History of Berks county in Pennsylvania, Part 81

Author: Montgomery, Morton L. (Morton Luther), b. 1846
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts, Peck & Richards
Number of Pages: 1418

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READING AND COLUMBIA .- Whilst the Leb- anon Valley and the East Penn Railroads were being constructed, the subject of extending a railroad from Sinking Spring-a point on the former-to Columbia was discussed with earn- estness. In this behalf an Act of Assembly was passed on May 19, 1857, incorporating the " Reading and Columbia Railroad Company," and naming fifteen commissioners, including three from Reading-John McManus, John S. Richards and Frederick Laner. The first pro- ject was to extend the road from a point in Reading; but, in 1861, an act was passed, anthorizing a connection to be made with the Lebanon Valley Railroad at any point between Reading and Sinking Spring. Numerous meet- ings were held at Ephrata, Lancaster, Columbia and Reading, and reports pertaining to the business which the territory would afford were made to encourage the construction of the road; and these eventually terminated in its suc- cessful completion in March, 1864, from Sink- ing Spring to Columbia, a distance of forty miles. This introduced another valuable con- nection in the great system of railways uniting the Schuylkill with the Susquehanna. It was an improvement that immediately inspired new

life and enterprise in the region of territory through which it extended. The first passen- ger train ran through from Reading to Colum- bia in May, 1864. Three lateral branches have been opened from it, namely, --

From Lancaster Junction to Lancaster City, eight miles, in August, 1866, which was extended to Quarry- ville, fifteen miles, in May, 1875.

From Chicques to Marietta, six miles, in August, 1883.

From Manheim to Mount Hope, six miles, in August, 1884.

The length of the railroad in the county is about five miles, upon which there are two sta- tions-Fritztown and Vinemont.

The following statement exhibits the traffic over the road :

Tonnage.

Passengers.

Receipts.

1876

281,851

248,335

$275,412

1880

465,012

233,044

369,319

1884

495.709

346,600

394,818

WILMINGTON AND NORTHERN .- The sub- ject of a railroad was encouraged through the southern section of Berks County, by a number of enterprising inhabitants of Robeson, Union and Caernarvon townships, and to encourage and authorize its construction, as a necessary local improvement, they obtained an act of As- sembly, passed April 20, 1864, in which the following citizens of that section of the county were named as commissioners : Edward Brooke, George Brooke, Edward Bailey, Bentley H. Smith, Henry S. Kupp, Levi E. Hook, David J. Lincoln, John C. Evans, Robert A. Gilmore, John McGowan, James E. Wells, David Plank, Josiah Lewis and William Everhart. The road was authorized to extend from a point on the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad, at or near Birdsboro', by the most available route, to any railroad built in Chester County, and the incorporated body was named Berks and Chester Railroad Company; and the company was authorized to construct branch railroads not exceeding nine miles in length. In 1866 authority was given to connect the road with the Delaware and Pennsylvania State Line Railroad, and effect a consolidation with this company under the name of the Wilmington and Reading Railroad Company. The name

461

INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.

was subsequently changed to Wilmington and Northern Railroad Company. The road was constructed and opened for travel as follows : From Wilmington to Coatesville, thirty-three miles, in December, 1869; to Birdsboro', sixty- three miles, in June, 1870; and to Reading, seventy-two miles, in February, 1874.

This company constructed the road to a point at the "Cut," in the High Farm, at Poplar Neck, in Cumru township, and the length of road from that point to and through Reading was constructed by the Berks County Railroad Company.

The passenger station of the company at Reading was for a time at the southwest cor- ner of Second and Cherry Streets. In 1882 tlie company effected an arrangement to run its trains to and from the Reading Station of the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Company.

The following stations on this road are in the county : Naomi, Seyfert, Gibraltar, Robe- son, Clingan, Birdsboro', White Bear, Gei- gertown, Cold Run, Joanna Heights, Joanna. The passenger station at Birdsboro' is a hand- some structure.

The following general statistics are presented to show the extent of business over the road :

Tonnage.

Passengers.

Receipts.

1876.

224,916

83,760

$157,791

1880

.356,407

124,697

231,627

1884

.554,016

267,650

346 055

WEST READING. - The manufacturers of Reading who owned and carried on establish- ments situated along the Schuylkill Canal, feel- ing the want of a railroad to facilitate the receipt of materials and the shipment of goods to and from their shops, foundries and factor- ies, obtained authority to construct a railroad from the Lebanon Valley Railroad at any point between Fourth Street and the River Schuylkill ; thence to a point on Canal Street near the Reading Gas-Works, with power to extend it to the Henry Clay Furnace and to organize a company under the name of West Reading Railroad Company. The following commissioners were named in the act of As- sembly passed March 20, 1860: Jacob Bushong, John McManus, Isaac Bertolette, Jacob H. Deysher, John Kissinger, Henry Bushong, Lot

Benson, John Mellert, Jacques Craig, Solomon Brubaker, Solomon Snyder, and Isaac McHose.

The road was constructed from the railroad mentioned, at Fourth Street, to the Reading Gas-Works, in length nearly two miles, and opened for traffic in 1863. This com] any operated it for ten years, and then transferred it to the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Company, by which company it has been used since as a branch road in delivering and receiv- ing freight.

COLEBROOKDALE .- In March, 1865, a rail- road was authorized to be constructed from the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad at Potts- town to Boyertown with the right to extend it to the East Pennsylvania Railroad in Berks County, and thence to the Catasauqua and Fogelsville Railroad ; and for this purpose a company was incorporated under the name of " Colebrookdale Railroad Company." The road was constructed to Barto, in Washington township, a distance of 12.8 miles from Potts- town, and opened to travel in November, 1869.

The stations on the road in the county are Manatawny, Ironstone, Colebrookdale, Boyer- town, New Berlin, Bechtelsville, Eschbach, Barto.

The road was leased to the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Company on January 1, 1870, for twenty years.

ALLENTOWN .- In 1854 a company was in- corporated under the name of the " Allentown Railroad Company," and authorized to con- struct a railroad from Allentown to the Phila- delphia and Reading Railroad at any point on said road between Reading and Port Clinton ; and if this railroad should not be extended by way of Kutztown, a branch should be con- structed to that place. A large portion of this road was partly constructed, but never finished. Subsequently a section of the road was con- structed from Topton, on the East Pennsylvania Railroad, to Kutztown, in length four and a half miles, and opened for travel in January, 1870. It has been operated since by the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Company under a lease.

SCHUYLKILL AND LEHIGH .- In March, 1871, a railroad company was incorporated by the Pennsylvania State Legislature for the pur-

462

HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

pose of constructing "a railroad from a point on the W. and N. R. R., at or near Birdsboro', in Berks County, by the most available route, to and through the city of Reading, and thence to connect with any railroad or railroads now built in the county of Lehigh ;" and certain com- missioners were appointed, including the fol- lowing influential citizens of Berks County : John McManus, Isaac Mc Hose, Isaac Eckert, David McKnight, Samuel C. Mayer, George Brooke, Hiester Clymer, Frederick Lauer, and Edward M. Clymer.

And a company was created by the name of " Berks County Railroad Company." The railroad was constructed by this company from the "Cut " in the High farm on " Poplar Neck, " in Cumru township, to and through Read- ing by way of the Maiden-creek, to Slatington, where connection was made with the Lehigh Val- ley Railroad, a total length of about forty-five miles (forty-three miles from Reading). The road was open for travel in July, 1874. Shortly afterward the road was sold by proceedings of foreclosure on a mortgage, and a reorganiza- tion effected under the name of "Berks and Lehigh Railroad Company ;" and subsequently this name was changed to "Schuylkill and Le- high Railroad Company." The road is carried on by the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Company under a lease. The length of the road in the county is twenty-eight miles, and the sta- tions (not including flag-stations) are Berkeley, Maiden-creek, Evansville, Moselem, Virgins- ville, Lenhartsville, Kempton. The report of business over the road is included in the general report of the Philadelphia and Reading Rail- road Company.

PENNSYLVANIA SCHUYLKILL VALLEY .- The Phoenixville, Pottstown and Reading Rail- road Company was incorporated on September 30, 1882, for the purpose of constructing and operating a railroad from Phoenixville to Read- ing, by way of Pottstown; and on the same day the Philadelphia, Norristown and Phoenix- ville Railroad Company was incorporated for the purpose of constructing and operating a rail- road from Philadelphia to Pliœnixville. Sub- sequently, on May 1, 1883, these two companies were consolidated, under the name of Pennsyl-

vania Schuylkill Valley Railroad Company, and a month afterward a lease was effected with the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. The lat- ter company then constructed the railroad from Philadelphia to Reading by way of Norristown and Phoenixville, during the years 1883 and 1884, opening it to Reading on November 15, 1884. In the course of the construction of this railroad, the company erected four substantial and costly iron bridges across the Schuylkill with- in the county-Douglassville, Poplar Neck, Little Dam and Reading,-and three handsome passenger stations-Reading, Birdsboro' and Douglassville.

The Penn Street Bridge stood in the way of the contemplated extensive improvements at the foot of Penn Street by this company; and, in pursuance of a proposition by this company, to substitute a superior iron bridge in its place, at a cost of one hundred thousand dollars, pro- vided the county of Berks contributed thirty- three thousand dollars toward the cost, the old wooden bridge was removed and the present handsome iron bridge erected during the years 1884 and 1885.

The length of this railroad, in the county, from Reading to the Montgomery County line, is about fourteen miles.

The Reading and Pottsville Railroad Com- pany was incorporated afterward for the pur- pose of constructing and operating a rail- road from Reading to Pottsville, by way of Hamburg and Port Clinton. This road was constructed by this company during the years 1884 and 1885, as a continuation of the railroad from Philadelphia, by way of Reading, to Potts- ville and the coal regions. It was opened to Hamburg on December 7, 1885. On Decem- ber 1, 1885, the road was also leased to the Pennsylvania Railroad Company.

PUBLIC COUNTY BUILDINGS.

The county buildings comprise the court- house, prison, "State-house " and poor-house.

COURT-HOUSES .- The first court-house of the county was erected in 1762, at the intersec- tion of Penn Square and Callowhill Street. It was built of stone, plastered and marked off in imitation of cut stone, and it was surrounded

463

INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.

by a brick pavement about thirteen feet wide. These initial letters represented the names of the officiating county commissioners, viz., Ja- cob Lightfoot, Christian Witman and Samuel High. The steeple on the building contained a bell and town-clock. The bell was cast in England in 1763 especially for the county. The town-clock was a thirty-hour clock, in- ported from London about 1755. It was re- The first floor was arranged in one large room for the " courts," and the second floor in three rooms -the eastern half having been in one room, and the western in two rooms. An eutry sepa- rated the former from the latter. The stair- way was constructed in the southeast corner of the court-room. The "bench" was arranged along the northern side of the room, and the markable for being out of order continually. " bar" was inclosed by a semicir- cular railing, the ends of which ex- tended to the wall on both sides of the "bench." The "jury box " was situated in the north west corner of the room. The court-room was entered by two door-ways, one on the south side and the other on the west. The latter was little used. A large stove was located near by and wood was generally piled up against the door, on the inside, dur- ing cold weather. This wood-pile was at times occupied by a boy or two during the progress of an im- portant trial in court ; and it was known to collapse and cause con- siderable merriment, if not commo- tion, at the boy's expense. The sudden cry of " silence " by the " court-crier " would throw terror into the boy's heart, and especially if the crier's long hickory stick reached out after his head.

The crier's seat was situated a few feet west of the centre of the room, adjoining the " bar," and the " pris- oner's dock " was next to it on the east. The crier was a prominent figure in the room by reason of the elevation of his seat.

The floor was laid with brick. Benches were arranged on inclined platforms along the southern and eastern walls. The seat- ing capacity was rather limited for a public place. The dimensions of the building were about forty by fifty feet. A marble tablet was built in the eastern wall near the centre. It contained the following inscription :

J. L., C. W., S. H., 1762.

N. P- del.

PREISS BROS

DIN

THE OLD COURT-HOUSE.

Frequent repairs were made to it, but it could not be made to keep time.

Previously for ten years, the justices of the county sat and held the sessions of conrt in a room at a town inn. There were no rooms in the building for the county officials. Five offices of the county were vested in one individ- ual for upward of twenty years. These were

464

HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

prothonotary, recorder, register, elerk of the Orphans' Court and elerk of the Quarter Ses- sions, and the person was James Read, a law- yer. He doubtless had the records at his home. By a letter addressed to the Pennsylvania Ga- zette, dated the 20th of February, 1766, it would appear that "publie offices were opened on Monday previous at Reading." It is not known in which building they were opened. The "State House," which contained the offices for many years, was not erected till thirty years afterward.

Election polls were held at the several win- dows on the first floor. The windows were properly marked for the voters. The poll for the electors of Reading was at the eastern win- dow on the side facing south.

This building was used for the purposes of hearing and determining eriminal and civil matters till 1840. But its smallness and in- convenient arrangement had been felt seriously for many years. It was not, however, till 1837 that the citizens became earnestly interested in an improvement. At the August sessions of the year mentioned, a petition, signed by many tax- ables, was presented to court.

Among other things, they represented-

"That, in consequence of the rapid increase of the population and public business of the county of Berks, the present court-house has become too small and inconvenient for the transaction of business, and also for the accommodation of those persons who are obliged to attend court," and then prayed the Court "to recommend to the County Commissioners the erection of the necessary buildings for the accommo- dation of the Court and the Public."

It was referred to the grand jury, and they recommended a new building, seleet- ing the northeast corner of Fifth and Penn Streets as the place for its erection. This re- turn was approved by the court on 11th Aug- ust, 1837. The site was changed to the north- east corner of Sixth and Court Streets, in order to obtain a larger lot for the proposed building.1 The county commissioners then purchased two

adjoining lots, one hundred and twenty by two hundred and thirty feet, and erected thereon, during the years 1838, 1839 and 1840, the present attractive and commodious court house, the total expense amounting to $58,846.42. The following interesting description was pub- lished in the Berks and Schuylkill Journal ou 20th June, 1840 :

"The walls of the edifice are constructed of hand- some pressed brick, for which this borough is justly celebrated, and rest on a cut sandstone base. The building is 62 by 118 feet, and in height, to apex of the roof, is 60 feet. In front, resting on the basement story, is a handsome portico ornamented with s x columns, 27 feet in height, of the ' Ionic' order, cut from sandstone quarried in this county. The whole of the front base, columns, cornices, &c., is of the same material, and the effect is excellent. An octagonal steeple, 142 feet high, rises in front, surmounted by a figure of Liberty, which is 84 feet high above the roof. The original intention was to give this elevated situation to a statue of Justice, but (as will sometimes happen) there was some difficulty about arranging her scales. Still, though the statue of Justice has been superseded by Liberty on the outside, we have no idea that Liberty will take precedence of the statutes of Justice in the inside of the building, and many will, doubtless, find to their cost that the figure of Liberty on the Court-House is the figure which rhetoricians call lucus a non lucindo. A hall extends through the building on the first floor, with the county offices arranged on each side. The second floor is set apart for the court-room." The third floor for jury rooms and an additional court-room. The main " court-room " has been used annually, with the permission of the county commissioners, for pol- itical meetings of all parties. It was also used, occasionally, twenty years ago, for lectures and public addresses by distinguished speakers. And re- ligious services have been held in it by several de- nominations during their church improvements.

A substantial fire-proof two-story extension was built at the rear of the building in 1869. The second story of the northern portion is set apart for the " Law Library."

The last term of court held in the old build- ing was April term, 1840. During the follow- ing three months the county records were re- moved from the "State-House," and the Au- gust term of court was held in the new build- ing. Gas was introduced into the building in May, 1849.

1 This corner had been occupied for many years pre- viously by a blacksmith, the shop having been regarded as the oldest, if not the first, in town.

INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.

465

A new clock was placed in the steeple in March, 1851. The bell weighed near seven- teen hundred pounds. From that time on, this was the " town-clock," and town-bell for indi- cating "town-time."

The "Old Court-House " was purchased by Joseph Kendall and removed in May, 1841. He appropriated some of the material towards the construction of the row of small houses on the west side of Fifth, between Pine and Binga-

depth of one hundred and thirty feet. The first floor was arranged in four compartments, the corner room, facing the streets, having been occupied as an office by the sheriff; and the second floor in four compartments for prisoners. The sheriff and family occupied the remaining rooms of the building; and this practice was continued till the prison system was changed by special legislation for Berks County, in 1848. The " Old Jail " property was sold on

FREIES BUS READING PO

THE OLD JAIL.

man Streets. Another portion was used in the erection of Goodhart's Military Inn. The old bell was sold to a congregation at Pricetown, in Ruscomb-manor township. It is still in use for church purposes.

PRISONS.1-The first county prison was ereected in 1770, on the northeast corner of Callowhill and Thomas Streets. It was con- structed of stone and plastered, two stories in height, and in dimensions thirty by seventy feet. The lot was sixty by two hundred and thirty feet. A substantial stone wall, twenty feet high, was erected to inclose the lot to the

the 5th of February, 1849, to William Rhoads, for seven thousand four hundred and sixty dollars, and by him converted into a store. It has been occupied as a store ever since.

A new county prison was erected on the "Commons," at the head of Penn Street, by the county commissioners, in 1847-48, at a cost of seventeen thousand dollars. It is con- structed of stone from Penn's Mount, and is situated on a lot of ground one hundred and seventy by three hundred feet, which is in- closed on the north, east and west by a high stone wall. The tower is elevated ninety-six feet. It is still standing, a fine specimen of superior workmanship.

An addition, or " annex," was erected at the

1 For narrative pertaining to the management of prison, including lists of inspectors, appointed and elected, see Chapter XIX.

VIEW OF RESERVOIR AND PRESENT JAIL.

READING, PA

FA PREISS ,SC

...... .

---------

-----

----

-..........

INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.

467

rear in 1869. The total number of cells is ninety-four-forty-four being in the main building and fifty in the annex. The cells are arranged in two stories.

The following table shows the total number of persons who were committed to the county prison since its com- pletion, in 1848 :

1849

130

1850

113

1851 131

1852 183

1853.

140

1854

156

1855

160

1856

132

1857

184

1858

224 1859

339

1860

622

1861

240

1862

140

1863.

120

1864.

175

1865.

163

1866.

193

1867.

203

1868.

175

1869.

192

1870.

212

1871.

165

1872.

220

204 1873.

1874.

248

1875.

328 1876.

493

1877.

789

962 1878.

1879.

496

1880.

556

1881.

453

1882.

467

1883.

584

1884

550

Total

10,802

building was built of brick, two stories in height, and in dimensions thirty by ninety feet. A small, narrow alley extended along the eastern

CELL

213

6 7 8 9 10

CORRIDOR

16 17

18 19

20 21

74,

1 . CELL

CELL

1.1

YARD.

CORRIDOR

Observator

STATE-HOUSE-The State- House was erected by the GROUND PLAN OF THE BERKS COUNTY PRISON. [The plan indicates the cells on the first floor. There is an equal number on the second floor. In the towers before the Observatory, the rooms (four) are circular in form. county commissioners in 1793 for the accommodation of the county officers and also the county records. It was situated on the north- | wall on the outside from the front to the rear east corner of Fifth and Penn Streets. The | of the building. An entry extended across the

YARD.

468

HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

building near the centre, with its doorway on Fifth Street ; and a stairway led from this entry to the second floor. The first floor was divided into three compartments ; the first, adjoining Penn Street, having been used for the prothon- otary's office and clerk of Quarter Sessions, the central for the recorder, register and clerk of the Orphans' Court, and the rear for county com- missioners and county treasurer. The second floor was divided into two compartments, the front room having been occupied mostly for Sunday-school purposes from 1819 for about twenty years,1 and the rear room for lodge pur- poses.2 The building was sold by the county commissioners upon the removal of the county offices and records to the new court-house.

The rear room on the first floor was used for some years, 1861 to 1865, as the post-office.

In January, 1872, a large fire broke out in Stichter's hardware-store, near by, which spread over the adjoining buildings to the west, and consumed the entire corner, including the "Old State-House." The inscription stone was pre- served and given a place in the rear wall of the building which was soou afterward erected in its stead. The inscription reads,-

BERKS COUNTY PUBLIC OFFICES. 1793.

POOR-HOUSE .- The poor people of the county were provided for by " overseers" till the pas- sage of an act of Assembly, on March 29, 1824, especially for this county, whereby the county commissioners were authorized to levy a tax for the purpose of purchasing land and erecting thereon and furnishing necessary buildings for their employment and support, and seven di- rectors were appointed to proceed in the estab- lishment of this public institution. They served till the election of three directors, in October following, as provided in said act. In the mean time (May 30, 1824) they purchased the " Brown

farm," formerly known as the " Angelica farm," in Cumru township (owned and occupied during the Revolution by General Thomas Mifflin), three miles from Reading, situated on the Lan- caster road, and containing 417} acres, for the consideration of $16,690, and proceeded to erect upon it a commodious building to accommodate the poor people of the county. This building was finished in 1825. It has since been known as the " Main Building." Other improvements were subsequently made upon the premises, prominent among them being the "Insane Building," erected in 1837 and 1843, and the " Hospital," in 1871 to 1874.

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History of Berks county in Pennsylvania, Part 81

Author: Montgomery, Morton L. (Morton Luther), b. 1846 Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts, Peck & Richards Number of Pages: 1418

Author: Montgomery, Morton L. (Morton Luther), b. 1846
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts, Peck & Richards
Number of Pages: 1418