Jefferson Township
Source: The History of Berks County, Pennsylvania by F.W. Balthaser (1925), pages 221-223:
The first settlement in this township was made in 1731 by John SERVY in the
Mill Creek Valley. In 1736, Andreas AULENPACK took up three hundred acres of
land in the same valley. This farm was sold to Philip HIMMELBERGER in 1767,
and has remained the property of some one of his descendants to the present
time. There is a log building which had port holes in the gable ends for
defense against the Indians, and is probably the oldest house in the
township. A stone house on the same farm has a date stone of 1780. Another
old residence is on the property of D. H. RIEGEL. It was erected in 1785,
and has the old-fashioned fire place. The Little Tulpehocken Church was
first a log building which was moved to where Nathaniel ZERBE now lives and
the present church put up in its place.
Old Industries
On account of the Tulpehocken and its branches, Jefferson Township is well
supplied with water-power. At one time there were a number of flour and
grist mills in operation, but there is now only one in use: BERGER’s Mill in
South Bernville, which was built by Joel HAAG about 1840. HAAG’s Mill, on
the Northkill, was one of the first mills in this section of the county, but
it has been lying idle for many years. A tilt-hammer or small forge was
operated on the Northkill about one-half mile north of HAAG’s Mill by a Mr.
KLEE, where knives, forks, ladles, pans, and other cooking utensils were
manufactured at an early date.
In the southwestern part of the township on Mill Creek on property now owned
by Charles HARTMAN, stands an old grist mill built as early as 1741. This
mill was erected and operated by John RIEGEL, a pioneer settler, who came
along with Conrad WEISER from New York State. On property now owned by
Samuel SCHELL, David BRUMBACH operated a fulling mill previous to the Civil
War. Little Northkill and Shuppen Creeks furnished the water-power for
running a mill erected by John ALVERT around 1760. Along with this mill was
also operated a saw mill and a big business was done at this place for many
years. Two tanneries, no longer in existence, were doing a thriving business
in their best days. One located on the farm of Frank PAULUS in the western
part of the district was operated by Jacob MILLER. The other situated in the
south central part was also conducted by a Mr. MILLER.
The Union Canal, which was abandoned about 1884, extends for seven miles
through the southern part of the township. It was first opened in the spring
of 1828, and South Bernville was the principal business center, until the
Lebanon Valley Railroad caused the decline of the canal. While the business
of the canal was at its highest point, South Bernville had a general store,
hotel, tannery, saw mill, flour mill, and coal and lumber yard.
Early Taverns
The first tavern was opened by George GRUBER midway between Bernville and
Schaefferstown about 1784. A little later Christian LONG opened a tavern a
little east of Schaefferstown, but it was closed in 1851. In 1844, Daniel
SCHARFF built the Cross Keys Hotel.
The only village in the township is Schaefferstown, which was laid out by
John SCHAEFFER in 1836. In the same year the first houses were built by
Michael FOX and Zadoc WEBER. The first tavern was opened by 1840 by
Christian BOMBERGER. Moses SCHOCK and William SCHAFFNER opened the first
store in 1846. In 1864, a second store was opened by CHRISTMAN and LESHER.
Contributed by: Diane Klopp.
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