Call Number:

10

Repository:

Pottstown Historical Society

Extent:

2.0 linear feet

Language:

English

Date:

1808-1990 (inclusive)

Creator:

Pottstown Historical Society.

Abstract:

The Pottstown Historical Society manuscript volumes collection, 1808-1990, consists of eight scrapbooks, five ledgers, and three volumes of doctor's records. The doctor's records are a highlight of the collection, and were created by Dr. George Van Buskirk circa 1808-1823

"William Penn deeded the land, which is now Pottstown and the surrounding area to his son John in 1701. As early as 1714 the first iron forge was built. Among the early settlers were Germans, Swedes, and English. By the 1720s, the first blast furnace was in operation for the production of cast iron and wrought iron. In 1732, the first steel furnace was in production in the Pottstown area.

"The Potts family, who were iron masters, moved to [the] area and established a forge [there]. The Potts home was a showplace on a small hill just west of town. John Potts, the oldest son of Thomas Potts, purchased nine hundred ninety-five acres in the area and in 1752 Pottstown was founded. When the town was first laid out, it stretched from York Street to Charlotte Street and from the Schuylkill River to Beech Street.

"Before 1800, the village was called Pottsgrove, however, as the population increased, this slowly evolved into Pottstown. On February 6, 1815, this area was incorporated as a Borough, the second Borough formed in the county, Norristown being the first. The first election of town officers was held in April of 1815.

"Soon after 1842, the Reading Railroad completed a series of lines from Philadelphia to Mt. Carbon, near Pottsville. Raw materials and coal were moved easily, and markets were more readily accessible. At this time, the population of the Borough was six hundred. Since the first forge, Pottstown has received much recognition in the metal industries. The most significant projects include the locks for the Panama Canal and the Golden Gate Bridge.

"In 1847 the town was divided into two wards. By 1850 the population of the Borough reached a total of one thousand eight hundred fifty. As the town grew, new wards were added and old ones were divided. By 1893 the Borough had ten wards represented by twenty councilmen, two from each ward. Borough Council continued to function as one of the largest municipal representative bodies in Pennsylvania. In 1964 the number of wards was reduced to seven, with one councilman representing each ward.

"In 1944, the Council-Manager form of government was adopted; administrative responsibility for the operation of the Borough was given to a professional Manager. The Borough has had ten Managers since the position was created."

Bibliography:

Quoted text from: Borough of Pottstown, "History." Accessed April 27, 2012. http://www.pottstown.org/history.htm

This collection consists of eight scrapbooks, five ledgers, and three volumes of doctor's records.

The scrapbooks in this collection were created by four separate creators. Two from the Pottstown Mercury contain newspaper clippings relating to the 1972 Hurricane Agnes flood. Two are from the Pottstown branch of the Needlework Guild of America, and date from 1922 to 1990. Two were created by Pottstown resident Harold Wentzel and include family photographs, postcards relating to George Washington historic sites, Pottstown High School, and other topics, circa 1930-1960. Lastly, two were created by the Pottstown Historical Society and relate to its own activities, circa 1936.

The five ledgers are from the Walter G. Lord store, which sold groceries from its location at 120 South Hanover Street in Pottstown during the 20th century. The ledgers date from 1917 to 1955.

The doctor's records belonged to Dr. George Van Buskirk (1787-1870), and date from about 1808 to 1823.