Volunteer
The Longswamp Township Historical Society, established by Longswamp Township in 2009, is a 501(c)3 non-profit, charitable organization in Berks County, Pennsylvania. We are an all-volunteer organization, without a paid staff; we build on the passion and commitment of our volunteer force.
Please consider volunteering.
We always need volunteers at our events: Planners, set-up, clean-up, bakers, cooks, decorators, salespeople, food handlers. Contact Vicki Skill at dakota01@comcast.net.
We are always looking for decorators to refresh our exhibits; docents to help guide our visitors; . organizers to help sort through photos and other items; sign makers. Contact Ellie Long eloiselong@gmail.com
Treasures
Before you call Goodwill or the Trash Collector, please consider donating photos, yearbooks, advertising items, postcards, letters – anything that relates to the Longswamp area. Currently, we have more than 2,000 items documented in our database. The items range from advertising pencils to treasures – a hand-carved table from 1895, and Regulator wall clocks that hung in the Longswamp School. Why are these things important? Everything gives us another piece of the history/culture of the area.
Carolyn Frederick, friend of Bonnie Solt, visited the former Schubert Haus, and pointed out that the 1912 Register of Voters, donated by Jack Eck, contained no names of women. Why? Passed by Congress June 4, 1919, and ratified on August 18, 1920, the 19th amendment granted women the right to vote.
Advertising items give us information about past and present businesses. Where was the Sinclair Station? George Kistler and Mark Hilbert probably know.
Scrapbooks give us a glance at social life in the ‘40s – it was swell!
School photos and yearbooks allow us to see changing fashion, hairstyles, and schoolroom décor.
Photos remind us of good times in the area – but also horrific events– Mertztown Fire of 1903.
Photos give us information about buildings that may no longer exist or have changed over the years. Why is the photo of the Wilson Fox store important? It’s the only one we’ve ever seen, and it verifies that the Fox store was the predecessor to the Radcliffe store.
The Shamrock store burned in 1980 and the two-story building was turned into one story.
Our museum committee is typically at work from 9:30 – noon at the museum. You can donate an artifact or if you have a photo, we can scan and return it. Please call first, Ellie, at 610-763-2091, to verify our schedule. Other times can be arranged.
