USA > Pennsylvania > Berks County > School history of Berks County in Pennsylvania : by Morton L. Montgomery > Part 11
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1720
1729
Spring .
Cumru 1850
Caernarvon . . 1720
I729
Brecknock
· 1729 I74I
Cumru. .
1732
1737
Union
1715
1753
The names of the townships arose as follows :
Robeson-After Andrew Robeson, first settler.
Caernarvon-District in Wales; separated from Caernarvon in Lancaster County.
Brecknock-District in Wales; separated from Brecknock in Lancaster County.
Cumru-District in Wales.
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TOWNSHIPS.
Union-Union of two portions of territory in forming the township.
Spring-After large spring of water, called "Sinking Spring."
The section contains 15 towns and I borough, and 18 post-offices, the first established at Morgantown in 1806.
TULPEHOCKEN SECTION.
Tulpehocken Section comprises the upper portion of the western division. It takes its name from the stream which drains three-fourths of its area. The name is an Indian word, and signifies " land of tur- tles." In the other three sections, the settlers came from the southeast from Philadelphia. In this sec- tion, however, they came from the north, from New York by way of the Susquehanna River and its tributary, the Swatara. This was in 1723, by Ger- mans ; and five years afterward another colony came by the same route. Some time before 1729, the territory was set apart into a township, the bounda- ries extending from the Schuylkill on the east to the Swatara on the west, and from Cacoosing Creek on the south to Blue Mountain on the north. In 1729, Conrad Weiser located with his family at a point about a mile east of the present site of Woin- elsdorf. He came to be a prominent Indian inter- preter and county official, and was active in the county affairs until his death in 1760. After 1729 the settlers came hither from Philadelphia, after landing there. This section was divided into four sub-divisions before 1752, namely : Tulpehocken, Heidelberg, Bern, and Bethel ; and each was then occupied by a considerable number of people with
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SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY.
many permanent improvements. Subsequently, all excepting Bethel were again sub-divided into smaller townships, to suit the convenience of the people. A road was laid out in the section west- ward from the "Ford " at Reading in 1727; in 1816, it became the bed of a turnpike. A prominent road extends diagonally through the section from near the mouth of the Tulpehocken Creek to the northwestern corner; and another through the northern portion, near the mountain. A peculiarity in the flow of water may be noticed in this section. On the water-shed in Tulpehocken township, at Rehrersburg, the water, running through the rivulets northwardly, flows into the Swatara Creek, and thence, by way of the Susquehanna River, into the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Ocean ; and that, run- ning through the rivulets southwardly, flows into the Tulpeliocken Creek, and thence, by way of the Schuylkill River, into the Delaware River, Dela- ware Bay, and Atlantic Ocean. A similar peculi- arity may be noticed in the Schuylkill Section in Caernarvon township, near Morgantown.
The townships are 13 in number :
Original.
Settled. Erected.
Tulpehocken .
1723
1729
Heidelberg
1732
1734
Bern .
1733
1738
Bethel
1733
1739
Subdivision. Taken from. Erected.
Upper Tulpehocken Tulpe-
hocken § . 820
Marion . Tulpehocken 1843
Jefferson . Tulpehocken 1851 Lower Heidelberg, Heidelb'g 1842
North Heidelberg, Heidelb'g 845
Upper Bern . . Bern . 1789
Penn. . Bern and Upper Bern . 1841
Centre .Bern and Upper Bern . 1843
Tilden . . Upper Bern . . 1887
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TOWNSHIPS.
The names of the townships were derived as fol- lows :
Tulpehocken-After the stream.
Heidelberg-Place in German Empire.
Bethel-Place in Palestine. It reveals religious sentiment of first settlers. Named after Bethel Church.
Marion-After naval officer of United States.
Jefferson-After Thomas Jefferson.
Penn-After William Penn.
Centre-Location between Bern and Upper Bern.
Tilden-After Samuel J. Tilden, Democratic candidate for President of United States in 1876.
In the section there are 16 towns and 2 boroughs ; and 32 post-offices have been established, the first at Womelsdorf in 1807.
The cruelties of the Indians during the years 1755, 1756, 1757, and 1758, in the "French and Indian War," were mostly in this section, particu- larly in Bethel, Tulpehocken, and Bern townships ; some were also visited upon the settlers in the upper portion of Ontelaunee Section, in the townships of Greenwich and Albany.
12
178
SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY.
CHAPTER X.
BOROUGHS.
WHEN the county was erected in 1752, it con- tained only one town, Reading ; elsewhere, there was not even a village so far as I have been able to ascertain. But the growth of the settlements afterward in the several sections developed central points where towns became a necessity. In study- ing the time of their beginning, they were slow in forming. Trading, however, was very limited and the settlers were kept busy in looking after the im- provement of their properties. And the population of the county was comparatively small till the Revolution.
WESTERN DIVISION OF COUNTY.
Womelsdorf .- The first town to be laid out in the county next to Reading was on the "Tulpe- hocken Road," 14 miles west from Reading, at a point midway between Reading and Lebanon. Lands had been taken up in that vicinity since 1723, and the tendency of settlements had led the population in that direction. A man named John Womelsdorf moved thither from the Amity settle- ment in 1760, and two years afterward laid out a town which he named "Middletown." The road
179
BOROUGHS.
was much used and the town became quite a stop- ping-place. No particular industry was carried on ; the people were employed in various pursuits in a manner just as we notice to-day in a country town removed from the railroad. And this condition continued for a hundred years without much pro- gress. The first improvement was the introduction of the turnpike in 1816; then the population was about 500. In 1833 the town was incorporated into a borough and the population was about 750. The town began to be commonly called Womelsdorf about 1800. A post-office was established there in 1807. The Lebanon Valley Railroad was extended through the valley one mile west of the borough in 1858, but it did not stimulate enterprise in the place.
Birdsboro' .- The second town was begun about the same time, also in this division, to the west of the Schuylkill, but in the lower section. This was Birdsboro'. It was laid out by William Bird, about 1760. He took up lands in that vicinity in 1738, and began the first iron industry in 1740. It was situated on the road which extended along the Schuylkill from "Poplar Neck " towards Philadel- phia, and was commonly known as the "Schuyl- kill Road." Beyond the iron works established there, no particular local progress was made for many years. The Schuylkill Canal was extended along the southerly side of the Schuylkill in 1821, and this added some influence to the place as a ship- ping point. A post-office was established in 1851; and the borough was incorporated in 1872. The
180
SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY.
Brooke family have been there continuously since 1796, and through the enterprise and influence of Edward Brooke and George Brooke the place has grown to its present condition in population, wealth, and influence. The first railroad facilities were afforded by the construction of the Philadel- phia and Reading Railroad in 1838 along the north- erly side of the Schuylkill ; the second by the con- struction of the "Wilmington and Northern" through the town in 1870; and the third by the construction of the " Pennsylvania Schuylkill Val- ley," also through the place in 1884. With the extensive Brooke Iron Works and three railways to encourage trade, Birdsboro' has come to be the most important borough in the county.
Morgantown was the third town. It was laid out by Jacob Morgan about 1770, on land taken up nearly 40 years before. It was on a prominent thoroughfare leading from Philadelphia to Lancas- ter. The distance from Birdsboro' was about 10 miles, in a southerly direction. No effort was ever made to advance it into a borough. The fourth post-office in the county was established there in 1806.
These three towns were the only places in the county west of the river established before 1800- one in the upper section, and two in the lower.
Rehrersburg was laid out in 1803 by Jacob Rehrer in the upper part of Tulpehocken Section, on the road from Reading to Pine Grove, 21 miles northwest from the former place and 8 miles north from Womelsdorf. Some years afterward, a move-
181
BOROUGHS.
ment was made to erect a new county with Rehrers- burg as the county-seat, but it failed to receive gen- eral encouragement. The place, though regularly laid out, has not advanced into a borough, the peo- ple not feeling the necessity of improved local gov- ernment beyond that afforded by the township. Wohleberstown (now Mt. Ætna) was laid out in the same section, near the county line, in 1810, by Peter Wohleber ; but it likewise continued the same. It was on the road from Myerstown to Pine Grove. And Millersburg was laid out on the same road near the Blue Mountain in 1814 by Michael Miller.
Bernville .- Lots were being sold at these three places and efforts made to establish centres for bus- iness when a town was laid out in the central por- tion of this section by Thomas Umbenhower. This was in 1819, and the place was named Bernville, after the township. It had apparently more terri- tory to look to for support and men of more energy to encourage its advancement as a political body, for it was incorporated into a borough in 1851. It was the third borough established in this division, though four other towns, besides Womelsdorf and Birdsboro', had been previously laid out; and the fifth borough in the county.
Centreport .- Centreport was established as a borough in 1884, in this section, several miles from the Schuylkill. Though a village for many years, it was never regularly laid out.
182
SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY.
EASTERN DIVISION OF COUNTY.
To the east of the river two towns were laid out in 1779. One was Kutztown, on the road to Easton, 16 miles northeast from Reading; and the other Hamburg, on the road to Sunbury, 18 miles north from Reading.
Kutztown .- Kutztown was named after George Kutz, the owner of the land. It became a borough in 1815, and continued about the same in business and social affairs for fifty years. The establishment of the "Keystone State Normal School " in 1866, and the construction of the railroad from Topton in 1870, caused progress in various directions to show itself. The "Normal School " is one of the finest and most successful educational institutions in this State. The town was an important place when stages traveled to and fro ; and military parades were a great social feature for many years annually on "Battalion Day," in May. A post-office was established there in 1805, the third in the county.
Hamburg .- Hamburg took its name from the warrant when the land was taken up. Originally, it doubtless was named after the prominent city in the German Empire. The second post-office was established there in 1798; by that time the stages had become an established means of conveyance to and from the place. The next step forward was through the canal, which was opened to that point in 1821, and trading and shipping were thereby much encouraged. The town was incorporated into a borough in 1837 ; and five years afterward, railroad communication was opened with Reading to the
.
183
BOROUGHS.
south and Pottsville to the north. In 1885, the Pennsylvania Schuylkill Valley Railroad was ex- tended through the borough.
Boyertown .- Whilst these two places were grow- ing in importance and influence as centres of popu- lation in their respective districts in the Ontelaunee Section, Boyertown was laid out in the Manatawny Section, in Colebrookdale township, a short distance from the county line. This was in 1835. The town, however, had been so known many years be- fore. The settlements in that vicinity were amongst the earliest in the county, next to Amity and Oley. The first furnace in the State was erected near by about 1720, and mining operations for iron ore were carried on from that early period. But no town was formed there, nor for miles around, excepting at Pottstown, in Montgomery County, 8 miles distant. Reading was 18 miles off to the west. The incor- poration was postponed until 1866. The post-office had been located there in 1828, and many other important movements had been begun for the ad- vancement of the people in both religious and secu- lar matters ; business places had become thoroughly established, water introduced, and cemeteries laid out. In 1869, the Colebrookdale Railroad was extended through the borough from Pottstown to Barto ; and in 1874 a national bank was successfully begun.
It is the only borough in the Manatawny Section. In the Ontelaunee Section, three additional bor- oughs have been erected : Fleetwood, Toptor and Lenhartsville.
184
SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY.
Fleetwood .- Fleetwood was laid out in 1868. It was known as " Coxtown " for over 70 years before; but it was given the name of Fleetwood when the East Penn Railroad was finished in 1859, after a prominent party in that enterprise. It became a borough in 1873.
Topton .- Topton received its name in 1859, from its situation at the highest point on the East Penn Railroad, between Reading and Allentown, and was incorporated as a borough in 1875.
Lenhartsville .- Lenhartsville was named after the Lenhart family, who settled there; and it be- came a town of importance upon the construction of the Berks County Railroad (now the Schuylkill and Lehigh). It was incorporated a borough in 1887.
Government .- The government of the boroughs is carried on mostly through a town-council elected annually, and its fundamental law is the charter of incorporation. This body passes ordinances for the regulation of its several affairs, and levies and col- lects a tax for the payment of the municipal ex- penses and improvements. The principal officers are a chief burgess, clerk, treasurer, two justices of the peace, and a constable. The chief burgess is elected annually by the tax-payers, and his duties relate principally to the enforcement of the ordi- nances. The clerk and treasurer are appointed an- nually by the council, the one to keep a record of its business, and the other to receive and disperse the inoneys of the borough. The justices are elected every five years, and the constable every three years, by the tax-payers.
185
BOROUGHS.
The borough government is advanced one step beyond the township government, and its operations are more visible and perceptible. The area of terri- tory is much smaller, and the servants of the law are more active in the matter of roads and schools. The regulation of highways and buildings, and the distribution of water, are a necessity for public con- venience, order, and safety ; and a natural conse- quence is increased taxation. Being a single district, * the political matters are conducted similarly to those in a township for local officers.
The boroughs are :
WESTERN DIVISION.
Tulpehocken Section.
Schuylkill Section Birdsboro'.
Womelsdorf.
Bernville.
Centreport.
EASTERN DIVISION.
Ontelaunee Section.
Kutztown.
Manatawny Section. Boyertown.
Hamburg.
Fleetwood.
Topton.
Lenhartsville.
* Hamburg and Birdsboro' are the only boroughs with two districts or wards.
185
SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY.
CHAPTER XI.
READING.
TOWN FROM 1748 TO 1783.
Town Proposed .- In 1743, Thomas Penn and Richard Penn, sons of William Penn, first conceived the idea of laying out a town on their land situated along the Schuylkill above the "Ford," opposite the mouth of the Tulpehocken Creek. This was caused by the movement of the settlers towards having a county erected in this section of Pennsylvania. The plan was to be similar to that of Lancaster ; and the town was to be called "Reading," after their native place, the county-town of Berkshire, in England. Whilst proceeding in this project, they discovered that the water lay deep below the surface, and was not only scarce but difficult to obtain, requiring excavation through beds of lime-stone in sinking wells. On the land to the south at the "Ford" it was abundant, bubbling up at many places in strong springs, and at others lying near the surface.
Site Selected .- This was a great consideration to them in such an undertaking. Having, however, sold the land there to Thomas Lawrence in 1733, they were first obliged to negotiate for its re-pur- chase. In this they were not immediately success-
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(187)
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188
SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY.
ful, for Lawrence declined to sell it, being himself inclined to lay out a town at a location so prom- ising. They then directed their surveyor to carry out their project on the site selected, and Lawrence seeing this, and fearing their influence, assented and accordingly re-conveyed the property. Their original design was then abandoned, and they laid out a town at the "Ford." This was in 1748.
Location .- The geographical situation of the town was fixed at a point 40° 19' 26" north latitude, and 1º 5' east longitude, with an elevation of about 250 feet above the sea. At that time there was not a town, not even a village, in all the territory now included in the county, though the population was about 10,000. The nearest town was Lebanon, 28 miles to the west, which was laid out in 1740; and the next was Lancaster, 30 miles to the south- west, which was laid out in 1730. The latter place was the county-seat for the inhabitants of the county to the west of the Schuylkill for over 20 years. The inhabitants of the county to the east of the Schuylkill had Philadelphia as their county-seat. The settlers in this vicinity were still separated as a political body, for a county had not as yet been erected.
Lots Sold .- The plan comprised 520 town-lots and 204 out-lots, numbered consecutively. The lots were exposed to public sale by three commis- sioners on June 15, 1749. Many of them were then sold, and patents were afterward issued to the pur- chasers. The sale was held on "Penn Square."
During the years 1751, 1752, 1753, and 1754,
189
READING.
patents were issued for 241 lots. If the conditions of sale were fulfilled, at least 200 dwellings were in the town in 1755, and 1000 inhabitants. Nearly all the patentees were resident at Reading, having come mostly from the townships in the vicinity.
District Established .- In 1760 the town was erected into a district. Previously it was included in Alsace Township. This proceeding gave it the powers and privileges of a township, which related mostly to the maintenance of public roads and the peace of the community.
Ground-Rent .- When the town was laid out, each lot was inade subject to a ground-rent of seven shillings, payable annually on the First day of March. Notwithstanding this condition, numerous lots were sold without the ground-rent. Over 60 years afterward, this charge was a subject which agi- tated the citizens to a considerable degree and for a considerable time.
Churches .- During the first decade of the town, the several religious denominations were active. The Friends were in the ascendency in respect to gov- ernment ; but their number could not be compared with the number of the Lutherans and Calvinists (Reformed). The Lutherans had a meeting-house in 1751, and the Calvinists also had one at that time. In 1761 the latter denomination had a fine stone church. The Friends had a meeting-house before 1760. The Baptists had an organization at that time; if they did not have a place of worship in the town, it was not far distant, being along the Wyomissing Creek, in Cumru Township. There
190 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY.
were also Episcopalians and Roman Catholics; but these denominations did not come to possess church- es during the period ending 1783, though they held services occasionally. They assembled in the dwell- ings of members. The nearest church of the former denomination was at "Molatton," in Amity Township, 12 miles distant to the southeast; and of the latter at "Gnadenhutten," in Hereford Township, near the county line, 25 miles distant to the east, and probably one also in "Maxatawny," near where Kutztown is now located. The largest denomination in the town was the Lutheran; but the Reformed was not much smaller. The mem- bers of both were zealous. They showed their de- votion when the town was begun by promptly erecting churches in which to carry on services ; and this they did, though they had a church only several miles to the north in Alsace Townsliip.
Schools .- In the matter of schools, the inhabit- ants displayed much earnestness. Each religious denomination carried on a separate school-espe- cially the Lutherans, Reformed, and Friends. The education was limited, having been confined mostly to spelling, reading, writing, and simple arithmetic. Each scholar was obliged to pay for tuition, gen- erally several dollars for a quarter. In some in- stances scholars paid a cent a day ; and this pay- ment was made each day at the close of the session. Teaching was conducted during the Spring, Fall, and Winter. The greater number, if not all, of the scholars assisted daily in labor of some kind or other at their homes. The teachers were men, and men
191
READING.
only ; no women, and especially no young people. The schools were generally small one-story build- ings. In some cases they consisted of rooms rented for that purpose.
Taverns .- The tavern was a prominent public place in the town. Licenses were granted by the Governor of the State upon the recommendation of the Justices of the county. In 1762, over 30 licenses were issued for taverns in Reading. A number of the tavern-keepers were prominent, not only in the town affairs, but also in the county political affairs. The proportion of taverns to the population was rather surprising, having been about I to every 40 inhabitants. A prominent tavern was "Witman's," called the "Federal Inn," now the building occu- pied by the "Farmers' Bank." It was erected in 1763, and is the second oldest building in Reading. The oldest building is situated on the northwest corner of 5th and Washington Streets. It was erected in 1760 by Michael Brecht. Then it was a two-story building.
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