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    Spring City and Royersford
    Spring City and Royersford
    Spring City and Royersford
    Ebook169 pages52 minutes

    Spring City and Royersford

    By William C. Brunner

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    About this ebook

    In 1824, the completion of the Schuylkill Canal gave birth to Spring City, and the opening of the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad in Royersford soon followed. Over the years, the "twin boroughs" grew simultaneously, sharing the community and industrial developments that their respective transportation hubs fostered. Spring City and Royersford, through more than two hundred vintage postcards, shares the history of these sister towns: the stove factories, glassworks, and knitting mills that were found on both sides of the river; the floods, fires, and train wrecks that the towns endured; and the bridges, schools, and celebrations that help unite the two communities.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherArcadia Publishing
    Release dateMay 27, 2003
    ISBN9781439628744
    Spring City and Royersford
    Author

    William C. Brunner

    William C. Brunner moved with his parents to Spring City in 1958. He graduated from Spring-Ford Area High School in 1962. An avid rail fan, history buff, and collector of local memorabilia and postcards, he joined the local historical society in 1988. He currently serves on the board of the Spring-Ford Area Historical Society.

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      Book preview

      Spring City and Royersford - William C. Brunner

      built.

      INTRODUCTION

      The first white man who lived in this area was a French Canadian fur trapper by the name of Pierre Bezallion. He lived in a cave along the banks of the Schuylkill River on land that is now located in the town of Spring City. Bezallion traded with members of the Lenni Lenape Indian tribe, the original inhabitants of this area, and used the cave for the storage of his furs. Although he died in 1742, there are still people today who search for his hidden cave. With the building of the Schuylkill Canal, it is probable that the old cave was buried forever.

      Along the winding Schuylkill River, the Schuylkill Canal was opened in 1824. The Schuylkill Navigation Company was in operation by that time. From Pottsville to Philadelphia, the north-to-south route was open, and so was the path for industrial development in the small village of Springville. In 1839, the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad, whose tracks followed the riverbanks, was opened, and Royer’s Ford became a railroad town. Just as the canal had caused growth across the river in Spring City, now Royersford was destined to grow. The following year saw the first bridge, a covered wooden structure, connect the two small towns. Industries sprung up on both sides of the river. A paper mill, stove works, glassworks, and (later) knitting mills were just a few of the various enterprises that flourished in these two towns. The people came, and with them came the houses, churches, schools, and of course local government. Springville was chartered in 1867, and in 1872 its name was officially changed to Spring City. In 1884, the Pennsylvania Railroad was opened from Reading to Philadelphia, with a station stop in Spring City. This obviously gave the Reading Railroad in Royersford some competition. Royersford was incorporated into a borough in 1879. In 1899, the Chester and Montgomery Traction Company began operation of a trolley that went from Spring City to Phoenixville. The trolley made many stops on its way, one being Bonnie Brae Amusement Park. As the name printed on the trolley company’s stock certificates implied, it intended for trolley service to extend over to the Montgomery County side of the river, but all service ended in 1924, and this plan was never put into action. The twin cities remained separated by the river but forever linked by a bridge.

      Over the years, the towns have endured their share of disasters. Fires, floods, and train wrecks come to mind. Situated on the banks of the Schuylkill River, most of First Avenue in Royersford and all of what is known as the lowlands in Spring City lie within the flood plain. Some of us may remember the flood of 1972, but that was only one of many local floods. The flood of 1850 washed away the first covered bridge that linked the two towns. In 1901, another great flood damaged local businesses, as did the flood of 1942. Fire destroyed the Yost gristmill as well as the second covered bridge in 1884. In 1856, the Spring City Foundry burned down. In 1891, the Shantz and Keeley Stove works burned down, along with the Springville Hotel and most of the homes on Main Street between Hall and Chestnut Streets. A major train wreck on the Reading lines just above Royersford in 1914 was one of many that occurred over the years.

      These towns shared not only sorrow but also joy. Celebrations were numerous. From the opening of the old iron bridge to the World War I victory parade, from the ending of World War II to the centennial celebrations, the twin cities have shared the good times. The jointure of the schools from both towns occurred in 1955, with the formation of the Spring-Ford Area School District. The two towns that shared a rich industrial history now had one more thing in common. Their children shall walk together hand in hand.

      One

      FROM THE SCHUYLKILL

      The story of Spring City and Royersford starts with the Schuylkill River. In this early postcard view looking up the Schuylkill, the area where early travelers crossed the river is apparent. The whitewater area

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