USA > Pennsylvania > Berks County > The story of Berks County (Pennsylvania) > Part 11
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From the perpendicular entrance a sloping passage leads, about one hundred and fifty feet, to a small opening. To pass this, one must crawl a short distance. Beyond the way is easier. For some three hundred feet there runs a passage in which there is sufficient room to walk erect. The way is a winding one and communicates with chambers of various dimensions. To one of these apartments, the largest, from twenty-five to thirty feet wide, of approximately the same height, and about three times that in length, has been given the name "The Temple of the Dragon." At one end of the Temple there is a flight of stone steps, formed by nature, leading to a gal- lery above, from which point of vantage a person can look down into all parts of the temple.
Other caves. Two miles from Dragon Cave, near Merkel's mill at Moselem, also in Richmond Township, is Merkel Cave. It has a perpendicular opening, possibly forty feet deep. Little can be said about it, as no one, thus far, has ventured to explore it.
Dreibelbies cave is located in Perry Township near the Onte- launee. It was discovered in 1873, while quarrying limestone. The entrance is small, and a person must crawl for twenty-five feet, after which the passage becomes larger. The cave has been explored for a considerable distance, but the end has not yet been reached. The walls are lined with beautiful crystalline deposits of lime which glisten in the rays of the light.
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THE STORY OF BERKS COUNTY
Joel Dreibelbies, upon whose land the cave was found, relates the following strange and somewhat amusing circumstance: One cold winter morning, some ten years after the discovery, he and a neighbor, passing by the cave, noticed the branches of a young cherry tree, which had grown up at the mouth, to be violently agi- tated. Mr. Dreibelbeis' companion was seized by a strange dread and would not approach to learn the cause of the unusual phenome- non. Disregarding the other's entreaties, Mr. Dreibelbies under- took an investigation and found a strong current of air rushing, with considerable violence, out of the cave's mouth. The current was so strong, in fact, that it was with difficulty that he could keep his hat in place. This incident is a proof that several of these caves communicate with one another.
Mengle cave is about three-fourth of a mile north from Dreibel- beis cave. It is also in Perry Township. It was discovered while workmen were blasting in a limestone quarry. It has a large en- trance, but no one has ventured into it further than about one hun- dred and fifty feet and it has never been satisfactorily explored. At times the rocks at the mouth of the cave are heavily coated with frost, due to the congealing of the vapor with which the air from the cave is charged.
Divisions of the county. The county is divided into forty-three townships, nineteen boroughs and one city.
The names of the townships can be grouped into nine classes as to the origin of their names.
1. Eight of the townships are named after persons or bear the names of persons prominently connected with American history, as follows: Douglass, Jefferson, Marion, Muhlenberg, Penn, Perry, Tilden, Washington.
2. Nine have English names: Colebrookdale, Albany, Earl, Exeter, Greenwich, Hereford, Richmond, Ruscombmanor and Windsor.
3. Six have Indian names: Maidencreek, Maxatawny, Oley, Ontelaunee, Tulpehocken and Upper Tulpehocken.
. 4. The fourth group comprises those names in consequence of some peculiarity of the township, either as to its products, appear-
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GEOGRAPHY
ance, or geographical location. There are six of this class: Centre, District, Longswamp, Pike, Rockland and Spring.
5. Five have German names: Alsace. Lower Alsace, Heidel- berg, North Heidelberg, Lower Heidelberg.
6. Three have Welsh names: Brecknock, Caernarvon, Cumru.
7. Three have Bible names, or names suggesting some virtue : Amity, Bethel, Union.
8. Two have Swiss names: Bern, Upper Bern.
9. One is named after a pioneer settler-Robeson.
Charitable institutions. The matter of caring for the poor, the sick, and those otherwise unfortunate has been carefully looked after in Berks. A list of charitable institutions follows:
County Home, in Cumru Township, maintained with funds ap- propriated by the County.
Bethany Orphans' Home, Womelsdorf, supported by the Re- formed Church.
Lutheran Orphans' Home in Berks County, at Topton, sup- ported by the Lutheran denomination.
South Mountain Asylum for Chronic Insane, near Wernersville, maintained by the State.
The Reading, Homoeopathic and St. Joseph's Hospitals, Read- ing, maintained by public subscription, aided by the state.
Home for Friendless Children, Reading. maintained by public subscription, aided by the State.
St. Catharine's and St. Paul's Orphan Asylums, Reading, main- tained by churches and by subscription.
Home for Widows and Single Women, Reading, maintained by payments made by inmates upon entering and by popular subscrip- tion.
House of Good Shepherd, Glenside, Bern Township, maintained by church and charity.
Hope Rescue Mission, Reading, maintained by popular subscrip- tion.
Beulah Anchorage, Reading. maintained by popular subscription.
Berks County Tuberculosis Sanitarium, on Neversink Mountain, maintained by popular subscription.
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THE STORY OF BERKS COUNTY
Weather Bureau. The Weather Bureau was established by an Act of Congress in 1870. It was first a part of the Signal Corps in the army and navy, but in 1891 it was transferred to the Agri- cultural Department. One of the six stations in Pennsylvania is located at Reading, where it was established in the fall of 1912. The observations from these stations are telegraphed to Washington several times a day. The reports are then wired to every portion of the county and pasted up in public places. These reports are a great benefit to the farmer, to the shipper and to the public in general.
SOME LEADING FACTS.
Population-183,222.
13th Congressional District (with Lehigh).
11th Senatorial District.
Divided into two Legislative districts (1st, Reading; 2d, Rural Berks).
23d Judicial District.
148 Voting Precincts (city, 51; county, 97).
POST OFFICES IN BERKS COUNTY (1912)-99
1. Presidential Post Offices -- 8.
1. Reading Salary, $3,600-2 routes
2. Hamburg .Salary, $1,800-4 routes
3. Kutztown Salary, $1,800-5 routes
4. Birdsboro Salary, $1,700-2 routes
5. Boyertown Salary, $1,700-2 routes
6. Wernersville Salary, $1,400-2 routes
7. Fleetwood .Salary, $1,300-2 routes
8. Womelsdorf Salary, $1,200-
9. Wyomissing Salary, $1,200-
2. Rural Free Delivery Post Offices-29.
(Seven of the Presidential Post Offices have Rural Free Delivery. The other 22 follow.)
Barto .2 routes
Douglassville routes
Bechtelsville 2 routes
Geiger's Mills 2 routes
Bernville
2 routes
Kempton 2 routes
Bethel
1 route
Leesport . 1 route
Blandon
1 route
Lenhartsville 1 route
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GEOGRAPHY
Mertztown .2 routes
Sinking Spring .3 routes
Mohnton 2 routes
Stony Creek Mills. .1 route
Mohrsville
1 route
Stouchsburg
1 route
Oley
4 routes
Temple
.1 route
Robesonia
routes
Virginville
1 route
Shoemakersville
2 routes
West Leesport. 1 route
3. Post Offices having no Rural Free Delivery --- 68.
Albany
Jacksonwald
Mount Penn
Athol
Joanna
New Berlinville
Bally
Klinesville
Pine Forge
Berks
Krick's Mill
Rehrersburg
Berne
Krumsville
Ryeland
Bernharts Landis Store
Scarlet's Mill
Bowers
Limekiln
Schofer
Calcium
Little Oley
Shamrock Station
Centreport
Lorane
Shanesville
Chapel
Lyon Station
Shartlesville
Clayton
Maidencreek
Shillington
Dauberville
Manatawny
Spangsville
Dryville
Maxatawny
Stonersville
Earlville
Meckville
Stony Run
Esterly
Molltown
Strausstown
Fritztown
Monocacy
Topton
Gibraltar
Monocacy Station
Trexler
Griesemersville
Montello
Tulpehocken
Grimville
Monterey
Vinemont
Hancock
Morgantown
Walter's Park
Hereford
Mount Aetna
West Reading
Host
Mountain
Yellow House
Hummel's Store
Mountain Sunset
CHAPTER XI.
THE TOWNSHIPS.
ALBANY.
Early History. Albany is the most northern township in the county. It was erected previous to 1750. Its name signifies "all- wants," a term given to it by the Indians because they considered it poor soil. Soon after its erection it was divided into two dis- tricts by a straight line running east and west. The northern part retained the name Albany and the southern part was named Green- wich. Both townships were named after districts in England. The first settlers were Germans, who came north along the Maiden- creek and made their homes here about 1700. They moved into that section of Albany called "The Corner," now Eckville. Here Cornelius Frees erected a log building. This was the first building in the township and occupied a dangerous position during the Indian invasions, when it was used as a fort.
It is said that a man named Schoner was shot at the door and a short distance away a man and his wife were killed by the Indians. There are still some old buildings in the township that show bullet marks as relics of the fight with the Indians. At Trexler station is an old log house. It was long an inn where thirsty harvesters drove their sickles into the logs when they went into the bar-room for a drink.
In this township is the Pinnacle, a spur extending out from the Blue Mountains, and rising to a height of 1670 feet. This is the highest point in the county.
gy Industries. The streams of Albany furnished good water- power, and soon industries sprang up along their courses. A small charcoal furnace and two forges were built before 1780, which became known as the Union Iron Works. Saw mills and grist mills were also erected. They turned the logs into lumber and the grain into flour and feed. Other small industries sprang up, such as clover mills, which THE OLD WATER SAW MILL. separated the seed from the clover; grinding mills, used to grind sickles; turning mills, for turning gun barrels: carding-machines, which separated the seed from the flax;
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THE TOWNSHIPS
and oil mills, used to manufacture oil from the flax seed. Since 1870 some slate was quarried in this township which ranks with the best quality of the other slate regions, and lies in strata, fifteen to eighty feet below the surface.
In 1876 the Berks and Lehigh Railroad was built through this GRIST MILL. township. It was a great benefit, as it gave better facilities for marketing the different farm products.
Although somewhat remote from the county seat, this township is one of the most prosperous in the county. Its chief wealth lies in its farm products. It stands first in the production of. potatoes.
Towns. Kempton is the principal railroad station. More potatoes are shipped from this point than any other station along the entire line from Slatington to Reading. It has quite a few business places, and two rural mail routes.
Stony-Run (Wessnersville) lies about two miles east from Kemp- ton. It is about the same size as Kempton.
Trexler is a village one mile from Kempton. It has a post office, which was formerly at Fetherolfsville, about half a mile away
Albany Station was established by the Railroad Company in 1874, but did not become a business place until 1882. Albany is half a mile west of the station.
Greenawald is a flag station in the southern section of the town- ship, near which is an old-time inn.
Mountain is a small place in the northern part of the township.
ALSACE.
Alsace Township lies east of Reading. It was organized in 1745, and originally contained 23,270 acres. Its area was reduced: First, by the erection of Reading; second, by the erection of Muhlenberg Township : third, by cutting off Poplar Neck and lands adjoining and adding them to Cumru ; fourth, by the erection of Lower Alsace.
The township was named after Alsace in Germany, the first settlers having emigrated from that place. Andrew Robeson took
.
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THE STORY OF BERKS COUNTY
out the first warrant for land in 1714. This is the first notice of land taken in this section. This survey was abandoned. In 1718 Robeson purchased 1,000 acres and made provision for a settlement. Another warrant for 375 acres was taken out by Edward Farmer in 1735.
Industries. On account of the condition of the soil, agriculture was and still is the chief occupation in the township. Its streams furnished abundant water-power, causing factories to spring up everywhere, those on Antietam Creek taking the lead. Principal among them were grist mills, saw mills, forges, flax brakes, oil mills, clover mills, paper mills and a woolen mill. Truck farming and fruit growing are leading industries. Saw mills and sand quarries are being conducted.
CHAPEL ROCKS.
A natural curiosity. One of the great natural curiosities of the county is to be seen in this township. It consists of a large mass of rocks piled one hundred feet high. The topmost rock is balanced and rivals, in many respects, the scenes in the Garden of the Gods.
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THE TOWNSHIPS
The whole mass is called Chapel Rocks. Hundreds of people each year visit these rocks and feel well repaid for their journey.
There are no villages in the township. In the vicinity of Fies' Hotel, however, there is quite a settlement where much of the town- ship business is transacted. The township is without a post office. The mail is served by rural free delivery.
LOWER ALSACE.
This township was separated from Alsace in 1888. It was called Lower Alsace because of its location. It is the smallest township in the county, and contains more wooded land than cleared farm area. Its early history is the same as that of Alsace, from which it was taken.
On Mount Penn, in 1890, was built a gravity railroad, eight miles long, that is each year becoming more popular. The Never- sink was built at the same time, and is of the same length. It is also very much used.
Carsonia Park was begun in 1896, and is owned by the United Traction Company. It is quite a resort, has many places of amuse- ment, and is each year frequented by many visitors. Part of it lies in Exeter Township.
The Stony Creek mills were established in 1864 for the manu- facture of woolen cloth. They have been operated successfully ever since.
The township has extensive truck farms and vineyards.
The Egelman and Antietam Reservoirs, lying in this township, 1
are parts of the Reading water supply system.
Villages. The principal village is Stony Creek Mills, so named from the mills which form the chief industry. The bor- ough of Mt. Penn lies in this township and divides-Lower Alsace into two parts.
From Mt. Penn to Stony Creek Mills, along the Friedensburg road, there are many dwellings, some of these are nestled along the wooded hillside, affording romantic scenery.
East of Carsonia Park is Melrose, a new suburban town, and west of Carsonia is Pennside, a flourishing suburb.
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THE STORY OF BERKS COUNTY
AMITY.
Early History. This township was settled by the Swedes in 1701 and was erected into a township in 1719. It was the first town- ship organized in Berks County. It was called Amity because of the friendly relations that existed between the Swedes and the In- dians. Penn issued a warrant to Edward Pennington to lay out ten thousand acres of land for the Swedes on the eastern bank of the Schuylkill in the locality of what is now Douglassville. Penn was rather anxious to get the land in the vicinity of Philadelphia for his Quaker friends, and for this reason he wanted to provide a place for the Swedes farther up the river. A small two-story stone building, the oldest house in the county, is still standing at the bridge near Douglassville on the east side of the river. A soft stone tablet, built into the front wall, indicates that the building was erected by Mounce Jones in 1716. The house has been somewhat altered. In those days the river at that point was crossed by a ford and at one time the building was used as a hotel.
Swede's Church, a log building, was built before 1720. Con- ferences between the settlers and the Indians were frequently held in it. It was the first house for religious worship in the county and was destroyed by fire in 1831.
A gravestone in the cemetery bearing the date 1719 is said to be the oldest tombstone in the county.
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CARRYING CORN TO THE MILL.
The streams were early used to supply water-power. On the Monocacy the old Griesemer mill has been operated for many years. A little farther down is the old fulling mill. Near the turn-pike a saw mill has existed for many years. The Boones had a clover and grist mill on the Manatawny which is no longer in existence. The present three- story brick mill was built about 1850. Monocacy Hill is an isolated peak in this
district.
Villages. Weavertown is the oldest place in the township. It has grown but little in sixty years. A post office was established in
159
THE TOWNSHIPS
1828 and named Brumfieldville in honor of Jessie Brumfield, the first postmaster. Since the advent of rural free delivery it has beeni abandoned.
Athol (Amityville) is on the turnpike leading to the Yellow House. The village was at one time called New Storeville.
Yellow House derived its name from the hotel at that point which is painted yellow. The post office was established in 1866. The creamery has been operated for many years.
Douglassville is a station on the Reading and Pennsylvania Railroads. When some of the early Swedes left the locality much of the land was bought by Jacob Warren, who built some of the early houses. He failed in business and much of his property was bought by George Douglass after whom the place was named.
Monocacy Station is a village on the railroad.
BERN.
Bern was settled in 1733 and erected into a township in 1738. It was named after Bern in Switzerland, whence many of its settlers came. At the time of the erection of the county the township ex- tended beyond the Blue Mountains.
38888 88888
STONE SCHOOL HOUSE.
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THE STORY OF BERKS COUNTY
The Heisters, who later became prominent in the affairs of the nation, were among the early settlers. They located near the Tulpe- hocken Creek where they operated a mill.
The chief occupation is farming. In the southern part the sur- face is level and-the soil very productive. Along the Schuylkill are numerous limestone quarries. . Canal boats were at one time built rather extensively at Rickenbach Station, a small town south of West Leesport.
Several mills were operated along the Tulpehocken at an early period.
Parvin's tannery was one of the earliest industries.
The borough of West Leesport lies in this township.
Glenside, a suburban town of Reading, is situated in this district immediately across the Schuylkill Avenue bridge. Near it is the House of the Good Shepherd, established by the Catholic Church in 1900 for the care of young girls. More than two hundred inmates can be accommodated.
The Berkshire Country Club has a well-equipped club house about one mile north of Glenside.
Leinbach's lies near the centre of the township and much of its public business is transacted there. Epler's church is near it.
Strause, Pig's Hill and Heister's Mill are other prominent places in the township. Bern Church is close to Pig's Hill.
The Schuylkill River forms the eastern boundary of Bern and along its wooded banks numerous bungalows have been erected. These are occupied during the summer by residents of Reading, who are fond of boating and swimming. The river furnishes great sport and various kinds of craft ply upon its waters throughout the warm months.
UPPER BERN.
Upper Bern lies in the northern part of the county. The north- ern part of Bern was cut off and a new township erected in 1789, which was called Upper Bern. On account of its proximity to the Blue Mountains, which at this point rise to an elevation of 1,500 feet, and its distance from Reading, this district was exposed to the attacks of the Indians.
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THE TOWNSHIPS
On September 11, 1763, Commissary Seely wrote to Governor John Penn : "This moment, at Reading, as I was sending off the express, certain intelligence came that the house of Frantz Huble, in Bern (now Upper Bern), about eighteen miles from here, was attacked Friday evening last by Indians ; he is wounded, his wife and three children carried off, and three others of his children scalped alive. two of whom have since died."
The early settlers were Germans and engaged mostly in farming. The ruins of an old forge can be seen along the Northkill at the base of the Blue Mountains. This shows that an iron industry was located here in the early colonial days. Places where charcoal was burned can also be found in this district.
Grist mills as well as other mills have been operated in this township from the time of its earliest settlement.
Berrying and Tea-picking. During the summer months, when the huckleberries are ripe, berry parties scour the mountains for this fruit. A day's berrying on top of the mountains is quite a recreation for both old and young. The picturesque views along the mountains, the meandering streams, the clear spring water, and the pure air are
NEY'S TAVERN ON LINE BETWEEN BERKS AND SCHUYLKILL.
162
THE STORY OF BERKS COUNTY
the best of Nature's tonics. In the Fall of the year, just before the frost sets in, tea-picking starts. We do not need to go to China and Japan for tea. A day's ramble in the mountains near the Sand Spring, the source of the Northkill, will give you a year's supply of the famous Blue Mountain Tea, which is delightful in taste and rich in medicinal properties.
Shartlesville is the only town in the township. It has several hotels, a few stores and other business places. A large brick church stands on an elevation south of the town.
On the summit of the Blue Mountains, along the public road is Ney's Tavern. It marks the boundary between Berks and Schuylkill.
BETHEL.
This is the most northwestern township in the county. Its name is derived from a place in Palestine. The first settlement was made in 1733, immediately after the Indians sold the land. A Moravian meeting house was built not far from the Swatara Creek and named Bethel. When the county was erected, what up to that time had been known as Bethel Township was divided. That part not retained in Berks became a part of Lebanon County. The township as now constituted is almost eleven miles long and four miles wide.
Indian troubles. Many people were killed by the Indians in the township, even though Fort Henry had been built to protect them. It stood in a depression in the mountains- called "The Hole."
In November, 1755, Conrad Weiser wrote to Governor Morris for help .- On account of Braddock's defeat in western Pennsylvania, the Indians, incited by the French under the pretense of restoring them to their coun- try, fell upon the exposed set- tlements of this township, and even Weiser's own home was in danger. While a company of men were on their way to Fort Henry, they were fired upon and several were killed FORT HENRY, BUILT 1756. and scalped. One man in this
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THE TOWNSHIPS
company, named Christopher Ury, shot a stout Indian through the breast and he dropped dead. The Indians were divided into small bands. One of these bands attacked the house of Thomas Brown, on the Swatara Creek, on a dark night. An Indian stuck his gun through a window and shot and killed a shoemaker. Others in the house, surprised at this sudden attack, defended themselves by firing out of the windows. The firing aroused the neighbors, who fired guns and made a great noise. This frightened the Indians away. That night help came from Tulpehocken and Heidelberg. Amongst these was Weiser's son, Frederick. They saw Indians running away with -prisoners whom they immediately scalped. Frederick Weiser found a woman, just expired, lying upon her face. Upon removing her body, he found beneath it a babe about fourteen days old. It was wrapped in a cushion. The babe's nose was quite flat. Fred- erick.set it right and the child recovered.
Saw mills, grist mills, clover mills, tanneries and distilleries were early erected in the township along the Little Swatara Creek, which furnished the water-power.
In the Blue Mountains, which rise to an elevation of one thousand six hun- dred and twenty feet, has been erected a reservoir which furnishes water-power to run an electric light plant that pro- duces light for Millersburg, Strauss- town, Rehrersburg and neighboring towns.
The water is dammed up and allowed to pass through a small opening under great pressure. A water-wheel here creates power for propelling dynamos that generate electricity. This is but an indication how later our children will use the power of the streams to light a.id heat their homes, to boil their food, etc., just as our grandfathers used them to break their flax, grind their grain and propel their forges.
HAND MILL
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THE STORY OF BERKS COUNTY
Towns. Millersburg, about twenty-five miles from Reading, is, one of the principal towns. It was laid out in 1814. Its post- office bears the name of Bethel and was established in 1827. It has a good sized shirt factory.
Shubert lies south of the Blue Mountains, about four miles east of Millersburg. About twenty of its people are employed in a shirt factory.
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