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Spring-Ford Chamber
of Commerce
112 North Lewis Road
P.O. Box 26
Royersford, PA 19468
Phone: (610) 948-1771
Fax: (610) 948-1783
admin@springfordchamber.com |
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| Limerick |
| Address: |
646 West Ridge Pike
Limerick, 19468
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| Manager: |
Daniel K. Kerr
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| Council Members: |
David Kane, Chairman
Elaine DeWan , Vice Chairman
Renee Chesler
Frank A. Kotch
Kenneth W. Sperring, Jr. |
| History: |
Limerick Township was incorporated in 1726. It is the second largest municipality (22.6+ square miles) and the second fastest growing municipality in Montgomery County. The current population, according to the 2000 Census, is 13,534, which represents a 102% increase from 1990.
Limerick Township is home to Pottstown-Limerick Airport, Exelon’s Limerick Generating Station and many other commercial and industrial businesses. It is accessible from three interchanges of PA State Route 422 and is situated between Philadelphia and Reading. Philadelphia International, Reading Municipal and Allentown International Airports are all within an hours’ driving distance. Shopping is easy and convenient. Many restaurants and churches abound within the township as well as in surrounding areas.
Limerick Township is a rural community that provides housing for all lifestyles and price ranges. It is one of four communities in the Spring Ford Area School District which provides excellent educational opportunities for students in kindergarten through twelfth grades.
In addition to four golf courses, there are three public parks which offer picnic facilities and other accommodations for recreation and relaxation. Limerick Community Park, Linfield Landing, and Veteran’s Park are excellent places for both passive and active recreation. Click here to learn more.
Limerick Township is a great place to live, work, and play.
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| Royersford |
| Address: |
300 Main Street
Royersford, 19468
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| Manager: |
Robert T. Umstead
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| Council Members: |
Thomas Weikel, President
John Guest, Vice-President
Bruce Buckwalter
Charles Bowers
Kenneth Wadsworth
John Kring
David Shanaman |
| History: |
Royersford Borough was incorporated in 1879. While originally a center for the area farming community, the borough grew into a small iron and manufacturing center. Also, the coming of the railroads meant goods produced here could find new markets. Today, the borough has become a very attractive bedroom community given its location at an interchange of the 422 Expressway. Royersford has a main street shopping area, as well as many small businesses and neighborhood shopping centers that serve residents in portions of the surrounding townships of Limerick and Upper Providence. Royersford also has a strong tie to the Borough of Spring City, located on the other side of the Schuylkill River in Chester County. Some homes and businesses with a Royersford mailing address may actually be located in Limerick or Upper Providence Townships. |
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| Spring City |
| Address: |
6th South Church Street
Spring City, 19475
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| Manager: |
Dennis Rittenhouse
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| Council Members: |
Ralph E. Trego, III - President
Stephen McCarthy - VP
Thomas E. Kratz
Bradford Hess
Robert Beard
Lloyd O. Watts
Patrick M. Young |
| History: |
The first people in this area were the Lenni-Lenape Indians, who inhabited the Schuylkill watershed long before European colonization. The first non-Native American, arriving in the late 1600s, was a French Canadian fur trapper named Pierre Bezallion. The Leni Leanpe, who hunted and fished in the area, traded with Bezallion. As a result, William Penn called upon him when needed to act as an arbitrator in Indian affairs. Bezallion used a natural cave that was in Spring City to store his furs and to stay over when he was trapping in this area. However neither he nor the Indians made this area their permanent home. Pierre Bezallion died in 1740 and is buried over in Compass (near Coatesville).
As this area was settled it came to be referred to as “Pump Town,” so named due to a public pump frequented by citizens and visitors. The early residents had quite a battle over settling on an official name. There was a group who fought for the name “Pumptown” and others who liked Jamestown. Eventually the natural springs in the area proffered an obvious name and “Springville” was chartered on August 12th, 1867. Yet even this choice wouldn’t stand as it was discovered that Pennsylvania already had a “Springville ”. So, in 1872 the name was changed to Spring City.
It was the opening of the Schuylkill Navigation Canal in 1824 that can be directly attributed to the early development of this small town. In 1840, the first bridge to connect Spring City to Royersford across the Schuylkill was completed. It was a covered wooden bridge. Canal born industries such as the American Paper Company and the Spring City Stove Company were operating as early as the 1850’s and people were coming to live in Springville. As the people came, with them came the houses, churches, schools, and of course local government. Other industries such as glass making and knitting mills would soon follow.
Main Street was the center of activity in Spring City. It was where the businesses, stores and banks were located. The National Bank of Spring City, The Gem Theatre, the Spring City Hotel, and Mowery-Latshaw Hardware were but a few of the many establishments that were downtown on Main Street. Spring City had a large industrial development at the lower end of town on South Main Street and the Valley Forge Flag Company on North Main at the foot of Yost Avenue. The Spring City Hotel is located downtown at the corner of Main and New Streets. The cornerstone for this hotel was laid in 1892. When it was completed, it was the show place of the town. The hotel had gas and electric lights, flush toilets, and hot and cold running water in the bathrooms. This hotel is still in operation today and features a dining room and cocktail lounge. The Spring City National bank first opened for business in 1872. The building is still in existence today and is now a private residence. The Valley Forge Flag Factory was at the corner of Yost Avenue and Main Street in Spring City. The company began operation c.1932 in Spring City when the property was acquired from the Reiff shirt factory. Although flag manufacturing has ceased in Spring City, today the buildings have been given a new lease on life as the Flag House apartments for senior citizens.
In 1864 a Post Office was opened in Spring City. John Sheeler was the postmaster and the office was located on the west end of the canal bridge in the vicinity of the current day Turkey Hill store. 1884, the Pennsylvania Railroad was opened from Reading to Philadelphia, with a station stop in Spring City. This obviously gave the Reading Railroad in Royersford some competition. In 1899, the Spring City Trolley would begin operations. The trolley traveled from Spring City to Phoenixville and made many stops on its way, one being the Bonnie Brae Amusement Park. Trolley service continued until the great trolley accident on July 8th, 1924. The end of the trolley spelled the end of Bonnie Brae and the end of an era.
The first public school in Spring City was held at the Lyceum building at Hall and Main Streets. In 1849, classes were moved to the Union Meeting House and later to a small school building behind the old Lutheran Church. It was not until 1872 that the Church Street School was constructed. This brownstone building was enlarged in 1892 and was big enough to house all 12 grades. In 1929, the high school on New Street opened, and the Church Street School became a grade school. Both of these buildings are now gone. In 1955 the jointure was formed with Spring City and Royersford becoming part of the Spring-Ford Area School District . A new elementary school on Wall Street was opened in 1960 and a new high school on Lewis road in Royersford opened in 1959. The senior high scool now occupies a new building across the street from the one built in 1959.
Mechanics Hall is the second oldest public meetinghouse in Spring City. Located at the bottom of Hall Street across from the firehouse it is now known as the Tall Cedars Temple. This building was constructed in 1852 and was used by many organizations. Several churches, including the Lutheran and Reformed, held services there before their houses of worship were completed.
In 1882, the Spring City Borough Council purchased a new firefighting apparatus from the Silsby Manufacturing Company in New York at a cost of $3600. This action was a result of a fire that destroyed the Shantz & Keeley Stove Works in July 1881. The Liberty Steam Fire Engine Company No. 1, a volunteer firefighting organization, was incorporated in 1882. The firehouse was built at the bottom of Hall Street in 1892. The firefighters today are still volunteers.
Horse racing began in 1893 as the Spring City Driving Association acquired a large property on Wall Street. There were grandstands and stables on the grounds. Racing and horse shows were held regularly in the 1930s and 1940s. This track was located on Wall Street, where the Spring City Elementary School now stands. The property was vacated and sold to the school district in 1958.
The Pennhurst State School and Hospital in Spring City was opened in 1908. Sitting high atop Crab Hill, looking down on the Schuylkill River, it was a community that was separated from the rest of Spring City. A sprawling complex of red brick buildings, it included a dairy farm, power house, green houses, movie theater, laundry, cafeteria and many other facilities. Pennhurst was a State Institution for the mentally handicapped and at one time had more than 3000 patients. The hospital has been closed, and most of the buildings remain empty today. The New Horizons building on the upper campus was completely renovated and is now the main building of the Southeastern Veteran’s Center.
Spring City has a rich history. At the turn of the 20th century it was a growing, vibrant and complete community. There was all of the industrial development, agricultural development, and commercial enterprise needed to support a growing town. Schools, churches, and numerous social organizations were growing with the population. For recreation there were two movie theaters on Main Street, an amusement park just outside of town that could be easily reached with a short trip on the trolley. Horse racing at the track on Wall Street was also very popular and attracted people from several nearby states. The canal was used for boating and fishing during the summer months and ice skating in the winter. Trains ran on a regular schedule for those wishing to travel to Reading or Philadelphia and beyond.
Although progress and the passing of time has changed the face of Spring City, the 21st century brings promise, as the citizens who live here today are infused with the spirit and resolve of those who originally settled here!
William C. Brunner
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| Upper Providence |
| Address: |
1286 Black Rock Road
P.O.Box 406
Oaks, 19456
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| Manager: |
George W. Waterman, III
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| Council Members: |
Philip A. Barker, Chairman
Robert A. Fieo, Vice Chairman
Edward T. Murphy
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| History: |
Historical Perspective
One of the township’s best historical treasures, the Schuylkill Canal’s Lock No. 60 will reopen in its original working condition, following a 10-year restoration project.
Built in 1846, the Lock connects the canal to a forebay, so that boats can access the river. In the 19th century, a Locktender operated the gates and maintained the correct level of water flow to “lock through” barges and boats.
The restoration project, paid for with more than $1 million in federal transportation grants, includes improvements to the forebay and guard wall, the lock’s sluice gates, miter gates, and truss bridge. The Locktender’s house has also been restored and transformed into the Schuylkill Canal Association’s (SCA) headquarters.
When the lock reopens this April, boaters can experience the lock firsthand and visitors can take a tour of the grounds through the Oakes Reach Interpretive Plan. The plan will feature anecdotes and artifacts from people who grew up playing along or living around the canal. To share your story with the SCA, call 610-917-0021 or view www.schuylkillcanal.com.
Gaining Grants for Preservation
The township participates in many preservation studies and applies for various state and federal grants to secure and protect open space and historical areas. Our successes include:
Lock No. 60 restoration
Black Rock Park expansion
Anderson Farm Park development
Hundreds of acres preserved
Attractions
Black Rock Dam: a stone-filled timber crib structure surrounding a 3-mile dam pool that fishermen, boaters, and water skiers can all enjoy
Lock No. 60: a "gateway" on the Schuylkill Canal that allows extra water to flood into a shallower area so that boats may float safely though it, dating back to 1839
The Lock House: adjacent to Lock No. 60, the former residence of the lock tender, whose job it was to monitor the waterway and open the lock when necessary
Friends Meeting House: located on Black Rock Road, a Quaker church dating back to 1740
Far Away Farm: land purchased by William Penn’s sons with a house built on the land by Henry Ewalt in 1761
Montclair: meaning "Clear Mountain," this house dates back to the mid-1800s and overlooks the river
Broadview: a Victorian home with a view of the Schuylkill River.
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