Berks Places: Strausstown was once a borough with three hotels and was founded in 1840
By The Citizen on November 15, 2021
Berks Places is a recurring feature that will focus on small villages and census designated places throughout the county. History, nostalgia and local voices will shed some light on the quaint nooks and crannies of our area. Additional historical photographs accompany the online version of the articles.
In the northern reaches of Berks County along Route 183 and just south of Interstate 78 is Strausstown, an unincorporated village and census-designated place in Upper Tulpehocken Township.
It was founded in 1840 when distiller John Strauss laid out his land in plots and began selling them. Deed records show Strauss had purchased a little over 20 acres from Jacob Kritzer in 1839 for $800.
“The first house in the place was built on a lot from the Batteiger tract, purchased by Joseph Boltz, March 28, 1835; and the house built by Boltz that year has been occupied by him since,” historian Morton L. Montgomery wrote in his 1886 “History of Berks County in Pennsylvania.” “The second house was also begun in 1835, but it was not completed until the following year. It was built by Jacob and Joseph Klahr, and now forms part of the Centre Hotel.”
Montgomery explained that the Batteigers were a branch of the Potteiger family who chose to spell the surname differently.
It is much the same in the Strauss family, which has spawned members spelling the surname Strause and Strouse.
“The first store in this locality was begun about 60 years ago, in what is now the eastern part of the village, by a man named Uhlman,” Montgomery wrote. “In 1836 Samuel Shollenberger opened a store in the building put up by the Klahrs, but it was shortly followed by Michael K. Boyer and Daniel Batteiger. Then came Daniel Boltz and others.”
According to local historian George M. Meiser IX and Montgomery, the first post office opened there Nov. 19, 1847. Meiser said it was spelled Straustown, with one “s,” and remained that way until 1867.
Montgomery says the first postmaster was Jacob Boltz, and mail came once a week from Allentown.
“The day the original designation ceased, it reopened that same day as StrauSStown, with Solomon Strauss as postmaster,” Meiser wrote in an email. “The office remains operating as ZIP Code 19559.”
According to the United States Postal Service, Patricia K. Moyer was the last official postmaster, appointed July 3, 1999. Aimee Scherer was appointed officer in charge on Jan. 24 2013, and is postmaster of Shartlesville. Strausstown was converted to a remotely managed post office under the direction of the postmaster of the Shartlesville post office on Jan. 26, 2013.
Strausstown was an independent municipality for a time. In 1920 it broke away from Upper Tulpehocken Township to become a borough. In 2016, borough and township residents voted to merge Strausstown with the township.
A major industrial site in the village is Post Precision Castings, 21 Walnut St. It employs 140 people and is a custom manufacturer of metal castings for the oil, gas and nuclear industries and other commercial endeavors.
Montgomery wrote that in the past, tanning was Strausstown’s chief industry.
“The most important industry Strausstown ever had was the extensive tannery of Michael Miller,” Montgomery said. “It was established as early as 1825 by John Himmelberger. … Miller rebuilt the tannery and added improvements from time to time, until it was an extensive establishment. He used modern methods and made all grades of leather successfully. He continued for about 30 years, until 1876.”
Another industry that thrived in Strausstown was cigar making. There were three manufacturers in the town in 1885.
Of course no village in Berks seems to have flourished without at least one hotel that ended up being a major gathering spot for good meals and drinks.
The building at 85 Main St./Old Route 22 first operated as hotel in 1865 when it was known as Centre House according to Meiser and Centre Hotel according to Montgomery. It was later known as Miller’s Hotel and last operated as a guesthouse when it was known as Doll’s Hotel.
The building at 85 Main St. in Strausstown, Upper Tulpehocken Township, operated as a hotel beginning in 1865 when it was known as Centre House according to Volume 23 of “The Passing Scene” by George M. Meiser IX and Gloria Jean Meiser. In this photo it operated as Miller’s Hotel & Restaurant. It was known for its Saturday night dances held out back in an annex building known as Miller’s Forest for its trees and leaves simulating a grove. It last operated as a guest house when known as Doll’s Hotel. Today the building serves as apartments and retail space. (Courtesy of George M. Meiser IX)
Susan E. Miers Smith — Reading Eagle
The building at 85 Main St./Old Route 22 in Strausstown operated as a hotel more than 100 years under several names. The stone building has intersting shield built into the front facade. It is shown Nov. 2, 2021. (Susan E. Miers Smith — Reading Eagle)
Susan E. Miers Smith — Reading Eagle
The building at 85 Main St./Old Route 22 in Strausstown operated as a hotel more than 100 years under several names. The stone building has intersting shield built into the front facade. It is shown Nov. 2, 2021. (Susan E. Miers Smith — Reading Eagle)
Susan E. Miers Smith — Reading Eagle
The building in the foreground at 85 Main St./Old Route 22 in Strausstown operated as a hotel for more than 100 years under several names. The stone building is currently home to businesses and apartments. It is shown Nov. 2, 2021. (Susan E. Miers Smith — Reading Eagle)
Courtesy of Jane M. Bausher
Berks County historian George M. Meiser IX identifies the men in this 1948 photograph, from left, unidentified, Milt Potteiger, Leon Neiun, Tom Wilhelm and Solly Strauss, regulars at what was then Miller”s Hotel. The bar opened as the Centre House and later became Doll”s Hotel in Strausstown, Upper Tulpehocken Township. (Courtesy of Jane M. Bausher)
In 1886, Montgomery wrote that there were three hotels, four stores and several mechanic shops in Strausstown.
“There are good pavements and the few hundred inhabitants are prosperous,” Montgomery said.
Almost directly across the street from Doll’s Hotel was the Strausstown General Store, at 86-90 Main St. According to Volume 16 of “The Passing Scene” by Meiser and his wife, Gloria Jean, on 19th-century maps the site is designated as S. Strause’s store and post office. The building was destroyed by fire July 19, 2006.
In the center of town, Strausstown National Bank was erected at 75 Main St. in 1919. Homes immediately to the right and left were demolished to create a drive-thru window as customer demands changed.
It ceased operating as a bank when the M&T Branch closed in April 2015. Today, the bank building is the headquarters of the real estate division of Reading & Northern Railroad Co.
Susan E. Miers Smith — Reading Eagle
The former Strausstown National Bank was built in 1919 and is now home to Reading & Northern Railroad Co. Real Estate division. The building at 75 Main St./Old Route 22 is shown Nov. 2, 2021. (Susan E. Miers Smith — Reading Eagle)
Susan E. Miers Smith — Reading Eagle
The former Strausstown National Bank building at 75 Main St./Old Route 22 is now home to Reading & Northern Railroad Co. Real Estate division. It is shown Nov. 2, 2021. (Susan E. Miers Smith — Reading Eagle)
Susan L. Angstadt: Reading Eagle
Strausstown bank closing reaction M&T bank on Main Street in Strausstown is closing. It was on of several different owners of the bank that started as Strausstown National Bank. Photo by Susan L. Angstadt 2/18/2015
Susan L. Angstadt
Strausstown bank closing reaction M&T bank on Main Street in Strausstown is closing. It was on of several different owners of the bank that started as Strausstown National Bank. This is safe and building that had the iron doors. Photo by Susan L. Angstadt 2/18/2015
Ron Romanski – Reading Eagle
Anthony’s feed mill near Strausstown in Upper Tulpehocken Township on October 25, 2002. This is the same angle as the early 1900 photograph. The part of the mill gutted by fire in 1907 was repaired and was added onto on both sides. (Ron Romanski — Reading Eagle)
Tim Leedy — Reading Eagle
The former Filbert Hotel on September 12, 2002, in Strausstown at Main and Goodman streets. James K. Filbert bought the former Boltz building in 1870 and it was known as Filbert”s Hotel until it closed in 1969. It has since housed a district justice office and apartments. (Tim Leedy — Reading Eagle)
Courtesy of Roy T. Bubbenmoyer
Berks County historian George M. Meiser IX writes that Ben Laub, right, known as the Blue Mountain Hermit, would pose with groups of visitors for “a small consideration.” The object in the background is Laub’s home in Upper Tulpehocken Township, just north of Strausstown. (Courtesy of Roy T. Bubbenmoyer)
Courtesy of George M. Meiser IX
The Boltz family built Strausstown”s second public house in 1845. The post office was established there two years later. (Courtesy of George M. Meiser IX)
Reading Eagle
Daniel K. Hoch, left, former Berks County congressman, chats with Milton Hollenbach of Strausstown at the Fort Northkill marker on Blue Mountain in 1957. Hoch, 91, was president of the Blue Mountain Eagle Climbing Club. Hollenbach is the son of Daniel Hollenbach, who discovered an eagle”s next among boulders in northern Berks County. (Reading Eagle)
Reading Eagle: Harold Hoch
The name change for Strausstown from Borough to Village took place Friday morning, July 1, 2016, during a brief ceremony at the west end of Main Street. Rob Deisemann, Upper Tulpehocken Township supervisor presents the old Borough of Strausstown sign to Ric Narducci, the former mayor. Looking on are Steven Davis, Upper Tulpehocken Township supervisor; Wilson Balthaser, chairman of the Upper Tulpehocken Township supervisors; George Brown, former Strausstown Borough council president and Dwain Schlappich, Upper Tulpehocken Township roadmaster. (Reading Eagle: Harold Hoch)
Lisa Mitchell — Digital First Media
Upper Tulpehocken Township Supervisor Wilson Bathasar, Upper Tulpehocken Township Road Master Dwain Schlappich and former Strausstown Mayor Ric Narducci install the new Village of Strausstown sign on July 1, 2016. (Lisa Mitchell — Digital First Media)
Lisa Mitchell — Digital First Media
Upper Tulpehocken Township Supervisors, Strausstown Borough Council and the Mayor held a small ceremony for the changing of the Strausstown Borough signs to the Village of Strausstown signs on July 1. Left to right, Twp. Supervisor Vice Chair Steve Davis, Twp. Supervisor Wilson Bathasar, Twp. Supervisor Rob Deismann, Borough Council President George Brown, Borough Mayor Ric Narducci and Twp. Road Master Dwain Schlappich. (Lisa Mitchell – Digital First Media )
Special to the Reading Eagle: Charles J. Adams III
The Strausstown Veterans Memorial features a field cannon and is located at the intersection of Main Street and East Avenue. (Special to the Reading Eagle: Charles J. Adams III )
Special to the Reading Eagle: Charles J. Adams III
The Strausstown Veteran’s Memorial in November 2016. (Special to the Reading Eagle: Charles J. Adams III )
Natalie Kolb
Sherry Fuhrmann, owner of Pure Wild Tea, holds a bundle of chocolate mint plants outside the Strausstown Rod and Gun Club. Photo by Natalie Kolb 9/21/2017
Special to the Reading Eagle: Jack Sherman
Doris Wagner is church council president at Zion Blue Mountain United Church of Christ in Strausstown. September 1, 2018. (Special to the Reading Eagle: Jack Sherman)
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