love with Cremona who happened to be one of his father’s slaves that he freed. She stayed on as a servant at the Morrey house. As a romantic myself, I absolutely love this story minus the part where Richard was already married which shrouds this piece of history in even more controversy. Richard and Cremona were very open about their interracial relationship and eventually were accepted as ‘man and wife’ within the community (never legally married). How was this possible?! One word: Quakers. Quakers are called Friends for a reason and were extremely progressive at the time considering what was going on in the rest of the world. The Morrey family were Quakers as were the majority of their community. Richard and Cremona had 5 children between 1735 and 1745. In 1753, Cremona inherited 198 acres of land upon Richard’s death which is also extremely unusual during this time period as it was unheard of for African-American women to own land. If we ever tour homes together in Glenside I can point out the home Cremona’s daughter also named Cremona, and her husband John Montier built in the Edge Hill section on Limekiln Pike. It was actually on the market back in 2019!
Well, that was a bit of a tagent. Apologies. I love certain pieces of history.
On another note, the annual Independence Day Parade held in Glenside every July 4 is reported to be the largest such parade in the greater Philadelphia area. The parade began in 1904 and is now sponsored by the Greater Glenside Patriotic Association. It is a very traditional parade, including all the area volunteer fire companies, a variety of bands and other musical performers, church groups and community organizations, and local and state elected officials. One unique and much-anticipated show is the Schuylkill County Motorcycle Drill Team. It is one of the nation's longest consecutive Fourth of July parades.
Notable people in Glenside
Madeleine Dean- United States Congresswoman
Chad Argue - hockey coach for Providence Friars
Johnny Callison - professional baseball player for Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago Cubs
George Castle – son of J.R. Castle, lacrosse player for Philadelphia Wings
J.R. Castle – former lacrosse player
Johanna Deitz-Curry - former physical therapist at Children's Seashore House and minister in counseling at Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church
Clay Dalrymple - professional baseball player for Philadelphia Phillies and Baltimore Orioles
Tony Donatelli – soccer player for Charleston Battery
Bill Hyndman – amateur golfer
Milt Jacobson – minor league baseball player for Washington Senators
Jillian Mele - host at Fox news
Jerry Oleksiak - Pennsylvania Secretary of Labor and Industry
Bob Perkins - radio host at WRTI
Jesse Purnell – professional baseball player for Philadelphia Phillies
Russell Swan – Survivor contestant
Richard Ward – actor
George Wilson – College Football Hall of Fame football player
Ray Ellis – artist
Grey Towers Castle
/ Arcadia University / “Cool Castle in Glenside”
Welcome to the place I called home for 3 years as I did my B.A. This cool castle was built in the 1890s to replace an existing structure that burnt down. Guess who designed it? Of course it was local legend and designer of the iconic Philadelphia Art Museum, Horace Trumbauer. Ask me for the inside scoop on this historic gem- I used to give tours to incoming students of this happening Glenside castle and can tell you all about the hauntings, mistresses, and secret passageways which are off limits to everyone except the adventurous, curious student like myself.
Cool places to check out
Glenside Library (yes.. it’s cool to read). Established in 1928
Glenside Farmer’s Market- Saturday mornings in the warmer months.
The Ways Restaurant and Brewery- has great outside space to enjoy a brew in good weather!
Bill’s Best- has good BBQ and good beer
Elcy’s Cafe- catch a bite and a coffee before hopping on the regional rail to downtown Philadelphia
Anne’s Kitchen Table- one of my favorite lunch spots. They have outdoor dining. Healthy, affordable food made with love.
Arcadia University- This will link to more history of this Glenside masterpiece!
Glenside Memorial Hall- available banquet space to rent out! This historic building was built in 1926 to honor World War I veterans.
Edge Hill Woods Wildlife Sanctuary- Head to Kelly Lane and Pleasant Ave for the entrance to this 10 acre trail located within a residential neighborhood.
Keswick Village- Check out my page on Keswick Village which is a part of Glenside but has its own vibe.
Ask me about buying, selling, and renting property in Glenside, PA.
Work with an experienced Real Estate Agent to represent you buying a home in Glenside, selling a home in Glenside, or finding your next rental in Glenside. Take it from someone who has lived in the community and can help navigate the complex township rules and regulations to property sales in Glenside. Contact Shaina McAndrews about real estate in Glenside today!
