"William Penn deeded the land, which is now Pottstown and the surrounding area to his son John in 1701. As early as 1714 the first iron forge was built. Among the early settlers were Germans, Swedes, and English. By the 1720s, the first blast furnace was in operation for the production of cast iron and wrought iron. In 1732, the first steel furnace was in production in the Pottstown area.
"The Potts family, who were iron masters, moved to [the] area and established a forge [there]. The Potts home was a showplace on a small hill just west of town. John Potts, the oldest son of Thomas Potts, purchased nine hundred ninety-five acres in the area and in 1752 Pottstown was founded. When the town was first laid out, it stretched from York Street to Charlotte Street and from the Schuylkill River to Beech Street.
"Before 1800, the village was called Pottsgrove, however, as the population increased, this slowly evolved into Pottstown. On February 6, 1815, this area was incorporated as a Borough, the second Borough formed in the county, Norristown being the first. The first election of town officers was held in April of 1815.
"Soon after 1842, the Reading Railroad completed a series of lines from Philadelphia to Mt. Carbon, near Pottsville. Raw materials and coal were moved easily, and markets were more readily accessible. At this time, the population of the Borough was six hundred. Since the first forge, Pottstown has received much recognition in the metal industries. The most significant projects include the locks for the Panama Canal and the Golden Gate Bridge.
"In 1847 the town was divided into two wards. By 1850 the population of the Borough reached a total of one thousand eight hundred fifty. As the town grew, new wards were added and old ones were divided. By 1893 the Borough had ten wards represented by twenty councilmen, two from each ward. Borough Council continued to function as one of the largest municipal representative bodies in Pennsylvania. In 1964 the number of wards was reduced to seven, with one councilman representing each ward.
"In 1944, the Council-Manager form of government was adopted; administrative responsibility for the operation of the Borough was given to a professional Manager. The Borough has had ten Managers since the position was created."
Bibliography:
Quoted text from: Borough of Pottstown, "History." Accessed April 27, 2012. http://www.pottstown.org/history.htm
From the guide to the Pottstown Historical Society manuscript volumes collection, 1808-1990, (Pottstown Historical Society)
The 68th Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers was recruited out of Philadelphia, Montgomery, and Chester Counties to take part in the United States Civil War. The field officers were Andrew H. Tippin, Colonel; A H. Reynolds, Lieutenant Colonel; and Thomas Hawksworth, Major. The regiment took part in multiple campaigns, including the Battle of Fredericksburg and Battle of Gettysburg.
One of the Pottstown volunteers for the Union Army was Captain Benjamin M. Guest for Company H. Guest mustered into service as a 1st Sergeant on August 25, 1862. He was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant on December 2, 1862; to 1st Lieutenant on August 20, 1863; and to Captain on December 25, 1863. Guest mustered out of service on June 9, 1865.
Several decades later, Pottstown residents again volunteered for service during the Spanish American War. The Fourth Regiment Infantry, National Guard of Pennsylvania, Company M, was mustered on July 8, 1898. They were stationed at Camp Thomas in Chickamauga Park, Georgia until July 22nd.
Bibliography:
PA-Roots. "68th Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers." Accessed April 27, 2012. http://www.pa-roots.com/pacw/infantry/68th/68thorg.html.
PA-Roots. "68th Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers - Company H." Accessed April 27, 2012. http://www.pa-roots.com/pacw/infantry/68th/68thcoh.html.
Pennsylvania Volunteers in the Spanish American War. "Fourth Regiment PA History & Soldiers." Accessed April 27, 2012. http://www.paspanishamericanwar.com/fourthregiment/
From the guide to the Pottstown Historical Society wars collection, 1862-1898, (Pottstown Historical Society)
"William Penn deeded the land, which is now Pottstown and the surrounding area to his son John in 1701. As early as 1714 the first iron forge was built. Among the early settlers were Germans, Swedes, and English. By the 1720s, the first blast furnace was in operation for the production of cast iron and wrought iron. In 1732, the first steel furnace was in production in the Pottstown area.
"The Potts family, who were iron masters, moved to [the] area and established a forge [there]. The Potts home was a showplace on a small hill just west of town. John Potts, the oldest son of Thomas Potts, purchased nine hundred ninety-five acres in the area and in 1752 Pottstown was founded. When the town was first laid out, it stretched from York Street to Charlotte Street and from the Schuylkill River to Beech Street.
"Before 1800, the village was called Pottsgrove, however, as the population increased, this slowly evolved into Pottstown. On February 6, 1815, this area was incorporated as a Borough, the second Borough formed in the county, Norristown being the first. The first election of town officers was held in April of 1815.
"Soon after 1842, the Reading Railroad completed a series of lines from Philadelphia to Mt. Carbon, near Pottsville. Raw materials and coal were moved easily, and markets were more readily accessible. At this time, the population of the Borough was six hundred. Since the first forge, Pottstown has received much recognition in the metal industries. The most significant projects include the locks for the Panama Canal and the Golden Gate Bridge.
"In 1847 the town was divided into two wards. By 1850 the population of the Borough reached a total of one thousand eight hundred fifty. As the town grew, new wards were added and old ones were divided. By 1893 the Borough had ten wards represented by twenty councilmen, two from each ward. Borough Council continued to function as one of the largest municipal representative bodies in Pennsylvania. In 1964 the number of wards was reduced to seven, with one councilman representing each ward.
"In 1944, the Council-Manager form of government was adopted; administrative responsibility for the operation of the Borough was given to a professional Manager. The Borough has had ten Managers since the position was created."
Bibliography:
Quoted text from: Borough of Pottstown, "History." Accessed April 27, 2012. http://www.pottstown.org/history.htm
From the guide to the Pottstown Historical Society photograph collection, circa 1850-2012, (Pottstown Historical Society)
"William Penn deeded the land, which is now Pottstown and the surrounding area to his son John in 1701. As early as 1714 the first iron forge was built. Among the early settlers were Germans, Swedes, and English. By the 1720s, the first blast furnace was in operation for the production of cast iron and wrought iron. In 1732, the first steel furnace was in production in the Pottstown area.
"The Potts family, who were iron masters, moved to [the] area and established a forge [there]. The Potts home was a showplace on a small hill just west of town. John Potts, the oldest son of Thomas Potts, purchased nine hundred ninety-five acres in the area and in 1752 Pottstown was founded. When the town was first laid out, it stretched from York Street to Charlotte Street and from the Schuylkill River to Beech Street.
"Before 1800, the village was called Pottsgrove, however, as the population increased, this slowly evolved into Pottstown. On February 6, 1815, this area was incorporated as a Borough, the second Borough formed in the county, Norristown being the first. The first election of town officers was held in April of 1815.
"Soon after 1842, the Reading Railroad completed a series of lines from Philadelphia to Mt. Carbon, near Pottsville. Raw materials and coal were moved easily, and markets were more readily accessible. At this time, the population of the Borough was six hundred. Since the first forge, Pottstown has received much recognition in the metal industries. The most significant projects include the locks for the Panama Canal and the Golden Gate Bridge.
"In 1847 the town was divided into two wards. By 1850 the population of the Borough reached a total of one thousand eight hundred fifty. As the town grew, new wards were added and old ones were divided. By 1893 the Borough had ten wards represented by twenty councilmen, two from each ward. Borough Council continued to function as one of the largest municipal representative bodies in Pennsylvania. In 1964 the number of wards was reduced to seven, with one councilman representing each ward.
"In 1944, the Council-Manager form of government was adopted; administrative responsibility for the operation of the Borough was given to a professional Manager. The Borough has had ten Managers since the position was created."
Bibliography:
Quoted text from: Borough of Pottstown, "History." Accessed April 27, 2012. http://www.pottstown.org/history.htm
From the guide to the Pottstown Historical Society subject files, Bulk, 1900-2012, 1795-2012, (Pottstown Historical Society)
