Kutztown Borough

Borough municipal offices are located at 45 Railroad Street, Kutztown PA 19530; phone: 610-683-6729.

First settled about 1779, Kutztown was incorporated in 1815 from Maxatawny Township. Originally called Coostown, George Coots laid out plans for the town around 1779, having purchased 130 acres from Peter Wentz 24 years earlier. (1755) By 1785 those lots began to sell with Adam Dietrich and Henry Schweier among the first purchasers.

Two borough properties are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

1. 1892 Public School Building, (Normal and White Oak Streets) was opened in October 1893; staff and teacher salaries ranged from $25 to $45/month
2. H. K. Deisher Knitting Mill, (circa 1881 and 1903, 56 Noble Avenue) was built originally by an association of 42 area farmers as a combined dairy and cheese manufacturing plant; purchased by Deisher in 1882 to house his knitting mill.

Kutztown State University (approximately 10,000 students) originated as the Keystone Normal School in 1886 and, along the way evolved as a State Teachers College (1928), a State College (1960), achieving university status in 1983.

Polk's 1882 Gazetteer


KUTZTOWN. On Allentown Br. P. & R. R. R., in Maxatawny township, Berks county, is a borough of 3,462 population, distant from Reading, the county seat, 18 miles. The site for this place was chosen in 1815. It now has real and personal property (assessed value,) amounting to $350,000, a bonded debt of $1,000, and contains Lutheran, German Reformed and Methodist churches, good graded schools, 5 hotels and 1 bank. The press is represented by 3 newspapers-American Patriot, Journal, and National Educator. The surrounding country is very fertile, and this borough derives its principal trade from the intelligent and wealthy farming community by which it is surrounded. Produce and grain are the principal shipments. Ex., P. &R.. Tel., P. & ER. Clinton H. Bieber, postmaster.

• American Hotel, Jonas Bilig, propr.
• American Patriot, A B Urick, publisher.
• Benner Samuel N, jeweler.
• Berk & Bro, meats.
• Berkemeyer L C, druggist.
• Bieber Clinton H, postmaster.
• Bieber Joshua S, general store.
• Bieber Wtn, brick mnfr.
• Black Horse Hotel, Daniel Zimmerman, propr.
• Bloch Henry, cigars.
• Bornaman M C, barber.
• Breininger Jacob F, druggist.
• Brown Wm Ir, General Store.
• Christ Isaac F, stationery.
• D'Boyle Samuel, dentist.
• Dietrich Wallace A, photographer.
• Dikeman Edward C, cigars.
• Donmoyer M T, harnessmkr.
• Druckenmiller H D, music.
• Eck James L, notions.
• Eck Wm S, sewing machines.
• Eckert J & Co, stone quarry.
• Egge Henry E, shoemkr.
• Glasser Daniel, shoemkr.
• Gonser & Heffner, lumber.
• Grimm Daniel P, tanner.
• Gross Wm D, Boots and Shoes.
• Heckman Newton, cigars.
• Heffner James S, grocer.
• Hinterleiter John, butcher.
• HinterleiterW G, General Store.
• Hottinstin Edward, physician.
• Keiser Chiarles A. gents' furnishings.
• Keiter Henry, cigars.
• Keystone Hotel, Mary Keim, propr.
• Keystone State Normal School.
• Kline Philip, tailor.
• Kline & Steinberger, carpenters.
• Kover Wm F, tinsmith.
• Kutz Charles E, Flour Mill.
• Kutz C W, grocer.
• Kutztown Journal, A B Urick, pub.
• Lehman S E & Co, boots and shoes.
• Lesher John M, cigars.
• Levan B, undertaker.
• Long Mary Mrs, milliner.
• Marx I H, lawyers.
• Miller's R Son, Carriagemkr.
• Mohr John, vet surgeon.
• National Bank, (capital $50,000), Kutztown; John C Wink, prest; Thomas D Fester, cashr.
• National Educator, A B Crick, publisher.
• Nicks H R Mrs, milliner.
• Pennsylvania Hotel, James Frey, propr.
• Rtheinhart & Bro, General Store.
• Sanders Oliver H, blacksmith.
• Saul David, cigars.
• Scheidt Henry, blacksmith.
• Schmehl NS, hardware.
• Sharadin David W, undertaker.
• Sharadin J D, tanner. Shoemaker I N E, physician.
• Smith & Steckel, planing mill.
• Smoyer Henry E, baker.
• Snyder Charles W, photographer.
• Spang, Erb & Co, Pig Iron Mnfrs.
• Sprenger August, jeweler,
• Springer D K, baker.
• Stein & Bro, wines and liquors.
• Stetler Wm, dentist.
• Stimmel Wm F, saloon.
• Swartz H H, lawyer.
• Trexler J S, physician. Wagenhurst J B Mrs, tinsmith.
• Wanner Cyrus, phvsician.
• Washington Hotel, Ulrich Miller, propr.
• Weikusat August, gunsmith.
• Wenk D Mrs, dressmkr.
• Wentz Philip, marble Works.
• Zehm & Bro, foundry.
• Zimmerman Mary, Mrs, milliner.

R.L.Polk, Pennsylvania State Gazetteer & Business Directory, 1882, Philadelphia