A Brief History of Melrose Park, PA

The personal injury lawyers in Melrose Park, PA, at Monheit Law would like to share some interesting details about the community and its history.

Melrose Park

The unincorporated community of Melrose Park is located within the Cheltenham Township in Montgomery County in the state of Pennsylvania. It sits right on the Philadelphia city line, and its borders are made up of Cheltenham Avenue on the south, Old York Road on the west, New Second Street for the eastern boundary, and Ashbourne Road makes up the northern edge.

History

The Gratz College, located on Old York Road, is a private Jewish college. Its origins date back to 1856, making it one of the oldest Jewish learning institutions in the country. Hyman Gratz, a philanthropist, banker, and communal leader joined the Hebrew Education Society to form a Hebrew teachers college. When Gratz died in 1857, he had left a trust to establish a college for the education of the Jews within the community. It was officially established in 1895, beginning with lectures and other programs of instruction.

The Jewish institution followed the format of Gratz's sister, Rebecca Gratz, and focused on training teachers. Women were allowed admission and were taught in the same demeanor as men. They were taught many aspects of the Jewish culture, including:

• literature
• history
• language

The college offers the following degrees:

• undergraduate
• graduate certificate
• master's
• doctoral programs

In addition to these, it provides cultural programs, a Jewish Community High School, adult education offerings, and the Tuttleman Library.

Jewish Community

The community is part of the "Old York Road Corridor" of the Jewish community in the Philadelphia area. This is supported by the approximately 25,000 Jews within the Cheltenham-Jenkintown-Abington region. Some of the Jewish institutions and synagogues include:

• Perelman Jewish Day School
• Mesivta Yesodei Yisroel
• Young Israel of Elkins Park
• Congregation Adath Jeshurun

Neighborhood

In addition to the Jewish community, the neighborhood offers the following places of worship for its residents:

• Philadelphia Pentecostal Church
• Korean United Church of Philadelphia
• Bethany House of Worship
• Holy Trinity Byzantine Church
• Annunciation Ukrainian Catholic Church

Demographics

The median income for the households within the community is $50,000. The area has an unemployment rate of 7.6%, with more than 50.6% employed. The mix of professions held by the working adults includes the following:

• 14.6% Administrative
• 8.4% Management
• 7.7% Personal Care
• 7.6% Food Service
• 6.2% Education
• 5.8% Sales and Related
• 5.5% Business

The population includes the following racial makeup:

• 9.1% white
• 4.5% Hispanic or Latino
• 71.2% African American
• 10.7% Asian
• 3.7% two or more races
• 0.8% other races

Continue reading: A Closer Look at the History of La Mott, PA

Our Local Office

The Melrose Park, PA, personal injury lawyers at Monheit Law fight to get maximum compensation for victims of personal injuries, such as car accidents, slip and fall injuries, and workplace injuries. Our attorneys can lead you through the legal process, too. Call today for a free consultation.

Monheit Law
1368 Barrowdale Rd.
Jenkintown, PA 19046
(215) 866-2018