BRIEF HISTORY OF TRI-COUNTY HERITAGE SOCIETY:

Organized in 1970 as the "Morgantown/Caernarvon Historical Society," its purpose was to plan the activities for Caernarvon Township, Berks County's bicentennial celebration. Officers and committees were established to bring about the appropriate festivities for all the celebrations to be held in Morgantown. After the bicentennial celebration and later the Tricentennial celebration, the group of officers establish themselves, with the blessing of the township supervisors, as an all volunteer, nonprofit historical organization to collect, document and preserve the history and heritage of Caernarvon Township, Berks County.

For twenty years the Morgantown/Caernarvon Historical Society fulfilled this goal by researching the area's history and collecting and organizing information directly pertaining to that areas history and heritage. The Society's newsletter, "The LOCAL HISTORIAN," was born out of this effort. It was mailed to all Society members on a bi-yearly basis. This publication, still in existence, is written and published by volunteer Society staff; printing and mailing is funded by local businesses. Membership grew as a result. The LOCAL HISTORIAN publication was increased to a quarterly publication in 199?

Historically significant items with local interest began to be given to the Society and placed on display in the township municipal building. This was the beginning of the Morgantown/Caernarvon Historical Society Museum. The Museum and the organization grew, and larger quarters were needed. In 1989, Morgantown/Caernarvon Historical Society moved into the township building at 8 Mill Road, Morgantown. At the same time the officers were making plans to change the name of the organization and broaden the geographic focus of the society to include the larger area of both the upper Conestoga Creek Valley and the upper French Creek Valley. To reflect this larger focus the name change was accomplished on March 16, 1990, by its incorporation as the "Tri-County Heritage Society."

Tri-County Heritage Society has established a local history reference and genealogy library at their 590 Willow Glenn Road address. This library has been in operation since 1989. It is open to the public Tuesday from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM, or by appointment Monday, Thursday and Friday. Librarian, Rebecca Leamy and others will aid the patrons who visit the library. The library collection includes over one thousand books, magazines, journals and other publications. Information is organized as history or genealogy. The genealogy is accessed topically, alphabetically by surname, or as property files. Maps, microfilm; photographs; and other graphics are archived separately. There is a collection of electronic resources with searchable information and available computers for patrons use. A few large private family collections and a number of small individual collections add to the library's resources.

The 18th century farmhouse, known as the Jones/Hertzler House, was donated to the Society in 1992, by Mr. Bernard Hankin. When finished the building will be the home of the Tri-County Heritage Center. It will house the Museum, the Library, and the offices of the Tri-County Heritage Society. CLICK HERE to view the history of the property.

The preservation and maintenance of the Old Welsh Cemetery is another project of the Tri-County Heritage Society. CLICK HERE for the history of the cemetery and the names of those interred there.

The newest preservation project of the TCHS is the renovation of the historic house at 1700 Tulpehocken Road, Wyomissing, Berks County, Pa. An exciting project which enables the Amish, in partnership with the Tri-County Heritage Society, to renovate the site of the home of Nicholas Stoltzfus. Amish minister Nicholas Stoltzfus is the progenitor of all those that bear the name Stoltzfus' in America today. CLICK HERE for more information about this project and a history of Nicholas Stoltzfus.

Some of the projects and activities that the Society has been involved in in the past three years are:

• Curriculum development and teaching of local history elective courses in some area private schools.
• Organizing history lectures and displays community events.
• Leading Welsh and German heritage tours for National, State and Local groups.
• Researching, writing and publishing local history for books, magazines and newspapers.
• National Register Nomination work listing Morgantown village, Elverson Borough, and individual properties in eastern PA.
• Preservation work on historic buildings.