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About BOYERTOWN, PA
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POPULATION:
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Borough of Boyertown - 3,702;
Boyertown School District - 38,171
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LOCATION:
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20 miles east of Reading and 41 miles northwest of Philadelphia
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RECREATION & SITES OF INTEREST:
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Boyertown American Legion Baseball:
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610.367.0206
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Boyertown Area Senior Center:
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610.367.2313
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Boyertown Area YMCA:
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610.369.1011
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Boyertown Park and Swimming Pool:
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- information at Borough Hall
610.369.3028
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Boyertown Area Historical Society:
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610.367.5255
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Boyertown Museum of Historical
Vehicles:
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610.367.2090
and www.boyertownmuseum.org
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The National Centre for Padre
Pio, Inc.:
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- just outside Boyertown in Barto
610.845.3000
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Zerns Farmers Market and Auctions:
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- just outside Boyertown in Gilbertsville
610.367.2461
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SERVICE CLUBS:
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Ambucs, Exchange Club, Jaycees, Junior Women's Club, Kiwanis, Lions,
Oddfellows, Optimists, Rotarians
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HISTORICAL INFORMATION:
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Boyertown arose at a crossroads where Henry Boyer purchased an inn across
from a store built by his brother, Daniel, in the year 1801. The area was
originally settled in the early 1700’s by Germans, Swiss and French
Huguenots. By 1750 furnaces and forges formed a major source of industry
for the area where large deposits of iron ore, abundant forests, and water
power encouraged this new business. In 1814 a German Lutheran Church was
established and the Reading Ave. / Philadelphia Ave. crossroads became
known as "Boyers". Between 1865 and 1900 the railroad came to town creating
the most significant and lasting change. The borough was founded in 1866
and many small factories of mass-produced goods brought more people to the
area. The ensuing building boom added many lovely Victorian structures to
Boyertown, many of which are wonderfully maintained to this day. On January
13, 1908 the Boyertown Opera House in the Rhoads Building on Philadelphia
Ave. was the scene of a tragic fire. A kerosene lantern was accidentally
knocked over starting a fire on the stage and igniting gas from the
stereopticon. In the panic that followed, 170 men, women and children
perished when they were unable to escape from the second floor auditorium.
It was later determined that the crowd was unable to find and use fire
escapes, and that the doors people were trying to exit through could not
be opened outward, therefore the crush of bodies effectively locked people
inside the burning building.
The Pennsylvania State Legislature passed two bills into law in May of 1909
as a result of the Boyertown Opera House Fire. Act 233 addressed
installation of safety features in similar buildings such as doors which
open outward, more than one exit from second floors, properly lit exterior
doors from backstage areas, easily accessed and visibly marked fire
escapes, and so on. Act 206 required fire proof booths for projector
machines and stereopticons.
Sources for the above information include the books by Mary Jane Schneider
entitled "Midwinter Mourning" (vol. 1) and "A Town in Tragedy" (vol. 2)
and the Tricounty Chamber of Commerce publication "Greater Boyertown,
Pennsylvania: A Special Kind of Place". More information can be found
by visiting the Historical Society or by accessing
www.realnetworks.com/festival for a narrated slide show.
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MAJOR INDUSTRIES:
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Historical:
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Iron Mines,
Knitting Mills,
The Boyertown Autobody Works
(makers of the Boyertown Trolley),
The Boyertown Casket Factory
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Current:
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Boyertown Planing Mill,
Cabot Industries,
Campbell Corp. (pipe fittings),
Eastern Foundry,
Federal Mogul (Automotive Lighting)
and many others
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Agriculture:
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AGRICULTURE of many kinds surrounds Boyertown. Most noteworthy are the Dairy Farms,
Orchards and several Wineries. For more information on local businesses access the
TRICOUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE website at
www.tricopa.com
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LOCAL EVENTS:
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Boyertown Fun Days (Carnival and Concerts at Boyertown Park in early June)
Annual Sidewalk Expo (in late June)
Duryea Days (Auto Show on Labor Day Weekend)
Heritage Days (each Fall)
Halloween Parade (largest in the area, end of October)
Der Belsnickel (Show and Sale of work by Juried Artisans, in the Fall)
Santa Celebration (first Sunday of December)
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