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DR. HENRY W. SAUL
President Kutztown Centennial Association
THE
CENTENNIAL HISTORY
KUTZTOWN
OF
PENNSYLVANIA
CELEBRATING THE CENTENNIAL OF THE INCORPORATION
OF THE BOROUGH- 1815-1915
COMPILED BY THE HISTORICAL COMMITTEE OF THE KUTZTOWN CENTENNIAL
ASSOCIATION
W. W- DEATRICK, A. M., Sc. D., Chairman
1915
PRESS OF THE KUTZTOWN PUBLISHING COMPANY
KUTZTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA
COPYRIGHT 1915
BY
THE KUTZTOWN PUBLISHING COMPANY
©CI,A4ai736
JUL 2 1915
—
FOREWORD
^l/TUTZTOWN BOROUGH was one feature will, doubtles—s, be of interest. More
llli hundred years old in March of the than this, however, these records of the
fiS^ present year. The town is about present time will, certainly, by and by, prove
half a century older. Soon after the as interesting and valuable to the future
—laying out, in 1755, of "The Great Road," writer of a fuller, better history as the
—the Easton Road it has long been called pamphlet of Professor Ermentrout, issued
a straggling hamlet, a hotel or two and in 1876, was to the compilers of this book.
some other buildings, sprang up at the Readers will, certainly, discover errors in
crossing of the Saucony. In 1779 the town this publication. But for these indulgence
was formally laid out. From that time to is craved. No one is more conscious than
this there has been growth, rapid at times, the editor, chairman of the committee, of
slow, almost at a standstill, at other times, the shortcomings of the volume. That
but ever continuous. omissions, mis-statements, duplications, and
This century, or century and a half, of even contradictions will be found is quite
existence of the town has been marked by likely. Some misprints will occur. Critics
events, quite as numerous and quite as may notice lack of uniformity in style.
noteworthy as those that have happened in Kind indulgence is, nevertheless, request-
most towns of the size in such a period. ed. It is proper, however, to say that not
That these happenings might not be for- all that may be taken for error is really
gotten that some already well-nigh forgot- such. In the reprints of old documents the
;
ten incidents might be preserved to the strange spelling and unusual phraseology
generation coming after us; that the Cen- are not the fault of the copyist or printer
tennial of Kutztown might be marked by at least not in many cases. An honest ef-
more than the passing shows of the week fort has been made to follow—the rule at
of celebration that begins July i, this yeai present accepted by historians to reprint
of grace; that all who read may know what such documents with all their peculiarities.
of interest, great or little, has happened in For what is not explicable in this way the
our town; that the world may learn how editor feels that this much of explanation is
Kutztown has grown and what a little city due to his colleagues and himself. Lack of
it is today, this Centennial History oe uniformity, especially, in style, is the result
Kutztown has been prepared. of the book being the work of many hands.
The Historical Committee, charged by There was lack of time for desirable con-
the Kutztown Centennial Association with sultation between the co-workers, and edi-
the preparation of this volume, have found, torial supervision has been far from what
in the course of their researches, that the was desirable. As the material came in it
history of the town is much fuller and much became a physical impossibility to examine
more stirring and interesting than even all of it even cursorily.
those who knew most about the matter had The editor was hampered greatly in the
any notion. Readers of this volume will work by the death of the Rev. J. J. Cress-
find some stories not told in print before. man, on whom reliance was placed for re-
They will find here, committed to the art searches and write-ups on certain portions
preservative, tales which they heard in of the work.
childhood days and which they have nearly Another reason for what some may con-
or quite forgotten. Such ones will be sider worthy of criticism is that much to
thankful, we are sure, that this work has) which time for consideration should have
been undertaken. Historians may find here, been given was brought to light only within
as in local histories often, some contribu- the last few weeks, in which time there was
tion to the larger history of county, state, great increase of interest in the forthcom-
or nation. ing history. The amount of time and labor
The book is not all history. A consider- involved in ferreting out the truth of a rnat-
able portion of the volume is devoted to a ter when tradition conflicted with tradition,
telling to the world at large of what may or when tradition was found to be at va-
be seen if folks come to Kutztown; to a not nance with discovered records, is known
exaggerated setting forth of the industries, only to those who have had experience in
businesses, and social institutions of the such studies.
place; as well as to some account of people Histories, if they are to be relatively free
now or once resident in the town. This from errors such as have been mentioned.
CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN
IV
cannot be written to order or completed by as a body thankful that so much has been
a time set in advance. At first there was done so well, especially by those who have
difference of opinion as to the time when come to the assistance of the editor and
this history should appear. The chairman committee.
and some other members of the committee To his colleagues on the committee and
were of opinion that its publication should to all who have helped in any way, the
take place after the Centennial. The judg- editor herewith returns his thanks. Of
ment of the majority was that it should be readers and critics he begs kind indulgence.
finished before the celebration. That judg-- Concluding, he invites criticism. Notifica-
ment has been accepted and the wonder is tion of errors which may be discovered
that so much has been accomplished and will be thankfully received. In this way
with so little of error, as is believed.—The the publication at some future time of a
Centennial could not be postponed the fuller, more accurate history than the pres-
work had to be gotten ready before the ent one may be made possible.
opening of the celebration. W. W. De.'VTrick, Editor
The committee, especially the chairman,
regrets exceedingly that there are imper- Chairman of Historical Committee
fections due to hurried preparation and Kutztown, Pa.
lack of opportunity for full revision. It is June 23, 1915
