Then and Now: Answer Edition

As usual, Phoenixville Patch readers demonstrated some serious knowledge of borough history with their cat quick responses to .

(Though, admittedly, this may have something to do with the fact that we accidentally reran a photo we'd used in January.)

The famous Ike was the quickest to the draw last week, while Brad Gubanich gets extra credit for recognizing the issue was a repeat.

Below, via the Historical Society of the Phoenixville Area, is the full explanation:

The W. T. Grant variety store chain was founded in 1906 and grew to 1200 stores by 1972. However, the failure to foresee and expand into the suburbs as well as over-paying shareholder dividends forced the W.T. Grant Company into bankruptcy in 1976.

The W. T. Grant Store in Phoenixville was located at the southeast corner of Bridge and Main Streets. It was constructed after the Phoenix Hotel was torn down in 1949. It was Phoenixville’s largest variety store and covered two floors of retail space. The store closed in 1974.