The Tulpehocken Section comprises thirteen townships. The time of their settlement and erection is set forth in the following table:
DERIVATION OF NAMES.-The derivation of the names was as follows:
Bern, from the name of a canton in Switzerland, whence some of the early settlers emigrated.
Bethel, from the name of a Moravian meeting-house in this vicinity, showing the religious nature and influence of the inhabitants.
Heidelberg, from the name of a distinguished place in the southern portion of Germany, whence a large number of the earliest settlers emigrated.
Tulpehocken, from an Indian word, Tulpewihaki, which means a land of turtles.
Bern, Upper, from its location, being the upper portion of the township from which it was taken.
Tulpehocken, Upper, named for the same reason.
Penn, from the name of William Penn, who had been the proprietor of all the land in Berks county.
Heidelberg, Lower, from its location, being the lower, or eastern portion of the township in its division; and Heidelberg, North, from its location.
Centre, from its location.
Marion, from the name of a distinguished general, Francis Marion, in the United States Army.
Jefferson, from the name of the first Democratic President of the United States, Thomas Jefferson. indicating the political opinion of the petitioners.
Tilden, from the name of the unsuccessful candidate for President of the United States on the Democratic ticket in 1876, Samuel J. Tilden, who was supposed by the Democrats to have been elected, but counted out. This was a firm conviction of the Democrats in this township.
BOROUGHs.-The following boroughs were estallished in this section:
TOWNs.-The following towns are situated in this section:
Name...................Houses....Name..................Houses
Bern (1880)...............18.....Obold*** (1835).........50
Blue Marsh (1775)........18.....Rehrersburg (1816.......76
Brownsville(1884)..........6.....Robesonia (1855).......190
Fritztown (1812)..........50.....Schaefferstown (1836)...21
Freystown (1830)..........13.....Shartlesville (1860)....50
Lorah* (1884).............10.....Stouchsburg (1832).......93
Millersburg (1814)........76.....Strausstown (1840).......84
Mohrsville Station (1860).45.....Wernersville (1855).....200
Mt Aetna** (1810).........55.....West Hamburg (2960).......12
FIRST SETTLERS.-The first settlers in this section were Germans from the Palatinate, who en- lered--by way of the western boundary in 1723, nine Vears before the t6rritory was released by the Indians. They had landed at New York in 1712, and , one up the Hudson river about an hundred miles, but having been grossly deceived and imposed upon there, they migrated by way of the Susquehanna river and the Swatara creek to the headwaters of the Tulpehocken creek and settled in the vicinity of what is now Womelsdorf and Stouchsburg. The colony comprised thirty-three families, and among them were the Rieths, Fitlers, Scharfs, Walborns, Schaeffers, Zerbes, Fischers, Lashes and Anspachs. And five years later, there were other German families who migrated from New York, by the same course, to the Tulpehocken settlement; among them being the Hains, Schneiders, Loewenguths, Noeckers, Werners, Schmidts, and Kattermans. Numerous descendantsof these-families are still in this section.
In 1729 Conrad Weiser and his family also migrated from New York to the Tuipehocken settlement
and his presence was a great help to the Penns in pacifying the Indians and preventing them from slaughtering the settlers. He was an accomplished interpreter and a very useful man in various ways. He took an active part in all local affairs, and he was chiefly instrumental in securing the erection of Berks county in 1752 out of the townships which had been previously established to the east and west of the Schuylkill river.
The pressure of immigrating German families, was so great that they entered the territory in spite of the protest of the Indians. The Proprietaries apologized and made various excuses and finally in 1732 secured a release from them. By that time. numerous settlers were in every part of the section. and before 1740, four townships had been established by the court at Lancaster, which embraced the entire section.
*Formerly State Hill. *Wohleberstown. ***Hetrichstown.
HIGHWAYS.-This section is intersected by numerous roads, three of them being especially prominent: the Berks and Dauphin Turnpike, from Reading, via Sinking Spring and Womelsdorf, to Lebanon (occupying the old "Tuipehocken Road" to Womelsdorf, which had been laid out in 1727, and subsequently extended northwestwardly, via Rehrersburg, to Pine Grove) ; the State Road, across the upper portion from Lebanon, via Millersburg, Rehrersburg, Strausstown and Shartlesville, to Hamburg; and the Bernville Road, from Reading, via State Hill and Bernville, to Millersburg.
CANAL--The Union canal was constructed in 1828 along the Tulpehocken creek in this section, via Bernville and Womelsdorf, to the Lebanon county line, a distance of about twenty-five miles, and operated very successfully for thirty years with prominent store-houses at the two places mentioned.
RAILROADS.-The Lebanon Valley Railroad was constructed in 1857 in this section from Sinking
Spring westward to the Lebanon county line at Newmanstown, a distance of ten miles.
The Reading Railway, from the Schuylkill bridge above Tuckerton, to the Schuylkill county line, along the river, a distance of thirteen miles.
Trolley, Line.-A trolley line of street railway was constructed in 1894 from Sinking Spring to Womelsdorf on the turnpike, a distance of nine rniles.
CHARMING FORGE, established in 1749, in Tulpehocken (afterward Marion) township, along the Tulpehocken creek, three miles north of Womelsdorf; operated by George Ege from 1774 to 1824; and by Andrew Taylor and his sons William and S. Franklin from 1855 to 1885. A part of the forge site, including the water-power, was purchased by the borough of Womelsdorf in 1906, and an electric plant was established for supplying the inhabitants with electric light on the streets and in their dwellings.
ROBESONIA FURNACE:, established in Heidelberg on Spring creek in 1794 by George Ege and known for fifty years as the "Reading Furnace," during which time charcoal iron was manufactured. The irst anthracite furnace was erected in 1845. Since then it has been much enlarged and improved by the Robesonia Iron Company. Daily capacity, 160 tons; men employed, 200.
HAMBURG VITRIFIED BRICK Company, established in Tilden, above West Hamburg, near the Reading railwav, in 1891, as a common brick plant and carried on as such until 1896, when the Mack Brothers of Philadelphia purchased it and began the ,manufacture of vitrified brick. They have operated it since then, running nine kilns, producing 10,000,000 bricks annually, and employing 75 men.
PAPER-MILLS.Henry Van Reed started a paper-rnill near the mouth of the Cacoosing creek, about 1825, and it continued in the family in a direct line frbm him, through his son, Charles, and his grandson, Henry Z., to his great-grandson Charles L., for a period of over seventy years. The plant was then sold, remodeled, and operated since by different parties.
The Tulpehocken Paper Mill is a branch of the Reading Paper Mills, started bv Jacob Bushong, in 1856, on the site of the old Kissinger grist-mill at the mouth of the Tulpehocken creek, and operated by him for twenty years.
DAUBERVILLE: ICE: PLANT.Henry Ahrens and John R. Gonser established a large ice plant in 1888. in the lower eastern portion of Centre township on the Irish creek near its outlet into the Schuylkill. The dam covers thirty acres and the storage-house has a capacity of 25,000 tons. It was destroyed by fire in 1892 and immediately rebuilt.
HEALTH RESORTS.Lower Heidelberg township has become famous for its costly and successful resorts, established on the South Mountain for the restoration and preservation of health. In the order of priority they are as follows:
WENRICH'S GRAND VIEW, first established by Dr. Charles F. Leisenring, in 1849. Greatly improved and operated by Dr. R. D. Wenrich since 1897.
THE WALTER SANITORIUM, established by Dr. Robert Walter in 1877, and enlarged several times, and become within thirty years, under his management, one of the greatest resorts'of the kind in the country.
PRESTON'S SUNNYSIDE, established by Dr. James S. Preston, in 1880, and operated by his son James since 1882.
GROSCH'S SUNSET HOUSE, by Francis Grosch, in 1876, and subsequently enlarged. His son-in-law, Dr. J. D. Moyer, has conducted the place since. 1892.
HASSLER'S HIGHLAND HOUSE, started in 1890 by James Schaeffer, and after he operated it for'some years, purchased by Richard Hassler, who has carried it on since.
BETHANY ORPHANS' HOME, established in 1867 in Heidelberg, one mile south of Womelsdorf, by the German Reformed Church. It was destroyed by fire in. 1881, and immediately rebuilt. The management by the Board of Trustees has been very successful. In 1909 there were 155 orphans in the Home; thirteen from Berks county.
WERNERSVILLE STATE ASYLUM, established in 1894, in Lower Heidelberg, west of Wernersville. This is a very large and successful institution.
HOUSE OF GOOD SHEPHERD, first established at Fourth and Pine streets, Reading, in.1889, by the Roman Catholic Church, for the care of young girls; and transferred to Glenside in Bern town- ship, where a superior structure was erected, in 1900, on a commanding site along the river opposite North Reading. Inmates in 1909 were 180 girls; 47 Magdalens, and 20 Sisters. The property includes four acres of ground.
BERKSHIRE COUNTRY CLUB, The Berkshire Couutry Club owes its inception to 'Alexander F. Smith, John J. Kittz. and a few other gentlemen, who in 1897 obtained some golf clubs and balls, and essayed to play "the royal game of golf" on a six-hole course which Tohn Reid, a professional golfer from Atlantic City, laid out on grounds at Carsonia, where the present park is located. The Club was formally incorporated on May 10, 1899, by Wilson Ferguson, William Kerper Stevens, Herbert R. Green, F. C. Smink, George F. Baer, G. Howard Bright, M. Brayton McKnight, J. Lancaster Repplier, John M. Archer, William Seyfert and E. L. Parvin.
Owing to numerous streams and marshes, it was found that the grounds at Carsonia were ill adapted for the purposes of a country club, and in 1899 arrangements were made with the Reading Suburban Real Estate Company to occupy vacant land surrounding the suburban town of Wyomissing, where a nine-hole course, 2,159 yards in length, was laid out by Alexander F. Smith (architect), and where the Club flourished until the end of 1902. The house built by John B. Mull along the Wyomissing boulevard was occupied as a clubhouse.
In May, 1902, the Club purchased from George F. Baer sixty acres of farining land, situated in Bern township, near Reading, between the Schuylkill river, (just north of Hain's Looks) and the Bernville road. A nine-hole golf course, 3,090 yards long, abounding in interesting features, was laid out by John Reid, as well as five tennis courts. In addition, there is a swimming pavilion, with bathhouses, and shooting grounds and traps, also a fine baseball diamond and grounds. A spacious clubhouse, equipped with all the essential comforts and conveniences, lockers, shower-baths, etc., including furnished rooms for members, occupies a commanding site (110 feet above'the river level) within 2,500 feet of the Schuylkill. It is surrounded by broad porches, and affords an extended view of the grounds and of the charming scenery of the surrounding country. It is located upon an ideal spot. The reception hall, parlor and dining rooms are large and splendidly furnished, and well adapted for luncheons, teas, dinners, dances and all social purposes. There is also a first-class cafe in charge of an experienced steward. Ample stable and shed accommodations are provided for horses, vehicles and automobiles. A private road has been constructed from the Bernville road direct to the clubhouse. The club automobile conveys members from the clubhouse to the Schuylkill avenue cars at Windsor street. Many members are conveved by launch or boat f'rom Hain's Locks. The grounds and clubhouse were formally opened to'the members on June 13, 1903, and instantly met with approval. In May, 1909, there were 360 members.
The Silver Cup, presented by George F. Baer, Esq., for the Women's Golf Championship, was won in 1902, 1903, 1904, 1905, and 1906 by Miss Elizabeth Smink; in 1907 by Miss Margaret Moss, and in 1908 by Mrs. Caroline Derr Archer; and the Silver Cup presented by F. C. Smink, for the Men's Golf Championship, was won in 1902. 1905 and 1907 by Alexander F. Smith; in 1903 and 1904 by A. Ellis Barron and in 1906 and 1908 by T. laeger F. W. Nicolls won f and Robert E. Brooke in 1904. the Silver presented by George F. Baer, Esq., for the Championship, was won by Robert E. Brooke 1905, and by Randolph Stauffer in 1906, 1907, 1908. In the Handicap Shooting Match, Mrs. William Seyfert won the 1905 Silver Cup, presented by E. E. Stetson, Hunter Eckert and Samuel R. Seyfert.
The officers of the Club are: F. C. Smink, president; William Seyfert, vice-president; Frederick W. Nicolls, treasurer; George W. Delany, secretary.
GLENSIDE, In 1902, George 0. Runyeon, C. Guldin and A. J. Brumbach laid off seventy-five acres into about 1,700 building lots along the Bernville road in Bern township, near the Schuylkill Avenue bridge, and called the place "Glenside." about sixty dwelling-houses have been erected since. Some years before, a previous attempt had been made to establish a suburban town here.
WERNERSVILLE BANK, The Wernersville National Bank was chartered March 10, 1906, with a capital of $50,000. George W. Wertz was selected as president, and Leonard M. Ruth as cashier. In November, 1908, the total resources were $273,579.
