Heritage and Cultural Society

2025 Meeting Dates

February 18 · April 15 · June 17 · August 19 · October 21 · December 16

2 PM – Bernville Borough Hall

(Backup Location: Friedens Church)

2025 Standing Agenda

Meeting Call to Order
Roll Call of Attendees / Welcoming of Guests
Review of Meeting Minutes from the Prior H & C Meeting
Treasurer’s Report
Discussion of Current and Future Projects
Status updates and action items/required motions
Consideration/discussion on future projects
Open discussion on topics of importance
Required actions/motions not yet taken
Concluding remarks by attendees
Announcement of Next Meeting Date
Call for Adjournment

The Bernville Heritage & Cultural Society has collected or purchased hundreds of historical items related to Bernville Borough and the immediate surrounding area. This collection has been amassed and inventoried over the past two decades.

If you wish to see a few historic articles in person, the Bernville Area Community Library has permitted us to place a small glass case within the library that will have rotating displays of our items.

We are pleased to share here a few selected photos of other items in our collection.

# 1 – The Umbenhauer family farm and homestead. The Umbenhauer family is considered to be the founders of Bernville. The photo shows their large home (far right) and barn, plus outbuildings. (The original homestead, built in the 1700s, was a log cabin situated where 100 Main Street is located.) The brick Umbenhauer homestead in the photo still stands at the end of Second Street. Mario’s Pizzeria, on Third Street, is located within the large Umbenhauer barn.

As you review these photos, if you have any questions or would like to share your memories about one or more of these photos, please call the Bernville Borough Secretary at 484-769-8594 and leave a message. A member of the Bernville Heritage & Cultural Society will be in touch with you.

All photos are the property of the Bernville Heritage & Cultural Society.

# 2 – Two promotional “piggy” banks: a barrel and an armored car. The barrel was issued by the First National Bank of Bernville (est. 1907) in the early 1900s as a novelty item for saving money, and the armored car was issued decades later by the Bernville Bank. Both banks operated in the same building at 201 Main Street, built in 1928.

# 3 – The Bernville Bakery, operated by Andrew M. Wolf. The bakery was located in a two-story building (now razed) that sat on a lot along Route 183, next to the borough hall’s parking lot. Photos show the front and back of a pretzel box (7½ “ tall x 4 ¾ “wide) and the bakery building as it appeared many years ago.

# 4 – Trautman’s Store, 132 Main Street. As the third owners of this store, the Trautman's continued, over the years, to expand the variety of items offered, so much so that they built a new facility on Route 183, now Boyer’s Food Market. Five photos follow.

Photos taken by Spencer Watts

Incorporated into a borough in 1851, Bernville once boasted hotels, doctors, tinsmiths, factories, bakeries, restaurants, merchandise stores, and even car dealerships. The following attached booklets will give you a perspective of what life was like in Bernville Borough many years ago:

1907 Old Home Week Book and Souvenir Program
1951 Centennial Anniversary Book
2007 Self-Guided Walking Tour of Main Street

These documents are also available in the History Center of the Bernville Area Community Library if you wish to read them in hard copy. (Note: the library has a copy of the 1976 Bernville Anniversary history book which offers a comprehensive history of the borough up to 1976.)

An Opportunity to Learn More of Bernville’s Past!

The Bernville Heritage & Cultural Society Committee offers to anyone who is interested in Bernville’s history several videos for online review. These 1–3 minute videos present the history of our borough parks, churches and various buildings. Click on the appropriate link to review one or more videos. The videos have been created based on available information which is believed to be as correct and current as possible. The videos are the property of Bernville Borough and the Bernville Heritage & Cultural Society Committee and are not to be used for private purposes. We hope you enjoy learning more about Bernville’s rich history.