Below: As crowded as the
highways and shopping centers of Muhlenberg Township may be,
residents can find much beauty and tranquility such as depicted in
this view of Bernhart's Lake.
Below: The busy commercial
and industrial center of Muhlenberg Township sprawls out North of
reading in this view from Mount Penn.
Below: The Fairgrounds
Square Mall now stands where the old Reading Fairgrounds once
sprawled across the Muhlenberg Township landscape. This view
was taken from a 1923 postcard.
Below: The old Schuylkill
Canal as it proceeded through Muhlenberg Township in the early 20th
century.
THE FACTS: Who was
Muhlenberg, and why would they name a township after him?
Muhlenberg Township was established in 1851 and was named for Rev.
Henry A. Muhlenberg. Descended from grandfather Henry Melchior,
Muhlenberg (considered to be the founder of the Lutheran religion in
America) and Rev. Henry E. Muhlenberg (his father), Henry A. was
known as an avid outdoorsman and eloquent speaker. From 1802
to 1829, he served as pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Reading,
but history had other plans for him. Rev. Muhlenberg
distinguished himself on a national and world level as a U.S.
Congressman (1829-1838) and the first American Minister to
Austria. President Martin van Buren selected Rev. Muhlenberg
as his choice for Secretary of the Navy, but Muhlenberg declined the
nomination. He won the state Democrat party nomination for
governor of Pennsylvania in 1844, but, tragically, he died just
before the election.
THE FIGURES: Muhlenberg
Township is 11.6 square miles in area and about 15,000 people live
within its borders. Also within the township borders, but
independent as a borough is Laureldale, with about 3,700
residents. According to the latest available figures, its
population makes Muhlenberg the fourth largest municipality in Berks
County.
THE FUN STUFF: Although
best known to shoppers in Berks County and beyond as the home of the
Fairgrounds Square Mall, the Reading Farmers Market, several large
discount department stores, warehouse clubs, home improvement
centers and strip shopping centers, Muhlenberg Township is also one
of Berks County's most diverse and interesting townships.
Cradled between the Schuylkill River and the ridges that extend
north of Mount Penn, Muhlenberg is home to many large and small
industries, utilities, food and dairy processors, and the excellent
Muhlenberg Area School District. It housing opportunities are
across the board, and its recreational facilities are unrivaled in
Berks County. Truly dynamic as a suburb of Reading, Muhlenberg
Township stands proud as an economic power unto itself.
Historically, Muhlenberg Township was once the home of the legendary
Reading Fairgrounds, the Reading Fairgrounds Speedway, and one of
the first airports in the county. Today, the township is also
the site of some of the area's finest restaurants and night
clubs.
Thanks to WEEU's Charles J. Adams III for help
in compiling this material.
34 North Fourth Street, Reading, PA 19601
Phone: 610-376-7335 Fax: 610-376-7756
E-mail: weeu@weeu.com
