The Hamburg Area Historical Society
The Hamburg Area Historical Society was incorporated August 23, 2001. The purpose of the society is to preserve the historic records of the area encompassing the Hamburg Area School District by collecting historical materials and pertinent artifacts. In March of 2002, the Hamburg Area Historical Society purchased a two-story stone house for use as a museum. The society has been able to trace the house back to 1876, but records show that the home is quite older than that.
The school district the society serves include the boroughs of Hamburg, Shoemakersville, Strausstown, the village of Shartlesville, and the townships of Tilden, Windsor, Perry, Upper Bern, and Upper Tulpehocken.

Historic Hamburg
Hamburg was once named Kaerchertown after its founder Martin Kaercher, Jr., on or about 1787. Basking at the base of the beautiful Blue Mountain’s southern slope, the borough of Hamburg lies in a valley drained by the Schuylkill River at the end of a natural break in the ridge, surrounded by fertile, rolling farmland.

Many of Hamburg’s first inhabitants were Germanic, speaking a dialect that still lingers here today. Although the area has become a melting pot of nationalities, the influence of these early, hearty and industrious people can be seen everywhere, complete with an ever-present small-town pride and friendliness.

Surrounding Hamburg is a vast area of over 100 square miles. This includes the boroughs of Shoemakersville and Strausstown, the village of Shartlesville, and the townships of Tilden, Windsor, Perry, Upper Bern, and Upper Tulpehocken. The town is bordered on the north side by the beautiful Blue Mountains and on the south side by the bustling city of Reading, the center of Berks County.

These areas have grown over the years and have contributed greatly to the rich, proud traditions and heritage of the Northern Berks area (the heart of Berks County’s Pennsylvania German people), along with their delicious ethnic foods and fabulous art and cultural samplings.

Kaerchertown, Churchtown, Kirchetown, Homber, or Hamburg… the history of any community is determined not by its name of location, but by the character of its people.

These are just a few facts regarding our local heritage that we, as a historical society, are striving to preserve.

We ask that you come and visit the friendly people of the Northern Berks and Hamburg Area soon.

Membership to the Society
Membership is open to any United States citizen who is interested in helping to preserve local history along with learning about the lives of local ancestors and how or what they contributed to the growth of our country, state, and nation.

Annual dues are $20.00 per individual or household for the calendar year. A corporate membership is available for $100.00 annually. We also have an annual patron opportunity for $50.00 which includes a business-card-size ad in our newsletter.