Copy of facts published on Facebook and previously in the Upper Merion Township e-Newsletter.
During World War I, super-patriotism of unhistorically minded critics demanded the abandonment of the name of the King of Prussia Inn, because the United States was at war with Germany. Propaganda depicting cruelty by the despotic militarism and harsh discipline of the Prussian ruling classes fanned the flames for a name change. On August 9, 1918, Senator Philander C. Knox
In the 1960s, a township resident suggested the name of the King of Prussia Post Office be changed to Upper Merion to facilitate mail delivery and gain independent status since it served several other areas. The name “King of Prussia” was adopted from the King of Prussia Inn. However, King of Prussia was not a pre-revolutionary village. In 1765, four
John Kennedy was the most extensive lime dealer in Port Kennedy. In 1842 he bought the lime works which he managed for the next 35 years. By 1858 he had 14 bank-style kilns built into the side of a hill, the largest of which produced as much as 2,500 bushels of lime. Kennedy also built his elegant Italian-style mansion, Kenhurst,
In 1963, the King of Prussia Plaza was well on its way to becoming the largest shopping mall in the US with anchor stores E.J. Korvette, JCPenney, and Acme. The grand opening of the John Wanamaker store took place in 1966. Its octagonal shape was very distinctive, and easily seen from afar. The anchor lineup changed over the years as