Tag Archives: Manatawny Creek
Second Annual Powwow In Memorial Park, Pottstown
All Aboard! $200K Grant Bolsters Plan For Boyertown-To-Pottstown Rail Service
Map of Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States with township and municipal boundaries (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
BOYERTOWN, PA — Progress on the revitalization of the Colebrookdale Railroad these days means more than pulling refurbished passenger cars along the picturesque 9-mile track on the shores of Manatawny Creek.
These days progress is being measured in cars and engines acquired, being fixed up and put into service.
And Wednesday marked another milestone on the railroad’s journey to full service when Executive Director Nathaniel Guest announced last week’s awarding of a $200,000 grant to begin construction of “railroad station infrastructure right here in Boyertown.”
The announcement came after the train — pulling cars packed with more than 70 federal and state legislators, county commissioners and municipal officials of all stripes — arrived at the downtown yard to the applause of a crowd that had gathered to welcome it.
April Showers Swamp Region, Trigger Flooding
The rains came heavy Tuesday into Wednesday as if all those metaphorical April showers waited until the last day of the month to show up.
It all started when a low-pressure front slinked into the region Tuesday and started dumping rain into the area to the point that by 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, a United States Geological Survey rain gauge along the Schuylkill River had recorded nearly 5 inches of rain in a 24-hour period.
And, as you might expect, the result was creeks bursting their banks — along with the Schuylkill River they ultimately feed — and flooded roads, and then trapping some motorists on those roads after they tried to drive through the water.
One of at least four “water rescues” in the area occurred on Bethel Church Road in East Coventry when a small blue sedan stalled in a deep swell of water on the road.
Read more: http://www.pottsmerc.com/general-news/20140430/april-showers-swamp-region-trigger-flooding
“Come To The Fair!” – Annual Colonial May Fair At Pottsgrove Manor
Pottstown, PA – Celebrate spring at the Annual Colonial May Fair held at historic Pottsgrove Manor on Saturday, May 3, 2014 from 11:00am to 5:00pm.
This yearly event is a fun-filled day with activities for all ages including games, music, dancing, and crafts. Tucker’s Tales Puppet Theatre will present interactive puppet shows and will also provide festive historic music around the grounds during the event. Signora Bella will delight audiences with her acrobatic feats. Colonial conjurer Levram the Great will perform historically-themed magic shows and entertain visitors with pocket magic tricks throughout the day. Members of the Tapestry Historic Dance Ensemble will demonstrate authentic English country dances and will lead visitors in dances around the maypole to open and close the fair.
In addition to the entertainment, a variety of early American crafters and demonstrators will be on hand to display historic skills and trades and sell their wares. Young visitors can compete in hoop races, play with colonial toys and games, help churn butter, and more! The first floor of colonial ironmaster John Potts’ 1752 manor house will be open for self-guided tours during the fair. Open-hearth cooking will be demonstrated in the Pottsgrove Manor kitchen. While visitors can’t try the food cooked in the colonial kitchen, they will be able to purchase food during the event. MMG Concessions will offer burgers, cheesesteaks, hot dogs, sausage, sandwiches, fries, hand-rolled pretzels, fresh-squeezed lemonade, and more. Visitors can also shop at the manor’s museum shop for colonial games, books, and unique gifts.
This year’s fair coincides with the first-ever “Pow-Wow on Manatawny Creek,” celebrating the culture and traditions of the Lenni-Lenape Indians. The pow-wow will be taking place during the hours of May Fair and will be held at Memorial Park, less than a block from the Manor. The public is encouraged to visit both events for an experience that spans time periods and cultures!
For a schedule of the day’s activities and a list of vendors and craftspeople who will be at the fair, please visit http://www.montcopa.org/index.aspx?NID=1421.
A donation of $2.00 per person is suggested for this event. Visitors are asked to park at the Carousel at Pottstown building, 30 West King Street. There is no charge for parking, and Pottstown’s restored trolley will be giving free rides during the fair between the carousel parking lot, Memorial Park, and Pottsgrove Manor. Handicapped parking is available in the museum’s parking lot.
Pottsgrove Manor is located at 100 West King Street near the intersection of King Street and Route 100, just off Route 422, in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. Pottsgrove Manor is operated by Montgomery County under the direction of the Parks, Trails, and Historic Sites Division of the Assets and Infrastructure Department. For more information, please call 610-326-4014, or visit the website at www.montcopa.org/pottsgrovemanor.
Like Pottsgrove Manor on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pottsgrovemanor.
Pottstown To Host Native American Pow Wow In Memorial Park
Construction Of Pottstown Mini-Golf Course Underway
Location of Pottstown in Montgomery County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
POTTSTOWN, PA — Autumn may be here and winter may be coming — but so is mini-golf season.
Construction has begun on the course and officials say they hope it may be completed before winter.
The project has been at least three years in the making.
Located along High Street, west of Manatawny Creek and adjacent to the former Pottstown Metal Weld building, now home to the Carousel at Pottstown facility, the mini-golf course is meant to complement the carousel and be an attraction for users of the Schuylkill River Trail.
Read more: http://www.pottsmerc.com/20131014/construction-of-pottstown-mini-golf-course-underway
New Iron Exhibit Opens At Pottsgrove Manor With A Lecture By Dan Graham
Pottstown, PA (January 17, 2013) – On Saturday, March 9, 2013 at 1:00pm, Pottsgrove Manor will open a new exhibit on Pennsylvania’s colonial iron industry with a lecture from historian Dan Graham.
In 1715, a Germantown blacksmith named Thomas Rutter built the first ironwork in the colony of Pennsylvania along the Manatawny Creek, setting the stage for the development of an ironworking empire in the region. John Potts’ father, Thomas, entered into business with Rutter in 1725, and the next few generations of their families came to dominate the colonial iron industry through technical skill, business acumen, and profitable marriages. In the exhibit “Forging a Lifestyle: Ironworking with the Potts Family,” the ins and outs of the early iron industry will be explored, from the physical work that was involved—mining, making charcoal, powering the forges and furnaces—to the business decisions that were made by those who owned and ran the ironworks, like the Potts, Rutter, Nutt, and Savage families.
The exhibit will kick off with Dan Graham’s lecture: “Colonial Pennsylvania Cast Iron Fire Backs, Stove Plates, and Warming Stoves, 1726-1760.” Graham has done extensive research on the Potts and Rutter families and the early Pennsylvania iron industry. His talk will focus on two of the products that came out of the early Pennsylvania iron furnaces, fire backs and stoves. He will trace the development of stoves from the simple five-plate jamb stove to the elaborate ten-plate cooking stoves and the Franklin stove. After the lecture, guided tours of the new iron exhibit will be offered.
The exhibit is open to all ages and can be viewed on a guided tour of Pottsgrove Manor during the museum’s regular hours between March 9, 2013 and November 3, 2013. There is a suggested donation of $2 per person for the tour.
Pottsgrove Manor, home of John Potts, colonial ironmaster and founder of Pottstown, is located at 100 West King Street near the intersection of King Street and Route 100, just off Route 422, in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. Pottsgrove Manor is operated by Montgomery County under the direction of the Parks and Heritage Services Division of the Assets and Infrastructure Department.
Regular museum hours are Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00am to 4:00pm and Sunday from 1:00pm to 4:00pm. Tours are given on the hour. The last tour of the day begins as 3:00pm. Groups of ten or more should pre-register by calling 610-326-4014. For more information and a full calendar of events, please visit the website at: http://historicsites.montcopa.org/pottsgrovemanor or like Pottsgrove Manor on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/PottsgroveManor.
Pottstown Area Information Regarding Hurricane Sandy
Location of Pottstown in Montgomery County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
By 8:30 p.m. Sunday night, the storm shelter at Pottstown High School already had 20 guests.
In Pottstown, Hanover Street between Third and Fourth streets has been closed for low tree branches and power lines. (Thanks to Tom Hylton!)
The Coventry Mall will close at 2 p.m. today.
However, as of 10:30 a.m., Wal-Mart, K-Mart and Target all planned to remain open throughout the day.
Read full story: http://www.pottsmerc.com/article/20121029/NEWS01/121029419/click-for-local-hurricane-sandy-updates&pager=full_story
Philly Wine Bar Owner Bubbly Over Debut
Image via Wikipedia
Trying to corner London Grill owner Terry Berch McNally on Thursday night at her new Paris Wine Bar was akin to nabbing a butterfly out in the field with a net. She was just here. No, she’s over there. But could you expect anything else on her first debut in a couple of decades?
Paris Wine Bar, on Fairmount Avenue up from the Philadelphia Art Museum, was packed much of Thursday night, if nothing else sending staff often scurrying to get more clean wine classes. Its opening in Philly was significant for two reasons: It was selling PA wines only, and they were being poured “on draught.”
Winemakers from Allegro, Galen Glen, Manatawny Creek and Pinnacle Ridge dined and probably would have signed autographs if anyone knew them.
Read more: http://blog.pennlive.com/wine/2012/02/post_118.html
High Street Bridge Reopens Friday – Cross One Pottstown Area Construction Project Off The List
The High Street Bridge reopened Friday afternoon with minimal fanfare. The bridge was completely rebuilt and the project was finished five months ahead of schedule! Do we have any other projects for these people to work on? Maybe they should get the Keim Street bridge contract!!!
Meanwhile, Route 100 bridge work is still ongoing and some other projects are scheduled to begin down the road. At least one item has been completed before anything else starts!
Two Roy’s Rants thumbs up to J.D. Eckman, Inc. of Atglen for doing an awesome job!
Pottsgrove Manor River Walk Sept. 24th
Pottstown, Pennsylvania — On Saturday, September 24, Pottsgrove Manor’s historic site supervisor will offer an informative walking tour from the Manor to the Riverfront Park along the Schuylkill River. The walk will begin at Pottsgrove Manor at 11:00 a.m. and will conclude at the site at 2:00 p.m.
Along the way, we will discuss the history and importance of the Manatawny Creek and the Schuylkill River to the ironworking business of the Potts family. A picnic lunch along the river will be provided before heading back to the Manor. An optional guided tour of the house will be offered upon returning to Pottsgrove Manor. Please bring water, wear sunscreen and/or a hat, and wear comfortable shoes. The route is approximately 2 miles of paved trail and sidewalk. The terrain is mostly flat, with one set of stairs.
There is a fee of $15 for this program. Registration is required by September 20th. Registrants will be given a choice of boxed lunches when they call to register.
Pottsgrove Manor, home of John Potts, colonial ironmaster and founder of Pottstown, is located at 100 West King Street near the intersection of King Street and Route 100, just off Route 422, in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. Pottsgrove Manor is operated by Montgomery County under the direction of the Parks and Heritage Services Department.
Regular museum hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. & Sunday, 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Tours are given on the hour; last tour of the day begins as 3:00 p.m. Groups of 10 or more should pre-register by calling 610.326.4014. For more information and a full calendar of events, visit us on the web at
http://historicsites.montcopa.org/pottsgrovemanor or http://www.facebook.com/PottsgroveManor.
High Street Bridge Progress – Spanning The Manatawny
Progress has been made since the last time I took pictures. This week, half the Manatawny was crossed. Hoping the bad weather doesn’t slow down the progress!
Here are some new pictures taken this afternoon.
River Walk From Historic Pottsgrove Manor, September 24th
For immediate release: Saturday, September 24th from 11:00 am – 2:00 pm River Walk & Picnic
Pottstown, Pennsylvania— On Saturday, September 24, Pottsgrove Manor’s historic site supervisor will offer an informative walking tour from the Manor to the Riverfront Park along the Schuylkill River. The walk will begin at Pottsgrove Manor at 11:00 a.m. and will conclude at the site at 2:00 p.m.
Along the way, we will discuss the history and importance of the Manatawny Creek and the Schuylkill River to the iron working business of the Potts family. A picnic lunch along the river will be provided before heading back to the Manor. An optional guided tour of the house will be offered upon returning to Pottsgrove Manor. Please bring water, wear sunscreen and/or a hat, and wear comfortable shoes. The route is approximately 2 miles of paved trail and sidewalk. The terrain is mostly flat, with one set of stairs.
There is a fee of $15 for this program. Registration is required by September 20th. Registrants will be given a choice of boxed lunches when they call to register. Contact: Lynn Symborski, Museum Educator; lsymbors@montcopa.org or (610) 326-4014
Pottsgrove Manor, home of John Potts, colonial ironmaster and founder of Pottstown, is located at 100 West King Street near the intersection of King Street and Route 100, just off Route 422, in Pottstown,Pennsylvania. Pottsgrove Manor is operated by Montgomery County under the direction of the Parks and Heritage Services Department.
Regular museum hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. & Sunday, 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Tours are given on the hour; last tour of the day begins as 3:00 p.m. Groups of 10 or more should pre-register by calling 610.326.4014. For more information and a full calendar of events, visit us on the web at http://historicsites.montcopa.org/pottsgrovemanor or http://www.facebook.com/PottsgroveManor.
Another Pottstown area bridge closure!
Image via Wikipedia
The High Street bridge is now closed over the Manatawny Creek in downtown Pottstown. The detour is College Drive to South Hanover Street. You could also use King Street. The High Street bridge will remain closed for one year while it is replaced.
The Route 100 bridge over the Schuylkill River is still under construction and traffic is reduced to one lane in each direction.
More bridge work is scheduled for two 422 bridges in West and Lower Pottsgrove Townships.
The Keim Street bridge is on the replacement list but that is some years down the road and will remain closed.
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