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April Second Saturday Lecture: Discover St. Lawrence VillageSaturday, April 11, 2026 • 10:00 AM
Join native St. Lawrence villager Richard Adams as he explores the rich history of this small but historically significant Berks County community. Situated along the Tulpehocken Trail, St. Lawrence Village has played a role in the region from pre-history through the 20th century.
During this lecture, Adams will guide attendees along the Old Road traveled by Conrad Weiser, Benjamin Franklin, and Lenape Indian Chiefs, revealing:
-The contributions of St. Lawrence’s earliest European settlers to the founding of Reading and early efforts at German/English bilingual education.
-The history of the Black Bear Tavern, Inn, and Hotel, which hosted travelers and entertained patrons for over two centuries.
-The story of electric trolley cars on the St. Lawrence/Oley Valley Railroad, connecting Reading and Boyertown.
-Memories of the St. Lawrence Dairy, its popular restaurants, and the hundreds of neighbors who worked there from its beginnings on local farms in the 1880s–1890s, through its peak years at 9th and Bingman Streets, and finally its move to Muhlenberg Township.
Discover why this tiny village inspired a 500-page, lavishly illustrated book chronicling its history and community life.
Cost: $5 for BHC Members • $10 for Non-Members
Location: Berks History Center, 940 Centre Ave., Reading, PA
Parking: Off-street parking is available in the BHC lot at 160 Spring Street, Reading, PA 19601
~About the Speaker~
Richard Adams (“Chard”) is the author of In The Village: A History and Memoir of the Pennsylvania Dutch Community of St. Lawrence, a 522-page work featuring 452 photos, maps, and illustrations, published by Masthof Press. A retired attorney and family judge, Adams is an alumnus of Exeter Township High School, Princeton, and Yale. He collaborated for decades with his older brother James Adams to assemble a lifetime of research that became the foundation of his book. He and his wife Merrill live in Connecticut, where they raised their two daughters.
For more information and to register, please visit: https://berkshistory.app.neoncrm.com/nx/portal/neonevents/events?path=%2Fportal%2Fevents%2F29263
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
940 Centre Ave, Reading, PA, United States, Pennsylvania 19601
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