Amber Brown and her family stood before a display of Native American life, excitedly pointing out familiar places with indigenous names on a map of Berks County.
“Look, Navesink, that’s Neversink Mountain,” her son, Sebastian Brown, said. “It means ‘place for fishing.’”
Amber and Nathan Brown, and their children, Sebastian, 16, and Delilah, 12, of Spring Township were among those who attended the Berks History Center’s inaugural Founder’s Day Open House.
The free event Saturday was a chance for first time and returning visitors of all ages to explore the artifacts and archives found in the organization’s museum, 940 Centre Ave., and library, 154 Spring St.
The Browns wandered through the museum’s three floors of exhibits, lingering at the one telling the story of the local Lenni Lenape.
The indigenous people had settlements at various locations in what became Reading and Berks County.
Several of their names for local places survive in derivative form and include, Maxatawny, meaning bear path creek; Moselem, meaning trout stream; and Tulpehocken, meaning land of turtles.
“We thought it was interesting that the Native American names for local places were really logical,” Amber Brown said. “They named places after what they found there. The names helped them find what they needed.”
Although Brown grew up in Berks County and the family visited the history center previously, she said, they were surprised to learn some Lenape place names survive.
There is always something at the BHC to learn or discover, even for regular visitors, said Benjamin Neely, executive director.
Exhibits in some of the galleries change periodically and many of the long-term exhibits have been updated in recent years, he said.
In the past year, Neely noted, the BHC’s curator, Amber Vroman, added informational cards in Spanish to those in English beside most displays.
“We’re here for everybody,” he said.
Neely said the idea for the open house developed from feedback the BHC received after setting up booths at community fairs and events.
He and the staff decided to call the event Founder’s Day and hold it on a date close to August 5, 1869, the first official meeting of the organization, formerly known as the Historical Society of Berks County.
“A number of times we’d hear ‘I never heard of you,’ or ‘I haven’t been there since I was a kid,’” he said. “Others would be driving by for years and saying ‘What is that place?’”
One visitor who did not want to give her name said she attends church services across the street at St. Margaret’s Roman Catholic Church and was curious about what was inside the history center.
The open house gave her a chance to check it out, she said.
That is exactly what Neely and the staff intended.
“We just wanted to open up, have some fun and get as many folks in here as we could,” he said. “We’re hoping to kind of get rid of some of that mystery, so folks know what this is and are excited to come back and bring others.”
Neely said he was especially hoping to attract some first-time visitors from the neighborhood around the BHC.
“This building is the first thing they see in the morning when they step outside,” he said, “and I don’t want it to be a mystery to them.”
The event featured a food truck, family-friendly activities and self-guided tours with knowledgeable volunteers stationed throughout the museum.
Attendees also got a sneak peek at the plans for BHC’s upcoming museum revitalization project. The idea is to enhance the visitor experience with new exhibits and interactive displays, Neely said.
The organization plans to launch a capital campaign to support the project in the near future, he noted.
The Berks History Center is dedicated to preserving and sharing the rich cultural heritage of Berks County, building an understanding of the county’s history, strengthening a sense of community and inspiring future progress.
Local history is showcased through artifacts and documents, educational programs, workshops and community events, including the upcoming annual Road Ramble and Pennsylvania Dutch language classes.
For more information, visit berkshistory.org or call 610-375-4375.
Source: Berkshire mont
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