In the early 1700s, Germans, Swiss, and French Huguenots began settling in the Boyertown area, seven miles north of current Pottstown. Spurred on by deposits of iron ore, abundant forests, and water power, the colonists began to develop a fledgling iron industry around the year 1717. By 1750, these furnaces and forges formed a bustling network throughout the area. The population increased and new roads and mills were constructed. Taverns provided lodging for travelers and were strategically located along major colonial roads. Many of these taverns remain as distinctive, quality country restaurants and inns.

When the early iron operations closed, the land was purchased by local farmers. In the 1760s, Mennonite brothers from Bally each bought 250 acres from the owners of the Colebrookdale Furnace. They had acquired most of today’s Boyertown.

In 1801, Henry Boyer purchased the Long Tavern, located at the crossroads of Philadelphia and Reading Avenues. His brother, Daniel, purchased property diagonally across from the tavern and built a general store. By 1814, a German Lutheran Church was established and soon the crossroads was known as “Boyers.”

Between 1865 and 1900 the extensive mining of iron ore and the coming of the railroad combined to bring about the most significant and lasting change to Boyertown. The invention of new pumping equipment brought a surge of new mining activity to Boyertown. The railroad transported iron ore and stimulated the growth of small factories whose mass-produced goods could be marketed far from Boyertown. The accompanying population increase generated a building boom of Victorian residential and commercial structures. Many of these structures have been maintained, lending a special charm to Boyertown.

Agriculture still played an important role in the local economy, and by the early 1900s the area’s landscape included expansive orchards which produced gorgeous displays of flowers in the spring and luscious fruit in the fall. By 1900, Boyertown had several schools, churches, fire companies, its own water supply, and gas lights. Then, as now, Boyertown offers the best of both worlds. It was and is separate and distinctive, but not isolated.

Boyertown still embodies the basic philosophies of its early settlers – desire for freedom, pride in one’s work, willingness to help others, and the desire to work together to create a successful community. All of these fundamentals, ideas, and goals have been forged by Boyertown’s past to ensure Boyertown’s future.

(Written by Holly K. Green - Boyertown Historic Society excerpts from “A Special Kind of Place - Boyertown, PA”.)