Phyllis Little moved to Lansdowne with her husband David and children in the mid-1960s, and immediately fell in love with the Borough from their home on East Albermarle Ave. After their three children began school, she was hired as the Secretary to the Lansdowne Borough Manager, Mr. Bob Robinson, a position she excelled at for over twenty years. In her position, she worked closely with the Borough Police and Fire Departments, as well as the Highway and Sanitation Departments. Everyone in Lansdowne knew Phyllis Little. She was also a fixture at Borough Council meetings for many years, diligently recording and publishing the council minutes. She truly understood how the Borough government operated and was always available to answer questions from Borough residents.
In the mid-1970s, Phyllis was selected as the first female Lansdowne Health Officer, a position she took on with great enthusiasm and skill. Her dedication resulted in her making a positive impact for all Lansdowne residents. She was known for her unannounced health inspections of local restaurants, bakeries, and supermarkets, to ensure they were operating in compliance with all State and Borough health standards. She also conducted many emergency health inspections after fires and power outages. She was a tough and fair Health Officer, who gained the respect of the mostly male business owners at the time. Her efforts kept residents safe and confident when buying food and eating at restaurants in Lansdowne for over ten years.
Phyllis passed away in 2019. She was one of the original female Lansdowne Borough employees, during a time when the majority of employees were men. She blazed a trail for women in Lansdowne by setting an example for future women to follow. She contributed to increasing the diversity of the Borough workforce and making Lansdowne a better place to live and work today.
Credit: Thank you to Mr. Tom Little for sharing his mother's story with us for the "Lansdowne Borough Women's History Month Heroine" feature. "She was an early female employee of the Borough and really made a positive impact in the community", states Mr. Little.