Early History of Tilden Township
Source: The History of Berks County, Pennsylvania by F.W. Balthaser (1925), pages 250-251:
Tilden Township was taken from Upper Bern in 1887 and organized as a
separate district. It was named after Samuel J. TILDEN, the unsuccessful
candidate for president in 1876. It lies just south of the Blue Mountains
which form its northern boundary.
Industries
Most of the people are engaged in farming. The chief industries are one
foundry, two brick works, two creameries, and two grist mills. The Hamburg
Vitrified Brick Company was established in 1891. It was operated by TOBIAS &
SHERIDAN for many years, and at one time the annual output was ten million
bricks. After lying idle for some time, operations were again resumed in
1921.
St. Michael’s Church
The original St. Michael’s Union Church was erected in 1769 on land given to
both the Reformed and Lutheran congregations by Joseph ZOLENBERGER, in then
Bern Township, later Upper Bern Township and now Tilden Township. The
building, constructed of logs, stood at the southwest corner of the old
graveyard and was named for the first Reformed pastor, Rev. Philipp Jacob
MICHAEL. In 1810, a new brick building was erected on the site of the
present edifice, which replaced it in 1874. The present union church has a
seating capacity for 1,400 people and cost $18,000.
The graveyard was designated long before the first church was built, and the
first burial was Hattie GITTELIS, aged eight years, on August 22, 1766. She
was killed by lightning under a chestnut tree on the farm now owned by
Alexander S. RENTSCHLER.
Contributed by: Diane Klopp.
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