Perkasie Historical Society

"Perkasie" comes from the Lenape word "Pokesing," meaning "where the hickory nuts were cracked." It is located in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, midway between Philadelphia and Allentown.

Reserved by William Penn for his family's use, the tract of land known as "Perkasie Manor" embraced most of current-day Hilltown and Rockhill Township. It was laid out and surveyed in 1708. When the Borough of Perkasie was incorporated in 1879, it had 68 residents and covered 1,640 acres.

Perkasie served as a stop along Reading Railroad's North Penn Division, also known as the Bethlehem Branch. It was the third-largest station along the North Penn Line and became a trade center. In 1891, 19 of the 22 trains that operated along the line stopped in Perkasie. The line was later acquired by the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transit Authority (SEPTA). SEPTA terminated passenger service along the line in the early 1980s.

On June 26, 1988, about 15 percent of the town, including many historic buildings, was burned down in what became known as The Great Perkasie Fire. This massive fire was started by two 12-year-old boys who were playing with a lighter near the coal bins behind the Shelly & Sons lumberyard.

Bibliography:

Borough of Perkasie, Bucks County, PA. "A Short History of Perkasie, PA; excerpts from The History of Perkasie, as recorded by James I. Moyer." Accessed March 22, 2013. http://www.perkasieborough.org/history_of_perkasie.html

From the guide to the Perkasie Historical Society World Wars collection, Bulk, 1917-1946, 1917-2001, (Perkasie Historical Society)

"Perkasie" comes from the Lenape word "Pokesing," meaning "where the hickory nuts were cracked." It is located in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, midway between Philadelphia and Allentown.

Reserved by William Penn for his family's use, the tract of land known as "Perkasie Manor" embraced most of current-day Hilltown and Rockhill Township. It was laid out and surveyed in 1708. When the Borough of Perkasie was incorporated in 1879, it had 68 residents and covered 1,640 acres.

Perkasie served as a stop along Reading Railroad's North Penn Division, also known as the Bethlehem Branch. It was the third-largest station along the North Penn Line and became a trade center. In 1891, 19 of the 22 trains that operated along the line stopped in Perkasie. The line was later acquired by the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transit Authority (SEPTA). SEPTA terminated passenger service along the line in the early 1980s.

On June 26, 1988, about 15 percent of the town, including many historic buildings, was burned down in what became known as The Great Perkasie Fire. This massive fire was started by two 12-year-old boys who were playing with a lighter near the coal bins behind the Shelley & Sons lumberyard.

Bibliography:

Borough of Perkasie, Bucks County, PA. "A Short History of Perkasie, PA; excerpts from The History of Perkasie, as recorded by James I. Moyer." Accessed March 22, 2013. http://www.perkasieborough.org/history_of_perkasie.html

From the guide to the Perkasie Historical Society local history collection, 1848-2000, (Perkasie Historical Society)

"Perkasie" comes from the Lenape word "Pokesing," meaning "where the hickory nuts were cracked." It is located in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, midway between Philadelphia and Allentown.

Reserved by William Penn for his family's use, the tract of land known as "Perkasie Manor" embraced most of current-day Hilltown and Rockhill Township. It was laid out and surveyed in 1708. When the Borough of Perkasie was incorporated in 1879, it had 68 residents and covered 1,640 acres.

Perkasie served as a stop along Reading Railroad's North Penn Division, also known as the Bethlehem Branch. It was the third-largest station along the North Penn Line and became a trade center. In 1891, 19 of the 22 trains that operated along the line stopped in Perkasie. The line was later acquired by the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transit Authority (SEPTA). SEPTA terminated passenger service along the line in the early 1980s.

On June 26, 1988, about 15 percent of the town, including many historic buildings, was burned down in what became known as The Great Perkasie Fire. This massive fire was started by two 12-year-old boys who were playing with a lighter near the coal bins behind the Shelley & Sons lumberyard.

Bibliography:

Borough of Perkasie, Bucks County, PA. "A Short History of Perkasie, PA; excerpts from The History of Perkasie, as recorded by James I. Moyer." Accessed March 22, 2013. http://www.perkasieborough.org/history_of_perkasie.html

From the guide to the Perkasie Historical Society photograph collection, circa 1880-2000, (Perkasie Historical Society)