Join the Hamburg Area Historical Society
Preserving Our Past for the Future
Access our collection of historical resources and documents.
Participate in local events that support the community and our museum.
Meet people from the area and connect over a shared interest in history.
Hamburg Area History Book Vol 2
First Edition, Hardcover, Limited availability
Learn about events, people, and locations in the area from 1850 through 2000
The Bottles of Northern Berks
Part One: Soda, Beer, Mineral Water, and Medicine
The Bottles of Northern Berks
Part Two: Dairy Industries Milk and Ice Cream
Images, descriptions, history, and uses
In Our Neck of the Woods
Articles from the Hamburg Item from November 1998 to October 2005
Home Cooking and Eating Out
Old-Time Regional Fair From Our Kitchens and Favorite Eateries
Historical Hamburg Area
Below you can find stories from the region's history. Follow us on Facebook to get more!
Schuylkill Canal
We are sharing a slice of what the Schuylkill Navigation looked like in the Hamburg area. This canal system allowed better cargo and travel access between inland coal mining areas, manufacturing buildings, and the tidewater region at the coast. After closure in the 1930s, most structures from the canal system still stand, though some are buried or underwater at this time. Credit for this information to waterhistoryphl.org. Read more about the history of our canals on their website.
Special thanks to Sarah Doheny for donating her grandfather’s, Hap Fisher, photos which make up a bulk of the collection. Also thanks to Bob and Vernie Noecker, who have done extensive research on the canal in the Shoemakersvile area.
These photos are in rough order from north to south, from Port Clinton past the Kernsville Dam, Hamburg, to Shoemakersville.
Credit: Hap Fisher photos, waterhistoryphl.org, Bob and Vernie Noecker
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Lock Keepers House
Tow path on east side of Canal
South into Kernsville Dam
The King Frost Parade started in 1910 as a Halloween parade to keep children out of trouble. However, organizers soon worried there would be more people in the parade than there were to watch the parade. There were 6 bands. Farmers and industries in the area vied for prizes with their floats. There were 20 judges. Prizes were increased because of so many worthy outfits.
From 1910 to 1915, more floats, more bands, more clubs and troupes joined to march in the parade and even more people flocked to Hamburg to watch until it was a day-long event. However, interest waned and funds dropped. In 1916, a large portion of those who helped run the parade were impacted by WWI, the flu epidemic, and other national issues. This directly lead to the first King Frost break from 1916-1920.
In 1921, the parade would return with a bang with the King Frost Carnival with three parades and the largest evening parade to date. The next years’ parades would bring in tens of thousands of people with big evening parades and plenty of revelry. It was only the Great Depression and the coming WWII that would pause the annual parade a second time.
Finally, in 1964 the parade re-started with a big revival year of over 30K people attending. Since then, the King Frost Parade is held on the last Saturday evening of October every year since, with annual pins available each year to boost funds.
Read more on our Facebook: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3
Historical Hamburg Broom Works
While the Hamburg Broom Works building was torn down, we have many records of its history. This landmark at 2nd and Pine St held Hamburg Broom Works, then Burkey Underwear, then Wright’s. Now, we reminisce on the family and memories that used to be in that building. With over 100 years of existence, many Hamburg residents worked there, had family there, and spent their lives around that building.
History
Built in 1911 at a cost of $25,000 by Wilson E. Schmick to house his burgeoning business, the Hamburg Broom Works, which had outgrown its previous place in West Hamburg just south of the P & R railroad station. It featured a “modern design and will afford an abundance of light” in its two story structure. The property itself was the home to the electric plant in Hamburg which was destroyed by fire in 1911.
Ready to downsize in 1921, Schmick sold the building to Burkey Underwear and Hosiery Company (he retained the building across the street on the south side of Pine for the broom works). Throughout the years Burkey’s would expand the factory in 1927 and 1931. In 1974 the buildings were bought by Wright’s, who ran it until they finally closed.
Credits: The Hamburg Item, Janet Barr’s book In Our Neck of the Woods, and Hamburg Area 1850-2000 book
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View Historical Churches
View Old Hamburg Happenings
Historical Snow Storms
With such a big snow storm at the end of January 2026, let’s travel back to another winter storm: The Blizzard of ’96.
Starting January 6, 1996, Hamburg and the rest of Berks County got around 30-35 inches of snow, burying much of the town and surrounding areas. We have some photos from then showing South 5th Street, Island Street, and State Street.
Shoemakersville
Historical Postcards
Get a glimpse of Shoemakersville of the past with this series of postcards!
Local Disasters
The area has had its own share of disasters, one of which is the deadly September 1890 train accident near Shoemakersville. On September 19th, 1890, a train was traveling from Reading towards Pottsville carrying travelers from the Berks County Fair and the fireman’s convention. Previously, there was a minor accident between coal trains that caused a blockage on the rails. The northbound train carrying passengers was unaware of the blockage, so when they rounded a curve they had no time to slow down before hitting the coal cars blocking the track. The accident occurred around 6:40pm, and in 1890 there were less ways of emergency services to be aware of the incident, so it took hours for any help to arrive for survivors.
Read more about the accident on our Facebook post, or read from one of our sources on the event.
Jalappa
Jalappa is a small village 3.5 miles west along Old 22 coming from Hamburg.
While our organization is uncertain where the name came from, rumor has it that it may have been named after a body of water somewhere in Europe. We have found no evidence at this point in time, so we would appreciate it if anybody who knows reach out via our contact form.
Jalappa developed many businesses including a hotel, store, dairy, watch repair shop, wool mill, grist mill, service station, dance hall, and the original home of Roadside America!
Berne History
Nearly Nuclear
Years before the incident at Three Mile Island, Met-Ed had plans for a nuclear power plant between Berne and West Hamburg. Before, the public had mild feelings towards the idea, but after the near disaster the public was strongly against nuclear energy. Below, we have some historical documents regarding the plans and Met-Ed’s desired site for the plant.
