Strausstown

John Strauss, who had a large farm in the vicinity of what is now Strausstown, laid out the town in 1840. As he owned most of the land upon which the town grew, it was named after him. Three parties owned the land that is now the site of Strausstown: John Strauss, John Batteiger and Daniel Moyer. Strauss’ old log house, just west of town, was an old landmark for many years. Near it he also operated a distillery.

The first house was erected in 1835 by Joseph Boltz near the Center House, part of which was erected in 1836 by Jacob and Joseph Klahr. This second oldest building was once used as a school house. A man by the name of Uhlman built the first store. The post office was established November 18, 1847, with Jacob Boltz as the first postmaster. They had one mail per week by a route from Allentown to Rehrersburg. The Farmers and Drovers Hotel was erected in 1840, and the Filbert House in 1845. John Himmelberger operated a tannery in the vicinity of Strausstown as early as 1825. This was later improved by Michael Miller and was not abandoned until 1876. Before the time of Strausstown the people took their eggs to Rehrersburg, where they received four cents a dozen.

Strausstown was incorporated as the twenty-second borough of Berks County in 1920. It was up to that time a part of Upper Tulpehocken Township. It has an area of one hundred and twenty acres and its main street is the state road. There is one school building and the schools are graded. It has quite a number of industries and business places. Among these may be mentioned a shirt factory, a hosiery mill, garages, three hotels, several stores, and a bank. The Strausstown Volunteer Fire Company has a fine hall and an up-to-date fire apparatus.

Source: The Story of Berks County by F.W. Balthaser in 1925

Submitted by: Diane.