USA > Pennsylvania > Berks County > The story of Berks County (Pennsylvania) > Part 13
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The Weiser Farm. The Weiser farm contained two hundred and forty-eight acres of land, selected probably more on account of the abundance of water and valuable timber than fertility of soil. Many very old buildings yet remain standing in this township. The remains of Conrad Weiser rest as they were interred many years ago. The spot will continue to become more noted as the early history of the nation becomes better known.
A tannery was located on the old State Road east of Womels- dorf as early as 1790.
West of Robesonia most excellent lime has been produced for many years. The stone here quarried yield a large percentage of good lime.
The Robesonia Furnace was located on Spring Creek, south of Robesonia. In rebuilding the stack in 1844, a most serious acci- dent occurred in which seven men were killed. So much damage was done that the plant was remodeled. It now employs about two hundred men and produces about two hundred tons of iron daily.
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Bethany Orphans' Home was established in 1867 one mile south of Womelsdorf by the German Reformed Church. It was
BETHANY ORPHANS' HOME.
destroyed by fire and rebuilt in 1881. It cares for many orphans, a small percentage of whom come from Berks County.
The borough of Womelsdorf lies on the boundary between this township and Marion.
Robesonia is the largest town and has made application to be- come a borough. Here is located the township high school. It has quite a few business places and is splendidly located.
NORTH HEIDELBERG.
Heidelberg Township originally contained about thirty-seven thousand acres. Part of its territory was taken to form Lower Heidel- berg in 1842. One year later a small portion was taken to form Marion. In 1845 a petition was presented to the court for another division. It was granted, and North Heidelberg was erected. Many of the early settlers were Moravians. It was so named on account of its location.
On the Tulpehocken, which forms the northern as well as the western boundary of the township, there have been saw and grist mills for years. At some of the mill sites whiskey was formerly distilled. On Spring Creek, saw and grist mills built years ago are still sawing and grinding. The chief occupation of the people is farming.
The principal business centre is Klopp's Store (North Heidel- berg). It has a store, hotel, implement house and a creamery.
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THE STORY OF BERKS COUNTY
LOWER HEIDELBERG.
. . Heidelberg Township was reduced in 1842, when Lower Heidel- berg was made a separate township. Ten years after the erection of the township a petition was filed for dividing Lower Heidelberg. Commissioners were appointed to draw the line and make a report to court. They reported favorably and suggested Cacoosing as the name of the new district. Objections were filed and the proposed new township was not erected.
Small brooks running from South Mountain were made to turn mills. One of the first was built in 1755. There was a paper mill on Spring Creek before 1800. This was later turned into a joiner's shop. Gun barrels next were made 'here and then it was turned into a woolen factory.
The old Berkshire Furnace has historic interest. It was a small charcoal furnace, erected before 1760. The ore was mined in what is now Spring Township. The Reading Furnace was built upon Mill Creek and the Berkshire Furnace was abandoned because of lack of water.
A paper mill was started near the mouth of the Cacoosing Creek in 1825, and continued in the Van Reed Family for more than seventy years. It has been operated from time to time by various parties.
Mountain Resorts. This township has become famous for its magnificent health resorts. They follow in order of their establish- ment :
Wenrich's Grand View was established in 1849. It has been greatly improved since that time.
The Walter Sanatarium has been improved and enlarged several times since it was erected in 1877. It is one of the most noted resorts of its kind in the country.
iGrosch's Sunset House was built in 1876. It has been much improved and enlarged and is now known as Sunset Hall.
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Preston's Sunny Side was established in 1880, and operated successfully ever since. It is now Galen Hall.
The Hossler Highland House was started by James Schaffer in 1890. It was later bought by James Hossler, who has conducted it successfully ever since.
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The Wernersville State Asylum was established in 1894. It is located west of Wernersville. This site was selected by a commission
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WERNERSVILLE STATE INSANE ASYLUM.
appointed by the governor. It contains five hundred and forty acres of land and buildings valued at five hundred thousand dollars. New buildings are constantly being added.
Villages. Wernersville is eight miles from Reading on the Lebanon Valley Railroad. It is one of the finest towns in the county, and contains the township high school.
'Brownsville is in the western part of the township. The Lower Heidelberg post office was established here in 1864. The name is derived from a family who early kept a store in the village.
Blue Marsh (Stateville) is in the northern section of the town- ship. It has been so called for one hundred and fifty years. Lorah (State Hill) is at the top of the hill, southeast of Blue Marsh. .
Cacoosing is located in the eastern section along Cacoosing Creek.
HEREFORD.
The name of this township was derived from a district in Eng- land. The first settlers were nearly all German Schwenkfelders, but the name was probably given by the English iron masters. It was settled in 1732, and organized in 1753. A large portion of the original township was taken to form Washington.
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Indian Depredations. The lower part of the county was dis- turbed very little by the Indians, but in March, 1756, they ventured as far south as Hereford. The Pennsylvania Gazette says, "On March 22, one John Krauscher and his wife and William Zeth and his boy, about twelve years old, went to their place to find the cat- tle, and on their return were fired upon by five Indians, who hid themselves about ten perches from the road, when Zeth was mortal- ly wounded in the back; Krauscher's wife was found dead and scalped and had three cuts in her right arm with a tomahawk. Krauscher made his escape, and the boy was carried off by the enemy."
Industries. The water-power furnished by the Perkiomen has been used for years to turn the mills of this township. Potteries, oil mills and saw mills have all flourished in times past.
On the west branch of the Perkiomen many years ago there was a small charcoal furnace. Iron ore mining has been carried on in the northern part of the township for many years.
In the western part of the township was located the Mayburg Furnace, where a celebrated stove was manufactured, as well as many other useful articles needed in the colony. In the dam of this furnace may be seen a flat stone with a hole in the center, where the Indians formerly ground their corn. The pestle which fits the hole is in the possession of the owner of the property. An excep- tional quality of granite is quarried near. Siesholtzville. ʻ
Towns. Siesholtzville is named after a former hotel keeper at that place. The first public place was opened about 1800, and the post office in 1849.
Huff's Church is on the west branch of the Perkiomen, and is quite a business centre.
Treichlersville lies in the eastern part of the township. Here- ford post office was established here in 1830. Hereford lies a short distance northwest.
Harlem is a small place, south of Siesholtzville.
Clayton and Chapel lie near the Montgomery County line.
JEFFERSON.
Jefferson was a part of Tulpehocken until 1851, when it was organized as a separate township. It was named after the first Demo-
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cratic President of the United States, Thomas Jefferson. Its early history is closely associated with that of Tulpehocken and Heide !- berg. It is bounded on the south by the Tulpehocken Creek, along whose course many of the Indians and the early settlers traveled.
Mills of various kinds have been operated for many years, not only along the Tulpehocken, but also on its tributaries, the Little Northkill and Mill Creek.
Tulpehocken (Schaefferstown) is the principal village and busi- ness centre.
Krick's Mill (Cross Key) is situated on the Tulpehocken.
LONGSWAMP.
This township touches the Lehigh line and is located in the east- ern part of the county. It was settled in 1734 chiefly by the Germans, who came from Goshenhoppen and Oley. The first person to come here is said to have been a man named Berger, who settled in Long's Dale. These early settlers found the land low and swampy, covered with sour grass and thickets, and for this reason gave it the name it still retains.
An Early Church. The Longswamp Church, established in 1748, was one of the earliest churches of the county. In its cemetery may be found the graves of a number of Revolutionary soldiers, the township having furnished two companies-one commanded by Charles Crouse and the other by Henry Egner. Frederick Heelwig taught school in this township before 1752 and also served as tax collector. The first assessment, made in 1754, shows that there were fourteen single and sixty-eight married men taxed.
The soil of the township is excellent and its farms are noted for their production of wheat and corn. The streams of Longswamp supplied abundant water-power for a number of forges. furnaces and grist mills, remains of which may still be seen.
A charcoal furnace was in operation on the Little Lehigh as early as 1797. This later became the Mary Ann Furnace, where were cast the first stoves for burning anthracite coal. These were long known as the "Lehigh Coal Stove." A mill for grinding gypsum . has been abandoned. A number of clay works have been operated
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during the past thirty years. Their product is used in the manu- facture of wall paper. Ochre has been produced since 1882 and graphite since 1880. Iron ore was discovered as early as 1752. The mines at Rittenhouse Gap and Oreville have for many years yielded excellent ore. The former is no longer operated. It is reported that nearly every farm in the township is underlaid with iron ore.
Brandywine Hill and the Glen are much visited because of the beauty of their scenery.
Towns. Longswamp Centre is one of the oldest villages. It contains a rug mill and a splendid second grade Township High School, being the first established in the county.
Red Lion, Maple Grove and Schweyer's are mining towns.
Shamrock is the name given to one of the railroad stations. It was so called from the plant which was found while the railroad was being built.
Mertztown, the largest village, contains a number of manu- facturing establishments, among which are a flour mill, an asbestos factory and an ochre plant.
Hancock contains a planing mill.
Henningsville is located on the mountains in the southern section.
The borough of Topton lies in this township.
MAIDENCREEK.
This township was named after the stream that flows through it. It was settled in 1732 chiefly by the Quakers, and erected into a township in 1746. In 1849 the township was divided and the west- ern section was called Ontelaunee. This word means Little Daugh- ter, so called by the Indians because the creek flowed into the Schuylkill.
Settled by Quakers. The Quakers were the pioneers of this township and the old building once used as a Quaker Meeting House and school house near Stone Bridge, is a silent index of their educa- tional sentiment. They were for education and peace, and it was. chieflly due to their friendly relations with the Indians that the people of this township were unmolested.
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OLD QUAKER MEETING HOUSE, MAIDENCREEK.
In 1756 the Assembly declared war upon the Delawares and Shawnese and offered rewards for Indian scalps. This caused many of the Quaker members to resign and Quaker rule in Pennsylvania declined.
The chief occupation of the people is farming. There are lime- stone quarries at different places and excellent lime is burned.
Near Evansville is one of the most up-to-date cement mills in the state. There is also a small plant near Molltown. This is the only township in the county in which this industry is carried on.
The rolling mill at Blandon employs many hands and shows the thrift in the iron industry.
Towns. Blandon is the largest town and is noted for its iron manufacture.
Molltown has a few business places.
Evansville is about one-half mile west of Evansville Station. It .contains a store and a mill.
Calcium (Maidencreek Station) has a grain house and coal yard. Limestone and lime are shipped from this point.
Maidencreek (Halfway House) is about one mile north of Blan- don and has a few industries.
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THE STORY OF BERKS COUNTY
MARION.
.Marion Township is situated on the western boundary line of Berks County and adjoins Lebanon County for a distance of seven miles. The township was erected out of the Tulpehocken section in 1843, and named after the distinguished general, Francis Marion.
First Settlers. The first settlers in this section were Germans from the Palatinate. Most of them had originally landed at New York in 1712, but being imposed upon and deceived they migrated by way of the Susquehanna River and the Swatara Creek and set- tled on the Tulpehocken, close to Stouchsburg. It was in this township in a house still well preserved, now occupied and owned by Dr. Isaac W. Newcomet, that Conrad Weiser, Peter Speyker and other noted councillors held their conclaves to devise ways and means to pacify the Indians who were endangering the lives of the settlers in the northern part of the county.
Among these early Palatines were the Reeds, who settled on the .Tulpehocken as early as 1723. The land on which the first of +them lived was a tract of one hundred and forty acres, and it has been in the Reed family for many years. On the farm is an old house partly built in 1740, and remodeled in 1804. It is of logs, weatherboard, and has many timbers to support the upper floors. The house contains an old clock which has always been a part of the furniture. It is supposed to have been running since 1704.
One of the first churches in Pennsylvania and possibly the first Lutheran Church in the state, was erected in 1727, near the con- fluence of the Tulpehocken and Millbach Creeks. The first build- ing was of logs, roughly hewn and had no floor. This church has been rebuilt three times, and now a modern brownstone build- ing bearing the original name, Reed's Church, has been erected in the town of Stouchsburg. The cemetery is on the original site. Beautiful springs and flowing water of two streams and the heavily wooded forests of this section were an incentive to attract both the Indians and the whites.
An old report states that a traveler in the province in 1732 paid a miller at Tulpehocken one pound and five shillings for ten
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bushels of meal, delivered to Sassoonan, an Indian chief, who was in want of provisions. So a mill must have existed there at that early date.
A grist mill was at one time located where the turnpike crosses the stream below the junction of the Millbach and the Tulpchocken, but when the Union Canal was built it was removed. Nearly op- posite to this old site was an old carding mill which was still used in 1885. A short distance farther up the Millbach, was operated, in 1776, an oil and flax-carding mill. The first Sunday school of the neighborhood was organized in this mill about 1834. On the Tulpehocken, south of Stouchsburg, a clover mill was built by Peter Sheets. In this locality also was operated a dynamite factory by Henry W. Stump. The entire plant was carried away by two terrific explosions on the afternoon of November 7, 1884. Much damage was done and the factory was never rebuilt.
The streams furnish excellent water-power for flour and saw mills. A shirt factory and tobacco factory, and a wheelwright and blacksmith shop are among the industries. The surface con- sists of slightly rolling limestone soil, having no waste land. It is occupied by thrifty and energetic farmers, and has often been called, . "The Garden Spot of Berks."
Charming Forge was established in what is now Marion in 1749. A part of the forge site including the water-power was pur- chased by the borough of Womelsdorf in 1906 to manufacture elec- . tricity for lighting the dwellings and streets.
Church used as a Fort. A Lutheran Church is one mile east from Stouchsburg, and one and one-fourth miles north of the turnpike It is one of the largest congregations in the county. The land on which the church was built was donated and much of the labor was furnished by the people living in the vicinity. Since the early settlers were constantly in danger of Indian attacks, the building was so arranged that it could be used as a fort in case of attack. A vault was made in the earthen floor where the ammunition was stored.
During its early history there was no pastor, but in 1733 Casper Leutbecker, a tailor by trade, taught school and served the con-
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THE STORY OF BERKS COUNTY
gregation as a substitute preacher. This led to trouble which Count Zinzendorf tried to settle. These troubles continued until the Moravians finally withdrew and a part of the congregation built a new church about one mile west of Stouchsburg.
A Reformed congregation was organized in this township about 1745. Its first building was made of logs, on the south corner of the old cemetery near the present parsonage. Another church was built in 1772 and a third one in 1853. The Rev. Michael Schlatter was one of the first preachers. It was he who went to Europe to secure preachers, teachers and funds to carry on the work of the church and the school in the colonies. It was the Parochial School of the Reformed Church at this place that received aid from the charity funds which Schlatter received in Europe.
The Tulpehocken Academy was founded in 1831, and the Stouchsburg Academy in 1838.
Stouchsburg, the only town in the district, contains about four hundred inhabitants. ' The town was named after a man named Stouch, who was the first inhabitant.
MAXATAWNY.
Maxatawny is an Indian word which means Bear's Path Creek. The first settlement was made in 1732 and just ten years later, in 1742, the district was organized into a township.
The Indians remained in this township a long time after they had gone from the others. It is said that many of them are buried here. The frequent cultivation of the ground has eliminated all traces of them, but many of their relics were found during the carly days.
A Revolutionary Encampment. After the Battle of Brandywine in 1777, a regiment of the American army encamped on the farms now owned by the Hottensteins, and upon leaving they took all of the horses and wagons on which they could lay their hands. Quite a number of the inhabitants of the township took part in the Revolu- tionary War, and were taken prisoners.
In this township is the famous Centennial White Oak of Penn- sylvania. On the 15th of September, the baggage train of General
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CENTENNIAL WHITE OAK.
Washington found shelter under and around this famous tree. One foot above the ground the tree measures twenty-eight feet in circum- ference and ten feet above this its branches stretch forth, some of which are three feet in diameter.
Paper mills were operated on the Sacony near Kutztown for a long while. On Mill Creek was the first mill in the township. and with it was also conducted a tannery.
Furnaces. The East Penn Furnace was built in 1821. The property has changed hands a number of times. At Bowers a small furnace was built in 1883. The property was so badly damaged by a storm that it was never repaired.
The iron ore in the township is of a good quality. Much of the ore which went to the Sally Ann and Mary Ann Furnaces many years ago, was mined in this township. Twenty-five years ago iron ore was mined in Longswamp. Maxatawny and Richmond Townships. These mines at one time yielded very large quantities of ore. Nearly all of them have now been shut down.
The old Fair Ground which had been established on the south- west side of Kutztown by the Agricultural Society has been abandon- ed. In 1905 a new place was selected and made suitable for Fair purposes.
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THE STORY OF BERKS COUNTY
The Keystone State Normal School was established in Max- altawny near Kutztown in 1866. It has since grown to be one of the leading Normal Schools in the state.
The borough of Kutztown lies in the township.
Lyons is a prosperous village on the East Penn Railroad. The post office, Lyon Station, was established in 1860.
Bowers is located on the East Penn Railroad, one mile east of Lyons.
Monterey is a village on the Easton Road.
Maxatawny (Rothrocksville) is near the Lehigh County Line. It was named after Dr. Jonas Rothrocks.
Schofer lies one mile east of Monterey.
Old Barn. Near Eagle Point is Levan's Mill. The barn recently razed was used by Count Zinzendorf as a church. Zinzendorf was a pious German nobleman and the leader among the Moravians.
MUHLENBERG.
Muhlenberg Township is situated along the east bank of the Schuylkill, immediately north of Reading. It was not erected as a separate township until 1851, when it was formed out of the western part of Alsace Township. It was named after Rev. Henry A. Muhlenberg, a noted Lutheran minister of this county. ' The first settlers were Germans, who crossed the Irish Mountain from . Oley by way of Laurel Run Valley about 1737. About the same time a number of Germans also pushed their way up the Schuylkill Valley from Philadelphia and entered the township along the Schuylkill above Reading. A number of old stone houses erected "before the Revolution are still in existence in the township.
According to tradition there was an Indian village along the Laurel Run Creek at the foot of the Irish Mountain, at or near the spot where the Temple Furnace now stands. This seems to be borne out by the fact that many Indian relics were found by the early settlers in that particular section.
Industries. The earliest settlers engaged mostly in farming, but at a very early date the Mt. Laurel Furnace was erected by the Clymers at the extreme eastern end of the township. The fine quality of the limestone used in the erection of the first houses also
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indicates that the limestone quarries, for which the township is noted, were operated at a very early date.
With the growth of Reading, fruit, dairy and truck farming became a leading industry.
Other prominent industries are the Muhlenberg Brewery, Eisenbrown's Granite and Marble Cutting Establishment, the Reading Quarry Company, the Temple Malleable Steel Com- pany for malleable steel products ; the Temple Sand Company pro- ducing and shipping about one hundred tons of sand per day; the Nt. Laurel Water Company, engaged in the manufacture of soft drinks, and the filtering, bottling and marketing of large quantities of water from the famous Mt. Laurel Spring; a cigar factory, stock- ing factories, the Prospect Dye Works at Hyde Park, and the Laurel Dale Brick Yard at Laurel Dale.
Several grist mills were erected at an early date along the Laurel Run and the Schuylkill. Within the last ten years a number of subur- ban towns have sprung up in the township, all of which are growing rapidly.
The Temple Furnace was established in 1864. In 1873 the com- pany secured a special charter. In 1900 its charter was changed so as to enable the corporation to operate coal mines. It produces 40,000 tons of pig iron annually.
Towns. Temple, a town with a population of about one thou- sand, is situated three miles north of Reading. It is noted for iron, sand, limestone and stocking industries.
Tuckerton is a village of about three hundred people, and is sit- uated along the Centre Turnpike. It has several business places. Hinnershitz Church is located here.
Hyde Park is a suburb immediately to the north of Reading, with a population of about twelve hundred. It contains the two newly- erected Alsace Churches, ranking among the finest and most modern in the county. It has varied industries and a number of prominent business places.
Rosedale is a new suburb along the East Penn Railroad.
Spring Valley is a small village to the east of the East Penn Railroad and is one-half a mile north of Reading.
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THE STORY OF BERKS COUNTY
Frush Valley is a village along the East Penn Railroad, about two miles north of Reading.
Mt. Laurel, a small village at the northeastern end of the town- ship, is one mile east of Temple and has been noted for many years as the home of the Mt. Laurel Furnace.
Northmont is a new suburb north of Reading, part of it being within the city limits.
Muhlenberg is a village along the Pennsylvania Schuylkill Val- ley and the Schuylkill & Lehigh Railroads and is situated one mile north of the city.
Fairview Brewery and Muhlenberg Brewery are also in this township.
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