Shoemakersville Borough

Mr. Charles W. Burkhart, "Now and Then Printer", of Shoemakersville, Berks County PA, who the editor introduced to the readers a few issues ago (No. 7), sent us, with his compliments, a little red booklet entitled "History of Shoemakersville, Berks County, Pennsylvania." Mr. Burkhart gatherd the data, wrote the history and printed the booklet, unassisted. It sells at 80 cts., and those who are interested in the Shoemaker family should possess one. He might have known that "The Shoemaker Mansion," Shoemakersville, PA, built by Henry Shoemaker in 1768, would prove interesting to the readers of Now and Then, but we are inclined to think that it was sent to us in the ordinary routine of exchange. At least no reference has been made by him to the fact that this Henry Shoemaker of his, later became the Pioneer Henry Shoemaker of Muncy. Let us quote briefly from his introcudtions:

Shoemakersville — was so named by Henry and Carl (Charles Sr), sons of Jacob Shoemaker, Jr., whose father was Jacob Schumacher (now Shoemaker), who emigrated to the United States from Cresheim, Germany, on the good ship America, with Francis Daniel Pastorious and party, on the 16th of August, 1682, and settled in what is now Germantown, PA.

Henry and Carl — Charles Sr — moved from Germantown, to Shoemakersville — then a dense forest, almost unbroken wilderness — about the year 1765 when Henry built the first stone house in 1768. He afterwards sold it to his brother, Charles, Sr., who occupied it until his death.

In the living room of the old house, still in good condition, are painted these words:

'Gott segne dieses House, Und alles Was geht ein und ous; Gott allein die Ehr.'

A marble tablet is built into the gable end of the house, upon which is inscribed, H &l; C. S. 1768. The Shoemaker family were farmers, tanners, merchants, and statesmen.

SHOEMAKERSVILLE. Seventy miles northwest of Philadelphia on the P. & R. R. R. in Perry township, Berks county, is an enterprising village of 429 inhabitants, located 12 miles north of Reading, the county seat and nearest bank location. A hotel and tannery are here, with 3 churches and 2 schools; farm produce is marketed. Ex., P. &R. Tel., W. U. Elias Becker. postmaster.

• Becker Daniel M, shoemkr.
• Becker Elias, Hotel and Postmaster.
• Becker Reuben, wheelwright.
• Dreibell C S, flour mill.
• Dunkelferger Daniel B, blacksmith.
• Frantz J H, cigars.
• Groh Henry, butcher.
• Haag John, harness. eckman Adam, carpenter.
• Hennessy John, lime mnfr.
• Keller Walter, blacksmith.
• Kershuer J S, undertaker.
• Kershner Wm Mrs, milliner.
• Kunkle Charles, butcher.
• Machamer I S, general store.
• Mansion Hotel, A F Unger, propr.
• Merwine J Y, R R and ex agt.
• Metropolitan Hotel, Elias Becker, propr.
• Miller Henry K, general store.
• Miller Wm, wheelwright.
• Reber M S, physician.
• Saul Daniel I, flour and feed.
• Seidel A S, justice of the peace.
• Seidel C R & W A, Poultry Breeders.
• Seidel F, physician.
• Seidel S B &Sons, tanners.
• Stoudt Adam, flour mill.
• Sunday J L, general store.
• Unger A, hotel.
• Williams Samuel, carpenter.

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